Chapter 189
Chapter 189:
Wesley ended the voice call, reached for a bottle of wine, and poured a modest half glass before stepping onto the balcony. His heart condition kept alcohol to a rare indulgence, limited to the occasional sip of red wine.
Gently swirling the crimson liquid, he leaned against the railing, gazing at the velvet night sky. A luminous moon glowed overhead, reminiscent of the one that had illuminated his first encounter with Gabriela four years prior.
Those had been the darkest days of his life. Gravely ill, with doctors issuing a grim prognosis, his usually carefree cousin Brenden had wailed as if the heavens were collapsing. Wesley had strictly forbidden anyone from informing Loretta. His grandfather remained coldly detached, while the rest of the family seemed almost eager for his demise.
In those desolate moments, he would sit alone on his hospital bed, reflecting on how fiercely he had fought to survive, how many trials he had endured—only to remain powerless against death’s approach. It was at the moment he resolved to surrender that Gabriela entered his life. Her eyes were the most mesmerizing he’d ever seen—bright, vibrant, and brimming with vitality.
The day after meeting her, he underwent successful surgery. From then on, Gabriela would stealthily visit him in the hospital. She thought her visits went unnoticed, but he sensed her presence the instant she arrived. On her final visit, she realized she’d been spotted, panicked, and fled, leaving behind a book.
After that, she vanished, and he never saw her again. Four years later, she had come back into his life. There was no need to hurry—after all, they had a lifetime ahead.
𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘰𝘯
Wesley set down his wineglass, retrieved the book, and opened it on the coffee table.
On Gabriela’s end, the call had cut off abruptly. She fired off a message, “Mr. Saunders, do I no longer need to read the book to you p>
No response came.
Suddenly, she noticed “NotASaunders” had posted a WhatsApp status update. She’d never seen him post before and had even suspected he’d blocked her from his feed. Curiosity piqued, she opened it and saw a photo.
On a balcony sat a small table, holding half a glass of red wine and a book. Gabriela’s lips curved into a pout. Brenden, usually a playboy, revealed an unexpectedly romantic side under the night’s veil.
Her eyes sharpened suddenly. The book on the table looked familiar. Zooming in, she confirmed it was the same book she’d been reading moments earlier. It was open to a page with a wavy blue underline highlighting the exact line that “NotASaunders” had sent her earlier: “But every once in a while, you find someone who’s iridescent, and when you do, nothing will ever compare p>
Gabriela magnified the image further and spotted her name scrawled beside the highlighted line. Was this her book? The handwriting wasn’t hers. What was Brenden playing at?
She scrutinized the photo again. The balcony felt oddly familiar, but she couldn’t pinpoint why. After minutes of racking her brain, she gave up and messaged “NotASaunders” again. “Should I keep reading p>
Still, no reply came.
Just as Wesley posted the photo, a knock sounded at the door. Loretta stood there, holding a bowl of soup. “Wesley, you’ve looked exhausted lately. I made this for you and Brenden to p>
“Boost your strength. Drink it,” she urged.
Wesley sighed. “I was just about to turn in, Grandma p>
Since his previous serious illness, Loretta had taken to crafting all manner of peculiar tonics for him. He appreciated her care but inwardly recoiled at the thought of consuming them.
Loretta fixed him with a stern glare. “No excuses. Drink it. Brenden’s already finished his. Don’t make me repeat myself p>
Resigned, Wesley took the bowl and swallowed its contents in one go, wincing at the bitter taste. Only when the bowl was empty did Loretta depart, satisfied.
The concoction left a warmth spreading through him. Remembering how he’d cut off Gabriela’s call, Wesley checked his phone and saw two unread messages. Had she grown addicted to reading to him?