Chapter 345
Chapter 345:
“Come in,” Wesley said, sitting on the bed and patting the space beside him. “Sit here p>
Gabriela settled next to him.
“You’ve been off today,” Wesley said, studying her closely. “Are you sick? Should I call a doctor p>
“No need,” Gabriela replied. “I just can’t sleep. Being alone at night feels unsettling p>
𝗣𝘰𝗽𝘂l𝗮𝗋 𝘀𝗍𝗼𝗿iеs 𝘰𝗻 𝘨𝗮𝘭𝘯o𝘃е𝗅s.с𝘰𝘮
Stewart’s bizarre comments had left Gabriela on edge, fostering an anxiety she couldn’t shake. For some reason, her nerves began to settle only when she was near Wesley, but she couldn’t bring herself to confess this to him.
His gaze softened. “Stay here with me, then p>
In Wesley’s arms, Gabriela felt adrift. She hesitated to open her heart fully, yet they had shared nearly every intimacy short of the final step. Listening to the steady beat of his heart, her racing thoughts began to quiet. Soon, exhaustion pulled her into a deep sleep.
The next morning, Wesley was in high spirits. Adjusting his sleeves before a full-length mirror, he said, “I’m off on a business trip today. I’ll be back in about a week p>
Gabriela blinked, surprised. “That long p>
“Missing me already?” Wesley teased, a playful glint in his eyes. “Don’t worry—I’ll be back soon p>
He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, then added her fingerprint to his condo’s security system. “If you can’t sleep, come here at night,” he said, his voice low and warm.
Gabriela blushed, his closeness stirring her. “Got it,” she murmured.
Seeing her accept his affection without pulling away, Wesley felt a quiet thrill. “Gabriela p>
She cut in, “You should go on your trip. We’ll talk when you’re back p>
Her words opened the door to possibility, a marked shift from her earlier flat-out rejections.
Wesley pulled her close. “Hold to that promise. Wait for me to come back p>
This time, Gabriela didn’t pull back.
“I will,” she answered softly.
She resolved to reveal the truth about her child when he returned.
If he embraced it, she would summon every ounce of her courage to overcome any hurdle to marry him. But if he recoiled, if he showed even a hint of disgust—she would slip away silently.
While Wesley was away in Athea on business, Gabriela’s insomnia worsened. Normally, sorrow passed quickly for her, but Stewart’s cryptic words had stolen her rest entirely. A simmering anger fueled her determination to unravel the mystery of six years ago.
She climbed to the attic storage room, a space untouched for years and crammed with old belongings. Marie had likely never bothered with them, leaving everything to gather dust for over a decade. All traces of Gabriela’s childhood remained—shoes, dresses, hats, rag dolls, and even old hair clips. Methodically, she began sorting them into tidy stacks.
In a corner, she discovered a pile of dusty books. Wiping away the grime, memories flooded back of her mother holding her close, reading bedtime stories. As she sifted through the pages, lost in nostalgia, a folded sheet slipped from the stack.
She unfolded it across a table, revealing a sprawling design for an undersea city model. Its lines were sharp and meticulous, reflecting a calm and steady hand. Detailed notes beside it outlined the construction steps. Two distinct handwritings caught her eye—one was unmistakably her own. The other was bold and forceful, carved deeply into the paper.
Gabriela froze, utterly stunned. She had no memory of this blueprint whatsoever.