Chapter 1I'd been secretly married to Delta Force Commander Garrett Reid for five years, and he never once claimed me.
At the victory party after drills at Fort Bragg, his teammates wouldn't let up about my love life.
Even Garrett leaned in, grinning like it was all some joke:
"Dr. Hayes, plenty of solid guys in Special Ops. Want me to hook you up?"
Last life? I cracked—pulled out our wedding rings right there in front of everyone.
Scarlett Morgan, the performing arts darling, literally bolted out in tears.
Garrett said nothing that night. But after? Frozen out.
When my convoy got ambushed near the Syrian border and I was bleeding out in a field hospital? He didn't even call. Too busy driving three hours to watch Scarlett's big performance at HQ.
When Scarlett accused me of leaking classified intel and I called him sobbing? All he said: "Let JAG sort it out."
That's when it hit me—I wasn't his wife. I was his alibi.
This time around? I just smiled. "Actually, I'm taken. Filing the paperwork next month."
---
Dead silence.
Everyone froze.
Garrett's face went dark, knuckles white around his beer bottle.
He opened his mouth, but Scarlett—perched right next to him batting those big innocent eyes—jumped in first:
"Girl, you kept THAT quiet! Were you ever gonna tell us, or...?"
Half the platoon was at this party. Her comment got people talking immediately.
"Wait, Dr. Hayes is getting married?!"
"She's the best trauma surgeon on base—when'd she even have TIME to date?"
I smoothed down my scrubs. "Kept it on the down-low, yeah. Makes me the only wife that counts."
See, in my past life? I thought Scarlett didn't know about Garrett and me. Thought she'd been played too.
Until I was barely conscious in that field hospital and she showed up to brag about how obsessed Garrett was with her. That's when I realized—she'd known the whole damn time.
Scarlett's smile flickered. Others scrambled to fill the silence:
"So who's the lucky guy, Dr. Hayes?"
"Anyone good enough for you's gotta be pretty impressive!"
I kept my smile easy. "You'll meet him soon enough."
The second I finished talking, someone scoffed.
Scarlett raised one perfect eyebrow, challenge written all over her face:
"You're not making this up, are you? I mean, no judgment, but you're what—thirty-two? If you were still single, that'd be kinda rough. Right, Garrett?"
She blinked up at Garrett, doing that cute tongue-out thing.
My hands balled into fists. Then I heard Garrett grunt, "Yeah."
Scarlett's smile spread wider.
Second life, second chance, right? So why was I still hoping he'd be different?
Right then, this warm voice came from the doorway:
"Hey, is Wren here? Came to pick her up."
Everyone turned to look.
Guy in a dark suit stood at the entrance, gold-rimmed glasses, looking stupidly calm for someone who just walked into a military party.
Rain was still on his shoulders—clearly just bolted from the lab.
When our eyes met, even I was caught off guard.
He smiled. "Wren. Let's go."
Whispers exploded.
"Hold up, isn't that Professor Julian Cross from Defense Tech?"
"The youngest department head they've ever had?"
"THAT'S Dr. Hayes's boyfriend? Damn, power couple much?"
I stood, nodded to everyone. "I'm out. See you guys."
From the second I moved, I felt eyes burning into my back.
But I didn't turn around.
Right as I hit the doorway, Garrett's voice cut through the noise: "Wren Hayes!"
I stopped. Turned. "Yeah?"
His jaw was tight, fury rolling behind his eyes.
Scarlett curved her lips at me, voice dripping fake sweetness. "It's my medal ceremony in a bit. Garrett's taking me out after. Wanna come?"
I glanced at Garrett—he just stood there, silent.
"Nah."
Then turned back toward the door. "Congrats on the medal. I've got plans."
That stare followed me all the way to Julian's Range Rover.
I buckled up. "Thanks, Julian."
He shrugged. "Had a conference on base anyway. Heard voices, figured I'd check."
I smiled a little. Didn't push. He didn't either. Just asked:
"Where to? I'll drop you off."
I gave him an address.
We got there quick.
Before I got out, Julian held up his phone.
"Wren. Let's trade numbers."
I hesitated. He laughed, soft. "Who knows. Maybe I'll need a favor someday."
I nodded, pulled out my phone. "Sure."
After we added each other, Julian drove off.
I turned and walked inside.
This place—Garrett applied for it right after we got married. Tiny two-bedroom off-base apartment in Fayetteville. But it was ours.
Back when he actually came home, we'd sprawl on the couch, watch movies, read.
Now? He basically lived in the barracks.
Soon as I stepped inside, my department head called.
"Wren, check Instagram. NOW!"
Chapter 2
[@Garrett Reid: Official introduction—my girl. @Scarlett Morgan]
[@Scarlett Morgan: Here's to forever, Captain ❤️]
I thought coming back meant I'd be ready.
But seeing those words still felt like someone shoved a knife between my ribs.
Five years dating. Five years married. Ten years I waited for him to claim me publicly.
And he just handed it to someone else.
Dr. Patel's voice crackled through the phone, furious:
"Everyone's saying YOU'RE the homewrecker now! He's using this to clear Scarlett's name!"
"This is insane! You're his legal WIFE, Wren—"
"Doc."
I cut her off. "When's my visa ready?"
Silence on the other end, then: "...You're really doing this? Giving up your position at Walter Reed to go overseas?"
I stared out at the North Carolina sky.
Ten years ago, I turned down my acceptance to Cambridge so Garrett could chase his dreams without worrying about me.
Now? I won't let him derail my life again.
Garrett and I grew up together on the same base. Army brats. Childhood sweethearts, all that.
My parents died in a training accident when I was six. I got quiet after that. Jumpy. Lived with my aunt who didn't really want me. Other kids figured out fast I was an easy target.
Garrett always stepped in—protected me. Fought for me.
Until his parents got killed on a peacekeeping mission in Yemen. Until he took shrapnel to the chest covering a squadmate during a live-fire exercise.
I didn't sleep for three days. Just sat by his hospital bed.
We were all each other had.
At eighteen, I got my acceptance to Cambridge—full ride, pre-med track. Dream school.
That night, Garrett didn't say a word. Just held my hand, eyes red, until the sun came up.
Next morning, I turned it down. Applied to transfer to a field hospital unit near the Afghan border instead.
If he was gonna throw himself into danger, I'd be there to pull him back out.
Border rotations were brutal. Forty-eight-hour shifts. Patching up soldiers while mortars hit a hundred yards out.
Finally, I earned a commendation during a major op. Got promoted early, transferred stateside to Walter Reed.
One of the other medics asked me once—was giving up Cambridge worth it?
Back then, reading the notes Garrett left me before every mission?
Yeah. I thought it was.
But now...
A special ringtone interrupted my thoughts.
Looking at Garrett's name flashing on my screen, I stared at it for a second, then hit accept.
His voice came through tight, pissed:
"So what, dragging Julian into some act? Thought that'd make me jealous?"
"You forget who stayed at the hospital with you when you had pneumonia? You CAN'T just leave me, Wren."
I held the phone. Said nothing.
Scarlett's voice drifted through the speaker, syrupy-sweet: "Babe, come cut the cake!"
Garrett's tone shifted, went soft. "Be right there."
Then back to me, clipped:
"Look, Scarlett's unit and mine are running joint operations for the next two weeks. After that, I'll clear things up. Stop being dramatic.
"Stay home tonight. I'll grab that Thai place you like on my way back."
My mind drifted—
Garrett got recruited into Delta during a routine inspection of my field hospital unit. Some Colonel saw him disarm an IED in under three minutes and yanked him into Special Operations Command.
I fought it.
Garrett's whole plan was defense contracting after his service ended. Steady job. Safe. Maybe start that security consulting firm he always talked about.
Delta meant that door closed forever.
But he went over my head. Spoke to the CO privately. Signed the papers before I even knew.
Afterward, he held me on our bunk, voice cracking:
"Wren, I don't want you living off scraps because of me. I'm gonna rack up rank, give you a better life."
So Garrett gave up his dream for me.
Or so he said.
After that, our schedules barely synced. Weeks would pass between phone calls.
The first time rumors started—some performing arts girl got too close during a morale tour—he drove five hours overnight just to show up at my door.
Held me. Swore it was bullshit.
I asked him, "Can't we just go public? Tell people we're married?"
He said it'd hurt his image. Disappoint command. Not the right time.
But he promised—his wife would only ever be me.
I believed him.
Until later...
Scarlett showed up.
She got harassed after some show, tried to run, ended up in a river. Garrett happened to be there doing perimeter security. Saved her.
She played it perfect. Soaking wet. Helpless. Clinging to him.
By morning, the whole base was talking.
But that time? Garrett didn't say a single word.
By the time I snapped out of it, Garrett had already hung up.
Whatever. I had other things to deal with—
I called the JAG office, asked about divorce paperwork.
Before I left the country, I needed to be done with Garrett Reid.
What I didn't expect?
When he came home that night, Scarlett was with him.
Chapter 3
She peeked out from behind his shoulder, cheeks flushed, and skipped toward me like we were old friends:
"Dr. Hayes! We brought you pad Thai! You should eat!"
Garrett stood in the doorway, looking almost sheepish. "Easy, you're drunk. Don't trip."
Then he glanced at me.
"Scarlett had too much to drink. Not safe for her to go back to the barracks alone. She's crashing here tonight."
"Oh, and didn't you used to make that hangover soup? Make some for her."
I stood there.
Ears ringing.
Hands shaking.
So cheating wasn't enough.
Now he's bringing her into OUR apartment?!
And asking me to cook for her?!
"She's alone? What happened to her whole entourage? She never goes ANYWHERE without people."
Scarlett always traveled with other performers. Worst case scenario, she could get a damn hotel room.
Garrett frowned. "Wren, since when are you this cold?"
My voice came out raw. "This is MY house. Get. Out!"
Seeing my eyes go red, Garrett's tone softened.
"Alright, alright. I'll call someone to pick her up right now."
With that, he pulled out his phone.
But then—Ahhhhh.
Scarlett tumbled backward down the stairs.
Garrett's face went white! He threw his phone aside and lunged toward her!
He looked panicked in a way I'd NEVER seen before.
"SCARLETT!"
She lay in his arms, eyes closed.
Garrett's expression went dark. When he looked up at me, his eyes were burning.
My stomach dropped. "I didn't—"
But his hand already cracked across my face before I could finish.
"Are you seriously telling me Scarlett threw HERSELF down the stairs to frame you?! She's a PERFORMER, Wren! Her whole career is her face! You think she'd risk that?!"
The slap left me stunned.
Felt like the last bit of hope I'd been clinging to just... died.
Garrett scooped Scarlett up, heading for the door. I called after him.
"Wait."
Then held out the divorce papers.
"Sign this first. Or don't leave."
Garrett glared at me.
In the past, whenever we fought, I'd make him write apology notes and sign them. Stupid couple stuff.
Now?
He didn't even look at what it was. Just scrawled his name across the bottom.
Then bolted out with Scarlett in his arms.
Where he couldn't see, Scarlett's lips curved into a smirk.
By morning, news of Scarlett's "accident" was all over Instagram.
Photos of her in a hospital bed, white bandage around her head. Garrett sitting beside her, looking worried and attentive.
Everyone was gushing about how devoted he was.
Dr. Patel had been my mentor since I enlisted. Unlike everyone else, she knew the truth about Garrett and me.
She stormed into my apartment, cussing him out at full volume.
"Is the visa ready, Doc?"
She nodded. "Three days."
Perfect.
Just enough time to tie up loose ends.
Except on day three, another post blew up.
#BREAKING: Army Surgeon Wren Hayes—Homewrecker in Reid/Morgan Relationship
#BREAKING: Wren Hayes PUSHED Scarlett Morgan Down Stairs
I clicked it.
Multiple accounts sharing two pictures.
First pic: me walking into the apartment complex last night.
Second pic: Garrett and Scarlett entering the same building twenty minutes later, holding hands.
Comments went nuclear.
[wait WHAT why were all three of them in the same place???]
[Wren's been obsessed with Captain Reid for YEARS. Word is she snuck into his place—Scarlett's injury? Wren's fault!]
[um why would Dr. Hayes need to sneak into anyone's apartment lmao]
[this is such BS our girl doesn't need to chase ANYONE]
The arguing went wild online.
Just then, one comment shot to the top.
[@MilBaseNews: Wren Hayes LIED about having a boyfriend. She's been obsessed with Captain Reid forever. When he went public with Scarlett, she lost it—broke into his place and pushed Scarlett down the stairs. I've got proof she used to stalk him. RECEIPTS ATTACHED.]
When Garrett first joined Delta, he was a nobody. I visited him a few times during that first year.
I was careful. No photos. No posts. No one knew.
But now? The "proof" this user posted hit me like a sledgehammer.
And those photos—only Garrett could've leaked them.
My hands shook as I called Garrett.
Rang five times before he picked up.
"Garrett. This was you…"
