Chapter 1

The day my wife gave birth to my foster brother's child, my entire family waited tensely outside the delivery room.

They were not concerned about whether Sheila Rogers would make it through labor safely.

They were worried I might turn up and make a scene.

My mother kept glancing at the elevator. "He won't try to come up the stairs, will he?"

My father was on the phone with hospital security again and again. "Yes, about six foot three. Have you seen him?"

My brother stayed coiled and ready, fists clenched. "If my brother causes trouble, I'll lay down my life to protect Sheila and my son."

However, from the start of labor to the moment Sheila delivered safely and both mother and child were declared healthy, I never showed up.

Reclining on the hospital bed, Sheila took out her phone and asked my mother to call me.

"Tell Hank not to cause any trouble," she said calmly. "If he's willing to be the child's godfather, we can still live our lives together."

She felt absolutely no guilt toward me.

From her perspective, she had merely granted my parents their long-standing wish for a grandchild.

What fault could there possibly be in that?

What no one knew was that I had never planned to go to the hospital.

At that very moment, I was training beneath the scorching sun.

All for a single reason: in one month, I would deploy with my unit to Safrana on a peacekeeping mission.

Once I left, there would be little chance of ever coming back.

Chapter 1

Sheila Rogers was in the hospital for a whole week before she finally got to come home.

I had just finished up at the training field and when I opened the front door, there they were, my whole family, huddled around the couch.

"Wow, look at this little one. His eyes and nose are just like Sheila's, but that mouth is a spitting image of John's."

"Mom, the baby's too little to tell," John Freeman said with a grin.

"Sheila, you've been through so much."

John gently kissed Sheila's forehead, his eyes shining with love.

Dad was sitting off to the side, his eyes all wrinkled up from smiling so much.

"How can you not see it? I tell you, it's a good thing this baby is yours. If Hank had a kid, there wouldn't be much hope for the poor thing."

He used to be so proud of me for joining the army.

Even though I left without knowing when I would come back, Dad always said that a man had to be ready to protect his country.

However, coming home now, it felt as if everything had changed.

Looking at the family of five, so full of happiness, all I could feel was a sour twist in my heart and a sense of how silly it all was.

Four years back, I left for the army right after Sheila and I got married. I could not stand the thought of her waiting for me, so young and alone.

If I did not make it back, she would become a widow before we even had a chance at life together.

I tried to get her to divorce me, and to go find happiness somewhere else, but Sheila just grabbed my hand, her eyes brimming with tears, and would not hear of it.

"Hank, do you really see me as someone who can't handle being alone?”

"My husband is out there fighting for our country. How could I leave you, especially now?”

"I'll look after your folks and wait for you to come home."

The day I left, Mom, Dad, and Sheila took me to the train station.

Mom and Dad were trying so hard not to cry.

They held my hands, looking into my face with eyes that seemed cloudy with worry, their lips quivering.

"Hank, don't you worry. Your mom and I will be right here at home, waiting for you to come back."

"That's right, Hank. You've got nothing to fret about. Your dad and I are so proud of you."

I had been on the brink of life and death more times than I could count.

Each time, it was the thought of them that brought me back.

However, two months ago, when I came home after leaving the army, I walked into a totally different world.

Chapter 2

My spot in the family had been taken by another guy.

"Bro, you're back." John's voice snapped me back to reality.

Everyone else looked up at me too.

My dad saw the dirt all over me and his eyebrows knitted together in a frown.

"Just look at you! Are you trying to embarrass us for no good reason?!”

"Did you really have to pick today, when Sheila's coming home from the hospital, to stir up trouble?!"

My mom chimed in right after him.

The mom who used to worry about me, who would get all banged up from training, now looked at me like I was just a bother.

Sheila was sitting on the couch, glowing like only a new mom can.

"Hank, I know you're upset.:

"However, you were gone for so many years. Even if I could handle it, mom and dad needed a kid.”

"You can't just think of yourself without even leaving them a grandkid."

Hearing Sheila's words, I stifled a laugh.

"A grandkid? An adopted kid doesn't count."

"Hank, what are you talking about?!" My dad banged his fist on the table and stood up, staring me down with anger.

"If John hadn't been here, I would've died from a heart attack right there on the street, you know!”

"He's got no parents and has the same last name as us. He's like a gift from heaven!”

"Let me tell you something. If you can talk in a civil manner, you're still welcome in this house.”

"But if you really want to start trouble, I won't hesitate to set things straight myself!"

My dad's anger was like a storm brewing. His eyebrows would arch high and his eyes would grow wide, making him look super scary.

In the old days, worried about his heart, I would have quickly said sorry in a soft voice.

However, I just stood there, not budging an inch.

Dad was about to hit me when John stepped in.

"Let it go, Dad. It's okay if he can't come around just yet."

John stood between me and Dad, giving me a look that was all about being honest.

"Bro, we're throwing a party for the baby. I want you there that day, as the baby's dad."

I thought about the date.

The party was the same day I was due back with my unit. Well, I would make sure it was a party to remember.

"Alright."

I headed into the bathroom to take a shower, all by myself.

However, the sound of their happy chatter did not stop at the door, it followed me, clear as day.

"John, what should we name the baby?"

"You pick, Sheila. You're the mom, so you get to decide."

John's voice was soft, and Sheila sounded like she really leaned on him.

The cold water ran down my neck, and my thoughts sharpened.

I could not forget how, two months ago, I had come home happy and excited.

However, when I opened the door, there was Sheila, big belly and all.

She did not look happy to see me, just scared.

"You! Why are you back?!"

Before I could say anything, a strange guy came out of our bedroom.

"Who's that, Sheila?"

He was wearing my PJs and my slippers.

When he saw me, he quickly put Sheila behind him.

Our wedding picture was gone from the house.

John eyed me suspiciously and asked, "Who are you?!"

"John, he... he's Hank, my husband."

Chapter 3

In that instant, I felt like all my blood was rushing straight to my head.

I could not think anymore, and all I heard was a buzzing sound.

After Sheila spoke, John came toward me with a grin.

"Pleased to meet you, I'm John, your brother, and I'm also the dad of your kid, I..."

However, I did not let him finish. My fist spoke for me.

"Go to hell!!"

I tackled him to the ground, punching his face again and again.

Sheila's screams echoed around us.

She tried to stop me, but she was too scared to get close.

One thought echoed in my head.

I had to get rid of that intruder.

Then, my mom's slap hit me hard.

My dad dragged me away, and I ended up sitting on the floor.

My own parents stood there, scolding me.

Their angry looks stuck with me like a bad dream for a long time.

Later, I found out the truth.

While I was gone for four years, John had become like a son to my parents.

He looked after them, and even my wife.

That night, I sat on the couch, finishing a whole pack of cigarettes.

Sheila sat next to me, her tears soaking a whole box of tissues.

Through her sobs, she told me she did it all for me.

"You were in the army for years. I was okay, but what about your parents?!”

"They're old. They just wanted a grandkid around. What's so wrong about that?!”

"John said that the baby would call you dad, and it wouldn't matter to him.”

"He's done so much for us, so why can't you just accept it?"

Under the warm glow of the living room lights, I gazed at her face.

Only four years had passed, yet it felt like an entire lifetime had passed between us.

As the last wisp of smoke from my cigarette faded away, I asked in a raspy whisper, "Do you love him?"

Sheila did not say a word, but the way her hand stopped moving told me everything I needed to know.

In that moment, I realized how silly my anger and shame were.

"Hank, John's been staying with us lately.”

"Go ahead and move your stuff to the guest room."

I had just stepped out of the bathroom when I heard my dad's firm voice.

"Why?" I tried to sound nonchalant.

However, they stood up quickly, as if I had accused them of something.

My mom pointed at me, her voice filled with blame. "John's been nice enough to let the kid call you dad! However, the child is his own! What's wrong with him sharing a room with the child's mother?!”

"Hank, don't be so selfish."

I had heard that accusation so many times in the past two months.

Any hint of disagreement from me, and they would label me as selfish.

However, the real selfishness lay with someone else.

I wanted to fight back, but knowing I would be leaving in a month, I just closed my mouth and moved my things to the other room.

That night, after a full day of training, I should have been out like a light the moment my head hit the pillow.

However, the odd noises from the next room kept me awake.

"Wait, I just had a baby, this isn't right..."

"What's not right, Sheila? I've missed you so much."

"Hank's in the next room!"

"What of it? He can't hear us. And even if he could, wouldn't that make it more exciting?”

Chapter 4

"Shelia, who do you think is stronger, me or your husband?"

"Um... it's definitely you..."

I shut my eyes and gripped my fists so hard, but I could not help remembering our first date.

Back then, Sheila would turn red just from holding hands. Maybe time really did change everything.

I tossed and turned all night.

At the crack of dawn, I dragged myself to the training field.

This mission was going to be even more dangerous than the last, so I had to be in prime condition in order not to let my team down.

However, as I trained, all the things that bothered me kept popping into my head. Sheila's adoring looks at John and how my parents always took his side. It all made me so mad.

That anger drove me as I trained, and I pretended the punching bag was John. I hit it so hard it burst.

On my way home, I grabbed a couple of sandwiches to eat. Then I heard a voice I knew.

"Bro?"

I turned and saw them standing not too far away. John was all dressed up in a suit, his hair slicked back, and wearing fancy glasses. He looked pretty sharp.

"Bro, is that really you? What's with the..."

He looked me over, not sure what to say.

I was a mess, just out of the gym, wearing a white tank top with my jacket in my hand. Next to John, I must have looked pretty rough.

Sheila scrunched her brow, standing by John, her hand just barely covering her nose. I noticed every little thing she did.

After every training session back in the day, Sheila would rush into my arms without hesitation.

I would always push her away, complaining about being all sweaty.

However, Sheila never cared.

She would say my sweat belonged to our country, and she was too proud to think of it as anything else.

In the end, it became painfully clear who loved me, and who did not.

"Hank, where have you been to get so messy?”

"You might not care, but we do!" My mom's voice snapped me back to reality, dripping with disapproval.

It's like all those times she lovingly patched me up and made me soup were from another lifetime.

"Bro, I get it.”

"Did you leave the service with nothing to do, so you started doing construction work?”

"Bro, if you're struggling to find a job, just tell me. I can hook you up! No need to put yourself down like this!"

John seemed to have my back.

However, he slapped the "construction worker" label on me before I could even speak.

I wanted to set things straight, but seeing Sheila and the others looking at me with disgust, I clamped my mouth shut.

"Him? Let's not have him embarrass us at our company.”

"He's all muscles and nothing more." My dad's icy laugh cut through the air, his eyes never meeting mine.

Back when I joined the military straight out of the academy, my dad was so proud. He bragged about me all over social media.

When someone teased him, saying I was just a brawler who could not hit the books, he argued with them all night.

Chapter 5

In the morning, with bags under his eyes, he gave me a tired smile and a pat on the shoulder.

"Son, you go defend our country, and I'll have your back," he said.

However, even he used to call me a muscle-bound dummy back then.

I hung my head, hiding the sting in my eyes.

"Hey, bro, we're heading out to grab some food. Wanna come with us?"

"Nah, let's not bother, John. That place is fancy dress, and Hank's not really... you know."

Sheila spoke softly, but her point was crystal clear.

"Got it.

"Well then, we'll be off, brother." John gave me a wave goodbye.

I watched them leave, John in the middle of the crowd, hand in hand with Sheila, looking totally at ease.

It's okay.

They wanted someone like John to be their son and husband, not me.

I'll let them have that.

4

Half a month slipped by in silence.

It was time for Dad's surgery follow-up.

I woke up early to get everything ready to take him to the hospital.

No matter how he had been to me, he was still my dad.

The doctor who did his surgery was a top-notch guy I had begged a military bigwig to bring in. He hardly ever did surgeries for just anyone.

However, when Dad saw me all set to go, he scowled. "What are you doing?"

"Taking you for your checkup."

"Don't bother, John's going to pick me up later. If it hadn't been for John, I'd have died from that heart attack!

"Hmph, having you as a son is no different from not having one at all!"

"John, who I barely knew, was willing to get Dr. Jefferson to help me out!"

Dad's words hit me like a bomb.

Dr. Jefferson was the doctor I had asked for!

"What are you talking about?! Dr. Jefferson was the one I asked for! I..."

"You asked for him? Hank, you're not the one hurting, so it's easy for you to lie!

"Who do you think you are, talking like you're in charge? Who's Dr. Jefferson to you?

"You've been in the army for a few years and now you think you're someone special?"

Dad just scoffed at me, not bothering to hear me out.

However, his face softened when he saw John.

"Bro, are you coming with us to the hospital?"

"Why bother with him? He'd just mess things up." Dad grabbed John's arm and headed for the door, but not without throwing a couple of jabs my way.

"Hank, try to be honest for once, will you? Stop letting your mom and me down!"

That's when it hit me.

Maybe the truth did not really matter.

In Dad's eyes, John was the son he had chosen.

Me? I was just the unlucky guy who did not fit into his plans, back from serving my country.

I slumped on the couch, my phone buzzing non-stop.

Sheila was on a shopping spree with my extra credit card.

I had earned my stripes in the service, and all the money the army gave me, I had put on that card.

I wanted to give Sheila a better life.

It turned out that it was all just wishful thinking on my part.

On the day of the big party, the restaurant was packed with relatives.

I sat by myself, texting back and forth with my army buddies.

Chapter 6

[Just come and get me later.]

"Wow, Hank, you haven't been around for years, but you're looking even sharper!"

A relative I barely knew came up to say hi, but I could tell they were just there for the gossip.

I had been gone for four years and then, just three months back, I was there for a kid's party.

It was obvious that there was more to it than met the eye.

However, they all played along, pretending it was just a normal family gathering, with me as the kid's dad.

What a joke.

I watched my parents' backs as they led my new brother around, greeting all our relatives.

Sheila and John were the last to show up. Sheila's cheeks were still rosy, and she walked kind of funny. There was even a big hickey on her neck that everyone could see.

John looked right at me through the crowd, his eyes daring me to say something.

"Hank, who's that guy? I've never seen him before."

"That's my parents' new adopted kid, my brother."

"Wow, they're still taking in kids at their age?"

I just smiled and took a big gulp from my glass.

‘Yeah, who could argue with that?’ I thought to myself.

Halfway through the meal, Dad grabbed the mic, his face all red with excitement.

"The best thing that ever happened to us was getting Sheila as our daughter-in-law!"

He beamed.

"And as if that wasn't enough, we got John as a great son too!”

"With them, the Freeman family is complete and happier than ever!"

"Don't just talk about it, Mr. Freeman. Let the boy's dad say something too," a relative joked.

Dad's smile froze for a second, then he looked over at me.

I got up and reached out for the mic.

"Hank, this is your son's big day. Watch what you say," he whispered, half-warning, half-pleading.

I knew I had to choose my words carefully.

However, I also knew I had to speak the truth.

"Thank you all for coming today. I really appreciate it.”

"You all know I'm a rough guy. I carry a gun and fight for a living. When it comes to giving speeches, I'm honestly not very good at it.”

"So, instead of saying a bunch of fancy words, I'd rather speak plainly and say something real. "

I snuck up behind Sheila, finding a spot right between her and John.

"I've been away for four years, and when I got back, my wife was seven months pregnant. I racked my brain over this puzzle for nights and just couldn't solve it.”

"Then it hit me. My dad was eager to cuddle a grandkid, but with me gone, what was the plan?”

"Why not ask Mr. Freeman to step in? We're all family if you go back far enough!"

"Hank, what are you blabbering about?!" Dad heard me and shot up from his chair, his hand slamming the table.

Sheila's shoulders shook, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

Every relative in the room fell silent.

"Hank! You troublemaker! I knew you were up to no good!!" Dad was fuming, and he lunged at me, ready to strike.

However, the very next moment, the door swung open.

My fellow soldiers, all in uniform, stood there like a wall.

"Who dares to touch our captain?!"