Contract Marriage with My Secret Partner in Crime
Chapter 120: Echoes and Encryption

Chapter 120: Echoes and Encryption

[119 Days Left to Live]

Kendrick leaned back slightly in the high-tech room’s swivel chair, arms folded, his gaze fixed on the large monitors in front of him.

A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, but his eyes weren’t really focused on the data or the silent flickering feeds scrolling past the glassy screens. No, his thoughts were elsewhere—in the kitchen, in the faint scent of eggs and sautéed onions.

His fingers tapped absently against the metal armrest as he recalled it again. That image. Zephany with a slightly oversized apron tied around her waist, hair pulled up in a messy bun, forehead streaked with flour. That moment she turned around, wide-eyed and flustered, when she noticed him standing there. And then that smile she gave him later, soft and shy, when she said, "Fine, I’ll leave it up to you, my husband."

His grin widened. The words still echoed in his chest.

It wasn’t like it was the first time she used the title. They were technically married, after all, even if it was all just a front. But somehow, that time felt different. Like she meant it. Like she was teasing, sure, but there was a warmth behind it. A sincerity that lingered long after she walked away.

The door behind him hissed softly but didn’t open yet. Kendrick glanced back at the empty hallway briefly, then shifted in his seat, pulling up the encrypted folder Sophia had gave him. That was actually the reason he called her here today. He was supposed to ask her about those files yesterday.

But he never got the chance.

After breakfast with Zephany, he had gone back to his room, planning to go over the files thoroughly. He wanted to trace any clue, even the smallest thread, that could link back to the mysterious void in his past, the one only The Archive might explain..

But instead, he barely made it to his bed.

The exhaustion had caught up to him, like a heavy wave crashing over his body. He had set alarms. Lunch prep. Just thirty minutes of rest, he had told himself. But when his eyes closed, they refused to open until much, much later.

The sun was already setting when he finally stirred, the soft beeping of his dinner alarm dragging him from sleep. He sat up groggily, a little disoriented, but after a few seconds, a sense of clarity returned.

It was the best sleep he had gotten in weeks.

He stretched, ran a hand through his hair, and then headed toward the kitchen to get started on dinner. But before he even reached the hallway, he heard the sound of pots clinking and the soft hum of someone humming a sweet tune.

He paused, blinking in surprise.

Was Zephany home already?

He walked faster, careful not to startle her, and as he reached the entrance of the kitchen, he saw her.

She was standing at the stove again, her expression focused, lips slightly pursed as she stirred something in the pan. The same apron from the morning was wrapped around her, still too big, still awkwardly tied. But she wore it with purpose.

He didn’t even think before speaking.

"Need my help? I’ll gladly offer my service for free."

Zephany turned, startled for just a second before she saw him. Her eyes softened instantly, and Kendrick swore he saw a flicker of something in them. Relief. Maybe even something warmer.

She stared at him for a heartbeat longer than necessary.

Then she asked, "Did you finally manage to get a good sleep?"

He blinked, caught off guard by the question. Then he chuckled, scratching the back of his head.

"Yeah. Slept like a rock. Think I passed out the moment I got to my bed."

Zephany looked away, hiding the small smile playing at her lips. She remembered.

When she got home earlier, the apartment was quiet. She had hesitated at his door, hand raised to knock, just to let him know she was back. But when she got no response, her curiosity got the best of her. The door wasn’t locked.

Inside, she saw him sleeping. The quiet rise and fall of his chest. The way he looked—peaceful. Unburdened. She had never seen him like that before.

And she didn’t dare wake him.

She had closed the door quietly and rushed to her own room, setting her mind on cooking dinner. She wanted to be the one waiting this time.

"You must have really needed that rest," she murmured.

Kendrick leaned against the doorframe, watching her with gentle eyes. "Guess I did. Sorry I missed lunch duty."

"It’s fine. I handled it," she replied softly.

He stepped into the kitchen slowly. "So... what are we having?"

Zephany looked back at the stove. "Rice, stir-fried vegetables, and some chicken. Hope that’s okay."

"Sounds perfect."

They shared a look, both pretending it was nothing. Both knowing it wasn’t.

Just then, Kendrick’s wrist device vibrated slightly. A soft signal.

Sophia.

Right.

He was supposed to meet her.

He took a look at Zephany, who had gone back to cooking, then decided to focus on the moment with Zeph and reschedule his talk with Sophia for tomorrow.

That led him back to this moment. Seated in the cold tech room, he stared at the encrypted folder once again. His mind wandered.

What if none of this really matters?

The files Sophia gave him weren’t helpful. At least, not on the surface. He’d flipped through them before falling asleep yesterday, and nothing stood out.

The Archive remained quiet, too. No new missions. No new data. So he couldn’t level up.

And if he stayed like this, stuck at Level 4, how could he get to the truth?

Was fulfilling the one-year contract marriage with Zephany really the only key?

His thoughts spiraled until the sound of boots echoed across the hallway.

The door opened with a soft hiss.

Sophia walked in, her posture straight, expression unreadable as usual. She wore her dark blazer like armor, her hair tied into a sleek ponytail. Her tablet was tucked beneath her arm.

She didn’t bother with a greeting.

"So what do you want right now?"

Kendrick blinked, caught off guard for a second. Then he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk.

"I want to ask you about the files you gave me. There has to be something more in them. I feel like I’m missing a piece."

Sophia raised an eyebrow, stepping toward the console as if considering whether or not he was worth the answer.

And just like that, the air shifted.

But Kendrick’s mind? Still partially stuck in the kitchen. Still lingering on the sound of Zephany’s voice and the word "husband."

He cleared his throat and straightened, trying to focus.

"Let’s start from the beginning."

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