My Husband Let His Widowed Sister-In-Law Become His Plus One

My husband, Commander Jonathan Shelby, was leaving for the military. During his farewell dinner, our neighbor, Mrs. Murphy spoke with glee, as if she was gloating at somebody else’s misfortune. “You’re truly a magnanimous woman. Commander Shelby gave his military spouse quota to Anna instead of you, and you’re still sending him off!”

I found her statement ridiculous.

“Impossible. My husband hates pulling strings. In the past, he also had a quota on hand. Instead of giving it to me, he gave it to an educated young man so that he could return to his city.”

Mrs. Murphy only grew more animated.

“I saw the approval report with my own eyes. Under the column of Commander Shelby’s family member, the name ‘Anna Stewart’ was written on it.

“Commander Shelby has been supporting two households for a long time. Weren’t you aware of it?”

I felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck me. I turned to look at my parents and Jonathan. Guilt was written all over their faces.

My parents took my hand.

“Anna is a widow. Being a widow alone has already spoiled her reputation. If she remains in the village, they’d judge her for the rest of her life.

“Nancy, you’re Jonathan’s legal wife. You need to help her out.”

At that moment, my heart ached as if someone had sliced it piece by piece.

Fine. I would be as magnanimous as they wanted me to be.

I would personally give Jonathan to his widowed sister-in-law.

People at the table exchanged glances. Then, they started to speak up for Jonathan.

Everyone in the family was fully aware that Jonathan had given Anna his military spouse quota.

Yet, his wife, who had every right to know about this, had been kept in the dark.

I held back my tears as I walked up to Jonathan.

“How much longer did you plan to keep this from me?

“Were you going to wait until you left with Anna to tell me that I don’t have the right to your military spouse quota?”

Jonathan quietly averted his gaze.

That evasiveness said everything.

“You’re strong. No one can push you around.

“Anna is different. She needs my protection.

“Nancy, you should be more sensible. She’s joining me in the military for two years only.”

For two years only…

I could not hold back my tears from streaming down my cheeks.

We had been married for three years.

Over the past three years, he had been busy with his military training. The time we actually shared a bed did not even add up to a full year.

Under the guise of taking pity on Anna, he had let her take my clerical position in the unit.

He had allowed her to be with him daily.

She had stolen those three years I should have spent with my husband.

That was still not enough. She wanted to take away another two years from us.

What right did she have to do so?

Anna’s eyes reddened slightly as she let out a sigh.

“Nancy, I’ve tried to persuade Jonathan multiple times.

“He believes it’d be very exhausting for you to join him in the military. You’re used to being pampered, and you won’t be able to take the hardship.”

Anna reached out to take my hand. She put on the act of a caring elder sister.

My heart felt as if countless needles had pricked it.

I thought, ‘I was used to being pampered, huh?’

“Over the past two years, Jonathan hasn’t sent home a single cent of his allowance. I work as a teacher during the day and run a stall at night. I worked until I had a miscarriage. Is that what she calls ‘used to being pampered?

“I was worried that my health would fall short and end up holding Jonathan back if I joined him in the military. As such, I spent a full year doing physical training and even crawling through the mud. Is that considered ‘used to being pampered’ as well?”

Over the past two years, to join Jonathan in the military, I had been careful about everything. I knew I could not afford to leave even the slightest blemish on my record.

But Jonathan had not said a word to me.

Without hesitation, he had stripped me of my rights and given his military spouse quota to Anna.

The flimsy excuse of ‘doing what’s best for me’ was ripped apart in front of everyone.

Anna burst into tears.

“Jonathan, just leave your military spouse quota for Nancy.

“At worst, I’ll stay in the village and allow the rest to gossip about me. I can put up with all this…”

Jonathan quickly comforted her. His expression darkened as he glared at me.

My father spoke up first.

“Nancy, is this how we raised you?

“Anna is an orphan. Even her husband passed away three years ago. How could you be so cruel?”

Likewise, my mother looked at me with open reproach.

“Being a widow already invites gossip. Are you doing this on purpose?”