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?

acting

Whether he listens to me or not

3

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

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

your grandfather’s painstaking efforts! I don’t want it destroyed at my hands!” Tobias said in a low voice. He was trying his

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

know, Dad. But you better focus on bringing Bryce and Nellie back. The Jones family has now offended Westley even more. I can try to talk to him.

can do it. I believe

teeth. It was useless to

all, Westley didn’t trust her. Tobias had

to you later.” Gabrielle hung up and looked outside

the city lit up the night sky. But for the first time, she felt she had been

her off to Westley, and he would never treat her like his wife. She was just a scapegoat for everyone. As soon as Nellie would be back, she would have no home. She could not imagine going back to the Jones after

poor and lonely she would

orphan and living in an orphanage was much better. At least there she wouldn’t have been used like

okay?” Ronin asked, looking at her

could roughly tell what the conversation had

up. She had always been a gentle and kind-hearted girl. If Bryce hadn’t acted so ridiculously, her life wouldn’t have

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

be back in a moment.” Ronin

She climbed to

back. He rushed toward the car and tried

muffled and alarmed. Gabrielle rolled down the window and looked at him calmly. “Ronin, you can take a taxi home. I’ll drive to Vineyard Villa myself. Don’t tell my mother. I

said anxiously, scared of what might happen to

that she would not go to Vineyard Villa, but that she was mentally unstable and she could meet

and I know what I’m doing.” Gabrielle turned the key and drove off, leaving Ronin holding his