Chapter 11
It was a full month after Cassidy’s disappearance before Gabriel noticed something was wrong
He had assumed she was merely playing some childish game of hard to get, but when he found he couldn’t contact her no matter what, he began to take the situation more seriously.
He called her former friends, but they all claimed they hadn’t seen Cassidy.
rritated, he hung up and went to his study, opening his computer to check Cassidy’s bank account information.
The screen displayed the transaction history of the black card he had given her–completely empty. She hadn’t used
t even once.
When she left, she had taken only her personal savings, never touching a penny of the Westbrook money.
Hmph, prideful,” he sneered, shutting down the computer.
She was obviously trying to make them come looking for her. Such a childish tactic wouldn’t work on him.
The next morning at breakfast, Ethan and Emma chattered about school while Natalie lovingly served them food. Occasionally looking up to give Gabriel a sweet smile.
The scene appeared harmonious, yet Gabriel couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing
Daddy, there’s a parent–child sports day at school next week. Can you and Auntie Natalie come?” Emma blinked er big eyes hopefully.
Of course,” Gabriel answered automatically, then paused. “Who… who used to attend these events with you? Was it ‘our mother?”
oth children simultaneously showed expressions of disgust.
It was her… but we never wanted her there!” Ethan pouted, his little face surprisingly cold.
All she did was stay home cooking and cleaning. She never even bothered to dress up. We hated having her come.”
Exactly!” Emma agreed. “Auntie Natalie always looks so pretty. All our classmates envy us!”
Natalie blushed modestly, pouring Gabriel a cup of coffee.
Gabriel, try this. I had the staff brew it exactly to your taste.”
Gabriel took a sip, his brow unconsciously furrowing–it was too sweet
Cassidy had always ground his coffee by hand, never making this mistake. She remembered he took his coffee
Chapter 11
without sugar, just a spoonful of cream.
“What’s wrong? Not to your liking?” Natalie asked with concern.
“It’s fine,” he set down the cup, ultimately saying nothing as he adjusted his cuffs. “I’m heading to the office.”
In the following days, the Westbrook household maintained a semblance of normalcy, but subtle changes were occurring beneath the surface.
Natalie had never done housework. After several attempts, she simply delegated everything to the servants.
Though the household seemed to function adequately on the surface, Gabriel and the children acutely sensed that something had changed–there were no more comfortable, freshly ironed clothes, no bedtime glasses of milk, no breakfasts carefully prepared to each person’s preference….
While they faced no major practical problems, the house had lost its former sense of warmth.
Until one night, Gabriel attended a business dinner, returning home well after midnight
He staggered to the sofa, dismissing his assistant with a wave: “You can go. I’m fine here.”
When the door closed, the room fell into silence. Gabriel rubbed his temples wearily, calling out instinctively:
‘Where is everyone?”
As the words left his mouth, he suddenly realized something was different about coming home today–there was no wall light left on for him, no steaming hangover soup waiting on the coffee table.
‘Martha? Didn’t I mention I had a business dinner tonight? Why isn’t anything prepared?” He dialed the servants‘ quarters, his voice stern.
Shortly after, Martha hurried into the living room, flustered.
I’m sorry, Mr. Westbrook. All those things when you came home late were always prepared by Madam herself,” Martha explained anxiously. “That’s why we forgot to have everything ready for you…”
And that hangover soup you mentioned… that was always Madam personally buying the ingredients and watching ver it for hours in the kitchen. She never let us help…”
If you’d like some, I can try to figure out how to make it now.”
Something struck Gabriel’s heart, and instantly, a strange emotion welled up inside him.
so all those comforts… had been personally prepared by her, bit by bit.
He had always known she cared deeply for their home.
3ut never until this moment had he felt such clear regret… even a sense that he had wronged her.
