Chapter 11
After all, Gabriel was still a man–he
couldn’t help but respond to Ruby’s teasing advances.
He swept her up into his arms and carried her upstairs.
The atmosphere in the room quickly turned heated and intimate. But just when things
were
about to cross the line, Gabriel suddenly let go of her.
“Rue, I’m not feeling well today. Let’s leave it for another time.”
With that, he got up, put on his clothes, and headed straight to the study next door.
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At that crucial moment, all he could think about was Violet.
Violet was shy about things like this–so different from Ruby.
He used to think being with someone like Ruby was more exciting, more fun. But now, he was starting to feel like Violet’s subtle, reserved reactions were more sincere, more real.
Ruby, noticing his hesitation, tried to take the lead–but he pushed her away without the slightest warmth.
“Rue, I just remembered there’s something urgent at the office. You should rest. Don’t wait up for me.”
Without another word, he buckled his belt,
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grabbed his clothes, and left the room.
Before Ruby could even react, Gabriel was already gone.
The next morning, Violet had just gotten out of bed when she saw a message from her father.
Her expression darkened slightly.
Though the couple at the Martins‘ estate were her biological parents, there was little affection between them. Aside from necessary occasions, she rarely went back, and her father hardly ever asked her to return.
As she stood there, lost in thought, Xavier wrapped his arms around her from behind.
“What’s wrong? You look upset so early in
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the morning.”
“It’s Dad” she said. “He wants me to come home.”
Xavier knew well that her relationship with her parents was strained–and even more so that they never truly accepted her.
“If you want to go, I’ll come with you. They won’t dare give you a hard time with me there.”
Violet turned and buried her face in the crook of his neck. “Xavier, thank you.”
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “If all I get is a ‘thank you, that feels pretty insincere. Tonight…”
Violet could already guess what he was implying. Her ears flushed pink. She
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clamped a hand over his mouth, warning him, “Don’t you dare say it.”
“I haven’t been back in a long time either,” she added. “We should probably bring something
with us.”
“I’ve got it covered,” Xavier said, catching her hand. “I’ll have my assistant take care of everything. You just go get dressed–we’ll leave once you’re ready.”
They were practically husband and wife now, so Violet didn’t refuse. She went to the walk–in closet and changed.
When she came downstairs in a soft apricot–colored dress, she saw the staff loading box after box into the trunk.
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“This is way too much. Anyone who didn’t know better would think you’re bribing them for marrying me.”
“We’re about to get our marriage certificate” Xavier replied. “It’s only right to bring some gifts to your parents. That way, they won’t dare look down on you.”
Violet didn’t really care about such formalities, but seeing how thoughtful he was, she didn’t object.
Just as she got into the car, Xavier received a phone call–something urgent had come up at the company and needed his attention.
“Go take care of it,” she said. “You’ve
assigned so many bodyguards to me–I’ll be fine.”
He leaned down and kissed her gently on the
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forehead, made a few quick arrangements, and then left.
Two hours later, the car pulled up outside the Martins estate.
“Ma’am,” Roy, the driver, asked, “should we bring the gifts in now?“.
“Yes,” Violet replied. “Bring everything inside.”
Bodyguards began unloading box after box. But the moment Violet stepped through the doorway, a shattered teacup flew past her and smashed on the ground in front of her. “So, you do remember how to come home,” her mother snapped. “I thought you’d already erased us–your family–from your heart!”
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