Chapter 3

As soon as Regina's words left her mouth, I was stunned.

She became even more arrogant at that. "Come and see, everyone! She claims her husband is James Zeller! Everyone on base knows that James married my daughter long ago! They even reported their marriage to the higher-ups!

"Moreover, which soldier wouldn't have their family members live with them on base after marriage? Her child is so grown-up already, yet has anyone on base ever seen the two of them?"

Everyone around us nodded in agreement. They also made critical remarks about my new custom-made clothes and high heels.

"That's right. Back when Captain Zeller got married, he immediately reported it to the higher-ups and specially held a wedding ceremony on base."

"That's right. Captain Zeller treats his wife so well. I can see him picking her up after work every day."

"You can tell just by the way she dresses that she definitely isn't the proper sort."

I finally understood the gist of the situation through their comments—James had married another woman on base.

But clearly, I was James' wife!

I frantically took out the only photo I had of me and James together and brandished it in front of Regina. "I'm James' actual wife! We took a photo together!"

Regina stiffened for an instant, but then she burst out laughing the moment she saw the photo. "So, you're trying to pass off as a captain's wife with a photo that doesn't even show your faces? I'd say you're just trying to find an easy target to rip off!"

I turned the photo over in confusion and was promptly thunderstruck.

James' face in the only photo I had of us together had long since become blurred because of how much I'd touched it over the past seven years.

Before I could defend myself, Regina grabbed me by the hair and smashed my head into the ground. "I'm going to beat you to death, you damn homewrecker! How dare you bring a bastard child to our doorstep? See if I don't beat the stuffing out of you!"

My head rang from the blow, and I could only thank my lucky stars that I could still remain clear-headed.

Other women who'd been watching the drama unfold gathered around as well.

They mercilessly opened up my suitcase and passed around the skimpy underwear I'd specially purchased from Carnatia with looks of contempt.

Regina became even more smug when she saw the undergarments in my suitcase. "See? I told you all that she was a wench! Which respectable woman would wear things like this? Only women of the night in the red-light district would buy these!"

She then tossed the undergarments in my embarrassed face.

James and I were apart more often than not, so I'd deliberately bought undergarments like these with the intention of spending a nice married life with him after seven years.

I didn't expect to end up being insulted indiscriminately and labeled as a wench.

"I'd certainly like to see if you're wearing the underwear like this now!" Regina declared, after which she immediately began tearing at my clothes.

I thrashed around desperately, pulling ceaselessly at her hair.

Regina cried out in pain and promptly called for the onlookers to help her. "If you really stand by and allow this wench to get into the base, don't blame me for not warning you when she eventually seduces your husbands!"

The other women exchanged glances before scrambling over to restrain my hands and feet.

Regina stood up and was just about to kick me in the stomach when Jasper rushed over to protect me.

My eyes widened as I watched Jasper get kicked so hard he coughed up blood. This shocked the people around us, who instantly loosened their grips on me.

Regina didn't back off when she saw Jasper vomiting blood. Instead, she even spat, "That little bastard deserves it!"

She then started slapping me repeatedly.

She'd long ripped up my outer layer of clothing, the torn stitching coming apart to reveal a lot of skin.

However, I'd already stopped caring about the exposure. Tears streamed endlessly down my face as I struggled to crawl to Jasper's side.

Before I could reach him, Regina forced me to my knees and pushed my forehead to the ground. "For trying to ruin my daughter's family, I want you to apologize to her on your knees!"

My eyes were blinded by blood, so I could only see Jasper lying lifelessly on the ground.

Just as I was filled with despair, I heard a voice filled with vigor yell, "Stop!"