Noa's POV

I didn't pay much attention until I caught a glimpse of Kevin in the parking lot when I played my part of the act, wrapping my arms around his neck.

Both of us broke free after some time, catching our breath. I looked at him in disbelief, shocked and somewhat impressed by what we just did minutes ago.

I saw Kevin walk away with his assistant, then I diverted my gaze back to Selene, who were surprisingly nowhere to be found - I was glad there were no longer in sight anymore. I let out a chuckle, surprising Damiano.

"Fast paced for a-"

"Shh," I interrupted, silencing him with my finger. "I enjoyed it."

With a smile, I waved him goodbye but he quickly took my wrist, making me bump into his chest. I looked up and with a smirk, he picked me up in bridal style to his car and placed me on the passenger seat.

He walked over to the driver's seat and got in, putting on his seatbelt, which I followed. He then drove off. Our silence filled the car comfortably, I was not complaining, though I wished to know what was Damiano's thought process.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"To my office. I need you to sign something," he replied.

I nodded. I kept stealing glances at Damiano - my heart was not meant to beat that fast, but it did. For him.

LANZO CORP 

Walking into his office was like entering another world while still in South Cybric. It was spacious and dark - which intrigued me further. 

"So you enjoyed the kiss huh?" Damiano asked, a smirk on his lips. "Is that true, Noa?"

I got flustered. "Why bringing it up now?"

He leaned closer, his eyes locked on mine. We were about to lean in one more time before we both broke off, he walked to the desk to hand over a document along with a pen. Curious, I took it but I quickly widened when I read what it was. 

"A marriage certificate?" I asked. "How do you even obtain this- The court does not allow people to have original copies unless they are signed-"

"I'm a Lanzo, princess," Damiano said, "The government is like a second home."

"Haha," I said. "So, I am taking this is me repaying you for helping me back there at the summoning?"

"Something like that," Damiano replied. "What do you think?"

Looking at him, then at the paper, I took the pen but sighed before signing. "Damiano, I would say you have some way to restrict my manipulation use."

"What makes you say that, princess?"

"I can't believe I am signing a marriage certificate - who is going to sign it anyway?"

With a snap, a court official walked in, standing next to Damiano. This man... was surprising. He continuously took my breath away in many ways I didn't expect. 

"You are... something else," I said, shaking my head.

"Princess, I am a man of all sorts."

Shaking my head, I signed the certificate, and the official put the government stamp. He shook our hands and congratulated us on our marriage. He then walked out, leaving us alone once more. I looked at Damiano.

"What... what did I get myself into?" I asked, leaning in, "Hmm, Lanzo?"

"You are now my wife now, Noa - Officially Noa Lanzo."

My heart skipped a beat. He willingly gave me his last name. My parents don't even know about our relationship - and the family; especially my Mom.

"Something's on your mind, what's up?"

"Tell me," I asked. "What do you think is my current thought process?"

"You are contemplating why you actually signed the certificate, and how will your Mom take it."

"And?"

"What if I told you that she knew a while ago?"

I thought about it for a second. "A smart man you are, Lanzo. Tell my Mom way before the summoning that you took interest in me."

He fell silent as his hands trailed down my arms, then my hands. I leaned closer as I fixed his collar. "Clumsy Lanzo, huh?" I asked teasingly, "I can't have my husband looking clumsy."

"However you see fit love," Damiano replied, a smile on his lips.

Just then, the door opened and we turned to see Raella, Jamson looking at us. Shock written on their faces.

Selene's POV

"Have you ever been to an Opera before?" Ramiro asked.

"No," I replied. "I was never interested."

"Then let's go," Ramiro said. "I booked two tickets to the Reminisce Opera."

"Like, we are going now?" I asked.

Ramiro ignored me as I focused on the road. I let out a chuckle as I glanced at him, before back at the road.

"You are something else, Ramiro."

AT THE OPERA

One thing I knew about operas was the fact of how golden silence is, in order to get the best out of the opera. We sat a bit in the back, far from the others so as not to be 'disturbed' according to Ramiro. I didn't complain. All the musical instruments being so harmonious in creating a masterpiece for the first time, impressed me. I thought I was going to fall asleep but instead, I always anticipated what the next classical would be.

But it was until they played the last one, "What wouldn't I give" that struck a cord with me. The young girl who was singing the song stirred something in my heart, I swore it would pop out of my chest any moment from now. Luckily, the lights were off, and though Ramiro was seated next to me, all the self doubt came in.

Why am I doing this?

Why do I want revenge?

Will this even make me happy? Satisfied, even?

I'm such a fool.

What did I do that made the M family hate me so much?

Maybe I really am playing with fire.

But the song reminded me of a song I used to sing along with my Mom back then when she was still alive.

Back then when I was 7 years old.

FLASHBACK

"Oh I used to think"

BACK TO THE PRESENT

"Oh, I used to think," I sang quietly, along with the girl on stage, looking at the girl reminded me of the 7-year-old me. 

The girl who didn't care about revenge, who was happy living at home in peace along with everyone else. Back then when the word, "stability" could be described as the M household.

I could feel Ramiro's eyes at me, which at that very moment, a single drop fell from my left eye - a tear drop. Gosh, why couldn't I control my own emotions.

I curled my hands into a fist as I sang the second line.

"What wouldn't I give."

What wouldn't I give, that made the entire family, turn back on me?