Then months.

The war grew worse.

Food became scarce.

Buildings disappeared.

Entire families vanished overnight.

But somehow, in the middle of the destruction, their love grew stronger.

And more dangerous.

Then one night, everything changed.

James discovered a secret hidden inside Anna’s family home.

A secret powerful enough to get her executed.

A secret that explained why men had been watching her for weeks.

A secret that turned their impossible love story into a fight for survival.

Suddenly, escaping the war was no longer enough.

Now they had to escape the people hunting them.

And if they failed…

Neither would live long enough to see peace.

What James didn’t know was that someone close to him had already betrayed them.

And by the time he learned the truth, it might be too late.

The knock came just after midnight.

Three sharp knocks.

Then silence.

James froze.

The abandoned farmhouse where he and Anna had been hiding sat alone on the edge of the forest. No one was supposed to know they were there.

No one.

Anna’s face turned pale.

The lantern on the table flickered as another knock echoed through the darkness.

This time louder.

More demanding.

James slowly reached for the pistol hidden beneath his jacket.

His pulse hammered in his ears.

Outside, the wind rattled the loose shutters.

Neither of them moved.

Then they heard it.

Footsteps.

Several of them.

Circling the house.

Anna grabbed his arm.

« James… » she whispered.

Fear filled her voice.

The kind of fear that comes from recognizing something before anyone else does.

« They found us. »

James looked toward the window.

A shadow moved outside.

Then another.

And another.

Whoever was out there wasn’t alone.

For weeks they had been running.

Sleeping in barns.

Abandoned churches.

Collapsed buildings.

Never staying in one place for long.

Yet somehow the people hunting them always seemed one step behind.

Until now.

Now they were here.

James quietly pulled back the curtain.

The sight made his blood run cold.

A military truck.

Two motorcycles.

At least six armed men.

And standing among them was a face he recognized.

A face he trusted.

A face he would never have expected to see.

Sergeant Daniel Walker.

His closest friend.

The man who had saved his life months earlier during a battle.

The man who knew every route they had taken.

The man who knew every place they might hide.

The man who had betrayed them.

Anna saw his expression.

« What is it? » she asked.

James couldn’t answer.

For several seconds he simply stared.

Trying to understand how friendship could turn into betrayal.

Outside, a voice shouted.

« Corporal Carter! »

The words echoed through the night.

« We know you’re inside! »

Anna’s hands began trembling.

James turned toward her.

Something wasn’t right.

Not with Daniel.

Not with the soldiers.

And not with Anna.

Because instead of looking surprised…

She looked guilty.

The realization struck him like a bullet.

« You know something, » he said quietly.

Anna lowered her eyes.

His stomach tightened.

« What aren’t you telling me? »

Tears immediately filled her eyes.

For weeks she had promised there were no more secrets.

No more lies.

No more reasons to run.

But now James knew that wasn’t true.

Because whatever had brought armed men to their hiding place tonight…

It had started long before she met him.

Outside, another voice shouted.

« Last chance! »

A rifle bolt clicked.

Several more followed.

The sound echoed through the darkness.

James looked at the door.

Then back at Anna.

Then at the truck waiting outside.

Every instinct told him something terrible was about to happen.

And for the first time since they had fallen in love…

He wasn’t sure if the danger was outside the house.

Or sitting beside him.

Then Anna finally spoke.

Three words.

Three words that changed everything.

« My father lives. »

James stared at her.

Confused.

Terrified.

Certain he had heard her wrong.

Her father had supposedly died years ago.

That was the story she had always told.

But now tears streamed down her face.

And the truth was finally coming out.

« No, » she whispered.

« My father never died. »

The soldiers outside weren’t hunting her because of who she was.

They were hunting her because of who her father was.

And if James discovered the full truth…

He might never look at her the same way again.

Outside, the first gunshot shattered the night.

And the farmhouse windows exploded inward.