By 8:45 AM, I was parked in the reserved DoD slot outside Westbridge. I stepped out in full dress, adjusting my collar. People turned to look as I passed through security.

“Good morning, Colonel,” the security guard said, scanning my credentials with practiced precision. The respect in his voice was unfamiliar—at least compared to what I’d heard at home.

I took the elevator to the executive floor. As the doors opened, the first person I saw was Ethan, tapping through a presentation on his tablet. He looked up, startled. “Cass? Why are you… what is that?”

I walked past him. “Good morning, Mr. Rhys. I’m here for the review.”

A few feet away, my father’s voice echoed. He came into view and stopped cold. “Cassandra? What’s going on? Why are you in uniform?” His eyes darted to those around him, reading their reactions. Slowly, it began to dawn on him.