My Marriage: His Debt to Another Woman Chapter 01

My Marriage: His Debt to Another Woman Chapter 01

When Jake told me he was leaving—for the sake of his fallen comrade’s widow—he expected me to do what I always did. Get hurt, give in, and eventually, accept it.

He was wrong.

I nodded. “Fine. My lawyer will contact you about the divorce papers.”

The look on his face shifted, as if he hadn’t heard me right.

“Divorce?”

“Yes. Divorce.”

He scrambled to explain. It was only temporary, he said. Chloe had been in a terrible state, and he just wanted to help her get back on her feet.

I just looked at him, my hand tightening around the pregnancy report I’d just printed, careful to keep it hidden.

“Jake, you’re not helping her,” I said. “You’re using our marriage to pay some debt you think you owe her. But as of today, my debt to you is paid.”

…

Just a few hours ago, none of this was my life.

Back then, I was still clinging to a sliver of hope as I rushed to the annual charity dinner for fallen service members. In the restroom, I stood before the mirror, touching up my lipstick, trying to paint over the exhaustion etched into my face.

But I never made it through the banquet hall doors. As I reached for the handle, I heard Jake’s voice drift from the nearby lounge, followed by the familiar rumble of his old squad mates.

“Damn, Jake, you really go all out for Chloe. Did you actually get her that brooch Elara made?”

Another man chimed in, his voice dripping with contempt.

“Please. When Jake asks, has his little jewelry-making wife ever said no?”

My feet froze to the floor.

Then someone asked, “How’d you swing it? That’s a major auction piece tonight. I heard the starting bid is steep.”

“He promised Chloe,” another voice said. “She’s been spiraling again, and he said he had to do something to pull her out of it.”

I stood outside the door, my fingers strangling the heavy velvet curtain until my knuckles turned white. Through the gap, I could see the blur of lights and guests moving through the hall. Over in the lounge, Jake was surrounded by his friends, his expression relaxed, almost proud.

Not far from them, Chloe was perched on a sofa in a simple black dress. Her head was bowed in that fragile, broken-bird look I’d seen a hundred times. But from this angle, I could just make out the ghost of a smile playing on her lips.

We’d been married three years, and for three years I had tried so hard to break into his world. I thought tonight—a dinner honoring the man who died to save him—would be the closest I’d ever get.

I’d spent the last month designing and handcrafting a sapphire brooch for the auction. I named it ‘Guardian.’ I donated it, of course—I didn’t want a cent. It was supposed to be a sign of respect.

Now I understood. To them, it was just another trinket to be snatched up and given to another woman to soothe her feelings.

While I stood there, paralyzed, one of them finally hesitated.

“Jake, isn’t that a little rough on Elara?”

I held my breath, waiting for his answer.

Then I heard Jake’s voice.

It held no trace of guilt. Only weary impatience.

“There’s no other way,” he sighed. “It’s the only thing that will calm Chloe down.”