Seven Years Married, But I Never Existed

Chapter 2 His Child

The next day after school, Claire handed her resignation letter to the principal.

The principal valued talent. After years of Claire's dedication and the students' affection for her, he couldn't bring himself to stop her.

"We all hate to see you go," he sighed, "but I understand. You and Mr. Pierce are so devoted, you'd eventually join him on base anyway. He wouldn't rest easy leaving you here alone."

Everyone saw them as the perfect couple. No one knew it was all a lie.

"Principal, that's not, Zack, he's..."

The principal waved it off, cutting her short, "No need to explain. I was young once too. Besides, it's about time you and Mr. Pierce had a child."

Her chest tightened. Years ago, saving Zack's life had cost her the chance to ever have children.

Though Zack's mom, Margaret had always treated her with cool indifference, she had never blamed her for it. Claire had believed Zack was shielding her from that disappointment.

Now the truth tore through her. He already had a child, somewhere else.

Claire froze, the explanation dying on her lips.

Her class would soon be handed over to a new teacher. All that remained was to wrap things up.

As she stepped out of the school gates, she saw Zack waiting beneath a nearby tree, his uniform creased from travel. A car was parked not far away, its tinted windows hiding whoever sat inside.

"Mr. Pierce," a colleague called out with a smile, "here to pick up Claire?"

At the sound, he looked up. The moment he saw her, he strode over and pulled her into his arms.

Teachers and students streamed past without a second glance. This was nothing new. Whenever he returned, he always waited for her at the gates.

The scent of long travel and unwashed fabric clung to him. Before, she would bury her face against his collar, breathing it in like proof of how much he cared.

Now, seeing the stubble along his jaw and the exhaustion in his eyes, her voice trembled. Tears fell before she could speak.

"What's wrong," his rough hands cupped her face, thumbs brushing her cheeks, "still not feeling well? You need to take care of yourself when I'm away, fall comes quick. The moment I heard you were sick, I pulled strings and came back overnight."

His tenderness cut into her like a dull blade. The pain was slow, relentless, impossible to escape.

Until...

"So you're Ms. Lawson? Zack talks about you all the time."

Hannah stood just behind Zack.

Claire froze. She couldn't believe he had actually brought her here, right in front of her.

Unaware, Zack let go of her and stepped back, "Claire, this is Hannah Brooks, my fellow soldier's widow."

'Fellow soldier's widow?'

Claire forced a smile. Before she could respond, a guard hurried over and whispered something into Zack's ear.

Her eyes stayed on him as he turned immediately, "Claire, there's an emergency on base. Go home without me."

With that, he grabbed Hannah's arm and led her quickly to the car.

He was lying. She had clearly heard the words, hospital, child.

Claire followed in a daze, her chest tight.

Outside the hospital room, Zack's voice rang out, sharp with anger, "Why hasn't the fever come down yet? How many times did it take to get the IV in. What are you people doing?"

Rachel Bennett, the head nurse and Claire's close friend, shot back with a glare, "Who do you think you're yelling at? The kid wouldn't stay still, two tries are normal. Don't take it out on my staff."

"Daddy, I feel awful..."

Lucas lay pale against the bed, tears clinging to his lashes, his weak voice heartbreaking.

Zack's anger vanished instantly as he gathered the boy into his arms.

Rachel stared, stunned, "Zack, what did he just call you?"

"How could you do this to Claire? She lost her chance to have children saving your life. And you've been hiding a whole family. You even brought them here. Do you want me to tell her?

The room fell silent.

Zack's voice turned cold, "Hannah is my real wife. If you care about Claire, you'll keep quiet."

"I love Claire, that's why I've protected her. But the Pierce family needs an heir. As her friend, you wouldn't want to destroy her. Some things are better left unsaid."

"You want me to cover for you, you've lost your mind..."

"I've seen your father's transfer file. If you want that reassignment to go through smoothly, you know what to do."

His gaze turned sharp and icy. Rachel's words died in her throat.

"Nurse, I know I don't deserve Zack," Hannah sobbed as Zack took her hand and pulled her close, "but our child is innocent. Please, take good care of him..."

"No one would dare neglect my son," Zack cut in, his tone firm, then softened as he looked at her, "but you, don't just worry about him. Take care of yourself too. I'll have the doctor prescribe supplements. You're the one who gave the Pierce family an heir. Stop saying you're not good enough for me."

Outside the door, Claire watched everything, her heart shattering piece by piece.

The way he held Hannah's face, gentle and tender, was exactly how he had looked at her just moments ago outside the school.

He cherished Hannah.

So what was she?

What had she ever been to him?

Overwhelmed, she stumbled back, knocking over a cup in a passerby's hand.

Scalding water splashed across her skin, burning her hand red.

"Ma'am, are you okay?"

But Claire felt nothing.

Without a word, she turned and ran, tears blurring everything in front of her.