Rey's cold and piercing question, "What did you hear?" still lingered in the thick air of their bedroom, heavy with suspicion. Aluna felt her heart pounding violently in her chest—not just from the suffocating tension but also from the cold fear creeping along her spine. She wasn't sure how much Rey remembered from his fevered delirium the night before, when he had been so vulnerable.
"I... I didn't hear anything, Rey," Aluna replied nervously, trying to maintain eye contact with Rey, who was staring at her with an intimidating intensity, his gaze dark and probing. "I was just worried about your condition—it was really bad."
Rey narrowed his eyes, his stare dripping with disbelief. "You're lying, Aluna. I can feel it—something's different in the way you look at me this morning. I know you heard something while I was unconscious." His voice was still hoarse and weak from the remnants of his fever, yet there was a cold insistence in it—a demand for honesty he didn't truly expect to receive.
Aluna bit her lip, feeling cornered like a hunted animal. She didn't want to reveal the sorrowful whisper of "Mother" that had slipped from Rey's lips in his feverish sleep, afraid of how unpredictable his reaction could be. "Honestly, Rey. You were just rambling nonsense because of the high fever. That's all."
After a few tense moments where Rey's gaze never left her face, he exhaled harshly, clearly exhausted and frustrated. "Whatever, Aluna. I don't have the strength to argue right now. But listen to me carefully: don't ever try to dig into my business, especially my past. It could be dangerous for you—more than you could ever imagine."
The next day, though still looking pale and with dark circles under his eyes, Rey insisted on attending an important business event that he couldn't miss. The gala dinner was crucial for maintaining his company's image and preserving relationships with key investors and colleagues. Aluna was shocked and confused when Rey suddenly asked her to accompany him.
"You need to come with me tonight, Aluna," Rey said flatly when she asked with hesitation and bewilderment. "We have to show the public—and the media—that our marriage is just fine, that everything's harmonious. My image and the company's could be damaged if you suddenly disappear or aren't by my side."
Aluna felt uneasy and strange about Rey's sudden request. Until now, he had always kept both physical and emotional distance from her in public, treating their marriage as nothing more than a formality. Yet, for the sake of his reputation and business interests, he was now willing to pretend to be a caring and affectionate husband. It was bitter irony.
"But you're not fully recovered yet, Rey," Aluna said with genuine concern. "You still look very weak and pale. Are you sure you can handle it?"
"I'll manage," Rey replied coldly and expressionlessly, as if pain and exhaustion were mere inconveniences he could ignore. "You just need to smile, be pleasant, and act like a happy wife supporting her husband. Don't embarrass me in front of everyone."
That evening, Aluna wore a dark blue evening gown—an expensive gift from Rey that had remained untouched in her closet. She felt awkward and uncomfortable wearing such luxurious attire, like an actor forced into a role she neither understood nor wanted. The gown felt cold against her skin, lacking the warmth of an embrace she had never received from her husband.
When they arrived at the grand ballroom of a five-star hotel filled with business elites and prominent socialites, all eyes immediately turned to them like spotlights on a stage. Rey, though slightly pale and lacking his usual confident stride, walked firmly beside Aluna, his hand possessively gripping her waist—making her feel like a showpiece. What surprised everyone was the drastic and unexpected shift in Rey's behavior. In public, he acted affectionate and protective toward Aluna. He held her hand tightly, occasionally wrapped an arm around her waist in a possessive manner that sent chills down her spine, and even offered a faint smile—forced, but enough to convince the watching guests and journalists.
"Good evening, everyone," Rey greeted warmly—his voice clearly put on—as he pulled Aluna closer to his side until their bodies nearly touched. "Allow me to introduce my beloved wife, Aluna."
Aluna offered an awkward smile and nodded politely to the people who welcomed them with curious stares and hushed whispers that she could faintly hear. She felt the scrutinizing gaze of the women assessing her from head to toe, and the veiled interest in the eyes of some men. She felt like a doll being paraded in front of an audience, used to protect her husband's image.
Throughout the evening, Rey continued his act flawlessly. He whispered sweet nothings into Aluna's ear—words that meant nothing but sounded intimate to others. He ensured Aluna stayed close, shielding her from overly intense stares, as if she were a prized possession. Aluna felt like a prisoner dressed in expensive clothes, forced to smile and nod on cue, stripped of the freedom to show her true emotions.
"You look stunning tonight, darling," Rey whispered in her ear while they chatted with an important investor who was eyeing Aluna with blatant admiration. His voice was low and slightly hoarse, and she could feel the warmth of his breath on her neck—a sensation that stirred a mix of revulsion and an unwanted shiver. But Aluna knew it was all part of the act they were performing.
"Thank you," Aluna replied flatly, trying to mask her discomfort and the creeping disgust growing in her heart.
As the event transitioned into the dance segment, soft music filled the ballroom. Without saying a word, Rey pulled Aluna onto the dance floor, now crowded with couples moving in romantic rhythm. He placed his hand on her waist—his touch firm and slightly forceful—and clasped her hand tightly. Their dance was formal and reserved, but Aluna could feel an odd and confusing tension between them, like static electricity crackling in the air.
Suddenly, amid the slow and graceful movements, Rey halted and looked into Aluna's eyes with an intensity that made her heart pound loudly in her chest. His dark gaze felt deep and penetrating, as if he were searching for something hidden inside her, trying to strip away her soul to its very core. There was something different in his eyes tonight—not just the usual coldness and authority, but also a faint tenderness… and a hidden longing buried beneath the ice. Aluna stood frozen, unable to look away from Rey's gaze that now locked onto hers with an intimacy that was sudden and bewildering in the midst of the crowd and the glamour of the party.