The whole University is in turmoil. Ordinary students don't feel it but the Administrative Building feel the tension. Everyone with access to the offices is tense. Even all the student leaders did not bother to pass the paperworks.Mayor Calixto, Don Sebastian and Donya Belinda came. The leaders of two most powerful families that holds great power in politics and business, Hernandez and Mangubat, visits UDM. And it is because of the recent chaos in the campus.Don and Donya are angry but they still keep their calm, holding back the strong emotions they feel for this whole ordeal. The Mayor's eyes were calm but occasionally squinting at the woman sitting behind the table.Rosalinda smiled wryly. "Mr. And Mrs. Mangubat, we don't ---""Is there no proper policy within the University making my daughter fell ill within the campus?" Donya's sarcastic question cut the Counselor's words."Tell me the truth what happened to my unica hija," Don Sebastian said with a gritted teeth and smiled mea
"It's been a week, Laine."Her brows met and she looked around, hoping to see the Professor named Gideon. After that incident, he no longer entered the class. She did not see the man even in the administration building or in the agriculture building. It was as if he had disappeared like a bubble. She could not understand why."Laine."Her head snapped back to Jasmine and sighed. "Sorry? What is it again?""You're not listening, eh. Who are you looking for?"She averted her eyes and sighed again. "Gideon.""Gideon?" Jasmine's forehead creased. "Well, there are many Gideons in the country. But I know one. Professor Gideon. Is he the one you're looking for, Laine?"She blinked, grinning and smiling. "Yes. Where is he now?""Oh, I'm sorry. He resigned three days later after you were rushed to the hospital. He didn't say goodbye to us so I can't tell you the reason.""Resigned?" she blurted out. Jasmine nodded. Jewel swallowed. "That's why he wasn't in class earlier?"Jasmine nodded immedi
It was getting dark when they reached Gideon's house. She immediately got out of the car and took big steps towards the gate. Jewel rang the doorbell and looked up at the glowing house. It was too quiet. Was there someone inside? If there's none, why almost all lights were turned on?She breathed a sigh of relief when the main door opened. Tang came out and when he saw her, he quickened his steps towards her."Maam Laine! Who's with you? Are you alone when you came here?" he asked as he opened the gate."I have a driver with me, Mang Tang. He's in the car. Has Gideon arrived?"The old man shook his head and gestured for her to follow. Jewel immediately complied. Tang answered, "Sir Manasseh is in Oslob, Maam.""But he told me that he'll be home tonight.""Is that so? Maybe he's still traveling, Maam. Oslob is too far from Medellin."She shrugged her shoulders and looked down at her wristwatch. She still had time to wait for him. "Then I'll take my seed project first, Mang Tang. Where
Jewel stared at him, waiting for him to speak again but only silence answered her. She sighed and averted her gaze. "It's fine if you see me as worthless.""Jewel, you're not worthless.""If I'm not, then why are you avoiding me? Why did you give me away just like that? If I am a burden to you, then we can have a divorce... if that's what you like," she said, whispering the last sentence. "Do you want to?" he asked. Jewel stared at him, lips parting in disbelief. She burst into tears as she bit her trembling lip. She kept on cursing him as she covered her face with her palms, sobbing louder. Gideon did not say a word again until she calmed down. She raised her head only to meet his melancholic gaze. "Jewel, I'm sorry. Your husband is just too weak and is not good enough for you.""I never ask for a perfect husband, Gideon," she said, sadness was evident in her voice. "I only ask for someone whom I can trust and run to, someone who will never betray me and accept me for who I am." J
She could feel Gideon squeezing her hand. Smiling softly, she inhaled the evening breeze. Jewel looked up at the sky and stared at the full moon. The evening breeze passed them slowly, caressing her bare cheek."The moon shines bright tonight," Gideon whispered.Jewel looked at Gideon standing beside her. He was also looking up at the moon and had a small smile on hiss lips. Jewel just gaze at him, breathless."A perfect night for a moonlight serenade, isn't it?" he said. Gideon looked down at her and then smiled softly. "Do you mind if I sing a song?"She shook her head. "No." Raising a brow, she smirked. "Just make sure that song isn't for other women like Elise.""Silly." Gideon chuckled. "Still jealous? I told you, I'm not seeing Elise."Jewel averted her gaze. "I don't believe you." Then she withdrew her hand from his hold and folded her arms in her chest, looking at the ocean glowing under the moonlight. 'The place is just magnificent,' she thought.She was surprised when Gideo
It was an awkward morning. When she woke up, the gray ceiling of the room was the first thing she saw. There was a wide study table on the side, a gray cupboard, and someone standing at the foot of the bed who was folding his arm across his chest and looking at her with a serious gaze. It was Gideon. Jewel was stunned. She quickly grab the blanket to cover naked body but someone pulled at the blanket completely exposing herself to him. Jewel widened her eyes and pulled the blanket back and Gideon let her. He frowned while looking at the faint red marks on her wrist.Jewel hid her arm at her back and smiled wryly at him. "It's just an ordinary mark. I always got this every morning. Don't worry. Uhm, why are you here in my room?"She averted her gaze. She was not used to talking to someone without washing her face. What if there's something on her face?Gideon put his hands in his pockets. "We have something to talk about."She glanced at Gideon. His hair was slightly wet and he was we
She continued to climb up the stairs and didn't intent to listen to Gideon's calling on her name. Gideon couldn't force her. Didn’t he confess that he loves her? He should give her what she wants!"Jewel," Gideon's voice was loud. That was a warning, yet Jewel didn't listen."Jewel Laine Hernandez!" She's now sure that Gideon is mad. She quickened her pace up the stairs but the weight of the box slowed her down."Bring that box here or else I'll punish you!"Punishment? She bit her lip and smiled bitterly. "What punishment? You'll force me to sleep with you?""Jewel Laine!" Gideon is really mad.She ran up the rest of the stairs, taking fast steps to reach her room sooner. Jewel dropped the box in front of the door."I'll lock you here, babies. I'll read you next time," she whispered then turned the doorknob but it's locked.She tried again but nothing happened. Jewel's body stiffened when she realized something. Her room's lock and she didn't have the key!Jewel angrily ruffled her o
She did not have the courage to bring a box of erotica to the mansion. Even against her will, she agreed to burn all the books. She didn't have any container for them. There was no place for erotica in her dad's mansion nor in Gideon's house. And it hurt a lot. Her babies were rejected and she felt like being rejected also by both parties. She really loves those books and yet she is now outside Gideon's house, watching a box of erotica being eaten by fire.Jewel was in tears. She didn't quite think Gideon would disagree with her. That jerk was the cause of this mess! But she didn't have the power to dominate him!It was as if his confession to her last night was not true. Jewel looked at Gideon who was at the entrance of the house and was talking to Tang. Dalya and Pedro were not outside. Her fists clenched. That controlling beast!Tang entered the house while Gideon walked towards her. It occasionally looked at those erotica's being engulfed by fire. He stopped in front of her and