Chapter 454
Chapter 454:
Gabriela froze.
Her mind went blank for a moment, then flooded with anger.
“It ends now?” she repeated, her voice low and shaking. “Rebecca weaponized public opinion and nearly destroyed Tessa’s life. She dragged my company into her mess and fed me to a mob. And you want to say it’s over just because Tessa’s out of a cell p>
Wesley’s gaze remained steady, giving nothing away. “The situation has already been contained. There’s no benefit in escalating it further p>
Gabriela let out a soft, incredulous laugh. “No benefit for who p>
Her calm cracked. Rage flared hot in her chest.
“You think this is just a minor inconvenience?” she demanded. “Because of her, Tessa was nearly beaten to death. Because of her, I’m still getting smeared online as some home-wrecking manipulator. Because of her, GD pulled their contract with Haynes Group. Do you have any idea how many people that affects? How much damage that caused p>
𝗣𝘰pu𝗅𝗮𝘳 s𝘵o𝘳і𝗲𝘴 o𝘯
Her voice wavered at the edges, but she did not back down.
“And you tear up the evidence. Just like that. Like it doesn’t matter p>
Rebecca lifted her chin, composing herself, her voice adopting a silk-soft hurt. “Gabriela, I understand that you’re emotional, but taking legal action against me won’t help you. The deal with GD fell apart because of your own reputation. That has nothing to do with me p>
Gabriela turned to face her slowly.
“It has nothing to do with you,” she repeated quietly. “You expect me to believe that Fulton went from jail to full media parade status by coincidence? That paid mobs just magically appeared the day GD was preparing to meet with us? That reporters and livestream hosts coordinated themselves out of thin air? You really want to use that voice on me p>
Rebecca’s smile faltered.
Gabriela leaned forward. “You set Tessa up to be torn apart in public, and you tried to use me as the accelerant. You dragged the entire Haynes Group into your personal jealousy. Do you deny it p>
That last word hung in the air.
Rebecca didn’t answer.
Wesley finally spoke again, quiet but decisive. “Gabriela p>
She looked at him, her throat tight.
Without glancing at Rebecca, Wesley said, “You won’t be harassed again. Anyone who tries will answer for it. You have my word p>
Gabriela stared at him.
That was all?
Her pulse pounded in her ears.
“Your word,” she said softly.
It wasn’t gratitude in her voice.
It was disbelief.
Her gaze flicked down to the torn papers on his desk, then back up. “And what about her?” She held Wesley’s eyes. “What does she answer for p>
Rebecca felt her stomach twist.
Wesley paused. For a brief second, something darkened behind his expression.
Then, in a tone almost detached, almost casual, he said, “Rebecca won’t act against you again p>
Rebecca’s eyes widened. She turned to him, stunned. “Wesley p>
He didn’t look at her.
He didn’t have to.
It was a warning.
Gabriela let out a breath and gave a cold little smile. “So the solution is that I keep quiet, pretend none of this happened, and your fiancée promises to behave p>
She straightened.
“Understood p>
When she spoke again, her voice was even.
“I came here to inform you of something, not to beg for anything p>
She looked at Wesley, not Rebecca.
“I’m not dropping this. If anyone so much as touches Tessa again, or drags my name into it again, I’ll go public with everything. Every transfer. Every fake livestream. Every staged performance. I will make sure every last person watching understands exactly how this was orchestrated p>
She tilted her head slightly.
“And I’ll start by naming the one who hired Fulton p>
Rebecca’s face went pale.
“Gabriela,” she snapped. “You’re threatening me in front of Wesley p>
“No,” Gabriela said simply. “I’m promising you p>
Silence cut through the room.
For a long moment, no one spoke.
Then Gabriela gathered what remained of the torn paperwork from Wesley’s desk, piece by piece, as if she refused to leave them behind in his office.
When she turned to leave, Wesley’s voice followed her.
“Gabriela p>
Her footsteps stopped, but she didn’t turn.