Chapter 1

My husband brought his ex-girlfriend and her son home after learning she’d divorced.

He even let her son put a potent, dangerous abortifacient into my food.

I nearly bled to death, writhing in agony, but he just held Evelyn’s son close and calmly declared, "Don't worry, Daddy Derek will only ever have you as his child."

I didn’t fight back. Derek visibly relaxed, a wave of relief washing over his face.

But what he didn't know was that I'd just signed a top-secret agreement with the government, and soon, I would vanish from his world entirely.

"Aurora Collins, we'll finalize your divorce once you sign. Are you absolutely sure about this?"

My superior, Captain Reed, looked at my pale face, his eyes heavy with concern.

My lower abdomen still pulsed with the phantom pain of a recent miscarriage.

I sat on the hospital bed, carefully signing my name, stroke by painful stroke.

"My duty comes before my personal life."

"What duty?"

The hospital room door swung open.

Derek Miller, dressed in his military uniform, strode in, carrying Evelyn Hayes' son, Leo, in his arms. Evelyn stood by his side, her hand linked with his, leaning into him.

At first glance, they looked like the picture-perfect happy family of three.

Who would remember that I was Derek Miller's legal wife, the one he’d officially married?

Seeing me, Evelyn put on a pitiful act.

"Rory, how are you feeling?"

Before I could even reply, she dropped to her knees by my bed, tears streaming down her face.

"Leo didn't mean to put the abortifacient in your food. I’m begging you, please don't let him go to jail!"

At that, Leo jumped out of Derek's arms.

He lunged at my blanket, snarling at me like a feral pup.

"Bad woman! I won't let you have babies! You won't steal my daddy!"

Daddy?

I looked up at Derek, my heart twisting as if ground by a dull knife.

Derek's gaze flickered, avoiding mine. He bent down and picked up Leo.

"Don't be scared, Leo. Daddy will only ever have you as his child."

Only then did he look back at me. His voice, usually so gentle, now carried a hint of impatience.

"Rory, the child didn't know any better. Don't hold it against him."

"Our baby... it's gone. It’s fine. We can just focus on raising Leo together."

My abdomen still throbbed, but my heart had already plummeted into an abyss.

I struggled to keep my voice from trembling.

"Yeah. You're right. It’s better this way."

If the baby had been born, he would have been heartbroken seeing his own father act like this...

Maybe it was my sudden compliance, but a flicker of panic crossed Derek's eyes.

He opened his mouth to say something more, but Leo, overjoyed, immediately hugged Derek.

"Yay, Daddy! Can you and Mommy take me skiing now?"

Evelyn cast me a hesitant glance, offering a forced smile.

She pulled at the restless child.

"Leo, stop bothering your daddy!"

But Derek simply said, "It's fine!"

He turned to Captain Reed, requesting, "Please approve our leave. I want to take them skiing."

He didn't spare me another glance.

Nor did he bother to ask why Captain Reed was even here.

Captain Reed looked at me, then at Evelyn and her son.

Finally, with a subtle look, he responded, "Very well."

The 'family of three' before me instantly beamed with joy.

When Derek's gaze finally landed on my pale face, his smile froze, a fleeting mix of guilt and pity flashing in his eyes.

"You should come too."

I didn’t refuse.

I did need to pack, but not for skiing.

Derek had no chance to say anything else before Leo tugged him away, chattering excitedly.

Evelyn shot me a triumphant look.

"So sorry, Rory. I had no idea Derek liked Leo so much."

Then she hurried after them, her retreating figure disappearing through the doorway.

The hospital room fell silent again.

I clutched the white bedsheet, Captain Reed's sigh echoing in my ears.

"I understand the situation. Seven days from now, come to the base to pick up your divorce certificate."