Chapter 1 The Broken Promise

When Chloe Quall entered her husband Curtis Green's office with a project folder, she stumbled on him fastening a ruby necklace around his first love's neck. She stared blankly at the necklace. It was the very same one she'd begged him to buy after seeing it in an auction catalog. Throughout their three years of marriage, she'd never asked him for anything. This necklace was the first thing she'd ever requested from him, and only because it was her mother's last keepsake. "It's just a necklace, yet you're staring at it like it's the best thing you've ever seen. I always said that orphans have no class," remarked one of Curtis' friends, Luke Hayes, with clear disdain. Ignoring his mocking words, Chloe stepped forward and reached for the necklace around Sonya Miller's neck, but Curtis caught her wrist. "I've already given this necklace to Sonya." "You promised it would be mine!" Chloe insisted, a rare flash of anger crossing her gentle face. Curtis frowned, visibly annoyed. "Stop making a scene. This is a gift to celebrate Sonya's promotion to co-pilot." Making a scene? His words sent a chill through Chloe. "What if I insist on having it?" she pressed. Luke sneered from the side. "I've always said Chloe isn't good enough for you, Curtis. She's greedy and untalented—you should just divorce her. Only a woman like Sonya belongs by your side." Though Curtis and Chloe had a private marriage known to very few, many people were aware that Sonya was his cherished first love. "Don't be ridiculous. I have no interest in being anyone's mistress," Sonya spat haughtily, then removed the necklace and casually tossed it at Chloe's feet. She'd discarded a necklace worth millions of dollars on the floor like trash. It was something Chloe's mother, Jenna Knight, had treasured deeply. Chloe's eyes burned as she slowly knelt, her hand closing tightly around the sharp, cold edges of the necklace. Each facet dug into her skin. Contemptuously looking down at her, Sonya commented, "A true woman should value knowledge and vision. Instead of fighting me over a necklace, you should focus on improving yourself!" "Knowledge and vision? She scraped through some third-rate college, and if Curtis hadn't kindly given her a job at the company, she'd probably be sweeping the streets," Luke said mockingly. And through it all, Chloe's husband, Curtis, said nothing in her defense. Ignoring Luke, Chloe rose and fixed her gaze squarely on Sonya. "You insist you're not a mistress, so why are you accepting a necklace worth millions from someone else's husband?" Sonya snorted. "I see it as just a casual gift from a friend. The price tag doesn't matter to me." "Oh, really? Since when do friends casually give each other million-dollar necklaces? Luke is your friend too. Has he ever given you anything worth millions?" Chloe's words cut sharply. Sonya fell silent, and even Luke's expression stiffened. "Enough," Curtis snapped, cutting in impatiently. "It's just a necklace. Stop making a big deal out of it." Just a necklace… The words echoed hollowly in Chloe's mind as her grip tightened around the necklace. Amid the chaos of war in a foreign land, this was the very necklace Jenna had traded for medicine and food, saving the lives of 50 orphans. To Chloe, it was far more than just a necklace; it represented Jenna's faith and values. Taking a deep breath, Chloe remembered the call she'd received just before she'd entered the office. Her parents' ashes had been placed on a flight and would arrive in Corvessia the next day. Looking up, she met Curtis' eyes and demanded, "Fine, forget the necklace. My parents' ashes are being sent from abroad tomorrow, and I want you to come with me to receive them." In life, their greatest wish had been to see her married and settled down. She wanted Curtis by her side when she brought their ashes home, granting both them and herself a moment of dignity. Curtis was briefly stunned. He recalled the story Chloe had once told him about her parents' deaths when they first got married. Her parents, Jenna and Walter Quall, had died in an accident abroad. A subtle gleam flickered in Sonya's eyes, while Luke chimed in scornfully, "You're unbelievable, Chloe. You'll fabricate any excuse just to drag him with you." Ignoring him, Chloe kept her eyes on Curtis, who replied after a moment's hesitation, "Alright. I'll come with you tomorrow." Without another word, she turned and left the CEO's office. As the door closed behind her, she caught Luke's voice. "Are you really going with her?" "No matter what, she's my wife. I should be there when she receives her parents' ashes," Curtis replied. "She's clearly lying! Who would go through the trouble of sending an orphan her parents' ashes all the way from abroad?" Each mention of the word "orphan" stabbed at Chloe's heart. Looking down at the necklace in her hand, she murmured, "Mom, Dad, I'll bring you home tomorrow." … The next day, Curtis still hadn't shown up as the clock struck at the agreed hour. A sense of unease crept into Chloe's heart. She called him, only to be greeted by his impatient voice. "Sonya's mom sprained her ankle, and I'm at the hospital with them." "Come quick, Curtis! My mom needs help!" Sonya's voice sounded from the other end of the line. "Be right there," Curtis replied, his voice gentle and warm. Before Chloe could say another word, he ended the call. A pang of coldness struck her, and her throat felt constricted, as though something was caught there. She wanted to scream and protest, but not a single word would leave her lips. How ridiculous! Curtis could accompany Sonya's mother, Carla Bishop, to the hospital for a minor sprain, yet he wouldn't stand by Chloe, his wife, to accept her parents' homebound ashes. Drawing a steadying breath, Chloe resolutely got up and left the villa before driving to the military camp. Guards in uniform with rifles in hand flanked the solemn, imposing gates. Chloe firmly stepped out of the car with her back straight. Even after three years out of service, her posture remained every bit that of a soldier. Step by step, she approached the gates and came to a halt. Raising her right hand, she delivered a formal, perfect military salute. She would take Jenna's and Walter's ashes home even if she had to do it alone. In a clear, strong voice that carried across the camp, she announced, "Former Shadow Hawks Special Forces soldier Chloe Quall, reporting to receive the ashes of former peacekeeping officer Walter Quall and military doctor Jenna Knight!" With that, the heavy gates of the military camp slowly opened…