He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes: he who does not ask a question remains a fool forever. ---- Chinese Proverbs

As everybody was busy having their conversation with their respective fiancées and targets, the great bosses were busy touring the different parts of the Palace to the Cheung Elders, the Wu couple, Lily, Edward, and Allen. The astonishment of the guests was seen through their eyes when they entered the family room, as they walk inside Lily and Leah first notice the family portrait hanging on the wall that welcomes them.  ??

The family portrait consists of a three-person, Duke Lawrence, a woman who looks exactly like Lily, and a very young girl who has the same features as Luna except for the shape of their face. "That''s my family back then My Flower, that''s Jeuel, and the little girl was Jade, they are both in heaven now" Duke Lawrence informs the guests especially Lily whose right hand is intertwined with Duke''s left hand.

"Oh My! Lily, that''s you! The lady in the portrait was your spitting image? Uncle Lucas, Is Lily has a twin?" Leah asks the Elder Cheung as he and his wife stared at the family portrait. "Lucas! Did you cheat on me when you are still young?! Did you donate your s.p.e.r.m to another woman?!"Eva Cheung half yelled at his husband, "No My Darling, I didn''t cheat on you. But how come that the lady in the portrait looks the same as Lily.

The Great Bosses didn''t know if they will protect Elder Lucas Cheung or laugh at the bantering of the two old couples, they are controlling themselves not to laugh. Lily shook her head as she was very ashamed of her parents'' behavior in front of the great bosses. "Mom, may it was just a coincidence that Lawrence''s former wife looks the same as me, and as I see the painting we have a different set of eye color and even the shape of our lips is different" Lily coax her mother who is acting like a spoiled child.

Duke Lawrence chuckled as he was observing how his future in-laws banter about Jeuel''s features. "Mom, Dad, that''s the reason why I fell instantly in love with Lily. And she has something that wants me to be with her for the lifetime." Duke Lawrence informs everybody. Allen smiled and Edward just keep his eyes on the portrait, but Allen saw regrets regret over what happened to them in the past, he knew that Edward still loves his best friend and he still cares for her.

As they all walk to where the couch and settled there, Allen who is very close to Lily ever since Edward already thought that they cheated on him way back then ask Duke Lawrence the question that he also asks Edward when he and Lily became a couple back then.

"How deep is your Love for Lily Duke? I mean, me, as Lily''s best friend who saw her heartaches that Edward gave to her and I am very aware of what James did to her. I want to be sure that this time she won''t experience the same fate with you." Allen asks Duke Lawrence as he took a side glance at him. While Edward stared at him for he heard the same and familiar question from him.

Duke Lawrence smiled and he holds Luna''s shoulder as the turned Lily to face him, he let out a sigh and look directly into Luna''s eyes "With the little voice in my heart echoing that brand new feeling, the fire that started to ignites when I first saw you, I already saw my future lies on you. I want to spend an intimate relationship with you and cultivate it furthermore. I know that I am and will be a better person now than what I used to be and I never knew that those changes would be brought about by you and only you. You took me and not only for what I am but you also succeeded in bringing out the best... I mean the best again in me. I love being yours, I love and will love all the joys that we will share and that you will bring on me. And for how deep my love for you? All I can say is that I am ready to offer my life with you, I am willing to take a bullet or a stab of the knife just to be with you, My Lily." Duke Lawrence said to her and he is not shy to everyone that he let out what is in his thoughts as he answered Allen''s question on him.

Then a song was heard, everyone heard the song Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars (youtube.com/watch?v=wGUKBXpfU1o), and it was Prince Timothy who played t on his cellphone to lighten up the atmosphere inside the room. "Is my answer to your question is enough for you Allen?" Duke Lawrence asks Allen who is still looking at Lily''s eyes.

Allen chuckled as he saw how much the Duke fell deeply in love with his best friend, "Yes it is enough, but I won''t hesitate to give you a beating once you let a shed of tears on her face. I don''t care if you are royalty or the leader of a gang, as long as Lily is fine and happy, I am contented to see my best friend spending a lifetime with you. She is like a sister that I don''t have, and even though I am gay, I have a muscle to beat you up" Allen declared that brought Lily to laugh.

"Don''t worry Mr. Allen, we as the wives of the great bosses will help you to give a beating on Lawrence, for we can''t accept another sister-in-law beside her. That''s a promise we made with Jeuel before, and he doesn''t want us to give him one good beating" says Duchess Anastasia as she looks at both Duke Lawrence and Lily teasingly.

Everyone laughs as they heard what Duchess Anastasia said, "Duke Lawrence, can you promise me that whatever happens, you will be always truthful with Lily? Can you also tell her your past for you already have a glimpse of her past with me, with James, and everything that you have researched about her life?" Edward suddenly uttered that everyone went to silence as soon as they heard him.

In a slow-motion Duke Lawrence looks at Edward, "I know how deep your love for Lily, and you will always love her, and she has a special place in your heart. Yes, I will always be truthful to her, I accepted her past and she also does...for the past is past and what matters most is the future that lies on us." replies Duke Lawrence.

"Ahm, Edward...I didn''t ask for Lawrence''s past, for what matters to me is his pure heart that he offered and wants to share with me. The past has already taught us what we are right now, and it is a lesson you have to accept, don''t worry you are my best friend if Lawrence will hurt me just what James did....you will be the first one to know." Lily butts in.

"Ahm, Lily...I think before Edward got the news about Lawrence has hurt you, Lawrence has already tortured by the twins, and you have to remember that, for nothing escapes to the eyes of the Hawks." Countess Clarisse informs her and Edward. Everyone laughs except for the guest who gave them a confusing look, "The twins have so many ways of knowing that there is something wrong on us grown-ups, they have this kind of a gift that they knew if we all have problems. We are much worried and afraid of the way their brain works. Alexei and Amber made some studies and research about them. Maybe the twins'' are just clever enough to get first-hand information and they are the ones who make some moves before we can do it. So Edward, when it comes to security details or purposes you ask our grandchildren" Prince Timothy told the guest.

Edward and Allen let out a soft chuckled while Eva Cheung and Leah Wu gave an interesting look at each other while their husbands shook their heads for they already knew what it is running on their wives'' minds and they are very afraid of it.

"Edward please do not be afraid, I trust Lawrence...and you must do the same. I know that you are protecting me for you once lost me when Suzy and Mia tried to kill me. I know that you will always be by my side and I know that my future husband is trusting you." Lily informs them.

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A/N

Sorry, my dear readers for not uploading for a few days. I am adjusting to my daughter''s online classes. I''ll make it up with you. I''ll try to upload another chapter tonight. Love lots