“…What are you doing? Playing war at home?”

  A familiar voice.

  Song Joo-eun’s tension evaporated as she lowered the gun.

  The visitor was none other than her husband, Brian Lennon.

  “Sigh... It was you.”

  Song Joo-eun’s legs gave way, and she slumped onto the bed.

  Lennon didn’t so much as blink in the face of her gun;

  he simply took off his coat and hung it up.

  “What brings you here? I suppose you weren’t very busy today?”

  “That’s what I should be asking.

  What are you doing at home for once? You workaholic.”

  Lennon loosened his tie without even looking at her.

  Cold air, unfitting for a married couple, filled the room.

  “I applied for a vacation this time...”

  “You? The world must be ending tomorrow then.

  I thought you’d be swamped.”

  Lennon replied indifferently while unbuttoning his shirt.

  Song Joo-eun felt a sudden surge of irritation at his indifferent attitude.

  “Are you not going to answer my question?”

  Only then did Lennon stop and look at her.

  Those deep, inscrutable eyes that had captivated her the day they first met remained the same.

  “Sigh... Fine. I had business visiting CAI, so I stopped by the West Coast. Happy now?”

  Having changed his clothes, Lennon left the room without waiting for a response.

  Song Joo-eun sat dazed on the bed, lost in thought.

  The Secretary of Defense visiting CAI? It wasn't on any official schedule.

  It was a time when the world was in an uproar over the recent Moon White and the Second God remarks.

  “You seem curious.”

  Before she knew it, Lennon had returned with a bottle of whiskey and two glasses.

  He set the glasses down on the small table next to the bed.

  It had been so long since they had shared a drink together that she couldn't even remember the last time.

  “Yes, you’re right. I am curious.”

  Song Joo-eun asked as she took the strong drink Lennon poured for her.

  “Actually, I’m the one who wants to ask you something.”

  “What?”

  “Why haven't you issued an official statement regarding Moon White?”

  ‘Ah... I knew it was that.’

  That damn robot.

  The whole world was obsessed with nothing else.

  “Would you even believe us if we said it wasn’t our doing?”

  Song Joo-eun downed her drink in one go.

  Lennon raised an eyebrow in surprise.

  “Is that so? Then I assume you know that fellow Li Youwei announced he used Artistea for Moonwhite.

  Calling it the ‘Second God,’ no less.”

  “Why? Is it because Christian groups are protesting his claims about a divine soul gaining a physical body?

  What does that have to do with you, the Secretary of Defense?”

  Lennon paused while pouring more into her empty glass,

  then burst into a laugh that seemed to mock her.

  “Why are you laughing?”

  “You really are a curious woman.

  Living as my wife, how can you be so oblivious to the ways of the world?

  The wife of the Secretary of Defense, at that?”

  Song Joo-eun did not like the mockery in his expression.

  He hadn't been this kind of man when they were first married.

  How did he change so much?

  “Then again, you’ve always been self-centered.”

  After filling his own glass, Lennon brought it slowly to his lips.

  She sat motionless with her hands on the table until his movements—

  controlled to the point of solemnity—were finished.

  “What do you mean by that?”

  “You truly don't know? Hahaha. How amusing.

  You don't know. Fine. Let's leave it at that.”

  Though Song Joo-eun had counseled and researched countless people,

  Lennon was like an impregnable fortress.

  He never relinquished control of the conversation; he only threw out questions and provided no answers.

  ‘It feels less like a conversation with my husband and more like I’m working.’

  She felt a pang of pity for herself,

  struggling to open her husband’s heart without even getting a moment of rest.

  At the same time, she felt a certain sadness for his obsessive need to never trust others and always maintain the upper hand.

  “Are you not going to ask?

  Or is this one of those psychology techniques you study?”

  He leaned his arms on the table,

  lightly tapping his fingers. It was an arrogant and leisurely provocation,

  as if challenging her to try and uncover his inner secrets if she could.

  “The world doesn’t always revolve around your will.”

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  It was a declaration that Song Joo-eun would not be bullied.

  Once you started being dragged along in a conversation with someone like Lennon,

  there was no end to it. You would either be manipulated by his words or interrogated by them.

  This was also a technique she had taught him.

  Yet Lennon had used it far more frequently and naturally than she ever had.

  “You’re quite interesting today.

  Or... is it just because it’s been a long time since we’ve had a conversation like this?”

  Lennon swallowed his drink with an audible gulp.

  Song Joo-eun hated herself for analyzing the conversation she was having with her husband.

  ‘How large is the shadow cast over his heart?

  What would be there if that shadow were lifted?

  Would it be a beautiful meadow, or a barren and desolate desert?’

  Song Joo-eun hesitated at the threshold of his heart.

  She was afraid.

  Afraid of what Lennon knew, and how he might be judging her.

  ‘Can this analysis even open his heart? Or do I even want to open it?’

  She was confused. Far from knowing the hearts of others,

  she didn’t even know her own.

  * * *

  1994, USA. Bisnail’s Office.

  It was in 1994 that she was first introduced to him.

  Song Joo-eun, who had come to the US on the recommendation of President Raymond of Oxford University,

  was able to continue her research with the support of Dr. Robert Bisnail,

  a wealthy philanthropist and a close friend of the chancellor.

  As usual, she had immersed herself in her studies like a madwoman,

  and on the day she completed her PhD thesis,

  she visited her benefactor, Bisnail, with a light heart.

  “Doctor. I’m here.”

  In Bisnail’s office,

  which she entered with a warm greeting,

  sat a stranger she had never seen before.

  Song Joo-eun’s eyes were fixed not on Bisnail, but on the man.

  He was tall with sharp features, wearing a black suit that fit him as if it were a second skin.

  Though he looked lean at a glance,

  the contours of his muscles visible through the suit with every movement revealed how rigorously he maintained his physique.

  He exuded an air of refinement.

  Between his handsome features and the composure typical of a well-educated elite,

  Song Joo-eun felt as if her breath had been taken away.

  She had never been particularly interested in the opposite sex,

  yet her heart was pounding as if it might burst in front of this stranger.

  She slightly lowered her head, fearing he might notice her blushing face.

  “Oh, Miss Song Joo-eun. Come in.”

  Bisnail waved warmly.

  In his early forties,

  he had his slightly balding hair combed back neatly.

  His round belly and red cheeks showed he lived well.

  A brown checkered jacket, gray trousers,

  and even an 1800s-style gold pocket watch chain peeking out of his vest pocket

  —he was dressed in a classic, showy style, as if imitating an old British aristocrat.

  While Song Joo-eun didn’t particularly like him as a person,

  she never forgot her gratitude toward him as her sponsor.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Brian Lennon.”

  Lennon rose from his seat and extended a large, sturdy hand.

  “Hello. My name is Song Joo-eun.

  I’m a student supported by Dr. Bisnail.”

  She reached out with a trembling hand and took his.

  The moment that warm, firm touch met her palm,

  a jolt of electricity seemed to course through her entire body.

  “Hahaha! Yes, she’s a brilliant talent recommended by my friend, Raymond.

  Lennon, you’d do well to get to know her.

  She’ll be quite useful for your work too.”

  Bisnail laughed heartily, patting his round stomach.

  ‘Work? What on earth does he mean?’

  “Wouldn’t it be a bit rude to start talking about work right after a lady has arrived, Professor?”

  Lennon’s voice was low and smooth.

  Every time he spoke, Song Joo-eun felt her mind going blank.

  “Not at all. This is a connection truly worth making.

  Miss Song is currently studying human psychology.

  I’ve wanted to introduce her when I had the chance, so this worked out quite well.”

  Bisnail looked back and forth between their faces with a satisfied smile,

  as if he were looking at a well-prepared feast.

  “Is that so? That’s good.”

  ‘I could be of help to him?

  What kind of work does he do?

  Does that mean... we can keep seeing each other?’

  She was getting ahead of herself,

  and to calm her trembling heart,

  she placed a hand over her chest. To a stranger,

  it would have looked like a polite gesture.

  “Now, now, let’s not just stand around. Everyone, take a seat.”

  The three of them sat around the sofa.

  Gulping, Song Joo-eun summoned her courage to speak.

  “Um... Mr. Lennon, what kind of work do you do?

  I don’t understand how my research would be of help...”

  Song Joo-eun kept telling herself to calm down,

  but it didn't work.

  She hated her own mouth,

  which acted like a fool following the whims of her pounding heart.

  ‘Does my English accent sound stupid?

  Will he think it’s funny for an Asian woman to have a British accent?

  Is what I’m wearing today okay?

  Do I look too much like a nerd?

  Argh, why did I even come here today?

  Is my hair okay?

  I want to see a mirror.

  No, there’s no way someone like him would even notice me, so what am I thinking?

  No, why am I even worrying about this?’

  Even after posing the question herself,

  her mind was on the verge of exploding with intrusive thoughts.

  “I’m afraid I cannot easily disclose my status.”

  Lennon drew a line politely but firmly.

  Even his expression, clearly tinged with apology, was charming.

  ‘What? He can't disclose his identity?

  What is this?

  Dr. Bisnail isn't trying to sell me off somewhere strange, is he?

  No. Stop.’

  As the intrusive thoughts tormented her,

  Song Joo-eun imagined pushing them away with her hands.

  “Lennon, it's fine.

  Miss Song Joo-eun is someone I can personally vouch for.

  Besides, don't you have times in your line of work where you’re forced to reveal your identity anyway?

  We can just keep it a secret among those of us here. Right?”

  Bisnail gave a sly smile and stroked his chin.

  Lennon hesitated for a moment, then burst into a hearty laugh as if he had no choice.

  “Haha, you’re putting me in quite a spot, Professor.”

  Lennon adjusted his posture and introduced himself formally.

  “Since the Professor vouches for you,

  I should introduce myself properly.

  I am Brian Lennon,

  currently working as a senior agent at the CIA.”

  It was a clean and simple introduction with no unnecessary parts.

  Song Joo-eun focused all her senses on his every move.

  ‘Oh, what should I do?

  I think I’ll remember this for the rest of my life.’

  Lennon didn't have a particularly handsome face.

  This made it all the more puzzling.

  She wanted to know why this man felt so different.

  “Hahaha! Yes. Miss Song, take a good look at him.

  Lennon is an ambitious man who will soon become the youngest CIA Director.

  It never hurts to be on good terms with someone like him.”

  Bisnail boasted as if it were his own achievement.

  “Excuse me? The C...IA? What does that have to do with me...?”

  Song Joo-eun’s eyes widened at the word she had only ever heard in movies.

  “Ah, well... I’m currently investigating a subject,

  but I can't for the life of me figure out what he's thinking.

  We need a psychological analysis,

  but our own agents' assessments have reached their limit...

  so I asked Professor Bisnail to introduce someone for outside consultation.”

  As Lennon took over from Bisnail to provide a detailed explanation,

  Song Joo-eun felt as if the pieces of a puzzle were falling into place.

  Now that she understood the reason,

  her mind cooled, but her heart raced even more wildly.

  “Ah… so you need someone who studies criminal psychology, like a profiler?”

  “Yes, exactly. That’s it. You’d be more than capable in that field as well. Right?”

  Bisnail asked, as if pressing for an answer.

  It happened to align perfectly with the field Song Joo-eun was currently researching.

  No, even if it hadn't,

  she wouldn't have been able to refuse.

  As if possessed, she quietly nodded.

  From Chapter 19 onward, updates will be posted every two days.