Chapter 119
Chapter 119:
Dustin gazed at Gabriela, momentarily transfixed.
Her radiance was undeniable, commanding attention from every angle.
He took an instinctive step forward, her name nearly escaping his lips. Phyllis’s expression darkened instantly. She hissed through clenched teeth, “Dustin p>
Hearing his fiancée call his name brought him back to reality. He quickly donned a polished smile. “Welcome, Gabriela p>
Clad in a tailored white suit that accentuated his lean physique, Dustin looked strikingly handsome. Yet the intensity in his eyes was unsettling, almost nauseating.
Gabriela maintained a composed expression. “Wishing you both a lifetime of joy,” she said evenly. In her mind, those two were better off bound to each other.
She offered a perfunctory gift and went inside. Dustin’s eyes lingered on her retreating form for a long moment.
Phyllis’s fists tightened, her resentment simmering. Gabriela’s entire look was surely calculated to command attention at her wedding.
Unconcerned with their opinions, Gabriela started looking for Josh to offer her congratulations. Josh and Marie were occupied with greeting guests, as were Dustin’s parents. Dustin’s mother, Doris Owen, elated that her son was marrying into wealth, beamed uncontrollably.
Spotting Gabriela, she deliberately looked away, letting out a sharp, dismissive snort, as if her presence might taint the occasion.
Dustin’s father, Simeon Owen, a kind-hearted man, wanted to approach Gabriela, but Doris’s quick pinch on his arm stopped him cold.
𝘔𝗈r𝗲 𝗇𝗈𝘃𝘦𝗹s 𝘰n.со𝗆
Doris knew Marie disapproved of Gabriela. With a calculating glance, she approached Marie, her smile overly warm. “Isn’t that the girl you raised? Arriving so late p>
Marie cast a cool glance at Gabriela. “She and Phyllis don’t get along. It’s enough that she showed up p>
The society women around Marie exchanged surprised glances.
“I heard her mother died when she was eight, and your family took her in for over a decade. She seems rather distant, doesn’t she p>
Marie sighed, feigning regret. “My husband’s sister entrusted her to us before passing. I’m not her mother, so I hesitated to discipline her too firmly. That’s why she’s grown so headstrong and bitter. I haven’t fulfilled my duty p>
Phyllis, raised in opulence, still carried a trace of nouveau-riche flair. Marie, on the other hand, led the Haynes Group with the commanding presence of a seasoned businesswoman, earning admiration in elite circles. Her resigned demeanor lent credibility to her words, and those women readily deemed Gabriela ungrateful.
Initially charmed by Gabriela’s beauty and considering an introduction, one of them now had second thoughts. She hadn’t realized that Gabriela’s beauty was only a veneer over a flawed character. She sighed. “It seems Gabriela’s ungrateful. It’s commendable your family honors its promises and hasn’t cast her out p>
Marie said nothing further, quietly endorsing the sentiment. Soon, the women in the group had silently labeled Gabriela as deplorable.
Gabriela finally located Josh. His face brightened at the sight of her. “You look absolutely stunning today, Gabriela p>