Ethan woke up to the smell of coffee wafting through the apartment. For a moment, he thought he'd dreamed everything—the impulsive marriage, the system, the strange woman he now called his wife. But the crick in his neck from the couch and the faint sound of Lila humming in the kitchen quickly brought him back to reality.
He sat up, stretching as his phone buzzed on the coffee table. The system's familiar voice chimed in his head:
"New task: Compliment your wife sincerely. Reward: $200."
Ethan groaned softly. The tasks were becoming oddly specific. He glanced toward the kitchen, where Lila stood in an oversized hoodie, her hair tied in a messy bun, pouring coffee into a mug. The sight was strangely domestic, a sharp contrast to her usual composed demeanor.
"Morning," she said without looking up, her tone neutral.
"Morning," Ethan replied, rubbing his eyes.
He got up and joined her in the kitchen, leaning against the counter. She handed him a mug of coffee without a word, and he took a grateful sip.
"So, I was thinking," Ethan began, setting his mug down. "You've got a good eye for things. Like, yesterday when we went shopping—you picked out that dress in two minutes, and it looked amazing on you."
Lila arched an eyebrow, clearly caught off guard. "That's… a random compliment."
"It's not random," Ethan said quickly. "I mean it. You have a knack for making things look effortless."
She studied him for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, to his surprise, a faint smile tugged at her lips. "Thanks. I guess."
The system chimed again in Ethan's mind:
"Task completed: Compliment your wife sincerely. Reward: $200 has been deposited into your bank account."
Ethan's phone buzzed in confirmation. He tried to hide his relief as he took another sip of coffee.
After breakfast, Ethan decided to explore the area a bit. Lila didn't object, simply waving him off as she settled into her usual spot at the dining table with her laptop.
The neighborhood was bustling with activity, a mix of small cafes, local shops, and street vendors. It was the kind of place where everyone seemed to know everyone else. As Ethan wandered, his thoughts drifted back to Lila.
She was a mystery. Everything about her, from her confidence to her guarded nature, hinted at a deeper story. And then there was the envelope from the law firm. What was that about?
Ethan stopped at a small park, sitting on a bench under the shade of a tree. His phone buzzed, pulling him out of his thoughts. It was a notification from the system:
"New task: Learn more about your wife's past. Reward: $500."
Ethan frowned. The system was becoming more intrusive, almost as if it wanted to unravel the enigma that was Lila. But how was he supposed to learn about her past when she barely shared anything personal?
When he returned to the apartment, Lila was on a phone call, her tone brisk and professional.
"No, that won't work. We need it done by Friday," she said, pacing the living room. "Yes, I understand. Just make it happen."
Ethan lingered in the doorway, unsure whether to interrupt. When she finally hung up, she sighed and rubbed her temples.
"Everything okay?" he asked.
"Just work," she replied curtly, sitting down on the couch.
Ethan hesitated before taking a seat across from her. "You know, we haven't really talked much about… well, you. Where you're from, what you do for fun, that sort of thing."
Lila gave him a sidelong glance. "What's this sudden interest?"
"We're married," Ethan said with a shrug. "Shouldn't we know at least the basics about each other?"
She leaned back, crossing her arms. "Fine. What do you want to know?"
Ethan paused, choosing his words carefully. "Where did you grow up?"
"Here and there," she said vaguely. "My dad moved around a lot for work."
"And your mom?"
Lila's expression darkened slightly, and her gaze flickered away. "She passed away when I was little."
"I'm sorry," Ethan said softly.
Lila shrugged, brushing off his sympathy. "It was a long time ago."
The conversation stalled, the air between them heavy. Ethan decided to shift gears.
"What about hobbies?" he asked. "Do you have any?"
A faint smirk crossed her lips. "Why? Planning to knit me a scarf or something?"
Ethan chuckled. "Just curious."
"I like puzzles," she said after a moment. "The harder, the better."
"Puzzles?" Ethan repeated, surprised.
"They're straightforward," Lila explained. "You put the pieces together, and everything fits. Life should be that simple."
Ethan nodded, filing the information away. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
Later that evening, while Lila was in the shower, Ethan's curiosity got the better of him. He approached the drawer where she'd stashed the law firm envelope earlier and hesitated.
This feels wrong, he thought. But the system's task loomed in his mind, and his fingers itched with temptation.
Finally, he opened the drawer and pulled out the envelope. Inside was a single sheet of paper—a legal document. The header read: Notice of Inheritance Rights.
Ethan's eyes widened as he skimmed the text. It mentioned a significant sum of money, tied to a family estate. But what caught his attention was a clause stating that the inheritance would only be released if the beneficiary—Lila—was legally married.
The pieces began to click into place. Is that why she married me?
Before he could read further, the sound of the shower stopped. Ethan hastily returned the document to the drawer and closed it just as Lila emerged from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her hair.
"What are you up to?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Nothing," Ethan said quickly, standing awkwardly in the middle of the room.
Lila didn't seem convinced, but she didn't press the issue. "Well, don't look so suspicious. It's unsettling."
Ethan forced a laugh, but his mind was racing.
She's hiding something big, he thought. And I need to figure out what it is.