That morning felt different. Sunlight filtered through the window of the hospital room, illuminating Vivian's still pale face but looking much calmer than yesterday.
Well was still there. Loyally in the same chair. The difference was, this time his gaze was no longer blank. He stared at Vivian who was awake, even though she was still not fully energized. "You should go back to rest," Vivian's voice was slow, almost drowning in the silence of the room.
Well shook his head without thinking. "I don't want to." A simple answer, and very stubborn.
Vivian took a deep breath, trying to hide the small smile that was almost etched in her mind. "How many days haven't you slept well?" Well was silent for a moment. His eyes fell on their fingers that were still intertwined. "I don't remember."
And it wasn't a joke. Vivian looked at the man for a long time. There was something in the light in Well's eyes that she couldn't explain with words—there was guilt, and maybe even... deep longing. "Why did you do all this?" Vivian asked softly.
Well raised his head. Their eyes met. He let out a thin, flat laugh. "Why? Because you're my wife."
The answer came out without the slightest hesitation. And this time, Vivian didn't argue. He let the truth hang in the air, filling the space between them.
A few hours later, the door to the hospital room was wide open. Farid, the senior manager of their company, stood stiffly in the doorway. As soon as his eyes locked on Well's position, sitting too close to Vivian, he stopped. His gaze moved from their touching hands, to Well's face, then back to Vivian.
The atmosphere became tense in an instant. "Mrs. Vivian," Farid said. His tone sounded strange.
Vivian tried to move to get up, but Well quickly stopped her. "Don't. You need to rest."
The reaction was too spontaneous. Too personal for an employee to her boss. And Farid saw it all. "Okay." Farid's tone changed sharply. "What exactly is your relationship with Mrs. Vivian?"
Well looked at Vivian, as if giving the woman space to make a decision. However, Vivian just remained silent. His eyes were fixed on Well, and for the first time, he didn't run away. Well took a deep breath. He stood up straight, eye to eye with Farid.
"She's my wife."
The news spread faster than expected. The entire office was in an uproar. In the office, everything changed. Farid frowned roughly in his room before there was a knock on the door. "Come in," Farid ordered simply.
Well entered calmly. He sat down without waiting for further instructions.
"Do you know what's going on right now?" Farid asked with a tense face.
"I know."
"The whole office is talking about you! About Vivian! About the relationship you've been hiding all this time!" Farid's voice rose slightly. Well was silent. He didn't deny it, nor did he defend himself.
"This is no small matter, Well. This could affect the company's reputation," Farid said again.
"I know, Mr. Farid." "If you knew, why didn't you ever tell me from the beginning?" Farid asked, his tone mixed with a hint of jealousy that was hard to hide.
Well looked at her squarely. "That's why it's my personal matter." "But now, it's a company matter!"
That night, Well returned to the hospital. He opened the door to his room and found Vivian waiting for him with a slightly calm face.
"There's a commotion in one of the offices," Vivian said softly.
Well approached. "Leave them alone. This is our business." Vivian frowned. "Aren't you worried?"
Well returned the look, trying to see Vivian's reaction.
"Why not... haha," Vivian replied, a small chuckle breaking the tense atmosphere.
Well stopped by the bed. He once again held Vivian's hand tightly. "I'm only worried about one thing." Vivian waited. "What?"
Well lowered his face slightly until their eyes met. "I'm afraid of losing you... it's not my job." Silence. But this time, the silence was no longer painful. Vivian looked at their intertwined hands, then at the face of the man standing silently behind her. Slowly, she returned the grip.
Outside, their world may be shaking. But inside, it's just the two of them. A truth finally free from the shadows. They're no longer just CEO and employee.
They're husband and wife. And what greater challenge is just beginning?