As soon as Luna's phone call ended, she quickly stepped forward, her feet carrying her swiftly towards the entrance of her home. In her haste, she bumped into Xander, her shoulder colliding with his chest.
"Move out of the way," she whispered, her voice barely audible, as she tried to sidestep him.
But Xander didn't budge. Instead, he raised an eyebrow, his voice low and even. "Excuse me?"
Luna didn't even acknowledge his question. She simply tried to push past him, but Xander was too quick. He reached out, his fingers closing around her arms, and pulled her back, spinning her around to face him.
"You're crossing my path and going inside," he said, his eyes glinting with amusement.
Luna's smile was a thin, icy line. "I can go because this is my home."
Xander's expression turned serious, his voice firm. "I know, but you can't go until I let you."
Luna's eyes flashed with anger, her voice rising. "What is this nonsense? Who are you to stop me?"
Xander's eyes narrowed, his voice taking on a patronizing tone. "Luna, you're much younger than me. And you can't just go around disrespecting me."
Just as Luna was about to unleash a retort, Mother Mary's voice cut through the air, warm and effusive. "Xander!" she exclaimed, greeting him with the same warmth and affection she would reserve for a beloved son. Albert, Luna's father, echoed the sentiment, his voice booming with enthusiasm.
Luna's eyes rolled heavenward in exasperation, her gaze lingering on the ceiling for a moment before snapping back to her parents. She couldn't believe the way they were fawning over Xander, treating him like some kind of revered dignitary. The sight was almost too much to bear.
Mother Mary's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she asked, "Did you come back together? Where did you meet?" Her gaze darted between Luna and Xander, expecting a warm and fuzzy story.
But Luna's response was curt, her voice dismissive. "No, we didn't." She didn't even bother to turn around, simply walking into the house, leaving her parents in an awkward silence.
Mother Mary's face fell, her eyes widening in surprise at her daughter's attitude. She forced a bright smile, trying not to make Xander feel uncomfortable. "Well, anyway, welcome, Xander. Please, come in."
Albert, sensing the tension, stepped forward, his voice booming with warmth. "Xander, my boy, welcome! Dinner is ready."
Xander's sophisticated movements belied the tension in the air. He smiled graciously, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and took his seat at the table. The spread before him was impressive, with all his favorite dishes laid out.
Meanwhile, Luna had already disappeared into her room, changing with a nonchalance that bordered on indifference. She didn't even bother to acknowledge Xander's presence, let alone apologize for her earlier behavior. The sound of her door closing was the only indication that she had even noticed the commotion downstairs.
Mother Mary's gentle knock on Luna's door was met with a pause, before Luna's voice drifted through the wood, sounding detached and uninterested. "I'm not hungry, Mother. I ate earlier."
Mother Mary's voice was laced with a hint of concern and disappointment. "Luna, dear, you should join us for dinner. Xander is here."
But Luna's response was firm, her words dripping with exhaustion. "I'm very tired, Mother. I just want to rest."
Mother Mary sighed, knowing her daughter's stubbornness all too well. She decided not to push the issue, instead choosing to let Luna be. "Fine, dear. Get some rest."
As Mother Mary walked back downstairs, Luna settled into her bed, her phone glowing in the darkness. She spent the rest of the evening scrolling through videos, her mind numbed by the endless stream of content.
The sound of her door creaking open broke the silence, and Luna's gaze flickered up to meet her mother's disapproving stare. Mother Mary's eyes narrowed, her expression stern. "Luna, Xander has left," she said, her voice tinged with disappointment. "And I must say, I'm very disappointed in your behavior tonight."
Luna's gaze dropped back to her phone, her shoulders shrugging in a nonchalant gesture. Mother Mary's hand shot out, grasping Luna's phone and pulling it away from her. Luna's eyes narrowed, her brow furrowing in annoyance.
"Luna, do I have to tell you many times to show some respect for Xander?" Mother Mary's voice was stern, her words laced with a hint of warning. "You will wind up in trouble one day when your father gets angry."
Luna's frown deepened, her voice defensive. "What's the matter? I respect him. I'm just not hungry."
Mother Mary's finger wagged, her expression admonishing. "Don't you ever forget that it was Xander's family that didn't let us end up on the streets."
Luna's eyes flashed with anger, her voice rising. "Mom! Are you going to sell your daughter just because their family helped us? That was just a return for my grandfather saving his grandfather."
Luna's words hung in the air, her accusation clear. She stood up, her eyes blazing with indignation, as if daring her mother to confirm her worst fears.
"Luna," Mother Mary warned, her voice firm but laced with a hint of concern.
Luna sighed, her shoulders sagging as she sat back down, her anger slowly dissipating. She looked up at her mother, her eyes searching for understanding.
"Mom, why can't you and Dad understand?" Luna's voice was laced with frustration, her words tumbling out in a rush. "Why would an influential family like theirs want their CEO son to marry a driver's daughter?"
Luna's gaze was intense, her eyes pleading with her mother to see reason. "It doesn't make sense, Mom. They just want a daughter-in-law they can control, like a bird in a cage."
Mother Mary's expression turned stern, her voice firm. "Don't you dare disobey your grandfather's wishes."
Luna's voice took on a desperate tone, her words tumbling out in a rush. "Mom, I want to study more. Is that too much to ask? I don't want to be stuck in a loveless marriage, forced to do only what my mother-in-law dictates."
Mother Mary's face remained impassive, unmoved by Luna's words. "Becoming a daughter-in-law of the BD Group is like reaching heaven. And marrying a man like Xander is a dream come true."
As soon as her mother left the room, Luna's body collapsed onto the bed, her sigh deep and despairing. Memories flooded her mind, including the promise she made to her grandfather on his deathbed to marry Xander.
Xander, the CEO of the BB Group, came from an influential family. He had a brother, a doctor and director of the BB Group hospital, and a sister. Luna's grandfather had worked as a driver for Xander's family. In a dramatic turn of events, Luna's grandfather saved Xander's grandfather from a gunshot and lost his life in the process.
As a gesture of gratitude, Xander's grandfather promised to take care of Luna's family as his own and to make Luna a daughter-in-law of the family. This was a huge offer, especially since Luna's parents were on the brink of bankruptcy at the time.
Xander had entered the family business at a young age, following in his grandfather's footsteps. He was qualified, educated, tall, handsome, and rough-looking, with an air of danger surrounding him. He was a man who always got what he wanted, once he set his mind to it. Maintaining his family's traditions and obeying his elders was his motto. He didn't have much interest in romantic relationships, nor did he object when his grandfather chose Luna as his future wife, obeying his grandfather's wishes without question. He even treated Luna like a sister, adhering to his grandfather's wishes.