Chapter 116
The night view at Gabriel and Isla’s residence was breathtaking. It was even more than Isla had imagined. The entire mansion glowed like a kingdom carved out of starlight.
The fountain at the front sparkled like a cascade of diamonds, looking too beautiful.
Isla and Gabriel seated together in the golf cart, riding slowly around the massive estate. Just as he had promised, he showed her the entire estate.
Both of them were not speaking. Only the soft hum of the electric motor filled the silence between them. Isla’s head rested gently on Gabriel’s shoulder, her fingers wrapped around his waist, her soft hair brushing his neck each time the wind shifted.
Isla looked around in awe, her eyes reflecting the golden lights that adorned the paths. The vast greenery was her favorite part–the endless lawns, the rose garden, the rows of palm trees that stood like guards leading the way toward the pool.
Another is the pool–it was massive. Its glassy surface shimmered like liquid silver beneath the moon. Isla caught sight of it and smiled softly. “It’s perfect,” she whispered to herself.
What amused her most, though, was the helipad on the top floor. She had been utterly shocked when Gabriel told her. “Why on earth do we need a helipad?” she had asked earlier, laughing, only for him to reply, “For emergencies.” She had brushed it off, though deep down, she was still trying to understand the way Gabriel planned everything ahead.
Tonight, she wore a warm brown sweater over soft lounge pants. The breeze was colder than usual, and Gabriel had insisted she dressed warmly. The man could be overprotective, but it only made her heart swell.
“Is there anything you don’t like, love?” Gabriel’s deep, husky voice broke the calm.
Isla tilted her face up to look at him, her lips curving into a small smile. “Nothing,” she replied softly. “ Everything feels perfect. I couldn’t have asked for more.”
“Hmm,” he hummed under his breath. “Good. But if there’s ever anything you want changed, just say it. Anything, Isla. This is your home. It belongs to you too.”
His tone was warm, the kind that made her heart tighten in her chest.
The cart slowed to a stop in front of the grand front door. Gabriel stepped down first and turned to her immediately, stretching out his hand. Isla placed her fingers in his palm and smiled when he pulled her down gently.
“Welcome back, Mr. and Mrs. Wyndham,” Magdalene greeted with her usual cheerful grace. She stood in the doorway, her beautiful suit crisp, her tone gentle. “Dinner is ready. I’m sure Mrs. Wyndham must be famished.”
Isla laughed softly. “You’re right, Magdalene. I can’t wait to taste what the chef has cooked tonight.”
“Come,” Gabriel said, his palm settling lightly at the small of her back. His touch was protective.
They walked through the grand foyer, and when they entered the hallway to the dining room, Magdalene pushed the doors open for them. The sight before Isla made her
pause.
The table gleamed under a chandelier that hung like a crown of crystals. Silver platters were laid across the polished surface, each filled with elegant dishes. The rich aroma of garlic butter prawns filled the air.
For most women in Isla’s condition, that smell might be unbearable. But for Isla, it was heaven. She loved seafood–prawns, lobsters, anything that came from the ocean. Gabriel had remembered that.
She turned to him, a smile tugging at her lips. “You remembered my favourite?” she said softly.
“I remember everything about you,” he replied, and her heart nearly melted.
Isla sat down as Gabriel pulled out her chair. She began serving herself without waiting, unable to hide her excitement. Gabriel watched her, and he was quietly pleased. The joy on her face, the color returning to her cheeks–it was all he needed.
He had promised himself that this one week off from work would be different. He had cleared his schedule, cancelled his meetings just to take good care of her.
As they ate, silence settled between them. The clicking of cutlery was the only sound that filled the room. Every now and then, they looked at each other. Isla never stopped smiling.
And that was exactly how Gabriel wanted to be. For her to keep smiling. And he will make sure of it.
***
At the Wyndham family estate, it was a different ball game entirely.
John was in bed, his reading glasses perched low on his nose as he scrolled through a report on his tablet. Anna slipped into bed beside him, but her restlessness was unmistakable. She had that familiar look, the one she always wore before bringing up something unpleasant.
John sighed and set the tablet on his lap, knowing that she was about to say something. “What is it, Anna?”
Her lips tightened. “It’s about Gabriel and Delphine.”
John’s expression hardened. “What about them?”
“After that incident between Delphine and Sia,” she began, “that fight caused Delphine to lose her baby. She’s been suffering alone, John. It’s not fair. The poor girl needs support.”
“Support from who exactly?” He asked.
“Who else? From Gabriel. But he doesn’t care about her anymore. That’s not fair.”
John’s eyes narrowed. He had heard this before, Over and over. He knew Delphine’s game, her manipulations, her lies. There had never been a pregnancy. Everything was just a trap.
He said nothing, so Anna pressed on. “You should talk to Gabriel. He’s been ignoring my calls. And another thing -isn’t it strange that he’s giving all those new contracts to Charles Ainsworth’s company?”
John inhaled sharply, exhaling through his nose as he lowered the tablet completely. “Anna, can you leave my
son alone?”
Her eyes widened. “Excuse me?”
“I said leave him alone.” His voice was low, but it was serious.
Anna sat up straighter, anger flaring in her chest. “He’s our son, John. You can’t-”
“No,” he interrupted sharply, his voice cutting through her protest. “He is my son. And I want you to stay out of his business. Stay out of his marriage. Let him breathe.”
Anna’s mouth was still open. John had never spoken this harshly to her before. What is going on with him?
But John was not done. He leaned closer to her, his eyes burning into her eyes. “Gabriel is my son. Mine. And I’m warning you again for the last time. Don’t interfere in his life again. Don’t make me your enemy, Anna.”
Her breath caught. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. “Your son?” she whispered under her breath, confusion and disbelief flooding her face. “What does that even mean?”
But John had already turned away, putting his glasses back on and scrolling through his tablet as if the conversation never took place.
Anna sat frozen, staring at him. Her mind was spinning. He couldn’t have meant that. Right?
But a chill ran down her spine anyway.
Why does it feel like there is more to this matter? John must be hiding something from her. She promised herself to dig into it.
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.