Chapter 2

2、

I hurried back to my tent and immediately began packing my things. I needed to find a way to slip out of the base tonight.

The letter said that since there was no one in the city to claim her, grandmother’s body had been sent back to our old coastal home for burial. I didn't need to go back to the capital at all.

Years ago, after losing her sons and husband, my grandmother had collapsed from grief. But she forced herself to stay strong to protect our name and me.

With Shawn’s help, those first two years weren't so bad. But once Shawn followed his father to the front lines, the greedy relatives returned.

An old woman and a young girl were no match for them. Our home was seized, and we were kicked out to a dilapidated cottage on the outskirts.

Grandmother fell ill and never got back up. I didn't have a single cent to pay for a doctor or medicine.

Just when I was at my most desperate, Shawn returned. He told me he could get the best medical care for her, but only if I married him.

He was my only lifeline. And because I had loved him for so long, I agreed without a second thought.

On our wedding day, I sat on the bed in my bridal gown, blushing and waiting for him. I had dreamed of a life of happiness with him.

I never expected him to bring another woman into our bedroom on our very first night. When he lifted my veil, I saw the man I had missed so dearly.

He was taller and more rugged, but his eyes were full of hate. Behind him stood a beautiful, smiling girl.

“Evelyn, did you really think I married you because I still loved you?” he sneered.

“I was so good to you back then, and you humiliated me in public. You forced me to go to war just to escape the shame.”

“Now you belong to me. A wife must obey her husband, so start acting like it,” he said coldly.

“Get out and kneel in the hallway. Don’t you dare get up until I tell you to!”

That night, I knelt in my wedding dress while my husband laughed with another woman on our marriage bed. My dreams of a happy life turned to ash.

Back when the border tribes were attacking, the President had ordered the Supreme Commander to the front. But Shawn refused to leave because he wanted to stay and protect me.

His father came to see me. He told me Shawn was in his prime and couldn't ruin his future over a girl. He begged me to convince Shawn to go.

I tried to talk to him, but he wouldn't listen. In desperation, when he came to officially propose, I threw him out and insulted him in front of a crowd.

After that day, he never came back to see me. Five days later, I heard he had deployed.

I always thought I could explain everything when he came home a hero. I never thought he would hate me enough to deny me even a word of explanation.

The day after our wedding, he dragged me to this Southern base. People thought we were a devoted couple, but he just wanted more chances to hurt me.

I pulled out a small jade pendant from my bag. It was a gift from my grandmother before the wedding.

She wanted us to grow old together in love. I had failed her completely.