CHAPTER 2
1630 Words
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Chapter 2: The Shadows That Don’t Go Away
The morning in the Viremont mansion was cold, even though the sun had penetrated the large glass windows in the living room. The servants walked slowly, maintaining the silence between the two new masters who barely spoke.
Luire sat in the small study prepared for her. In front of her, a pile of invitations to social events began to pile up. She had to attend galas, banquets, even meetings with the wives of other officials as the legal wife of Kael Viremont. It all felt like a play, a big stage that would never end.
“All eyes will be on you,” Kael’s assistant had said as he handed her the invitations. “As Lady Viremont, you must appear perfect.”
Funny, Luire thought. Even her name was no longer Luire Celestine. She had become part of a family she didn’t even know.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door of her study.
“Come in,” she said flatly.
It wasn’t a servant who appeared. It was Eion.
Luire suddenly stiffened.
“How did you get in?” she asked quietly.
“I have permission from the owner of the house,” Eion replied, glancing around. “Or at least, the owner of the company I currently work for. Kael Viremont asked me to deliver a message.”
“Kael asked you…?” Luire’s eyebrows rose.
Eion handed a black folder to the table. “A proposal for an annual charity project. Kael wants you to be present as the face of the Viremont foundation. He thinks the public will be more interested in seeing a ‘happy’ couple in a social activity.”
Luire stared at the folder blankly. “And you… are willing to be his messenger?”
Eion sat down uninvited. “I had no choice. I’m already too deep into his business network. But that’s not why I came here.”
Luire held her breath. She knew—it would come to this.
“Are you truly happy, Luire?” Eion stared at her deeply, sharply but warmly.
“Happiness is relative.”
“The answer of someone who is torturing themselves.”
Luire smiled bitterly. “You left three years ago, Eion. Without any news. Without saying goodbye. I waited… too long. Until finally I had no reason to wait anymore.”
Eion lowered his head. “I know. I was a coward. But at that time, I thought I didn’t deserve to be with you. I wanted to come home with something—with pride. But it turned out, when I came back… you already belonged to someone else.”
Luire stood up. Her eyes trembled, but she straightened her back.
“I don’t belong to anyone. Even Kael doesn’t consider me his. We’re just two people who agreed to pretend.”
“But your heart?” Eion whispered.
Luire turned her head. Her gaze was sharp.
“My heart? Broken, maybe. But it’s no one’s business anymore.”
---
Meanwhile, upstairs, Kael watched the security camera from his monitor screen.
He saw Luire and Eion’s meeting. Their body movements. Their distance. That look.
Kael’s hands clenched.
Not because of jealousy. She never believed in love. But she knew—emotional turmoil could ruin plans, ruin images, ruin stability.
And she wouldn’t let that happen.
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Later that night, as Luire was about to enter her room, Kael stood in the hallway.
“How did you meet Eion?” he asked suddenly.
Luire was surprised. “You were watching us?”
Kael didn’t answer. He walked closer, standing just a step away from her.
“Eion is no ordinary man. And I know, back then… he was the future you imagined.”
“Then why did you let him work in your company?”
“Because I wanted to know,” Kael answered coldly. “Will you stay… or run.”
Luire stared at him sharply. “Do you think I’m that weak?”
Kael stared back. And for the first time… there was emotion there. But not love. Not anger either.
But fear. Fear of losing control.
“Tomorrow night, we’ll perform at a charity event. You’ll wear a red dress. And you’ll stand beside me, holding my hand. Like we’re the perfect couple.”
Luire laughed softly. “Funny. We’re getting better at acting every day.”
Kael replied with a thin smile. “And the public loves the act.”
Luire stepped into her room, closing the door softly.
But behind the door, her chest tightened.
Because even though her heart knew this was just a contract… why did it all feel more real?
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Elsewhere, Eion looked at the calendar.
Tomorrow night: Viremont’s charity event. He knew there would be a lot of people. A lot of cameras.
And he also knew—it would be the first day he truly challenged the boundaries between the past… and someone else’s.
Because for Eion, Luire wasn’t just a memory.
But something unfinished.
And he wouldn’t give up so easily.
-
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The next day, the Viremont mansion was filled with servants and event organizer staff who were rushing to prepare for the annual charity event that would be attended by important figures and national media. White flowers were arranged along the hallway, while musicians began to try their instruments in the back garden that had been transformed into the main stage.
Luire stood still in front of the dressing mirror, wearing a classic-cut ruby red dress with lace details on the shoulders. The dress hugged her body gracefully, emphasizing her waistline and elegance as Lady Viremont. But her face… remained blank.
"You are very beautiful, Miss…" her makeup artist murmured as she arranged her hair into an elegant bun.
Beauty was not what made Luire relieved today. Because behind every strand of neatly combed hair and every touch of red lipstick, there was an unstoppable roar.
A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Come in," she said.
It was Kael who appeared.
He was wearing a black tuxedo with a red tie that matched his dress. Neat, dignified, and too calm. His gaze scanned Luire’s appearance from top to bottom.
“Good,” he said flatly. “We’ll look like a truly happy couple.”
Luire stared at their reflection in the mirror. Two perfect people—but continents apart.
“If we’re too convincing,” he murmured, “we might even fool ourselves.”
Kael didn’t reply. He just held out his hand.
Luire took it.
---
The camera spotlight greeted them as they stepped out into the back garden. Cheers, flashes, and whispers from the guests immediately filled the air.
“Kael and Lady Viremont look so good together!”
“A businessman and a nobleman—how interesting!”
Kael held Luire’s hand tightly. In public, they smiled at each other. Kael even whispered in Luire’s ear, as if speaking affectionately—when in fact all he said was, “Straighten your shoulders. Your smile is a little droopy.”
And Luire laughed… perfect acting.
Until her eyes caught a figure in the crowd.
Eion.
Standing in formal attire, hair neatly combed, his face calm. But his eyes—staring at Luire as if the world only contained one person.
When they met, the world fell silent again.
“Is Eion here?” Kael whispered flatly, still pretending to smile.
“Yes,” Luire answered, her voice low but firm.
“Make sure he doesn’t bother you,” Kael said, then stepped forward towards the stage.
Luire stood alone for a moment. And that was when Eion approached.
“Red dress?” he said softly. “You know that color always makes you shine.”
“Don’t start, Eion.”
“I’m just saying it out of honesty. Luire… you don’t look happy.”
Luire stared at him sharply. “And you don’t know what it’s like… having to marry someone who doesn’t even want to love me.”
“I know better than you think,” Eion muttered. “Because I know what it’s like to lose you.”
He moved a little closer, too close.
And in the distance, Kael saw him.
---
The event ended brilliantly. But the real storm was just beginning.
As night fell and the guests began to leave, Luire returned to her room with heavy steps. She took off her dress, one button at a time, and stood still in front of the mirror.
But before she could wipe the red lipstick off her lips, someone knocked on the door—and this time they didn’t wait for permission.
Kael entered.
“What’s the meaning of all that?” he asked, his voice calm but cold like the surface of a frozen lake.
Luire turned. “If you’re jealous, please don’t be funny.”
“I’m not jealous,” Kael replied. “I just don’t like seeing my wife—even if only on paper—talking too intimately with someone who should be in the past.”
“The past doesn’t go away that easily, Kael.”
They stared at each other in silence.
Then Kael took a step forward. “Don’t give me a reason to regret making this deal.”
Luire chuckled—sarcastically and hurtfully. “You think I don’t regret it?”
And the night ended… not with love, but with the walls growing higher between them.
But outside the mansion, under the moon, Eion stood looking out at the balcony where Luire used to stand in silence.
And in his hand, was a letter—handwritten, worn, full of words he never got around to sending three years ago.
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- Writer
