Three years into my marriage with Caleb Hayes, I was knocked off my bike by a car. My knee was bleeding, but I gritted my teeth and didn’t even think about calling him. He’s a Commander in the Navy SEALs. Special clearance, sensitive work. He can’t take personal calls on the job. That’s what I’d always been told. The woman who hit me was already on the phone, her voice thick with tears as she grabbed my arm. “My boyfriend’s on his way, he’s coming right now. Just wait, okay? I promise we’ll give you whatever you need to make this right.” But when a blacked-out government SUV with official plates pulled up behind her, my entire body went rigid. Caleb stepped out. He immediately wrapped his jacket around the crying woman’s shoulders, his voice low and urgent. “I got here as soon as I could. Are you okay?” And in that moment, it hit me. It wasn’t that Caleb couldn’t take calls at work. It was that his emergency contact wasn’t me. It was his first love, his old flame. His brow furrowed when he saw my bleeding knee, and his eyes stayed locked on it for a long, silent moment. The woman, his old flame, looked from him to me, a flicker of confusion in her teary eyes. “Do you two… know each other?” Caleb’s jaw tightened, but before he could say a word, I cut in. “No. We don’t.” After all, the very first clause in the marriage contract he’d given me three years ago was secrecy. Total, complete anonymity. And with our three-year agreement about to expire, I was just about out the door anyway. 1. I always knew Caleb had someone else—the one that got away. I just never imagined it would be the woman who’d just sent me sprawling onto the pavement. When Caleb arrived, for a split second, a stupid, hopeful part of me thought he was there for me. But the woman, Ava, was already running to him, burying her face in his chest. “Caleb, I’m so sorry, I hit someone,” she sobbed. He pulled off his jacket and draped it over her. His voice was steady, calm. “I’ll handle it.” I slowly looked away, down at the raw, bloody scrape on my knee. The reason Caleb hadn’t been home much lately suddenly made a gut-wrenching kind of sense. His old flame, Ava Sterling, was back in the country. She pulled away from him, turning to face me with a smile that was both apologetic and ridiculously happy. “My boyfriend’s here now. Just tell his aide what you need for compensation, and he’ll take care of it.” She gestured vaguely towards the man who’d been driving. “I’m so, so sorry about this, for making you late and for you getting hurt. Please, don’t hesitate to ask for anything. My boyfriend is… very capable. He’ll make it right!” “Thanks,” I mumbled. Caleb’s aide, Jake, looked mortified. He was one of the few people who knew about our arrangement. “Ma’am…” he started, then corrected himself. “Uh, Miss, that’s still bleeding pretty badly. It’s been half an hour. Do you… have a clotting disorder or something?” “It’s just a mild one,” I said quietly. Caleb’s head snapped towards me, his voice suddenly sharp. “A clotting disorder?” Ava looked confused. “What is it?” He didn’t seem to hear her. His gaze was fixed on my knee, his brow deeply creased. Ava finally sensed the tension hanging in the air. She looked back and forth between us. “Do you two know each other?” Caleb’s expression was unreadable, but I didn’t wait for his answer. “No,” I said again, my voice firm. He seemed satisfied with my discretion. He took Ava’s hand and started leading her away, tossing a command over his shoulder to his aide. “Get her to a hospital.” As their figures receded down the street, I pushed down the familiar ache in my chest. The contract was up in two months. It was time to start planning my exit. 2. The arrangement with Caleb was brutally simple. I needed money for grad school. A discreet inquiry through his family’s lawyer led to me, somehow, becoming Caleb Hayes’s wife. There was no wedding, no ceremony. Just a contract. He needed a marriage on paper to get his family off his back. The term was three years. The key conditions were to keep the marriage a secret from the public and to occasionally play the role of the dutiful wife at family gatherings. We wouldn’t have a real marriage, we weren’t responsible for each other’s lives, and I was even free to date, as long as it never caused a scandal that reached his family. For this, I received five thousand dollars a month. When the contract ended, I would receive a final payment of three million dollars. A severance package and a gag order, all in one. At the time, Ava was living in Europe. I didn’t even know she existed. There was no reason in the world for me to turn down a job like that. After we signed the papers, Caleb kept me close. He taught me things. How to navigate the shark-infested waters of D.C. fundraisers, how to pick out his suits, how to handle the leering advances of powerful men. I remember once, at a charity gala, some smarmy lobbyist got a little too handsy. Caleb, who was usually impossible to read, walked over and kicked the man squarely in the kneecap. Then he grabbed a heavy wine bottle from a nearby table, pressed it into my hand, and leaned in close, his body a shield behind mine. His breath was warm against my ear. “Do you know what today’s lesson is, Chloe?” I was surrounded by the cool, woody scent of his cologne, trying desperately to keep my composure. “You’re teaching me… how to push back, to seize the initiative…” He chuckled, his hand closing over mine, raising the bottle. “Good student, but this isn’t a test. It’s not that complicated.” He broke off, his voice dropping to a whisper. “It’s just a fight.” A dull thud echoed as the bottle connected with the man’s head. My palm vibrated from the impact. Caleb coolly pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the sweat from my hand. “Don’t forget this again,” he said softly. “I’m the only backup you’ll ever need. Don’t let anyone push you around again.” I snatched my hand back and ran off with a mumbled, “Got it.” Any longer and he would have seen the adoration blooming in my eyes. Maybe it was because it was my first time falling for someone, or maybe it was those rare moments of indulgence from him that made me reckless. I moved into the villa he owned, and the highlight of my day became waiting for him to come home from work. We’d eat together, talk. Sometimes we’d watch a movie or go for a walk. Then one night, he came home drunk from a celebration dinner, propped up by a female subordinate, their bodies pressed close together. “Ma’am, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get Commander Hayes inside,” the woman said, her tone dripping with disdain. I didn’t move. I just held out my hand. “I’ll take my husband now.” As I was about to close the door, the woman smirked. “You know, being the Commander’s wife requires a certain… broad-mindedness. If you get jealous this easily, you’ll just make yourself sick trying to get rid of all the women who want him.” I didn’t realize Caleb was still lucid enough to hear everything. Or that he’d finally noticed how I truly felt about him. Later, after I’d made him some tea, I found him on the sofa, his eyes sharp and clear, watching me. I put the mug on the coffee table. “You’re awake. Drink this, it’ll help.” He ignored the tea, his gaze intense. “Do you know why I’ve never let you in my study?” All my earlier anger vanished, replaced by curiosity. I shook my head. He stood, waving off my attempt to help him, and led me to the study door. When he pushed it open, my breath caught. A massive painting dominated the room. It was of a girl, maybe sixteen or seventeen, standing in a field of flowers, her head bowed as she smelled a blossom, only half her face visible. It was years later, after the accident, that I would recognize that face as Ava’s. Caleb leaned against the doorframe and lit a cigarette. “I’ve loved her since I was seventeen. It’s been ten years.” His voice was casual, but every word was a hammer blow against my heart. “If we hadn’t fought, if she hadn’t left for Europe in a fit of anger, she would be the one I’m married to right now.” Before I could even process that, he cut right to the chase. “I can’t give you what you want, Chloe. So don’t even start wanting it.” He paused, his voice taking on the cold, transactional tone he used in negotiations. “I’m adding a clause to our agreement. If you can’t manage your emotions, if you cross the line and interfere in my personal life, you’ll be in breach of contract. Not only will you forfeit the final payment, but you’ll owe me for damages.” The study was dark, with only a sliver of light from the hallway stretching across the floor. I watched my own shadow, frozen in place, and remembered something I’d overheard his father say about him once. Caleb had been talking about greedy business partners: *“They’re always probing the boundaries, testing the limits. Their desperate grasping is just… distasteful.”* That night, I became the distasteful one. I don’t know when Caleb left. I just stood there until the sun came up, the hollow feeling in my chest finally going numb. After that, I managed myself perfectly. I never let a single inappropriate emotion show. I was calm, polite, respectful. That was all I ever gave him. And after a while, it almost felt like I didn’t love him at all anymore. 3. Snapping back to the present, I found a walk-in clinic to get my knee patched up, called my boss to take the day off, and went straight to the hospital to see my mom. She has a tumor in a tricky spot in her brain. There are maybe two surgeons in the entire country who can operate on it. She’s always talking about checking out to save money. I popped a piece of pear into her mouth. “Absolutely not. You fainted last time you tried to walk down to the third floor for a test. Besides, I heard that Dr. Matthews, the best neurosurgeon for this, is going to be doing rounds here soon.” My mom’s doctor promised he’d get us a consultation the second he got confirmation. The thought of my mom finally getting better made my steps feel lighter as I went to the cafeteria for lunch. But the head nurse stopped me on my way. “Chloe, honey, I’m so sorry. The VIP room we had reserved for your mom… a new patient came in. A girl with serious connections. They gave it to her mother instead.” The nurse sighed. “I heard her boyfriend is a big shot in the military… name’s Hayes, or something…” At that exact moment, I saw a flash of a white dress disappear around the corner of the stairwell. It was the same one Ava had been wearing this morning. I forced a smile. “It’s okay, thank you for trying, Maria. A VIP room isn’t important. I just want my mom to get her surgery.” That afternoon, I got home to find Caleb sitting on the living room sofa. I was surprised he wasn’t with Ava. I gave him a slight nod. “Commander Hayes.” I was about to head to my room when he spoke. “How’s the knee?” “I put some ointment on it. It’s fine,” I replied. He set down his coffee and glanced at his watch. “I need you to come to my parents’ for dinner tonight. Are you free?” According to the contract, it didn’t matter if I was free. I nodded. “Yes.” I picked out a designer outfit, did my makeup, put on the jewelry and perfume—the whole routine to look the part of the polished, perfect wife. At his parents’ front door, I linked my arm through his, a familiar, practiced gesture. Inside, I smiled and greeted every family member. During dinner, Caleb’s mother suddenly asked, “So, are you two trying for a baby yet?” I was sipping my soup and choked. Caleb handed me a napkin and patted my back gently. “Mom, Chloe’s still young.” “Twenty-five isn’t that young,” she countered. “It’s time to start thinking about these things, you know.” I managed to swallow. “I know, Mom. We will.” A heavy thunderstorm started that night, so we had to stay over. One king bed, two separate comforters. It was a routine we were used to, not even awkward anymore. I came out of the bathroom in my pajamas and sat on the sofa to put more cream on my knee. Caleb looked over. “Sorry I couldn’t take you to the hospital myself today.” He looked like he was trying to figure out how to explain his relationship with Ava. I saved him the trouble. “It’s okay, Commander. The contract doesn’t obligate you to take care of me. Don’t worry about it.” I kept my voice even. “And I won’t ask about you and Ms. Sterling. I’ll keep playing my part until the two months are up.” He looked up. “Two months?” He’d forgotten the expiration date. “Yes,” I confirmed. “In two months, the contract is up, and we can get a divorce and end this arrangement.” He picked up his glass of wine, his expression unreadable. “You’ve been counting the days.” He tossed out the flat comment and then disappeared into the bathroom. 4. A few days later, my mom’s doctor called. He’d managed to secure a consultation for my mom with Dr. Matthews. For the next two weeks, I went straight to the hospital after work every day. One evening, I got into the elevator, and just before the doors closed, they were held open. Caleb and Ava stepped inside. Ava didn’t even recognize me; her eyes slid right past. Caleb paused for a fraction of a second when he saw me, but he said nothing. As the elevator ascended, Ava clung to his arm. “Thank you, thank you, my amazing boyfriend, for arranging everything for my mom. Now all we have to do is wait for the results.” She beamed up at him. “How can I possibly thank you? I guess I could let you take me to dinner…” I stared at the glowing floor numbers. After a few seconds, I heard Caleb’s low voice. “What do you want to eat?” “Let’s go to your place,” she chirped. “I’m craving your carbonara!” The elevator dinged at my floor. As I stepped out, I didn’t hear Caleb say no. Looks like I wouldn’t be going home tonight. I’d have to find a hotel. After having dinner with my mom, I checked into a nearby hotel, showered, and collapsed into bed. I was drifting in a hazy sleep when my phone rang. It was Caleb. “Hello?” I mumbled into my pillow. “When are you coming home?” his voice came through the line. “I made dinner. I’m waiting for you.” My face was half-buried in the pillow. “But… aren’t you with Ava? I didn’t want to walk in on you two… I can’t explain that… so I just got a room for the night…” Caleb’s voice deepened. “Stop worrying about things you don’t need to. Give me the hotel address. I’ll come pick you up.” I was too tired to be diplomatic. I rolled over in the blankets. “No, Caleb. I’m already in bed. Don’t bother me.” He was silent for a few seconds. When he spoke again, his tone was surprisingly soft, almost teasing. “Such a grump when you’re woken up, huh?” In my drowsy state, I wasn’t as intimidated by him. I made an annoyed sound. Through the haze of sleep, I thought I heard a quiet laugh. “Okay, you sleep. I won’t bother you.” The line clicked, and I fell back into a deep sleep. The next day, I’d mostly forgotten the conversation, except for the bold way I’d used his first name. When he called again, I braced myself for a reprimand, my voice cautious. “Is there something you need, Commander Hayes?” There was a pause on the other end before he answered, his tone flat. “Nothing. I just forgot to ask you yesterday what you were doing at the hospital.” “My mom’s a patient there,” I said, keeping it vague. “It’s nothing major. She should be out soon.” “If you need any help, contact my direct aide,” he said after a moment. I thanked him politely but had no intention of taking him up on the offer. His work was too important; I couldn’t bother his staff with my personal problems. The addendum to our contract had conditioned me to keep my distance. Asking him for help was crossing the line. I couldn’t do it. He didn’t hang up. “Commander,” I asked, “was there anything else?” I could hear the faint, rhythmic tapping of his fingers against a desk, a habit he had on the phone. “I was just wondering what time you usually take a nap,” he said casually. I was stunned into silence. Before I could respond, he added, “I’ll make sure to call you around that time from now on.” I had no idea what to make of that. Was he trying to tease me? Or was this just some new, strange way for a man in his position to mess with someone? Dr. Matthews was scheduled to be at the hospital on the 17th, with only a three-hour window for consultations. We had the last appointment. Caleb had been away on a field inspection for four days and wasn’t due back for another week. In that time, I’d seen Ava at the hospital, but she was always alone. On the morning of the 17th, I saw her chatting with the nurses at their station, looking relaxed as she munched on an apple. “My mom’s test results are only partially back,” she was saying, “but the hospital administrator told me not to worry, it’s probably nothing serious.” A nurse, busy sorting files, smiled up at her. “That’s great news. Why don’t you go for a walk? We’re a little busy preparing for Dr. Matthews’s visit this afternoon.” Ava latched onto the name. “Doctor? What doctor?” “He’s a top expert in neuro-oncology,” the nurse explained. “All his consultation slots are filled.” Then she added, “But your mother’s situation is different. She doesn’t need to see a specialist like him.” Ava took another bite of her apple, a thoughtful look on her face. “Is that so…” A knot of anxiety tightened in my stomach. Ava’s mom didn’t have a serious condition, and it wasn’t even Dr. Matthews’s specialty. Surely she wouldn’t try to take our appointment. But I was wrong. At two o’clock that afternoon, my mom’s doctor pulled me out of her room, his expression grave. “The appointment is gone.” The words hit me like a physical blow. My ears started ringing. “It was taken by Commander Hayes’s girlfriend. She has military family priority.” The doctor’s brow was furrowed in frustration. “I told her that her mother’s case is something I can easily handle, but she insisted. She said seeing the top professor would give her more peace of mind.” I leaned against the wall to steady myself. “Can’t he just add one more slot?” “There’s no time. Dr. Matthews has a flight to an international conference at five.” I dug my nails into my palms, the sharp pain grounding me. I pulled out my phone and tried to call Caleb. Just like always, the call wouldn’t go through to his personal line. Just a cold, busy signal. There was no time to waste. I rushed home in a cab, grabbed my marriage certificate, and raced back to the hospital. By the time I returned, two hours had passed. My doctor took me to the hospital administrator’s office. Before I could speak, the administrator held up a hand. “There’s no point. You can’t win this. You don’t have the connections.” I pushed the marriage certificate across his desk, breathing heavily. “I am Caleb Hayes’s wife. You can verify the authenticity of this document.” My voice was shaking, but firm. “I’m not here to steal anyone’s appointment. I’m here to take back what was originally mine.” I got the appointment back. After confirming the surgery schedule with Dr. Matthews, I finally felt like I could breathe again. I asked the doctor and the administrator to keep my identity a secret, but I underestimated Ava’s persistence. As I was leaving the hospital that evening, she blocked my path, staring at me until a slow, knowing smile spread across her face. “I remember you. You’re the girl I hit with my car. No wonder Caleb was so concerned when he heard you had a clotting disorder.” “I wouldn’t have done this if you hadn’t taken my appointment,” I said, looking down. “My relationship with him… it’s not what you think. I can explain.” She wasn’t interested. She just held out her hand. “I want to see the marriage certificate.” Her voice was laced with a threat. “Because if you don’t show it to me, I swear I will make such a scene in this hospital that your mother won’t get a moment’s peace, let alone a major surgery.” I had no choice. I showed it to her. Ava smiled the entire time. She nodded, handed it back, and immediately dialed Caleb’s number. The call connected almost instantly. Her eyes, now filled with tears, were locked on me as she spoke into the phone. “Caleb… you have a wife?” A moment later, I could hear the faint sound of his voice. “Who told you that?” “How could you do this to me?” Ava’s voice broke into a sob. “We’re done.” She hung up, turned, and walked away. My lips were pressed into a thin line. I took one step to follow her, but she spoke without turning back. “I wouldn’t follow me if I were you. You’re pathetic, letting your husband cheat on you. Don’t make me get violent right here in the hospital parking lot.” 5. After that, I tried calling Caleb a dozen times. Every call was rejected. I sent texts explaining what had happened. No response. He was scheduled to return from his trip on the 20th, but he didn’t show up at the villa until the 25th. Those five days, I knew, were spent placating Ava. The night before he came back, I saw her post on Instagram. It was a picture of her in a hospital bed, with Caleb in the frame, carefully picking bones out of a bowl of chicken soup for her. The caption read: *The one who’s not loved is the other woman.* Today, he was finally ready to settle the score with me. I braced myself for his anger, but when he walked in, Caleb didn’t even look at me. He just tossed his coat aside and sat on the sofa with a stack of files. A moment later, his phone rang. He answered, his voice calm, but carrying the weight of command that made the room feel heavy and cold. “Do you remember the instructions I gave you before I left?” The person on the other end was the private security guard Caleb had hired for Ava. “You told me to take care of Ms. Sterling, sir.” “Right,” Caleb said. “And you failed.” I could faintly hear the guard’s muffled apologies. “You’re fired,” Caleb stated, his tone completely flat. I stared in disbelief. I rushed over to him. “Commander, it has nothing to do with him! I’m the one who broke the contract. Don’t punish innocent people.” Only then did he finally acknowledge my presence, his eyes lifting to meet mine. “Punish innocent people?” he repeated slowly. He paused. “If you had considered that before you exposed our marriage, maybe none of this would have happened.” “That’s not it!” I argued desperately. “It was because Ava stole my mother’s appointment with the surgeon. Her doctor said we can’t delay it any longer, and he’s the only one in the country who can do this surgery…” He cut me off, his voice smooth and deliberate. “And what does your mother have to do with me?” 6. Caleb’s words were like a shard of ice, plunging straight into the softest part of my heart. I froze, staring at the undisguised coldness in his eyes. Suddenly, the past three years felt like a ridiculous, pathetic joke. I took a deep breath, forcing down the lump in my throat, and spoke, enunciating every single word. “You’re right. She has nothing to do with you.” I held his gaze. “And from now on, neither do I.”
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