Frontier Operation, The Witch Is Leaving

The day my son fell ill, he wailed for the woman next door.

I tried to soothe him, but he grabbed my hand and bit down with everything he had.

You're a wicked woman! If it wasn't for you, Daddy and Auntie Tessa would have been together a long time ago!

I looked over at Tessa Vance, who was resting comfortably in my husband Soren's arms.

In that moment, I realized my husband and my child were complete strangers to me.

Later, I left the divorce papers behind.

I applied for a ten-year classified deployment to the restricted frontier.

They say we sacrifice our small homes to protect the greater nation.

As it turns out, they were far less important than my country.

......

"Jada, this mission requires at least ten years of total silence from the outside world. You have a husband and a son. Are you sure about this?"

My supervisor was shocked when he received my application. They hadn't even considered me for such a brutal assignment.

I nodded without a second of hesitation. "Sir, please trust me. Soren and I are already ending things. My son has even found himself a better stepmother. She's gentle, and Wyatt adores her. I have nothing left to hold me back."

Perhaps it was the icy steadiness in my voice, but the supervisor let out a heavy sigh. "The conditions at the frontier are harsh, Jada. You'll be in constant danger. Are you certain you can handle that kind of suffering?"

I gave a firm "Yes," my resolve hardening like steel.

I've never been afraid of hardship. Whether it's the lack of basic comforts or high-intensity combat, I can handle it.

"Sir, please approve my request."

The man across from me choked up for a second, his eyes rimmed with red.

"Jada, we can't guarantee you'll come back alive. If you fall during these ten years, nobody might ever know your name, no matter how great your sacrifice."

He tried to use the fear of being forgotten to break me, but it only made me more determined.

I already knew the price. My mother died in that same shadows, and her death hasn't been declassified to this day.

Aside from me, not even our own family knows what happened to her.

"Sir, if I don't go, someone else will. The frontier needs people to guard it. My mother went, and now it's my turn. If I fall, perhaps my child or someone else's child will take my place. It's a legacy of service."

"We are a generation that will never break!"

My voice was unwavering as I gave him a deep, respectful bow.

The supervisor finally agreed. From that moment on, I would support the frontier as an undercover operative, sworn to protect that land and its people until my last breath.

When I reached my front door, I let out a long, shaky breath.

Soren wasn't home. The living room was a disaster zone of Wyatt's toys and trash.

I didn't bother cleaning it. Instead, I gathered all my savings from over the years and transferred them onto a single card.

The government had given me a large sum for the frontier mission, but I didn't touch it. That money belonged to those who needed it more.

As for Wyatt, this card was the last thing I could give him. It was my way of settling our debts as mother and son in this life.

Luckily, he didn't love me anyway. He wouldn't be sad to see me go.

"Daddy, Auntie Tessa, I want to play again! Just one more time!"

While I was staring blankly into space, Wyatt returned. He was snuggled in Tessa's arms, his other hand gripping Soren's.

The game he mentioned was likely being tossed into the air and caught by the two of them.

"Oh, Jada. You're home."

Seeing me in the living room, Tessa flusteredly put Wyatt down. She rubbed her hands together, looking like a guilty child.

Soren stepped forward immediately, placing himself in a protective stance over her. Even Wyatt joined in.

He stood like a tiny soldier, glaring at me with pure hatred. "You old witch! Why are you back? Didn't you leave? If you left, don't come back. Why are you being such a pathetic loser?"

I swallowed the bitterness in my throat and reached out to ruffle his hair.

But he slapped my hand away without mercy, a sharp sting blooming on my skin.

"Don't touch me, you witch! I hate you! If it wasn't for you, our family of three wouldn't have to be apart!"

"Auntie Tessa wouldn't have to live somewhere else. Get away from me! I hate you!"

Being called a witch over and over by my own son... I really was a failure.

"Wyatt, don't be so rude!"

Luckily for him, he had his gentle Auntie Tessa. He actually listened to her.

"Did you hear me, Wyatt? Apologize to your mother right now, or no bedtime stories tonight!"

Under Tessa's stern gaze, Wyatt reluctantly stomped over to me and muttered a half-hearted "Sorry."

I touched his head, unable to bring myself to stay angry.

No matter what, he was my son.

Since I was leaving, I felt like I owed him a lifetime of apologies.

"Wyatt, how about Mommy plays with you for a bit?"

I wanted to cherish the little time I had left. I knelt down to his level, but he glanced back at Tessa and then sulked over to the couch.

"No thanks. I haven't finished my social studies project yet."

He opened his backpack and ignored me completely.

Tessa looked uncomfortable and tried to apologize on his behalf.

"I'm so sorry, Jada. He's just stressed with schoolwork. He's not ignoring you on purpose. Why don't you go rest in your room? I'll take care of him."

Her apology sounded so natural, so maternal. My heart twisted. I walked back to my room, exhausted.

He was my son, yet another woman was apologizing for him.

Right now, I felt like the mistress in my own home, unable to break into their perfect little circle.

By evening, dinner was ready. Wyatt came to get me.

He knocked timidly on the door, his voice dripping with resentment. "Mom, you've been being lazy all day. We even have to call you for dinner. No wonder Daddy doesn't like you. You're a bum."

"Auntie Tessa's been busy all day, and you didn't even help."

He looked miserable. I rubbed my aching eyes and was about to ask what was wrong when I saw Tessa on the couch.

She was holding Wyatt's textbook, looking peaceful and kind.

Wyatt ran back to her side. "I called her. Can we get back to the story now?"

Those words were a blade to my chest. He wasn't busy with school. He just didn't want to play with me.

Tessa realized the tension and stood up quickly.

"Dinner's ready. Maybe I should head home. Jada's here, she can look after Wyatt."

"No!"

Wyatt immediately grabbed her leg, his lip trembling as he shot me a look of pure spite.

"Why did you have to come back? Every time you're here, Auntie Tessa has to leave. I don't want you! I don't want to see you at all!"

I rubbed the faint scar on my wrist where Wyatt had bitten me. It hurt, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the ache in my chest.

But I had no choice. I forced a smile. "Stay. Wyatt needs you."

This took Soren by surprise. Over the years, I had fought with him and Tessa constantly because of Wyatt.

I used to blame him for always relying on her, for making our son love her more than me.

Back then, Wyatt would always hide in Tessa's arms, sobbing and refusing to look at me.

Back then, I looked like a hysterical, jealous wife trying to destroy a happy home.

"Fine. Let's eat," Soren said.

Tessa always knew how to handle these situations. She looked more like the lady of the house than I ever did.

I wiped away my discomfort and sat down.

Soren had cooked. He knew exactly what Wyatt and Tessa likedDeverything was loaded with extra hot peppers and buffalo sauce.

I couldn't handle spicy food. After a few bites, I started coughing violently.

Tessa patted my back and stood up to make me something else.

I didn't want Wyatt to get upset, so I pulled her back.

"It's fine. I've had enough."

My eyes watered from the spice and the coughing.

But Wyatt still wasn't happy. He intentionally shoveled a pile of habaneros onto my plate, smirking.

"Mom, this is the result of Daddy's hard work. Don't you know people are starving? You shouldn't waste food."

"Didn't you learn that in school?"

I clutched my stomach, looked at my son's bright smile, and ate the peppers without another word.

Soren looked like he wanted to stop me, but I just smiled. "It's okay."

What did it matter? I was leaving. Making my son happy one last time was the least I could do as a mother.

But I overestimated my stomach. Almost as soon as I left the table, the pain doubled me over.

Years of skipping meals for work had left me with chronic issues. To Wyatt, it just looked like I was faking it.

"Mom, if you didn't want to eat, you shouldn't have. Now you're pretending you can't stand up just to make Auntie Tessa feel bad? Forget it. No one believes you."

Even Soren looked at me with disapproval.

"Jada, enough with the drama. Get up."

Nobody helped me. They gathered the dishes and went into the kitchen.

I could hear the three of them laughing, talking about their day.

Meanwhile, I was curled up on the floor, breaking out in a cold sweat from the pain.

Was I sad? Of course. But I felt a strange sense of relief, too.

It proved that after I left, Wyatt wouldn't be miserable.

Soren would be taken care of.

Once the thought settled, I forced myself up to swallow some medicine.

The warm water helped my stomach settle enough for me to sit on the couch.

The trio finished in the kitchen. Wyatt was splashing water at Tessa, giggling. "No! I want Auntie Tessa to tuck me in tonight. I don't want the old witch."

"But..."

Tessa hesitated. She wasn't the wife here, after all.

Soren wiped the water off his face and picked Wyatt up. His voice was indifferent.

"Stay. It's Jada's own fault the kid doesn't like her. Don't feel pressured."

With one sentence, he sentenced my motherhood to death.

Wyatt was thrilled. He kissed Soren on the cheek and reached out for Tessa to carry him.

The scene was so warm, so perfect. My fingers felt stiff. I wanted to run away.

But Soren walked toward me, his face twisted in a mock.

"When did you even get back? I thought you forgot you had a home and a son. No wonder Wyatt isn't close to you."

"Soren..."

I wanted to say the word "divorce," but when I looked into his eyes, I went numb.

"Jada, I'm not in the mood to fight. If the kid hates you, look in the mirror."

"I know."

That was my only response.

But what else was I supposed to do?

When Wyatt was born, I gave up my career to be with him every second.

I didn't go back to work until he started talking.

But Soren was never satisfied. Or maybe he just wasn't satisfied with me.

I always knew Tessa was his first love. She lived next door because of him. She took care of Wyatt because of him.

Their love story was epic and moving. Even I was moved by it.

So, I decided to let them have it.

Late at night, I heard Tessa's gentle voice reading a story in Wyatt's room. She was so animated, and Wyatt sounded so mesmerized.

"Auntie Tessa, you're the best. I wish you could stay here and take care of me forever."

His voice drifted off as he got sleepy, but I heard every word.

Good. I would go protect the country, and Wyatt would get his wish.