Chapter 1

Working late into the night on a project, my phone's smart home assistant suddenly popped up with an alert.

[Master Bathroom Light On.]

[Master Bath Scented Soak Mode Activated. Your luxurious bath awaits, Your Highness.]

Neither Leo nor I were home. Maria, our housekeeper, was on vacation these past few days.

So, who had turned on those appliances?

After quickly checking the app again, I called Leo: "Leo, why didn't you tell me you were coming home?"

He sounded utterly confused: "Missing me already? But, babe, this project is super important. I won't be able to make it home until tomorrow night at the earliest."

I rubbed my forehead, sighing: "Sorry, I must be swamped and got the dates mixed up. See you tomorrow night, Leo."

After hanging up, I stared at the smart home remote control app, only to see the master bedroom curtains suddenly close.

I quickly sent a message to Maria and sped home.

Thinking of those thrillers where the housekeeper turns out to be a thief, I tapped Maria’s contact again.

The moment I accidentally pressed the dial button, I immediately hung up.

Maria had been with us for over a decade, practically family, always looking out for me. She’d never do something like this.

Arriving at the community gate, I rolled down my car window and spoke to Officer Miller, the security guard:

"A friend of mine said they were coming to visit me earlier. Did you let them in?"

He shook his head, looking puzzled: "Ms. Chloe, no visitors registered today. Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

I nodded slightly, forcing a smile: "Maybe they decided it was too far to come. Thanks for your hard work."

Just then, Maria FaceTimed me. She was at home with her elders and children.

"Maria, I'll send you an extra bonus this time, and please take a few more days off. Enjoy your time with your family."

After hanging up, my smile instantly vanished.

Maria confirmed she wasn't home. Could it really be an intruder?

But why would a burglar use the bathtub?

My car soon reached the villa entrance. Seeing the lights on in the master bedroom, my heart sank.

Someone was definitely home. But who?

I quietly opened the front door. Before I even turned on the lights, I noticed Leo's slippers, clearly moved, in the moonlight.

I distinctly remembered Leo leaving for his business trip a day before me. When I left, I had carefully placed our shoes side-by-side.

Could this be one of those squatters you hear about in the news, sneaking into someone's house because they can't afford rent?

Afraid they might get desperate and turn violent, I bit my lip and grabbed the stun gun hidden behind the door.

However, just as I was trying to sneak upstairs to check, Leo, wrapped in a towel, stood at the second-floor hallway entrance and flipped on the downstairs lights.

"Chloe, what are you doing back?"

He wiped his hair, then saw the stun gun in my hand and clicked his tongue: "Still carrying that thing?"

I let out a sigh of relief: "Just finished work and came home. Saw your shoes were moved, and I thought we had an intruder."

"Leo, you didn't say you were coming home. You scared me half to death."

As I spoke, I suddenly realized something and looked at Leo's face: "Wait, didn't you say you wouldn't be back until tomorrow night at the earliest?"

Leo rushed down and pulled me into a hug: "I was, but you called, and I figured you missed me, so I hurried back."

"I even wanted to surprise you."

His surprised expression when he saw me was flawless, and his words were sweet.

But as I inhaled his fresh scent, my heart grew even colder.

The bathroom light had clearly been on for a while,

Yet he said he had just gotten back. He was lying to me.

The scented soak mode leaves a distinct fragrance, but he only smelled of his usual shower gel.

Leo was lying to me, covering for someone who had just used my bathtub.

He was cheating.

I opened my phone and checked the bathtub's usage end time. I was already at the front door by then.

And we only had one entrance to our house, so the person who used my bathtub was still inside!

I smiled, pushed Leo away, and headed upstairs. "Thanks, Leo. I'm tired. I'll go freshen up first."

Leo opened the master bedroom door for me, looking for praise:

"I heard you come in, and I knew it was you. See, I even drew a bath for you."

I walked into the bathroom and glanced at the electronic display nearby—Soak Mode.

He never used the scented soak mode, but there was a lingering perfume scent in the bathroom.

Just then, I heard something drop. I walked back into the bedroom and frowned, looking at the closet.

Behind me, Leo quietly sighed in relief as he saw the collectible figurine on the nightstand.

I paid him no mind, my gaze fixed on the closet in front of me.

That row of large wardrobes was custom-made; a person could easily hide inside.

But just as my hand touched the closet door,

Leo suddenly grabbed my arm: "Wait."