(Luke’s POV)

She stood in front of us and held the violin that was handed to her by their maid.

With a smile and quiet confidence, she began strumming the instrument, making a harmonious melody. Everybody seemed to listen in complete awe because of her mastery and obvious expertise in what she was doing. It seemed like she was a pro and had mastered it for years…

She met my gaze. She was so captivating…

Every note she made felt like appealing to my heart directly. The way she looked at me, the way she smiled, and the way she played the instrument reminded me of one person from my past. Grace Moore. Not only did she look a lot like her, she also shared the same talent as hers…

Hearing her music felt as if I had been taken back to the time when Grace and I were still happily together. When she knew I was sad or I had a bad day, she would just stand in front of me and play her violin, and I would suddenly feel okay again. It was as though her passion had a magic that could calm my senses…

Going back to the present, Serenity nailed it, and when she was done playing the violin, we all clapped for her. Arturo and Robert seemed to be so proud of her.

“Now, that’s my best friend!” Robert cheered loudly.

I watched them as the man stood up and walked to her so he could help her. He got her violin, and he handed it back to the maid to put it back in its place.

I couldn’t help but be annoyed, although they weren’t even doing anything bad. It was just that, I thought it should be me…!

“How was my performance? Did you like it?”

“It was stellar, my dear,” Arturo complimented his daughter’s talent. “We all did love it, don’t we, gentlemen?” He glanced at us.

Both Robert and I agreed, not just because Arturo asked us, but because she really did great.

After we finished our lunch, Arturo toured us at their grandiose garden area…

“Robert is a pilot,” he told me while we were walking behind Robert and Serenity who seemed to have their own world and they looked like they enjoyed each other’s companies a lot!

I looked at the old man beside me.

“They’re childhood best friends,” he added.

Obviously…

“They grew up together. She was just a year younger than him. They went to the same elementary and high school. They only parted ways when they began their university years. He studied abroad. But their friendship and closeness never changed.”

I observed that Mr. Lee seemed to be at ease seeing his daughter around Robert. It seemed like he trusted Robert so much…

He continued, “Aside from being her best friend and study buddy, he used to be her protector. He had always been there for her whenever she was bullied by their other classmates or schoolmates. He never let her down. They always got each other’s backs.”

I looked at the two once again, and I could indeed confirm that their closeness seemed to be genuine. I didn’t know why deep inside I felt a little annoyed by the sight of them, most especially by the sight of Robert being that close to Serenity…

“I just wasn’t sure why until now, they decided to be just friends and don’t want to level up their closeness into something more, like having a relationship together. After all, they look so good together…”

I faked a cough with the silly thought of Mr. Lee.

"Maybe theirs is just a platonic love and pure friendship brought by their closeness and the fact that they grew up together? Maybe they only see each other as brothers and sisters…” I suggested. It wasn’t that impossible after all…

“Everytime I look at them, I’m always reminded of the moments I used to have with Serenity’s mom when she was still alive. Just like Serenity and Robert, we were also childhood best friends, but the difference was when we grew up, our friendship bloomed to something more special. We became lovers. I also used to be her protector, her savior, study friend, and even became her doctor whenever she felt sick. Serenity and Robert were indeed my late wife and I back in the days.” His voice broke a bit, indicating he was turning emotional.

“Are you okay?” I asked him out of concern.

“Yeah,” he nodded and smiled.

I put my hands inside my pocket as I continued to look at Serenity and her childhood best friend. “Not everybody has the same fate or love story, Mr. Lee. Your relationship with your wife and Serenity’s friendship with Robert might be completely different.”

I didn’t hear a response from him. I also didn’t mind looking for his reaction from what I commented. Although I knew that he just smiled a little. What was he thinking about it? I really didn’t know. I couldn’t read his mind.

Serenity and Robert stopped and turned to us…

“Dad, is it okay if I go with Robert for a while? We’ll just run for some errands.”

Without thinking deeply, Arturo nodded, looking like he had so much confidence with Robert that his daughter would not be harmed around him, and he had a lot of trust for their friendship.

“Sure.”

“Where are you going?” The words that suddenly came out of my lips!

They all looked at me, surprised that I seemed to give a damn.

I lost my cool for a moment, but then I shrugged my shoulders to gather myself together. “J-just making sure you’ll be safe…” I said, still sounding like a fool. Damn it?

Serenity’s brow raised while Arturo chuckled, and Robert grinned.

“Thanks for your concern for my daughter, Governor. But don’t worry, she’s already of her legal age. Thus, she can take good care of herself. Besides, it’s Robert that she will be with–-someone she had known for years, so you have nothing to worry about.”

I didn’t say a thing anymore. There was still a huge part of me that was not so convinced…

Serenity tilted her head and clung her hand to Robert’s arm. “We’ll be going ahead, dad.”

She kissed her dad goodbye, and the old man hugged her and tapped her back.

Robert waved his goodbye, too, with manly hug and tapping each other’s shoulders.

Serenity never forgot to also turn to me with a simple smile. “Governor?”

I forced a smile and nodded.

For the last time, Robert also just smiled as they already proceeded to the parking area where his car was placed.

As we watched them leaving the gate, I couldn’t help but be bothered from time to time. Mr. Lee continued to talk casually with me but I couldn’t understand a thing anymore because I felt as if my brain had been with Serenity and Robert even when they drove away.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I quietly clenched my fists, and stopped walking.

“Governor? Is something wrong?” Arturo asked when he noticed that I didn’t seem to be attentive to whatever he was saying.

“I suddenly remembered I had another important meeting to attend to, Mr. Lee, so I’m afraid I can’t stay longer.”

“Oh!” He was initially surprised, but then he nodded and seemed to understand the life of a businessman and politician. “So, you’re going now?”

I nodded and hurriedly extended my hand to thank him. “Thank you for the invitation. All the meals served at the table tasted great.”

“I’m so glad you enjoyed the food, Governor,” he said while shaking my hand. “See you again next time?”

“Yeah. Again, thank you, Mr. Lee.”

When I drove my car at the neighboorhood of the Lee’s mansion, I noticed a traffic ahead, and I caught Robert’s car. I was sure it was his. I memorized not just the expensive brand of it, not just the color and style, but also his plate number, so I was sure…

Bingo! I silently followed them as the traffic got lightened.

They stopped at a shopping mall, I continued to follow them without them noticing it…

They walked around the mall together, while I was like a stalker who kept secretly following them but who gave a damn?

I watched them as they entered inside a boutique of a famous clothing brand for men.

While Robert was busy looking for new shirts, Serenity asked him if she could go to the shoes store nearby, which had no problem for him and let her.

This was finally the time. I would be taking my shot!

I deliberately hid myself at a huge beam at the side, so when she walked passing by, I pulled her hand. When she was about to scream because of shock and fear, I covered her mouth with my hand while pinning her on the wall.

“Governor?! W-what are you doing?” she asked in a shaking voice and even faked a laugh to hide the nervousness she was feeling.

From shock in her reaction, it eventually turned out to amazement…

I removed my hand from her lips, but I pressed her shoulders tightly.

“Nice to see you again, Grace. And nice acting. I’ll give it a ten. Now, you can drop the act seriously,” I told her, voice was full of mockery.

Confusion was drawn all over her face.

“What—”

“Even if you wear expensive clothes, designer bag, and jewelries, I will still know you, Grace!” I continued.

“What the heck are you saying, Governor?!” She continued to act innocent and clueless. She even forced a laugh as if she couldn’t believe I was accusing her to be somebody else. “Is this some kind of a prank?”

My patience was running low. “Stop pretending and drop the act, Grace!”

She looked amused, and annoyed at the same time. “Grace? Hmmn… The name sounds controversial, Governor! But who is she, by the way? Why are you mistaking me as her?”

I didn’t respond with her playing. I just really knew it was her!

She forcefully pushed me to get herself freed which I let her, and I did back away a bit.

“Whoever that woman is, I’m not her so back off, Governor! You’re seriously barking up at the wrong tree!”

I didn’t buy her pretensions, her acting to be innocent!

“Tell me, how did you do it? How did you survive that night?” I once again stepped closer to her, making her step back. “And most of all, how the heck did you become a daughter to a multi-millionaire old businessman, Grace?”

“W-what night are you talking about? And who the fuck Grace is?! I don’t know her, and I don’t know what you’re saying, Governor!” Out of frustration, she was already raising her voice. Good thing I didn’t mind.

I didn’t answer her questions. I just continued looking in her eyes. I did not even give a damn if people were already beginning to glance our way…

I was a bit surprised when she suddenly pulled a playful smile as if she realized something. “Wait, was she the reason why, all the duration of your meeting with my dad, you seemed unfocused with his discussions of business because you were actually busy staring at me?”

Again, I refused to answer. She had to be the one to clear things up with me!

“Hmm… I think I’m starting to like it better…” she continued. “Tell me, do I look a lot like her? Do I look like a complete carbon copy of her, and it’s what making you bothered and paranoid, Governor?”

Still, I chose not to answer her.

“Let me guess, she’s an old lover, isn’t she? Or an ex-wife? Ex-girlfriend? Fuck buddy?”

“Ex-fiancée,” I finally spoke again.

“Ex-fiancée!” she exclaimed, acting as if she was so intrigued. "So, what happened? Did she leave you? Did she dump you? Or maybe you were an awful lover…”

I didn’t bite her provocation. Instead, I asked her, “How were you able to survive that night? As far as I know, I have done my job cleanly—"

She looked shocked and horrified. “Survive? You did your job cleanly? Are you actually telling me that you did something horrible, like killing her?!”

I looked away and turned cold. “Just drop the act. I know it’s you, Grace.”

The shock in her reaction completely went away as it was replaced by irritation, and thus, causing her to roll her eyes. “You need to get checked by your physician. You’re being pathetic.”

I held her nape tightly, and she fought to resist. I pulled her closer to me. Our eyes met, and I looked into her eyes intensely…

“There’s one thing I can do to confirm that it’s really you, Grace…”

I drew my face very close to hers until my forehead touched her forehead.

When I was about to kiss her, she stopped me midway by challenging me, “Do it…”

I stared at her.

"I dare you to do it, Governor," she continued and drew her lips to my ear. "But I'm warning you, one wrong move, you already know what will happen. Say goodbye to the sponsorship of Emerald Lands, Inc. What will happen and how will your beloved citizens react if the housing project that you promised them during the election would not push through because you lost my father's sponsorship? You will be remembered as someone who couldn't keep a promise. And you will definitely lose votes and support in the next election. Do you want that to happen?”

I couldn't speak. My teeth clenched. I hated to admit it, but she got a point right there. I felt fucking threatened!

She knew she had won over me, and then she confidently grinned. "Just a word from me to cancel the sponsorship with you, and you will lose a lot, Governor, so go ahead and do whatever you want. Do it if it’s what you want, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

I pushed her away from me, completely freeing her.

I heard her laugh in complete entertainment. A laugh of winning over an enemy.

She left, and I remained here standing, feeling like a complete fool!

I let out a frustrated sigh as I watched her leave…