Chapter 18: You’re Not Leaving Without Your Husband!

Lillie returned to the villa, exhaustion weighing heavily on her body. A dull ache throbbed in her temples, and the lingering soreness in her shoulders made her crave nothing more than a long, hot shower.

Nanny Ying greeted her warmly, taking her briefcase and shoes with practiced ease.

"Miss Lillie, would you like a massage? It might help with the tension."

Lillie shook her head immediately. "No, thank you."

She was extremely ticklish, though no one knew that. After all, who in their right mind would dare touch the She-Devil?

"Miss Lillie, the eldest young master arrived earlier and is waiting for you to have dinner with him," Nanny Ying informed her.

Lillie raised an eyebrow, surprised. Ethan was here?

Nanny Ying, on the other hand, was still recovering from the shock of seeing the man in the kitchen.

The moment Ethan arrived, he had stormed into the kitchen and started pulling out ingredients, mumbling something about "making dinner."

It had taken every ounce of restraint for Nanny Ying not to grab a broom and chase him out. This man—this man who had never cooked in his entire life—was going to prepare a meal?!

Was he trying to poison Miss Bai?!

After nearly an hour of scolding and a very firm ban from the kitchen, Nanny Ying and the scullery maids took over, preparing a proper meal.

Meanwhile, Ethan sat outside the kitchen, pouting like a child who had just been banned from eating candy.

Nanny Ying could only sigh. This behavior of his was rare—it was either caused by a certain someone or by extreme drunkenness. And since he was perfectly sober, there was only one explanation.

Lillie entered the dining room and took a seat, her expression unreadable. Ethan, as always, was staring at her.

He wanted to ask about her day at work, to act like a proper husband would to his wife. But before he could speak, Lillie cleared her throat.

"Uhm… about that property," she started, shifting slightly in her chair. "Don't think I'll thank you for it. I was going to have it anyway."

Ethan froze. Then, chuckled.

Is this what they call… tsundere?

"Whatever you say," he teased.

Lillie glared at him, stabbing her steak with a bit too much force.

For a while, the room was filled only with the quiet clinking of cutlery. Then, after finishing her meal, Lillie dabbed her lips with a napkin and spoke again.

"I will be going out of the country. I won't be here for three days, just to let you know."

Ethan's fork halted mid-air.

Leaving the country?

"Where?" His voice turned sharp.

"Japan. I have business there." Her tone was concise, offering no room for further questions.

Ethan's grip on his fork tightened.

Japan… business…

Was she meeting with him?

There was a persistent rumor about Lillie Bai—the powerful and untouchable CEO of White Phoenix Empire—that she had a lover in Japan.

A man known only as Red Raven.

No one knew his real name or identity, only that he and Lillie had co-created Nightingale—the most popular game on the market.

Many speculated that they were childhood sweethearts. Some believed that Nightingale itself was a symbol of their longtime love.

After all, the game's core mechanic revolved around marriage.

Players who got married in-game would level up faster and gain unique relationship-based skills.

The theory?

Red Raven and Lillie Bai were married in-game. And if that were true…

Ethan's jaw tensed. His grip on the fork was so tight, he almost snapped it in half.

Japan, huh…?

You're not leaving without your husband.