Chapter 145
Chapter 145:
Wesley’s temper snapped like a dry twig.
Sensing his mood darken, Gabriela offered a gentle murmur. “Don’t take it to heart. Your grandmother only means well p>
The warmth in her voice slipped under his guard, making his chest tighten—and, perversely, stoking his irritation.
Unable to restrain himself, he hissed under his breath, “Fool p>
How could she give in so quickly on something like this? What if she ran into someone truly malicious? She’d be taken advantage of.
𝘜𝗉𝖽𝘢𝘵е𝗌 е𝘃e𝘳𝘺 w𝖾𝘦𝗄 on g𝘢𝘭𝗇𝗈𝘷е𝗅𝘀.со𝗆
Realizing he disapproved of how she’d handled things, Gabriela kept her gaze lowered and her lips pressed shut, afraid to provoke him further.
Loretta, catching sight of Wesley’s darkening expression and terrified Gabriela might bolt, dissolved into tears yet again. “Wesley, your mother left too soon, and I raised you under more pressure than you can imagine. Of course I want the boy I watched grow up to stay safe and sound. Now I’m only asking you to spend one night in the same room with Gabriela, and you turn me down? That’s cruel. I see who you really are now. I’m so disappointed in you p>
A dull throb pulsed at Wesley’s temples.
Gabriela stood frozen in shock.
Down the hall, the servants slipped away one by one, unwilling to be caught lingering over their employer’s private affairs.
Only Miriam seemed to savor the scene, flashing Loretta a sly, triumphant thumbs-up.
Seeing Wesley tongue-tied, Loretta pressed on. “You’re a grown man, Wesley. Quit fussing and get back to your bedroom p>
Without managing a single rebuttal, the usually imposing, self-possessed Wesley found himself herded toward his master bedroom by a storm of coaxing and scolding, punctuated by Loretta’s tears and sharp reprimands.
The door slammed hard behind them, leaving Gabriela staring at Wesley’s dark, unyielding expression, caught in a silence so awkward she didn’t know where to look.
His gaze lingered on her, steady and searching. “Do you know p>
The truth was, he found himself falling for her a little more with each moment. Yet she didn’t return his feelings—she’d even mocked his long legs once. Sharing a room without any defined relationship—what kind of arrangement was this?
Sensing his mood had shifted for the better, Gabriela seized her chance. “You should take the bed tonight,” she murmured warmly. “Don’t worry. I’ll be just fine. I’ve slept on floors more times than I can count, and I’m used to it p>
Wesley’s lips curved in a cold, mocking smile. “You really think I would let a woman sleep on the floor p>
Gabriela bit back any reply, deciding not to argue. Pride was clearly at stake here—gay or not, Wesley wasn’t about to let her trample over his sense of manhood. If she kept pushing to sleep on the floor, she’d only wound that pride deeper.
But the thought of climbing into his bed left her uneasy. So, in a cautious murmur, she offered, “Then… how about we both sleep in it? It’s plenty big—we can stay on our own sides p>
In her mind, with him being gay, there was nothing to worry about.
Wesley’s sharp eyes caught the exact calculation behind her offer. She stood there like an employee negotiating with her boss—careful not to offend, unwilling to see him banished to the floor, yet too wary to challenge him outright. Her indifference to sharing a bed—her utter disregard for him as a man—landed like a punch to the gut.
Fury surged, burning through his chest. “Fine,” he answered, his voice edged with frost.
With Wesley’s agreement, Gabriela felt the tension leave her chest. “I’m going to sleep. Good night,” she murmured gently.
She’d nearly drifted off earlier, but the commotion had roused her. Now, her body felt leaden with fatigue. She removed her coat and slipped under the covers, ready to let sleep take her.
“Gabriela.” Wesley’s voice cut through the quiet, sharp with shock. “What in the world are you wearing p>
Last night’s slip dress had already been scandalous enough—skimpy but at least not see-through. Tonight’s clung to her like mist, the sheer fabric leaving little to the imagination. The thin straps perched on her shoulders looked as if they’d give way with a careless tug.
A sudden, unwelcome heat coiled low in Wesley’s abdomen.
Realization dawned on Gabriela, and she snatched her coat, fumbling to pull it back on. “This slip dress came from Miriam. What’s got you so worked up?” she muttered defensively.