Chapter 468

Chapter 468:

Loretta waved Stewart over with a warm smile. “Stewart, come here. I’ve got something to ask you p>

Stewart gave a quick nod, then turned to Gabriela. “Mind if I borrow something from you p>

Gabriela blinked, puzzled. “Borrow what p>

“This.” With an easy motion, Stewart reached out and plucked the gold tie from her ponytail.

In an instant, Gabriela’s glossy hair spilled down like a waterfall, catching the glow of the setting sun. For a moment, she seemed almost radiant, the kind of beauty that made the whole world pause.

Stewart’s throat tightened, and he swallowed hard.

𝖰u𝘢𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘵𝘳anѕ𝘭𝘢𝘁𝗶o𝘯𝘀 o𝗇

Suddenly, all the other women he had ever met felt like pale imitations, shadows compared to her.

Gabriela frowned, snapping back to herself, and reached for her hair tie. “What on earth are you doing p>

“Look at Loretta’s smile,” Stewart replied smoothly. “She clearly hopes we’ll end up together. Even if I don’t like you, it’s worth playing along to keep her happy p>

Something about his tone rang false, but before Gabriela could put her finger on it, Stewart had already turned on his heel, walking toward Loretta with the hair tie in hand.

Loretta’s face lit up as he approached. “You’ve spent half the day with Gabriela. Tell me, what do you think of her p>

Stewart’s gaze slid to Wesley, who stood nearby with eyes as cold as ice.

Their stares clashed, sparks flying in the silence between them.

Truth be told, Stewart had bristled at Wesley for a long while.

Both men were of the same generation, yet their paths couldn’t have been more different. Stewart had stepped straight into his father’s empire, wearing inherited prestige like a crown. Wesley, on the other hand, had carved his success from nothing but grit and determination, and his reputation had always burned brighter.

Stewart had known Gabriela first, yet her heart and gaze belonged to Wesley now.

He couldn’t quite fathom where he had lost the race.

At Loretta’s question, Stewart donned a bashful smile and toyed with the hair tie between his fingers. “Gabriela’s sweet and delightful,” he said with just the right amount of hesitation. “I really do like her p>

Wesley’s gaze dropped to Stewart’s fingers, and his knuckles tightened until his fists slowly clenched.

Loretta, oblivious to the storm brewing, beamed. “Gabriela is a fine girl. You’ve got good taste. Let me tell you, she’s easy to please—just a little p>

“Grandma.” Wesley’s voice cut through like a blade of ice. “It’s freezing out here. You should go inside. I need a word with Stewart p>

After telling Stewart to get along with Gabriela, Loretta left Wesley and Stewart alone and went back inside.

“Stay away from Gabriela,” Wesley said flatly, his tone sharp as winter frost. “Hand me the hair tie p>

Stewart smirked, deliberately dangling the golden tie before tucking it away. “Why should I? Gabriela gave it to me herself p>

Wesley tilted his chin, shooting him a sidelong glance dripping with disdain. “And you really think that means she likes you p>

That look made Stewart’s blood boil. He loathed Wesley’s air of superiority.

“How do you know she doesn’t?” Stewart snapped, slipping the hair tie onto his wrist like a trophy. “Do you even realize what this means? When a woman gives a man something so personal, it’s usually her way of saying she’s ready to take things further p>

Wesley drew in a long breath, his voice simmering with anger. “She doesn’t like you p>

He knew Gabriela’s heart too well. Just earlier, she had nearly broken down because of him. How could she suddenly be falling for someone else?

Stewart narrowed his eyes, biting back his fury, and sneered, “You’ve already got a girlfriend, yet you’re still trying to keep Gabriela under your thumb. You act like you’re above everyone, like the world ought to bend to your will p>

Wesley didn’t dignify the jab with a response. He turned and strode toward Gabriela instead. “Stewart isn’t right for you. Keep your distance from him p>

Gabriela scoffed at him. “Why? Is he seeing someone p>

She believed her personal life was none of his concern, especially now that he was on the verge of getting engaged to another woman.