Chapter 3

I watched their figures disappear, my mind drifting back to when I was eighteen.

On a snowy night during new recruit training, he snuck an armored vehicle out to show me the stars.

On the frosted window, he wrote, "Ryder Vance will only ever love Sarah Stone."

I breathed on the glass, asking, "What if you break your promise?"

He kissed me, cupping the back of my neck, his camo uniform brushing my cheek.

"I won't. I only want you."

I slid down the cold wall, slowly sinking to the floor, tears mingling with blood.

I laughed hollowly, murmuring, "Ryder, you liar!"

I woke up in the hospital. Outside my room, a crowd was gathered around the room next door, whispering and pointing.

Inside, Brenda Vance, Ryder's mother, was fuming.

"I wondered why Sarah collapsed at home! You weren't there to watch over her; turns out you were here protecting this… this woman!"

She turned to the two security officers behind her. "What are you waiting for? If she wants to act like a tramp, then let her! She likes being a mistress, she likes sleeping her way up? Go! Strip her clothes off!"

The security officers stepped forward, but Ryder swiftly moved to block them.

His shoulder strap was askew, his eyes bloodshot.

"Today, anyone who touches her will have to answer to me, Ryder!"

Brenda, enraged, hurled her purse at him.

A metal clasp cut his forehead, a bead of blood seeping into his thick eyebrow.

Sara, who had been cowering behind Ryder, suddenly rushed out, falling to her knees on the cold tile floor with a thump.

"Mrs. Vance! It's all my fault! Punish me, please, but don't hurt Commander Vance!"

Ryder, who hadn't flinched when he was hit, now his face instantly changed.

He hastily bent down to pull Sara up. "What are you doing? Get up now."

The two of them tangled together, embracing like a pair of star-crossed lovers pushed to their limits.

Through the shifting figures, Ryder's gaze met mine.

He let go of Sara as if electrocuted. "Sarah…"

I pushed through the crowd, putting my hand on Brenda's trembling arm. "Just forget it."

Those three words seemed to drain all my strength.

I led Brenda, still furious and trying to hit Sara, back to my own hospital room.

Ryder followed. His voice was hoarse, as if he was making an immense compromise.

"Sarah, it's my fault. I didn't control myself."

"I'll apply for a transfer away from her. From now on… I'll make it up to you. Please, stop bullying her."

I was speechless.

Bullying.

What a ridiculous word.

As if I were some villain tearing apart true lovers.

No sooner had he finished speaking than a young nurse's scream echoed from outside.

"Patient in Room 302 tried to slit her wrists!"

Ryder's face instantly changed, and he turned to leave.

Brenda blocked the doorway. "You try to walk out today!"

He shoved her aside, rushing towards the door.

I staggered, crashing into the IV pole, the needle tearing from my hand, leaving a crimson trail.

Brenda quickly knelt to support me, tears streaming down her face. "Sarah…"

Tears in my own eyes, I whispered,

"Brenda, I've already submitted the divorce papers to the Department of Military Affairs."

After seeing Brenda off, I returned to my hospital bed. My phone suddenly pinged with a notification.

I opened it to find Sara Lee's secondary account had updated.

She posted three photos.

The first showed two hands clasped together.

The second was a shot of Ryder's gentle profile, focused on peeling a pear for her;

The third showed her leaning against Ryder, looking up and kissing him.

The caption read: [Military relationships are tough, but true love never fears waiting. I, this persistent gambler, have finally won back my hero. From now on, you're mine.]

Below, Ryder's secondary account replied almost instantly: [Yes, forever yours.]

I stared at that reply, feeling a strange sense of settled relief wash over me.

With a light tap, I unfollowed and blocked both their secondary accounts, then uninstalled the tracking app and dashcam app I'd used to monitor Ryder's movements.

Four months after Ryder supposedly returned to our family, I finally… broke free from my obsession with him.