When she first arrived at the military compound, Kelly had been a timid girl. So, she was easily bullied by others. 

Back then, it was George who had been the one who chased off the other troublemakers and stood by her side to protect and take care of her. He took care of her with unwavering devotion even if there were scrapes on her skin, he would feel heartbroken.

General Palmer often joked, "George may be a tyrant to everyone else, but in front of his little sister, he'd suddenly become a doting older brother."

Kelly snapped back to reality, got the medicated oil from her room, put it on her wrist and began messaging her bruised wrist while comforting herself. 

It would only be a few more days before I would be able to leave this compound and at that time George and Amanda could do whatever they pleased and it had nothing to do with me.

The compound was a cluster of modest single-story homes, each with its own small quarters.

In another room, Amanda watched Kelly carefully apply the same medicated oil to her wrist. Her eyes shined with satisfaction.

“George,” she cooed. “Our art troupe got two tickets for Red Detachment of Women. Let’s go see it together in a few days.”

George who was holding Amanda's foot, couldn’t shake the memory of Kelly’s tear-filled eyes from earlier. His heart softened against his will.

“Could you get an extra ticket from the art troupe?” he asked as he looked up at her. “I’d like to give one to Kelly.”

Though Amanda was upset about it, she kept her smile and said, "Of course." Then she fished a ticket from her pocket and gave it to him.

As she gave it to him, she said timidly, "George, perhaps we should postpone the wedding. I don't think Kelly is ready to accept it. Her brother who has always doted on her is getting married and she must feel like I’m taking away your love for her.”

George's body stiffened and his jaw tightened. Without him realizing it, his hands had curled into fists. After he kept his silence for a long time, he finally said coldly, "She’ll understand her place.”

Early, the next morning, Kelly prepared to leave for her new unit. She had received a transfer order to a satellite research base. Before departing, she decided to bid farewell to her colleagues at the communication unit, where she had always gotten along well with her peers and superiors.

Captain Smith, her former leader, examined her transfer papers with a mix of surprise and admiration.

“Private Lambert, your dedication to serving the nation is commendable,” he said warmly. “However, you do realize working at a satellite research base means complete isolation from the outside world, right? Are you sure your brother will let you go?”

He chuckled. “After all, we all know how much he dotes on you.”

When Kelly first joined the communication unit, she had been harassed by a group of hooligans. Ever since then, George had made it a point to escort her to and from work every single day, no matter what.

Everyone at the unit knew about her “overprotective brother.”

What they didn’t know was that George was about to get married ... and that his world no longer revolved around her anymore. However, Kelly did not say anything. She just smiled.

After explaining her transfer to Captain Smith, she took out a bag of candies she had bought and distributed them among her coworkers.

“Why the sudden treat, Kelly?” someone teased. “Is this your wedding candy?”

Kelly's smile turned bitter. “Think of it that way if you’d like. There’s enough for everyone to enjoy.”

The room filled with laughter and chatter, as the time flew by.

As the workday ended, someone called out, “Kelly, your brother’s here to pick you up!”

George was a striking figure. He was one of the youngest officers in the compound. His presence always drew attention, no matter where he went.

Kelly stepped outside and saw him sitting in the driver’s seat of his car with one hand casually resting on the steering wheel. The backseat was piled with trendy fabrics and tins of cream.

Once, this had been their routine. George would show up with the latest treats and gifts. He would say they were for her. However, ever since Amanda entered the picture, those gestures had stopped. He even stopped picking her up.

When he finally did, he just took a quick look at her and turned his face away.

"Get in the car," George said. "I'll take you to the art unit."

Kelly frowned in confusion. "Why are we going to the art troupe?"

George's brow furrowed tightly. "Well, you've pushed Amanda yesterday and today you've stained her performance dress. Kelly, don’t you think you owe her an apology?"

His accusation left Kelly stunned. "I didn’t push her, nor did I stain her dress. Don’t you dare frame me!"

She spun on her heel to leave, but George leaped out of the car and grabbed her arm roughly. That’s when he noticed the dark bruises marring her delicate wrist.

He froze, his gaze fixed on her injury. "What happened to your hand?"

Kelly's nose went red with the threat of tears, but she forced her voice to stay calm. "You already know, don’t you?"

An inexplicable sense of emotion shot through George's chest. He struggled to shake it off, his eyes narrowing into icy slits. "You're becoming even more skilled in doing underhanded tactics. Are you hurting yourself now just to frame Amanda?"

His words sliced through her like a blade. Kelly's voice trembled with pain and indignation. "George, after all these years, is that the kind of person you think I am?"

George pinched the bridge of his nose and his tone softened slightly. "Kelly, it’s just an apology. It’s not that hard."

The disappointment in her gaze burned more than her words ever could. She turned and walked away, a lone tear escaping down her cheek.

By the time Kelly reached the military compound, George was already there. He tossed a pain-streaked onto the ground in front of her.

Kelly stared at the garment with a puzzled expression.

"You ruined Amanda's performance dress," George said coldly. "She couldn’t go onstage because of you. If you clean it and we’ll call it even."

The white dress was streaked with vibrant colors. It was unmistakable that someone had done it on purpose. However, she wasn’t the culprit.

Kelly's voice turned cold and said, "I didn't do it. I'm not washing it!"

George’s jaw tightened. "I must’ve spoiled you too much if you can’t even tell right from wrong!"

His fists clenched and his voice became lower. It was full of quiet menace. "If you don’t clean that dress, I’ll toss your amulet into the river."

The amulet was the last memento her mother had left her.

Her voice cracked as she spoke. Her body was trembling all over. "George, that amulet... it’s my mother’s keepsake. You can't …."

How could he threaten me with this amulet?

Seeing her tears, George instinctively reached out, but Kelly recoiled and she even retreated a step. His hand hovered awkwardly before falling to his side.

George forced himself to harden his heart. "Clean the dress and I’ll give it back. Put yourself in her shoes. This dress is important to Amanda too."

Kelly looked at George with sorrowful eyes. "Do you have to humiliate me like this?" she asked.

His gut twisted at her words, but he suppressed the discomfort because he figured he was just disciplining Kelly. He said, "Don’t bother complaining to my father. He’s away at the military district for a few days."

Kelly inhaled sharply. "Fine. I’ll wash it."

As soon as George left, Amanda quietly entered the house and with a satisfied smirk on her face, she said, "Kelly, I’m so sorry. I accidentally used up all the hot water earlier. You’ll have to use cold water to wash my dress."

In the compound, hot water was a shared resource from the communal kitchen. Amanda’s deliberate act left Kelly no choice but to scrub the dress with icy water.

It was in December, in the middle of the winter and Kelly carried a wooden bucket to the riverbank so she could wash the dress at the river.

When her hands dipped into the icy river, she shivered violently, but the bone-chilling cold was still unable to match the frost that entered her heart.

“They all say George spoils you, but I don’t see it now.” A saccharine voice came from behind her. Kelly did not have to turn around to know that it was Amanda.

Without changing her expression or opening her mouth, Kelly kept scrubbing Amanda's underwear.

Amanda seemed to be in a good mood. She kept on talking while nibbling on a roast of sweet potatoes. “Look at you, your fingers are red and swollen from the cold. You must be miserable, aren’t you?”

Then she gloated, "Just now, George bought me this roasted sweet potato to cheer me up. It’s so warm and delicious.

When she saw Kelly refused to engage and kept her head down while washing her clothes, Amanda grew bored. Then she glinted with malice as she sought to provoke her. “Imagine that, the adopted daughter of a military general is no better than a stray dog.”

"Look at this …."

Kelly turned her head. At that time, Amanda's hand went to her neck and pulled out a jade pendant dangling on a red cord.

Kelly gasped. It was the same amulet that she had given to George. Her expression turned angry instantly and she lunged forward to snatch it back. “That’s mine! You have no right to wear it!”

Irritation flickered across Amanda’s face. “This worthless trinket? Even beggars wouldn’t take it!”

With a spiteful grin, she yanked the red cord off her neck and hurled the amulet into the river. The jade pendant disappeared beneath the water and it instantly created a ripple on the surface.

Amanda smirked triumphantly. “I’ve thrown away your precious treasure. What can you possibly do about it? If you dare run to George and tattle, I’ll jump into the river and tell him you pushed me in. Who do you think he’ll believe?”

Kelly's heart ached as if it was slashed by a blade. Of course, Amanda was George's beloved and it wasn’t surprising he had given her the amulet. However, that amulet was more than just a trinket for her, it was more important than her own life! So, without any hesitation, Kelly jumped into the freezing river.

Amanda was frozen in shock. Her mind was racing with fright. The river was deadly cold in the winter. A plunge like that could easily spell disaster. One could easily freeze to death because of the cold and by jumping, Kelly would probably lose her life.

Amanda's face which was initially filled with fear changed into a sinister one. She really hoped Kelly met her demise at the bottom of the river. Then she slipped away from the riverbank.

"No one will know I was there if I did not say anything. Kelly, consider yourself unlucky!”

Yet as she had just walked a few steps away, Amanda came face-to-face with George.

“Is Kelly over there? I think I just heard her voice,” he asked, his brows furrowed.

Panic surged through Amanda's heart, but she quickly stepped in front of him. “No, she’s not there!”

“Kelly probably was sulking somewhere to get your attention. Let’s check over there instead,” she suggested, as she steered him in the opposite direction, all the while she was silently praying he wouldn’t uncover the secret buried in the river.

Meanwhile, Kelly was swimming at the bottom of the river. She was frantically searching for the amulet.

The icy river was too cold. It sapped her strength and numbed her hands and feet. Her movement became slower and heavier.

Was it time to give up? No! She couldn't. That amulet was her mother’s only keepsake. It was a treasure beyond measure.

With her heart full of despair, Kelly groped around the bottom of the river. She thought she was going to die in this river when suddenly her finger touched the pendant.

The moment she grabbed the amulet, Kelly quickly swam upward. Yet, the moment her head broke through the water, her ankle was ensnared by underwater weeds and she could not move.

"Help!" she yelled