Mario stopped his steps at the end of the corridor. He leaned against the wall, trying to eavesdrop on what Luana, his childhood friend, and Rey Lueic, the nobleman, were talking about.

Unable to ignore the curiosity that was already gathering in his heart, Mario finally tried to overhear the conversation of their hotel guests, even though he knew he would be penalized if his superiors discovered his actions.


But he wanted to know what was going on with Luana and Rey. His ears seemed good enough to catch the important information earlier, when Rey called Luana 'my wife'.

A term that was, of course, impossible, even though the whole world was shaking. Luana Casavia and Rey Lueic? Seriously!

But Mario's attempts at eavesdropping were fruitless, as Rey and Luana's voices could no longer be heard faintly. Mario poked his head out from behind the wall, trying to get a peek at what was going on in front of Luana's bedroom door.


And voila! The two people were no longer there.

"Just curious," Mario grumbled irritably, followed by a heavy-sounding exhale.


After confirming that he wouldn't be able to get any information there, the young man chose to take a step back.

While thinking clearly about where he could get more information about what happened, he smiled when an idea crossed his mind and immediately took a path to the left.

Towards a place which might be able to give him concrete answers.

***

Luana was dumbfounded.

What did Rey Lueic just say? Welcoming him to come? Seriously! What kind of welcome did he mean?

Rey stopped walking. As soon as he turned around to check Luana's whereabouts, the man grimaced when he found Luana, who also reflexively stopped at a considerable distance.

"There you are," Rey said in a mocking tone. "I thought you had left."

Luana rolled her eyes lazily. Just the presence of Mario appearing in front of her room had made her rest time, and now she had to deal with a nobleman who had no idea what his motives were sitting on the edge of Luana's bed.

"That's my bed," Luana said suddenly. Not realizing why she had told that, Luana found Rey raising the corners of his lips to form a faint smile.

"This is your bed?" the man asked, pretending not to know. "Ah, right. This is your bed."

Instead of getting up from there, Rey rubbed his palms on the super soft blanket. Luana reflexively blinked, unable to believe what she was seeing.

"If this is your bed, doesn't that mean it's also mine, right?" Rey's voice echoed back into the room, making the atmosphere between them suddenly feel strange.

Luana felt heartburn starting at the base of her stomach, not knowing if it was because she hadn't eaten enough lunch earlier or had heard Rey's words just now. She didn't want to argue; she knew Rey was mocking her playfully.

Choosing to keep her lips sealed for a while, Luana turned her head in the other direction. Rey was still sitting on the edge of the large bed, resting both hands behind her. The girl was thinking about what words to say so Rey would at least leave.

"Is there something you want to say?" asked Luana finally. A little stuttered, but the questioning sentence successfully slipped from her pink lips.

Rey glared. Staring at Luana, who was now looking back at him, the man noticed the exhaustion on Luana's face.

Of course. That woman was even kidnapped or, more precisely, asked this morning to become an impromptu bride without any preparation.

Then she had to go with the man, now her husband, to a luxurious mansion to pack her things. It wasn't long before she was on a private plane, and now she was also in another city.

Luana's energy must have been drained, not to mention how she felt. It must not have been easy, and Rey was a little amazed that Luana hadn't whined for anything until now. That girl was such a submissive girl.

Rey cleared his throat softly. Correcting his sitting position to be straighter now, the man linked his hands on his lap.

"Why do I have to have something to say?" Rey said again.

This time, the man got up, stepped gingerly towards a long window with curtains that extended to the floor, and opened the curtains with one firm pull.