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 too

why Westley did this. Whether he listens to me or not depends on his

3

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

our family! Who else can we rely on? We have raised you for twenty years, for

help us! Our business is the fruit of your grandfather’s painstaking efforts! I don’t want it destroyed at my hands!” Tobias said in a low voice. He was trying his best to hide

Gabrielle for help. If the stocks hadn’t fallen too low, he would never have begged her like

has now offended Westley even more. I can try to

you can do it. I

his teeth. It was useless to believe

Westley didn’t trust her. Tobias had begged

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

she felt she had

had married 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

lonely she would

to her being an orphan and living in an orphanage was much better. At least there she wouldn’t have

you okay?” Ronin asked, looking at her sad

Tobias and could roughly tell what the conversation had been

always been a gentle and kind-hearted girl. If Bryce

something cold.” She

a moment.” Ronin pulled up

climbed to the driver’s seat and

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

him calmly. “Ronin, you can take a taxi home. I’ll

Ronin said anxiously, scared of what might happen to

would not go to Vineyard Villa, but that

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