Chapter 197
Chapter 197:
Him
Gabriela stood on the brink of losing her temper.
Her voice rose with sharp insistence. “Mr. Moss, I’m a full-time employee of Apex Group!” Her eyes flicked toward Brenden, frustration boiling over. “Even Mr. Saunders received a gift p>
Why was she the only one being excluded?
Brenden, pulled unwillingly into the quarrel while merely sitting there, straightened at once and replied with practiced calm, “Oh please, Gabriela, Wesley is my cousin. Why would it be strange for him to give me a gift?” As he spoke, he gave her a deliberate blink—a silent warning not to press further.
In Brenden’s view, Gabriela truly did not know her place. How dare she show such disrespect to Wesley? He resolved that he would have a serious talk with her later.
R𝗲𝘢𝖽 𝗐𝗂𝘁𝗵𝗈𝘶𝗍 𝘪𝘯𝗍e𝘳𝘳𝗎p𝘁𝗶о𝗇𝘀 о𝘯
Wesley, however, found the scene oddly entertaining.
The night before, she had been meek as a frightened kitten, yet now she suddenly felt bold enough to outright demand a gift from him.
Deciding to toy with her, Wesley leaned back, his lips curving. “Gabriela, say something nice and I might consider giving you a gift too p>
Gabriela hesitated.
Her gaze dropped to the floor, then drifted back to Wesley—the elegant, wealthy man burdened with heart troubles. A flicker of sympathy stirred in her chest.
After a thoughtful pause, she spoke with plain sincerity. “Mr. Moss, I hope that in the year ahead, and in every year to come, only good things find their way to you, and that misfortune stays far away. May everything unfold exactly as you wish p>
Wesley’s fingers froze mid-motion.
Gabriela’s eyes held such unguarded honesty that he could not doubt she meant every word.
He retrieved a gift box and handed it to her.
“The same wishes for you,” he murmured softly.
Gabriela accepted her gift with unguarded delight, her expression almost childlike.
It had been rare for her to receive a gift since she was eight years old.
Even when Josh bothered to buy presents, Phyllis always found a way to snatch them away.
But ever since joining Apex Group, everything had changed—she received thoughtful gifts, and, most importantly, she now had a seven-figure bank account to her name.
To her, Wesley was more than just a boss. He was the miracle who had turned her life around.
She vowed to stay by his side for as long as she could.
The thought of going home had completely vanished the moment she received a gift from Wesley.
One by one, the servants slowly drifted out of the grand manor.
Gabriela’s phone suddenly rang—it was Josh, calling her back home for the family’s New Year’s Eve dinner.
He murmured, “Gabriela, Marie and Phyllis have realized their mistakes. I will have them apologize to you p>
Gabriela had no desire to return. No matter how hard Josh tried, she refused outright.
Phyllis’s name still burned across every trending list. Fearing that anyone might recognize her if she stepped outside, she barricaded herself indoors.
Gabriela sneered. Now they wanted her to come back home—who knew what kind of trap they might be setting for her?
When her husband’s persuasion failed, Marie abruptly seized the phone. A forced smile stretched across her lips as she cooed with syrupy sweetness, “Gabriela, Phyllis was wrong before. Young people can be impulsive at times, can’t they? She has been reflecting these past few days and wishes to apologize to you in person p>
“And then?” Gabriela’s reply was blunt, her tone sharp. “Secretly take a video and post it online to create the illusion of reconciliation? Aunt Marie, that won’t do Phyllis any good. At most, it will only make me appear generous and forgiving p>
Marie’s expression froze, the smile faltering before her voice turned cold. “You think that with Mr. Moss backing you, you can throw your weight around? I’m your family. When I tell you to return, you must do as I say! Because of your actions, Phyllis is living in fear behind locked doors. What more do you want from p>