chap

Three days before my departure, I received a message from the Commander of the Ash Legion.

He informed me that the expert Witch Doctor I had asked him to contact happened to be attending an academic forum nearby and was willing to examine my father-in-law’s chronic leg injury.

My father-in-law’s leg had been troubling him for years, ever since a severe case of spiritual backlash required emergency resuscitation. During my time at the frontier, I had constantly pestered my comrades to help gather relevant case studies.

Regardless of recent events, years of shared history still carried weight. Once this final favor was done, I could finally say I owed them nothing.

But when my father-in-law heard I wanted to take him to a Witch Doctor, his face instantly darkened.

"My health is fine. Why would I go to a hospital? Are you trying to curse me to an early grave? My purification surgery was a success like you can just book an appointment with a top expert? You’re all hot air! Look at Daisy—she stayed up all night just to get me a consultation number. Where were you then?"

His words dripped with praise for Daisy and disdain for me; his attitude couldn't have been clearer.—what is there to check?"

"A top specialist from the Witch Doctor Association happens to be in town today. It’s better to be safe than sorr—"

Before I could finish, the teacup in his hand came hurling towards me.

"Talk is cheap. You think a jobless loafer

It turned out that no matter what I did, I would always be in the wrong, and I would never measure up to Daisy.

As the realization surfaced, a bitter smile forced its way onto my lips.

"Since you don't want to go, then forget it."

In the end, I was just meddling where I wasn't wanted, inviting my own humiliation.

***

Soon, the day of the baby’s first-month celebration arrived.

I arrived late, gazing into a banquet hall swarming with relatives whose names I couldn't even recall. I felt a momentary daze. The spectacle was even grander than the bonding ceremony Lucas and I had held years ago.

At the entrance to the hall, a massive family portrait poster of the five of them was on display.

As for me? I was a joke, through and through.

The moment I appeared, the relatives began whispering. I didn't need to eavesdrop to guess what they were discussing.

An aunt quickly pulled me aside to exchange pleasantries. "Ella, when did you get back? Lucas never mentioned it."

"I heard that now you're back from the border, you're being promoted to Chief Physician of the tribe. You have such a bright future!"

I didn't reply, simply offering a polite nod.

But the contempt in their eyes was unmistakable.

After all, I wasn't in that family portrait.

And the woman feeding Lucas dessert at the head table wasn't me.

A busybody pointed at the scene not far away. "Ella, who is that? I didn't know you had a sister."

I forced the corners of my mouth up and said flatly:

"Lucas's new wife."

The eavesdropping aunts and cousins gaped, their heads snapping together to gossip.

Since Lucas and his family didn't care about appearances, why should I help them keep up the charade?

Just then, Lucas sauntered onto the stage and took the microphone.

"I'm so glad everyone could take time out of their busy schedules to come to my son's first-month celebration."

"Before this, I never thought I'd be a father. I always worried I wouldn't be up to the task, but the moment I heard his first cry in the delivery room, I truly understood just how powerful paternal love is."

He spoke with such emotion, as if he might move himself to tears at any second.

Standing beside me, the aunt suddenly shouted, "Let the mother come up and say a few words too! Where did Mom go?"

The atmosphere in the banquet hall instantly froze.

Everyone’s gaze darted back and forth between Daisy and me.

The answer was already self-evident, but this seemingly innocent heckling felt like an attempt to force a confession out of Lucas.

I met Lucas's gaze and slowly walked up to the stage.

Under his stunned stare, I smoothly plucked the microphone from his hand.

"What are you doing? I’m warning you, don't talk nonsense, or you'll regret it," he hissed, gripping my sleeve tightly.

I brushed his hand off, staring straight ahead.

A clear conscience fears no knock at the door. If he was innocent, why was he scared?

Composing myself, I spoke into the mic: "First, I want to thank everyone for traveling so far to attend this celebration."

"Many friends and family here today also witnessed the bonding ceremony between Lucas and me. I have always cherished your blessings, but I assume everyone saw the family portrait at the entrance when you walked in."

Hearing this, Lucas's face went pale.

He lunged at me, black-faced, attempting to snatch the microphone back.

I side-stepped with a soldier's agility, dodging him while keeping a firm grip on the mic.

"To be honest, I was shocked when I saw it, too. But what shocked me even more was discovering that while I was away at the border for a year providing aid, my husband—who supposedly couldn't have children—had already gotten another woman eight months pregnant."

"I won't swallow this insult, and I certainly won't take the blame for it."

"Lucas Parker, let's get a divorce."