The Rise of the White Lotus

Slowly, Lexi raised her head a little to meet the forgiving pair of eyes that were looking back at her. Although he was meekly smiling, and inviting her to his embrace, Lexi was hesitant. 

How can he forgive her like that? To her, kneeling on a washboard for half a day wouldn't suffice for the torture she had caused him. After all, she estimated the time that Ethan Lu first saw the images and thinking that it was probably several hours ago, she could imagine the pain and rage that engulfed his heart from that fraction of time.

Regardless, he didn't throw a huge fit and waited so as not to interrupt the traps they set for Mia Chen. He matured, despite his rage. He kept his head clear and looked at the more important detail of her action, which she failed to see.

Indeed, she was dumb with a poor judgment of things. Not to mention, she was selfish and heartless, just like before. How embarrassing and shameful on her part. It was as if she hadn't matured throughout the course of everything that transpired in her life to make such a silly decision.

"You know, Rick just disobeyed me for the first time and gave me cold shoulders. He indirectly just said: I won't let you abuse my original master." Seeing that Lexi didn't move a muscle, Ethan Lu chuckled as he turned his gaze back to the ceiling. "Your move was reckless and, well, stupid — that's for sure. But I don't believe my wife is a complete airhead, you know." He added as if he had read what's currently going on inside her mind.

"Rick…?" Upon hearing him, Lexi finally responded as she slightly knitted her brows. Of all people, the great and the most loyal subordinate of his, Lyrick Jiang, just disobeyed his master's request? And that's because of her? He didn't want Ethan Lu to make her kneel on the washboard. Despite that, she silently agreed to it?

"Mhmm," Humming a tune, Ethan Lu let out another momentary chuckle as he recalled how Lyrick Jiang firmly objected about his request. 

Well, it was not that he was serious about it as he already made his wife cry. He just attempted to liven up the mood as Lexi's resort whenever he was about to do something silly was to threaten him about the washboard. Oddly enough, it was effective in a way.

"You might not know this but Rick, he had always thought that there's not a perfect match for me. That there's no one that was worthy of his respect and the title of Madam Lu until he met you. All the girls I dated, he'd always raise his brows like a judging mother and you're the exception." Reminiscing the times that Ethan Lu would cough his lung out whenever Lyrick Jiang interrogate the girls he dated, and how he acted like a queen dowager, Ethan Lu could not help but chuckle.

"Now, without a shadow of a doubt, I'm afraid that he will rather exchange position with Nico if we give him a chance. That's a strong reminder that you are not a stupid person because of a single silly act. Someone like Rick, just gaining his respect is enough proof. Let's not mention Red and Nico." Slowly, he turned to Lexi and see if that gave her the confidence. Seeing the moved glint that bolted across her eyes, the corner of his lips slightly curled upward in satisfaction before he returned his gaze back to the ceiling.

"But that doesn't mean I'm not mad anymore because I still am. I can't help but think if something within you sparked when you talked with Morris. But, aside from that, I am more afraid that you'd choose him over me. I trust you, but sometimes, it's hard not to have such negativity, especially if my wife can smile while being held by someone else." Bitterness lingered in his voice as he spoke what his heart was expressing, not his mind.

Aside from the initial jealousy he felt towards Morris Liu, Ethan Lu was more hurt that Lexi could make her feel so insecure. He didn't even like it when Laurel Wang gets inside the personal space he set for himself. Hence, he bluntly told her to keep her distance, which she was now abiding.

That's why he was hurt because Lexi could not do the same. Or rather, she could, but perhaps Morris Liu was an exception? He was uncertain about it and this uncertainty; he didn't like it. It made him fearful and extremely insecure.

Lexi stared at him as she bit her lower lip. She's guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Hence, Lexi mustered up her shamelessness as she slowly crawled to his side. Resting her head to his chest, Lexi's arms gently wrapped around his waist.

"I'm sorry and I love you." She softly murmured as her eyes softened. "I chose you and will continue to choose to be loved and love you every day. I know 'sorry' will not suffice for what I made you feel, and I never wanted to turn back time to correct it until today. I'm sorry, love." Her grip tightened as she buried her face on his chest. 

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She meekly repeated over and over again until her voice cracked. Her shoulders began to tremble and Ethan Lu's clothes got soaked where she was silently crying like a little girl.

Ethan Lu pursed his lips on a thin line before he heavily exhaled. He then slowly turned his body to the side and embraced her petite figure. Sniffing and kissing her head, he rested his chin over her head as his hand stroked her back.

"Wrong. From now on, you won't say I'm sorry, but I love you. In that case, you will remind me how you're head over heels at this suave macho." Smiling, Ethan Lu would be lying if he said he had forgotten about it. 

However, being able to hold her, love her more, and resolving whatever misunderstanding they had, that was what's important. Correcting and forgiving each other of their mistakes instead of adding it to their problems. 

Furthermore, wasn't this part of marriage? It wasn't all rainbows and butterflies, but also how they would stand side by side under any circumstances.

"I love you. I love you…" Ignoring the fact that he was boasting, Lexi repeated this new rule that he implemented just now.

"Just don't repeat it again, okay? I might just go berserk the next time." Chuckling at how obedient his wife was, Ethan Lu rubbed her back as he reminded.

"Okay, I love you." Lexi just nodded her head before she squeezed her body to him even more.

And that's how their first big argument as husband and wife ended.