Belated Awakening

I curled up on the company sofa waiting for Ayden Martin when I casually clicked into a video that was only a few seconds long.

A hand with distinct knuckles was hooked by slender fingertips in an utterly intimate way.

The caption read like the girl's soft murmur. "While the grown-ups discussed business, I quietly reached out to his hand. I didn't expect that he, who was rational and composed in work matters, couldn't stay rational with me."

I smiled and liked it. "Ayden, look at how girls these days love writing these CEO romance stories, claiming that presidents like you secretly hold hands during business talks. Is it real or fake?"

Ayden did not even lift his head and only said faintly, "Stop watching these."

I asked with my mouth, but in my heart I knew the Ayden I knew would never do that.

After five years of marriage, every time there was a social event he only pushed me into the lounge, let alone stage these idol drama scenes.

I lowered my head and suddenly noticed the watch on the hand in the video. A luxury watch.

The anniversary gift I gave Ayden was also the same luxury watch.

...

I nervously clicked into the girl's profile.

The pinned post was a blurred side-profile photo stitched together with the girl's selfie.

Even though the picture was blurred, I recognized Ayden at a glance.

I could not believe it.

But the faint scar on the knuckle I would never mistake.

Moreover, I knew better than anyone how strict Ayden's rules were.

In five years of marriage, even I had to knock and wait for his permission before entering the office.

Yet in the video, he let a strange woman hook his hand, breaking the principles he always followed.

I felt a bit short of breath.

"Ayden." I opened my mouth, wanting to ask if the person in the video was him, wanting to ask who the girl in the video was.

Before I could ask, Ayden's phone rang urgently.

He glanced at the caller ID, quickly walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and answered in a low voice.

After hanging up, he hurriedly grabbed his coat and headed out. "I have something to do. Heading out for a bit."

My heart sank sharply.

What kind of person was Ayden?

Leaving his post during work hours was simply unthinkable for him.

Yet now he left in a hurry because of one phone call.

He never acted like this.

I thought of the girl who hooked his hand in the video, whose profile was full of him, and suddenly connected it to this call.

I staggered to my feet, accidentally twisted my ankle, yet felt no pain.

I only wanted to follow Ayden.

I had to know who he was going to meet.

Outside the conference room, an unfamiliar ladies' perfume scent drilled into my nose.

His obsession with cleanliness meant that even if my perfume was a bit strong, he would