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."

At the same dining table, the three of them sat in an awkward atmosphere. Lunar didn't stop stealing glances at the two couples in front of her alternately. Arkan didn't stop loosening his tie as if it wanted to strangle his neck. Raya felt uncomfortable having to share the table with strangers when it used to be occupied by only two people.

Arkan was still contemplating what his secretary had said yesterday regarding a house that couldn't possibly be used as a place for two women to live. If given a choice, he would choose Raya. Unfortunately, he couldn't make a choice now. How could he expel Raya, who had been living with him in this house for so long?

Did he only buy one apartment for Lunar to live in? He planned to live with Raya in his current house so that they wouldn't have to face each other. However, his father wouldn't allow the son-in-law of the Gray family to live in the apartment alone. The question of who would stay was extremely complicated. Why did Lunar have to appear in his life?

Arkan brushed aside all the doubts that frustrated him and said, "Soon, Lunar and I will get married. After that, there can't be two women in this house. It will only attract unwanted attention."

Raya listened carefully to his words. She concluded that Arkan wanted to remove one of them from the house. Was she the one who would be expelled? She had no reason to stay there.

There was nothing wrong with Arkan's decision; she felt it was the right one. Two women couldn't coexist under the same roof. However, it seemed unfair to her that she had to leave before Lunar. Why did she have to occupy the house before Lunar? Everything felt so unjust.

Lunar nodded in agreement with the decision to remove Raya from the house. Having another woman in their marriage would only complicate things. The reputation they had carefully maintained would be at risk again. It was enough for them to be trapped in a loveless marriage.

"That's why I decided to buy an apartment, so one of you can live there."

"D-do you intend to kick me out?" Raya asked, hoping her worst fears wouldn't come true.

Arkan shook his head confidently. "No. I'll ask Lunar to leave."

Raya widened her eyes, surprised because her thoughts were completely different from reality. Even Lunar was shocked to hear this unreasonable decision.

How could Lunar be kicked out of the house where the wife of Arkan should live? Even though their marriage was a sham, it made no sense for the person who was supposed to be the mistress to give in.

"W-why me?" Lunar asked.

"Because you're just a stranger, now or even after we get married. Even though you will have the status of my wife."

Lunar didn't know how to respond. She couldn't deny that her presence was a mistake that had to be accepted. They were just strangers living together. No, in fact, now she would live alone in the apartment. The wife of the businessman herself would be exiled to a special place. Wasn't that sad?

But what was wrong with all of that? What made her grieve? They were strangers and would forever remain so. She would be the one benefiting the most from this situation, right? In just one year, she had obtained a shelter and a prestigious status. It didn't matter if she was alone in the apartment. After all, she didn't really know anyone else in the house.

"If you've made up your mind, I can't refuse," Lunar said, hiding her excitement.

"How about we clear up this misunderstanding? Wouldn't that be better? We might face more rumors, but at least we wouldn't have to go through with the wedding," Raya suggested, trying to save them all from this sad situation.

"No!" Lunar and Arkan shouted simultaneously.

The calm atmosphere immediately changed. Raya looked at them with a demanding expression, wanting an explanation. Wasn't clearing up the misunderstanding a better solution? They wouldn't have to go through with the wedding and everything would return to normal, with Raya as the true bride-to-be.

"I-I..."

Lunar was confused about what reason to give for her choice to disagree. If she said she didn't want her whereabouts known, which would only result in her being remarried, she would sound like a woman seeking refuge from someone else's future husband.

"Father has made his decision," Arkan said, holding Raya's hand on the table. "You know how my dad is, don't you?"

Raya lowered her head and took a deep breath. She had only been thinking about her own wishes, not considering how Arkan would be perceived if suddenly two women appeared in his life. Not to mention the questions that would arise about his relationship with Damian, his childhood best friend. She also knew that Arkan didn't want to disappoint Damian if their business partnership would be affected.

Raya pursed her lips and touched her hand to the one holding it. "I understand."

Seeing the relationship between the two couples in front of her made Lunar feel even more awkward. Their existence felt like that of a third wheel, something that was never intended. But what could they do when the situation had become so complicated? It wasn't just Arkan who didn't want to be in this situation; she also didn't want to be trapped in a loveless marriage. There were so many things she wanted to do out there, to live a normal life if it weren't for Nico.

***

Lunar followed the man's footsteps to their new place of residence. She was sandwiched between two tall and slender men. In the deserted alley, the three of them walked, with Arkan as their guide, while Secretary Ham dragged a dark-colored suitcase whose contents were unknown.

The red carpet she had walked on earlier now seemed like a farewell. She felt a tinge of sadness because she would be alone in the apartment. Back at her family's home, there was always someone to talk to. The conversations revolved around her job prospects and marriage, discussions she had been reluctant to engage in. Perhaps, she just missed her parents.

"For now, you'll stay here in the future," Arkan said.

Lunar glanced at the suitcase that had been brought into the room, its door already open. She didn't immediately pay attention to Arkan's words; instead, she entered the apartment, her gaze exploring her new living space. She had expected a modest place since she was just a foreigner, but the reality exceeded her imagination. Arkan had given her a luxurious place to live.

"Thank you, Arkan."

"No need to thank me. I'm doing all this because you'll have the status of... um, my wife," Arkan cleared his throat awkwardly, as it was the first time he referred to Lunar as his wife. He needed to get used to it since Lunar would soon become his wife.

Arkan noticed the black suitcase Secretary Ham had brought earlier. "For now, you can use the clothes in this suitcase. It's too late to buy new clothes. I'm not someone who can always anticipate your needs."

Lunar chuckled at his lighthearted yet endearing words. "I never expected you to anticipate my every need. I'll stay here alone," she said, turning her head to survey the room before pointing in one direction. "With the flower pots, floor tiles, and ceiling."

Arkan shifted his gaze from the flower pot to Lunar. Lunar would be living alone in the apartment, so there was no reason for him to live with her.

"You'll be my wife. Of course, I'll come to this apartment. People will suspect something if I'm not seen entering the place that will be your residence."

"You'll live with me here?"

"Only occasionally."

"Okay."

Secretary Ham received a signal and immediately handed Lunar a pouch containing a cellphone that would facilitate their communication. Lunar eagerly received the new phone, her eyes sparkling as if she had just received a lifeline.

"I've already saved my number and Secretary Ham's number in there. You can contact me only for very important and urgent matters."

The phone rang, and Arkan had to answer the call. However, the ringing abruptly stopped.

"Oh, so it really is your number."

Arkan grumbled in annoyance. "I told you to contact me only for very important and urgent matters."

Lunar paid no attention to the scolding and busied herself with her new phone. There were only Arkan's and Secretary Ham's numbers saved in it, and she had to decide whose number to save.

As Lunar realized that it was time to say goodbye, she quickly pocketed her phone and pushed Arkan and Secretary Ham towards the apartment door.

"It's too late for a visit now."

Arkan didn't argue because it was already very late at night, but he felt annoyance building up inside him at Lunar's suggestion.

"A visit?"

Arkan grinned, eager to argue, but unfortunately, the apartment door slammed shut right in front of him before he could continue.

"This is my apartment! I bought it! And you'll be my wife!" he exclaimed.

"C-calm down, Sir," Secretary Ham tried to calm him down, avoiding any unnecessary conflict. He guided Arkan to leave immediately.