Louis felt confused as he stepped into the elevator, the soft chatter from the other passengers barely audible. His thoughts were focused on Cleopatra, her behavior in the cafeteria, and the tension he couldn't shake off. As the elevator descended, he tried to calm his breath, but his heart was racing. The events of the day had made him uneasy, and the closer he got to his destination, the more he felt trapped in his own mind.

Cleopatra's behavior seemed like a puzzle he couldn't solve. Sometimes she was calm and composed, but at other times, she challenged his boundaries in subtle ways, almost like she was teasing him. The moment in the cafeteria, Cleopatra's sharp gaze on him, was still etched in his mind. He had never seen her like this—assertive, yet almost casual in her teasing.


The elevator doors opened, pulling Louis out of his reverie. He quickly stepped out, trying to distance himself from Cleopatra, his eyes avoiding hers. He wasn't ready to face another tense moment between them. He needed space, something to regain his balance. Cleopatra followed him closely, her presence felt strongly, like a shadow.

After they stepped out of the elevator, Cleopatra caught up to him. She was cold and distant, but there was a mischievous gleam in her eyes that made Louis feel anxious. He could sense her gaze following him, but he refused to meet her eyes, afraid of what might happen if he did. Clearly, Cleopatra was playing a game, but Louis didn't know what the rules were, and that uncertainty made him restless.

He entered his office, barely acknowledging Cleopatra standing at the door. He quickly closed the door behind him, hoping for some alone time to gather himself. However, not long after, he heard a soft knock on the door. It wasn't surprising, but it still made his heart race.


"Louis," Cleopatra's voice came through the door, soft yet insistent. "I need you to come with me. We have to meet with Jack Walker again. This deal isn't over."

Louis didn't answer right away. His mind was still trapped in the confusion he felt. Why was she acting like this? What did she want from him?


He opened the door, and Cleopatra's cold gaze greeted him immediately. He could sense something hidden behind her stare. Without a word, Cleopatra stepped into the car and drove calmly. Louis followed, trying to understand what was going on in her mind.

When they arrived, Louis followed Cleopatra into Jack Walker's office, still unsure of what they were about to face. Jack Walker was an imposing figure, his calm demeanor always managing to make Louis feel uncomfortable. Jack greeted them with a nod, and as soon as they sat down, Louis could feel the weight of the conversation that was about to take place.

As they stepped into Jack Walker's office, the atmosphere that immediately surrounded Louis and Cleopatra was dominated by the stark black-and-white decor filling the room. The walls were a clean white, accented with black details in various corners, and the furniture looked modern and minimalistic. The atmosphere was rigid and sterile, as if holding its breath in a silence that was almost suffocating. Every object in the room was carefully placed, forming a space that felt extremely organized and structured.

Cleopatra scanned the room with a sharp gaze, then made an unexpected comment. "Jack, you're such a monotonous man," she said bluntly, raising an eyebrow with an expression that was hard to read.

Jack Walker chuckled softly at Cleopatra's remark. "Maybe I just like simplicity," he replied, leaning back in his chair, eyeing them with a thin smile still etched on his face.

Cleopatra moved further into the room, followed by Louis, who seemed uncomfortable with the surrounding atmosphere. However, even though the situation felt somewhat tense, they knew this conversation couldn't be avoided. Jack didn't seem in a hurry, sitting leisurely in the plush chair behind his desk.

"So, what brings you here, Cleopatra?" Jack asked, his voice calm and controlled, though there was a faint worry in Louis's eyes.

Cleopatra didn't answer immediately. Instead, she turned to Louis, who was sitting beside her, and with a confident move, she grabbed his hand. Louis, startled and confused, looked at Cleopatra but couldn't say a word. Her hand felt cold and stiff, almost unbelieving of what was happening.

"Louis is my boyfriend," Cleopatra said lightly, looking at Jack and then smiling at Louis, who was becoming increasingly shocked by this deep statement. Louis could barely keep his confused expression off his face, especially as Cleopatra continued. "We're getting married in two months," she added with certainty in her voice.

Jack went silent, his sharp eyes observing both of them. However, he didn't give any clear reaction. His face seemed like he was thinking of something bigger than just Cleopatra's announcement. There was a calmness about him, as if processing the information silently.

Cleopatra continued, "So, I want you to prepare all the transitions of my late father's assets and wealth, Jack. Everything needs to be arranged neatly." She paused for a moment, her sharp eyes now turning to Jack. "But I want you to keep this relationship a secret from Theodore Blake, my uncle. I think he'll panic and probably have a heart attack before our wedding," she said with a sly grin, clearly making a jab at Theodore.

Jack remained calm, as if unaffected by Cleopatra's sarcasm. "Of course," he replied briefly, his tone calm but not offering much detail.

However, there was one thing that Jack needed to pay more attention to. "But I want you to read your father's will again, Cleopatra," Jack said, his tone becoming slightly more serious.

Cleopatra looked at Jack with a confused expression. "Isn't it clear? The main condition for me to receive all the wealth is to marry within three months, right?" she said, her tone a little challenging. "Then what else do I need to read?"

Jack stood from his chair, his eyes still fixed on Cleopatra. He walked to the cabinet in the corner of the room, opened a drawer, and pulled out a thick folder. He handed it to Cleopatra with a calculated motion. "Please read the entire contents of this will. There may be things you missed," he said in a quieter tone.

Cleopatra took the folder with a puzzled look, and as she began to read its contents, her expression slowly changed. Louis, sitting beside her, also watched with concern. Cleopatra read carefully, but the longer she read, the clearer her confusion became.

"Aside from marrying within three months," Cleopatra read in a low voice, "I also have to have a child from this marriage within one year?" Her voice almost sounded like a whisper, unable to believe what she had just read.

Louis was shocked, his eyes widening at hearing those words. He tried to compose himself, but feelings of confusion and uncertainty began to seep in. What did this mean? Didn't this mean their marriage would be much more complicated than he had imagined?

Cleopatra stared at the will with a bewildered face, unsure how to react. It felt like the world around her was suddenly collapsing. This wasn't just about marrying—it was about a future that was completely different from what she had hoped.

Louis, increasingly anxious, tried to shift his attention. He noticed Cleopatra's face had gone pale, almost as if she were about to faint. "Cleopatra?" Louis tried to call out to her, but Cleopatra remained silent, her hand trembling as she held the will.

Jack looked at them both, but there was a slightly colder tone in his voice. "It seems that Mr. Thompson, your father, knew you might fake the marriage," he said calmly, as if revealing a prepared truth.

Cleopatra quickly stood up, her face dazed. The will fell onto the table, but Cleopatra didn't speak. She simply walked toward the door with hesitant steps, as if heading toward something she couldn't understand.

Louis quickly stood and followed her hurried steps. "Cleopatra!" he shouted, but Cleopatra didn't turn. She walked quickly, leaving the room without a word. Louis ran to catch up with her, trying to understand what was happening. By the time they reached the exit, Cleopatra had already exited the building, walking with halting steps.

"Cleopatra!" Louis shouted again, now right behind her. Cleopatra stopped for a moment, turned to look at him, but didn't say a word. Her eyes were empty, as if she didn't know what to say.

Louis felt anxious and slowly approached her. "What happened? Why aren't you saying anything?" he asked, his voice full of confusion and concern.

Cleopatra remained silent, her eyes staring blankly ahead. A void had engulfed her heart, and Louis felt trapped in a whirlpool of emotions he couldn't understand.

Cleopatra remained silent, her eyes empty as she walked toward the car. Her steps were hurried, as if she wanted to escape reality and run away from everything she had just read in the will. No words were spoken, only steps echoing quietly down the hallway. Louis, not knowing what to do, followed her, trying to chase after and help her, though he knew there were things much bigger than him in Cleopatra's mind.

Once they reached the car, Cleopatra immediately sat in the driver's seat without saying anything. She gripped the steering wheel tightly, her fingers trembling, but her eyes remained empty, focused on the unseen road ahead. Louis sat beside her, unsure whether he should speak or stay silent. His heart was filled with confusion and worry, but he felt trapped in the silence that enveloped them.

Time passed in uncomfortable silence. Only the sound of the car engine could be heard, adding to the weight of the silence between them. Louis observed Cleopatra, who seemed so fragile, but he didn't know how to approach her, how to help. He sensed there were many hidden wounds within Cleopatra, but he wasn't sure if he was strong enough to help her.

After a while, Louis decided to speak, trying to break the suffocating silence. "Cleopatra," he said gently, trying to find a way to express what was on his mind. "You can cancel this marriage if it's too heavy. Don't carry this burden alone."

However, Cleopatra remained silent, her eyes empty, as if she hadn't heard Louis's words. It seemed like those words couldn't pierce through the layers of resilience she had built within herself. Louis felt desperate, not knowing what he could do. But then, suddenly, after those words were spoken, Cleopatra started to shed tears. Her crying erupted suddenly, loud and heartbreaking.

Louis was shocked, but he didn't move. Cleopatra's crying shook him, but he knew he had to stay strong, he had to listen because this was the most vulnerable moment for Cleopatra. Cleopatra began hitting the steering wheel with her hands, hard, as if possessed. Her crying and shouting filled the car, every sound seeming to tear apart the peace that once existed within her.

Louis sat still beside her, simply listening. Each scream and sob coming from Cleopatra felt chilling, as if she were trapped in a deep sadness. Louis didn't dare interrupt, unsure what to say to ease the pain that was so clearly evident in her. He remained silent, listening to the cries, letting every sound be part of the burden they would have to carry together.

Outside the car, the world continued on, but inside, there was a massive emptiness, like everything within Cleopatra was shattering into pieces. Louis felt as if he couldn't do anything but sit quietly, accompanying her in the silence filled with tears and raw anger.

Cleopatra sobbed, continued hitting the steering wheel, until her cries slowly began to subside, though heavy sobs were still heard. Louis turned, seeing tears still streaming down Cleopatra's face. For the first time, he saw her in such a vulnerable state, so human. All the strength he had always seen seemed fragile, like a building cracked in the middle of a storm.

Louis sighed softly, and slowly, he extended his hand, gently holding Cleopatra's hand still gripping the steering wheel. Her hand felt cold, trembling. "You're not alone," he said softly, hoping his words would bring some comfort, though he knew words couldn't erase all the pain.

Cleopatra lowered her head, her eyes still tightly shut, and soon after, she sobbed again, deeper. Louis could only watch, feeling helpless. Each second felt heavy, but he knew one thing—Cleopatra needed time, and he had to be patient, waiting for her to be ready to speak again, to open up.

In that moment, Louis knew that the upcoming marriage wasn't just about promises and contracts. It was more than just a rule—it was about facing a reality far more complicated than he had imagined. And Cleopatra, who seemed so strong, was carrying a weight that was far too heavy, something that perhaps no one could understand, not even herself.

Louis squeezed Cleopatra's hand gently, offering support without words, only with his presence. The silence enveloped them once again, but this time, it wasn't a terrifying silence. It was a silence full of understanding.