Sophia spent the next few days keeping her distance from Ethan at work. No lingering glances, no unnecessary meetings, no private conversations behind closed doors. It was frustrating, but necessary. The rumors had quieted—at least for now.
Ethan, on the other hand, didn't seem as content with the arrangement. He played his role well in public, but at home, his patience was wearing thin.
"You've barely looked at me in the office," he grumbled one evening as they stood in the kitchen.
Sophia gave him a pointed look while stirring her tea. "That's the point, Ethan. The rumors are dying down. We can't afford any slip-ups."
Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I hate this. Hiding like we're doing something wrong."
She softened, reaching for his hand. "I know. But it's only temporary."
Before he could respond, her phone buzzed on the counter. A message from Lisa.
Lisa: You won't believe what I just found out.
Sophia's stomach twisted. She quickly typed back.
Sophia: What?
A moment later, another message appeared.
Lisa: Someone saw Mr. Caldwell leaving a restaurant last night… with a woman.
Sophia nearly laughed in relief. So Lisa hadn't found out the truth—she was just chasing gossip again.
Sophia: And?
Lisa: No one knows who she is! I swear, he's hiding something. What do you think?
Sophia smirked, glancing at Ethan, who was watching her curiously.
Sophia: Maybe he's just a private person. Not everything is a scandal, Lisa.
Lisa sent back an eye-roll emoji.
"You look too amused," Ethan said, raising an eyebrow.
She chuckled, setting her phone down. "Lisa is on another wild goose chase. Apparently, someone saw you leaving a restaurant with some mystery woman last night."
Ethan smirked. "Ah, yes. The scandalous dinner date… with my wife."
Sophia rolled her eyes. "She won't stop until she finds something. We need to be extra careful."
Ethan sighed. "Or… we could just tell everyone and get it over with."
Sophia blinked. "Ethan—"
"I mean it, Soph. I'm tired of this. I don't care what people say. I don't want to keep pretending that my own wife is just a colleague."
She stared at him, caught between the weight of his words and the risks involved.
Were they really ready for the truth to come out?
—
To be continued…