Chapter 49

"What's going on?" Ethan's voice cut through the air as he ended the call and rushed toward the bathroom door.

His hand hovered over the knob when Vivian's panicked shout stopped him. "I'm fine! Don't you dare come in!"

A loud crash echoed from behind the door.

That didn't sound fine at all.

After a brief hesitation, he pushed the door open.

"Ah! Who said you could enter? Get out!" Vivian stood frozen in the bathtub, hastily wrapping a towel around herself. Though she moved quickly, he'd already caught a glimpse of her bare skin.

Ethan's breath hitched. His throat went dry as his gaze lingered.

How had he never noticed how breathtaking she was?

Four years living together, and he'd been blind to this treasure right under his nose.

When his brain finally rebooted, he noticed the fallen clothes rack. Her garments and dry towel lay soaked in the tub, leaving her with only a dripping wet towel for coverage.

"Need assistance?" His voice came out surprisingly steady.

She looked utterly tantalizing, water droplets glistening on her exposed shoulders.

"What do you think?" Vivian's cheeks burned crimson.

'Has this man no shame? Barging in when I'm naked! If not for this towel, I'd dig a hole and disappear right now!' Her thoughts screamed embarrassment.

"You seem to be in quite the predicament. How may I assist?" Ethan stepped closer, concern etching his features.

"St-stay back! That's the best help you can give!" She stumbled backward in her flustered retreat, not noticing the tub's edge until it was too late.

"Careful!" Ethan lunged forward.

His arms encircled her waist just as she tipped backward. They crashed into the water together, bodies pressed flush in the shallow tub.

Skin met skin through thin, wet fabric. Heartbeats pounded in sync.

Ethan found himself staring down at Vivian, really seeing her for the first time.

Her eyes held galaxies - soft yet mysterious. Rosy blooms colored her porcelain cheeks, captivating him completely.

"Planning to stay like this forever? My legs are going numb." Her arms had instinctively wound around his neck.

The spell broke. Ethan schooled his expression into neutrality as he carefully extracted them from the tub. Turning his back like a proper gentleman, he stated, "I'll fetch your clothes."

"But I can—"

He was already gone.

Vivian sighed, surrendering to the absurdity. They'd been intimate before, for heaven's sake. She was carrying his twins. Modesty seemed rather pointless now.

Wrapping the damp towel tighter, she perched on the tub's edge to wait.

In the bedroom, Ethan located her nightgown easily enough. Then a small jewelry box caught his eye.

The automatic lid revealed modest pieces - except one. A peach-shaped crystal pendant identical to the one auctioned at last month's charity gala.

'The real deal? But this was custom-made for the Princess of Berlin...' His mind raced.

Just how many secrets did his seemingly docile wife harbor?

His phone buzzed. Ethan Young again.

"Did they talk? Who's behind this?" Ethan's calm tone barely concealed his urgency.

"No." A heavy sigh traveled through the line. "Police just reported they're dead. Suicide."

"Damn it!" Ethan's fist clenched. Another dead end when he'd been so close!

"Keep digging. I want Tristan's killer found." His voice turned glacial. Then, after a beat: "Compile a dossier on Vivian. Everything. Classified or not."

"Wait... Mrs. Blackwood's records?" Ethan Young sounded genuinely perplexed.

'Four years married, and only now he wants her background check? What's gotten into him?' The secretary wondered silently.