Moonlight Serenade

"Gideon," the first name she called after the maidservant's words.

She looked down on Dalya who was struggling to stay awake. Her heart could not stay calm but in front of her maidservant, she needed to appear strong because there's no one other than her could the girl get the spirit to fight back. "Lay on the bed. I'll let someone take care of your wounds."

Jewel helped Dalya on the bed before she hastily strode to the door. She looked back at Dalya and her heart was disturb, it beat fast, before she went out. The bruises on girl's body was not a joke. If she received it, she might not last tomorrow. Her lips pursed into a thin line. She was afraid that her father wouldn't let this matter go.

Closing her fists, she went down the stairs and looked for her husband. But Gideon was nowhere in sight. Where did he go? A cold sweat trickled down her back as she looked around, but she only caught sight of the old Tang tending on the seedlings of some plant.

"Mang Tang, where's Gideon?"

The old man stopped what he's doing and looked at her. "He's in the garden, Maam."

She told the old man about Dalya before her feet moved quickly to the back door and onto the garden. Fresh air greeted her but it was not time to enjoy them. She looked around but the huge expanse of the maze garden hindered her sight. "Gideon!" she called but no one answered. Her brows met.

The maze garden was the first thing she noticed in the back garden when she stood at her room's balcony yesterday. Gideon led her past that place when they went to the seashore earlier, but it she didn't think too much about it because they took a shortcut. Now, she was in the middle and she felt lost.

She called her husband's name for a few times before she heard him grunted somewhere. Her head turned to the direction where the noise came from and saw him holding a pail of water. Their eyes met and Jewel strode to him. "I-I need your help," she said.

He put the pail on the table beside him and faced her. "Breathe." When Gideon reminded her, she felt her knees wobbled and he hastily caught her into his arms. "What happened?" he asked.

Thinking of the x-rated books, she suddenly felt ashamed. But there's no one she could ask help from except for him. She had no choice but to admit her vices in front of him. "I know that father won't do anything reckless but I can't just stand and do nothing. Pedro will suffer under my father's hands."

He was silent and Jewel was scared silly by his silence. She swallowed the lump in her throat. "P-Please help," she muttered under her breathe and casted her gaze down.

Her body went stiff when he pulled her for a hug. "Alright," he assured.

Jewel relaxed in Gideon's arms. She felt him moved, took out his phone from his pocket, and made a call. Her heart skipped a beat when she remembered something and held Gideon's arm.

He looked down on her. "What?" he asked.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

"My father might ask you to take me back to his mansion. Would you agree?"

Gideon frowned and didn't answer her question. Jewel was anxious but waited.

"Father-in-law," he greeted over the phone. "I have known what Jewel did and I'll bear the consequences." A few seconds of silence before he sighed. "I know that my wife is mischevious but I won't make any concession. She'll stay in my house."

Jewel held her breathe as she waited. After awhile, Gideon dropped the call and looked down on her. He sighed again and flicked her nose. "You little thing. You turned your father's house upside down, huh?"

She helplessly chuckled and pouted. "It's not my fault. They won't let me read those books so I had no choice but to hide them."

Gideon raised his brow. "What makes you think I'll tolerate your vices?"

"Huh?" She stared at him dumbly. "You'll restrict me too?"

He smirked and pat her head. "Be good. I'll fetch your helper and you should wait for your punishment."

"What?" she asked, astonished.

Gideon led her back inside the house and she found herself in the kitchen where Dalya was sitting and eating her fill. Old Tang had done his thing and he kindly prepared food for the poor maidservant.

The old man didn't ask who Dalya was and what happened but Jewel knew that he was observing the two of them. She felt ashamed and guilty all of the sudden.

It was just the second day when she entered Gideon's house but she already brought trouble to Gideon. But what else could she do? Even though she was born rich, she was a paper tiger. Without the support of her parents, she wouldn't last in this society full of prejudice.

"Miss, it's good that you're here. Sir Gideon takes good care of you," Dalya suddenly said.

Her cheeks burned red when she recalled what happened earlier in the seashore. She pursed her lips. "Eat. You're not allowed to talk," she reprimanded but Dalya smiled at her before she continued eating.

Jewel sighed and turned to look at Old Tang who was putting delicacies in the table. "Old Tang, how's Dalya's injuries?"

The old man shook his head. "I won't lie to you, Maam Laine. The girl's external injuries are beyond what this old man can treat. She might have internal injuries so it's best to let her heal in a hospital." He sighed. "Even I was shocked seeing her injuries and I wonder how this girl survive such cruelty."

A pang in her chest made her eyes watered, specially when guilt hit her hard. It was all her fault. She was the one who ordered Dalya and Pedro to buy those x-rated books but these two all took the consequences that was supposedly for her. She looked at Dalya who was oblivious to her worries and sighed. Jewel decided to be responsible for the two of them. But this small guilt was nothing compared to the horror she felt when she saw Pedro. Gideon's face was dark when he entered the house. A young man was following him. What made Jewel's face pale was the sight of Pedro.

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Half of his face was reddish brown and the clothes he was wearing was tattered that it only covered his private part. The young man's once shiny and glorious hair was burned into ashes and only a reddish baldness could be seen. "P-Pedro," she whispered while reaching out to the young man.

Pedro respectfully side stepped and bowed his head to her. He grimaced in pain but didn't mind it. "Greetings, Miss," he breathed.

Before Jewel could utter another word, Gideon had pulled her to his side and dragged her outside the house. He faced her and cupped her face with his palms. "Jewel, that young man was burned alive by your father when I arrived." Her teeth chattered in fright. "T-Then... father, he'll get me back?"

Such cruelty. This meant that her father was mad and would definitely punish her. A cold sweat trickled her back as her body went stiff and cold in terror. Many people believed that her father was kind but she knew better. Her vision blurred as tears brimmed the corner of her eyes.

Gideon pulled her into a hug. He frowned. "In the meantime, don't play outside. Wait and I'll settle this."

She nodded and drew a breath. "Please bring Dalya and Pedro to hospital," she pleaded and looked up to him.

He gazed gently at her and sighed. "In this small town your father controls the only private hospital and it won't be good for the two of them. I will bring them to the city and let the specialist treat their wounds." Gideon's finger brushed the stray strand of hair hanging on her face and tucked it behind her ear. "Do you want to visit the city?"