Chapter 1

Anastasia's POV

It was the day the victorious army returned home. I stood atop the city wall, looking down at the crowds that packed the main street, and waited for that familiar figure.

My maid, Edna Fisher, could barely contain her excitement. "Mrs. Grayson, I can see the banners! It's the general!"

I quickly focused on the procession. At the very front rode my husband, Timothy Grayson. His expression was as stern and unreadable as ever.

Then, my gaze fell lower. He was cradling a woman in a white dress in his arms.

I recognized her instantly. It was Sarah Tucker.

My fingers clenched instinctively, and I pressed a hand to my chest. The pain was so sharp that I felt a chill seep through my entire body.

Below, people were already whispering. "Who's that young woman? Why is she riding with General Grayson?"

"I heard she's Ms. Tucker. She stayed with the army and treated the soldiers' wounds. The general's taken quite a liking to her."

Edna's face turned pale with anger when she heard that. "Mrs. Grayson! How could he do this to you? You managed the entire household while he was away, and he—"

Before she could finish, Timothy swung down from his horse and carefully lifted Sarah from the saddle.

I slowly turned away.

With my back to the roaring crowd, I walked down, one step at a time. It felt as though every ounce of strength had been drained from my body.

…

Not long after I returned home, the door to my room swung open.

Timothy stepped inside, still wearing his silver armor. His sharp features hadn't changed a bit. Yet, the first thing he said was, "Ana, I know what you saw."

I remained silent.

He sighed, his voice low as he went on, "Sarah said she didn't know how to break it to you and figured the only way was to let you see for yourself.

"She's innocent, Ana. She doesn't understand how complicated these things are. Don't blame her."

A bitter taste filled my mouth. Would an innocent woman really choose to hurt another woman this deeply?

Timothy's voice softened, and he said, "Ana, you've stayed home all this time, taking care of everything while bearing my pain. I know it hasn't been easy.

"But Sarah stayed with the army. She prepared medicine for the wounded, mended the soldiers' clothes, and kept their spirits up. I can't ignore everything she's done."

I looked up at him. I used to think beneath all his ambition, there was still a place for me. As it turned out, I'd only been fooling myself.

"What is it you want?" I asked.

Timothy paused, then replied gently, "I want to marry Sarah and bring her into this household as your equal, with neither of you above the other."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut.

Suddenly, I remembered our wedding night. He'd lifted my veil, his eyes brimming with tenderness as he looked at me.

Back then, he'd been frail and constantly sick, yet he'd been so full of life.

Timothy had taken my hand, gotten down on his knees before me, and sworn, "I will have only one wife for the rest of my life. My heart will never belong to another. If I ever break this vow, may I rot in hell."

By morning, the candles had burned down to nothing.

It had only been three years.

Just then, I let out a quiet laugh. I wasn't sure whether I was laughing at him or at myself.

"If you want to marry her, you'll have to do it over my dead body," I said.

Timothy furrowed his brow, and the warmth vanished from his eyes. "Ana, why would you say something like that just because you're angry?"

A faint smile tugged at my lips. I hadn't said it out of anger.

For the first time in years, I heard the system speak again. "Your despair has reached the required threshold. Upon your death, you may return to the real world."

Just because Sarah had tagged along with the army, Timothy acted like she'd done something heroic.

But he had forgotten something. Every battle he won, every wound that should have been his to bear, I endured instead.

The dull ache in my chest spread until I could barely breathe.

The pain went both ways. For three years, every headache, fever, and minor ache I'd suffered had barely registered with Timothy. He never gave them a second thought.

But this time, the pain was different.

Timothy pressed a hand to his chest before he could stop himself.

"Ana, are you in pain?" he asked with a frown.

He reached out and gently pulled me into his arms. "Don't be upset. Once Sarah joins the family, nothing will change. I'll treat you just as I always have, okay?"

His words carved another wound in my heart, but I blinked back the tears.

Then, I bit down hard on my tongue.