Chapter 2

Andrew's fingers kept drumming on the table. I knew that was his way of showing impatience.

"I'm not throwing a fit. I can go with you to the unit office right now, admit I was wrong, and cancel the marriage application," I said.

Andrew looked at me in disbelief, like he couldn't process what I'd just said.

He smirked, unable to hide his sarcasm. "You think marriage is some kind of joke? After all the drama, we've already signed the papers, and now you're saying you want out?"

I lowered my eyes, a sarcastic chuckle bubbling up inside. Honestly, he was just acting for Maisy.

In the previous timeline, I caused such a fuss before the boss that the unit decided to send Maisy off to some harsh posting in the mountains.

To keep her safe, Andrew was forced to get together with me. All just to give Maisy a decent place to land.

"So you do know marriage isn't some game? When you faked those papers for me, did it ever cross your mind that this is my whole future we're talking about?" I snapped.

But just as I started to speak, his aide rushed over, drowning out my words.

"Andrew, Maisy cut her finger while working in the fields and is insisting on seeing you," the aide reported.

Andrew shot to his feet and bolted straight for the fields behind the compound.

Watching from afar, through the gate, I saw him kneel in front of Maisy, carefully lift her hand, and gently blow on her injured finger.

Back in those years we were together, whenever I got hurt and started crying, Andrew would always give me that stern look.

"We're soldiers, here to protect our country. Being part of a soldier's family, you can't be so soft," he'd always say.

With tears blurring my vision, I watched as Andrew took Maisy's hand and started waltzing with her right there in the field, just to cheer her up.

I'd begged him so many times before to learn a few dance steps, just so he could go with me to a dance.

But every time, he always refused, claiming it was against the rules for a soldier.

The one he truly loved was someone who could be playful and even make him break the rules he set for himself.

I had only ever been the most suitable partner for him, never the favored one.

I wiped my tears, took a deep breath, and started gathering my things for the trip I'd be leaving on in seven days.

From now on, Andrew and I were done.

But I never expected that the very next day, I'd get a call from my school teacher.

"Rita, you just picked up your acceptance letter. Why are you suddenly not going?" the teacher asked.

I gripped the phone tightly. "Who said that?"

The teacher hesitated, clearly uncomfortable. "Colonel Patton just came by to pick up your acceptance letter. He said since you're married, it wouldn't be convenient for you to go abroad. I told him you'd already taken it yesterday, and he left in a huff."

Just as I was about to speak, a rough, calloused hand grabbed the phone and slammed it down.

Andrew's face was filled with annoyance. "You fought tooth and nail to get married, and now you're suddenly picking up your college acceptance letter? You're my wife! You're not going anywhere abroad!"

I snapped, "Since you don't want to be married, why do you care what I'm doing?"

My words left him speechless. After a long moment, he finally said, breathing heavily, "I've already decided to give that opportunity to Maisy. I owe her."

Andrew grabbed my wrist, his grip so tight it hurt.

"Rita, hand it over," he ordered.

I clung to my pocket as if my life depended on it, my voice sharp and almost hysterical. "This spot was granted to me because my father died a hero! Even if I give it up, you can't just hand it over to someone else!"

Andrew's expression turned cold. He gripped my hand and forced my fingers apart, prying them open one by one with brute strength.

The pain shot through my ten fingers, and I heard the sound of bones breaking.

He pulled the acceptance letter from my pocket and held it tightly to his chest.

"Rita, you have me now. You don't need these things anymore," Andrew said coldly.

I curled up on the floor, the pain making it impossible to move.

Andrew walked away without even looking back, not a hint of hesitation.

I stared at his retreating figure, tears pouring down my face. I cried so hard I ended up laughing.

My fingers were swollen and throbbing from the break, and I could only crawl across the floor in agony. After a struggle, I managed to get under the bed and carefully opened the box I'd stashed there. Inside was the real acceptance letter.

Luckily, I was smart enough to plan ahead. I'd put a fake acceptance letter in my pocket on purpose, just for him to find.

Just like in the previous timeline, after we got married, Andrew handed the chance to study abroad over to Maisy, all to make it up to her.

With that opportunity, she went overseas for her degree and ended up becoming a college professor.

As for me, I spent my days circling around my husband and kids. And after decades of marriage, I was nothing but a worn-out housewife.

"No wonder Dad goes for women like Maisy. She's educated and sophisticated. Look at you, you don't know anything except how to cook and clean," my daughter would say.

"Mom, Dad's such a catch. He should be with someone better. How could you be so selfish and break them up?" my son would chime in.