Chapter 1

1.

I gave Jack Callahan ten years of my life.

From twenty to thirty, I spent the best decade of my life as his shadow.

I picked out his suits for promotion dinners, planned the key points for every one of his briefings, and managed his entire messy social network. I even gave up three opportunities to advance my own career at the Pentagon for him.

Everyone in our circle said that I, Grace Miller, was lucky to be marrying Jack, the youngest and most legendary Captain in Delta Force.

But I never got a wedding in a chapel.

Instead, at the annual awards ceremony for the entire Fort Bragg base, he personally pinned the Army Commendation Medal that should have been mine onto another woman’s chest.

In that moment, I just had to laugh.

That night, I called off our engagement and submitted a transfer request―to the harshest military outpost in the entire country, "Whiskey Point" in Alaska.

He thought I was just throwing a tantrum.

"Grace, stop it," he said at the time. "Come back in a month, and I'll pretend this never happened."

He had no idea that when I walked away, I never planned on looking back.

Later, I heard that the unbeatable Special Forces ace searched for me all over the world like a madman.

…

"The recipient of the Army Commendation Medal for this year's 'Aegis' Cyber Defense Project is―Counselor Chloe Vance!"

The announcer's voice boomed through the speakers as a spotlight hit Chloe. She was in a brand-new Class A uniform, her face beaming with a mix of surprise and pride, glowing like a California sunflower.

I sat in the audience, the thunderous applause making my ears ring.

My fingertips went cold, my nails digging into my palms.

The "Aegis" project. A six-month-long border cybersecurity initiative. For 180 days, I led the tech team through countless sleepless nights, fueled by coffee, coding line by line, drawing schematic after schematic, pulling one all-nighter after another.

At the party celebrating the project's success, Jack raised a glass of bourbon, a rare, relaxed smile on his face.

He had said, "Grace, you worked hard. You deserve this medal more than anyone."

And I believed him.

But now, the person standing on stage, soaking in all the glory, was Chloe.

She was the daughter of the base commander, General Vance. She had only transferred here two months ago as a psychological counselor. She was cute and bubbly, and everyone loved her. She had only visited the project team three times, each time to bring Jack his favorite gourmet coffee.

I looked up at Jack, who was center stage.

He stood tall in his dress uniform, the silver bars on his shoulders gleaming under the lights. He took the golden medal and leaned in, carefully, pinning it to Chloe's uniform.

I was too far away to see his expression.

But I could see Chloe looking up at him, her eyes sparkling like she was staring at the stars.

And I could see that as he adjusted her medal, they were standing less than a foot apart.

Jack had a strict personal space boundary. As a special operator, he never let anyone―except me―get that close.

For ten years, I thought I was the only exception.

But what did it all amount to? Ten years of devotion couldn't compete with one sweet smile.

A chill shot up my spine, as if my blood had turned to ice.

I took a deep breath, keeping a calm smile plastered on my face.

A colleague next to me nudged my arm, whispering, "Grace, what's going on? Weren't you in charge of this project?"

"Yeah, why would Captain Callahan give the credit to Miss Vance? She just got here, didn't she?"

I shook my head, my voice even. "Yes, sir."

The murmurs around me faded away.

That's right. He was the commander. His decision was an order.

After the ceremony, the crowd dispersed. Jack was surrounded by a group of officers, with Chloe right by his side, chattering about something that made everyone laugh.

Jack's eyes scanned the crowd and landed on me.

He looked like he wanted to say something, but he just frowned slightly before being swept away by the group.

That look, a sort of entitled reassurance, seemed to say: You’ve always been reasonable, you should understand my decision.

I stood there until the hallway was empty.

The medal that should have been mine was like a needle piercing my heart. A decade of frustration and silent sacrifices erupted in that single moment.

I went back to the apartment Jack and I shared in Fayetteville.

It was less of a home and more of his personal logistics base. For ten years, I had managed every aspect of his life from here.

The walls were covered with his awards and photos with his comrades. The bookshelf was filled with his favorite books on military strategy. In the walk-in closet, his various uniforms were hung neatly on one side, my dresses on the other, like two separate worlds.

I walked into the closet and pulled out my small suitcase.

I didn't have much. A few outfits, a couple of books. It only took me ten minutes to pack.

Finally, I opened the drawer of the nightstand. Inside lay a small, blue velvet box.

I opened it. A simple, elegant diamond ring.

He said we would get married after his next mission.

I picked it up, feeling the cold metal, and then gently placed it on the nightstand.

After that, I took out my phone and sent Jack a text message.

No questions, no fighting. Just a few simple words.

"Jack, we're done. The engagement is off."

Then, I blocked him on everything.

Dragging my suitcase, I walked out of the house I had poured ten years of my youth into, without a single shred of sentimentality.

The door clicked shut behind me, closing the first chapter of my life.