Chapter 1: Return and Departure

Shelia’s POV

Hugh was coming back!

After Grandma told me the news yesterday, I rushed to my room and tried on every dress I owned, spending the entire evening in front of the mirror.

It had been a year since he left to be a pilot with the peacekeeping forces. Throughout that year, I'd woken up countless times from nightmares of him in danger, and just as often daydreamed about jumping into his arms when we reunited. But in reality, I hadn't received a single message from him all year.

No news is good news, I kept telling myself.

Grandma said his flight was due to land at 9:25 AM. I woke up at 5 to do my makeup and drove to the airport.

It was already 11 AM. I checked my watch, wondering if Grandma had gotten the time wrong. Then I saw his tall figure in military uniform emerge from the crowd. At 6'3", he was hard to miss. I started running towards him in my high heels.

Wait, who was that woman next to him? I slowed down, noticing his hand on her waist as he leaned in close, whispering something in her ear.

"Hugh!" My body reacted before my mind could catch up, and I found myself throwing my arms around him.

He clearly hadn't noticed me and instinctively stepped back, nearly causing me to fall.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

His face was tanned, and his once-clean chin now sported a circle of dark stubble, giving him a rugged look. But instead of joy, I saw a flicker of panic in his eyes.

"Grandma asked me to pick you up. I've been waiting for ages. This must be your colleague?"

I studied the woman beside him. She was tall and also in military uniform, with a bandage on her left arm. Short brown hair framed her thin face, and her eyes were the same olive green as Hugh's, matching the olive branch on their sleeves.

"Hello, Shelia." She gave me a graceful smile. Her face seemed familiar, but I couldn't place it.

"You should head home," Hugh said, gently removing my hand from his arm. "I've already arranged for a driver to pick us up. We'll talk later."

"No need to wait. We can drop your colleague off on the way home," I insisted, forcing a big smile to hide my embarrassment.

"I said, go home first. I'll take Esther home myself," Hugh replied, a hint of impatience in his voice.

I froze. So this was Esther Robertson, Hugh's ex-girlfriend. Esther had been taken in by Hugh's father when she was 10 and had lived with their family ever since. But she'd left for France three years ago and hadn't been back since. How were they together now? And why was Esther wearing a peacekeeping uniform?

"Hugh, I'm a bit thirsty," Esther said with a small smile.

"There's a coffee shop over there," he replied. Then, with a sigh, he turned to me. "You should go home now." With that, he put his arm around her and walked towards the coffee shop.

"Hugh!" I called out his name, silently counting in my head: one, two, three. He didn't look back.

I turned and left, tears welling up uncontrollably. I had every right to be angry, and to argue, but the unspoken understanding between them made me feel like an intruder. My anger dissolved into dejection and helplessness.

I drove home alone, my vision blurred by tears. The 30-minute journey saw me run two red lights.

Back at the house, as I passed the second floor, I glanced down the hallway at Esther's room. In our estate, there was always a room for Esther. And in Hugh's heart, I feared there would always be a place for her too.

My room was on the third floor. Hugh and I had always slept separately since our marriage. Before joining the military, Hugh had worked for the fire department, living in a city apartment during the week and only coming home on weekends. I stayed at the estate to help care for Grandma.

Suddenly, I heard a woman's moan coming from Esther's room. My blood ran cold. Could it be Hugh and Esther? I couldn't bear the thought, but found myself drawn to her door. It was slightly ajar. Pushing it open, I saw a naked couple by the window, in the midst of lovemaking.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Carol Thornton, Hugh's step sister, grabbed the curtain to cover herself. The young, handsome man with curly hair was still inside her, and even had the audacity to wink at me.

"I should be asking you that. Gross！" I retorted.

"You're just jealous. It's been a year since you've fucked a man, hasn't it, widow?" Carol sneered.

"Jealous of your disgusting behavior?" I rolled my eyes and turned to leave, but I heard her deliberately raise her voice,

"She used to be just a nanny for my grandmother. Tricked my stepbrother into marrying her. A nanny and a bastard, what a perfect match!"

Carol had been unemployed since graduating from college two months ago. Apart from arguing with me, she seemed incapable of doing anything productive.

She'd once dreamed of being a celebrity, and her mother had spent a fortune trying to get her into Hollywood. But instead of landing any decent roles, she'd only managed to get photographed doing drugs and having sex at parties. Her father had cut off her credit cards and ordered her home. Old habits die hard, and Carol had probably christened every corner of this house.

Back in my room, I didn't know what to do. The old Hugh had always been cold, but he'd been that way with everyone. This new Hugh felt like a stranger. It turned out he did have a gentle side; the way he held Esther was tender. A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts.

"Shelia, we need to talk."

I opened the door to find Hugh standing there with a file folder.

"These are divorce papers. This card has 20 million in it." He handed me the folder, his eyes darting around the room, unable to meet mine.

"You came prepared. Is the military so relaxed that you have time to date?" I couldn't help but mock him.

"I don't want to argue. Our marriage was a mistake from the start. You can stay here if you want. Grandma is used to your care. I'll pay you a monthly salary. Once I find a place, Esther and I will move out."

"Salary? For these three years, have you seen me as a prostitute or a nanny? You didn't call it a mistake when you were sleeping with me." I couldn't stop myself from slapping him hard, fighting back tears.

"You know that's not what I meant. Why are you always so unreasonable? You don't have a job, I just..."

"Enough! Get out!" I cut him off, throwing his bank card and the divorce papers at him, “Get out right now!”

After slamming the door, I buried my face in my pillow, not even daring to cry out loud. Heartbreak and shame battled in my chest, neither clearly winning.

Downstairs, Carol's grating laughter and the hurried footsteps of the staff indicated preparations for a welcome party. A celebration I wasn't part of.

Once I'd calmed down, I made a phone call.

An hour later, I left Hugh's family estate. No one even noticed I was gone.