My husband, Rowan Bradford, was a chemistry professor at Ashford University. He had always been a caring and devoted husband. Thanks to that, despite being married for years, I had always been told I still look like a carefree college student.

Every year on our anniversary, Rowan would prepare a thoughtful gift for me.

Friends often said we were the perfect couple, from school uniforms to wedding dresses.

I had believed it too.

But just now, while helping him with his coat, a small bottle fell out. I picked it up, noticing it was only half full.

The label had cursive characters printed on it. [Intimate Time]

It was a bottle of erotic lubricant.

My hands trembled slightly as I held it, my fingertips warming with unease.

Without thinking, I asked, "What is this?"

Rowan paused for a fraction of a second before his usual calm demeanor returned "Oh, a manufacturer specializing in this kind of product approached the lab recently for potential collaboration. They sent it over as a sample."

I did not say anything, but my eyes lingered on the bottle.

He stepped forward and gently wrapped his arms around me from behind. "What’s wrong, dear? Are you doubting me?"

"It took so much effort to make you mine. I would never want to hurt you."

I forced a small laugh, broke free from his embrace and handed the bottle back to him. "Geez, you and your smart mouth. Quick, put this piece of nonsense away."

As I moved, a faint fragrance drifted from his body.

I stopped and frowned. "Rowan, why do you smell like women's perfume?"

I was allergic to pollen and I never liked the scent of flowers.

"There was a woman at the banquet today and her perfume was too much. The smell stuck to the car and honestly, I thought it was too much too."

"Then go wash up quickly," I said.

Rowan kissed me lightly on the forehead and headed to the bathroom.

I watched his retreating figure and then I slowly stretched out my hand.

On my fingertips, I found a long chestnut hair clinging to his shoulder.

But… my hair had always been black and straight.

Suddenly, my thoughts flashed to a woman I had noticed at his laboratory a few days ago.

Rowan and I had been college classmates and he was also my father’s student. He started out as a quiet, scholarly type but transformed into an affectionate and doting partner after we started dating. Friends often joked about my magical charm that turned a composed academic into a lovesick puppy.

Back then, I casually mentioned liking a Coach bag and he spent an entire month living on buns and pickles just to save up and buy it for me as a gift.

When he graduated, he worked tirelessly for three years, eventually saving enough to buy me an expensive diamond ring.

I remembered asking him, "Do you know why people exchange rings when proposing?"

"Because a ring is a promise. It means both husband and wife must remain faithful, right?"

"Are you indirectly warning me just now, Olivia Winters?" he asked with a smile.

"Exactly. Rowan Bradford, I have a strict rule. If I ever find out you’ve betrayed me, I’ll leave your world without a single word," I replied seriously.

He held me tightly, his eyes sincere.

"I swear, I’ll never betray you. If I ever do, I’ll take full responsibility with my own life."

After graduation, he pursued an academic career while I started my own business.

A few days ago, I visited his department to discuss a potential collaboration and everything about the project was nearly finalized.

He proudly gave me a tour of his laboratory.

When his students realized that we were husband and wife, they enthusiastically showered us with compliments.

"Wow, your wife is so beautiful! Mr. Bradford, you are truly lucky!"

"Professor Bradford and his wife are couple goals. This is the partnership I dream of!"

***

Among all that, only one girl had quietly followed me on Instagram.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Bradford! I'm Marion Sterling, a student of Mr. Bradford."

"Mr. Bradford is so serious and responsible! We all adore our professor to bits!"

Her chestnut-colored hair framed her pretty face and dimples appeared when she smiled.

Also, a faint jasmine scent lingered around her.

"Mrs. Bradford, can I follow you on Instagram?" Then she turned to me with a bright smile, her eyes twinkling playfully that it was hard to refuse.

After I agreed to follow her back, she smiled and said sweetly, "I really envy your relationship with Mr. Bradford."

"He’s so devoted to you. Sigh, being his wife must be truly blessed!"

Later, during dinner, I brought up this student to Rowan.

He frowned slightly and let out a dismissive snort. "She isn’t reasonable and relies too much on little tricks to seek attention. Don’t pay her much attention."

His disdain for her was obvious, but I still felt the need to remind him not to be too harsh on the students.

At the time, I never imagined who was indulging her little tricks.

And who, in the end, would fall so deeply for such "cleverness."

That night, I lay on my side, restless and unable to sleep.

Rowan wrapped his arms around me from behind. He used to say, "True lovers fall asleep in each other’s arms."

Suddenly, the soft buzz of his phone vibrated on the bedside table.

Rowan glanced at me who was motionless next to him.

Assuming I was fast asleep, he quietly got out of bed and tiptoed to the living room to answer the call.

"What do you mean it wasn’t you?"

"If you hadn’t slipped that thing into my pocket, how would Olivia have found it?"

"I'm warning you, if Olivia finds out about your existence, don't even think about graduating!"

Rowan scolded in a low voice from the living room, but I could not make out the reply on the other end.

"What? You're just messing around!" he said sharply.

Then, he stood up abruptly, heading to the entrance and reaching for his coat as if to leave.

"Rowan, where are you going?" I asked suddenly from behind.

Rowan froze mid-movement, then turned around, startled to see me standing there.

I pretended to have just woken up. "It's so late already. Are you heading out?" I asked.

Seeing me in only my thin pajamas, he quickly shrugged off his coat, hurried to my side and wrapped me up warmly. Then, without hesitation, he carried me back to bed.

"The weather's too cold tonight. What if you catch a cold? I’d be so worried."

"A few students are working overtime on experiments and something happened in the lab. I need to check on them."

"Is that so? All right then. Be careful on your way there," I said.

Rowan leaned down and kissed me tenderly, his actions gentle, as if handling something precious and fragile.

"All right. Get some rest. When I come back, I'll bring you your favorite soup dumplings from Evernight City," he whispered softly, then turned and walked away.

After Rowan left, I quickly changed my clothes and slipped out to follow him. His car stopped at the entrance of the graduate apartment area on campus.

Standing at the door was a young girl pacing back and forth, clearly waiting for someone.

It was the girl who had eagerly asked to follow me on Instagram.

Marion Sterling.

"Threatening me with death again? I’ll transfer seven thousand dollars to you later. From now on, we’re strictly a professor and a student. Nothing more." Rowan’s cold voice broke the silence.

"I don’t believe you mean that," Marion replied, wrapping her arms around him. "I... I just missed you so bad."

Rowan eventually pulled her into his embrace.

Under the dim streetlight, they kissed each other.

Like a couple deeply in love.

I clenched my fists, fighting the overwhelming urge to rush out and confront them.

Instead, I pulled out my phone and snapped a photo before driving away.

Rowan did not come back home until morning.

And he seemed to be in a good mood.

"Didn’t you say you were going to the lab to work overtime? How is it that you look so full of energy? Whenever I work late, I’m completely drained."

"Why do we need so many hard-working people at home? I just need to be the hard-working one. You can sleep as long as you want," Rowan said, his voice was full of affection.

I stared at him, scrutinizing his expression. He acted so naturally as if nothing disgraceful had happened.

"Honey, I brought you something delicious. Eat it while it's hot."

He presented a steaming bowl of my favorite soup dumplings.

He bought it from a century-old shop in Evernight City, tucked far in the west of town. The dumplings were renowned for their rich filling and delicate flavors.

They had one notable downside. The shop was too far away and was impossible to order for delivery.

Rowan always made the trip himself to bring them to me.

"Whatever my wife wants, even if it’s the stars in the sky, I’ll gather them and turn them into star-shaped biscuits."

Normally, I adored the soup dumplings from this restaurant and I would devour every last one. Not only because the dumplings were delicious, but also because I thought this was a symbol of his devotion for me.

However, right now, the sight of it made me extremely sick.

"I can't eat it. You go ahead," I said, my tone flat and expressionless.

"What's wrong, baby? Do you have a cold or a fever?" Rowan's face filled with concern as he reached out to touch my forehead gently.

He had no idea what I had just seen. Moments ago, Marion posted an update on her social media.

[This soup dumpling comes from a century-old store that’s hard to get. I’m so happy I got it today!]

To prove she was not exaggerating, she even attached a photo. The soup dumplings were identical to the ones Rowan brought me.

My gaze drifted to the faint lipstick marks on the collar of his white shirt.

My stomach twisted, the nausea rising sharply.

I looked away and spoke evenly, "Maybe I ate too much yesterday. You enjoy it. I’ll go catch up on some sleep."

Later that day, I accompanied Rowan to the laboratory. It was a scheduled day for sample deliveries and the project was reaching its final stages.

Everything proceeded smoothly and the team celebrated with palpable excitement.

One of the students suggested a group lunch to commemorate the occasion. Rowan agreed, his smile easy and cheerful.

At the restaurant, I could not tell if it was a coincidence or deliberate, but the seating arrangement placed Marion directly on my right.

While eating, she casually rolled up her sleeves, revealing faint, suspicious red marks on her arm, hovering almost tauntingly in my line of sight.

Rowan shot her two subtle warning glances that were almost imperceptible before she finally toned down.

I forced a smile as I had no intention of dignifying their theatrics with my attention.

But just as I was steeling myself to endure, the unexpected happened. Halfway through the meal, one of the younger lab assistants suddenly stood up.

I vaguely remembered the boy’s name was Luca. Shyly, he reached into his bag and pulled out a small bouquet of flowers.

He first raised his glass for a toast to me and Rowan as his professor. After taking a deep breath, he said, "I want to take this chance to say something."

Then, with surprising courage, Luca turned to Marion who was seated right beside me and blurted out, "Marion Sterling, I... I like you. Please be my girlfriend!"

The room erupted into cheers. Someone even shouted, "Just say yes already!"

Marion froze, clearly caught off guard by the sudden confession. Her expression wavered between shock and nervousness as she instinctively glanced at Rowan.

However, Rowan maintained a measured smile on his face as he reached out his hand to brush aside a loose strand of hair near my ear.

Apparently, this subtle action seemed to unsettle Marion as her gaze hardened momentarily.

Standing abruptly, Marion replied, "Luca, I like you too, but your confession today caught me off guard. Could you give me a few days to think it over?"

Luca’s face turned crimson, but he nodded eagerly. The students around the table erupted in applause and teasing comments.

"Oh? Looks like we’ll have a couple in the lab soon!"

"No more single-dog suffering for us. Ugh, I’m getting nauseous just imagining all the PDA!"

Rowan smiled lightly and spoke. "That’s right. When the two of you get married, my wife and I will make sure to give you a generous wedding gift!"