Chapter 182
Chapter 182:
Wesley’s brow furrowed, his mood souring. Muscles? He had muscles. He even had abs, for heaven’s sake. Why didn’t she choose to admire his instead?
Gabriela, oblivious to the silent offense, noticed Wesley’s expression and sighed inwardly. He was upset again, but by now she was accustomed to his unpredictable moods.
“Mr. Moss,” she said quickly, “how about we start with that tree p>
Without waiting for his reply, she strode toward the tree and pressed a bright red decoration onto its trunk. The shift in her focus seemed to cool his irritation, and Wesley joined her.
Soon the sprawling garden was draped in festive reds and golds. Gabriela stepped back to admire their work. “Much better. Now the place feels cozy p>
Wesley surveyed his meticulously curated garden—where every bush and blossom usually existed in perfect harmony. Now, the gaudy decorations clashed like cymbals in a symphony. His jaw tightened, but he swallowed the criticism. Loretta’s orders trumped aesthetics.
A few hours later, the last ribbon was tied and the final ornament hung. Wesley retreated to his room with the thought of changing out of his glaringly red clothes, but he paused, remembering Gabriela in her own red jacket and the way it had made her eyes sparkle. In the end, he didn’t change.
𝖣isсo𝘃𝖾𝗋 𝘩і𝖽dе𝗇 g𝘦𝗆𝘀 о𝗻 ѕ.𝘤𝘰𝗺
At the sink, he splashed water on his face, yet the memory of her bright, mischievous eyes—and the way she brushed her dirty hands across his cheek—returned unbidden, making his heartbeat quicken.
That silly girl.
Meanwhile, Gabriela, having finished her tasks, could still hear Brenden’s pitiful yells drifting from his training session with Cassius.
Loretta’s brow creased. “So young, yet Brenden can’t get through two hours of exercise without screaming? Truly pathetic p>
With New Year’s just around the corner, summoning Cassius again felt inappropriate. After a brief exchange, Loretta and Miriam decided to arrange for two strong, young servants in the coming days to help Brenden with his leg stretches. Even during the holidays, exercise couldn’t be overlooked.
Their discussion concluded, and both women turned to Gabriela, their smiles warm and genuine. “Gabriela, you’ve worked hard today. Skip lunch; you don’t need to cook,” Loretta told her.
Gabriela hesitated, about to protest— even as Wesley’s unpaid cook, she never let her duties slide.
Miriam stepped in smoothly. “Mrs. Larson has another task for you p>
Gabriela’s curiosity was immediately piqued. “Oh? What task p>
“The villa is fully decorated; surely there is nothing you need to help with.” Loretta’s eyes softened. “Where’s that scarf you were knitting last time? Let me see it p>
Without a second thought, Gabriela dashed back to her room to retrieve the scarf. Loretta and Miriam admired her handiwork, then exchanged a glance before Loretta asked, “It still needs a little more. Why haven’t you finished it yet p>
Gabriela’s cheeks flushed. “I’ve been a bit busy lately p>
“Don’t worry,” Loretta said with a reassuring smile. “Start knitting now, and by evening it’ll be ready for sure p>
Gabriela hesitated for a moment, unsure of Loretta’s intentions—but she couldn’t refuse. “Alright, I’ll do my best p>
Then Gabriela settled into her room, her hands moving rhythmically over the scarf as Loretta and Miriam busied themselves in the kitchen preparing lunch.
As mealtime approached, Miriam slipped into the study to summon Wesley. He entered to find a table laid with dishes, their aroma unmistakably Loretta’s handiwork.
“Isn’t Gabriela cooking today?” he asked, eyebrows slightly raised.
Miriam’s smile was deliberately cryptic. “She’s got a very important task. She’s knitting a scarf. I heard she wants to finish it before New Year’s and give it to the person who means the most to her p>
Wesley’s chest tightened, and his heart skipped a beat. The person who meant the most to Gabriela—who could that be?