Chapter 3

Divorce was very rare here. The clerk checked repeatedly, and only when he saw the determination in Nathan’s eyes did he hand him the divorce papers.

“All that’s required is for you and your wife to sign this, and the divorce will be processed quickly.”

Nathan carefully put the papers away and returned to the compound.

Moon and Yara had not returned yet. He went into the kitchen, made himself dinner, and ate alone.

After he finished and started washing the dishes, they returned.

Moon looked at the empty dining table and asked, “Why didn’t you make dinner for us?”

Nathan glanced at Yara’s round belly and said calmly, “Didn’t you already eat at Dr. Quinn’s?”

Moon and Yara were picky eaters. Even when someone treated them to a meal outside, they never ate much.

Nathan had spent a long time experimenting with recipes to find the flavors they liked.

No matter how late they came home, he always made dinner enough for three people.

But it seemed that at Xavier’s house, their picky habits vanished miraculously.

It made sense. They were with the person they cared about the most. Around him, they had no trouble finishing their meals.

Moon’s face stiffened. She cleared her throat and said, “We stayed because we couldn’t refuse Dr. Quinn’s invitation.”

Yara patted her round belly and whispered, “Dr. Quinn’s cooking is so good! I wish I could eat his food every day.”

Nathan froze. He felt drained.

He quickly cleaned up, washed up, and lay down on his bed.

Just as he was about to fall asleep, he felt Moon pull him into a warm embrace.

“I need to talk to you about something,” Moon said in a low voice. Nathan felt instantly alert.

Before he could respond, she continued.

“Next month, I’ll be deployed to the South Sea for coastal defense. There’s only one slot for a family member to accompany me. I want to take Xavier along.

“Yara’s too young, so I’ll take her with me as well. You stay here at the compound and take care of my parents. Once I’m settled in the South Sea, I’ll come back for you.”

Nathan felt a sharp ache in his chest. His fists clenched without him realizing it.

It was not a discussion. She was telling him and assumed he could not refuse.

In his past life, Moon had said the same words.

At first, he did not understand why she wanted to give the family slot to Xavier. He was her husband, not Xavier.

Moon explained that the posting was on a remote island. There was no doctor there, and the soldiers often suffered from diseases. That was why she wanted Xavier to go with her.

Nathan had struggled with the idea for a long time but finally agreed. The only condition he had laid down was for Yara to stay behind with him.

Life on the island was harsh, and Moon would be busy with her duties. He worried that she would not be able to take care of Yara.

He would not change his mind, so Moon had made a compromise. Before leaving, she promised she would come back for him and Yara.

But the promise went unfulfilled for the rest of his life.

In the end, Yara blamed him for separating her from Moon. She blamed him for “taking Xavier’s place.”

Thinking back, Nathan realized that the army would have sent a doctor to the island anyway. There was no need for Moon to use the family slot to take Xavier along.

It was simply that she did not want to be apart from him. She wanted to take Yara so that the three of them could live as a family.

He had been foolish not to understand it in his past life.

Nathan felt a heaviness in his chest and found it difficult to breathe.

He pulled away from Moon’s embrace and kept his distance. He said in a low voice, “Fine.”

Moon looked surprised. She had not expected him to agree so quickly. Her gaze was confused and conflicted. She sounded unusually gentle as she said, “Don’t worry. I’ll come back for you. Then, our family will be together on the island.”

Nathan acted as if he had not heard her and closed his eyes.

The next morning, Nathan woke to find Moon already in the study handling official matters.

After breakfast, he took out the divorce papers.

Seeing the bold letters on the page, he felt a little dazed.

Yara jumped down from her chair and walked up to him. Curious, she read the words on the papers aloud.

“D-I-V-O-R-C-E.

“Dad, what does divorce mean?”

Nathan’s hand tightened on the papers. After a pause, he said, “Divorce is when two married people stop living together.”

Yara’s eyes lit up. She said eagerly, “Then, you should hurry and get a divorce from Mom!”