"BANG BANG BANG! BANG BANG BANG! Open the door! Open up!"
Sparks were flying between Caleb Forrest and Ivy White. Just as they were about to lose control completely, a furious pounding echoed from the front door.
Caleb Forrest sobered up in an instant. Realizing he was locked in an embrace with Ivy White, his face fell, and he hurriedly pushed her away.
He straightened his clothes before going to open the door.
A vicious glint flashed in Ivy White's eyes.
'What bastard ruined my moment!'
She straightened her own clothes but remained in the bedroom.
When Caleb Forrest opened the door, he saw two men in uniforms with red armbands standing on his doorstep. Seeing him, one of them spoke coldly, "We've received a public report that you're harboring someone of unknown origin. We need to inspect the premises."
Caleb Forrest's heart sank. He quickly replied, "No, no, Comrades. I'm absolutely not harboring anyone of unknown origin. It's just me, my wife, my mother, and our newborn baby here…"
Cold sweat dripped down Caleb's back.
He never imagined they would show up to inspect his home at a time like this.
Ivy White absolutely could not be discovered.
She didn't have a letter of introduction!
In this era, anyone caught traveling without a letter of introduction was treated as an enemy agent.
Leaving aside the bond he and Ivy White shared from their youth, he couldn't just stand by and watch her get into trouble, if only for Jason Dunn's sake.
"It's not up to you. We're going inside to search." The two men paid him no mind.
Caleb Forrest's brow furrowed, and his expression darkened.
But he didn't dare to openly oppose them.
If he handled this poorly, he wouldn't just lose his job—he could be arrested.
It was better to avoid trouble than to create it.
'Besides, these men don't know Ivy White. I'll just say she's my wife. No one will know the difference.'
The two men pushed Caleb Forrest aside and strode into the house.
By now, Ivy White had heard the commotion outside.
She emerged from the bedroom, pulling her clothes on.
She looked as if she had just woken up and stepped out of the master bedroom.
At a glance, they really did look like a married couple.
The two officials didn't seem to suspect a thing.
However, the younger of the two comrades spotted a framed photo on the cabinet near the entrance. He gave it a curious glance, and his expression changed instantly.
The photograph was of a young man and woman. The man was Caleb Forrest, and the woman was, unmistakably, Grace Winslow.
It was their wedding photo. Both were dressed in olive-drab military uniforms, a large red flower pinned to Caleb Forrest's chest. They smiled sweetly for the camera.
"Is this your wife?" he asked, picking up the photo and looking toward Ivy White.
Looking nervous and uneasy, Ivy White answered in a small voice, "Comrade, I… I am indeed Comrade Caleb Forrest's wife."
"Oh? Then who's this in the picture? Don't tell me that's you, too," the young comrade said, brandishing the photo.
Caleb Forrest's heart leaped into his throat. After a moment's thought, he quickly explained, "That's my sister. She married a few years ago. My mother misses her, so we keep her picture out."
"Is that so?" Clearly, the two men didn't believe him.
The commotion was loud enough to alert the neighbors. A door creaked open next door as someone peeked out to see what was going on.
Reacting quickly, Caleb Forrest slammed the door shut.
'No one else can find out about Ivy White.'
His heart hammered in his chest as a thousand thoughts raced through his mind.