Sipping on a delicious cup of freshly brewed coffee. The luscious yet bitterness of the hot, black beverage gradually stirred Ethan from sleep's residue.

Soft clatters and talking echoed from different directions, indicating that the servants have also woken up and are preparing for another day of work in tending villa.

​​

Training his half-lidded eyes outside the window, he saw that the sun was barely up in the sky. He woke up five minutes ago and came down to brew himself some coffee before he prepares for work.

Lillie was still peacefully sleeping.

He didn't have the heart to wake her up, seeing as she was so comfortable curled inside the makeshift cave that she made with the blanket.

All of the excitement from yesterday must've come back to bite her. She was extremely exhausted that she didn't made any sign of waking up when Ethan carefully shuffled out of their bed.

Both of them were exhausted. Last night, fatigue hit them hard like a cargo truck at high speed. They were instantly knocked out into the realm of dreams as soon as they collapsed on the bed.

They didn't even have the energy to change their clothes from last night. But thankfully, they weren't uncomfortable to sleep in.

Not surprisingly, any plans for that night were put on hold.

Pulling himself out of the early-morning daze, Ethan diverted his eyes on the tablet and read the local tabloid.

Just as he expected, there was a minor report of their venture at the hospital. To some people, the news wasn't really interesting.

After all, the offense wasn't that serious since Lillie had fully paid the hospital's fee for her pretend brother.

Problem was that there was a runaway patient. And more importantly, the hospital noticed that their security system was tampered with upon closer inspection.

All of the recordings where it showed Lillie and Ethan were deleted to the point that it's impossible to restore.

Eyewitnesses could help with the facial composite, but their disguises weren't anywhere close to their real faces. No one would be able to make the connection.

Lillie and Ethan had been cautious enough ever since that incident with that Underworld operative who found out about her pregnancy.

Having been so preoccupied with his thoughts, he wasn't able to sense the weak—almost unnoticeable—presence behind him until slender arms were wrapped around his neck.

"Good morning." Lillie's lethargic voice whispered directly into his ears as she leaned her weight on his back.

"Morning," He greeted her back, reaching out to her for a peck on her soft, plump lips. "Did you sleep well?"

"Good. Though I would've slept longer if you hadn't left the bed." She admitted, pulling herself off him—to his disappointment, already missing her warmth—and walked towards the kitchen cupboards. "Why didn't you wake me up?"

"You needed the rest. Besides, it won't be until a few more hours before you go back to the office." He watches her grab a large cup and a canister from the cupboard.

After a minute, the sweet aroma of chocolate wafted in the air, overpowering the scent of coffee he made a while ago.

Finishing her hot drink with a few marshmallows, she came back to the table and sat next to him.

"Do you want anything specific for breakfast?" She prompted, blowing her hot chocolate before taking careful sips. "How does home-packed lunch sound? It's been a while since I've cooked for you."

"I could say the same. I'll help." He insisted. "And packed lunch sounds great."

Annie, the villa's head cook, entered the kitchen and was about to prepare breakfast for her employers when she stopped in her tracks to see said employers bonding over the task meant for her.

She couldn't help the serene smile from stretching on her face as she observes the couple work over their meal in harmonious movements.

Quietly, she stepped back into the hallway and leave the couple to spend their time with each other's company.

***

Freshened up and dressed into their attire for work, the two didn't leave just yet as there's still one last thing to do.

Storm sat next to his mistress' side inside the study room. His fluffy tail wagging slowly in a regal manner.

Lillie connected her phone to the TV and played the recording of the car-theft attempt.

Upon detecting the disturbance, her car's security system was alerted. The small surveillance cameras hidden in her car caught the illicit action from various angles, leaving no room for the perpetrator to hide.

"Do you recognize him?" As Lillie suspected, the one who tried to steal her car was none other than the man she ran over with said car, and brought to the hospital; Amai Mochi.

Ethan squinted his eyes as he thoroughly scanned the man on the video. "That's him alright. I recognize that immaturity from a mile away."

Yes, Ethan judged him based on the way he carried himself. His looks may be different from what he remembers—he suspects that it's a disguise—but his mannerism was all the same.

The main aspect that confirms that this man was truly the same man he sees as his teacher, was that he introduced himself by that same ridiculous name that he told Ethan and his group all those years ago when they were still but a fledgling in the Underworld.

Discovering that the person who caused trouble to his wife was his glutinous master, Ethan didn't reel from the fear of having to fight his master to avenge his wife.

Contrary, it only boiled his blood even more, and it gave him another reason to hunt him down and pummel him to the ground until he turns into mush.

The spite that had died down once he reached adulthood re-emerged. This time, Ethan will have his revenge for all of those times Mochi nearly killed him and his Commanders with his grueling and inhumane training regime.

He was doing it for laughs, he just knows it! The sadistic bastard loves watching him and the others suffer.

And after that, he just disappeared without saying anything. Ethan swore that day that if he ever saw Mochi again, he will make him rue the day he ever trained him.

Let's see how he enjoys being maimed by that same annoying brat he taught all those years ago.

"The Commanders need to hear this." Ethan grinned deviously. After all, he's not the only one who has a score to settle with their master.

One silver eyebrow arched curiously at the expression Ethan's making. "Do I even want to guess what he did to earn this hostility from you?"

"I already lost count on how many times he almost made us see the river Styx," Ethan grumbled under his breath at the unpleasant memory. "But never mind that. He took advantage of your generosity, that's a major transgression in my book."

Lillie petted Storm behind the ear, humming thoughtfully. "So you're planning to return the favor?"

"Definitely." He nodded firmly.

"Let's issue this as a mission with your Commanders then." Lillie nonchalantly said. "I'm sure they would love to take part in this one."

Smirking, Ethan slithered his arm around her waist and pulled her closer for him to kiss her on the temple. "You spoil me too much. But I'm not complaining."

"That's good to hear. I need my baby daddy happy so he doesn't run away."

Ethan spluttered and looked at his wife with wide eyes as if she just did something horrific. "Where—where did you heard that term from? And who dared incite about me running away? I would never!"

Lillie was joking. Although, it seems like she hadn't get the hang of it yet.

She didn't say anything. His reaction was too amusing for her to admit she was only messing around.

If Storm could laugh, he would have done so in a heartbeat.

Aiyo, this smelly human is so amusing when he loses his composure.