Contract Marriage with My Secret Partner in Crime-Chapter 37: Scandal

Kendrick leaned against the passage wall, his phone still in hand. He took a slow breath, replaying everything he had just done.

It wasn’t his first time pulling something like this. The process was almost second nature by now.

Earlier, he had broken into the enforcement system, searching for an open case he could use. He found one—an ongoing investigation into smuggling. It had nothing to do with Mr. Lody, but that didn’t matter. He changed the details, added the estate’s address, and pushed the case status to "urgent."

Then, using stored credentials from a high-ranking officer, he issued the search order.

> URGENT—AUTHORIZED SEARCH OPERATION INITIATED

Location: 47th West Street, Lody Estate

Commander: Alvin A.

The system had accepted it without question. No delays. No flags.

After that, he patched into the dispatch line, letting the AI filter handle the voice modification.

"Unit Seven, proceed with the raid. Authorization confirmed. Immediate action required."

It took only seconds before he got a response. "Copy that. Moving in."

Kendrick had heard the sirens before he even closed the system. That was all he needed.

Now, he shoved his phone into his pocket and straightened up. He had to move before anyone got suspicious. Adjusting his suit, he walked toward the exit.

By the time he stepped back into the bright hall of the gala, it was as if nothing had happened.

Kendrick sat in his chair beside Zephany, his expression calm as he politely smiled at her.

Zephany glanced at him, her eyes searching his face before she gave a small nod. A shy smile tugged at her lips, brief but sincere, before she turned her attention back to the event.

Then, the large monitor screen at the front of the hall flickered. The image shifted, and instead of the scheduled presentation, grainy footage played.

The room fell silent.

The video displayed a dimly lit basement lined with rows of paintings, each covered in dust yet unmistakably recognizable. Kendrick had captured every detail—the texture of the paint, the hidden signatures, the signs of age that could only belong to authentic masterpieces. Some of the paintings were centuries old, their value immeasurable.

Gasps filled the air as attendees recognized the artwork. A woman in a sapphire-blue gown clutched her husband’s arm. "That— that’s my painting! We bought it at the Grand Marché auction last year. It’s in our home! How is it here?!"

A sharp intake of breath came from another corner. "Mine too! The ’Sunlit Garden’—it’s in my personal gallery! I see it every day! How is it possible?!"

Murmurs turned to accusations.

"Are those counterfeits? Or are the ones in our homes the fakes?"

"But Mr. Lody authenticated them himself! He’s the President of the National Art Association!"

"If these are real, then we were sold forgeries!"

The weight of the revelation rippled through the hall, and slowly, all eyes turned toward the man of the hour—Mr. Lody.

He sat frozen, his face pale despite the golden glow of the chandeliers. His hands, which once held a glass of wine with practiced elegance, trembled as he gripped the stem.

Then, his phone vibrated.

With stiff fingers, he lifted it to his ear. "What is it?" he hissed.

"Sir, the police... they—they’re at the vacation house. They have a search warrant. They’re seizing the collection."

Mr. Lody’s grip tightened around his phone. "What?!"

He stood abruptly, the motion causing a ripple of whispers. Panic flickered in his usually composed eyes. "There must be a mistake! This—this is nonsense!"

"Nonsense?" a deep voice cut in. "Then explain this, Mr. Lody."

The crowd pressed closer, some raising their phones to record. A middle-aged man in a tailored suit sneered. "You have the nerve to sit here while displaying stolen art?! What kind of fraud are you running?!"

Another guest scoffed. "You made us believe we owned history, when all we had were cheap fakes!"

Mr. Lody’s gaze darted around the room, desperate for support, but the once-adoring crowd had turned against him. He clutched his phone tighter, then without another word, turned on his heel and bolted toward the exit.

Laughter followed him. "Running, are you? So much for the great Mr. Lody!"

Another guest shook his head. "No need to rush. I just received a message—his estate is under search right now. The real masterpieces have been found. It’s not far from here."

Excitement buzzed through the crowd. "Let’s go see for ourselves!"

One by one, the elite guests abandoned their champagne flutes and designer clutches, making their way to the exit in a mass exodus. The gala, once a picture of sophistication, had turned into a scene of scandal.

Meanwhile, Kendrick remained seated, watching the chaos unfold with a neutral expression. Beside him, Zephany clasped her hands in her lap, looking every bit the delicate journalist she was pretending to be.

But inside, she was celebrating.

’Yay! First mission done after Level 0.’

Kendrick, too, felt a surge of triumph, though his face betrayed none of it. He exhaled slowly. ’I did it. Glad I’m safe from that woman’s nagging just in case I failed.’

He shuddered at the thought of Eclipse’s inevitable scolding had he messed up.

’You should have just let me do it! I’m more capable than you! Look what you’ve done?! It was just a level three—how could you fail? That was too easy!’

He breathed out, relieved. At least he wouldn’t have to endure her mocking remarks this time.

Across the room, Cassius and Sophia remained seated as well, unaffected by the scandal unraveling before them.

Cassius swirled the wine in his glass lazily when Sophia turned to speak. "Well, that was entertaining. What do you think, Mr. Varen?"

He took a slow sip, his expression unreadable. "Not bad. Predictable, but amusing."

"Tsk. You’re hard to impress."

"I have standards."

Sophia chuckled. "Of course you do."

The auctioneer, realizing the event was beyond salvageable, took the microphone with a resigned sigh. "I guess that’s all for today. Thank you to everyone who attended the charity gala."

The remaining guests filtered out, their conversations buzzing with excitement and speculation.

Kendrick stood and turned to Zephany. With a slight bow, he offered his hand. "Shall we?"

She hesitated for a moment, playing the part of a timid journalist, then placed her hand in his. As they walked away from the chaos, the corner of her lips twitched with satisfaction.

Cassius, watching them go, smirked. "Dedicated, huh?"

Sophia glanced at him. "You say that as if it’s a bad thing."

He chuckled. "Oh no, it’s quite the opposite. Makes things interesting."

As the charity gala came to an end, the scandal of Mr. Lody’s deception was just beginning. And for Kendrick and Zephany—no, for Eclipse and Obscura—it was merely another mission completed.

On to the next.