My Husband Is An International Idol

Chapter 10: Emily’s New Discovery

Emily did not sleep that night.

Not even a little.

Because she had discovered something shocking. Something unbelievable. Something that could completely destroy the internet.

At three in the morning, she sat upright in bed, staring at the ceiling.

Thinking.

Analyzing.

Connecting clues.

The way the two looked at each other.

The way Chris watched Liliana while she did household chores.

The way Liliana blushed whenever Chris said something sweet.

That wasn’t normal.

That was absolutely not normal.

Emily suddenly sat up straighter.

"Oh my God."

The realization struck like lightning.

"No way."

Her eyes widened.

"They’re in love!"

Silence.

Several seconds passed.

Then Emily screamed into her pillow.

Afterward, she immediately called her cousins.

"Emily, it’s three in the morning!" Rose complained.

"Emergency!" Emily shouted.

Nathan rubbed his face. "It better be. Or I’ll tell Dad."

"They’re in love!"

"Who’s in love?" Mary asked with a yawn.

"Chris and Liliana!"

"They’re married. What’s the big deal?" Nicole frowned.

But Nicolo was the one who answered.

"Because they don’t realize they’re in love. They just think they care about each other."

Emily gasped.

"You noticed it too?"

"It’s obvious," Nicolo said. "They’ve been married for five years, but when Chris accidentally touched Liliana’s hand, they both became awkward. It’s like they just started dating."

"Yes! Exactly! And that’s the emergency!"

"How is that an emergency?" Nathan asked, growing irritated. "It’s good news that they have mutual feelings."

Emily shook her head, even though nobody could see her.

"No! If they don’t confess their feelings, they might misunderstand each other. And misunderstandings lead to arguments. Then they might end up getting divorced!"

Mary gasped dramatically.

"No! I just found out that the most popular idol in the world is my cousin’s husband! I refuse to accept a divorce! This really is an emergency. We have to make them confess!"

Rose suddenly froze.

"Wait."

Everyone became quiet.

"If a simple touch makes them awkward..." she began slowly.

"...does that mean they haven’t even kissed?"

Silence.

Then Rose covered her mouth.

"No way."

The cousins stared at their phones in disbelief.

For five years, Chris and Liliana had somehow remained trapped between being completely comfortable with each other and painfully awkward at the same time.

It was honestly impressive.

By the end of the call, they had made a promise.

They would do everything possible to get the two to finally confess.

The next morning, Liliana woke up feeling exhausted.

She glanced at the other side of the bed.

Empty.

Immediately, she got up and went looking for Chris.

She found him in the kitchen preparing breakfast.

"You’re up early," she said as she walked over. "Couldn’t sleep?"

"Nope. You’re just late."

Liliana rolled her eyes and began helping with breakfast.

Yesterday had been exhausting.

Rumors.

Articles.

Photographs.

She needed peace.

A quiet morning.

A peaceful breakfast.

Unfortunately, fate disagreed.

The front door exploded open.

"LILIANA!"

Liliana nearly dropped her coffee.

Chris didn’t even look surprised.

At this point, everyone had accepted that Emily no longer understood the concept of knocking.

Emily marched into the dining room.

Determined.

Focused.

Dangerous.

Liliana immediately sensed trouble.

"What happened?"

Emily pointed dramatically.

At Chris.

Then at Liliana.

Then back at Chris.

Then she declared:

"You haven’t even kissed!"

Silence.

Absolute silence.

A spoon slipped from Liliana’s fingers.

Clink.

Chris calmly set down his coffee cup.

Nobody spoke.

Nobody moved.

Nobody breathed.

Emily looked between them triumphantly.

"I knew it."

Liliana felt her soul leave her body.

Gone.

Completely gone.

She briefly considered pretending to faint.

Unfortunately, Emily wasn’t finished.

She pointed at Chris.

"The way he looks at you."

Then at Liliana.

"The way you look at him."

Then back at both of them.

"And the fact that you get embarrassed over a simple touch."

Liliana closed her eyes.

Maybe if she ignored reality, reality would disappear.

Then Chris spoke.

"Well, that’s because I’m busy and rarely home."

Emily blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Then—

"Oh my God."

The room exploded.

"THIS IS INSANE!"

The scream probably frightened wildlife three villages away.

Liliana covered her ears.

Chris remained calm.

Again.

How was he always calm?

Emily looked moments away from collapse.

"You’ve been married for five years!"

"Yes," Liliana admitted.

"To Chris St. Claire?"

"Yes."

"The international idol?"

"Still yes."

Emily pointed at Liliana.

"And you haven’t even kissed?"

Then pointed at Chris.

Then back at Liliana.

Several times.

Like a malfunctioning machine.

Finally, she dropped into a chair.

"I can’t believe you’re both idiots."

Twenty minutes later, Emily had recovered enough to function.

Barely.

Her cousin had been married to one of the most famous men on the planet for five years.

And yet they had almost no physical intimacy.

Emily felt personally offended.

"I pity you."

She stared directly at Chris.

Chris frowned.

"What?"

Somehow, he already knew what she meant.

"You have an incredible amount of self-control."

"Emily!" Liliana cried, her face turning red.

"That reaction is exactly why I’m annoyed."

"Stop. It’s not a big deal."

Chris scratched the back of his neck.

"I don’t think it is."

Liliana stared at him.

Chris laughed.

A genuine laugh.

Emily immediately pointed.

"See!"

"What?"

"That!"

Chris looked confused.

"The laughing."

"What about it?"

"You only do that around her."

The laughter vanished.

The room suddenly became very quiet.

Liliana felt heat creep into her cheeks.

Chris looked away.

Emily froze.

Then another realization struck her.

"Oh."

Yet another piece of evidence.

Another confirmation.

At this point, she felt like a detective solving the easiest mystery in history.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Sterling Village...

Victor Reyes was making progress.

Slowly.

Several villagers had already been interviewed.

Most knew nothing.

Some knew slightly more than nothing.

Then he encountered Mrs. Torres.

The undisputed queen of village gossip.

A dangerous woman.

"That house?" Mrs. Torres asked thoughtfully.

"Yes." Victor smiled politely. "What can you tell me?"

Mrs. Torres leaned forward.

Lowering her voice dramatically.

"Something is definitely happening."

Victor’s eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Oh yes."

"Like what?"

Mrs. Torres thought carefully.

For a very long moment.

Then answered confidently.

"I have absolutely no idea."

Victor nearly cried.

That afternoon, Chris received a phone call.

His manager.

The conversation lasted less than two minutes.

When it ended, his expression had changed.

Not dramatically.

But enough for Liliana to notice.

Her stomach tightened.

"What happened?"

Chris looked toward her.

"The agency wants me back in the capital."

The room fell silent.

Emily looked confused.

Liliana’s heart sank.

Already?

He had only been there for a few days.

"They’re worried about the rumors."

Chris nodded.

"The situation is getting worse."

Disappointment settled heavily inside her chest.

Unexpected.

Unwelcome.

Painful.

She had waited four months to see him.

And now he might leave early.

The realization hurt far more than it should have.

Much more.

Chris noticed immediately.

Of course he did.

He always noticed.

His gaze softened.

"I’m not leaving today."

Relief instantly appeared on her face.

Chris smiled slightly.

"There are still a few days."

A few days.

Not enough.

Nowhere near enough.

Yet somehow, it was better than nothing.

Across the room, Emily watched the exchange.

Then sighed dramatically.

"What?" Liliana asked.

Emily pointed at both of them.

But decided to keep her thoughts to herself.

Instead, she simply said:

"You two are both stupid."

Outside, beyond the peaceful gardens and quiet countryside roads, cameras continued clicking.

Questions continued spreading.

Rumors continued growing.

And if nobody found a solution soon, everything they had kept hidden for five years would finally be exposed.