Chapter 2

Chloe decided to go home one last time, to the house she had shared with Ethan. It was a formality, a final, painful step in erasing her own life.

When she walked through the door, the smell of sizzling spices hit her. Sarah was in her kitchen, wearing one of Chloe' s aprons, moving with an easy familiarity that made Chloe' s stomach clench.

"Oh, Chloe! You're back!" Sarah said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Ethan was so worried. I made dinner. I hope you're hungry."

She gestured to the stove, where a pot of deep red curry was bubbling.

"Ethan mentioned he's been craving spicy food lately," Sarah added, her eyes flicking to Chloe. "I can't get enough of it myself."

It was a small, deliberate cut. Ethan knew Chloe hated spicy food. It made her sick.

Chloe ignored the comment and the food. "I'm just here to pack a few things."

"Of course," Sarah said, her smile never wavering.

Just then, Ethan walked in. His face lit up when he saw the curry, but it tightened when his eyes landed on Chloe.

"Chloe, you're here," he said, his voice cautious. "Stay for dinner. I, uh... I learned how to make this for you."

The lie was so blatant it was almost funny. He served her a bowl, his expression pleading. Trapped, she took a small bite. The heat exploded in her mouth, a fiery, unwelcome invasion. She choked, her eyes watering as she scrambled for a glass of water.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Sarah cried, rushing to her side with a look of theatrical concern. "I completely forgot you don't like spice. It's all my fault. I only remembered what Ethan likes."

Chloe pushed her away and stood up, her throat burning. "I'm fine. I'm not hungry."

She turned to go to the bedroom, but Sarah moved to block her path, reaching out as if to steady her.

"Let me help you," Sarah said, her voice a soft murmur.

Then, Sarah stumbled backward, a small cry escaping her lips as she collapsed to the floor. "You pushed me!"

"What?" Chloe stared, bewildered.

"My ankle!" Sarah gasped, clutching her leg, her face contorted in pain.

Ethan's head snapped up. The sight of Sarah, crumpled and seemingly hurt, was a trigger. It was the same image from his past, the ghost of his lost love, injured and helpless. His entire demeanor shifted. The calm man vanished, and the soldier took his place.

He lunged at Chloe, his eyes blazing with a terrifying, familiar light.

"You hurt her," he growled, his voice low and menacing. He saw an enemy, not his wife.

His hands closed around her throat, squeezing the air from her lungs. The pressure was immense, black spots dancing in her vision. He was going to kill her.

Years of training with military personnel, of learning self-defense for situations exactly like this, kicked in. She drove her heel down hard onto his knee. He roared in pain, his grip loosening just enough for her to break free. She scrambled back, gasping for air, her throat raw.

She looked from Ethan' s furious face to Sarah, who was now watching from the floor, a flicker of triumph in her eyes. The manipulation was so clear, so disgustingly obvious.

Rage, pure and white-hot, surged through Chloe. She marched over to Sarah and slapped her, hard, across the face. The sound echoed in the silent room.

"You venomous snake," Chloe hissed.

Sarah shrieked, clutching her cheek. "Ethan, she hit me!"

Ethan, his face a mask of fury, stepped between them, shielding Sarah. "Get out," he snarled at Chloe. "Get out of my house."

The pain of his words was worse than the choking. She was the intruder. Sarah was the victim. Chloe stared at him, at the man she had loved, now a stranger defending a liar. The last thread of hope she hadn't even known she was holding onto finally snapped.

She turned and fled, running from the house without looking back. She ended up at the base hospital, not to get her bruised neck checked, but because it was the only place she could think to go.

Hiding in a small, empty waiting room, she overheard two nurses gossiping at the main desk.

"Did you hear? Captain Miller just brought that pretty civilian, Sarah, in for a sprained ankle."

"Yeah, he was carrying her. Looked so worried. They make a cute couple."

The words were a final confirmation. He hadn't even checked if she was okay. He was already playing the devoted partner to the woman who had orchestrated the whole thing.

Chloe closed her eyes, a bitter, hollow laugh escaping her lips. Despair washed over her, cold and complete. There was nothing left for her here. Nothing at all.