After His Kill Order, I Unmasked Him

Chapter 2

I didn't slip back to our rental apartment until the sky just started turning pale gray.

I took a slow breath, then pushed the bedroom door open gently. Sebastian was still fast asleep.

I had just settled down on my side of the bed when he reached for me out of habit, wrapping his arms around me from behind.

He nuzzled the back of my hair and mumbled drowsily, "Wife... why are you up so early?"

I just stared at his face, feeling completely empty inside.

Could this man lying right here be Client S? The same person I had struck a deal with on the dark web only hours ago?

We had been together for five years. In all that time, Sebastian had never once spoken a harsh word to me. He never even asked me to do chores around the house.

"Let me handle all that. You just stay pretty. If you wear yourself out, your husband will be heartbroken."

All our neighbors said I had married the perfect man.

And it was true, up until yesterday, I had believed it too.

I had walked away from my old life completely, certain that choosing to be ordinary for him was the best choice I would ever make.

I had even taken this one last job just so he wouldn't have to work so hard. I planned to tell him I had won the lottery, and hand him every cent.

But everything that happened just hours before kept playing over and over in my head like a broken recording.

He was only six days away from finishing his probation period and getting his permanent position.

That lined up exactly with the deadline Client S had given me.

Was this all just a terrible coincidence? Or had Sebastian been acting this whole time?

My head throbbed like it might split open.

"Wife? What are you thinking about? You look so pale and tired." Sebastian rubbed his eyes, his voice soft and full of concern. "Did I snore too loudly last night? Did I wake you up?"

I shifted away from him instinctively, putting a little space between us.

"No, nothing like that. I've just been staying up late watching shows lately. Haven't been sleeping much."

Thankfully, he didn't pick up on how off my answer was. He just stretched slowly.

"Oh, Ivy, I booked your appointment for the premarital checkup today. I have already given your details to Dr. Moore, so don't forget to go."

"Babe, can we make it tomorrow? I just want to sleep in a little more today."

"Absolutely not!" Sebastian shot bolt upright in bed so fast it made me jump.

I froze, completely stunned by how sudden and sharp he had sounded.

"W-Wife... I didn't mean to snap at you like that," He scratched the back of his head, trying to smooth things over. "I just... I want to marry you so much that I got a little overanxious. You're not mad at me, are you?"

Ever since we met, Sebastian had spoken to me in the same soft, gentle tone no matter what.

It was just a standard medical checkup. Why had he reacted so completely out of character?

I thought for a second, and decided to go along with it for now.

"Alright, alright. I'll go. I'll head there as soon as I get up."

The second I said that, his whole face lit right back up with that warm, familiar smile.

"Great. Remember to ask for Dr. Moore when you arrive. It's all set up already."

I gave him a few short replies, then nudged him toward the door with a little playful push and a groan.

"Yes, yes, I'll find him the second I get there, promise. It's almost eight o'clock, if you don't run now, you'll be late for work."

Barely had Sebastian walked out the door when my phone rang.

It was Dr. Moore, saying he was already waiting for me at the hospital.

I glanced over at the nightstand, at the printed list of tests Sebastian had prepared for me ahead of time. And I went completely still.

It was becoming very clear. This whole thing was far more tangled and dangerous than I had ever guessed.