Xavier brought out all the wedding supplies he had bought for Nancy.

Wendy took the wedding dress into the inner room and was dressed in no time.

The moment she pushed open the door, his mother’s eyes lit up. She took Wendy's hands and looked her up and down, smiling broadly.

"Beautiful, truly beautiful. This wedding dress looks even better on you than it did on your sister."

Wendy lowered her head with a blush, stealing a glance at Xavier.

Xavier stood at the door, staring at the red bridal gown she wore, momentarily dazed.

He remembered that these clothes were originally bought for Nancy.

But she didn't want them anymore.

The three of them walked toward the restaurant together.

Along the way, his mother held Wendy’s hand and walked ahead, chatting and laughing.

Xavier followed behind, his knuckles white as he gripped the key with the red string, the metal digging painfully into his palm.

The restaurant was packed.

Xavier's father was at the door greeting guests. When he saw the three of them approaching, he froze.

As he realized Wendy was the one wearing the red bridal gown, his smile stiffened on his face.

Mr. Miller also came out from a private room. Seeing Wendy in the wedding dress, his expression shifted.

"What’s going on? Why has the bride changed? Where is Nancy?"

Xavier opened his mouth, but no words came out.

His mother quickly stepped in to smooth things over, saying with a smile, "Mr. Miller, here’s what happened. Nancy received a sudden notice from the army and left early this morning. You see, Wendy felt so bad for her sister that she offered to step in and hold the banquet in her place. We couldn't let everyone come all this way for nothing, right?"

Mr. Miller’s face darkened as he looked at Wendy.

Wendy kept her eyes down and whispered, "Dad, Sister left in such a hurry that there wasn't time to notify everyone. I was afraid of making us a laughingstock for our relatives, so... so I thought of standing in for her."

Before Mr. Miller could speak, Rose hurried over, taking Xavier’s hand with a smile. "Oh, Xavier, you really are lucky. Wendy is just as good as Nancy. By marrying her, you’re still a son-in-law of the Miller family."

Mr. Miller fell silent for a few seconds before nodding his head in cold acceptance.

The relatives in the private rooms began to whisper.

"Why did the older Miller girl suddenly run away?"

"Who knows? I heard she refused to give up the army spot and they had a falling out."

"Even so, they can't just push the sister out to fill the gap..."

"Quiet now, don't say another word. It’s a wedding day."

Listening to these words, Xavier’s expression remained unchanged.

Wendy stood beside him, gently tugging his sleeve and whispering, "Xavier, don't think too much. Sister is gone, but I’m still here."

Xavier gave her a look and forced a small smile.

Chapter 10

The banquet began.

His mother held Wendy’s hand, moving from table to table to offer toasts, affectionately calling her "daughter-in-law" at every turn.

Wendy followed obediently with a red face, offering toasts and greeting everyone properly.

At one table, a relative praised, "The family found a great wife; she’s both beautiful and sensible."

Another added, "Exactly, she’s much better than the one who ran away."

Xavier held his glass, drinking one after another.

Mr. Miller walked over with a glass and patted him on the shoulder.

"Xavier, I’m leaving Wendy in your hands. Don't forget what you promised back at the base."

Xavier looked up, his gaze a bit vacant. "What promise?"

Mr. Miller’s face fell. "You said you would help get Wendy commissioned as a military spouse. Now that you're her husband, you need to take this even more seriously."

Xavier stared at his glass for two seconds before the corner of his mouth twitched. "Don't worry, sir. I won't forget."

Mr. Miller nodded in satisfaction and walked away.

By the time the banquet ended, it was already dark.

Xavier was dead drunk and had to be supported back to the bridal chamber.

Wendy helped him into the room, laid him on the bed, took off his shoes, and poured a glass of warm water.

"Xavier, have some water."

Xavier lay on the bed, looking at her through a haze.

The shadows from the lamp swayed back and forth, and Wendy’s face blurred into a smudge of light.

He reached out and grabbed her.

"Nan..." he called out in a hoarse voice.

Wendy froze.

Xavier pulled her into his arms, wrapping his hands around her waist and burying his face in the crook of her neck.

"Nan... don't go... don't leave me..."

He rolled over, pinning her to the bed.

Wendy did not push him away.

She bit her lip as tears slid silently into the pillow.

Throughout the night, he called Nancy's name twenty-three times.

When dawn broke, Wendy sat up in bed, her back to Xavier as she silently dressed herself.

Xavier rolled over and reached for the spot beside him, finding it empty.

He opened his eyes and saw Wendy’s back, his hungover brain slowly clearing.

He remembered bits and pieces of the previous night, though much was a blur.

He only remembered that he had kept calling out a single name.

He sat up, opening his mouth to say something.

Wendy turned around, her face full of shyness.

"Xavier, you were so intense last night. You kept calling my name."

Xavier was stunned for a moment, then he felt a wave of relief.

He reached out to stroke Wendy’s hair, his tone carrying a hint of tenderness.

"It’s been hard on you."

Wendy shook her head and leaned into his chest.

Xavier held her, remaining silent for a while before speaking.

"Wendy, I only have three days of leave left before I have to return to the unit. I’ll apply for you to join me as soon as possible so you can come early."

Wendy nodded, her eyes rimmed with red.

"I’ll wait for you."

For the next three days, Xavier was completely devoted to Wendy.

In the mornings, he made her hot breakfast; at noon, he accompanied her to the supply center to pick out new clothes; in the evenings, he took her out to eat at the state-run restaurant.

When Wendy said she wanted to see the sunrise, he rode his motorcycle for miles to take her up the mountain.

When Wendy said she was afraid of the dark, he kept the lamp lit every night and sang softly to coax her to sleep.

Three days later, Xavier returned to the unit.

The first thing he did was file a report, applying for Wendy to join him in six months.

When the Commander was signing the papers, Xavier hesitated before asking, "Sir, where was Nancy Miller assigned?"

The Commander looked up at him, his tone flat.

"She and her partner went to the Northern Front for a special mission. It’s unlikely you'll see her again for a long time."

Xavier was stunned.

He suddenly remembered—the mission he and Wendy took in the last life, wasn't it to the Northern Front?

Then who was her partner?

Xavier’s heart sank.

He opened his mouth to ask more but was afraid that further questions would arouse suspicion.

Leaving the office, Xavier stood in the hallway and lit a cigarette.

Through the swirling smoke, he remembered the years he spent partnered with Wendy in the last life.

The two of them had lived and eaten together as a fake couple, facing life and death.

As time went on, the fake had become real.

Now, Nancy was going to the same place for the same mission with her own partner.

Xavier took a hard drag on his cigarette, which made him cough.

He remembered the way Nancy looked the morning she left, not once looking back.

She had thrown the key on the road and taken nothing.

She didn't want his compensation, nor his marriage.

Xavier crushed the cigarette in his palm, wincing at the pain.

He was afraid.

Afraid that Nancy and her partner would turn their act into reality.

Afraid that she would develop feelings over time and never come back.

Chapter 11

The military truck jolted along the mountain roads all day, only stopping at dusk.

Nancy jumped off the truck to a scene of desolation.

Several rows of gray, flat-roofed houses sat in a valley surrounded by barren hills. When the wind blew, yellow dust filled the air.

"Nancy Miller?" A tall man in a training uniform walked over, holding a folder. "I’m Julian. From today on, we’re a team."

Nancy gave him a look.

Thick eyebrows, a high bridge of the nose, and eyes that were black and bright. His expression was neutral, making it hard to read his emotions.

"Hello," Nancy said.

Julian gave a nod and turned to walk away. "The dorms are over there. The mess hall opens at six-thirty."