Chapter 1
"Ms. Healy, are you absolutely certain about erasing your entire identity? Once it's done, you won't exist anymore. Not even your husband, the Secretary of State, could find you..."
Gwendolyn Healy paused, her eyes fixed on the TV screen where her husband, Alfie Wilde, was attending some fancy gala.
That woman - his precious first love - hung on his arm like she belonged there, flashing her perfect smile at everyone who passed by.
There they were, playing the perfect couple for all the world to see.
Her heart clenched painfully. She was his wife, but what did that matter? Alfie never loved her. His heart belonged to that woman, always had.
"Yes," she said firmly. "Make me disappear. Completely."
"Ms. Healy," the voice on the phone hesitated. "This seems rather... extreme. Perhaps there's been a misunderstanding?"
A harsh laugh escaped her lips. Misunderstanding? Her mind drifted back to last month...
Late at night, Gwendolyn Healy was lying in bed when she heard the door click.
"Sir, please rest well," the secretary's respectful voice came from the doorway.
Her eyes snapped open, propping herself up on an elbow.
Alfie's finally back!
It'd been two months since he last came home.
I'd only seen him on the news, playing his role as Secretary of State.
Well, I admit that his composed demeanor on TV always reminds me how relentless he could be in bed.
And I'm the one begging for mercy till the end...
God, I kind of miss it!
Maybe we can regain some passion later... She thought.
When Alfie finished his shower and came to bed, she rolled over and hugged him.
His soft pajamas - the ones she'd picked for him- couldn't hide those gym-carved abs. His masculine scent made her flush.
"Still awake?" He caught her hand in the dark.
"Yeah," she replied, voice soft. "Why didn't you tell me? I could've stayed up to wait for you."
He dropped her hand casually. "No need for that."
"I don't mind," she pouted. "Even if it's late, I still want to see you as soon as you're back."
"Alfie, I missed you..." Her hand wandered south, testing his reaction.
But he caught her wrist right away. "It's too late. Go sleep."
Two years of marriage had taught her - Alfie wasn't the kind to show love, but his physical needs were... intense. Every time he came home, he'd wear her out before the night was through.
Sex was his only release from that buttoned-up image.
Tonight's rejection was new.
Anyway, she could only pull her hand back.
Fine, he's probably wiped out.
Traveling all day and getting back this late was too much.
He does need some rest. She thought.
Still, she couldn't resist a playful jab. "What, got a side piece these days?"
The air in the room turned icy the second she said it. He didn't respond, but she didn't need words to know he was pissed.
"Umm, just kidding, you know." she hurried to smooth things over.
Alfie wasn't the chatty type in private, completely different from the eloquent persona he displayed at work.
So she had to babble to fill the quiet at home, and sometimes stupid stuff just slipped out.
Before she could think it through, he flipped her over, pinning her down.
"You want it that bad?" His magnetic voice sent a shiver through her.
Her heart skipped a beat, and then she murmured, "You're too tired, you should get some rest first..."
But Alfie wasn't about to let her off the hook. He was already caught up.
With no warning, he pinned her hands up, taking her hard enough to leave dents in the mattress.
Her soft and satisfying moans soon filled the room.
*****
After their wild sex, Gwendolyn went to bathe with her shaking legs.
Soaking her aches in the tub, she mindlessly scrolled through her phone.
It was late at night, yet her senior, Richard Mendes, had sent her a message: [Gwendolyn, Hannah is back. Dinner tomorrow?]
Thinking for a while, she typed: [Sure.]
Not long after, Richard added her to a dinner group chat. Same old crowd, plus one new face - her senior, Hannah Fairley.
Like Gwendolyn, Hannah was also a doctor at Bright Hospital. Because of her father's influence, everyone treated Hannah with special care. Two years ago, she had gone abroad for further studies, and now she was finally back.
In the group chat, Richard tagged Gwendolyn and texted: [Btw, has your husband come back? Bring him along to the dinner. You've been married for so long, can't believe we've never met him once.]
She replied: [Alright, I'll ask him.]
*****
The next morning, Alfie stepped out of the shower, bath towel low on his hips.
His perfectly toned body was on full display. Water dripped from his hair, trailing down his sculpted abs before vanishing beneath the towel.
Gwendolyn's face turned red at the sight.
She had already laid out his clothes nearby. Picking up a towel, she reached to dry his hair.
But Alfie took it instead. "I'll do it myself," he said.
After drying his hair, he began putting on the clothes she'd prepared.
While he dressed, she spoke up, "Hmm, I've got a work dinner tonight. Want to come with me? They're all curious about you."
Fastening the second-to-last button on his shirt, his ice-king mask slipped back on. "I won't waste my time on meaningless socializing."
His response didn't shock Gwendolyn at all.
Well, I know he'd refuse this. He's as busy as a bee.
Expecting him to drop his schedule for a sudden invite? Dream on.
Between running a country and schmoozing with world leaders, he barely had time to breathe.
Not to mention he'd been jumping from country to country that he couldn't go home these two months.
I'd better not disturb him. She thought.
*****
It wasn't long before evening fell, and Gwendolyn arrived at the restaurant where they'd booked on time. The lively atmosphere of the private dining room spilled out through the open door.
Before she stepped in, Richard's loud voice boomed. "Gwendolyn's bringing her ghost husband tonight. Two years and none of us have seen him. Gotta meet the guy who locked her down!"
She walked in, ready to drop her rehearsed excuse. Then her jaw hit the floor. There sat Alfie, looking like sin in a suit.
At a large table with over ten people, he sat there dressed in the suit she had picked out for him that morning. Despite the casual setting, his presence as a natural leader was impossible to hide.
"Hey, why are you alone? Where's your dear husband?" Richard asked, his voice cutting through the chatter.
Her planned excuse vanished. She couldn't tear her eyes from Alfie at that moment.
Richard dragged her to an empty seat, smirking. "Caught off guard, huh? That's Hannah's boyfriend. When we first met him, we were all shocked too. Who'd have thought she's dating the Mr. Secretary himself?"
Gwendolyn's mind raced, disbelief flashing across her face.
Wait, what? Whose boyfriend?
Alfie... is Hannah's boyfriend?
What the hell is going on?
I'm his wife, right? He turned me down this morning but showed up here as other's boyfriend?
Jeez! She thought.
