Facade Love: Marrying A Perfect Husband

"Herman Willem Daendels," Steylla explained the name in a calm manner.

Reihan gave a faint smile.

"A politician and governor of the Dutch East Indies in the 1800s. You have wanted to fool me?"

Steylla frowned as the lie she had uttered carelessly, was easily seen by Reihan. So she then gave a cynical look.

"Should I answer that? And, why did you suddenly become so curious?"

Dodge. That's what Reihan saw of Steylla. So that, Reihan moved forward and didn't want to back down.

"Why did you look reluctant to received this question? Did that person never exist? That's why you didn't want to say his name?"

Steylla bit her lower lip. Starting to feel pinched. But she didn't want to be defeated. Steylla was finally forced to answer.

"Gotthargo Nicollas, he is an artist like my brother. But his art was more moving on sculpture. Did I manage to answer your question?" Steylla's arrogant gaze showed.

Reihan still has a flat expression.

"Gotthargo? So, that's your boyfriend's name?"

Stella nodded confidently.

"Yeah. Gotthargo. Is there a problem with this name?" Steylla was looking at Reihan with a defiant look and a lost appetite. Even though the taste of the steak she had just eaten a few pieces so melted in her mouth.

Reihan already showed a photo from inside the envelope. Showed it to Steylla and succeeded in surprising her. Reihan watched Steylla's startled expression.

"He… is the one?" Reihan asked, pointing to someone he had circled in red ink.

A man with a big smile and long brown hair also a neatly shaped beard under his jaw. Then wore a blue plaid shirt with boots that were so familiar in Steylla's eyes.

That round and round eyes widened.

"You have the photo? And where did you get that photo from? And how..."

Steylla's gaze shifted to other things around that photo sheet. Surprised to see a series of photos of men scattered on the table.

Steylla looked at all the faces, one by one.

"You have all the photos of my male friends?" asked Steylla in shock. She stared fiercely.

"You stalking me?"

Oh, shit!

Steylla felt like cursing someone!

This could be called an illegal act!

But Reihan was still calm.

"He is your male friend and not your lover! But, now you want to acknowledge him as your lover?"

Steylla felt her body shiver. Feeling framed and toyed with, Steylla hissed.

"You didn't have right to pry information about me!"

Her older brother, Steven, didn't even know Gotthargo. Because Steylla never introduced them to each other.

Then even though Gotthargo was among the good-looking men and he wasn't a famous sculptor or anything such that. Reihan hasn't absolutely right to extract any information about them.

"I just wanted to check something out of curiosity. I happen to have a friend who was smart and whose world profile data was super complete. So I just have to ask for help from him and of course your friend, Fenna. She gave quite a lot of detailed information about you."

Stella restrained herself.

"Fenna clearly said that you don't have a boyfriend yet. Just sink into your old monkey love and keep thinking about that man until your heart didn't move at all toward any man who was chasing you."

Steylla gripped her hand.

"So, to what extent do you wanted to keep lying to your brother as well as to me?"

Humiliated and intruded on her privacy, Steylla wasn't sweet and polite anymore.

"You're right. I really don't have a boyfriend until now. That's why my brother never saw or even met him. I only mentioned Gotthargo by name because he's a nice guy."

Steylla recalled how the man named Gotthargo had chased after her. But Steylla never glanced at him. And eventually, Nicholas has a girlfriend. And that lover was Steylla's best friend.

Reihan looked at her confused.

"Why did you have to lie to me?" Reihan sneered, "Is this because you are so eager to be admitted?"

Steylla's body and mind instantly went limp.

"I don't like your way of dug personal information about me. Lying or not, that's up to me. You can't manage it," Steylla then stood up.

However, Reihan hastily stopped her.

"Where are you want to going?"

"Back to home. Because I have no appetite to continue this activity and talk to you. Please, let go!" 

Steylla seemed to need to remind Reihan over and over again that her hands were not shared property so he could pull and hold them at will.

"We're not done talking yet. You still haven't answered my question either. Why did you have to lie? Is it because you still can't neglect me? And you're afraid that I'll get further and further away from you when you return to this town without clear status?"

Steylla frowned.

"Isn't it an exaggeration if you think that far?"

Steylla immediately turned her gaze to the other side.

"I think this is the best way. Didn't want to be labeled as a crazy woman who wanted one man and chases him like a parasite for years. I just want to change my image. Haven't you see for yourself how I've changed? I'm just trying to adjust it. Doing it completely and I don't think this way of thinking was wrong."

Steylla glared at Reihan again.

"And you shouldn't carelessly pry information of me! So, just now, let go of me and stay away!"

Reihan was still holding Steylla's hand.

"I've promised your brother to take care of you. So, let's have a good talk and don't be contradictory." 

Steylla was still showing her contradictory behavior.

"You shouldn't forget what have you said, Bro."

Reihan got tensed.

"You asked me before to stay away from you. Stopped chasing you and messing with your mind. But, now. You wanted me to talk nicely?"

Stella smirked.

"I have complied with your wish. I shall not expect you anymore. And I shall not fall in love with you again. Then, forgot what I did and said and what happened between us."

Reihan made a crazy decision.

"This is difficult. Because my heart started to move. I want you to love me back like you used to. And forgetting the debate that ever happened between us. I wanted us to start anything over again."

Steylla looked at Reihan in disbelief. It was that easy for him to pleaded and wiped the pain that was once in her heart?

"That's impossible," Steylla said coldly.

"I can't and never will,"

*** 

Harry was still sitting quietly in his chair as he waited faithfully until Cleo came out of her bathroom. Had returned after bringing her a change of clothes and telling her to hurry up to cleaning herself.

Harry used his waiting time to read some of the reports. Still not feeling comfortable after knowing there are new people who wanted to complicate his life. Harry return remembered the short message he had accidentally seen on Cleo's cell phone.

The message was kept bothering his mind and forced him to wander in confusion. Which man does not have a job who tried to interfere with his supposedly peaceful home life?

***