Chapter 403

Gale didn't even look at her. His voice was flat and emotionless. "If it were anyone else, I would have saved them too. You don't have to thank me. I still have to fish here at night. I won't reach the shore until an hour later." He wasn't interested in why she was bathing in the sea at midnight. He only helped because she was a Setigal citizen.

Maeve understood, immediately saying, "I promise I won't disturb you for the next hour."

"Um."

Maeve eyed the fishing gear, her hands itching. "May I use this gear? I can pay."

Gale glanced at her. "Whatever. No need."

"Thank you." She took a small stool, sitting a meter away. Skillfully, she adjusted the rod and swung the hook.

They sat far apart, undisturbed. They went their separate ways.

To the butler, the two figures—one tall, one small—looked strangely harmonious, like a father and daughter on vacation.

The butler chuckled inwardly, Mr. Soar isn't married. How could he have such a big daughter?

In under five minutes, Maeve's rod moved. Calmly, she reeled in a huge sea bass. She looked at it, tossed it back, and swung the hook again. Then, she caught an arm-sized grouper, which she also tossed back. From the corner of his eye, Gale saw her throw back a black snapper. His mouth twitched uncontrollably. Has she taken over this sea area? Why are all the fish heading towards her? The butler looked at Gale's empty bucket, then at Maeve's extravagance. He silently closed his eyes. This is too much.

Maeve felt a heavier pull on her rod. She didn't know what it was, but it was no use. "Can… Can you help me?" she asked the butler.

Stunned, he rushed to help. With a crash, Maeve saw a huge shadow. She retreated, but the thing knocked her to the deck. Gale looked over, seeing Maeve pressed down by a huge fish, its tail slapping her. Even without a clear view, he sensed her helplessness. His mood, long soured by his lack of catches, suddenly improved.

"Mr. Soar!" The butler exclaimed. "Mr. Reese caught a giant bluefin tuna! It looks like it weighs more than 50 kilograms!"

Gale was speechless, his good mood gone.

"Ms. Reese, you're amazing," the butler told Maeve. "This is the first time I've seen someone catch such a big fish, and it's a rare species." Gale, after all, had caught nothing.

Maeve wiped seawater from her face and waved. "I was just lucky. Mr. Soar, can I trouble your chef to deal with this fish? Let's eat together?"

"Borrowing fishing gear and the chef. Am I a hotel assistant?" Gale said indifferently.

Maeve thought he'd refused. Just as she was about to give up, she heard him instruct the butler, "Send the fish to the kitchen."

"No problem, sir."

The kitchen prepared a seafood banquet, the bluefin tuna as the star. Only Gale and Maeve sat at the table; the butler and others stood respectfully. It was silent. Maeve ignored the bluefin, eating a lot of seafood soup.

The yacht was returning, due to dock in fifteen minutes. Maeve finished her meal, glancing at Gale. He ate without rigid etiquette, quickly but not rudely; unrestrained. "What are you looking at?" he asked.

"Uh… Mr. Soar, I hope you won't take what I said to heart. I've already forgotten everything that happened before. I won't mention it to anyone else," Maeve said carefully.

Gale raised an eyebrow. "You think I sent a thank-you gift to keep your mouth shut?"

Maeve blinked. Wasn't that the case?

"My life isn't worth a few sets of clothes." He casually put down his napkin, gesturing for wine. "I just didn't expect Mr. Reese to not only refuse, but also threaten me." It was the first time in years someone dared to threaten him.

Maeve felt awkward. So I misunderstood. He'd given her a building; of course, she'd think it hush money. Who knew he felt a few sets of clothes weren't comparable to his life? He was rich and willful.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Soar. I misunderstood." Maeve touched her earlobe, embarrassed. "My friend and I saved you once. You saved me tonight. Let's call it even." She sneezed twice, her shoulders shaking.

"Ms. Reese, you don't look well. You might have a cold," the butler said, concerned. He asked Gale, "Sir, what do you think?"

Gale was expressionless. "Get the doctor."

Maeve quickly waved. "There's no need. We're almost ashore. I'll take medicine myself. No need to trouble you."

"I saved you. You'll do as I say. Don't talk back."

Maeve was depressed. I didn't talk back!

The doctor checked Maeve's temperature. A low fever and inflamed throat. He prescribed medicine. Maeve didn't want it; she had Theo's non-bitter medicine at home. But, seeing Gale's solemn face, she wilted. She swallowed the medicine.

Gale sneered. "You're taking your medicine like a child. I wonder how old Ms. Reese is?"

"No, I'm at least a year younger than you," Maeve said humbly.

Was she indirectly calling me old? This little girl is quite eloquent, Gale thought.

The butler watched happily. Gale didn't smile, but he was in a good mood; otherwise, he wouldn't have spoken so much. Even around Aeolian, he was a man of few words.

After the medicine, the dizziness lessened. What followed was exhaustion and drowsiness. She thought she'd stay awake until shore, but she lay on the table and quickly fell asleep.

Gale frowned, a subtle dissatisfaction surfacing. "What did her parents teach her? How is it any different from sending herself into a tiger's den to be so unguarded in front of strangers?"

The butler smiled. "You just saved her. You're a good person to her. Of course, she doesn't have to be wary."