Chapter 283
Chapter 283:
Wesley ended his call and strode toward Gabriela. He settled beside her, watching the recording unfold once more.
His voice carried quiet authority as he explained, “This particular poison is completely colorless and odorless. However, commercial versions include a pungent additive—a safety measure to prevent accidental ingestion. Marie is sharp enough that one taste would have tipped her off. She would never have kept drinking p>
That meant the poison in her system was unrefined. It lacked the safety additive. Obtaining such a substance required connections most people didn’t have.
Wesley shifted closer, his tone softening with reassurance. “We’ll uncover the truth soon. I promise you that p>
His hand rested on the back of her chair as he leaned in. From a distance, their posture looked like an embrace as they studied the footage together. Gabriela breathed in his clean, understated cologne, her hands trembling with sudden uncertainty over where to place them.
Farley and Tyler exchanged knowing looks. The moment Wesley learned of Gabriela’s predicament, he had dropped everything to come to the villa, even dispatching his assistant to investigate. What kind of employer protected a mere subordinate like this?
U𝘱𝘥𝗮t𝖾𝗌 𝗲𝗏𝗲r𝗒 𝘄ee𝗄 оո
Gabriela’s body language revealed more than she would admit—she was falling for Wesley.
Farley’s thoughts drifted to Gabriela’s pregnancy, and suspicion pricked at him. Could Wesley be the father? He nudged Tyler toward the door, and the two slipped out without a word.
Silence settled over the study, leaving only Gabriela and Wesley. His pulse hammered as he lost himself in her luminous eyes.
“Gabriela,” he murmured, “I need to tell you p>
The confession shattered mid-sentence as Wesley’s hand flew to his chest, pain carving deep lines across his features. Alarm shot through Gabriela. His weak heart—how could she have forgotten? She guided him to the nearest sofa with careful urgency.
“Your chest—is the pain severe? Where’s your medication?” Her words tumbled out in a rush.
Wesley stayed still until the crushing sensation eased and his breathing steadied. Yet he found himself addicted to her tender concern, prolonging his performance even as the genuine pain faded. His fingers intertwined with hers as he whispered, “No pills needed. Just some warm water should help p>
Gabriela hurried to bring it. Even after he drained the cup, Wesley kept up the pretense, claiming the tightness lingered. She watched him wince and moan, doubt flickering at the edges of her mind. But this was Wesley—proud, reserved, a man to whom humor felt foreign—and the sweat beading his forehead looked real enough.
She gently dabbed the moisture away. “Would a massage help p>
Wesley managed a weak nod. She positioned herself behind him, lifted his arms, and worked her fingers along the tense muscles of his back. He surrendered to the sensation, eyelids drifting closed. His damaged heart had stolen countless nights of sleep, leaving him perpetually exhausted; only discipline since the surgery had aided his recovery, and the doctor had insisted emotional stability mattered.
Gabriela’s touch showed professional skill, each movement calculated to ease his discomfort. Then bitterness bloomed in his chest like a dark flower.
Gabriela didn’t have any romantic feelings for him.
When her palm pressed against his temples, his hand snapped up to capture her wrist. “Gabriela p>
He wanted to propose marriage, to promise her access to every dollar in his accounts. He remained seated while she stood above him. The overhead lighting carved shadows across his face, sharpening the angles that made Gabriela stop and stare. For the first time, she understood how devastating masculine beauty could be from this vantage point.