Two days after Lily's check-up at the hospital.
Emma returned to the office. The office where she worked before as Marcus's secretary.
But now, Emma was not just a secretary. Emma was Marcus's wife.
Wife.
People at the office already knew about Marcus and Emma's marriage. They saw the marriage certificate that Mr. Thomas gave. The news had spread.
But the information that spread was wrong information.
People didn't know that this marriage was a contract.
People only knew that Marcus married his secretary.
And that was enough to trigger gossip.
Emma entered the 20th floor.
The floor where Marcus worked. The floor where Emma used to work.
Emma saw everyone start whispering.
Sarah, Emma's coworker who liked to flirt with Marcus, immediately approached Emma.
"Emma! You're back!" shouted Sarah with an unnatural tone.
"Yes," answered Emma. Emma knew Sarah didn't just want to talk to her.
"So you really married Marcus?" asked Sarah with dangerous eyes.
"Yes," answered Emma briefly.
"Wow. That was very fast. You suddenly got married," said Sarah. "If I may ask, why?"
Emma didn't know what to answer.
"We like each other," answered Emma. Emma knew this was a lie. But Emma had to lie according to the contract.
"Oh I see," said Sarah. But Sarah's expression didn't show she believed it.
Sarah left. But Emma knew Sarah would tell others.
Other female employees also started coming.
They surrounded Emma.
"Emma, when did you guys get married? We didn't know!"
"Why didn't you invite us to the wedding?"
"How long did you guys date before getting married?"
"Did Marcus propose to Emma in a romantic way?"
The questions came one after another.
Emma felt suffocated.
Emma felt like there was a stone in her chest.
All these questions made Emma want to cry.
"I'm sorry, I have to go to my desk," said Emma in a hurry.
Emma left the crowd.
Emma sat at her desk.
The desk that used to be hers. Before Emma became Marcus's wife.
But now, there was a new secretary sitting at that desk.
The new secretary's name was Rebecca. Rebecca was a young and beautiful woman.
"Welcome back, Mrs. Harrison," greeted Rebecca formally.
Mrs. Harrison.
That was the new title for Emma now.
Not "Emma" anymore.
But "Mrs. Harrison".
Marcus's wife.
Emma felt strange with that title.
"Thank you," answered Emma.
Emma went to Marcus's office.
The large office with a view of the city below.
Marcus was already there. Marcus was working at his desk.
Marcus saw Emma come in.
"Oh, Emma is here," said Marcus.
"Yes," answered Emma. Emma closed the office door.
"What's wrong?" asked Marcus.
"The people at the office..." Emma paused. "They're whispering about us. About our marriage."
Marcus stopped working.
"Whispering what?" asked Marcus.
"They're asking why we got married. They say our marriage was too fast. They don't believe that we like each other," told Emma. Emma felt her voice starting to shake.
Marcus listened carefully.
"Who is asking?" asked Marcus.
"Sarah. And the others," answered Emma. "They surrounded me and asked many things."
Marcus stood up from his chair.
Marcus walked toward Emma.
"It's okay," said Marcus. "Let them whisper."
"But..." said Emma.
"Let them," repeated Marcus. "Emma is my wife now. If there are people who want to whisper, that is their problem. Not Emma's problem."
Emma looked at Marcus.
There was something in Marcus's eyes. There was something fierce. There was something protective.
"Marcus..." said Emma. "I'm embarrassed."
"Don't be embarrassed," said Marcus. "You didn't do anything wrong. We getting married is an official thing. Valid in the eyes of the law."
Marcus looked out the window. Looked at the office area below.
Marcus left his office.
Emma followed.
Marcus walked toward the employee area.
Everyone started focusing on Marcus.
Marcus stopped.
Marcus looked at Sarah and the others.
"Do you have free time?" asked Marcus in a firm tone.
"Huh?" Sarah looked shocked.
"If you have free time, you should use it to work. Not to whisper about other people's private lives," said Marcus. His voice was cold. Very cold.
Everyone became silent.
"Emma is my wife. We getting married is our decision. Not your decision," continued Marcus. "So I ask you to respect our privacy."
Marcus turned around. Marcus went back to his office.
Emma followed.
After Marcus and Emma entered the office.
Emma could hear whispering outside.
But this time, the whispering was different.
Now, people didn't dare whisper too loudly.
Now, people knew that Marcus didn't like them whispering.
Inside Marcus's office.
Emma sat on the sofa.
Emma still felt shocked by what just happened.
Marcus stood near the window.
"Thank you," said Emma softly.
Marcus turned around.
"What?" asked Marcus.
"Thank you," repeated Emma. "Because Marcus defended me."
Marcus stood silent for a moment.
"That is a husband's responsibility," said Marcus finally. "To protect your wife."
Emma felt something strange in her chest. Something warm.
Something that Emma had never felt before.
Emma felt something change again.
Yesterday, Marcus smiled and cancelled a meeting.
Today, Marcus defended Emma firmly and got angry.
Something was developing between Marcus and Emma.
Something small. But real.
Something that felt like care.
That evening, at home.
Emma was cooking dinner.
Lily was playing in the living room.
Marcus arrived home at 5 PM.
Marcus saw Emma in the kitchen.
Marcus saw Emma's face.
Emma's face still looked slightly tired.
"Are you okay?" asked Marcus.
"Yes," answered Emma. "Just a bit tired from a long day."
Marcus didn't say anything.
But Marcus sat at the dining table. Marcus watched Emma cook.
Not like usual. Marcus usually went to his own room.
But this time, Marcus chose to sit and watch Emma.
"Thank you," whispered Emma. Emma whispered to herself.
But Marcus heard it.
"What did Emma say?" asked Marcus.
"Nothing," answered Emma with a smile.
But Emma knew that Marcus heard it.
And Emma knew that Marcus cared.