《Mr. President, Do You Mind If I Fall In Love With You?》


 Chapter 1 - Waking Up with a Stranger

    Golden rays of sunlight washed into the bedroom, shafts from the huge windows spilling over the two occupants sleeping on a king-size bed. The woman ?r??n?d and shifted on the bed. Her long tresses tickled her b?r? skin. Her hands splayed on a torso of a man as she slept soundly, her n?k?d body pressed against him.


    She slowly woke up, wondering why was her pillow too warm to touch. The woman m??n?d softly, and her brows twitched as the sunlight hit her face, making her aware that it was already morning.


    Luna Jiang just wanted to spend most of her days in her bed. Most of her nights passed by with her working on the advertisement for the newest phone that their company launched yesterday. Good thing it was already Saturday, and she didn''t have to do anything for today.


    Her hand unconsciously gripped the nearest pillow to her body, but she was surprised when she felt n?k?d skin beneath her fingers. She opened her eyes in confusion and propped an elbow to lift her torso from the bed. Her gaze landed on a man smiling down on her, and she jolted up from her lying position while clutching the sheets to her ?h?st, covering her br??st from his sight.


    "Where am I? This isn''t my place!" Luna Jiang blurted out.


    Her eyes looked around, seeing she was in an unfamiliar room. From the looks of it, it seemed she was in a hotel. She looked down on her body and noticed the darkening hickeys on her ?h?st and that she was in her birthday suit. Her clothes littered the floor beside the bed.


    "Oh, God �� no �� what did I do?" she murmured to herself. It finally dawned to her what had taken place apparently.


    "You seemed surprised." A cold and stoic voice of a man startled her. She almost jumped out of her skin when she heard his voice. She couldn''t believe the situation she found herself in. Her heart skipped a beat.


    Luna met his eyes that were intently focused on her face.


    "Holy sh*t!" she berated herself. Did she just sleep with a stranger last night? She remembered going out to a bar with her office mates and had a lot to drink. She couldn''t remember anything after the party and how she ended up with this man in the hotel room.


    Hero Li never had a bedmate ever since his wife died five years ago. He watched how this woman slept peacefully beside him earlier, unaware of his gaze on her pretty face. He didn''t care that he had no idea who was this angel who shared a blissful night with him.


    He had seen her before. She was from the Marketing Department and part of the team who celebrated the success of the launching of one of their newest products. Everyone decided to party with drinks last night. It was already late when the party ended, and he was left with a drunk woman to spend the night with.


    He had waited for almost an hour, wondering what would she look like when she was awake. Now he knew: her hazel eyes complimented her pale and smooth complexion, and brown locks were tousled nicely on the pillows.


    Relationships weren''t his thing, and he was too busy running his company; he b?r?ly had time to date anyone. So it was a surprise to him that he allowed himself to have a hot and steamy one-night stand with his employee. She was the prettiest person he had woken up with.


    "Good morning," he grinned mischievously. Yes, it was indeed a great morning for him.

 Chapter 2 - The Best Dream Ever

    "I suppose you forgot what had transpired between us last night," Hero said with his eyes gleaming in delight. Ah, her blushing face looked adorable and cute. He had never seen such a fragile and innocent woman in his life. His d?s?r? to tease her was almost irresistible, but he knew she really had no idea what happened last night after they left the bar.


    "You aren''t Jasper. Who are you?" Luna asked. She was supposed to spend the night with Jasper Mo, her boyfriend for two years. Jasper was the one who told her to join the Li Group of Companies since it was one of the partners of their family business. Aiko had given her a key card to his hotel room after the party so why did she end up sleeping with a handsome stranger?


    The smile on Hero''s lips instantly vanished as soon as the woman he slept with mentioned another man''s name. It was obvious that he wasn''t the Jasper she was talking about, and it was surprising that she didn''t know who he was.


    "No," he answered with his face devoid of any emotion that made Luna shiver under his gaze. Hero was calm, and he tried not to move a muscle so she wouldn''t freak out. But who the hell was Jasper, and how could she make such a mistake, thinking that he was that man?


    "Why �� you aren''t Jasper ��" Luna gasped.


    "Isn''t it obvious?" Hero frowned. "For one, you can see I am not him, and two, I am pretty sure you were the one who barged into my room and seduced me last night. This is my room," Hero said.


    He waited for her reaction. It was the truth. He had seen her during the party, but he decided to spend the night alone, left the bar, and checked into a VIP room next to it.


    His eyes landed on her lovely neck. He remembered how smooth and soft her skin was when it was pressed against him. Even the way she m??n?d and sighed in p???sur? as he drove her to peak.


    Thinking about it made him hard and ready to claim her once again, but he doubted she would allow herself to make another mistake with him.


    Luna''s eyes darted around the room before turning her attention back to him.


    "It can''t be! I counted the doors of the rooms. This should be Jasper''s room, not yours. Are you sure this is your room?" she asked, her eyes still wide from what had happened.


    "Positive. I checked in last night and took a quick shower before throwing myself on the bed." He was too tired and didn''t bother to call his ?ssistant to drop him home. Hero decided to spend the night alone and face his problems the next day. He had never imagined that he would wake up with a beauty beside him instead.


    "I came to bed and then had the best dream I ever had in years, only to wake up and realize that it was real."


    His accidental lover from last night was now burning red. Her cries of ecstasy came back to him; her rough invitation and seduction turned him on last night. This beauty made a mistake, but the passion they shared last night was for another man. Hero couldn''t help but envy the man, but it was he who had pleased her so much.


    Luna started to panic.


    "Oh my god! What have I done?! I can''t believe this. I''m sorry! I''m so sorry!" Luna kept on chanting, and Hero didn''t know if she was saying to him or to the other man.


    That shouldn''t have happened. She shook her head, trying to deny that she had given up her v?r??n?t? to a stranger rather than to her boyfriend, but the soreness between her legs said otherwise. On her drunken stupor last night, she swore she had seen stars.


    Now, how the hell would she explain this to Jasper?

 Chapter 3 - You Are Mine Now

    Luna bit her lip and tried her best not to cry. She was a fool. There was nothing she could do to undo what she''d done. She had lost her v?r??n?t? to someone that wasn''t even her boyfriend. How the heck didn''t she notice that the man she spent the night with wasn''t Jasper? Oh, wait, maybe it was because she was too drunk to know what she was doing.


    His kisses were demanding as if branding her as his, making her toes curl in p???sur? and her thoughts in a blur.


    "You don''t have to apologize." Hero''s voice brought her back to reality. Luna didn''t even notice that she was crying already. She gripped the blanket tighter on her ?h?st and silently sobbed. It was all over for her. She didn''t have a face to confess what happened to her boyfriend. Surely, Jasper wouldn''t understand that this was a mistake.


    Not when both of his parents were also not fond of her. Several times, Jasper''s parents had tried to force her to break her relationship with him. They both claimed that she wasn''t a suitable candidate to be his wife.


    Hero watched the poor woman who was completely mortified for what she had claimed a mistake. To be honest, he should be the one saying sorry now because he was himself the other night. His need to be with this woman broke all his logical thoughts, but he couldn''t find it in himself to regret it.


    It wasn''t in his nature to apologize. For Christ''s sake, even his employees were afraid of him, but seeing her in tears made him feel uncomfortable. They were still both n?k?d on his huge bed, both trying to figure out what to do next. She thought he was Jasper; the intimacy they shared last night wasn''t really for him. She was hot and demanding, and he was the one who had satisfied her needs.


    He did a quick look at her knuckles. Hero knew by then, that whatever this woman had on this Jasper haven''t reached a permanent claim yet.


    Her discomfort bothered him and made him wonder what she had done to him. Hero Li, who was also known as the Demon President, was lowering his pride for a mere employee? It was even humorous that he was considering to comfort her. When did he ever start having sympathy for other people?


    "What are you planning to do now?" he asked. He had to know, or else he would have to pursue her. Definitely, he had been too long without a woman that he was now seeking her company for his own needs.


    Luna avoided his gaze. This handsome stranger that she shared the night with, who took her v?r??n?t?, made her heart skip a beat. Her cheeks burned red in embarrassment. His cold voice that slipped from his lips, that gorgeous small smile that made her breath hitched. He was so handsome with that fair skin, those dark brown eyes that seemed to look through her soul, and those soft tresses that reached up to his waist.


    Luna thought that this stranger would put any woman''s hair to shame. His defined muscles and well-toned body screamed that he was a better specimen than Jasper. He was definitely not her boyfriend. Jasper would look inferior beside this man''s domineering presence.


    When she pulled the sheets closer to her body, it completely revealed what he was hiding beneath it. Luna squeaked in shame for what she had done. Well, this handsome stranger is quite ... big.


    "I''m sorry. I''m really sorry. This shouldn''t have happened," she said again while trying to ignore the fact that the man was ready for another round with her. Man, he was aroused, and Luna tried her best not to succumb to her d?s?r? to be with him once more. He was damn too hot, and she couldn''t deny that she was somewhat attracted to him.


    "I''m not."


    Hero noticed the red stain on the bed sheet. So he was her first then? The thought somehow thrilled him. She was so pure, so innocent, and he was the one who was able to have her.


    "W-what?"


    Luna couldn''t believe what she just heard. This man didn''t care that she seduced him? What if he got a wife? The thought made Luna hate herself more. It was impossible for such a man not to have a woman on his side.


    Hero sat up at the edge of the bed and ran his fingers through his dark locks.


    "You didn''t mean to do it. You didn''t do anything I didn''t want you to in the first place."


    That made Luna stopped crying for a second and thought about what he''d said.


    "But still �� I seduced you. You weren''t aware when I barged into your room and started to harass you."


    Well, that was embarrassing. Being drunk and barging in a room she thought that was her boyfriend''s and made love with a total stranger.


    "Yeah, but it wasn''t like I said no to your ?ssaults. I could have stopped you if I wanted to."


    "But still ��"


    "Relax, I''m single, and you are ��" Hero''s eyes lidded. After what happened between them, he was sure this woman would have to leave her boyfriend for good.


    "It wasn''t supposed to happen. Can we just forget it? Let''s pretend this had never happened."


    "Too late, woman. You are mine now. You should take responsibility for being selfish and seducing me on my own bed."

 Chapter 4 - To Destroy Luna

    "You must be joking ��" Luna stared up to the man above her. She tried to pull her hands away, but Hero kept them pinned above her head. He wasn''t going to let her escape from him anytime soon.


    "Oh, I''m not, darling," Hero murmured against her neck. Luna gasped and was sure that she was burning red from embarrassment. It seemed that her own body was betraying her. Oh dear lord, how could she possibly forget what happened last night? There was no way that didn''t happen. Even in her drunken state, she knew this man made her see stars as she ?r??smed so hard in his ministrations.


    Her flush deepened, and Hero found himself in need of her again. His dark brown eyes locked into hers, watching her every move and expression. Hero wondered what she would do next. Would she try to run away from him again or surrender herself?


    Definitely, he has been without s?x for too long because he couldn''t contain his d?s?r? to be with this woman.


    "I cannot." Luna shook her head emphatically. She knew she was the wrong one. If she hadn''t drunk way past her limit and decided to find her boyfriend to seduce him, she wouldn''t be in this situation.


    Cursing herself, Luna looked away as she tried to suppress her embarrassment. She would not succumb to another mistake again. It was already bad enough; her relationship with her boyfriend would surely end this time. All she wanted to do right now was to hide from everyone.


    She refused to think how this man made her feel so good, how her body echoed his own d?s?r? in passionate lovemaking. No. It wasn''t lovemaking. It was just s?x between them. There was no love or any feelings between them. She knew she''d been his s?x toy last night to quell his urges.


    "Do you think you have a choice?" His voice brought her out from her deep thoughts.


    Luna was about to retort when they heard a familiar voice outside the room. It was someone Luna could recognize anytime. What was Aiko doing in here?


    "Miss. You know this isn''t right. We can''t just check each of these rooms to find your missing friend. Though no one saw her check out last night or this morning, there couldn''t be any reason why she would be in one of these rooms."


    "No, mister. I''m sure she was here. I gave her a keycard last night when she said she wanted to sleep."


    "Aiko, Luna might have called someone to take her home. She isn''t someone who likes to make problems for other people."


    A man in his late twenties pulled her arm.


    ''She''s my problem! After this, you will surely leave her for good, and I will be the one who will there for you.'' Aiko Chen pretended to be concerned about her missing friend, but deep inside, she was sneering and couldn''t wait to put Luna to shame.


    If it wasn''t for Luna, Jasper would have chosen her. Luna took everything from her, and she couldn''t waste this opportunity to put Luna in her place. Why did this commoner think that she had the right to date her prince charming? Aiko did her best to befriend this woman so she could find a weakness she could use.


    Of course, she knew that Jasper''s parents didn''t like Luna Jiang, and they were rooting for her to become their daughter-in-law soon. This was the reason why she purposely staged this scene. When she bumped into a man along the dark lobby last night, she switched their key cards that fell on the floor. She then tricked the drunk Luna by giving her the wrong card to sleep with another man.


    Now, she was eager to see Luna Jiang on the other side of this door, lying n?k?d with another man that wasn''t Jasper Mo. It was impossible for Luna to leave and go home last night. This was the room number that was indicated on the card. There was no mistake that Luna was in this room.

 Chapter 5 - No One Can Bully His Woman

    The horror in Luna''s face couldn''t be denied. Her eyes widened and her jaws dropped when she heard the familiar voices outside the room. She knew that she was doomed and couldn''t escape this problem anymore.


    Why did Aiko bring Jasper with her? What was the meaning of this? Did Aiko trick her last night? Aiko should have known that this room wasn''t Jasper''s room. Could it be that her friend knew about it all along?


    Now that she was free from the influence of the alcohol, Luna''s mind started to think of the possibilities why she was trapped in this predicament. Although the voices outside weren''t that loud, Luna knew who were waiting for her.


    "She must be in this room. We''ve already searched for her everywhere except this room." Aiko Chen''s sharp and clear voice was heard outside the door.


    "Miss, we can''t really disturb the person inside. He''s one of our important guests."


    The hotel staff was anxious and afraid to follow the request of Aiko. He knew well that Hero Li, the president of Li Group of Companies was staying in this room. Everyone knew that they couldn''t offend him, or else with a flick of his finger, the hotel would be out of business soon.


    "Why are you insisting that Luna is here anyway?" Jasper asked. He was aware that this woman was interested in him, but he could care less because he had Luna by his side.


    Aiko bit her lower lip. She hoped that Jasper didn''t suspect that she was pulling strings against Luna.


    "Jasper, I''m just worried about her whereabouts. She hasn''t picked up our calls. If I have to search every room to know she''s safe, then I will."


    Of course, she would. Ah, Aiko was expecting a really good show by now. She wondered how Luna survived the night with another man.


    ''Come out now, Luna. Show us how shameless you are.'' Aiko snickered silently. She then walked towards the door and knocked with a triumphant smile on her face. Both Jasper Mo and the hotel staff were surprised by her action. They couldn''t believe that this woman was insisting the missing Luna Jiang was inside the room.


    It was her time to paint Luna as a loose woman.


    Inside the room, Luna panicked and pushed away the man who was hovering above her. She pulled the blanket to cover herself and looked around the room. She should hide, or else she would be ruined! Jasper shouldn''t see her like this! She could no longer show her face to her boyfriend.


    Hero was caught off-guard from the sudden strength this woman used on him. He also heard the loud discussions outside his door and knew that they were talking about his woman.


    ''So Luna is your name ��'' Hero mused.


    It was clear she was afraid, but he had no idea why. He lied back down on the bed, fully n?k?d without a cover, and gave her a quick glance.


    "What is wrong with you?" he asked.


    Luna stood up and took the sheets with her. In her panic, she accidentally tripped on the blanket rolled around her . She fell hard with a thud on the carpeted floor. She dearly hoped that none of the people outside heard her.


    After he made her sit on the counter, he saw streaks of tears running down her pretty face. He faltered slightly, and his rage rose to another level. Damn, whoever made his woman cry shall face his wrath. No one could bully her as long as she had him.


    "Why are you crying?" Hero asked her once again.


    Luna sniffed and wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. With teary eyes, she stared at his face. There was still a hint of fear and confusion in her bright clear eyes.


    "Jasper is waiting outside ..." she whispered to this man who took her innocence. "Please don''t open the door," she begged.

 Chapter 6 - Luna Escaped

    "Don''t go. Please. I beg you not to open it." Luna seized his arm, and her eyes kept on shedding uncontrollable tears. She knew what would happen once Jasper and Aiko found her. The dignity left in her and her reputation would be ruined.


    Hero stared at her face, wondering why he''d let himself get affected by this woman''s emotions. He couldn''t comprehend this woman at all.


    Couldn''t she recognize his identity by now? Couldn''t she tell that he was her boss, and no one would dare to offend her when he''s around?


    He left her in the bathroom and went back to the bedroom to look around. His eyes landed on the pile of clothes at the end of his bed, which was probably hers, considering that he never wore such colors to begin with.


    Who else would wear a bright pink dress and a white coat except her?


    Another knock was heard on his door, taking his attention away from the clothes in his hand. Whoever waiting for him to open it surely wanted to humiliate Luna. Sauntering back to where he left his woman, he left her clothes at the counter as he heard the shower on.


    Meanwhile ��


    "Stop it, Aiko. It''s enough. It''s impossible to find Luna here," Jasper Mo said behind Aiko who was waiting patiently in front of the door.


    "We wouldn''t know until we can ?ssure that she isn''t here," Aiko insisted.


    She was about to knock again when the door abruptly open. Aiko had a bewildered expression on her face as the owner of the room stood in front of her. She had forgotten all the words she''d memorize earlier to humiliate Luna once the door opened.


    He stood in front of her with only a loose robe covering his body.


    "What''s the meaning of this?"


    The harsh tone and coldness of Hero Li''s voice sent shivers down her spine. She felt like she''d stepped on a forbidden place. Aiko started to wonder if Luna had encountered the same coldness when she was subjected to this domineering and scary man.


    His taller height dwarfed her. She could sense the irritation in his demeanor and wished she never offended him.


    The hotel staff that accompanied Aiko and Jasper cleared his throat and tried not to stutter to explain.


    "Mr. Li, we''re sorry for disturbing you."


    Jasper, who was silently staring at the man who only got a robe to cover himself, tilted his head in one side. He was sure he''d seen this man before.


    "This Miss here is looking for her friend, Miss Jiang ..."


    "And you all think you will see her here?" Hero cut him off. "Pathetic."


    His words were enough to make Aiko embarrassed. This wasn''t what she''d expected to happen. She shouldn''t be the one getting humiliated here. Where was Luna? She was supposed to be here?


    Aiko Chen and Jasper Mo might come from wealthy families, but even Jasper had little opportunities to meet the president of Li Group of Companies since he had yet to prove himself capable of joining their family''s business. Therefore, they had no idea they were talking to Hero Li himself.


    Hero looked gloomy as he looked down at the woman who dared to humiliate Luna. Women could be dangerous and poisonous. A man who couldn''t differentiate a good woman from a bad one could easily be manipulated. And at this moment, he wasn''t happy with this conniving bitch.


    The hotel staff trembled at Hero''s words. The moment the door opened, he knew he was in big trouble. Curse this woman for forcing him to offend one of their VIP patrons. One of his subordinates came running to him and whispered something to his ears, which instantly wiped the color off of his face.


    "Miss Chen �� Miss Jiang was seen taking a cab last night. She was ?ssisted by one of our valets."


    "What?!" Aiko exclaimed. Luna was able to see through her plans and escaped?

 Chapter 7 - Beautiful Stranger

    Of course, the hotel staff in charge of ?ssisting Aiko and Jasper wouldn''t let them know that the woman they were looking for was indeed inside the room of Hero Li. But he would be a fool if he tried to offend this scary businessman.


    It wasn''t his business who their guests spent the night with. Looking at his current situation, he would rather lie instead of losing his job over this trivial matter.


    This would be one of the important life choices he''d make, and he wouldn''t dare to mess up with it.


    "Are you sure?" Aiko''s voice was almost pleading. It would put her to shame if Luna did leave last night without her knowledge.


    "Positive, Miss Chen. Our management can confirm this detail if you doubt what this lowly servant said today."


    "No. There''s no need for that," Jasper interjected. He had enough of this drama. If Luna wasn''t here, there''s no point in staying and making a scene in this place.


    "But Jasper ��" Aiko couldn''t finish her words when she saw how Jasper glared at her.


    "Then leave. I grew tired of this." Hero sneered and then turned to the hotel staff. "I''ll let this go only once. If you dare to disturb my rest again, there will be repercussions."


    The man''s face turned purple at Hero''s direct threat. The door was slammed hard on their gaping faces, leaving them on the hallway.


    ''No! This isn''t what supposed to happen!'' Aiko screamed in her mind. Her anger towards Luna Jiang rose to another level. It was all her fault. It was all Luna''s fault why Jasper hated her right now. Her eyes flashed with murderous intent, but she forced herself to calm down.


    "Then she must be sleeping at home right now," she said to Jasper, hoping he would let this issue go and forgive her. "You must call her. I forgot to tell her that today''s our flight. She would be heartbroken if she found out we left without saying goodbye."


    Jasper''s silence made Aiko uncomfortable. His face was unreadable. She noticed that since that morning, Jasper wasn''t his usual self. Did he also know all along about her tricks?


    Jasper ignored her and decided to leave. He made his way to the elevator, leaving Aiko behind.


    "Jasper! You stop right there!" Aiko couldn''t control her rage anymore.


    The object of her affection instant stopped on his tracks and looked back at her over his shoulder.


    "If you dare try to harm Luna once again, I will never forgive you."


    His words stabbed Aiko''s heart. This was the very first time that Jasper talked to her like this. So he knew all about it. Would that mean there wasn''t any chance for her to win his heart?


    ---


    Luna let the water wash away the remnants of what had happened last night. She could still feel the soreness between her legs and saw the trail of dried blood on her th??hs earlier, reminding her of what she''d lost.


    It''s over. She could no longer show her face to Jasper like this. Last night, she made the biggest mistake of her life.


    There was nothing else she could do to change what happened. Luna realized that she had to break up with Jasper. She had to cut off ties with him, or else she would further humiliate herself. While she had no idea who was the man she slept with last night, she couldn''t be sure that he wouldn''t try to use this against her.


    She knew that this beautiful stranger was a dangerous man.

 Chapter 8 - Mistaken

    When she was done taking a bath and fixing herself, she went out of the bathroom and saw the handsome stranger sitting at the edge of the bed, staring out of the full-sized window while puffing a cigarette. Fortunately, he decided to cover his arousal with his black trousers, but his upper torso was kept b?r? with clearly defined muscles, spelling strength and stamina.


    So manly and ?r?t?? that made Luna force herself to look away but failed.


    He seemed deep in his thoughts that he didn''t even notice that she was staring at him.


    Luna struggled to even out her breathlessness as she looked at this man who she knew now so intimately.


    She cleared her throat, intending to get his attention.


    "I have to go ��"


    "You think you can just leave me like that?" Hero asked without turning his head in her direction.


    Luna frowned. What did he mean by that? She should be the one complaining to him right now. Didn''t he admit that he was aware while she was drunk when they did the deed? She succeeded in remembering their discussion before she answered him.


    "I cannot be your woman. I''m already taken." Luna didn''t like the way it sounded. It was like she was trying to convince herself that Jasper would still accept her after all.


    Hearing what she said, Hero turned to her with a devilish smirk on his lips. That gorgeous smile seemed so natural on him, making her heart skip a beat in his presence. He was so sinfully handsome, and Luna wouldn''t be surprised if women threw themselves on his path just to get his attention. Attention that she had right now.


    "My darling. You cannot escape from me." He paused as his expression seemed to sharpen.


    "Even so ..." Luna supposed she owed him some explanation, but it was really mortifying on her part. "I cannot be with you just because we had s?x last night."


    Yes, it was purely out of ?ust. She was sure that there was no love between them, so why was he insisting on making her his woman? She has nothing to offer. Heck, she wouldn''t even believe if he claimed he was short in admirers and willing women.


    "So you think Jasper Mo will still accept you?"


    It directly hit her sore spot. Why was he doing this to her? Wait. How come he knew Jasper?


    "You ��" But Luna couldn''t let the words out. How could she defend herself when what he''d said was the truth?


    Hero looked at her intensely. His cold eyes looked straight into her hazel ones. Luna fearlessly held their eye contact. She couldn''t allow him to intimidate her. He could not force her to be his woman.


    He was really amused that this woman dared to defy him. His eyes then noticed the dress she was wearing beneath her coat.


    "You were wearing that?" His eyes flared and began to shine with delight. She wasn''t wearing a skimpy dress, and yet that dress was enough to emphasize her lovely curves and shapely legs.


    He sauntered towards her, and Luna panicked. She saw the mischievous glint in his eyes and could see his muscles twitching as he came after her.


    "Stop. Please let me go," she begged. No, she should not let him have her way with her. She wasn''t that crazy to repeat that mistake that shouldn''t have happened in the first place. She backed away until she hit the wall and couldn''t escape his hovering stature.


    "Look. I really should go. Let''s pretend that this never happened." Luna steadfastly met his scrutinizing eyes. She kept her mental chant that she wouldn''t fall for his charm.


    "I told you, I''m not yet done with you, woman."


    Her eyebrows shot upwards. Was he really serious?


    "I can''t believe you mistook me for him," Hero started. "He''s at least six inches shorter than I am. His body couldn''t even be compared to mine." He was annoyed. It was one thing that he couldn''t accept.


    That sounds very narcissistic, but Luna couldn''t find in herself to disagree. Jasper and this handsome man were poles apart. Aside from the physical differences, this man was demanding and cold while her boyfriend was warm and understanding.


    "You were lying on the bed. How am I supposed to know you aren''t him?" she said through her gritted teeth.


    Hero chuckled. This woman surely was something he''d never encountered before.

 Chapter 9 - Temptation

    "At least you hadn''t slept with him." Hero was quite pleased with the fact that he was her first, and she had never been touched by another man.


    Luna gaped at him. How could he say something like that? He made her blood boil in anger. How dare he make fun of her?


    "Yes, yes. Compared to Jasper, you are too arrogant, mister," she huffed. What''s with this man? He really knew how to push the wrong bu??ons to irritate her.


    "Oh, that isn''t the first time someone called me that, darling." Hero grinned. "But I will deeply appreciate it if you scream my name while I''m inside of you."


    "That''s a mistake! It will never happen again!" Luna growled. She was really pissed off right now with this man. Couldn''t he just leave her be? He''d already taken what he wanted from her.


    "Now, now. We both know that isn''t true." Hero saw through her. She couldn''t lie to him. He knew that there was an attraction between them. Her body was betraying her.


    But Luna rolled her eyes. She refused to become someone''s toy. A man like him would surely bring her to her own demise. Look what happened to her mother: seduced and left with a child of a married man. Her own father. Her own kin abandoned her and her mother like trash that he didn''t have any use for anymore.


    "There are other willing women out there, mister. Unfortunately, I am not one of them," she retorted. Hero only hummed in response. He wasn''t really expecting her to submit herself too soon.


    In the past, she might have fallen for his charm. She knew what could be the outcome if she let this man affect her and welcome him into her life. She wasn''t after his money. Luna would never stoop at that level.


    Clearly, she was sure that he came from a prominent family within this city if he was capable of making Jasper and Aiko leave earlier. But a rich man buying a woman something��throwing a woman expensive gifts��didn''t mean anything. A man, who was giving a woman time and effort, meant everything.


    "I should leave." It was her final decision. She should go before she makes another mistake she will regret. She would get burned by him if she stayed, and Luna didn''t trust herself at that moment. He was too much everything compared to another man. It wasn''t helping that she was starting to doubt if she really did love her own boyfriend.


    Hero hadn''t taken his eyes away from her beautiful face as if trying to read her thoughts. Looking right back at him, Luna felt that her thoughts were being distracted by his mere presence.


    Luna froze when she realized what had crossed in her mind. Did she just have indecent thoughts to be with him again? She breathed, blinked her eyes to clear her sight, and pushed him away from her. She quickly ran towards the door, stepped out of the room, and out of her outrageous thoughts.


    "Wait," Hero walked after her, not caring if someone would see them at this state. "Let me know your name. Mine is��"


    "Don''t." Luna turned around to face him and held up her hand. "Don''t say it. Let''s just pretend that we didn''t meet, and nothing happened between us."


    She''d never met someone like him in her life. Truth to be told, she couldn''t deny that he was the most handsome man she had ever met. But then, Luna knew this man had the ability to intrigue her, to tempt her. She shouldn''t succumb to his advancements. She forced herself to step back and leave.


    Hero didn''t stop her, but his eyes glimmered with amusement. She could run away from him right now, but she would eventually come back to him whether she liked it or not. She was his and very soon �� soon �� he would have her again.

 Chapter 10 - Hell Freeze Over

    Luna was grateful that she didn''t have to leave for work since it was already the weekend. She threw the eviction notice she received earlier at the coffee table and stumped her feet. Too many problems were piling up, and her landlady wouldn''t even bother giving her a grace period to pay her rent.


    She flopped her back on her own bed, her eyes fixated on the ceiling of her bedroom. She heard a rustle at her doorway and saw her pet dog making his way to join her on her bed.


    She turned on her side to make space for her pet. Her hand gently ran on his white thick fur and smiled when he yawned big after taking a comfortable position beside her.


    "Fluffy," Luna said. "I think I messed up big time," she confessed. She wasn''t expecting Fluffy to understand, but ever since she adopted Fluffy years ago, it was him who patiently gave her a listening ear whenever something bothered her.


    She fondled his ears and snorted when she heard him growl in delight. Well, at least Fluffy wouldn''t leave her whatever happens.


    "What should I do?" she asked, but it was more likely directed to herself. "Do you think I should tell Jasper what really happened or just break up with him? I feel like I don''t deserve him anymore."


    Her phone beeped, indicating she received an important email. Too lazy to move around, Luna stretched her arms and took her phone from her nightstand. Just as what she''d expected, it was another reminder of a bill she needed to settle soon. It was more important than anything else.


    Her mother''s hospital bill took a huge part of her monthly salary, but she really didn''t care. She only wished that her mother would recover soon. Fortunately, the president of their company decided to give them incentives for a job well done they earned from their last project.


    If she could, she would also take a short vacation like everyone else did with their extra money, but her obligation as the breadwinner of her small family forbade her to enjoy such activities.


    Shaking her head with disappointment, Luna abruptly sat up from her bed and changed her clothes. She should do something to lessen the burden on her back because there''s no use in crying over spilled milk now.


    ---


    Daryl Yang knew something was wrong as soon as he picked up his boss from the hotel that afternoon. There was something different about his employer. Hero Li usually wore his poker face and wouldn''t bother to express any emotion except when he''s mad about something.


    Taking a sneak peek at the dashboard mirror, he noticed that there was a small grin on Hero''s face. Daryl''s face turned green. What was that supposed to mean? Did the hell just freeze over that his usual sadistic and cold boss was now smiling at the back seat of the car?


    He could tell that Hero was in a good mood. He even looked relaxed and��dared he say��happy. This was the first time he saw his boss like this. Even when the Hero''s deceased wife died years ago, Daryl never saw Hero''s cold mask crack. He was baffled by the sudden change of Hero''s temperament.


    His eyes went back to the road to focus on what he was supposed to do. No, there must be something that piqued Hero''s attention; hence, his sudden change, but Daryl couldn''t think of anything that could amuse his boss. What could it be?


    As if sensing the train of thoughts running in his mind, Hero spoke behind him, nearly catching him off-guard.


    "Daryl, find everything about Luna Jiang from the marketing department. I want the detailed report about her this evening."


    Daryl was really thankful he didn''t accidentally step on the brakes when he heard his master''s request. So it was all because of a woman.


    Of all the things, he never expected that Hero would one day asked him to check the background of a woman. What kind of woman was Luna Jiang that she could pique the demon''s interest?


    "Of course, Master Hero. I will deliver the files you needed tonight."

 Chapter 11 - Illegitimate Child

    Luna was busy checking the supplies she brought with her when she noticed that she arrived on the floor where her mother was confined. She brought her mother''s favorite steamed buns and her brother''s favorite cola.


    "Mom, I''m sorry I''m late. You must be hungry. I brought your favorites today." Luna smiled.


    Elaine Ye gazed at her eldest child. She knew Luna had been too busy lately, trying to meet deadlines at work while worrying about her health. The guilt kept on coming back to her whenever she sees Luna''s tired face.


    She felt like she was the biggest burden in her daughter''s life. If it wasn''t for her, Luna might have accepted the scholarship she received to study abroad three years ago.


    "It''s okay, Luna. Don''t worry too much about me, okay? I would hate it if you forced yourself to your limit," she replied.


    Luna pulled a chair and sat beside her mother''s bed. She started peeling an apple from the basket she brought with her.


    "Everything will be okay, Mom. The only thing you should do right now is to recover so we can go home." Luna didn''t have the courage to admit to her mother that she would be homeless soon. Maybe she could move back to her mother''s place if she really couldn''t afford to pay her rent.


    "Have you talked to your father?" Elaine asked.


    Luna stopped and looked away; her smile vanished from her lovely face.


    "I see no point in telling him what happened to you. He didn''t care about us in the first place, but her other daughter keeps on calling me," Luna replied. If she could, she would change her family name to ''Ye''. She wasn''t really proud of being a ''Jiang''.


    "What?! His daughter from the other mistress? Why would she want to meet you?" Elaine''s frown made her wrinkled face more prominent.


    "About my inheritance."


    "Shameless woman. She didn''t really have a say in it." Elaine clenched her fist on her ??p.


    "Mom, calm down. I have no intention of giving up what''s rightfully mine."


    While Luna knew she wasn''t a legitimate child of her father, she was still entitled to receive a part his wealth as her inheritance. Funny enough, her grandmother on her father''s side really liked her. She was the only one, out of all the grandchildren, who received their grandmother''s approval.


    "But still �� be careful, Luna. I don''t trust his other children. They might harm you or your brother to get whatever they want."


    "Alright," Luna sighed. She didn''t want her mother to overthink again and get worried about these things. "Anyway, where''s Julian? I thought he doesn''t have class today," she asked and continued to peel the fruit in her hand.


    Elaine nodded and took a sip from her teacup.


    "Julian said he will be late. He has a part-time job now."


    "What? Why didn''t Julian tell me about it?"


    Her little brother decided to take a part-time job to help her with the bills? Luna pondered if it''s a good thing or not. Julian was doing well in school and would graduate soon with flying colors. She didn''t want him getting distracted from studying.


    "Because he doesn''t want you to worry and blame yourself, that''s why."


    Luna didn''t say anything and kept her eyes on what she was doing. Maybe she should just let Julian do what he wanted since he wasn''t really that young anymore, but still ... if only she could provide more for her family, her brother wouldn''t be forced to work to help her.


    "Luna? Luna?"


    "What is it, mom?"


    Elaine gave her a worried look before pointing a finger at her daughter''s bag.


    "You aren''t listening. I said your phone keeps ringing."


    "Ohh ..."


    A blush was threatening to spread on her cheeks, but Luna moved quickly to hide her embarrassment. She took her phone from her handbag and let her mother know she would be just outside. Checking on her phone, she saw twelve missed calls from her friend, Corinne. When her phone rang again, she answered it immediately.


    "Corinne, what''s up?"


    "Luna, where are you? Struck on a traffic jam again? Jasper and Aiko will be leaving in an hour."

 Chapter 12 - Parting Ways

    Luna didn''t say anything as she was rendered speechless with what Corinne just told her.


    "Luna? Luna, are you still there?" she heard from the other line.


    "I am," she replied, but her mind was almost blank, her eyes in a blur as tears started to hinder her sight.


    "Are you coming or not?" Corinne asked.


    "What do you mean they''re leaving?" Luna finally said what was really on her mind.


    Why''s Jasper leaving with Aiko? They''re leaving together? What the hell was happening?


    "What? I thought you already know. Aiko said she told you last night."


    "No, she didn''t tell me anything."


    It would take her at least two hours if she left now. It would be pointless to go to the airport since the City Hospital was too far.


    "What?! That bitch! I knew something was wrong when she started befriending you. Where are you now, Luna? I''ll give you a ride if you''re at home."


    Luna shook her head and leaned against the wall. She blinked to clear her sight and wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. All the pieces started to fall into their right places. It made sense to her now, and she realized that she really fell into Aiko''s schemes.


    Aiko ��


    She treated her like a sister, and she confided her problems to her. Why did Aiko betray her? Was their friendship a ridiculous sham since the beginning? Or was it because Aiko was in love with her boyfriend? Something that she denied and refused to believe when Corinne pointed out that possibility a long time ago.


    "No need for that, Corinne. I''m visiting my mom at the hospital right now. I can''t come," she whispered.


    "Tell me the truth, Luna. Did you have a fight with Jasper or something? He''s in a bad mood, and here I thought it was because you''re late."


    What could she say? Even his departure was kept from her. He didn''t even bother to give her a call or leave her a message informing her about his plans.


    "I''m fine, Corinne. I''ll call you back later, alright?"


    Luna disconnected the call. She could feel her heart breaking at that moment. Is this Jasper''s way telling her that he couldn''t be with her anymore, and they had to part ways? Did he really succumb to his parents'' pressure to break up with her?


    ''Why, Jasper? Why?'' Her mental turmoil grew heavy, caused by difficult problems that kept on dragging her down.


    Didn''t he say that he would protect her and their relationship? Why''s he leaving now? But she''s the one to talk! What else could she say to him now that she lost her chastity to another man?


    "Sis? What happened? Why are you crying?" A familiar voice called out to her.


    "Julian ��"


    Her younger brother was standing at the other end of the hallway, looking at her with a worried expression in his face. His hair was disheveled, and he was panting like he just had a marathon run on his way to the hospital.


    Julian came running to her with concern. He held her arm and looked around.


    "Did something wrong happen to Mom? Why are you crying here?" Julian never thought he would find his elder sister cry in a public place. She was always the one kept on telling him not to let himself get carried away by his emotions.


    "No, she''s okay. Don''t worry about me." She avoided his questioning gaze and pulled herself out of his grip.


    "She''s inside. Go and accompany her for a while. I''ll talk with her doctor."


    She sounded very dejected, but Luna didn''t care. She couldn''t face everyone with a smile and pretend that she''s okay when she wasn''t.


    "Sis!" But Luna already left and didn''t bother to look back at him.


    Fortunately, Luna still had enough time to fix herself and calm down before meeting the doctor. She''d have to focus on her financial problems rather than worrying about her broken heart.


    "She''s recovering well. Just make sure that she wouldn''t force herself and remind her to take her medicines on time. I''ll go and tell the nurses that she has my approval to go home next weekend." The doctor said after he flipped the pages of the medical record in his hand.


    Luna sighed in relief. One problem down and several issues to deal with. She said her thanks and bid goodbye to the doctor.


    She was on her way back to her mother''s room when her phone rang once more. Checking at the screen and seeing who was calling her, Luna ?r??n?d. Why couldn''t these people leave her alone?

 Chapter 13 - A Chicken Can Never Become a Phoenix

    "You came," the woman greeted Luna with a mocking grin.


    Luna raised a brow but didn''t say anything and sat across the woman. She kept her clenching hands unseen beneath the table to hide her irritation from her half-sister. Her usual calm attitude was replaced with an antagonistic demeanor.


    "You look surprised. Didn''t I tell you we have to talk before?" Sienna Jiang smiled. Dressed in a fitting white dress, she looked graceful and sophisticated. Looking at the two half-sisters, no one would probably guess they were related.


    For some reasons, Luna disliked this person. While they shared the same father, they grew up in different environments. Sienna was pampered and spoiled by their father, while Luna grew up striving to prove herself.


    When Elaine Ye, Luna''s mother, met Stephen Jiang, he''d tricked her and made her believe that he was a bachelor that had to travel to different places due to his work. Being a commoner that grew up on the outskirts of the faraway town in Province A, Elaine hadn''t heard or known about the Jiang family and its members.


    Although she wasn''t comparable to the drop-dead gorgeous women City E has to offer, her beauty was enough to get the attention of heir of the Jiang family. She was smart but oblivious to the identity of her lover. It was only after she gave birth to Luna that she found out why he couldn''t marry her.


    A married man.


    Elaine was emotionally devastated but couldn''t find the courage to leave the only man she loved in her life. She stayed with him for another five years until Clarissa Lin, Sienna''s mother, framed her for a crime she didn''t commit.


    Right now, the Jiang family had five legitimate successors: Luna and Julian from Elaine Ye, and there''s Sienna, Maria, and Vincent from Clarissa Lin. The first wife, the lawfully wedded one, didn''t bore any child; hence, she had nothing to say about the inheritance of the illegitimate children.


    Luna hated to be ?ssociated with any of her siblings. As far as she was concerned, she had no connection to the Jiang family aside from the surname she had. She hated that man. That man she never considered as her father. She hated herself for not standing up for them and letting his other mistress bully her and her mother,


    "I have no reason to talk to you, but since you''re insisting on meeting me, I guess I have no choice." Luna fought the urge to roll her eyes. Sienna was only here to talk about her inheritance and make sure she wouldn''t dare to come back to the Jiang family.


    "Do you really hate me that much, sister? I haven''t seen you in months. It''s only natural for siblings to look out for each other," Sienna asked. Luna was tempted to slap her own sister and let the world know how two-faced this woman was.


    "Hate is a big word, Sienna," Luna replied. She would never acknowledge her as her sister. In this lifetime, the only one she considered as her sibling was her little brother, Julian. "I have never hated anyone except for Father."


    "Now, don''t say that, sis. Daddy cares about you."


    Luna frowned. She didn''t want to stay long with this faker.


    "Cut the crap, and let''s get to the point, Sienna. Why do you want to see me?"


    "I heard your mother was hospitalized again," Sienna said after she took a sip from her cup.


    "So?" Luna already knew what''s Sienna''s intention.


    Sienna took a thin folder from the seat beside her and pushed it towards Luna. Luna eyed at it before taking it from the table. Her eyes quickly scanned the contents of the documents inside. Sienna gave her enough time to read it and waited patiently for her to finish it.


    After a long silence between the two, Luna burst into laughter.


    "Sienna Jiang, do you take me as a fool?" Luna smirked and threw back the folder at her half-sister.


    "Sienna Jiang, Vice President of Marketing of the Jiang Corporation, Big Miss of the Jiang family, is afraid of the commoner Luna Jiang?"


    Sienna''s face turned red. She''d never been humiliated like this in her life, and she didn''t expect that Luna would talk back to her like this.


    With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Luna stared back at her sister.


    "Sienna, a chicken can never become a phoenix. You should stop pretending to be one."

 Chapter 14 - You Stole My Work

    "W-what?" If Sienna wasn''t here with Luna face to face, she might have thought that this woman wasn''t the sister she despised the most. The only one she couldn''t surpass, no matter how much she tried. Who cares if Luna had a better IQ than her? It didn''t matter as long as she could keep the bitch out of her way.


    Luna had enough of these people. Why did they think that they could bully her? Did they really think she''s a pushover? She tried her best to be kind and respectful, but these idiots thought they could take advantage of her, especially Sienna.


    "Ha! Even if you give me everything you have right now, I wouldn''t sign that agreement. Only a fool cannot see how unfair your terms are? You think that money is enough to drive me away and keep me out of the Jiang Corporation?" Luna huffed in exasperation.


    "I don''t see why you''re still prideful, sis. I know you don''t have enough money left to support your mother''s health expenses. You''re practically broke right now. After this, do you think you can afford it if something unexpected happens?" Sienna glared back at her with contempt.


    "And that will cost me to sign away my rights? Hell, no. You think I didn''t know what you did to me three years ago?"


    At those words, Sienna''s eyes widened. Luna knew? But how?


    "I don''t know what you''re talking about." But Sienna''s face betrayed her. Luna could see the guilt and nervousness in her. She knew. Of course, she knew, but she didn''t do anything back then because their grandmother begged her to give way for Sienna.


    "You think I didn''t know that you were the one who stole my project design? The one you presented to the Board, which led you to your promotion as the Vice President?"


    Sienna looked like she bit her own tongue. Was Luna threatening her? If the company found out that she wasn''t the one who created the design, she would never be the next CEO.


    "Luna Jiang! That''s enough! You shouldn''t accuse someone without proof. It was me who created the design from the scratch. It was my own work!"


    "And yet you had failed to give everyone the most profitable outcome that design has to offer. You couldn''t even specify each technicality of the design I made. Tell me, Sienna, after using my work, have you come up with a better design to surpass it? Have you contributed something that could uplift the sales of the company?" With a glass in her hand, Luna leaned her back on her seat.


    If Sienna thought she could bully her and force her to give up her inheritance, she''s gravely mistaken. Luna was very forgiving before, but she wouldn''t let anyone think she''s a doormat they could step on anytime they want to. There''s a limit to her patience, and right now, she really had nothing left.


    Her day started waking up with a stranger on her bed, and then her own boyfriend abandoned her with a woman she treated as a friend. Really, this day wasn''t getting any better for her, and Sienna''s sudden visit was the straw that broke the camel''s back. She had enough. She had enough of these bullshits.


    Sienna would rather say nothing than making a mistake, especially admitting her wrongdoings. When their grandmother asked Luna to create a project design for the Jiang Corporation, her position was threatened. Even when they were younger, she never had beaten Luna on anything.


    When she didn''t respond, Luna ?ssumed that Sienna wouldn''t insist the agreement to her. Now that the cat was out of the bag, there was no sense in pretending they didn''t know what''s really happening.


    Luna stood up and prepare to leave, but Sienna made her stop.


    "Daddy isn''t feeling well lately. You two should talk to fix whatever issues you have with him. If you have time, I can set a date so you could meet him."


    Luna''s eyes sharpened at her half-sister. Until now, Sienna pretended that she cared about her and Julian.


    "There''s no need for that." Luna paused "Now that you mention it, why don''t you give me a call when the old man finally passed away? I wouldn''t mind giving up some of my time to light up some candles. Considering that he donated a sp?rm cell for my creation. That was the only contribution he made for me."


    Sienna was left speechless by Luna''s words, but she didn''t bother to stop her from leaving. After making sure that Luna left already, she pulled out her phone and dialed a number.


    "Mom, Luna refused to sign the papers. What should we do?" There was a pause. "Alright, I''ll let you do it, but please make sure Luna can''t be able to trace it back to us."


    Her lips curled into a smile.


    ''Luna, I will make sure you can never go back to our family.''

 Chapter 15 - What a Small World

    He was busy reading the transaction reports that the finance department sent to his office earlier. His eyes were glued on the document, but his mind was on something else. Scratch that��someone else. Hero couldn''t forget the woman he shared the night before. Giving up with a sigh, he dumped the documents on his desk and rubbed his temples.


    Daryl was late. What''s taking him so long? Getting the information about that woman should be easy since she''s working in one of his companies. There was no way he couldn''t get what he needed.


    Still, Hero waited for his ?ssistant. He didn''t have a choice but to wait. Lifting his wine glass, he leaned back and stared outside his window. There was something about Luna Jiang that intrigued him. Remembering her face, he wondered if it was her clear bright eyes that showed depth and emotions.


    There was a hint of defiance in her eyes; nevertheless, she was clear as daylight. She didn''t have any ill intentions when she found out she''d slept with him. If she was another woman, she might have tried to use the situation to wrap him around her finger. But instead, Luna Jiang refused his advancements. She tried her best not to fall for his charm.


    ''Such an interesting girl,'' Hero chuckled.


    After an hour of waiting, Daryl finally arrived. Hero was still seething in anger, but his perfectly cold and emotionless face betrayed none of that.


    "So what did you find?" Holding back his anger had been difficult. His patience waned for every minute that passed as he waited for Daryl.


    Daryl noticed the hard stare Hero was giving him and nearly fell back, with fear in his eyes. His boss wasn''t this impatient before. What could have happened to him?


    "These are the details. Her profile and employee data that was stored in the HR department was incomplete, sir. So I have to run another background check to know if she was hiding something, which she did."


    He then took a file from his case and handed it to his employer. Hero''s lips curled in annoyance, but he still took the paper and gave it a quick scan. Comparing the employee''s data to Daryl''s report was kinda interesting. He was able to find out the missing details especially about Luna''s family.


    Interesting indeed. Who would have thought that woman was the daughter of his mortal enemy? What a small world. Stephen Jiang''s illegitimate daughter fell to his hands, and Hero wouldn''t waste a chance to get his revenge.


    Seven years ago, his father ran away, taking all the money of their investors, leaving their family business in demise. As the eldest child, Hero was the one who''d shouldered all the problems his father left, as well as his debts. His father had left a huge debt, and Hero had to take up the place as the next head of the family to support his younger siblings.


    Li Group of Companies started from shambles. Hero was the one who made strenuous efforts to bring it to its current glory.


    Stephen Jiang was one of the investors whom he had to pay. After swallowing his pride, Hero attempted to ask an extension to pay his father''s debt, but Stephen Jiang refused and forced him to pay the exact amount in two weeks.


    Not having enough connections and experience in handling business, Hero was left to his own devices to solve the problem as soon as possible. He was able to pay the debt, but the refusal left a hard impact on him that he still bore a grudge against the man he thought was a friend of his father.


    But Luna Jiang isn''t her father. The difference between the two Jiangs was obvious to Hero''s eyes. Luna didn''t bear the same greed as her father. His eyes continued to read Luna''s details, and he was quite amused to find out that she exceeded his expectations.


    "She left the Jiang Corporation?" It sounded more like he was stating a fact than asking a question.


    "Yes. Miss Jiang left the company three years ago after her sister got a promotion. It wasn''t clear why she left since there were no records stating the reason about her sudden resignation but ��"


    Hero lifted his gaze and waited for Daryl to continue. Daryl felt a lump form in his throat under his master''s gaze.


    "Well, it was just a rumor so I didn''t include it to the report��"


    "Tell me."


    "It was said that there was a rivalry between her and her sister. Apparently, Miss Sienna Jiang offended Miss Luna so the latter left and renounce her affinity to her own father."

 Chapter 16 - Amber Li

    Luna tapped her fingers on the steering wheel for the last time while figuring out if there''s a chance she could ask for a decent price for it. She decided to sell her car to be able to raise enough funds to pay the hospital bills of her mother. With her current credit of twenty thousand, she was still short of another thirty thousand to settle it.


    This car was the very first one she got ever since she started working. It took her five years to save a part of her salary, and giving it up made Luna a bit upset and guilty. Luna wondered if she could buy it back one day.


    Rubbing her temples from an incoming headache that she had to endure later, Luna stepped out from her car and talked to the manager of the shop. After some considerations, the manager let her raise the purchase price for another five thousand. Luna left the shop with a smile on her face, excited to visit her mother and tell her the good news.


    Taking the shortcut way towards the hospital with a packed lunch for her mother at one hand, Luna made a mental note to keep in touch with the shop manager. It would be nice if she could buy back her own car soon.


    As she reached the floor where her mother was moved, a little girl with black curly hair bumped into her th??h, surprising Luna. If it wasn''t for Luna''s awareness, the little girl might have fallen hard on the floor. Still, Luna noticed the tears streaming down on the flushed chubby cheeks of the girl.


    "Are you alright?" Luna asked as she knelt down to see if the girl was hurt by the impact.


    The little girl shook her head and lowered her head as if she was ashamed to be seen crying.


    "It''s okay. It''s not your fault." Luna took her handkerchief from her tote bag and wiped away the tears of the girl. Her gentle approach made the girl relax in her presence.


    "You!" Someone yelled behind Luna. When she turned her head to see who it was, she saw a gorgeous woman in a red dress and five-inch stilettos. She almost cringed at the sight. How could a woman walk with something like that? She would never understand.


    "You naughty girl! You dare to run away again, brat!" The woman pointed a finger at the little girl.


    "What are you doing? Please don''t yell at her like that. She''s just a child!" Luna interfered and pushed the little girl to stay beside her.


    "You stay out of this, woman! Give me that brat!" Her eyes then landed on the child who was shivering under her gaze. "Amber Li! I swear if you don''t come with me��"


    "You will what?" There was a different kind of defiance in Luna''s eyes. She didn''t know this child and probably shouldn''t poke her nose in someone else''s business, but seeing the child about to cry again broke her heart.


    The woman was about to pull the girl from Luna''s hold when Luna slapped her hand away.


    "You! How dare you?! Don''t you know who I am?" The woman hissed at Luna. Her face scrunched up in disgust as she scrutinized Luna''s appearance. "How cheap," she snorted.


    Luna frowned back.


    ''What''s wrong with this woman?''


    "Are you this child''s mother?" she asked. Luna wanted to know if this woman had the rights, or else she would never give the child back to her.


    "No, but��"


    "A relative perhaps?"


    "No!"


    Luna could see that the woman was losing her composure and about to lash out on her.


    "Then what? You aren''t her mother nor a relative. Who are you then? You have no rights to take her or to force her to do something she doesn''t want to."


    People around them started to notice the commotion. When they heard what Luna said about the woman, they looked at her with curiosity. Some even sent her judgmental looks. The woman''s face burned in shame, and she glared back at Luna. If looks could kill, she would have killed and stab Luna a thousand times already.

 Chapter 17 - Saving Little Amber

    "I told you this isn''t your business. Stop poking your nose into something you aren''t involved in."


    "And you think you have the right to tell me what to do?"


    The child behind Luna was still trembling. Her tears started to fall from her brown eyes, cheeks slightly flushed from the slight fever she still had. Her wide, round eyes looked up at Luna, begging her��pleading her��not to give her to the other woman. The girl clutched on Luna''s skirt while trying to suppress her tears.


    Her small hospital dress wasn''t tied properly, and Luna grimaced at the thought that this woman allowed a child like her to walk around with such thin clothing covering her small body. She could see the child shivering and trembling from cold and fear. Amber looked like a kitten seeking for her mother''s protection from another predator.


    "Once I married your father, you will have to listen to me, Amber!"


    Knowing that Luna would never give her the child, the woman turned around to leave, seething in anger.


    Stunning silence descended. Luna sighed, hoping that it would be the last time she would meet such a woman. She leaned down and took the girl from the ground. The abnormal heat coming from the child surprised her. Where the hell did this child get all the energy to run away from that woman?


    "Amber! There you are!"


    When Luna and the girl turned their heads, they saw a young woman running in their direction. Unlike the other woman, she was panting hard and had a worried look on her face.


    "Don''t run away like that! We have to go back for your medicines. I thought we agreed that you''ll have your desserts later?" Finally, she noticed that Amber was clinging on Luna. "I''m so sorry, Miss. I''m Joanna. Little Amber here is my niece. You are?" Joanna offered a hand to greet Luna.


    "Luna. I''m Luna Jiang."


    "Come, Amber. The doctor is waiting for you."


    Little Amber shook her head and buried her face on Luna''s neck, breathing in her scent. Her small arms tightened around Luna''s shoulder, refusing to acknowledge her aunt''s request.


    "Oh," Luna adjusted the child on her arms. "Then that rude woman isn''t really related to Amber?"


    "You mean Veronica? She''s also Amber''s aunt. A younger sister of Amber''s mom."


    Wait. Didn''t that woman say she would marry the child''s father?


    "And her mother?"


    Joanna folded her arms around her and cast a pitiful glance on her niece.


    Amber didn''t like people. She didn''t like being pampered or treated as a child. What''s more was that there''s this kind of conflict between her and her own father. They never got along well, and it didn''t help that Joanna''s brother wouldn''t spare his own child the attention she needed.


    So imagine Joanna''s surprise when she found her own niece seeking refuge in Luna. She even refused to be parted from her savior. Joanna nibbled nervously on her lower lip. If she lost Amber earlier and allowed Veronica to hurt the child, she would never hear the end of it from her brother.


    "Her mother died in childbirth. Amber never saw her and had never been with her since birth." Joanna explained and led Luna back to the pediatric ward.


    "I ?ssume Amber isn''t deaf, but can''t she talk?" Luna felt concerned for the child. Amber hadn''t spoken a single word since she met her.


    "Our Amber here can talk, but she refuses to talk to us."


    They turned right and were welcomed by busy doctors and nurses, rushing a patient to the emergency room. It was a good thing that Amber wasn''t looking and decided to relax on Luna''s arms, with her eyes closed.


    When they arrived at the private room designated for Amber, she was already fast asleep. She only made a small grumble sound when Luna laid her back on the bed.


    Joanna went limp with relief as she sat beside her sleeping niece. Her brother didn''t need to know what happened today, but she was really grateful that Luna was there to help Amber. She was already tensed enough as it was. She didn''t need another dose of her brother''s notorious inscrutability.


    "I don''t know how to thank you. It was my own fault why Amber ran away. She doesn''t like Veronica, and I didn''t expect her to visit today."


    "Don''t worry about it," Luna patted Joanna''s shoulder. She already grasped the implications of Joanna''s words immediately. "I understand. I once found myself in a somewhat similar situation with Amber. One does what one must. Don''t blame yourself."


    "I had a feeling you''d understand." Joanna smiled. "Thank you, Miss Jiang."

 Chapter 18 - She Cant Avoid Him Forever

    "Sis, why are you still here? Don''t you have to go to work tomorrow?" Julian asked his sister when Luna arrived, bringing some packed dinner and snacks for him and their mother.


    "It''s alright, Julian. Our boss gave us extended days-off as a reward for the previous task we finished. How''s your college application going?" Luna asked back.


    Julian gave her a big smile.


    "Great. I received several scholarships, but I haven''t figured out what degree I''m going to take ��"


    The words between the two siblings flowed smoothly as they tried to catch up to what''s happening with each other. Their mother, Elaine, silently observed the two. She was really grateful for having such good children. Her husband might have forgotten about her and his promises, but both Luna and Julian stayed beside her through thick and thin.


    It was already late at night when Luna decided it was time for her to go home. By the time Luna finished her talk with her younger brother, Elaine had already fallen asleep. Julian stayed with their mother for the night while Luna took a cab home.


    Arriving back at her rented apartment, she was greeted by her excited dog. He sat patiently in front of the doorway, his tail wagging as he watched Luna remove her shoes.


    "Hi, Fluffy. Did you wait for me for too long? Are you hungry?" She patted his head and sauntered to the kitchen to prepare his dinner. She then took a shower and changed into a nightgown. It was a normal tiring day, and yet Luna felt her energy seeped out from her body faster, making her feel more exhausted than ever.


    She took out her phone and messaged Corinne Mao. Luna forgot to give her a call the other day when her friend last talked to her.


    "I''m home, Corinne. How are you?"


    Corinne replied almost instantly. "I''m okay. I just finished my household chores, and my back hurts terribly."


    "Don''t force yourself too hard. Your daughter will get mad at you."


    Luna remembered how her Mia, Corinne''s daughter, gave her friend a piece of her mind when the latter passed out from overworking.


    "I know. So how are you? Did Jasper message you or give you a call?"


    "No. I don''t expect that he will talk to me again after leaving with Aiko."


    "Luna, I told you not to ?ssociate yourself with Aiko. See what happened now? I bet she purposely didn''t tell you about their departure so you and Jasper would have a misunderstanding."


    But Luna knew better than that. She knew Jasper well and could say that his silence meant something was going on, and he was hiding something from her. Too bad, Luna didn''t have the courage to talk to him as she knew she didn''t have a face or guts to tell him what happened that night.


    "Let''s forget about it. If he wants to talk to me, Jasper knows how to contact me. As for Aiko, I knew she has her own reasons why she did that."


    "You''re too forgiving, Luna."


    Luna nibbled her lip nervously. Should she tell Corinne what happened to her that night? Would she understand? She decided not to reveal it. She wasn''t prepared to hear and see what Corinne''s reaction would be.


    "Go to bed soon. We have a busy day ahead tomorrow. Good night!"


    Just as she was about to leave her phone on her nightstand, she received a phone call. It was an unfamiliar number that wasn''t registered in her phone. Who could it possibly be? The number shared the same location code as hers so it was impossible that Jasper was calling her from abroad.


    Luna clicked the end call, turned her phone off, and went to bed. She got a habit of not answering unregistered calls unless they introduced themselves via messages. Turning to her right side, she called Fluffy to join her on the bed; but instead, her dog decided to sleep at the foot of her bed, leaving Luna alone to sleep.


    On the other side of the line, Hero raised a brow while looking down at his phone. That woman sure got some guts to ignore his calls. The second time he dialed her number, her phone was already turned off.


    He shook his head. Luna Jiang could pretend all she wanted that he didn''t exist even how much she tried to ignore him.

 Chapter 19 - Ambers Favorite Person in the Whole World

    Joanna was already at her limit. She was at loss on what should she do to her niece. It had been three days since Amber met Luna Jiang. When the girl woke up not finding the woman she just met, she would throw a fit, making it hard for Joanna and the nurses to calm her down.


    Amber refused to eat her meals and had been crying since then. The past three days were hell for Joanna and her niece. Taking a chance to find Luna''s whereabouts, she even asked the hospital''s receptionist for details. She met Luna''s mother and her brother, and yet she still failed to see even a glimpse of that woman.


    It was weird and unusual for Amber to ask for something she wanted. Everything that she needed fell automatically on her ??p; and everyone around her spoiled her, afraid that making her mad would also offend her infamous father.


    "Amber, I''m sorry I couldn''t find Miss Luna," Joanna said. She slumped on her seat and rubbed her face with both of her hands in frustration. Why was it so hard for her to make Amber happy? She didn''t understand what Amber saw in Luna Jiang and why she wanted to see her.


    Amber''s lips thinned when she heard what her aunt said. She sniffed, wiped away her tears, and sulked on the corner of her bed. All she wanted right now was to see Miss Luna. Why did she leave without saying goodbye to her? Did she also think Amber was a naughty child?


    The little girl was oblivious to her aunt''s frustration. Seeing Amber''s depressed state, Joanna couldn''t take it anymore. She jolted up from her seat. She needed to find Luna Jiang as soon as possible, or else Amber would surely drive her crazy!


    Joanna left Amber with a personal nurse to accompany her niece and went outside the room. She pulled out her phone from her side pocket and dialed her brother''s number. After a few rings, the call connected to him.


    "I swear your daughter is trying to drive me insane," she hissed on her phone as she looked around.


    "What happened now?" She could hear the irritation in her brother''s voice. Why was it so hard for him to make time for Amber? For fu?k''s sake, the child needed a father while growing up, and yet Hero decided to pass his obligations to her and to their other siblings.


    "I''ll tell you what happened because you never bothered to check up on your daughter these past years. I can never understand you, Hero."


    "Do you call me just to scold me about my parenting skills?"


    Joanna gritted her teeth. She was so tempted to throw her phone to the nearest wall. Both the father and the daughter were infuriating as hell. Now, she knew where did Amber inherit her demanding attitude. She was really Hero Li''s only daughter.


    "No, but Amber wants me to find someone she just met recently. Can you believe it? Your daughter wants to see her again, and she''s throwing a tantrum these days because we couldn''t find her new favorite person in the whole world," she explained.


    Hero stopped writing when he heard what Joanna said. Amber like to meet someone? That''s new. Amber probably met someone interesting just like him.


    "I''m pretty sure you can find her easily, ?ssuming that Amber met her there in the hospital."


    "Hmm �� yeah, I actually found a lead, but the mother of that woman said her daughter is busy with her work so she couldn''t pay a visit."


    "So what do you plan to do next?"


    Hero encircled a mistake he saw on the report he was reading and thought how his employees should pay attention to small details like this.


    "I really don''t know. Amber''s health is improving, but ever since she refused to cooperate with us, her improvement also stopped." Joanna rubbed her temple and leaned on the wall. She desperately needed a break from all of these.


    "Or you can just ask her mother for her contact details?" Hero suggested.


    Joanna slapped her forehead. Why didn''t she think of that earlier? She would be saved from torments and Amber''s tantrums if she had asked for Luna''s number.


    "You know what? I''m glad I gave you a call, but Hero, I swear if you don''t drag your ?ss away from work and visit your own daughter, I will kill you."

 Chapter 20 - Wrapped Around Her Finger

    After receiving Hero''s suggestion, Joanna really did ask for Luna''s contact number from her mother. She was really glad that Luna took her call after sending a short notice to her inbox, letting her know about Amber''s situation. She was now waiting at the hospital lobby, looking around for Luna.


    Ah, she really hoped that Luna wouldn''t back down on her promise to help her. Amber wasn''t in a good condition, and her body started to weaken again. Joanna hoped Luna could convince Amber to eat her meals and listen to her doctors.


    Her face instantly brightened up when she saw Luna looking for her.


    "Miss Jiang!" she called out and walked towards Luna. "I''m so glad you''re here. You don''t know how much this means to me. Come, Amber is really eager to see you, but I have no idea why she insists to meet you."


    "It''s alright. I''m sorry for giving you problems."


    "Not at all. I should be the one apologizing to you. Your mother said you''re busy, but because of Amber, you have to make time to meet her." Joanna led the way back to Amber''s room.


    The scene that greeted them wasn''t the one she expected to see. She thought Amber would be happy once Luna arrived, but Amber decided to throw another fit, pushing her meals to the floor with a loud crash. Her nanny couldn''t do anything to stop her.


    "What is this?" Luna scowled. Was this how they treat Amber? Letting her do whatever she wants? Did someone from their family even bother to teach this kid some manners? Amber was clearly a rich spoiled kid.


    Hearing Luna''s voice from the door, Amber lifted up her face and saw the woman she''d been looking for. She was really happy, but when she saw the unimpressed look Luna had on her face, she started to cry. Her tears did nothing to waver Luna''s position.


    "Young lady, your aunt here requested me to pay you a visit. Is this how you treat your visitors? And didn''t you know it isn''t right to waste food?"


    Amber jumped down from her bed and ran towards Luna. She pulled on Luna''s arm as she cried, but Luna refused to be swayed by the girl''s crying.


    "If you keep up with this attitude, I will never visit you again."


    The little girl was stunned by Luna''s words. She stopped crying and ran back to her bed, throwing her pillows behind her as if looking for something. When she saw what she was looking for, her little hand scribbled something on the small whiteboard and gave it to Luna.


    ''Please don''t get upset. I promise I will never do it again. I''m sorry.''


    Luna read the words on the board. She''d never expected that a little girl like her could write with impressive strokes at her young age.


    Joanna looked over Luna''s shoulders and read what her niece had written for Luna to see.


    Wait. What?


    Her pampered and spoiled niece was apologizing to Luna? How was this possible? Amber never apologized to anyone before. She could even start a silent cold war against her own father, and yet with Luna''s words, her little niece already submitted herself to Luna. Was Amber''s need of a mother figure finally showing?


    Joanna gave a good look to Luna. She could guess Luna was still in her mid-twenties. She''s still young and looked like the usual career woman one could meet anywhere, but there''s something about her that piqued one''s interest which Joanna couldn''t point out. Maybe her eyes? Her smile? Or the way she presented herself to everyone.


    Luna''s resolve slightly faltered. Amber made a promise, but she had yet to teach the child about making promises.


    "You promise?" Luna asked.


    Amber nodded her head, her small fist holding the side of her dress.


    "Then make a pinky promise with me." Luna motioned the girl to copy her, and they made a pinky promise.


    "You have to remember your promise. If you break it, I will be really disappointed in you, got it?"


    Joanna could only watch in awe as the two started to get along as if they knew each other for a long time. Her niece looked like an obedient puppy, listening and following Luna around. She even let Luna feed her and give her the medicines. Amber was clearly wrapped around Luna''s finger. The little girl was really listening to her!


    ''What kind of miracle is this?'' Joanna asked herself in disbelief. Maybe she should ask Hero''s opinion about it later.

 Chapter 21 - The Demon President Was Enamored

    The next days passed Luna by in a blur. She had to make a schedule and get used to the routine. Starting her day with a walk in the park with Fluffy, she made a mental note to visit her mother and Amber after working hours. Her busy schedule was also noticed by her friend, Corinne.


    "Luna, are you sure you''re okay?" Corinne left another stack of files on Luna''s desk.


    "What do you mean?" She didn''t look like she''s sick, right?


    "Well, you look paler than usual." Corinne paused, "And you started taking naps in the afternoon, which you never did before." She pointed out.


    Luna laughed at her friend while her fingers continued to fly above the keyboard of her ??ptop.


    "I just need a break, Corinne. Don''t worry too much about me. You''re being a mother hen again."


    "Hey, I''m just worried about you. You haven''t really talked about what happened to you last week so I got worried."


    Sensing the concern in Corinne''s voice, Luna stopped working and turned her chair to face her friend.


    "Really. I''m fine. I know you''re concerned, but try not to overthink, okay? I will come to you if ever I need some help."


    "If you say so, but Luna, promise me you won''t push yourself too hard. I don''t want you to bury yourself in work just to forget some things, okay?" Corinne smiled before tapping Luna''s shoulder.


    Luna returned her smiled and nodded. She was glad that there''s still someone out there who had a genuine concern for her. Smiling to herself, she went back to her work, eager to finish it so she could leave early.


    Unbeknownst to her, a pair of eyes was watching her every move. His eyes silently appreciated the smoothness of her skin, the way her hair bounced with her every move, and how she beamed a smile to her co-workers. Hero wondered if there would be a day Luna would smile at him like that.


    He couldn''t believe that there''s a woman that could outright reject him. It took a lot of patience for him to rebuild their company, and Hero had that kind of patience. He took quiet satisfaction in knowing he would receive the utmost outcome of what he''s planning if he was patient enough to work on it.


    He''d learned a long time ago that patience was a virtue. Something that nearly everyone didn''t possess. Not that he minded that lack in others as long as it wouldn''t affect him negatively. It gave him a distinct advantage over everyone.


    But in the matter of Luna Jiang, he didn''t know if he had enough patience to wait for her. Hero allowed himself a small smile as he contemplated the image of Luna in his welcoming arms. He wanted her, and she would be his.


    When he had first seen her that morning, sleeping beside him in his hotel room, it had been like discovering something he''d never encountered before. She might have made a mistake of seducing him in his own bed, but that didn''t change his impression about her. She was unlike any other woman he had ever met, and Hero promised to himself that he would find a way to get her.


    Hero had decided that maybe it was time for him to get a new wife. He thought Luna would suit him perfectly, regardless of what family she came from. That Jasper Mu had already lost his chance to claim her for himself when he failed to put a ring on her finger.


    Luna Jiang was unquestionably unique, and that did not surprise Hero at all. After all that happened between them, she refused him. Her determination to protect her relationship with Jasper Mu was almost outstanding. Her loyalty was one of her stronger traits that attracted him. A trait that Hero also required in his future wife.


    There''s also a strong and undeniable physical attraction between him and Luna. He knew, of course, that the last time they spoke, she was pulling the reins of her self-control in front of him. Hero had felt something deep inside himself responded to Luna, which he didn''t have with his deceased wife.


    It was not that Luna Jiang possessed a spectacular beauty; rather, it was the opposite. She had a subtle charisma that called out to him; her haunting allure fascinated him that it almost kept him awake late at night.


    She was an intriguing woman. The intelligence in her gaze was unmistakable. Hero admitted only to himself that he wanted her, that the demon president was enamored by Luna Jiang.

 Chapter 22 - To Marry Luna Jiang

    Hero left the marketing department, ignoring the curious look he received from the other employees. He was satisfied at least, that he could see Luna anytime he wanted without a question.


    She thought she could get away from him? Impossible. Not when he''s the owner of the company she''s working in.


    She spoke as if he didn''t have a choice but to let her go. That she didn''t care who he was. But Hero knew that in time and with a little patience, he could make her his in every sense. He had been fully aware that she was somewhat attracted to him when she looked back at him with defiance.


    Hero had known by then that, given time and the right strategy, he could have Luna. He had let her go home that morning, but that didn''t mean he didn''t plot a course of action that would eventually win him his goal.


    But events had intervened before he could make a move. It made it easier for him that Luna was working in one of his companies. He found it interesting but somewhat disconcerting. Obviously, Luna wasn''t the one who could be easily swayed by his charm. He needed something that could make her notice him.


    He went back to his office, removed his necktie, and threw it on his table. Aggressive approach surely wouldn''t work on her. He leaned on his desk and looked outside of his full-sized window. Luna was such a good distraction for him.


    His intercom beeped, letting him know he had a visitor.


    "President Li, your sister, Joanna, is here. Shall I tell her you''re busy?"


    "No. Let her in. She''ll only return again later if you drive her away."


    "I''ll send her in then." The intercom disconnected.


    He knew why his sister came after him. No doubt this was about his daughter, Amber. Amber had been a sickly child ever since she was born. When his wife died after giving birth to Amber, Hero was at a loss. He had never experienced raising a child. It occurred to him that the distance between him and Amber was all his fault. He''d let the child do whatever she wanted and leave her to his siblings to take care of.


    The door of his office opened a few minutes later. Dressed in a stylish cream dress with matching cream high-heeled stilettos, Joanna Li walked into the room. Her discreetly straight hair was pinned in a low and sleek ponytail. Her side fringe perfectly framed and highlighted her brown eyes and feminine features.


    Joanna was twenty-seven now, seven years younger than him. She had been a stunning woman ever since adolescence hit her, but she looked better when she was younger. Her face developed some charismatic character over the years.


    "Hero."


    "What''s up, Joanna?"


    She frowned in annoyance as she walked and sat on the chair across his desk. Hero wasn''t concerned about her expression. Joanna frequently looked annoyed whenever she paid him a visit. He understood her feelings perfectly, and he couldn''t blame her for it.


    "You are still here? I thought we had an agreement that you''ll visit Amber at the hospital?" Joanna pushed a stray lock of her hair away from her face. The silver pendant on her neck, which was given by their mother, gleamed above her ?h?st.


    "Didn''t you say she will come home tomorrow? What''s the point of visiting her now if she''s going home later?" Hero examined the new files that Daryl left on his table.


    "The least you could have done for your daughter is to pay her a visit. Is it really hard for you to make time for her? Don''t you care what happens to her?"


    "Of course, I do. She''s my child regardless if I could be a father to her or not."


    "And you choose to ignore that problem. I don''t know, Hero. I''m telling you I cannot look after your kid forever." Her eyes were filled with bitterness. She''d sacrificed a lot of time to help Hero, and she wanted to do something for herself now.


    "I''m aware of that." Hero paused, "I''m considering to get married soon."


    Joanna''s mouth tightened as if she was expecting Hero to say it.


    "Was there something you wanted to ask?"


    "Daryl said you''re interested in a woman you just met recently. I do hope you aren''t planning to marry Veronica. I don''t like how she treats Amber. It''s like your child is a nuisance to her."


    "Who said I''m planning to marry that woman? She isn''t the one I wanted to marry."


    Of course, the one he had on mind was none other than the elusive Luna Jiang.

 Chapter 23 - Stepmother

    Luna hummed a tune while helping Amber fold her clothes and tidy her toys in a bag. Now that the girl was feeling better without a fever, she could now go home. But her cute face was ruined by a scowl. She didn''t want to go home yet! She wanted to stay longer with Miss Luna.


    "Are you ready to go home?" Luna asked Amber. Amber shook her head and pulled her favorite teddy bear in a tight hug. She looked upset and irritated, leaving Luna at a loss at what should she do with this child.


    "Why? I thought you will be happy now that you''re going home. Don''t you miss your daddy? I''m sure he''s missing you. He''s probably waiting for you right now."


    Still, Amber refused to move from her seat. Luna folded her arms and leaned against the small headboard of Amber''s bed.


    "I will miss you," Luna murmured to the little girl, which instantly got Amber''s attention. She moved closer and sat on Luna''s ??p. She let her favorite "Aunty Luna" stroke her head. Luna loved how Amber''s dark locks curl on its ends. The little girl was pretty and almost doll-like with her flawless white skin and round expressive eyes. "Will you miss me?"


    Amber answered her question with a sob. The little girl wondered if she could ask her father to make Aunty Luna stay with her. Remembering her last fight with him, Amber doubted he would allow Aunty Luna to be with her.


    "It''s alright, Amber. Your Aunty Joanna can call me anytime. If you want to see me or if you miss me, give me a call, okay?"


    At that moment, Joanna arrived and saw the two of them murmuring silently. Luna was telling Amber to listen well to Joanna, which surprised her when Amber easily agreed. There was no coaxing, no pleading to Amber when Luna was involved.


    "Okay, I have to go now. Remember what I said. Be a good girl, and don''t make problems for your daddy and Aunty Joanna, alright? My mommy is also waiting for me."


    Luna ran her fingers on Amber''s soft locks before pinching both of her chubby cheeks. She then bid goodbye to Joanna and was about to leave when Joanna called her back.


    Joanna took both of Luna''s hands and held it tight.


    "Miss Jiang. I can''t thank you enough for helping me with Amber. Please, if ever you need help, don''t hesitate to give me a call. I will do my best to ?ssist you."


    "Don''t mention it. Amber is a good child. I think she just needs some attention and love. I won''t ask you why she refuses to speak, but I can say you need to be patient with her. She''s still a child. She should be playing and enjoying her time as a kid."


    Joanna ?r??n?d, releasing Luna''s hands. Her patience with her brother was already at its limit. She didn''t even know if he would show up today to see Amber.


    "I know. I already talked with her father, but he''s such a busy man and couldn''t find the will to check on his daughter. Can you believe it? If he isn''t my own brother, I will punch him in the face and shake some sense into him."


    Luna could suppress her laugh at Joanna''s words. She always got this annoyed look whenever she talked about her brother. She already snapped at him when she met him earlier.


    "I''m sure he will get over it. Why don''t you try to explain it to him?"


    "I don''t know, Miss Jiang. Would you believe me when I tell you he even said he''s planning to get married soon? To a woman he just met? What could happen to our little Amber if he gets married? It was already hard for the girl growing up without a mother. She will surely disapprove whoever woman her father decides to marry."


    Luna slightly shrugged. She couldn''t comment on that. She just hoped that whoever this stepmother Amber will get would treat her right. Having a child was a big responsibility; let alone taking care of them. She already saw it with her mother when Elaine struggled to raise her and Julian alone. Remembering that useless father of hers irked her.


    "I should go. Feel free to give me a call if Amber gives you problems again. I wouldn''t mind visiting her in my free time."


    "Let me accompany you back to your mother''s room. I should also thank her for helping us."


    They both walked side by side toward the elevator and waited for it to stop on their floor. Luna was busy listening to Joanna''s story about Amber when the elevator door opened. Her eyes widened as she saw the last person she wanted to see.


    ''What the hell is he doing here?'' Luna mentally screamed. The color drained from her face as she met his eyes.

 Chapter 24 - Fate Brought Us Together

    Imagine his surprise when the woman who''s been keeping him awake late at night was the one he saw when he stepped out of the elevator. Hero could tell she was also surprised to see him while Joanna stood next to her.


    What was she doing here with his sister?


    "Finally! I''ve been waiting forever, and you finally decided to show up!" Joanna huffed before pulling on Luna''s arm to introduce her to Hero.


    "I want you to meet someone. Remember the one I told you? The person Amber likes very much? This is her." Joanna glanced at Luna before turning back her attention to her brother. "This Luna Jiang. Luna, I want you to meet my brother, Hero Li."


    But Luna stayed silent, still surprised to see the man she met in the hotel room.


    Taking advantage of her shock, Hero stepped forward and took one of her hands. He leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on it. He reveled at the smoothness of her hand against his.


    "Pleasure to meet you, Miss Jiang. My sister told me good things about you. I hope Amber didn''t give you problems recently."


    Luna snapped out of her daze and pulled her hand away from his hold. She noticed the amusement in his eyes and the devilish grin on his lips as he looked at her. Her breath hitched, and she could feel her blush spreading from her face down to her neck.


    Why''s he pretending like he didn''t know her? There''s no mistaking that he was the same man she''d slept with back in the hotel. Same eyes, same face, same scent that made her knees weak in his presence. She looked around, trying to figure out if there''s a way to escape from his prying eyes.


    Wait.


    Luna''s eyes widened when she realized she missed a piece of vital information. Didn''t Joanna say this man was her brother? That meant ��


    "You''re Amber''s father ��" she stated the obvious; but to Hero and Joanna, it seemed like she was asking a question.


    Hero was taken aback. He dearly hoped that Luna wasn''t bothered by the fact that he already had a child.


    "I am," he admitted. He would never deny Amber was his child in the first place.


    There''s no point in lying to her, but that didn''t mean he could just let her go like that.


    "Can I talk to you privately?" Hero asked after a long silence between them.


    Joanna nodded in agreement and turned to leave.


    "I''ll just check on Amber and to make sure everything''s packed. I will leave the two of you." She then glared at her brother. "Don''t you dare to leave without us. I already told Amber that you''re going today," she said before leaving.


    A shiver run down on Luna''s spine. She didn''t like being alone with this man, and she hated that he could affect her just by looking at her.


    "Luna Jiang," Hero tested her name, and he liked how her name sounds. "What a beautiful name."


    "This is just a coincidence. I didn''t plan to meet you this way," Luna said. Her heartbeat finally calmed down.


    "I know," Hero replied, "And I didn''t expect meeting you here, Luna. Don''t you think fate brought us together?"


    "As if!"


    "Oh? You don''t think so?" Hero fought the urge to laugh at her flustered state. Now that destiny gave him a chance, he would never miss this opportunity to get her.


    Who would have thought that the woman Amber liked was the same woman he was trying to chase? If all works as he planned, she would fall for him anytime soon, and that was thanks to his daughter.


    "I told you it''s just a coincidence. If it wasn''t for your daughter, I wouldn''t be here." Luna had enough of him and decided to leave before everything got out of hand.


    Hero''s eyes narrowed. There''s no second time for her! She couldn''t just leave him like this. He moved swiftly, pushing her on the nearest wall and trapping her by hitting his hand on a wall to surprise her. The smile on his face vanished as he glared down at her. There was no escaping this time.


    Oh, dear. What should she do?

 Chapter 25 - I鈥檓 Not Yours to Keep

    "Now, Miss Jiang. Just don''t leave like what you did last time. We have so much to talk about," Hero said in a low voice against her ear. The woman in front of him looked like a scared kitten trapped in a corner. He could see her arms trembling, her back stiff against the wall, and her eyes refusing to meet his.


    "How about no? I already said that we should forget about it. You already got what you wanted. What else do you want from me?" Luna retorted but still refused his glaring eyes. She could feel his warmth against her body, and to be honest, it was hard for her to ignore the racing beat of her heart.


    "Who said I already got what I want?" The difference in his voice made Luna lift her eyes back to him. There was something different on his eyes like he was trying to see beyond her eyes, trying to seek her soul.


    "Then what do you want?" Luna tried to stay calm. She couldn''t allow him to intimidate her. "You want to sleep with me again? That will never happen. Whatever happened between us that night is the biggest mistake of my life."


    A stunned silence descended between them. Hero''s eyes narrowed with frozen ice, effectively masking his reaction. Luna leaned farther away from him.


    "Don''t say that because, for me, it was never a mistake." Hero kept his hand in the wall and regarded her with a chilling gaze. How dare she say it was a mistake? "It is you that I want."


    Luna was stunned by his blunt words. Why was he trying to make things complicated between them? She didn''t want to have anything to do with him. She fell silent for a moment.


    "Please don''t make this hard for me," she finally relented. "I have a lot of problems right now. I helped you with Amber because she needed it. Whether she is your daughter or not, I will still do the same thing for her."


    "That''s a noble cause you did there, but I didn''t mean I want you because of Amber. Whether you like it or not, you will come to me," Hero said softly, and Luna was tense enough as it was.


    "That''s very unlikely, Mr. Li. I told you, I will never become your woman."


    No. Luna refused to be treated like a prize to be won. She would never become a trophy wife of some rich businessman.


    "I''ll give you enough time to think it over." Hero released her from being pinned on the wall, making Luna went limp with relief.


    "There''s no need for that, Mr. Li."


    "You''re quite certain you wouldn''t fall for me. How sure are you that it won''t happen?"


    Luna nibbled nervously on her lower lip.


    "Because there''s nothing going between us. I''m not yours to keep. I already apologized for what happened, and I will very much appreciate it if you wouldn''t use it against me." Luna raised her hand in a small gesture.


    Hero immediately grasped the implications of her words. Did she really think he would stoop that low just to get her? No. It wasn''t his way. He would rather wait for her to realize that she was his than to force her to stay with him.


    "I understand, but if you must know, there''s something about you that''s different."


    "W-what?" Luna went still.


    But Hero ignored her as he turned his back on her to leave. Seeing him like this, Luna realized how tall and manly he was. His every move was precise and domineering like a king.


    "Remember this, Luna Jiang. You can try to run or hide, but you can never deny that there''s something going on between us. It will just be a matter of time before you come running back to me."


    Luna wanted to say something and to argue about what he''d said, but she couldn''t find it in herself to correct him. As he left her alone in the hallway, Luna felt empty and disturbed. Why did it hurt seeing him walk away from her?


    ''Relax, Luna. Breathe," Luna told herself. "It would be impossible to cross his path the next time."


    If only she knew that she was already trapped by the series of misfortune, and there would be no haven for her except in his arms.

 Chapter 26 - You鈥檝e Never Experience Being in Love

    Luna didn''t get much sleep last night. With her under eyes darkening and her body feeling exhausted, she forced herself to get up and make some breakfast for her and Fluffy. With only some plain rice and eggs left in her pantry, she prepared egg congee soup and omelet rolls. Meeting Hero Li last night made her feel horrible.


    It was a good thing that she was finally done with her ?ssignment and wouldn''t have to work for today. Therefore, she had enough time to visit her mother. Although she was tired, she couldn''t let her brother sacrifice his time and neglect his studies.


    Before going to her mother''s room, Luna gave a quick visit to the doctor''s office and thanked him for his help. She then went to the billing section to pay the bills so Elaine could go home later. Luna couldn''t help but wince when she saw the amount; nevertheless, she still gave her card. She knew she would be practically broke after this.


    She already maxed out her card, and yet, she hadn''t paid her rent for almost three months. Luna was sure that she would need to evacuate her apartment soon, but she didn''t have the heart to tell her mother her own problems.


    Luna decided to give Corinne a call. There''s no one can understand her better than Corinne.


    "Corinne, do you think I could stay in your place for a while? I promise it wouldn''t take long. I just need some time to save up so I can move to another apartment," Luna said while she signed the releasing papers of her mother.


    "Luna, you can stay here anytime. Don''t worry about the time. You know you''re always welcome here, and besides, Mia will be happy with you around."


    "Corinne, thank you!" A little embarrassed, Luna still thanked her friend.


    "Don''t say that. We''re friends. That''s what are friends for, right? Now, go and give me a call if you need help in packing up your things." Corinne''s reply warmed Luna''s heart. She felt that her friendship and Corinne''s concern for her were truly genuine, unlike Aiko''s.


    "What do you mean she isn''t there?" Hero said with disdain. He wasn''t in a good mood since yesterday, and Daryl knew that he and the other secretaries would sure suffer from his wrath today. Their boss wasn''t like this before, but it was surprising to know that one woman could easily affect his mood.


    Daryl was sweating as he answered his boss.


    "She filed a leave today, sir. For personal reasons."


    Hero ignored him, but his eyes were glaring down at the paper on his hand. Did she really mean what she said last night? Did she already know that she was working for him?


    No. Impossible.


    Something might have come up. It was very unlikely for Luna not to come for work without valid reasons.


    "What valid reason?" he asked.


    "I have no idea, sir," Daryl admitted.


    "Are you saying that I am paying you thrice as what the others could get, and yet, you had failed to get the details I needed?"


    Daryl''s eyes widened in horror. "I''ll do it right away, sir."


    Without waiting for Hero''s answer, he turned around and walked out the door. He almost bumped into Joanna who just arrived to talk with Hero again.


    "You scared him away," she told Hero. She noticed the sour mood of her elder brother and shook her head. Someone who could make him pissed like this was sure asking for their death warrant.


    "He could always quit if he couldn''t do his job properly."


    "Must you be always like this, Hero?"


    "Relax," Hero reached out a hand and stroke the picture of Amber on his desk. She was just a year old in the picture. Her cheeks were flushed from her constant crying. "Whatever you''re thinking right now, I ?ssure you our brothers and sisters won''t be short-changed once I get married again."


    "I''m not worried about that," Joanna replied, but her face turned into an unbecoming shade of red. "We had a deal, and I''m sure you wouldn''t break your promise."


    Hero met her eyes and was satisfied that Joanna was able to recall the deal they made years ago.


    "I know. I''d let him go, didn''t I? But I will never understand why you chose to save him in spite of all the things he did to you."


    "Of course, you wouldn''t understand. You''ve never experienced being in love."

 Chapter 27 - I鈥檒l take you to your Aunty Luna

    Another two weeks passed by in a blur. Luna had already moved in Corinne''s place and stayed in the vacant room next to her godchild. The three-year-old little Mia had been her stress reliever for the past days; but still, she found herself exhausted and sleepy at any time of the day. She was deeply impressed by Corinne''s diligence for supporting her daughter alone.


    Luna was so busy that she also had forgotten about Jasper and Aiko and didn''t bother to check her email if they sent one.


    "Luna, do you mind if I ask for some help? Could you please collect the contracts and proposals from the HR department? Mr. Jin said he needs it this afternoon, but I haven''t finished with my reports yet." Corrine asked as she placed a cup of coffee on Luna''s desk.


    "Sure, no problem. I''m almost done with mine."


    "Thanks, Luna. You''re the best." Corinne grinned and patted Luna''s back before going back to her cubicle.


    Luna finished her daily report and delivered it to their team leader. She wondered if she could take another overtime today. Raising funds so she could move to her own place sure was hard. While staying at Corinne''s place, the only expense she had to deal with were her own food and basic needs. Still, she felt ashamed for not giving anything to share with her friend.


    Taking her time to walk towards the HR department, Luna took her phone and checked her recent messages. There was that same unknown phone number calling her again. She wondered if it was Jasper. Still, she refused to pick up the call. Maybe it was time for her to also get a new phone because whoever it was, he was persistent and had been calling on a specific time.


    Luna was oblivious of the pair of eyes watching her, stalking her on the hallway. Wherever Luna went, the little figure followed her. It wasn''t until someone shouted behind her that Luna turned around to see what was happening.


    "There she is!"


    "Quick! Take the little miss before the boss finds out she''s missing."


    "Amber."


    Amber''s eyes widened in delight. She was really happy that her Aunty Luna hadn''t forgotten about her.


    "What are you doing here?"


    But before Amber could do anything, a female security officer took Amber''s hand and pulled her away from Luna.


    "Little Miss, you have to go back. President Li would be mad if he found out you ran away again."


    Amber pulled on her hand from the woman''s grip and wailed in pain. Thinking that she had hurt the child, the woman released Amber''s hand. The color of her face turned pale as Amber continued to cry in pain. Her other comrades came behind her, with a worried look on their faces.


    It was a silent rule that no one shall make Little Amber cry, and yet, the female personnel had done it. She looked back at her comrades, her eyes begging for help, but they also had no idea what to do with the crying Amber.


    In their surprise, Luna knelt down in front of the child and took Amber''s hand with hers.


    "It''s okay, Amber. It''s okay. Does it still hurt? Can you tell me where it hurts?"


    Amber sniffed and wiped her tears with the back of her hand. Instead of answering Luna''s question, she wrapped her small arms around Luna''s neck just like what she did the first time they met.


    As Luna tried to console the little girl, Hero stared down from where he was hiding, watching his woman and his daughter in the lobby.


    She thought she could just avoid him like that? Well, too bad for her, he was able to convince Amber to see Luna. It was the first time since forever that his daughter agreed on something he''d requested.


    Amber''s face was full of doubt when he asked her if she wanted to see Luna Jiang.


    "I''ll take you to your Aunty Luna, but you must help me."


    Making a deal with his young daughter was surely a big advantage to him, and he wouldn''t waste such an opportunity.

 Chapter 28 - Lunas Warmth

    Amber laid her head like a satisfied kitten on Luna''s ??p while her favorite aunty ran her fingers through her curly locks. Luna had no idea why Amber sought after her, but she guessed the child missed her that much that Amber took her own initiative to find her.


    If Amber was here, did it mean that her father was in the area?


    Luna didn''t want to have anything to do with him. It would only lead to more problems if she ?ssociated herself with the man. Her eyes softly gazed at the little girl in her arms. Just like her father who was so straightforward and demanding, Amber got a temper whenever she couldn''t get something she wanted. Luna still couldn''t comprehend why the child listened to her though.


    "Amber?" she called.


    The child slightly shifted on her ??p before opening an eye to look back at her.


    "Aren''t you hungry? Do you want to go back to your dad?"


    Amber shook her head and sank deeper into Luna''s embrace. A small smile passed by Luna''s lips. She had taken the girl to the clinic to see if she got injuries when she ran away from her nanny. Right now, Amber was comfortable, taking a quick afternoon nap in her ??p.


    Remembering Corinne''s request that she failed to fulfill, Luna typed a quick message on her phone and sent it to her friend. Feeling a little tired from Amber''s weight, she adjusted the child from her ??p and laid Amber on the bed.


    "Such a cutie pie." Luna giggled.


    Amber looked like an angel when she sleeps. So innocent and cute that Luna had to resist the urge to pinch Amber''s cheeks.


    Now what?


    Her eyes felt heavy and her shoulders sagged from the long hours of work since morning. It didn''t help that Amber was sleeping so soundly on the bed beside her. The coldness from the air conditioners made the nap sound appealing to her.


    ''Maybe I should take a nap too.''


    Luna laid beside the little girl and pulled the child closer in her ?h?st. She remembered what happened the last time Amber woke up without her. The little girl threw a fit on her Aunty Joanna and made some problems for her father.


    The two were fast asleep when Hero stepped into the room to talk to Luna. He was taken by surprise when he saw Amber and Luna peacefully sleeping beside each other. He pulled a chair and sat beside the bed, watching his daughter and his woman.


    His eyes landed on Luna''s face. He liked how her long lashes softly brushed above her cheeks, how her ?h?st heaved in every breath she took in. Her pinkish lips slightly parted as she breathed.


    Luna didn''t wear any makeup unlike the other women in his company, but her natural beauty still attracted attention from the opposite s?x. Who wouldn''t notice the softness of her pale skin? How her eyes gleamed and smiled like her lips when she was happy? Usually kept on a low ponytail, her hair framed her face while giving her a more innocent look.


    She was such an alluring fine beauty. It wasn''t surprising that Jasper Mu kept her for a long time, but it was all in the past now, Hero thought. He would never allow Luna to come back to that man.


    Hero traced Luna''s face with the back of his fingers. Starting from her brows, he slowly moved to her temples then down to her cheeks. She lightly flinched from the sudden warmth that touched her face, but she remained asleep.


    Only like this that Hero could fill his d?s?r? to stare at her without hesitation. He''d wondered if Amber had taken a liking to Luna just like him. Did Amber see the warmth she was seeking for a long time? The kind of love she''d never received before?


    Hero''s lips curled into a smile. If all worked out for him and Luna decided to stay with him, Amber wouldn''t have to worry about her Aunty Luna. She would never seek anyone else''s love but hers.

 Chapter 29 - The Accident

    Luna rolled on her side, trying to figure out where she was. Then it dawned to her that she met Little Amber earlier. She suddenly jolted up from the bed and was surprised to see Hero sitting on a chair, looking at her with amusement in his eyes. She glanced on her side and saw the little girl already awake and playing with her doll.


    As soon as Amber saw her awake, she crawled to Luna''s ??p and wound her little arms around Luna''s neck.


    "What''s wrong? Did you sleep well?" Luna asked softly.


    Amber nodded but didn''t say anything as usual. She gave a confused look to her father before returning her attention to the woman that was holding her.


    "Your phone keeps on ringing. Aren''t you going to answer it?" Hero asked with an impassive face.


    "Ohh��" He was right. Her phone was vibrating. Checking it, she saw several messages from her mother. She frowned as it was almost seven in the evening and realized she overslept.


    Did something wrong happen to her mother? She dialed her mother''s number and was startled when she heard someone crying at the other line.


    "Mom, are you okay? Why are you crying?"


    "Luna, come to the hospital, quick!" Her mother''s voice sounded frantic.


    Luna released herself from Amber''s hold and gave her to Hero. Hero was bewildered by her actions. He knew something was up, and it probably wasn''t good, based on Luna''s expression.


    "What happened? I thought you''re feeling better now." Luna slipped on her shoes and took her bag from the table.


    "No, it''s not me. It''s Julian!" her mother replied with a sob.


    Amber, seeing that Luna was about to leave, ran towards the woman and grabbed Luna''s free hand. She refused to be parted from her Aunty Luna, but the woman''s hand was trembling in fear.


    Luna felt a cold pit stirred in her stomach, cold sweat ran down the side of her face. Julian was supposed to be at home at this time. What could have happened to him?


    "Why? What happened to him?" Luna asked. She dearly hoped that nothing serious happened to her brother, or else �� No! She should believe that he was alright. She couldn''t lose her only brother.


    "I don''t know, Luna." Her mother sobbed at the other end of the line. "Please, I don''t know what to do right now."


    The events that unfurled next was almost in a blur when Luna found herself dragged to the parking lot of the company by Hero, with Amber in his other arm.


    "Get inside the car. I''ll bring you to the hospital," Hero said while he put his child on the car seat. Luna was about to refuse but remembered the situation. She had no time to waste as in this moment, her little brother needed her.


    Luna couldn''t even remember how did she manage to stay calm while they were on their way to the hospital. When they arrived at the hospital, the operating room was already closed, her mother walking back and forth in panic.


    "Mom, how''s my Julian? What''s the situation?" Luna''s face was white as a sheet. Her mother greeted her with tears in her eyes and clung to her eldest child in despair.


    "Bad," Elaine said. "He was engaged in an accident when he tried to save a young boy from a speeding car. Luna, the doctors said he was in a critical situation. What should we do?" she continued to wail in Luna''s embrace.


    It took a lot of courage for Luna not to breakdown and cry for her mother''s sake. She felt her strength leaving her body, but she refused to give up. She had to be brave and strong for her family. If something were to happen to her brother, she was afraid that it would leave a big dent on her sanity and her life.


    Meanwhile, Hero called his sister to pick up Amber from the hospital before checking the situation about Luna''s brother. The authorities hadn''t visited Luna''s family to document what transpired to her younger brother.


    He supposed he should leave and let Luna deal with it, but the look on her face made him think that she would not last long.

 Chapter 30 - I鈥檒l Make Sure You Will Lose Everything

    She''d been waiting patiently for the news. Finishing her work, she threw the files she''d been reading since afternoon. It was a big project she couldn''t fail. This was something that was ?ssigned to her by her grandfather. If ever she was able to close the deal, she would have a better chance of having the position as the next CEO of Jiang Corporation.


    Pouring herself a glass of wine, she stood beside the window and looked down at the busy downtown streets of the city. She watched how their company employees happily took their time to leave from work. Soon ... very soon, she would be the head of this company, and she couldn''t wait to prove to everyone that it was her rightful place.


    Her private phone line rang, indicating that it was the call she was anticipating. She''d been on her edge since morning, waiting to receive good news from the man she hired the day before. Taking the call, Sienna composed herself and pretended that she wasn''t nervous or excited.


    It only took a minute, and Sienna grinned as soon as she disconnected the phone call she received that evening. All the plans were on the right track.


    If she played her cards right, Luna would come running to the Jiang family to beg for help. She wasn''t really planning to use Julian as the last resort of her plans, but Luna''s sharp words from their last meeting irked her so much.


    "Luna, you think you can just talk back to me like that? I''ll make sure you will lose everything," she whispered to herself.


    There wouldn''t be a day that she was not compared to Luna.  From their academic grades to appearance, everyone seemed to prefer Luna''s company. Why did everyone look up to that woman anyway? She was nothing but a daughter of a commoner. Sienna sneered mentally.


    "You seem like in a good mood."


    Her mother voice took her attention away from her phone. A devilish smile crossed on Sienna''s lips as she looked back at her mother who just entered her office. Picking up the wine glass from the table beside her, she sipped her drink slowly, savoring the taste of the wine.


    "Just expecting good news soon," Sienna replied to her mother.


    Clarissa''s brows rose on her daughter''s remarks. She was aware of Sienna''s deep hatred for her half-sister, Luna. Didn''t she already kick Luna out of the company? She''d never seen her daughter in a good mood like this ever since Luna left the Jiang Corporation.


    "What did you do now?" Clarissa asked.


    Sienna moved to the couch and crossed her legs. Her fingers slowly twirled the loose locks of her hair. She wondered how long it would take for Luna to come over and plead for help. She couldn''t wait to see that woman in her knees.


    "Nothing to worry about, Mother. You will see," she replied.


    "Make sure whatever you did it wouldn''t be traced back to you," Clarissa reminded Sienna.


    "Of course, Mother. I know what I''m doing; besides, after this, we will never have to worry about her again."

 Chapter 31 - Choose the Lesser Evil

    Luna regretted going to this place. If she had known that he would not help his own child, Luna would never dare to seek her father''s help. Her fists clenched on both sides as she listened to her father''s nonsensical reason.


    "You dare to call yourself a man!" she blurted out, "He''s your own son. You will let him die just because you cannot release money to pay for his operation?"


    "Have you forgotten that you were the one who chose to cut our relation? And now you dared to step on my house to ask for money?" Stephen Jiang slammed his hands on the table in front of him. "Ungrateful child!"


    He wouldn''t admit it, but when this daughter of his left their company, they suffered a loss. She was one of the best managers they had, but she chose to leave them because of her animosity against her half-sister, Sienna. If only he knew what really happened between his daughters, he wouldn''t let Luna suffer.


    "Then take all your money and put it in your ?ss, you ?sshole!" Luna exclaimed. She''d long forgotten that she still had a father. He never treated her or her mother right in the first place. Who did he think he was to treat her like trash?


    Luna cursed the whole Jiang family in her heart. She''d tried her best not to nurture hate and revenge against them, but this was too much! Julian �� her poor little brother was lying on his deathbed, and no one was willing to save him except for her.


    Her eyes almost tinged with redness from the exhaustion that had already started to affect her senses. She was tired, but she needed to raise money for Julian''s immediate operation. She then turned around to leave this nasty place. She shouldn''t have come here.


    Her tears ran down her cheeks as she opened the front door, oblivious to the pair of eyes that were watching her every move. Sienna''s lip curled into a smile. Waiting for Luna to seek their father''s help had been boring, but it was worth the wait.


    "Sister, what brings you here?" Her voice made Luna stopped on her tracks and looked up only to see Sienna wearing a slim fitted red dress, making her way down the staircase. Her eyes darkened as she realized what this woman was up to.


    "Sorry, Sienna. I have no time to waste right now." Luna bit out.


    Sienna sneered inwardly. Luna was still arrogant even in her desperate situation.


    "I heard what happened to Julian. Such a poor little brother. If you want, I can help." She gave a knowing look at Luna''s direction and crossed her arms beneath her ?h?st.


    Luna''s grip on her handbag tightened. She knew what Sienna wanted in return. She was really tempted to give in and sign away those papers if it meant that she would be able to save her brother''s life in this critical condition.


    What was keeping her to fight for inheritance anyway? The Jiang family could go to hell, and she wouldn''t even shed a tear if they do. The only people that matter to her right now was her mother and her younger brother.


    "I��" She was about to agree when her phone rang loudly, disturbing her and Sienna''s conversation.


    Taking her phone from her pocket, she saw that it was an emergency call from her mother.


    "Mom, I''ll be back soon. Give me an hour, and I will be there," she said.


    "No, no��" her mother''s tone was in panic, making Luna''s heart clench in pain��"You must come back. We don''t have time. The doctor said that they have to operate on him as soon as possible ��"


    Luna bit her lower lip. She had no time to waste and must decide soon. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She then remembered Hero''s proposal after he dropped her off at Jiang''s Estate. She still couldn''t understand why this man was still pursuing her. Hadn''t she made it clear that she wasn''t interested?


    ''Be my woman, and you will get everything you want.''


    His words sounded like devil''s word whispered to her ear. Luna opened her eyes and looked back at her half-sister who was obviously waiting for her to come up with her decision. Both offers could save her brother, but who was the lesser evil between the two?


    Could she really sell herself to the man who deflowered her? Or will she choose to agree to Sienna''s terms?

 Chapter 32 - Marry Me

    Luna weighed her options. If she accepted Sienna''s terms, she would lose everything that was rightfully for her and Julian; and if she chose to become Hero''s woman, what kind of woman would she be? She would be nothing but a trophy wife that would abide him until he deemed it was worthy enough to release her.


    "I''ll be on my way, Mom," she replied before cutting off the line. Julian was in a grave condition, and she should be there as soon as possible. She couldn''t afford to waste any more time.


    Sienna looked at her expectantly. The small smile on her lips, indicating that her goal was almost in her reach. Ah, finally ... she can finally say that a thorn would be removed in her life. She had waited too long for Luna to come to her and seek for help.


    "So? Are you going to agree or not?" Sienna asked. She was already rejoicing inwardly.


    Luna could feel her hatred for her sister rose to another level. Was she really that desperate to get rid of her?


    "Why are you still here?" Her father''s voice roared, startling both women. "Get out!" he yelled.


    "You don''t have to tell me!" Luna snapped back at her father. "I know my way out!"


    Afraid that their father would ruin her plan, Sienna stepped forward and tried to calm him down.


    "Dad, it''s alright. I will deal with Sister. She''s just agitated from all the problems she''s dealing with." She walked towards her father and held his hand.


    Stephen''s eyes softened as he looked at Sienna. Ah, if only Luna could be as filial as Sienna, he wouldn''t mind investing time and money to groom her.


    Luna looked away, not wanting to see her father and half-sister gang up again her. She would rather sell herself to the devil than to agree and submit to Sienna and the Jiang family''s terms. She swore she would find a way to get back what was hers.


    In the end, her love for Julian was greater than any feelings she held in her heart. There was no respect for a woman who sold herself for money and power,


    With slow and silent steps, she slipped outside the Jiang Mansion. It was only by then she realized that it was raining hard.


    "Could this day get any worse?" she muttered to herself.


    She made her way outside, making her dress soaking wet from the heavy rain. Her body chilled to the bones. The coldness of the night brought a shiver down her spine. Was there no other way to save her brother but to become someone''s woman?


    What had she done wrong to suffer like this?


    With her vision blurred from the tears welling up on her eyes, Luna tripped and fell to the ground. Pathetic. She really was a pathetic woman, thinking that running away from her problems could make her life happier.


    A tall figure loomed over her slumped form. Luna blinked away her tears and looked up. Hero was standing in front of her, holding an umbrella to protect them from the rain. When did he arrive here? Or was he waiting for her to come out all these time?


    Hero stood before her with his eyes filled with immense tenderness as he stared down on her weak body.


    "Come, you have wasted enough time in this place." He helped her stand back to her feet and wiped away her face with a clean handkerchief. Luna could only look at him with confusion. Why did he help her? Help? No, not really. He just wanted to possess her.


    "If I agree to become your woman, will you help me?" She pulled on the ??pels of his coat in despair, but Hero only stared back at her, without saying a word.


    "Tell me, if I give myself to you ��"��she choked up a sob��"will you help me save my brother?"


    She bit her lip. Luna really felt like she''d caught all the misfortune in this lifetime. "I need 500,000 yuan to save him. Please," she begged, "help me."


    Hero was already aware of the situation of her brother and her desperation to raise funds for his immediate operation. Just like what he''d predicted, Stephen Jiang had casted out his woman and refused to help her. He''d waited patiently for Luna to come to him and beg. Not that he would refuse her.


    "Sure," he agreed without hesitation, surprising Luna. "I will help you pay his medical bills and expenses. I will also help you destroy the Jiang family if you want."


    Luna''s eyes flashed with murderous intent and contempt when he said those words.


    "I will help you, but in return ��" Hero stopped abruptly, taking in the expression on her face.


    Luna had already made up her mind. There was no turning back. "Tell me what I need to do."


    "Marry me."


    "What?" Luna gaped in shock from his words.


    Did he really want to marry her at a time like this?


    "Marry me, and I''ll help you and will provide you everything. Or else �� forget that you have a chance to save your brother."

 Chapter 33 - Eight Weeks Pregnant

    "You want to marry me? Why?" Luna asked.


    Yes. She knew that there was a possibility that he would tie her in a loveless marriage just to keep her, but it still came as a surprise that Hero demanded her to marry him as part of the deal.


    She hated that he was taking advantage of her situation to get what he wanted from her. Such a selfish man that he was! If Julian wasn''t in a grave condition, Luna would never dare to ?ssociate herself with this man at all.


    "Why marry me if the only intent you have is to have your way with my body? Can''t you keep me as your woman, not as your wife?"


    "I don''t need an affair with you, woman," Hero coldly replied. "I want you as my wife. I want all the rights to possess you."


    Luna fell silent at his words. Did she even have a say on this?


    "If you don''t want my conditions, let''s forget about the deal."


    Luna panicked when she heard him. No! She should not delay her brother''s surgery any longer.


    "I agree! I don''t care anymore! Do what you want with me; just please save my brother."


    Hero didn''t say a word but placed his coat on her drenched body. Why won''t he say something? Wasn''t it enough that she sold herself to him?


    Her whole body trembled from severe cold and felt herself losing consciousness, only to fall to his waiting arms. Her exhaustion had overcome her will. Looking at the woman in his arms, Hero lifted her up easily with one hand while his other hand held the umbrella to protect them from the raging wind and thunderstorm.


    He made it back to his car and slipped Luna to the passenger seat. Once he settled back in the driver''s seat, Hero picked up his phone and dialed Daryl''s number.


    "Send one million yuan to Luna''s account and settle the medical bills for her brother. Provide everything the doctor will ask for. Money is not a problem here."


    "As you wish, Master Hero," Darryl replied before cutting the call.


    Hero took a moment to stare at Luna''s sleeping face. Even in her state, she was still beautiful. There was an unusual darkening under her eyes that she probably got from long hours of work and stress. His hand reached out to tuck a stray lock behind her ear and looked at her with warmth on his gaze.


    They must come back to the hospital to check on her brother''s condition and to admit her to the emergency room. She was burning in fever. It was only then Hero noticed the difference in her breathing and body temperature.


    Their marriage ceremony could wait. It wasn''t like Luna would back down on their deal, but he would make sure he did his part before asking for her payment.


    ---


    When Luna regained her consciousness, she found herself lying on a hospital bed. She wasn''t sure what time it was. Just what happened to her last night when she passed out? Did Hero take her in the hospital out of panic? She jolted up from the bed and sat up, only to be greeted with dizziness from her sudden movement.


    A warm hand reached out and rubbed her back as she held both sides of her head.


    "Luna? Are you okay? Do I need to call the doctor?" It was Elaine, her mother. Luna eyed at her confusedly, wondering why she was admitted as a patient in the same hospital where Julian was in.


    "Mom? What happened? Why am I here? Where''s Julian?"


    The barrage of questions just came out from her mouth, not caring if she was in bad condition.


    "It''s okay. You don''t have to worry anymore." Elaine replied. She wasn''t at the end of her wits, unlike the last time Luna talked to her. Did Hero fulfill her request while she was unconscious? She dearly hoped so.


    "He''s in the ICU for recovery now. Someone helped us, Luna, but I''m not sure who did it. Do you have any idea who could it be?" Her mother asked, but Luna was forced to lie to her own mother. She couldn''t possibly confess that she sold herself to Hero for a hefty amount of money to save Julian.


    "I don''t know, Mom, but I''ll try to see who was it. Can you tell me why I''m here?" Luna pointed out at the needle and dextrose hose attached to her left hand.


    "Oh, I see you''re awake now, Miss Jiang. You should be careful and try not to tire yourself, alright. It wouldn''t be good for your baby if you get sick from the rain," the lady doctor commented while she checked Luna''s record.


    "W-what?" Her eyes were wide as saucers as she stared back at the doctor. "What do you mean ''my baby''?"


    Terror was written all over her face once it dawned to her what the doctor meant. No. No, this couldn''t be. Luna bent her knees and pulled them closer to her ?h?st. She couldn''t be pregnant.


    "Congratulations, Miss Jiang. You''re eight weeks pregnant." The doctor gave her a bright smile.


    And with those words, Luna felt that her world had fallen apart.

 Chapter 34 - Mommy Luna

    Hero came home when the sun was already up, only to find his daughter throwing a tantrum early in the morning. She was yelling and crying at the top of her lungs while throwing everything that she could reach. Even his sister, Joanna, had a hard time making her calm down or listen to her.


    "Brother, you''re finally here. Please help me. Amber has been throwing a fit ever since we came home last night," Joanna told him.


    "What happened?" Hero asked. He was a little irritated that Amber was giving him problems when all he wanted to do was to take a quick nap before returning to Luna''s side at the hospital.


    "I don''t know what happened, but when she woke up from her nap last night, she started crying and looking for Miss Jiang. I thought maybe she was missing her, but knowing that Miss Jiang has emergency situations to deal with, I didn''t dare to give her a call which made your daughter upset," His sister explained. So that was what happened.


    After hearing Joanna''s explanation, Hero sauntered towards his daughter''s room and opened the door, only to be smacked on his face with her white bunny stuffed toy.


    "Amber Li, " Hero called out her name in a warning tone.


    Amber instantly became alarmed. She hid under the covers of her blanket and continued to cry. She was missing her Aunty Luna and was worried about last night, but her daddy and Aunty Joanna wouldn''t tell her what happened and where her Aunty Luna was.


    Hero approached his daughter and gently pulled the blanket that was covering her. Amber glared at him when she saw his face. Daddy had taken Aunty Luna with him last night!


    "If you don''t stop crying at this instant, I won''t bring you with me to see your Aunty Luna later. Didn''t she tell you to listen to me and to your Aunty Joanna? What do you think she would say if I informed her what you did today?" Hero reminded her.


    At those words, Amber stopped crying and sniffled. Such a meanie daddy she had. He had always known how to deal with her using her Aunty Luna. Her round eyes stared at her father in disbelief. Would he really bring her to where Aunty Luna was?


    "I''m not lying, " Hero said as if reading Little Amber''s thoughts. He then turned his eyes to Joanna to say something. "I''m getting married soon so I want you to make some preparations."


    "W-what?" Joanna gaped at her brother. Where was all this coming from? She didn''t even see him date a woman since his wife died years ago. Wait, he did mention before that he was considering getting married again. Did that mean he already found a woman he could spend his life with? What would happen to Little Amber then?


    Upon hearing her father''s words, Little Amber wailed louder than before. Her little fists were pressed against her eyes as she cried, her cheeks tinged with red. She didn''t want her daddy to get married! She didn''t want her Aunty Veronica to become her mommy!


    Hero pinched the bridge of his nose, trying not to snap out to his young daughter. He sat on her bed and reached out to pat Amber''s head.


    "When I said I''m going to marry, I mean that I''m going to marry your Aunty Luna. I thought this is what you''ve wanted? To make her your Mommy Luna so you don''t have to be parted with her anymore," he calmly said. Ever since Amber met Luna, she became very reliant on the woman who saved her.


    Joanna was left speechless as she listened to the father and child. After hearing Hero''s words, she realized that not only their Little Amber had been enamored by Luna Jiang but also her brother. When she saw this, she wanted to cry from both happiness and frustration. She was about to go crazy because of these two!


    Why was he rushing this marriage anyway? And since when did they know each other? Joanna wondered.


    The moment Hero and Amber arrived at Luna''s hospital room, Elaine was changing the flowers in the vase at the bedside table. Luna seemed a little preoccupied and hadn''t noticed that the father and child arrived to visit her.


    "Good afternoon, Mr. Li," Elaine greeted Hero when she saw him and Amber standing at the doorway. "Please come in, Luna woke up a few hours ago. Thanks again for helping her last night."


    Hero gave her a curt nod. "Don''t mention it, Miss Ye. I''m glad I could help."


    When she felt a small hand touching her arm, Luna turned her head to see who it was, only to see Amber''s cute face grinning up at her. She smiled back and greeted the little girl.


    "Hello, darling. What brings you here?" she said, her hand cupping Amber''s chubby cheeks, her thumb running on her soft skin.


    Amber nodded and climbed up on her bed and snuggled beside her while wrapping her small arms around Luna. The woman in bed giggled at her antics. Such a sweet little girl that she was.


    Her hazel eyes then turned to the father of this little girl. The same man who fathered her baby.

 Chapter 35 - A Daddy for the Second Time Around

    Luna refused to meet Hero''s eyes. She''d been panicking ever since the doctor informed her about her pregnancy. How should she tell him about the baby they never planned to conceive in the first place? Would he changed his mind once he found out about her baby?


    Elaine Ye could sense something was going on between her daughter and Mr. Li. She had only met the man twice, and she was aware that there was an attraction between the two. The only thing that bothered her was Luna''s relationship with Jasper Mo. Did they break up because Mr. Li stepped into the picture?


    He arrived with a child with him. The little girl must be his daughter from another woman. Elaine Ye had no idea that Hero was Luna''s boss and the one who helped her family to pay Julian''s medical expenses.


    Now that she thought about it, it was time to check up on her other child, too. Luna should be able to go home later which lessened her worries. She just hoped that her daughter would explain everything to her once she was ready.


    Luna had denied that Jasper was the one who fathered her child and refused to tell who it was. Didn''t she say that they broke up a month ago and Jasper left with Aiko to go abroad?


    While she had met Jasper on several occasions before, she didn''t like how his family treated her daughter. They even tried to separate the two but had failed every time. What made them broke up was beyond Elaine''s understanding.


    Luna wouldn''t give up easily. She would fight for what she thought was right. It was either a third party had entered their relationship or Luna had enough of the Mo family''s scheming against her.


    "Mr. Li, I have to bother you to look after my Luna for a moment while I check up on her brother''s condition," Elaine told Hero, who only nodded in response as he sat beside Luna''s bed.


    She then turned her attention to her daughter. "By the way Luna, the police might come today to explain and report what happened during Julian accident ��"


    It was enough for Luna to understand her mother''s worries. Elaine had never been good with this kind of confrontations. Maybe that was one of the reasons why Clarissa and her children were able to bully her and Luna when she was younger. Elaine hated conflicts. She would rather give way or turn a blind eye than deal with an argument. Something that Luna never shared with her mother.


    "I understand, Mom. Go and see Julian. I''ll follow you shortly once the doctor is back," Luna replied while Little Amber shifted beside her, lightly snoring in her slumber.


    When Elaine left the room, Luna still tried to ignore Hero''s presence, trying her best not to turn her head in his direction. Hero arched a brow. What was up with this woman? She wasn''t thinking of backing out from their deal, right?


    "Till when are you going to ignore me?" he asked.


    Luna felt a shiver ran down her spine when she heard his cold words. While she wasn''t planning on renouncing her part of the deal, this baby might change everything between them. She opened her mouth to say something when suddenly the door opened again, revealing her doctor.


    The doctor smiled when she saw Hero talking to Luna and ?ssumed that he was the husband and Little Amber was their first child.


    "Oh, so the daddy and the baby girl are here." The doctor grinned before turning the pages of Luna''s record to write scribble something on the paper.


    Hero frowned, not understanding what the doctor meant. Did she mistake them as a small family? Didn''t she see Luna''s hand was missing a ring on her finger?


    The doctor handed a prescription to Luna.


    "You are good to go now, Miss Jiang, but make sure to schedule an appointment with your OB-Gyne so she could give you the prenatal supplements you needed. You''re eight weeks along and should be able to request an ultrasound if you so choose to see the condition of your baby."


    Hero felt his brain short-circuit with what the doctor said to Luna. He was rendered speechless in his seat while Luna''s cheeks were tinged with a slight blush as she gave thanks to her doctor.


    ''Congratulations on being a daddy for the second time around." The doctor patted Hero''s shoulder before leaving the room.


    Hero stared at Luna with a blank expression on his face. Luna fidgeted and tried to fight the blush that was creeping to her face. Ah, she shouldn''t be like this. Why was she blushing anyway?


    They had slept together, and he deflowered her that night. They should have known the consequence of that night when neither of them used protection.


    Hero broke the deafening silence between them. His face remained unreadable so Luna broke out in cold sweat. Needless to say, she turned into a bundle of nerves!


    "You are pregnant," Hero stated the obvious thing, but in Luna''s ears, it sounded more like stating a fact than asking a question.


    "Yes," she breathed out.

 Chapter 36 - Today Would Be a Great Day to Get Married

    Hero knew that the doctor and Luna weren''t joking when they said Luna was with child. This was so unexpected that neither of them thought it would happen. Just from one passionate night, they were able to conceive a baby.


    Luna''s eyes were glossy as she tried to ignore him again but failed. With the baby on the way, would Hero change his mind or would he still plan on trapping her in a loveless marriage?


    "Why bother marrying me? You really don''t have to." She broke the silence between them. Luckily, Little Amber fell asleep beside her for a quick nap.


    "We must marry. You said it yourself. You are pregnant with my child. Another reason for me to marry you," Hero replied without batting an eyelid. It was like he couldn''t be bothered if she was pregnant or not as long as she would marry him as part of the deal.


    "I don''t understand ��"


    "You don''t have to," he said again, "You''re carrying my child. I''ll allow no child of mine to be born out of wedlock."


    Luna tried to hide her flinch. She didn''t want to think of her mother''s disappointment. She tried not to believe that she slept with a stranger and got pregnant with his child.


    What would Jasper think of this once he gets back? This wasn''t her own fault anyway. Aiko tricked her that night so she ended up in Hero''s bed instead.


    "What about Amber and your family?" she murmured quietly.


    "My family has no say in whom I''ll get to marry. As for Amber,"��his gaze drifted to his sleeping child��"she was very dependent on you as you noticed. It wouldn''t be too hard for her to adjust."


    She nodded but didn''t say anything more. The fact that he was intent in marrying her startled her. Such a possessive man that he was. She''d never been in a relationship before except for Jasper so her knowledge about dating was also limited.


    "If you say so," she conceded, "but please don''t forget that it''s the part of our deal. We also should set some rules if we''re going to get married."


    She would never surrender herself to this man! He might be able to trap her and force her into marrying him, but he could never have her heart!


    "Okay, then let''s go now. We''ll go check on your brother first and talk to the police officers. Let''s get married when we pass by the Civil Registry Office later."


    "Today?" Luna was surprised. He wanted to get married now? Couldn''t he wait for another day?


    "Yes, when else were you thinking?" Hero looked at her with a serious expression. There was no time to lose.


    "Don''t you trust me? Why so eager to marry me too soon?" Luna said as she smiled bitterly. She thought that Hero didn''t trust her and suspected that she wouldn''t marry him after Julian''s surgery. However, she had no clue that it was just because Hero had anticipated that this would happen eventually.


    "No, I just thought that today would be a great day to get married. Come, we still need to sign your release papers and check to see if your brother needs to undergo another surgery."


    After he spoke, Hero took his jacket and the sleeping Amber from Luna''s arms and walked out of the room. Luna watched his back as he left before she silently followed behind him.


    At the Civil Registry Office ...


    "Doesn''t marriage registration require a household register? I don''t have mine with me," Luna said quietly from the passenger seat as she unbuckled her seatbelt.


    Amber had woken up from her nap and was smiling at Luna. She heard that her daddy and Aunty Luna was planning to register their marriage today. Finally, her Aunty Luna would become her mommy!


    "No," Hero said. "I already asked someone to retrieve it for you."


    "Huh?" Once again, Luna was shocked. She never knew they could register for marriage that easily. He even went too far, getting her own household register to set up everything.


    The truth was that Hero was just so powerful and capable that he could even go and get married anytime he wanted to. His influence rivaled the Jiang and other wealthy families within the city.

 Chapter 37 - Everything Comes with a Price

    They only spent an hour inside the Civil Registry Office to register their marriage. After a brief orientation on marriage, filling up the forms, and signing papers, they were officially declared as husband and wife. An officer passed the couple two little red books which were their marriage certificates.


    And that was it. Luna officially became Hero Li''s lawfully wedded wife. Her eyes fixated on the red book in her hand before closing it and releasing a sigh. It would be worth it. Julian wasn''t in a critical condition anymore, but he had to undergo two more surgeries before the doctors deemed he was safe.


    "From now on, I''m your husband, and you are mine. Do not forget whom you belong to." Without waiting for Luna to respond, Hero held up her face and pressed his lips against hers. He released her and lifted up his daughter from the ground.


    "We should head back to the hospital now. The officers might be waiting for you." Hero rushed her and left the office with his new wife trailing behind him.


    When they arrived at the hospital, they saw the officers talking to Elaine Ye. Elaine saw her daughter with Mr. Li again and was bothered why they were so close. Was there something more than meets the eye?


    "Mom, Is everything alright? Did they find out who did this to Julian?" Luna asked.


    From what she heard earlier, the driver, who hit her brother, fled from the scene. There were few witnesses, but their testimonies weren''t enough to make a lead for the suspect. The police were still investigating, and they hadn''t received any compensation from anyone. She wondered if it was really an accident or another scheme against her.


    "Miss Jiang, rest ?ssured we will do our best to find the driver who hit your brother. If there''s anything else, you can give us a call if you need some ?ssistance or an update on your brother''s case," one of the officers said.


    Luna only nodded at him and watched Julian''s form lying in a vegetative state in the ICU room. How she wished he would wake up and talk to her. As she was lost in her thoughts, her phone suddenly rang. Taking a look at who was calling her at this time, Luna scowled.


    "Do you need something?" she asked as she walked away from Julian''s room. She was aware of her husband staring at her back.


    "Luna, I hope you won''t take Daddy''s words seriously. He was just still disappointed with what happened years ago. I''m sure he didn''t mean those words. Our brother is in a critical condition. Let me help you." Sienna''s voice spoke through the phone.


    Luna rolled her eyes. This half-sister of hers was so persistent. Did she really think she would fall for her scheme?


    "There''s no need for you to dirty your hands, Sienna. I don''t need your help. Now, if you have nothing else to say, I''m hanging up."


    "No, wait!" Sienna exclaimed. "Don''t say that, Luna. Julian is still my brother regardless if we don''t share the same mother."


    Luna hated how Sienna pretended that she was a caring sister. She held this unexplainable hate and grudge towards her sister. What the fu?k she was talking about? Wasn''t Sienna the one who corrupted their father''s mind to disown her? She knew deep down, Sienna shared the same animosity against her so why would she pretend that she cares?


    "Luna, I heard what happened to our brother. I also know that you were kicked out from your place and had been staying with your friend. I can give you money if you allow me to help you."


    Of course, that money came with a price. What Sienna didn''t anticipate was Luna selling herself to Hero Li to save his brother. She was also surprised that Sienna had been keeping track of her life. Luna narrowed her eyes. She felt like it was too good to be a coincidence.


    How come Sienna knew of this kind of information when she just heard about it from the officers earlier? Julian got involved in a car accident, and so soon, Sienna was proposing a deal to her? Luna thought it was all but bullshit.


    A cold shiver ran down her spine. Luna''s eyes flashed with murderous intent. If Sienna was involved in Julian''s accident, she would make sure she''ll pay for it.


    "Why are you being so nice to me, now?" Luna scoffed. She had learned a long time ago that there was no such thing as a free lunch. Everything would come with a price.

 Chapter 38 - I鈥檓 Married to Mr. Li

    Sienna was not one to offer help to someone after all. She was a conniving woman who would always find her way to get whatever she wanted; and right now, she wanted Luna''s inheritance. She would never offer help if there wasn''t a catch.


    ''I told you, it''s because Julian is still my brother and you are my sister." Sienna laughed. A laugh that irritated Luna. She was very moody lately, and her emotions weren''t on the right track. Was her pregnancy starting to affect her moods and thinking?


    "I don''t recall you as a loving and caring sister, Sienna. Cut the crap. We both know what you want from me, and I have no plans on giving it up. Aside from my inheritance, there isn''t anything else you can get from me.


    "You''re already the Vice President of Jiang Corporation; why do you keep yourself in my shadow? After all the things our father did for me and to my mother, I wouldn''t care what happens to the Jiang family. We are only connected by our surname and nothing else."


    "Regardless of what you think of me, Luna, we both know that you are in dire need of help. You can''t possibly let Julian die, right? You do know you need my help. Where else will you get the money to pay for his medical expenses if you wouldn''t accept my offer?"


    Luna snorted. Her sister Sienna was really something. How shameless could she be?


    "Oh? Thanks, but no thanks. I don''t need your help, Sienna. Julian is not in a grave condition anymore, and we''ve already paid for his surgeries."


    "Paid? Who helped you pay the bills?" Sienna was clearly surprised with what Luna told her. She screamed mentally as her plans were ruined by someone.


    "That''s none of your business, my dear sister Sienna. Perhaps once Julian is stable, you will pay him a visit, right? I''m sure Julian will be happy to see his caring sister from another woman," Luna said sarcastically.


    "Sure. I''ll visit him soon. Let''s keep in touch, and let me know if you change your mind." Sienna bit out as she seethed in anger.


    Everything went according to plan until now! Julian got into a bad accident like she wanted. Luna also came to their residence. It''s part of her plans so this is the only part that failed. Why was everything not going according to her plan?!


    "Don''t bother. You''re a very busy person. You shouldn''t waste your time with us, Sienna. Now, if you will excuse me, Julian is waiting for me." Luna immediately hung up the phone. Fuck. Why couldn''t she get this suspicion against her half-sister out of her head?


    This wasn''t really the first time Sienna tried to help her. When they were younger, Sienna always asked for things in exchange for her help which Luna never bothered to accept. She hated the whole Jiang family and refused to ?ssociate herself with them.


    She wanted to cut off her ties permanently from that heinous and disgusting family. But when Julian got into an accident, Luna swallowed her pride and stepped back inside the Jiang Mansion to seek her father''s help, only to get disappointed again.


    Luna went back to her brother''s hospital room, only to see the doctor who looked around his late fifties and was in charge of her brother''s welfare. He was talking to her new husband and her mother when she arrived.


    "Doctor, how''s my brother?" Luna inquired.


    This was really the first time she was talking to the doctor with a clear mind. The first time she met him, she was in distress and panic over the accident. She was shocked and could only nod in response as the doctor explained how she needed to raise funds for Julian''s surgery and to decide if she would allow them to perform it.


    "I could say that you and your brother are very lucky this time, Miss Jiang. Because you were able to decide fast and we had operated on your brother in time, we were able to remove the blood clot in his brain. There''s another operation to do, but this will not be as critical as the first one," the doctor explained.


    Luna released a breath she didn''t know she was holding. She could finally relax and hope that there wouldn''t be any problem for Julian along the way. Her pregnancy and stress were starting to affect her health, and she didn''t know if she had enough energy to deal with everything. Right now, what she wanted to do was to have a good night sleep and rest properly.


    "Alright. Thank you so for much for your hard work, doctor. We really appreciate your help," Luna said and gave him a slight bow.


    "Don''t mention it. It''s our job to save lives, Miss Jiang.''"


    After the doctor left, Hero bid goodbye to Elaine before calling out Luna''s attention.


    "We have to go. We need to go home now," he told her.


    "Home?" Elaine creased her brows. Were they cohabiting or something? "Luna, what''s the meaning of this?" She was a mother, and of course, she could tell if something was wrong with her child.


    Luna looked at Hero''s as if asking for his help, but the man only shrugged and adjusted Amber in his arms. She was left to deal with her mother and was aware that she couldn''t hide this fact from her and Julian anyway.


    "Mom. You know I''m pregnant," she said in almost a whisper.


    "Yes, and you told me it isn''t Jasper," Elaine replied. As she said those words, it dawned to her what it meant. Her eyes went from Luna to Hero and back.


    "Mom, I''m married to Mr. Li. I am his wife," Luna confessed.

 Chapter 39 - Acceptance

    Elaine Ye stared at her daughter as if Luna grew another head on her shoulder. She wasn''t joking, right? Luna would never marry a man out of the blue without a valid reason. She knew Jasper and Luna were having problems, but Elaine never thought that it was because of Hero Li. Or she thought so.


    "I''m serious, Mom." Luna''s tone was almost apologetic to Elaine''s ears. She''d never heard her daughter sound like this for a long time.


    "So the baby ��"


    Luna nodded in confirmation. She couldn''t hide it anymore. "Yes."


    "He didn''t force you?" Elaine inquired, her eyes widened in disbelief. She saw Luna trembled a little;nonetheless, she''d noticed it.


    Luna tried to gather her thoughts and took a deep breath. She had a choice, but she''d chosen Hero over Sienna.


    "He didn''t. Hero didn''t force me to marry him." She insisted and fidgeted. "Mom, please give us your blessings." She gave a slight bow to her mother, which caught Elaine off-guard. Did her daughter really love this man that much that she would forget Jasper and seek for her approval?


    There was a sudden gleam in Hero''s eyes when he heard Luna utter his name. This was the first time she called him by his name, and he was deeply pleased.


    Knowing that it was too late for her to object, Elaine conceded. If this was her daughter''s choice, she could respect that. Luna had been a responsible daughter since she was young and had never given her problems while growing up.


    There might be no love between Luna and Hero, but she could tell that, at least, they''re attracted to each other. Or maybe they hadn''t realized the love they held for each other yet.


    "Go home with your husband then. I''ll stay here with Julian. You also need to take a rest, Luna. It''s not only your own that you who should pay attention to. Now that you''re pregnant, be easy on yourself, okay?"


    Warmth spread through Luna as she heard her mother''s acceptance. At least, she didn''t have to hide it from her mother anymore, but it would be wise not to announce her marriage to Hero in public since it might start an uproar from the Jiang family. Even if Luna Jiang was disowned by her father, the Jiang Matriarch still considered Luna as part of the family.


    "Mom, thank you. Really. You don''t know how much this means to me." Luna held her mother''s hands and shed tears in front of her.


    "Silly girl," Elaine chuckled as she wiped away the tears from her daughter''s cheeks. "You know I''ll support you whatever you choose. If it is a mistake, then learn from it. But I trust your judgment. You can talk to me anytime if you need help." Elaine reminded her.


    Luna left the hospital with Hero. Just when she was about to ask for their arrangements, Hero beat her into it.


    "You will move to my place today. Just pick up your things, and we will be on our way home," he told her. He started the engine of his car and drove towards Corinne''s apartment where Luna was temporarily staying.


    Upon arriving at the apartment building, Hero and Amber were left in the car while Luna took the stairs to take her belongings. She was greeted by Little Mia, who was playing with her dog, Fluffy.


    "Aunty Luna!" Mia yelled from the living area and ran toward Luna when she saw her taking off her shoes at the doorway.


    "Hello, Little Princess. How''s your day going?" Luna picked up the girl from the ground and tickled her sides.


    Mia squealed on Luna''s arms. "Aunty! Stop! You tickle monster!"


    Luna gasped and feigned being hurt by Mia''s words.


    "Did you just call me a tickle monster?"


    Mia put both of chubby little hands on Luna''s cheeks and kissed her nose.


    "I''m joking, Aunty! Of course, you''re beautiful. You''re a beautiful tickle monster." The little girl giggled.


    Luna heard footsteps coming their way. She lifted her head only to see her friend, Corinne, smiling at them.


    "Is Julian okay now? Is he awake?" Corrine asked.


    Luna smiled bitterly and shook her head.


    "Julian isn''t in a critical condition now, but he wouldn''t wake up anytime soon."


    "What about your expenses? Do I need to lend you money so you can pay for his medicines?" Corinne worriedly asked. She felt that everything wasn''t doing well for Luna lately. Not only Luna lost her boyfriend to another friend, but Julian being involved in an accident made it hard for her.


    Embarrassment stirred within Luna. Should she also come clean to her friend about her marriage to Hero Li, their own boss?


    "It''s fine, Corinne. You don''t have to do that anymore. We already settled his bills."


    Corinne gasped. Taking the expression on Luna''s face, she could tell something big happened recently.


    "How? Did you seek your father''s help? Julian is still his son after all."


    Luna shook her head and released Little Mia from her hands. She let the little girl play with her dog while she talked to Corinne.


    "Corinne, can keep this secret for me until we''re ready?" Luna hesitated.


    "What is it? You know you can always confide in me." Corinne ?ssured her.


    "I married President Li, and yes, the same President Li that owns the company we''re working on."

 Chapter 40 - There鈥檚 No Love Between the Two

    "Luna!" Corinne gripped Luna''s arm and gave her a shake. Her wide eyes stared at Luna''s as she tried to see if she was joking or not.


    Did she just say she married their President Li?! What the hell was happening to her friend?! How the hell did she ?ssociate herself with their aloof and reserved boss!


    "You aren''t joking, right? For fu?k''s sake, you just broke up with that idiot, Jasper!" Corinne threw her arms in the air in frustration before turning her back to Luna. It all made sense now: why Luna wasn''t trying to get back with Jasper and had let that bitch, Aiko, take away her boyfriend. Her eyes landed at her young daughter who was giggling as she played with Luna''s dog.


    "Please, Luna. Tell me what''s happening to you?" Corinne begged.


    They had known each other for years and been with each other through the up and downs of their lives. When she first met Aiko who was trying to get close to Luna, she already had a hunch that the woman had malicious intent against Luna, but Luna had claimed that Aiko deserved a chance to prove herself.


    Luna took a deep sigh. She felt compelled to explain everything to Corinne. After all, she was the only one who helped her without asking for anything in exchange. She took her friend''s hand and lead her back to the kitchen where they could talk privately and out of Mia''s hearing.


    Corinne served her a cup of tea as they sat at the dining table. Her eyes wandered at Luna''s face and figure, she could tell that Luna hadn''t been sleeping well lately. The exhaustion and darkening of her eyes were obvious. She looked fragile and frail that one gust of wind would blow her over.


    "Remember that celebration party at the bar last month?" Luna started. Her problems all started on that fateful night when Aiko tricked her and slept with Hero in his hotel room.


    "Yes, I remember. I remember you leaving the bar with Aiko, but she came back alone. She told us you asked her to call a cab for you and already went home so we shouldn''t worry about your safety."


    Luna gritted her teeth. That Aiko! Such a big fat liar that she was!


    "No, she didn''t help me call a cab. She tricked me to sleep with another man!" she hissed.


    "Wait. What?!" Corinne''s eyes were wide as saucers. Aiko was lying to them all along?


    "She told me that Jasper was checked in at the hotel and had given me an access card to his room." Luna chewed her lower lip. She should have known better when Aiko persistently convinced her to sleep and spend the night with Jasper, only to find out that she had shared the bed with Hero instead.


    "I really thought it was Jasper �� but how wrong I was when I woke up the next morning."


    "What does President Li have to do with this?" Corinne was baffled as to why President Li ended up married to her friend. It then dawned to her. Her jaws dropped upon realization. She gaped at Luna, her forefinger pointing at her.


    "You mean��"


    "Yes," Luna confirmed Corinne''s unspoken question. "I woke up in President Li''s bed and not Jasper''s. I don''t know how and why Aiko set me up with him. Minutes after, I realized my mistake. She came outside the door and knocked loudly, calling out my name as if she was confident that she could convince Jasper that I was cheating on him."


    "That''s so despicable. How was she able to get President Li''s access card in the first place? Did she pay someone to steal it?"


    Luna shrugged her shoulders and rubbed her temples. She was getting dizzy again, and it wouldn''t be nice to pass out on her friend''s kitchen.


    "I''m not sure about the details, but I was certain she was the one responsible for this predicament. If it wasn''t for her, Jasper wouldn''t leave me, and President Li wouldn''t have to pursue after me."


    "He likes you?"


    Luna wasn''t sure what Hero wanted from her. Maybe it was her body, or he was attracted to her, but she didn''t care anymore. It wouldn''t change anything. She was already married to him, and just like what he said earlier, she belonged to him.


    "President Li do whatever he wishes. Now, that I married him, I know that I''m also trapped in this marriage. The only things good about this are that his daughter accepted me already and Julian''s life is now out of danger."


    Corinne didn''t like what Luna was implying. She dearly hoped her friend didn''t sell herself to President Li to save her little brother, but Corinne knew. She knew what Luna did and sacrificed for her brother''s sake.


    "Can you divorce him? Did he give you a certain period as to how long you two should stay married to each other? There''s no love between the two of you. If the day comes when he loses his interest in you, it will be easier for him to give your freedom."


    Luna shook her head. With the way that was going on with her life, she didn''t think Hero would release her from this forced marriage anytime soon. Not when she was carrying his child.


    "I''m afraid not. I''m pregnant with his child."

 Chapter 41 - My New Husband Awaits for Me

    Corinne gasped. So was that the real reason why Luna married President Li? After all, knowing her friend, Luna would have walked away and left, raising the child alone without informing anyone about it.


    "How far along?" she asked. While Luna''s abdomen hadn''t shown any signs of her pregnancy, Corinne knew better. So all that exhaustion and sleepiness Luna endured from the past days had been caused by her pregnancy. Where would this leave her?


    "About eight weeks or so," Luna grumbled. "I''m here to tell you I''m leaving. President Li wants me to move in his place right away," she added.


    "But what about your job? Are you still going to work for him, or did he also tell you to resign from your post and focus on your child?"


    Luna ran both of her hands on her face in frustration. They hadn''t really talked about their plans for the future. Of course, with her being pregnant, she supposed that Hero Li would agree if she told him she had to resign from work and look after Amber and their unborn child. But was it really that easy?


    "I suppose I have to resign before people start noticing my baby bump. I also don''t like how Sienna is keeping tracks on me."


    Her friend etched a deep frown. "Why would she do that? I thought Sienna doesn''t like you."


    Luna lifted her cup and sipped the warm tea from it. "She''s making sure her enemy is at bay and not trying to conspire against her."


    Corrine scoffed. Sienna was such a paranoid bitch then.


    "Conspire? Wasn''t she the one who''s trying to offend you all this time? I swear Luna, I don''t understand how could you attract bimbos and scheming bitches. Is there some kind of invisible warning on your forehead that says ''Hey bitches, try to poke on my business and piss me big time.'' "  She then made a move with her fingers, drawing an invisible tag in the air.


    Luna laughed at her friend''s antics. Oh, it''s surely been a while since she last laughed and smiled happily. With her problems coming left and right, she b?r?ly had time to find amusement for herself.


    "Oh, Corinne. You are so funny. Maybe they are just bored with their lives and wanted what I have."


    "But still, it''s unfair��don''t you think! You''ve never done anything wrong against them. Why are they doing this to you?"


    Luna shrugged and stood up on her seat. She couldn''t stay for too long. Hero and Amber were waiting for her.


    "It''s always like that, Corinne. Some people are just envious and always want what they couldn''t have. I really have to go. My new husband is waiting for me downstairs. I wouldn''t like to argue with him later."


    "Alright. Pack your things then. I''ll go and explain it to Mia. We both know she wouldn''t like this." Corinne agreed before leaving Luna at the kitchen and went to her young daughter.


    Luna sauntered towards the guest room, pulled out her clothes, and threw it in her luggage. Fortunately, most of her things had been sold, and she only needed to keep a handful of her personal things and her dog, Fluffy. She then heard Mia crying from the living room while Corinne explained to the girl that Luna had to go.


    "I can''t play with Aunty Luna and Fluffy anymore?" she heard Mia asked Corinne when she closed the door of the guest room and walked back to where the mother and the daughter were.


    "Of course, you can still play with me and Fluffy. We will still visit you from time to time," Luna answered for her friend. Mia had been a good girl and was her stress reliever since she stayed living with them. But now that she had her own family to look after, Mia would have to understand that Luna could not stay with them anymore.


    Luna wiped the tears off of Mia''s cheeks and give her a kiss on her forehead.


    "Be a good girl, okay? Aunty Luna will still call you every night to check on you so you better behave."


    The girl sniffled and nodded. "Promise me, you will visit me soon." She demanded while offering her pinky finger for a promise. Luna smiled and hooked her pinky with Mia''s to make a pinky promise.


    "Aunty Luna promise she wouldn''t forget to visit her favorite godchild." She beamed.


    Luna wondered if Little Amber would like it if she introduced Mia to her. Would they get along?

 Chapter 42 - What Kind of Man She Was Married To?

    When Luna came back to the parking lot, she saw her husband leaning at his car, a cigarette in one hand. She stopped in her tracks and hesitated, but wasn''t it too late for her to back out?


    She didn''t trust him, and yet she chose his help over Sienna to save her brother. If she wasn''t so desperate, she wouldn''t have to ?ssociate herself with this man!


    What''s the point of refusing his company when she''s already his wife? They might be legally tied up together, but that didn''t mean he could have her wholeheartedly.


    Luna contemplated what she should do next. After making sure that Julian would be saved and get the proper treatments, she never gave a thought about what would happen to her. Would her husband still allow her to work, or would she be caged on a lonely and abandoned room��never to see another person again?


    She cast a quick glance at Hero, who was focused on the road, as he drove towards his home. Little Amber was giggling beside her as she ran her small, pudgy hand on Fluffy''s thick, white fur.


    Surprisingly, her dog liked the little girl very much but not Hero. The moment Fluffy saw Hero, he let out a low warning growl which Luna quickly halted.


    "Don''t pull his ears and tail, okay?" Luna reminded the little girl. Little Amber beamed a big smile on her direction and nodded. She never had a pet before, and she was thrilled that her new mommy''s dog was very cute and big. She loved running her chubby fingers on his thick fur.


    Meanwhile, Hero was listening silently and��every once in a while��take a look on his dashboard mirror to check on Luna and Amber. His daughter had been frantic when she woke up again, not seeing Luna on her side. He wondered how deep her connection to Luna was or if there would be a day that Amber would seek him out instead of her new mommy.


    Hero pushed those thoughts away from his mind. He had everything he needed right now.


    Luna kept her silence as Hero drove towards his home, but it wasn''t lost to her when the car took a turn in an exclusive subdivision, one of the largest upscale residential areas within the city.


    As far as she knew only the elite and wealthy families could afford to buy properties in a place like this. She bit her lip. Just what kind of man she was married to?


    Throughout their ride, Amber had chosen to cling on her��never letting her arm go��while Luna''s white dog chose to lay down beside the little girl.


    A few moments later, the car slowly came to a stop.


    Lifting her head, Luna looked around the luxurious neighborhood.


    "This is��"


    "Our home." Hero continued for her while he removed his seat belt and stepped outside the car.


    Opening the door on the backseat, he helped Luna with such a gentle manner that surprised her. She supposed it was because of her condition.


    Hero led her to the main door while carrying Amber in one hand. Luna kept her hold on Fluffy''s leash tightly.


    "What about my things?" Luna asked as she remembered leaving her box in Hero''s car.


    "Someone will bring it inside. Don''t bother."


    Once the front door opened, Luna''s eyes were greeted by a spacious living area that could be triple the size of her own apartment. The European furnishing was old but still looked expensive; a stairway leading to the second story could be seen to her right.


    "If you think this place is too small for us, I can arrange to find another house nearby." Hero said.


    Luna blinked rapidly. She wasn''t sure if she''d heard him right.


    What? This place was so spacious. She could do several cartwheels without bumping and breaking anything! This house made her feel that her old apartment was a shoebox!


    "What? You don''t like it?" Hero raised a brow. He then picked up his phone to make arrangements.


    "No!" Luna exclaimed, stopping her husband for making another outrageous act. She didn''t know if she should laugh or cry at the absurdity of their situation. "This place is more than fine. We can manage with it." She then gave Little Amber an awkward smile, "Right, darling?"


    Little Amber nodded her head. She wasn''t really concerned whether where they would stay as long as her new Mommy Luna was with her.


    "See?"


    "Alright. If that''s what you wish. Everything we need is here. If you need something, just let me know, and I''ll have someone get it for you."


    "Okay," Luna nodded, hoping he would just drop the topic of moving somewhere again.


    Right then, Hero''s phone rang.


    "Hello. Okay, I''ll be there in fifteen minutes," Hero told whoever on the other line before turning to his wife. Luna chewed her lower lip as she continued to look around. So there would be the three of them staying at this huge house?


    Hanging up on his phone call, Hero took something on his coat and handed something to Luna.


    "These are the keys to this house, and this card is for you to keep. I need to go back and finish some work. You stay here with Amber and have dinner without me. Is that alright?"


    Luna nodded, and without another word, Hero left without saying goodbye to his daughter. Once he was out, Luna looked down on her palm to see if she was imagining things.


    Luna huffed, trying not to roll her eyes in front of a child.


    "It''s only you and me tonight, darling. Do you think you can help Aunty with dinner?"


    She wasn''t bothered by the fact that her new husband just left her during their wedding night. At least, she would be saved from further embarrassment.

 Chapter 43 - Lady of the House

    Luna thought that she and Amber would be alone, but a moment after Hero left, an old woman and a young teenage boy came out from the kitchen and greeted her.


    "Master Hero has informed us about your arrival, Milady. Your things have been moved by Rico, your personal bodyguard, to your room. I''m the caretaker of this house; you may call me Madam Lin. This is my grandson, Adam."


    "Hello, I''m Luna Jiang. I hope we get along." Luna slightly inclined her head.


    Madam Lin was pleased that the woman her master chose to marry wasn''t a frivolous woman. Luna Jiang might not be as pretty as the other women she''d seen flaunting to get Hero''s attention, but she could tell that this woman was a good choice.


    Even their young miss Little Amber seemed bewitched by Luna Jiang''s charm. Everyone within the estate knew that Little Amber doesn''t like people touching her, but with Luna, she seemed like a little puppy that follows her owner with wagging tails.


    "We''ve prepared your dinner, Miss Luna. I''m sure you''re tired from your long day." Madam Lin then turned to Little Amber. "Does Little Amber want to join us for dinner?"


    The little girl nodded in response and held her Mommy Luna''s hand. Luna smiled at her before following Madam Lin for dinner. She noticed the lack of dust in the front hall and hallways. Most surfaces were polished and cleaned, giving a light scent of lavender within the area.


    Following Madam Lin''s lead, they came to the tall doors that led to the dining room, where another man stood waiting for them to arrive. Bowing low, the man opened the double doors and let them inside the dining room.


    Everything was spotless. Luna couldn''t even see a speck of dirt anywhere. The long table reflected light from the chandelier, and the flooring was so shiny one could see one''s own reflection.


    Looking towards the table, she saw two placemats with shiny silverware and a plate of steak with mashed potato on one side.


    "Are you hungry?" Luna asked Little Amber, "It''s getting late. We should eat and take a rest."


    Little Amber nodded and sat in front of the dining table, waiting for her mommy to sit beside her. Madam Lin, Rico, and Adam watched in shock as Little Amber followed Luna''s suggestion without throwing a fit.


    Usually, by this time, their Little Amber would refuse to dine with anyone. She would throw things and cry until either Master Hero or Miss Joanna arrives to console her.


    But with Miss Luna��


    What sorcery was this?


    She only said a few words, and Little Amber listened to her without making a fuss.


    "Eat more okay? You seem to lose some weight after being hospitalized. I will be sad if you get sick again."


    Little Amber slowed down eating to stare back at her mommy. She blinked twice before nodding once again. She then started eating with a serious expression on her face. She even ate the vegetables that she hated the most.


    She obediently ate everything that was placed on her plate until it was clean.


    The other elders within the room stood in shock as they watch Little Amber ate heartily. How could this be possible?! Did their Master Hero marry Miss Luna because of Little Amber? Even professional doctors couldn''t cure their little miss''s bad habits.


    Madam Lin regained her senses and smiled. Finally, someone was able to tame their young miss! She hoped that there wouldn''t be another round of tantrum anytime soon. She cringed at the memory of the ruined living space the last time Little Amber threw a tantrum.


    There was a lot of yelling and crying, with broken furniture and expensive vases crashed on the floor. Ah, thinking about it was really a disaster.


    Now that Miss Luna was here, Madam Lin hoped that she would be able to help Little Amber.


    Finishing their meals, Luna fed her dog and gave him a bowl of fresh water to drink. She then volunteered to help Little Amber take a bath and tuck her to bed while Madam Lin cleaned the dining room and the kitchen.


    Adam was kind enough to lead Luna towards Little Amber''s room. She wasn''t surprised to see the walls painted with light pink and a four-poster bed complete with drapes and a canopy placed at the center of the room.


    Should she resign from work? Would her husband allow her to her work?


    These past few weeks had been a lot of ups and downs in her life. One moment, she was happy being Jasper''s girlfriend; the next moment, she was now President Li''s wife. She knew that it wasn''t the end of it. She still had to find out what really happened to her brother''s accident. She had this nagging feeling that it wasn''t just a coincidence.


    Realizing that the girl had finally fallen asleep, she slipped out from the bed and closed the door silently, hoping that she wouldn''t wake up the child in her slumber.


    Luna released a sigh she didn''t know she was holding. It was only then it came to her that she didn''t know where to sleep!


    Being the new lady of the house, did that mean she shared a room with her husband?

 Chapter 44 - A Daughter From a Mistress

    In the end, Luna chose to wait for her husband in their living area, reading the emails she hadn''t checked for days. There were several emails she received from her colleagues, but none of them were from Jasper.


    Did he really leave to pursue Aiko and grant his family''s wishes? If she shared the same status as Sienna, would his family change their mind and accept her?


    Luna shook her head. This was no time to muse the what-ifs. Her reality was far from what she had in mind. Now, she was someone else''s wife, bearing the child from that fateful night she shared with Hero Li. Whatever Jasper did with Aiko, she had nothing to do with it.


    Still, why did she feel pain in her ?h?st? Why were her eyes pricked with tears as she thought how badly she lost to Aiko? If it wasn''t for Aiko, she wouldn''t end up in Hero''s room, losing her v?r??n?t? to another man that wasn''t her boyfriend.


    She leaned her back, eyes fixated at the expensive chandelier in the room she was. The Luna from the past, where she could rely on Jasper, was gone. The last time she saw him, a conflicted expression was on his face that she couldn''t forget. She''d asked what was wrong, and he only brushed her question, claiming everything was fine. She had no idea where he was and Aiko, but she shouldn''t care.


    Because right now, she was Hero Li''s wife and a pregnant one at that. Even if she didn''t love him, maybe�� just maybe, they could build their relationship as husband and wife with respect and trust.


    Lying on the couch, she wondered if she''d done the right thing. If her suspicion was correct, Sienna had something to do with Julian''s accident.


    Thinking about it, that woman was only after her and Julian''s rightful inheritance that the Jiang family left for them. If she''d agreed and signed away her rights, would her brother be safe by now? Would that also mean she wouldn''t get forced to marry Hero Li to save him?


    Luna closed her eyes. The bitterness in her heart hadn''t lessened. From being set up by her friend, Julian''s accident, and Jasper''s sudden departure with Aiko; she suddenly found herself in a whirlwind of fate. It was muddle-headed hypocrisy if someone told her now that all was just a coincidence.


    When Hero came back home, he was surprised to find his new wife sleeping on the couch. What was wrong with this woman? He already told her that she could do anything as she pleased with their new home, and yet she still chose to sleep on the couch? Weird woman. He married a weird woman.


    She was still wearing the same shirt and pants she had when they arrived. Her white smooth feet were resting over the armrest.


    Hero raised a brow before shaking his head. He silently strode towards her and lifted her carefully not to wake her up but failed.


    As if sensing someone was holding her, Luna stirred in Hero''s arms and sluggishly woke up. It took her some time to register than someone was indeed holding her. Jolting her from the shock, she almost hit Hero''s face with her head.


    "Careful, or else we''ll fall together," his masculine, stern voice warned her. It sounded familiar, but Luna couldn''t remember who it was.


    Luna blinked twice before realizing he was taking her upstairs in slow motion, making sure he wouldn''t miss a single step. It was only then she remembered that she was pregnant with his child so he had to be extra careful.


    Unconsciously, Luna wrapped her arms around his shoulder to steady herself. Hero felt her ?h?st pressed against him but didn''t utter a word. Only when Luna''s cheeks blushed profusely and realized what she had done did he chuckle.


    "What''s wrong? We''re already husband and wife, and we''ve consummated our marriage. You''re still shy?" he inquired, his eyes smiling at her with amusement.


    "This shouldn''t happen again, alright? You shouldn''t forget that you''re pregnant. What if you catch a cold? You don''t have to wait for me to come home next time," he chided her.


    Luna wanted to argue that she wasn''t waiting for him. She was only resting for a while but ended up sleeping on the couch when he found her.


    "Alright," she conceded easily. It was already late, and it''s useless to argue with him at this ungodly hour.


    She didn''t think she could act leisurely when Hero was around. Luna still didn''t know why Hero married her. In fact, he needed not to marry her for the sake of their child. He could fight with her for custody in court, but he didn''t. Instead, he married her and gave her a proper title as his wife.


    This home�� this villa that Hero called their home was located in a rich, executive village in the far eastern part of the city. The ambiance was good, with fresh air and beautiful scenery.


    This man�� this husband of hers, Luna didn''t dare to ?ssume that he liked her. In fact, aside from Jasper, she never dated anyone.


    Her husband had an aquiline nose, dashing eyebrows, and deep eyes. He had thin lips and skin so fair that other women would be jealous of, but what Luna saw was a man so cold and eccentric that made her flinched unconsciously.


    Hero Li. Of course, everyone within the city knew that name. He was kind of a legend in the business world, saving his family from bankruptcy.


    What about her? She was just a daughter from a mistress of a wealthy businessman. Wasn''t Hero afraid to receive a scornful look and opinion of the public by marrying someone like her?


    "We''re here," Hero said as he brought her down, breaking her trance.


    When Hero stopped his steps, Luna found herself outside of Amber''s bedroom. Why did he bring her here?

 Chapter 45 - You Have Me Now

    Luna was startled as she couldn''t understand what her husband''s motive was. She opened her mouth to say something, but it failed her.


    "What?" Hero Li raised a brow at her, seeing her conflicting emotions flashed on her eyes. His face hovered close to hers. "Wife, have you forgotten that you''ve given yourself to me?"


    The dim-lit hallway gave him a menacing look, making Luna frightened.


    "I��" she gathered her courage and glared back at him. "Mr. Li, I''m pretty sure you''re also aware why I agreed to marry you," she said with defiance.


    Hero stepped forward, forcing Luna to step back until she found herself pinned against the door. She ?r??n?d inwardly.


    ''Not again,'' she thought.


    Hero trapped her in a kabedon, refusing to release her.


    "Miss Jiang should also remember her part of our deal. There''s no turning back now." His eyes flashed mischievously. "If I said I''m starving and would like to eat meat, would you refuse me?"


    Ah, this shameless man! How could he ask her about it casually? Didn''t he already know that what happened between them in the past was a mistake? She didn''t intend to hand herself to him on a silver platter!


    "That was a mistake! Please don''t bring it up again!" she exclaimed.


    "Oh? You still think it was a mistake? It brought you to me so how could it be a mistake?" Hero whispered closely in her ear, his warm breath making her heartbeat race.


    "Mr. Li, why don''t we set some rules here." Luna gritted her teeth, uncovered her flushed face and placed her trembling hands on her husband''s ?h?st to force him to distance himself from her.


    Hero chuckled and stepped back.


    "I''m listening, wife," he said, listening carefully as to what Luna will say.


    "First, please don''t touch me without my permission!" It was already embarrassing on her side to lose her v?r??n?t? to a stranger and got pregnant out of wedlock.


    Hero nodded to himself. It should be easy for him. Anyway, as long as he could seduce her to climb willingly on his bed, he didn''t mind at all.


    "Second, if you have another woman. You better make sure you won''t show her to me or bring her home."


    Such a piece of cake! Hero thought. He wasn''t planning to have an affair with another woman anyway. Why couldn''t Luna understand that she alone was enough to satisfy his d?s?r??


    Ah, Jasper Mo was really an idiot for choosing Aiko Chen over Luna Jiang. What''s more, he was a coward for not telling Luna that he was about to marry that Aiko and would have to break up with her.


    How foolish! Why would Jasper choose that conniving woman than Luna? However, that was fine with Hero. Jasper threw a treasure that landed willingly on his own hands. He wouldn''t make the same mistake Jasper did.


    "Fine, I give you my word. Don''t worry about other women. This would be the least of your concern."


    One woman was already enough to give him a headache anyway, and with the kind of daughter he had, Amber didn''t accept anyone until she met Luna Jiang.


    "Lastly, please don''t disclose our marriage to the public unless it''s necessary. Our marriage was too soon. I don''t want people to start rumors and gossip about it."


    Knowing it might be overheard by little Amber, Luna wanted her from the public''s judgmental opinions over her marriage.


    "Deal."


    As soon as both parties agreed with the rules, Hero opened the room across Amber''s room, lit the lights on, and let his wife in.


    "This is your room. Unless you''re ready to share your bed with me, you may stay here," he said nonchalantly, pleased at how Luna blushed on his words.


    Luna forced herself to ignore Hero''s teasing and looked around. The room itself was fully furnished. Although she was the daughter of a businessman, she was never pampered to this extent.


    Her room was carpeted with white wool. She estimated that the room itself was over 80 square meters, which was larger than her previous apartment. There was a queen-size bed installed in the middle while a dresser�� a wardrobe was placed on the right side of the room. The wardrobe has dresses and clothes in her size.


    Luna gasped as she checked the tags and labels. These kinds of clothes�� she''d never been able to afford it with her salary. She frequently saw Sienna wearing these designer brand clothes. It must cost Hero a fortune to purchase all of these.


    On her left, a small living room and a door leading to the bathroom could be found. Aside from that, the room had a balcony where she could see the perfect scenery once the sun rises.


    "If you find something lacking, you only need to tell me so I can arrange it," Hero told her as she threw herself over the soft bed. She rolled on her back and stared at the white ceiling above her.


    "This is more than enough for me, Mr. Li," Luna replied. For someone who''d recently lost her home, this room was indeed more than what she could ask for. She closed her eyes, feeling exhausted from the long day she endured.


    "Mr. Li? My dear wife, you better address me properly."


    "Yes, milord. Please let this subject of yours rest."


    Noticing the sadness on her voice, Hero sat at the edge of the bed and ran the back of his forefinger on her cheek. Luna stirred but didn''t open her eyes. She was dead tired that she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillows.


    Hero leaned forward and was about to kiss her parted lips but stopped. Instead, he watched as her ?h?st heaved as she slept. His deep onyx eyes set on her face.


    "Since you married me, I ?ssure you''ll never lack for something in the future. It''s enough that you have me now. You wouldn''t need to suffer in the future."

 Chapter 46 - Throw Everything in the Past

    Although Luna slept past midnight last night, her body clock stilled followed her daily routine and woke up at exactly 6 AM. She forced herself out of the bed, took shower, and changed into a new set of clean clothes before going downstairs to prepare breakfast for her husband and Little Amber.


    However, Madam Lin had begun to prepare and serve breakfast. Luna ran to the sink in a hurry to wash her hands clean so she could ?ssist Madam Lin in the kitchen.


    Madam Lin gasped as she saw Luna starting to peel and cut the vegetables she left on the kitchen counter.


    "Miss Luna, you don''t need to do this. Leave it to me," she said in a panic. She was afraid that Hero would reprimand her seriously if he found out that she was letting his new wife cook. However, she couldn''t help but also admire Luna Jiang for her humility. She wasn''t like those women who tried to seduce their master in public.


    "It''s okay, Madam Lin. Don''t worry about me. I''ve been doing this for a long time. I wouldn''t cut or hurt myself." Luna smiled at the older woman.


    "Let her be, Madam Lin. As long as my wife wants it, you should listen to her." Hero''s voice took both women''s attention, and they looked at his direction after.


    Hero Li was standing in the doorway with Little Amber in his arms. Luna noticed the redness on the little girl''s eyes and knew then that she''d been crying.


    "Is everything alright?" She brought down the peeling knife from her hand and washed her hands at the sink again before wiping it dry.


    "She woke up alone and thought you''ve left her again," her husband replied as Luna strode towards them and wiped the tears from Little Amber''s cheeks.


    "Darling, I''m so sorry. Were you afraid?" she whispered to the little girl who was still sobbing.


    Little Amber shook her head and extended both of her arms towards Luna, hoping her new Mommy wouldn''t deny her again. Hero passed his daughter to Luna easily and moved to pull a chair in the dining area while waiting for the dishes to be served.


    Luna sat across him with Little Amber on her ??p. She reassured the girl that she wouldn''t leave without a word again and explained that her room was just across hers so Little Amber should be able to find her easily.


    Little Amber ceased her tears and sat next to her new Mommy, eating everything Luna put on her plate in silence. Hero watched the two women in his life interact and was relieved that his wife was able to stop Amber from throwing another fit.


    "Why don''t you resign from work and stay here at home with Amber? You should pay attention more to your health now," Hero asked his wife as he busied himself with his breakfast.


    They hadn''t discussed it, and Luna was thankful that Hero brought it up.


    "I was about to ask you about that. There were still reports and projects I have yet to finish and would like to finish before I resign," Luna said nervously. She wasn''t sure if her husband would agree, but she couldn''t leave and let Corrine take over the huge workload she left at the office.


    "Alright. I''ll allow you to work for a month but see to it that you wouldn''t meet clients outside the working hours. I don''t want to see or hear my wife being spotted at places not suited for her status.


    "Okay." Luna agreed with him and didn''t dare to argue. Hero simply meant that she could not hang out and drink with her workmates or friends for the sake of her baby.


    "By the way, I heard Jasper Mo and Aiko Chen came back from their overseas trip last night. His family invited me to a party. Do you want to take a guess what kind of party they''re throwing?" Hero asked amusedly, his eyes flashing that same menacing look Luna seen on him.


    Luna shook her head, but deep in her heart, she knew what it was. She shut her eyes and took calming breaths. She couldn''t understand why Hero had to mention it to her. Jasper was just a part of her past, and there would be no way or a chance for them to be together again.


    Little Amber glared at her father upon noticing her Mommy Luna''s crestfallen face. Why was he bullying her Mommy?


    Hero ignored his daughter and chuckled to his wife''s reaction. She must be trying hard to pretend that she didn''t care, but her face betrayed her.


    "Why, of course, it''s Jasper Mo''s birthday party. As his ex-girlfriend, you should know better than I do, no? But since the Mo family have the guts to invite the Li family, Madam Li has no right to decline this invitation."


    The sinister smile on her husband''s face made her frown. She suddenly felt that this man�� her husband was trying to bully her.


    "Hero, I thought we agreed we wouldn''t disclose our marriage unless it''s needed," she mumbled.


    "We did." Hero nodded and took a sip from his hot drink. "But I don''t like it when my wife brood because of another man. You have to face them eventually. Why don''t you make a clean cut tomorrow and forget Jasper Mo for good?"


    Luna was silent for a moment. What Hero said made sense. It would be best if she could put whatever was between her and Jasper to an end. There would be no difference anyway if she met him now or later. She could only hope that Jasper would leave her alone and let her live in peace.


    "Alright, I''ll go with you." She decided. It would be better if she could throw everything in the past so she could move forward with her new life as Hero''s wife.


    "Great." Hero was pleased with his wife''s answer. "I''ll ask Daryl to make preparations then."

 Chapter 47 - Aiko Chen Is Below Me

    The next day, Luna went home with Little Amber as soon as her work ended. She removed her makeup and stood under the shower, thinking if she made the right decision to attend Jasper''s birthday party uninvited.


    The fact that Jasper and Aiko came back and didn''t bother to call her had made it clear her presence wasn''t welcome.


    She leaned her head back as the warm water washed away the sweat and dirt from her skin. She then heard the bathroom''s door open from the outside. She shrieked and pulled a clean towel from the rack to cover herself.


    Luna stared at the door and saw her husband standing there with a grim expression. His tall figure was steady, but his face was sullen. He didn''t say anything so Luna stepped out of the shower cubicle and walked towards him, only stopping when there''s a good distance between them.


    "What''s wrong?" she asked, but he kept his silence.


    Instead, he offered his hand and pulled her back to her bedroom until they reached her walk-in wardrobe. Hero let her sit on a stool and impatiently rummage in the closet, fiddling with the hangers before pulling out a lingerie set and cream-colored dress.


    "Put this on," he said with irritation.


    "Won''t you tell me what''s wrong?" Luna accepted it with a blush, clearly aware that only a towel was covering her nudity in front of her husband.


    "When you left the office, a messenger arrived and sent an invitation letter with your name on it. It was the same invitation the Mo family later sent to their guests. It was from Aiko Chen," Hero said before walking out the door. He was pissed that another woman was daring enough to bully his wife.


    ''Want to bully her? Then, let''s see who''ll lose face tonight!'' he thought.


    Luna checked the dress Hero had given her and shrugged as she thought that she really couldn''t understand him at all. Why did he insist on bringing her anyway?


    The length of her dress reached above her knees, and it tightly wrapped her body, showing her curves in the right places.


    Two people were sitting at the two ends of the rear seat of the limousine. Hero''s eyes were closed while Luna chose to look out of the window. Today had been a rainy day. Even before she left for work, it had been raining nonstop.


    She had no idea where they were since she''d never been in this district before. High-rise buildings filled her scenery with the black and rumbling sky above them. Corinne messaged her that she''d also received an invitation and call from Aiko, telling her not to miss the occasion.


    Her jaws hardened when she heard it. Why did Aiko hold such animosity against her? She''d always thought that she was a good friend, and yet she was just too dumb to realize Aiko had been playing with her all along.


    Half an hour later, they arrived at the Saffron Spring Hotel where the venue of the party was. The guard opened the door for Hero. He got out of the car and held out his arm in Luna''s direction.


    Luna watched his gesture expectantly, and she heaved a sigh. There was an inkling feeling in her heart that she shouldn''t be here because she knew�� she knew in her heart what awaited her inside. She stepped out and accepted her husband''s help, and just like that, the Li couple entered the hotel.


    It was only when they entered the elevator did Hero release her.


    "I''ll be meeting with my business partners around. You go and find your best friend in the crowd. I''m curious to see what kind of show Jasper Mo and Aiko Chen prepared for us," Hero said as he adjusted his collar.


    Luna nodded and didn''t utter a word.


    "Stay with your friend if you must. I don''t trust Aiko Chen if you''re left alone with her. Joanna will also attend so you may stay with her."


    At that, Luna clenched her hand tightly on her clutch bag. Her eyes shone with defiance and anger for Aiko Chen.


    "I wouldn''t let her step on me again," she said decisively.


    Hero chuckled at her words, pleased that his wife was starting to grow some backbone to defend herself. He leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek before whispering on her ear.


    "That''s right. Show them what you got. Show them that my wife isn''t easy to be bullied."


    Luna turned to face him with a straight face.


    "Aiko Chen is below me. She isn''t worthy of my time at all."


    She saw the smirk that spread on her husband''s lips before he parted with her.


    The elevator arrived at their floor, and the door opened.


    "I''ll see you later. Don''t go around making a scene, Luna." He threw a side glance at her, and she smiled faintly.


    This party was hosted by the Mo family who had prestige in the business world so the majority of the guests invited would attend just to give the Mo family some face. This was also the reason why Hero Li came to attend even if he despised seeing Jasper Mo''s face.


    When the couple arrived at the hotel, it appeared that many people had already arrived at the party. Luna glanced at the direction where her husband went and saw him being flocked with older businessmen.


    "Luna! There you are!" Someone called her name and turned to the direction where it came from and saw her sister-in-law striding towards her with a big smile.


    "Joanna��" Luna lifted her lips into a small smile in response. "Hero told me you''ll be here."


    "Oh? He did? I was planning to surprise you, and yet he ruined my plan?" The woman pouted and then wrapped an arm on Luna''s. "Stay with me. My brother is such a demanding person, but it''s a good thing you''re here. I despise this kind of occasion. Just a bunch of people trying to show off." She scoffed.

 Chapter 48 - Jasmine Xuan

    Luna smiled apologetically to her sister-in-law. Somehow, she was relieved that she wouldn''t be left alone for tonight.


    "I''ll be troubling you then, Joanna."


    Joanna waved a hand her hand before dragging Luna away from the elevator. More guests were showing up, and it wouldn''t be nice to be stuck in a crowd of people at this time.


    "Nonsense. You are my sister now, and I prefer your company to others," she said as her eyes swept around them. Her brother suddenly marrying this woman surprised her, but knowing Luna''s personality, Joanna could only hope that she wouldn''t give up easily on her brother and Little Amber.


    "You have to be careful though. Hero informed me about Jasper Mo and Aiko Chen and told me to keep an eye on you. Really though, how come you didn''t notice Aiko was stabbing you from the back?" she sounded annoyed.


    "Ah, just a moment of idiocy. I should have known she was up to no good." Luna Jiang admitted. She watched the other women moving around or flocking together as if they''ve known each other for a long time.


    It wasn''t Luna''s first time to attend her ex-boyfriend''s birthday party, but she was never introduced to the guests as his girlfriend to avoid Jasper''s parents'' displeasure. Moreover, she''d attended various parties and events the Jiang family hosted as she was born a Jiang.


    Joanna led her to one of the vacant seats and chatted with her animatedly. Some female guests came to greet her, knowing she was the sister of the infamous President Li while giving Luna Jiang an awkward glance, not knowing what her relationship with Joanna Li was before leaving.


    "Are you Miss Li''s companion?" Luna heard a feminine voice from her right.


    She turned her head and saw a woman dressed in a black strapless dress. Her first impression was ''this woman was so pleasing to one''s eyes.''


    "No, she''s my��" Joanna wanted to introduce her as her sister-in-law, but Luna cut her off.


    "Hello," Luna nodded politely, "Yes, I''m Miss Li''s friend. I''m Luna Jiang."


    "Oh, where are my manners? Forgive me for not introducing myself. I''m Jasmine Xuan. I''m also Joanna''s friend. Nice to meet you." She gave Luna a toast and smile. "I hope we can also be friends since Joanna rarely introduces me to her other friends."


    "Shut it, Jasmine. We''ve known each other since we''re young." Joanna tried not to roll her eyes to her friend.


    "Oh, so it''s Miss Xuan. Nice to meet you, too." Luna smiled, slightly lifted her glass as her greeting before sipping her drink. It was a good thing Joanna reminded her not to drink alcoholic drinks, or else she would never hear the end of it from her husband.


    Aside from her mother, Joanna was the only person who knew about her pregnancy.


    Jasmine Xuan smiled in approval. She''d known Joanna Li for several years now, and it was rare for her to make friends with someone.


    A few other guests quickly joined in their conversation, but Luna and Joanna b?r?ly spoke to them. Noticing that Joanna Li wasn''t interested to continue, they left to meet the other guests that had just arrived.


    Joanna sighed and leaned on her seat, crossing her legs.


    "Finally, some peace for me." She grumbled. She didn''t care if she didn''t give them face; after all, they were only interested in being acquainted with her because of her brother.


    "Right, did you see Jasper Mo''s date today? Isn''t she the daughter from the Chen family?" Jasmine asked Joanna and had failed to notice the sudden change in Luna''s mood.


    Luna''s right eye twitched. Was Jasmine talking about Aiko Chen?


    "Hmm�� isn''t she Jasper Mo''s secretary? Why would I care about Aiko Chen when there''s already a Luna Jiang sitting beside me?" Joanna sneered back, which earned a laugh from her friend.


    Meanwhile, Luna had a shocked expression on her face. Jasper never mentioned to her that Aiko was working under his wing.


    Luna bit her lower lip and kept her silence.


    ''So it was like this��'' She suddenly felt really stupid, not seeing the scene clearly.


    Anyway, the Xuan and the Chen families had been after each other''s neck for years, and everyone within the industry knew about it.


    "Don''t forget about me, ah! I''m also here with you!" Jasmine Xuan complained but her face one filled with ridicule for Aiko Chen. She didn''t like that woman one bit and found her unbearable to talk with.


    Since Joanna didn''t want to talk about it, Jasmine guessed she couldn''t carry on the topic and dropped it.


    "Miss Jiang''s ring looks expensive. Where did you buy it?" Her gaze landed on Luna''s hand and saw her wedding ring.


    Luna blushed as she realized what Jasmine asked. She''d totally forgotten to switch the placement of her wedding ring. Initially, she wanted to remove it tonight, but Hero beat her to it and said she wasn''t allowed to remove her wedding ring at any given moment.


    Noticing the slight blush on her sister-in-law''s face, Joanna understood her predicament. She let out a low chuckle before turning to face her friend. Anyway, she couldn''t let Jasmine stay in the dark for too long. Besides, she might be helpful later just in case she and Luna couldn''t avoid trouble.


    She gestured Jasmine Xuan to move to closer so she could whisper in her hear. Joanna pulled her to the sofa she and Luna were seated.


    Luna looked away, trying to suppress the blush that crept on her face. She was really glad that Joanna stepped forward to help her. It was really awkward for her to tell her married status to strangers, much more for Jasmine Xuan whom she''d recently met.


    As Joanna let Jasmine know the secret, the latter''s eyes widened from shock. Her gaze then shifted to Luna and noticed her flushed face.


    "Is she really��?"


    "Yes. Why would I lie to you?" Joanna replied, taking a sip from her glass to hide her smile.

 Chapter 49 - Birthday Banquet

    Jasmine Xuan stared at Luna for a moment before bursting into laughter. Joanna curled her lips into a slight smile and drank some champagne from her glass.


    "Veronica will surely throw a fit once she finds out Hero remarried again, and it isn''t her," Jasmine said in a low voice.


    Joanna scoffed in return and shook her head. She didn''t dare to say it out loud since she thought Luna might not be ready to disclose her relationship with Hero.


    "She must be really dumb if she thinks my brother will marry someone like her."


    Luna thought she''d heard that name before then it dawned upon her. It was that same woman at the hospital, who she''d encounter when she first met Little Amber. Didn''t that woman say Little Amber would have no choice but to listen to her in the future once she married Amber''s father?


    Her jaws hardened as she thought how Veronica tried to bully their Little Amber. Luna decided then to talk about it with Hero. She would never let that woman hurt her stepdaughter again. Just remembering the scene where Little Amber came crying towards her that time was enough to make her blood boil from anger.


    ''Calm down, Luna. No one will be able to bully Amber now when you''re around,'' she told herself.


    "That''s reassuring." Jasmine slightly nodded, "Someone like Veronica shouldn''t be near with Amber."


    Earlier, she heard that Hero was spotted with a woman. Jasmine thought it was her friend, Joanna; but the other guest mentioned that it was a woman she''d never seen or met before. Of course, she was curious and took a look by finding Joanna first. She just didn''t expect that the unknown woman had managed to secure her place in Hero Li''s life by being his wife.


    "What about Amber though? Did she another tantrum when she found out Hero remarried?" she asked her friend confusedly. She knew that it would be hard for any woman to marry a man with extra baggage.


    Jasmine Xuan took a side glance towards Luna trying to see her mood, but she only noticed the conflicting emotions reflected on Luna''s eyes.


    Joanna let out a laugh. Little Amber would be the last person Luna had to worry about.


    "Ay, would you believe it? That our little demoness took a liking towards our Luna here. Since she met her, Amber is behaving well unless she wakes up not seeing Luna by her side."


    Jasmine was once again speechless from shock. Hero remarrying was one thing, but taming the little demoness was a difficult task. How the heck did Luna manage to tame Little Amber?


    Meanwhile, looking around them, Luna felt so out of place. She knew she shouldn''t though. True, it wasn''t her first time attending Jasper''s birthday party, and he would usually invite her out to eat in advance, knowing he wouldn''t be able to be with her on his special day.


    At that time, they were both attending university; Luna had little pocket money with her. Although she was a Jiang, the monthly allowance she received from the Jiang family couldn''t be compared to what Sienna and her siblings had.


    Heh, her father was really stingy after all. She and her brother, Julian Jiang, were never really acknowledged by their father. Only the old Grandmother Jiang was kind enough to treat them fairly.


    Jasper never asked her for a gift which made her feel guilty. Compared to his living standards, Luna felt like a peasant mixing with the nobility. She simply couldn''t afford any present to give him. In the end, she felt miserable and useless; Jasper would only ?ssure her that presents didn''t matter as long as she was with him.


    Such a sentimental woman that she was, Luna was moved by her ex-boyfriend''s words. She really thought that as long as Jasper Mo believed and had faith in her, other''s opinions didn''t matter. How wrong she was to delude herself that Jasper wouldn''t succumb to his own family''s pressure to leave her.


    Looking through the center of the banquet hall, a massive birthday cake could be seen, as well as VIP guests holding wine glasses laughing with each other.


    If it was like the previous birthday parties she attended, Jasper would show up with his parents by his side. She would be ignored through the night, with only stolen glances given her way.


    Luna held her glass tightly. She couldn''t understand why they needed to hide their relationship. Was he ashamed of her?


    She hadn''t given it a thought before, but now that there would be no future for the two of them, Luna realized that they were never meant to be since the start. She, an illegitimate daughter from the Jiang family, would never be accepted by the Mo family.


    Luna hated that her happiness was once again ruined because of her lineage. However, thinking about it, Hero probably knew by now what kind of family she came from.


    Wasn''t he bothered? Didn''t he find it repulsive? Wasn''t he afraid of what the public would say if they found out the kind of woman he married? What did he see in her anyway?


    Luna forced the thoughts away to clear her mind. She only needed to focus on tonight''s event, making sure she wouldn''t fall under Aiko''s schemes again. Rubbing her temple, she dearly wished that this party would end soon so she could lay her aching back on her comfy bed. She wasn''t sure if her willpower to endure the night would be enough to protect her.


    Her dog, Fluffy, must be enjoying this night more than her.


    At this moment��when Luna was busy clearing her thoughts, she heard clicking noise from a pair of high heels. When she turned around to see who it was, her body straightened.


    And for the first time since she found out she was pregnant, Luna felt like her morning sickness had come from the sight of Aiko walking towards her with a wide grin.

 Chapter 50 - Luna Jiang, I Really Like You

    Recently, Jasper Mo''s thoughts were filled with the woman he''d left behind, his expression and feelings getting more and more unsettled the more he thought about Luna Jiang. He first met her when she helped him to go to the nearest hospital using her old bicycle because of a severe stomachache.


    Since then, they''d become friends; eventually, he wooed her to become his girlfriend.


    "Luna Jiang, I really like you." Jasper Mo''s smile was as radiant the sun, enough to make any woman fall on his charm. Yet, it made Luna uncomfortable. She didn''t think one bit that she was beautiful. What did this chap saw in her, ah?


    Luna hesitated to agree first, thinking that an heir like him was like the rest of the young masters who only know how to burn their family''s money and play around with women. It took Jasper three years to make Luna say yes, and they''d been together since then.


    Now, Jasper Mo didn''t think he still deserved Luna Jiang after what he''d done. Clenching his fists at his side, Jasper took deep breaths to calm himself. Aiko had taken advantage of his weaknesses and had made him touch her that night.


    He shut his eyes and cursed himself. This was all a mistake, but it was his own fault anyway.


    Jasper heard his name being called. He then followed his mother''s ?ssistant out, only to see the woman he''d been thinking of with Joanna Li and Jasmine Xuan. He shocked to see her so beautiful tonight.


    The dress Luna was wearing might look normal, but for someone with a keen eye, it would be easy to tell that the dress cost a fortune.


    Where did she get the money to pay for it? Did her relationship with the Jiang family improve during his absence?


    Why did it seem like the time had stopped?


    His eyes then darted to Aiko who was walking towards Luna. He knew what Aiko was planning, but he could only grit his teeth from frustration. It was really a mistake that he agreed to his parents to take Aiko as his ?ssistant.


    Not only was Aiko an inefficient ?ssistant, but she''d managed to ruin his relationship with Luna Jiang with ease.


    If it wasn''t for this woman, then he and Luna wouldn''t have to part ways like this!


    Seeing Aiko now with that sarcastic grin on her face, Luna''s hand was itching to slap it away.


    ''No,'' she told herself. She''d only hurt herself if she slapped this woman, but that didn''t mean she''d give Aiko the satisfaction to play her like a fool again. Ah, her eyes must have been blind before, but now, she could finally see things clearly.


    The betrayal hurt her indeed, but Luna knew she was better than this. As Aiko moved closer, Luna cleared and sorted her thoughts.


    Joanna frowned while Jasmine''s smile faltered when they both saw the same woman they were anticipating to see.


    "Hello, Miss Li, Miss Xuan." Aiko greeted the two women before turning her eyes to Luna. "Oh, Luna. I''m glad you''re able to come today. I''m sure Jasper would be ecstatic seeing you here." Her tone had a hint of ridicule that wasn''t lost to Joanna and Jasmine.


    ''How rude!'' they both thought at the same time.


    They looked at Luna then back at Aiko Chen and realized that the relationship between the two was superficial and not very good. Both of them decided to keep their silence, waiting to see what Aiko was scheming to do.


    Luna thought that she was fortunate not to be cornered by Aiko alone. She could already guess what could happen between them if Joanna and Jasmine weren''t there to look after her.


    "Yes, I came with my friends. Thank you for sending the invitations on time, or else we would be late," she replied, making the smile on Aiko''s face falter a little.


    Aiko Chen wasn''t stupid. She knew that this country bumpkin was drawing a line between them.


    "I''m glad you did. I sent in on a rush. Jasper almost forgot to send your invitations that I needed to remind him of that." Aiko chuckled, making Joanna and Jasmine sneered inwardly.


    "Miss Jiang, have I met you before? You seemed familiar to me." Jasmine Xuan tapped her chin as if trying to remember where she''d seen her, but in truth, she was just acting to divert everyone''s attention from Aiko Chen.


    Luna saw that her sister-in-law and her friend didn''t like and couldn''t tolerate Aiko anymore. To not give them ideas that she was being friendly to Aiko, she jumped to their boat and left Aiko to sink alone.


    "Miss Xuan must be joking. I rarely attend such extravagant parties. It must be because my face is common that Miss Xuan confused me with someone else?"


    "Ah, Luna. How could you? My eyes aren''t that bad yet, and I can see clearly. How could I forget a beautiful woman like you? You''re someone who isn''t easy to forget, you know." Jasmine''s grin widened and took a quick glance at Aiko.


    She really hated it when she saw a bully. What''s more, this Aiko Chen was brave enough to bully Luna who she now considered a good friend.


    Aiko felt like these women were treating her like an outcast. How did Luna Jiang manage to befriend these two anyway? One was the sister of the business tycoon while the other was an heiress.


    As the three continued to chat, blatantly ignoring her presence; Aiko pretended she was fine and continued to smile at the guests who passed their way. Even though she was smiling, she''d been cursing Luna Jiang in her heart.


    In the end, she excused herself to Joanna and Jasmine who b?r?ly gave her a look and left.


    Seeing her gone, Joanna slapped Jasmine''s arm lightly and laughed.


    "Oww! Jo! That hurts you know!" Jasmine threw a glare to her friend.


    "Have you seen her face? That''s priceless!"

 Chapter 51 - Fleeting Happiness

    Luna carried on chatting with them, knowing that Aiko wouldn''t surrender easily. She would come back later and would attempt to humiliate her more. Aiko must be cursing her inwardly for treating her outside her circle of friends.


    Frankly speaking, she could have just skipped this event, if not for Hero''s request to cut her ties off from Jasper personally. If she didn''t do it today, it would be difficult for her and Hero to have a harmonious relationship in the future.


    Not that Luna was expecting to fall in love with Hero, but at least they could be civil to each other. Who knew�� maybe they could be good friends in the future?


    However, there was something that made Luna uncomfortable from her seat. As if sensed by her sixth sense, she looked around saw Jasper Mo staring at her with longing eyes. They were separated from each other by the wide distance of the banquet hall, but their eyes were able to find each other.


    Luna tuned out everything around her as she stared back at her ex-boyfriend.


    Music started up and filled the hall, breaking the trance between the former couple. As if he''d seen for the first time, Jasper nodded at her slightly and smiled even though his own heart was breaking.


    For years, he wanted this woman to become his wife; but because of a moment of weakness, he could only bow his head and let her go.


    This woman had been his greatest love, and she''d given him the love he had yearned for. The only woman who hadn''t used him and unlike Aiko who only wanted him because of his ''Young Master Mo'' status. Unfortunately, he didn''t deserve Luna Jiang at all; she was only destined to be a passer-by in his life.


    Whoever man who could have Luna, Jasper could only wish he would treat her right and with respect. He also hoped that the next man in her life would be faithful, unlike him.


    In the end, Jasper admitted that he needed to face the consequences of his action. He knew he couldn''t have Luna; he had no right to do so anyway.


    It was Luna who broke the gaze and looked away. She couldn''t understand why Jasper was staring at her like that. His eyes were like that of a deep lake that could draw people in. She wanted to ask why�� how come they ended up this way?


    Just now, there was a fleeting feeling of happiness when she saw him. However, the reality instantly pulled her out from her reverie, reminding her of what she was now�� someone else''s wife. She wasn''t even Jasper''s.


    How could she forget that she did not deserve Jasper anymore and had no right to his affections?


    Jasper also knew what kind of person Luna was. If she could endure for her loved ones, she would, but he would rather set her free than continue lying to her. He also didn''t want to force her into his world in fear that he might only embarrass her.


    "Young Master Mo, your presence is now needed at the stage. Your father is looking for you."


    Jasper Mo didn''t even think twice. "Tell him you couldn''t find me."


    After he said this, he left. Before he could leave the banquet hall secretly, he heard footsteps coming his way.


    His father came into his view, his body relying heavily on the cane on his hand to keep him stable.


    "And where do you think you''re going?"


    Jasper sighed and turned to face him. He had no other choice anyway. "Dad."


    "Where''s Aiko? Shouldn''t she be with you right now?"


    "Should she?" Jasper raised a brow, not pleased with his father''s words; but he didn''t dare to delve deep into what his father wanted from him.


    His father heard his nonchalant response and frowned.


    "It was me who asked Aiko to invite that woman so your feelings for her could die completely. I will not allow you to continue this nonsense."


    Jasper was surprised.


    "That woman has a name, Dad," he hissed back. "And don''t play innocent; I know that you were the one who sent Aiko to drug me so I would sleep with her."


    Disappointed with his son''s reaction, the old man shook his head.


    "There are many women in this world that deserve you, but Luna Jiang isn''t one of them."


    "And you think a woman like Aiko Chen is someone I deserve, Dad? If she could stab her own friend in the back just to seduce me, I wonder if she''ll kill me as I sleep to get the wealth of the Mo family," Jasper countered back, catching his father off-guard.


    The old man refused to back down although what Jasper said made sense. Would he really allow someone like Aiko Chen to enter his household?


    "Son, I have always known what you want since you were a kid, but you should also know the limit and how to strive to reach your goal with a few losses. You don''t need to throw everything for the sake of one woman."


    His words sounded reasonable, but Jasper couldn''t agree to it. Because for him, throwing everything for her sake would be worth it. Luna Jiang was someone he wanted in his life that wasn''t imposed on him by his own family. She wasn''t some random woman that he could ignore.


    Before he was able to answer his father, the staff earlier came back and looked nervously at the father and son. As Chairman Mo glared at his son, he wasn''t sure if this was the right time to interrupt them. With hesitation, he decided to remind his boss of his purpose.


    "Chairman Mo, President Li is looking for you."


    The old man scowled and knitted his brows, making the wrinkles on his face more prominent. The aloof President of Li Group wanted to see him now?


    "Hero Li? What does he want now?" he grumbled.

 Chapter 52 - The Kind and Magnanimous Aiko Chen

    Luna excused herself from Joanna and Jasmine to take a moment of peace for herself to calm down. She didn''t know if she was ready for this confrontation yet, but her relationship with Jasper Mo would undeniably end tonight.


    As soon as she saw a vacant balcony, Luna took a deep breath, glad that she wouldn''t have to face Aiko or Jasper anytime soon�� or so she thought��


    "Luna, what are you doing here?" Jasper''s voice was low, and his eyes reflected conflicting emotions Luna couldn''t read. Did Jasper know the reason why she was here?


    Jasper was initially shocked when he spotted her earlier, but now that he was seeing her face to face, the weeks he''d been gone suddenly felt too long. He couldn''t believe this was the same Luna Jiang he left a few weeks ago.


    She was stunningly beautiful and blooming.


    "Yeah, didn''t you send me an invitation this afternoon?" She couldn''t believe she was using the same reasoning Aiko had used against her earlier.


    Jasper''s face darkened.


    It was just, at this moment, Aiko chose to appear again. Showing a sweet smile to Luna, she told Jasper, "You almost forgot to invite, Miss Jiang. I did the honor of sending them the invitations."


    Jasper glanced at her and sneered inwardly. This was the woman his father wanted him to marry? Couldn''t Aiko take a look at herself? Her bright red sequin gown and thick makeup�� her look wasn''t appropriate for this event at all.


    Compared to her ''kind'' and ''magnanimous'' attitude before, Aiko Chen didn''t bother to hide the sarcasm in her voice now. She really hated this Luna Jiang down to her core and couldn''t wait to crush her with her own hands.


    The look she gave Luna was seen by Jasper, and this only fueled his disgust towards this woman. How were his parents blinded by her? She wasn''t really an appropriate woman to become a wife.


    There were guests in the banquet hall that cast curious and inquiring glances towards them but didn''t dare to voice out. It wasn''t their business to disturb them and was afraid to offend the Mo family.


    Aiko Chen confidently strode towards Jasper and tugged his arm.


    "Jasper, the guests are staring at us." She bit her lower lip and blinked her eyes. "Should we go back and entertain some of them?"


    Jasper politely pulled away from Aiko and glared at her.


    "So it was you, huh?" he sneered.


    Aiko clasped her hands together and placed it on her ?h?st. Her eyes a little watery as if she was being bullied by Jasper.


    "Jasper, I knew I acted and made decisions without your permission, but you didn''t have to be angry. I was merely handing off the invitations as per your parents'' request."


    When Jasper didn''t say a word, she continued with her babbling.


    "Today is your birthday party, and all the guests here are very important people within the country for the Mo family to get acquainted. Therefore, we��"


    Jasper let out a low but dangerous chuckle, halting Aiko''s words.


    "You are just a Chen. Who gave you the right to make decisions for the Mo family?"


    The sudden change of color of Aiko''s face amused Luna who''d been listening intently between them.


    "I was just trying to remind you��" Aiko suppressed a sob.


    "Then, should I remind you too of your rightful place, Aiko Chen?" Jasper raised a brow at her.


    He didn''t dare to conceal the hatred and disgust he felt for this woman. If Aiko thought that she managed to snatch Luna''s place as his woman because he slept with her, then she''s gravely mistaken.


    "Aiko Chen, you''re really getting better and better scheming behind our back. Did you enjoy ruining someone''s relationship? And you''ve got some nerve to use the Mo family, huh?"


    Just then, the voice of an angry woman came and joined them at the balcony.


    "Jasper, what''s happening here?"


    It was Jasper''s stepmother who was already in her early fifties. She was dressed in an old-fashioned dress with gold laces, but they didn''t succeed in giving her a classic elegant look. Instead, it gave her a pretentious impression.


    Luna raised a brow when she saw the old woman. She suddenly thought that her mother looked better than Chairman Mo''s second wife. Her facial features didn''t have any resemblance to Jasper''s refined, handsome face.


    If her guess was right, this old woman must be the one who helped Aiko put a rift between her and Jasper.


    "Oh, Madam Mo." Jasper''s eyes were filled with ridicule as his shoulders slacked slightly when he buried his hands on his side pockets. "You indeed prepared an entertaining show tonight for me to enjoy. Too bad I''m sick and tired of your games."


    The old woman broke in a cold sweat at Jasper''s words. She couldn''t believe her lies have been found out by him. She was so glad that they were out of everyone''s earshot, or else there would be a big scandal the next day.


    "It''s not what you think, Jasper. This�� this is for your own good. What are you trying to stir up? Tonight is very important. Our family��"


    "Madam Mo should mind her own business and shouldn''t test my patience any longer. You aren''t my mother." Every word Jasper utter was like a stab on the woman''s ?h?st.


    Seeing that the scene wasn''t favorable to her and Madam Mo, Aiko tried to divert the issue back at Luna Jiang.


    "I''m so sorry, Auntie." She sobbed pitifully. "Have I known Jasper would be like this, I shouldn''t have invited Miss Jiang to attend," Aiko said pitifully before lowering her face and covering it with both hands, not letting them see the sinister smile on her lips.


    ''Ah, Luna Jiang. Did you just think that Jasper could save you?''


    Luna''s eyes widened in shock. This Aiko was really something!


    A few months ago, this woman was so delicate and kind, Luna hadn''t expected she was being schemed by Aiko.

 Chapter 53 - This Isn鈥檛 a Place Where You Should Be

    While many people could be deceived by Aiko''s words, Jasper wasn''t one of them. A smile crossed on his lips as he leaned forward to speak near her ear.


    "Good acting. A s?ut like you can easily enter show business with the kind of acting you possess."


    When Jasper stepped back, Aiko''s eyes reddened. She''d never been degraded by anyone like this!


    Madam Mo glanced at Aiko and arched a brow. Then, she faced Luna Jiang with irritation.


    "Miss Jiang, I do hope you understand clearly why we invited you here." She started, trying to ignore the glaring daggers Jasper was throwing on her way. "Miss Jiang, today is Jasper''s birthday; the guests present are very important to stabilize the position of the Mo family within the industry.


    "A person like you�� maybe a Jiang, but you were born from a mistress. This wouldn''t give Jasper a good reputation if he marries you. Also, if he hasn''t told you yet, Aiko is pregnant with his child. Tonight, we will announce their engagement and the date of their wedding," Madam Mo said smugly, pleased with the way she dropped the bomb on Luna''s head.


    The underlying message of her words was also clear: ''See now, Luna Jiang. You aren''t worthy of our Young Master Mo. This isn''t a place where you should be.''


    Luna had long known that this old woman didn''t like her for Jasper and been repeatedly convinced him to dump her for another woman. She just didn''t expect that this old woman would go at great lengths just to push her out of the way.


    For her to say that Aiko was with Jasper''s child�� how could this be?


    Her shocked expression deeply pleased Madam Mo and Aiko, making them forget the verbal ?ssault they''d received from Jasper. This was more satisfying to see than anything else, especially for Aiko Chen.


    "P-pregnant?" Luna repeated what she heard.


    She stared at Jasper''s face waiting for him to deny Madam Mo''s claim, but there was none. Instead, what she saw was his face filled with pain and guilt from within. There was no need to hear the truth from him because his expression had given her the answer she needed.


    A single tear rolled down her cheeks as she regarded Jasper.


    "Why? When did this happen?" she asked with a broken voice.


    Taking the chance to give Luna Jiang the final blow, Aiko was the one who spilled the beans.


    "It was my fault, Miss Jiang. I-I couldn''t stop Jasper''s advances that night. He was really drunk and had mistakenly taken me for being you. He��" Her words trailed off, but it was easy for anyone to ?ssume what she meant by her words.


    "I-I''m twelve weeks pregnant. I''m so sorry for causing trouble for the two of you," she cried out.


    Twelve weeks pregnant?! Aiko was twelve weeks pregnant?!


    Luna found herself speechless for the umpteenth time. She was also pregnant but hadn''t past her tenth week, and yet Aiko was already pregnant weeks ahead of her?


    How could this happen? Did this mean that she wasn''t the one who cheated on Jasper first? That she wasn''t the one to blame for the rift in their relationship? That even before she lost her chastity to President Li, Jasper had already spent a night with Aiko?


    Luna stepped back and held her ?h?st. This was too much information for her to handle. She suddenly felt so dizzy, and her eyesight was starting to blur.


    Twelve weeks�� that meant a month before she met Hero Li. Did Aiko set her up that night so she could justify her marriage with Jasper soon?


    "Luna, please hear me out��" Jasper''s voice was surprisingly calm.


    "So is true then?" Luna looked at him straight in his eyes, trying to find deceit in him.


    "Yes��"


    Silence ensued, and neither of the two spoke a word for the next seconds. Aiko was pleased with the result. There would be no chance for Luna to accept Jasper anymore for his betrayal even if she was the one who drugged him forcefully to get pregnant.


    Luna felt like she was just stabbed right in her ?h?st from Jasper''s confession. All this time, she had blamed herself, feeling pitiful and guilty for getting pregnant. Yet, Jasper had it worst.


    No wonder he couldn''t look at her straight in the eyes when she talked to him weeks before she met Hero Li. No wonder he would unconsciously shiver at the mention of Aiko Chen''s name. It was now starting to make sense to her.


    Luna wiped her tears dry and smiled bitterly at Jasper.


    "Then, congratulations Young Master Mo. I wish the best for the two of you," she finally said�� knowing that, after this, they would take two different paths from each other.


    With teary eyes, Luna gave him a slight bow and excused herself, leaving Aiko extremely happy with the events.


    "Luna�� please��"


    It was the first time for Luna to hear him like this, she wanted to hear what he would say. However, in her heart, she knew the two of them could never be. She was already President Li''s wife while he was about to become the father of another woman''s child.


    Ah, finally! She finally won against Luna Jiang and successfully secured her place as the next madam of the Mo family!


    Luna simply didn''t want to stay at the party anymore and went straight towards the elevator. She was really grateful that her husband didn''t give her a long dress, or else she would''ve been tripped with her face-planting on the marbled floor.


    However, Jasper decided to chase after her to explain, surprising Aiko and Madam Mo. They couldn''t allow Jasper to follow Luna, or else their plan was for naught.


    "Luna! Wait!" Jasper ran after her.


    "Jasper, please don''t make a scene��" Madam Mo begged his stepson, glancing around them nervously.


    Just as Luna was about to step into the elevator, a cold voice broke apart the tension and reached her ears.

 Chapter 54 - Hubby, Lets Go Home

    "What happened here?"


    Luna stopped on her tracks and turned around, only to find her husband looking at her. Jasper Mo and his stepmother also stopped and saw President Li striding towards them.


    "President Li!" Madam Mo gasped.


    Who in this banquet hall hadn''t heard of Hero Li and his reputation? He was a ruthless businessman who knew when and how to cut his losses, getting the maximum advantage for his company.


    "It''s nothing. Nothing happened. Miss Jiang is about to leave. We''re just sending her off." There was an awkward smile at the old woman''s face as she tried to glare at Luna''s way to move on and fu?k off.


    Even Jasper and Aiko were surprised to see the same man they both met back at the hotel. Jasper had met him earlier and found out that he was the President Li that his father was trying to convince and enter a business partnership with them.


    Luna was stunned in her spot. Her tears were threatening to burst at any moment; yet seeing her husband standing straight with an annoyed but stern expression, she felt like a savior had come to rescue her.


    If this wasn''t Hero Li��her husband, then who else could it be?


    What transpired earlier was something she was too embarrassed to let him see. She didn''t want Hero to know what caused her to run away this early. Yet as every second passed that Hero stared at her, she�� Luna felt like she was completely exposed to him.


    "Luna? Are you crying?"


    His voice was still cold and stern, but there was a subtle softness as he asked Luna. It was as if he was worried that she''d breakdown at any given moment.


    Jasper Mo was stunned. He''d never thought that the infamous President Li was acquainted with Luna Jiang. How and when did Luna meet such a man?


    However, Luna wasn''t planning to stay longer. She gave Hero a helpless smile as she turned around to step inside the elevator, but she didn''t expect Hero to stretch his hand and pull her back.


    "You��" Luna couldn''t understand what Hero wanted. Couldn''t he see that she was humiliated enough? She didn''t want to stay in this place anymore. Someone like her shouldn''t be in this place anyway.


    "I can sense your distress, wife." Hero turned his head down and whispered to her, his manner as if he was almost kissing her.


    Although for outsiders it seemed as if it was only because President Li had used too much force, making the woman next to him crash into his ?h?st. However, Luna knew clearly that it wasn''t the case.


    "I�� I don''t feel good, President Li. I didn''t want to cause trouble for Jasper''s family so I was planning to go home this early��" Luna stuttered, and then in a low voice, she added, "Hubby, let''s go home."


    She knew that her husband would definitely spot her lie, but she also knew that he was the last person who''d dare to hurt her.


    "Then, I''ll send you back. It wouldn''t be safe for you to go home with the kind of weather outside."


    Hero raised her hand and placed it on his arm, preparing to walk into the elevator together.


    At this time, Madam Mo realized how bad the situation was. She hadn''t expected that this country bumpkin was familiar with President Li to this extent. She couldn''t allow President Li to leave the banquet this early, or else the whole Mo family would lose its face.


    She gritted her teeth and followed the two, extending an arm so the doors wouldn''t close.


    "President Li, it turned out that you and Miss Jiang seem to know each other? Miss Jiang is also a close friend of our Jasper here. Since both of you came to celebrate Jasper''s party, how about we go in and eat something?"


    How could she allow President Li to leave like this�� and because of this Luna Jiang? She wanted Luna Jiang to leave but not at the expense of President Li leaving because of her, too.


    Because of his taller figure, Hero could only look down at the old woman with contempt. He was aware that she and Aiko Chen had tried to bully his woman, making her cry and submissive like this.


    Luna stared at the old woman in disbelief. Wasn''t Madam Mo the one who couldn''t wait to see her go?


    Let her in and stay? Even if Hero was with her, she didn''t want to stay anymore!


    "You must be hungry, Miss Jiang. It''s already time for dinner. Should we get something to eat before I send you home?" Hero ignored Madam Mo''s request and asked the woman beside him instead. He didn''t have any meaning of going back to the banquet.


    Madam Mo was starting to get anxious. She kept glancing towards Jasper who was staring at the two with confusion.


    Yet, Jasper didn''t move; even his face turned cold as he watched President Li hold his woman with familiarity.


    In desperation, Madam Mo stepped inside the elevator, invading Luna''s space. She pulled her free arm and tried to lead her back to the banquet hall, not noticing how Hero''s face turned gloomy and frosty at the same time.


    "Miss Jiang, if you don''t feel good, you need to sit down and let me call a medic to help you. You don''t need to leave with President Li. I''m sure he had yet to meet the other VIP guests tonight." She already decided that she wouldn''t just let President Li leave like this even if she had to endure seeing Luna Jiang''s face tonight.


    Seeing that this old woman wouldn''t let them go easily, Hero could only resort to torturing them.


    "Then, if you don''t mind, Madam Mo�� I like to keep Miss Jiang''s company tonight. We need to catch up since we haven''t seen each other for a long time."

 Chapter 55 - Anything for You, Wife

    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?"


    "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.

 Chapter 56 - Please Don鈥檛 Show Your Disgusting Face to Me Ever Again

    Madam Mo left the lounge, placing Hero and Luna in Jasper and Aiko''s company. The VIP lounge was currently had a few notable people inside as most guests were at the banquet hall, enjoying the party.


    Luna didn''t feel comfortable seeing this cheating couple right now. She hated the fact she wallowed in self-pity, not knowing that Aiko had planned everything from the start. She could only feel disgusted towards the woman she thought was her friend.


    "Luna, did you come to this party as President Li''s companion? I didn''t know you know him," Jasper asked, his tone had a hint of irritation.


    Luna blinked while considering how she should answer him, but as she looked at his face, she was reminded of how he cheated and slept with Aiko Chen behind her back. Ridicule flashed across her eyes. What qualifications did he have to come here and interrogate her personal matter?


    "Oh, Young Master Mo is interested in my personal matters?" she responded with a question.


    Jasper stiffened on his seat. Whatever he wanted to say was stopped when Aiko spoke.


    "Luna, I know you hate me that much, but speaking like this to Jasper? Please don''t cross the line."


    Luna turned her head to Aiko and revealed a ruthless smile.


    "Aiko Chen, a s?ut like you opened her legs willingly to my ex-boyfriend�� don''t you know the words self-respect and shame? What does it have to do with you on how I should speak with Young Master Mo? What? You''re his wife now? Even if you are, you''re still incomparable to me!" she said filled with ridicule.


    Jasper Mo''s expression changed multiple times. He felt like he was losing face in front of Hero Li. He knew what Luna''s temper was like, but she rarely let it got the better of her. Seeing that she was not giving him any face, his expression turned ugly.


    Hero Li laughed evilly when he saw the sour expression on the other man''s face. He was somewhat pleased that his little bunny learned how to bite back.


    Luna wasn''t quite done yet with Aiko.


    "Don''t think that you are anything special. In the end, you''re nothing but a loose woman. Since you don''t know how to respect other people''s relationships and even had the audacity to cause discord in it, please don''t show your disgusting face to me ever again."


    She cursed both Aiko Chen and Jasper Mo in her heart.


    The expression on Jasper''s face became extremely unsightly. He never thought that there would be a day that he would be at the receiving end of Luna''s ire. The Luna Jiang he was accustomed to was an understanding and kind woman who spoke with a soft tone and respect to anyone.


    Luna rose to her feet and slightly bowed to her husband.


    "Please excuse me for a while. I need to use the washroom."


    Hero nodded back and didn''t say anything, letting his wife do whatever she wanted.


    Aiko Chen couldn''t bear the humiliation Luna gave to her. She also stood up and glared at Luna, her eyes filled with hatred.


    "Luna Jiang! You think you can speak like this because President Li is on your side?!"


    Luna chuckled and shook her head, making the tendrils of her hair that were framing her face swayed at her movement.


    "Ah, how could you say something like that about President Li? Did you take him as a shallow person? Do you think that everyone is the same as you, huh, Aiko Chen? Don''t use your ignorance to embarrass people like that."


    Her eyes then darted back to Jasper. "Jasper, your taste is quite bad, ah."


    As she was about to leave, Aiko raised her hand to slap her; but Luna managed to catch Aiko''s wrist on time before. Then a resounding slap resounded within the empty room. Luna soon threw Aiko''s wrist away, causing her to stumble back.


    "Y-you!"


    Jasper stood immediately, shocked that Luna managed to slap Aiko''s face instead. Hero''s lips curled into a sinister smile and calmly said to Jasper.


    "Young Master Mo should control his woman. Randomly hitting a guest like this? Don''t know what kind of upbringing this woman had, but I''ll suggest you not allow her to use the Mo family''s name. Else, she''ll drag your family down with her."


    Jasper''s jaws hardened as he stared back at Hero with a grim expression.


    "I ?ssure you, President Li. Aiko doesn''t represent the Mo family and will never become a part of our household," he said with finality.


    "Jasper! You cannot do this to me!" Aiko cried out, earning a few glances from the other guest seated far from them.


    This wasn''t part of her plan! Jasper''s family had already agreed to announce their engagement tonight, but if Jasper decided he wouldn''t marry her, then what would happen to her?


    "Young Master Mo, I''m not sure how Luna offended your woman to the extent of causing her to hurt Luna. I usually don''t pry on other''s personal matters, but I think I''ve seen enough for tonight."


    "I apologize, President Li. I''m sorry for witnessing a joke tonight. Miss Chen isn''t my woman. Although it''s true that she bears my child, this doesn''t mean she could enter the Mo family."


    "Oh?" Hero checked Luna''s mood and was pleased that she had made up her mind. This woman was now his, and he wouldn''t let anyone take her away from him. "So it was like that��" He nodded. "I actually thought that she was your girlfriend. What about the child then?"


    "Obviously, the child will be welcomed to our family. He or she would never be short of anything as we''ll provide all that is needed." Jasper then looked at Aiko at the corner of his eye.


    If he couldn''t have Luna as his wife anymore, then he wouldn''t let Aiko be happy either. She''d already ruined his life and future with Luna.

 Chapter 57 - Declaration of War

    The other VIP guests had their own thoughts as they heard the commotion between Aiko Chen and Luna Jiang. Of course, they knew who Aiko Chen was, but they had no idea about the identity of President Li''s companion tonight. For Aiko Chen to raise her voice like that, wasn''t she afraid of offending President Li?


    "Jasper, how can you say that?! Am I not your girlfriend now?" Aiko Chen turned to face Jasper Mo.


    "What gave you an idea that you''re my woman?" he countered back in a loud voice, denying the allegations that he was in a relationship with this repulsive woman.


    Everyone immediately had a look of understanding, but when they looked at Luna Jiang''s calm expression, they doubted that she was the one causing the trouble.


    President Li didn''t give Aiko''s claim a damn and held Luna''s hand as she stood next to him. He looked at her face from his seated position and smiled.


    "Didn''t you say you need to use the washroom? Go on, I''ll be waiting for you here."


    Luna smiled back. "Okay."


    Once Luna left, Hero was seated alone on the couch, with Jasper and Aiko staring at him awkwardly. Just now, they lost a lot of face in front of President Li. Aiko stomped her foot before deciding to run away from the humiliating scene.


    Once she was gone, Jasper sat back and leaned his upper body with his arms settled on his legs, hands clasped between them.


    "President Li, what''s your relationship with Luna?" he asked seriously. He''d known Luna for a long time, and she never mentioned meeting or being friends with this man before.


    Hero''s eyes were cold, and his facial features held no sympathy for this man at all.


    "Young Master Mo shouldn''t poke on someone''s personal matters," he replied, repeating his wife''s words earlier.


    There was this kind of tense atmosphere between the two men that the other guest could perceive. They suddenly felt that they were in the wrong place at that moment. What the hell was happening between President Li and Young Master Mo?


    They could clearly sense that they were both opposing each other with equal animosity, and the reason for this hostility�� they could only guess that it was because of Aiko Chen and President Li''s companion.


    Many ladies present at the VIP lounge couldn''t help but look over the two charming men. One was devilishly handsome while the younger man wasn''t bad at all.


    Eventually, Jasper couldn''t take it anymore and stood up. "Luna Jiang isn''t a plaything, President Li."


    Hero shook his head and watched as his wife''s figure reappeared at the doorway. Jasper had lost his chance.


    "Young Master Mo should be telling this to himself."


    Jasper seethed in anger. Hero Li seemed to have a pattern of ending the conversations, not giving anyone an opening.


    "Stay away from Luna." He wasn''t blind. He was also a man after all. The subtle glances President Li was giving Luna wasn''t something he could call a friendly manner.


    Just the thought of another man seeking Luna''s attention was enough to make him angry from jealousy.


    "You are in no place to demand such a thing from me, Young Master Mo. As I see it, Luna Jiang is a single woman and had nothing to do with you. I''m free to woo her if I like. Do you want to stop me? Keep trying. Luna Jiang is mine and will remain mine."


    This was his declaration of war against Jasper Mo.


    "Although your previous relationship with Luna Jiang has nothing to do with me, Young Master Mo, you''re bound to lose to me."


    "Lose to you?" Jasper spat out.


    "I can pursue Luna without any restrictions and obstacles. Even if there is, I will surely cut the bud before it blooms, but you cannot��" His words were clear.


    "I already said this before. Luna isn''t a plaything. She''s my girlfriend. You cannot force her to love you when her heart is already mine."


    "Do you really think so?" Hero Li''s voice was colder than the ice. "Do you want to make a bet with me, Jasper Mo?


    Luna sat down from her previous seat and saw Aiko nowhere to be found. She heaved a sigh, knowing that she wouldn''t have to deal with her anytime soon. However, as soon as she sat, she could sense the tense atmosphere between her husband and Jasper.


    Luna knew that Jasper wanted to probe into her relationship with Hero Li, but she was not willing to allow Jasper to get in between her and her husband. The love story they had�� the days they''d been together�� Jasper threw it out of the window because of Aiko Chen''s deceit.


    "Oh, Luna. Here you are. I was nervous when you didn''t come back. We''ve looked for you anywhere. Who would have thought my brother found you first?"


    Jasmine Xuan laughed behind her friend and nodded towards Hero as she greeted him.


    "Told yah, Luna must have been with Hero all this time." She chimed in.


    Joanna sat on Luna''s right side, forcing the latter to seat closer to Hero while Jasmine took another wine glass from a waiter and sat at the couch that Jasper vacated.


    Jasper listened to them conversing as if they''d known each other for a long time. So not only did Luna was acquainted with Hero Li, but as well as his sister and Jasmine Xuan? He suddenly thought that he couldn''t understand this Luna he was seeing right now.


    "Sorry, Sis. I totally forgot about the two of you." Luna blushed profusely. How could she forget that Joanna and Jasmine were waiting for her return?

 Chapter 58 - Let鈥檚 End It Here

    As he continued to stare at Luna''s pretty face, he was reminded of what he''d lost.


    "Miss Jiang, can I have a word with you?" The women stopped chatting with each other and looked at his way. Hero''s eyes sharpened but didn''t argue with his request.


    Her eyes sought after her husband, afraid that he''d be angry with Jasper''s request; but she found no refusal. He only gave her a nod, allowing her to follow Jasper out but reminding her not to stay too long with him.


    Luna stood up and followed Jasper with enough distance between them until they reached the empty hallways.


    "What do you want to talk about, Young Master Mo?" Luna was clearly making sure Jasper knew that they had nothing to do with each other now.


    Looking at him, she couldn''t believe that she''d watched him turn into a friend, into a lover, and then into a complete stranger after a few weeks of not seeing him.


    "What happened to you?" Jasper held her wrist and frowned as he gave Luna a good look.


    "I should be the one asking you that, Jasper." Luna hissed and threw his hand away from her. It wasn''t proper for her to be seen with Jasper this close. "Sleeping with Aiko and leaving after a month without a word? What do you take me for, huh?"


    Jasper was ashamed of himself, but he was also mad at Aiko that just the mere thought of her was enough to make his blood boil in anger.


    "I was drugged, and Aiko took advantage of me. You can''t blame me for this, Luna. I didn''t want any of these," he said helplessly. "This is just a misunderstanding."


    "It isn''t," Luna countered, "There''s already a child involved."


    Whether if she was talking about her baby or Aiko''s, it didn''t matter anymore.


    After a moment of silence, Luna decided to make a clean cut from him.


    "Let''s end it here, Jasper."


    She wasn''t clear what kind of relationship did Jasper and Aiko have now, but she didn''t want to be dragged down in another drama with them. After all, one was a woman who betrayed their friendship while the other destroyed the faith and trust she had with him.


    It might not be Jasper''s fault how she ended up pregnant and married to Hero, but he''d tolerated Aiko enough to scheme and harm her. He''d known from the start that his parents disapproved of their relationship, but Jasper never made an effort to protect her not to fight for her.


    Even if she could let it go, she still didn''t think she was foolish enough to forgive him. He''d taken her for a fool when he didn''t tell her what happened between him and Aiko.


    "This�� how can you say that easily, Luna? Didn''t you promise that you''ll stay with me whatever happens?" Jasper said in despair.


    Luna said nothing, but her eyes were starting to sting with tears again.


    "Don''t say that, Jasper." Luna laughed, but her tears betrayed her. "Don''t say that I didn''t fight for you. I did. Hard. You don''t know how long I endured the insults thrown my way by being with you and how I tolerated your parents as they continue to demean me, reminding me every time I met them that I don''t deserve you.


    "So please forgive me if I say that I''m exhausted. You don''t have to choose between me and your parents anymore." Luna wiped her tears dry. She was glad that there was no one around to see her like this.


    Jasper was at a loss. He knew that he was also at fault her and couldn''t blame Luna for giving up. He wasn''t strong enough to protect her from being hurt not only by Aiko but from his family. But still�� he couldn''t accept in his heart that he''d lose her like this. His mind refused to accept that they were no more.


    His eyes flashed slightly. It seemed as if indulging himself in a happy memory he shared with her. As he looked at her, he smiled slightly and reached out his hand to ??r?ss her cheek; but Luna turned her face away, avoiding his touch.


    He tried to see if she was serious, and what he''d seen disappointed him. His hand dropped to his side.


    "I''m sorry I have to leave now," Luna said.


    Jasper watched Luna turned around, leaving him alone in the hallway. He knew he couldn''t hold her back; he had no right to do so.


    Luna stooped midway and looked over her shoulder.


    "Jasper, you should ask yourself. Did you really love me, or were you only using me to cause trouble to your father?


    When Luna entered the banquet hall and was forced to stop. At the corner, she spotted Hero talking with another man; but his eyes instantly landed on her. He bid goodbye to the other man and walked towards her.


    "Is it done?" he asked her.


    Luna gave him a bitter smile and held his arm for support. This time, she didn''t want to stay anymore. She suddenly felt so vulnerable at the moment.


    A few minutes later, Jasper also came back to the banquet hall�� just in time to hear glass being hit by silverware, taking everyone''s attention. Standing up on the stage was his parents and Aiko Chen with her father. Aiko was holding onto her father''s hand as she smiled bashfully at their guests.


    Horror was written all over Jasper''s face once he realized what Aiko and his parents were planning to do. His eyes swept around him trying to find Luna Jiang on the crowd, only to find her speaking with low voices with Hero Li again.


    He wanted to pull her away from Hero Li''s side and run away together, but he knew he couldn''t. Instead, he turned around to leave alone, not wanting to play the role of his stepmother and Aiko threw at him.

 Chapter 59 - Just This Once

    "Thank you to our distinguished guests for coming. Today is my son''s birthday, and we''re also glad to announce that it is also the day of his engagement with his childhood sweetheart, Aiko Chen."


    At the end Chairman Mo''s announcement, applause filled the banquet hall.


    Luna Jiang was stunned after hearing the announcement. She couldn''t believe that Aiko Chen would force Jasper to marry her like this.


    Madam Mo then took over the mike and began sharing the touching romantic story between her stepson and Aiko and how they met. Listening to it, those who didn''t know Jasper Mo and Aiko Chen would think that it was love at first sight, and they were destined to be married in the end.


    Aiko bowed her head with her cheeks already red from being in the spotlight. However, when she saw the shocked expression on Luna''s face, a satisfied smile was revealed.


    Although Luna had known for a long time that Jasper was a young master of a wealthy family that would certainly have to marry another woman that wasn''t her. It still hurt her.


    So many times, she tried to prepare herself for this; but the pain that hit her was still unbearable. She wasn''t mentally prepared for this. She''d love Jasper for years, and now, she had to watch him promise to another woman that wasn''t her.


    It was at that moment that she found Jasper looking at her at the other side of the banquet hall. The expression on his eyes told her everything.


    He couldn''t stop any of it; neither did he have the guts to oppose his father''s wishes. It had always been like this, and Luna wouldn''t be surprised if Jasper turned his back on her right now.


    Jasper was called out by his father to join them up the stage, but his attention was solely focused on Luna Jiang.


    "Jasper! Didn''t you say you want to celebrate your birthday with Aiko?" Chairman Mo was so loud it was almost he was daring his son to disobey him.


    Luna seemed to lose all her strength, her knees trembled. However, Hero held her waist, surprising her.


    "You cannot fall at this time. You''re better than this, Luna Jiang." Hero''s voice came behind her. He was leaning down, his lips touching her crown as he pressed his ?h?st on her back and held her tight.


    Jasper gave Luna a last glance, clenched his fists before walking towards the stage.


    "Should we leave now, or do you want to see Jasper Mo holding another woman''s hand for marriage?" Hero asked his wife.


    Luna shut her eyes, forbidding her tears to roll down.


    "Take me home, please," she begged with a broken voice.


    All of these had nothing to do with her. She wasn''t interested to see what else Aiko prepared for her.


    Turning around, President Li pulled Luna Jiang away from the banquet hall and walked out. As they walked out the door, cheering and a round of applause could be heard from the inside.


    Hero Li did not say a word and only led Luna into the elevator. There were no other words spoken between them as Luna continued to tremble beside her husband.


    When they reached the first floor, Daryl was already there waiting for them. He opened the door of the backseat of the limousine. Luna entered first before Hero followed her shortly.


    Outside, the pounding rain had started to fall. Softly splashing water droplets hit the car windows as the car drive onwards. The skies were overhung with a blanket of gray, so much so that Luna could b?r?ly tell the difference between the sky and clouds.


    Despite car rides feeling tedious, the rain somehow calmed her; Luna watched the raindrops race down to the windows. The rain had always been her calming sound.


    "Are you going to cry?" Hero asked her after a long silence between them.


    "Even if I cry now, would it be able to change anything?" Luna chuckled, refusing to move her gaze away from the window. Her eyes reddened, but she refused to let her tears flow.


    "Luna Jiang!" Hero growled, irritated that this woman was still affected by her ex-boyfriend''s affairs. Couldn''t she see that Jasper couldn''t man up to stand up against his father to protect her?


    What''s the use of being a young master if he couldn''t protect the woman he claimed to love?


    "What?" Luna snapped at him. "What do you want me to do? Isn''t enough that I''ve lost everything? That in the end, Aiko was able to take him away from me?" she cried out. Tears streaming down her face.


    She initially thought that she was a strong woman, that she would be able to face the difficulties with a smile on her face.


    "Lose everything? Luna Jiang, are you forgetting that you still have a family? Julian is alive; your mother has recovered. You have real friends that care for you. You also have Amber, the baby�� and you still have me! How dare you say that you''ve lost everything?!"


    Luna opened her mouth to argue, but no words came out.


    Yes, what he said was true. She hadn''t lost everything. She only lost Jasper and Aiko, but she still had those who loved her dearly. How could she forget?


    Luna was shocked when Hero''s arms wrapped around her as she cried.


    "Why are you so good to me?"


    By this time, she only wanted to cry her heart out and hope the pain would lessen soon. Hero didn''t utter a word as she continued to cry in his arms. Her tears had wet his clothing, but he didn''t care.


    "Just this once, I will allow you to cry. In the future, you can only have happy tears. You hear me?"

 Chapter 60 - I Will Get You Back at Any Cost

    "I cannot promise that!" Luna cried more sadly.


    How was she supposed to know that she wouldn''t get hurt again and would only shed happy tears in the future? Why was her husband trying to bully her?


    How could she pretend that nothing was wrong and endure the pain she was in?


    "Aren''t you tired of it? Don''t you think that you, Luna Jiang, also deserved to be happy?" Hero didn''t know why he felt uncomfortable seeing his wife in tears. "If Aiko Chen sees you like this, she will only laugh at your poor state. Don''t know what you''ve seen on that Jasper Mo, but if he truly cared for you, he would do everything to protect you."


    Thinking about what he said, Luna agreed with him. She also deserved some happiness for herself. They were silent for a few minutes until Luna heard him sigh.


    "I''m not saying you should forget everything, but you have to move on and continue living your own life."


    When she calmed down, she pulled away from his embrace and apologized to him. His face was too close; everything was blurred because of her tears except his deep eyes. Hero was staring at her like she was the center of his universe.


    "Do you believe me now?" Hero asked, turning to face her.


    "Yes��"


    The next second Hero had leaned down towards her and kissed her without a warning. Luna''s eyes widened. She felt him pressed against her mouth with his tongue slipping inside. In that single kiss, Luna could feel the intensity of his d?s?r? for her.


    His kiss wasn''t forceful, but instead, it had such patience, teasing her, waiting for her to respond�� leaving her breathless along the way. She''d never been kissed like this before, and Luna felt like she would cry for the second time although she wasn''t sure why she would.


    Fluttering her eyes close, Luna Jiang responded to his kiss. Her hands lifting to cup the side of his face gently as she felt herself being lifted from her seat and placed on his ??p.


    This was new for her, and yet Luna didn''t feel scared. She had an illusion that she belonged to him, and none would be able to hurt her as long as he was around.


    His kiss held such confidence which didn''t surprise her.


    As he released her lips, Luna buried her flushed face on his shoulder. She heard him sigh and felt him kiss her head affectionately.


    "Luna, I''ll only say this once. In the future, you should avoid Jasper Mo at all costs. It doesn''t matter if he refuses to marry Aiko Chen. I also don''t care if you still have feelings for him. You may be courageous enough to walk away, letting him chose another woman in front of you�� but I am not like him."


    He pushed her gently to see her blushing face and held one side of her face.


    "But�� but I don''t love you��" which was true. She didn''t love, and but that didn''t mean she would cheat on him. Jasper was the first man she had ever loved, and with the pain she had right now, Luna didn''t think she would be ready to accept and welcome Hero in her heart.


    Why was Hero treating her well while they were just practically strangers to each other? Was it because they had spent the night together that Hero thought he should take responsibility for her?


    "Luna Jiang, I really like you. I will not watch another man take you away from me, and if there''s one day you chose to go back to him, I will get you back at any cost. Even if I had to do underhanded ways to get you back. Do you understand what I mean?"


    "Y-yes�� I understand." Luna couldn''t believe what she was hearing.


    In his heart, did she really hold such a weight?


    "Good." Hero kissed her brow as a tear slid down from her eyes. "No more crying for Jasper Mo in the future."


    "Yes." Luna wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder. "I want to drink," she murmured.


    "Not allowed to drink!" she heard Hero said before she felt him bite her exposed shoulder.


    "Boss, don''t be angry; I was just joking. Don''t bite me, ah!" she giggled.


    Marrying and being Hero''s wife wasn''t in her plans. She had hesitated for a long time before she agreed to marry him for Julian''s sake. Thinking about it, would Hero help her back then regardless if she married him or not?


    "Hero? If the Jiang family didn''t abandon me that night, will you still help me and Julian if I didn''t use myself as a bargaining chip?" she asked.


    "You must be thinking I used a despicable way to trap you in a marriage," Hero replied, his hand rubbing her back in slow circles. "To be honest, whether you propose to me or not didn''t matter. You''ll still end up as my wife since you bear my child. Helping Julian''s hospital bill just helped me cut the chase." He chuckled.


    "How arrogant of you, President Li." She pouted and hit his ?h?st lightly. It was strange for her being in his arms, and yet she couldn''t find it repulsive at all.


    "Miss Jiang, I''ve been called worse than that." Hero''s amused voice reached her ears.


    By the time they got home, night had fallen and enveloped the city in a blanket of darkness. She and Hero scurried down the path towards their house, their shoes slapping against the stone steps that led to the front door.


    "Do you think Amber is already asleep?" Luna asked her husband and saw him shrugged.


    "Pretty sure she stays up and waited for your return." Hero guessed as he unlocked the door.


    Just as he pushed the door open, Little Amber tackled Luna and wrapped her small arms on her leg.


    "Baby, we''re home!" Luna beamed a smile.

 Chapter 61 - What Baby?

    "Why are you still awake? Shouldn''t you be sleeping at this time?" Luna reached down and picked Little Amber up from the ground.


    Little Amber waved her hand at her nanny to hand over her small board and pen so she could talk to her mommy.


    Luna strode towards the living area, with her husband following her closely. She sat on the couch with Little Amber sitting on her ??p while Hero removed his outer coat and called Madam Lin from the kitchen.


    "Prepare dinner for us. Luna hasn''t eaten anything for dinner yet," he said before sitting across his wife and daughter.


    Little Amber scribbled on her whiteboard and showed it to Luna.


    ''Because Mommy isn''t home yet. I''m worried.'' She was upset that her Mommy wasn''t there to give her a bath and tuck her to bed like she used to.


    Hero took a peek on what was written on the board and chuckled.


    "I''m with your Mommy. How come you''re only worried about her but not about Daddy?" he asked amusedly.


    Little Amber threw a glare toward him, her face scrunched up a little before scribbling another response on her board.


    ''Because it was Daddy who''s taken her away!''


    Wasn''t it because her Daddy always tries to take her Mommy''s attention away from her that Little Amber had to wait until past her bedtime to make sure he''d bring her back home?


    Hero laughed when she lifted her board for him to see. His daughter really adored his new wife than him. If he hadn''t met Luna months ago and hadn''t seen Little Amber born by his deceased wife, he would''ve thought the girl came out from Luna''s w?mb�� which was impossible.


    "Little Amber is not little anymore. With your Mommy being pregnant, you''re not allowed to be lifted by Mommy anymore. You''ll hurt Mommy and the baby if you insist," he said.


    It was Luna''s turn to frown this time. Why was her husband treating Little Amber like this?


    Don''t know if it was because his wife had died, leaving him helpless how to raise the child alone; but as Luna saw it, Hero loved his daughter. However, he didn''t know how to become a good father to Little Amber.


    ''What BABY?''


    "Baby? As in our little baby. Mommy has a small baby inside her stomach. As the days pass, her tummy will grow as well as the baby. Months later, you''ll see your baby brother or a sister. Don''t you like it? You wouldn''t be alone anymore," Hero replied nonchalantly.


    Little Amber burst into tears. What did he mean that she wasn''t allowed to be held by her mommy? A new baby? She didn''t want a new baby! She didn''t want to share her Mommy Luna to anyone!


    ''Don''t like!''


    Absolutely cold-hearted like his father. Just like Hero��when Little Amber decided on something, it would be hard for anyone to change her mind. Now that she said that she disliked her new sibling, Hero and Luna would have a hard time convincing her that she wouldn''t be forgotten when the baby arrived.


    Competing with her father for her Mommy''s attention was already hard enough, what more if there''s another baby in the picture? Little Amber didn''t want any of it.


    "Hero, can you not make Little Amber cry? She''s just a child. You don''t need to tease her like this." Luna chastised her, but Hero only shrugged.


    However, Luna persisted.


    "You''re being harsh on her. Of course, she wouldn''t understand. All her life, you pampered her, given her everything she wanted. Amber probably didn''t know how to share things with other people."


    "Don''t get fooled by her charm, Luna. Spoiling her a little isn''t a bad thing at all, but I cannot allow her to throw tantrums and get used to her bad habits. Not everything she wanted should be given. Neither of us planned this child, but since you are already pregnant, we just need to compromise."


    What he said was true. He''d never expected that he''d hit the lottery with Luna Jiang in a single night.


    Raising Little Amber alone was already hard for his. With his busy schedule at work, he b?r?ly had time to look after her. It was a good thing that his sister, Joanna, was always there to help him with Amber; however, the child was too much for Joanna to handle.


    Their conversation came into an end when Madam Lin informed them that the dinner was ready. The three went to the dining room, and Hero pulled out a chair for his wife before taking the seat next to her while Amber was placed on the other chair next to Luna.


    As soon as Luna saw the dishes on the table, she picked up her chopsticks and started eating. She suddenly felt very hungry at that moment, forgetting the long day she had earlier. She was also aware that her pregnancy was also starting to affect her mood and appetite.


    When she was at the birthday banquet, she didn''t feel like eating anything. Now that she was in the comfort of their home, her appetite surged. She ate heartily, not paying attention to how her husband watched her as she ate.


    Hero placed a spare rib on her plate and added a few more dishes in it.


    Since Little Amber already had her dinner, she didn''t need to eat anymore. She sat there with a sad face as she thought that the new baby would make her Mommy forget about her.


    She scribbled continuously on her whiteboard.


    ''I hate you.''


    ''You put a baby on my Mommy''s tummy. I hate you.''


    Hero didn''t say anything and let his daughter complain and let out her frustrations. She''d have to suck it up and accept the reality anyway.


    "Are you done?" he asked when Little Amber place her whiteboard on the table and crossed her arms over her ?h?st.


    Luna eyed the father and daughter tandem and decided to give a talk with the girl. She wiped her lips with a clean napkin and drank water.


    "Amber, I know you don''t want to accept it, but do you want Mommy to get hurt? Mommy loves the baby. If you hurt the baby, I''ll also be hurt and sad. Do you want that?" Luna told her.


    The girl shook her head but still saddened by the news of the new baby. How could she accept this?


    ''I don''t like the baby!'' she admitted to Luna.


    Luna was saddened by her words but understood that it wouldn''t be easy for the little girl to accept it.

 Chapter 62 - Whatever My Wife Says Is Right

    "Don''t say that. I thought my Little Amber will understand me."


    Amber was the princess of this household, and everyone took priority of her. For Little Amber, the sudden news about the baby would threaten not only her position within the family but also her share of her parents'' love and attention.


    When Hero finished dinner, he rose to his feet and offered a hand to his wife. Luna was confused by his actions but accepted his offer nonetheless. As she stood up from the table, Hero released her and picked up his child. However, Little Amber refused.


    Instead, she ran towards Luna and hugged her leg tightly.


    "Amber Li! Do not test my patience!" He lifted her up from her seat, and Little Amber struggle in his hold and screamed her frustrations at the top of her lungs.


    "Don''t, Hero. It''s alright." Luna snatched Little Amber from him, and the girl buried her head in Luna''s embrace.


    Luna''s heart ached as she heard the girl sob in her arms, with her body trembling in fear towards her father. Her temper rose again seeing the girl like this.


    "Hero Li, I know Little Amber isn''t mine and I''m only just her stepmother; but don''t you dare raise a hand at her! I already said this, but she''s still a child. She needed love and patience more than ever. How can you be so harsh towards your own child? Don''t make me regret marrying you!" She spat out, her face was full of disapproval.


    Luna didn''t know if it was caused by her mood swings because, normally, she''d never dare to raise her voice to anyone��especially to her boss. However, she was glad that she was able to give him a piece of her mind, or she might forever regret not standing up for Little Amber.


    Hero was stunned for a moment before the end of his lips lifted.


    "Fine. Since my wife said I''m wrong, then it''s my fault. Whatever my wife says is right."


    "Don''t cry. Mommy will always be with you from now on." Luna wiped the tears from Amber''s face. "Our Little Amber wasn''t getting younger, and soon she''ll grow up as a lady. However, I hope she won''t forget that even if she grew up, she''ll always be her Mommy''s baby." Luna pinched the girl''s cheek lightly, making Little Amber smile.


    When they arrived upstairs Luna put Little Amber to bed, coaxing her to sleep while Hero leaned his back at the doorway, watching the two women in his life.


    Luna fought hard not to roll her eyes. Couldn''t he even take a moment to look after his own child?


    Once Little Amber had fallen asleep, the two slipped out of her room silently. Before her husband could walk away, Luna bit her lip and took all the courage she had to apologize to him.


    "Hero, I''m sorry for saying those words earlier. I know�� I know I don''t have any right to teach you how to raise Amber." She scratched her head, feeling awkward.


    His wife would most likely spoil his daughter to death, but he could only hope that she''d be able to correct Little Amber''s bad habits along the way.


    "It should be me who should apologize to you, Luna. You marry me and have to deal with a child who isn''t even yours. As you probably already know, my first wife died in childbirth so Amber grew up without a mother to look over her." He casually glanced at Little Amber''s closed door.


    "No, no. It''s fine." Luna was surprised by his apology. It was rare for her to see her husband like this. Seeing him like this, how could he blame Hero for Little Amber''s upbringing?


    "Follow me, I have something to discuss with you." Hero offered his hand again which she accepted.


    Hero led her to his study. He released her hand and checked one of the bookshelves within the room before pulling four thick photo albums from it.


    "I hope you don''t think Amber as a nuisance to our marriage," he started. "Although my marriage with her mother was arranged and there was no love between us, we respected each other. She dearly loved Amber and wanted to meet her, but she wasn''t able to make it."


    Luna opened the first photo album, and her eyes were greeted with Amber''s newborn pictures. She thought that even as a newborn Little Amber was so adorable anyone would have a hard time resisting her charm.


    "Oh my gosh, is this Amber? She''s really a cutie. I hope our babies will be as cute as her," Luna said with twinkling eyes, making her husband chuckle.


    "Babies? Is this mean you wouldn''t mind making more with me?" He teased her. "Don''t worry now that we''re married, I''ll surely help you anytime you wish to have a baby."


    He smiled slightly enjoying how her eyes sparkled whenever she saw photos of Little Amber in cute dresses and costumes.


    "Amber is a lovely child but a sad one. I never considered her a nuisance. In fact, I''m really glad that she''s your child. You don''t know how lonely and scared Amber was when I first met her in the hospital."


    Luna smiled at the memory. She and Amber really got along well, and the girl not throwing tantrums and fit frequently was good news for Hero.


    "Do you mean it?" Hero was wondering how Luna was taking this easily. Had it been another woman, she''d probably ask him to get rid of Amber or send her away to another relative to raise.


    "Of course, I married you didn''t I? You were able to help me to save Julian, having Amber as my daughter is just a bonus." She winked at him.

 Chapter 63 - Sneaky Daddy

    Luna was still wondering why Hero was being good to her. Although they got married because of a deal, she was still couldn''t believe that he wanted her as his wife. Was it just because they slept together that lead to a baby?


    However, it couldn''t be the sole reason why he married her. A man so powerful and filthy rich like him could easily get a woman who could be his trophy wife, not her. She''s already gained more than enough from what she bargained for from this marriage, but what could Hero Li possibly want to gain from it?


    Did he marry her for Little Amber''s sake? That was also a possibility.


    The next day��after their breakfast, Hero once summoned her to the study. Hero placed a black card on his desk, giving it to Luna.


    "What''s this for?" she asked confusedly.


    "Do you really think I''ll let you walk around still using the old clothes and shoes that you have before marrying me?" Hero raised a brow at her. "Go and shop some clothes for you and Amber later. Since you say she needs some reassurance that we wouldn''t forget about her, you should pamper her more while the baby isn''t born yet."


    Luna frowned. "You do know this isn''t what she wanted, right? Can''t you at least give some time to spend with her?"


    It was hard to describe the expression on her husband''s face. Why the heck he was hesitating over his own child?


    Her gaze sharpened as she waited for his response.


    "Hero!"


    "Alright. I''ll see what I can do," he promised.


    Although it was hard to convince her husband, Luna knew he would keep his word as long as he agreed to it. Little Amber''s stubbornness really came from her father, Luna thought.


    Then, they heard Amber''s crying from her room again. The two of them shared a knowing look, and Luna ?r??n?d. Why was it always like this every morning?


    "Don''t you think I should sleep next to Amber from now on?" she asked her husband as they made their way towards Little Amber''s room.


    "No need," Hero flatly rejected her suggestion. How was he able to seduce his wife if she''d be spending the night with that brat?


    A loud crashing sound was heard from Little Amber''s room, and the couple increased their pace and hurried to see what happened. Within Little Amber''s room, the bedside lamp had ended up broken at the edge of her bed, and Luna panicked.


    She hurriedly went to the crying child and patted her back gently.


    The crying girl buried her face on her embrace, her soft and tiny arms wrapping around Luna''s neck tightly.


    "I have enough of this crying, Amber." Hero deadpanned. "Don''t make it difficult for us."


    Luna glanced at him disapprovingly.


    "It''s alright, darling. Mommy''s here. Shhh��" she continued to pat Little Amber''s back and lifted her up from the bed. With Hero''s help, she was able to step out of the bed without tripping on her own foot.


    "I won''t be going to work for today. I''ll stay with Amber," she told Hero as they left the destroyed room so the servants could clean the mess the girl left inside. They descended the stairs and went to the front door as Hero was about to leave for work.


    "Isn''t that the reason I told you to resign and stay with Amber?" Her husband sighed. "I might come home late later. Don''t wait for me anymore." Hero ran his fingers on his daughter''s hair��the girl ceased crying as soon as Luna held her��while he stole a kiss on Luna''s lips, catching her off-guard.


    "Call me if you need anything," Hero said before turning around to leave, not giving Luna a chance to react to his kiss.


    Luna was fuming with anger inside. This man! He was getting bolder lately and even went as far kissing her in front of Little Amber!


    However, it seemed that Luna wasn''t the only one upset over the matter. Little Amber was scowling at her father as she watched him leave.


    Just as Hero said that morning, his work ended up past midnight; he came home when everyone was asleep. He really had a long day and wanted to throw himself on the bed to get some sleep, but before that, he had to check on his daughter out of habit.


    Since Luna didn''t need to worry about him, she decided to accompany Little Amber to sleep with her. The girl''s bed was too small for Luna''s height so she ended up inviting Little Amber to spend the night in her room.


    This was why when Hero opened Little Amber''s room to check on her, he found the bed empty. Curious as to where his daughter was, he decided to check on Luna.


    Her door was pushed open silently. His footsteps light as he walked inside and sat at the foot of the bed. Under the moonlight that passed through the curtains of the window, Hero found his wife and daughter snuggled next to each other.


    Luna''s hand was still at Amber''s back, her breathing slow and shallow indicating she was deep asleep while Little Amber lay next to her peacefully. What took Hero''s attention were the matching pajamas the two were wearing.


    How could be these two be so irresistibly cute at the same time? Hero thought it was unfair and too much for him to handle.


    Hero removed his coat and shoes, too exhausted to move back to his own room. He slipped beneath the sheets and lay next to Amber. However, sleep didn''t come easily as he was briefly stunned by his wife''s innocent beauty.


    Propping himself up on his pillows, he watched the woman sleeping peacefully next to his daughter. Luna was lying on her side, facing him and her long dark hair splayed out around her. Reaching out, he took a long strand of her hair and marveled at how soft it was. It was evident that she was good at taking care of her hair and skin in spite of her previous financial difficulties.

 Chapter 64 - Good morning, Wife

    No wonder Jasper Mo was still trying to win her over again, but would Hero allow him to snatch his wife from him? Of course not, he''d make sure that this woman would eventually fall in love with him until no more space was left for Jasper Mo to conquer.


    As his gaze roamed over her, Hero concluded that he would have laughed if someone told him that he''d remarry. He would even laugh harder if they told him he''d have a one-night stand with her before marriage, knocking her up.


    After his first wife''s death and Little Amber''s birth, Hero didn''t think there would be a day that he would remarry.


    Shaking his head slightly, Hero tore his gaze away from her to the window where the moonlight was struggling to get past through. Giving his wife a last glance before shutting his eyes, he wondered briefly if they could get out of their contractual marriage and truly live as husband and wife in all aspects.


    The day was Saturday, and the warm sunlight that drifted through the same curtains the moonlight kissed last night woke Little Amber before Luna did. Little Amber squirmed as she tried to get out from her Mommy''s arm that lay across her but froze when she felt another person lying on the bed.


    Turning her head next to her, she saw her father crack an eye open and glare back at her with the same intensity she was throwing at him. Silently, Hero was telling her to be still and not to wake up Luna before closing his eyes again to rest his eyes.


    The woman in question sighed softly on her sleep and pulled Little Amber closer as she shifted on the bed, not aware of the cold war between her husband and stepdaughter.


    An hour later, Luna''s eyes opened slowly; and she smiled sleepily as she snuggled into the warmth that surrounded her. Sighing softly, she pressed herself against the source of the warmth and felt the arm around her tighten.


    Her eyes shot open, and Luna stifled a gasp as her gaze met with her husband''s.


    "Good morning, Wife. Did you sleep well last night?" he asked.


    Her mind froze as she realized that she was pressed against his body, and he had wrapped an arm around her as though he was trying to keep her there. It took her a moment to realize that Little Amber who had clung to her for most of the night was not present.


    Luna fought hard the blush that crept on to her face, but it was too late for her to hide it as Hero had already seen it.


    Amused, Hero pitied her and released her from his hold as she moved out of her bed.


    "Where''s Amber?" she asked Hero, trying to divert her focus away from this delicious man who was currently tempting her.


    Luna halted at that. What? Delicious? What the hell was wrong with her brain, ah? Why did she suddenly think that Hero was quite charming and delectable looking as he lay on her bed?


    Luna chastised and slapped herself mentally.


    It must be her damn hormones acting again. If it wasn''t because she was pregnant, she didn''t think she would have this kind of thoughts towards her husband.


    ''No!'' Luna cradled her head and forced the dirty thoughts away from her mind. This couldn''t possibly be happening! This wasn''t her! Damn, her own body was betraying her.


    Hero lay back on the bed and stared at her confusedly. He could sense that she was somewhat trapped in an internal battle, causing her facial expression turned from confusion, to surprise, and to horror.


    Ah, compared to sleeping alone on his own bed, he felt much relaxed when he slept on the same bed with his wife although his daughter was between them.


    "Look behind you," he said. Luna did what he''d just said, glad that he was able to change the mood within the room.


    Luna didn''t think she would be able to answer her husband if he asked her what was wrong with her.


    She found Little Amber sitting on the floor surrounded by the toys she brought with her. Noticing her stare, the girl turned around and smiled at her, glad to see that her Mommy was finally awake.


    Little Amber stood up and raised her arms up, informing her Mommy she wanted to be picked up by her. Luna did but not without Hero scolding his daughter first.


    "When your Mommy''s bump starts to show up, you can''t do this anymore. You''ll hurt her and the baby," he told Little Amber.


    Little Amber stuck her tongue out and avoided her father''s glare. He could not stop her from taking her Mommy''s attention.


    "Did my baby sleep well last night? Because Mommy''s hoping you''ll accompany her to visit her friend today?"


    Since Luna wasn''t able to meet Corinne during the banquet, she promised that she''d pay a visit to her and Mia this weekend.


    Little Amber nodded her head, excited to go out again like they did yesterday when her Mommy took her for shopping.


    Before meeting her new Mommy, Little Amber always wondered what would it feels like if she has a mommy of her own but thinking about her father''s attitude, she didn''t any woman would agree to become her mommy.


    Little Amber certainly didn''t want her Aunt Veronica to become her mom. She''s violent and loud. She also made her cry through her shouting. As Little Amber wrap her small arms around her mommy, she thanked her bad daddy in her heart.

 Chapter 65 - My Daddy Is a Monster?

    The pair left Hero in Luna''s bedroom and made their way to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Since they decided to pay Corinne and Mia a visit, Luna prepared a light breakfast for them.  They were halfway through making their meal when Hero, who''d already changed to his home clothes, came into the kitchen. He stood by the doorway, watching the pair laughing merrily.  Luna was plating the pancake cooked while Little Amber was sitting over the kitchen counter, with an empty bowl on her arms, watching her every movement.  Turning his attention to his wife, Hero smirked as he saw white patches of flour on her clothes, making his guess that she accidentally made a mistake while preparing her pancakes.  His low laugh caused the two to lift their heads up in surprise.  "Oh, Hero. You''re up," Luna said awkwardly. Her previous thoughts started to emerge again in her mind. Curse these damn hormones!  "So how come you ended up covered in flour? Luna Jiang, I''m really hungry this time, but this isn''t how I want to eat you," Hero said with a wide grin.  Luna felt so embarrassed; she wanted to throw something on Hero''s face at that moment to make him shut up. This man was getting better at pissing her off, and she didn''t like it. Meanwhile, poor Little Amber was thinking about why her father wanted to eat her mommy alive. Was he some kind of a monster she''d seen on television? She gasped and pulled Luna''s sleeve.  Little Amber decided not to leave her mommy alone with her monster daddy!  Hero shook his head in amusement. It certainly seemed like that his life turned out to be better and interesting after marrying Luna Jiang. Eventually, Luna finished preparing their breakfast and placed them on the table before turning to Hero.  "Do you want to eat pancakes as well or something else?"  "I want to eat someone. I bet she''s really tasty and one of a kind." Hero''s eyes were slightly hooded as he licked his lips while looking at his wife.  "I mean food!" Luna exclaimed with a slight blush on her cheeks. "Oh? You aren''t included in the menu? Such a pity." Hero feigned his disappointment before taking a seat next to Little Amber. "I''ll have the same with what Amber has except the milk."  Luna gave them a plate of pancake tower and a freshly brewed coffee.  "I''ll be taking Amber out with me if that''s okay with you��" She bit her lip, not sure if Hero would allow it. Hero raised a brow on her before placing a chunk of pancake he cut from his plate.  "Luna, you''re my wife and Amber''s mother. You don''t need to ask permission every time you want to go out with her so long that you''ll bring your driver and bodyguard with you."  He hated it when she wasn''t certain. Hero liked her the most when she''s strong and decisive that she wouldn''t rely on anybody to prove her point. The smile that bloomed on Luna''s face made his heart skip a beat. Hero wondered what this woman did to him. It was as if he couldn''t say no to her wishes. "Thanks, Hero. Don''t worry. I''ll make sure Amber will be safe, and we''ll come back home early."  Hero shrugged and continued to eat his breakfast. He made a mental note to give her a call later just in case she lost track of time again. ---- When Luna and Little Amber arrived at Corinne''s apartment, Fluffy��who came with them��ran inside and found Mia playing in the living area. "Fluffy!" The little girl squealed and shot to her feet to tackle the big white dog she dearly missed. "I miss you, Fluffy! Did you arrive with Auntie Luna?" Mia gave Fluffy a head pat and a hug before running to the front door to see her Auntie Luna. There, she saw her mother talking to her Auntie Luna, but Auntie didn''t arrive alone as there was a cute little girl in her arms.  Mia thought that she was so pretty like those dolls she''d seen at malls but were too expensive for her mommy to buy. The little girl had a pair of round brown eyes, a small nose, pinkish lips, and chubby cheeks.  "Oh, Luna. You''re here." Corinne greeted her and let them step inside her apartment. "Is this Little Amber? Boss Li''s daughter?" she asked and saw how the girl wrapped her arms tighter around Luna''s neck and hid her face. "It''s okay, baby." Luna patted her small back. "She''s mommy''s friend. Say hi to your Auntie Corinne?"  Little Amber shifted in her mommy''s arms before facing Corinne. She glanced at the woman''s face before hiding again on her mommy''s embrace. "Sorry. She''s still not used in meeting other people," Luna apologized. Corinne waved a hand and laughed. Of course, she already heard about the rumors about their Boss Li''s daughter. People said she was mute, but Luna had told her that wasn''t the case. Little Amber used to speak before, but she refused to speak a word since her third birthday. "It''s okay, Luna. I understand that she''s all new to this. Hopefully, meeting new people and making friends will help her trust people around her so she could speak again." Meanwhile, Mia clung to her mother''s th??h and watched Little Amber in silence. So this is her Auntie Luna''s new baby? But Auntie Luna''s baby couldn''t speak? They all moved in the spacious living area where Mia''s toys scattered everywhere and Corinne had to move and clear away Luna''s path so she wouldn''t trip from the toys. Luna brought down Little Amber to sit on the couch before introducing her to Mia.  "Baby, didn''t I say I want you to meet someone?" Little Amber nodded on her question. Luna then gestured to Mia to come closer to her which the latter agreed easily. "Hi, Auntie Luna. I miss you," she said before placing a kiss on her Auntie Luna''s cheek. "Miss you too, darling." Luna patted her head. "By the way, this is my baby, Amber. I hope the two of you can be friends. What do you think, Mia?" "If Amber is okay with it�� okay," Mia answered back. "Good." Luna smiled brightly then turned to Little Amber. "Baby, this is Mia. She''s Auntie Corinne''s baby. Would you like to play with her?"  Little Amber held her mommy''s hand tight, but Luna gave it a squeeze, telling her there''s nothing to be worried about as long as she was around. Little Amber glanced at Mia''s way before nodding. She rose from her seat and let Mia drag her away and bring her to the playroom. "Such a beautiful child, but she lost her mom too early," Corinne commented once they were out of their kids'' earshot. "It also didn''t help that she has a workaholic father who b?r?ly stays at home with her." Luna sighed as she sat on the couch with Fluffy and ran her fingers on his thick white fur. "Hmm, is he ignoring you, too?" her friend asked. Luna ?r??n?d at that. Her husband wasn''t ignoring her at all. He was trying to seduce her at any given chance.  The blush on her cheeks was her answer to Corinne''s question. "No way, Luna Jiang. Don''t tell me you''re in love with your husband now?" she teased. Luna gasped on her accusation.  "What? No way!" she exclaimed. Who''s in love with that jerk? It was definitely not her, Luna Jiang.  Luna swore she wouldn''t fall easily for her husband''s charm. Ah, but it was so hard. The kiss he''d given her after leaving Jasper''s birthday party was haunting her in her dreams. Speaking of Jasper''s birthday party, she hadn''t seen Corinne in the said event. "Didn''t you say you''ll meet me at Jasper''s party? Where were you?" she asked her friend who was busy pouring her some tea and serving some cakes for her to eat. "I went there, ah! It was you who I couldn''t find at the party. I''m the one who should ask that question." Corinne demanded. "Well��" Luna scratched her cheek. "I was with Joanna Li and Jasmine Xuan after Hero and I arrived. Then later, Aiko appeared out of nowhere." She then proceeded to narrate how she found out about Aiko being pregnant with Jasper''s child and how the latter insisted he will not marry her and tried to bully me." "That bitch! No wonder she''s been sticking and following Jasper wherever he goes, but for his own family to conspire with Aiko and drug him? Wow, I somewhat feel pity for Jasper now."  Luna went silent. Yes, she also felt pity for Jasper, but this could have been avoided if he''d learned how to man up and protect their relationship. However, it was too late for him to change as she''s already bound to Hero Li as his wife. "Jasper said he would never marry Aiko Chen, but I''m sure you know Aiko will force him to."  "Eh? Luna, haven''t you watched the news or read the newspapers? Jasper vehemently denied their engagement and asked the public not to believe Aiko''s lies. With him turning his back on Aiko, it caused a big rift between the Mo and the Chen families. Jasper would have a hard time running away from that witch."

 Chapter 66 - Sienna Jiangs Schemes

    Hero''s phone rang with an incoming call. Without even checking, he knew it was from a private investigator he hired to find the real cause of his brother-in-law, Julian Jiang.


    The name registered flashed on the screen. Picking up the phone made his eyes narrow slightly, and the atmosphere inside his study dropped in temperature. His eyes flickered with murderous intent.


    Since his wife was a daughter from the Jiang family, he wouldn''t be surprised if her other siblings plotted against her and Julian. If the schemer was able to harm Julian, they could also hurt Luna in the future; and this was what Hero was trying to avoid.


    Immediately upon answering, he rose from his seat and stood next to the window on his study. He had a feeling that whoever it was, they would come back to hunt Luna one of these days.


    "Who is it?" Hero''s voice was so cold it was the perfect contrast of the warmth the sun shone through outside.


    "Sienna Jiang and her mother," The other man at the other line responded.


    Hero chuckled and went back to his desk, sitting on its edge. He wasn''t surprised by this news at all. This call only confirmed his suspicion.


    Sienna Jiang, huh?


    Then, let''s see he''d let her taste her own medicine. He could only hope that she was smart enough to take his warning seriously.


    ---


    The effect was so seductive in Luna''s eyes that she couldn''t help but stare wide-eyed at her husband. Coupled with the way he was resting in a relaxed position, it really did appear as though he was a husband waiting for his wife to come back home.


    "Enjoying what you see?" Hero''s teasing voice broke Luna''s reverie, her face beet red on his teasing.


    "I just didn''t expect you''ll be at home at this time." She tried to avoid his amused gaze.


    "Hmm�� you certainly did ask me to spend more time with you and Amber. Being a responsible husband that I am, I listened to my wife''s wishes."


    Luna did ask him to spend time with Amber, but she had nothing to do with it. Why''s Hero making it sound that she also wanted his company?


    Luna coughed lightly before telling Little Amber''s nanny to bring her up to her bedroom to take a nap.


    "Anyway, did you need me for something?" she asked her husband. However, even before Hero could tease her again, her deadly glare had told him to watch his words.


    "I''m hungry." Hero ended up saying.


    He had waited almost eight hours for her. At this point, he didn''t want to waste time arguing with her.


    He''s hungry? Did that mean he had been waiting for her to come home and cook? Madam Lin was there so why did he have to wait for her return?


    "Then, I''ll go make our dinner?" she sounded confused.


    "Hmm," Hero Li confirmed, "I want to taste my wife''s cooking."


    Once again, Luna didn''t know if he was teasing her or not.


    "What do you want to eat?" she asked.


    "Doesn''t matter. Just make it quick. I haven''t eaten anything since you and Amber left." Since his wife knew how to cook��as long as it tasted good, Hero was fine with anything.


    Luna wordlessly made her way into the kitchen, with her mind confused with what she felt for her husband. She had never felt this way with Jasper before, and she did not know if these feelings she had for Hero was normal.


    An hour later, four dishes and two different kinds of soups were placed before Hero. His eyes feasted on his wife''s cooking. He dug in without saying a word, and Luna couldn''t help but smile as she watched Hero devour his meal heartily.


    "Starting today whenever I''m home, can you cook meals for me and Amber?" he asked once his bowl was clean.


    "O-okay��"


    Although she wanted to refute and ask him what was wrong with him, Luna held her tongue. It was obvious that her husband was trying to improve his relationship with Little Amber and become a decent husband to her.


    "By the way, when is your next appointment with your doctor?" Hero asked, pertaining to her next prenatal check-up.


    "In the next two weeks, why?"


    "Of course, to accompany you. What else? We better make sure our baby is growing well," her husband said proudly. "How''s your brother? Is he allowed to go home anytime soon?"


    Luna shook her head. Since she was discharged from the hospital and moved in with Hero, she hadn''t visited Julian again. Her mother was patient enough to call her and give her updates about her brother''s condition.


    "He still hasn''t recovered his consciousness yet, but the doctors said he''s now in a stable condition," she answered.


    "That''s good. I think we found a lead on the accident though. Wife, aren''t you curious why Julian was the only one hurt in the accident��? If it was really an accident like the schemer wants it to look like."


    Luna''s eyes went wide, her back straightened. Her doubt was really unreasonable then.


    Hero watched his wife''s expression with curiosity, wondering what she''d do after she found out the truth.


    "Sienna Jiang through her mother. She staged the accident that caused Julian''s injury," he said nonchalantly.


    Luna hit the top of the table hard, and the glass next to her fell on the floor with a loud crash.


    "Sienna Jiang!" She knew it! She just knew that there was something suspicious about her half-sister''s sudden change of behavior. That woman wouldn''t dare to extend an olive branch unless she wouldn''t gain an advantage from it.


    Her husband had resources better than her. Why would Hero lie to her over this matter?


    Luna knew her husband was unsociable by nature, but she didn''t expect that of all people, he would be the one who''d save her from misery. However, Sienna Jiang had been a consistent pain in her ?ss.


    Her suspicion started when Sienna had suddenly become interested to help her financially during Julian''s surgeries. She was persistent and had given her several calls, pretending she was a worried sister to her half-brother.


    It was sickening for Luna to think that Sienna was able to do such thing even to her kin.


    "Are you certain?" she asked. She needed Hero''s words that he was telling her the truth and not conspiring to use her as a pawn. After all, the Jiang family had a lot of enemies outside waiting for the perfect time to strike them down the moment they saw weakness.


    Facing him like this, Luna couldn''t find deceit in his eyes. A sudden fear blossomed into her ?h?st as she thought about it. What if Hero or Little Amber ended up being hurt because of her? Luna would never be able to forgive herself if that happened.


    "I��" she stuttered, not knowing what to say at the moment.


    "Luna Jiang, do I need to remind you again and again? No one can harm you and your family as long as I''m here. Tell your mother to move out of that neighborhood. It wasn''t safe for her and Julian once he was allowed to go home."


    Luna shut her eyes. She knew her husband was telling the truth. Sienna might have failed now, but soon, she would attempt to threaten her family and convince her again to give up her inheritance from the Jiang family.


    "Do you think I should just give her what she wanted?" she asked Hero in a low voice.


    Was her inheritance more important than her loved ones? Wouldn''t she regret it later if Sienna finally succeeded in harming her family just because of an inheritance she couldn''t even use to save Julian''s life?


    Hero gave it a thought. In all honesty, Luna Jiang didn''t need anything from the Jiang family. The wealth and status of the Li family were way above with the Jiangs anyway. Being his wife, what else she was short of?


    "You have me now. Is there something else the Jiang family can give you that I couldn''t?" he answered her with another question.

 Chapter 67 - Darling, There鈥檚 Nothing to Explain

    "I did marry you for money, but that was so I can save my brother not to leech on you," Luna corrected him. She didn''t think she had choices back then, but she would rather be trapped on Hero''s deal than to accept Sienna Jiang''s help.


    "That inheritance�� it is yours. Are you really that soft-hearted, Luna? Didn''t you realize that all of these happened because you were too kind and easy to be fooled? Say, have the thought crossed on your mind that even if you give up your rights and inheritance from the Jiang family, how sure are you that they wouldn''t come back for more?" Her husband bombarded her with questions.


    Luna fell back on her seat, feeling her strength leaving her body. However, Hero rose to his feet, hooked his arm under her knees, and lifted her up. She was startled by his sudden action but nevertheless wrapped her arms around his neck.


    Burying her face on his shoulder, she smelled his clean scent that somehow calmed her.


    Indeed. Hero''s questions never crossed to her. What''s the ?ssurance that her half-siblings would leave her and Julian alone? If she wasn''t such a weakling back then, she would''ve revealed Sienna''s lies when the latter stole her work.


    Luna hated that she was easily fooled by Aiko and Sienna. Aiko had managed to fool her and seduced her own boyfriend right under her nose while Sienna not only stole her work and the glory that was supposed to be hers but also harmed Julian because of her weakness.


    At that moment, she hated herself more than anyone else, and yet her heart was telling her to forgive them and move on with her life. She didn''t want a complicated life filled with revenge and schemes. She only wanted to live her life in peace with her baby and new family.


    "To be honest, I don''t care anymore if I lose my inheritance just as long as I''ll be ?ssured that I wouldn''t lose any of my loved ones because of it. I rather lose it than my brother," Luna admitted to her husband.


    Lowering her head, she was ashamed of how weak she was in front of him. Her eyes welled up, hands curled on her ??p.


    "Am I not allowed to be happy? I only wished to lead a happy life with no remorse or so whatever. What kind of crime did I commit for my life to end this way?" she cried out, but Hero didn''t say anything, letting her cry her heart out. She must have been holding this from everyone for a long time.


    With her sickly mother, a useless father, and a brother who''s been in an accident; Luna''s troubled heart must be enduring all these pain alone.


    Whatever she had right now, it was all because of this man. When Jasper left with Aiko, she was kicked out of her own apartment due to unsettled bills. Now, she and Fluffy didn''t need to worry about where they''d stay.


    This private villa owned by her husband was more than enough for her. This small villa couldn''t be considered small at all as it was complete with two floors with several rooms, a front and a back garden she truly enjoyed with Little Amber and Fluffy, a swimming pool, and��surprisingly��a greenhouse where Hero spent most of his free time.


    However, if it was compared to the Jiang Mansion where Sienna and her other half-siblings live, Hero''s villa was indeed small.


    Because Hero Li disliked having too many people crowding around him, their home was being maintained by Madam Lin and her grandson. Two maids were responsible for the indoor cleaning while leaving the outdoor to a gardener.


    Hero combed his wife''s hair with his hand, hoping that it would soothe her somehow. Right now, he only wanted her to learn to rely on him and ask for his ?ssistance. Luna only needed to say a word, and he would comply with her wishes.


    "Stop your tears. No more crying, Luna," Hero wiped her tears from her face, and she stared back at him bewildered from his actions once again.


    "Why are you so good to me?" she asked without thinking.


    Hero froze midway and stared at her tear-stained face.


    "I''m afraid I also don''t know the answer to that question," he admitted.


    Luna halted her tears before slowly lifting her head to look at Hero. She could see a small smile plastered on his face. It was faint but still noticeable. She even caught a complex emotion glint on his eyes. Even she wasn''t able to comprehend what it was. The only thing she was sure of was it was all directed to her.


    Could it be that this man was in love with her?


    She gently shook her head. No, it couldn''t be. Luna Jiang wasn''t someone who believed in ''Love at First Sight''; she must be overthinking again.


    Luna sniffed and wiped her tears dry. She couldn''t believe she had a breakdown in front of her husband. She turned her face away, hiding her embarrassment.


    Seeing her like this, Hero let out a low chuckle.


    Luna snapped at him and glared ferociously.


    "What are you laughing at?" she pouted and smacked his ?h?st.


    "Nothing, I just think my wife is really cute so maybe that''s the reason she easily gets bullied." He grinned. "Don''t worry, wife. Now that you have me, only I can bully you like this." Then, he pinched both of her cheeks.


    "Hero Li!" Luna slapped his hand away and tackled him.


    She was really tempted to strangle him to death. Couldn''t he tell that he also troubled her heart? Luna wasn''t sure what she was feeling about her husband right now.


    Luna had always ?ssumed she knew what love was when she was still in a relationship with Jasper and had never thought she was oblivious to what it truly was.


    On a normal day, she wouldn''t pay much attention to her husband''s appearance. However, seeing him as close as this and lying on her bed beneath her, Luna couldn''t help to admit that the man she was married to was very handsome. He had a pair of attractive brows, a straight nose, and a face that could put male models and actors to shame if they stood next to him.


    Once again, the atmosphere between them was really awkward. How was she supposed to answer his question? However, in the end, Luna could only conceal the confusion in her heart.


    "You wish!"


    "Eh? If not, hurry up and get up. I know you''re already pregnant, but don''t tease me like this again, wife. My patience is running thin with all this teasing from you."


    At that moment, her door slightly opened. Little Amber stood at the doorway, finding them both in an awkward position with Luna hovering over Hero who was on his back.


    "Baby, let me explain!" Luna exclaimed, her face turning beet red. She couldn''t believe how unlucky she was for her stepdaughter seeing her like this with Hero.


    Oh, my gosh! What should she do now? Little Amber must be thinking she was shameless to seduce Hero on her bed.


    "Darling, there''s nothing to explain, although I must admit I''m surprised to know your eagerness to share your bed with me." Hero chuckled evilly beneath her.


    Ah, this husband of hers? Could she turn back time and not marry this man?


    "Hero! Little Amber is watching us!" She hissed back.


    "As much as I would like to see you on top, I want to be in control, wife." Hero continued to tease her, his hand moved to her lips and ran his thumb over it.


    Luna shrieked and sat back, freeing her husband.


    "Ah, why did you move? Amber should get used to seeing us like this. After all, we''re husband and wife."


    "She''s too young to understand any of these!" Luna retorted before stepping down from her bed and walked towards Little Amber clutching her whiteboard against her ?h?st.


    "Baby, what''s wrong? I thought you said you want a nap?" Luna picked up her stepdaughter and sat at the free side which Hero didn''t occupy. It seemed that this father and child took a liking of invading her bed.


    "You want to sleep here?" she asked Little Amber.


    "Amber, you sleep here. Mommy wouldn''t go anywhere."


    Sure enough, Little Amber moved between them and curled next to her Mommy, ignoring her father who reached out to touch her head.

 Chapter 68 - I Want This Baby

    Looking at father and daughter, Luna wondered what could''ve happened in the past for Little Amber to treat Hero this way. It was as if the two could not stay in the same room without Little Amber glaring at her father.


    Thinking about it, Joanna once told her that an incident about Little Amber being kidnapped before had caused the rift between the two. However, she couldn''t just demand her husband to explain what had really happened back then.


    "I have no idea Amber''s day could be so��" Hero tried to find the right words but failed. Spending the whole day with his daughter, he couldn''t believe that girl was able to stay active with him, running around his greenhouse while he tended to his plants.


    "You think she''s weak? Hero, you really don''t know your own child then." Luna giggled as she watched Hero slumped next to her on the couch.


    "Has this happened before?" Hero asked, and she burst into laughter.


    "You really don''t have an idea of how to look after her, do you?" she asked back, "Small as they are, kids could turn your house upside down if left unattended."


    She didn''t think that Hero had spent enough time with his daughter to know what she liked and did not. Little Amber was not only interested in painting but also in baking. She''d seen how eager the girl was to learn how to make cookies and cupcakes.


    Little Amber followed shortly, with Fluffy on tow. Luna ?r??n?d as she saw how dirty that little girl and her dog were. Both were standing at the front door, not daring to step inside with their dirty soles and paws.


    "Fluffy, did you play with the mud again?" she grumbled. His pure white fur was matted with dirt and mud, which would be hard to clean.


    Luna walked towards them and brought the two to the bathroom near the kitchen. With Little Amber''s nanny''s help, Luna was able to clean the little girl and her dog faster.


    After her bath, Little Amber was able to take a nap on her own, leaving Luna to dry and groom Fluffy back to his clean prestige.


    The first two weeks of living with Hero and Amber weren''t so bad at all. While she wasn''t allowed to visit her brother at the hospital, Hero was strict to remind her of her condition. Luna thought that her life had been thrown in a whirlwind since she met this man, and there were drastic changes not only with her new living arrangement but also on her mother and brother''s welfare.


    Still, it was nice to know that she wouldn''t have to worry about when her next meal was going to be or where she would get the money she needed to pay for the hospital bills that continue to rise for every day that passed.


    Today was her second appointment with her doctor, and her husband was kind enough to take her to it.


    "Calm down. Why are you so worried? It is just a normal checkup." His voice rang through her head as she waited for this day to come. For Hero, it might be a normal checkup; but Luna wanted him to be as involved in this pregnancy as her.


    "Luna?" Hero''s voice dragged her back to the present as her head whipped around to look into a set of concerned onyx eyes and impassive face.


    "Yes?" she blinked a few times, shocked at how she ended up too close to her husband.


    Hero had already stepped out of the car with Amber in his arms while she was still sitting in his passenger seat in a daze.


    "We''re here," he replied as he offered a hand to her.


    "Oh," Luna took his hand as he pulled her gently out of the car. She quickly buried her hands in her side pockets as mere touching him was enough for her to feel the sparks between them. What the hell was that? Luna wondered.


    The family of three walked into the doctor''s office. Soon, Luna was left sitting nervously in the waiting room, trying to ignore the chills washing over her at the moment. Hero grabbed her hand and gave her a confused look.


    "Are you sure you want this?" she suddenly voiced out her frustration to her husband.


    "Why wouldn''t I want my own child?" Hero asked her confusedly, but a thought crossed his mind. He couldn''t even be considered as a good father to Little Amber. No wonder his wife was having doubts about this pregnancy.


    Luna chewed her lip. Did he want it because the baby would be his heir or that the baby was his?


    As if knowing what she was thinking, Hero narrowed his eyes to her.


    "I want the baby not because it would inherit our family business. I want this baby and you. I want to have a family with you with Amber and the baby," he explained.


    Luna''s eyes started to water. Large brown eyes filled with tears looked up to Hero�� with happiness and uncertainty. Happiness because her husband was willing to make this marriage work with her and uncertainty because she still couldn''t comprehend what she felt for him.


    "Why do you always cry?" Hero sighed as he wiped her cheeks dry while Little Amber paid attention closely to her Mommy and Daddy. This was the first time she''d seen her Daddy care for other people aside for himself.


    Little Amber had always thought that her daddy didn''t love her nor care for her. Daddy was always away for work, and he b?r?ly checked on her. When she was kidnapped by bad people, strangers were the first ones to rescue her and not her daddy.


    However, ever since Mommy Luna came to the scene, her daddy was always at home at night, having dinner with her and Mommy.


    "I was born and raised as an heir, groomed to be perfect in everyone''s eyes. I don''t want to raise Amber and our baby like that. They deserve so much better than to live based on someone''s expectation, don''t you think?"


    Luna could sympathize with him. When she was brought to the Jiang Mansion, the Jiang family set high expectations for her and Julian to follow. Neither of them had a good relationship with their fathers.


    Hero''s father abandoned him and his siblings, taking all the money of their investors and putting Hero and their family into shame and bankruptcy while her own father had disregarded her and Julian.


    "You wouldn''t hate the baby? You wouldn''t forget about him or her?" Luna asked in a shaky voice.


    As a child, she never knew what it felt to have a father. Throughout her childhood, she only had her mother to look after her and Julian. When she first met Stephen Jiang, his eyes were filled with disgust as he looked at her and her brother. It was as if he didn''t consider them as his children.


    "You aren''t going to toss my baby aside, are you? ''Cause if you do, let''s have a divorce right now. I rather leave now than to cause him or her pain in the future." Luna rubbed her lower abdomen, feeling a small lump inside her. She wondered what kind of mother she would be.


    Being pregnant was totally new for her. It was a new experience where she didn''t know what to expect. Aside from being huge, Luna had a little idea of what usually happened in pregnancy. She made a mental note to call her mother for advice.


    It was still weird to her to think that she was now Hero''s wife and not Jasper''s, weird that she had a baby growing inside her; it was even Hero''s baby. Having a one-night stand with a stranger and getting pregnant from it were certainly not the way Luna planned or the ideal way to get pregnant.


    "Of course not. Luna Jiang, I''ll make this clear to you. You aren''t allowed to divorce me! I will never abandon you and the baby. How could I hate the baby, especially when a part of him came from you?" His eyes bore down into her.


    She wasn''t certain what to think about her situation, but the thought of having a baby wasn''t appalling to her. The truth was�� she was excited and nervous to see her baby.


    She let out a low laugh. "How sure are you that it will be a boy?"


    Hero shrugged and watched a pregnant woman step out of the room.


    "I just know I''ll have a son soon."


    Luna rubbed her lower abdomen again. Pregnant. The thought of it was terrifying and exciting at the same time. Perhaps, unlike her own father, Hero would be able to become a father this time. She could also see that he was starting to mend his broken-slash-nonexistent bond towards Amber, and that was enough to make Luna happy.


    When she heard her name being called by the nurse, Hero released her hand as they entered the room together.

 Chapter 69 - Settlement and Compensation

    It had been a week since her last appointment with her doctor, and Luna was excited to see her brother who was recently discharged from the hospital to recuperate at home. Julian was supposed to stay for another week but insisted on going home as he was ashamed that his new brother-in-law was the one paying for his medical bills.


    When Luna arrived at her mother''s house, she was saddened to see the situation of their living arrangement. If she hadn''t married Hero Li, her situation would be no better.


    The doorway was the same as every other in the block, straight with clean lines. Yet, it led to her mother''s home, and in that was its specialness.


    "Luna? How long have you been standing here?" Elaine was surprised to see her daughter standing outside her door in a daze. "Come inside before you catch a cold. It would be bad for you and for your baby if you get sick."


    Elaine held Luna''s arm and dragged her inside the comfort of her home. Although it wasn''t as huge as Hero''s villa, her mother''s home was very warm and homey.


    "Mom, are you sure it''s okay for Julian to go home now?" Luna asked as she helped her mother in the kitchen to prepare her brother''s lunch.


    "He insisted on going home, and the doctor agreed with him as long as he would stay in bed for another two weeks before returning for his therapy." Elaine placed the bowl of soup in a tray before reaching out to hold Luna''s hand.


    "What about you? How''s your pregnancy going?"


    Luna smiled, knowing she wouldn''t be alone to deal with this pregnancy.


    As they finished their lunch, Luna helped her mother tidied up the kitchen before they heard the doorbell rang. Luna told her mother she''d be answering it and left Elaine in the kitchen. Opening the door, her brows rose as she saw a man in his late forties wearing a black suit and carrying a briefcase.


    "Is this where Mr. Julian Jiang resides?" the man asked, eyeing the old and small place.


    ''Yes, and you are?" Luna had a bad feeling about this. She didn''t like it one bit�� that this man was standing outside her mother''s door.


    "My name is Atty. Xia; I''m Mr. Edward Xu''s attorney. I won''t beat around the bush, Miss Jiang. I''m here to offer a settlement for Mr. Jiang''s accident so my client wouldn''t have to face legal cases."


    "From what I understand, your family has just spent a fortune for his surgeries, and my client is willing to reimburse the amount you spent. My client offers you a million yuan so we can settle this issue as soon as possible."


    The lawyer attempted to step inside the house, but Luna blocked his way by extending her arm. Edward Xu had the guts to offer them compensation so that they wouldn''t push the case. Was he afraid that the court would pressure him to reveal Sienna Jiang''s involvement in the staged accident?


    A million yuan? Would that be enough as compensation for her brother''s suffering under Sienna''s schemes?


    If this man arrived at the time she was desperate for money, Luna might be tempted to agree to his offer so long as she could save her brother''s life. Alas, she''d sold herself to Hero Li, saving her some dignity for her to spare.


    "Mr. Xia, do you think a million yuan was enough to make your client run away from his responsibilities. Not only did Edward Xu almost kill my brother, but he''d also taken and ruined my brother''s future."


    Noticing the harsh tone on Luna''s voice, Mr. Xia was taken aback from the fierce glint in her eyes. Didn''t Sienna Jiang say that this woman was easy to coerce?


    The man pushed his glasses up and regarded Luna Jiang.


    "Miss Jiang, what happened was an accident. My client has no intention of harming your brother. If you''ve seen the police report, you should have known by now that the accident happened because the brakes didn''t work when your brother was crossing the street."


    Luna laughed and shook her head. Sienna must be thinking she was still as stupid as before. Her husband was right. Those people around thought that she was naive and had made a fool out of her because she never resisted or had the backbone to retaliate.


    The lawyer chuckled and shook his head.


    "Miss Jiang should take my words into consideration. I''ll be honest with you. You cannot win this case without proper backing. You don''t know who you are trying to mess with." The man snickered.


    Did this woman think she had the right to say no? Although she was a Jiang, her status compared to Sienna was inferior. Not only was she inferior, but she was also the unfavored daughter of the Jiang family.


    How dare she act like a young miss with a high status when she was just a daughter born from a mistress?


    Luna remained silent. Of course, she knew what the lawyer meant by that. Not only her family had financial issues, but Edward Xu''s family was also close to the Jiang family. It wasn''t like the Jiang family would stand up to protect her and Julian.


    "So Miss Jiang, I suggest that you accept this compensation and not to cause trouble for both parties.


    "Oh, you think I''m scared? I like to see how strong Edward Xu is. Please tell me to pay me a visit one of these days. My man and I will be expecting his arrival, ah." Luna smiled.


    The lawyer frowned. Was she talking about Jasper Mo? According to his research, she and Jasper Mo used to date; but the latter was now engaged to Aiko Chen? Was she bluffing to intimidate him and his client?


    "Mr. Xia, maybe you should go. This settlement and compensation�� I''m sorry I cannot accept this. Your presence alone is already a slap on our face. Daring to compensate us for harming my brother? Does your client think that he could just harm anyone and pretend everything will return to its previous state by throwing money to our faces?"


    ---


    Luna watched her husband step out of her room and then ?r??n?d as sudden dizziness hit her. She never thought that being pregnant could be difficult. As she entered the twelfth week of her pregnancy, the symptoms had started to show up.


    She could feel her waist thickening although her bump was still small, and her br??sts had grown bigger. As the sickness subsided for a while, she started to feel hungrier; and she worried if she was eating just enough for her and the baby.


    If anything, she might look like she''d gained a little weight around the middle or might not look different to anyone else at all around her.


    Hero reappeared, holding his ??ptop and a glass of fruit juice on his other hand. Following behind him was Little Amber who was staring at her mommy worriedly.


    Mommy had been spending more time in bed recently and been throwing up. Then, there was that one time her mommy fainted, and Little Amber panicked and cried. She thought that her mommy was dying. She was afraid that Luna wouldn''t wake up anymore, leaving her alone once again.


    Luna shifted on her bed and sat up. Ever since Little Amber and Hero slept on the same bed with her that night, the two had invaded her room and had chosen to share the bed with her. At first, she was uncomfortable sharing her bed with someone who wasn''t Fluffy.


    It was such a good thing that Hero placed a bed huge enough for the three of them, or else she would end up sleeping on the floor with her dog.


    "Thanks," she thanked her husband as he gave her the fruit juice before settling next to her and started working on his ??ptop. Recently, Hero could be found working at home as the symptoms of her pregnancy continued.


    "You can''t feel the baby yet. Baby still too small," Luna ran her hand on Little Amber''s silky locks and watched her wide eyes as the child rubbed her stomach.


    As Hero focused on his work, the silence beside him had brought him back to his reality. Taking a side glance, he found his wife and daughter taking their afternoon nap together. He took the remote control of the television from Luna''s hand and turned it off before resuming his work.


    Luna woke up to an overwhelming urge to vomit her lunch, dragging herself out of the bed carefully to not wake up her sleeping daughter before she hurried towards the bathroom. She b?r?ly made it on the toilet before she began vomiting.


    She threw up everything until there was nothing left in her stomach, but the acid and nauseous feeling she had at that moment.


    Oh, gods above did Luna feel miserable at the moment.

 Chapter 70 - Dummy pls come back later

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