Transmigrated: Stealing the CEO husband-Chapter 49: Appearance of Female Lead

"What’s troubling you?" Asked Luiss, noticing her radiating melancholy.

"Nothing," She shook her head.

"It got to be something,"

"Why does President Luiss think so?"

"Because the air suddenly seems to be full of longing."

"Longing," Ariana scoffed

After a pause, she sighed

"The embers of the past."

"What?"

"I’m recalling the embers of the past,"

"Why embers?"

"Because the people are no longer here. Only memories."

"Maybe you’ll get to reunite with them again?"

"Maybe." Her eyes glittered as she looked up at the sky. Twinkling stars reflected in her eyes. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Looking at her, she looked so ethereal that Luiss had a desire and reached out to the stray strand of hair and fix it behind her earlobe. But he didn’t do so. He just cherished the beauty. He didn’t want to taint her.

And then someone’s stomach grumbled.

Ariana froze

Luiss froze

"I’m going to get some berries for us." She said sheepishly, standing up.

"I’ll go with you." Luiss tried getting up but failed, miserably landing on his hips.

"President Luiss should rest. You have a strained foot you would slow me down. "

Knowing he is unable to get up, he said with concern, lingering in his eyes. "Be careful."

"I’ll be," Ariana reassured.

Ariana stepped out of the cave, the cool dampness giving way to the thick, humid air of the jungle. The evening had deepened, casting long shadows between the towering trees, their gnarled roots snaking across the damp earth.

A faint mist clung to the undergrowth, carrying the rich scent of moss, wet bark, and the distant fragrance of wildflowers.

She moved carefully, her footsteps muffled by the thick layer of fallen leaves

The jungle was alive with sound—the rhythmic hum of cicadas, the distant hoot of an owl, and the rustling of unseen creatures in the dense foliate Every movement sent a shiver through the spine, but she pressed on, her stomach tightening with hunger.

After a short trek, she spotted a cluster of bushes heavy with deep purple berries, their skins glistening with moisture. Crouching beside them, she hesitated, brushing her fingers lightly over the fruit. Her mother had once taught her how to tell the safe ones from the poisonous—a lesson whispered over campfires and reinforced through years of foraging trips. She plucked a few, rolling them between her fingers before bringing them to her lips.

The first bite was tart, then sweet, bursting with juice that tasted like relief. She gathered more, filling the small pouch at her waist, all the while scanning the jungle for any sign of danger. A distant rustle made her pause, her heartbeat quickening. She wasn’t alone.

Clutching the berries tightly, she turned back toward the cave, her senses sharpened, listening for whatever—or whoever—was hidden in the darkness

She quickly made her way back to the cave.

Returning to the cave, the first thing she did was to wash the berries through a stream on the way. Then she walked ahead. Entering the cave, she found something she could not have expected.

....

Entering the cave, she found something she could not have expected.

"Who is this?" She asked Luiss, her tone a bit harsh as if she already knew.

"Lucia." The female lead introduced herself. "I was trekking along with my team when I spotted a fire inside the cave. Thinking someone might be in trouble, I thought of giving it a look. That’s where I found President Luiss, " She explained.

It had been so in the original novel, too.

The woman was an epitome of beauty and grace. Even in normal clothes and no makeup, her looks would take someone’s breath away. The author had done right by dedicating a whole Chapter to emphasize how beautiful she was. Compared to her Ariana felt inferior.

No! She had to be a strong and sturdy third wheel! She won’t let them develop romantic feelings. Her life depended on it!

She lurched forward and put Louis’s arm over her and helped him up. "We are very grateful for your help. We would have to spend the night in this isolated cave if not for you. "

Both Luiss and Lucia were speechless at her bold actions

"I have men with them. Let them support President Luiss. Im afraid it would be hard on you"

"The president is mysophobic. He hates other people touching him. Don’t worry, he is not that heavy."

Luiss also doesn’t seem to object to the situation.

So Lucia led her team while Ariana supported Luiss behind her. She covertly observed Luiss from the side. He didn’t seem to be interested in Lucia much. Despite her being so devastatingly beautiful.

They waited and sat in temporary camps when everyone felt tired. During that time, Luiss made no attempt to call Lucia. He was only interested in conversing with Ariana.

"Where are the berries?"

"What berries?"

"The berries you told me you would get for me."

"You have already had dinner provided by Ms. Lucia"

"That can’t compare to the berries handpicked by Ms. Grey." He teased.

Ariana’s face flushed. She had thought of a thousand negative scenarios of his behaviour towards her when the female lead showed up. But she could not have expected him to give her priority over her.

On the other hand, Lucia tried to strike up conversations with Luiss only to be shunned by him.

Angered at the blatant disrespect, she finally said.

"Mr. Luiss, I think you have known it by now. Elders want us to get married. You are not giving me the respect due to one’s potential."

"The engagement between you and me is only at the talking stage as of yet. There is no established relationship between us." He said, then narrowed his eyes at her. "I’m grateful to you for saving me and my secretary. For this, I’ll give you proper compensation upon returning. I don’t like to owe anyone. But as far as our relationship is concerned, I’m not obliged to any more than I’m already doing.:

His lengthy discourse cut whatever Lucia was about to say. The rest of the travel proceeded in silence. They stopped at some stops a couple more times. At one stop, Ariana gave Luiss the berries she had originally picked up for him.

He took them with great delight, enjoying each bite. "Not bad, you got some skills.

"Mother taught me."

By the time they found the exit from the forest, the Sun had started rising.