Chapter 53
Isla’s head was pounding painfully. It felt as if someone was striking her temples from the inside. When she tried to open her eyes, her eyelids refused to lift, as though they were glued together. Her throat was dry, and a faint sour taste of tequila lingered on her tongue.
Then the memories began to return, the crying, the shouting, and the endless full bottle of tequila she emptied into her mouth. She remembered how much she cried until she couldn’t breathe. She had wanted the world to stop spinning for just one night.
With a weak sigh, her hand rose to her face. Her fingers rubbed gently at her swollen eyelids before she tried again to open her eyes. This time, they obeyed. Her vision was blurry at first due to the full light.
When her eyes finally adjusted, she froze. She was not in her room. This was Gabriel’s bedroom. The realization made her chest tighten. She couldn’t remember how she got there, but seeing Gabriel sleeping right beside her gave her the answer she needed.
Landon must have called him last night.
Careful not to wake him, she slowly pushed the blanket aside and slipped out of the bed. Her body ached, her head still spinning slightly as she searched for her phone. When she couldn’t find it on the nightstand, she looked around the room until her eyes landed on her clutch bag placed neatly on the table.
She opened it and found her phone inside. Without taking it out, she closed the bag quietly. Every sound in the room, including her breath, seemed too loud. She moved carefully toward the door, determined to leave before Gabriel woke up.
But before she could touch the door handle, a deep, husky voice filled the quiet room.
“Where do you think you’re going, Isla. ”
Her entire body froze. Slowly, she turned around. Gabriel was awake now, his voice still rough from sleep, his gaze fixed sharply on her.
Isla’s expression hardened. She didn’t want to talk to him. She didn’t even want to look at him. But there were things she needed to make clear to him.
Gabriel sat up on the bed, rubbing his eyes briefly before swinging his legs over the side. Just like her, he was still dressed in yesterday’s clothes. His dark brown hair was messy, and there were tired lines under his eyes. He stepped forward, his bare feet tapping softly on the polished floor.
Isla’s electric–blue eyes, now rimmed red from all the crying, watched him coldly. The anger in her gaze dared
him to come closer.
Gabriel stopped about three feet away, reading the warning in her eyes. He wanted to reach her, to touch her, but something in her expression told him not to.
“Let me make something clear,” Isla said in a quiet, steady voice that trembled slightly. “Stay away from me. I’m not interested in whatever you have to say. We’re done, Gabriel p>
She turned toward the door again, trying to leave before the tears in her eyes betrayed her. Gabriel did not stop
1/3
her this time. He stood there, motionless, watching her in silence.
Her hand gripped the knob and twisted it, but the door didn’t move. It was locked.
She shut her eyes in frustration, then opened them again and turned back to face him. “This is no joke, Gabriel. Unlock the door now!” Her voice was firmer this time, commanding, but beneath that strength, there was
exhaustion too.
“Not until you let me take care of you… and explain myself,” Gabriel replied. His voice was calm, but the pain underneath it was clear. He closed his eyes briefly and ran a hand through his already disheveled hair, exhaling heavily. When he opened his eyes again, he continued, “You’re not leaving this room, Isla. Go inside, freshen up. I’ll get you breakfast. After that, we’ll talk p>
Isla pressed her palm against her forehead. The throbbing pain made her wince. As much as she wanted to scream, her energy was gone. She knew arguing with him would only make things worse. So she turned without a word and disappeared into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.
As soon as she was gone, Gabriel walked toward the door, pressed a code on the keypad, and unlocked it just in case. Then he sighed, rubbed his tired eyes, and left the room.
When he entered the living room, Magdalene was already there, setting the morning table. She turned around the moment she heard footsteps.
“Good morning, Mr. Wyndham,” she greeted politely, bowing slightly. “How is Mrs. Wyndham doing? I was worried about her p>
Gabriel managed a faint smile on his face. “Morning, Mag. She’s doing better. Is there anything to eat p>
“Yes, sir,” Magdalene replied quickly. “Breakfast is ready. Shall I serve it now p>
“I’ll take it to her myself,” Gabriel said. “ Put everything on the cart p>
“Of course, sir p>
Magdalene moved immediately. She poured the freshly brewed coffee into a glass carafe and placed it carefully at the corner of the cart. Then she arranged two porcelain cups beside it. She added hot donuts, because she remembered Isla loved them so much along with croissants, a Spanish omelette, sausages, and a few slices fruit. She also placed a small bowl of lemon water on the tray. Fresh chapters posted on ⓝovelFind.net
Gabriel thanked her quietly and pushed the cart himself back toward his room.
SOF
From inside, he could still hear the sound of running water. Isla was still in the shower. He left the breakfast cart near the bed and stepped out again, heading toward her personal bedroom.
He opened the door and walked into her walk–in closet. He searched through her shelves until he found what he needed; a light sundress, her underwear, and a cardigan. Then he gathered them carefully in his arms and returned to his room.
When he locked the door behind him, Isla was just stepping out of the bathroom. A towel was wrapped tightly around her chest, drops of water glistening on her skin.
Their eyes met for a brief moment. She froze, startled to see him holding her clothes. For a moment, there was
2/3
silence in the room.
Gabriel took a slow step forward and extended the clothes to her. Isla walked toward him and collected them, her fingers brushing his hand lightly as she did. But Isla was too angry to feel his touch.
So she didn’t react. Her face was calm, even distant. Her heart was too heavy to feel anything else. She turned. away silently and went to dress up.
Gabriel stood there, watching her disappear into the corner of the room.
Inside, Isla felt numb. The warmth of the shower hadn’t washed away the ache in her chest. Her body might have calmed, but her heart was still burning. She wanted to leave–leave Carminton, leave everything behind for a week or two–just to find herself again.
Florence
Florence is a passionate reader who finds joy in long drives on rainy days. She’s also a fan of Italian makeup tutorials, blending beauty and elegance into her everyday life.