Chapter 455
Chapter 455:
After a beat, he said quietly, “Go home. Rest. Tessa will be fine now p>
Gabriela closed her eyes for a moment.
When she opened them, her voice was calm.
“Tessa will never be fine. Women like her don’t ‘end up fine’ just because the police sign a paper and someone powerful snaps their fingers p>
𝗥e𝘢𝗱 𝘧ro𝗆 𝘆𝘰𝗎𝘳 𝗉𝘩𝘰𝗇𝗲 𝗈𝗻 g𝗮𝗅ոо𝘃𝗲lѕ.с𝘰m
Her shoulders lifted and fell.
His silence told her he heard it.
She didn’t look back again.
The door shut behind her.
Rebecca stood frozen in place, her hands clenched so tightly her knuckles had gone white.
When she finally spoke, her voice shook with anger she was barely able to hide. “Wesley, why didn’t you defend me just now? You know she hates me. She’ll say anything to turn you against me p>
Wesley leaned back in his chair, eyes cold.
“You will stay out of Gabriela’s way,” he said, each word measured and precise. “From this point forward, you won’t involve yourself in her life, Tessa’s life, or Haynes Group. Not directly. Not quietly. Not through anyone else. Do you understand me p>
Rebecca’s lips parted.
The finality of it hit her like a slap.
Her throat tightened. “Wesley… are you really talking to me like this because of her p>
For the first time since Gabriela had walked in, Wesley raised his gaze fully to hers.
“No,” he said. “I’m talking to you like this because of me p>
Rebecca’s heart steadied the moment she realized Wesley wasn’t swayed by Gabriela.
Tilting her chin with smug confidence, she leveled a superior look at Gabriela. “Miss Haynes, I won’t blame you for this, but take my advice — don’t pull such stunts again p>
Rebecca’s words slid past Gabriela, who kept her eyes locked on Wesley. “The evidence I brought is real. Do you honestly believe her over me p>
“She’s the woman I intend to marry. You were nothing more than a secretary I once employed.” His expression didn’t budge, and his eyes stayed ice-cold. “Of course I trust her more p>
At his words, the light in Gabriela’s eyes guttered, and she gave a small nod. “I understand p>
Experience told her she couldn’t afford to cross either the Moss family or the Howard family.
Wesley wasn’t wrong. Tessa had finally freed herself from that monster, and Gabriela knew she should let the matter go.
There was no way someone like her could stand against two powerful families.
Pivoting on her heel, she took long, purposeful strides out of the office.
When she reached the lobby, she ran into Brenden.
A flicker of surprise crossed Brenden’s face as he said, “Gabriela, what brings you here p>
Still weighed down by sorrow, she swiped a thumb across her damp lashes as his voice reached her. “Fancy seeing you here, Mr. Saunders p>
Concern gathered between his brows. “Hey, what’s with the tears? Did someone upset you p>
“No big deal. My eyes are acting up today.” Gabriela told a lie. “I only stopped by to sort out a few things with my former colleagues. I’ll be going now p>
Without lingering, she slipped out of Apex Group’s headquarters, heels tapping a quick retreat.
Something about it prickled at Brenden — this wasn’t as simple as it looked.
Years of dating had left him practiced with women.
He could tell that Gabriela was not being truthful. Heartbreak had carved itself across her face.
Brenden suspected that Wesley was the cause of Gabriela’s tears.
Without hesitating, he aimed for the twelfth floor, his stride long and clipped. Moments after driving Gabriela away, Wesley felt a vise-like pain clamp around his chest, twisting tightly until spasms shuddered through him.
His hand clutched his chest as he dropped hard onto the sofa.
Startled, Rebecca rushed to him, palm bracing his shoulder. “Talk to me — what’s happening? Do you feel sick? Don’t be upset about the stunt Gabriela pulled p>
Without warning, Wesley swung toward her, his eyes flat with frost. “I will never marry Gabriela p>
A small shiver crept up Rebecca’s spine under that stare, and she breathed, “I trust you p>
“Get this straight — keep sneaking around behind my back and I won’t choose you either,” Wesley said, his voice flat.