—- Chapter 9 As soon as the words left Leila’s mouth, Vince broke into a cold sweat. Panic washed over his face as he rushed forward, grabbing Leila’s arm. From where I stood, I caught the flash of menace in his eyes. “Young lady,” he said through clenched teeth, “you can eat recklessly, but you can’t speak that way. Don’t drag me down just to help Blake. I have a wife and kids. Aren’t you worried about your reputation?” The moment he said that, Leila’s eyes shifted, quick as a spark.
She turned toward Commander Brack and Blake, tears welling up in her eyes. “Blake… I’m sorry. I only did all this because I was jealous of Joyce, because she got to marry you. Just now, she pushed me to the ground because I brought up our memories together. I lost control of my mouth. You know it’s always been you in my heart. Please don’t be angry.” She lowered her head and covered her face, looking —- every bit the picture of wounded innocence.
Her words sent ripples through the gathered crowd. Their gazes drifted toward Blake, most tinged with silent reproach. Even Commander Brack’s expression grew unreadable as his eyes moved back and forth between them. Seeing the tide turning in his favor, Vince looked pleased. He reached out to help Leila up from the ground. “There we go. Young people and your drama-this old man’s not getting involved,” he said with a chuckle as he bent to assist her.
But just as his hand touched her, Leila collapsed again, either from weak legs or some deeper cause. This time, her body landed hard against a jagged stone. Asharp gasp escaped her lips, and her face went deathly pale. “Blood-there’s blood!” —- One of the women nearby cried out in alarm, her finger trembling as she pointed. All eyes followed, falling on the growing red stain beneath Leila.
“She’s had a miscarriage, hasn’t she…” In the hushed stillness, the muttered words of another woman cut through the crowd like a blade. No one could pretend not to have heard. Leila, stricken with panic, clung to Vince’s arm, her voice thick with tears. ”Vince, save our baby. Save me… ” Vince’s face turned ashen. At that moment, he knew nothing he said would change the truth now laid bare before them. No denial could undo what everyone had seen and heard.
Their relationship was no longer a rumor- it was a fact. “What are you waiting for?” Commander Brack barked, his voice like a gunshot. “Get her to the clinic -now!”
—- Teeth clenched, Vince scooped Leila into his arms and Tan. Later, we heard the baby hadn’t survived. Leila caused an uproar at the clinic. Originally, Vince had been on the verge of disciplinary action for his misconduct. But as it turned out, he and his wife from back home had never officially registered their marriage. Somehow, he slipped through a loophole, and the two of them-he and Leila-became the most mismatched married couple on the island, with the largest age gap.
The law couldn’t touch them, but Vince still paid the price. His career took a sharp downturn. Promotion was out of the question, and he was soon reassigned to a dead-end department. At this rate, he’d spenda few more years marking time before being forced to retire. Back in his hometown, though the wife wasn’t legally recognized, the children she bore him were very real.
When word reached them that their father had taken another woman as his wife, all three kids dropped out —- of school and came storming to the base with their luggage. From that point on, Vince’s home became a mess- constant fights, endless noise. The other soldiers! wives in the compound never missed a chance to gossip about their latest family drama. But none of it had anything to do with us. The factory was built. Operations were running smoothly.
And finally, Blake and I had time to go back home and face the music. To my surprise, the trip back was smooth. I even managed to sleep the entire journey. When we arrived, I stood at the doorstep for a long time, frozen. Blake, finally losing patience, took my hand and smiled. “Don’t worry. Whether it’s yelling or hitting, I’ll take the brunt of it. But can we stop trembling out here in the doorway like this?” —- After a few deep breaths, I finally gathered the courage to step inside.
