Chapter 328
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Chapter 328:
“Carter, you are drunk,” Gaston said, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous growl. He began to rise from his chair.
But Carter wasn’t finished.
“Yeah, a monk!” Carter pressed on, waving the bottle. “Until about three years ago. Out of nowhere, he completely lost his mind and went to get a tattoo! A massive, bloody tattoo right over his p>
Crash.
Gaston’s hand struck his crystal water glass. It toppled sideways, sending water flooding across the pristine white tablecloth.
𝗪𝗲 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗼𝗻
He stood abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor, and grabbed Jocelyn’s hand with a grip that was almost painful.
“Jocelyn needs to use the powder room,” Gaston announced to the stunned table, his voice tight.
He pulled her away from the table and out into the quiet, dimly lit hallway of the estate.
Jocelyn stumbled slightly in her heels. “Gaston, what is wrong with you? You are hurting my wrist p>
Gaston released her instantly. He dragged a hand through his hair, looking more undone than she had ever seen him.
“I have to take a business call,” Gaston said, his chest rising and falling visibly. “Go to the restroom. Do not wander off. I will be right back p>
He turned and walked rapidly down the hall, disappearing around a corner.
Jocelyn stood alone in the corridor.
Her mind was racing.
Inside the smoking room, the atmosphere was lethal.
Gaston lunged forward. His hands seized Lance by the lapels of his tuxedo and slammed him hard against the wood-paneled wall.
“Listen to me very carefully,” Gaston hissed, his eyes burning with absolute, murderous rage. “Lance, we were at Harvard Law together. Discretion should be second nature to you. If you ever breathe a single word about that tattoo in front of Jocelyn, I will personally ensure your studio is burned to the ground and you never work in this country again p>
Lance choked, dropping his cigarette. He raised both hands in surrender.
“Okay! Okay, I get it!” Lance gasped, his eyes wide with genuine fear. “You are insane about her. I won’t say a word p>
Then, looking past Gaston’s shoulder, Lance’s eyes caught a flicker of movement through the crack in the door.
“Hey,” Lance wheezed, pointing a trembling finger. “I think someone was just standing out there. I saw a flash of navy blue p>
Gaston’s heart stopped dead in his chest.
The blood drained from his face. He knew exactly what Jocelyn was wearing.
He dropped Lance and wrenched the heavy door open.
The hallway was empty. But hanging in the still air was the faint, unmistakable scent of Bvlgari perfume.
A wave of paralyzing terror crashed over him.
She had heard.
He pulled out his phone with shaking hands and dialed her number. It went straight to voicemail. She had turned it off.
“Lock down the estate,” Gaston roared into the phone to his security detail. “No one leaves. Find my wife right now p>
He sprinted down the hallway, tearing open every door he passed.
Ten minutes later, Gaston burst onto a secluded stone balcony on the second floor.