Chapter 4

"You two go ahead. I have something to do tomorrow."

Sebastian frowned. "What could be more important than taking wedding photos?"

"Let's take the photos first, then I'll go shopping with you." His tone was firm and did not allow for refusal.

Vivian pouted playfully. "Exactly! Rach, you're not avoiding this because of me, are you?"

I did not want to argue further and agreed to go.

Early the next morning, I heard Sebastian coaxing Vivian to get out of bed in gentle, pleading tones from her room. The circle on the calendar reminded me that there were four days left. In four days, I could completely escape this life.

Just when my patience was wearing thin, they finally emerged from the room, taking their sweet time. Sebastian attentively took some water and personally washed Vivian's face.

I must have been blind in my previous life to naively believe that marrying him would make him treat me the same way.

Lost in thought, I watched as Sebastian approached me awkwardly, clutching a ring. "Mrs. Gilbert reminded me to buy you a wedding ring. Here it is."

I did not take it. In my previous life, this ring never existed.

The moment Vivian saw it, she pouted. "It's so pretty! I want one too!"

I generously offered, "Then take it."

Sebastian's face darkened immediately. "Stop fooling around. This is our wedding ring!"

Vivian snatched the ring and slipped it onto her finger, waving it at Sebastian. "Seb, does it look good on me?"

Sebastian gazed at Vivian with pure adoration, nodding with a foolish grin. Then, he turned to me guiltily and whispered, "I-I'll buy you another one next time."

I nodded indifferently. I had heard his promises countless times, yet he never kept them.

At the photo studio, Vivian went first, even taking several couple shots with Sebastian. When it was my turn with Sebastian, the photographer raised his camera but awkwardly lowered it again.

"Oh dear, I’m sorry. I'm out of film."

I secretly rejoiced while maintaining a neutral expression. "Oh well, forget it then."

Outside the studio, Sebastian pulled a train ticket from his pocket and handed it to me. It was a standing-room ticket to the capital, departing in four days.

"I didn’t mean to abandon you. I'll get settled first and wait for you in the capital."

The journey to the capital would take three days and nights. I could not fathom how he expected me to stand the entire way, especially since there was only one military dependent slot available.

Where would I even live once I got there?

However, asking now would not yield any satisfactory answers.

Seeing me accept the ticket, Sebastian visibly relaxed. "Don't worry—even if you don't live in military family housing, you're still my only wife. I'll treat you well from now on. I only see Viv as a sister."

My expression softened slightly. When had he ever spoken such gentle words before?

Suddenly, a car shot out from around the corner, heading straight for us. Sebastian pulled Vivian into his arms and dodged to safety. In the chaos, someone pushed me.

The car was bearing down on me, but my body froze in terror. The vehicle swerved sharply and struck me, sending me flying and dragging me along the pavement.

Pain consumed me as darkness crept into my vision, cold sweat pouring down my face.

The driver frantically jumped out, stammering incoherently, "Miss, how are you? Are you okay?"

A crowd gradually gathered, pointing and whispering. Through the sea of onlookers, my gaze fixed steadily on Sebastian.

At this moment, he was still holding onto Vivian, comforting her. He was completely oblivious to my situation.