Chapter 144

Chapter 144:

The flames had only just licked across the fabric, not yet taking hold, and Wesley lunged for his coat to smother them.

Before he could, Loretta caught his arm. “These are blessed candles—you can’t just snuff them out like that p>

In the next heartbeat, Miriam upended the basin of holy water, dousing both fire and bed in one dramatic splash.

The mattress sagged under the weight of the water, dripping onto the floor.

Wesley’s patience frayed to its limit. Still, he bit back his frustration, fixing both women with a tight-lipped stare as he endured their chaos in silence.

Hearing the alarm about the fire, the servants swarmed in from every direction, eager to help douse the flames.

In moments, the hallway descended into a noisy scramble.

Gabriela, startled by the commotion, snatched a coat from the hook and hurried out.

𝘕𝖾𝘸 c𝗵𝗮𝗉t𝘦𝗿𝘴 ev𝘦𝘳y w𝗲𝘦𝘬 𝗈𝗇 𝘨𝗮𝗹ոo𝘃e𝗹𝘴.сo𝗆

A crowd of over a dozen people jammed the corridor, their faces tight with worry. At the center of the commotion stood Wesley, draped in a black, robe-like pajama. His hair was still damp, dark strands falling over his eyes, and his expression radiated irritation.

A flicker of unease tightened Gabriela’s chest. “What happened?” she asked.

Loretta sidled up to her, looking utterly defeated, and lowered her voice. “The fortune-teller was right—Wesley’s bad luck this year is worse than ever. First, the bed in his study was soaked, and now the guest-room bed caught fire. He can’t sleep on a new bed at all p>

Wesley’s gaze cut toward her, the corner of his mouth twitching. The sheer gall it took for Loretta to twist events like this made his eyes darken in mild, simmering exasperation.

Gabriela couldn’t wrap her head around it. “How does a bed just catch fire out of nowhere p>

Was Wesley lighting up a cigarette or something? No—he wasn’t the type to be that reckless. No one offered her an explanation.

Miriam, standing close by, muttered, “Poor Mr. Moss. Everyone else gets to relax during the holidays, but he’s still buried in work. Spends his days locked in meetings and now doesn’t even have a proper place to sleep p>

At that, the situation finally clicked for Gabriela. She turned to him and immediately insisted, “Mr. Moss, why don’t you just go back to your bedroom tonight? I can fix up a guest room and manage for the night p>

Wesley’s lip dipped in a curl, his expression growing even darker.

“Not happening,” Loretta cut Gabriela off without hesitation. “You’re a guest here, and I’m not about to have you shuffling rooms in the middle of the night p>

“But Mr. Moss…” Gabriela began, biting back the rest.

Wasn’t he supposed to be avoiding any new rooms or beds because of all that ominous bad luck talk?

With a coaxing lilt, Loretta added, “Wesley’s room is huge! Why don’t you just share it with him p>

Gabriela’s eyes widened as she countered, “Absolutely not. If it’s that inconvenient, I’ll just head home right now p>

Wesley hadn’t uttered a word, yet his expression was already set in a grim, unreadable mask.

Was she really that unwilling to stay near him? Would she rather return to that oppressive house—the same one that could bolt its door in her face in the dead of night—than spend one evening in the same bed with him?

Loretta caught Gabriela by the wrist and drew her aside, lowering her voice to a hush. “Let me be straight with you—Wesley isn’t into women. You’re perfectly safe with him p>

Her eyes glistened as she launched into an exaggerated sob. “Please, just do me this favor. Stay with him tonight. You can take the bed and let him sleep on the floor p>

Gabriela stood there, stunned into silence. She hadn’t expected to learn that Wesley was not only a masochist but also gay. Bosses truly had their own baffling quirks.

And what kind of person would let him take the floor while she claimed the bed? She knew all too well that if Wesley spent the night on the rigid floor, she’d likely be unemployed by morning.

Loretta’s casual disclosure of such an intimate secret felt like someone had just handed Gabriela a ticking time bomb. Knowing too much about her boss was dangerous. She was doomed.

Tears glistening in her eyes, Loretta leaned in, voice trembling as she pleaded, “I told you something incredibly important. You have to help me, all right p>

The question landed like a blade. Was that… a threat?

Gabriela’s chest tightened. She drew in a sharp breath, then nodded. “Fine. I’ll do it p>

What choice did she have? When Loretta begged with tears yet pressed with subtle menace, refusal wasn’t on the table.

The master bedroom was spacious anyway; she could always sleep on the floor.

The moment Gabriela agreed, Loretta lit up, seized her hand, and all but dragged her toward Wesley. “Wesley,” she announced with cheerful triumph. “Gabriela’s agreed to let you come back to the master bedroom. You two can share it tonight p>

A storm gathered instantly over Wesley’s face.