ude mmed the phone down, his frustration palpable as he tried to reach me again, only to find my phone still off.N?velDrama.Org copyrighted ? content.


    He stared at a photograph he had pushed aside on his nightstand, his brows furrowed in concern. "ire, don''t you dare die out there. If anyone''s going to be the death of you, it''s going to be me." I floated in mid-air, chuckling awkwardly.


    What terrible thing had I done to him that he''d rather see me dead by his hands?


    Then came a knock at the door. "ude, I''ve picked out a few gifts for Gabrielle. Can you help me decide which one she''d like?"


    My body was unfound, and there was Kate, eagerly positioning herself, acting like thedy of the house at every turn.


    "Just pick something," ude said dismissively, barely ncing at the gifts Kate had prepared before shutting the door he had just opened.


    Kate followed him, a touch of sadness in her voice as she said, "I''ve invited some prominent figures to Gabrielle''s birthday dinner tonight."


    Hearing this, ude abruptly stopped. I expected him tosh out at Kate. But he didn''t. The anger in his eyes fizzled out when he met Kate''s pleading gaze.


    "She doesn''t like big fusses," he said, calming down.


    Kate quicklytched onto his arm, cooing, "It won''t be a big deal, just a small gathering, a little mingling. That''s all. You know how these elites are, always looking for a way to connect with you, especially when they''ve gotwsuits hanging over their heads." ude frowned slightly but held his tongue.


    It struck me how differently ude treated people.


    When I had begged him to save


    Richard, he refused, citing his exorbitantwyer fees, which I couldn''t afford. Later, I discovered he was the mastermind behind the trap that got Richard jailed. At the moment, I was curious how he''d respond to Kate''s proposition.


    Perhaps sensing ude''s hesitation, Kate added, "I''m only trying to pave the way for you tond more big clients so you can achieve your goals sooner." ude responded, "Go ahead and n it."


    That was the most shocking part for me. ude agreeing was one thing, but what were his goals? It seemed I never really knew him, or perhaps I was never meant to.


    Beaming, Kate presented a pair of sapphire pendants, saying, "These stand for good fortune, a gift from my mom to yours. And look, I also picked out an embroidered dress, custom-made a month in advance for Gabrielle''s birthday. Isn''t it lovely?"


    She babbled on, but ude''s gaze was on me, floating in the air. If I didn''t know any better, I''d think he could see me, making me quite ufortable.


    "Kate, go to the family estate and check on my mom. I need to stop by the hospital."


    Was he going to check on the pregnancy? What was the point? The baby was already gone.


    "Alone to the estate? But I heard Max Hilton, the youngest brother in Gabrielle''s family and the key figure in the Hilton family, will be there.


    He''s elusive and unpredictable


    rarely seen, and known for


    his


    ruthless business tactics. I''m a bit scared."


    ude pinched the bridge of his nose. "Just say you''re my fiancée. He won''t give you a hard time. Besides, he always sends his gifts but never shows up in person. This year will be no different." With that, ude grabbed his keys and left.


    Before I followed him out, I saw Kate angrily toss the sapphire pendants onto the couch and then quickly check to see if they were damaged.


    At that moment, I realized Kate was as desperate for Gabrielle''s attention as I had been for ude''s, both of us willing to demean ourselves for just one more nce their way.