Madam Mo was fuming with anger. She was angry, and yet she didn't dare to do anything in front of President Li. To be honest, she couldn't understand why President Li was helping someone like Luna Jiang; but Madam Mo didn't voice out her opinion over the matter.
"Either we just go in together and stay or we can just go now," Hero voiced out his final answer.
"Of course, President Li. We'll arrange everything to your liking. Miss Jiang will be seated next to you." Madam Mo smiled anxiously. She initially thought that she was just hearing things that Hero Li wanted Luna Jiang's company tonight at the banquet.
However, Jasper Mo was staring at President Li, even more surprised. Since the man showed up, he didn't understand what Hero was thinking even now. He never thought that Hero would step forward to protect Luna from his stepmother and Aiko, not giving him any face in the process.
Hero made his decision based on Luna's will. If Luna decided to go, no one could stop Hero Li from living the banquet with her. To go or to stay, Hero Li placed the decision in Luna's hands.
Madam Mo could only soften her voice and regarded Luna Jiang politely, in contrast to how she'd treated her earlier.
"Miss Jiang, let's go in together. I'm sure Jasper also wishes that you stay."
It seemed that if she couldn't convince Luna Jiang to stay, this banquet would be destroyed even before it started.
Luna glanced on her husband's face, trying to read his mood. However, when Hero gave her hand a squeeze, she somewhat felt relieved that she wasn't alone anymore.
She could only open her mouth and accepted Madam Mo's invitation.
"En… alright…"
Madam Mo sighed in relief while Aiko's face was filled with disappointment. Just as she thought she'd kick Luna out of Jasper's life with her tail tucked between her legs, she was somewhat saved by Mr. Li!
Hero tugged his wife's hand and entered the banquet hall with him, earning curious stares from the other guests. The entire hall was immersed with soothing music.
Elegant young misses from different families holding their wine glasses were laughing together stopped when they saw President Li returning to the banquet with a woman beside him. They were curious about the woman's identity since Hero Li was never been spotted with a woman since his wife's death.
Luna lowered her head and moved closer to her husband, afraid to see everyone's gaze at them. She dearly wished she could cover her face at that moment, knowing that she and her husband would become the talk of the town, appearing together at her ex-boyfriend's birthday party.
When she tried to loosen her grip on Hero's hand, he clasped their hands together, refusing to release her.
"Luna Jiang, do you think I'll give anyone the liberty to humiliate my wife?" Hero Li asked her seriously.
"Probably not." Luna chuckled.
Knowing Hero's character, he wouldn't let anyone put him at a disadvantage. Hero must have regarded her as his prized possession so he wouldn't let the Mo family go unscathed.
"Then, why are you lowering your head? Do you really care what people think of you? Are their opinion more important to you than mine?"
"Of course not…"
Luna couldn't understand what her husband was implying with his questions. Of course, she didn't care if people talk behind her back, but it would be a totally different matter if Hero Li received the public's scorn because of her.
"Since I am your husband, I'll definitely protect you and wouldn't let anyone harm you in any way. With me standing next to you, do you think a cheap woman like Aiko Chen can be compared to you?"
What he was saying was from the rest of the crowd, she was above them as she stood by his side. Since he was the king, would a mere commoner dare to look down at his chosen queen?
Luna revealed a real smile for the first time since she arrived at the banquet. Sometimes, one needed to tell her that she could just be herself. However, she realized that the most important thing was to believe in herself because no one would protect herself if she wouldn't.
Pain change people; it made them trust less, overthink more, and shut out more people around them. Some hearts understood each other, even in silence. Hero understood her pain than anyone else at the banquet hall.
Was she lucky? When someone cared for her more than she cared for herself in this world filled with pretentious people, didn't this mean she found her luck?
"Hero?"
Hero was startled when he heard her calling his name. She rarely addressed him like this.
"Yes?"
"Thank you for standing up for me."
His lips curled into a slight smile. "Anything for you, wife."
Luna's mood suddenly got better. Other people's gazes didn't matter to her anymore as she lifted her chin up, walking side by side with her husband as they followed Madam Mo and Jasper's lead towards the VIP lounge.
Hero let her sat down on the sofa before taking his seat beside her. He called out a waiter and took a glass of wine. The waiter offered one to Luna, but Hero was quick to stop her.
"Give Miss Jiang a glass of freshly squeezed fruit juice. Her alcohol tolerance is quite low."
Luna laughed, making Hero raised a brow on her.
"I wouldn't allow you to make another 'mistake' because of being drunk." He reminded her which earned a blush from his wife.
At this time, Jasper Mo sat on the sofa opposite Hero and Luna, wondering since when did these two became familiar with each other. He'd never seen Luna smile at another man like this.
Hero Li's smile instantly vanished from his face as he regarded Jasper.
"Young Master Mo." His voice even became colder.