"Then, why were you in this hotel?" Leo pursued the matter.
"The owner of this hotel is a friend of mine. I asked him to reserve this whole floor for me in his name. I couldn't possibly use my name after the news. We knew each other for a long time, so he agreed," Lillian explained.
Leo's cohorts seemed surprised at her reply.
They finally returned to sitting down.
"So we are the only ones on this floor?" her husband verified, and Lillian nodded. Leo smiled in approval.
"What did you do since you heard the news about the plane crash?" Leo further asked.
"Oh, I..." Lillian narrated it for them. His cohorts looked impressed.
"You did well in hiding yourself. We couldn't find you either. You even changed your hairstyle and hair color. I'm really glad you're the one I married," Leo said, the last part out of the blue, and Lillian hated how her chest felt all warm from it.
Lillian felt like he was complimenting her for the evasion she had done the past days.
After all, she left her house without using her car. She did not use any of her cards, since she knew it might be used to track her. Thankfully, she had more than enough cash. She also used clothes she had never used before when she went out.
Lillian also chose a mall with a lot of people and changed into another set of clothing and used a wig and eyeglasses she had prepared in advance.
She went to buy the supplies she would need, used another disguise, and changed again before finally checking in that hotel using her friend's name. Her friend reserved it in his name, saying it was for his personal guests.
On her first day at the hotel, Lillian changed her hair color from its previous light blonde to a shade of brown. She also straightened it from its former wavy look.
"Humph. I was even planning to cut my hair into a pixie cut in the following days if you still didn't contact me," Lillian grumbled.
Her husband's eyes widened as he looked at her hair that draped down to her hips. Her hair was naturally wavy and making it straight made it seem longer.
"I'm relieved I made it before that. It would be such a waste to cut such beautiful hair." Leo said as he caressed her hair like he truly was her lover. And Lillian blushed as if she really was his wife.
'Well, I am his wife, but I'm not his lover. Okay?'
Lillian believed they were putting on a show for her husband's people. She wondered if she should start crying again, as a wife should when her husband goes missing. But she was done crying. She may not have any more tears to spare.
Leo cupped her face and caressed her cheek with his thumb, and looked into her eyes.
"You had been crying, weren't you?" he asked, and Lillian wanted to punch him.
"Of course not! Who would cry for you?" Lillian glared at him.
Just what kind of person did he think she was? Of course, she would end up crying.
'Sure, I did, but only thrice, okay? Just thrice.'
First was when she heard the news. Second was when she thought there was no longer any hope that he was alive. And finally, a while ago, when she was so relieved that he was still alive.
Leo looked like he was assuming that she had been crying a lot. Like every single night, or every time she watched the news. Well, she didn't. She felt sad and worried, but she didn't cry that much.
'Who does he think he is?! We've never personally seen each other in three years, and he's acting like we're really close.'
Lillian's thoughts were stopped as Leo eyed her as if trying to say something. She recalled they were putting on a show.
'That's right! I have to act like his lover. Damn it.'
Lillian weakly punched him on the chest and said meekly, as if she was on the verge of tears again, "You jerk."
Then she leaned her forehead on his chest as she hugged him and continued her act.
"I was so worried. I thought I'd never see you again."
Lillian felt him tense up at what she did. Yet, he then gently caressed her hair as she pretended to sob in his embrace.
"That won't happen," Leo said in such a gentle voice like he truly meant it.
Lillian almost laughed out loud, but continued sobbing on his chest instead.
'This jerk is so competent. He didn't want to get defeated in the acting, so I won't lose either.'
They were broken apart when someone suddenly knocked. It sounded urgent.
Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock.
Lillian lifted her head to look at the door, and her husband looked surprised when he saw her tears.
'I could win a best actress, you know,' she almost yelled at him.
Noticing that everyone was suddenly on alert, Lillian quickly stood up.
She hid behind her husband like a damsel in distress who needed protection.
Well, she does need protection. It's not like she had a bulletproof vest or something like that.
'How did our first meeting in three years end up like this?'
Lillian noticed how everyone had one hand on something on their waist.
She could guess it was their guns.
Lillian had actually felt the gun when Leo hugged her the first time. But now, she felt nervous as they prepared for a possible shootout.
'Well, who knows if his enemies have already found us?'
That was quick, though. Her husband and his cohorts had just been here for a few minutes.
'Damn. Why the hell am I in this situation?! I shouldn't have been tempted by the sum he offered me.'
This was the first time they met in three years, and yet they might die the next moment without even having a proper talk. Lillian felt annoyed.
'Was I meant to die a virgin?' She recalled that she hadn't had her first time yet.
Leo dared to seduce her with his good looks and hot kisses when he offered her the deal in Las Vegas. And Lillian thought she would finally have an exciting life, but she ended up still alone in bed for three whole years despite being married. And worst yet, she remained a virgin.
When Leo made the deal with her and acted like he was some s*x god, she thought she would finally say goodbye to her lack of experience. Who would have known she would have to dedicate herself to a man she would not even meet in so long? The entire thrill she had that day in Las Vegas died down.
And now she might die not knowing what the real thing felt like. How sad. She had such a hot husband, but she never got to truly be with him. She would haunt him if she died there today.