The atmosphere of the Lueic family mansion looked 180° different.

If when Luana arrived earlier the residence seemed deserted, then this afternoon the mansion was already packed with quite a few people.


Rey reached out to his wife, asking permission to hold Luana's hand just as they stepped towards the door.

And as soon as the door to the room opened, the sound of bustling voices could already be heard, as Luana stared at Rey in disbelief.

"My extended family arrived while you were resting earlier," the man hurriedly explained, without Luana even asking.


Forming an 'o' unconsciously on her lips, Luana simply nodded her head.

"Are there many guests coming?" the woman whispered as she approached.


Rey guided Luana down the stairs one by one, while answering her question.

"Quite a lot. It's just a big family, but it looks like my mom invited some of her best friends' families too."

Luana's eyeballs scanned the surroundings, finding that the mansion had now been decorated to the hilt. She wondered to herself, how could the house look so different in just four hours.

Various ornamental lights were installed, turned on to give a brightly lit sensation. The main room where he had greeted Patricia earlier in the day still looked empty, but now look at how the long table had been lined up with various dishes on it.

"This isn't just another dinner, is it?" Luana whispered again, as the footsteps didn't stop.

The staircase had a rotating shape, and they seemed to have plenty of time to talk before reaching the bottom step.

Rey smiled.

"Dinner, of course," the man replied. "But we'll be the stars of the show tonight, since they're here to celebrate our marriage."

Luana was momentarily stunned, blinking as the words 'our wedding' escaped the nobleman's lips. The man's grip on her hand did not loosen at all, as they stared at each other.

Luana, who had averted her eyes first, blinked a few times to try and regain her composure.

The two of them were almost in the middle, when now Luana asked another question.

"Mr. Rey, something is bothering me," the woman said.

Halting her steps, Luana allowed Rey to stop now as well.

The man's eyeballs pierced her deeply, but Luana knew the radiance emanating from them no longer felt as cold as it had a few days ago.

"What is it? Tell me."

Luana rolled her eyes.

"I'm just curious," the woman said. "By bringing me into the midst of your family like this, do none of them realize that it shouldn't have been me who married you?"

The question crossed Luana's mind, and she decided to look for an answer.

How Patricia had welcomed her so warmly earlier, indeed made Luana feel happy and calm. But suddenly the girl thought, did Rey really admit that she was a fake bride? Or did their extended family actually not know Beatrice at all before this?

Rey took a deep breath, digesting carefully the question that had just aired. He had not expected Luana to ask such a question, though it was not an impossible thing for Luana to ask herself.

"Because they should know Beatrice, don't you think?" Luana continued.

There seemed to be no awkwardness between them when discussing Beatrice, because this was not the first time the woman's name had floated between Rey and Luana.

Rey sighed softly.

"None of my family knows Beatrice," the man answered honestly.

Luana looked a little puzzled, unable to help the frown that came to her forehead.

What was this man talking about? How could the Lueic family not recognize Beatrice?

Rey found that there was still curiosity in Luana's gaze, just as the man took another breath to open his voice.

"I never brought anyone here," Rey said again. Without realizing it, the man gripped Luana's hand even tighter down there.

"I was in a relationship with Beatrice, but not once did I introduce her to my extended family," the nobleman continued. There was a distinct tone caught by Luana's ears, which might have implied pain or disappointment there.

"Is that so?"

Rey nodded vaguely, not knowing why it was so easy for him to talk about romantic relationships to just anyone this time.

Usually Rey kept his relationships close to the vest, which was why his friends didn't even know Beatrice at all. Rey was not the type of man who liked to show off his woman, especially since their relationship was still in the dating stage.

"You are the first woman I have brought before my friends, and now before my extended family, Luana." Rey raised his head to meet Luana's gaze, and reflexively found a look of surprise on the woman's face.

For some reason Luana just stuttered, tongue-tied.

"So you don't have to worry," Rey said soothingly. "No one even knows that the woman who is my wife is supposed to be named Beatrice, so they won't even mention it in front of you. I can promise."

Luana didn't know how to react, but at least her curiosity had been assuaged.

The two were still staring at each other, until a voice downstairs broke the reverie.

"Luana, you are so beautiful, my dear!"

Suddenly turning towards the source of the voice, Rey and Luana found Patricia who was spreading her hands on the ground floor.

A smile was clearly on the woman's face, indicating that Rey's mother must be overwhelmed with happiness.

"Rey, bring my daughter

-in-law here!" said Patricia again, with a very longing look. "Watch out, slowly!"

"Okay, Mom," Rey said quickly. "Come on, Luana."

Luana complied as Rey led her back down the stairs, and soon the couple arrived at the ground floor.

Patricia welcomed Luana with a warm hug, now leading the two to enter another room.

The room where the families had gathered, with various colored outfits filling the large hall.

Right when Patricia and Rey-Luana passed through the door, suddenly all gazes were now directed and focused on them. Most of them simply stopped what they were doing, with a smile on each of their faces as they welcomed the new married couple into the family.

Luana blinked a few times, still very unfamiliar with this crowded atmosphere. But Rey repeatedly tightened their handshakes, letting the rings on their fingers touch each other.

The nobleman led Luana towards the front of the room, as if he already knew where they should stand now.

The noise that had been heard was now slowly silenced, just before Rey paid his respects and introduced Luana in front of his extended family.

"Thank you all for coming tonight," the man said without hesitation. His eyeballs circled the room, then stopped to look right at Luana.

Luana herself could only remain silent, with her heart beating faster and faster.

"Introducing, she is Mrs. Rey Lueic, who has legally become a new member of our family," Rey continued. "This beautiful woman is my wife, Luana Lueic."

The applause from the invited guests who were also extended family sounded loudly, as a joyful welcome to the addition of another person into their family.

Luana could only raise the corners of her lips to form a smile, but her time was suddenly cut short when she felt a peck land on her cheek.

A peck that came from the lips of the nobleman, which felt very soft.