Moonlight Serenade

Morning came and the sun was high in the sky when she opened her eyes. She felt tired yet blissful. It was due to her dream of lying in the arms of a man. His face was hidden but she could feel his overwhelming masculinity. Although she didn't experience the thing that married couple do, she knew what it was because she often read it in explicit scenes of her favorite book.

The man in her dream didn't do the last step but lying in his arms stark naked was enough to color her cheeks early in the morning. She was confused why she dreamed that kind of dream. Maybe her mind was craving to read more erotica and the likes?

She need to find more explicit books.

Thinking of this, she hopped off the bed and took a bath. A few minutes later, she's humming a tune while making her way to the kitchen.

"Good morning!" she greeted Gideon when she saw him sitting on the sofa reading the morning newspaper.

He raised his head and looked at her. The corner of his lips curved upward. "Any good news?"

She grinned and waved her hand. "Nothing particular. Just woke up in the sunlight." Jewel chuckled before she continued to the kitchen, humming her favorite tune.

Although confused, Gideon didn't ask and let her be. He put the newpaper he's reading on the table and followed his wife to the kitchen. Jewel was checking the dishes Tang had prepared for the two of them when he entered. He cleared his throat. "Your things should arrive today."

Jewel looked over her shoulder and smiled sweetly at him. "That's good!" She giggled and sat on her chair.

Gideon raised his brow when he saw her filling his plate with foods. Some were not his favorite. He grimaced and reached for the spoon and filled Jewel's plate with light breakfast. "What are your plans for today?" he asked. Munching on her food, Jewel shrugged her shoulders. "I will wait for my things, I guess?"

Even in her father's house, she didn't do much except reading her x-rated books. She had looked over the whole yard from her room's balcony and seeing the well-taken flowers, Jewel decided to spend the rest of her vacation inside her room. There's nothing she could do to help the Old Tang. That old man was more efficient than her.

A smile spread on Gideon's lips. "Then we'll enjoy the scenery later."

"I don't mind," she said.

Suddenly, Old Tang entered the dining room. "Maam Laine, your things have arrived."

She reached for the cupcake to eat her dessert but Gideon caught her hand. "Finish your breakfast first," he said.

It was hard to argue with the master so Jewel continued eating. After awhile, she stood and walked hastily to the living room where a huge box was waiting for her. On the side, there were a few small boxes. She took a bite on the cupcake and munched. "Mang Tang, is this all?" she asked as she swallowed.

The old man nodded. "A boy from your father's mansion delivered these boxes." His brows met. "I think there's something wrong with these boxes, Maam Laine. That boy was acting weird."

"Oh?" She put the half-eaten cupcake on the center table and took a step close to the biggest box. "I think so too," she whispered and moved her finger through the rough edges.

It was strange that they delivered a huge box. Usually her mother would use a suitcase to pack clothes, so why did they use a cheap box?

"Deliver these to my room, Mang Tang."

Jewel picked her cupcake and walked back to the dining room where Gideon was waiting for her. She smiled at her husband before she sat on her chair and sulked. He noticed her odd expression and asked. She shook her head.

A strange feeling was creeping in her chest while looking at the huge box. There might be something bad happened in the mansion. Her hand reached for her phone and dialed Dalya's number but the call's couldn't reach her servant's phone. Jewel pursed her lips.

"Stop worrying," Gideon said. "It's not good for you."

She sighed. "Can't help it."

He stared at her for a few seconds before he stood. "Follow me then," he ordered and walked to the back door.

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She followed her husband. Minutes later, she found herself outside. The wide sea in front of her was glistening under the soft rays of the morning sun. Her eyes closed to feel the cool breeze caressing her cheeks. A rare smile appeared on her lips.

It was years ago when she last felt this feeling and she never thought that she longed for this peace, where there's no worries and fears lingering inside her mind for a long time. Gideon bringing her outside proved to be the medicine to stop her mind from thinking of negative things.

A hand stroked the back of her head. "When you're confused, visit this place."

Jewel opened her eyes. She tilted her head and look up to him. The sun rays touched the tip of his nose while his lips curved into a thin smile. Eyes as gentle as water stared back at her.

It was a perfect image that will stay in her mind for years, for in that moment, her heart beat fast. It was not due to anxiety, nor shock, nor fear.

"Jewel, are you okay?" he asked and reached for the stray strands of her hair covering her pretty face. He tucked them behind her ear.

Her cheeks burned bright as her eyes cast down. She side stepped to remove his hand that was leisurely stroking her silky hair. Jewel cleared her throat. "I-I'll go back," she said.

Without waiting for Gideon, she turned around and traversed the path they walked earlier. She need to walk away or else her heart could not keep up.

HER EYES scanned the huge box that was standing in the middle of her room. Old Tang was efficient because this box appeared before her eyes when she entered. She was wondering what's inside the box.

It couldn't be books because it was too big. It couldn't be dresses because those were the content of the small boxes.

Confused, she walked close to it while holding the sharp scissor and she cut it open. What appeared before her eyes made her flesh run cold and face pale.

A bruised and dying woman was inside.

Eyes swollen, cheeks red, and bloody lips. She was shivering and her breathe was weak. Her once neat clothes were died red and the nauseating smell of blood assaulted Jewel's nose.

Her knees went limp. She slammed on the floor while her eyes stared wide open on the woman who crawled out of the box. The woman's ragged breathing entered her ears. Her vision blurred as tears brimmed at the corner of her eyes. "M-Miss..." the woman whispered.

At that moment, she realized who that bloody woman was. "D-Dalya?" Jewel approached the woman. "W-what happened to you, D-Dalya?"

The woman's cheeks were wet with tears and she was having difficulty breathing. Trembling, she clung to her arm and wept. "Don S-Sebastian beat me, Miss. He saw those books in your room while the other maidservants packed your things. I-I admitted that I bought those books but don't worry, M-Miss!" Dalya's hold on her arm tightened. "He will never blame you because.... because I took the fall. In fact, after the beating, he might forgive you. He's not mad as compared yesterday, Miss!"

Jewel felt her world stopped while hearing Dalya's words. Her maidservant might think that Don Sebastian's anger subsided after he beat her, but Jewel was clear about her father's temper. His anger would never cease unless he punished her. Her body trembled along Dalya's shivering.

"W-Where's Pedro?" she asked after a few minutes of silence.

Before Dalya could answer, Jewel's cellphone rang. She answered it and what came to her ear was wailing from the other side. Her body went stiff.

"Miss Laine? Miss?!" someone called her name.

"I-I'm listening. What happened?"

"Miss Laine! Help! Please help us!" The maid wept.

Even though she expected that something was happening in the mansion, she never imagined this chaotic call. "What's going on?!" she asked, anxious.

There was a few seconds of silence before the maid said, "Don S-Sebastian..."

"What happened to father?"

"Please help us, Senyorita! Don Sebastion will kill Pedro! Your father took a gun and is going to the ranch where Pedro is!" The woman cried harder. Jewel heard loud footsteps in the background. The maid was running fast. Her breathe was ragged as she continued, "Pedro helped Dalya escaped yesterday night and just this morning, Don Sebastian had known about this matter. Miss, please help him! We can't do anything and Donya Belinda won't help Pedro! Miss, only you can help him!"