Luna let the silence consume her along the way home. Her thought went to what she watched in front of the boutique today. Danish was still seeing Ana Wang behind her back. His agreement with the wedding didn't make him let go of that girl. It was weird that Luna disliked their intimate relationship.
Luna sighed in displeasure looking out of the car's window. She avoided talking to grandma Li as she was afraid that old woman would be able to read her tizzy.
"Why do you keep quiet? What bothers you? Do you have problems in your workplace? Or is it about that girl? What did she actually say to you in the boutique?" A series of questions unexpectedly flew out of grandma Li's mouth that left Luna mute for a while, not knowing how to respond to them. Taking a breath, Luna calmed herself.
"Honestly I just feel nervous with the engagement. Don't you think it's too early for us to do that? We don't know each other well."
"You will get to know each other over time
What about having dinner together, both of you?"
"No…" Her spontaneous answer left a surprise expression on Grandma Li's face. "I mean...Danish seems so busy lately while my job also occupies me as well."
"I won't force you, then. But, if you have a problem, I am here with all ears."
"Grandma, you are so kind." Grandma Li circled her hand on Luna's shoulder and pulled her into her arm like a mother to her child. Luna hesitantly rested her head on grandma Li's shoulder. Should she call herself lucky to have grandma Li coming into her life? But, this woman's husband was the reason why her father lost his life. In a minute , her body jolted away from that woman's shoulder which induced her to question her. "We have arrived, grandma," she reasoned.
***
The house trapped Luna; she had nowhere to go except her workplace. That was why she implored grandma Li to work outside. At least, it gave her a little freedom. Everything had its own consequences. Working in the outskirts compelled her to wake up earlier and get to workplace every single day. Despite exhausting her, Luna enjoyed what she was doing.
The car had been ready to send her to work as always when she dashed out of the house. The car swept through the tarmac road in the outskirts area toward the Huanran restaurant.
The disaster slid them on their way. The car stopped since its tires got flat. The driver initiated to climb out and checked the tire out. He intended to change it with the spare tire. It was a bad day for Luna. Two robbers attacked them.
One man in a complete dark outfit with a gun in his hand warned Luna to climb out of the car. His friend posed a pistol on the driver's head and shoved him to his knee. The driver kneeled on the ground with the muzzle of the revolver on his cantle.
With a gun on her temple, one of the men dragged Luna to the roadside and tied her wrists and ankles. They did the same thing to the driver.
Luna screamed for help but no one would come. Who would be in this quiet place at this hour? Nevertheless, she didn't give up on begging for help, so did the driver. They strove to yell for help together.
On the other hand, having both of their victims helplessly surrender under their seizure, the robbers slammed into the car. Luckily before they could drive the car away, someone got in their way. It was the one who ordered food from the restaurant Luna worked for, the one she judged as a mafia boss.
In agility, he defeated them and snatched the car back from their control. Unfortunately, those two people managed to escape. Luna could let out a sigh of relief as the robbers failed to loot the car. She couldn't imagine what she would say to grandma for losing the car. It would be a huge problem Sandra used to corner and blame her.
"Did they hurt you both?" Startling with the question, Luna answered that she and the driver didn't get injured by the incident. That tattooed man was supposed to leave but Luna's word of gratitude paused his steps.
"Thank you. May I know your name, Sir."
Instead of mentioning his name, he resumed his stride away from Luna. Even though he didn't tell her what his name was, at least Luna learned the lesson that she couldn't judge the book by its cover. Abruptly, contrition filled her heart to think bad about that man.
"Miss Yang, can we continue the journey?"
***
"I bumped into that girl, your wife-to-be, in the boutique yesterday," Ana reported to Danish when they were having lunch together. "You know what? She confronted me." She was lying to get Danish's sympathy.
"Really? It is unbelievable."
"So, you don't believe in me, babe?"
"She might be plebeian but she was polite enough. So, he won't do this kind of thing. I mean she won't have the nerve to confront people. She is so naive and weak." Danish Inadvertently defended Luna. Ana stared at him in silence. Her eyes altered cynical; one of the corners of her lips turned up into a smirk. "It's not that I don't believe you but it's just…"Danish was trying to explain his arguments to soothe her but Ana cut it off before he finished his sentences.
"That girl unconsciously has permeated into your heart and mind, babe" she quipped curtly.
"Ana...Can we stop talking about that village girl?"
"Alright...But, you have to keep your promise that your marriage won't change your feelings for me and she will just be your wife on paper."
"You can keep my words, babe."
"That's good. Babe, would you do me a favor?" Danish nodded with a smile. "I've always dreamed of having this gown designed by one of the most famous designers in this country for so long. Could you get this for me, babe?" Ana showed a picture of a beautiful pink gown on her mobile phone.
"Anything for you babe, I will buy that gown for you. Who designs that gown by the way?"
"It's Lilyana Wu." Ana's words silence him for a few seconds. As he recalled, his grandma said that she asked that designer, Lilyana Wu, to design a gown for Luna. "Can you do it babe?"
"Sure. I'll contact her to design a special dress for you."
"No, babe… you don't have to. I desire this gown so much. And Luna has this gown with her. I want you to take it from Luna for me. You won't disappoint me, will you?" Danish's eyes widened in surprise.