Rey and Ryan chose to chat in the ground floor living room, then there were two beautiful women of different ages who chose to sit facing each other right on the edge of the bed.

Luana didn't know why Rey's mother had asked them to leave, because on the one hand it was a request that left her at a loss for words.


The atmosphere that had been felt from the first floor was enough to make Luana self-conscious, causing her to lower her head more as if she was unable to look into Patricia's beautiful eyes.

"Raise your head, Luana."

Patricia's voice was the first note heard, after so long since the sound of the door closing which was the last sound in the large room.


Squeezing her fingers with a feeling that was mostly overwhelmed by anxiety, Luana closed her eyes for a few seconds as if she was begging the universe for strength.

This is harder than she thought.


"Luana."

Raising her head with barely any energy left, Luana really carried the shame and guilt that increasingly weighed on her shoulders.

She knew something like this was bound to happen, even if whoever was down there hadn't talked about it at all. It was just that, Luana was smart enough to guess which direction the conversation between Rey and her father was going.

It must have something to do with Beatrice's whereabouts, who might have revealed all to the Lueic family. Luana knew the woman could do anything.

And now, the only thing Luana could think about was the fact that she was almost at the finish line.

With a very slow movement, Luana directed her beautiful bead to return Patricia's gaze, which had been directed at her first.

The breathing of both women was clearly audible, as silence repeatedly took over just as their lips closed.

"I'm sorry, Mom...."

The young woman's voice trembled, especially when she realized she was unable to hold back the crystal beads that had simply accumulated at the corners of her eyes.

With just one blink, her cheeks would have been wet by now.

Patricia began to pull the corners of her lips into a smile, and it made Luana realize that the expression her mother-in-law was wearing had changed almost 180 degrees.

A reddish tinge began to appear at the corners of the middle-aged woman's cheeks, with her lips pulled up. If earlier Patricia had not looked at Luana at all, then now the look in her eyes looked really calm and reassuring.

And that made Luana's heart almost burst out of her chest.

"It's not your fault, Luana."

Patricia took the opportunity to try to open up the conversation, because this was the plan she had made with her husband. Ryan would be in charge of talking to Rey, then she herself would try to get to the bottom of how Luana felt about their son.

"It's not your fault," Patricia repeated as if to emphasize her point. "Love comes and chooses where it should dwell, Luana. Do you still remember what we talked about back in Leipzig?"

It took a few seconds before Luana finally nodded faintly, as the clear crystal ball that was wetting her cheeks dropped. Hastily wiping away the tear tracks with the back of her hand, Luana breathed deeply.

"Of course I still remember, Mother." Luana's voice still trembled at the mention of the word 'mother', but it made Patricia smile even more.

"I'm glad to hear that," Patricia replied. "I hope you don't forget what I asked you, about not resisting when love later comes between you."

Patricia's breathing seemed easier now.

"A woman named Beatrice came and told me everything," Patricia began at length. "She revealed your identity. She also tried to make things right in her own way, but it seems it will be difficult because things are no longer the same."

Luana chose to press her lips together, trying to listen as best she could to Patricia's words.

"I know you might feel scared." This time Patricia moved forward a little, to reach Luana's back to stroke it. "But believe me there is nothing impossible in this world, if two people already love each other."

Patricia's gaze felt like an oasis in the desert, with a gentle stroke that seemed to close Luana's wounds without the young woman realizing it.

It was difficult to explain the feelings that Luana was experiencing, because she was still trying to guess which way this conversation would end.

"Do you want to part with Rey?" Patricia's question sounded very clear, which reflexively made Luana widen her bead quickly.

"No!" she replied almost in a stifled cry. "I... don't want to."

The smile printed on Patricia's face seemed to widen even more, and it looked like it was going to be easy because Luana was so predictable.

The way she shook her head with a gesture of surprise was enough for Patricia to come to one conclusion; that her son was living with the right person.

Who loved Rey, who looked at Rey as he looked at his wife.

"Have you found the answer to my request?" Patricia asked again. "Have you chosen whether to let that love stay or go?"

Luana blinked a few times, before letting her lips part slowly.

"I... choose to stay," she said with conviction. Looking down for a few seconds, Luana straightened her head again. "But I don't want to be a stumbling block for Rey, Mom."

Exactly the same.

Clearly, this was also how Patricia had felt decades ago.

The anxiety, the sense of unworthiness, the shame, and all the negative emotions that swirled around just because of the difference in caste. As someone who had experienced it first, Patricia was certainly able to understand what Luana was feeling.

The same inner turmoil.

Grabbing Luana's hand that was drooping in her lap, Patricia patted it gently.

"You know, Luana." Patricia paused. "Looking at you right now, it makes me remember what I went through with Ryan. We also come from different castes, and just like what his father did before he was even born, I know Rey would have chosen to keep you. Because he feels loved, because he has loved you without even realizing it."

Luana's heart pounded as her brain processed what she had just heard, with a look of disbelief.

Patricia chuckled.

"I'm just like you, Luana," the middle-aged woman said again. "Ryan and I are of different castes, and I almost gave up then. I thought there would never be a way for us, but look at how love has led to the most beautiful light."

Luana tried to hide her surprise as best she could, but it seemed that the look on her face was still clearly displayed.

Who would have thought that a big mistress from a respected family like the Lueic family, would have experienced difficult times just to maintain a relationship.

"But look at me now, I'm happy," Patricia said with a bright smile. "Very happy, in fact, and I know that you and Rey will experience even greater happiness."

Luana didn't know why the crystal clear had returned. It was just that now she felt a very strong rumbling in her chest, followed by a sense of relief that came over her.

"Mom, I...."

"You have nothing to worry about," Patricia interrupted. Her smile was still broad, with a warm pat on the back of her daughter-in-law's hand. "Not only will Rey protect you, but we will too. The entire Lueic family will do their best to make sure you live comfortably."

Again the flow of tears intensified, which now made Luana slowly sob. Her chest felt tight, but it was no longer because she felt like the finish line was almost here, but rather that the line was fading away steadily.

"Thank you, Mommy."

Bursting into Patricia's arms, Luana let her sobs dominate for a few moments.

Patricia's embrace felt so warm, and Luana really didn't have to worry about anything. Because now not only Rey was on her side, but there was also Patricia and Ryan who she had come to regard as her own parents.

"You deserve to be happy, Luana," Patricia whispered in a low tone of voice. "Whatever our status on this earth, we have the same right to be happy. To love, and to be loved."

The words sounded soothing, just as Luana whispered back in her mother-in-law's arms.

"There's something I want to tell you."

Patricia's hand was still gently rubbing Luana's back.

"Hmm? What is it?"

Luana had time to smile, before she delivered the news she was dying to tell.

"I'm pregnant."

Patricia reflexively broke the hug and looked at Luana with sparkling eyes.

"What, Luana? Didn't I hear you wrong?"

The look on Patricia's face made Luana chuckle, before she nodded her head again.

"I'm pregnant, Mom," she repeated. "I'm pregnant, the love child between me and Rey."

Patricia couldn't help but hug her daughter-in-law back, with a giggle that she couldn't hide.

"Oh my gosh! I'm going to be a grandmother! Grandma! Yiha!"

Patricia's voice and exclamation really managed to revive the atmosphere, as if to erode the strange atmosphere that had occurred on the ground floor earlier.

Surely, that's not what Mr. and Mrs. Lueic were hoping for?