Daniel suddenly held Freya's hand with the one he'd used to steady her earlier. He wrapped her hand in his, warming it up from its original coolness.Thomas was alone in the spacious living room. He looked spirited and healthy—the only thing was that his hair had turned completely white.Daniel only spoke after he and Freya had taken their seats, saying, "You already went all the way to the highest authorities with your complaints. How could I continue to stay away?""Humph! You were away for over two years. Would you dare say it wasn't because you felt like I'd forced you into this?""It wasn't because of that.""Why didn't you come back after marrying Freya, then? Why stay away for so long?" Thomas demanded.Freya had her head lowered as she played with the hem of her shirt. She paused when she heard this. Daniel had explained this to her before.A month ago, after the robbery at the jewelry store, he'd spoken to her as she'd changed his bandages. He'd told her he was abroad o
"Big Mouth." Daniel sounded warmer and more familiar with this person than he did with others. "Yeah, I just got back." He listened to the caller for a short while before replying, "Alright, send me the address. I'll be there soon."Freya could tell Daniel had just agreed to meet someone. This "Big Mouth" was probably a guy.They soon arrived at the apartment. Daniel parked in the underground parking lot and took the box of food from the trunk. Freya stepped forward to take it from him, thinking he was probably rushing to leave.He sidestepped and dodged her. "Lock the trunk.""How do I do it?""Press the button on top."Freya followed his line of sight and saw the button. She wasn't tall enough to reach it, though. She even tried standing on her tiptoes.Suddenly, a hand reached above her and pressed the button. The door slowly shut. She turned to be faced with Daniel's chest again. His unfamiliar scent enveloped her.Freya placed her hands between them, preventing her nose
"Hi, Freya. I'm Ben Walden, or you can call me Big Mouth. We had a gathering today, and Captain had a bit too much to drink. Sorry about that."Ben had a crew cut, as did Daniel. His skin was also tanned, and he had a tall, sturdy build. His expression was much softer than Daniel's, though."Oh, okay. Thanks. Come in," Freya said.Ben helped Daniel onto the couch and got ready to leave. "I'll get going now."Freya was about to get him a glass of water. When she heard that he was leaving, she walked him to the door. She didn't know him, anyway. "Thanks for bringing him back.""It's no big deal. You look prettier in person than in your photos, Freya," he said."Huh?" What photos?Ben didn't explain. All he said was, "My wife's waiting for me downstairs. See you next time."Freya looked at the shut door. He'd spoken to her with such respect that it made her feel weird. She was only 24 years old, yet he made her feel much older. Also, what photos had he been talking about?Freya
Freya looked at the name flashing on the screen—Harper York. She answered it and said, "Hi, Harper.""What are you up to, Fae?" Harper sounded affectionate. She was Freya's best friend."I'm just lying in bed. I'm not doing anything.""Looks like I'm coming at the right time, then." Harper's voice faded in and out of the phone.Freya sat up excitedly and cried, "Are you coming to Sureton City?"Yep.""Is it a business trip?""No. I'm being transferred back to headquarters." It would be a lot easier for Harper to meet Freya once she was back in Sureton City. She'd be closer to her family, too."Congratulations! This is good news for you and me both." Freya was delighted. She needed some soda to celebrate, so she headed to the fridge to rummage around while still on the phone.Daniel was no longer in the living room, but there was still a faint trace of alcohol in the air."When are you arriving? Have you already found a place to stay?" Freya asked."My flight will land at 1:0
Daniel wore a black tracksuit and held a white towel. It was clear he'd just returned from a workout. He headed straight to his room. Soon, Freya heard the sound of water running.Her mind conjured the memory of him standing there in nothing but lounge pants and the contents of the erotica novel she'd read last night.When she realized what she was doing, she shook her head, scorning herself in her heart. She swore not to touch or write erotica in the future—it had turned her thoughts dirty and was distracting her!Freya continued analyzing the publication, but none of the words entered her brain. Ultimately, she decided to prepare lunch before heading to the airport since it would take her over an hour to get there from the apartment.She used the things Thomas had given her and Daniel last night to prepare a couple of dishes. She grabbed the necessary ingredients and placed them on the counter.The kitchen was her favorite part of the apartment. It was large and spacious, and th
Freya transferred on the subway thrice before arriving at the airport at 12:53 pm. She didn't have to wait long before seeing Harper appear with three large suitcases.Harper was 26 years old and Freya's best friend. They'd lived on the same street while growing up, and they'd done their senior year of high school together after Freya had skipped grades. They'd sat for the SATs together and were something like war comrades.Harper had studied civil engineering at university. At five feet and nine inches, she was taller than Freya and looked good in everything she wore.However, as an engineer, she frequently needed to visit construction sites to check on the progress. So, she was used to wearing windbreakers, cargo pants, and hiking boots.If Freya was a combination of cuteness and iciness, Harper was truly an ice queen. Her hair was cropped short, and her gorgeous eyes were cold and aloof when facing strangers."Fae!" Harper saw Freya and waved happily. She ran to the latter and
"How does it feel to have your so-called husband back?" Harper asked with a mischievous smile.Freya thought of the doorbell ringing and Daniel's presence in her home and felt frustrated. "Honestly, it's just annoying. It's like my peaceful little world's been invaded, and now, I'll never have a quiet day again."She took a sip of her drink and continued, "Plus, he's kind of full of himself. He always thinks what he sees is the truth.""And this is after just one day under the same roof? Seems like you've had plenty of interaction already," Harper teased.Freya then told Harper about the time he caught her reading an erotica. Harper burst out laughing, nearly doubling over. "That's hilarious! But, yeah. That sounds exactly like something you'd do.""Don't you think he's a bit self-righteous?" asked Freya."I think he reacted pretty normally, honestly."Freya gave Harper a puzzled look.Harper explained, "Think about it. How would you feel if he watched adult films in front of
After saying goodbye to Harper, Freya headed straight up to her apartment. She unlocked the door to find the living room in complete darkness. Daniel wasn't home, or so it seemed.Humming softly to herself, she opened the fridge, grabbed a soda, and took a few sips. Just as she closed the fridge door, the light faded, and suddenly a shadow appeared before her.Startled, Freya stumbled back, hitting her waist against the counter. The sharp pain forced her to stop and confront the person."Why didn't you turn on the lights? I thought someone broke in!" she demanded, her voice still trembling from the scare.Daniel's voice was calm as he responded, "The security here is tight. No one will break in."Freya blinked. Was that a dig at her intelligence?"You scared me half to death!""You were just too caught up in your happy thoughts to hear me coming," Daniel retorted, moving closer. The faint smell of smoke clung to him as he leaned in and braced his hands on either side of her.Fr