Chapter 8

• "Baby, you need to eat vegetables. It's nutritious." I reminded Rious, noticing that he had avoided certain vegetables and only ate others, like spinach, leaving the unwanted ones on the side of his plate. His father didn't even reprimand him for it.
• "How about Daddy?" Rious asked, drawing my attention to Karious, who was staring at me. His eyebrows raised, and he drank water.
• "I don't eat grass," he stated plainly.
• I gave him a menacing look before smiling at Rious. I turned to Karious and said, “Of course, he’ll eat the veggie, and it’s not grass.”
• “You can’t make me eat that gross—" he grumbled, stopping when I gave him a death glare. “Fine!”
• Despite my occasional frustration with Karious, dinner was quiet. I couldn't quite tell if he was flirting with me or not, as he was looking at me hungrily or biting his lower lip every time I glanced at him.
• Of course, I’m susceptible to temptation, so I try to avoid it as much as possible to avoid repeating what happened last time. And certainly not in front of the child.
• "WHERE HAVE ALL THE GUARDS GONE? ”I wondered one morning as I stepped outside to water the plants, only to find the guards not in their usual station.
• Instead of going around the back of the house, I went straight to the guardhouse and found it empty. I couldn't believe it.
• My gaze fixed on the open gate, and I found myself thinking of escape. I quickly took a few steps back and looked around to see if anyone had noticed my thoughts.
• I wasn't sure if leaving was the right decision, especially after they had shown me kindness. I couldn't bear the thought of not even saying goodbye.
• I also couldn't bear the thought of Rious' reaction if he discovered that I left. Like what her mother did. He would undoubtedly be heartbroken.
• I struggled with the idea of fleeing. It didn't make sense to me. The first time I was here, I was willing to risk everything to escape. I felt like an innocent prisoner stripped of all my rights.
• But now, I'm not so sure. I don't feel like the same person anymore.
• I touched the iron gate and looked outside. One step, and I could finally be free.
• My chest pounds harder. It was like making a life-or-death decision. I'm in between choosing right and wrong.
• I haven't even yet asked Karious about his statement. If he finally thinks now that I'm not Veronica,.
• I know that I'm now making things up to justify my decision. My decision to not leave. I can't believe I will come to this point of choice.
• I gripped the metal gate tightly as I weighed my options, closing my eyes to concentrate.
• "Care to tell me why you're here?" I heard a voice just near me.
• My eyeball nearly pops out of its socket when I open my eyes.
• Karious' face was uncomfortably close to mine, leaning over me with his arms resting on the iron gate.
• The gate wasn't very high. It barely reached my chest. It seemed to be the standard height for all the house gates in that village.
• I looked back and noticed his car parked nearby.
• As he cocked his head to the side and looked at me, I took a step back, feeling uneasy. I inhaled deeply to steady myself.
• "W-what?" My words came out shaky.
• He pressed his lips together. "Are you planning to escape?" he asked, reaching for the gate to open it. I stepped back from the gate as he came closer.
• "I'm not. If I had a plan, I would have left earlier," I quickly responded.
• "If that's the case, why are you standing here as if you're thinking of escaping?" he charged, his tone accusing.
• "It's not my fault if the guards aren't here. Besides, I saw your car approaching, so how could you think I'd be able to get away?" I lied.
• In reality, I was taken aback when I saw his face closer to mine. I would not have noticed his car if he hadn't pointed it out to me.
• I stepped back again but stumbled on my own foot and almost fell. Quick as lightning, he caught me by the waist to keep me from falling.
• It was like in a movie where the male lead caught the female lead from falling without knowing that they also fell from another thing called love.
• He whispered in my ear, "You little liar. Your eyes were closed when I approached you. It looks like you need to be punished, hmm?"
• My heart was pounding so loudly that it was the only sound I could hear. Electricity surged through my body from head to toe, and my legs felt like jelly. I might have collapsed if he hadn't held me.
• I pushed him and rolled my eyes. "Enough with punishment. Let's talk about something else." I said, trying to change the subject.
• Maybe this was not the time for me to leave the house. I need to know first if he has already found out about my true identity.
• He raised an eyebrow and looked at me quizzically. "About what?"
• "I have some questions for you, specifically about myself. Would you mind if we talked for a bit?"
• "Sure, let's go to my room," he suggested, his smile concealed.
• “Huh? ”I exclaimed, a little offended.
• He looked at me, his smile still hidden behind his lips. "Well, it might be better to talk more privately. Unless you want to share it with everyone around us," he said teasingly.
• I held his gaze, determined not to let him get the best of me. I know what he was planning, but I'm not weak when it comes to him. Although the jerk is wise, I am wiser.
• "I think we should talk in your office, not in your room," I suggested as I led him inside the house.
• “What for? ”He pondered.
• “What for? Because you’re a flirt! ”
• He looks offended, but the smirk hidden on his purse lips makes me roll my eyes. "Don't blame me for something I didn’t do. It’s you who—"Aist! And he has the audacity to bring it up again.
• “Shut up! ”I exclaimed, my cheeks flushing with heat.
• He chuckled—another first. "You kissed me back too." I locked my gaze on him.
• "It doesn't matter where we talk. You're my pretend wife, remember?” He softly reminded me.
• "I don't remember agreeing to that," I retorted. "And that's what we need to talk about."
• "Based on the way you kissed me, I assumed you had already agreed," he said, his smile growing wider.
• "I haven't agreed yet!" I exclaimed. "That's why we need to talk about it in your office."
• When I looked at him, I couldn't help but feel a little flutter in my chest. Despite his teasing, he had a gentle expression on his face that made me feel at ease. Whenever he grinned, I couldn't help but feel a warm, tingly sensation inside.
• As he turned to face me and our eyes met, I quickly averted my gaze. I was certain he already knew that I wasn't really his wife.
• He suddenly sighed, and he became serious.
• "Maybe next time. I'm busy with work," he said, his voice marked with finality.
• "Even for a moment, Karius? I just want to know if—"
• I was surprised when he suddenly hugged me. "I know. Let's just talk about it some other time."
• I was even more confused by his behavior than by what he said.
• I watched his back slowly disappear. He seems serious about it. I don't even know if we are talking about the same thing.
• Karious, what are you hiding, and why do I have the feeling that you don't want this to end?
• Days passed with us being so aloof with each other. I was always with Rious, taking our time together, because I had a feeling that this would soon end.
• I believe that Karious has already felt that he has to set me free. This isn't right. To keep me for himself, knowing that this was all fake.
• Pretending to be his wife isn't part of the option. He might have joked about it, but I will never choose that option.
• I will definitely leave. I'm only waiting for his signal to tell me everything.
• When that day finally comes, I don't know if I can ever be ready.
• I took a seat in front of him while he rummaged through a drawer, looking for something. I couldn't begin to say what I wanted to because he seemed preoccupied.
• After what feels like eternity, we are now in his office.
• "You can start your questions now," he commanded as he opened the folder.
• I took a deep breath and tried to compose a sentence in my head. If anyone saw us, they would probably assume we were discussing business. I hope that this was really about business.
• But it's not.
• I couldn't shake the feeling that there was a barrier between us. When I entered the office, he seemed so different from the man I usually fight with these past few weeks.
• When his child was present, he was a different person—warm and affectionate. But when we were alone, it felt like we were strangers.
• "Um, do you finally believe now that I'm not your wife, Veronica?" I asked cautiously.
• I watched his stoic expression, which didn't change. It makes me think that he probably expected this already.
• He looked up at me and then dropped the folder he was reading in front of me.
• "Yes, I do. But only after I had a thorough investigation about you," he replied calmly.