Rey's reaction was like a cold shock that jolted Aluna and silenced the guests witnessing the scene. His possessive grip around her waist, the firm touch that made her feel both protected and trapped in his sudden embrace, and the cold yet defensive tone in his voice created an awkward silence in the once-bustling ballroom.
The socialites who had been sneering now stared wide-eyed, curiosity and speculation painted across their heavily made-up faces and artificial smiles. Aluna herself was confused by Rey's behavior—her contract husband.
Though he had always been cold and distant, his actions just now felt incredibly protective, as if she belonged to him and should not be demeaned—a strange claim of possession that stirred something unexpected inside her.
The fleeting warmth of Rey's body pressed against her still lingered beneath the smooth satin of her dress, mingled with confusion and a dangerous curiosity about the man who was now her husband, a man with so many layers hidden beneath his icy gaze. She could feel the stares of others observing them intently, making her uncomfortable, as if they were witnessing a private drama not meant for public view—a performance of power and possession with unclear boundaries.
During the silent ride home in the luxurious car, the air felt heavy with unspoken questions. Aluna gathered the courage to break the suffocating silence, the smooth hum of the engine only amplifying the physical and emotional distance between them.
"Why... why did you do that back there?" Her voice was soft, almost a whisper, but her curiosity was too great to suppress—a drive to understand the mysterious man beside her. She looked at Rey, who sat with a blank expression, his eyes once again cold and unreadable, like the surface of a frozen lake in winter. The occasional glow from streetlights illuminated his emotionless face, concealing whatever he might be feeling behind the mask of power he always wore—a mask that made him seem untouchable.
Aluna sensed an invisible wall rising again between them, made of silence and secrets.
Rey sighed quietly but kept his gaze forward, focused on the dark road ahead as if avoiding her eyes and the question buried in them. "Company image is everything, Aluna." His answer was short and vague, but there was an emphasis on the word image that left her disappointed. Was that all it was? Was his earlier defense merely a performance to maintain his reputation in front of business associates filled with intrigue and calculation?
The warmth she had felt moments ago vanished instantly, replaced by the cold reality of their contract marriage—a bond devoid of emotion and driven purely by interest, a business transaction where she was the asset. Aluna felt like a pawn once again in Rey's complex and strategic game.
Yet, deep down, Aluna sensed there was more behind Rey's actions than just corporate image. There had been a possessive glint in his eyes when he pulled her close, an intensity that couldn't be entirely faked—a primal instinct that surfaced beneath his cold demeanor. She remembered the firmness of his grip, as if he truly didn't want others to belittle her—a defense that felt real, even if it clashed with his usual behavior. It was as though there was a hidden fire beneath the layers of ice.
Could it be that behind that mask of power and coldness, there were other emotions hidden? A vulnerability he didn't want the world to see? A past wound that made him so guarded? Dangerous curiosity gnawed at her thoughts again. She felt an urge to unravel the mystery of this man, despite his warning not to dig into his past—a warning that only made her want to know more, to see what lay beyond the fortress he had built.
That night, after they returned to the silent mansion, Aluna pretended to sleep on the large bed that felt cold and unfamiliar despite the soft silk linens brushing against her skin. She sensed Rey lying beside her, but there was no physical touch, no warmth—only a distance, both physical and emotional, so vast it felt like a chasm between them.
They lay separated by an unspoken and frigid void beneath a grand, intimidating ceiling. But after a while, once Aluna was sure Rey had fallen into his quiet sleep, she slowly opened her eyes. Moonlight streamed softly through the large window, illuminating Rey's silhouette turned away from her, his body tense even in slumber, as though he could never fully relax.
Carefully, Aluna rose from the bed and tiptoed to Rey's desk in the corner of the room—a space forbidden to her, a personal territory she was not allowed to enter.
Curiosity won over fear—her fear of Rey's wrath if he found out. She wanted to see more of the world of the man who was now her husband—a world so closed off to her, a labyrinth of secrets she yearned to explore, searching for clues about who he truly was beneath the mask.
On the neatly arranged desk, under the pale moonlight caressing the smooth mahogany surface, Aluna noticed a small photo frame. Heart pounding, she reached for it.
Inside the frame was a beautiful woman with long, flowing hair and a gentle smile, though her eyes held a deep sadness—a sorrow that somehow felt familiar to Aluna. She quietly studied the woman's face. Her fingers touched the glass gently, with a tenderness that contrasted sharply with Rey's coldness—a softness he had never shown her.
Aluna froze, pierced by a question she couldn't ignore: who was this woman? Why did Rey keep her photo hidden in his private space? And what connection did she have to the dark past he had warned Aluna to stay away from?
Her curiosity peaked, now mixed with an unexpected pang of jealousy at seeing Rey's tenderness toward another woman—a new emotion that unsettled her and sparked deeper questions about her own feelings.