Three Years of Loyalty, Paid Back With a Lie

My girlfriend was the world’s top mercenary. Three years ago, she accepted an S-class emergency mission. Before she left, she looked at me and said, “When I return safely, that will be the day I marry you.”

I believed her. And so began my wait, over a thousand lonely days and nights.

Then, a month ago, she finally came back. I thought the long wait had reached its happy ending.

But last night I overheard something outside her study. She was speaking to her lieutenant.

“You plan to marry him? What about Brother Jade? And Torren? Torren is already over two years old. He’s your biological son. How long do you think you can hide that?”

“You got pregnant with Jade’s child back then, didn’t you? You made up that three-year mission lie just to give birth. If Mr. Montclaire finds out…”

She cut her off with a glare.

“He can never find out. The only man I’ll marry is him. Tell Jade to shut his mouth and control his child.”

Torren? Two years old? Her son?

So, while I was waiting in hope and devotion for her to come home and keep her promise, he had already given her to someone else. And even had a two-year-old child.

I stumbled back to the bedroom and dialed my grandfather’s number. My voice trembled.

“Grandpa, is the foolish daughter from the Cavendell family still alive? I’m willing. I’ll marry into the Cavendell family.”

——

“What’s wrong, Tucker? Weren’t you the one who swore you’d wait for her, even if it took three years? What happened?”

“The Cavendell family’s eldest daughter has been kept out of sight all these years because of her condition. If you don’t want this, I’ll do everything I can to protect you…”

I opened my mouth to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, the tears broke free, silent, uncontrollable.

Yes, the entire Kingston knew it. From eighteen to twenty-three, I had loved my mercenary bodyguard, Delaney Hollister. Five whole years

Three years ago, she took an urgent S-class mission. Before leaving, she looked me in the eyes and said, “When I return, I’ll marry you.”

Just one sentence. I took it to heart and waited. For three long years, I kept believing.

Rumors came and went. Some claimed Delaney had died on the mission. Others whispered she had disappeared and would never return.

But I ignored them all.

I just kept waiting. Counting down the days. Believing she’d come back to keep her promise and marry me.

By now, everyone in Kingston knew one thing: Tucker, the sharp, unstoppable heir of the Montclaire family, feared by rivals and unmatched in business, had only one fatal weakness: his bodyguard, Delaney.

I understood why Grandpa hesitated. Honestly, even I found it hard to believe. That so-called three-year mission had been a lie.

I said nothing, but the silence on the line seemed to reach him. After a pause, Grandpa’s voice softened.

“If you’ve truly made up your mind, then I’ll stand behind you. The Cavendell family has deep roots; you won’t suffer in the second half of your life.”

“I’ll send a car for you the day after tomorrow. Settle anything you need to before then.”

Even after the call ended, I remained frozen, the phone still clutched in my hand.

Delaney’s words echoed in my mind, her voice, her lies, her betrayal. It felt like a thousand needles stabbing into my chest, the pain crawling through my limbs, draining the breath from my lungs.

She had already betrayed me three years ago. That so-called mission was nothing but a fabricated excuse to disappear and spend those years with another man and their child.

The moment that truth hit me, my knees buckled. I collapsed onto the floor.

For three years, because of her job, I couldn’t reach her whenever I wanted. I could only wait. Days, sometimes weeks, would pass before I’d hear from her again.