Twenty-Six receipts of betrayal Novel novel Chapter 28

Chapter 1

I’d been secretly married to Delta Force Commander Garrett Reid for five years, and he never once claimed me.

At the victory party after drills at Fort Bragg, his teammates wouldn’t let up about my love life.

Even Garrett leaned in, grinning like it was all some joke:

“Dr. Hayes, plenty of solid guys in Special Ops. Want me to hook you up?”

Last life? I cracked–pulled out our wedding rings right there in front of everyone.

Scarlett Morgan, the performing arts darling, literally bolted out in tears.

Garrett said nothing that night. But after? Frozen out.

When my convoy got ambushed near the Syrian border and I was bleeding out in a field hospital? He didn’t even call. Too busy driving three hours to watch Scarlett’s big performance at HQ.

When Scarlett accused me of leaking classified intel and I called him sobbing? All he said: “Let JAG sort it out.”

That’s when it hit me–I wasn’t his wife. I was his alibi.

This time around? I just smiled. “Actually, I’m taken. Filing the paperwork next month.”

Dead silence.

Everyone froze.

Garrett’s face went dark, knuckles white around his beer bottle.

He opened his mouth, but Scarlett–perched right next to him batting those big innocent eyes–jumped in first:

“Girl, you kept THAT quiet! Were you ever gonna tell us, or…?”

Half the platoon was at this party. Her comment got people talking immediately.

“Wait, Dr. Hayes is getting married?!”

“She’s the best trauma surgeon on base–when’d she even have TIME to date?”

I smoothed down my scrubs. “Kept it on the down–low, yeah. Makes me the only wife that counts.”

See, in my past life? I thought Scarlett didn’t know about Garrett and me. Thought she’d been played too.

Until I was barely conscious in that field hospital and she showed up to brag about how obsessed Garrett was with her. That’s when I realized–she’d known the whole damn time.

Scarlett’s smile flickered. Others scrambled to fill the silence:

“So who’s the lucky guy. Dr. Hayes?”

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Twenty Six Receipts of Betrayal: My Silence Was the Countdown to His Eternal Regret

Chapter 1

“Anyone good enough for you’s gotta be pretty impressive!”

I kept my smile easy. “You’ll meet him soon enough.”

The second I finished talking, someone scoffed.

Scarlett raised one perfect eyebrow, challenge written all over her face:

“You’re not making this up, are you? I mean, no judgment, but you’re what–thirty–two? If you were still single, that’d be kinda rough. Right, Garrett?”

She blinked up at Garrett, doing that cute tongue–out thing.

My hands balled into fists. Then I heard Garrett grunt, “Yeah.”

Scarlett’s smile spread wider.

Second life, second chance, right? So why was I still hoping he’d be different?

Right then, this warm voice came from the doorway:

“Hey, is Wren here? Came to pick her up.”

Everyone turned to look.

Guy in a dark suit stood at the entrance, gold–rimmed glasses, looking stupidly calm for someone who just walked into a military party.

Rain was still on his shoulders–clearly just bolted from the lab.

When our eyes met, even I was caught off guard.

He smiled. “Wren. Let’s go.”

Whispers exploded.

“Hold up, isn’t that Professor Julian Cross from Defense Tech?”

“The youngest department head they’ve ever had?”

“THAT’S Dr. Hayes’s boyfriend? Damn, power couple much?”

I stood, nodded to everyone. “I’m out. See you guys.”

From the second I moved, I felt eyes burning into my back.

But I didn’t turn–around.

Right as I hit the doorway, Garrett’s voice cut through the noise: “Wren Hayes!”

I stopped. Turned. “Yeah?”

His jaw was tight, fury rolling behind his eyes.

Scarlett curved her lips at me, voice dripping fake sweetness. “It’s my medal ceremony in a bit. Garrett’s taking me out after. Warna.come?”

I glanced at Garrett–he just stood there, silent.

Twenty Six Receipts of Betrayal: My Silence Was the Countdown to His Eternal Regret

Chapter 1

“Nah.”

Then turned back toward the door. “Congrats on the medal. I’ve got plans.”

That stare followed me all the way to Julian’s Range Rover.

I buckled up. “Thanks, Julian.”

He shrugged. “Had a conference on base anyway. Heard voices, figured I’d check.”

I smiled a little. Didn’t push. He didn’t either. Just asked:

“Where to? I’ll drop you off.”

I gave him an address.

We got there quick.

Before I got out, Julian held up his phone.

“Wren. Let’s trade numbers.”

I hesitated. He laughed, soft. “Who knows. Maybe I’ll need a favor someday.”

I nodded, pulled out my phone. “Sure.”

After we added each other, Julian drove off.

I turned and walked inside.

This place–Garrett applied for it right after we got married. Tiny two–bedroom off–base apartment in Fayetteville. But it was ours.

Back when he actually came home, we’d sprawl on the couch, watch movies, read.

Now? He basically lived in the barracks.

Soon as I stepped inside, my department head called.

“Wren, check Instagram. NOW!”

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16:32