Ever since Olivia woke up in the morning, she could feel that something was weighing on Ethan's mind. When they had just gotten into the car, she noticed the worried look on his face.So, she took the initiative to give him a peck on the cheek. "Why are you so upset?"Ethan hesitated to speak. "It's nothing.""If you don't tell me, I'll kiss you until you do.""You're so naughty." Ethan deepened the kiss. Things were almost going out of hand, so Olivia shoved Ethan away.She leaned her head against his shoulder, squeezing her fingers in between Ethan's. She said, "We're not bound by marriage, but after Dad died, you're the person closest to me in this world other than the kids."Ethan, can you please tell me what you're thinking about?"Ethan curled his fingers, tightly holding her hand in his. He stared straight at her as he said, "You're my Liv, and you're also… Septem?"Olivia stiffened. "You knew?""The newest S-class mission from The Black Ravens was to obtain the ring. T
Ethan used to be a cold and arrogant man. But at that moment, he was extremely humble. "I may be a man, but I need a sense of security as well. Marriage is that sense of security I need."Olivia pouted, saying, "But marriage doesn't give me a sense of security. It's more like invisible chains to me."The car had already arrived at the destination. Reaching up, Olivia wiped away the lipstick smeared on his thin lips. Then, she smiled faintly. "Life like this is enough for me."Then, she took a lipstick from her bag, stuffing it into his hand. "Fix my makeup for me."The guests from other countries had already gotten out of their cars. As the host, Wayne chatted with the guests for a bit, but the couple still hadn't gotten out of the car.Wayne asked Ike to lead the guests inside while he walked up to Ethan's car.Brent and the other bodyguards stood beside the car, unmoving.Wayne couldn't suppress his bad temper anymore. When he swung the car door open, he was greeted with
Aware that Alan was testing the water, Olivia wore a bright smile. "If I'm deceived, I'll take it as a lesson. People wise up from experiences. I won't easily trust others anymore."He couldn't find anything off from her flawless face. The series of questions stopped as he began giving her a proper tour of the royal castle.They headed closer to Royal Hospital, where a field of herbs was planted. Flowers bloomed into vibrant colors."Falham, our national flower. Those bright petals can be taken as medicine after drying them. The fruits and stems can be eaten too."She hummed in response. "I've heard that, 60 years ago, an invasion caused havoc in Carathia, and soldiers filled the streets. "There was a drought, so the crops died. A lot of people went to the mountains to forage for vegetables. "Falham has a tenacious vitality. It lives through four seasons, and from the petals to the stems, it can be eaten. It sustained a lot of people through that drought. After that, it was b
Alan gave Marvin a kick in the shin. "Stop disturbing her and leave."The pain woke Marvin from his trance. "Sorry! I shall get out of your hair right away! Oh, Alan, why hasn't Dr. Ophelia clocked in for work yet?"No one in Royal Hospital knew what transpired last night. It pricked Olivia's guilty conscience because they truly saw her as a friend."Cut it out! Leave!" Alan urged.Once Marvin was far away from them, Alan turned to face Olivia. "Sorry about that.""It's fine. It's normal to take a person as someone else," she acknowledged and followed him.His brows furrowed. Despite the series of tests, Olivia didn't give the game away. Not even a hint!A pungent perfume permeated the air, reminding him of the distinctive herbal scent coming from Ophelia.Unfortunately, Olivia now gave off a floral scent.Perfume gained wide currency from women. Thus, he couldn't jump to conclusions simply because of a scent.The hospital director, Grant Tanner, welcomed Olivia in person u
Ethan could overhear the conversation. Olivia nudged him by the arm, whispering into his ear, "Henpecked by your wife, huh?""I gladly take that as a compliment." He pulled her into his embrace.His overt advances rendered her cheeks red while he was unbothered.His fingers pinched her cheek lightly. "Why are you still so shy? You're not a kid anymore."Olivia had always been shy when it came to this kind of thing.After all, they kept their relationship under the radar when they first got together. It was never disclosed publicly, so she couldn't get used to it in a short time.Wayne, who walked out of the room, watched the couple share sweet nothings. Ethan said something that made her blush.Wordlessly, Wayne withdrew himself from the crowd.Alan walked up to him and lowered his voice to report."I tested her. She's not Ophelia."Wayne bit a piece of cigarette, his eyes indecipherable. "Are you sure?""Yes. I tested her in many ways, but she didn't show any reflex rea
Ethan was so rough that he didn't even close the window.Keen-eyed, Wayne could see how Olivia was pinned with her hands raised over her head by Ethan from the tower.Red crept up her cheeks, and she craned her neck, all heated by Ethan's touch.He carried her to the bedroom. The night was still young for them.Wayne lit a cigarette. Ethan liked Olivia more than the rumors had it.Acting could be fake, but not the gaze. Ethan's eyes were smitten with love.It was 3:00 pm by the time Olivia woke up. The ruined dress on the floor elicited a frown between her brows. "It was such a pretty dress."Ethan, who smelled like mint after a bath, planted a kiss beneath her ear. "I'll buy you another one. You can buy as many as you fancy.""Really?""From now onward, my time is yours. Let's go. I'll take you to the capital."They changed from their tailored outfits into matching couple sets. He removed his mask. Then, they explored the exotic place with their hands intertwined.When
Ophelia approached Wayne with ulterior motives, but she genuinely saw him as a patient.She even prepared his medicine for him before disappearing. If she were cruel enough to him, he wouldn't have been this unresolved.Every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was Ophelia's face. Just where on earth did she go?The solemn sky somehow made Olivia restless.She was afraid that something would come up and they couldn't leave Carathia tomorrow.Ethan read through her mind and comforted her, "Don't worry, Liv. I'll take you out of here."It was a rare moment he didn't act up with his naughty hands today.His arms cloaked her with warmth, and sleepiness found its way to her. She closed her eyes, drifting into dreamland.Before the sky brightened, he pecked her cheek. "Liv, time to get up. Let's go home.""Home?" Olivia's eyes shot up as she sprang up from bed. Drowsiness vanished within seconds."Yup. We're going home." He caressed her cheek. "Don't worry. I'm by your side
Wayne dropped the bomb. Ethan could feel the swift change of emotion in Olivia as he squeezed her hand."Friend? I don't recall her having friends in Raka," Ethan replied calmly.She regained her composure. Even if Undecim was in Wayne's hands, betraying the organization was a big taboo in the line.Low-rank assassins might blurt out information under the pressure of threats, but Undecim was an S-rank. There was no way he wouldn't keep his lips tightly sealed.Well, she might've overestimated him, but he didn't know her true identity this whole time. She was cautious.They were partners twice for missions. Friends? They didn't come as close as that.Thus, how would Undecim know her relationship with Ethan?Olivia guessed that Wayne was playing a trick with her.In addition to Ophelia's MIA, Olivia's appearance alone was suspicious enough. As long as she boarded the plane, there was no second chance for Wayne to turn the table anymore.This was his last-ditch effort.As an