Chapter 52: How Did You Know?

“So, he didn’t tell you anything,” Zeno concluded, disappointed that all he had to listen to was her sob story. He didn’t blame her for getting emotional and wanted to protect her daughter. But all he wanted to hear was the truth. “Okay. I’ll have to go now. We’ll see you again before we leave.”

Zeno drove back to the hotel and immediately texted Blec to retreat because there was nothing he could investigate there.

“I hate that woman, you should terminate her.” Zeno was greeted with that kind of greeting, unique and his style. Lyla was sitting on the bed, her back against the headboard. Her eyes were stuck on her phone, so focused. She didn’t even turn to look, but she knew it was him, her husband. Who could have had the key other than him? Maybe Blec, she didn't consider that.

“Who will?” Zeno asked as he walked closer to her. He stood by her bedside and glanced at her phone, just out of curiosity. Because it looked like the phone was more interesting than he was. Long form of paragraphs filled the screen, looking like she was reading something. A novel, maybe?

“My beloved husband, of course,” Lyla replied, putting the phone down to see his face. The perfect cut of his jawline shone perfectly to her. She smiled and brought her hand up to touch his jaw, and it felt a little rough. He must have grown a little stubble, did he realize? “Do you like growing your beard, Zeno?” At last, she couldn’t help but ask.

Zeno grabbed her hand, stopping her from touching his jaw. “No. Do you think it will look good on me?” While still holding her hand, he asked for her opinion on his appearance. Because, at the end of the day, she was the only person or woman who saw him completely.

Lyla looked at the structure of his face seriously, looking from left to right, and even below, like a professional investigator. Her face scrunched when she found something not satisfy her heart, but she kept her judgment. Zeno became curious about her judgment when she looked like this.

“How is it, professor?” Zeno asked teasingly, eyebrow raised. He found her funny and cute at the same time. But how could this lovely lady hide a mystery that intrigued him? Behind those innocent smiles and provocative eyes held so much more.

“Come here,” Lyla asked him to lean closer, so she could take a closer look. Zeno leaned closer until their face were a few inches away. After a few seconds of ‘serious’ inspection, she spoke. “No, I don’t like this beard,” Lyla stated, shaking her head disapprovingly. Once again, she touched his jaw and shook her head again. Zeno chuckled at her response.

“Okay,” Zeno agreed, and a satisfied smile appeared on her lips. Then, he pecked her lips before straightening up his posture.

Lyla picked up her phone again and continued reading where she left off. Zeno noticed her behavior. “Do you like to read?”

“Yes. There are a lot of books in your library. I read some already,” she replied and glanced at him. “I have a great idea,” she proposed, which didn’t sound good in his ears somehow.

“What idea?” he asked reluctantly.

“Let’s go to the bookstore, window shop, and buy some books,” she said excitedly. Lyla put her legs down to the ground, ready to go, as the plan had already been made.

“Later, Lyla,” he sighed, knowing it would be a long day.

“Why? Do you have a plan for today? Why can’t we go now?”

“There are so many things I have to get done before we fly back home.” It was not an excuse, Zeno’s reason for coming to the State was for work, aside from meeting her parents, which led him to a dead end so far.

“We’ll go now, if you answer me seriously, cicci. Can you?” Zeno saw a chance, so he took it. He would start slowly, playing it nice and easy. The way he looked at her showed determination, and Lyla became alert.

“We can talk while we book shopping,” Lyla purposely dodged answering. She only prolonged it. Until when? She didn’t know. What she did know was that the question he was going to ask was about the archery skill.

“No, it’s a private talk, Lyla. This place is the right place for us to talk.” Zeno shook his head, thinking she was just stalling. “If you know what we’re going to talk about, you knew this is the best place and time.”

Seeing that she kept silent, he tried one last time. “Lyla.”

“What do you want to ask?” Finally, Lyla looked up and stared at him. All her mischievousness was gone and replaced with solemnity. She knew there was no going back and forth with Zeno, because it would come back again and again.

“What was your job before you married me?” Zeno kept standing in front of her as he started asking questions. He started slow.

“Public Relations Officer,” Lyla replied calmly.

“For the government?” Lyla nodded. “Who recruited you to join the Archery State Academy? Your father?”

“No, the agent,” she clarified.

“You are still active now?”

“No.”

“Lyla,” he warned her. He didn’t like being lied to, especially by his wife.

“I am not. I have always been with you since we got married. How am I to attend the classes?” It was not a defense, it was the truth. Had he seen her being gone for more than a few hours without being watched? He always had his people watch her from afar. Normal people wouldn’t notice them, but she could, she did. Zeno was not being secretive either, he wanted her to be aware and make sure she didn’t cross the line.

“Then why did Marco kidnap you?” He went straight to the point. Her kidnapping and archery skills were bound, there must be a connection between them.

“Marco? How did you know?” Lyla inhaled, her breath caught in her throat. Her eyes widened in anticipation, fear that slowly surfacing.