The question just came out of Rey's mouth.

"To how far do you know Beatrice Collins --my ex-fiancé?"


Luana gave a small gasp, with eyes rolling involuntarily. Deep down inside, she really did not expect that the nobleman would ask a question like this.

Luana's brain was forced to think hard and fast, guessing how much information Madam Collins had given Rey. Because on the wedding day yesterday, it was Madam Collins who spoke directly with the man, before they finally agreed for Luana to take Beatrice's place.

Luana's lips almost curled, as she blinked slowly.


"May I know why you're asking that, Mr. Rey?"

Luana wanted to at least try to find an opening, to use the little time she had to analyze where tonight's conversation might lead.


Was the nobleman's question simply because he wanted to know a few facts about Beatrice, or was there actually a hidden intention that Rey wanted to know behind Luana's back.

Rey flashed a faint smile. Talking about Beatrice had never been this difficult, but that was all before the disappointing incident a few days ago happened.

After Beatrice decided not to attend their wedding, there was still anger, disappointment, and perhaps even resentment, that Rey felt for the woman --his former fiancée.

"I just want to know," Rey said quietly. The man looked away, now choosing to stare ahead.

"You know Luana," he continued. "Until now, it still feels like a dream that she dumped me."

Whether Rey realized it or not, but the man's voice slowly slowed down. It was as if there was a stone in the way, and it made things more complicated for Rey.

Luana was still clenching her lips tightly. Watching Rey from the side, she observed how the man's face seemed to be starting to fade sadly now.

Honestly, Luana didn't know how it felt to be left behind on the wedding day. But the look in the man's eyes said it all, and tonight Luana could clearly see the hurt radiating from Rey's bluish orbs.

"What do you want to know about her?" Luana began to speak up. "I may not be good at telling stories, but if there's anything you want to know about Beatrice, then I'll answer for you."

Rey exhaled slowly, tightening the embrace on himself. He would have hugged his knees like Luana did, but this time he chose to move his hands behind his back.

Straightening his long legs, Rey seemed to be sitting relaxed. Making his two sturdy hands as a support, the man turned his head briefly towards Luana.

"What do you think kept her from coming yesterday?"

Rey's eyeballs searched into Luana's, who now seemed to be thinking for a few seconds.

"Why didn't my fiancé come on our wedding day, when she seemed so happy when I proposed to her then?" Rey asked again.

Luana was getting more and more confused, not knowing what to answer. After a few moments of thinking, she finally opened her voice.

"I don't know," she answered honestly. "It's also very strange for me, because I was just as surprised as you were."

Luana thought quickly, pulling back her memory to the few days before the news of Beatrice's wedding had aired in their mansion. It was certainly exciting news, to the point where even servants like Luana were cheering.

Madam Collins said that they would have a banquet after the wedding, and Luana and the other servants were asked to prepare.

But it all turned out to be a mess, because what happened was unexpected.

"She didn't say anything," Rey said this time. "I don't know what I did wrong to her, or if there was anything missing from our wedding preparations. She behaved naturally until the afternoon before the wedding, but then she became unreachable."

Luana digested and listened to Rey's words. This was the first time the nobleman had such a comfortable conversation with her, and Luana was grateful for it.

The woman still did not understand why Rey was talking about this, but it was possible that Rey thought that Luana might have some information, given that she was someone who lived in the same mansion that Beatrice lived in.

"I'm sorry about what happened, Mr. Rey," Luana said. "I really wish this hadn't happened, if only time could be turned back."

Luana said her words with honesty, followed by a heavy intake of breath.

In between Rey and Beatrice's shadow, Luana was feeling very short of breath. But as a lowly servant as she was, again she had no choice but to follow Madam Collins' request at that time.

Rey seemed to nod vaguely, asking himself if he agreed with what Luana had said. If only time could be turned back, would he be happy if Beatrice was there waiting for him?

"I am grateful for one thing now, Luana," Rey said. Luana turned her head back, again locked eyes with Rey who somehow looked very handsome tonight.

"Thankful about?"

"I'm thankful that I kept my relationship with Beatrice under wraps before," Rey answered honestly. "My decision not to introduce her to family or friends before this, I am now deeply grateful for. Can you imagine where I would put my family's face right now, if I had announced Beatrice to the world, only to be dumped in the end?"

Luana was silent, only occasionally blinking her eyes. Deep down, the young woman was also relieved. Because at least the Lueic family did not have to feel the shame of Beatrice's departure, and even more so, Patricia did not have to be sad about this.

Increasingly, Luana subconsciously wanted her warm family to continue to be happy. Although she did not know how much longer she would be in their midst.

"I'm relieved," Luana replied. "But I'm sure Beatrice must have a reason why she didn't come. Shouldn't you look for her as soon as possible, Mr. Rey? So that you can ask her directly, before deciding what to do."

This time it was Rey who chose to remain silent, listening carefully to what Luana had just said.

The woman sitting beside him did not intend to stay, even though something that should not have happened had happened between them.

Rey's mind raced again, struggling to determine and choose what he really wanted now.

"As you requested, I will look for Beatrice," Rey said.

Luana nodded her head vaguely, as she too wanted Beatrice to return soon.

"I hope you will find her quickly, sir," Luana said again.

Rey could be heard taking a deep breath, letting it out slowly as his thoughts became more and more scattered.

About Luana, about Beatrice, and about his marital status later if Beatrice reappeared.

About Luana whose condition was no longer the same, and Rey did not know what to do for her.

"While we are talking like this, then I will also say something." Rey's voice came back, blowing with the wind.

Luana turned her head, waiting for what Rey was going to say.

"I want to apologize for all the bad things I've done to you," the noble said in a half-whisper.

Luana watched closely, observing how Rey's gaze was directed straight at her. Rey moved to sit straighter, now rubbing the back of his neck to get rid of the sudden awkwardness.

As a nobleman who lived to have everything, apologizing was not one of Rey's usual things to do.

Luana was still silent when Rey's voice came back.

"I raised my voice to you and was rude," Rey continued. "I shouldn't have done that, considering how you've been willing to help maintain my family's good name. In the future, I promise not to do anything like that again."

Luana could only remain silent, with a gaze that did not shift at all. This was the first time for her to see the other side of Rey, who turned out to be able to speak so softly and logically.

The man's cold impression seemed to disappear, now leaving a good aura as the man admitted what he had done wrong.

"No problem," Luana smiled back. "I tried to understand your position, and I was also rude to you. For that, I apologize as well."

Rey nodded his head, putting a small smile on the corner of his lips. A sense of relief enveloped the man's heart, because the unspoken words of apology had now successfully entered the air.

He knew Luana was a good girl, and his treatment over the past few days had been very inappropriate.

"I want to give a gift to your extended family, Luana," Rey said again. "Would you mind telling me which family you're from, and where your parents live? Because Madam Collins only said that you were her distant relative, and I didn't get to ask about your family's identity."

Luana's body stiffened suddenly, as she now seemed to be struggling to come up with an answer. Her tongue felt tongue-tied, with her gaze hastily averted.

Of course Madam Collins could not possibly reveal her status as a lowly servant, as it was impossible for two different castes to be in the same marriage.

Thinking quickly, the only thing Luana could think of was that her status should not be revealed before Beatrice was found.

"No, there's no need," she refused as soon as she could. Not realizing her tone had risen an octave, Luana tried hard to keep up the charade.

"It's nothing fancy," Rey said again. "Just a gift from me, for your help all these days."

It seemed that Rey still wanted to give the gift, as Luana tried to change the subject.

"My parents won't accept the gift," Luana stammered, filling her sentence with lies. "There's no need to send anything, trust me."

But Rey still looked unconvinced, as the man now seemed to search deeply to find the truth in Luana's eyes.

"It's okay," Rey still insisted. "It's just for--"

The ringing sound of a cell phone cut off the man's sentence, followed by Rey's hand reflexively reaching into his pants pocket.

Luana breathed a huge sigh of relief, thanking silently to the person who had just called Rey.

Glancing at his cell phone screen, Rey found Jovi's name listed there.

"Jovi called," Rey said as if he was telling her. "I need to answer this, Luana."

Luana nodded as she got up from her seat. Their conversation should not continue, and Luana chose to walk away.

"Alright, I'm going in too," the woman replied quickly.

Rey nodded back, a moment before his fingers swiped across the screen and pressed the device to his ear. Luana was already swinging her steps, leaving the balcony to get away from Rey's side.

But Rey's airy voice was still caught in her ear, as Luana could hear the words all too clearly.

"You found Beatrice?"