"How did he do it?"
A man in his forties, who looked somewhat frail but possessed the mature charm of a middle-aged man, was pressing down on a woman.
Men were strange creatures. The better and more outstanding they were, the more charming they became with age.
This was a very charming man—a standard "Federation gentleman" who fit the aesthetic preferences of the Federation's women.
Yet the expression on his face was somewhat strange. Hidden within the distortion was a hint of excitement, resembling the look of certain sadists and masochists when they were aroused to the extreme.
He was Chris's husband, a Chief Justice of the State Court. The woman beneath him was his wife, Chris.
She did not answer, merely gritting her teeth tightly.
The man did not care. He continued speaking all sorts of humiliating words, tormenting her as though he were immersed in their exchange.
After a while, everything returned to calm, and the two lay at the head of the bed.
The man gave Chris a cigarette, took one for himself, and lit them both.
The two lay naked on the bed just like that, without the slightest attempt to cover themselves. The disheveled sheets gave off a strange smell.
"Did he agree?" the man asked.
Chris glanced at him, then looked away again without answering.
The man did not press her. There was still some excitement in his expression.
About one or two minutes later, Chris finally said, "I haven't brought up the subject yet. It's still too early. If I mention it, he'll think I approached him with ulterior motives. You need to give me some time."
After hearing this, the man seemed to agree. "You don't need to rush. As long as you can maintain an intimate relationship with him, it won't