Episode 5

Due to the lack of choice, Vale reluctantly unbuttoned Riu's shirt one by one. Until finally, the broad chest was exposed in front of him.

Vale's hands started to tremble, especially when they accidentally touched Riu's skin. Soft and warm, that's what he felt. The effect was extraordinary, bringing forth a strange feeling that quickly spread throughout his body.

"Crazy, his body is really good," Vale praised silently, once all the buttons of the shirt had been undone.

Vale found a nearly perfect body shape, like the actors who often appeared on television screens.

Unless you knew his daily life, you wouldn't believe that the owner of that body was permanently paralyzed.

"Your pants... you can't do it either?" Vale asked while clutching the shirt that he now held in his hand.

"My legs are paralyzed, Vale." Riu looked at him sadly. "Nevermind, forget about it. Just help me back to the room," he continued.

Vale caught the disappointment in Riu's face, and that made him unable to refuse. No matter how embarrassed he was, he would still help.

However, Vale didn't say much. He immediately looked down and unbuttoned Riu's pants. Then he pulled the fabric, and even the next one. Vale did it quickly, trying not to look at the 'something' that made him hot and cold.

"When you're done, call me," Vale said as he walked away from Riu, with fast strides, of course.

As Vale left, Riu turned and held back laughter. It felt satisfying to tease his wife, who became more attractive to him every day. Ah, those cheeks blushing, Riu wanted to gaze at them every moment.

After being trapped in pain and revenge for so long, Vale's presence became a reason for Riu to always smile.

"I will be selfish, Vale. Even if you want it someday, I still won't want to divorce you. I... I will make you fall in love until you can't leave my side. Vale, you're mine! Forever and only mine!" Riu thought to himself.

Meanwhile, Vale's feelings were contrasting to what Riu felt. He was foolish to think about the ending of their marriage—love or divorce. All he knew at that moment was an overwhelming sense of embarrassment.

How could he not? Just now, he saw Riu's body in detail. Without any obstacles. Although he tried to divert his gaze elsewhere, something still caught his eye. Briefly, but it left a deep impression.

"Ah, damn it! If only I had left earlier. Pretended I had something to do or whatever, as long as I wasn't at home," Vale murmured while roughly wiping his face, trying to push away the recent memory.

However, shortly after, Vale realized that he would soon be faced with that innocent body again because Riu couldn't change clothes by himself. Realizing this, Vale could only bury his face between pillows and cushions while cursing in his heart.

_______

"Riu, now that you're married, Papa will transfer all the assets here to you. Papa won't delay it any longer, I'll take care of it as soon as possible," Jason said as he and Riu sat together after having dinner with colleagues.

"No need to rush, Pa. There's still plenty of time. I also haven't been married for long," Riu replied.

"Not rushing, but Papa won't delay it either. But by the way, why didn't you bring Vale here? She's beautiful and intelligent, born into a respected family. You shouldn't be ashamed to admit her as your wife," Jason said, bringing up Vale's absence that night.

Riu smiled faintly, "It's not ashamed, Pa. I just don't want her presence to be seen by many people. I have my reasons for doing that."

"What other reasons? Are you still suspecting someone for the accident that happened to you a few years ago?" Jason looked closely at Riu. He felt sorry because Riu couldn't accept the misfortune that left her disabled, an accident that he believed was not caused by human interference.

"That's enough, Nak, just let it go. Papa knows it's not easy for you, but having such negative thoughts only makes your heart restless. Constantly being haunted by baseless suspicions. Eventually, you'll waste a lot of time, and you'll be the one who loses," Jason continued, once again reminding Riu that everything is a predetermined fate from God, not merely the actions of humans.

Instead of responding to her father's words, Riu asked a different question. Something that Jason found very different from their previous conversation.

"In our family, only those who are married are entitled to receive assets. But, Pa, what if that rule is being abused?"

Jason frowned for a moment. He didn't understand why she was asking that.

"I just want to know, what would Papa do if someone in this family cheated to obtain those assets?" Riu continued.

Jason took a deep breath. "What do you mean by cheating, Riu?"

"Cheating that involves lives."

Jason was taken aback. He began to catch on to where Riu's conversation was heading.

"Are you suspecting your brother?" he asked.

"Just answer, Pa, my earlier question."

Jason took a long breath. It was difficult for him to choose the right words and sentences.

"If one of your siblings cheats... Papa will erase their name from the family list. They will not receive any inheritance in the future. But, Papa is sure that your suspicions are just a misunderstanding, Riu. They would never do that," Jason said a few moments later.

Riu smiled broadly, "I'll hold Papa's words, including the promise from the other day, to always keep my wife's identity a secret."

Seeing Riu's expression, which was different from usual, Jason swallowed hard. Among his three children, Riu was the most serious about everything. What she said was never a joke.

From there, Jason began to wonder if Riu's suspicions were true.

"Riu may have been born from a different womb than them, but there is still the same blood as mine in her veins. Moreover, Annisa and Camelia also know that this family's wealth comes from Riu's mother. So, it's impossible for them to be so deceitful, right?" Jason thought to himself.

In a glance, he looked at Riu, who seemed calm at the moment. Jason suddenly remembered Riu's intelligence all this time. Riu always knew everything that was hidden from colleagues and business partners. So, it was possible that she also knew about the family's big secret.

"I've kept all of this a secret. There's no way Riu could know." Jason thought to himself, calming his worrying self about the past secrets.

Meanwhile, Riu felt satisfied in her heart. Her father's words had been recorded, and in the future, he wouldn't be able to deny it if she made calculations. Now, she just had to wait for the right time to reveal everything.

"What is rightfully mine will always be mine. No one can take it away from me, including Papa," Riu thought as she looked at Jason. There was a hint of resentment swirling in her hazel eyes.

_________

At exactly 10 PM, Riu arrived home. Baron immediately escorted her to her bedroom, but she refused to let him in.

Riu entered alone, only to find Vale asleep on the couch. She was still sitting down, with an open book on her lap. Riu hurriedly approached her.

"Wait until I'm better, I will treat you like a queen, my wife," Riu murmured while fixing Vale's slightly messy hair around her face.

A perfect smile formed on Riu's lips. Somehow, just looking at Vale brought about strange emotions in her. Until eventually, she felt the desire to know Vale's past. Who was the man who had been her lover, who was foolish enough to waste a woman like Vale.

To be continued...

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