Chapter 1
I secretly enrolled in a classified national program without informing my husband, Elijah, who happens to be our team's leader. Initially, he didn't think much of it. He merely assumed I had become more compliant. Even when he decided to give a promotion opportunity from the organization to his first love, I remained unfazed.
Then he proposed transferring the property meant for me to Paisley, his first love, and asked me to help raise her child. I agreed with a smile, my eyes briefly flickering to the notification of my successful application in my hand.
Elijah frowned slightly and warned, "Don't try any tricks. If you change your mind, I'll divorce you immediately!"
Feigning concern, I asked, "But if the house goes to her, where will I live?"
"The organization has assigned me another place, hasn’t it? Paisley and her kid have a tough life; show some compassion!"
Hearing his cold words, I couldn't help but feel a secret satisfaction. With his generous nature, he might be open to donating all his assets to the Heartland Welfare Foundation, right? After all, helping many children is more meaningful than just one.
After filling out the application, I returned to the townhouse complex. At the entrance, I saw Elijah walking with Paisley and her child, pushing a bicycle. The bike's basket was loaded with household supplies for them—a glass bowl, a kettle, and some pastries and snacks. To a passerby, they might seem like the perfect, happy family.
Upon seeing me, Paisley hesitated, displaying her classic delicate demeanor. "I'm sorry, Alora. I didn’t foresee things turning out this way. If this really bothers you, I'll persuade Elijah to discuss it with the authorities..."
Paisley, Elijah, and I grew up together in the same town. I was always the tomboy, never backing down even if my pride was on the line. But Paisley was different; she always wore pristine cotton dresses and had two neat braids, looking pitifully fragile.
As we grew up, Elijah joined the military, while Paisley and I attended the College of Geosciences. The year before graduation, an overseas study opportunity suddenly arose, putting me in competition with Paisley. The school initially chose me, but Paisley went to Elijah, tearfully pleading.
"You and Alora come from well-off families; you’ll have more opportunities to go abroad, but I won’t..."
"I know if I miss this chance, it'll be tough for me to succeed in life."
So, Elijah approached me, using a mix of persuasion and pressure, to relinquish the chance to Paisley. No one could have predicted that soon after, Paisley went abroad and married a man from overseas.
Left abruptly by Paisley, Elijah became despondent, and I stayed by his side as he gradually rebuilt himself. Eventually, with encouragement from both families, he ended up marrying me.
Five years later, when Paisley's husband cheated on her, she returned home humbly with her child, her visa expired. From then on, the tranquility in my life with Elijah was completely disrupted.