"What do you want to say?" Chloe asked Ryuchen after they sat on the couch.
After Lyka left the company, Ryuchen took her to his office because he said he wanted to tell her something.
"I want to tell you the reason why I used to protect that woman back then." he said.
Chloe didn't say anything, because she also wanted to know the reason. She's been gone for ten years, so a lot has changed and a lot has happened to them that she didn't know.
"When I woke up after the kidnapping... Lyka told me that she was the one who saved me from the kidnappers--."
"WHAT?" but Chloe quickly covered her mouth in shock. "I... I'm sorry, please continue."
"She asked me to keep it a secret, and I agreed so I didn't told anyone about what she told me back then. I forgot what happened during the kidnapping either, but I know in my mind that someone saved me back then so I believed her. When I was discharged, I found out that you and your parents left the country... and to be honest, I was mad. My Dad and Grandma kept saying that you had a reason why you left but they didn't told me the reason. Then, Lyka told me that you and your parents left the country during the kidnapping... as if you don't care about what might happen to me. I was mad, upset and... lonely, even Jason got mad at me and only Lyka stay beside me. And because of what happened to my Mom, I promised to protect her and give everything she wanted in return for saving me."
Chloe just listened as he talked, somehow she could understand him a bit. He was left alone, and only Lyka stay by his side. No one told him about what happened to her either just like what she wants, so he didn't know why they had to go to America.
"And when you came back, I asked Lyka to pretend to be my lover to hurt you. I was blinded by my useless resentment towards you, that I refused to notice that even other people were hurting you and realized too late that what I was doing to you was wrong. I was trapped in a lie for twelve years and I'm so sorry, my wife."
Chloe smiled at Ryuchen, somehow she was relieved knowing the truth about his relationship with Lyka.
She was not a thief as she accuses her, because they are not truly lovers.
"I... I think you know now that my parents brought me to America to have a better medical treatment."
Ryuchen nodded.
"...I fell into a coma."
"...W-What?"
"I was shot three times by the kidnappers." Ryuchen was stunned, his face turned pale. "The surgeon said they successfully removed the bullet from my body, but I developed a complication and fell into a coma so my parents decided to bring me to America."
Ryuchen approached Chloe, he knelt in front of her and hugged her tightly, he didn't know what to say. Her body suffered on three bullets at a young age, and he has the nerve to get angry at her.
"To be honest, we don't know what happened to me back then. But I... I was in a coma for more than a year, and had a rehabilitation for almost a year. And we couldn't get back right away because during that time, my Dad's business ran into some trouble."
"...I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
"Everything is fine now." she smile when she felt him sobbed, it's a good thing that both of them have clarified what happened back then. "The important thing is that we learn from our mistakes, and we need to talk about things properly so that we can understand each other."
She felt Ryuchen nod while still hugging her.
-----
It's been a week since his wife started working in his company, Robin taught her for two days about what she should do before he starts working from home. Lyka didn't bother to show her face in the company either so everything went well.
Chloe got along with the other employees as well, little did she know that the employees already knew that she is their now CEO's wife. But they need to keep it a secret because once his wife finds out that he told them about their relationship, they will all get fired.
They both get along well too, although they are still not living in the same apartment. Ryuchen now can go to her apartment freely and even gave him a spare key.
Ryuchen suddenly heard his phone rang, and frowned when he saw the name of his father's friend, Mr. Robert Ramirez.
"Hello."
"Ryuchen, how are you?" the man said on the other line. "It's me, Uncle Robert."
"I'm good, Uncle." he said. "Why a sudden call?"
"Oh, I got your divorce paper in my office, do you want me to process your marriage termination now?"
"What?"
Ryuchen was confused, did Chloe still send their divorce papers? But he didn't sign it yet, so how did she file their divorce paper in the court. Did Chloe send that or did someone else do it?
"No Uncle, can you sent it back to my office and can you please check who bring it."
"Wasn't your wife the one who filed the divorce?"
Ryuchen knows that his wife will not do that, especially now that their relationship is good for the past few days. He only had one person in mind, and that was Lyka.
"No, she will not do that."
"Okay, I will ask someone to bring the document to your office and call you back once I find out who's the petitioner."
"Thank you, Uncle."
After the call, he immediately called his wife to come to his office.
"My wife, someone sent our divorce paper to the court."
"Huh?" Chloe seems surprised as well. "I... I didn't send it."
"I know." he said then smiled, he pulled her to his lap and hugged her. "I know you will not do that, I just want to tell you."
"Ryuchen, we are at work."
"But no one was here." he said and looked at her eyes. "My wife..."
"Uhm?"
"...Can I kiss you?"
Chloe blushed, his question was so sudden that she didn't know how to respond. But she was saved when his phone suddenly rang, she was about to stand up but he stopped her and answered the call.
"Ryuchen." Chloe was upset to hear a woman's voice on the other line, but the voice sounds familiar though. "Don't forget my birthday next week."
"Ah!"
Chloe quickly covered her mouth when she realized it was their grandmother, she almost got jealous.
"Of course, Grandma." Ryuchen said while still looking at her.
"And bring my granddaughter with you, not just anyone. Don't tell me that you are still seeing that woman, I tell you to stop being crazy about her!"
Ryuchen's chest tightened when he saw Chloe smile bitterly, he was guilty. He kept their marriage a secret for a long time and only few relatives and close friends know that they are married, and let the public know that Lyka is his girlfriend.
He knows his wife can hear her grandmother so he hugs her tightly using his right arms.
"I'm not seeing anyone." he said, reassuring his wife as well. "Me and my wife will come together on your birthday Grandma, so don't worry."
"Really?" Grandma seems cheerful on the other line. "Great! I haven't seen her since you two got married, please take good care of her because her life has not been easy."
"Of course Grandma, I promise that I will take good care of my wife." Ryuchen kissed Chloe's hair. "Do you want to talk to her Grandma?"
Ryuchen smiles when he sees Chloe finally looked at him, and seems surprised.
"Yes, yes." Grandma said. "Is she with you now?"
"Yes, I will give the phone to her."
"Hello, Grandma." Chloe greeted his grandmother politely.
Ryuchen was pleased every time he saw Chloe's various expressions while she was talking to his grandmother. He couldn't help but smile and laugh softly when the expression on her face changes, especially when she blushes. The two talked for a few minutes before Chloe handed back his phone.
"Why didn't you tell me about Grandma's birthday?"
"I... forgot."
"Ahh... okay?"
Ryuchen got nervous when he noticed Chloe looked upset and disappointed, he really forgot about his grandmother's birthday. He just came back from the past so he forgot that thing in his mind, and he realized why his wife reacted like that. Back then Lyka was always with him whenever there was a gathering at the mansion, and he didn't bring Chloe even once.
He hugged her tightly and buried his face on her neck, he really wanted to punch himself every time he remembered what he did to Chloe.
"I'm sorry, I really forgot about Grandma's birthday." he said.
"It's okay... what present would you give to Grandma?"
"A great-grandchild." he answered, without hesitation.
Ryuchen felt Chloe's body stiffen so he looked at her, she was blushing. But he was serious in his answer, that's what his grandmother wanted as a present as well so that's what he said.
-----
Ryuchen waited for Chloe in the living room of her apartment for almost an hour, he got so excited that he went to her apartment early to pick her up to go to the mansion together where his grandmother's birthday party will be held.
Their divorce paper also arrived at his office, they discovered that a man had sent it and said that Chloe was the one who ordered him to submit the paper to the court.
His Uncle Robert said that he will put the man in jail for forging his signature, but Chloe refused because she said the man was innocent and had a hunch that Lyka was the one who ordered the man to do that.
The important thing for them is that they have their divorce paper and that was not processed by the court.
While he was thinking about what to do with Lyka's punishment, he heard the door open. Ryuchen turned around and saw Chloe go out of her room, she looks like a goddess in her long beige pastel sleeveless ball gown.
At that moment, all he wanted to do was to put his wife inside his pocket, and hide her from everyone. She's so gorgeous that he would rather just lock her inside her apartment and stare at her all night than to show her beauty to anyone.
Her beauty can only be seen by one person, and that person is him.
Ryuchen quickly removed his suit and put it on her shoulder.
"What are you doing, Ryuchen?" Chloe asked and chuckled.
But his desire to be alone with her only increased when he heard her laugh, she was about to remove the coat he put but he stopped her. Because he might not be able to control himself and think about not attending his grandmother's party.
"Wear it if you don't want me to go crazy, unless you don't want to attend Grandma's party." he said and kissed the back of her small hand. "You're so beautiful that I don't want to take you to the mansion anymore and we'll just stay here in your apartment all night."
Chloe's face blushed and hit him softly on his chest.
"My wife..." he bowed in front of her like a gentleman who asked the princess. "Can I be your partner tonight?"
"...Okay." she responded shyly.
-----
When they reached Ajero's mansion, they approached his Grandma to greet her.
"Chloe, you're finally here." his grandmother said happily and hugged Chloe, the old woman didn't even bother to look at him, her grandson. "How are you? Is this brat taking good care of you?"
Chloe did not answer, she just smiled and Ryuchen didn't do anything but to keep quiet. He didn't take good care of his wife before, but of course, he will take care of her from now on.
"Tell me when this brat did something stupid, okay?" Grandma looked at Ryuchen sharply. "I will throw him and teach him a lesson."
"Grandma, I am your grandson." he said while scratching his cheek.
Grandma and his wife just laughed.
After a few minutes, he told them that he will go to get their food and let them talk to each other. They have not seen each other for a long time, so he knows they want to talk a lot.
While he was busy picking for what they were going to eat, he saw a familiar image. It's Lyka and she was with his cousin Jeremy Ajero, Jeremy is the first grandson of his grandfather's brother.
Ryuchen sighed and shook his head at the same time, even though Jeremy is his cousin, he doesn't like him.
He's a womanizer and his reputation was not good in their family either, he was involved in a scandal where he and his friends raped a minor, fortunately his grandfather fixed the problem with the girl's family and was imprisoned for only five years.
But he doesn't know how the two met, or perhaps Lyka got close to Jeremy so she could attend his grandmother's party.
How shameless.
Fortunately, he has an idea of what Lyka will do to him at that party.
In his past life, he didn't know why Chloe was the one lying next to him in the bed when he woke up after being drugged. But he was grateful that it was his wife because he didn't know how he would feel now if Lyka was the person lying next to him back then.
He walked back to where his wife and his grandmother, he no longer care what Lyka wants to do with her life. But he has to be prepared for her plan, because things might be different now and he doesn't want to see that woman by his side when he wakes up.