Rey's behavior after that terrifying night was truly a perplexing and torturous enigma for Aluna. The man could transform in the blink of an eye, from an intense gaze that burned her skin to the coldness of the Arctic in a matter of seconds. Sometimes, when their eyes met, Aluna felt a strange electrical current run through her body, as if an primal desire surged between them, a wild longing that Rey struggled to suppress. However, as quickly as that flicker appeared, Rey would revert to his impenetrable cold mask, offering only brief and flat answers if Aluna dared to ask, as if regretting the momentary warmth that had escaped. His gentle touch while examining her body that night now felt like an illusion, a trace of kindness that evaporated with the morning dew.
Natasha still lingered in the luxurious mansion, but her presence felt increasingly bland and irrelevant. Rey barely paid her any attention, more engrossed in his computer screen or speaking seriously on the phone in a low, commanding tone. Aluna occasionally saw Natasha staring at Rey with a clear expression of frustration and jealousy, her crimson lips seeming to tremble with suppressed anger, but Rey seemed blind and deaf to her feelings. Maya, the head maid, had returned to her cold and expressionless professionalism, but the cynical glint in her eyes whenever she looked at Aluna never truly disappeared.
Aluna's suspicion gnawed at her heart more and more when one night, as she went to get a glass of water in the kitchen, she inadvertently overheard Rey's phone conversation in his study, the door not fully closed. Rey's usually calm and controlled voice sounded slightly higher, filled with a commanding and hurried tone that made Aluna's heart beat uncomfortably.
"Make sure the 'plan' proceeds according to the schedule we've set," Rey said with a sharp voice that pierced Aluna's ears. "The target must be fully secured before the end of this month. There must be no mistakes, no matter how small. This is not a game, and the stakes are too high."
Aluna froze in the kitchen doorway, the empty glass in her hand trembling slightly. Plan? Target? What exactly was Rey planning? A feeling of unease and suspicion coiled like a worm in her stomach. She knew that this contract marriage was based on Rey's desire for revenge on Aluna's family, but she had never imagined the extent to which the man would go. Was the "target" he mentioned in the conversation herself? Or perhaps her family far away in the village? The thought sent shivers down her spine.
She tried to rationalize, persuading herself that she might have misheard or misinterpreted the context of the conversation. Maybe it was just sensitive business matters. However, the mysterious and urgent tone in Rey's voice, the secrecy surrounding the conversation, made it difficult to believe a simple explanation. The seed of suspicion had been planted in her mind, its roots spreading deeper, poisoning the false sense of peace she had felt after surviving the attack that night.
In the following nights, Aluna became an amateur detective in her own home. She observed Rey's every move carefully, analyzing every change in his expression, every word he uttered, searching for a sliver of information that could give her a clue about the mysterious "plan" and "target." She realized with bitterness that although she shared a bed with this man every night, feeling the warmth of his tense body beside her, she didn't know Rey Adrasta at all. There were so many cold and secret layers surrounding the man, like high walls preventing her from seeing into his true heart.
The sexual tension between them didn't disappear; in fact, it felt increasingly thick and confusing. There were moments when Rey's gaze would lock with hers with an intensity that made Aluna's blood boil, awakening a wild and irresistible desire. She felt her body react without her permission, her stomach tightening and her heart pounding just from the dark gaze of the man filled with suppressed passion. However, every time Aluna tried to get closer, tried to seek warmth or clarity, Rey would retreat back into his shell, building a cold and untouchable wall between them, as if regretting his momentary weakness.
One night, after a silent dinner filled with an aura of distrust, Aluna saw Rey standing on his bedroom balcony, illuminated only by the pale moonlight and the occasional glow of a cigarette between his fingers. A dark aura of loneliness emanated from his body that night, even though he tried hard to hide it behind his cold demeanor. Aluna felt a strong urge to approach him, to try to penetrate the layers of ice surrounding his heart.
"Rey?" Aluna called softly, standing in the balcony doorway, her voice barely a whisper.
Rey turned slowly, his gaze flat, but Aluna caught a fleeting glimpse of deep weariness there, behind the darkness of his eyes. He exhaled cigarette smoke into the cool night air, which smelled of damp earth. "What are you doing wandering around so late, Aluna?"
"I... I couldn't sleep," Aluna answered honestly, feeling the same restlessness gripping her chest.
Rey was silent for a moment, then turned his gaze back to the star-studded sky. "That's none of my business."
His words were as sharp as usual, but Aluna sensed a faint hesitation in his tone, as if he wasn't entirely sure of his indifference. She dared to step closer and stood beside Rey on the balcony, feeling the cool night breeze against her skin, which was only covered by a thin nightgown.
"I overheard your conversation the other day," Aluna said softly, daring to broach the topic that troubled her. "About a 'plan' and a 'target'. What exactly is that, Rey?"
Rey's body tensed beside her, the muscles in his arms visibly tightening beneath his sleep shirt. He didn't turn, but Aluna could feel the drastic change in his aura, a sudden alertness emanating from him. "That's none of your concern, Aluna. Never interfere in my affairs."
"But I am your wife," Aluna retorted, even though she knew the words felt hollow and lacked true meaning in their contract marriage. "I have the right to know if something endangers us... or my family."
Rey finally turned to her, his gaze sharp and warning, his eyes glinting in the darkness. "Never think that you have any right to my affairs, Aluna. This marriage is business, and you are merely part of that agreement."
"Business that involves my life?" Aluna challenged, meeting Rey's dark eyes without flinching. "Because someone tried to kill me in your garden."
Rey was silent for a moment, his jaw hardening. He roughly threw his cigarette butt onto the balcony floor and crushed it with a frustrated movement. He stared at Aluna with an intensity that made her feel like her soul was being stripped bare, each of her questions seemingly peeling away layers of his defenses.
"This marriage was indeed based on revenge," Rey finally said, his voice low and emphasized, each word feeling like a thorn piercing Aluna's heart. "Never for a single moment forget that fact."
Rey's words were like a direct blow to Aluna's solar plexus. The faint hope that had begun to grow in her heart, a hope for a deeper feeling beneath Rey's coldness, withered and died again. She swallowed hard, trying to hide the pain and disappointment that gripped her chest.
"Then... why did you save me that night?" Aluna asked, her voice trembling despite her efforts to remain composed. "If I am just your asset, you could have easily acquired another 'asset'. Why did you risk yourself?"
Rey fell silent again, this time longer, his eyes staring straight into Aluna's in the darkness. Something churned behind that intense gaze, an internal conflict he couldn't completely conceal. Aluna could feel the immense tension between them, like a tangled thread about to snap.
"Perhaps... because I don't like anyone else touching what belongs to me," Rey finally replied, his voice low and hoarse, but there was something different there, a possessive tone that went deeper than mere asset ownership.
Rey's answer did not satisfy Aluna. She sensed that this man hid so much behind his cold words and sharp gaze. His fluctuating behavior, the mysterious phone conversation, and his intense stares raised more and more questions in her mind. She could no longer pretend to be ignorant. She had to find out the truth about Rey Adrasta, about his vague plan and target, about the real reason behind the contract marriage that bound them. Even if it was dangerous, even if her heart might be shattered by a bitter truth, Aluna decided to uncover all the secrets hidden by the man who now shared her bed. She would find out who Rey Adrasta truly was, even if it meant risking everything she had. She would investigate his past, find out who the target in his plan was, and why he was so obsessed with revenge. The decision was firm, and Aluna knew she had to tread carefully, because one small mistake could have fatal consequences.