2.90%
Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Jake came in behind the group, helping Jessica walk.
He didn’t catch what had just been said.
“What did you say?”
The teammate opened his mouth but hesitated, unable to repeat it.
It took him a long moment before he finally stammered out,
“Jake… there’s a letter from Emily on the table.”
“It’s… it’s the divorce papers.”
This time, Jake heard it clearly.
His grip on Jessica loosened instantly.
She stumbled, twisting her ankle.
“Ow–Jake,” she whimpered.
Her voice was soft, like always, but Jake didn’t turn back.
He shoved past the guys in the room and grabbed the one who spoke by the collar.
“What the hell did you just say? Say that again!”
His voice dropped low–tight with anger.
The weight of combat and command rolled off him like a storm front.
No one else dared to speak.
The teammate swallowed hard.
“She… Emily left you a note. It’s… on the table.”
Jake shoved him aside and grabbed the paper with shaking hands.
Big bold words jumped out at him:
Petition to Dissolve Marriage
Filed by: Jake & Emily
Jessica limped in, trying to cling to Jake’s arm like nothing had changed.
“Jake, my ankle really hurts…”
Jake jerked his arm away so hard she lost her balance.
“Ah!”
She went down hard this time.
Now it was a real sprain.
She sucked in air between her teeth, face twisting in pain.
But Jake didn’t look at her.
23:36
Goodbye, Captain: I Left the Army Wife Life–And Took His Reputation With Me
3.3%
Chapter 5
He just stond there gripping the divorce petition like it was a grenade
“I’m going to find Sergeant Major Harris.”
His face was pale, jaw clenched.
He stepped over Jessica and walked out the door without so much as a glance back.
“Jake–Jake!”
Jessica called after him in a panic.
She could feel something slipping completely out of her hands.
She tried to stand up, but the searing pain in her ankle held her down.
She could only yell louder, hoping he’d turn around.
But the louder she shouted, the faster he walked-
like he was running from a wildfire.
Finally, one of the team guys couldn’t take it anymore.
He walked over and helped her up.
“Don’t be upset, Jessica. Emily left him divorce papers-
That’s why Captain Jake freaked out like that.”
Jessica’s eyes lit up.
She grabbed his arm, her voice eager:
“Wait–what did you say? Emily really filed for divorce?”
Her tone was sharp, excited.
Nothing like the sweet, demure act she usually put on.
The guy helping her froze, glancing at her sideways now.
Something in his eyes had shifted.
The others noticed too.
Their faces cooled, the sympathy fading fast.
Jessica felt it.
Quickly, she wiped the expression off her face, tears springing up in her eyes.
“I’m sorry… I was just in so much pain, I lost it for a second.”
The guy gave a stiff nod and called another teammate over.
Together, they helped her to the on–base clinic.
In the exam room, a medic was tending to her swollen ankle.
Outside, the guys stood or leaned nearby, unusually quiet.
“Do you think Emily and Jake broke up… because of Jessica?”
Mike–the youngest one–finally broke the silence.
23:36
Goodbye, Captain: I Left the Army Wife Life–And Took His Reputation With Me
3.6
Chapter 5
“Don’t say that crap,” someone snapped.
“Jake’s not that kind of guy.”
Mike bit his lip, hesitating.
“But what about Jessica?”
“Everything was fine between Jake and Emily before she came around.”
“Do you think Emily heard what we said at lunch?”
The others turned to look at the only one still quiet–Zach, the oldest in the group.
Zach’s face went red as he caught their stares.
“No way. Emily filed those papers days ago. This isn’t on me.”
Mike looked down, voice barely above a whisper:
“Still… Emily was the real one.”
“The one who stuck through everything with Jake.”
“She was good to all of us.”
“What we said at lunch… we never should’ve said it.”
The group fell silent again.
No one argued that.
