"Huh?" Lilia's eyes widened when she heard that. She looked at Jean in surprise and confusion, "What do you mean-?"

  "Bro! Are you done?!"

  Lilia's words were interrupted by someone shouting from outside the bedroom. Both Lilia and Jean then turned towards the door. Lilia's expression was filled with irritation. Why couldn't Chris wait another 5 minutes? They were talking about something important!

  Jean glanced at Lilia's annoyed expression and smiled softly. He kissed her on the cheek before whispering, "Let's continue this conversation another time."

  Without waiting for Lilia's answer, Jean pulled the woman out of the room. The main culprit who had interrupted their conversation was standing at the top of the stairs.

  Chris raised his eyebrows as the two of them walked closer. In this well-lit hallway, he could see kiss marks on Lilia's cheeks and neck. In addition, the woman's lips looked even more swollen than before. Chris could immediately guess what was going on in the bedroom.

  "You took so long! What are you doing there?" Chris teased with a big grin.

  Lilia's face turned bright red while Jean frowned in annoyance. The man felt that his best friend was becoming more and more like Tom, who had a natural talent for messing around!

  "None of your business." Jean replied coldly.

  "Fine, fine, I won't ask again." Chris raised his hand and let Lilia pass him on the stairs.

  Even though Chris said that, that man continued to closely observe Lilia's clothes. He was trying to find out how far their relationship had gone. Did this lovely couple end up sleeping together?

  Lilia felt uncomfortable with Chris's sharp gaze as she walked past the man, but she tried to ignore him.

  But Jean would never allow another man to make his wife uncomfortable. He stopped in front of Chris and shot a knife-sharp gaze at the man.

  Jean asked coldly, "What are you looking at? Looks like you don't need your eyes anymore."

  Chris hurriedly averted his gaze with a flushed face. He couldn't possibly tell Jean that she was looking for any sign of their intimate relationship! That man would definitely skin him alive!

  "……It's nothing." Chris muttered without daring to look at Jean.

  In his heart, Chris cursed the overprotective man. Jean acted like a mother animal protecting her cubs. Chris didn't want to imagine what would happen if that man had a daughter with Lilia. His child would definitely struggle in finding a future husband with an overprotective father like Jean!

  The three of them descended downstairs in silence. When they reached the living room, Chris realized that there were new accessories in Lilia and Jean's hands.

  "Oh? Looks like I noticed something was different after you guys left the room!" Chris teased for revenge, "I also want to get a ring like that on my birthday!"

  Hearing that, Lilia stopped walking and turned towards Chris. She took Jean's left hand, then raised it as if showing off the ring, "Is Brother Chris jealous of Jean?" Lilia replied with a big smile, "Then, I'll order a ring big enough to wear around your neck for your birthday!"

  "Ha ha ha ha!" Alex almost spat out the wine he was drinking when he heard Lilia's reply. The bespectacled man burst out laughing uncontrollably.

  "Ha!" Even Jean laughed at Lilia's offer. The woman basically offered to buy him a dog's collar as a birthday present.

  Different from the other two friends, Tom said with a serious face, "Sis Lilia, buy one for me too! I heard wearing a neck collar can make you look more attractive to the eyes of the opposite sex!"

  Chris was speechless for a few moments. When he finally found his voice back, he put on an annoyed face and pretended to be sulking, "Lilia, how could you say that to me!" He said half jokingly.

  Lilia would like to reply again but her attention was caught by the tea set on the table. She automatically turned her head towards Jean. Lilia asked with an anxious expression, "I made tea for you earlier. Have you tried it?"

  Chris held back a groan that almost escaped his mouth. These two people were just alone upstairs, but now they were back showing off their affection in front of everyone. Chris himself wanted to do that with Merry too! When would that stupid woman understand how Chris felt toward her?!

  *****

  Around ten in the night, Chris and the other guests finally left. This was good news for Lilia, who was so sleepy that she could barely open her eyes.

  She had become so busy lately, just to prepare a surprise for Jean's birthday. During that time, Lilia was not aware of how tired her body was. But now that her task was finished, exhaustion and fatigue invaded her.

  Lilia sat on the sofa and raised her legs. She leaned her body against Jean's arm while continuously tying their two rings together.

  "Are you tired?" Jean asked softly while closely observing the woman's face.

  Lilia nodded, "Yes, a little." Her answer was honest.

  Jean didn't say anything more and started stroking Lilia's head in a soothing rhythm. The quiet and peaceful living room atmosphere made Lilia even more sleepy.

  Lilia's eyelids get heavier as time goes by. She faintly felt that the lighting in the living room had been dimmed. Lilia moved on the sofa, trying to find a comfortable position to fall asleep.

  Jean caught Lilia's intention and helped her find a comfortable position. Finally, Lilia's head rested on Jean's lap, while her body was lying on the sofa. Jean's hand ran down Lilia's hair, cradling her with the softness of his touch.

  The last thing Lilia remembered was Jean's whisper in her ear, "Good night, my dear wife."

  *****

  The next day, Lilia arrived at the airport at 6 am.

  She was sitting in the backseat of Jean's car and staring at the owner of the car closely. Their hands were intertwined, as if they were reluctant to part. Lilia found herself trying to stamp Jean's handsome face this morning into her memory.

  "I will miss you." Lilia said with a reluctant expression, "If I have free time, I'll try to come back here. You can't be so busy that you forget to eat. I'll call you every night to make sure you don't skip any meals. You have to take good care of your health. Then… " Lilia continued speaking, as if trying to buy time for her departure.

  Jean only nodded listening to Lilia's advice. The man's expression didn't change, but Lilia could see sadness looming over Jean's face.

  Lilia felt sad when she thought that she had to be separated from Jean for a month or more. But she also didn't want to lose this valuable opportunity to expand her career further.

  When Lilia finally ran out of advice she needed to convey to Jean, she sighed and reached out to open the car door. But before her finger could even touch the door, Jean suddenly grabbed Lilia's arm. Without saying a word, the man hugged Lilia tightly from behind.

  "J-Jean?" Lilia turned her head in surprise, but she could understand the man's feelings.

  Jean knew that Lilia would find it even harder to leave if he said something, so the man didn't say anything. However, Jean expressed his feelings through his actions.

  'Don't go.'

  Lilia seemed to be able to hear the man whispering that. She positioned her body towards Jean and opened her mouth to say something, but Jean was faster.

  The man cupped his hands behind Lilia's head and lowered his head to crush her lips. Jean kissed her desperately, as if they would never see each other again.

  When Jean finally let Lilia go, the woman stared blankly at Jean as if still hypnotized by their passionate kiss. The man's gaze fell on Lilia's seductive red lips.

  "It's still too early. Stay here for a moment longer." Jean ordered before kissing Lilia again.

  Kenny, who was waiting in the driver's seat, shifted nervously. Until when were they going to keep doing this?! He suspected that his boss deliberately held his wife back so that Lilia would miss the flight and not go!

  After they kissed until Jean was satisfied, Lilia leaned her head on Jean's shoulder while sighing deeply. She often heard that lovers were always reluctant to separate, but she never believed that until now. When Lilia was still dating William, she never acted spoiled or needed him.

  But Lilia finally understood that feeling when she met Jean. The man taught her that even an independent woman like Lilia needed emotional support from others.

  Jean hugged Lilia, his hand stroking the woman's back gently. The warmth of Jean's hug slowly dispelled Lilia's anxiety about her departure.

  "It's time." Jean said reluctantly while kissing Lilia's forehead, "Be careful there…… I'll be waiting for you to come home."