Chapter 10

Everyone was called to gather at the base's housing courtyard. Roxanne was then pressed down against a bench before the whip lashing began, striking her back and legs. She bit down hard on her lip, staying silent even as incredible pain surged throughout her body from the lashings. The only thing that betrayed her pain was the cold sweat that continuously fell from her forehead. Roxanne passed out right after the 20th stroke of the whip. She was tossed back to her room and left to her own devices. She was awoken in the middle of the night by overwhelming pain. Struggling to get up, she uncovered the medicine she had kept hidden in a corner. She then tended to her wounds with it with great difficulty. Each time Roxanne moved, the wounds on her back and her legs would sting with pain. It hurt so bad that she nearly passed out again. She gazed at herself in the mirror, seeing how wounded and disheveled she was. She suddenly remembered that the divorce application from earlier should have been approved by now. … The next day, Roxanne shuffled over to JAG and retrieved her now-approved divorce papers. She returned to the base housing and placed the document on the empty coffee table in the living room. This way, it would at least be enough to pique one's curiosity. Roxanne reflected on the three years of time and energy she had spent on this place. There hadn't been any warmth or love here, only endless humiliation and suffering. It was time for that to come to an end. She packed some of her old clothes into a small luggage bag. She also received a call from the research institute just then, telling her that the farewell party would soon begin and that she had to get ready. Roxanne hummed in assent and hung up the call. She then took her luggage and left the house without looking back. … A few days later, Callum returned home to continue his recovery. His wounds had healed more, and he'd insisted on being discharged from the hospital. Zoey went back to the house with him. The house was eerily quiet when they opened the door. Zoey pretended to be worried and said, "There doesn't seem to be anyone home, Callum. Roxanne didn't leave on a whim after what happened before, did she? "Do you want to look for her? What if something happens to her?" Callum's brows knitted together. He felt strangely uncomfortable as he scanned the empty and quiet house. Throughout Callum's three years of marriage with Roxanne, she'd always been there waiting for him to come back home, no matter what time it was. She'd keep a light on and leave his dinner on the table, so he was not used to seeing how quiet and empty the house was now. He quickly shoved the discomfort aside and said flatly, "Roxanne's a grown woman. What's the worst that could happen to her? Just ignore her. She'll come back on her own soon enough." Callum's eyes scanned the living room, not noticing the divorce papers on the coffee table whatsoever. He had to tend to something more important right now. "Let's go," he said to Zoey. "I'll be your plus one at the farewell party. It's a serious event, after all." … The museum's event hall was filled with VIPs, and its ambience was ceremonious and grand. Callum and Zoey found a place to sit down. The guests around them were having lively discussions amongst themselves. "Did you hear? Project SkyDome is going to be led by that chief engineer who withdrew from the public eye a couple of years ago—Chief O'Brien!" "Really? Isn't she that genius propulsion specialist? Has she finally returned to the scene?" "This is wonderful! With her leading the team, there might actually be hope for the improvement of our country's aerospace defense systems!" "Yes! This is tremendous news!" Callum couldn't help but grow curious about this heavily lauded "Chief O'Brien" that the guests around him continuously spoke about. He hadn't met this person before, but already he felt a sense of respect for them. Chief O'Brien must be quite an extraordinary person for these usually arrogant guests to respect them so much. Callum then eagerly anticipated the mysterious project leader's appearance onstage. Finally, the host called out loudly through the microphone. "Let's all give a warm round of applause to Project Skydome's leader—Chief O'Brien! Please come and give us a speech!" Thunderous applause rang out throughout the venue hall. All eyes and spotlights turned to the podium entrance. Callum instinctively straightened up and turned his gaze there as well. His expression froze. His pupils quickly dilated as shock and disbelief flooded his being. An elegant and proud woman slowly walked toward the podium as the spotlight focused on her. She was wearing a sleek petticoat and had light makeup on. Her eyes were bright and sharp as she walked forward, vastly different from how demure she was when at home. It nearly seemed like they were two different people altogether! Yet, there was no way Callum would mistake that face of hers—it was his 'stay-at-home wife', Roxanne O'Brien.