The General's Secret WifeChapter 2

I went to the familiar old diner where we used to grab food back in our academy days.

The moment we met, Anna grinned and handed me a wedding invitation.

The cover was embossed with gold foil. Inside, a photo of her and Eason, beaming. Below it, their signatures, side-by-side.

"He said he wanted to show how much he values my friends and family, so he signed every single one of their invitations by hand," Anna said, her eyes soft with a light that I recognized all too well whenever she spoke of her fiancé.

The words I had practiced, the truth I had come to tell, all caught in my throat.

I was silent for a long time before I finally found my voice. "Anna," I said softly, "I can't make it to your wedding. I'm being transferred away from the base soon."

Anna’s smile faltered. "What? Why?"

"I got divorced."

Her eyes instantly reddened. "Did that bastard hurt you? Tell me who he is! I'll have my Eason teach him a lesson!"

The truth rolled to the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed it back down.

I squeezed her hand tightly. "Anna, your fiancé… what’s he like?"

"Eason is wonderful to me," she said, a gentle warmth spreading through her eyes. "You'll see when you meet him."

Before the words had even faded, her face lit up and she waved towards the door. "Eason! Over here!"

I had imagined confronting Eason a thousand times, in a thousand different scenarios, but never like this.

He walked towards us, his uniform immaculate, the star on his epaulet glinting under the diner lights.

I stared into his eyes, searching for a flicker of panic, a hint of guilt.

There was nothing.

His stride hesitated for a fraction of a second when he saw me, but he recovered instantly, extending a hand with practiced ease. "Good to meet you, Doctor Collins. Anna mentions you often. I'm Eason Pierce, her fiancé."

His voice was as steady as ever, as if we were truly strangers meeting for the first time.

I slowly raised my hand to shake his.

My mind flashed back to six years ago, to him kneeling before me under the regimental flag. He’d slipped the ring on my finger and whispered, "Hello. I'm Eason Pierce, your husband."

"This life, I am loyal to you, and to our country."

Anna's gaze lingered on our joined hands, a flicker of confusion in her smile. "Hey, you two… you're looking at each other kind of funny. Have you met before?"

The air in the diner seemed to thicken, to freeze.

Before Eason could speak, I pulled my hand back and pasted a calm smile on my face. "No, we haven't."

I turned to him, my voice clear and steady. "General Pierce, a pleasure to meet you. I'm Nina Collins, Anna's best friend."

Eason retracted his hand, his posture ramrod straight. "Likewise. This is the first time."

"So formal on the first meeting!" Anna teased, lightly punching his arm. "Nina and I have been through hell and back together. If you ever dare to bully me, she'll come after you with a scalpel, I swear!"

Eason managed a small smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "With Doctor Collins watching over me, I wouldn't dare."

The air in my lungs felt thin, suffocating. I had to get out of there. Now.

"Alright, you two lovebirds can have your moment. I don't want to be a third wheel," I said, grabbing my coat. My tone was so breezy it felt like a lie even to myself. "Anna, I'm so happy for you. I have to get back to the hospital, I've got a surgery."

"Nina—" Anna started, trying to make me stay.

"Remember, it's a secret for now," I cut her off, giving Eason one last, deep look before turning and walking away.

It wasn't until I found an empty corner outside that my strength gave out. I leaned against the cold brick wall, clamping a hand over my mouth to choke back the sobs that threatened to tear me apart.

My phone vibrated in my pocket, the special ringtone I’d set for him grating on my nerves. I wiped my face and answered.

Two encrypted messages:

"Waiting for you at the house."

"Return at once."