“What do you want?” she asks curiously.
“A ring,” Waylen says, wiggling the ring finger on his left hand, “I want a wedding ring.”
“We must seem like the poorest couple in the world,” Leilani says with a laugh.
When they got married, Waylen refused to exchange rings because he hated and resented her. Though they’ve been together for three and a half years, neither of them has ever worn a wedding band.
With a small smile, she draws a simple ring around his finger.
In the card room at the Misty Mansion, several heavily made-up women are playing card games. Under the dim light, the women flick ash from their cigarettes and shuffle their cards.
“Did Mr. Clifford asks you to serve him last night?” one of the women asks.
“We just had a chat in bed,” replies another, “It seems like he’s having some problems after the operation.”
The woman glances obliquely at Gabrielle who is pouring them exquisitely scented white tea. Her face remains cool and expressionless.
“You mean s.e.x.u.a.l dysfunction?” says the first, “You can speak frankly; Gabrielle is too young and inexperienced to understand you.”
“Have you served Mr. Clifford recently?” the woman called Ruby Miller asks, suddenly pushing Gabrielle.
The teapot falls down and hits Gabrielle’s feet. The hot water spills out and burns her toes. Luckily, the thick ceramic doesn’t break. Gabrielle hurriedly squats down to pick up the teapot. Immediately, a high-heeled foot presses her hand.
“I’m asking you a question,” Ruby Miller snarls.
“Sorry,” Gabrielle whispers, “I didn’t hear you.”
“Did you offer your v.i.r.g.i.nity to Mr. Clifford?” Ruby asks.
Gabrielle lowers her head and her face is flushed with embarrassment. The rest of the women start sniggering.
“Of course she didn’t,” they laugh, “You can see it in the way she blushes. She’s far too innocent.”
Ruby lifts her foot. Gabrielle picks up the teapot and scurries toward the door. As she reaches the door, she hears Ruby sigh dramatically.
“I want to go shopping on the weekend, but Mr. Clifford hasn’t called me in, so I can’t ask him to leave,” Ruby complains.
Gabrielle deliberately slows and turns to look at Ruby.
“Why don’t you just leave on your own?” she asks.
“You’re clearly new here,” Ruby scoffs, “The forest here is like a maze. If you get trapped in it, you may never find your way. People get lost and starve to death all the time—they just wander in circles until their bodies collapse.”
Gabrielle purses her lips. She suddenly understands why Andrew is so lax about her movements—he knows she doesn’t have a chance to escape.
“That’s horrible,” Gabrielle says, widening her eyes and feigning innocence, “How does anyone leave?”
“The bodyguards are familiar with the terrain and they can escort you out,” Ruby answers, “If there aren’t any bodyguards available, you have to use a special map, but honestly, I prefer to wait for a bodyguard.”
“Just take the map from Mr. Clifford,” Gabrielle says, hoping to elicit more information, “He already spoils you.”
“It’s not so easy,” Ruby replies, “The map is a treasure, and Andrew guards it carefully. I’ve only ever seen it once, and I’m pretty sure he keeps it locked in a safe.”
Gabrielle carries the tray to the kitchen. Servants in the kitchen are preparing small, delicate cakes. Gabrielle puts the teapot in the sink for the servants to clean. Then she stops one of the servants carrying a tray.
“Mary, I’m just going to dress Mr. Clifford’s wound,” Gabrielle says, “You can give the tray to me and I’ll take it.”
Eager to give away the heavy tray, Mary passes it to Gabrielle without question. A cup of rose tea shakes and clunks as Gabrielle balances the tray on her thin arm.
“Be careful,” Mary warns, “Don’t spill it.” There is also a cup of rose tea in the tray.
The smell of the tea entices Gabrielle as she walks and she takes a small sip. She toys with the idea of spitting into the cup but worries Andrew would notice. She knocks at the door to his study, but no one answers. Quickly, she presses her ear to the door to listen for voices within. Without warning, the door flies open and she stumbles into the study, almost dropping the tray.
“Are you eavesdropping?” Andrew asks.
“No,” Gabrielle whispers, “I knocked on the door just now and didn’t get an answer. I was checking to see if anyone was inside.”
She looks around the study and sees that Andrew is alone in the room. Gabrielle doesn’t know that Mary always opens the door directly when she brings Andrew his tea. Forgetting her lowly position in the house, Gabrielle foolishly waited for someone to open the door for her.
Andrew steps back and allows her into the room. She puts the tray on a table and examines the walls. She doesn’t notice Andrew approaching her. He pauses close behind her and follows her line of sight.
“What are you looking for?” he whispers.
Gabrielle jumps to hear the voice right behind her. She turns around and sees his eyes are inches from face. As she tries to focus on his face, he notices her dark eyes cross slightly. He finds it charming.
“What are you looking at?” he repeats.
“Nothing,” she murmurs.
“Are you hoping to steal something from me?” he asks cooly.
“No, I just can’t help looking at the antiques here,” Gabrielle lies, “They’re so ornate.”
She looks down from his face at the IPad in his hands. The screen displays a picture of Leilani. It looks like it was taken right after she squeezed the head off the snake. Though her hands are bloody and her hair is messy, she looks startlingly beautiful—like a vengeful goddess.
“Does he like Leilani?” Gabrielle wonders, “F.u.c.k—how dare he! What a pervert!”
“Do you think your sister is beautiful?” Andrew asks, lifting the IPad for a better look at the screen.
“She is not yours,” Gabrielle screams in her head, “You don’t deserve her!”
As much as she wants to voice the words, she nods her head and feigns obedience. Andrew smiles, and then suddenly doubles over and clutches his chest.
“What’s wrong with him?” Gabrielle wonders, “Does looking at Leilani make him too excited? I wish he’d just have a heart attack and go straight back down to hell!”
“My sister has been beautiful since she was a child,” Gabrielle says, carefully observing Andrew’s expression, “She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. She’s like a fairy.”
She looks up and finds that Andrew is glaring at her accusingly.
“As a nurse, shouldn’t you show some concern for my heart problems?” he snaps.
“Oh, are you having trouble with your heart?” Gabrielle asks with an innocent smirk, “Shall I go get a stethoscope to check your heartbeat?”
“Do you want your sister to come here to keep you company you?” Andrew asks coldly.
Gabrielle hurriedly shakes her head. She doesn’t want her sister to come to such a strange place, and she’s worried about what Andrew would do to her if she was here.
“Get out!” Andrew suddenly roars.
Gabrielle hurriedly leaves the study. As she goes, she takes another quick glance around the room, but she doesn’t see anything resembling a safe.
“If it’s not in his study, where is it?” she wonders, “His bedroom?”
The rays of the sun warm Leilani’s face. She stretches, opens her eyes and finds a row of servants standing by the bed. She immediately sits upright, clutching the sheet she was sleeping under.
“What are you doing here?” she asks.
The servants smile at her and nod at the trays they’re holding.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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