"Let’s have an open marriage, Husband!""Without a divorce, I can fuck other men, and you can be free too," continued his wife. Those words fell like a hammer just as Thom Haye stepped through the doorway of his home. His military uniform was still dusty from the long trip, the smell of metal and battlefield sweat still clinging to him. Yet his wife did not even look at him as if he were her husband or someone she once missed. Thom stopped. His breath felt stuck in his throat. “What did you say, My wife?” he asked softly, his voice heavy and shocked. Rachel stood proudly in the luxurious living room, wearing a soft satin dress and makeup that was far too perfect for a woman who should be welcoming her husband home after three years of dangerous military missions. She crossed her arms, her eyes cold and emotionless. “I said…” Rachel repeated in a lazy tone. “Let us have an open marriage.” Thom closed his eyes for a moment. Three years on the front line with gunfire, explosion

"But I am thinking about my daughter," Thom continued. "What do you think will happen to our child's mind if she finds out her father and mother do not sleep in the same room?""I don't want her to grow up without love,” he added.Rachel clicked her tongue and folded her arms across her chest."Don't act like you know anything about parenting, Thom!""What are you? Just a low level soldier! So don't pretend to know about my child's mind.""Rachel...""I am the best mother for Shenina," she cut in sharply. "By sleeping separately from you, nothing will change in my child's mind!"Thom fell silent. His jaw tightened."Now move to the back room!" Rachel slammed the bedroom door shut.BANG!Thom carried the suitcase to the back room. The room was dark, dusty, full of old boxes and unused items. He simply placed the suitcase in the corner and closed the door slowly. Thom stood frozen in front of the dusty small window. A thin ray of light slipped in, splitting his face into two parts,

Rachel started to feel that something was wrong. She looked at the elite soldiers one by one, noticing that their eyes were not on her or her family at all."Mother... Father... I think this is not for us," she whispered, her voice unsteady. "Look. They are all looking at Thom."Madam Yosie snorted loudly. "What are you talking about? Of course this is for us. Frank must have arranged it. Who else could it be?" she said while showing a proud smile.Rachel shook her head quickly. "No. They are not even glancing at us. All their eyes are fixed on Thom."Edmund cut in with a dismissive tone. "That is just a coincidence. How could a low-ranked soldier like Thom get the attention of elite troops? Do not make things up, Rachel."Thom stayed silent while holding Shenina. His expression did not change, but something in his eyes grew tense.While they argued, inside the mansion, the Lanster family began to notice the commotion outside.The sound of footsteps, quiet gasps from the guests, and t

General Darlene’s words echoed like a quiet explosion that tore through all the tension. Everyone froze, some of them unable to believe what they just heard.They had all been waiting to see what kind of punishment General Darlene would give Thom.Then, calmly, General Darlene added a sentence that was even more shocking. “I will not punish the blood of Lanster.”General Darlene looked at them and nodded slowly, as if confirming it.“That is right. Is he not also one of the sons of the Lanster family?” he said while pointing at Thom.General Darlene continued with a firm tone. His voice was calm but full of authority. “It is impossible for me to punish a member of the Lanster family who is hosting this banquet.”At once, Madam Lena’s face tightened hard.She wanted so badly to say that Thom was no longer part of the Lanster family.That Thom was an illegitimate child.That his blood was never recognized.That his presence today was actually embarrassing for them.But those words got

Everyone turned their heads toward Thom. Even the MC froze before accepting the bid.“A new bid from the gentleman over there! Nine thousand dollars!”The MC’s voice echoed, and the room erupted in shock.Madam Yosie almost screamed. “What are you doing, Thom? Do you really have that much money?”Frank stared at Thom with anger and disbelief. “How dare you raise your hand!” he snapped.Benny only laughed softly with his arms crossed. “Let us just wait. He is only raising his hand. In the end, he will not be able to pay. And when that moment comes, he will embarrass himself.”The MC lifted the next item, an antique music box decorated with gold leaf carvings. Its chime used to be Thom’s lullaby when he was a child. The price jumped fast, five thousand… ten thousand… twenty thousand… until it stopped at thirty thousand dollars.And just like before, Thom raised his hand without hesitation.“Forty thousand dollars!” the MC shouted.The room burst into whispers and gasps.Frank slapped