"Ah? Why?"

  Cayenne looked at him for few seconds before turning around to hide her blush. "We can't start over again because our relationship didn't end. I am still your wife and you're my husband. And –"

  "I'm happy." Stefan hugged her from behind and buried his face on her neck, inhaling her scent that he missed so much. "I'm so happy, Ayen. I was really scared that after doing everything, you won't still forgive. I was scared that I'd have to spend my whole life without you. I don't want that. I don't want to be separated from you."

  Cayenne felt a warm liquid falling on her shoulder. He was crying.

  "I'm sorry it took so long for me to forgive you. But Stefan, this is the second chance I'm giving you. There won't be a third chance anymore."

  "Hn. I won't waste this chance."

  "We have to be honest with each other."

  "Hn."

  "No more secrets."

  "Hn."

  "Then, who was it you're talking to over the phone. I heard you mention my name and Seiji."

  Stefan stood up straight and wiped his tears. "Can I tell you after peeling the mangoes?"

  "Okay." Cayenne took a stool and watched him peel and sliced the fruits. It's been a while since he watched him do things in the kitchen in this manner. Her tears were threatening to fall once again and she wiped them as quick as she could, making sure that Stefan won't see her crying.

  "Here." Stefan handed her the plate with the sliced mangoes. "Do you want to talk here or in the living room?"

  "Let's just talk here." Cayenne ate one sliced of mango, her face didn't even change with the sourness of the fruit. Watching her eat a sour food, Stefan couldn't stop his mouth from watering. "Do you like to eat some?"

  "I'm not fond of sour fruits."

  "Just take one bite." Cayenne reached her hand with a slice of fruit. "I want to see your face after eating it."

  "You're a bully." Stefan commented but still ate the fruit that she fed him. Feeling the sourness in his tongue, Stefan's face crunched every time he chewed the fruit.

  "Pfft! Hahaha" Cayenne laughed at him and handed him a glass of water. "This is the first time I knew that you can't handle sour fruits."

  "I don't understand why you like it so much. But it's your preference. I'll just take care of you when your period visits you." Because he knew she'd be in a lot of pain during her menstrual period. "Now, let's talk about what you heard earlier."

  "Okay."

  "Seiji attacked one of my companies on the night I left for PH. He acquired a lot of shares to overthrow me from my position as the CEO. Later on, he asked me to divorce you and he'll give the shares back. I didn't do it. So, he attacked my other companies, alerting my family because of this downfall and asking me to give you up in exchange for the shares."

  Cayenne didn't say anything. She still couldn't believe that Seiji would do such thing. "I'll talk to Seiji about this. I think there's a misunderstanding. I don't believe he'll do something like this. And it's even more impossible for him to like me. He had been treating me like his little sister during high school."

  "So, you don't believe my words?" Stefan asked softly.

  "I believe you, of course. But – well, it doesn't matter." Cayenne waved her hand in dismissal to this topic. "Let's talk about the case instead. I don't want to think about Seiji, it's stressing me."

  "Speaking of the case, I believe that Kyle and Luiz didn't know the connection between me and their father."

  "You're right. I didn't tell them. I couldn't bring myself to tell them."

  "That's alright. It would be better to tell them about it once their father is out. It can serve as a surprise."

  "Thank you, Stefan."

  "Call me hubby."

  "That's too much." Cayenne retorted with a flustered face.

  "You said it yourself; you are my wife and I am your husband. Calling me hubby is a natural thing."

  "You're so shameless." Cayenne rolled her eyes and continued eating the mangoes in front of her. After eating all the fruits, she stood up from her hair. "Hubby, you should wash the plate. I'm going to rest now." She ran away as quick as she could to hide her red face and to calm her stupid heart. 'Goodness! I'm falling in love with my husband again! I am so stupid!' She told herself while burying her face on her pillow.

  Stefan didn't go after her. He knew that they just reconciled and he should give her little time to think of her decision and their future. He washed the plate and placed it back to its organizer.

  After half an hour, he went upstairs and knocked on her door.

  "I'm sleeping." Cayenne told him but she was actually wide awake, staring on her phone's wallpaper again.

  "I'm going home now."

  "Ah? Now?" she looked at the time and found it was still four in the afternoon. She opened the door and found him standing at the hallway. "I thought you're going home already. Go away. Why are you still here?" Even though she was saying those words, deep inside, she was happy that he was still there.

  "Do you want to go home with me today? In that way, you don't have to wake up early for tomorrow."

  "No, you have to pick me up from here."

  "Okay. I don't really mind picking you up." Stefan pulled her close and hugged her. "Let me stay like this for a little while."

  "O-okay." Cayenne let him hugged her without saying anything.

  "Won't you hug me back? Didn't you miss me? Because I missed you so much."

  "I didn't miss you." Cayenne retorted but her hand was moving to hug him back. "I was so busy with my garden. I have forgotten you."

  Stefan chuckled at her response and hugged her even tighter. If possible, he wanted to place him inside his coat pocket and bring her wherever he wanted to go. "I love you, my dear Cayenne Ardolf Dumrique. I love you today, tomorrow and forever."

  "I know. Thanks."

  "Is that how you should respond to my love?"

  "You'll have to make do with it." Cayenne glared at him and lightly pinched his waist. "One more complaint and I will kick you out of my house."

  Stefan's shoulders were shaking from his silent laughter. His wife just wouldn't admit how she feels. He pulled away from her and kissed her forehead before bidding farewell.

  He had no idea that the moment he left, Cayenne let another man inside her house.