Saved By The One I Ruined Chapter 08

Saved By The One I Ruined Chapter 08

The new city’s banner snapped sharply in the wind. 

Standing on the platform, I gazed at the cheering crowd below. Just a year ago, it was all ruins, yet now, it had become a city of orderly streets and homes. No high walls around, no social 

stratification, and most importantly, no so–called ” low–value civilians“. 

“Nervous, huh?” Jared wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, his chin resting lightly on my shoulder. For once, he actually dressed up–a crisp white shirt buttoned all the way to the top. He finally looked like a proper gentleman. 

“A little,” I admit, grabbing his hand as he tried to unbutton my collar. “No, the press is watching.” 

He chuckled, his warm breath tickling my ear. “Look, our commander is getting shy.” 

The crowd below was a sea of flashing cameras. Ever since Andrew’s crimes were exposed and the Safe Zone collapsed, Jared and I somehow ended up as the founders of the new city. 

He took charge of healthcare, while I handled. security. Who would have thought that two former sworn enemies would one day stand side by side in the sunlight? 

A ponytailed reporter pushed her way to the front and asked, “Commander Miller, would you mind sharing your love story with Mr. Stevens?” 

I couldn’t help but force a smile. Over the past year, there had been over a dozen wild rumors about our love story–from “forbidden romance in the lab” to ” soulmates forged on the battlefield“. 

Suddenly, Jared let go of me and dropped to one knee under the gaze of the entire crowd. 

A hush fell over the crowd. 

“Actually, it’s pretty simple,” he said, pulling that yellow candy wrapper from his pocket and deftly folding it into a ring. “Three years ago, she gave a little girl some fever medicine and this very piece of candy.” 

My breath caught. Sunlight danced across the tinfoil, scattering tiny flecks of light. 

“My sister died that day, yet she still held this in her hand.” He looked up at me, his amber eyes clear and unguarded. “Later, when I finally tracked her down, I found she is more fiery than zombies. She fights like there’s no tomorrow.” 

A few low chuckles rose from the crowd. 

“But she is the only light in my darkness.” He held out the ring, its surface catching the light in his palm. He said seriously, “Amanda, will you marry this lunatic in front of you?” 

I could barely see through my tears. In a daze, I was back on that rainy night–he had collapsed in my arms, covered in blood, and whispered, “I feel happy to die in your arms.” 

“The ring is lame,” I said hoarsely. 

Jared blinked and suggested, “How about Plan B?” 

The moment he stood up, I yanked his tie and kissed him. The crowd erupted in cheers as he cupped my head and deepened the kiss until we were both breathless. 

“Deal,” he murmured with a soft laugh, his forehead resting against mine. 

After the ceremony, we moved into our newly 

assigned apartment. It wasn’t spacious, but it had a balcony with a perfect sunset view. In the kitchen, Jared was cooking pasta–the only dish he could manage while humming a terribly off–key tune. 

“Look what I found while unpacking,” I said, waving the notebook I’d dug out from the bottom shelf. “Is it your diary?” 

Jared threw the spatula on the floor and lunged for the notebook. I sidestepped his grab, and it fell open to the bookmarked page. 

It read: [May 17, Jasmine’s funeral. A woman in uniform was distributing medicine in the slums. She gave Nina a piece of candy. Her smile was beautiful, like the angels Jasmine always spoke of.] 

I froze and seemed to realize that the girl wasn’t his sister. 

“Nina was the kid in the next hospital bed,” Jared said, scratching his head with rare awkwardness.” My sister… didn’t make it to the day of the riot.” 

Tucked inside the diary were two photographs. One showed a slender Jasmine smiling in her hospital bed; the other was a profile of me standing guard at the Safe Zone gate, my uniform gilded by the golden sunlight. 

“You’re a real stalker,” I murmured, carefully slipping the photos back into place. 

Jared embraced me from behind, his fingers intertwining with mine. Together, we looked out at the new city through the window. The sunset bathed every building in a warm glow. 

“Do you regret it?” he asked out of the blue. 

I blurted out, “Regret what?” 

“Not choosing that seemingly perfect gentleman. 

Andrew,” he answered. 

I spun around, grabbed him by the collar, and demanded, “Do you know why I picked you over him?” 

He arched his eyebrows and shook his head. 

“Because you’re such an idiot,” I teased, nipping at 

his lip. “You could’ve just run, but you turned back to 

save me.‘ 

Jared laughed heartily and swept me up in his arms for a playful spin. “What about you?” he teased, setting me down on the dining table and nuzzling his nose against mine. “If you pull that hero stunt again…” 

“What? Are you gonna kill me then?” I shot back. 

“No.” He silenced me with a kiss. “You’ll cook for me for the rest of my life as your punishment.” 

Outside the window, the new city’s lights flickered on one by one. A little girl received a strawberry candy and smiled as if she’d been given the whole world.