Gideon lifted her and climbed to the lower part of the cliff where Gina was staying as the sun rose in the east. Jewel looked around but couldn't find Francisko. She took a deep breath and paused for a few moments before opening her mouth to inquire. "What happened to Francisko?"
"He got lost in the river. I'll send someone to look for him when the sun comes up. Can you stand?"She blinked and turned her gaze to the dark river, but there was no movement there. When she thought about what happened to Francisko, sadness crept into her chest."Jewel," Gideon said once more."Y-yes, I believe so."Gideon eased her down. As the chill traveled down her spine, she felt the dry and cold ground on her feet.She realized she had no shoes at that point. The man had taken her boots off earlier, and she didn't have the strength to stop him at the time.Her heart was still pounding loudly in her chest, and she could still feel a slight tremble. The terror she felt had had such an impact on her that it made it difficult for her to breathe.Gideon suddenly removed his jacket in front of her. Her brow furrowed, and her face creased. She shifted her gaze to the side and tightly closed her eyes. "Don't get naked in front of m-me!"She heard a faint laugh from him. "Am I?" Gideon wondered."Yes, you're n-naked!" she exclaimed, biting her lower lip."You can see for yourself."She inhaled deeply and slowly opened her eyes.She looked at Gideon and noticed he was wearing a shirt and had his arm crossed across his chest. The man's lips curved into a small smile. His deep and enticing eyes were filled with amusement.She averted her gaze from him. As the dew passed over her wet skin, she hugged herself. Jewel inhaled deeply and rubbed her hands against her arms. She bit her lower lip to stop her teeth from chattering. "Can we please go home? It's c-cold."They were standing in the shade of the gemelina tree, and she was watching the man hang his wet jacket on the tree's low branch. He examined her from head to toe before lifting her on top of Gina. Her teeth seemed to chatter even more. The cold seeped through her skin, and she felt trapped in a freezer for hours."Hang on tight, I'll take you home," Gideon said."But it's c-cold up here," she grumbled, her voice shaking.He let out a long sigh. "Persist a little longer, Jewel.""And y-you don't want to..." She paused and shut her mouth. She took another deep breath but ended up sneezing. It was bitterly cold sitting on horseback, and she was having trouble breathing.She looked at Gideon, who was standing nearby, and wondered if he would ride with her and hug her to soothe the cold.She shook her head and blinked. 'And why would he do something like that?' She mentally chastised herself. Gideon was completely unaware that she was in pain.When Gideon spoke to the horse rather than to her, her face became even more perplexed. She sighed and turned her gaze forward.She could hear birds singing in the trees as dawn broke on the horizon. The chill was still biting into her muscles as she rode on horseback. Gideon was walking slightly ahead, holding the horse's rein and guiding the horse in the right direction.Her bite has nearly bled her lip. The surroundings became colder as time passed.Perhaps it was the dew caressing her still-wet clothes.In the cold, she could barely feel her fingers. Her legs and toes had also frozen. Cold tears streamed down her cheeks. She had shivered for the first time in the cold.She was now kicking herself for not listening to Gideon. What caused her to become so defiant? The more people try to stop her, the more courage she'll have to do what is forbidden.Gideon blurted out, "Jewel.""Y-Yes?""Are you all right up there?""Well, Uhm... I-I'm dying?"When Gideon stopped the horse, her hope returned. She cracked a small smile. Finally, Gideon must have heard her complaint. She imagined Gideon climbing up and hugging her from behind to relieve her pain.She closed her eyes, pretending she didn't mind if Gideon climbed up. 'He should beg,' she thought. I won't let him ride with me unless he begs! 'A cold hand, however, gripped her leg. She was taken aback. She awoke dazed, looking down. Gideon was holding her leg and staring at her.She clenched her teeth and fixed her gaze on Gideon. Gideon tightened his grip on her leg when he noticed her teeth chattering. She swallowed hard. What Gideon did seemed to dry up her throat even more.Gideon took a deep breath and smiled. "Come down; I'll catch you."Her lips drew apart. Did he ask her to come down? But what about the previous thing she imagined? She took a deep breath and kept her disappointment to herself. "W-Well, my l-legs won't move?"Gideon locked his gaze on her for a few seconds. "Stay still."She pouted as she averted her gaze. Fortunately, she didn't say what was on her mind. She would have embarrassed herself in front of the Mayor's son.Her face contorted in bewilderment. Was she turning into an attention seeker for Gideon? She puckered her lips. No. Her future husband ought to irritate her.Husband... Her heart raced wildly at the thought.She was brought back to reality when she felt Gideon rub both of his palms against her leg. Her eyes widened, but her mouth remained closed. She then took a deep breath and closed her eyes tightly.But she couldn't help but be curious, and she looked down on the man who appeared to be rubbing her legs seriously. She watched as his hand moved up her smooth and cold leg, then down to the five toes on her left foot. Gideon even drew a circle on her skin, causing her cheek to turn bright red.'What is he up to?' she thought.She opened her mouth to ask him, but she quickly shut it when Gideon began singing an unfamiliar song.She fixed her gaze on Gideon's face. As he hummed a song, he had a small smile on his lips.Jewel was dazed as her heartbeat quickened. Gideon's grip on her leg loosened, and she sensed his tenderness. Even though she didn't fully understand the song, it was pleasant to the ear, and she was drawn to listen more.Gideon raised his head, and their gazes met. He smiled. "Are you still cold?" he questioned."Uh, not so much."He nodded and continued to rub her leg while singing. There was something in his voice Jewel couldn't figure out.She was able to move her toes after feeling the heat from Gideon's palms. Gideon, on the other hand, continued to hold her and touch her skin.Gideon's voice was lovely. It was cold and deep. He may have been a vocalist in a band when he was younger, or he may have competed in various singing competitions. Regardless, she liked his voice.Jewel bit her lower lip to keep her mouth from speculating. But as the song progressed, she was tempted to ask questions until she couldn't anymore.She cut him off mid-song. "Wait, Gideon?""Mmm?""What exactly are you singing?"Gideon raised his head and sang the song's bridge to her. Her face was twisted. "What is the title?" she inquired impatiently.Gideon shook his head and smiled. "Leave me astounded.""And by whom?""Planetshakers.""Who is that?"Gideon shook his head. She scowled. When Gideon saw her contorted face, he laughed and patted her leg. "Move your foot across," he said.Despite her confusion, she immediately obeyed. Gideon dashed to the other side.Gideon suddenly grabbed Jewel's waist and yanked her off the horse. She was startled by the sudden movement. Gideon laughed
They were standing outside the Mansion, unable to enter because her father was waiting. Her father's face was ashen when he saw her, wet like a chick without a hen, but Gideon caught Don Sebastian's rage for her."Don Sebastian, I'm the one apologizing for Jewel."Jewel braced herself for her father's rage. She was taken aback when Don Sebastian smiled at Gideon. She was astounded.'How unfair! He just smiled at Gideon. I couldn't recall the last time he smiled at me! ' Jewel sighed and huffed angrily."What did my unica hija do again, and she's like a petty chick who got lost here in the mansion?" asked Don Sebastian. He turned to face her.He narrowed both eyes on her as he turned to face her. It caused her eyes to blur.Jewel lowered her gaze and crossed her arms across her chest. She let Gideon reason for her. He had already defended her at the outset, so she simply waited for the two men to reach an agreement and let her go. She was still shivering in the cold, and she bit her li
She left and returned to her room. Her hands took the books one at a time. She then placed each of them on the empty bookshelves until she reached the last one. She then placed the box in the corner alongside the books that had been inspected for damage.Her lips formed a wide smile. Her hand reached for the book she was reading. She went to bed and continued reading there.His smile is devilish, almost demonic."It's time," he exclaimed.He stood up and —-Jewel yawned and set the book aside, feeling sleepy all of a sudden. She tried to rub her eyes to keep her consciousness from slipping away, but that didn't stop the weight of her eyelids.Even before she closed her eyes, she noticed someone at the foot of her bed.She awoke later, out of breath. She sat up quickly and panted heavily. Her fist tightened as she remembered that strange dream. She then heard a ring. The constant ringing of her phone jolted her awake.She reached for it and answered the phone without looking to see who
Mayor Calixto Olmedo Hernandez is feared by all. During his fifteen years in office, he was known as Medellin's iron hand. Several ordinances were enacted in Medellin during the Mayor's tenure. The ordinance prohibits assaulting women and sentences those caught illegally logging in any part of the municipality to prison.Those who violate the ordinance face imprisonment or fines, as well as sanitation for the entire community.So when she saw his solemn expression, her knees almost shook. When its sharp eyes landed on her, the color faded from her entire face.She was afraid of the Mayor because she had witnessed Gideon's father's rage at local news. She had refused to meet with the Mayor since then. Fortunately, the Mayor was not present when his spouse came to the mansion for the first time a month ago to ask her hand in marriage. She was given time to consider the offer, but the circumstances were unkind to her that summer, when she met Gideon on the Aisle and the Mayor stood in fr
Jewel sat bored in her seat, as the three of them laughed. Gideon remained silent as he sipped his cup and occasionally glanced at her."Let it go, Sebastian. At the next wedding, I will delegate all decisions to your family," the Mayor said. "Have your questions been answered? I can't stay long because there's still work to be done in the municipality, but I'd like to speak with you two privately."Donya Belinda faced her. "Jewel, you'll take care of Gideon. We'll just talk to your prospective father - in - law," she explained.The three stood up and exited the dining hall at the same time. Jewel sighed and leaned back in her chair, relieved. She shut her eyes. She appeared to have lost her cool after hearing what the Mayor and her parents had said. Her head ached as she considered the marriage contract she would sign the next day.But what could she possibly do? She lacked the courage to stand up to a Mayor and chastise her parents. She was certain that if those three discovered her
“What? You don't want to marry the Mayor's son? ”Jewel fixed her gaze on the monitor of her laptop. She was inside her room, on a video call with three of her friends. She sighed, her lips pursed. “Yes. He informed me that he is twenty-nine years old. It's fine if you're 4 or 5 years older, but 10 years? That's a decade difference, Tiara! ”"You will only harm your reputation. That's correct. Don't get married to that old man! " Hazel chirped as she held a novel with a lewd cover in her hands. "If you marry that egotistic Mayor's son, girl, you'll be the town's next laughingstock!" ”Jewel's lips curved into a smile, but she pouted when she remembered something. She returned her attention to the screen of her phone, where the video call was still in progress. “Egoistic? I didn't describe him in that way. He's actually quite good... and quite attractive."Hazel set down the novel and stared blankly at the screen. "Why are you defending that old man, Laine? I assumed you didn't like h
"He rescued me.""So, knight in shining armor? What's the matter with him? ”She frowned as she returned her attention to the phone's screen. She noticed Hazel and Tiara looking at her with anticipation. Gabbi's frown was also visible to her.She coughed and attempted to change the subject. "Gab, what's up with that expression? " she asked.The young lady sneered. "That stupid toilet bowl is messing with me again! Kuya is to blame! He left his boxer brief in the bathroom, and it fell into the toilet bowl as I was pouring water on it! How do you unclog a stupid toilet bowl?! ”Hazel burst out laughing. "Suck it, lady."Jewel grinned as Gabbi's expression darkened. "You're the only one who can suck a stupid toilet bowl, and maybe you can suck the septic tank as well," Gabbi said."That's enough," Jewel said quietly, returning to the keyboard. Hazel and Gabbi were not very good at playing jokes because they often took jokes personally, which resulted in a nasty fight. Gabbi was grumpy,
"You may kiss the bride."She looked at Gideon. She smiled, leaned back, tiptoed, and smacked his lips with hers. Gideon's eyes widened in surprise at what she had done, but Jewel didn't care and instead grabbed both of his cheeks and wouldn't let go until the camera flashed."The bride is excited, eh?" chuckled the civil officer. She let go and turned to face the officer, who was laughing.She would not do it if she had a choice. But the wager remained, and she couldn't afford to lose."Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Hernandez."People in the audience applauded. Gideon took her hand in his and they faced the crowd. She saw her father and mother both smiling at her. The Mayor was by their side.She could count the number of witnesses who came to the civil wedding on one hand. There were also some well-known figures, such as the Vice Mayor, the party's president, Medellin's business magnates, and others she was unfamiliar with. However, there were no media. It was exactly what she expec