My Marriage Was Built on Lies

For five years of marriage, Sophie Lane had always believed her husband, Daniel Hart, was just an ordinary call center operator.

He was busy with work, so she learned to handle everything at home on her own.

His salary was low, so she stretched every dollar as far as it could go.

It wasn’t until she was hospitalized during a difficult labor and ran into Daniel accompanying his fallen comrade’s widow, Clara Bailey, that she finally learned the truth.

Daniel had never been a call center operator at all; he was a commanding officer in an elite unit.

To give all the privileges of a commander’s wife to his childhood sweetheart, Clara, he had hidden his identity from Sophie for five years.

When Clara lost her child, and to spare her the pain, he had even made Sophie give her own baby to her.

Sophie’s heart went completely cold.

After recovering in the hospital, she went alone to audition for an out-of-town performing arts company.

With the offer letter in hand, she petitioned the court for divorce.

She was going to end this marriage built on lies.

And leave Daniel forever.

After losing her baby during a traumatic delivery, the neighbors all started saying Sophie Lane wasn’t the same anymore.

On the first day, she cooked herself three eggs.

She no longer set aside the best cuts of meat and fresh eggs for Daniel Hart, no longer living off scraps and cheap starches herself.

On the second day, she went to a boutique and bought herself a quilted floral coat.

She no longer kept stitching up her worn-out jacket, no longer scraping and saving for months just to buy Daniel extra gear.

On the third day, she accompanied her neighbor, Joanne, to the hospital and bought a course of postpartum medicine, only to be stopped in the lobby by his aide.

“Mrs. Hart! Captain Hart was injured during a mission. He’s been calling your name. You should go see him!”

Sophie looked at her quietly, not a trace of worry in her expression.

“Are you sure he was calling for Sophie, and not Clara?”

She smiled faintly. “You should go find Clara Bailey. The one your captain wants to see will only be her. She lives at the far west end of the military housing compound, a single-unit house. You’ll find her easily.”

With that, she took Joanne’s hand and moved to leave.

A weak yet steady voice called out from behind her. “Sophie.”

The aide sucked in a sharp breath. “Captain Hart, why did you come out yourself?!”

Daniel Hart ignored her and walked straight to Sophie.

His face was pale, but he forced a gentle smile, reaching out to touch her cheek.

“The one I want to see is you, Sophie. What kind of husband, after getting hurt, goes to see another woman instead of his wife? Are you still upset about what happened the day you gave birth?”

Sophie stepped back, avoiding his hand. “I’m not upset.”