Contract Marriage with My Secret Partner in Crime-Chapter 159: No More Secrets

After breakfast, Kendrick reached for Zephany’s hand, his touch warm and certain. He gave her a small smile that carried something mischievous and said, "Let me show you something."

Zephany blinked, watching as he began to lead her down the hallway. She tilted her head, not entirely sure where he was taking her, until she realized his steps were heading toward his room. Her pulse quickened.

Her thoughts spiraled almost instantly. Why his room? What does he want to do in there? She swallowed hard, her mind flashing back to the one time they had crossed the line while drunk. We did that before, but we were both out of our minds then. Is he planning to do that again? In the middle of the morning? I’m not prepared for this. What am I supposed to do?

Her grip on his hand tensed slightly, and she glanced nervously at him. Kendrick, ever observant, caught the sudden flicker of panic in her eyes. His lips curved upward as if he had just uncovered a delicious secret.

"Wife?" he teased lightly, lowering his voice as if to catch her red-handed. "What are you thinking? Is it something naughty?"

Zephany nearly stumbled. Her head snapped toward him, her cheeks already glowing. "No way! I’m not!" she protested quickly, pouting at him with flustered indignation.

But her flushed face betrayed her denial, and Kendrick couldn’t hold back a laugh. Her reaction was far too easy to read.

They reached his room, and as soon as the door opened, Zephany’s blush deepened. It wasn’t as if she had never seen his room before, but the idea of him intentionally leading her here stirred a different kind of tension inside her.

Kendrick chuckled at the sight of her embarrassed expression. "Relax, wife. It isn’t something like that," he reassured, amusement still dancing in his voice.

He crossed the room to a particular spot near his bookshelf. With practiced ease, he pressed a hidden mechanism, and a panel in the wall shifted, revealing a concealed passage. The soft mechanical hum filled the air as the hidden entrance came into view.

Zephany’s eyes widened in shock. She clutched her bag strap instinctively, awe spreading across her face.

"Wanna see what’s inside?" Kendrick asked, glancing back at her with a knowing grin.

She could only nod, her earlier embarrassment giving way to amazement and a bubbling excitement. "Yes," she breathed. Her eyes sparkled now as if she had just stumbled upon a new adventure.

Kendrick took her hand again and led her down the passage. Inside, the dim light gave way to the glow of screens, consoles, and monitors that lined the secret room. The air hummed with the quiet power of advanced technology.

Zephany’s mouth parted slightly as she scanned the space. She slowly turned in place, taking in the workstations and hidden tech. "So you have something like this," she murmured, her tone filled with astonishment. "No wonder you’re always inside your room. So all of this was hidden here."

Kendrick allowed himself a small, proud smirk. He moved toward the main console and sat down. "Come sit. We can investigate the case here."

Zephany followed, settling into the chair beside him. The glow of another monitor lit her features as she leaned forward curiously. Before they began, she turned her head and looked at him with a sly expression.

"I also have something hidden in my room," she said softly. "Wanna check it out?"

His brows lifted in surprise. "Really? So you also asked something from Cassius?"

She nodded without hesitation. "Yes. This setup—you asked this from Cassius too, right?"

"Yeah," Kendrick admitted, his lips curling into a half-smirk. "After all, he already knows about my secret identity. Might as well benefit from it."

"Exactly." Zephany’s eyes narrowed playfully in agreement.

They exchanged a knowing look before standing. This time, Zephany took the lead. She guided him out of the hidden room and toward her bedroom. Her heart thudded as she pushed the door open.

The moment Kendrick stepped inside, she felt a hot wave rush to her cheeks. He had never entered her room before, not once in the months they had lived together. The intimacy of his presence here startled her so much that she moved quickly to distract herself. Almost instantly, she pushed a hidden button on the wall, revealing her own concealed passage.

"Come," she said hurriedly, her blush still burning. "Let’s see it together."

Kendrick followed, his curiosity piqued. They walked down the hidden passage until they reached the exit near the side gate of the property. There, parked quietly, was a sleek motorcycle, ready for use.

Kendrick’s eyes flicked from the motorcycle to her face, his expression caught between amusement and disbelief. "So this is where you go out and come back. No wonder I never noticed you leaving last week."

Zephany lowered her gaze, guilt painting her features. "Yeah," she admitted softly.

Kendrick noticed her unease and decided not to press. Instead, he softened his tone, leaning slightly toward her. "It’s good to know we no longer have to hide secrets from each other," he said. "I hope we can always be open with one another."

Her eyes lifted to meet his, a teasing glint breaking through her embarrassment. "My husband is Obscura. It’s actually hard to keep secrets from him. Don’t you think so?"

Kendrick’s lips curved into a smirk at her words. "It’s good that my wife knows it."

The air between them lightened, and together they walked back to the hidden tech room, ready to begin their investigation into Project Helix.

Meanwhile, across the city, Cassius stood before Sophia in his dimly lit office. His voice carried quiet resolve as he said, "Gather the people. We need to step up the cure of the Helix serum."

---

On the other side of the city, Reynold suddenly bolted upright from the chair where he had dozed off. A sharp breath escaped him as a wave of memories crashed into his mind with the force of a flood. His chest tightened, his hand clutching at the armrest as he tried to make sense of what had just resurfaced.

Jeric, who had been sitting across from him, immediately noticed the abrupt movement. His brows furrowed as he leaned forward, his face practically spelling out the question he did not speak. "What’s wrong?" his eyes asked, wide and alert.

Reynold pressed a hand against his forehead, trying to steady himself. His voice came out hoarse but firm. "I remember," he said, drawing in a sharp breath. "I remember what happened the other day."

Jeric blinked, caught off guard by the sudden declaration. "What do you mean?" he asked, leaning closer, his tone both curious and cautious.

Reynold looked at him, eyes burning with urgency. "Isn’t there a gap in the timeline of our investigation? Something we could never account for?" He paused, his words heavy. "I remember now what happened in that gap."

The shift in Jeric’s expression was almost instant. His confusion gave way to excitement as he straightened in his seat. "Really? Tell me what it is."

Reynold stood, pacing the room with restless energy. "It is about Cassius," he said gravely. "And Levy. Her involvement... along with her mother. We need to hurry and check it out."

Jeric’s jaw tightened. He did not waste time asking for details. "Then let’s go."

The two of them grabbed their things and rushed outside, sliding into Reynold’s car. The engine roared to life as Reynold steered them quickly through the city streets. The urgency in his driving matched the heaviness in his words. Neither of them spoke much during the ride; both were focused, both knew time was pressing.

When they finally reached the Elite Legacy Institute, Reynold slowed the car as his sharp eyes scanned the courtyard. It did not take long for him to spot Levy walking alongside Celeste, Mira, and Dana. The four girls were heading toward the school cafeteria, their voices light, unaware of the storm circling around them.

Reynold parked the car a short distance away, his gaze fixed on Levy. He inhaled deeply, as if steadying himself for what he was about to do. Jeric gave him a questioning glance, but Reynold did not explain. Instead, he opened the door and stepped out.

Jeric followed, staying a step behind as Reynold deliberately adjusted his path. Just as the girls neared the cafeteria doors, Reynold walked past them and let his shoulder softly brush against Levy’s.

Levy turned at the gentle bump, her eyes lifting to his face. She blinked, startled, but not hostile. Reynold immediately raised his hands in apology. "I’m sorry," he said with a calm voice. "Are you okay?"

Levy shook her head quickly, a small smile tugging at her lips. "No, it’s okay," she replied politely. She glanced at her friends, then added, "Let’s hurry while there’s still only a few people inside the cafeteria." With that, she guided Celeste, Mira, and Dana toward the entrance.