The travel time stretching from Dresden to Leipzig should have taken nearly fifty minutes. But at Rey's wheel, the distance was cleared in just half an hour.

After his conversation with Luana ended, the two decided not to chat with each other anymore. Rey focused on facing forward, while Luana preferred to cast a look outside.


Silence enveloped, until finally Rey took the initiative to turn on the radio and let the melodious voice of the announcer mediate between them.

Until now, the car arrived right in front of the Lueic family's magnificent house, along with Rey's footing on the brakes down there.

Two young men seemed to run a little to open the towering high fence, giving access for Rey's car to now enter the mansion.


If Luana thought Rey's residence was the biggest mansion she had ever seen, then the woman had to be surprised again by how luxurious the residence belonging to the Lueic family was now right in front of her.

Mentally estimating, Luana guessed that the size of this house was probably almost three times that of Rey's mansion. With a fountain pool located right in the middle of the front area, the house looked so luxurious and artificial with the colors of salem and light gray combined in such a way.


Rey went straight to the carport area, then turned off the car engine while looking to the side.

"We're here, get off," the man said with his hands moving quickly to unbuckle the seat belt.

Luana didn't answer, but she followed Rey's motion to unbuckle the seat belt and get out of the car.

The air in Leipzig was very fresh, even though the sun was still visible up there. Not stinging, Leipzig is indeed famous for its fairly cold air.

Approaching Luana, Rey simply pulled the woman's hand to hold it then.

Luana had a small gasp, feeling that there was static electricity that just stung her body. This was not the first time Rey had touched her like this, it was just that somehow the woman seemed to give a reflex response to Rey's touch on the surface of her skin.

The two pairs of eyeballs met, followed by Rey raising the corners of his lips to curve a smile.

"Be as natural as possible," the man whispered. "My mom will probably ask a lot of questions, but just answer as best you can. I'll be there later to help you answer, just in case you don't know what to say."

Rey seemed to be giving a warning, and Luana was still keeping her lips sealed.

"Okay," the young woman replied after a few seconds.

Rey exhaled, already taking the first step to lead Luana to the main door of their residence.

Two servants wearing similar uniforms were already waiting at the door, bowing their heads to welcome the young lord and lady.

"Take Luana's suitcase to the room," Rey ordered as he passed the two servants, followed by a quick nod from both of them.

Walking through the main room of the Lueic residence, Luana couldn't help but marvel at all the interiors that this family had. It turned out that the rumors of their family's wealth and fame were indeed true, and now Luana was proving it with her own eyes.

The tapping of Rey's shoes sounded loud, as a middle-aged woman came down the stairs from the second floor.

"You brought my daughter-in-law, Rey?"

Patricia Lueic's voice echoed, stealing the attention of the couple still holding hands downstairs.

Rey stopped walking, followed by Luana who was now standing right beside him. But the man did not loosen the grip of their hands at all, as he noticed how Patricia glanced with a smile at his second hand.

"We have arrived, Mother," Rey said politely.

Patricia threw him a smile, continuing her steps until she reached the bottom of the stairs.

Approaching Luana, Rey's mother immediately faced her young daughter-in-law.

"Welcome to your home, Luana Lueic," Patricia greeted warmly, with a quick movement to hug Luana who was still frozen.

"Nice to meet you," Patricia said again, releasing the hug slowly. "I'm sorry for making you travel so far, and interrupting your honeymoon."

Patricia's smile seemed so genuine, as Luana reflexively smiled back at the middle-aged woman.

"Thank you, Mrs. Lueic," Luana stammered back.

Patricia chuckled with widened eyeballs, as if she was surprised at what she had just heard.

"Mother," Patricia corrected. "To everyone else, I am Mrs. Lueic-just like you. But to my children, I am your mother, Luana."

Luana's heart swelled inside, with a smile she couldn't contain on her face. How the radiance she got from Patricia, completely melted the heart of the woman who had grown up without a mother's love.

For Luana, Madam Collins was her only mother. But this woman who still looked so beautiful in front of her stole the show, and Luana felt a rush of affection.

"Get some rest," Patricia said, breaking the silence. "You must be tired, dear Luana. Rest for now, and we can talk more later."

Rey watched out of the corner of his eye, seeing how Luana was still staring intently at Patricia.

"Alright ... Mother," Luana replied clumsily.

Patricia couldn't hide her happy blush, as she now patted her son's chest.

"What are you waiting for, Rey?" she said. "Go and take your wife upstairs, then get some rest."

Rey nodded faintly, glancing back at Luana.

"Come on, Luana."

Luana bowed her head briefly, saluting Patricia before her feet followed Rey.

Climbing the stairs one by one, Rey did not let go of Luana's hand that he was still holding. Until they reached the top step, then turned and went down the hallway.

Stopping at the far door, Rey simply pulled the handle and brought Luana inside.

"This is my room," the man said.

Luana looked around the room, observing how the spacious room was filled with shades of brown.

Slowly releasing their handshake, Rey rubbed the back of his neck to remove the awkwardness.

"I'll leave you here," Rey said. "You can rest, until we gather in the dining room at six."

Luana raised her head, turning her head to meet Rey's gaze.

The woman seemed to inhale slowly, before opening her lips to speak.

"What does your mother like, Mr. Rey?"

Rey looked a little surprised by Luana's question, but then the man thought for a few seconds before answering.

"My mom?" repeated Rey. "What is it? She likes to grow flowers, and she likes to be in her garden that is located behind the mansion."

Luana smiled, followed by a nod of her head later.

"Ah, I see."

Rey watched Luana with a probing gaze.

"Why?"

"It's okay," Luana replied. "Your mother seems so kind, and her smile is so genuine."

Walking slowly toward the window, Rey's wife pulled back the curtains that covered the window, allowing sunlight to stream into the room.

"Do you like my mom?" Rey asked in the background.

Luana turned around. The distance between them was considerable, but they were still staring at each other.

"I like her," Luana said happily. "Your mother reminds me of Madam Collins, and it feels so good to be around them. I grew up without a mother, and I can finally call someone 'mom' now."

Rey was pensive for a few seconds, listening intently to Luana.

The young woman rubbed her hand and the other, then looked down to look at the marble floor of their room.

"Sorry," she said suddenly. "I shouldn't be this happy."

Rey sighed, still unable to take his eyes off his wife.

Luana had already turned back around, staring back out the window at the flower beds below.

"If you like it, you can have it," Rey said, breaking the silence.

Luana suddenly turned around, staring at the nobleman with a frown on her forehead.

Rey shrugged.

"I've been her son for more than 30 years," the man said now. "If you really like my mother, then think of her as your own. I'll give her to you for free."

Luana almost laughed, but thankfully she was able to hold back and only managed a small smile.

"Really?"

Rey nodded without hesitation. He didn't feel like he was missing anything anyway.

"Take it for you," the man said confidently. "But you have to be prepared to hear her scolding, and you can't give it back to me."

This time Luana really couldn't help but laugh, as evidenced by the woman's laughter that filled the entire room.

Rey was frozen in place, watching how the young woman laughed until her eyes were almost closed.

She was... Charming in her own way.

"Are you serious, Mr. Rey?" asked Luana after her laughter died down, but Rey could clearly see how the woman's face lit up now.

"Of course," Rey said without hesitation. "If that's what you want, I'll give it to you."

The smile was still on Luana's face, when Rey unconsciously curved a smile as well. Not realizing that the atmosphere between them had improved, as both seemed to have accepted each other's presence there.

Noticing how Luana looked different in his eyes, the noble realized that this was the first thing he had given Luana--without the shadow of another woman.

'Her mother' was the first gift he had given her.

The woman who was beside him when the sacred marriage vows were made, the woman who held the legal status of his wife.