"Is that all you have to say?" Anna asked, still trying to process his unexpected calmness.
Daniel humd lazily, resting one arm behind his head. "Hmm... what else do you want to say?" His eyes glead with quiet amusent as they locked onto hers.
Anna scoffed under her breath. Huh, all that jealousy for nothing? What a strange man.
"Did you want to react a certain way, Wifey?" he asked, his tone teasing yet sharp enough to draw her attention back to him.
But Anna didn’t bite. Not this ti.
"You really sound suspicious right now. Not after what you di—" She froze mid-sentence, realizing too late what she was about to reveal.
Daniel caught it instantly. His lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Say it?" he murmured, clearly enjoying her flustered state.
Anna’s cheeks burned as she jerked upright. "Nothing," she muttered quickly, trying to move away.
But Daniel wasn’t about to let her go. His hand shot out, pulling her back against him. "We haven’t finished talking, Wifey."
She blinked, startled by the sudden seriousness in his eyes. The teasing warmth had vanished, replaced by a stillness that felt heavier—almost dangerous.
Daniel wasn’t a fool. He knew exactly what Anna was doing. And he was far ahead of her, careful not to let his real identity slip before he chose to.
"You thought I was jealous, didn’t you?" he asked quietly, his gaze never leaving hers.
Anna’s lips parted, but no words ca out.
Of course he was jealous, he thought. But he’s not stupid.
She had brought up DarkKnight on purpose, knowing his possessive nature. She’d wanted him to investigate, to find sothing, anything to make DarkKnight disappear from her life.
But she’d miscalculated.
Because how could he get rid of soone... when he himself was the man she was talking about?
When she didn’t respond, Daniel gently took her chin between his fingers and kissed her again—softly, briefly, and far too quickly for her liking.
It wasn’t like their usual kisses—hungry, consuming. This one was tender, restrained... almost reverent.
Anna’s heart stumbled in her chest. For a mont, she couldn’t reconcile the man before her—the one who could be so calm, so gentle—with the Daniel she knew as her husband.
And then, he said sothing that made her breath catch.
"Yes, I’m jealous," he admitted, his voice low but steady. "Jealous of every man who ever tries to get close to you. But then..." He paused, his thumb brushing against her lower lip. "How can I not let you shine?"
Her eyes widened, searching his face.
"They’re your fans," he continued, tone soft but certain. "And if I’m not wrong, you need to get closer to them—to connect. Isn’t that right?"
Anna just stared at him, words escaping her. Just how much did he study before lecturing like that? she thought, completely thrown off guard.
Daniel, sitting there with that composed expression and calm authority, looked nothing like the jealous man she’d known monts ago.
He looked almost angelic—like a preacher dressed in white, calmly preaching her back into reason.
"You really know how to distract ," Anna muttered, narrowing her eyes. "Just how many people have you set to watch and report back to you?"
The mont the words left her mouth, Daniel froze.
W-why would she suddenly say that? D-did she find out about Kevin?
Anna’s gaze sharpened with knowing amusent, and she smirked inwardly.
"You seem to know everything," she said, turning to face him fully. "It’s just who knows nothing about you."
Daniel watched her carefully, tension still coiling in his shoulders—until he realized she wasn’t truly accusing him of anything concrete. Only then did his body loosen in relief.
But then her words hit him properly.
She doesn’t know anything about .
The thought stunned him. The faint smile on his lips slowly faded.
What would she say if she did know him?If she learned he’d spent years climbing to the top purely for revenge—just to bring down her family?
He couldn’t rember the last ti he felt this at peace... yet the second that past brushed his mind, fear sank its claws into him again.
Would the truth destroy everything between us? Or would she still choose ?
The idea of losing Anna was unbearable—yet how could he ignore the promise he’d made to his aunt? After everything they suffered because of Hugo Bennett, vengeance had beco his reason to breathe.
"There’s nothing about that you don’t know," Daniel said quietly. But this ti, hesitation threaded through his tone—clear enough for Anna to catch.
Her playful expression faltered, curiosity replacing it.
Then Daniel forced a smile. "Am I not just the rude Daniel Clafford?"
Anna blinked. And suddenly, the mory crashed back—that night, her drunken tongue, and the nickna she’d given him. Her cheeks ward in embarrassnt.
Of all nas... why that one?
She should’ve gone with sothing like Shaless Devil instead.
"Haha, very funny. I know you don’t like that na," Anna retorted, rolling her eyes. For a mont, she completely forgot about the flicker of tension between them and pushed herself away from him.
"Where are you going?" Daniel asked, one brow arched.
But the look Anna gave him made him glance down—straight to his legs.
He was still half-naked, his boxers and pants tangled around his knees.
"We both need to clean up," she said pointedly, her expression making it very clear what she ant.
Daniel blinked once, then chuckled under his breath, realizing she was right. He quickly tugged his pants up, muttering sothing unintelligible before getting off the bed.
"Let’s go," he said, motioning for her to join him.
But when Anna didn’t move, his brow furrowed. "What’s wrong?"
"I don’t think we’re running out of water anyti soon," she said, crossing her arms. "And besides, I don’t trust you anymore."
Daniel tilted his head slightly, curiosity lighting his eyes. "And what exactly is that supposed to an?"
Anna hesitated, her cheeks heating. "Who knows what you might do once we... you know, get naked in there."
Her voice trailed off as her mind betrayed her—flashing with mories that made her throat tighten and her pulse quicken.
Daniel’s lips curved into a slow, knowing smirk. He didn’t need to say a word; his expression said it all.
Anna groaned inwardly, turning her face away. Great. Now he knows exactly what I’m thinking.
She could feel the heat rise to her cheeks again. Daniel’s body had beco her weakness—one she was growing dangerously accustod to. And though she’d never admit it aloud, the truth lingered in the back of her mind.
Touching him... was starting to feel like a habit she couldn’t break.
Before Daniel could say anything, Anna quickly grabbed a fresh pair of clothes from the cupboard and dashed into the other room.
---
By the ti she had changed and stepped out, heading back toward their bedroom, she nearly bumped into Mariam in the hallway.
"Is that for , Mariam?" Anna asked, her eyes imdiately catching the food tray in the maid’s hands.
The rich aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air, and Anna’s stomach growled in protest. After everything that had just happened with Daniel, she suddenly realized how exhausted—and starving—she was.
But Mariam’s response left her montarily speechless.
"No, madam," Mariam said politely. "This is for Master. He said he was very hungry and wanted sothing quick."
Anna blinked, caught between disbelief and embarrassnt.
Mariam, completely oblivious to what had gone on inside the room earlier, looked at her mistress with innocent eyes. She too had been surprised when Daniel requested such a large al for himself—so soon after erging from the bedroom. But, of course, she couldn’t possibly guess why her master was so desperate for sothing "nutritious."
"Oh, Mariam! You’re here—good."
Daniel’s voice rang from behind, smooth and commanding as always. Mariam nearly jumped before hurrying forward at his call.
"Bring the food inside," he said, gesturing toward the table.
"Yes, Master," she replied, setting the tray down carefully. Once everything was arranged neatly, she gave a polite nod.
"Enjoy your al, Master," Mariam said with a small smile before leaving the room, blissfully unaware of the charged glances being exchanged behind her.
Once they were finally alone, Daniel wasted no ti before speaking—his tone deliberately exaggerated.
"Mmm... this soup slls incredible," he said, inhaling deeply. "And this toasted salad—looks absolutely delicious."
Anna’s eyes snapped toward him imdiately. He was being way too dramatic, and she knew it. The sight of Daniel acting so out of character almost made her laugh—it was rare to see him anything but composed and serious.
But the more he went on, the harder it beca for her to keep pretending she wasn’t affected.
She crossed her arms, trying to look unimpressed, though her stomach betrayed her with a quiet growl. The aroma of the food was intoxicating, and she hated how tempted she felt.
Daniel caught the flicker in her eyes and hid a grin behind his spoon.
It was funny, really—how she could pretend to be unbothered when every bit of her body language scread otherwise.
But then Daniel decided against teasing her any further. She looked too tired — the kind of exhaustion that ca from both effort and emotion — and for once, he couldn’t bring himself to push her more.
He picked up a spoonful of soup and held it out toward her with a faint smile.
"Here," he said softly, amusent glinting in his eyes. "A reward... for being such a good wife in bed"
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