True feelings

"Gimme your watch," Arthur said.

Livy obediently handed over the watch she had placed on the table and got nervous that Arthur looked annoyed. "What is it?"

"This watch is broken."

"Broken?" Livy looked at the watch again and realized that the screen was cracked. "How ..."

Then she remembered that she and Matthew had collided. At that moment his watch must have hit hers.

"I didn't notice at all," she muttered.

Arthur noticed that Livy seemed to remember something. "Someone took your watch?"

"No." Livy shook her head. "There was a small incident, maybe it hit the watch. I collided with Matthew by accident."

This reason was quite plausible. Arthur also didn't believe that Matthew will ask for her watch and just ruin it. This is how it turned out.

"He wears a watch on his right hand. I think his watch should have bumped too." Livy recalled.

"He's left-handed."

"Ah, that's right. He said that too."

There was no expression on Arthur's face at all. Seeing him silent, Livy couldn't guess what was on his mind. She felt guilty for lying to Arthur about some of the other things Matthew had said, but didn't know how to talk about it.

What's more, it concerns Arthur's ex, whom Matthew says looks a little like her. Even Matthew thought she and Arthur's ex-girlfriend were blood related.

Livy didn't know why, but she was uncomfortable hearing that story.

She wondered if Arthur only sees Gwen in her? Since they are so close, does Arthur like her because of the resemblance?

"What are you thinking about?" asked Arthur after realizing that Livy was deep in thought.

Livy gasped and nervous. "Just thinking about a few things. You ... how did you know me? Why did you choose me to be your fake wife before?"

"..."

Arthur's gaze was straight through, but it wasn't like he was actually looking at Livy because of the complexion in his eyes. It seemed he has something on his mind.

Livy was currently standing near the cupboard, while Arthur was sitting on the couch in his room. It was only two meters away. And they face each other. Looked stiff and cold. She didn't know if she should move to sit or not.

'What exactly is he thinking?' she muttered in his heart.

They have been together for several months and have officially changed their contractual marriage status to official. But during that time, Livy still didn't know anything about Arthur. This frustrated her.

"I chose you not because of coercion from anyone. Didn't I tell you that I love you a long time ago?" Arthur answered ambiguously.

Livy blushed, trying her best not to smile embarrassingly. She wanted to ask when they had met in the past, but she held herself back again, confused.

"Your hair is still wet." Arthur stared at her.

"Huh? Oh." Livy rubbed her hair with the towel that was on her shoulder. Didn't know what to say in this situation.

Suddenly Arthur reached out his hand.

Livy didn't understand and stared at the hand for a moment. Then her mind went wild and her heart skipped a beat. 'Why is he reaching out his hand to me? What will he do?'

They were both in room. Quiet. The night was getting late and the atmosphere was favorable to do a few things.

Is this an invitation to do that?

Livy almost went crazy thinking about this. She is still very innocent and pure. To be honest, she still hasn't thought about her desire to get there. Whereas Arthur was a grown man, especially when they were officially became couple, he definitely wants to keep doing it.

Livy nervously placed her hand over Arthur's. She didn't dare look at him at all.

After a while, he just fell silent. She didn't know what he was thinking until she glanced back at him and saw him stifling a laugh.

Shit!

What is this? Why is he laughing? Does she look so perverted and impatient?

"The towel."

Livy was dazed. "Huh?"

"Gimme the towel," Arthur repeated. "I wanna dry your hair."

What?

Her face was immediately smoky and red like boiled crab. She didn't think the intention of his hand was to ask for her towel. Why does she think that Arthur will ...

Geez! Livy was embarrassed and immediately withdrew her hand. She handed the towel to him in surrender.

Arthur didn't want to tease her, so he just smiled quietly. He pulled her hand, which made the girl not alert and fell towards him. Arthur immediately grabbed her by the waist. Livy's blushing face was not very clear at night, but he could feel it.

Arthur placed Livy next to him and stroked her hair gently.

"Y-You don't laugh at me anymore." Livy said this with all her might to convince Arthur not to think about it. "I thought you wanted to shake hands with me."

The smile still didn't leave Arthur's lips, and he didn't want to show Livy that he still found her funny. "Yes, I'd like to shake hands with you before drying your hair."

From this position, Livy couldn't see his face, so she was somewhat relieved that her red face couldn't be seen.

"Stop teasing me!" Livy pouted. Arthur must have guessed what she was thinking at that time. The proof was that he laughed at her.

Serious! This is so embarassing!!!

It felt like she wanted to sink her face into the ice water until she was frozen and numb!

Arthur wasn't actually flirting, he just wanted Livy to feel at ease. He took her hand and shook it. "I actually wanted to hold your hand. Out of embarrassment, I reasoned to dry your hair."

Livy turned around. "So you don't have to dry my hair."

Aryhur turned her face back to front. "No problem. I also want to dry your hair. Don't sleep with wet hair."

"Mn."

"You're my little wife, so I want to always dry your hair."

Livy smiled shyly.

She would not have even realized that her previous actions had almost made Arthur forget his thoughts. It's true, his initial intention was to ask for the towel, but when she placed her hand on his, to be honest he almost had the same intention as she thought.

Then Arthur realized that it was too early to do so. She is still very young, Arthur didn't want to have sex too often for now and instead hurt her.

Arthur will still wait, at least until Livy grows up a little.

"It's finished."

Livy, who heard that, immediately intended to get up, but she didn't have time to do so, her waist was hugged.

"Arthur?" Livy was getting nervous.

Arthur tilted his head and kissed her cheek gently. "After this you sleep."

Livy smiled shyly. "You should sleep too. Don't stay up too late, and don't take care of any work. I mean, at least until we go to do the surgery, your eyes are still very vulnerable, don't let it relapse again."

"Yes, my love."

Livy blushed.

To be honest, because of Livy's strict care, Arthur has been feeling better than before. He still works quietly, it was just that the intensity of his time was much less and he spend time exercising at home. He felt fitter than ever.

Arthur kissed her cheek again.

“W-Why do you keep kissing me?” asked Livy stammered.

Arthur answered by kissing her on the cheek again, then again on the other cheek. This treatment he did so gently and lovingly, to the extent that Livy felt that she was very happy and embarrassed now.

She also shyly kissed Arthur on the cheek. causing the owner to frown.

"That's a goodnight kiss from me," Livy explained.

In the end this made Arthur unable to contain himself and they kissed each other on the lips. At least this time Livy could forget what Matthew had said and she could stop thinking about him. She would just trust Arthur completely.

***

[Arthur, about what I told you, can you help me?]

Arthur read Gwen's message and was thinking about what would be a good answer.

His meeting with Gwen at that time, not only because Gwen wanted to reveal the truth, but she also wanted to ask Arthur for help with something. Arthur didn't promise anything then, he didn't know if Gwen was being honest or not.

"Are you busy now?" Arthur took the phone and spoke to Evander.

"Just finished meeting and tutoring Matthew."

Hearing Matthew's name, Arthur paused before saying, "I want you to investigate something."

"About what?" replied Evander.

If the man were here right now, Arthur would be able to see him frowning.

"A few things. It's about Gwen."

"So you've met her?" There was a cynical laugh from Evander.

"..."

"No matter what she says, I'm not asking you to believe it. You remember how she used you back then. Now that she's lost the benefits of her new victim, she's coming back for you. Don't you think that she's so sneaky?"

What Evander said might be true.

Even if Gwen was being honest this time, it still didn't make the fact of what she did in the past go away. Gwen had hurt him more than he could tolerate from a woman—let alone a lover.

Gwen could have made the choice to leave him in the past due to other people's persuasion. Even if Gwen stays by his side, he will treat her very well. He is a man who really appreciates women.

——Except for his stepmother.

"I just want to know the truth," Arthur replied calmly.

"So what do you want to know?" Evander said somewhat annoyed. "What did she say to you?"

Arthur told the truth about everything Gwen had said. It was about how she was forcibly arranged by a foreigner and finally went abroad. At that time she said that she had no other choice, her father persuaded her to leave him because his life was full of dangers and there were other people who said that he didn't really love her.

Evander laughed loudly after he paused to digest the story.

"The only one who knows whether you love her or not, is only you. How can she believe that other people say you don't love her?"

Arthur was also thinking the same question.

"But about your dangerous life, I can't comment. At least it's not wrong or right. There are many enemies who have started targeting your business and some of them are business rivals in Eternuz," Evander continued.

Eternuz.

That was the name of the organization that Arthur had built since he started thinking of ways to get away from his family. The organization, which was established for nearly ten years, used to consist of only three people. Before finally adding many members when the small business they were running grew. Many of his enemies thought that it was a cunning underground organization. Even though there is healthy competition that they do to reach the highest position.

Many of Eternuz's business rivals do not believe that a small company engaged in cargo shipping and logistics can grow rapidly so that now they have subsidiaries spread all over the place.

In fact, none of the rivals know that the owner of Eternuz himself is Arthur. Which meant that the life of danger in question had nothing to do with Gwen. That Gwen's father was just making it up.

Regarding the blindness he experienced, it was purely an attack secretly carried out by Arthur's stepmother. Which was intended only to harm Arthur—not the people around him.

Now, Arthur suspects that Gwen's father and stepmother may be working together.

"But ... I want you to be honest about this. Didn't you love Gwen before?"

Arthur didn't answer. Precisely he also did not know what he felt towards Gwen.

"You didn't answer, does that mean you are still unsure or are you lazy to discuss this?" asked Evander again.

"Both."

"What about Livy?" Evander grinned. "Actually I'm still wondering, by seeing how you treat her, you seem to really care for her. Is it because you are afraid of losing her like you lost Gwen, or do you really have feelings for her?"

"Don't meddle in this," Arthur replied coldly.

"I've found the answer then."

Arthur frowned.

"Earlier I thought that you chose Livy because she looks like Gwen, but that turned out to be wrong. The truth is that you chose Gwen in the past because she looks like Livy."

These words went right through Arthur's chest.

"Am I right, Mr. Finnegan?"

... to be continued ...