Chapter 2

Fighting through the pain, I comforted Diana while calling out Rachel's name, hoping she'd look back.

After pausing for a second, Rachel did eventually look back, but only to shoot me a hateful glare. "Joel Cantrell, you know Todd has depression! Why would you provoke him like that? If anything happens to him, I'll never forgive you! Consider this a lesson. Stay away from him from now on."

With that, she helped Todd into a jeep and drove away.

In the end, a kind passerby took pity on me. He helped me to my feet and took me to the hospital. That night, Diana's fever wouldn't come down, and she was rushed into the emergency room.

My little Diana, who wasn't even a year old, left me forever on the very day Rachel chose to stay with Todd.

Lying in my hospital bed, I couldn't stop replaying the moment Rachel walked away. Tears blurred my vision.

I had said to myself, "Rachel, you have my word. From now on, I'll never go near you or Todd again. You're free."

The memory faded, bringing me back to the present.

Rachel, completely blind to how pale I was, said flatly, "If there's nothing seriously wrong with Diana, then just take her home. As a military dependent, you should know better than to take up medical resources unnecessarily."

I gave a nod. "Okay."

Rachel added, "I'll be staying with Todd for the next few days, so don't come looking for me unless it's important."

I simply nodded again. "Alright."

My total lack of reaction seemed to catch Rachel off guard for a second. Letting go of Todd's arm, she took a couple of steps toward me. "Diana… is fine, right? I'll go over and check on her once Todd is calmer."

I gave a low hum in response, deliberately ignoring the jealous, resentful glare Todd was shooting me.

As they brushed past me, I caught the scent on Todd. It was a faint fragrance of rosemary.

That was the hair oil Rachel always used.

Judging by the smell, Todd must have been holding Rachel in his arms an awful lot these past few days at the hospital. How else would her scent be completely baked into his clothes?

When I got home, Marla Greenwood, our next-door neighbor, happened to be stepping outside. She was startled the moment she saw how pale I was.

"Oh my! Joel, why do you look so pale?" she asked. "Did something happen? Where's Diana? Why isn't she with you?"

I managed a strained smile, but I couldn't stop my eyes from welling up.

So I really did look terrible, and it was obvious to people that something was off with me. Then why couldn't Rachel tell?

It had been more than a week. Even just a single word of concern would have been nice.

Seeing that I didn't want to talk about it, Marla dropped the subject. She just carefully helped me back home and sat me down.

That evening, she brought over a huge bowl of chicken noodle soup.

"Joel, with Rachel being away, you've already got enough on your plate taking care of a baby all by yourself. You can't afford to get sick too. Have some of this and get your strength back."

Marla's husband was also in the military, but with a bunch of kids to raise, the money they received was never enough. They relied on trading eggs for everyday essentials just to make ends meet.

I thanked her, but after she left, I just sat at the dining table, staring blankly into space.

I just couldn't wrap my head around it. Why was it that even a neighbor cared enough to ask about my health and Diana right off the bat, but my own wife turned her back on me time and time again?

This marriage was a complete joke.

I let out a heavy sigh before carefully lifting the spoon to my lips. Just as I was about to take a sip, the gate to the yard creaked open.

"Joel, I'm back."

Rachel walked in carrying a few changes of clothes.

I looked at her in confusion. "What are you doing back? Don't you need to stay with Todd?"

Rachel set the clothes down, replying casually, "The doctor said Todd's condition isn't that serious, but I still don't feel right about it. I told him to stay in the hospital for a few more days just to be safe. I only came back to grab some daily necessities."

I gave a quiet hum in response, though her words reminded me of what she had said to me just that morning.