A proud smile etched on the rogue's handsome face as he left Audrey's room. Albeit stunned, Frederick Mortcombe was glad that Audrey shared whatsoever little of herself. He thought she was not keen on living based on her first impression. And now, she even had her future planned - though a fuzzy one at that.
'She must have a glimmer of hope,' he thought to himself, feeling warm all over his body - sensing his guest must have felt safe to be with him.
"Master Mortcombe, the restocked for Young Miss ointments have arrived and — " Gerard notified as he stood awkward by his bedroom door.
"Okay. Good," he cut his Head Butler's word and waved his hand at the man to shoo him. He was still engrossed in being proud of Audrey's achievement.
"Sir."
"Yes, Daddy. I heard you the first time. You may leave." Frederick turned his back, not sensing the urgent tone in Gerard's voice.
"Sir! Sir Rafael —"
"Shush, Gerard. Let the children deal with the matter," Rafael interjected as he placed his index finger on the Head Butler's lips aggressively. "Mortcombe!! Who exactly is this young miss??"
Frederick rolled his eyes at the dramatic man, too late to make up an elaborate excuse. "It's me! Gerard likes to call me Young Miss, don't you Daddy?" He said it nonchalantly, having complete faith that his butler will play along with his little joke.
Rafael shuddered, as he stared at Gerard from top to bottom. His nose scrunched up and his lips curve downwards. "Oh Gerard, that is so wrong! You practically raised him!!"
"I don't think I need advice from someone like you, Beast," Frederick ushered all to leave his room but the blond-haired man was already making himself comfortable on his sofa.
His best friend stared at the door until it was shut. "I know it's not my place but really, Mortcombe? Him? Is that why you start calling him 'Daddy?'"
The villain wanted to kick the man in the chest till he need a night's stay in the hospital. But instead, he sucked it up and threw a pillow to his face.
"Man to man, let's be honest. You being locked up in your house and the number of ointments you've ordered. What's going on?"
Frederick sighed at his friend's needless worry. "It's not a big deal."
"Or are you just... err... enjoying Gerard's " company" nowadays?"
'Oh, God. This man is blowing this out of proportion!!'
"Why are you here, Raf?" He massaged his temple, wanting to get this out and done with.
"I wanted to check how you're doing. You're sick, aren't you?"
Frederick sensed something was not right. This golden man visited him too often to his liking. Not only that but the way he insisted to stay in the room. Or how he no longer persuades him to sleep around. He eyed the man and calculated his moves. They've been friends for over fifteen years after all.
"Spit it out, Rafael."
The boys exchanged glances. One was glaring and the other was staring innocently until Rafael slapped the table with his palm. "Took you this long, stupid! I wondered how long I was going to play along with your blatant lies."
"Since when do you know?"
"That night."
"Which?"
"When you brought a "baggage" home."
Frederick stared at him in disbelief and shook his head, "No way. There's no way you could figure out that soon."
"Come on, Freddy. Just because I no longer took part in the action does not mean I got no brain. So why you're keeping her here?"
The villain refused to believe it even though he knew his friend would undeniably be his second in command if he disappeared.
"So where you hide her?"
Rafael looked left and right. Come to think of it, the hazel-eyed man now realised the efforts his friend did to find her. He had been to every room but never the bedroom.
"She's not here."
"Yeah, right. Where else will you put your 'guest' if not nearby to keep a closer eye? I mean, how badly are you torturing her for you to restock a vanload of ointments?"
* * * * *
Her kidnapper gifted her many baby-related books for Audrey to read. Not just how the baby is within the belly but also information about when the baby is born. There were also equal amounts of books related to self-care but that was left untouched.
There was even a countdown calendar to her expected due date with images of the baby's size in comparison to fruits. For the first time in her life, she felt happiness and at peace. Knowing the ample love she could give to her little one.
"Reading, Belle?" asked her captor as he flipped the pages on one of the books.
"Yes, thank you for the books. It has been informative," she expressed sincerely. Her eyes twinkled and her hands clasped together with a shy curve on her face.
"Good to know," he replied and quickly tore away from her eye contact. "Have you been religiously put on ointments all over your injuries?"
"They don't hurt anymore so —"
"You're supposed to put it on until they healed," his reaction was slightly exaggerated in Audrey's eyes. She did not understand why she needed to put it on over healed scar.
"Okay," her lips betrayed her own thoughts, not wanting to cross the villain.
"Put it on."
Audrey looked at him in confusion and uneasily stepped towards her dresser. She peeked at him for the umpteenth time, and quietly wondered where exactly was she supposed to put it on. In the end, she slabbed it randomly on her legs.
"That's it? You're supposed to spread them generously." He commented when Audrey stood up, who quickly sit down and swiped a slightly larger amount of paste out of the bottle.
"There's no need to be stingy. I can afford to buy more. Come," His hand gestured for her to move closer to him. He dipped his finger into it until it disappeared. A huge chunk came out and he plopped it onto her ankle.
"See, that's how you should use it." He said confidently and to her surprise, he began massaging it to even out the paste himself.
"Ah... It's okay. I can do it myself," Audrey hurriedly pulled her legs. Her cheeks turned rosy red as minutes ticking by and the embarrassed man withdraw his hand with silence playing in the background.
In the awkward atmosphere, the two stupid people continued to allow her scars to be smothered with the medicinal cream. Without reading the instructions.