"Oh, brother-in-law, you’re so naive. Clarke and I are the same, we have infinite stamina, and I spent all of my youth using that stamina to play with countless men and women."
"But how about Clarke? Do you really think Clarke never spent that unlimited stamina? Maybe he doesn’t want you to work because he has been fucking with so many women outside!"
"SHUT UP!" Gaius finally snapped out of Reed’s torment. He hated this doubt that kept growing in his heart because he couldn’t do much against it. He also hated the fact that he knew nothing about Clarke’s life.
He had to admit that Reed was correct. There was always that possibility of Clarke screwing around with the younger women outside because Gaius was this traditional housewife.
Reed grinned when he saw the restless worry in Gaius’ face., What he wanted to do had been done. He didn’t need to scare Gaius anymore.
Now, he had to create something to completely seal the fate between Gaius and Clarke.
"Well, I’m just telling you my opinion, brother-in-law. Who knows Clarke is really the good and loyal man? Though, as someone who shares the same blood as him, I really doubt that, haha!"
Gaius said nothing to refute that because he was also doubtful with his own statement. He just glared at Reed, full of hostility.
"Well, you can always ask Clarke for confirmation, right? Though I bet he will say that he has nothing to do with Gaia, and Gaia is just a regular secretary," Reed scoffed. "Heh, that’s a typical answer. If I’m in his shoes, I’ll also say the some when my wife caught me cheating."
Reed consistently heightened the paranoia in Gaius’ heart, "I bet you’re not brave enough to ask him, are you afraid that I’m correct?"
"Shut up, Reed. I don’t want to hear your lies," Gaius said with a solemn expression.
Reed shrugged, and they waited until the door was opened from outside. Clarke had returned with the kids.
He smiled when he saw Gaius. As if seeing the light of his life, he put Artemis and Hermes on the long sofa before taking a seat beside Gaius’ bed.
"Wife, what do you feel right now?"
Gaius looked away. He couldn’t look at Clarke after what he did with Reed and what Reed said about this Gaia woman as Clarke’s new secretary.
"I’m good, Husband," Gaius replied shortly.
Clarke didn’t find anything wrong with Gaius, so he sighed in relief, "I already asked the doctor, and he said that you can get discharged tomorrow. He will give you lots of vitamins, but other than that, you seem to be alright, Wife...."
"Well, that’s good," Gaius smiled thin. He glanced at the kids and then called them, "Hermes, Artemis, did you two have good breakfast with Dad?"
"Yes, Mom."
"Yes, Mommy!"
"Good, you two should go home and take a bath now," Gaius said. "You too, Clarke. You should take a bath and go to work. The office won’t wait, right?"
"But... there is someone else that can handle the office. I want to accompany you, Wife...." Clarke refused to budge. He stared at Gaius with his sincere eyes, but for Gaius, what he saw was a liar.
He saw a liar that used his beloved husband’s face to cover the fact that he was fucking the secretary.
[You said that you want to accompany me, but I’m sure you want to accompany that secretary more, right, Husband?]
[Pupa: Whoa, you become so hostile towards him. Remember the character’s background. Clarke is the most loyal husband one could ever have.]
[Your character background is never reliable, Pupa.]
[To be honest, I also hate the fact that Clarke hid this stuff from me. Why would he hide this secretary if he’s not cheating with her?]
[Pupa: Maybe because of other stuff?]
[Other stuff like fucking with her? I really hate him! He’s a cheater!]
[Pupa:... You’re doing the same with Clarke, don’t you see that?]
[Ugh, whatever.]
[Pupa:...]
Gaius forced a smile and held Clarke’s hand, "The office needs you, Husband. Don’t you miss the office? You’ve been working every day. A day off must’ve felt weird for you."
"Besides, what can you do here anyway? Watching over me? I can take care of myself and the kids," Gaius said.
Honestly, Clarke never liked work. He became a workaholic because he thought that was the only thing he could do for the family. If he could choose, he just wanted to spend time with Gaius and the kids. He’d still take the role as Superbman, of course.
But he didn’t want to work anymore. He was also tired, too tired.
Yet, he knew this world needed money. He needed money for his wife and kids, the dream house they wanted, and the kids’ future. He also needed to save for his old life with Gaius.
"I... I want to stay with you, Wife," Clarke sighed. "But you’re right... there are so many projects I need to do in the office. I can’t leave it."
"See, I told you to work is more important," Gaius forced a smile despite anger in his heart.
"Okay, then, I’ll prepare myself to work. The kids should take a leave from school today," Clarke said.
"I can always accompany them. I can take them to play somewhere if they got bored here," Reed volunteered, and the kids were happy.
"Yay! Uncle Reed!"
"Thanks, Uncle..."
Gaius’ heart skipped a bit when Reed opened his mouth. Honestly, Reed’s presence here only worsened their situation, but Clarke trusted his devil little brother a lot.
Clarke was still grieving in his heart because the kids seemed to be a lot happier with Reed around. But he couldn’t do much. He wished that Artemis and Hermes would understand his position when they got older.
"I’ll return to home with the kids now. Please take care of my wife, for now, Reed," Clarke asked.
Reed nodded and put his hand on Gaius’ shoulder. He gripped the shoulder tightly, making Gaius wince a bit.
"Don’t worry, big brother. I’ll take care of my brother-in-law real well, hehe."