It was only then that Regina reluctantly let go of my hair.
The instant she let go, I collapsed weakly to the ground.
Still, I continued calling intermittently for help. “Please… S-Save my child…”
The newcomer—a military officer—took two steps forward. The surrounding people conscientiously made way for him.
When he saw my son lying on the ground, barely breathing, he instantly sucked in a sharp breath. “Quick! Send the child to the hospital!”
One of the officers behind him immediately followed his instructions and carried Jasper into a car.
…
Meanwhile, another officer took the initiative to take off his own clothes to cover up my exposed skin.
It was only when I saw the car’s engine start up that I felt slightly more at ease.
“What brings you to the base, young lady?” asked the first officer.
Regina started yelling before I could reply, “I barely touched her before she deliberately fell to the ground and refused to get up! That kid, too! Like, I barely grazed him by accident! Was there a need for him to put on such an exaggerated act?
“As expected of the son of a bitch! He’s learned how to act since young!”
She quickly shut up at the sight of the officer’s frown.
Instead, she concealed her malice toward me, raised her head, and smiled flatteringly at the officer. “You have no idea how despicable this woman is, Colonel Lewell! She brought along a bastard child from who knows where, claiming to be James’ wife.
“Everyone on base knows that James’ wife is my daughter, Isabella Jordinson! In fact, you were the one who hosted the group wedding for them back then!”
Everyone else chimed in to support her claims.
They all claimed that I’d definitely ended up pregnant from sleeping with a random man and was now looking for an easy target to wring child support from.
They even pointed out the clothes scattered around my open suitcase judgmentally.
Colonel Lewell’s expression turned grave, and the gaze he turned on me was no longer as kind as before. “Yes, I remember. I was even the one who signed off on James’ marriage report. Are you certain you don’t have the wrong person, young lady?
“James has been married to his wife for years, and Isabella has been living in the family housing area for six years already. If you’ve deliberately come seeking trouble and wish to ruin a military man’s marriage, I have the power to send you off to the firing squad.”
His every word struck me deeply.
Six years. It’d actually been six years since James had gotten married to another woman.
In other words, he’d married someone else on base not long after marrying me.
Whenever I asked him why he always made excuses not to return on holidays and special occasions, he would tell me that he couldn’t keep me company due to being sent on missions. If not that, he would claim that he’d given up his opportunity to go home to someone else.
It turned out he’d actually long made himself another family elsewhere.
As my eyes burned with anger, Colonel Lewell stared hesitantly into my swollen face and asked again, “Are you certain your husband is stationed at this particular base, young lady? Could you have the wrong person? Do you have any other photos or identification? If you do, I’ll help you take a look.”
James had always used his special occupation as an excuse for being unwilling to take photos with me. That photo from before was my only photo with him. What other proof could I have?
I was burning with anxiety at the memory of Jasper lying on the ground, pale-faced and with blood flowing from the corners of his mouth.
In a moment of desperation, figuring that I had nothing else to lose, I gave Colonel Lewell a name.
Upon hearing it, his eyes widened and his expression turned serious. “You’re Niall’s daughter?”
