Chapter 2: A Mistaken Marriage

Hugh's POV

No one knew I'd be bringing Esther back.

"Esther, is that really you? You look so different! That outfit is so cool," Carol squealed. I've never understood how some women can produce sounds like nails on a chalkboard.

She quickly started directing the staff to prepare Esther's old room and instructed the kitchen to prepare dinner, declaring we'd have a welcome party tonight. Despite my strained relationship with my stepsister, her enthusiasm for Esther was somewhat reassuring.

After leaving Esther with Carol, I took a deep breath and knocked on Shelia's door. I'd rehearsed a long explanation in my head, but when I opened my mouth, all I could manage was,

"Please sign these divorce papers."

I knew proposing divorce to Shelia today was cruel, but some decisions need to be made quickly. Delaying would only hurt her more deeply and harm Esther too.

Her reaction was as expected. I picked up the bank card and divorce papers she'd thrown on the floor and left silently. She'd come around eventually, once she calmed down. She's still young, only 24 - five years younger than Esther - and quite impulsive.

I retrieved a spare medical kit from the storage room and asked Esther to come to my room so I could change her bandage. The gunshot wound on her left arm was because of me.

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A year ago, a close friend who was a pilot in the peacekeeping forces died. I enlisted without telling my family, wanting to honor his memory. Of course, another reason I chose the peacekeeping forces was Esther.

Three years ago, Esther chose my half-brother, Tyler Thornton, over me and followed him to France. I had to let her go. Tyler had lost his left leg in a fire ten years ago when a burning beam fell on him. He needed Esther's care more than I did. After Esther and Tyler left for France, we rarely communicated. Until a year ago, when Esther secretly came back to find me, saying she had always loved me and wanted us to start over.

By then, I was already married to Shelia. Even though this marriage wasn't my choice, Shelia wasn't as bad as I'd anticipated. She was clingy, impulsive, and lacked ambition, which could be annoying at times, but she was a simple and kind-hearted girl.

Esther's love came at an inconvenient time. Joining the peacekeeping forces seemed like my only option. Perhaps stepping away from my life for a while would help me see my heart more clearly.

What I didn't expect was to encounter Esther again on the battlefield three months after I joined.

That day, I was helping an injured comrade with a head wound to the medical bay when I saw a short-haired female doctor in a mask finishing up treatment on another soldier's abdominal wound. When she looked up, I recognized those green eyes immediately.

She had cut her hair short, her skin had roughened, and she no longer smelled of perfume, but she was more beautiful than I remembered. She didn't say anything, but I knew she was there for me. In that moment, I made my decision - Esther was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

As for Shelia, I could only try my best to make amends.

—

After changing Esther's bandage, I blew on her arm three times. She used to do the same for me when I was hurt, saying it would make the pain go away.

As I stood up and looked out the window, I saw a luxury car parked outside the estate. Shelia, in a red dress, walked towards it. A tall man in a suit got out and embraced her. He then opened the car door for her, and they drove away together.

I frowned. Who was this man?

As far as I knew, Shelia didn't have a job or many male friends. Her family was in Mexico and not well-off, so they couldn't afford such an expensive car. The man had Shelia's head buried in his chest, his hand caressing her long red hair. This intimate gesture bothered me. Yet, part of me felt that if this man truly had something with her, it might ease my guilt a little.

"You should go after her. She's still your wife, after all," Esther said, clearly having noticed the scene outside as well.

"No need. She's an adult and should understand the world doesn't revolve around her. Don't always worry about others. How's your arm feeling?"

"This little injury? It'll be fine in a couple of days, don't worry." To reassure me, Esther deliberately moved her left arm.

I held her hand tightly, painfully aware of how much I owed this woman.

In the evening, my father David Thornton, his wife Susan Middleton, and Grandma returned. They had accompanied Grandma to the hospital for a check-up; she had high blood pressure and often felt dizzy.

Esther and I changed clothes and went downstairs.

Grandma hugged me tightly, she seemed to have shrunk again. Since moving into this house with my mother when I was 15, Grandma had been the kindest to her. In fact, only Grandma and Esther had been good to my mother. To everyone else, my mother was just a servant who had ensnared a rich man, and I was just an illegitimate child.

"Esther's back too! Did you two come back together? Where's Shelia? I asked her to pick you up at the airport today," Grandma asked after releasing me. Her gaze at Esther was complex, showing both surprise and confusion.

"I've already asked Shelia for a divorce," I said.

"Divorce? Who told you to get a divorce? Shelia hasn’t treated you badly these past three years," Grandma glanced at Esther, seeming like she wanted to say something but held back.

“Nana, I've said before, Shelia only married Hugh for our money. She's been spending our money since the wedding. She's not half as good as Esther. She's only fooled you," Carol immediately chimed in, linking arms with Grandma.

Apart from stirring up trouble, this so-called sister really had no other talents. Any slight goodwill I felt towards her just moments ago was now completely extinguished.

"Hugh, divorce isn't a game. You've just returned. Let's put this matter aside for now," Father spoke up. He rarely interfered in my personal affairs, but he wasn't really concerned about my marriage – only about our "reputation."

"Your father is right. Even if Shelia is a good girl, haven’t we seen enough cases where divorce gets ugly? You’ve got the reputation of Thornton Aviation Group to uphold, you need to be careful," Susan, ever the obedient lapdog to my father, chimed in.

Amidst everyone’s arguing, Esther lowered her head further, looking utterly pitiful.

"I will handle everything between the three of us. Please respect Shelia and respect Esther as well." I pulled Esther to sit down at the dining table, and everyone else finally fell silent.

“This family is as suffocating as ever!” I scoffed inwardly.

Just then, I received a message from the unit:

"Attend the award ceremony and banquet at the W Hotel this Saturday."