DWUSS 10

Chapter 10.

“What’s got you thinking so hard, my dear nephew?”

Percy pulled his gaze away from the empty air and down toward the tea table set before him, though he hadn’t actually looked at it. A gray summer suit of fine fabric draped his frame. Without his uniform, dressed in civilian clothes, he no longer looked like an Air Force lieutenant—just a well-bred young gentleman.

Sylvia Heskett watched him with a deeply satisfied smile. It finally felt like her beloved nephew had returned to his proper place. No more talk of the military or promotions—how grateful she was not to hear such dreadful topics anymore.

“Is something bothering you?”

“No, ma’am.”

“You can speak freely. This isn’t a military base. Ever since you came back, your way of speaking is so stiff—like you really have become a soldier.”

“I was a soldier. Up until recently.”

“But not anymore. Do you know how happy your aunt was when you said you would leave? After tasting the bitterness of reality, I thought you finally came to your senses. Well… except you dragged back that enormous burden called a marriage.”

Her tone soured immediately. Percy paid no attention. His mind was filled entirely with thoughts of last night—of Kitty.

What on earth had he been thinking? No one could deny that she was Greta. And yet, Kitty had acted the entire day as though she didn’t even know who Percy was.

In the news article, at the wedding, she had looked absolutely miserable.

Yet she had been the one to ask him to kiss her.

As if everything between them had never happened.

Kitty… Greta… what was she thinking?

“Is it because of that matter?” his aunt prodded.

“What matter?”

She refused to give him even a moment’s peace. Percy slowly reached out, lifted his teacup, and took a sip.

“That woman—the one who became your wife. She disappeared. Without a trace. Leaving you looking utterly ridiculous.”

Percy sighed inwardly. Aunt Sylvia truly had a talent for meddling. If only she would stop paying attention to him, even just a little.

“It wasn’t bad enough that you married her in a flash,” she continued. “She even ran away and abandoned you. People will think you did something terrible. You know, Percy, before you came back, I had begun picking out some decent, well-mannered girls for you to meet.”

“You shouldn’t have bothered, Aunt.”

“Well, in the end, it was a waste of my time. Who could have known you’d drag home some questionable woman you picked up at the military?”

“…”

“What exactly happened? And that photograph—good heavens. My heart still pounds when I think of it. My nephew’s face plastered across the entire nation over something so shameful!”

The butler had said Sylvia nearly fainted when the article came out. Percy hadn’t been in any state to comfort her at the time—he had barely held himself together.

“It was nothing,” Percy replied stiffly.

“Nothing?”

“Our method of… celebrating just went a bit off track.”

“But she was the one who pulled you in first, right? She must have known she could leech something off you. Otherwise, how could—”

“Aunt. That is enough. The woman you’re talking about is my wife. Even if she’s not by my side.”

He finally snapped and glared at her. But to Sylvia, he would always be her sweet, naïve nephew.

Her lips curled in an amused smile.

“Oh dear, I’m terrified when you look at me like that.”

“I’m not joking.”

“Butler, bring a fresh pot of tea.”

The elderly butler who had served her mansion for thirty years did so promptly. As she poured tea, Sylvia continued, unfazed.

“It’s already been a year since she ran off. Do you really think she’ll come back? Tell me, Percy.”

“…I don’t know.”

What was the point of avoiding the truth?

Percy was slowly beginning to understand: Greta Holt was never coming back. She had left him to begin a new life—one without a hero’s name, without glory, without a husband.

But after seeing Kitty again last night… he dared to think they might start over.

She had reinvented herself completely.

Kitty Summers. Rising star. Queen of popular songs. A woman who lived under bright lights, untouched by war or death.

Which meant—she was no longer Greta.

Which meant—they could start from the beginning.

Just two strangers meeting in a bar.

Not commanding officer and subordinate. Just a man and a woman.

Percy forced himself to face the truth:

He didn’t want to let Greta—Kitty—go.

“Perhaps… she won’t come back,” he murmured.

“And even if she does, the relationship is already over. Who knows, maybe she’ll come back with a baby in her arms.”

“Please don’t insult Greta.”

“These things happen all the time! I’m only saying what I’ve learned from decades of experience.”

Percy massaged his temple, fighting the urge to raise his voice.

Sylvia continued, undeterred.

“In any case, Percy, since things are like this, why not find someone new at the cruise party? Plenty of respectable young ladies will be aboard.”

“I’m not interested.”

“Oh, don’t say that. You need to marry properly and build a stable family. It makes no sense for the heir to remain single.”

“I’m already married.”

“Remember, Percy.”

Sylvia leaned forward with a solemn face and a lowered voice, performing seriousness rather than feeling it.

“The will states that you inherit everything only if you become an adult and build a happy family.”

Did it?

He could barely remember glancing at the document.

“And right now, your situation is very far from a happy family. Isn’t it, my clever nephew?”

While Percy stayed silent, Sylvia sipped her tea and added coldly,

“Do hurry. I refuse to let that worthless brat inherit everything.”

Some time later, finally free of Sylvia’s tea time, Percy returned to his room and threw the windows wide. The fresh air made him feel human again.

She had always hated his marriage to Greta, always sneering and insulting her, watching Percy afterward to see if his feelings had cooled.

Percy reached for a cigarette, then stopped.

He had quit when he decided to become a pilot.

Kitty might not like the smell of smoke.

He pushed the silver case aside and dialed the internal phone.

“Yes, sir?”

“About the cruise in two weeks—do you have the passenger list?”

“I’ll bring it immediately.”

A young servant soon appeared, carrying a file.

“The list, sir.”

“Thanks. I’ll take a look.”

“Call if you need anything.”

Alone again, Percy flipped through the pages. Familiar names. His own, his aunt’s… Kyle Erickson. Of course that guy was coming.

Percy rubbed his eyes, already exhausted. If his aunt disliked that man so much, why didn’t she simply cut him off?

He turned another page.

And stopped.

Her name was there: Kitty Summers — Invited performer.

He had been right to check. A rising star like her would surely be invited to a cruise like the Della Cruz.

But the questions remained.

Why did his wife pretend not to know him?

Why had someone who once hid all day suddenly returned completely changed?

Why had she… kissed him?

Unless Kitty wanted to start again.

Unless she was giving them another chance.

Surely she wouldn’t have kissed him otherwise.

She had found a new life, found peace—and now she could look at him again.

It was clear now.

Kitty was finally ready to accept him.

Maybe… their story wasn’t finished.

Percy felt light—almost buoyant.

Whatever Sylvia thought meant nothing.

There was only one truth left:

He would not let her slip away again. Ever.