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 own hair and hissed again in annoyance. "Gideon Manasseh! I really hate you!" she yelled.
She took big steps down the stairs, frowning when she saw Gideon also looking at her like he was waiting for her to get back to him. Jewel gritted her teeth and glared at Gideon. When she finally stepped on the first floor, her fist clenched and approached her frowning husband. She tried to slap him but he dodge it.
He caught her hand. Gideon's eyes narrowed. "You tried to slap me, wife?"
"I hate you! Give me the key of my room!"
Gideon chuckled without homour. "You think I'll let you store that lustful things in my house?"
Jewel swallowed hard. She was at a lost of words and she looked away. She forgot that Gideon was the master of this house. Annoyed, she withdrew her hand and ran up the stairs again. Climbing up, she marched into her room and picked up the box, carrying it down the stairs. She frowned because of the its weight.
Where are Dalya and Pedro? The two must be the ones who'll carry this heavy this box and not her! They are her servants for pete's sake! Her eyes narrowed as she went down the stairs. When she'll see the two so would definitely punish them!
"Put that down, Jewel," Gideon commanded when she finally climbed down the stairs. But she didn't listen.
She continued to step closer to the main entrance, but when she passed Gideon, her husband took the box from her and violently dropped it on the floor.
"No!" she yelled.
"Tang, come get this thing," Gideon ordered.
Jewel heard the approaching steps from behind her. "Sir," it's Tang's voice.
"Burn these things outside ---"
She cut Gideon's words. "No!" And was about to pick up the box again but Gideon quickly hugged her from behind. "No! Don't burn my babies!" she shouted.
"Jewel enough!" Gideon roared. "You've gone too far. Let Tang do his work."
"No!" Her vision blurred with tears brimming her eyes. "Don't burn them! Don't burn them!"
"Miss!" she heard a voice from the kitchen. She looked over. From the kitchen door, she saw Dalya came out. The girl rushed closer to them. Next to the girl was the silent Pedro. "Senyorito, it's really my fault. Don't punish Senyorita!" Dalya cried.
"Go back to the kitchen," Gideon ordered.
"Senyorito ---"
Pedro interrupted what Dalya was going to say. "Don't test Senyor Gideon's patience," he whispered and led Dalya back to the kitchen.
Jewel was even more upset. She removed Gideon's arm from her waist and faced her husband. She raised her hand and gave him two slaps on both cheeks. "I hate you!" She punched his chest. "You heartless jerk!"
Gideon grabbed both of her hands and brought his face close to hers. "Last night you said that you love me, and now you hate me?" Gideon shook his head. "You don't really know what love is, Jewel. You're impulsive and emotion-driven."
"Whatever!" she shouted in his face. "Don't ever accuse me of what you lack, Gideon! You're hurting your wife and you call this love? Huh! You're a liar!"
Gideon clenched his jaw. He let go of her hands and burst out laughing. "I don't know what to do with you anymore, Jewel. Go, do what you want. I already warned you but you didn't listen."
"I don't need your warning!" She wiped her tear-stained cheek while glaring hatefully at him. "You and my parents are the same! Those books are my life! Why? Why you all want to stop me from doing what I want?!! Why?! I just wanted to be happy! Those books make me happy! Is it hard to understand it? JUST TELL ME WHY!"
Gideon smiled bitterly at her. "I didn't want to look for your books, Jewel. But I was forced to do so when I heard something from you last night!"
Jewel's tears continued rolling down her cheeks, sobbing loudly. Her lack of words pushed Gideon to continue. "Jewel, you were moaning loudly last night. I heard it over your room's balcony. Wife, that sexual nightmares will ruin you! I warned you but you didn't listen!"
Jewel shook her head, not believing Gideon's words. Gideon sighed and gestured for Tang to lower the box.
"Eat your breakfast first, Jewel. I'll drive you back to your dad's mansion. If you want to bring along those lustful books, then bring that box. There is no place for those things in this house."
Gideon's words pierced her heart. Those words sound rejection to her ears.
She bit her lips. She could not understand why when she woke up, she and Gideon had came to this point. Was last night just a dream? Why did his attitude change? Didn’t he say it loves her? But why? What on earth just happened overnight to change Gideon's attitude towards her?
She sluggishly served rice on her own plate and snorted. Her vision was blurring due to brimming tears and with a little push, those tears she had been holding back would drip.
Tang looked at her as he put another dish on the table. The old man looked at Gideon sitting far away, but the latter was busy eating. Tang secrely sighed.
He could not understand why the two had a conflict with each other. He saw Jewel slapped Gideon and knew Gideon was holding back for Jewel's sake. But Jewel didn't see that, closing all her rational judgement.
Tang knew that the couple had shortcomings in each other but he was just a housekeeper and he had no right to interfere in the lives of the two. But he secretly prayed that both Gideon and Jewel would wake up and be responsible for every action.
Because he noticed that both of them didn’t trust each other.