"Um... Does Ms. Shaw have any family?" the junior member of the Special Operations team asked cautiously, holding a cardboard box.
Ms. Shaw was a taboo topic in the unit; mentioning her name always sparked someone's anger.
"What are you trying to do?"
Sure enough, Aiden, the team leader was the first to react.
"The higher-ups said... we need to clear Ms. Shaw's things..." The junior member trembled, mustering courage to finish her sentence.
"Don't you dare touch a thing! Damn it! Those higher-ups are heartless! This is Ms. Shaw's home, and we're her family. You're not to touch her belongings. If there's an issue, I'll deal with them!" Aiden slammed his hand on the table, the air quivering, silencing everyone.
An officer of Aiden's cohort approached, patting his shoulder. "It's been over two months. It's time we sort through Ms. Shaw's things. Talk to the higher-ups; we'll find a place to store them for now..."
Reluctantly, Aiden agreed.
Once the senior officer and Aiden left, the junior member patted her chest, relieved. "That scared me... Is Aiden Ms. Shaw's boyf—"
Her words were abruptly cut off as a colleague covered her mouth.
"Don't say such things, junior. Aiden would be devastated if he heard that..."
"Huh? But... Aiden is so obvious..."
"No, no, no..." The longest-serving member shook his head fervently. "Aiden admires Ms. Shaw. He worships her like a deity, but it's not romantic love."
"Why not?"
"She is the top."
"What's the top? Is Ms. Shaw lesbian?"
"No, not exactly..." The veteran looked at the junior with a nurturing gaze, patting her shoulder. "You don't need to understand everything. Just know their relationship isn't what you think."
The junior member was baffled, but another colleague handling internal affairs spoke up, "So, does Ms. Shaw have any family or a lover?"
"Ms. Shaw has no family. As for a lover..." The senior member grinned mischievously, hinting at a secret. "Ms. Shaw... was not interested in dating."
-------------------
In reality, Ethan wished he could mimic countless drama scenes, rushing to grab Vivian's hand, demanding, "Where are you going?" and stopping her from getting into the car.
But his pride held him back, and he merely watched her leave.
"You're not stopping her?" Hayden, also present, asked Ethan.
Ethan shook his head, coldly saying, "Let her be."
Arriving home to the dinner prepared by the housekeeper, Ethan felt inexplicably gloomy.
Recently, since Ethan and Vivian had been dining together, Vivian had stopped eating just sandwiches and began sharing meals similar to Ethan's. Eating was no longer a rushed efficiency exercise but a newfound enjoyment.
Vivian possessed excellent table manners, adapting to each country's etiquette, yet she never understood the pleasure of food or why people savored it slowly.
To her, food was simply food. It was mean for sustenance. However, these dinners with Ethan taught her the joy of dining, appreciating food not only for taste but visually, especially watching an attractive person eat elegantly.
Vivian had confessed how much she enjoyed their dinners together.
So why break the routine?
What was so good about Rowan?
Ethan had never felt this way. When Shawna, whom he liked, went out with other men or flirted, he saw it as her social prowess, even finding it favorable.
Yet now, Vivian's dinner with Rowan irked him, a fire simmering in his chest.
He knew Vivian's flighty, flirty nature meant she didn't take anyone seriously, least of all a kid like Rowan, probably just toying with him.
Still, he couldn't shake off the discomfort. Even more dangerous, the thought arose, 'Why toy with Rowan when you can toy with me?'
Am I mad? Ethan quickly shook his head, dispelling the reckless idea.
Who cares who she toy with? But as her nominal husband, he needed to remind her of her duties as Mrs. Sharpe, at least to uphold the family's reputation...
Yes, he should lecture her...
Seated at the dinner table, Ethan ignored the exquisite meal, consumed by thoughts of lecturing Vivian on her responsibilities. The front door unlocked electronically, and Vivian entered nonchalantly, greeting Ethan casually.
"Sorry, I'm late."
Ethan stared at Vivian, stunned, before asking, "Why are you back late?"
"Hmm?" Vivian raised an eyebrow, amused. "Isn't it obvious?"
"Well... Weren't you... with..."
"Rowan?" Vivian completed his sentence. "Yes, I was with Rowan."
Ethan found his voice, asking, "Weren't you on a date?"
From the time she left to her return, it had barely been an hour. Did their date go awry? Ethan couldn't help feeling a bit vindicated.
"A date?" Vivian frowned, pondered, then shook her head. "I just needed to see him about something."
"What was it?"
Vivian didn't answer immediately, instead taking a seat and picking up her utensils to dig into the prepared dinner.
"I'm starving, can we talk after?"
"Weren't you eating out?" Ethan wondered. An hour was ample time for a snack, yet Vivian acted famished. He softened, the reprimand he had prepared melting away.
Not only that, his usually icy tone softened, tinged with concern.
"Why would I eat out when there's food here?" She ate swiftly, stuffing her mouth without much chewing, fortunate the housekeeper catered to her habits with easy-to-eat meals.
"...I thought you forgot." Ethan lowered his head, pretending to focus on his food, casually mentioning it, yet betraying a hint of complaint.
"How could I? I love the food here." Vivian finished her last bite, looking at him with a smile in her eyes.
Naturally, the combination of good food and good company was why she enjoyed it.
Ethan flushed under her suggestive gaze, feeling like an awkward teenager, his world turned upside down by her every word.
"So, what was it you needed to see Rowan about?" He changed the subject, convincing himself he wasn't bothered by her outing with Rowan but wanted to know her intentions.
After all, Vivian was his wife, and her actions represented the Sharpe family. If she was planning something, she should inform him.
Feeling justified, Ethan looked at Vivian more assertively.
Unusually, the straightforward Vivian hesitated.
Her silence grew, creating an unsettling atmosphere.
What was going on? Vivian had shared her time-travel secret with him, so why not this? Was it more difficult to speak of than time travel?
Uneasy, Ethan tried to break the silence, but his phone rang first.
Both looked at Ethan's personal device, displaying his uncle, Lyon, as the caller.
Odder still was Vivian's expression, as if expecting it. "That was quick," she murmured softly.
