Kevin stared at his phone screen for a few seconds, then placed it calmly on the table. He picked up his cup of tea and sipped it slowly.
"You refused your father's request."
The voice came from behind him. Kevin wasn't surprised. He had sensed Vivian's presence a few seconds ago.
"Yes." Kevin replied without turning around.
Vivian walked over and sat down in the chair opposite Kevin. She was wearing a simple light blue house dress, her hair loose. Her face was no longer pale, her cheeks now rosy pink. Her body was still thin, but it was starting to fill out.
Her transformation over the past week had been remarkable. The girl who had once looked like a living corpse now looked like a healthy, beautiful young woman, one who was hard to match.
"Your relationship with your family..." Vivian began cautiously. "Not good?"
Kevin put down his teacup. "There is no relationship. They are not my family."
Vivian paused for a moment, studying her husband's face. "I heard about what happened five years ago. Frans Wijaya spread that story to everyone."
"And you believe it?"
"I don't know what to believe." Vivian answered honestly. "I don't know you. I woke up from a coma and found myself married to a stranger."
Kevin nodded. "That's understandable."
"But..." Vivian continued, "Mother said you healed me. Mother said all the doctors and healers had given up, but you succeeded. That... that's not something a bad person can do."
Kevin didn't respond.
"I want to be honest with you." Vivian took a deep breath. "I haven't been able to fulfil my duties as a wife. I mean... I haven't been able to sleep with you. We don't know each other. I only woke up a week ago after a year in a coma. It's all too fast."
"I understand."
"But..." Vivian looked Kevin straight in the eye. "I also won't follow my father's suggestion to divorce you. You saved my life. That's not something I can just forget."
Kevin studied his wife's face. There was sincerity in her eyes. A rare honesty.
"So what's your proposal?"
"Let's take this slowly." Vivian replied. "You stay here. We try to get to know each other. And we see how it goes."
Kevin considered it for a moment. Actually, he didn't mind this arrangement. What he needed was to be close to Vivian to neutralise his Burning Body. There didn't have to be a physical relationship.
"Alright." Kevin nodded. "I can accept that."
Vivian looked relieved. "Thank you for your understanding."
They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments. Then Vivian spoke again.
"Starting tomorrow, I'll be back at the office."
Kevin raised his eyebrows. "That soon?"
"I've been resting for a year." Vivian smiled faintly, the first smile Kevin had seen from her. "The family business can't be left any longer. While I was sick, my cousin Alwin took over. But now I'm healthy, it's time for me to return."
"Alwin?"
"The son of Uncle Hendra, my father's younger brother," Vivian explained. "He's a year older than me. We used to compete for the position of young leader in the company, and I won. But after my accident, he took over."
Kevin stored that information. "How is your relationship?"
Vivian hesitated for a moment. "Good... I guess. We're cousins. We grew up together." But there was something in her eyes that said otherwise.
Kevin didn't press her. He had his own way of finding out.
---
That night, after everyone had gone to sleep, Kevin quietly wandered around the Wibisono family mansion.
He wasn't stealing or spying. He was planting protection.
From the pocket of his cloak, he took out several dry roots that looked ordinary. But these roots were not ordinary. They were Poison-Destroying Spirit Roots, a rare plant that his teacher had taught him how to plant.
These roots would grow hidden underground, spreading throughout the mansion like an invisible network of nerves. More importantly, these roots would neutralise almost all types of poison that entered this area.
Kevin planted the roots at strategic points. In the garden. Near the kitchen. Around Vivian's room. In one night, he created an invisible shield that would protect his wife twenty-four hours a day.
Because Kevin was already suspicious.
The poison that paralysed Vivian was no ordinary poison. Someone had deliberately introduced it into Vivian's body slowly, over months. Someone who had close access to Vivian. Someone who benefited from Vivian's illness.
And Kevin had a strong suspicion about who that person was.
---
The next day.
A black saloon car stopped in front of a towering skyscraper in the centre of Aranca City. The "WIBISONO GROUP" logo was prominently displayed on the building's facade.
Vivian stepped out of the back seat, wearing an elegant grey blazer suit. Her hair was neatly tied back, her face polished with light, natural make-up. She looked like a professional executive, not a girl who had only just woken up from a coma a week ago.
Kevin got out of the other side of the car. He was wearing a simple white shirt and black trousers. No suit, no tie. He looked like... well, anything but the husband of the heir to the Wibisono business empire.
A young woman in a formal suit was waiting at the entrance. Her hair was short and black, thin-framed glasses perched on her nose, and her expression was professional but cold.
"Miss Vivian." The woman bowed respectfully. "Welcome back."
"Thank you, Tina." Vivian smiled. "How's the office?"
"Everything has been running smoothly during your absence." Tina replied, her eyes glancing at Kevin with a judgemental look. "Mr Alwin has taken good care of everything."
"Good." Vivian nodded. "Oh, this is my husband, Kevin. He'll be accompanying me today."
Tina looked Kevin up and down, making no effort to hide her judgement. His simple clothes. His unbranded shoes. His ordinary appearance.
"Accompanying?" Tina repeated with a slightly dismissive tone. "Is that... necessary?"
"I decide what's necessary." Kevin replied calmly before Vivian could speak.
Tina was taken aback, not expecting such a response. Her eyes narrowed.
"Of course, Mr... Kevin." She said his name as if she were saying something unpleasant. "But I hope you won't interfere with Miss Vivian's work. She has a very busy schedule today."
"I won't interfere with anyone," Kevin replied flatly. "As long as no one interferes with me."
Vivian glanced at Kevin with an expression that was difficult to read. There was a hint of surprise in her eyes, perhaps because of Kevin's unexpected firmness.
"Come in." Vivian finally said, breaking the tension. "There's a lot of work to be done."
They entered the building. A spacious lobby with shiny marble floors welcomed them. Employees who passed by bowed respectfully to Vivian, their eyes curiously staring at the unfamiliar man beside her.
Whispers began to circulate.
"Is that Miss Vivian's husband?"
"The one who healed her?"
"I thought he was a famous doctor or something. Why does he look so ordinary?"
Kevin ignored all the whispers. His eyes scanned the surroundings sharply, noting the exits, the positions of the security guards, and most importantly, the faces of the people they passed.
The lift took them to the executive floor at the top of the building. It was a wide corridor with thick carpets and expensive paintings on the walls. There were wooden doors with plaques bearing the names of the directors.
At the end of the corridor, a large door with a plaque reading "EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR" was open.
A young man came out. He was probably twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, handsome with neatly combed hair. He wore an expensive suit and a shiny watch. His smile was broad and friendly.
Too friendly.
"Vivian!" The man stepped forward with open arms. "Welcome back, cousin!"
"Alwin." Vivian smiled, accepting a brief hug from her cousin. "Thank you for taking care of the company while I was ill."
"It was my duty." Alwin waved his hand dramatically. "We're family. It's only natural to help each other."
His eyes shifted to Kevin, and something changed behind his friendly smile. It was only for a moment, but Kevin caught it.
Reluctance. Calculation. And something darker.