Chapter 3 3

Luana did not make a sound. Choosing to cast her gaze towards the window, the girl was monologuing with herself inwardly.

She wondered how she would live her life in the future, having now officially become Mrs. Rey Lueic-- one of the most respected nobles in their city.

It had never really occurred to Luana that she would be the one to put the ring on the man's finger at today's wedding.

It shouldn't have been her. It was definitely not her.

But Beatric's disappearance had messed things up so much that Luana couldn't help but become a substitute bride for her employer's son.

It would have been rude of her to refuse the request of Madam Collins, who was looking at her with a pained look on her face since Beatric's absence had put the reputation of the two families at stake.

Luana had no choice.

No matter what happened, she was indebted to the kindness of the Collins family, who had been willing to take her in until she began to grow up.

Suddenly, the image of the past came back again, which made Luana shudder involuntarily.

Rey took a quick glance at the woman. Not at all loosening the displeased look he had been putting on his face, the man was hiding in silence.

Hiding from the scorn of the people, hiding from the deep pain Beatric had left for him.

Anyone would have never expected Rey to suffer such a fate, when the man had envisioned Beatrice welcoming him with a smile as wide as her face.

But what happened was he was dumped. Not only dumped, but also thrown away without any mercy left.

"Uhm, Sir." Luana's low voice interrupted Rey's reverie, along with the man's slow glance to his left now.

Holding her breath as their eyes met, Luana tried to get out the question she had been pondering.

Not knowing whether or not the young master would be angry with her, but she had to make sure.

"What's wrong?" Rey replied flatly.

Although not used to chatting with men before this, Luana clearly saw how Rey Lueic intimidated her through the voice just now.

The man's voice was heavy, tending to be cold as if he had no intention of talking to Luana. It was as if the woman sitting next to him was lifeless.

"Uhm, well..." Luana stammered as she tried to get the words out, followed by a squeeze of the fingers that were so casually intertwined down there.

"Say it right," Rey cut in quickly. "I don't like waiting, and you're really wasting my time!"

Luana gasped.

It hit her right in the solar plexus. It hadn't even been a few hours since that man had put the ring on her ring finger, and now Rey had built a strong wall between them.

A wall that Luana could not cross, a wall that separated Luana's life from that of the man.

"I'm just wondering, where are we going?" Luana's throat almost choked, even just to say those few words.

Rey glared as if he wasn't paying as much attention to the surrogate woman's question as Luana was.

"Don't ask any more questions. Just follow," Rey said firmly. There was no rebuttal, only an order. Still with a cold tone that was not made up, the man took a deep breath.

Turning his head once again, Rey now found Luana's bead blinking unintentionally. The girl was still relatively young to be a wife, especially since she didn't actually have any noble blood flowing in her body.

Thankfully, Madam Collins had introduced her to a colleague as the child of a distant relative, so her position could still be taken into account even if it could not be compared to Beatrice.

Choosing not to answer again, Luana was silent and did not offer any response or rebuttal.

Casting her gaze back out the window, she did not want to disturb the man at all. Even though they were in the same place, but Luana was sure Rey never wanted her to be there.

Almost forty minutes into the trip.

The luxury car turned to enter one of the mansions with a towering fence, when now Luana simply increased her surveillance. Examining more closely, she wondered if this was the residence of the famous Mr. Lueic.

Passing through the fence opened by two officers in light gray uniforms, Luana still clearly noticed the mansion they were entering now.

Perhaps the word luxurious was not enough to define the house, as Luana was now almost amazed at the size and spaciousness of the building.

There was a fountain pool in the center, which was equipped with various decorations. Luana could see gardens with flowers blooming on the right and left sides, until the car slowed down a moment later.

Luana was confused. Not knowing what to do, she saw a couple of young men approach and open the door for them.

One on her side, and one on Rey's side.

The man, Lueic, did not look at Luana at all. Straightening up, he said firmly.

"Come down. Mare will give you directions, and get ready."

Luana bit her lower lip in worry.

Get ready? Get ready for what?

Rey was just about to rise from his seat when Luana suddenly caught hold of the man's arm. Making Rey's bead enlarge, reflexively flicking away Luana's hand that was clinging to him mercilessly.

"Don't touch me!" the man railed in a high tone.

Luana held her breath. She just wanted to ask, but just like that, her hand reflexively wanted to hold Rey back from leaving first.

"S-sorry, Sir."

The nobleman snorted in annoyance.

She was too tired, with a heart that was more than a little broken. Beatric's absence had already made his head nearly explode, as he was now waiting for word from his best team to track the woman down.

Paying no attention to the still-sitting Luana, Rey got up first. The man walked with large steps into the mansion, followed by a young man with a neat haircut.

The young man was wearing a uniform of a different color, which indicated that he was the team leader of Rey's security team.

"Do I have to cancel everything, sir?" The voice of Jovi - the young man, penetrated through the eardrums of Rey, the newlywed.

Not relaxing his pace at all, Rey cleared his throat quietly as if he was thinking quickly. Taking a deep breath, the man said then.

"No," he said. "Proceed as planned, and bring that woman along."