Meanwhile, Valerie was showering. The water was so loud she didn't hear someone knocking. While she was drying herself, Matthew called. She heard it but didn't want to answer during her shower.

The phone kept ringing, so she turned off the water and dried her hands on a dirty towel. She answered, thinking it might be a customer. She wanted to let them know she wasn't working that day.

However, Matthew's deep, angry voice filled the phone. "Open the door in one minute!"

Valerie was stunned. "Mr. Grant, I'm in the shower. Could you wait?"

"Thirty seconds." He hung up.

Valerie knew from his tone that he was furious. It was a misunderstanding, though. She had changed the password but waited in the living room in case he was locked out. She waited a long time, but he didn't come home. Thinking he wasn't coming, she showered. Unexpectedly, Matthew arrived while she was showering.

Valerie didn't want to answer the door naked. She quickly dried herself, put on her clothes, and her still-flat one-month-pregnant belly. Poking her belly, she muttered, "I hope you don't take after your dad. He's so scary."

She took a deep breath, put on a smile, and opened the door. Matthew stood outside, somber. His coat hung on his arm, the sleeves of his black shirt rolled up, revealing muscular arms. He looked imposing.

Valerie smiled. "Mr. Grant—"

Matthew interrupted. "Why did you change the password?"

"Mr. Grant, the old password wasn't safe. What if someone broke in while I was showering? That's why I changed it. I'm sorry I didn't tell you." She then fetched a pair of slippers from the shelf for him.

Matthew was angry, but her apology seemed sincere. He entered, his face dark, and sat on the sofa, looking at Valerie coldly. "You must tell me about any changes in this house."

"No problem, Mr. Grant," Valerie replied.

"What's the new password?" Matthew asked.

Valerie quickly told him a series of numbers. They rang a bell. "Isn't that yesterday's date?"

Valerie nodded. "Yes. We registered yesterday, and it's easy to remember. Do you like it?"

Matthew's eyes flickered. He felt a strange sensation.

Valerie pulled a small box from her pocket and opened it. Inside were two diamond rings. "I've told my brother about our marriage. I don't want him to worry. These rings are for us, just in case." She put one on, then offered the other to Matthew. It was his first ring, a wedding ring. He'd expected her to hate him, not to have prepared wedding rings.

He wondered what people would think if they found out he, a poor driver, was married. For a moment, he didn't understand her. But his anger had dissipated. He noticed the diamonds looked small and slightly flawed.

Valerie, thinking he was embarrassed, said immediately, "No pressure, Mr. Grant. They're artificial diamonds. The seller said they're hard to distinguish. You can rest assured. Even if you lose one, we can buy another!"

So they're small and fake? When have I ever worn fake diamonds? Matthew thought in shock.