His eyes strayed to the open door. The woman's voice was coming from the garden. He stepped towards the door.

According to Marina, he must not pay heed to whatever he hears. It means he knew about the mystery in the house. His resolve became stronger. He must discover that mystery. He was already here. He had no plans to turn back.

As he stepped outside, he was faced by the looming shadow of what seemed like a menacing creature, guarding the night and ready to attack him and eat him whole. He stepped back and held his pounding chest. He nearly ran back inside while screaming the house down. But he calmed down when he realized that it was just a huge old tree. The head of the tree with the hollow of the branches made it look like a monster. The extended branched made it look like its extended arms.

"It is just a tree," Deive breathed. Just a harmless tree. Of course, what would an innocent tree do to hurt him? He was safe.

He heard the woman's voice again. "Luna, where are you? Please come back. Don't hide from me." It sounded like she was worried and about to cry.

He made a few steps and saw a woman. It was the same woman wearing the white gown awhile ago. She was standing under the tree.

He walked in her direction. His head was telling him to turn tail and go back to the safety of his room. But her voice was beckoning him to come closer and there was nothing he could do about it.

She looked vulnerable while the wind was blowing her dress and her long straight hair. Her cries resonated through the night. It looked like the cold of the night didn't bother her a bit with her thin nightdress. The moonlight bathed her body as if it was comforting her. How he envied the moon.

It was like a fairy tale. He had never met someone like her before who arouse his curiosity right away. Perhaps he felt the sadness and worry in her voice. He hated to see a woman cry.

He stopped just a few steps away from her. "Miss, are you okay?"

Deive heard her breath hitch. She hid behind the tree right away. Did he frighten her? Did she think that he was a bad guy? Then he remembered that he was only wearing his pajama and none on top. He was in a hurry to check the music a while ago and he forgot to dress up.

He scratched his head. This was the first time that a woman got scared of him. He was used to women fawning over him, ready to devour him in his half-naked state. And they couldn't get their hands off him.

He tried to explain. "Miss, wait. No need to be scared. I am not a bad guy. Just tell me if I can help you with anything. Who is Luna? Who are you looking for?"

And who was this woman? Maybe there were other people in the house aside from Marina and Callea. They just didn't inform him so it won't bother him.

He heard a purring sound. "Luna!" the woman exclaimed in glee. She followed the sound of the cat and pick it up from between the bushes. "You shouldn't have run away. What if someone takes you away from me? You got me so worried."

He hated cats but he wanted to see the smile on her face. He followed her. When she heard her footsteps, she stood up and hid behind the other side of the tree. She was deliberately avoiding him.

"Miss, I won't get mad at you even if you bring a cat or whatever. Don't be scared."

"What are you doing here?" she seethed in a menacing voice.

He walked a bit towards her. "I heard someone playing the piano so I decided to check it out. Were you the one playing the piano? If you want to keep it a secret, I won't tell." Of course, the rich don't allow their helpers to use their expensive properties unless to clean it perhaps. But for a helper, she was really a great player.

The mysterious woman didn't answer. She just kept her head down. Her long hair hid her face while holding her cat. He couldn't see her face because the cloud suddenly covered the bright moon and cast its shadow. Maybe she was really scared because she didn't expect that he would see her. Maybe cats were not allowed in the mansion but she decided to keep it.

"I am Deive. I am a visitor here. You and your pet are safe with me," he reassured. How about you? What's your name?" he asked.

"You shouldn't have come here!" Her voice was full of venom and warning. As if coming there was the worst decision ever. And he didn't know why.

The wind blew once more and sent chills to his spine. The moon was released from its temporary shade and cast its light once more to the woman. She could feel the woman's penetrating gaze on her despite the bunch of hair all over her face.

But he couldn't care about her face right now. The view in front of his was ghastly. He was totally horrified when he saw the blood stains in front of her white nightdress. Blood. Bloody hell!

There were blood on her sleeves and the hem of her dress. But there was a lot of stain on her abdomen. As if someone stabbed her or abused her. A victim of a henious crime.

He was stunned, his feet were planted on the ground. His brain was screaming with fear until this head hurt but there was no voice coming out of his mouth. He was as still as a statue in utter shock.

This was no ordinary human. She was a ghost. A bad spirit. She didn't belong in this world anymore. Ghosts were real.

He felt like he was in a bad a dream and he couldn't find a way to go back to reality. The girl whom he thought was beautiful and mysterious was replaced by a nightimare. A real nightmare.

If this white lady would grab him and suck the life force out of him, he won't be able to move. And there was nothing he could do to fight her except pray. He didn't even know what prayer to recite to save himself. He was numb and his mind was not functioning at all. He was doomed.

The cat screeched at him. Dagger looks were thrown his way, ready to protect its master. His breath hitched. The other eye was mutilated. An equally menacing creating. It jumped out of the woman's arm straight to him. His reflex was not working and he felt its claws bury on the skin of his chest.

"Ahhh!" he shouted and pried the cat off his chest. He really hated cats but now he hated them tenfolds specially this hellcat. But no matter how much he wanted to keep it away from his body, it kept on scratching him. He couldn't believe that he was overpowered by a mere cat.

But this is no ordinary cat. It is a ghost. How can I fight a ghost?

"Luna, stop it!" the woman repimanded its cat.

The cat suddenly stopped attacking him. It jumped out of his arms and scurried back to its master. He seethed in pain as he felt his wounds smarting. He balled his fist and breathed heavily. Once he gets his hands on that cat, he would choke the life out of it.

"Luna hurt you?" the woman asked in a concern voice and lifted her head. "Do you want me to treat you?" She started walking towards him.

He shook his head and stepped back. "No. Please don't come near me.!" But the white lady kept on walking at extended her hand. "No! Go away away! Scram back to where the hell you came from. Go with the light and have a peaceful life. You and your cat."

He remembered the stories about souls of the dead who thought they are still alive and couldn't accept their untimely death. Some were also looking for justice on their deaths. Most of them were victims of crime. And because of their grief, they also take the lives of living people in the after life to join their misey.

Drat! He still wanted to live longer. He still has dreams. He wanted to see his pirate cruise ship sail the sea and turn them into fleet. He still has a woman waiting for him to marry her.

If the heavens would punish him for appreciating beautiful woman and tasting the goods, hopefully not this way. A bloody white lady with a hellcat was definitely the last on his list. And it was something that he won't wish on his worst enemy.

The white lady held her hand up as if she was trying to stop her. "Don't move! On your back..."

"I told you don't come near me, you evil spirit!"

He retreated and didn't heed her warning. He yelled when he realized that he was walking on air. He lost his balance and plunged into the depths of cold, freezing water. Is he gonna die?

DEIVE stomped his feet as he went up the grand staircase. He didn't care if the carpet and the shiny wooden floor were wet due to water dripping his body. He was pissed off... big time!

He looked stupid swimming in the pool on a cold, dark night. He had to haul himself out of the pool and good thing he was a good swimmer and the pool has water. That was a close call. He was nearly killed.

Now he looked like a wet chicken. His pajama bottom was soaking wet and plastered on his body. He was trembling because he didn't have an upper garment on. He had never been so humiliated in his life! All because of a bloody white lady and its ugly cat.

When he entered the mansion, there were no signs of a human being around. No sign of anything. Things were back to normal. There was no light on the giant chandelier. The door to the garden was closed. The piano's lid was closed and the bench was back to its previous position as if no one used it. The place was really haunted.

"Is that really fair? That ugly cat scratched me. What if it's my face?" His blood was boiling as he reached the second floor of the mansion. He hoped that no one would see him like this. He had no face to show to Marina and Callea. And maybe they would laugh at him if he tells them that he lost a fight with a one-eyed cat.

It was just a ghost after all. Or maybe they will think that he had gone loco. Would a woman marry a scared cat like him?

He didn't deserve to be humiliated like this!

Someday he would be a part of the Lopez family. The spooky ghosts should be familiar with him because will be the future owner of the mansion, who held the title of residence. While they were just squatters there.

With sharp eyes, he glanced around. Waiting for the ugly cat to come out. If there are other cats in that House, he will make sure they can't roam around while he was there. He needed to keep them away from his sight.

He was irritated as he entered his room and closed the door. He immediately headed to the shower room. And least they have a hot and cold shower. He felt great when hot water flowed on his body. Somehow he felt the flow of blood in his body that apparently froze up when he saw the woman.

"No! I'm not afraid of ghosts! There are no ghosts! "he repeatedly said. What he had seen earlier was only a figment of his imagination. A bad dream.

He rubbed his body with the towel, moved out of the bathroom, and wrapped himself in a towel robe. When he appeared before the mirror is the marks from the cat's claws were visible on his tanned skin. He could still feel its clothes digging.

He was not afraid. Never before had he seen such creatures. Who wouldn't be surprised? He was not afraid. He was surprised. What he hated about the whole experience was the cat. The cat ruined his life.

He jolted when he heard three knocks on the door. For a while, he said nothing. There was an old belief that if there were three knocks on the door, it could be a ghost knocking at the door. Fuck! His heart was beating erratically. Does this night of horror won't end?

"Deive? Deive, you awake? "

He stepped back from the door upon hearing the voice of the woman outside of his bedroom. He sat on the bed and grabbing the bedcover. "W-Who are you? What do you need? "

She knows his name. That was dangerous. He said a prayer. He had never prayed so hard in his life. He could handle the white lady. Even if it was a ghoul, he believed he could still charm it. It was just a woman just the same. Of course, he could allure her not to take his soul with her to the afterlife.

"This is Callea."

His eyebrows meet. Would he dare believe it? And the ghost had the temerity to pretend as the woman he would marry. "Really?"

He heard a sexy laugh. "What really? Is there a problem? I heard something crashed from your room. There are wet spots on the floor of the hallways. So I decided to check if you're okay.

Maybe it was really Callea. His fear lessened so he walked towards the door and pressed his cheek to the wooden door. So, the ghost used Callea's voice to entice him. If he would just the situation by voice alone, he might soon marry Callea.

"I was swimming earlier in the pool because it was hot. " He sighed deeply and sneezing. Then he remembered that he almost had hypothermia because he didn't get inside the house and took his hot shower right away.

"It is cold outside and you went swimming?" she asked with a laugh. "Can you open the door? I want to check if you are okay. "

"N-No! I am not decent at the moment. "

If it was another time, maybe he would take a chance on facing her. But he was not in a tiptop shape. He didn't want to meet any woman because of low morale.

How could he face before the woman would marry? The white lady and evil cat scarred him for life.

"Do you want a brewed coffee or tea?" Callea offered.

"Thank you. Don't mind me. I am fine. I will be okay tomorrow morning. I am used to swimming at night." He was not only prepared for impromptu swimming in pajamas and the appearance of ghosts around.

"You sleep well." He must also protect, Callea.

"Okay. If there's an emergency or you are hurt, just check the first aid kit cabinet. There's an ointment for wounds and there. everything else. Or you can ring the bell so Marina will help you out. Goodnight, " she sweetly said.

A smile formed on his lips. What a caring woman. She knew what he wanted even if he didn't ask. She was perfection!

Her lovely voice kept on ringing in his ears. If that was the wonderful voice that he would hear every day, his future wouldn't be bad at all. The smile was gone on his lips. The voice also is owned by the white lady.

Should he tell Callea what's going on in her mansion?

"NO!" he uttered emphatically and closed his eye. It was just a bad dream. If ghosts appear in the future, he would be ready. Nothing no one would terrify him anymore. He was brave. BRAVE!

CALLEA kept on singing while cooking in the kitchen. She grated the cheese on the ham and chicken omelet. She glanced at the fresh fruit on the table. What would Deive prefer - Mandarin orange or mango shake?

Even Marina was surprised when she entered the kitchen while rubbing her sleepy eyes. "O! Why are you cooking? I told you that I will cook for you. "

Callea just smiled and folded the omelet in half using a wok shovel. "You're tired yesterday for helping me. It's okay if you return to bed and sleep longer. You can leave the kitchen to me and I won't burn the house."

"I will take care of that. I cook for the handsome visitor." She pointed her pouted lips upward, to refer to Deive who was still sleeping in the guest room. "The man you will marry is so handsome! He said that he caught traffic so he was delayed."

With a raised eyebrow, she asked, "Really? Traffic?"

But she could not help but smile. Marina was obviously feeling giddy with Deive's presence. Callea thought her friend didn't appreciate handsome men. She was hurt before, loathed by people, avoided like a plague. It meant the Deive treated her well. And she looked hurt if she won't let her friend cook for Deive.

Her friend's loyalty was changed overnight. Marina was now Team Deive.

"Señorita Callea, don't be angry with me. I know you don't like him. You felt like he thinks you are less important when he didn't arrive on time. But I could feel that he was a good man," she defended Deive. "So if you don't want to cook for him, I will handle it."

She secretly smiled and took out the omelet from the pan. "Don't worry. I made my Deive. "

She gaped at her in disbelief. "Why?"

"And why not?" she asked and laid the omelet on the table along with other food she cooked earlier. "He is a visitor here so it is natural to prepare food for.

"It means you're not mad at him though almost cursed him and nearly use authentic voodoo cult dolls in the collection because he wasted all the food you have prepared for him? That wasted all day for his arrival?"

Deive pissed her off last night. He made her look like a fool. According to Grandpa Tomasino, the guy was known for his punctuality. Yet he was too early for the next day. He promised to arrive at eight in the evening but he arrived at eleven o'clock last night. They already cleaned the table at ten o'clock.

Her grandfather would surely get mad at him once he finds out that he didn't arrive on time. She didn't want to have a crack in the relationship of his grandfather and the grandfather of Deive if she squealed the guy's shortcoming so she did not tell.

"But he still arrived, right?"

Actually, she was the one who must make ammends with him. She didn't expect that Deive would wake up to the sound of the granfather's clock or the music from the piano when she played it. She was looking for Luna in the garden when he suddenly appeared out of nowhere. While she was surprised by his unwelcomed presence, he was more shocked to see her in the white lady costume.

And to make matters worse, Luna who was angry at men attacked him with her claws. Now, Deive was the victim. And on his attempt to get away from Luna, he didn't see the pool on his back and fell in it.

She took advantage of the opportunity to return home. She was guilty because she was not able to help him out. She also can not admit that she was Callea. He would certainly run out of the mansion in the middle of the night and never return again. Who would take a bride like her? And once he withdraws from their wedding arrangement, she would lose the opportunity to get the Villa Celesta as her own.

So as a peace offering, she decided to cook for him.

"And where did you get that dress you?" Marina asked in reference to the peach dress that she was wearing. "It is too dazzling. The color is too light."

"From my grandma's old treasure chest." It was a gift from her cousin, Lee during her previous birthday. Her relatives preferred for her to wear pastel clothing colors to highlight her beauty. But instead, she preferred to wear dark-colored regular that gave her a gloomy image.

Well, she loved the gloomy atmosphere. It was her life.

But for Deive, she would set aside her dark image even for a few days. It is key to have her mansion.

"You're not itching on that dress?" Marina asked.

"I can tolerate it." However, she would dissolve in a couple of hours wearing that dress. She was not a fan of fun colors.

"I am sure that Sir Deive will find you beautiful. Of course, your face is not covered by your veil of hair this time so would see your beauty." Marina clasped her hands. "You will really look good together."

She simply parted her bangs to cover a part of her face. "Don't say I'm beautiful! No!" Callea complained vehemently.

Marina turned pale. She must be surprised because he rarely raised her voice. "Calm down. I-I am sorry. I will check on, Señorito Deive, if he is awake now."

Callea's lips were tightly pressed together when Marina left. She set the table for the breakfast that she was about shared with Deive.

She didn't want to be beautiful. She didn't want to be called beautiful.

She must calm herself. She must not be affected by this. When in front of Deive, she needed to be like a normal woman.

A few minutes later Marina returned. "He said couldn't get down for breakfast because he wants to sleep some more. But I think he is feeling bad. When he opened the door, he kept on sneezing. His eyes and nose were swollen. I guess he did not sleep well. I will send him food," her friend said and took the tray to put some food for Deive.

"He is sick?" Callea softly asked.

Of course, he was sick. He fell on the pool last night. The night was biting cold and the wind made it worse. He looked like a wet chick who walked the garden back to the mansion wearing his pajama bottom only. It was her fault and Luna's as well. She needed to take responsibility.

She took the cold remedy from the medicine cabinet and placed it in the tray then lifted it. "I will take the breakfast to him."

Marina's jaw dropped as she followed her movements "You will bring him food? I thought you don't want to see him.

"It is about time that I meet my future groom."