Chapter 43: Chapter 43

What is your most marked characteristic?

<Azaria>

What do you think what you have gone right with your present relationships got wrong in the past?

If he brings the best out of you he is the right one.

When do you think that love will be enough?

I have so many questions.

I successfully opened the door and felt somewhat disappointed when I saw nothing inside.

It was a plain room with a window, and nothing more.

One of our maids opened this door.

"Ma'am, I heard that sir is on his way," Xie informed me from beside me, as she was the one who knew where all the keys to the rooms in the house were kept.

She was hesitant to open it because Nikolai had strictly instructed them not to open this room.

"We might get scolded if he sees us here," she said fearfully.

I glanced at her. She held all the keys to the house.

"Why is this room empty? And why doesn't Nikolai want to open it?" My voice sounded suspicious.

"Ma'am, this room has a damaged ceiling that needs fixing, that's why sir doesn't want it opened - that's all I know," she explained.

I roamed my eyes in the four corners of the room. I walked around and touched the walls - maybe there's a secret button here. Maybe I'll stumble upon another world.

"Isn't it suspicious that only this room is locked?" I asked her, trying to make her suspicious too. She seemed to ponder on it.

"No, ma'am," she replied, shaking her head.

I continued to touch the walls of this four-cornered room, but no hidden portal appeared.

Where can I find answers to my questions?

If I can't find answers in this room, where will I find them? I know Nikolai is hiding something from me. I need to trust my instincts at this tough moment.

I turned to Xie to invite her to leave when I was surprised to see Nikolai standing in front of me.

"N-Nick..." I nervously called his name.

He looked at me seriously - expressionless. I couldn't tell what was going on in his mind. I also couldn't tell if he was angry.

"Have you been home for a while now? I came home earlier because I got bored at the company," I lied while looking straight into his eyes. I look into someone's eyes when I'm lying so that they think I'm telling the truth.

"Who told you to open this room?" He asked coldly, and I glanced at his clenched fist.

"Xie, give me the key," he ordered the housekeeper, and she reluctantly handed it to him, trembling.

"And get out!"

"Sorry, sir," Xie apologized nervously before leaving the room.

"How's things at the company?" I changed the subject. I need to act casual.

"Don't change the subject," he said sharply, his face devoid of any emotion.

I roamed my eyes around the room and tried to act normal.

"I was just checking if this room could be converted into a nursery for our future baby," I said as my reason.

The spark in his eyes changed, emotions came through.

"Since this room is close to us, we can use it to keep an eye on her," I explained, grateful that I quickly came up with a reason.

He took a deep breath and approached me. He held both my hands, looking straight into my eyes.

"I reserved this room for our first baby. I made it empty because I want us to decorate this room for him or her," he said while gazing into my eyes.

I tried to sense if he was telling the truth.

I didn't answer, afraid that I might say something wrong and make him suspicious.

"This room needs renovation because there was a problem with the wall. I decided not to do anything in case we'll use it in the near future," he explained as he gestured around the room.

"This room was supposed to be for my sister. Sadly, she died when she was in the womb."

I couldn't speak.

"I never thought that we would have the idea to make this room for our first baby," his eyes sparkled as he said those words.

"Let's go outside," he invited me. I simply nodded in response.

He locked the door again, and I looked at the keys he held.

"I'll hold onto these keys," he said.

He called Xie to hold the keys for a moment and instructed her to give them to him before we go to bed.

I felt it - Nikolai is hiding something from me and I need to figure it out.

He held my hand, and his palms felt cold.

The problem is, I don't know where to start to find the answers.

~

"How many sighs is that now?" Heidi asked me.

We were sitting by the pool, sipping on our drinks - she had coffee while I had juice.

It was already late at night, and our pool area was beautifully lit with lights and floating balls.

Heidi forbid me from visiting her clinic because she said I wasn't her patient.

I couldn't visit her condo either because Nikolai prohibited me from going out at night.

Nikolai was not at home tonight because he had some business to attend to, but he had someone watch over me to ensure I wouldn't leave the house - he doesn't trust me, damn it.

Heidi was tired and didn't want to visit me, but I told her I would pay her, so she came. I even sent the driver to pick her up.

"Heidi, I feel like Nikolai is keeping something from me," I said, looking at her.

She took a sip of her coffee.

"I know."

"Huh?"

"I know you have something on your mind, that's why you asked me to come here."

I let out a sigh.

"I spoke to one of his employees, and he knows me. He mentioned something about me that I can't remember," I recounted everything to Heidi because she's the one I trust.

It took her a while to come up with an idea.

"Find someone close to your husband. Don't trust the people around you for now," she advised me.

"Do I have amnesia?" I asked her seriously.

"How would I know?"

"You're such a great conversationalist!" I replied, giving her a dirty look.

"Maybe that woman is trying to ruin your marriage. You mentioned to me before that many women are trying to get Nikolai's attention. Who knows, she might just want to break you apart. She seems desperate, and she could have fabricated a fake story with edited pictures."

Heidi's words sounded convincing.

"Between the two of us, your husband and me, who do you trust more?" she asked.

It took me a while to answer her question.

I trust both of them. I know Lanvin has a bad attitude, but I also know that he doesn't lie.

"Of course, my husband," I replied.

"Well, that's true! Why do you believe what other people say? You know, many are envious of your status. You're a trophy wife, and a lot of people want to be in your position," she said casually and matter-of-factly.

"And from what I see, your husband is obsessed with you. Once he married you, he can't keep his hands off you," she teased and laughed.

"You're crazy!" I replied.

"Is Lanvin Nikolai really that possessive and jealous? Does he get jealous of your friends, cousins, relatives, and even female neighbors?" she playfully asked.

"Silly!" I shook my head at her.

"You're not that beautiful, you know!" She joked again.

"You're just jealous!" I retorted.

Our conversation shifted.

Heidi and I talked about many things. We rarely get the chance to have such conversations because we're both busy with our work.

Heidi knows how to carry a conversation, perhaps because of her work.

~

When Nikolai arrived home, Heidi also went home. It was already midnight, and we didn't realize how time flew while waiting for Nikolai; he had told me he had a late business meeting. He texted me at 10 pm, saying he was with his cousins after the meeting.

I was sitting at the vanity mirror while combing my hair. Meanwhile, he was blow-drying his hair.

I suddenly felt the need to use the restroom.

I opened my small drawer full of lipsticks. I couldn't find my lip gloss with glitters. I have many lip glosses, but that one is my favorite.

"Babe, I think I left my lip gloss in your car," I told him while continuing to search for it.

"I'll ask the maid to get it for you."

"No, don't bother them. I'll get it myself," I said and stood up.

He shifted his attention from his phone to me.

"No!" he blurted out after looking at me from head to toe.

I was wearing a robe.

"I'm going to change my clothes," I said and hurried to my closet.

I knew he didn't want me to go out in a robe even though no one would see me. The maids and our driver were already asleep. Only the bodyguards were awake at this hour.

We have CCTV cameras and bodyguards who watch over us every night.

"Careful, Azaria!" he shouted as I ran out of the room. He must have heard my footsteps because I was running down the stairs. I didn't listen to him; men like it when women don't listen to them - I mean, when we follow our desires - you know, the bitchy type.

I couldn't find my lip gloss in his car. It was cramped, and I accidentally pressed all sorts of buttons.

I turned on the car's light so that I wouldn't have trouble. His car was fancy. It was so automatic.

I also restarted his car and opened the gas tank. I didn't know how to mess with it since it was a new purchase. I should be the only one he drives around - I should be his only passenger.

I found my lip gloss tucked in a corner under the seat.

I went around to the back to close the compartment I had opened. I was about to close it when I noticed a shovel, gloves, and a sock. Why did he have a shovel in his car?

I didn't pay it much attention and went back inside. Maybe he opened a new site, so he had those things in his car; he brought the shovel as a memento for a ribbon-cutting or something.

Why would he bring a shovel home?

I shook my head and quickly went back to our room.

I found him on the phone, and he quickly hung up when he saw me.

"Why did you take so long?" he asked with a frown, approaching me. He wrapped his arm around my waist and quickly kissed me on the lips.

"Your new car is so cramped!" I complained and went to the vanity mirror to put on my lip gloss.

"Why do you need to put that thing on every night? I'm going to remove it anyway," he asked with a furrowed brow. He sat on the bed and looked at me.

"Because I want to stay beautiful!"

"Tsk! You're beautiful. You don't need to apply any products."

"Well, you don't have a night care routine, so you won't understand," I said, teasing him with my gaze in the mirror.

"Tsk!" He just shook his head.

"Aren't you done? You already put foundation on your face earlier," he complained.

He was watching me earlier; I thought he was busy with his hair while texting someone.

He was waiting for me, huh? Well, he always waits for me. He always complains that I take too long, but he can't do anything about it.

"What foundation are you talking about? This is moisturizer!"

"Whatever. Make it fast, wife," he said impatiently.

"Just one more hour," I playfully told him. Actually, I was already done, I was just teasing him.

"Take your time. I can wait."

"Joke's on you! I'm done!" I said and stood up.

"Come here. Let's cuddle. I miss my wife," he said sweetly and patted the space on the bed.

He lay down and I snuggled up beside him.

"How's my wife's day?" he asked. He always asks about my day and how I'm doing.

One of Nikolai's love languages is quality time, and his dialect is quality conversation.

My husband always makes sure I'm okay, even when we're not on good terms.

So far, life with him feels light and happy. I am happy.

"Aren't you mad?" I started.

"Mad about what?" he asked, pulling me closer to his side and kissing my forehead.

"About that room," I continued.

"There's nothing to be mad about," he replied simply, while gently running his fingers through my hair.

"I thought you were mad. Your face looked serious earlier," I opened up.

"That's just my natural expression. Don't you like it, baby? I'll change if you don't like it."

I didn't answer and just hugged him tightly.

He's willing to change for me. He really loves me. I secretly smiled. I'm getting closer to what I want. Just a little more patience, Azaria, and you'll be free.