Chapter 207 - The Islet Mystery 23

As far as she could remember, the arch of the cove stood like a towering, archeological pillar of stones, spreading like a gateway to the paradise beneath it. It formed a wide, rocky canopy to a vast area, several miles away from the entrance. However, one could only appreciate it during low tide. Glistening stalactites and stalagmites spread all over the canopy, giving anyone a memorable experience in canoeing within the area.

On the far end, stood a beach house owned by Ryan's family, and even without asking, she knew their laboratory was not far from there. However, the area covered by the cove could only be appreciated during low tide because the water level would rise and fill the whole place. The sea level would shut the entrance to the beautiful haven inside. The people living there should know when to get in and out.

As to how she looked at that dark, hovering figure, it might be true that an earthquake hewed it down. She was trying to imagine what could happen if the cove collapsed. Did it sink the house below the sea level and buried all the people alive?

Her heart ached at the thought. She lived there for less than a year, until Ryan's parents set her free. In her stay there, she knew about the secret behind Myrtle Shade. Most of the time, the lab personnel talked among themselves, never caring about her presence. They all thought she was harmless, and probably, they did not expect that she would be able to go out alive in that place. If it were not for Ryan's parents setting her free, she would have loved to stay there longer. She gained the love and favor of two old couples who lived in that house. She called them "nanay" and "tatay" in respect of their age, and they indeed cared for her like her parents.

"Chara bloom is a medicinal plant. Our forefathers used it to treat all types of diseases, only that you should limit the numbers of leaves. If ever you can have more than what you only need, make a concoction out of its flowers. We called it here a miracle plant."

One time, she felt discomfort in her lower abdomen, and the two elderlies sat by her side until morning.

"Shiela, you need to eat one to three leaves a day to have a healthy pregnancy. Be sure not to take more. It is rich in nutrients. Ryan would be happy to see the baby someday."

"You know about it?"

"Yes, we do, but don't tell anyone about it. You should take enough rest and do not worry about anything at all. A day will come that everything will be alright."

Tears ran down her face as she thought about Ryan disowning them, but the elderlies comforted her.

"We know that boy. He will never turn his back on you. Only that his parents wouldn't allow him, but believe me, he'll find his way to you."

Shiela did not realize that she was already sobbing hard. Was it true that the earthquake buried them alive? They were both kindhearted, and they didn't deserve to die that way.

"You're sneaking out again. I should assign you a bodyguard!" Ryan"s angry broke her reverie.

Ryan sat beside her and placed an arm around her the moment he saw her crying again.

"Why do you always have to cry?"

"I had a nightmare, and I saw nanay and tatay in my dreams. I miss them," Shiela replied, glancing up at him.

"Ryan, when your parents exiled me. nanay and tatay took care of me. Could they be your nannies?"

Ryan pulled his brows together and stared at her."So, it means they locked you there. Their wickedness is too much already. I don't believe our son died; my parents killed him!"

Shiela got surprised at his reaction. A while ago, he was like a lamb, taking in the wishes of his father, but now he was angry as if he could kill them any moment. She no longer replied; the memory of their child was always too much to bear.

"Shiela, they are the real Mr. and Mrs. Yu. I am their son, but when I got sick when I was an infant, my parents asked them to bring me to the hospital. They no longer returned me to them and registered me as Ryan Paul Te. The Te's cannot bear a child. After many years, they introduced nanay and tatay as my nannies and let me live with them."

"But why are you still using the Yu?"

"There's more to the story. I will tell you more about it in the future. For now, let's go back. I'm already tired."

Ryan cuddled her tightly and fell asleep as soon as they lay their heads on the pillow. No matter how tight Shiela closed her eyes, sleep eluded her. Her thoughts flew again somewhere, and she started planning the right thing she needed to do. 

Eventually, Shiela got tired of so much thinking, and her drowsiness shut up her mind. She burrowed her head into Ryan's chest and was about to sleep when Ryan's phone vibrated. After two attempts, she felt Ryan moved and separated her gently from him. The bed bounced in his side, and she knew, he stood up.

Still closing her eyes and feigning sleep, she listened to his movements, and in the next seconds, his footsteps faded. Soon, a sound of the door opening and closing told her that he went out of that secret exit.

Shiela waited for a moment, but ten minutes had passed, and still, he hadn't come back. Her heartbeats went racing fast again as she started to speculate that he went to Jullien's room. Unable to endure her curiosity and the build-up of pain and jealousy in her heart, she stood up and walked towards the door. 

To her surprise, she saw another fitted box near the door. If it were not for Ryan opening the first box on the other door, she would not have known that there was a monitor hidden in it. She tried to open it, and to her shock, he saw Ryan on the monitor. The video was clear, and she could even hear their conversation.

"Ryan, I could not take it anymore. I want you. That stuff doesn't work on me anymore. I need a real one."

Ryan sighed and looked at her with a frown. Before Shiela could blink, Jullien threw her robe away, and Shiela's eyes flew wide in seeing her completely naked.