AFTER DIVORCING MY ARMY HUSBAND

Melinda's POV “Sorry, the number you dialled is not available...” The cut on my arm had never stopped bleeding. I held my phone very tightly as I sat alone in the busy terminal. Performing bleeding control. All around me was full of chaos. Reporters had gathered near the smoking wreck, holding microphones and cameras. Crew members cried into their phones, telling their families and loved ones, they had lived through the plane crash. My calls? Nothing but dead air and growing dread. Vanessa pushed through the crowd, clinging to her boyfriend's trembling arms. “Where's your husband, Melinda?” They called everyone's family. While my husband isn't here?” Watching them cling to each other made me feel like a knife to the gut. “He's probably busy at the moment,” I lied, smiling as brittle as glass. Jameson Drake never allowed me to discuss our marriage relationship at work, and I wouldn't like to start now, not even in an emergency. If people knew that the talented pilot and airline owner, Major Jameson Drake, is my beloved husband and was married to me, just for flight attendance, it would be a scandal. For three years now, I had turned down my pride while Jameson was still seen as one of the top-ranking bachelors. “Busy?” She said, and sighed. She continued. “We nearly died!” Vanessa's voice cracked. I couldn't argue with her. But the news about the plane crash was already spread worldwide, and my beloved husband didn't show up to care for me; any excuse would sound feeble at the moment. "Hey, look! It's Major Drake!" Suddenly, I jerked my head back and I looked up. From a short distance away, a group of executives of Paramount Airlines was approaching us. Leading back, in his eye, catching the uniform, was Jameson Drake, my beloved husband. The moment he appeared, he became the focus of everyone's attention. But what really caught my attention was the lady beside him. And that made me understand why he had not been picking up my calls.. He was too busy with Clara Bele, the same woman who'd ruined both my mother's life and mine… Vanessa said, "Melinda, check it out! That's Clara, the new senior accountant. I heard she and Major Jameson have known each other for a long time. He spent the whole of his time this morning with her today, and no one was allowed to disturb them." I watched as Jameson leaned down to speak with Clara, a soft, tender smile on his face; he was wearing a look I had never seen before. I’m heartbroken. It feels like I’ve fallen into a cold, dark place. Maybe I stared too hard, because Johnson finally looked at me. Just once. His eyes were as cold as winter. That was all. After surviving a plane crash, after almost dying, the only thing I got from my husband was that icy look. “Ah—,” at the moment, Clara suddenly let out a little yelp. She stumbled and leaned into Johnson's arms for support. My teeth clenched as I watched them like a film. He didn’t even hesitate. He didn’t step back or even maintain a distance. Without missing a single beat, he scooped her up in his arms and took off like a shot towards the paramedics. I looked down at my own bandaged arm and let out a bitter laugh. "What a match made in heaven, right? I can see that they are perfect for each other." Clara’s gushing over the scene, her eyes all dreamy. I felt a pang of disappointment. I couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing at the moment. I finally realized, it's time to end this three-year so-called secret marriage. Immediately, I turned to Vanessa. "Vanessa, you just asked me where my husband went, right? Now I'll give you the answer." Taking a deep breath, I increased the volume on purpose, making sure everyone within the area could hear me. "My husband died three years ago. And he's been six feet under these years.” “And I've been a widow ever since." Vanessa's jaw dropped, and everyone around us turned to gawk. Johnson threw me a look that could have cut glass, his eyes practically screaming a warning. I snapped. Isn't that what he wanted? During our three years of marriage, Jameson had kept our relationship completely hidden. No one at the airline knew that I was married to their dashing Major Jameson. Everyone thought he was still the most eligible single pilot, and all the flight attendants admired him. Fuming, I hurriedly pulled off my wedding ring, my heart aching at the memory of how warmly he had placed it on my finger the day of our wedding. What a joke it all seemed now. The ring was stuck on my knuckle, refusing to budge, no matter how hard I pulled. My fingertips turned red from struggling with it, as if mocking how foolish I'd been to hold on for so long. Finally, I gritted my teeth so hard and yanked it with all my strength. With a sharp "ping," the ring flew across the place, landing far away. I couldn't even look back. Immediately, I grabbed my suitcase and turned to leave. I am done with the ring, the man, the marriage, I am done with everything that has to do with him. I walked into Drako Center, where our home is. Right there on the table were a designer shoes and a handbag, the exact handbag Clara had posted about on f*******: and i********:, calling it her "dreambag." My stomach twisted. Jameson hadn't wasted any time, had he? Buying her expensive gifts and having the audacity to bring them into our home. Did he think I was blind, or just a doormat who'd stay quiet about his affair? I clenched my jaw so tight, and the idea of parting on good terms just disappeared instantly. Suddenly, I summoned all the housekeepers at once. "Those groceries I bought yesterday, could you make them into lunch boxes? I need them delivered to Drako’s Loyal." I paused, my voice louder than I couldn't even control. "And make sure to include a piece of paper with a note: “A celebration gift from Johnson Drake's wife, who's finally free from her impotent husband." Drako Loyal was Drake's own business empire, separate from the main Drake family business. I wasn't sure about its exact amount, but I knew he'd founded it with Clara and his little crew of buddies. And that was the unbreakable bond that kept him and Clara connected. Before, I was thinking about it, that this place would break my heart. But now. Now that I just had this burning urge, like I was itching for a fight. The housekeepers stood silently at the moment. Their eyes widened. "Oh, Mrs. Drake... all those ingredients you ordered last week... for your anniversary dinner. You were so excited about surprising Mr. Drake..." Cynthia, one of the housekeepers, said. Ha! Anniversary? He'd brought gifts for his mistress into our home. What exactly was I supposed to celebrate? I shot a dirty look at the annoying shoes sitting at the table and let out a bitter laugh. Then I yanked out a thick stack of cash and slapped it into her hand. "Here's the deal: When you deliver the lunches, make sure to use a microphone, or in short, get a loudspeaker. I want all the members of this company to hear exactly who sent it and why. Can you do exactly that for me?" About half an hour later, my bedroom door had cracked open with a bang. Jameson stormed in, his face dark, then he frowned. He stared at me as if he could kill; I'd been six feet under. He roared, "Melinda, what the hell have you just done?!"