Dusk In Moorea

HDF#62

Breakfast this morning went on as usual. Charles and Isabella did not show a sad face in front of Charlie and Arumi at all. They look fine and even occasionally throw jokes intending to invite Arumi's laughter.

Arumi tries to follow the game. The girl also pretended like a fool who didn't know anything. She smiled as Isabella and Charles tried to comfort her. In fact, the only thing he wanted to do right now was shed his tears.

"How can you still try to make me laugh while you're not okay yourself ?" arumi looked closely at the laughing faces of Charles and Isabella.

"What's the matter ?" Charlie elbowed Arumi's arm.

"It's okay" he replied as he stuffed a piece of sandwich into his mouth.

Charlie rubbed Arumi's arm briefly and then chimed in on each of her parents' casual chats. The tomboyish girl still doesn't know about her father being kicked out of his job at all.

A few minutes later, Charlie bailed to leave for college. Charles left for work shortly after Charlie left.

"I'm leaving !" Charles kissed his wife's lips briefly.

"Hopefully succeed !" whispered Isabella with a genuine smile.

Charles nodded and walked past Arumi. He only ruffled the Asian girl's hair for a moment then gave a smile. After that, he also left.

Arumi's chest was claustrophobic at the sight this morning. How could Charles and Isabella sacrifice so many things for the sake of her who had absolutely no blood relation ? Charles was willing to lose his job. And they're still trying to hide everything. Arumi sighed. He decided to go back into the room after Charles and Charlie left the house.

* * *

Leon was still curled under the bed. Ronald knocked on his door many times, but the young man was still unmoved. His ears were deaf to the sound of knocking and shouting Ronald who asked him to come out for breakfast.

"Young Master ! You should have breakfast. Since last night you haven't eaten properly. Please ! Later you can get sick," persuaded Ronald who is still faithful standing at the door.

Leon who was in the room did not move. He was still lying on his side with a blanket covering his body up to his neck. Apparently, the tears fell soaking the black pillowcase that supported his head. The young man's heart died when Arumi asked him to leave.

"Young Master ! If you don't want to open the door, then I'll take a spare key. I don't want you to do anything" said Ronald, who still doesn't care about Leon.

The butler could only sigh deeply. He then walked to his room to retrieve Leon's spare key.

10 Minutes later, Leon's bedroom door was opened by Ronald. A maid was ordered in by Ronald to bring food so their Young Master could have breakfast. However, once again the young man did not show the response that Ronald wanted.

"Get out !" ronald's orders to the lady's maid.

The servant nodded obediently and immediately left Leon's room. Only Ronald and Leon were left in the room. Ronald looked concerned at Leon's back who was lying behind him.

"Young Master !" call Ronald.

"Are you okay ?" continued Ronald.

Leon remained silent. Her tears kept coming down. He inhaled air to relieve the tightness that was squeezing his chest.

"If you feel better, eat a little. Your food I've put on the nightstand."

"Why is my life like this Ronald ?" leon's hoarse voice made Ronald gasp. He who had given up on persuading Leon earlier and was preparing to leave turned back to look at his Young Master's back.

"What do you mean ?" ask Ronald.

"Why can't I get the happiness I want ? Why should Daddy decide everything ?" leon said desperately.

It was obvious that the young man was in excruciating pain. Ronald who saw the fragility of Leon also felt the suffering that the young man felt. If only Duke Xander had been here and seen how much Leon suffered for his actions.

* * *

At night, Duke Xander finally returned home. Ronald was already waiting at the door and immediately took over the coat Duke Xander was holding and escorted the cold man all the way to the room. Arriving inside his room, Duke Xander sat on the sofa located in the middle of the room. Right at the end of his bed.

"What was Leon doing while I was gone ?" duke Xander asked as he took off his suit and tie.

Ronald immediately took the new suit and tie off Duke Xander deftly. It was as if he already understood very well what he should do even though Duke Xander had not ruled over it. Then, the man returned to his position. Standing straight beside the sofa sat Duke Xander with his hand holding his master's suit and tie.

"As I have told you. Ever since Young Master returned from the Aldric family residence, he had never been out of the room. Young Master is also on hunger strike" Ronald said.

Duke Xander sneered sarcastically at Ronald's report. " Just leave it if he doesn't want to eat. It's just the kid's wits to get my attention. But baby, the effort will never work." Duke Xander laughed.

"But Duke, I guess..."

"Don't act like you know my son better than myself Ronald !" duke Xander said sharply.

"Sorry Duke ! I didn't mean it at all" Ronald said.

"Get out !" duke Xander's orders were cold.

Ronald bowed respectfully and went to put Duke Xander's suit and tie in the dirty laundry basket first before coming out from inside the cold man's room. Ronald scrunched his nose. Feeling deadlocked to find a way for Duke Xander to dampen his ego and stubbornness just a little.

Once in his room, Ronald decides to take a break. However, his mind could not calm down thinking about Leon's state. Ronald thinks he has to do something before something bad can happen to his Young Master. The man took the phone out of his pocket. He intends to contact someone who might be a wise mediator. Someone Ronald hadn't seen in a long time.

"Tumben once you called me ? What's up ?" The voice of the man across there immediately said to the point.

Ronald took a breath. He was silent for a moment before answering. "Something is happening ! Can you come here to help ?"

* * *

"Hurry and get Doctor Norris here !" ronald shouted in panic.

"Good !" one of the maidservants nodded and immediately ran over to contact doctor Norris.

"Wake up Young Master ! Please !" ronald said in a panic.

"Help me lift Young Master back to the top of the bed !" ronald's orders on two bodyguards.

They immediately carried out Ronald's orders and carefully placed the young man's body back on the bed. Ronald calls Duke Xander to tell him about Leon.

Ronald, as usual, intended to bring food for Leon into the room. However, when he got to the room, Ronald did not find Leon. In the bathroom there was tap water that kept flowing. Ronald thinks Leon's in the shower. But, for half an hour Ronald waited for Leon did not come out. Concerned, Ronald decides to go into the bathroom and is immediately shocked to find that his Young Master has fallen unconscious on the bathroom floor with a bloody forehead. Ronald panicked and immediately called everyone.

Doctor Norris arrived 20 minutes later. He immediately treated Leon's wounds and checked the young man's pulse. Doctor Norris sighed and looked at Ronald concerned.

"How about, Doc ?" ask Ronald.

"Leon seemed to have fainted from starvation and dehydration. I've given her an infusion and stitched up the wound on her forehead. A nurse will stay here to keep an eye on Leon's progress and replace the fluid if it runs out" Doctor Norris said at length.

"Have Leon had any personal problems lately ?" ask Doctor Norris.

"The relationship between Young Master and Duke has been a bit strained lately" Ronald replied.

"Is that what's causing him to not want to eat and drink ?"

Ronald nods his head, saying, It doesn't matter if he tells Duke Xander's family matter to Doctor Norris. The 40-year-old doctor is actually the husband of Duchess Greysha's younger cousin. He also includes Leon's immediate family who are still left on his birth mother's side.

"You need to take extra care of Leon's safety, Ronald. Don't let this happen again. Don't disappoint Duchess Greysha up there," Doctor Norris said.

"I understand Doc ! But, you also know how stubborn Duke Xander is not ? No one dared to argue against him." Ronald said resignedly.

"Isn't there still a 'him' ?"

Ronald looked at Doctor Norris who was walking along with him. The man again breathed a sigh.

"Yes. Only he dared to argue with Duke Xander. But, when I called two days ago, he didn't make a decision."

"Trust ! He will definitely come" said Doctor Norris confidently.

"Yes. Hopefully," Ronald replied with hope.

"How is my son doing ?" Duke Xander hurriedly approached Doctor Norris and Ronald.

The two men who had chatted at length saluted while bowing to welcome Duke Xander.

"Leon was dehydrated and hungry. That's what caused him to faint and hit his head on the sink in the bathroom" Doctor Norris said bluntly.

Duke Xander seemed really worried. After hearing the explanation from Doctor Norris, he hurriedly approached Leon who was followed by Ronald and Doctor Norris from behind.

"Is he sleeping ?" duke Xander asked in a soft voice. He stood beside Leon's bed and stared fixedly at his son's face that looked so pale with dry and chapped lips.

"Leon has not been conscious until now. Maybe in about an hour or two he'll be awake" replied Doctor Norris.