For the second time, Lunar wore a white wedding dress compared to her wedding dress when she was with Nico. The dress now is more conservative. If she were to run away in the dress she's wearing now, it would be difficult because she can't walk fast. She just has to be careful so she doesn't fall.

Lunar accepted the offer of a helping hand as she approached the groom. She was carefully brought before the priest, and they stood firmly side by side in front of the witnesses. Only then did Lunar's hand escape from the gently gripping hold.

Lunar thought that the man she was about to marry was both ignorant and arrogant, but she could see a caring side to him today. Like just now, Arkan patiently waited for her slow movements.

Maybe... her assumption was wrong. She had almost forgotten that their marriage was meant to deceive everyone. Of course, Arkan would act that way for the sake of their public image.

The wedding vows had been made in front of witnesses. Cheers of joy immediately filled the room. They were married, truly married. It seemed that their deception had been successful.

Suddenly, Lunar's shoulder was turned so that she faced Arkan. She stared as his face came closer to hers. Unable to say anything due to their close proximity, and with her waist embraced and brought close to Arkan's body, they kissed.

"Stay like this for the next ten seconds," Arkan whispered.

It was a fake kiss. They merely closed the distance between their lips, creating the illusion of a kiss. In reality, there was no kissing at their wedding. Nevertheless, Lunar could feel Arkan's breath gently tickling her lips. Why was her heart beating so fast?

Ten seconds passed, and they moved apart. Lunar saw Arkan's smile after the fake kiss, feeling a mix of emotions from their earlier encounter. Their hands remained entwined. It was all fake.

After the event concluded, Lunar and Arkan returned home together in the same car. During the trip, they were silent, lost in their own thoughts. When they arrived at the apartment building, they got out and headed inside.

Lunar furrowed her brows, surprised why they hadn't parted yet. Now Arkan was entering the same apartment with her. She felt an itch in her tongue, longing for an answer as soon as possible.

"Are you staying the night today?" she asked.

Arkan threw himself on the sofa, tired from the pretense he had to uphold at the wedding venue. He took off his tie and replied, "Of course not. I'll stay here until Secretary Ham comes back and says that things are under control outside."

"Then, would you like me to make you a drink while we wait for Secretary Ham?" Lunar offered.

"You don't need to bother. I'll take care of it myself. Just do whatever you want. Pretend I'm not here," Arkan said.

Lunar pursed her lips. There shouldn't be anything wrong with fetching the drinks herself. She lifted her dress to walk, but climbing the stairs seemed difficult. Earlier, Secretary Ham had assisted her, but now there was no one she could ask for help except the man who sat on the couch with his head tilted back and his eyes closed.

"Could you help me up the stairs? I can't walk freely in this dress," Lunar requested.

Arkan, who had opened his eyes, noticed the wedding dress she was wearing and took a deep breath. No one could help Lunar except him. Reluctantly, he got up and approached the woman who was struggling.

Arkan lifted Lunar's body lazily, and suddenly, she let out a scream. Lunar wrapped her arms around Arkan's neck tightly to prevent herself from falling.

"W-why are you carrying me? Just help me walk like Secretary Ham did earlier. Help me handle this long wedding dress," Lunar exclaimed.

"I don't have much time to support you like before," Arkan replied.

Lunar frowned, trying to understand what she had just heard. Didn't have much time? Arkan had plenty of time until Secretary Ham arrived. It was clear that he was merely making excuses.

Lost in her thoughts, Lunar was shocked when Arkan suddenly threw her onto the bed.

"What are you doing?!" she exclaimed.

"I already helped you. No thanks needed," Arkan responded.

After that, Lunar watched as Arkan left the room. Trying to forget about his odd behavior, she slowly got off the bed. She unbuttoned her wedding gown so she could comfortably enter the bathroom. Inside, she washed herself with warm water, relieving her muscles as if she were receiving a VIP massage.

***

Arkan glanced alternately at his watch and cellphone. The absence of any word from Secretary Ham indicated that it was not yet time for him to return home. Apart from that, he had also received no news from Raya since their last meeting. Perhaps Raya was still upset about the marriage, causing her great sadness. He wished he could meet Raya and console her.

His thoughts were interrupted when Lunar walked past him. Arkan quickly turned his gaze away. "How can you dress like that when there's a man still in the house?!"

Lunar, who was heading to the kitchen to get a drink, slowed down her movements. She noticed Arkan's disapproval of her current attire—a nightgown to be precise. So, what was wrong with it? She had even worn a covering garment to ensure it wasn't too revealing.

"Don't come in here!" Arkan shouted, trying to shield his eyes with his hands.

"You bought me these clothes. I'm only wearing what you provided," Lunar explained.

Arkan glanced at Lunar, who quickly drank from the glass, before diverting his attention. "Did you take the nightgown from the suitcase?"

Lunar nodded while muttering. She recalled that night when Arkan had said she could wear the clothes in the suitcase. She hadn't expected to find a nightgown there, but considering the suitcase was filled with clothes, she assumed Arkan had a fetish for women's underwear.

Perhaps Arkan was clueless when it came to choosing the right clothes for a woman. She hoped Raya wouldn't experience the same thing, as Arkan might be perceived as a pervert. Fortunately, their relationship was only that of strangers, so it wasn't a major concern for Lunar to know Arkan's true nature.

"I never bought you..." Arkan began, his mind flashing back to the night he came home after accompanying his father's important business client. That night, he was supposed to help Lunar move into the apartment. He was late, but luckily, Lunar was still awake when he arrived.

On their way home, Secretary Ham reminded Arkan about clothes for Lunar. They searched for clothing stores, but unfortunately, only a few were still open. Arkan, not knowledgeable about women's clothing, left everything to the secretary. He never checked what clothes were purchased, never realizing that Secretary Ham had included a nightgown in the suitcase.

Why did Secretary Ham buy Lunar a nightgown? Did Secretary Ham have inappropriate thoughts about Lunar?

Why was he so concerned about it? And why hadn't he considered how caring Secretary Ham was towards Lunar? There must be something about Lunar that Secretary Ham found problematic, Arkan thought.

The ringing of the bell broke his daydream. Their attention shifted, and Lunar went to open the door, while Arkan observed from a distance. He watched as the apartment door swung open, revealing Secretary Ham. Arkan rushed over.

Arkan quickly made Lunar turn her back to prevent Secretary Ham from seeing what had been blocked from view. The wide-open door was closed again. Arkan pressed his hand against it, preventing the secretary from entering the apartment.

Lunar, her back against the door, was startled by the sudden turn of events. She wondered why Arkan was acting so strangely.

"Let me handle this. You better rest in the room. And remember not to casually open the door, especially in the clothes you're wearing," Arkan instructed.

Arkan opened the door only enough to slip out of the apartment, then closed it tightly. Just a meter away, Secretary Ham stood with an astonished expression. It seemed that Arkan had protected Lunar from the secretary's ill intentions.

"We need to talk," Arkan said in a serious tone. "In private." He emphasized the seriousness of the matter.

Secretary Ham maintained the same expression as he watched his boss walk away. Seeing how Arkan spoke, it was evident that they needed to have a serious discussion. Secretary Ham was filled with anxiety, thinking that he had made a grave mistake that required a one-on-one conversation. He followed Arkan's steps, exiting the apartment building.

Was he right in suspecting that Secretary Ham had feelings for Lunar? Could it be that Secretary Ham had an unhealthy obsession with secretly giving away such a revealing lingerie?

Arkan never knows what the secretary's love life is like, including the female character Secretary Ham likes, nor does he ask anything about it. Through the Lunar incident, he discovers that his secretary has extreme tastes when it comes to romance.

"You bought Lunar a lingerie?"

Secretary Ham lifted his head, frowning. Lingerie? What was his boss talking about right now? He thought. Those deep frowns faded upon realizing what was being said. He had indeed put the nightie in the suitcase when they had gone to buy clothes for Lunar.

"Yes, Sir." Arkan furrowed his brows deeply.

"Why? I never asked you to buy it. Do you like Lunar and want to see her in that lingerie?"

Secretary Ham shook his head rapidly, denying what he was being accused of. He had no ill intentions at all, not even daring to think of Lunar in a lingerie. Seeing Arkan looking so angry, Secretary Ham became suspicious. He knew that Arkan didn't want the marriage to happen, so why was Arkan's attitude now as if he didn't want him to like Lunar?

Compared to that, Secretary Ham remembered the moment the apartment door had suddenly closed without him even taking a step inside. "Did your wife wear a lingerie?" He asked, wanting to reconfirm his memory.

Arkan loosened his furrowed brows angrily. That attitude made him think that the secretary had seen nothing at the apartment earlier. He placed his hand on Secretary Ham's shoulder, gripped it, and shook it vigorously. "Tell me, what did you see back in the apartment earlier?!"

Secretary Ham was actually afraid of that anger, but he still replied, "I saw a very beautiful... madam," he said as if he was choking himself. Arkan grabbed Secretary Ham by the collar and pushed him until he hit the car. Meanwhile, the person whose position is being threatened is overwhelmed with how to calm the situation. Secretary Ham might run out if the lingerie issue continues.

"I-I didn't see it very clearly," said Secretary Ham, squinting the other way. "The lingerie was a gift from one of the clothes we purchased. I could swear that I never thought ill of madam."

Arkan loosened his grip and let Secretary Ham off the hook, though he still wasn't calm. "Then, what did you see earlier? You really didn't see anything?"

Secretary Ham was still sticking his body in the car without daring to move from his place. He just moved his head to the right and left, and even then while squinting. "I only saw the same color lingerie as the one you got, Sir. Before I could see more clearly, the apartment door was closed."

Arkan briefly observed Secretary Ham's expression. After making sure that what he heard wasn't a lie, he pushed the secretary aside so he could get into the car. For him, who already got the answer, he finally chose to end the conversation. Not so apparent for Secretary Ham who feels that Arkan and Lunar's closeness is a loophole for him. He, who was just an ordinary person, was too reckless to like his own superior's lover.

Yes, Secretary Ham likes Raya, whom he has always seen as the best woman. He has kept his feelings a secret, not wanting to ruin Raya's happiness with Arkan. It's just that those feelings have become harder to keep under wraps lately, and he really wants to have Raya.

Secretary Ham opened the front cabin door and sat in the driver's seat before starting the engine. The car accelerated at a moderate speed. It was time for them to go home. Meanwhile, Arkan sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window.

"Does Lunar really suit that lingerie, Sir?" Arkan, who had forgotten the topic of discussing lingeries, immediately caught his attention. Why would Secretary Ham ask about Lunar's appearance?

On the other hand, Secretary Ham saw the anxious look, which made him clear up any misunderstandings that might be in Arkan's mind right now.

"I'm thinking of replacing it if you think it doesn't suit her."

Arkan let out a deep breath, then turned his gaze from Secretary Ham back to the window. He had no intention of answering the question. Even so, what was asked made him think back to the incident at the apartment. Only he saw how the dress fit on Lunar's body.

Secretary Ham, who was stealing glances through the mirror, couldn't help but purse his lips. Arkan's face was now turning red, and that made him even happier. The question aimed at provoking feelings succeeded in letting him know how interested Arkan was in Lunar.

***

Arriving at their destination, Arkan approached where his girlfriend was. Raya was sound asleep in the room with the lights on. He entered the room very carefully, then stood beside the bed before lowering his body so he could see Raya clearly. He gently stroked her cheek while smiling.

Arkan noticed that her eyes were red, and her eyelashes were slightly wet. Even in the corners of her eyes, tears were falling slowly. His thumb rubbed to wipe them away. Looking at her current condition, it seemed that Raya had not stopped crying over his marriage to Lunar.

He slowly moved away from there, then left Raya's room. He closed the door tightly before letting out a heavy sigh. Even though Lunar no longer lived in the same place as them, Raya still felt the pain. If only he could keep Lunar out of his lover's sight, but he couldn't remove Lunar from his life.

Arkan went to his room and opened the wedding clothes that were still untouched. The hand that was unbuttoning the shirt stopped as he chose to stare at the jacket that had fallen off. Then, he sat beside the jacket, bowing his head. Regrets came over and over again. Raya is suffering the most, unwanted marriages, and their long-standing relationship is damaged because of his incompetence.

Now the wedding they were going to hold had to be postponed for the next year. His current status was also Lunar's husband, and no matter what happened, he had to prioritize Lunar. Raya would undoubtedly endure a lot of pain in the future. How could he let the woman he loved get hurt? On the other hand, he was also unwilling to let Raya find happiness with another man. His life was threatened to fall apart from all sides because of Lunar's presence.

The ringing cell phone broke his reverie and triggered his anger. He immediately picked up the call when he found out who was calling. His father's voice could be heard from the other side, very angry while discussing the matter of Lunar living in the apartment. He had predicted in advance how his father would respond but still insisted on moving Lunar.

"Sorry, Dad. I won't listen to you on this matter."

"Is all this because of Raya? Are you arguing with me? You also insisted on marrying her, and now you dare to kick the Gray family's son-in-law out of the house."

In fact, his relationship with Raya was not approved at all. Naturally, Lunar's position was higher in Damien's eyes because now the woman who had officially become his wife was the daughter-in-law of the Gray family, whose position had to be recognized. In contrast, Raya was only considered as his childhood friend.

"Why are you silent? Return Lunar to her proper position quickly! I don't want to hear any bad news about you again!"

"I can't do it, Dad. After all, the person you should hate is Lunar, not Raya. She's the one who ruined your son's life."

The desires of the father and son were like two different poles. One did not want the business to shake even a little and was too panicked to maintain stability, while the other did not want Raya to be within the scope of her marriage to Lunar. It would only cause more pain for Raya in the future.

"You have to do it."

"No, Dad."

"You have to!" The voice on the other end paused. "Okay. I won't force you to bring Lunar back."

Arkan widened his eyes, unable to believe what he was hearing. His father relented, and it was very rare. But it raised suspicions about an attitude he found uncharacteristic. What did his father really want?

"Instead, you should move to the place Lunar is currently occupying. I don't want to hear any more objections!"

Arkan wanted to refuse but had to stop because the phone call was unilaterally cut off. How else was he supposed to make his father understand? He couldn't imagine what it would be like if he had to see the woman who brought chaos to his life every day.

"As my dad gets older, he becomes more and more annoying," Arkan said alone.

Lunar was surprised when several burly men entered the apartment, even though she had been relaxing while watching television earlier. However, her attention was immediately diverted by the scene where Arkan was being dragged around like a suitcase.

"Arkan, what is happening?" Lunar asked, puzzled.

Arkan finally gave up trying to escape from the grip of the guards his father had ordered. The incident occurred when he was on his way home and suddenly intercepted. Despite his attempts to fight back, he was outnumbered and couldn't rely solely on himself and Secretary Ham. It seemed that his father was determined to keep him and Lunar in the same residence.

Arkan shook his hand roughly, freeing himself from the guards' grip. They left the room, and Arkan sat down, feeling frustrated and unable to vent his annoyance.

"I will have to stay with you," Arkan said.

"W-what do you mean?"

Lunar was confused because she knew that Arkan didn't want to live with her. However, recent events suggested otherwise. Moreover, if they were to live together, what would happen to Raya?

"My father won't let us live separately," Arkan said, ruffling his hair in frustration. He didn't know how to oppose his father's wishes. He had previously attempted to escape from his father's men, but this time he was caught.

"If you live here, what about Raya?" Lunar asked, raising her head to look at the man who made her head ache. "Do you think I caused all this trouble?"

Arkan stood up and approached Lunar, clenching his teeth. He gripped her shoulder tightly and stared into her dark eyes. "Ever since you came into my life, I haven't found any peace. My relationship with Raya has also been damaged because of you! The marriage was supposed to be between me and Raya, not me and you!"

Lunar, in pain, struggled to escape from his grip. Eventually, she managed to free herself and stumbled back, falling onto the sofa. She tried to avoid Arkan, who continued to press her, leaving her with no escape. All she could do was endure his angry glare that sent shivers down her spine.

"I don't want to live with a woman like you. Why don't you just leave my life? Instead of shamelessly clinging to other people's relationships," Arkan sneered.

"You ran away from your own marriage, only to become a parasite in someone else's relationship?"

Lunar clenched her mouth tightly, trying to hold back her emotions. However, her eyes were burning with anger. She felt humiliated, publicly kicked out for the second time. With all her strength, she pushed Arkan away, creating distance between them. She quickly got up and moved away, avoiding being cornered again.

"You think I want to live with a man like you? Absolutely not! You're not the kind of man I desire! In fact, you're far from what I want!" Lunar shouted as she rushed into the bedroom.

She slammed the door shut, locked it, and sat on the edge of the bed, overwhelmed by indescribable feelings. Her breath quickened, unable to contain the emotions bubbling inside her.

In this unexplainable state, her heart ached, and tears streamed down her face. She had been holding back those tears since her encounter with Arkan, but now they flowed freely, though she made sure no one outside could hear her cries.

Now she was all alone, with no one to support or listen to her. Despite her desperate attempts to find a job, no one gave her a chance to showcase her skills. She wanted to make her parents proud of her abilities, but sadly, she had no support. She felt trapped in a painful situation, unwanted where she currently stood. She had lost all hope.

***

After finally calming her tears, Lunar stood up, determined not to stay trapped in that difficult situation forever. She had fought against her parents to avoid marrying Nico and believed she deserved a better life.

She washed her face, trying to fix her appearance that had been disheveled from crying. Once she felt presentable, she took a step forward. The main issue between her and Arkan, their marriage, needed to be resolved.

As she stepped out of the room, she noticed that Arkan was nowhere to be found. Only Secretary Ham lay on the couch. Where could that annoying guy be?

Lunar opened the apartment door, hoping to find Arkan outside, but to her surprise, she was greeted by a line of bodyguards guarding the door.

"Do they intend to guard the door forever?" she wondered to herself.

She closed the apartment door slowly, realizing that Arkan must not be allowed to escape. Determined to find him, she started searching for his whereabouts. Could he be playing Rapunzel and attempting to escape through the window? Where could he be hiding? She couldn't find him anywhere.

She entered a room and noticed it was empty and neatly arranged. Her steps led her towards the bathroom to check if Arkan was there. As she passed by a vertical mirror, she took a step back, realizing her disheveled appearance.

"Did I cry for too long?" Lunar massaged her swollen eyes.

"You've had a tough day because of that man," she said to herself, trying to console her wounded heart. She smiled, but the pain behind her eyes remained.

Curiosity led her to the source of a sound, and she turned her back to the bathroom. She was taken aback to see Arkan half-naked, standing there. She hadn't expected him to be in the bathroom, as she didn't hear the sound of running water.

"What are you doing?" Lunar asked, annoyed.

Arkan looked at her and approached, standing beside her. "I asked you, what are you doing?"

"We can talk later, after you get dressed," Lunar replied, taking a step back. She didn't want to engage in a conversation with a half-naked Arkan.

"We will talk now," Arkan insisted, sitting at the foot of the bed, waiting for her to speak.

Lunar sighed heavily. "Couldn't you get dressed first? We can talk once you're not flaunting your muscles."

"I'd rather flaunt them. Consider yourself lucky to have free viewing privileges," Arkan teased.

Should Lunar be grateful for that? They had just argued, and the tears that had swollen her eyes were still visible. At least Arkan had apologized for causing her distress, but now he arrogantly and proudly made inappropriate remarks.

Lunar finally gave in and allowed the conversation to take place in the room. "We should end our relationship," she said.

Arkan shifted his position, leaning forward while maintaining eye contact. "You're breaking our agreement." Their marriage was not meant to last long, as they had made a one-year arrangement.

"I will accept the consequences. You can spread rumors about me having an affair. That way, more people will sympathize with you," Lunar replied.

"And let you face difficulties?" The thought of the hardships Lunar would endure shook Arkan's beliefs. However, Lunar had made her decision to end the marriage, seeking an escape from the sham they had entered into.

"I have to take responsibility for running away from our marriage. After we separate, you can continue your relationship with Raya," Lunar stated, trying to sound resolute.

"I hope so. Unfortunately, my father won't allow it. Until we reach an agreement, you won't be able to leave," Arkan explained.

Arkan stood up and approached Lunar, who was still standing. He held her hand and made them look into each other's eyes.

"You do have to take responsibility. Do you feel trapped, which is why you're considering leaving?"

Lunar did feel trapped, and her decision to leave was a result of that feeling. "If I'm a burden, why keep me? You'd better get rid of this burden," she responded.

Arkan released her hand and stood upright again. Lunar quickly pulled her shirt up slightly to cover her exposed chest.

"Where are you looking?" Lunar asked, annoyed.

Arkan smiled. "I need to buy new clothes for my burden. But before that, could you leave the room?"

"Why?" Lunar inquired.

Arkan gestured towards the towel wrapped around his waist. "Because the free show is over."

Arkan turned and held Lunar's hand, guiding her out of the room. "You can pay if you want to keep watching."

Lunar's face turned red. Did Arkan expect payment in exchange for her seeing him half-naked? It made no sense!

"I will complain to Raya about this!" Lunar exclaimed as she rushed out of the room, accompanied by Arkan's laughter echoing behind her.

The laughter of that man!