The children had gathered, ready to have lunch with the caregivers at the orphanage. Their laughter filled the air as they sat at the large wooden table.

However, Cleopatra intentionally distanced herself from the group. She walked toward the garden bench located in the corner of the yard, her steps slow and deliberate. She sat down, taking out her phone to browse through the photos taken earlier. Cleopatra seemed engrossed as she scrolled through the screen, a slight smile on her face as she looked at each picture, clearly satisfied with what she saw.


Louis, who had just finished tying Bobby's shoelaces—the 5-year-old boy at the orphanage—noticed Cleopatra sitting alone on the bench. His curiosity drew him in, and he couldn't resist observing her. He slowly stepped closer, the sound of his footsteps crunching on the gravel caught Cleopatra's attention.

He stopped a few steps away from Cleopatra, casually leaning on the bench. "Why bring me to an orphanage for a date?" he asked, his tone a mix of confusion and curiosity.

Cleopatra lowered her phone, a thin smile still on her face as she looked at Louis. "This place is the best for calming the noise in my head," she said softly. "The children's laughter, their smiles—they bring peace amidst all the tension." She paused for a moment, her gaze distant but calm. "This is one of the places that can make me feel at ease."


Louis was silent for a moment, processing her words. This was a side of Cleopatra he hadn't expected—a side that sought peace in simple, sincere moments. However, the question that still lingered remained. "Why not marry someone way richer than me?" Louis asked, moving a little closer, his voice soft but probing. "Why bother making a contract marriage arrangement with someone like me?"

Cleopatra's expression changed slightly, and she chuckled softly. "Because this is just a business marriage," she replied flatly. "I need to be with a man who isn't interested in me—someone who won't look at me with... desire." Her gaze met Louis's, a meaningful flash in her eyes. "The only man who didn't look at me that way when we first met was you."


Louis felt his face suddenly heat up, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. He paused for a moment, feeling awkward and guilty, but then tried to calm himself. This is just a fake marriage, right? He shouldn't be affected.

Stammering slightly, he cleared his throat, attempting to change the topic. "Well," he said, forcing his voice to sound light, "let's go home."

Cleopatra tilted her head slightly, a gentle smile on her face. "Seems like it," she replied, standing up and stretching her body for a moment. "We don't want to keep the world waiting."

Louis nodded, feeling a little relieved as he began walking beside her, the quiet of the orphanage fading behind them. The weight of their conversation still lingered, but for now, they walked forward side by side.

On the way home, they sat together in the car, driving quietly. Louis secretly stole glances at Cleopatra, observing the lines of her face, which seemed so close from his seat.

There was something strange, something that made his heart race every time his eyes met Cleopatra's. He didn't know if it was just the tension, or if there was something more—something beginning to disturb his mind. However, he couldn't deny that Cleopatra, in her silence, felt so... captivating. Every second spent with her left a deep sense of curiosity.

Louis turned his gaze out the window, trying to calm his mind. What's happening to me? he thought. This isn't the feeling I should be having. She's too far... too perfect for someone like me. He bit his lower lip, feeling trapped in his confusing thoughts. He couldn't ignore the reality that Cleopatra was a woman living in a world far different from his.

Wealth, power, beauty—all of those were hers. Meanwhile, he? Just an ordinary man with a life full of shortcomings. Don't be foolish, Louis, he thought. This is just a contract marriage. Nothing more.

When they arrived at Louis's house, Cleopatra's car stopped in front of the gate. The sound of the engine stopping pulled Louis from his reverie, and he looked toward Cleopatra. The woman raised an eyebrow with a small smile, her eyes full of meaning.

"Tomorrow, I'll pick you up again," she said, her voice calm but certain. "We have to meet with the company lawyer. We need to pretend to be a couple in front of Jack Walker, the Dimitri Group's lawyer. This is part of the plan."

Louis nodded, though some confusion still lingered. But he knew this was part of their contract marriage, and he was already bound to this game. "Okay," he replied shortly, waving his hand as Cleopatra's car began to drive away.

Louis stood in front of the house, watching Cleopatra's car disappear from view. A strange feeling lingered in his heart, as if something bigger than just this marriage contract was starting to grow inside him. But he quickly dismissed it, reminding himself that this was all just a game. A game he couldn't win—especially since he had nothing but shortcomings.

He walked back into the house and made his way to his bedroom. Unconsciously, his thoughts wandered back to Cleopatra. Her soft smile, the meaningful look in her eyes—everything felt so real, so close. But the more he thought about it, the stronger his doubts became. What is this feeling—could it just be a temporary attraction, or is it really something deeper?

He lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling for a moment, trying to push away the growing uncertainty. He closed his eyes, but Cleopatra's image continued to haunt him. Her cheerful laughter, the sweet smile that made his heart race—was this love? Louis laughed at himself.

Love—how could it be? He's just an ordinary man, with a life far removed from the luxury Cleopatra had. What could he offer her except empty promises?

He felt as though he had no right to want anything more than the contract relationship. Cleopatra was a woman who had everything—wealth, beauty, and power. Meanwhile, he? He was nothing more than a poor man, just following the course of life dictated by their agreement.

He sighed in the darkness, trying to calm his heart that was beginning to waver. In the quiet of the night, without realizing it, Louis hoped, even if just for a moment, that their meeting tomorrow would give him more clues about the woman who was becoming more and more perplexing to him. But deep in his heart, he knew that if this was love, it was just a path full of obstacles he could never overcome.

________________________________________

Cleopatra drove home, but her mind wasn't truly on the road ahead. All that filled her thoughts were the echoes of her conversation with Louis, and especially, his words that touched her heart. There was something unsettling within her, like a whisper saying, "What do you truly want, Cleopatra?" But she tried to push it aside, focusing on the direction of the car heading to her quiet, empty mansion.

The car stopped in front of the entrance to her house. Cleopatra got out, gently closing the door, and stood still in the parking lot for a moment, looking around. A sense of emptiness began to fill her heart.

There was nothing wrong with this house—everything looked perfect, as if reflecting the outward life of luxury. However, in her mind, there was a void that loomed, a silence that couldn't be explained in words.

She recalled Louis's words earlier, about going to the orphanage. "This place is the best for calming the noise in my head..." Cleopatra let those words swirl in her mind.

Then, in a flash, she remembered a very old memory, one that had once given her an extraordinary sense of peace. A memory that came back so clearly, like a flash of light in the darkness.

Cleopatra's focus shifted inward, toward the past, fifteen years ago.

The sun was shining brightly that morning, and the Thompson family was planning to visit Magnum Orphanage. Cleopatra, still 13 years old, was filled with excitement, wearing a beautiful white dress with a blue ribbon in her hair. She walked side by side with her parents, James Thompson and Catherine Moore. They were a harmonious couple, full of affection, and always supported Cleopatra in everything.

"Cleopatra, are you ready?" James asked with a warm smile, extending his hand to take his daughter's hand.

Cleopatra nodded with a bright smile, her eyes sparkling. "Yes, Dad! I can't wait to meet the children there."

Catherine, walking beside them, chuckled softly. "They'll be so happy to meet you. You know, they really love having visitors. Especially if they can share stories and play together."

Along the way, Cleopatra felt her heart full of excitement. The orphanage was always a place that invited warm feelings. Every time they visited, Cleopatra felt like she found another world, different from her everyday life of luxury. At Magnum Orphanage, there was no pressure or competition—just children full of happiness and cheerfulness.

Upon arriving there, a caregiver greeted them with a friendly smile. "Welcome! We are so glad you came today," she said. Cleopatra nodded, waving to the children running around in the yard, some of them smiling at her happily.

Without waiting any longer, Cleopatra immediately joined the children playing. They asked her to join in a game of hide and seek, and she couldn't refuse. Even though she knew there was nothing more fun than playing with the children there, her heart felt so light—something she didn't feel every day.

At that moment, under the soft sunlight, she felt that the world was simpler and more beautiful. There was nothing she had to prove, no expectation too great. Just moments filled with laughter and happiness.

Cleopatra joined a group of children sitting at the dining table. They were all enjoying simple but delicious food, with smiles full of warmth. Cleopatra felt a peace she had never felt before. This was the place where she could feel like any other child—without burden, without pressure, just happy.

Then, a boy, who seemed to have just moved to the orphanage, approached and sat next to Cleopatra. He looked at her with curious eyes, then smiled shyly. "Miss Cleopatra, can I ask for help with my homework?" the boy asked softly.

Cleopatra nodded attentively. "Of course, I'll help. What do you need?"

The boy looked pleased, and they began working on the assignment together. That moment made Cleopatra feel so important—like she could bring a little happiness into someone's life. There was nothing more rewarding than helping these children learn and grow into better people.

A few hours passed quickly, and Cleopatra felt an immense satisfaction. Before they left, she stood at the gate of the orphanage, saying goodbye to the children with a heavy heart. However, even though there was a sense of sadness about leaving them, she knew she would return again. Magnum Orphanage had become a special place in her heart.

As the Thompson family drove home, Cleopatra sat silently in the back, her gaze distant, looking out the window. That moment felt like an escape from all the worries in her life. She felt more alive among the simple children, amidst laughter and joy that was priceless.

Suddenly, Cleopatra snapped out of her memories. She returned to the parking lot of her home, and for a moment, she felt the warmth and tranquility that came from that flashback. She sighed deeply, trying to calm her swirling thoughts. The childhood memories full of love returned, making her heart calmer, reminding her that in loneliness and emptiness, she could always find peace in simple togetherness.

Louis, with his words about the orphanage that could calm the noise in his head, had reminded her of a past full of meaning. Cleopatra promised herself that someday, after all this was over, she would return to that place, the place where she first experienced true peace.

With one step, Cleopatra got out of the car, looking ahead at the house full of solitude. Yet, behind that solitude, there was a calmness she felt—a calmness that came from old memories that always brought her peace.