I Agreed To Another Man After He Chose Her In The Collapse Chapter 10

I Agreed To Another Man After He Chose Her In The Collapse Chapter 10

The truth hit Nolan all at once. He tore free from the military police, charged across the room, and slapped

Vivian across the face.

One look at his face, and Vivian understood. He knew.

She didn’t flinch. She laughed.

“You idiot. You pathetic, useless idiot.”

Then she spat in Nolan’s face.

Every trace of the fragile, helpless woman was gone. This was who she’d always been.

Nolan’s regret came years too late.

The military police dragged Vivian away. The intelligence she’d funneled overseas over the years was enough

to put her away for life.

Nolan didn’t fare much better. Command had lost all faith in him.

They stripped him of his rank for good. His military career was over.

But when they sent someone to clear out his quarters, he was already gone. No one knew when he’d left.

The day Everett and I went to sign our marriage paperwork, Dad told me what had happened to Nolan.

I noticed something. Hearing his name didn’t hurt anymore. It didn’t feel like anything at all.

All I had left for him was pity.

Everett had brought a box of expensive pastries ahead of time.

On the way in, he handed them out to the courthouse staff, grinning like a kid.

I was about to sign when Nolan’s voice came from the doorway.

Nobody had been able to find him. And yet here he was.

He saw the unsigned paper and exhaled.

“Celia, come with me, okay?”

“That man standing next to you is poison. If it weren’t for him, none of this would’ve happened to me.”

His eyes were wild, locked on mine.

I didn’t look at him. I picked up the pen and signed.

Nolan lunged for me.

After what happened at the bridal shop, he must’ve figured Everett couldn’t fight.

He threw a punch. Everett caught his fist in midair and twisted his wrist, casually, almost gently.

Nolan’s whole body buckled.

One sharp kick to the back of the knee, and Nolan crashed to the floor at my feet.

“Good. Stay down there.”

“You wasted years of her life on a spy. You put her through all of that. And now you show up here trying to

ruin our wedding?”

Something in Everett’s words made Nolan’s eyes go sharp.

He jabbed a finger at Everett and turned to me.

“Look! He knows. He knows everything!”

“It’s all because of him. Everything that happened to me… it’s all…

Before Nolan could finish speaking, I kicked him away.

Even Everett looked surprised.

“Dad told me everything. None of it has anything to do with Everett!”

“Did Everett make you bring Vivian back? Did my husband force you to hand over that key?”

“You’re lucky they didn’t throw you in a cell right next to her. And you have the nerve to stand here blaming

other people? Get out!”

The clerk behind the counter held up the two copies of our marriage certificate. Perfect timing.

I took both copies, grabbed Everett’s hand, and walked out.

I didn’t look back.

In the car, Everett started to say something, an explanation, maybe.

Before he could speak, I kissed him.

“I believe you. You have nothing to explain.”

“Okay then, Mrs. Whitaker. Let’s go home.”

1 never saw Nolan again after that.

I heard, eventually, that he’d gone back to Northbridge.

But after years of wearing the rank, he couldn’t let go of having authority. Couldn’t stomach a regular civilian

job.

People avoided him. Some of them treated him like he’d lost his mind.

The day I heard all this, Everett was in the kitchen making me breakfast in bed.

I’d gotten out just in time.