Chapter 197 - The Islet Mystery 13

"You don't have to shout at me, darling, if all you want is to tell me that you have already let her drink it," Jullien said softly in a humiliated tone as she picked up her spoon and fork and started to scoop some food into her plate.  Her voice may just be louder than a whisper, but due to the extreme silence, everyone heard her clearly.

"I'm sorry. I was thinking of something." Ryan apologized, and he reached out for her hand and held it, making Jullien drop her fork on the plate.

"How can I ever keep a grudge on you?" she chirped sweetly and hung her head on his shoulders, "but you might want me to continue eating?"

"I'm sorry," Ryan apologized again as he realized it, but Jullien cupped his face and pulled it down for a kiss.

"That's so sweet of you, dear, and that makes me love you more."

Shiela stiffened on her seat, and Jane reached out for her knees and cupped it with her hand, in an attempt to comfort her. Shiela threw a glance and a weak smile at her before she focused back on the plate and forced herself to eat to divert her attention. 

"Shie, you might like this soup. It's very healthy. You need this to recover faster."

"Thanks, Jane," Shiela replied and gave her a quick glance before accepting the big bowl of beef stew, topped with herbs and lots of vegetables.

She began scooping some soup into her bowl when Ryan's voice held her arm midway.

"That's cold already. It's a lot better when it's hot. I'll heat it, first."  Ryan said as his eyes burned against her.

"Dear, it's alright. Miss Shiela would have to wait until it cools down again. Do you get my point?"

Jullien's voice was a bit late since Ryan had moved quicker than a flash of lightning. He carried the big bowl in his hand and walked towards the kitchen. After a few minutes, he was back with a steaming pot already.

"There, Shie. Eat plenty of it."  

Shiela was burning with a complicated emotion as she saw Jullien's sharp gazes darting towards her. She could even feel that the rest also felt awkward for her. She tried to ignore them as her heart was almost bursting and she placed her focus back on the food. 

"Madame, I hope all of you here would be there at our wedding," Jullien began to break the silence, as she addressed her invitation to Mrs. Lopez.

"Really, dear? When would it be?" Mrs.Lopez eyes glowed at the news; either she was too innocent to observe what's going on around, or she was just playing along.

"We would be releasing the final date to the press this month's end. Ryan and I are still finishing up a certain project, and we hope it could be completed by next week."

The soup on Shiela's throat suddenly turned bitter, and the beef tasted like a cigarette butt that she felt like throwing up. She held her breath and slowly took some air into her lungs. She thought that the moment she would expel the air, a sob would altogether escape from her mouth. She tapped her fingers at her thigh as she drew in another lungful of air, trying desperately to calm herself down.

A ring on her phone interrupted their conversation, and she got a reason to leave the table. She looked around and hesitated to stand up at first, feeling it would be an act of disrespect to leave while a significant announcement was made. A special announcement that would bring her down to her early grave.

"You may answer your call. It might be important," Ryan said as he looked at her with a worried expression.

Relieved from her ordeal, she hurriedly ran outside and burst into tears, not realizing she had accepted the call. She cried as hard as she could, hoping that after crying her heart out, her tears would dry, and she wouldn't have to cry all over again. She kept on roaming around until she reached the place where the vivid image of Jullien in her string bikini floated in her mind.

The surroundings were so quiet, and its serenity was already eerie. Shiela dropped herself on the sand as she watched the entire area of Chara pool against the only light on the lamp post beside the huge acacia tree. The surface at the bottom of the Chara pool was already glittering with multiple colors such as gold, red, green, and blue. She didn't know why but she was told before that it was because of the abundant minerals of Chara blooms, especially when the plants start to yield its flowers.

The information did not come easy, and she was only told about it before one of the Yu's men injected a concentrated concoction of Chara leaves into her system. The effect would be gradual enough to send her to a place where no one knew her, expecting her to forget her memories forever. If ever her family would find her, she could no longer recognize them nor remember who she was. And she could not betray her captor because of an irreversible type of amnesia.

She still remembered the old man as he spoke to her; his voice was a little louder than a whisper.

"If they throw you into the sea, look for the markers in the water. Always cling on to the light green areas, picture out the map in your mind, and follow its course until you'll get someone to help you."

Shiela had known by accident that these areas had high buoyancy and that she would not sink there. The man may not have explained to her the detail, but she understood. Yet, the most important part was when he placed a small bottle in her pocket and hurriedly instructed her to hide it under her underwear.

"That is a thick concoction of Chara flowers. Be sure to drink it all as soon as no one is watching you. They do not know about it, but it is the antidote to the poison they are giving you."

Shiela smiled as she recalled the incident despite the tears which continued to drench her face. Her life still held a purpose because that old man became her angel, rescuing her from losing her memories.

Drawn by the sparkling beauty of the place, she slowly slid down with her back on the water and floated slowly, allowing her mind and body to relax under the healing wonders of nature. Too exhausted with her crying and the strain she got earlier, she drifted off to a deep sleep.