Chapter 1
One night, after mistakenly drinking spiked wine, my head swam and my steps wavered until I stumbled into the hotel room of the military’s youngest general–Colton Hayes.
He was all broad shoulders, lean waist, and rock–hard abs.
He didn’t waste moves–every touch was deliberate, relentless, leaving me no chance to pull away.
My legs trembled as I tried to slip off the bed, but he caught my ankle and dragged me back.
For hours, he pushed me past my limits, until every muscle ached like my body might fall apart.
When I woke, he was already dressed, his face hard as stone.
Without a hint of hesitation, he handed me a document.
“I can’t let this tarnish my career. The best solution is marriage.”
Five years later, our marriage had become a hollow arrangement–civil, polite, and almost entirely absent.
Even our son, Ethan, had been taken to live at Fort Sentinel’s Family Housing Area, raised under Colton’s direct oversight.
I’d assumed it was about discipline–toughening him up early, grooming him to follow in his father’s footsteps.
But on Ethan’s fourth birthday, he looked up at me with bright, innocent eyes and said,
“Mom, my birthday wish is for you and Dad to get divorced so Vanessa can be my new mom.”
The pieces fell into place. Colton’s “oversight” wasn’t about discipline–it was about keeping his old flame, Vanessa Cole, close to both
of them.
With a bitter smile, I pulled out the divorce agreement I’d drafted months ago.
“Alright,” I said. “I’ll give you exactly what you want.”
I slid the agreement across the table, my voice steady.
“Ethan’s birthday wish—I’m granting it. I’m giving up custody and walking away with nothing. The savings and the house will go to him. That’s my way of making things right.”
Colton didn’t even blink.
Only when I tapped the table did he finally glance up, his eyes cool and unreadable. “What did you just say?”
He was buried in a stack of military reports, and I realized he hadn’t heard a single word.
Five years of marriage, and I was still invisible.
Did he even know my full name–Madeline Carter?
I was done being unseen.
Flipping the agreement to the last page, I slid it toward him. “Just sign.”
His brow furrowed as he reached for the papers,
Before he could read them, Ethan came bounding down the stairs. “Colt! Vanessa says she’s taking me to the shooting range today!”
Vanessa Cole–Major in the Fort Sentinel Military Band and Colton’s first love.
At her name, Colton’s stern expression softened instantly. He closed the file and started to rise.
I caught his wrist and pressed a pen into his hand. “Sign it. It won’t keep you from your outing with Ethan and Major Cole.”
For the first time in years, he actually looked at me–surprised, maybe even curious.
70.00%
This wasn’t the compliant woman who’d chopped off her hair and shut down her livestreams the moment he’d said, “You’re the wife of a general. You need to carry yourself like one.”
“Colt!” Ethan whined. “Come on! If we make Vanessa wait, she’ll get mad and you’ll have to make it up to her again.”
“Alright.”
Without another word, Colton took the pen and scrawled his signature without even glancing at the terms.
I watched father and son walk away together. My lips twisted into a wry smile as I signed my name beside his.
Our names had appeared together only twice in our lives–once at the County Clerk’s Office, when he signed and rushed off to answer an urgent call… and now, when he left just as quickly.
A tear splashed onto the paper. I wiped it away, tucked the agreement into a folder, and mailed a copy to the Base Records Office. Then I
went upstairs to pack.
The closet was a monotony of plain dark dresses and a few crisp white blouses.
No one here knew I loved bright colors, loud laughter, and chasing adrenaline. Before Colton, I’d been an outdoor adventure vlogger
with millions of followers.
But after our wedding, he’d shut it all down–citing “base regulations.” My climbing gear had gathered dust in storage.
General Hayes needed the picture–perfect officer’s wife, and I’d buried my true self to fit the mold.
It earned me nothing–not even his respect.
His fellow officers whispered, “A wild girl like her? She’s no match for the general.
Only the graceful, polished Vanessa Cole was considered worthy to stand at his side.
The thought made my stomach churn. I bolted for the bathroom and threw up.
When I finally looked up at my reflection–makeup perfect, hair immaculate–I knew divorce was the right call.
I kicked open the storage room, pulled on my old rugged jacket, and called my best friend, Chloe Pierce.
Chloe arrived fast, her expression puzzled.
“You’re free to hang out? Didn’t you say a week ago you’d be spending your birthday with Colton and Ethan?”
Birthday?
I froze, checked my phone, and saw the reservation I’d made–and the text I’d sent to Colton.
Unread. Unanswered.
Hurt? Maybe once. Not anymore.
“Perfect,” I told Chloe. “Let’s grab dinner, just us,”
But when we reached the restaurant, the manager blocked our way.
“I’m sorry, ma’am. The venue’s reserved tonight for a private military event–Major Cole’s birthday. I’ll refund your deposit in full.”
Chloe’s smile turned–sharp. “No need for a refund. This is the general’s wife—nobody outranks her.”
Inside, laughter rang out.
Ethan was on a chair, placing a paper crown on Vanessa’s head. “Happy birthday, Vanessa! I hope you marry Colt and be my mom!”
Vanessa’s smile was shy.
Colton’s eyes softened as he said, “Happy birthday. I hope you get everything you wish for.”
3
He didn’t look away from her.
Ethan fussed over her–pouring juice, tucking a napkin into her collar.
In five years, Colton had never remembered my birthday.
The son I’d nearly died giving birth to had never even poured me a glass of water.
Chloe trembled with anger. I squeezed her hand and whispered, “It’s fine. I’ve already signed the divorce papers.”
On the drive back, Chloe slammed on the brakes and gripped the wheel, tears running down her cheeks.
“Five years, Maddie. You gave up your passions, your career–your whole life revolved around them. Remember when we planned to climb in California? You hadn’t even strapped in before Colton called, and you ran home to make him potato soup.
“When Ethan had that fever, you carried him three miles in the rain to the Military Medical Center, caught pneumonia yourself, and never said a word.
“You gave them everything. And what did they do? Colton burned your wingsuit like it was trash! Now Ethan’s calling another woman ‘Mom‘!”
Her voice broke. “If you need to cry, just cry.”
Cry?
I’d cried enough-
When Colton’s family pushed me into endless etiquette lessons and he brushed off my complaints.
When I waited outside in the snow until midnight, only to learn he wasn’t coming–and hadn’t bothered to tell me.
When Ethan was burning with fever and Colton hung up on my desperate call.
I had once dreamed of a loving husband and a devoted son.
But they’d never truly seen me.
Five years was long enough.
It was time to move on.
Every twist in the series is surprising
