Lock You In My Heart

Chapter 23 I’d Rather Be An Orphan

Wendy arranged a driver to send Gabrielle to Vineyard Villa. She instructed him repeatedly to take her only there.

Gabrielle could tell why she was so erratic, She was afraid Gabrielle would run away.

“Ronin, stop the car!” Gabrielle urged the driver when they reached downtown.

Wendy had told Ronin not to let Gabrielle out of the car. She was rather stubborn. Wendy knew if she got out, it would be difficult to coax to get in again.

“Miss Jones, what is the matter?” Ronin asked in a low voice. He took a look at Gabrielle through the rearview mirror. She looked calm and composed.

Before Gabrielle could say anything, her phone rang. It was a call from Tobias.

She hesitated for a while, then answered the phone.

“What’s up, Dad?”.

She was in no mood to fake niceness.

“Gabrielle, have you reached Vineyard Villa?”

anxiously.

“We are just crossing downtown. It will take a while. Dad, what can I do for you?”

Gabrielle knew something was up. Otherwise, Tobias would never have called her.

“Our stocks are falling! It must be because of Westley. When you reach Vineyard Villa, can you urge him not to brutally drive us to a dead end? The Jones has brought you up. I know you are upset with your mother. But I can assure you once this problem is solved, such a thing will never happen again!” Tobias was a middle-aged man. He had never been humble, and was dragged into this trouble by Wendy. 4

Gabrielle was shocked to hear him. Their stocks were falling?

was acting

know why Westley did this. Whether he listens to me

3

felt desperate and helpless. Every second in this drama was causing harm

the only hope of our family! Who else can we rely on? We have raised you

Our business is the fruit of your grandfather’s painstaking efforts! I don’t want it destroyed at my hands!” Tobias said

humiliating that he had to beg Gabrielle for help. If the stocks hadn’t fallen too low, he would never have begged

bringing Bryce and Nellie back. The Jones family has now offended Westley even more. I can try to talk to him. If he doesn’t agree, I can’t help

can do it. I believe

his teeth. It

Westley didn’t trust her. Tobias had begged her

have to hang up now. I’ll talk to you later.” Gabrielle hung up and

lit up the night sky. But for the first time, she

for everyone. As soon as Nellie would be back, she would have no home. She could not

and lonely she

in an orphanage was

Ronin asked, looking at her sad

Tobias and could roughly tell what

and kind-hearted girl. If Bryce hadn’t

iced coffee? I need to drink something cold.” She looked at him with a somber expression. She could tell

in a moment.” Ronin

seized her opportunity. She climbed to the driver’s seat and

back. He rushed toward the car and tried to open the door. “Miss Jones,

“Ronin, you can take a taxi home. I’ll drive to Vineyard Villa myself. Don’t tell my mother.

can’t do that,” Ronin said anxiously, scared of what might happen

not go to Vineyard Villa, but that she was mentally

sober and I know what I’m doing.” Gabrielle turned the