Lock You In My Heart

Video call?

It was not something that Gabrielle would want to do—to have a video call with Austin. She still had the hideous scar on her face. She didn’t want him to see it.

But if she wouldn’t do the video call, Austin would be more worried about her. If he’d come to Bangkok, things might only get worse.

“Please let me have a look at you. Let me see you.” There was a long pause. Austin felt sad that Gabrielle was taking the time to respond to him.

Gabrielle finally spoke. “Look, Austin. I just got up. I haven’t even washed my face and combed my hair. I can’t let you see me like this. You’d be horrified.” She thought that this would be an acceptable reason for her to refuse Austin’s request.

And it was. Austin stopped insisting on a video call.

He also thought of what Westley had said about what happened the previous night. They were exhausted, Westley told him. That was the reason that Gabrielle woke up late.

Of course, this only made Austin feel more miserable.

“Okay, we can have the video call when it’s convenient for you,” Austin said resignedly. He had acquiesced to Gabrielle’s argument.

Maybe he should wait for another day. Maybe then, Gabrielle would be willing to do the video call. She was in Bangkok at that moment; he was in Antawood. The distance between them was tens of thousands of miles across the seas. It was impossible for him to see her even if he wanted to.

If it were up to him, he wouldn’t give up so easily.

“Austin, I sent a parcel to Grandma. See to it that she gets it soon after you receive it. Also, tell her that we are okay here. Thank you, Austin,” Gabrielle said. Her tone was happy and light.

“You don’t have to thank me. It’s not really an inconvenience to give the parcel to Grandma,” said Austin.

Gabrielle was glad to hear that. “Just the same, I’ll have to thank you. Listen, I have to go now. I have to go downstairs now to look for Westley.”

“Gabrielle, you really have to take good care of yourself. You should also have a real good time,” said Austin, still not wanting to hang up the phone.

do that,

“Bye.”

and let out a

door opened. Westley entered the room carrying a tray of breakfast

Nonetheless, it was the first real meal

with your phone call?” Westley asked

here. I was about to go downstairs to have it.” One look at Westley and she could recognize jealousy on

a rarity and I am so blessed to have you.” Westley put the tray on the small table. He then looked at her, appreciating her sensitiveness to

knew how awful it was for him that his jealousy

dumplings here,” Gabrielle said quizzically as she looked at the food that Westley brought

nicely set on the tray

aroma of the food was wafting through the air. She wanted to dig in and

you.” Westley thought that she really wanted

the room is starting to smell like vinegar. I

hand on his forehead. Was

ng jealous?

my rival.

love. He never will be. He’s just a friend, nothing more,” Gabrielle assured him. She then took

a point that he would believe that there was more than friendship

forget that Austin is my cousin. Yours, too. Despite that, he likes you,” Westley said in

in mind. But you must understand that it’s you that I like. It’s you that I love. You have to trust me when I tell you that Austin is just a friend. Anyhow, you can’t forbid me to have any male friends just because we are married. That will be so unfair to me, Westley,” Gabriel said as she looked at

should know that she couldn’t give up friendships

wasn’t willing to sever her ties from her past. This was

cupped his wife’s face in his hands. He smiled at her sheepishly. He couldn’t help it. She said the very words he wanted to hear. It was him—only him—that she liked and

words that