I Married the Man I Abandoned

“It’s been a while, Asili.”

She had reunited with her first love on the battlefield where she had volunteered as a military doctor.

The man who had once been her future, the most beautiful part of her past.

But when she learned his true identity, she had left him.

She had chosen to walk away, believing that leaving him was the only way to protect him.

“Congratulations. You finally became the respectable doctor you always wanted to be.”

“…”

“Since you became a doctor at the cost of selling me out, I suppose I have the right to expect some decent skills from you?”

Unlike her, who had abandoned him, he had once thought she was worth trading everything for.

Seeing her again left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Still, he endured it.

Because once the war ended, he believed they would never cross paths again.

***

“The Dark Side of the War Hero: An Inappropriate Relationship Between a Military Doctor and the Grand Duke.”

Before the echoes of victory had even faded,

Jude’s honor was dragged through the mud by a scandal; accusations that he had seduced a battlefield doctor.

“You know this, Your Grace. This marriage is a rather effective way to restore your reputation.”

“So what? Are you really going through with this? You and I, getting married?”

“Yes. It’s an incredible opportunity for me, too. After all, I’d be the Grand Duchess.”

Asili was willing to do anything for him.

“Fine. Let’s do it. Since you want this so badly, we’ll get married.”

It didn’t matter if he never understood her reasons.

Not then. Not now.

“But from now on, you will bear everything by my side.”