Chapter 193 - Islet Mystery 9

"How can I forget?" Ryan sighed, but his eyes broke into a glow of relief.

Jane chuckled and replied, "You were in distress, and I understand."

"I'll clean her up, first," he looked at Jane and then to all of them who were surrounding them except Jullien. He still had not answered them, and he felt he owed them all an explanation. They got scared also, and the incident halted their enjoyment in Chara, the so-called mini-Dead Sea.

"Alright."

"I'm so sorry about this, auntie, uncle. I'll explain later, " Ryan apologized and gave out a weak smile before he started sprinting towards the house.

"Put me down, Neil. I can walk." Shiela felt uncomfortable already, now that she had regained her full consciousness. Jullien might not be around

"You're too weak. How can you walk?" Ryan frowned, but his eyes were full of love and tenderness as he looked at her, and everyone around noticed that.

"Just put me down!" Shiela insisted. With all eyes looking at her, how could she be comfortable? She had denied their deeper connection, and their actions might betray her. Earlier at breakfast, Mr. Lopez eve gave her a head up of letting her know about Jullien's relationship with Ryan.

Ryan gave up and put her down, but as soon as her feet touched the ground, her legs wobbled like jelly, and if it were not for Ryan who still held her upper arm, she would have collapsed on the ground.

"Look at you! You're so stubborn, Shiela. I've been trying hard to be gentle on you, but you're always resisting!" Ryan's angered voice jolted her, and she looked up into his eyes, hoping he would see the message.

"I know that look and don't ever think I don't understand. All of them here are brilliant people, and I don't need to tell them in words that you are someone special to me!"

Shiela melted in shame, and she couldn't look up at them, especially when a round of chuckling broke into the air. She reached up to his side and pinched him hard, but it earned her a peal of soft laughter instead before Ryan lifted her and carried her up in bridal style. 

"Please excuse us," Ryan called out over his shoulder and saw Cherry in an amused look as if she was holding herself from squealing.

Just as they reached the entrance, Jullien came out, and Ryan stopped because Shiela's dangling legs would surely hit her.

"Sweetheart, what's happening? I heard that sound. What is it?" Jullien said as she moved her gaze from Shiela to Ryan.

"She drowned, and I pulled the trigger to alarm everyone. I can no longer go back, or else I would have been too late!"

"What is she doing there? She's only giving you trouble, and you should tell her that!"

Ryan felt Shiela stiffening although she's closing her eyes. "Excuse me, Jullien."

"I'll take a look at her and see to it that she's fine. Or else, they would accuse me of not being accommodating to your guests."

"No need. Jane is also a doctor. Thanks." Ryan replied, and his eyes glared with impatience.

"You might want to excuse us now!" Ryan said as he looked at her side, telling her she's blocking the way.

"Okay, then. I'm sorry. I'll be waiting for you in our room, dear. I couldn't wait for you to hold me like that."

Shiela felt she was drowning again as she choked on her silent tears. Jullien's words were like a single whip, beating her heart to death.

"Our room. I can't wait for you to hold me..." These may consist only of few letters, but those were more than enough to tear her heart apart. Why did Ryan save her? Her watery grave would have been a more comfortable place than torturing her to death by imagining them in their intimate moments. 

Once Ryan placed her on a warm tub, she cupped a handful of water and poured it into her face, doing it over and over again. Yet, he could not fool him. Ryan knew very well that she did it to conceal her tears, and this broke his heart. He felt Shiela was holding back. He saw the pain in her eyes, and he also saw the fear.

Ryan lifted her swimsuit cover-up and pulled it over her head. "Next time, do not wear this. The material is too thin. It still shows what's inside."

"What do you say?' she snapped, her eyes squinting in embarrassment.

"I think I'm clear, my love. I don't want you showing around your body through that damn, thin fabric."

Shiela's eyes grew wide in shock. What was he saying? He never said a word against Jullien wearing almost nothing. And he never stopped her when her nipples almost from her top when they met her in the doorway. She may have pretended that she did not see her as she hurriedly closed her eyes, but she saw everything.

"But, you're soaring to the ninth cloud in seeing Jullien almost nude in that skimpy set of bikini." 

In her anger, she did not realize that Ryan had already unhooked the strapless top piece of her bikini, and once he pulled it out, her beautiful mounds bounced before his eyes.

"She's not you. This makes me soar to the ninth cloud, instead,  as you say it," Ryan said without meeting her eyes. He even didn't smirk. He just proceeded to pull down her bottom bikini and slid it down her feet.

Instinct told her to cover herself, and Ryan got amused as she crossed her arms across her bare chest, but Ryan moved his hands on the water, bringing more bubbles on until the suds covered her entire nudity. "It's not like I haven't seen it many times."

"You may go now. Your Jullien is already waiting for you in YOUR room," she emphasized the pronoun 'your' to tell him that she heard Jullien.