Kyson Hale, the regimental commander, finally agrees to let me live with him on the military base. But in return, our son isn't allowed to address him as "dad".

Kyson and I have been secretly married for eight years. I've taken care of his parents in the countryside for that long as well.

After the death of his parents, my son, Darryl Hale, and I request Kyson to let us live with him on the military base.

He agrees to our requests, but he has a condition of his own.

"Once you've reached the military base, you shall declare to everyone else that you're just my relatives from the countryside."

Only then do I realize that Kyson has another family of his own in the military.

Some time later, I leave the army with Darryl without looking back. But Kyson, who's always been cold and distant, is alarmed by our disappearance.

"Mr. Gilbert, I want to try for that women's federation job," I said.

The village head, Mason Gilbert, sounded surprised over the phone. "Gisselle, are you sure? Life in the village isn't like the military base. Wouldn't it be better for you and Darryl to stay there with Kyson instead?"

It would be better.

Aside from the fact that my husband, Kyson Hale, wouldn't let our son call him "dad", everything was perfect.

I glanced at the poster on the wall and forced a bitter smile. "I'm not used to it. I want to go back to the village."

Not wanting to waste money on calls, Mason didn't push it. "Well, you've been raising Darryl alone all these years anyway. Kyson's presence doesn't really matter. Come back next week. I'll take you to report for duty."

After thanking Mason, I returned clumsily to my temporary home. It was a small single-story house.

In the yard were two freshly tilled plots with a few scattered seedlings.

On my very first day on the military base, I borrowed seeds from the neighbor.

I spent the whole day tending the garden, planting vegetables, and with them, hope for the future.

But when Kyson came home that night, the first thing he did was tell me to dig up the plants.

He said, "Gisselle, haven't I given you money? Why grow vegetables in the garden? Don't you think it makes you look poor and desperate?"

I fumbled with my apron, trying to explain. "I just saw others planting, so I thought, since I have nothing else to do, I might as well save a little money on groceries."

Kyson frowned, his annoyance clear. "Don't bother. This isn't the countryside. There's no need for your pointless efforts. Jodie was right. A hick will always be a hick. You'll never measure up to her."

I lowered my head, and every spark of enthusiasm vanished in an instant. All that remained was an overwhelming sense of bitterness.

Jodie Duncan was a soldier in the art troupe and Kyson's true love in the military.

I was just his abandoned wife from the countryside. Of course, I couldn't measure up to her.

That night, after my son, Darryl Hale, was asleep, I quietly went out to the yard. I dug up every seed, and with them, the last shred of hope I had for Kyson.

Snapping out of my thoughts, I masked my sorrow and pushed open the door.

Darryl was already awake, sitting at the table and eating breakfast.

His face lit up when he saw me. "Mom, welcome back! I'm almost done. I'll come help you after I finish."

Darryl was my and Kyson's son. He was seven now.

People said poor kids matured fast.

Throughout the years I spent taking care of my in-laws in the countryside, Darryl had always been such a good boy.

I smiled and straightened his messy collar. "It's okay. I don't need your help. Go play with your friends after breakfast."

At that, his eyes immediately clouded over, and tears welled up. "Mom, they said I'm shameless for staying at someone else's house. They don't want to play with me. Isn't this our home?"

Too young to hide his feelings, he just stared at me blankly, desperate for an answer.

My nose stung, and tears came faster than words.

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. It felt like my heart had been plunged into a pit of sorrow.

Seeing me cry, Darryl quickly wrapped his arms around me. "Don't cry, Mom. I won't ask anymore. I'll be a good boy."

I held Darryl's warm little body like a drowning person clutching a lifeline. "I won't cry. Darryl, let's go home. Back to our home."

There were only seven days left. I'd take care of everything and take Darryl back to our home.

I planned to pick out some fabric to make Darryl a couple of new outfits.

Over the years, because of my in-laws' poor health, there was never any spare money.

Darryl was already seven, yet he didn't own a single piece of clothing without patches.

The store on the military base was much bigger than the one in our village, and the fabric choices were better.

I stood there carefully picking through the cloth.

Just as I made my choice, a familiar female voice sounded beside me. "Kyson, why are you buying me moisturizing cream again? I haven't even finished the last one."

Jodie blinked shyly at the man in front of her.

Kyson looked at her tenderly, and his tone was completely different from the coldness he showed me. "If you can't use it all, just keep it. I just feel like buying it for you."

Jodie covered her lips and coyly complained, "That would be such a waste."

A smirk played on Kyson's lips as he dismissed her concern. "If it's for you, it's never a waste."

I stood nearby, nearly crushing the fabric in my hands.

One jar of that kind of moisturizing cream cost more than a bag of flour.

In the village, few women could afford that.

I'd been married to Kyson for eight years, scrimping and saving all that time. He'd never bought me moisturizing cream, and I'd never even dared buy it for myself.

Sometimes, when passing by those young women, I couldn't help but stop and secretly breathe in the scent left in the air.

I never used to envy anyone.

Now, I just felt pathetic.

It turned out that all my and Darryl's sacrifices were so Kyson could save money to spoil another woman.

By the time I finally managed to steady my emotions, the couple had already walked away.

I turned to see their backs growing smaller in the distance. I stood there in the shadows, like a scruffy gray mouse.

Just then, the saleswoman approached and asked, "Have you decided which fabric you want?"

I nodded, setting down the white cloth and picking up a piece of deep blue fabric. "I'll take two of these. How much is it?"

The saleswoman was surprised and told me the price.

I smiled faintly, swallowing the sting inside.

Even the most expensive cloth in the store wasn't worth as much as a simple jar of moisturizing cream.

That night, after putting Darryl to bed, I quietly sat in the living room sewing. The day to leave was coming soon. I had to finish the clothes quickly.

"Why aren't you asleep yet?"

A cold male voice startled me.

Without looking up, I continued with what I was doing. "It's getting colder. I want to make Darryl some new clothes."

Kyson came over and frowned when he saw the blue cloth in my hands. "Why buy such expensive fabric? Darryl's still young. Anything will do. I don't see other kids around here wearing anything this fancy."

I bit the thread and moved to a new spot to sew. "Other kids are other kids. Darryl is my son. I want to make him nice clothes."

Kyson's expression darkened. "Gisselle, is this because I won't let Darryl call me 'dad'? He doesn't even mind. Why do you have a problem with that?"

My sewing stopped. I stared at the fabric, lost in thought.

Darryl didn't mind because he was a thoughtful kid. But since when did being thoughtful mean accepting injustice?

Maybe my silence angered Kyson. He suddenly grabbed the fabric from my hands.

The needle pricked my palm, drawing blood. I gasped.

Kyson froze, the anger on his face instantly dissolving into a look of guilt.

Kyson set the fabric aside and crouched down in front of me before reaching out his hand. "Is your hand okay? Let me see."

I instinctively pulled back, and his hand missed.

He stared at me in shock. A strange mix of emotions swelled in the air between us.

"Dad?" Darryl's timid voice broke the silence.

I stood up and carried the barefoot Darryl to bed. "Go to sleep, Darryl."

He held my hand. Without asking anything, he just nodded and closed his eyes.

When Kyson walked in, his gaze was complicated. "I didn't mean it just now."

I gently patted Darryl through the blanket and hummed in acknowledgment.

Kyson paused, then sat beside me. His tough expression slowly softened. "I didn't mean Darryl can't wear nice clothes. He's just young and grows fast. There's no need to waste—"

My hand paused mid-air, and I couldn't help but cut him off. "You don't think buying moisturizing cream for Jodie is a waste?"

Kyson snapped up, like I hit a nerve. "Gisselle, you followed me? So, that's why you were acting all weird. Just for a jar of cream? A hick will always be a hick, always counting every penny."

I turned back, a cold scoff escaping my lips as I prepared to speak.

But out of the corner of my eye, I caught the slight tremble of Darryl's eyelashes.

He was pretending to sleep.

At that moment, all my anger and frustration popped like a burst balloon.

"Get out. I don't want to argue."

Kyson snorted coldly but held back his anger and left.

Leaning against the headboard, I swallowed the lump in my throat and softly hummed a lullaby.

…

In the next few days, Kyson didn't come home.

I enjoyed the quiet. Apart from buying things to take back to the village, I focused on making Darryl's clothes.

With three days left before I had to report for duty, I finally finished making the clothes.

Darryl lay on my lap, his eyes shining. "Mom, these clothes are really nice."

Smiling, I helped him up and said gently, "I'm glad you like them. You finally have new clothes of your own."

I spread out the new clothes and dressed him.

Darryl carefully touched the fabric and grinned, showing a canine tooth. "Mom, you're so good to me. I'll take good care of these."

Just as we were talking happily, Kyson suddenly came home with Jodie in tow.

When she saw us, her expression twisted oddly.

She stepped forward and linked her arm with Kyson's with a smile. "Kyson, who are they?"

Darryl grabbed my pants leg, looking at Kyson with hope.

But the man remained silent, and a look of hesitation clouded his face. "Relatives from the countryside."

Just four words, and all the light vanished from Darryl's eyes.

My heart ached seeing his disappointed face.

I was about to speak when Darryl interrupted, saying, "Hello, Mr. Hale."

Darryl forced a smile, but the raw redness of his eyes was agonizing to behold.

This little guy was painfully mature for his age.

"Mom, let's not bother Mr. Hale."

All my feelings choked up. I opened my mouth but could only say one word, "Okay."

Holding Darryl's hand, I turned to leave.

As we passed by, Kyson grabbed me. "Wait."

Apparently, Kyson wasn't satisfied with our sensible behavior. He looked at me in disbelief and asked, "What did Darryl just call me?"

I smiled, unusually compliant. "Mr. Hale. We country folk wouldn't dare try to claim a connection with you."

Kyson's gaze shifted a few times before settling on a flicker of guilt. "My friend is here for dinner today. Cook some extra dishes."

The casual words made Jodie's face freeze for a moment.