"Oh, right. We got our marriage license in Eraland, didn't we? I seem to recall a clause stating that if one party is unfaithful, the other can apply to dissolve the marriage."

With that, I turned and got decisively back into the car.

Dominic didn't say a word from the front seat, just drove.

A moment later, I slumped over, a soft sob escaping. I rubbed my palms together.

Truth was, I couldn't for the life of me figure out why Brett had done it.

He was no longer the boy from my memories who used to talk about world peace.

He wasn't the man who held my hand and promised me happiness either.

He'd become a rotten guy who neglected his duty for his own selfish desires!

As for the surveillance footage, he'd tried to destroy it. Unfortunately for him, I had a flash drive on me and managed to copy it.

Not just to expose them, but more importantly, because it contained recordings related to the people who died before.

And he had destroyed it so easily.

I would never give that scumbag another chance.

"Dr. Jenkins, we're here."

Dominic's reminder snapped me out of my thoughts. I must have dozed off.

"Thank you, Dominic."

Dominic frowned slightly, looking like he wanted to say something but hesitated. Finally, he spoke. "Dr. Jenkins, if you need a witness, I can testify."

His words felt like a soft feather brushing over my battered heart.

It felt good to be understood.

"Yeah. I won't hold back." I tilted my head back, looking at the sky, fighting back tears.

Dominic took the cue and said, "I'll head out. Just call if you need anything."

"Okay."

I went into my villa, the one my parents left me.

The marital home with Brett was in Eraland. I hadn't been back there in three years.

But even in this villa, there were traces of our life together, including Brett's suits, shoes, razor.

All stuff that needed to go now.

It was time for a fresh start. I was no longer Colonel Graham's wife.

But Brett was nothing if not persistent. His victory party, for instance—he'd made it clear I had to attend.

My phone rang again.

"Eileen, the domestic research group on genetic editing for hereditary diseases has been trying to reach you. You're not answering calls or checking emails."

"I'm sorry, Sir. I'll check right now."

Hearing my mentor's voice after so long made my nose sting.

"Eileen, I didn't object when you wanted to be a Doctors Without Borders volunteer. But you've done your duty. Isn't it time to come back and contribute to domestic research?"

"I understand."

After hanging up, I replied to the emails in my inbox one by one and finally let out a sigh of relief.

Of course I was going to the victory party.

And I was going to make an entrance they wouldn't forget.

"Ding-dong."

The doorbell rang.

I ignored it, turning on the TV and shoving a spoonful of the curry I'd made into my mouth.

"Eileen! I know you're in there! Come out! Eileen! I didn't cheat! I've always loved you!"

Listening to Brett's annoying voice, I opted for my noise-canceling headphones.

But it was past midnight, I was about to sleep, and Brett was still relentlessly knocking.

He finally annoyed me enough to open the door.

"So a peacekeeper's strength is only good for rescuing his mistress and knocking on doors?"

Faced with my sarcasm, Brett seemed less agitated.

He grabbed my hand and slid a diamond ring onto my ring finger. "Eileen, look. This is a South African diamond I bought for you. It suits you."

I looked at the sparkling ring on my right hand, a smirk forming on my face.

"What's the point of giving this to me now?"

Besides, I'd seen this ring before. On Yolanda's ring finger.

"I want to make it up to you. I was wrong on this mission. I hope you can forgive me."

"You shouldn't be asking for my forgiveness! You should ask every hostage who almost died because of you!"

"Eileen! Isn't the outcome good? Didn't I work hard to rescue the hostages?" Brett's temper flared now too. "And aren't you just jealous because I saved Yolanda first?"

Hearing his shameless words, I clenched my fist again. I'd never really seen him for who he was.

This cold, ruthless, unscrupulous man!

"Brett, you are my husband. I was terrified in the hands of the enemy, waiting for my husband to save me! And after I shot my way to survival, what did I see? You holding your mistress, all lovey-dovey! Do you know why they only took me hostage? Because I told them I'd once saved one of their men! I'm a doctor! And you! How did you treat me?"

My voice was raw, my throat nearly torn from shouting.

Brett suddenly froze. A flicker of genuine pain finally appeared in his eyes.

"Sorry. I didn't know they'd drag you out like that."

"Enough! A colonel who neglects his duty like you... I don't think Ariland needs that."

Bang! I slammed the door shut. I wouldn't waste another second on that loser.

The victory party was held at the Aceville Global Hotel. I appeared in a long white embroidered dress.

But a woman in a striking red dress, radiating a bold, dazzling aura, had already captured everyone's attention.

Glass of champagne in hand, she clinked glasses with everyone in the room. An uninformed observer might have mistaken her for the hostess of this celebration.

"Ms. Evans, we've heard so much about you. The success of this rescue operation is largely thanks to you, isn't it?"

"Indeed, your translation skills are said to be top-notch in the country."

Yolanda's smile widened at the praise. "Oh, it was all Brett's doing. I just helped a little."

With a few coy remarks, she deftly steered all credit back to Brett, making them seem like some dream team.

I showed little reaction. Yolanda sure was persistent, always making sure she had people singing her praises wherever she went.

As soon as I arrived, those who truly understood the details of the rescue operation gathered around.

"Dr. Jenkins, is it true you fired your weapon on-site?"

"Under such dangerous circumstances, how did you manage to maintain complete trust in Colonel Graham?"

"It's said you and your husband have spent very little time together since marrying. Is that true?"

Before I could answer a single question, Brett had already snatched the microphone.

"My wife just returned to the country and isn't feeling her best. You can direct your questions to me."

Hearing this, the reporters all gushed about how incredibly doting he was.

Only I knew that Brett was scared I might say something he didn't want heard.

"So, Colonel Graham, what do you believe was the key to the final success of the rescue operation?"

"I believe it was due to meticulous planning and the close coordination among the peacekeeping forces."

"Alright. My next question is, was it because your wife, Dr. Jenkins, was among the hostages that you acted so fearlessly?"

"Of course not. As a peacekeeping soldier, my duty is to uphold world peace. However, my wife's presence did give me extra courage."

He answered the reporters' questions while gazing at me with a look of deep affection.

The reporters had had enough of this display of affection.

Only I felt sick looking at his hypocritical act.

"Dr. Jenkins, what did you see when you fired your weapon? Your expression in the surveillance footage seemed particularly sorrowful."

A female reporter pushed through the crowd, asking the question she most wanted answered.

I had just taken the microphone. My lips barely parted when a sharp female voice cut through the air.

"Eileen was so sad because she saw Colonel Graham get injured while trying to save her!"

As Yolanda's voice faded, all eyes turned to the bandage wrapped around Brett's ear.

He was indeed injured.

"Just a graze," Brett quickly added, picking up Yolanda's thread.

Brett couldn't help but watch my expression closely, searching for any reaction.

But I remained utterly calm throughout, seemingly unbothered by Yolanda's interruption.

Brett finally relaxed a little, gently placing his hand on my waist. "Thank you, darling."

Hearing his intimate tone, I simply and subtly pushed his hand away.

"If you had told me back then that the person you liked was me, I would never have married Eileen."

"Brett, I'm so scared. I wish I could just hold you before I die."

I recited, word for word, what the two had said in the surveillance recording.

What I was waiting for was the moment this hypocrite, Brett, lost control of his expression upon hearing these words.

Look at what he did and the people celebrating him today. What a stark contrast and bitter irony this was!

"Eileen, if you're angry, blame me. It has nothing to do with Brett."

Yolanda seized the moment to step between Brett and I, tears welling in her eyes, threatening to fall.

"Blame you? Blame you, the crucial translator, for running away when the crisis hit?"

I stood at 172cm, looking down at Yolanda from a height.

No matter how glam Yolanda dressed, she was nothing next to me.

"Did no one teach you? A translator holding a military position has the same duty as a soldier on the battlefield! And this is how you fulfill it? Treating everyone's safety as a joke for your own personal gain?"

Perhaps rendered speechless by my directness, Yolanda Evans looked both humiliated and awkward.

She could only hide behind Brett, as if I were the one bullying her.

"Eileen, you know we didn't mean it. What's the point of saying all this now?"

"Didn't mean it? It didn't seem that way when you were holding her, comforting her, talking about your future together."

My words hung in the air like a curse over their heads.

Even without the surveillance clips, I could recite their words by heart.

Because for me, they were etched in memory with such depth, such despair.

To nearly die, only to see my husband comforting his lover in his arms!

"Brett, before this, I never knew my hands, trained to save lives, could also be used to take one!"

I bit my lower lip, trying to control my trembling body.

I had been so terrified back then—fearful of killing, fearful of the risk that everyone might be killed!

I faced a real-life trolley problem. I had to save people, save all the hostages.

But at the same time, I could no longer be a doctor.

Even if the international community expressed understanding and sympathy for such actions, I could never cross that line within myself again.

So I hated it! My heart ached!

Why?

Why did the soldier who swore to uphold world peace, the husband who vowed to honor our marriage, choose betrayal?

"I..." Brett seemed to realize his earlier words might have been too harsh. He'd almost forgotten I was a doctor who saves lives, not trained to kill.

"Eileen, we understand how difficult this is for you. Just forgive us this once, okay? I already made sure Brett gave you the diamond ring."

Yolanda put on an act as if she had misspoken, but a hint of provocation already flickered in the corners of her eyes.

"You can keep that second-hand item for yourself."

By now, I had reined my emotions back in, looking at Brett with disdain. After all, it wasn't just the ring that was second-hand.

Halfway through the party, representatives from the Peacekeeping Corps arrived with the commendation medal.

Reporters swarmed forward, each hoping to capture the perfect shot of Brett the moment the medal was revealed.

Leading the group was Dominic Mills, looking sharp and impressive in his Peacekeeping Corps uniform, with his solid build and long limbs.

His gaze swept the crowd, finally meeting mine. We exchanged a slight smile.

This man had never disappointed her.

"Why isn't the medal being revealed yet?" Yolanda couldn't wait.

Dominic glanced at her, a flicker of coldness in his eyes that vanished quickly.

"Not everyone has arrived."

"Who?"

As the words left her mouth, a commotion erupted outside.

Several middle-aged academicians in white lab coats walked in, followed by a group of younger people also in lab coats.

The moment I saw them, I couldn't hold back the tears.

At least... at least in this world, there were still mentors and peers who cared about me.

"Isn't that the top medical experts in the country?"

"That's Mr. Lincoln, who achieved international recognition in gene editing research, isn't it?"

"And isn't there an academician who's the only one to win the Nopal Prize in Medicine..."

Exclamations rose from the reporters.

Brett's first reaction to such a grand scene was panic.

He had a premonition something bad was about to happen.

But it was too late.

Dominic had already opened the box containing the medal. "This is the peacekeeping forces' medal of honor for my doctor, thanking my doctor for paying a near-life price in this rescue mission!"

Seeing the name on the medal, the room erupted instantly.

"Why Dr. Jenkins? Shouldn't it be Colonel Graham?"

"Yeah, What's going on?"

"The Peacekeeping Corps wouldn't award it to the wrong person, would they?"

Only the medical professionals who had just arrived broke into thunderous applause for me.

"Eileen, I knew you were the best!"

"Hey, you've done us proud! You've worked so hard all these years abroad!"

"Eileen, our research group is throwing you a private celebration tonight. No annoying people allowed!"

Every word from my peers was a source of comfort, a feeling of being understood. Finally getting control of my tears, I stepped forward onto the stage.