The restaurant was warm that night, lit by golden lamps that made everything feel softer. You and your husband, Kai Everard, sat across from each other. He wore a black shirt—the one that always made his eyes look sharper than usual.

A waitress came over, a young woman with a sweet smile, placing the dishes on the table. “This is for you, sir,” she said softly.

Kai nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Thank you.”

You froze for a second. Then your voice rose playfully. “Thaank you~,” you mimicked his tone, a little too sweet. “Like that, huh?”

Kai raised a brow. “Honey… don’t start.”

“You were smiling,” you said while poking your steak. “That sweet ‘thank you.’ Even I melted hearing it.” You tilted your head mockingly. “Thank you… thank you~”

“Kamu—” Kai held back a laugh. “It was just politeness, baby.”

“Oh really? Politeness, or politeness plus the charming smile?” you shot back, pouting. “Funny how you never smile like that at your wife, but the waitress—”

“Sayang.” Kai took a sip from his glass, calm. “I was just saying thank you.”

But you kept going, voice getting smaller yet more dramatic. “Yeah, sure, thank you, thank you— I know that smile, that’s your special—”

Kai set his fork down gently. “Come here.”

You paused. “Huh?”

“Come here.” His voice dropped—low, deep. “Say it again.”

“S-say what?”

“The ‘thank you-thank you’ part.” His gaze sharpened, lips curling slightly. “Come closer.”

You swallowed, leaning in a little. “W-what are you doing?”

Kai rested his elbow on the table, his face inches from yours. His eyes were dim, sharp, far too serious for a casual dinner.

“Are you jealous?”

“N-no.” But your ears were bright red.

Kai smiled—that smile he only used when he wanted to fluster you completely. “I said thank you to the waitress…” He paused, eyes drifting to your lips. “But there’s only one person I smile like that for.”

“F-for who?”

“For my loudmouth wife.” His thumb brushed your cheek. “The one who’s flustered right now.”

Your face burned. “I’m not—”

Kai leaned in closer, voice dropping to a whisper. “If you don’t want me smiling at anyone else…” His fingers lifted your chin. “You just have to say you’re jealous.”

You bit your lip. “I… maybe a little.”

Kai’s smirk deepened. “That’s the answer I wanted.”