The guard brought Reba inside the manor and seated her in the living room.


    "Just wait here for a few seconds, mydy. I''ll find the maid so that she can inform Lady Laura about your visit," he said.


    "Thank you," Reba replied.


    The guard went to the kitchen.


    Then a maid exited the kitchen and climbed the stairs.


    Reba roamed her eyes around the living room. The spacious ce was adorned with antique furniture in every corner. She marveled with awe at the beautiful chandelier hanging at the ceiling. Then her eyes drifted to the grand staircase, leading to the second floor..


    On the second floor.


    The maid walked into the hallway and knocked at the door of Laura''s room. "Lady Laura, you have a visitor!" she said.


    Inside the room.


    Laura and her mother Rosa looked at each other.


    "Daughter, you had a visitor?" Rosa said.


    Laura''s brows furrowed. "W-who could it be?" she asked, confused.


    "Let''s go downstairs and find out," Rosa said.


    "Okay," Laura replied and rose from the bed.


    The women left the room.


    Laura asked the maid, "Who is this visitor?" she asked.


    "It''s a pregnant woman. Surpsingly, the gate allowed her in," the maid replied.


    "Ah, okay..." Laura murmured.


    The women reached the top of the stairs. Laura looked down at the pregnant woman sitting on the couch. The woman raised her head, and their eyes met.


    Laura was stunned, her eyes widened in surprise. "OMG! It''s Reba!" she eximed in happiness.


    Rosa looked at the happy expression on her daughter''s face. "W-who is that woman?"


    "A dear friend of mind! She is Graven''s adopted sister that I told you about in the past," Laura replied as they descended the stairs.


    "Reba! It''s nice to see you again!" Laura eximed.


    "Laura! I miss you girl!" Reba said cheerfully.


    The two pregnant women hugged each other, but can''t go all the way because of their bulging stomachs. They bothughed at their conditions.


    Rebaughed. "When we parted ways, we''re both single... but when we see each other again, we''re both pregnant! This is amusing!" she said, still giggling.


    "Yeah... how are you? You never told us that you got married," Laura said.


    Reba sighed. "I know. It''s a long story, so many things have happened. Anyways, I have a problem..." she said in a gloomy voice.


    "Alright, let''s talk about your problem," Laura said.


    The women lowered themselves into the couch, facing each other.


    Reba caressed her baby bump. She looked at Laura, misty-eyed. "I have no ce to live. I''m pregannt with twins. Can I stay here with you until I give birth to my babies?" she pleaded.


    "Sure! No problem! This is Graven''s home. And there are many rooms upstairs to amodate you and the babies. I''m sure Graven wil be delighted if you stay here with us," Laura said.


    "Thank you, Laura!" Reba said, feeling grateful for her warm eptance.


    Laura noticed something. "Where are your things?" she asked.


    Reba scratches her head. "Um... I came here in a hurry. It''s a long story. Don''t worry, I''ll tell you everything that happened to me in these past few motnhs, beginning on the day when the giant birds took me away from the South Pond Town," she said.


    "Okay, let''s go upstairs. I will bring you to your room so that you can rest. We will talk tomorrow and update each other''s lives," Laura said.


    "Ah, wait. I have apanion waiting outside the gate. She is my benefactor, she was the one who take good care of me during my absence," Reba exined.


    "Okay, you want her toe inside?" Laura offered.


    "C-can shee inside?" Reba asked.


    "Yes, if I will allow her. The gate will listen to me," Laura said.


    "Okay then..." Reba said and rose to her feet.


    The women exited the door, while Rosa went to the kitchen to instruct the maid to prepare refreshments for the visitors.


    The women stood in front of the gate. They saw Calder and Menedelia outside, talking to each other under the shade of the tree.


    Calder and Menedelia walked towards the gate.


    Laura addressed the invisible spell formation. "Open the gate, a friend of mind ising inside," shemanded.


    The gate automatically opened.


    Calder and Menedelia entered the gate.


    After Reba finished introducing the two women to each other, they proceed to the entrance of the house and settledfortably in the living room.


    Laura introduces Menedelia to her mother.


    After merry chit-chatting, the maid served the refreshment.


    They ate delicious rice cakes and fresh fruit juice.


    One hourter.


    Menedelia bid goodbye to them.


    The women went to the gate.


    Reba looked at Menedelia. "See you tomorrow, Granny..."


    "I''ll bring your things tomorrow, either morning or afternoon. Depending on my avability," Menedelia said.


    "Thank you, Granny. Bye!" Reba spoke.


    Menedelia exited the gate and waved her hand at the women. She vanished from their eyes a momentter.


    Reba and Laura returned to the house to continue catching up with each other''s lives.


    They have so many things to tell each other.


    Laura settled Reba first in her new room upstairs, next to her room. She also gave Reba some clothes and allowed her to rest first.


    "Do you like the room? Will you be okay here?" Laura asked.


    Reba smiled. "I like the room, it''s nice and big. Thank you," she said.


    "Alright, just rest for a while. We all have the time in the world to catch up with each other," Laura said.


    Reba nods her head and said, "Okay."


    Laura patted Reba''s shoulder affectionately. "You will be alright here. We will take care of each other," she said.


    Misty-eyed, Reba responded, "Thank you."


    Laura walked to the door and exited.


    Rebay her body down on the bed and stared at the ceiling. She was wondering where is Graven, Horace, and Grandpa Terros? And what will Ebony do after she returned to the manor? Is she going to inform Corbin that she finally found her?


    She released a deep sigh. Why is it that everything went downhill on Graven''s side? What happened to him during her absence?


    She grabbed the nket, wrapped it around her body, and closed her eyes, eager to rest her weary mind.


    ...


    Back in the forest.


    After putting her grandma to sleep, Ebony exited the hut looking for her sister and Reba''s whereabouts.


    Where are they?


    Why they disappeared all of a sudden?


    She wants to talk to Reba and convince her to return with her to the manor because her husband was already going crazy trying to find her everywhere.


    Dang!


    C-could it be that Reba left on her own? Afraid to return to Corbin''s side?


    Possible! No other reason!


    If she will inform Lord Corbin that she saw his wife, he will not stop pestering her about Reba.


    What she''s going to do?


    She groaned inwardly.


    Where is her sister!?


    She released a deep sigh and went back inside the hut. She won''t go home tonight unless she will know where her sister hides Reba!


    She sat on the chair in the tiny living room and waited for her sister''s arrival.


    On the other hand, Menedelia teleported herself to the top of the hill overlooking the ocean to clear her troubled mind and enjoy the tranquility of the ce.


    She know that her sister Ebony was already waiting for her at the hut.


    She released a deep sigh.


    She stared at the calm ocean and looked heavenward. There is a beautiful full moon tonight.


    It looks magical!


    She stared at the sky for a few minutes, enjoying the beautiful evening.


    A few minutester, she finally decided to go home and faced her sister.


    She teleported back to her house in the forest.


    When Menedelia appeared outside the house and entered the door, Ebony immediately rose to her feet and faced her sister.


    "Sis, where have you been? Why did you suddenly disappeared without informing me? And where is Reba?" Ebony bombarded her sister with questions.


    Menedelia closed the door and lowered herself on the chair. "Sit down, let''s talk..." she said calmly.


    Ebony lowered herself on the chair. "Where is Reba!?" she repeated her question.


    Menedelia released a deep sigh. " She left... afraid that you will inform her husband that you found her," she told her sister the truth.


    "Exactly, I''m going to tell my master that I already found her wife!" Ebony replied.


    Menedelia shakes her head. "I already expected your decision... but you have to respect Reba''s wishes. She doesn''t want to return to Corbin''s side because of her tragic experienced with his parents. You can''t me the girl!" she said, hoping that her sister will understand the situation.


    "B-but they''re a couple, they''re husband and wife! The husband also had the right to see his children!" Ebony insisted.


    "I know. But Reba is not ready yet to see her husband. Give her time, maybe in the future she will return to his side, but not right now. Besides, if you tell Corbin that you found Reba here at my ce, he will keep pestering me, he will keep pestering us regarding Reba''s location. How troublesome is that? We will have no peace from that moment onward. Think again, sis!" Menedelia said.


    Ebony took a deep breath. "That''s why you have to tell me where Reba is hiding right now so that I can bring Lord Corbin to her side and solved the couple''s problem!"


    Menedelia was shaking her head vigorously, not liking her sister''s irritating stubbornness. "Sis, let''s not involved ourselves with the couple''s problem. Let them be, if they''re destined to meet again in the near future, then let it be! But right now, let''s distance ourselves from their problem. I''m sorry, I can''t tell you Reba''s whereabouts. You have to respect my decision," she said firmly.


    Ebony''s face darkened. "Sister, why are you acting like this? Just tell me Reba''s location so that we no longer have to argue about this issue!" she demanded.


    Ugh!


    Menedelia groaned in exasperation. ''This sister of mine is so stubborn!'' she thought to herself.