19.

The sounds of glass breaking resounded in a dark room. The man flinched when he saw his master's calm expression. This expression made the man full of fear as he knows this is just the calm before the storm. His failure of the task given is not something to be taken lightly.

"So you've let her escape..." his master said and slowly walk towards him.

The man bowed. "Forgive me, master. I will accept any punishment you will bestow upon me."

The master smirked and patted the man's shoulder. "There's no need for punishment. I have an assignment for you."

***

December woke up before dinner and was elated to see Maria the moment she opened her eyes.

"Maria!" She hugged the woman who chuckled and patted her back. The gestures made December's emotion be riled up again and her tears started for fall down on her face.

When Maria felt the girl shaking and heard her sobs she could only sigh and wait for December to cam down. Years of being together with the girl, Maria is well versed with the girl's behavior when she have undergone a traumatic experience.

After a while, December have gone silent and Maria pushed her back a little to look at her tear stained face. Maria wiped December's tears and smiled gently at the girl. "You're alright now. There's nothing to be afraid of." She reassured December and the latter nodded and took a deep breath.

"I am just..." December's voice trailed off and Maria hold her hands.

"You don't have to think about it if you do not want to. You only need to know that you're safe now, and you must eat."

December could only chuckle and let Maria lead her to the dining room where she saw James and Ryan talking to each other. When they saw them walking in, both of them smiled.

"I made all your favorites so you need to eat a lot to regain your strength," Maria said and pulled a chair for December which the latter thanked her for.

James regarded Maria and December's interaction. The closeness of the two made James more curious about the girl.

"The two of you are so close. How come I did not here you tell something about December?" James could not help but say when Maria keeps on putting food on the girl's plate.

"You never even call me unless I do! Why would I tell you about her? You will only be a bad influence on her." Maria huffed and turn to December with a smile.

James smiled, "How will you know?"

Maria glared at her nephew who keeps on teasing her.

"You two are..." December became confused with the interaction between Maria and James when the man cleared their relationship.

"We're family. Ah, it hurts me that my aunt does not talk about me." James shake his head and wiped his mouth.

"You! Get out of here if you're done!"

James laugh and went out of the dining room. He saw Ryan in the living room.

"Hello, captain. I think we've got some things to talk about." James said and walk towards his study, not minding if the guard is following.

Ryan nodded and followed James inside. He have just finished patrolling the area to make sure that there will be no more mishaps.

James smiled at Ryan and motioned for him to sit. "Please."

**

When December and Maria were left alone, December looked at the woman who is focused on eating.

"I did not expect that you have a nephew," December said but Maria did not look at her. She pouted when she saw how her foster mother pretended to be ignorant. "Hey. Maria... why are you ignoring me? You said you're here to take care of me. Come on, tell me the story."

December leaned her head on Maria's shoulder and blinked her eyes pitifully. When the woman saw this, she could not help but sigh.

"Aiya. There's no story. He's my nephew and that's all. We contact each other occasionally."

December pursed her lips and rolled her eyes. Since Maria is not willing to talk about it, she'll let it go... for now.

"Okay. Then I'll wash up the dishes."

"No. You're fever have just gone down. You should rest. Go, go." Maria push December out of the dining room.

December could only sigh helplessly. She does not want to be holed up in the room and chose to looked around the island.

She walked to the beach and saw that the moon tonight is beautiful. Delighted, she stood by the shore and watch the waves caress her little feet. looking at the horizon, she recalled the time she was on that ship.

The man who abducted her treated her fairly and it really confused her. She did not want Maria and the others to worry about her too much so she chose not to talk about it, but the attitude of her abductor is a mystery to her. It seems like she's not a hostage, but someone who he dares not to offend.

'Funny he did not know how offended I've been.' December grimaced and sighed.

After spending some time by the shore, December go back to the bungalow where Maria is waiting outside with worry in her face. December feels glad that she have Maria to take care of her though they are not blood related.

She stopped before Maria who wrapped her in a coat.

"You should put some jacket before going out. Remember that your fever have just gone down. Do you want to fall sick again?"

December hook her arm on the woman's and they entered the bungalow. "I have you to take care of me."

Maria could not stop the sadness from surging in her heart. She will leave the country with her nephew when they go back to the main island and she do not know how to tell the girl yet.

At the end of the night, December fell asleep and Maria went to James' study.

"Oh, you're here?" James greeted her as Maria sat down on the couch in the study.

"What the situation back home?" Maria asked.

James regard his aunt with a serious expression and told her everything she needs to know and what to prepare for her coming back.