"Get out,"

A wisp of steam swirled at the surface of the teacup providing some liveliness to the eerie silence. The two women were sitting opposite each other one scrutinizing the other while the other simply accepted the scrutiny wordlessly.

After a while, the older woman opened her mouth and said, "I think you already know my identity so there is no need for any introductions," she said while placing her right leg over her left crossing them at the knees.

Quinn's senses were sending warning signals to her brain letting her know that she should be vigilant of this person. Her nerves were tense but she remained calm while staring right back at her without a change in her expression. 

"Very pleased to meet you, she replied while holding back the urge to grab the teaspoon just in case this woman does something to her.

There were a lot of things she could do with a spoon when it came to it. The two of them looked at it each other for a while and Athen who usually felt domineering and strong suddenly felt like she was being suppressed by Quinn's soul-piercing stare.

Her throat suddenly felt itchy like she was desperate for a smoke. She took out a cigarette tin from her purse and lighter but knowing Leif's character Quinn opened her mouth to speak.

"You shouldn't do that here. If you want to smoke you can leave," she said not being polite at all. The moment Athen spoke she knew there was no need to gravel before this person. Her relationship with Leif wasn't good at all.

Athen laughed softly but there was a trace of madness in that laugh. She put back the cigarette tin and said, "Ah, he knows how to pick them... When he picked you he was probably looking for someone who can stand up against his witch of a mother, right?... Let me ask you this, does he even touch you or do you two sit so far apart that people can't even tell you are together."

Quinn's face remained calm as she replied, "I don't see how any of that is your business?"

Athen's smile grew bigger her eyes darker as she stared at her hard. "It's not me who you need to convince but that old hag. I want him to keep the position of the head of the family because I stand to lose a lot without him in power.  I might look like an enemy but I am an ally with the same interests," she said and Quinn finally understood her intentions but she remained vigilant.

She was about to open her mouth and say something when the elevator made a ding sound before the doors opened.

Quinn immediately got up with a smile under Athen's gaze and called out sweetly, "Husband."

Leif who was surrounded by a superimposed aura paused his entire body stiff and unable to move for a split second. He watched on as Quinn showed a smile so sweet it was dripping with honey.

He couldn't understand what was happening for a moment. Before he knew it Quinn pressed his shoulders and stood on her tippy toes before whispering intimately in his ear, "I am sorry."

Leif caught a wisp of a sweet floral scent lingering on her body making him muddled to the point that he forgot to react for a moment.

Her soft lips lightly touched his cheek in a fleeting kiss before she set her feet back down. She grabbed his hand and interlocked their fingers before pulling him toward the couch while saying, "I missed you so much."

Leif's heart was pounding hard and he could barely think with his heart in a foggy mess.

Quinn helped him take off his suit jacket before saying, "You and mother need to talk so I will go into the kitchen and give you two some space. Does mother want to stay for dinner?"

"Yes..."

"No..."

They responded simultaneously but it was easy to tell who answered what. "Okay, I will listen to my husband," she said before turning around to leave.

Athen, "..."

She honestly thought he would rush to the sink and frantically wash his face with antibacterial soap but he didn't react at all. Even when he was called husband so disgustingly coquettish he didn't say anything. This was very very interesting.

"You aren't going to wash your face?... Or maybe you want some sanitiser," she said placing a bottle of it on the table.

Leif ignored everything she said and contained the urge to pick up that hand sanitiser and disinfect his cheek which still had the lingering warmth from her lips.

"How did you get inside here?" he asked and Athen's smile froze. How did she get in here? Well, she beat up a bodyguard that patrol outside the building and dragged him to the parking lot before using his handprint to access the elevator

The bodyguard couldn't be blamed for this because this woman might look simple but she enlisted in the army and served three years on a heated battlefield which is where she met James Carnell. She was as ruthless as her father when in combat thus this bodyguard stood no chance.

She ignored his question and asked, "Is it a contract marriage or you do like her and are marrying for love?"

"Get out," he said his voice low but impactful.

Athen didn't even show the slightest anger. She got up and she said, "I don't care what it is just make sure you maintain this performance. You need to convince that Old hag that you are in a real relationship," she said before leaving with her heels clanking on the floor.

As soon as the elevator door closed and it started descending, Leif hastily got up his entire body so uncomfortable like he had been set alight.

Quinn stuck her head out of the kitchen about to talk about what just happened but she saw him bolting up the stairs like he was on fire.

Quinn, "..."

She was well aware of his condition but seeing that she was extremely disliked, Quinn felt peeved which was quite unreasonable, to be honest. She walked back into the kitchen and drizzled olive oil on the steak her mind adrift.