“Honey, shall we make a baby?”, as Scarlett whispered, her warm breath tickling my skin, I could no longer keep up the facade.
Without a word, I gently pushed her away and rushed into the bathroom. Scrubbing every inch of skin she had touched until it was red, I finally slumped against the wall, my body trembling.
A child? Did she really think I didn’t know? Inside her, she was already carrying Carter' child. What made her think I’d ever be willing to raise another man’s child?
After what felt like an eternity, I stepped out of the bathroom, wearing a mask of calm. Feigning concern, I asked, “When’s your next mission?”
“In three days. It’s a big operation.”. She hesitated, then added apologetically, “Honey, I’m so sorry. It’s on our anniversary, so I won’t be able to spend it with you.”
I forced a smile, “It’s okay. Just try to come home early afterward. I’ve prepared a gift for you.”
Scarlett’s face lit up with an unrestrained smile. “Okay! I’ll be the first to rush back and see the surprise my husband has for me!”
I turned away, and my smile vanished instantly. Will seeing my lifeless body surprise you?
***
The next morning, Scarlett woke me up with her usual tricks, igniting heat across my body. “Hubby, the team’s having a get-together at the headquarters restaurant today. Come with me. But for now, let’s... well…”
Pretending not to catch her hint, I got up and headed straight to the bathroom. A flicker of confusion crossed Scarlett’s face.
Later that day, using my cover as an ordinary civilian, I passed through the headquarters' security checks with ease.
As I entered the restaurant, I could hear snippets of conversation among the team, “The intelligence analyst isn’t coming again, huh? He’s way too mysterious.”
“Yeah, we’ve been working with him for three or four years now, and none of us have ever seen him. All I know is that he’s young.”
“In my opinion, that analyst has feelings for Scarlett. Every time there’s intel, she’s always the first one he informs.”
I lowered my head, hiding my expression. They weren’t wrong. I had joined this mess because of Scarlett.
She’d been determined to become an agent, and I couldn’t bear to stand in the way of her dream. So I had accepted the Secret Service’s invitation, with one condition: whenever there was intel, I’d be the first to relay it to her squad. And that was how I first learned of her betrayal. A bitter smile tugged at the corner of my lips. Scarlett, noticing my change in demeanor, turned to the team with a sharp glare.
“What’s with all this nonsense?” she snapped.
The team members scrambled to their feet like schoolchildren caught misbehaving.
“Scarlett, we didn’t mean anything by it! Please don’t take it to heart, brother-in-law.”
“Yeah, everyone here knows Scarlett only loves you. Every time she’s on a mission, she always takes your picture with her.”
“Exactly! She calls you whenever she can. You’re all she thinks about!” Their earnest faces would have convinced anyone. Anyone who didn’t already know the truth.
Across the room, Carter sat in the corner. Slowly, he stood, his face smug with satisfaction. “Henry,” he said, his voice steady. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Our eyes locked, and the undisguised hostility in his gaze was palpable. If Scarlett weren’t here, he wouldn’t have bothered to put on the charade.
At the dinner table, Scarlett played the perfect wife, peeling shrimp for me, filling my plate, and speaking with a sweet, gentle tone. The rest of the team cooed and teased us like we were a couple from a romance novel.
But Carter’s expression darkened as he drank glass after glass of liquor, his mood sinking further with each sip.
