Chapter 1

At seventy-one, Nancy told the reporters with a flicker of pride that she had spent her life honoring her late fiancé, Xavier, who had died young.

A moment later, the production crew escorted Xavier into her cramped, leaking shack. He wasn't dead. He was surrounded by a swarm of children and grandchildren.

She learned the devastating truth right then. For all those years, the man had worked alongside her sister, Wendy. They had played the part of a couple for a mission until the lie became their reality. He had been loyal to his country and his people, but he had utterly failed her.

Now that his duties were over and he held a high-ranking position, he was facing terminal cancer. He wanted to use his final days to make it up to her.

Under the glare of the cameras, Xavier gripped Nancy’s hand, his voice thick with a calculated tenderness.

"Nan, from now on, I’m yours alone. As for my estate... I’ll leave that to my old partner and the children."

Cheers and blessings erupted from the crowd.

"The old Commander is so devoted. After fifty years, he’s still willing to leave everything for her."

"Nancy is so lucky. She waited a lifetime, and it finally paid off."

But Nancy only felt a sharp, stabbing pain in her chest. A spray of crimson blood erupted from her lips.

Everything went black, and she lost consciousness.

When she opened her eyes again, she was back in 1980.

She was eighteen again, freshly graduated from high school.

Living in the military compound, her family had only one coveted spot for the army.

Based on her test scores and physical evaluations, the army had chosen her.

Then Xavier appeared. Dressed in his crisp uniform, he stood at her doorstep with that familiar, charming smile.

"Nan, I’ve got a spot for a military dependent on my side. In a few years, I can get you commissioned as an officer. Give this current spot to Wendy. Let’s get engaged first, and I’ll pave the way for your future."

She had loved him since they were children, so she believed him. She believed the childhood sweetheart who had already made a name for himself in the service.

She gave up her selection and handed the opportunity to her half-sister, Wendy. She had worn that engagement ring with pure joy, waiting for the better life Xavier promised.

Instead, news of his death arrived six months later.

She cried until her eyes were dry, stayed to care for his parents, and remained a widow for fifty-three years.

Meanwhile, Wendy would come home every year, beautifully dressed and smiling. "Oh, Nancy, my husband treats me so well. It’s a shame you can’t join the service; you’ll never get to meet him."

Nancy had thought her sister was simply lucky.

Only at the moment of her death did she realize that the "officer husband" was Xavier himself.

Nancy clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white.

Fortunately, she hadn't gotten engaged to him yet. There was still time to change everything.

She rushed to the commissary and called her mother’s old friend from the service. "Auntie May, can you please keep that spot for me, no matter what?"

"Don't you worry, Nancy," Auntie May said warmly. "I know your father favors your stepmother and Wendy. Unless I hear you say you’re giving it up with your own mouth, I’m holding it for you. Let's do this: we were supposed to meet in three days at seven in the morning, but be at the village entrance at six. I’ll send someone early to pick you up, just to be safe."

"Thank you, Auntie..."

Just as she hung up, she looked up to see Xavier leaning against the doorway.

He was in uniform, the silver bars of a First Lieutenant on his shoulders. A cocky, vibrant smile played on his lips.

"Who were you calling? You seemed in a hurry."

"None of your business."

Nancy brushed past him, knocking his shoulder as she headed home.

Xavier was stunned.

The Nancy before him was different. Before, her eyes were always filled with nothing but love for him.

He chased after her, reaching out to grab her braid and pull her toward him. "Nan, did you come back to life too?"

Nancy’s heart hammered against her ribs. She shoved him away violently. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Xavier studied her for a moment, then let go and gave a soft laugh.

"Fine. If you won't admit it, forget it."

Nancy quickened her pace, wanting nothing to do with him.

Xavier followed lazily behind.

"Nan, I know you blame me. You blame me for coming back too late in our last life. It won't happen this time. Once we're engaged, I'll finish my mission and come back for you as soon as possible. As for that army spot, let Wendy have it just like last time. She makes a good soldier."

Nancy stopped in her tracks, turning to glare at him with icy eyes.

"I am not giving my spot to anyone, and I am not getting engaged to you."

Xavier frowned, then smiled again as he took her hand, his tone certain.

"Nan, stop playing around. You waited fifty-three years for me in the last life; I want to compensate you in this one. If you're really that worried, we can just seal the deal tonight."

He leaned in close, kissing her earlobe.

"Let’s have a baby first. That’ll keep you tied to me forever."

"Xavier! Let go of me!"

Nancy struggled desperately. As they were scuffling, the courtyard gate swung open.

"What do you think you're doing? In broad daylight! Have you no shame?" Nancy’s father roared, his face darkened with rage.

Xavier let go, calmly straightened his collar, and stepped forward with a smile.

"Mr. Miller, you’ve come at the right time. I’m here today to ask for Nancy’s hand. I want to marry her and help her get commissioned later as a military spouse. As for the army spot, Nancy has already agreed to let Wendy take it."

"Is that true?" Her stepmother, Rose, was overjoyed, turning immediately to Wendy.

Wendy lowered her head, but the corners of her mouth curled into a tiny smirk.

"It’s not—" Nancy started to speak, but her father cut her off with a sharp wave of his hand.

"That’s enough." Mr. Miller looked at her. "You've loved Xavier since you were a girl. Now he’s asking to marry you and promising you a future in the service. What more could you want? Do you have to keep fighting over this one spot and make us the laughingstock of the neighborhood?"

Nancy clenched her fists, a heavy weight pressing on her chest.

She didn't argue further. She turned and slammed her bedroom door shut.

The next morning, the sound of gongs and drums suddenly erupted outside.

Nancy pushed open her window and looked out.

Xavier was standing in the courtyard, backed by a group of his brothers from the unit, handing out wedding candies to the neighbors.

He saw her and shouted with a grin, "Listen up, neighbors! Today is a double celebration for me! First, I’m engaged to Nancy! Second, my Nancy is a woman of high character—she’s voluntarily giving her army spot to her sister, Wendy!"

Congratulations broke out from the crowd.

Nancy stood at the window, trembling with fury.

She bolted downstairs, threw open the front door, and stood before the crowd.

"Aunts, uncles, I have not gotten engaged to Xavier, and I am not giving my spot to anyone."

The courtyard fell silent. Everyone held their candies, looking back and forth in confusion.

Xavier’s expression shifted slightly. Before he could speak, Wendy stepped out from behind the crowd.

Her eyes were red, her voice dripping with grievance. "Sister, how can you be like this? I know you've hated me since we were little, but you can't just humiliate Xavier by calling off the wedding in public just to keep me from getting that spot. Do you really want to embarrass him this much?"

Rose immediately chimed in. "Exactly! Your sister has deferred to you her whole life. This was the one thing she was looking forward to, and you’re still trying to snatch it away?"

The neighbors began to join in the nagging.

"Nancy, this isn't right. You’ve already been promised to a man with such good prospects; you should leave the spot for your sister. You can't have everything for yourself."

"She's right. Your sister isn't fighting for anything. You've got the man and you still want the spot? You're blocking her only path."

"Xavier is so devoted to you. He came to propose the moment he got back. What are you making a scene for?"

Nancy took a deep breath, looking at these faces that were both familiar and strange. She spoke clearly, one word at a time.

"Fine. I don't want the man. And nobody is taking my spot."