Who wouldn't be surprised by someone emerging from the trunk of a car? Moreover, wearing a wedding dress made the news of Arkan's wedding actually happening, which was definitely not like the original plan.

"You thought of hiding the wedding from everyone?"

Another question was asked to Arkan, and a mini tape recorder was handed to him. Secretary Ham immediately took on the role of blocking journalists from taking pictures or looking for information, holding out his hands in front of Arkan to make it difficult for people to break through.

"Are you going to the wedding today?"

The journalists did not give up easily, turning to question the woman in the wedding dress about the marriage because they did not get an answer from Arkan. They asked the same question over and over again, hoping to obtain some important information about Arkan, a man who had always been the center of attention after taking over managing a major company in the city.

"May we know what your name is, Madam?"

The atmosphere became silent after the question was asked, as if everyone there was very curious about the answer. Lunar looked around with her eyes wide open. Everyone surrounded her and also stared at her without wanting to take their eyes off.

"Lunar."

She thought that by saying her name, maybe she would stop being stared at. Unfortunately, Lunar was bombarded with an endless stream of questions. Journalists asked about her relationship with a man named Arkan. That name sounded very foreign to Lunar's ears since it was the first time they had met.

"I—I don't know a man named Arkan."

Lunar glanced at the person standing behind the man who spread his arms. Does Arkan mean the man who is frowning? She just realized who the person in question was.

The journalists seemed to whisper to each other. Those who heard the confession thought that the woman in the wedding dress was just boasting or it could be a plan to keep the marriage from being discovered. Arkan had tried hard to hide who the candidate to marry was. Now everything had been revealed because they finally found out who the candidate was, according to their thinking.

"Lunar is a potential bride hidden by Arkan. We have to spread the word now."

Arkan was getting angry because the situation was getting worse, so he immediately pulled Lunar into the car with him. That day was a real disaster; all his neatly arranged plans had to fall apart because of the presence of a woman he didn't know. Like annoying pests, he didn't want any troublemakers in his life, especially in his relationship with Raya.

Arkan wanted to take out all his anger on Lunar right then and there, but the journalists were still there, banging on the windows like a flock of crows. Secretary Ham rushed after and sped the car away, leaving a still-inflamed mess in the crowd.

"Where are you two taking me? Drop me!" Lunar shouted, leaning forward to stop the man driving the car, tugging at his arm to make him stop quickly.

"Stop right now!" she shouted again.

Arkan didn't want another disaster to happen and pulled Lunar away from Secretary Ham. Resistance ensued, so he was forced to use force to prevent the chaos from escalating.

Arkan grabbed the woman who didn't want to be silent with both hands, holding back her struggle until Lunar tired herself out. Even so, he didn't let go; Secretary Ham might be bothered again, and it would put them in danger.

"You can get jail time for forcing someone to go with you. This is kidnapping!"

Arkan was even more provoked by his anger because the person who made the mess didn't even think about the mistake he had made. He shrugged his shoulders, making it clear how angry he was.

"You've got me in deep trouble. Were you playing hide and seek and using the trunk of my car as a hiding place?"

"I—I'm just...."

"You must be a crazy woman playing hide and seek in a wedding dress. And why are you involving me in your game?"

Lunar winced in pain as her shoulders were squeezed tightly. She was let go after that and fell backward. It seemed that she had indeed chosen the wrong hiding place. It turns out that she, who intended to avoid Nico and Sora, ended up involving other people's lives.

After the debate, no words were spoken. The atmosphere in the car was so tense with Arkan's anger that it was palpable. Even Secretary Ham didn't dare to glance at the passenger seat, while Lunar could only stay silent and massage her aching shoulder.

Until they arrived in front of a house, Arkan pulled Lunar to come with him, ignoring her rejections. He kept walking until they were in a room. That place was the sitting room that Arkan often used when important guests came to his house. Today he was using that room for a strange woman who had messed up his life.

Now they were alone in there. It was only there that Arkan let go of her hand. He switched to sitting on the single couch without paying any attention to Lunar.

Arkan took out his vibrating cell phone, as if the news about them had reached his father's ears. "Now I'm at home with the woman who made a mess," he said furiously without taking his eyes off Lunar.

Lunar could only look at what appeared in front of her. The man had not taken his eyes off her since earlier, and it filled her with fear, as if she were stranded on a foreign island alone with no one to turn to for help. Where should she look for a safe place to take shelter?

"What? I won't do it, Father." Arkan no longer looked at her. From Lunar's point of view, Arkan looked uneasy. She couldn't hear what the caller was saying, but it seemed to bother him.

Arkan turned off his cellphone completely before long, then placed it on the table before looking at the woman who had made the mess he mentioned earlier to his father. Once again, he scanned Lunar's appearance from top to bottom, dressed in a wedding dress and looking very disheveled.

"Are you a madwoman?"

Lunar shook her head before straightening her half-inclined body. What Arkan had said to her was clearly very insulting. How could she, who was dressed beautifully in a wedding dress and looked extraordinary, be called a madwoman? She was still sane!

"You're the one who's the mad one!"

"Good."

Arkan was very grateful for that, even though his father's decision was still not well received. He couldn't imagine living with a madwoman in the future if Lunar had nodded her head just now.

The tightly closed door to the room suddenly opened completely, revealing the figure of a man whose skin was wrinkled but still fit enough to walk steadily. That man was Damien, Arkan's father.

He walked fast enough to be able to sit in the chair. Damien noticed the pensive woman sitting in the same position he had been in since he entered the room.

"What is the reason you suddenly appeared in my son's life? Do you need money?" Damien glanced at her belly, which didn't look flat. "Arkan got you pregnant?"

Hearing that, Arkan immediately rebutted, "I didn't do that, Dad."

He had only met her a few hours ago. He couldn't possibly have gotten her pregnant, especially since Lunar wasn't his type at all. How did she end up pregnant?

"You can't answer?" Damien didn't seem to want to hear any rebuttal.

Lunar was confused about how to answer this question. She no longer had a home, and of course, she needed money. However, it would be too cunning for her to take advantage of the situation just to get a place to live. She had to remember that her current position was causing havoc in the life of someone who shouldn't have been involved in her escape.

"I ran away from the wedding and accidentally used Arkan's car trunk," she glanced at the person with the name for a moment, making sure that she didn't spell the name wrong, "as a hiding place. Really, I didn't know the situation would get this complicated. I'm sorry for what I've done."

Unexpectedly, Lunar decided to sit on the floor and beg. "Please, don't kick me out. There's nowhere else I can go. I'll do anything, even if I have to be a servant in this house."

Lunar couldn't deny that she really needed a place to live. If she was wandering on the street, she could have been caught by Nico and Sora again. Through the man who seemed to have the power to protect her, it seemed she could avoid marrying Nico. It was fine for her to be a servant as long as she could be free after this. She put her pride aside for a while to secure a place to live.

Damien glanced at his son, who looked very angry. He would be angry if he didn't have to find a solution to the problems that occurred. If he allowed the foreign woman to pass, the media might come to meet her and gather information, and it could be things the foreign woman might not disclose. On the other hand, if he didn't allow it, all the news would die down soon.

"For now, the best option is marriage. You two will get married soon."

"What?! M-married?" Lunar's eyes widened.

Arkan, who already knew the decision beforehand, wasn't too surprised anymore. He still didn't accept it because he had already made his own choice for a life partner, and now it was all destroyed in one blow. Did he really have to marry Lunar? Wasn't there a better way?

Damien understood that neither of them agreed to the planned marriage, so he clarified the meaning further.

"It's only for one year until your separation is announced."

It was a final decision that couldn't be contested. They had to get married.

Lunar stood outside the room, waiting for the two men who were still talking inside. She looked around and admired the luxurious surroundings. It was no surprise that the man she was going to marry was wealthy. She had dealt with a prominent businessman in her hometown, and now she found herself in an even more opulent setting.

Earlier, the breathtaking scenery had left her speechless. From the window, she noticed Arkan seeming to protest against the decision that had been made. They were complete strangers, and getting married under such circumstances was unacceptable. But she needed a place to live, so she had to swallow her pride and beg not to be expelled.

Lost in her thoughts, Lunar suddenly realized her attention was diverted. She glanced at her reflection in the window and noticed her disheveled appearance—messy hair, smudged makeup, sweat-soaked clothes, and bare feet without shoes. No wonder people had mistaken her for a madwoman. Her current state was a far cry from how she had looked in the dressing room earlier.

A chuckle broke the silence, and Lunar turned to see the man who had been driving the car earlier. The laughter quickly subsided when the door opened, and the man respectfully stepped aside for the two who had just exited.

Lunar instinctively followed suit, understanding that when asking for a place to stay, she should show respect to the person providing her with shelter. One of the men continued walking while the other stopped. Lunar looked up and found herself face-to-face with Arkan, causing her to lower her head in response. Arkan's expression remained unfriendly.

"Follow me," he said curtly.

Lunar lifted her head, surprised that Arkan was addressing her. She glanced at the man who was no longer looking down beside her. His nod indicated that she should follow Arkan. Hesitant, she turned to catch up with him, walking a few steps behind.

They arrived in a room with a bed. Arkan stopped at the entrance, allowing Lunar to enter first. The door closed behind them, creating a space for them to have a one-on-one conversation. Unbeknownst to Lunar, there was a looming danger she was unaware of.

As Arkan approached her, Lunar became aware of his presence and averted her gaze when their eyes met. She felt trapped by a man who showed no hospitality, as if she were dealing with a menacing villain. She took a step back, readying herself for self-defense.

"We... we don't need to get married. I can just be a maid in this house. Please, give me a place to stay until it's time for me to leave," Lunar pleaded.

Arkan exhaled slowly, placing his hands in his pockets. He never took his eyes off Lunar, who looked cornered like a small cat. He despised disrupted plans but didn't want to dwell on his hatred for too long.

"We will get married soon. We'll separate after one year. During that time, do not disrupt my plans again," Arkan stated firmly.

Lunar gazed at his expression, no longer displaying anger. However, what Arkan had just said registered in her mind—marriage. Were they really going to get married? It was not part of her plan to escape the wedding and avoid Nico, who had betrayed her. Now she found herself trapped in another marriage from which she couldn't escape. Was this karma for defying her parents' wishes?

"We don't need to get married. I can be a servant in this house for the next year," Lunar repeated, firmly rejecting the idea of marriage. She had regained her composure, no longer overwhelmed by nerves.

Arkan lifted Lunar's chin with his index finger, bringing them face-to-face at a closer distance than before.

"Don't you understand what I'm saying? Don't disrupt my plans with your own. Just sit tight and follow my plan," Arkan asserted.

Arkan observed Lunar's appearance, which he could glimpse. "Clean yourself, you're sweaty and dirty."

Lunar simply watched as Arkan turned around and left the room, leaving her alone. She couldn't deny the truth about her sweaty and disheveled state. She realized that what she had seen in the mirror earlier couldn't be argued with Arkan's remark about her being smelly and dirty.

Lunar approached a door in the room, discovering it was the bathroom. Before entering, she decided to find a change of clothes. She couldn't possibly bathe and then put on the same dirty garments. She approached the wardrobe in the room, opened it, and was surprised to find a collection of clothes, including underwear.

Seeing the clothes reminded her of what she had found in the suitcase. She swallowed nervously, imagining the possible implications. Was her presence in this grand house a result of Arkan's scheme? Was she being sold off or involved in some covert business by the Gray family? Could she be in danger? Panic washed over her. If that were true, she needed to leave immediately.

But first, she needed to freshen up. She couldn't leave in her current state. Taking a hanging garment from the wardrobe, she placed it on the bed. She discarded her disheveled wedding dress, letting it fall to the floor. Stripped down to her underwear, she entered the bathroom.

Lunar took a moment to calm herself, contemplating how to escape this covert business. She must not fall into their trap. It didn't make sense for wealthy people like them to want an ordinary woman like her to become a member of the Gray family, especially when she was about to marry the sole heir, Arkan.

Emerging from the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, Lunar turned around after closing the door, only to be startled by Arkan sitting on the edge of the bed. She quickly covered her bare shoulders with crossed arms, retreating to the edge of the door, her mouth agape. Their conversation was over, so why had Arkan returned? Was he about to initiate a plan to sell her? Wasn't it too soon? After all, she hadn't even had a chance to get dressed.

"Who gave you permission to take clothes from the wardrobe?" Arkan asked, his tone reproachful.

Lunar relaxed her crossed arms, momentarily distracted by the topic of discussion. "Weren't those clothes for me? I-I mean, they were in the wardrobe, and didn't you bring me to this room to live in? That means I can use everything in this room, right?" She quickly dismissed her previous thought about being sold.

Arkan approached, and Lunar tensed, making sure he wasn't looking where he shouldn't be. She refused to let any man see her, especially Arkan.

"Everything in this room belongs to Raya, and I won't allow you to use anything that belongs to her."

"R-Raya?" Lunar regained her senses, avoiding a confused question. "Then why did you bring me to this room?"

"To... to talk to you. This is the only place where I can be calm," Arkan replied, his voice wavering slightly. Discussing himself with a stranger was not something he found easy.

Now Lunar understood. She had misunderstood the covert business of the Royal Gray family. She wasn't being sold off, as she had initially suspected. Moreover, she was in someone named Raya's room. Lunar didn't care who Raya was; she didn't want to meddle in the affairs of a man she would only live with for a year. They would become strangers once their agreement was fulfilled, and they were not obligated to be close during that time.

"It seems that Raya means a lot to you, Arkan. Alright," Lunar said, placing her hands on her waist and looking straight ahead with determination.

"I won't use anything that belongs to Raya. Now, can you show me where I can rest? Since we will be husband and wife soon, based on our agreement, you should provide me with a place to live and fulfill all my needs."

Arkan raised an eyebrow, not fully comprehending the woman who had become the center of his troubles. He had married Lunar to avoid any negative rumors about their relationship. Lunar's benefit was that she would have a place to live and all the necessities as a potential member of the Gray family. He hadn't expected Lunar to be so audacious and speak so boldly without any embarrassment. But he couldn't deny it.

"Then let me accompany you," Arkan said, grinning.

Lunar widened her eyes as Arkan grabbed her arm and led her out of the room, wearing nothing but a towel. Many maids were present in the hallway, all staring at her. What an insufferable man! Couldn't Arkan have given her some clothes before they left the room?

Arkan waited anxiously in the car, his mind filled with worry. Just after his wedding plans with Lunar were announced, he received news that Raya would be returning. Today was supposed to be the day they would surprise everyone with their relationship, but everything had taken an unexpected turn. He knew Raya wouldn't easily forgive the decision he had to make.

He left Secretary Ham waiting outside the car since he couldn't be seen in public with other women at the moment. His reputation would only worsen due to his past relationships with multiple women. Being an heir was proving to be more challenging than he had anticipated. He never wanted this life, but what could he do when his father asked him to fulfill certain obligations?

His thoughts were interrupted when he saw Secretary Ham approaching the car. And there she was, Raya, the woman he missed so much. He opened the car door while still inside, unable to contain his smile when he saw Raya standing beside him.

Raya took off her hat and glasses, revealing her face. They locked eyes, speechless. From her expression, Arkan could tell that Raya already knew about the news spreading. The tension in the air was palpable, a stark contrast to their previous meetings.

Arkan wanted to embrace her, but his hand was pushed aside. "Forgive me," he said softly, unable to look at Raya any longer.

He had hurt the woman he loved, and now he was grappling with the consequences. Was it worth sacrificing something precious for something as futile as this? How he longed to hold Raya and express how much he missed her.

"You betrayed me, Arkan," Raya said, her voice filled with pain.

Arkan bowed his head, acknowledging the immense hurt he had caused his lover. He had indeed betrayed their relationship by choosing to marry another woman, even though it was all part of a fake marriage. The coming year would keep them apart, and it was now on his list of regrets. How could he possibly explain all of this to Raya?

He felt helpless, unable to exert any influence over his current circumstances. He could only submit to his father's decisions without being able to argue. Running away with Raya might seem tempting, but he couldn't rely on a woman for his entire life. Without his father's wealth, he felt worthless.

"You don't intend to explain?" Raya's voice broke his train of thought.

He realized he needed to clarify the situation to clear up any misunderstandings in their relationship.

"I-I really don't know how Lunar ended up in the trunk of my car," Arkan began, but he stopped himself, realizing how absurd it sounded. How could a woman suddenly end up in the trunk of his car? Would Raya even believe such a story?

"Lunar caused a mess and forced us to get married."

"A mess?" Raya interrupted Arkan's words. "You didn't get her pregnant, did you?"

"Of course not!" Arkan unconsciously raised his voice but quickly lowered it again. "I didn't even know that woman. She just suddenly appeared in my life and caused chaos."

Raya raised a hand to halt the increasingly convoluted explanation. "Fine. Let's focus on this woman named Lunar."

Seeing Arkan nod, she began to process the information she was receiving. "So Lunar suddenly entered your life, disrupted our relationship, and you decided to marry her?"

Arkan nodded again, and confusion washed over Raya. "So you were having an affair behind me?" She drew her own conclusions based on Arkan's actions.

Arkan immediately pulled Raya into an embrace as she burst into tears. "I'm not having an affair behind you," he whispered, soothing her by running his fingers through her hair. "This marriage will only last a year. After that, Lunar and I will separate."

Raya pulled away from the hug, her eyes searching Arkan's. "What do you mean?"

"This is all so ridiculous. I have to marry her, but it's just a sham to maintain the company's image," Arkan explained, taking a deep breath.

Raya fell silent, trying to digest the successive explanations. "So you're not having an affair behind my back?"

Arkan shook his head, his smile widening. Raya embraced him with all her soul, not wanting to let go. In that moment, happiness filled their hearts. Tears streamed down their faces, mingling with the joy that enveloped them.

"Knowing that you were going to marry another woman made me so sad. I caught the first flight and left my work unfinished to come see you," Raya confessed.

Arkan smiled, grateful that Raya understood him. That's all he needed right now—a shoulder to lean on. With Raya by his side, he felt calm and reassured. He had made the right choice in choosing Raya as his life partner.

***

Lunar descended the stairs and noticed the maids bustling around. Earlier, she had seen a maid coming out of a room adjacent to hers. Arkan had mentioned that everything in that room belonged to Raya. She didn't know who Raya was, nor did she care at the moment.

She headed towards the kitchen, hoping to find something to satisfy her growling stomach. The servants were busy preparing food, and every time she tried to take something, it was swiftly taken away from her. Eventually, she couldn't find any food in the kitchen, despite her stomach rumbling with hunger since she woke up late.

Determined, Lunar searched for some bread. She spread jam on a piece of bread and devoured it, paying no mind to the busy maids around her. She had to make do with a few pieces of bread to stave off her hunger for the afternoon. It was truly unfortunate that in such a luxurious house, all she could get was bread.

"The master, Arkan, has returned!"

One of the servants announced, and Lunar finished spreading jam on her sixth piece of bread. She pressed it against another slice, holding it with her free hand, and started devouring it as she made her way out of the kitchen. She alternated between chewing and biting the bread, all while carrying the jar of jam and the remaining pieces of bread in her arms.

Her steps halted when she saw Arkan with a woman she didn't recognize. She nearly dropped everything she was carrying but managed to keep her composure. Who was this woman accompanying Arkan? Was the game involving the covert business behind Royal Gray finally over? Why was Arkan with another woman?

Arkan took a deep breath, noticing Lunar's presence. "This is Lunar, the one I told you about," he said casually.

"Oh!" Raya exclaimed, embracing Arkan as a sign of declaration. "I'm Raya, Arkan's true love. Nice to meet you, Lunar."

The maids who overheard the conversation were familiar with Raya since they already knew about her. However, the news of Lunar's involvement in the wedding left them uncertain about how to react. Raya was Arkan's genuine love interest, residing in the same house. On the other hand, Lunar was the future wife of the house's owner, someone they were expected to respect.

"Great!"

Lunar heard her name being mentioned once again. She finally realized that Raya was Arkan's girlfriend. It made sense why she wasn't allowed to touch anything in that room earlier.

"Nice to meet you, Raya," Lunar replied, unsure how to shake hands as both her hands were occupied. She resorted to taking a bite of bread so that she could extend her hand.

Raya released her hands and hesitated for a moment before reciprocating the gesture. However, she couldn't shake off the thought that Lunar was only after Arkan's wealth. There had to be something behind this fake marriage involving Arkan.

"You can rest in your room, Raya. I have to return to the office now," Arkan said.

Raya nodded. "I understand." She walked away with a maid, who carried her luggage.

Arkan no longer wanted to be bothered by Lunar's presence. He shook his head, finding Lunar messy and greedy. He couldn't fathom having a woman who walked around carrying a bag of bread and a jar of jam as his wife, even if their marriage was a sham.

Meanwhile, Lunar, witnessing Arkan's departure, hurriedly handed everything she was carrying to a nearby maid, including the unfinished bread. She ran after Arkan, desperate to catch up with him and grab his attention.

"What are you doing?" Arkan looked displeased as Lunar halted his steps.

"We need to talk," Lunar insisted.

"I don't have time for that."

Lunar ignored his rejection, knowing that what she had to discuss was crucial.

"If Raya is going to live here after we're married, won't that become news? Two women living with you?" Lunar questioned.

"Everyone knows that Raya and I have known each other since childhood. There won't be any scandalous news about us," Arkan explained.

Lunar finally understood that she was trapped in another woman's long-standing relationship. "But..."

Arkan, frustrated by wasting his time, brushed aside Lunar's hand blocking his path. Irritated, he managed to get into his car and paid no further attention to Lunar. As the car pulled away from the parking area, he didn't spare her a single glance.

Secretary Ham muttered quietly, sharing his thoughts that had been bothering him. "I believe Miss Lunar has a valid point, Sir. It's not feasible for two women to live in the same house after the marriage."