I turned and made my way to the central control room, pulling up the surveillance footage from the room.

Artemis was already dressed in a seductive fox outfit, kneeling on the floor like a willing servant.

Conrad sat before her, his eyes running over the delicate fabric, his gaze filled with desire.

He sat up straight on the sofa, his posture dignified, but the crimson tint at the corners of his eyes and the quickening of his breath betrayed the urgency of his need.

The woman in front of him, utterly submissive, was focused on him, her attention unwavering.

In a move driven by raw desire, Conrad lifted her by the waist, tossing her onto the bed, his body following with haste.

There was no playfulness in his movements today, no teasing. He simply needed to release his cravings to satisfy the gnawing ache inside him so he could return to me.

But when he hurried back to the private room, he found me gone.

The team members said that once he left, I had disappeared without a trace.

He panicked instantly.

When he stumbled back into the room, he was startled to find me calmly sitting on the sofa.

"Wife, when did you come back?"

I met his gaze without a flicker of emotion. "Didn’t you say you were coming back to rest?"

Instead of getting nervous, Conrad just smiled, the corners of his lips curling in a way that didn't quite reach his eyes.

Then, in a flash, the lights in the room suddenly went dark.

Conrad’s team flooded in, carrying flowers and candles and circled around us like stars around a moon.

He knelt before me in a slow, deliberate motion and presented a red velvet box.

The diamond inside sparkled under the dim light, casting a brief flash of brilliance that made everyone gasp in awe.

"Brother Conrad is really generous! Did he use the operation bonus to buy this ring?"

"Oh my gosh, you’re so lucky, sister! What a catch!"

"The captain is so affectionate; he's truly a perfect man."

***

As the ring settled on my finger, my heart stuttered.

When Conrad and I had first married, we had nothing.

He had lured me back home with a ring crafted from a simple soda can pull-tab, far from the grand gesture I had once dreamed of.

We never had the proper wedding ring and that had always remained an unspoken regret between us.

Five years, exactly five years and I finally had this wedding ring.

Tears pricked at my eyes and Conrad rushed to his feet, pulling me into his arms and offering soft words of comfort.

Artemis, standing nearby, smiled knowingly.

"Conrad even asked me what kind of ring girls like. Sister, he’s really thoughtful!"

She flicked her hair back and the diamond on her ring finger flashed in a cascade of colors.

She smiled sweetly at the crowd, adding, "This? My boyfriend gave it to me."

And in that simple statement, everyone understood exactly what she was implying.

The warm atmosphere that had lingered moments ago evaporated in an instant, replaced by a cold tension.

Conrad hurriedly spoke, his words meant to patch up the cracks he had just created.

"Wife, after the mission ends the day after tomorrow, our whole team can retire. I’ll take you far away and from now on, I’ll be with you, always by your side."

I could see the unmistakable unease in Artemis’s eyes, but I didn’t press further.

Instead, I feigned being touched by Conrad’s empty promises.

Leaning against him, my expression remained unchanged, cold, indifferent.

How revolting.

Only moments ago, he had been tangled up with another woman and now, here he was, swearing eternal devotion.

It didn’t matter anymore.

Two days from now, I would be gone.

The next morning, I woke to find Conrad had already bought breakfast.

He carefully arranged all the food in front of me, his smile warm and effortless.

"Wife, today I’ll stay home with you. I’m not going anywhere."

He pulled me into his arms, holding me tight.

Just as I was about to pull away, Conrad’s phone rang, the sound cutting through the moment.

He answered the call, his expression shifting in shock.

At the same time, my phone buzzed with a message.

“I’m at your back door. Guess, will he choose me or choose you?”

Conrad hurried out, his voice hurried and sharp, "There's an urgent situation with the team. My wife, I need to go," not even bothering to grab his jacket before rushing out.

I turned and headed upstairs, opening the surveillance footage from the back door.

What Conrad didn’t know was that before we even moved into this house, I’d had a full set of surveillance cameras installed.

That was the standard of an intelligence analyst.

But Conrad, the captain of the special forces team, had left his professionalism behind.

As soon as he got in the car, his face darkened, his cold eyes locking onto Artemis.

She didn’t say a word. She simply leaned down.

The sound of her movements echoed, low and lewd and Conrad’s expression shifted from cold to enjoyment, then to an uncontrollable passion.

A short while later, he lifted Artemis from the front seat and placed her in the back.

He climbed in after her, not even bothering to close the car door.

From the way the car shook, it was clear how intense their actions had become.

Almost an hour later, the car finally grew silent.

Conrad stepped out, looking impeccably dressed, as always.

He casually changed his shoes by the door while I received a message from Artemis.

"He’s so cruel. It's so big, I couldn’t even handle it."

"He insisted on not using a condom today, saying he wanted me to carry his baby. It’s unbearable, too intense to stand."

"He doesn’t love you at all! He told me I’m the one he wants to build a life with."

"You’d better know your place and leave. Got it?"

***

As Conrad rushed into the bathroom after returning home, I switched off my phone.

Alright, Artemis.

I would leave.

But I couldn’t help wondering after I left, would Conrad marry you, or would he be the one to bury you?

On the day of the operation, Conrad reluctantly bid me farewell.

He kissed my forehead with such care. "Wife, after today, I’ll be free. Wait for me."

His car sped off and I turned toward the rooftop.

Once in the helicopter, the person beside me shifted, almost pressing against me in the confined space.

"It’s not too late to regret now."

I leaned back, closing my eyes to rest.

"Stop nagging."

He chuckled softly, fastening my seatbelt for me.

His tone shifted to serious. "The decapitation operation is critical. If successful, we’ll dismantle the underground forces in the southwest. The director specifically requested that you be in charge on the front lines."

I nodded, strapping on my gear and preparing for the parachute jump.

But as soon as I entered the designated outdoor command post, a nagging feeling crept in; I sensed something was wrong.

The third operator at the door was acting suspiciously.

I spun around to flee, but before I could make it, a sharp sting hit my neck.

As darkness began to creep in, I barely heard the words, "We finally got you, the all-powerful intelligence analyst. Hurry up and inform the boss; we’ve got her!"

The coordinates finally stopped moving and the entire special forces team took up their positions, guns drawn.

Conrad seemed caught off guard. "The coordinates are that precise? Didn’t all the informants we planted before end up dead?"

The captain’s voice rang out, steady and forceful. "It’s the intelligence analyst. She infiltrated their system and risked everything to send the signal."

"Today's mission is to take down the enemy’s stronghold and rescue the intelligence analyst. This comes from the director’s orders... and also... my personal request."

Conrad chuckled, his voice laced with amusement. "It seems this analyst holds quite a special place for you, Captain."

"Yes, she’s invaluable to me. I believe there’s someone just as irreplaceable to you, Captain," came the reply, sharp but knowing.

Conrad’s laughter deepened, tinged with longing. "Yes, my wife, she’s my greatest treasure."

Artemis sneered, her disdain cutting through the air. "That analyst? Always hiding, always in the rear. Now there’s a big reward for this mission and she finally steps out to steal the spotlight, huh?"

Before the captain could voice his anger, Conrad spoke first, his voice sharp and commanding. "Enough! What do you know? Without her, we wouldn’t have made it through a single mission. You wouldn’t even be standing here now!"

Artemis fell silent, sulking, her lips pressed tightly together.

The group advanced swiftly through the night, their steps swift and sure. The perimeter attack was seamless and when Conrad and his team rushed into the warehouse, they found the leader barely alive, sitting slumped on the second floor with a long-haired woman tied beside him.

The dim lighting made it impossible to see her face, but an unfamiliar sensation stirred within him, a vague sense of recognition he couldn’t place.

Before he could ponder further, Artemis’s groans broke the moment.

"It hurts! My leg... it’s killing me!"

Amidst the chaos and gunfire, Conrad’s hands were gentle as he cradled Artemis in his arms, his expression softening as he held her close.

His voice was steady, but the urgency was clear. "I can see the bone. The injury is severe. We can’t afford to wait."

Artemis whimpered, her voice trembling with fear. "Just blow them all up, Conrad. If we wait any longer, I’ll lose my leg... I can’t... I’m scared."

"No," came the captain’s firm reply. "We need the leader alive. And the analyst is still in there."

Artemis’s cries of pain drowned out the rest of the voices.

"Conrad, save me! Am I not more important than that analyst?"

Conrad finally turned toward the leader, his gaze lingering. The analyst had been invaluable to him, helping him succeed time and time again.

But Artemis… her agony was undeniable and his heart twisted at the sight.

The gunfire outside the warehouse continued to ring in his ears.

Analyst… Oh, the gratitude he felt couldn’t compare to the silent bond he shared with Artemis in moments of intimacy.

With a heavy heart, Conrad made his choice.

He grabbed his subordinate by the collar, his voice low but sharp.

"Perimeter’s secure. No need to wait any longer. Throw a bomb in and make it look like the bandits did it. Move, don’t drag your feet."

Bending down, Conrad scooped Artemis into his arms and turned, leaving the warehouse behind.

The instant the bomb was hurled, the enemy leader burst into an uncontrollable fit of laughter.

Conrad glanced back, eyes narrowing.

The explosion lit up the night, illuminating the figure of the bound woman.

I met his gaze, offering a sad, resigned smile.

Conrad’s eyes widened in disbelief.