Chapter 2
"This... this is..." My voice trembled as the photo nearly slipped from my hands.
He looked at me with a wry smile, his tone tinged with gentleness: "Cassidy, I'm your husband, Frederick Morgan. Just got back from a three-month assignment, and I never expected the first call I'd respond to would be at our own place."
What?!
I felt something explode in my brain. I stared wide-eyed at this ridiculously handsome police officer in front of me, then at the wedding photo in my hands, completely stunned.
This super gorgeous guy in uniform... is my husband?
The man I flash-married at that Comic-Con party?
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" My face instantly turned crimson to the tips of my ears. "I had no idea... I thought you were some kind of... Oh God, what did I just say!"
I remembered how I'd pointed at his nose and called him a pervert earlier, wanting nothing more than to crawl into a hole. I had actually mistaken my own husband for some creep!
Seeing my reaction, he couldn't help but smile. That expression instantly transformed him from a stern police officer into a gentle man.
"Looks like Mrs. Perez's misunderstanding caused quite a scene," he said warmly. "She heard sounds from your room and thought something terrible was happening."
That's when I remembered the sound effects testing from earlier, my face turning even redder: "That was... work-related... game audio..."
"I know." He nodded. "You're designing a new game, right?"
I looked at him in surprise: "How did you know?"
"Because..." he stepped closer, his voice low and deep, "I've been following your work. Even during my assignment, I kept track of every new project you worked on."
Those words felt like a feather brushing against my heart, sending an unusual flutter through me.
I took another look at the man before me. Broad shoulders, tall stature, deep eyes, and that perfect face that could make me have... improper thoughts.
So I really did marry such a handsome police officer?
And he'd actually been keeping tabs on my work? Even while on dangerous assignments, he still thought about me?
"So..." I said quietly, "are you back now? Is the assignment over?"
"Yes." He nodded. "Just finished today. I was planning to surprise you at home after my shift, but I never expected..."
He glanced around with that wry smile again. "I never expected our first meeting would be under these circumstances."
I looked down at the wedding photo in my hands, my emotions too complex to describe. My memories of the Comic-Con party three months ago were hazy at best—I only remembered fragments from when I was drunk, and the shock of waking up the next day to find myself married.
But now, looking at the sweet smiles in the photo, I was starting to think maybe... maybe it wasn't such a mistake after all.
The warm yellow hallway light cast shadows on Frederick's tall figure as he finished organizing the incident report, preparing to leave.
I stood in the doorway, my heartbeat still not recovered from the earlier embarrassment. This man... was really my husband?
"I'll pick you up after work tomorrow to go home," Frederick turned around, his penetrating gaze locking onto mine. "It's time we started our real married life."
What?
My face instantly burst into flames as I stammered: "Married life? We're... we're going to live together?"
Frederick's lips curved slightly upward, that gentle smile making my heart race: "I've been away for three months. It's time I came back to our home."
"But I don't know anything..." I waved my hands frantically. "We don't even know each other!"
"Then we'll start getting to know each other tomorrow."
He made it sound so simple? I stared at him with wide eyes.
Frederick stepped closer, his long fingers gently caressing my cheek: "Cassidy, we're married. Three months of separation has been long enough."
My breathing became erratic. This voice, this distance, this warmth...
"I... I need time to adjust..."
"I'll give you time," Frederick said softly. "But tomorrow, we start living together. Okay?"
I nodded vigorously, then shook my head, then nodded again: "Okay... no wait, I mean... God, my brain is such a mess right now!"
Frederick chuckled softly and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead: "Get some rest. See you tomorrow, my wife."
He turned to leave, then looked back after a few steps: "Oh, and next time you're testing sound effects, remember to close the doors and windows. Mrs. Perez's gossip skills are no joke."
With that, he winked at me—a gesture so charming it made my heart skip a beat.
After the door closed, I leaned against it, clutching my pounding heart.
I looked at the wedding photo in my hands, then remembered what Frederick had said earlier—that he'd been following my work.
"Had time to follow my work while on assignment?" I couldn't help but mutter. "Are all cops this free?"
As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized my tone sounded strange. It should have been questioning his claim, but it sounded more like... I was being coquettish?
"But honestly..." I looked down at the wedding photo, my voice unconsciously softening, "I never expected that he wouldn't oppose my work, and that he'd been quietly keeping track of it."
Most men, when they heard I designed otome games, especially the adult-oriented content, either thought I was improper or voiced all kinds of objections. But he...
I shook my head, not knowing how to handle this situation. The flash marriage three months ago was ridiculous enough, and now suddenly this incredibly handsome "husband" appears, whom I'd just mistaken for some perverted creep...
What kind of soap opera plot was this?
But... he really did look amazing in that uniform.
Wait! Since he really is my husband, then we... shouldn't we have been living together all along?
I remembered Frederick's words from earlier—"I'll pick you up after work tomorrow to go home," "It's time we started our real married life"...
Oh no, we're going to be living together starting tomorrow!