Elara Callum Briar Novel From Heartbreak to a Second Chance at Love

Elara's POV
After we got married, my husband was stationed in the northwest.
He told me the border was plagued by sandstorms year-round, the conditions were harsh, and danger was everywhere. He said he didnt feel safe bringing me along and didnt want me to suffer.
And I believed him. I stayed home, took care of his parents, and helped raise his younger siblings.
Later, he said he was sending all his money to the widow of a comrade who had died shielding him from a bullet, asking me to understand and endure a bit more.
In that case, I worked day and night at a steel factory to support the family, holding on to the hope that one day hed come home.
It wasnt until the eighth year that one of his comrades returned to our hometown to visit family.
When I asked him about my husband, the man froze. Him? He was transferred to Washington ages ago. Hes a battalion officer now.
I stood there, stunned.
And he got married seven years ago. We all attended the wedding, he added, then pulled a photo from his pocket.
The woman leaning on my husbands arm was the same widow hed told me he was helping.
The next day, I went straight to the towns military office and signed my name on the list for the National Rural Service Program.
Hed trapped me in a fake marriage for seven years. From this moment on, I would never wait for him again.

I had just gotten home and hadnt even started packing when the door suddenly swung open. A well-dressed woman stormed in and slapped me hard across the face.
Looking like that and still trying to be someones mistress? Disgusting!
I fell to the ground along with the table, and shards of a broken bottle cut deep into my hands. Only then did I see clearly that the woman was Briar Alden, the widow who had married Callum Vance in Washington.
She was about to kick me when I scrambled to my feet and shoved her away.
Just as the door swung open behind me, a familiar figure rushed in, quickly wrapping an arm around Briar before she could fall.
Briar, are you okay? he asked her worriedly.
Then he frowned at me and snapped, Why would you hit her? Hurry and apologize to her!
Holding my bleeding arm, I swallowed the pain and spoke flatly. Callum, we havent seen each other in eight years. And the first thing you do is bring your lover into my home to hit me? She barged in and attacked me. Am I not allowed to push her away?
Only then did Callum notice the blood on my arm and the swelling on my face. His expression shifted instantly, and he tried to step toward me. What happened?
The woman, just moments ago all fire and rage, suddenly clung to his arm, eyes red with fake tears. Callum, when I walked in, I saw this woman sneaking toward your bedroom. I thought she was a thief. I was scared, so I tried to stop her. Maybe maybe I was too anxious and accidentally hurt her.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she added, She looked so old-fashioned, I honestly didnt think she was your wife. Hey, if youre angry, feel free to hit me back if you'd like. But dont accuse me of having something with Callum. Thats an insult to both of us.
You didnt I frowned, ready to repeat every vicious word she had said when she first hit me.
But Callum grabbed my arm before I could finish. Enough, Elara. This is partly your fault, too. If you had just told her you were coming home, she wouldnt have mistaken you for a thief.
He then coughed lightly, trying to soften his tone as he explained, By the way, this is the widow I told you about. I came back this time to bring you, Mom, and my siblings to Washington for a better life. She kindly came with me to help organize the move. How could you misunderstand her relationship with me? Go on, apologize to her.
I stared at the man in front of me, disappointment weighing down my chest. Without a word, I turned and walked toward my room.
Behind me, Callum forced a smile and tried to smooth things over with Briar. Then he grabbed my arm and pushed me toward the kitchen. How about let Elara cook you a nice big dinner as an apology?


Elara's POV
You love fried carp fillet, dont you? Ill have her make it for you right now, Callum added.
Before I could react, he shoved me into the kitchen, ignoring my struggle, and tossed a slimy, foul-smelling fish onto me.
Make a good meal for her. Dont cause trouble, he ordered, then shut the kitchen door behind me with a loud bang.
I rushed forward and yanked at the doorknob several times, but it wouldnt budge.
Outside, I could hear Callum speaking softly to Briar. Inside, the fish slime clung to my clothes and skin, and I sank weakly to the floor.
Fried carp fillet was my specialty dish. Ironically, Ive always hated fish. Just the smell alone made me nauseous.
But Callum loved it. When he was young, a fish bone had injured him, and ever since, he could only crave fish but didnt dare eat it.
After we got married, he told me the story, and I decided to learn the dish just for him. I searched through recipes and even asked the chef at a state-owned restaurant to teach me.
To make it, every tiny bone in the fish must be sliced open, requiring a lot of effort and patience.
Each time, my back would ache, and my stomach would churn for days.
Back then, he used to feel guilty about it, massaging my back and complaining that his greedy appetite caused me so much pain. He even refused to let me make the dish again.
But now, he seemed to have forgotten all of that. Forgotten that he used to rather go without it than let me suffer.
I was lost in thought when the kitchen door opened. Callum walked in and paused when he saw me.
Then he stepped forward and lifted me up. Why arent you cooking? Are you mad at me?
He chuckled lightly and pulled out bandages to wrap my wounds. I already apologized to her for you. Shes not holding a grudge, okay? Youre overthinking. Theres nothing going on between us. I know youve had a hard time here. When we move to Washington, Ill make it up to you.
After saying that, he grabbed the dead fish and began cooking himself.
I stared at his back, my mouth opening and closing several times. He never used to step foot in the kitchen. He always said cooking would mess with his shooting precision.
So, how did he suddenly become so skilled after seven or eight years away?
In the end, I said nothing.
I had already made up my mind to leave him. There was no point in asking questions anymore.
Dinner tasted like sand in my mouth as Briar clung to Callum throughout the meal.
First, she claimed her arm hurt from when I pushed her earlier, so she needed him to feed her. Then, she brushed a grain of rice from the corner of his lips and popped it into her own mouth before gasping dramatically and apologizing to me, saying it was just a reflex, and I shouldnt misunderstand.
Callums gaze kept drifting toward me. But when he saw that I kept my head down and stayed silent, his expression darkened.
After dinner, I tried to say I needed to help my younger siblings with their homework so I could sleep in their room.
But my mother-in-law dragged me back toward the master bedroom and shooed the giggling siblings away in a low voice. Dont disturb your sister-in-law and brother.