By the time Gabriella returned to the villa, dusk had already settled in. It was winter, and the evening sky was streaked with an orange hue, dazzling and brilliant.An aromatic scent of the delicious food drifted throughout the villa, and distant, innocent voices echoed from the room as Ash and Lynn played with each other. The place was brimming with such life that Gabriella knew she had made the right choice.After she parked her car, she walked through the door and took off her coat. A maid said, "Dinner will be ready at 6:00 pm. Mrs. Lund, should Mr. Lund take his dinner downstairs or up in his room?"Hearing the word "Mrs. Lund" threw her off a little. Instead of correcting the maid, she thought it over and said, "I'll head upstairs and ask him. Serve dinner at 6:00 pm."Gabriella didn't climb the stairs immediately. She pondered a little before she took some monetary gifts out of her handbag, each of them worth five thousand dollars. She passed it to the maid and said, "Dis
It was 4:00 pm, and Gabriella was sitting in a dim, shabby room in a detention center at Brindlewood. The layer of dust on the chair was thick enough to write on. Beyond the iron-barred window, a series of footsteps could be heard from the hallway further in, followed by the sharp clinking of the silver handcuffs.Moments later, Gabriella sat across from the prisoner. She looked at the lady she once knew through the glass partition, but she could barely recognize her now. Violet had changed a lot. She was very skinny, her body nearly shriveled. Her hair was brittle, and her skin had lost its moisture due to a prolonged lack of care. By now, she had lost all traces of her former elegance, making her indistinguishable from the many female prisoners in there.Gabriella stared at Violet, who was looking right back at her. All of a sudden, Violet asked the prison guard, "Can I have a cigarette?"He was about to snarl at her, but Gabriella chimed in gently, "I brought her some. Plea
It was a call from a detention center. Gabriella guessed that it must've been Violet. So, she signaled for Xavier to get into the car first while she answered the call. An officer's businesslike voice came over the phone. "Ms. Harper, we're calling on behalf of Ms. Johnston. She's requesting to meet with you. Do you have the time for it?"Gabriella thought it over and responded, "I'll be there at 4:00 pm."She ended the call and stepped into the car, embracing its warmth. A thermos was handed to her. Looking up, she saw Xavier's arm and took the thermos, her voice detached as she spoke."Who's the patient here? Me or you? It's apple cider with vinegar, isn't it?"Xavier asked, feigning curiosity, "How did you know?"Gabriella opened the thermos and took a sip. "I'm not a patient. Why did you make me this?"He responded, "It helps with digestion and immunity. I want you to live to the ripe old age of 100, so you can be with me for the rest of your life."Gabriella was at a loss
That was the catch with all wealthy guys. Landon was in his 30s. There was no way he was still a virgin. On the contrary, he must've slept with countless women. Thalia had heard stories about his sex life, and the last thing she wanted to do was get involved with him. Otherwise, disaster would follow.Turning around, she left, walking alone in the snow. Eventually, she stopped at the bus station outside the hospital and waited for about ten minutes. Only when her cheeks and nose turned red did she get onto the bus she needed to take.As the bus rumbled down the street, a black Rolls-Royce Phantom pulled out of the hospital compound—Landon was behind the wheel.He was focused on driving and didn't notice the bus driving past him, let alone Thalia. Afterward, they headed off in different directions.A week later, Thalia went south with her aunt.…Xavier was discharged in the middle of December. It was nearing New Year, and he had to deal with some crucial matters in the company.
Xavier couldn't help but kiss Gabriella again, his voice ever so tender. "You're gonna have to hop off the countertop yourself. I think I tore my wound."She was completely out of her mind when she heard that. His recklessness came with a cost—His wound was torn wide open. He had to be rolled off to the operating room for four more stitches. Yet, it was nothing for someone as thick-skinned as Xavier. He got to kiss Gabriella, and that made it worth it.Jerome and Rebecca rushed over to the hospital. When Xavier was rolled back to his ward, she was at an utter loss for words. The nurses merely giggled when they heard what happened. In the end, Gabriella was the only person who was taken advantage of.Once Gabriella was sure that Xavier was fine, she packed her stuff and got ready to leave. After the stitches, he was in a fantastic mood, and his eyes were brimming with tenderness. Rebecca gave him a nudge. "Aren't you going to make her stay? Ladies tend to be more sensitive, and s
As Gabriella walked in, a few snowflakes still clung to her shoulder, and a chill lingered on her. Slowly taking off her jacket, she hung it up and entered the villa with the snacks.Then, she called Ash and Lynn over, who rushed over and sat in the dining hall. Growing up in a wealthy and refined family, they were graceful and composed as they ate, never rushing or wolfing down their snacks.Gabriella sat next to them, keeping them company with a warm grin on her face. As Lynn swallowed a bite of her cranberry muffin, she told Gabriella what she saw."Mom, Ash and I were leaning against the windowsill when we saw Fred. Dad struggled to get out of bed, but he stood by the window to look as well. He seemed mad."We're worried sick about him. Will he die like on TV if his wound on the belly splits open?"Die?Gabriella couldn't hold herself back from saying, "Your dad was almost a goner."Lynn blinked briefly before turning sideways and whispering to Ash. "Dad almost died."Ash n