The relationship between Gaius and Clarke cooled after that night. Maybe in Clarke's perspective, nothing was wrong. He was still working daily in his office, with his new secretary. However, he hadn't told Gaius that he had a new secretary.

Well, not yet, he planned to when the critical project was done, so Gaius wouldn't complain. 

Meanwhile, Gaius stopped making lunch boxes for Clarke upon his request. He didn't know what Clarke was eating outside, but it wasn't his problem anyway, he asked a few times, and Clarke only replied with 'Just some food outside.'

So he had nothing to ask anymore. 

Gaius felt that Clarke was too busy on his own, and he didn't know why did he feel that Clarke was trying to separate himself from the family. As if his life outside of their house was a lot more important.

So he tried to find some work by knitting a few stuff while taking care of Hermes and Artemis. 

And there was another man who came so often, Gaius became unfazed of his presence. 

Ding-Dong!

The door was opened from outside, signifying that the guest had his own key to enter the Gaist family apartment. 

"Good morning, dear brother-in-law," Reed walked in with a bouquet of roses. He changed the bouquet every three days, keeping the flowers inside the vase to be fresh. 

Gaius had grown accustomed to Reed's presence. He actually found him to be more comforting compared to Clarke. Because whenever Clarke was home, Gaius would often overthink how to make his beloved husband comfortable around him.

"Good morning, Reed. It's quite early of you if you want to eat another lunch box, I already made it for you. It's on the dining table," Gaius pointed out. 

"Haha, yes! I'm starving right now," Reed chuckled happily as he picked the lunch box and ate at the couch, sitting side by side with Gaius, who was busy knitting another random stuff. 

A week had passed since that day when Reed dropped the bomb to strain the relationship between Gaius and Clarke. It worked even better than he expected, with Gaius starting to warm up with him and even cooking lunch boxes for him daily upon request. 

Gaius said that Clarke didn't want to eat his lunch box anymore, though he was cooking every day. So he gave it to Reed instead.

Though it wasn't something that Reed wanted, because he wanted Gaius to cook for him out of devotion or perhaps love, he didn't care much about it as long as Gaius became his slave through his own willingness. But what he got right now was basically the leftover from Clarke. 

"Thank you, my dear brother-in-law. I didn't expect you to be so caring towards me!" Reed said. 

Gaius smiled thin. He didn't have any feeling or even goodwill towards Reed. In all honestly, he treated Reed more like a stand-in until Clarke was home. Because he felt lonely to be left alone almost every day and every night by his beloved Husband.

His love? It was still for Clarke, and Clarke only, as foolish as that sound. 

"You're my husband's brother, so I have to treat you well, isn't that normal?" 

"… Yeah, it's perfectly normal," Reed forced a smile towards Gaius. It had been a week since Gaius and Clarke became distant from each other, but this idiotic, naive man was still utterly devoted to Clarke.

Reed thought Gaius wasn't a loyal wife. Maybe it was his instinct. He always thought that Gaius was a cheating whore deep inside.

But maybe this time, his instinct failed him. 

'Maybe I should put more pressure on Clarke's side. I'll talk to Mystica later,' Reed thought, planning another way for the 'secretary' to seduce the CEO.

'I didn't expect him to be so loyal to Clarke, though. Maybe my sense has dulled since I haven't played another man or woman outside.'

[Oh damn it! Why don't you push me now? I thought you were a horny beast! You can just like—push me and then forcefully rip my shirt and suck my nipple!]

[Now you're going to act like a good and proper man? What is this high-level tease?]

[Pupa: You're going wild now.]

[I mean, it's just annoying, Pupa. He acts so bashfully and tactical right now, while I know he's just a beast wanting to ravage me and my life.]

[He cockblocked me with Clarke, he should at least take responsibility!]

"By the way, how's your relationship with Clarke? I heard that he's way too busy to even come home for a day or two."

Gaius stopped knitting and then sighed full of woe, "It's nothing new. It's always been like that since long ago, and I cannot do anything about it. Let him be. I hope he can be successful."

"Are you not sad?"

"But of course. But his happiness is still the most important. And as long as his company is still going, that means we will have enough money to live comfortably," Gaius said. "As long as the kids are well-fed, then I have nothing to complain…."

Reed got the rough idea immediately. He didn't expect Gaius to leek it on his own. He basically said that he preferred stability over anything else. As long as he could shake that big tree, Gaius would eventually speak up about it. 

"What would you do if Clarke's company is failing? I mean, I have nothing against him. But I've been a businessman for so long, I know the risk is great," Reed asked. 

"That—" Gaius choked out of his own air, and he shook his head. "I don't know what'd I do if that happens. But the children are always my priority. Since Clarke still has his job as Superbman, I just want the kids to be well and not suffer from any financial disaster in the family."

"So you'll do anything to save the children?" 

"No," Gaius shook his head.. He replied with a determined gaze, "I will do anything to save my family."