Chapter 151
Chapter 151:
“With me here, you’ll be eating delicious, satisfying meals every single day, Mr. Moss,” Gabriela promised.
She was thrilled to snag a part-time job that paid three thousand a day. Loretta and Miriam, pleased to have found a reason to keep her close, secretly rejoiced at the thought that Wesley might finally find himself a girlfriend. Their satisfaction showed in their smiles.
Even Wesley’s expression softened with quiet contentment.
That calm shifted the moment Brenden stepped into the manor.
By early evening he arrived with two oversized boxes of gifts in hand, trailing after Loretta into the house.
𝗤𝘶𝖺𝗹𝘪t𝗒 𝗍𝘳а𝗻𝘀𝗅а𝘵𝗶o𝗇𝗌 𝗼ո
Spotting Wesley lounging on the sofa, Brenden greeted him with an easy grin. “Wesley, a friend of mine grows these strawberries—he picked them today. I brought you two boxes p>
“Strawberries aren’t my thing,” Wesley said, his tone turning glacial. “Take them back p>
Brenden froze, caught off guard.
Earlier that year his mother had begun dating a new man and, brimming with excitement, traveled overseas with him, leaving Brenden rattling around the house alone.
The loneliness had been unbearable. He’d planned to spend New Year’s tucked away in the countryside with Loretta. However, once he found out that she was staying at Wesley’s place, he had no choice but to follow.
“Fine. If you won’t have any, Gabriela and I will take care of them!” Loretta cut in, her patience for Wesley’s stubbornness wearing thin. Since discovering his maddening obstinacy in matters of the heart, she’d found him especially exasperating these past few days. She shot him a sharp warning look before softening her voice for Brenden.
“Why are you so skinny? Did life in Afluena treat you that badly?” she asked, her gaze warm with concern.
Brenden gave a confident grin. “No, I did fine in Afluena—I’m just sun-kissed. In fact, the tan makes me even more irresistible. There’s even a pretty girl pining for me in secret lately p>
Wesley didn’t bother indulging Brenden’s boast. Without a word, he turned away, his face as cold as winter stone.
Gabriela had mentioned the orchids blooming in the back garden, and he decided a quiet stroll among them might ease his foul mood.
Oblivious to the fact that Wesley wanted no company, Brenden jogged after him. “Wesley, hold up!” he called.
By the time Wesley reached the garden path, Brenden had already cut him off. His brows pulled together in sharp impatience. “What now p>
“The other night at the Deluxe Hotel,” Brenden began, “I almost put Gabriela in an awkward spot. You stepped in just in time to save her; I never got the chance to thank you.” His tone softened with a touch of admiration. “Honestly, I didn’t think you had it in you. You played the part so well I nearly believed you really were her boyfriend p>
Wesley leveled him with a glare sharp enough to cut glass.
What on earth made Brenden think he’d been putting on a show?
Feeling the frost in Wesley’s dark eyes, Brenden managed an awkward laugh and said, “Seriously, Wesley, I mean it—thank you. I messed up and hurt Gabriela’s feelings. If you hadn’t stepped in, she would have been humiliated p>
Meanwhile, Gabriela was out in the back garden with Miriam, crouching near a bed of orchids to snap photos. The pot in bloom was worth fifteen million dollars—practically the price of a luxury home. Miriam, a social media devotee, was already picturing the perfect post for her followers. Loretta had no interest in such things, so Miriam had happily roped Gabriela into keeping her company.
They had just taken a handful of shots when Brenden’s voice drifted over, carried by the late afternoon breeze.
Gabriela went rigid.
Deep down she knew Wesley had only shown up because Brenden had summoned him, yet Brenden had never confirmed it over WhatsApp. That tiny omission had let her cling to the foolish hope that Wesley might have stepped in for her sake alone.
Now reality pressed in—she had been imagining things.
A man of his standing wouldn’t pose as a subordinate’s boyfriend without a very deliberate reason.
“What’s caught your eye, Gabriela?” Miriam followed the direction of her gaze, then smiled knowingly. “Ah, that’s Mr. Brenden Saunders—Mr. Moss’s cousin. Mr. Saunders works at Mr. Moss’s company as well. Do you happen to know him p>