Guardian of the Lost Ones

Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

Maddison couldn’t stop crying for the misfortune she experienced with Lucas, the man she chose to love. How could a person be so heartless? How could he be so cruel to bring another woman into their home?

When Devita came to inform her that Sebastian waited for her in the dining hall, she refused to eat. She had no appetite. “Just tell him I’m sleeping,” she said.

Devita stared at the woman because she had no idea that it would be a challenge to lie to Sebastian Clarke. “It’s not an option, Miss.” She admitted.

“Why the hell not?” She yelled at Devita.

“Because he can read your thoughts,” Devita replied. “You have to come with me, Miss.” She persuaded Maddison to join Sebastian at dinner.

“Just bring my food here if that’s allowed,” she said and dismissed Devita right away. Devita nodded and left. As soon as she was alone inside the chamber, Maddison recalled the event before she drowned in the gulf of Bexwell.

*****

“Baby!” She exclaimed when Lucas came into her bedroom unannounced. She was glad that after several days, Lucas showed up. Maybe, he realized that he would be much happier with her than Jasmine.

“Come with us,” he said.

“Where?” She asked.

“Jasmine wants to explore the nearby islands and she wanted you to come,” he responded coldly. If it wasn’t because of Jasmine, he would already send Maddison away.

Cold shivers ran through her veins as she imagined being with Lucas and Jasmine on a boat. She hesitated but later on, she realized that she would grab every opportunity just to be with him. “What time are we leaving?” She inquired.

“After you prepare everything!” He ordered.

While in the kitchen, she heard Jasmine’s loud voice as she argued with Lucas. Maddison smiled that Lucas fought on her behalf.

“I thought it’s just us!” Jasmine shouted.

Lucas argued with Jasmine because they would need a helper later at the boat. “Whether you like it or not, she’s coming with us!” Lucas insisted.

As she listened to their conversation, Maddison questioned her motive for staying with Lucas and Jasmine. She wasn’t a doormat before she met him! She decided to finally let him go after the island hopping. She gambled more than she could handle just to be with him but she had to stop her craziness!

Just for a day, she would endure their cruelty towards her. Just for a day, she promised herself. For several days, she had been upset at the bad decisions she made because of love. Did she reach a dead end for her life? No matter how much she questioned why she’s suffering, it would still go back to the decision she chose before, and that was to be with Lucas Atkinson.

Feeling down over the maltreatment that she suffered from Lucas, she focused her remaining energy on the task at hand. The food should be perfect because it would be her last meal with Lucas.

When she bought the house in Jao Island, she had big plans for being on the beach most of the time. She loved swimming but her parents prohibited her from doing such activity because of her elder brother who almost died in the pool.

Her closet had various swimwear but she couldn’t make up her mind what to choose. Somehow, she wanted to impress Lucas for the last time so she picked the red triangle bikini she bought from Versace. Its design would surely seduce any onlookers but she knew better. Lucas wouldn’t be interested because of Jasmine. However, it would make her feel good to impress him. Then, she topped it with a cover-up romper with hand-painted horses on its design. It’s a designer piece, a gift she received from her mother on her birthday.

When she got out of her room, Jasmine waited outside and she raised her eyebrows towards the other woman. “What do you want?” She asked.

Jasmine sneered at Maddison and warned her, “Don’t you dare seduce him later!”

“He’s all yours, I don’t take second-hand items, Jasmine!” She replied.

“Hypocrite! If you don’t want him anymore, then why are you still here? Why won’t you set him free?” Jasmine inquired.

“Just wait,” Maddison replied

“Anyway, hurry up. Time is gold, you know.” Jasmine stated.

Maddison followed Jasmine into the car but Lucas scowled at her. When Jasmine went inside to sit beside Lucas, she also opened the door to the backseat. To be in a confined place with Jasmine and Lucas was awkward but she couldn’t do anything about it. She smiled bitterly as she convinced herself that she would be fine for a day.

“Did you bring everything from the kitchen?” Lucas inquired.

“Didn’t you?” She responded with a question.

“No! Go back there right now,” Lucas ordered.

She had no choice but to get out of the car and returned to the house. With a new set of determination to reclaim her life before Lucas, she maintained a smile on her face even if she struggled with the weight she carried.

“Maddison, hurry up!” Jasmine shouted from inside the car.

Lucas just stared and didn’t budge from his seat to help her. Carefully, she placed the packed lunch inside the trunk and hurried up to get inside the car. She stopped on her track when she witnessed Jasmine and Lucas kissing each other. Once again, Lucas trampled on her pride, and she was tempted to retaliate. However, she didn’t want to hurt him again just like the last time.

Lucas drove the car and a few minutes later, they arrived at their destination. The boatman smiled when he saw them approaching the shore. Just like earlier, Lucas and Jasmin walked together and greeted the boatman, while she was tasked to carry their packed lunch and other essentials into the boat.

She could tell that the boatman felt bad for her but he couldn’t help. Maddison smiled at the middle-aged man to ease his worry. When everything was loaded into the boat, the boatman informed them it would be hard to dock in nearby islands because of the low tide. Lucas mentioned that it wouldn’t be a problem, and they could just take a dip in the middle of the ocean.

While en route to the neighboring island, regardless if they could dock or not, Jasmine flaunted her body by taking off her cover-up. Maddison was tempted to do the same, but she held herself.

“This area is perfect for swimming, Miss.” The boatman said.

When Maddison heard the boatman, she agreed to his words when she saw the crystal clear water below her. As she stared into her reflection at the water, it seemed like the ocean was calling on her. She heard voices inside her head, but Jasmine’s voice was loud. Lucas too!

She heard them talking about her, and she just smiled. When she glanced at the couple, she bit her bottom lip to stop it from quivering. Suddenly, a burning sensation radiated from within her chest and she searched for something to soothe the pain. She tried to disregard the insults she heard, however, she had enough!

Maddison removed the romper she used as a cover-up and dived into the water without warning. Lucas screamed for her name when a loud splash erupted from her action.

“Don’t tell me that you’re worried,” Jasmine said and rolled her eyes at Lucas.

“She can’t swim,” Lucas said.

“Bullshit! She’s just trying to lure you away from me,” Jasmine complained.

“That’s nonsense! I’m just trying to help,” Lucas insisted.

“Who needs help? Look at her, she’s just fine!” Jasmine argued.

As Maddison climbed back on the stairs, he couldn’t help but admire how perfect she was. “Well, I’m glad that she’s okay,” he said.

Jasmine disliked the way Lucas stared at Maddison earlier. Her position in his life was threatened, and she couldn’t accept that. Her eyes blazed with fire as she waited for Maddison to come up, while Lucas went to get some refreshments.

“How’s the water?” She asked.

Maddison wondered why Jasmine acted friendly all of a sudden. The woman could be anyone but not friendly. No, it’s too good to be true. “It’s cold, what do you expect?” Maddison replied sarcastically.

“I see, hold on, I’ll get you your drink.” Jasmine offered.

As she watched Jasmine strolled towards the small table with the food, she couldn’t help but wondered what’s wrong with the woman. She furrowed her brows while watching Jasmine getting busy to serve her with some refreshments.

“Isn’t she sweet?”

Maddison was startled when Lucas spoke behind her. She shrugged off her shoulders because she knew that Maddison wasn’t a sweet woman. “Excuse me,” she tried to distance herself from Lucas because the last time that she talked with Lucas, Jasmine punched her hard.

“Maddison wait!” Lucas called.

She turned around to ask him. “What is it?”

“Don’t you want to leave the island?” He asked.

“I’m planning to,” she replied.

“When?” He asked.

“Tomorrow,” she replied, and then she smiled bitterly as she walked away from him. It took so much of her strength just to say it to his face, she felt like crying.

Unknown to Maddison, a pair of eyes watched from a distance, and clenched her fist as she put something into her drink. When the powder was mixed thoroughly with the juice, she wore her sweetest smile and approached Maddison.

“Thank you,” Maddison said as she accepted the glass of cold orange juice.

“Maybe we should try to get along for his sake,” Jasmine said while her eyes were focused on the man she loved dearly. From time to time, her eyes scanned the perfect figure that Maddison possessed and her heart was full of envy and hatred.

Maddison only smiled because she didn’t have to discuss with Jasmine about her plans. “I’ll go swimming again if you don’t mind,” she said.

“Wait for me,” Jasmine shouted and brought the glass of orange juice with her. Maddison didn’t acknowledge her presence and continued to descend from the stairs. “Maddison,” she called her again, and when the woman looked up, she used the tall glass to hit her. “Goodbye,” she whispered as Maddison’s body flew into the air and a loud thud echoed around the surface when her body hit the water.

Jasmine jumped from the stair to mask the noise, and a few minutes later, her scream caught the attention of the boatman and Lucas. “She’s gone! She’s gone, Lucas!”

“Who?” Lucas asked as soon as he joined her on the water.

“Maddison! She’s gone!” Jasmine replied.