The flow

"C-Can I take a friend with me?" Livy was shocked.

She woke up late at night only to Evander's call telling her out of the blue to invite a friend. Evander also informed that they were going on vacation to Arthur's private island overseas and Arthur even sent an allowance to her bank card.

"In case you forgot, we're leaving tomorrow morning. After all, I received a lot of money, didn't you write too many zeros when you sent it?" Livy asked.

Evander replied, "Nothing's wrong. You can call anyone at this hour. The plane takes off tomorrow at nine."

Livy glanced at the clock on the wall, it was almost ten o'clock at night. "Are you still working now?"

"I'm still working overtime with Mr. Arthur."

'You workaholic,' she pouted, then asked, "Can I really invite anyone?"

Actually she thought it would be fun if she brought a friend. Since they were in contract marriage, she definitely wouldn't be spending much time with Arthur.

"You can take your aunt or cousin, that's fine," Evander said.

Who else wants to invite them? No, thank you!

Livy snorted.

Before she could reply, Evander said again, "Since it's too sudden, whoever you bring will be provided with full accommodation by Mr. Arthur. They just need to bring their clothes with them, there's no need to think about anything else."

Livy smiled. "OK!"

After hanging up with Evander, Livy called Sarah.

"Livy, what's wrong?" Sarah answered in a clear voice. Behind her was the sound of paper being flipped.

"You haven't slept yet?" Livy asked.

"Why? Did you call me just to ask that? You don't have anything else to do?" Sarah pouted. "It's late, by the way. Aren't you cuddling with your husband?"

Livy grimaced as she remembered Sarah didn't know they were pretending to be married.

"There's something I want to talk to you about. I want to take you out."

"Wait! Go out? Livy, what happened? You okay? Something happened at home? You had a fight with Arthur? Arthur hit you?" Sarah sounded panicked. "Livy, listen to me, fighting in marriage is common. You calm down, ok. Tell me all slowly."

Livy chuckled.

"Why are you laughing?"

"I didn't fight or anything, Sarah. Arthur didn't hit me, he's a so kind." Livy said with a smile.

"Oh. So?"

"Let's go on vacation tomorrow."

".................."

"You just need to pack your clothes in your suitcase and ask for a few days off from college. Tomorrow I'm going on my honeymoon."

"... What? You what?"

"Ho-ney-moon." Livy spelled it happily.

Sarah didn't answer, she hung up.

"Eh? Hello? Sarah? You still there???"

Livy looked at the phone screen, it was completely disconnected. Why did Sarah hang up the phone?

A message suddenly came in;

[Livy you damn! I was shocked to death! Why are you on your honeymoon and taking outsiders?!]

Just by reading the message, it was as if she could still hear Sarah's angry voice. Too bad she couldn't explain that this marriage was just a sham. She replied;

[Want to come or not?]

[This is serious?] ... another reply.

Livy didn't reply but called her again, "Sarah, I'm serious. The departure is tomorrow morning. You just need to pack your suitcases now and tomorrow I'll ask my driver to pick you up. Oh, yeah, you don't have to worry about money."

Hearing the last sentence, Sarah snorted. "Rich people are really annoying!"

"Yeah!" Livy agreed.

"Well, I wouldn't say no. Not much campus activity since it's the end of the semester. There are only a few courses an hour or two a day."

"Then you want to come with me?"

"Do I really not need to carry money? He's your husband! What if outsiders still have to pay for their own airfare and hotel?" Sarah asked doubtfully. "Where are we going anyway? A resort or something?"

"Abroad."

Sarah gasped. "Damn!"

Before Sarah panicked again, Livy explained, "You trust me, there's no need to worry about money. I have some anyway in case you need money. Anyway there's no way Arthur would let you pay!"

"Okay. But I've never been abroad, but I did make a passport. I don't know if mine is still valid."

"..."

Livy didn't think so. That was true. Didn't you need a passport to go abroad? Why didn't Evander ask her about the passport?

"Hold on. I have to send a message."

Without turning off the phone, Livy typed a message and sent it to Evander. The speed with which Evander's hands opened and replied to her text was incredible;

[You don't need a passport. The trip will be by private plane.]

Rich people are really annoying!

"Sarah, you don't need a passport. Trust me." Livy told Sarah in a trembling voice.

"Why? Don't you need a passport to go abroad?"

"This one is not necessary. I'll pick you up tomorrow. Don't forget to get ready, ok?"

This time it was Livy who cut the connection. She got a series of messages from Sarah after that and only answered curtly with shaking hands.

Is this a dream?

Livy rolled around in bed, almost screaming.

The life of a rich man that she never imagined, now happened to her. She opened her eyes wide, afraid that this was a dream. Right now, there was no aunt, no cousin ​​to bother her, no smell of her uncle's alcohol, just her … and the soft bed.

Not only that, there was Arthur, a thousand dollar allowance, a private plane and a private island!

Livy was almost crazy.

Is this the life that was laid out for me?

She still had the same feelings; relieved but also scared.

Not feeling sleepy anymore, she decided to leave the room. The big house looked deserted, some of the maids were already asleep. There were only guards hanging around outside the house and the inside of the house was completely empty.

It was pitch black when Livy opened the door, so she turned on one light. At the same time, the door on the first floor opened.

She looked down and saw Arthur coming in. The man was seen talking to one guard and allowed the guard to answer while helping him take off his coat and carry his bag. Then Arthur went up the stairs. Because it was half dark, Livy saw him groping forward until he grabbed hold of the stairwell. She just watched his careful steps and remembered that he was half blind, so she turned on another lamp.

The dark room suddenly lit up.

Arthur's feet stopped halfway up the stairs.

Livy walked over to him and held his shoulder carefully. "You just got home? Do you usually come home at this hour?"

Arthur was startled at first, but slowly his body relaxed and allowed Livy to carry him up the stairs.

"It's bright now, you don't have to bother helping me." Arthur answered with another topic.

"Why can't I help? You can help me and I can't?" Livy didn't let go of Arthur until the two of them reached the top. "This is just a small favor. It means nothing."

Arthur said nothing.

"Do you want to take a shower now? I can prepare warm water," Livy said again.

"The maid will prepare it."

"There's no need to bother the maids. I mean, I know they're trained, but instead of waking the sleeping ones, it's better to use me."

Use me?

Arthur pondered these words. Even though Livy wasn't an object to him, why would she say that? But he was too tired now, so he didn't want to argue and think about anything.

"Alright, I'll trouble you."

***

Even though days had passed with Livy, Arthur had almost forgotten that Livy was actually very young.

Livy didn't hide her childishness at times, but if needed, she could also act mature. Like now, when Arthur had finished bathing with the warm water she prepared, he saw that she was still in his room. The girl was tidying up some things on the wall shelf.

Livy's waist was very slender, she was neither tall nor short, when she bent her body curved beautifully. Her hands were also thin and white.

"Ah, you're done? I-I just saw a few things that didn't fit in their place, so I rearranged the decorations."

Usually Arthur didn't like anyone holding his personal belongings except for maids, not even Evander. But he couldn't be mad at Livy.

He looked at the reordered wall hangings. And find it funny.

Previously, ceramic vases and figurines were on the bottom right shelf, above it was a fake cactus and on the left was a fake book and a lamp attached to the wall. Now the order has changed.

"These books block out the light, I don't think it's pretty. When you put a cactus under a lamp, it casts a beautiful shadow on the wall too." Livy explained. "It's really just a matter of beauty."

Arthur only hummed in response. Rubbing his wet head indifferently. But his movement stopped when he saw a pair of clothes on the bed.

"I've prepared sleeping pajamas. It's a bit cold tonight, I took long sleeved pajamas."

"Thank you."

Arthur took off his white bathrobe, instantly his shoulders and back were exposed. Livy widened her eyes and covered her eyes with her hands. In fact she felt she glimpsed something strange, so she peeked again from between her fingers.

Sure enough, she saw that there were many old scars on Arthur's back.

"You still here?" Arthur turned.

Livy averted her eyes immediately, red-faced nodding, the faint scent of soap filling her nose, very masculine scent. She was very nervous all of a sudden.

"It's getting late," Arthur said.

"Y-You're right, but your hair is still wet. Where's the hairdryer?"

"It's in the bottom drawer."

The bottom drawer was opened by Livy and she found the tool she was looking for. She plugged in the cord and tested the dryer, before handing it over to Arthur.

"You want to help dry my hair too?" Arthur looked at her.

"Ah, right. Let me do it."

Just as Livy was about to reach for the hairdryer again, her foot accidentally tripped over a cable on the floor and she fell forward. She landed squarely on Arthur's chest and two warm hands guarded her waist well. Her body froze for the moment. When she realized this strange position, she felt a warm breath fly down her cheek and her nose had come into contact with Arthur's.

'W-What? W-What happened?'

Livy's heart skipped a beat, she turned her face nervously, not knowing where to put her own eyes and hands.

"You okay?"

"Uh, yeah, I'm fine," she replied nervously.

"... So can you get up?"

"Oh, s-sorry."

Livy hurriedly stood up, but Arthur's hand was still holding her. As she struggled again, Arthur pulled her closer until their chests touched.

“Th-That's … p-please let go of your hand first.” Livy's face turned red with embarrassment.

"Why are you blushing?" Arthur said in a deep voice, his breath brushing against Livy's cheeks and neck all at once, making her heartbeat quicken.

"..."

"Did you want to kiss me like last time? Did you think I didn't notice you stole a kiss while I was asleep?"

"!!!"

Livy didn't expect Arthur to know about the kiss!

How should she answer it?

Before she had any idea to answer, Arthur had already let go of her waist, nonchalantly drying his own hair. Livy immediately stood silently beside him nervously.

"No need to think about it, I'll just pretend I don't remember anymore. Now go back to your room," he said suddenly.

Livy, "..."

What? Livy still hadn't digested it.

The hairdryer was turned off, Arthur brushed his dry hair and set the dryer on the sofa.

Seeing Livy still standing, he couldn't help but ask, "Anything else?"

Livy didn't know what this man was thinking, had he forgotten he was making her nervous to death?

"No. Nothing else."

"Then leave."

Somehow Livy didn't want to go too soon, though she was still embarrassed at being caught about the kiss. "Eum ... Are your preparations complete? You should bring your medicine, don't forget it."

Arthur frowned.

'Didn't you check it in my room this afternoon?'

Arthur just said that in his heart. Livy didn't know anyway that Arthur had seen all her moves. He just said, "Want to check it out?"

Arthur didn't know why he was asking this question, before he withdrew it, it was already too late.

"I'll help you check it out for a bit. If you have any doubts, you can keep an eye on me." Livy took the smallest bag and opened it.

The contents in the bag were first aid kits. In a special gap there was one vial of medicine. Livy tried to read the indications, but she didn't understand a thing, about composition or description. Looked like it was not English.

"Is this your regular medicine? Please check this one, did the maid prepare it correctly?"

Arthur didn't know what Livy was aiming for, but he was cooperative to see. As he reached for the medicine, his finger came into contact with Livy's. He didn't notice that it was running a bit of electricity on Livy's side and she blushed.

"It's the right one," Arthur said.

Livy put the medicine in and checked the others. "I'm sorry, I checked because I didn't want you to leave your medicine. A few days ago you were sick, so I was just a little worried."

Worried?

Really? Is it just because she's worried?

Livy just wanted to go with the flow but it looked like she just got carried away and couldn't go back. It was as if her heart wanted to settle into this groove and she didn't want to leave so quickly.

"It's okay, it's no big deal." Arthur replied coldly.

Livy looked up. It was then that she saw a tiny bit of black in Arthur's unique eyeball. His gaze was cold and dark.

"You don't have to worry anyway. Whatever happens to me, it has nothing to do with you. In our contract, if I die, then this relationship is over."

And those words immediately dropped Livy to the bottom of the water.

... to be continued ...