Moon Lovers: Bound by Blood and Revenge

[ Zhou Empire… ]

After Patriarch Zhou's Birthday Party, rumors were going around the company about Marceline's disappearance during the party. The rumors also involved Kira, her bodyguard.

So the hot topic in the office was Marceline's indecent affair with her employee, her bodyguard in particular.

This rumor started when the employee talked about Marceline leaving the party without saying goodbye to the guests and her grandpa. Then they found out that Marceline booked a room in that hotel. Someone also saw Kira sprinting to a certain room. 

But this rumor was instigated by her cousin, Natasha. She was making the issue big. She made it look like Marceline and Kira left the banquet secretly as they went inside the room and slept together.

Other employees made fun of Marceline after hearing that scandal.

"Have you heard? During the Chairman's birthday banquet, Miss Marceline suddenly disappeared. Sir Enrique was looking for her all over the hotel but he never found her."

"Our Witch Boss is so cunning and bold. Imagine, she has feelings for her bodyguard. How inappropriate is that? Is this a new version of office romance between employee and employer?"

"Who would have thought that she was also fond of a pretty face?"

"No wonder she chose Kira over Cedric Morgan. She had a unique taste."

The employees who were talking about them burst out laughing.

"What if he was just being forced since Witch Boss is his big Boss?"

"Yeah, that's true. Poor bodyguard! He was being taken advantage of. Witch Boss is using her power and authority over her bodyguard."

The rumors continued to spread. Every employee inside the building already created their own version of Kira's and Marceline's great night! 

They were waiting for the two to arrive. But they haven't seen any sign of them this morning. It was already 10:00 in the morning. They were already late.

But unknown to them, the two went out to see Marceline's attorney to sign the marriage contract he prepared for them. It was confidential, just a secret between the three of them.

While they were doing that, Natasha was making a fuss in her grandfather's office, telling him that Marceline's action was very inappropriate. Now she had this scandal of sleeping with her bodyguard.

"Grandpa, please don't tolerate my cousin's actions. Have you heard about what happened at your birthday banquet? She even offended Cedric Morgan for not accepting his dance invitation." She paused for a moment, assessing her grandfather's expression.

He remained unaffected by the fact Marceline offended Cedric Morgan, the mighty CEO of Triple W.

"Furthermore, Grandpa… A rumor is going around that Marceline slept with her bodyguard, that's why they disappeared together. She even booked a room in Crystal Crescent Manor. I confirmed it upon checking the facts." 

This time Grandpa Roland's eyebrow twitched, showing a little bit of reaction when he heard that. But he was not mad. It's just that he was puzzled as to why Marceline left the banquet hall and booked a suite.

'What happened to her that night?'

"I will talk to her. Is she in her office?" Grandpa Roland asked Natasha while checking the time on his wristwatch.

"That's another thing, grandpa. My cousin hasn't reported to the office yet." Natasha sounded like Marceline was doing something indecent behind their back.

The frown on Grandpa Roland's forehead deepened further. His granddaughter never came late to the office. She was always on time. Did she feel sick and unwell today?

Grandpa Roland immediately picked up his phone and dialed Marceline's phone number. It rang for fifteen seconds before it was answered. Kira and Marceline just finished signing their marriage contract and certificate at that time.

"Where are you? Are you sick?" Grandpa Roland asked Marceline right away with his concerned voice.

Natasha, who was just listening on the side, crumpled her face when her grandpa was pampering Marceline again, instead of scolding her.

'Grandpa is so unfair. He didn't give us the same treatment and attention he was giving Marceline,' Natasha lamented to herself with a dark expression on her face.

"Grandpa, I just dropped by at my attorney's office today. I'm done with my transaction here so I'm going to the company now. Why? Is there something urgent in the company that needs my presence?" Marceline motioned Kira to keep the documents. She also nodded at her attorney, Mr. Jones. They were about to leave his office.

"Alright, dear. It's nothing. I'm just worried about you. You never come late to work. I thought you felt sick today. Please see me at my office once you arrive here," Grandpa Roland softly said.

"Okay, Grandpa. That's my original plan as well. There is something I wanna tell you. I'll see you soon."

Marceline hung up the phone, tugging Kira's arm as she pulled him towards the parking lot. Kira would be the one driving the car now. He already learned how to drive.

While they were traversing the busy streets of the Golden City, Kira asked Marceline about her next plan.

"Are we going to tell them now that we are married?" Kira asked, although he knew it was just a fake document.

"Yes. I'll tell Grandpa. I will introduce you to him as my husband. This is the only way he would stop setting me up with another guy." 

Kira fell silent for a moment after hearing her answer. He was still conflicted but part of him liked the idea that Marceline would no longer be paired up with another guy.

'I am her husband now… I have to fulfill that role. I won't allow any guy to get closer to her… even that Mr. X!' Kira tightened his grip on the steering wheel. He was still jealous of Xyon whenever she would have a private meeting with Xyon.

"What are you thinking?" Marceline suddenly asked him when she noticed the chilly glint in his eyes. 'Is he mad?'

"Oh, nothing. It's just some fly I want to mash."

Marceline just looked at him with amusement. She didn't understand what he meant or whom he was referring to. 

"Hmm, focus on driving. Don't scratch and bump my brand new car. You just destroyed two cars when you had your driving lesson."

Kira just glanced at her with a sheepish smile on his gorgeous face. He felt guilty for that. "Yes, Boss!"

"I'm not your Boss anymore. I'm your wife. So don't call me Boss in front of everyone."

"Hmm, then what should I call you?" Kira asked her innocently.

"You can call me Honey, Sweety, or Love." She promptly responded. There was a glow in her eyes when she said those endearments.

"Ok, Honey… My Love… My Sweety," Kira mumbled, smiling from ear to ear. He liked them all. "And my Wifey…"

Marceline tossed a look at her window, avoiding his gaze. She simply pursed her lips, trying to fight the smile threatening to show up from her face. 

Her heart rejoiced when Kira called her using those endearments. Her heartbeat kept on pounding crazily. 'Gosh, I have a powerful and gorgeous man beside me. What can I ask for more? It feels so good to be Mrs. Alaric.'

'But it's fake! Just a fake marriage agreement between the two of you.' Someone reminded her in her subconscious.

But she retorted, 'Fake Marriage… for now! But later on, it will be for real. I'm Marceline Celeste Zhou and I will get everything I want… including HIM!'

*****

Twenty Minutes Later…

Upon arriving at the Zhou Empire together, Marceline and Kira became the center of attention once again. People kept on looking at them while murmuring to themselves and their colleagues.

Unknown to them, Kira could hear everything with his super sense of hearing. He learned about the rumors and their so-called scandal. They kept talking about the two people who had just arrived. 

Someone even insulted Kira and his capability. Some belittled him for just being a bodyguard. But he didn't mind it. They were just mere humans who love to gossip. Their harsh words won't hurt him at all. He didn't give a damn about their baseless and useless opinions. 

He decided to ignore them. But Marceline wouldn't tolerate them. They were walking in the hallway going to Grandpa Roland's office when Marceline suddenly halted on her steps.

"What's wrong?" Kira asked her upon sensing the chilly aura emanating from her. She was also clenching her fists while being silent.

"I think I have to deal with some people today," Marceline responded sternly.

Marceline turned around, looking at the group of employees just a few meters away from them. They stopped talking when they saw Marceline's sharp gaze directed at them.

Tracing her steps towards them, the four employees suddenly became anxious.

"She didn't hear us, right?" one of them asked their group nervously.

"Of course not. We are far from them. How could she hear us? Just stay calm and pretend like we are talking about someone else."

Seconds later, Marceline reached their spot. Kira was following her behind. Shooting them a cold sharp glare, Marceline told them, "Spreading rumors and gossip early this morning?" Marceline reached out, holding and reading their company ID one by one. "You are all FIRED! I'll send your names to HR."

Four Employees: "..."

'Huh? Did she hear us? But how?!'

'Oh no!'

The four employees apologized to them, asking for a second chance but Marceline's decision was final.

Marceline left the four of them. They were still shaken and devastated from losing their jobs today. 

"Why did you do that?" Kira asked her curiously.

"They can insult me all they want. But I can't tolerate them insulting my husband." Marceline said meaningfully, making Kira speechless but touched.

'Huh? But wait? Did she hear them? Don't tell me she just used her werewolf's super sense of hearing?'