Chapter 191
Chapter 191:
Gabriela’s mind churned with restless thoughts. She even controlled her breathing, wary that Wesley might somehow realize she had already uncovered the truth.
Wesley’s voice suddenly cut through the air—cold, clipped, and distant. “Grandma, don’t lock the door. I’m not going in p>
Gabriela froze, her chaotic thoughts settling into a tense stillness. Yet, for reasons she couldn’t quite name, a faint sting lingered in her chest. Wesley’s treatment of her was needlessly harsh, his disdain barely concealed. And it wasn’t as if Loretta’s actions were malicious; everything she did was for his sake. Why, then, did he respond with such biting indifference?
If he carried himself with more maturity—like someone truly ready to build a life with a partner—perhaps Loretta wouldn’t feel compelled to worry and fuss over him every single day.
Swallowing her frustration, Gabriela forced herself to gather the shattered porcelain, each piece cold and jagged against her fingers, eager to retreat to her room once she was done. But Miriam stopped her with a gentle touch and said, “Gabriela, Mrs. Larson made some nourishing soup tonight. Come downstairs and have a bowl p>
Still distracted, Gabriela followed Miriam down the staircase, her mind moving through a fog.
Once they had left, Loretta planted her hands on her hips and launched into a scolding aimed at Wesley. Her reprimand went on for a solid three minutes before Wesley’s expression soured.
𝘙о𝗆𝖺nce 𝗻𝘰𝘃𝖾ls 𝗼ո
A wave of discomfort swept through him. He couldn’t decide if it was the lingering effect of the soup or the wine he had drunk earlier, but heat pulsed through his body, leaving him restless. He had already changed clothes, intending to slip out to see a private doctor quietly.
Initially, he had hoped to avoid attracting attention—planning to leave and return without anyone noticing. But Loretta had insisted on preparing a midnight snack and personally delivering it to his room. The unnecessary commotion killed his mood for the doctor’s visit. What he wanted now was simply the quiet relief of a bed.
Resigned, he admitted fault, offering enough contrition for Loretta to ease her lecture—though she remained firm about one condition: he could not return to the master bedroom.
“There may still be some shards in your room, so you can’t sleep there tonight. Go stay with your cousin for the night p>
“Impossible!” Wesley’s voice carried sharp finality. His mild obsession with cleanliness made the idea unbearable—especially since Brenden snored like a saw through wood.
Loretta countered, “Then sleep in the next room p>
Without waiting for his reply, she guided him into another room. Wesley settled onto the soft bed, inhaling the subtle aroma of scented candles. Something about it felt oddly out of place. Yet, since Loretta hadn’t insisted on him sharing a room with Gabriela, he reluctantly decided to make do with this room for just one night.
Perhaps Loretta had truly broken those plates by accident. Maybe he really had been overthinking the whole matter.
At that moment, Wesley’s thoughts lacked their usual sharpness. Weariness overtook him, and he eventually collapsed onto the bed, closing his eyes until sleep claimed him.
Meanwhile, Gabriela returned to her room after finishing the soup in the dining room with Miriam. Her mind felt clouded, as if wrapped in fog, and she longed for quiet to sort through the link between Wesley and “NotASaunders p>
When she made her way upstairs, Loretta blocked her from returning to her own bedroom, offering an odd explanation. “Gabriela, tonight you need to stay away from Wesley’s bedroom, now that he is in a sour mood. Please sleep in another room p>
Without questioning Loretta’s strange reasoning, Gabriela headed straight to the room she’d been assigned.
Inside, she left the light off, sitting in the darkness while scrolling through her old chats with “NotASaunders.” There weren’t many. From the start, “NotASaunders” had known about her one-night stand with Brenden. Maybe Brenden had told Wesley about it. Perhaps Wesley had added her on WhatsApp purely for his own amusement, tossing out outrageous requests just to tease her.