Chapter 3

Snapping back to reality, I grabbed the paperwork, including the marriage certificate I'd just gotten the day before.

I pushed Edward again to come with me and file for divorce.

But Edward, who was always telling me to stop having any crazy ideas about him, was now stalling and wouldn't budge.

I held back my frustration and explained, "Don't worry. We'll just get the divorce quietly. When it's the holidays, or Baylor and Caroline come to visit, I'll still keep my promise and play the part of your wife."

Edward cut me off, sounding irritated. "No way. You think you can just walk away from a military marriage? If we want a divorce, we have to submit a request to the military. Once that goes through, my parents will definitely find out.

"Susan, are you trying to get Lottie killed?"

I was caught off guard. I honestly hadn't realized that getting a divorce meant reporting to the military authorities.

Seeing me speechless, Edward's serious expression softened into a faint smile.

He reassured me, "Don't worry, your reputation is safe. I've already transferred Lottie to the military hospital. From now on, Lottie and I will both live there. You'll have the house to yourself."

My eyes lit up. "So, can I bring a guy over to stay?"

Edward's smile froze instantly. "You... You want to bring that guy home?"

I nodded eagerly. "Don't worry, I won't cheat on you. I'll just tell everyone he is my brother."

Edward opened his mouth, looked like he had something to say, but the words just wouldn't come.

I knew he wanted to lecture me about how a married woman shouldn't get too close to a guy, but he just couldn't say it out loud.

But he's the one who just said he'd be living with Charlotte somewhere else.

And now he's telling me I couldn't bring anyone home? Wasn't that unfair?

Seeing Edward about to blow a fuse, I struggled to keep a straight face and teased him, "If you think that bringing him here will get people talking, you could spot me some cash. I'll rent a place somewhere else for him. How about that?"

Edward froze for a second and then exploded like a cat whose tail had just been stepped on. "Susan, you seriously want to use my money to support some random guy out there?"

Seeing Edward totally losing it, I kept my cool and explained again, "Victor isn't some random guy. He's the one I love.

"If it wasn't for his family's bad reputation and my parents flat-out refusing, I never would've ended up in this sham marriage with you."

If I said the same thing about Charlotte, Edward would think I was being thoughtful and mature.

But when it came to Victor Grant, Edward looked like he'd just swallowed a mouthful of shit.

I couldn't help but sneer to myself. In my previous life, I even dropped hints to Edward that he should keep some distance from Charlotte.

He was still my husband on paper, but he messed around with another woman. If word got out, it'd make his folks lose face and totally mess up his future.

But what did Edward say back then?

He said, "Susan, don't use your country bumpkin, twisted way of thinking to insult what I have with Lottie. Sure, we care about each other, but we've never done anything inappropriate. Lottie and I are all clean and proper."

Now, I shot his own words right back at him. "Edward, I've already said it. Victor and I are all clean and proper.

"Yeah, we care about each other, but we've never done anything inappropriate. If you still don't trust me, then let's get a divorce."

Edward wasn't yet the no-nonsense commander he'd become thirty years down the line.

He was way too scared his parents would make things difficult for Charlotte, so he didn't dare actually divorce me.

Edward sucked in a breath, his face dark as thunder. He pulled out a stack of cash from his jacket pocket and flung it at me.

He said, "Take it. Go feed your man with my money. And make sure he stays far away. I don't want him to show in front of me."