Chapter 2

Xavier’s face darkened. He stared at Nancy for a few seconds, then suddenly gave a light, mocking laugh.

"Nan, you think you can just say you don't want me? We already finished what we started in the woods last night. If you talk like this now, who else is going to marry you?"

The courtyard erupted into chaos.

"What? They already slept together..."

"No wonder Xavier came to propose first thing in the morning."

Nancy was shaking with rage. "Xavier, you're lying! When did I ever sleep with you?"

Xavier looked at her calmly, his eyes dancing with a playful, dangerous light.

"Nan, you have a mole on your chest, right on the left side. You're not going to try and deny that, are you?"

Auntie Jane slapped her thigh. "Oh, I know that! Nancy definitely has a mole there. I bathed her when she was little; I saw it as clear as day!"

Nancy turned pale.

The neighbors' gazes became suggestive, and the whispering grew louder.

"To speak of such things... it must be true."

"The Miller girl is so loose. She’s already slept with him and she’s still talking about calling off the engagement."

Nancy clenched her fists so hard her nails dug into her palms, the pain sharp and stinging.

She remembered that summer when she was thirteen and Xavier was fifteen.

The kids from the compound had gone to the river to play, and Xavier had accidentally fallen into the deep end.

Without a second thought, she had dived in and risked her life to drag him to shore.

She had been soaked through, her thin white shirt clinging to her skin, revealing the mole on her chest for all to see.

She had blushed and swatted at him, snapping, "What are you looking at!"

He had laughed through his coughing. "Nan, you saved my life. I'll definitely marry you to pay you back."

Back then, she thought it was a sweet promise. She held onto it for years.

Now she realized it was just evidence.

He was using a fragment of her youthful kindness to publicly defile her reputation.

Nancy looked up, her eyes stinging with tears.

"Xavier, you say I spent the night with you in the woods. What time was it? What was I wearing? Who saw us?"

Seeing Nancy’s red eyes, the smirk on Xavier’s face slowly faded.

He knew she must still be angry about what happened in their past life. That was fine; he could understand.

In this life, he would let her throw whatever tantrum she needed.

Xavier was about to speak when Wendy suddenly interrupted.

"Sister... how can you expect Xavier to describe something like that in detail?"

Nancy ignored her, keeping her eyes locked on Xavier.

"You can't say it because it never happened. You saw that mole when I saved you from the river when I was thirteen."

She paused, her voice trembling slightly.

"I saved your life, and you use it to ruin my name."

Xavier looked down, his Adam's apple bobbing as if he wanted to say something.

Suddenly, Nancy covered her mouth. A wave of nausea surged in her stomach, and she leaned against the wall, retching.

The entire courtyard went silent instantly.

Every eye was fixed on her.

Wendy’s eyes widened in feigned shock and delight. "Sister, you couldn't be... pregnant, could you?"

Nancy looked up sharply. "I am not—"

Before she could finish, another wave of nausea hit her.

She doubled over, clutching the doorframe, her face deathly pale.

Xavier stepped forward quickly, supporting her arm, his tone tender. "Nan, don't push yourself if you're not feeling well. We can talk about us later. Don't... don't upset the baby."

"I'm not pregnant!" Nancy shoved his hand away, her voice shaking.

But no one around her believed it.

A group of older women huddled together, whispering.

"Look at her. She looks exactly like I did when I was carrying my first."

"She’s already showing signs and she’s still talking about not getting engaged? Does she want the child to be a bastard?"

"Xavier is such a good man. Even after Nancy tried to humiliate him in public for that spot, he’s still willing to take responsibility."

Just then, Wendy leaned in close to Nancy and lowered her voice.

"Sister, thanks to Xavier’s idea, this medicine really does work wonders."

Nancy’s whole body jolted. She whipped her head around to stare at Xavier.

Chapter 3

In that single look, Nancy understood everything.

Xavier, leveraging his memories of their past life and anticipating that she might stop the engagement, had instructed Wendy to drug her breakfast.

Nancy clenched her fists, but before she could react, Wendy let out a sharp cry and stumbled to the ground.

"Sister, I know your emotions are unstable because you just found out you're pregnant. I can understand..."

Xavier rushed to help Wendy up, his voice filled with urgency. "Wendy, are you hurt?"

He looked down to examine the scrape on Wendy’s elbow, frowning. Then he turned to Nancy, his tone deepening with coldness.

"Nan, if you have a problem, take it out on me. Wendy is innocent."

Wendy leaned into Xavier’s arms, her eyes rimmed with red, yet she managed a forced smile. "It's okay, Xavier. It wasn't her fault; I just lost my balance."

Watching this scene, Nancy felt a dull, suffocating pain in her chest.

It was exactly like their past life.

Wendy was always the one yielding, always the one enduring, forever the perfect sister.

And Nancy was forever the one being unreasonable and ungrateful.

At that moment, Mr. Miller, who had been hiding inside out of embarrassment, finally lost his temper.

He stormed out and, without a word, raised his hand and slapped Nancy across the face.

"Enough! You disgraceful thing! You’re just as stubborn as your mother was!"

The force of the blow sent Nancy’s head reeling, her cheek burning with a searing pain.

Mr. Miller pointed a trembling finger at her, roaring in fury.

"Your sister has deferred to you since she was a child! She has loved Xavier for years—did she ever say a word? She gave up the man for you and offered you the army spot, and you still want more? You took her man and now you want to block her only path to a future!"

Getting more agitated, he raised his hand to strike her again.

Suddenly, a hand moved firmly to block his path.

Xavier gripped Mr. Miller’s wrist, his expression turning grim.

"That's enough, sir. I’m the one who wants to marry Nancy, and I’m doing it of my own free will. Striking her is the same as striking me."

He paused, glancing at Wendy with a flicker of regret in his eyes.

"As for Wendy... we weren't meant to be in this life."

Wendy’s face went pale, her lips trembled, and tears began to fall.

Stunned, Mr. Miller gave Nancy a final hateful glare before helping Wendy back into the house.

The crowd slowly dispersed.

Xavier turned to Nancy, looking down at her and reaching out to wipe the tears from her face.

Nancy turned her head away to avoid his touch.

Xavier’s hand hung in mid-air for a moment before he slowly pulled it back.

He sighed, softening his voice.

"Nan, I’m sorry for what happened in the past life. I promise you this time, the mission is just a mission. I won't let a 'role' become reality with Wendy again. Everything I owe you, I will pay back one by one. Marry me, please?"

Nancy looked exhausted. She stared at him for a long time.

"If I agree, will you stop making these grand, public scenes?"

Xavier’s eyes lit up, his determined smirk returning. He leaned down toward her and gave a mock, roguish salute.

"Reporting to Commander Nancy: from now on, all my actions are under your command."

Nancy looked down, a faint, cold smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

"Fine. I’ll marry you."

Chapter 4

That evening, Mr. Miller booked two tables at the state-run restaurant.

Rose wore a new outfit, holding Wendy’s hand and smiling broadly.

She placed her daughter's hand into Xavier’s, her eyes misting over with a solemn sense of entrustment.

"Xavier, once Wendy joins the unit, I’m leaving her in your care. She’s young and still has much to learn; please look after her."

Xavier took Wendy’s hand and nodded with a smile. "Don't worry, Rose. I will."

Nancy sat beside Xavier, quiet and still, like a stranger at her own party.

It was just like the past life. This dinner was nominally to witness Nancy’s engagement, but in reality, it was a celebration of Wendy securing the army spot.

But unfortunately for them, in this life, as long as she didn't personally call Auntie May to decline, no one could steal her place.

After a few drinks, Xavier’s brothers began to tease them.

"Don't you worry, Ma’am! If anyone dares to bully little Wendy, they’ll have to go through me first!"