"Captain Williams! Where is my daughter? How is she?" worriedly, Louis asked promptly, who did not wait for him to come down from his warhorse.

"Good morning, Monsieur Chen. Can we go inside to talk privately with you?" he greeted, then make a request politely.

"Oh, right, please, come in." Louis leads the way inside the house and Carlisle followed him.

"Please, have a seat, Captain." he gestured the empty seat across his desk. "I am sorry for my rudeness, Captain Williams."

"Thank you, monsieur. I understood... You were just worried about your daughter." 

Carlisle replied, then his eyes wandering to the entire room. He saw a lot of books and scrolls kept on the shelves. The books are written in French, while he could notice the writings are foreign to him. It seems Marivella earns her knowledge by reading these books and scrolls... he is certain that all these books contain information that educates the whole family.

He now began suspecting, that Louis is from a family with a good status back in his country. He is familiar with the unfair system of society and that applies to him the reason he runs from home. Besides, he already heard talks about this family, however, no one who wants to leak information and so, he did not investigate further.

"About your daughter, you don't have to worry about Marivella. She is safe now," he informed Louis who he saw how a big weight lifted from his shoulder. Also, his face brightens and the lines on his foreheads now gone.

"But she's better hidden, for now, monsieur." He added.

"All right, it is for the best. I understand. Importantly, she is in good hands." Louis conceded.

"I a.s.signed my trusted soldier to a.s.sure her safety when I was not around. You have nothing to worry, anymore. Besides, Charles is with them."

"Oh, Doctor Charles! I am glad. He came when he learned about what happened to my daughter. I am happy that she has such good friends." Louis stated which he is truly grateful.

"And I a.s.sumed her friend is safe as well?"

Carlisle nodded. "With the help of her brothers, we save them smoothly."

"That is good. I am glad. I want her to stay hidden for now. I don't know if she must attend Gala, so I am uncertain."

"Whatever did you come up with, monsieur, let me know and I will pa.s.s to your daughter." Although he has another plan, if Marivella agreed, the least, he must have to leave a letter for Chen and apologize for doing such a thing to them that involves their daughter. However, if Marivella refused, his heart would have been crashed.

"Thank you, Captain. I do want to know if she wants to attend the Gala. If she wishes to, I will send their dresses."

"All right. I will talk to them and make plans if whatever Marivella decide."

"Thank you very much, Captain Williams."

"It is my greatest joy, monsieur." His respond.

Louis observes Carlisle. He'd actually not against their relations.h.i.+p. However, the d.u.c.h.ess will continue to hurt his daughter.

Later on, Caroline entered the office carrying a tray. "Please, have some tea, Captain Williams," she offered.

"Thank you, Madam Chen."

"I am the one who should thank you, Captain Williams. I know how much you love our daughter. Thank you, for doing everything, even risking your life for her."

Blus.h.i.+ng, he smiled at the woman.

"Loving your daughter… it is my very existence, Madam Chen."

Enthralled, Caroline tearing up. A reason, she has felt a mix of emotion. The happiness that there is a man who loves her daughter unconditionally. However, she felt sad for her daughter and Carlisle whose love cannot fulfill in the society they were living in the moment. Louis stood from his seat and stride closer to his wife, comforting her.

Carlisle could see how Marivella's parents are loving each other. He could feel the envy and began desiring to be part of her family.

"I am sorry, Captain Williams." Caroline apologizes. She wiped her tears.

"Please, don't feel like I am a stranger, Madam Chen."

The woman smiled. "I will pack up a few of her things. Can you stay a little longer, Captain?"

"Of course, Madam Chen."

"Thank you."

* * *

EASTERN WOODS

Carlisle jumps off from his horse. Gene instantly took the horse from him and brought it to the barn, giving some water and food.

Charles is already waiting on the doorsteps after hearing a horse neighing upon its arrival.

"Carlisle, glad you were here. What happen?"

Carlisle glances inside the Villa before he replied to Charles. When he makes sure that no one listens, he speaks out.

"I went home and confronted my mother."

A bit surprised but he also suspected that the dutchess who did this to Marivella. She is the sole who has the capability and in power. "Do you really believe it was the d.u.c.h.ess who plans this?"

"I know she was. Also, I could feel she is plotting something more."

"Then, are you going to fight your mother?"

"Yes. Even if she will kick me out, I don't care." He professed. "Anyway, where are they?"

"The two girls resting upstairs. I heard how they manage to escape. They were about to if we did not arrive. They will escape by themselves."

"Ha. That's interesting." Astounded, he said.

"Come on. I know you haven't taken any breakfast yet. Marivella set aside a share for you."

Hearing this, Carlisle's eyes sparks from gladness. Having this rare chance, every little thing connected to Marivella brings happiness to him… and all he wanted is to love this woman. Why the world is such elusive to grant his desire?

"Carlisle?"

He was lost at his thoughts in a moment; he nodded at Charles then followed him inside the villa. "Where are Carlene's brothers?" he asked after noticing he could not find them.

"About them, they were upstairs. Making plans on how to counter when we're found."

"Oh, really? Can we trust them?" he asked Charles who he thinks is making funny reactions instead. "What?"

"Ahem!" Charles pretended that something is bothering in his throat. Truly, he almost laughs when Carlisle asks him this. If only he could tell Carlisle that Edward and Henry, no, Levi and Quinn was their reincarnation 200 years after.

"Nothing. But I can a.s.sure you, we can trust them more than anyone in this world."

"Okay. I could trust your instincts," he concurred. He was actually not paying attention to their conversation but staring at the food Marivella made for everyone. And for him, he would a.s.sume it was prepared especially for him.

"Marivella and Carlene who made the food." 

"Oh, I see. It is delicious," he praises while tasting them.

"It does, and Carlene makes something I never try it before!" He expressed excitedly.

Carlisle looked up and peered at Charles with a mocking smile.

"What?"

"If I have not known you, I won't notice it."

"Hey!"

"All right. You like her, I could see that." he teases Charles, then continued eating.

"I can't believe you are teasing me now," Charles pouted.

Carlisle chuckles. Charles peering at him. He wishes to tell Carlisle that Carlene is his daughter. However, the information he learned today must be kept as a secret until he dies. Nothing should meddle in between of things about to happen… things must proceed to what it is, leading to the future as to how fate designs it already. 

Charles looks outside the window.

Even if it takes hundreds of years, he will love her for a hundred more. He thought. He is certain, and now determine to love no one but someone like Carlene or Madison. Whatever her name, it does not matter.

"Daydreaming, huh?" asked Charles, he who is talking to him but Charles did not hear it.

Levi got back to his senses and replied to Carlisle. "Am not daydreaming," he pouted, rolling his eyes. "You really did not change even after you are reincar- er, I mean." Dang, his tongue almost slips out the reincarnation word. But he realized, there's nothing change between them... Quinn and Levi also teasing each other; may the past or the future, they have this bond even after a hundred years. Smiles tearing his mouth but then, he acted like in a serious manner.

"What I mean is, I am just pondering about the things from now on... what will happen now?"

Carlisle takes a moment of silence, weighing things if he should share it with Charles of the plans he came up with.

"I might ask Marivella to run away tonight."

"What? Are you insane? How about the Gala?" Shocked, he feels more troubled.

"We will attend the Gala, but I also wanted to do it while my mother was occupied during that gathering."

Charles stays quiet. What he will do now? How if Marivella agreed? Isn't Carlisle must marry Isabella so that, in the next few years, Carlene will be born after Marivella becomes Carlisle's mistress?

He must inform the people from the future if what they must do about Carlisle's plans.

How could they stop him?