Chapter 10

Luca, who had been silent for most of the evening, finally spoke up. "I'm sure everything will be perfect. After all, it's not every day that two prominent families come together in such a union."

His words, though seemingly supportive, carried an undercurrent of tension that did not go unnoticed. Leonardo glanced at his brother, a silent warning in his eyes.

As the evening drew to a close, the parents continued discussing logistics, leaving Luna and Leonardo to exchange a few private words.

"Are you okay with this?" Leonardo asked softly, his concern evident.

Luna nodded, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of uncertainty. "Yes I am"

Before Leonardo could respond, the twins, Julia and Julian, bounded over to them. "Luna! Leonardo! Can we play a game?" Julia asked, her blue eyes sparkling with excitement.

Julian nodded eagerly. "Yes, please! Just one game before we have to go."

Leonardo smiled warmly at the twins, his earlier tension melting away. "Of course. Let's go to the garden."

He stood up and excused himself from the table. "If you'll excuse me, I'll take the twins to the garden for a bit."

Ms. Laurier looked at Luna with a pointed expression. "Luna, why don't you go along with them?"

Luna hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright."

She followed Leonardo and the twins out to the garden. The evening air was cool and refreshing, and the soft glow of garden lights illuminated the path. As they reached the center of the garden, Julia and Julian ran off to explore, leaving Luna and Leonardo a moment of quiet.

Leonardo glanced at Luna. "I know this isn't easy for you. If there's anything I can do to make it better, please let me know."

Luna met his gaze, surprised by his sincerity. "Thank you, Leonardo. I appreciate that."

Just then, Julia and Julian returned, pulling Leonardo towards a flowerbed. "Look at these flowers, Leonardo!" Julia exclaimed.

Leonardo crouched down to admire the flowers, engaging the twins in a lively conversation about their favorite blooms. Luna watched them, a slight smile tugging at her lips. Seeing Leonardo interact so effortlessly with her younger siblings brought a momentary warmth to her heart.

However, she quickly shook off the smile, reminding herself of the complexities and uncertainties ahead. "Alright, you two," she said gently, "we need to get back inside soon."

The twins pouted but obediently followed her lead. Leonardo stood up and smiled at Luna. "We'll see each other soon."

Luna nodded her expression though indifferent betrayed a mix of gratitude and apprehension. "Yes, we will."

With that, they made their way back to the house, the brief respite in the garden providing a small moment of calm amidst the swirling uncertainties of an arranged marriage.