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.

When there was no news from her, I often lay awake at night, heart pounding with worry, torn between the fear of bad news and the agony of silence.

Through countless sleepless nights, I clung to the memories of our five-year bond just to stay afloat, until, at last, she completed her mission and returned to my side.

Just as I drowned in those thoughts, Delaney stepped into the bedroom and saw me collapsed on the floor.

“Tucker, the floor is cold. Why are you sitting there? Are you feeling unwell?”

Her voice carried genuine concern. Her eyes, still so beautiful, reflected only me, just as they always had.

Whether it was those five years before she left or the month since she came back, Delaney had treated me with nothing but tenderness. I didn’t want to believe the truth. I couldn’t.

Silently, I locked my phone screen and forced a faint smile.

“Maybe my blood sugar dropped, I just got a little dizzy. I’m fine.”

Only then did Delaney breathe easier. She reached down gently and helped me up, her touch as soft as ever.

“Let’s go to Roseville tomorrow. I’ll ask my lieutenant to book the tickets. You’ve always loved the ocean, haven’t you? Let’s take our wedding photos by the sea. How about that?”

She remained as considerate as ever, but after what I had just overheard, every soft word from her lips only made my stomach churn.

“Not interested.”

Delaney froze, then gently reached out, brushing the back of my hand with her fingertips.

“What’s wrong, Tucker? Why do you look so upset? Did something happen? Didn’t we promise each other, no lies, no matter what?”

That broke me. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. My gaze locked onto hers, my voice trembling just beneath the surface.

“Delaney, are you truly not hiding anything from me?”

She hesitated, then offered a faint smile, soft, familiar.

“What could I possibly be hiding from you?”

I swallowed the sting behind my eyes and nodded slowly.

“Alright. Then let’s sleep, Delaney. I’m just tired.”

The next morning, we were stirred awake by the sound of knocking on the door.

Delaney got up and opened it, only to find a man standing there, his eyes red, holding a toddler in his arms. The child couldn’t have been older than three.

“Delaney, he won’t stop crying for his mom. He hasn’t slept in days. I know you said not to come looking for you, but I didn’t know what else to do…”

A flicker of panic flashed across Delaney’s face. Almost instinctively, she turned toward me, trying to read my expression.

“Tucker, please don’t misunderstand. This is Jade Montrose, the medic on our team. His wife was my teammate and a close friend. She died during a mission. I only stepped in out of pity, so…”

Before I could say a word, Jade's voice broke the moment.

“Mr. Montclaire, I know you’re about to get married, and I don’t mean to cause trouble. But the child is still so little. He keeps crying for his mom. I just…”

I cut him off without hesitation, eyes fixed on Delaney.

“The child wants his mother. Delaney, are you his mother?”

Delaney shot a sharp glare at Jade before turning back to me, her voice hurried and defensive.

“Of course not, Tucker. The child is already over two years old, how could he possibly be mine? His mother died saving me. Since then, I’ve been helping take care of them. He just clings to me and sees me as his mom. It’s all just a misunderstanding.”

I studied the boy’s face carefully. He was still small, but the resemblance to Delaney was undeniable.

Grandpa will be arriving tomorrow night. I didn’t want to stir up more mess than I could handle. Burying the ache in my chest, I nodded.

“I believe you. Just settle them in. I’m heading upstairs to get more sleep.”

I turned without another word. Delaney followed behind me in silence.

“Tucker, are you angry? Don’t worry, I promise they won’t interfere with us…”

But before Delaney could finish, Jade’s trembling voice broke in again, with desperation.

“Delaney, while you were gone this past month, the child hasn’t been eating or sleeping well. His health started to decline. I want to take him to the hospital for a proper checkup. I don’t know my way around here, can you come with us?”

“You know I have nothing left. Torren is all I have now. If something happens to him, I truly won’t be able to go on.”

I turned to look at Delaney. She didn’t speak right away, but her eyes gave her away.

She was worried, deeply worried about that child.

I gave a small nod.

“He’s still just a child. His health comes first. Go with them. After all, his mother did give her life for you.”

Relief visibly swept across Delaney’s face. Even her voice sounded lighter.

“Then I’ll take them now and come right back. Tucker, thank you. Thank you for understanding.”

With that, she turned toward the door, lifting the boy in her arms with practiced ease.

She was so anxious, she hadn’t even changed out of her pajamas.

I watched as the child rested his head against Delaney’s shoulder, completely reliant on her. Then, I watched the three of them walk away, like a picture-perfect family fading into the distance.

My heart felt like it had been hurled into a bottomless abyss, sinking endlessly until even the silence was deafening.

By the time the sky turned completely dark, Delaney and Jade finally returned with the child.

I had spent the entire day curled beneath the covers, not moving an inch.

When Delaney stepped into the room, guilt clouded her face. My chest tightened, a creeping dread clawing its way up inside me.

She spoke in a calm voice.

“Tucker, the child’s condition isn’t good. The doctor said he’ll need long-term care. They don’t know anyone else around here.”

“This house is so big. Can they stay here for a while?”

I shut my eyes, fighting back the sharp bitterness rising in my throat.

Just this morning, she had promised they wouldn’t affect our lives. Yet now, she was asking to bring Jade and his child into our home.

When I opened my eyes again, they had gone still, cleared of every storm.

I was about to speak when I noticed Jade standing at the door, holding the child’s hand.

“Tucker, please don’t blame Delaney. She’s just worried about the child’s health. His mother passed away shortly after he was born. Since then, Delaney’s taken on the role of his mother, so it’s only natural that he depends on her.”

“He’s still so young. I can’t even explain to him that Delaney isn’t really his mom. But if this makes you uncomfortable, I’ll take him and leave…”

Jade’s words flowed like honey, but my attention was fixed on the necklace around the child’s neck.

My breath hitched, and I gripped the blanket, my heart pounding. Tears spilled from my eyes without warning.

I looked up at Delaney, my voice barely more than a rasp.

“That necklace on the child’s neck. What is it?”

When I was sixteen, Grandpa had paid a small fortune to hire Delaney as my bodyguard.

I’d never been in much danger, but when I turned eighteen, Delaney was ambushed by enemies. In a heartbeat, we both exchanged gunfire.

In that split second, my body moved faster than my mind. I lunged forward, taking the bullet meant for Delaney.