Chapter 9: He's Alive and Well!

"Do you have our ring?"

"Yes," he replied and removed the gloves on one of his hands and showed her, he was wearing their wedding ring.

Lillian gulped. Hers was in her bag for valuables. So, why was he wearing their ring? Was it because he came to find her?

Still, what was most important right now was that this person in front of the door is truly Leo and he's alive!!

Lillian sighed in relief. 

He was, indeed, her husband!

She finally opened the door. 

Upon doing so, she froze in surprise as she was suddenly grabbed into a very tight embrace to the point it hurt.

"Thank goodness your safe!! We finally found you," Leo said, his breath against her hair. 

Relief was clear in his voice. But she could not reply, since she was busy trying to breathe. His hug was too tight and she couldn't breathe against his hard chest. 

Leo was so much taller than her, so without heels, she was just on the level of his chest.

Lillian thought she would just let it be since he seemed genuinely glad to see her well. His hug felt so meaningful too.

But Leo held her tighter by the second and the pain grew. Thus, Lillian tried to distance herself a bit, but couldn't.

It took a few more seconds before he finally loosened his arms around her.

"I couldn't breathe," Lillian grumbled as he finally drew her at arm's length.

Leo looked puzzled for getting pushed away at first, and then understanding dawned on his face. 

"Oh, right... I'm sorry. Are you alright?" Leo loosened his arms a bit more.

"Yes," Lillian smiled.

Leo sighed in relief. He glanced at the hallway and asked, "May we enter?" 

He was wary of other people seeing them. It seems he didn't know she booked the whole floor. 

"Who are they?" Lillian cautiously eyed each and every one of the men with him.

There were five men with him and she was not about to simply let some strangers into her room.

She only knew one of them, his assistant named Bert. Bert bowed his head slightly in greeting when their eyes met.

Lillian had read too much about betrayal and the like that, in the situation they were currently in, she could not trust people easily.

"They are trustworthy. They're safe," Leo said, understanding what she meant.

"Really? Are you sure you could trust every single one of them?" she inquired again. 

She knew it's rude to ask directly in their faces but she had to and see if anyone acts suspiciously.

They all looked surprised and amused at the same time as she eyed each and every one of them once again, as if she was trying to weigh whether she could trust them or not. 

Leo didn't seem to doubt any of them and none of them felt suspicious for her or reacted negatively or weirdly to her question, so she let them all into her room.

"Are you injured anywhere else?" she looked at him from head to foot looking for signs of a major injury and found none.

The scratches on his face marred his handsome face, but they were not deadly, and looked like it was already healing, so it was alright.

She glanced at his cohorts next. They all seemed fine. Or they were all hiding it well. 

"We were not aboard that plane. My other people were, and they all got out safely before the explosion. They have already left Tokyo too. This was from another encounter," Leo clarified even about the wounds on his face.

"Thank goodness," Lillian sighed in relief.

"We're you worried about me?" Leo asked teasingly and Lillian instantly glared at him.

"You jerk! Of course, I was. You could have contacted me at least! It's been too long!" she retorted, tears escaping her eyes before she could stop them.

Lillian noticed how Leo blanched like it was the first time someone had ever called him that.

His cohorts looked even more surprised.

She froze when she realized there were other people with them, and they might not know she had married him due to a deal. And she just called their boss a jerk.

Leo at least looked like he was satisfied with her response and hugged her again.

Lillian hugged him back, tightly.

She didn't know she would be this emotional and immensely grateful that he's alive and well. And even had the energy to flirt with her. 

Lillian was honestly happy to see him safe and sound. 

Her life can go back to normal sooner than she thought too. Rei won't have to be anxious.

"I'll ruin your clothes," Lillian said as she tried to distance herself so her tears won't soak his clothes.

"I don't mind," Leo said, and kissed her forehead like a loving husband. He even cupped her face with both hands and dried her tears with his thumb. 

He was acting like it hadn't been three years since they last met. Like it was just a few days since they parted.

Lillian had a lot she wanted to say with what Leo just said and did, but she decided to save it for later since they had company.

Leo's cohorts gawked like they were seeing an alien. They even looked at each other and rubbed their eyes as if they were trying to check if they were in some kind of dream or hallucination.

She decided to pretend she didn't notice it. They must not be used to seeing Leo act affectionate.

Lillian had experienced Leo being like this in the past repeatedly, but it was three years ago.

She was puzzled and overwhelmed with everything that's going on. He suddenly did not contact her for two years, yet he's acting like they had been a lovey-dovey couple.

Was she still being delusional and everything she was seeing and believing was nothing but an act?

Three years was a long time after all. How could he treat her affectionately after not talking to her in two years or seeing her in person for three years?