The Comments Said My Dead Officer Husband Had Returned Chapter 03

The Comments Said My Dead Officer Husband Had Returned Chapter 03

The next morning, I took the kids to the canteen.

The neighbors I passed in the hallway had been laughing and chatting, but the moment they saw me, their voices dropped. After I walked by, they started whispering again.

“…that’s her?”

“Yeah, came in last night. With two kids.”

“Heard she’s here for Colonel Wellington?”

“That’s what they say. Who knows if they’re even his…”

I acted like I didn’t hear anything. One kid on each hand, I kept walking.

The canteen was even worse. When I got in line, the people in front of me moved aside with their trays—not to be polite. They just didn’t want to stand next to me.

The comments popped up.

[What’s wrong with these people? Madeline didn’t do anything wrong.]

[You haven’t heard? Celeste was chatting everyone up last night. She said this woman showed up out of the blue with kids to find Colonel Wellington without any prior notice, which was really abrupt.]

[She also claimed the children looked pitiful enough, yet their sudden arrival raised so many doubts. What if they aren’t even Colonel Wellington’s children? It’d be such an injustice if he ended up being stuck with someone else’s burden.]

I hadn’t even sat down for a minute when Celeste walked over with her thermos and sat at the table next to ours.

“This oatmeal is pretty good. A little thick, though. Elias doesn’t like it thick.”

“Celeste, you know what Elias likes to eat?”

“You get to know someone after a while. He barely smiled for three years. I’m about the only one he’d respond to when I talked to him.”

The woman next to her laughed. “That’s true. You and Colonel Wellington go way back.”

Celeste smiled, didn’t deny it, and lowered her head to eat her oatmeal.

More comments.

[Celeste and Elias have such a good connection. I heard he’s already started the paperwork to marry her.]

[Really? Then why is Madeline here?]

[Probably to fight for custody. Elias is about to belong to Celeste. She must be desperate.]

My brain buzzed. Marriage? He was going to marry Celeste?

I put down my cutlery and turned my head to look directly at Celeste. “Ms. Perez. What’s your relationship with Elias?”

She looked up, her smile warm. “We’re coworkers, of course.”

“Coworkers? Then why did I hear you two are getting married?”

Celeste’s smile froze for a second. Then she lowered her head, her voice syrupy sweet. “Who told you that? That kind of thing… nothing’s set in stone yet.”

Nothing was set in stone. She didn’t deny it.

[Celeste is being shy. It’s definitely true.]

The blood rushed to my head.

Right then, Elias walked in.

He was in his training uniform, soaked with sweat. He scanned the canteen once and strode over.

I stood up, walked to him, and looked him in the eye. “Elias. Are you marrying Celeste?”

He froze for a second, his brow furrowing. “Who told you that?”

“Who told me doesn’t matter. Just answer me. Yes or no?”

Before he could answer, Celeste had already walked over and was standing half a step behind him, her voice soft. “Madeline, please don’t misunderstand. Colonel Wellington never promised me anything…”

“I’m asking him. Not you.”

I fixed a sharp gaze on Elias. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and his lips parted as he was about to speak, when Celeste’s eyes suddenly welled up with tears, her voice trembling.

“Madeline, I know you’ve had it tough, but about the kids… have you ever thought what if they aren’t Colonel Wellington’s? Wouldn’t you just be holding him back?”

My rage shot straight to the top of my skull. “Say that again.”

Celeste flinched back behind Elias, tears falling. “Madeline, I’m only speaking the truth…”

I raised my hand to slap her, but Elias caught my wrist in midair.

His grip was gentle yet firm. He frowned and lowered his voice. “Don’t cause a scene here.”

Don’t cause a scene here?

He stopped me.

He did nothing to stop Celeste.

He chose to hold me back instead.

I looked at his hand, then at Celeste behind him.

She had her head down, shoulders shaking, looking as wronged as if I’d been the one bullying her.

[Madeline was really going to hit Celeste? So trashy. Celeste was just telling the truth.]

[Good for Elias for stopping her. That kind of woman needs to be put in her place.]

I laughed.

I pulled my hand out of his, picked up Ava, took Jayden’s hand, and turned to leave.

“Mom…” Jayden looked up at me.

“Let’s go.”

“Madeline!” Elias called after me.

I didn’t look back.

“Stop making a fuss.”

Stop making a fuss. Those words again.

I quickened my pace and stepped out of the canteen into the glaring sunlight.

Behind me came the murmurs of the neighbors, and Celeste’s quiet sobbing.

Holding Ava in my arms and leading Jayden along, I walked away without a single glance backward.