"Rey!"

The discordant voice rang out loudly. Rey turned around lazily, finding Beatrice already standing in the doorway of his study. But the man did not turn around at all, seemingly content to stand firmly in front of his large window.


Looking down at the flower bed below, which had been cared for by Luana for the past two months. Thinking about Luana made Rey's heart warm, even though his ex-fiancée was in the same room right now.

Beatrice Collins swayed her steps, heading towards her idol.

The woman really did come, appearing without hesitation. Bringing a myriad of false hopes shamelessly as well.


"I missed you, Darling." Without further ado, Beatrice approached and hugged Rey from behind. Shedding the longing that had lingered in her heart during her disappearance, she hoped Rey would turn around and return her embrace just as warmly.

But disappointment seemed to come too soon, as Rey simply moved Beatrice's hand around his stomach to get off.


"Don't hug me, Beatrice," Rey replied flatly. It was cold and tense.

Beatrice snorted softly, but she knew Rey was definitely not going to play it easy after what she had caused these past few months. It was okay, she had prepared herself to face the man.

"Rey, I really miss you. Are you okay?"

This time Rey turned his slender body slowly, letting the blue bead meet Beatrice's beautiful bead.

The woman he once adored with all his body and soul, but ended up dumping him right on their wedding day. It's tragic, isn't it?

The glass of cold beer Rey was holding swirled slowly, before the nobleman took a sip from the edge of his lips. "Sit down. We need to talk."

Absolutely not giving Beatrice the reply she expected, Rey had already made up his mind. He wasn't there to give a second chance, he wasn't there to take Beatrice back.

The blonde-haired woman nodded in agreement, then followed Rey who had swung by first. Stopping when they reached the soft sofa in the center of the room, Rey invited Beatrice to sit across from him.

"I don't have much time," Rey said in the same tone. "Listen to me carefully, because I don't like to repeat myself."

Beatrice blinked, leaning forward to reach Rey's arm on his lap. For a few seconds, the nobleman let Beatrice's palm grasp his hand, because he wanted to make sure of

something.

No, not anymore.

There were no more tremors even though Beatrice was holding his hand now, unlike when Luana touched him. Rey was completely numb, even to his own fiancée. Err, ex-fiancé.

"Rey, one moment," Beatrice interrupted. "Let me do the talking first."

Rey broke the hold, finding Beatrice sporting a look of disappointment mixed with sadness. Perhaps she had realized his mistake, but it was too late.

"Alright," Rey said. "Speak first."

"I apologize for all the stupid things I did," Beatrice began. "I left because I wasn't ready for the conditions you asked of me, I really wasn't ready to carry and bear children for the Lueic family."

A two-second pause.

"But I have thought things through," Beatrice explained again. "I really needed time to think, and now I'm ready to give it all to you. I don't care anymore, I'll do anything for us. I will be a mother, I will be a good wife."

Rey's heart had already turned to stone, because whatever Beatrice had explained to him really had no effect now. There was no room left for her, no matter how sorry Beatrice was now.

No matter if she was willing to carry a dozen children, now Rey didn't even think he could touch her. He couldn't, because he had already chosen Luana.

"You will forgive me, right?" Beatrice's voice came back. "My mother also decided something wrong by letting Luana become a surrogate, but you should know that she is not as good as you think. She's not royalty, she's just-"

"She's my wife," Rey interrupted quickly. The man's eyeballs sharpened in time with a heavy-sounding exhale. "She's my wife, Beatrice."

Beatrice couldn't hide the shock on her face now, making her gape in disbelief.

What... did she just hear? Did she have a problem with her ears?

"Rey, that... she was just a substitute so that our family's good name wouldn't be tarnished. Did you forget?"

"You forgot, Beatrice," Rey leaned his sturdy body against the chair. "You forgot who caused that? You forgot who almost tarnished our family name, hmm?"

Beatrice hesitated. Silent, speechless even. Rey had never been this cold to her, no matter how rambunctious she was when they were together.

The woman hissed softly.

"But now I'm back, Rey," she said clearly. "I'm back, to make things right."

Rey sipped his beer slowly, before glancing at his interlocutor. "So what if I don't actually want you back?"

Sharp, and right in the solar plexus. Beatrice never expected Rey to say something so hurtful to her. No, never.

"Rey!"

"I have a family now, Beatrice," Rey interrupted quickly. "A full, complete family that no one can intervene in. No matter what, I really don't want bullies in here. Do you understand?"

Beatrice didn't know when her eyes started to glaze over, but it was clear that her heart was rumbling violently.

This was not the kind of conversation she should have had with Rey. She had expected Rey to welcome her with joy, but look how the man didn't even seem to like her presence there.

The sound of Beatrice's breathing filled the room now.

"Rey, I know you're angry," she said with her breath catching. "If you need time to think, then I'll give it to you. But please don't do this, hmm?"

Advancing to take Rey's hand again, Beatrice was even more hurt when Rey pushed her hand away. The man did not want to be touched by a woman who was not his wife. He didn't deserve it.

"Rey...."

"I wouldn't change a thing," Rey said clearly. "My Luana- my wife, not going anywhere. Will not return to the Collins residence, for this is where she belongs. There is no one to replace, we'll leave things as they are and live the rest of your lives now."

In one blink, Beatrice felt her cheeks start to get wet.

No, it can't be like this, can it?

"It can't be!" she snarled now, her voice rising in pitch. "You don't know who she is, Rey! She's just a lowly servant who doesn't even deserve to look you in the eye!"

Rey grinned faintly.

"But I have let her touch my body," the man said lightly. "She even undressed me, and... do you want to hear more?"

Feeling her body almost weaken, Beatrice sighed in disbelief. Her eyes widened, with a steady stream of tears falling.

"You... made love to her?" she hissed. No, it can't be like this.

Rey nodded with a faint smile.

"She's my wife. Of course we made love."

Again the blow, it really hit and pushed Beatrice into the abyss.

For the love of everything! Rey hadn't even let her visit the man's room all this time, and now she heard that he was sleeping with Luana who was a maid?! Seriously!

Growling with both hands clenched tightly, Beatrice's breathing rose and fell, ragged.

"You can't do this to me, Rey!" Beatrice exclaimed furiously. "Are you trying to say that you prefer a servant to me?!"

Rey knew Beatrice was provoked.

Correcting his body to sit straighter, the man nodded clearly.

"I'm telling you again," Rey whispered closer. Leaning towards the woman, Rey continued in a low voice. "She is no longer a servant, Beatrice. But she is my wife, my lawful wife. The one who will bear my child someday, who will be by my side forever."

Beatrice sobbed even more.

"Do you know something?" Rey said again.

Beatrice was still frozen.

"I learned a lot after you left, Beatrice," Rey whispered. "Especially about how to love the right way."