Chapter 13
Valentina never returned, but Daniel’s marriage to Camille was still legally binding. No matter how much he despised the woman, she was now officially his wife.
The reality hit him when his superior officer suggested he might want to work on his home life if he expected any future promotions. That’s when Daniel realized his impulsive marriage had become a nightmare he couldn’t escape.
Once he’d tied himself to her, getting free wouldn’t be easy. Under pressure from both his family and the base leadership, he reluctantly allowed Camille to move back in.
However, any trace of their former intimacy was gone. Now there was nothing but resentment between them.
The house was filled with constant fighting and shouting. The peace he’d once known was completely destroyed.
The bedroom door flew open as Camille clicked in wearing high heels; her face twisted with irritation. “Daniel, what are you moping about now?”
Daniel slowly raised his head, his stare ice–cold and terrifying. “None of your damn business.
Get out.”
Camille flinched at the hatred in his eyes, then laughed coldly. “What, are you regretting everything while you stare at her stuff again?
“Too bad Valentina threw you away like garbage. You hate me, but guess what? I’m now! You’ll never be free of me as long as you live!”
your
wife
“Wife?” Daniel’s lips curled in disgust, his voice raw. “You think you deserve that title,
Camille?”
Camille’s face darkened as she shrieked, “Daniel Pierce! Don’t forget that you’re the one who chose to marry me! Don’t act all heartbroken now!
“When you had your arms around me in bed, you didn’t seem to have a problem with it!”
Daniel shot to his feet and grabbed her jaw, his grip so tight it could have snapped bone.
“That’s because I was an idiot! I never loved you! You just played me like a fool!”
Camille’s eyes watered from the pain, but she refused to back down. “Ha! So what if you never loved me? Who are you trying to impress with this wounded act?
“Valentina is long gone! She’ll never forgive you, not in this lifetime!”
The words hit Daniel like a blade to the chest. He released her, his eyes hollow with defeat.
Chapter 13
Get out.”
Camille rubbed her reddened jaw, seething with rage. “This is my house too. Why should I leave?”
“Fine. Stay then.” Daniel grabbed his coat and walked out without another word.
The night air cut through him like ice. Daniel stood under the sycamore trees in the base courtyard, staring up at the window of Valentina’s old quarters.
Someone else lived there now. The lights glowed warmly behind the curtains, and he could hear the faint sound of laughter drifting down.
He suddenly remembered the night he’d proposed to her, standing in this exact spot, waiting for her all night long. Valentina had been late getting home from tutoring a student and didn’t return until well after dark.
He’d been worried she’d be hungry, so he’d kept a thermal flask of her favorite soup tucked inside his coat to keep it warm. When she finally rode up on her bicycle and saw him shivering in the cold, tears immediately filled her eyes.
“You idiot!” She dropped her bicycle and ran straight into his arms.
She pounded his chest with her fists, tears streaming down her face. He laughed and caught her hands while dropping to one knee.
“Valentina, marry me.”
She didn’t hesitate for even a second, nodding eagerly. “I will.”
The woman who had loved him with her whole heart was gone. He’d thrown her away.
Daniel’s marriage to Camille became a drawn–out nightmare. He moved into the officers‘ barracks and rarely came home.
On the rare occasions when he did return, they tore each other apart with vicious words. Camille called him heartless and cruel. He threw her lies and manipulation back in her face.
The beautiful, charming woman had finally dropped her mask, revealing the greedy, vindictive person she’d always been underneath. Marcus was dead, Valentina was gone, and his life felt like he was drowning in quicksand with no way out.
Late at night, Daniel would lie awake staring at the ceiling. He couldn’t understand how everything had gone so wrong.
He’d only ever loved one person in the beginning, and that was Valentina.
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Chapter 14
Chapter 14
