Hucheng.
Inside the military residential compound.
Claire Reid leaned against the table, her eyes red and swollen, fixed on the two marriage certificates lying there.
One was old and worn — hers with Ethan Holmes.
The other, smooth and sealed in a plastic sleeve, looked brand new — the one between Ethan and Grace Cooper, the so-called war widow.
Claire still couldn’t shake off the look of awkward pity on the clerk's face at the civil affairs office when they told her no record of her marriage existed.
She’d spent a lifetime with Ethan.
Tended to his parents, looked after his siblings.
When he claimed he couldn’t have kids, she’d taken the blame on herself, let everyone believe she was the barren one.
Because of that, her mother-in-law had made her life hell for decades.
And now, the truth hit her like a slap in the face.
That marriage certificate? Fake.
Him being infertile? A lie.
Right beside the certificates in Ethan’s study was Aiden Holmes’s birth certificate.
Father: Ethan Holmes.
Mother: Grace Cooper.
So he *could* have children. Just not with her.
Claire slowly straightened up, robotic in her movements, and reached for the phone to dial Grace Cooper’s number.
The rings lasted just a few seconds.
Then, a calm male voice answered, "Hello? Who’s calling?"
Claire’s lips trembled slightly.
"Ethan, when are you coming home? We need to talk."
A pause. Then his voice: "Claire, don’t overthink things. Aiden’s working nearby—I stopped by to see him and say hi to Grace while I was at it."
Same excuse. Thirty years, and it was always the same tune.
Her head started to spin.
Before she could say more, another voice jumped in on the line.
"Mom, seriously? Can you not be so paranoid all the time? It’s Grace’s birthday, and you’re really gonna call to check up on Dad? If they had something going on, don’t you think it would've come out by now? Dad’s just been too nice, that’s the problem..."
As Aiden complained, something inside Claire snapped.
She couldn’t breathe.
She’d put up with this farce long enough. Thirty years of this mess—and for what?
"Aiden Holmes, from now on, I’m not your mom. And tell your dad—he’s free too."
As soon as the words left her mouth, her legs gave out. She hit the floor hard.
"Bang!"
"Mom? Mom, are you okay?"
"Claire? Claire…"
Her world went dark.
…
…
"Comrade Claire Reid, this whole situation’s been settled. The investigation confirmed you were the one who copied the work."
"Your fiancé, Captain Holmes, even admitted you’d looked through Grace Cooper’s notebook. What else do you want us to look into?"
"Bzzz—"
Claire’s head felt like it was splitting, her vision swimming.
Where was she?
Wasn’t she already dead?
She remembered using the last of her strength to speak, then collapsing…She slammed her head hard against the bench.
Claire Reid propped herself up and scanned the room around her.
A plain, old office—just a dull gray desk and some shelves.
From outside, revolutionary songs blared out of the loudspeaker downstairs.
Across from her sat Mr. Harris, looking about thirty years younger, frowning straight at her.
Wait a second…
Did she… come back?
Tears welled up in Claire’s eyes.
"Only crying now? Didn’t cross your mind when you were stealing someone else’s work?"
Mr. Harris waved his hand, visibly impatient. "Since you’re marrying Captain Holmes anyway, you can just give up this job. A quiet life at home isn’t such a bad thing."
Same setting, same lines.
This was the moment it all started—her constant giving in, one step at a time.
In the end, she handed over her whole life to Grace Cooper.
Claire suddenly looked up, eyes sharp and unwavering. "I didn’t copy anything. I filed this project with the Research Bureau half a year ago."
She’d registered it six months back. Grace Cooper only transferred here two weeks ago. It was obvious who stole from who!
Too bad Mr. Harris wanted to have his name on her work. She refused. Grace didn’t.
Mr. Harris shifted uncomfortably and looked away.
"Even if you’ve got proof, so what? Captain Holmes is backing Grace. Do you think him getting punished will help you? Take my advice and stop this mess before it gets worse—he won’t stand by you anyway."
Of course he wouldn’t.
Every time it came down to her and Grace Cooper, he always picked Grace.
Because her fiancé, Captain Brooks, died protecting Ethan Holmes.
To repay that, Ethan brought Grace to the base, pulled strings to get her into the bureau, and even gave her most of his pay every month. He looked after her like she was made of glass.
He jumped at her every beck and call—all his life.
Last time, it only took one sentence from Ethan Holmes to settle the issue.
They labeled her a fraud, said she stole someone else’s research.
She got booted from the Research Bureau.
Her reputation? Ruined.
People looked at her like dirt. No one would even give her a job.
But back then, she only had eyes for Ethan Holmes.
He told her Grace needed the job more, and she gave in.
Became the perfect housewife, handled every chore inside and out, stood behind him every step.
Just to keep their marriage from falling apart.
And what did that give her?
Even their marriage certificate was a lie.
She lived like a joke.
"Him taking sides doesn’t change the truth."
Claire spoke with clarity and turned to leave, back straight.
Last time, she clung to Ethan after losing her job—lived under his shadow, with everyone looking down on her.
That life? Never again.
This time, she’d clear her name.
She’d live with dignity.
