From “Clingy” to Gone My Independence Was His Biggest Regret novel Chapter 53

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Two years after my last breakup, I posted a photo of my diamond ring and marriage certificate on Instagram with the caption: [Introducing my man–1

My best friend Maya slid into my DMs within minutes: (Wait, what?? Didn’t you have a thing for Jake, my cold killer cousin? You’re actually married?)

I grinned as I typed back: [Just signed the papers today.]

That same night, word got back to me that Jake Reeves had driven his Jeep Wrangler twelve straight hours from the border station to get to Denver

The stone–cold sniper stood outside my apartment building all night long.

When I finally went down the next morning, Jake’s eyes were bloodshot and wild:

Sage, whatever he’s got, I’ve got it too. Just… come back to me.”

”

At twenty–seven, I’d been messing around with my bestie’s cousin for six years.

ake was built like a tank and knew exactly what he was doing in bed.

To keep things interesting, we’d hooked up everywhere–his army tent, the guard station, you name it.

kept waiting for him to make it official once his career took off, so I threw away every shred of self–respect to keep him happy. But with Maya being my best riend and all, I always figured he should be the one to bring it up first.

Until the day he earned his Medal of Honor, and suddenly everyone on base was buzzing about his was on dating.

Maya was practically vibrating with excitement when she FaceTimed me: “Girl, you are NOT gonna believe this tea! My emotionally unavailable cousin is pparently dating someone!”

fucking knew it! He’s finally gonna go public with us-

I’ve

been waiting for this moment forever!

Hearing this, I couldn’t help but smile. “He told you ALL?”

Maya’s eyes went wide. “No. He only said that girl is an officer’s daughter. She visited the base today and he even threw this whole welcome party…”

froze for a moment, then interrupted her: “Are you sure you have the right person?”

How could I be wrong! Sage, you should’ve seen him! He was carrying her purse, blocking guys from hitting on her, literally couldn’t take his eyes off her. The vay he was looking at her was so tender – I barely recognized him!”

Maya still kept chattering away on the video call.

But the words hit me like a freight train. My ears started ringing, and I even couldn’t process what she was saying.

struggled to steady my trembling voice and asked with forced composure: “How long have they been together?”

Hell if I know, but according to my mom, he’s been chasing this girl for ages.”

“The girl had someone she was secretly in love with before chased that guy abroad. Jake was a complete mess about it for months!”

–

‘I’ve always been so curious about what kind of girl could make my stone–hearted cousin pine after her for so many years! But after meeting her in person today, guess what I discovered?”

I was silent for a few seconds before barely managing to squeeze out three words through gritted teeth: “I don’t know.”

“This girl looks exactly like you! I swear! When she smiled, I did a double–take. Are you sure there’s no long–lost family drama for you going on here?”

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Each word hit my ears like a thunderclap.

I felt like all the blood in my body had frozen solid, and my limbs were cold to the bone.

No wonder he always stared at my face during sex with that intense and focus.

Turned out… I was just a cheap knockoff of his precious first love goddess!

All these years, I’d been nothing but a fucking substitute!

I choked back a sob and hung up on Maya.

That’s when someone started pounding on my door.

‘Sage, Jake’s completely wasted. I’m just dropping him off.”

! thanked his buddy and helped drag Jake inside.

He nuzzled into my neck like a lost puppy, mumbling:

‘Don’t leave… Vicky.”

One sentence. That made the living room went dead silent.

Uh…haha, Sage, don’t read too much into that. We were just celebrating comrade–in–arms’s birthday. Jake was pretty hammered and got all clingy with the one.”

I nodded numbly.

After his friend left, something possessed me to check Jake’s phone.

six years together and I’d never once snooped, but now I needed to know only one thing:

f Maya was telling the truth.

The second I swiped open his lock screen, my last shred of hope shattered.

!froze, staring at the wallpaper on Jake’s phone.

His wallpaper was a grainy, more like a zoomed–in crop from some group training photo.

n it, a girl in camo fatigues, smiling like sunshine.

No. Impossible.

Victoria Winters. My half–sister!

My hands were shaking like crazy as I tried to close his phone, but then a new message flashed on the screen.

Guys, Jake was literally hugging me and calling me Vicky earlier! Scared the shit out of me! But I covered for him real quick! If Sage ever found out he’s only with her to get revenge for Vicky, she’d fucking lose it!]

[Gotta hand it to Jake though. Guy’s so devoted to Vicky he’ll literally force himself to fuck some old broad! But how much longer does he have to keep this up? Didn’t he say he’d dump her ass once Vicky came back?]

[Not gonna lie, Sage is getting up there in years, but damn, she’s still hot. If Jake ever gets tired of her, can I take her for a spin?]

The group chat exploded into disgusting commentary about me. My hands were shaking so hard I could barely hold the phone..

As I was tried to back out, in the next second, someone shared one of my intimate photos to the group chat, followed by a voice message.

[since you guys are so curious about her body, feast your eyes!]

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The chat went even wild.

[Come on, man! Why’d you put a mosaic over the good parts?]

If you want to see more, go ask Jake yourselves! I found these in his private photo album, so if you butter him up enough, you might get some firsthandĪ

material too.]

The group chat was buzzing with heated discussion, but my brain went completely blank.

couldn’t see, couldn’t hear, couldn’t think.

originally thought Jake was just using me as a substitute, but I never imagined he would completely humiliate me for Victoria’s sake.

But why? Why me?

Victoria was the one born from Dad’s affair!

Dad was the one who ditched his dying wife and kid for his secretary!

o why was everyone standing by Victoria’s side and acting like I was the villain?

All these years, I’d stood by Jake through every hellish training exercise, every sleepless night, every moment of doubt.

And turns out I was the punchline of their joke.

My chest felt like it was caving in. Tears started streaming down my face before I could stop them. I quickly wiped them away and screen–recorded everything

with my own phone.

When I closed the chat, I noticed Jake had pinned one contact at the top:

Wifeyl

ight below it was my contact, also marked with a symbol.

Do Not Disturb.

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