Chapter 688
Chapter 688:
By the next morning, Matthew had already learned of Beverley’s visit to Gabriela.
Seated stiffly at the hospital bedside, Beverley recounted the encounter with a sharp tongue, her brows drawn tight in disdain. She scoffed, “Gabriela is young, yet brimming with defiance. She dares to challenge even me. If we allow her back into the Howard family too easily, she’ll grow impossibly arrogant p>
Matthew’s expression darkened at once. “Mom, how could you speak to Gabriela like that p>
What began as mild irritation in Beverley quickly flared into anger when she realized her son was siding with Gabriela instead of her.
Her magnanimous offer of shares had been met with outright defiance. The audacity of Gabriela’s refusal was a slap in the face.
Beverley drew a breath to reassert herself, but before she could, Matthew was already reaching for his phone, dialing Gabriela.
At that time, Gabriela was at the office, bracing herself to manage the business affairs before Wesley’s departure for Athea.
The attending doctor warned that the treatment would take at least three months and could stretch to a year.
However long it stretched, Gabriela had already resolved to remain by his side.
So when her phone rang, she didn’t even glance at the screen, her hands too busy scribbling notes. “Hello, who’s calling p>
𝖱𝗲а𝗱 𝘰𝗇 𝖺ո𝘆 𝘥𝗲𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 oո
Her voice carried a cool detachment that made Matthew hesitate on the other end. After a brief pause, he spoke carefully. “Gabriela… it’s me p>
The pen in her hand stilled for a beat. Then, with deliberate composure, she replied, “Oh. Mr. Howard, what can I do for you p>
“Gabriela, I didn’t know my mom visited yesterday. If she said anything out of line, I’d like to apologize on her behalf.” His tone wavered, edged with helplessness, and for a moment an uneasy ripple flickered in Gabriela’s chest.
But she steeled herself, remembering her mother’s years of pain and the Howard family’s suffocating arrogance.
“That matter is between her and me,” she said firmly. “It has nothing to do with you p>
“She’s your grandmother,” Matthew added, “and my mother. I know what she said was wrong p>
“Enough!” Gabriela cut in sharply. “Whatever you try to say or do, I’m not withdrawing the lawsuit against Lauren p>
She might have bowed her head in the past. After all, what chance did an insignificant young woman like her have against a powerful family?
But now, with Wesley standing firmly behind her, Gabriela was resolved to claim justice for herself.
Without waiting for Matthew’s reply, she ended the call.
Just then, Kaleb stepped into the office as she pressed a weary hand to her forehead.
“You’ve been pushing yourself too hard,” he said with quiet concern. “Go home and get some rest. I’ll handle what’s left at the company. Leave the worries to me p>
Gabriela shook her head gently.
Kaleb was no longer young. He had summoned her back to take on the role of CEO in hopes of retiring early, yet her return had only added more to his plate.
Retirement, for him, seemed to drift further away. The thought filled her with guilt.
“It’s alright, Uncle Kaleb. I’ve got this,” she assured him.
He studied her determined gaze and let out a soft sigh. “Very well. Do as you see fit. But if it ever becomes too much, promise me you’ll let me handle it p>
“Okay,” she replied, a faint smile touching her lips.
Meanwhile, at the hospital, Matthew sat in silence, Gabriela’s cold words still ringing in his ears, cutting deeper than he’d expected. His face betrayed his turmoil.
Beverley noticed and, with a disapproving frown, muttered, “Gabriela has no sense of respect for us. She’ll never measure up to Rebecca’s refinement p>
“Mom, enough!” Matthew’s voice, raw and trembling, cracked like a whip through the room. His eyes, rimmed red with emotion, burned with restrained fury.
“What has Gabriela done to deserve such scorn? She knows how to repay kindness and how to stand up for herself. What more could you want from her p>
“Rebecca hired bodyguards to wreck Gabriela’s company. And Cindy gathered vagrants just to stir up chaos at her hotel. Tell me, Mom—whose manners are lacking? Lauren spent millions to hire a fugitive to do her dirty work. And you thought you could toss around shares to buy silence, stripping Gabriela of her right to defend herself. Don’t you think that’s going too far p>