Chapter 21
They arrived at the mansion, and to Nicole's surprise, a strange sense of familiarity settled over her almost instantly.
It felt like coming home - a thought that startled her enough to immediately push it away.
She had no right to feel that way. This place was not her home, and it never truly had been.
Once Gabriel's parents were gone, she would be leaving the mansion for good.
Reminding herself of that was necessary, even if it stung.
As soon as they walked inside, Gabriel headed straight for the kitchen, most likely to keep the promise he had made earlier.
Nicole watched him disappear before deciding to go to her bedroom.
She had missed it more than she cared to admit.
That room had become her safe space, her small corner of peace in a house that often felt too large and too quiet.
She opened the door and paused. Everything was spotless, exactly the way she had left it.
The bed was neatly made, the surfaces free of dust. She walked into her closet and, only to find her clothes arranged just as before, untouched and perfectly in place.
The familiarity brought a faint ache to her chest.
Just then, she heard a knock on the door.
"Come in," she said.
The door opened, and Gabriel stepped inside.
"I came to let you know that I've ordered the chefs to make your donuts," he said.
"Thanks," she replied quietly, her voice soft and restrained.
"I'm going back to the office. If you need anything, give me a call," he added.
"Okay," she responded, keeping her tone neutral.
Gabriel lingered longer than necessary.
His eyes stayed on her, studying her in silence before he finally turned and left the room.
Once in the hallway, he stopped, his steps slowing as he debated turning back.
He considered going inside again, apologizing, trying to bring back the ease they once shared.
He hated the tension between them. He hated how distant she had become, how quiet.
This version of Nicole unsettled him.
She spoke less, smiled less. He missed the Nicole who used to sit with him in his study late into the night while he worked, keeping him company.
The Nicole who seized every opportunity to be playful, childish, and effortlessly funny.
That was the Nicole he had grown used to - the one he didn't realize he'd grown attached to until now.
Inside the bedroom, Nicole sat on the bed, lost in thought.
She wondered if her cold behavior toward Gabriel was truly necessary.
It wasn't who she was. Acting this way felt unnatural and exhausting, but she forced herself to maintain it.
Gabriel had made it clear where she stood in his life.
To him, she was nothing more than a stranger.
Nicole woke up late the next morning, her body heavy with exhaustion. She felt drained, and after a moment of reflection, she realized it was probably from the constant thinking she had been doing over the past few days. Thoughts had occupied her mind endlessly, leaving her mentally worn out.
She slowly dragged herself out of bed and headed to the bathroom to freshen up.
After straightening her hair and applying a light layer of makeup, she got dressed in an olive v-neck, long-sleeve asymmetric midi dress and paired it with brown gladiator sandals.
Once ready, she took a deep breath before leaving her room.
She hoped Gabriel had already left for work. The thought of running into him so early made her uneasy. But to her disappointment, when she reached the dining room, she found him there, seated and having breakfast.
"Good morning," she greeted softly.
"Good morning," he replied without looking up, his attention still fixed on his meal.
Nicole's eyes widened as she took in the sight of the breakfast table. Pancakes, fried eggs, bacon, muffins, French toast, hot chocolate, coffee, and juice were neatly arranged. It was far more than what they usually had for breakfast.
Did they make all these for her?
Her gaze slowly shifted to Gabriel as he wiped his mouth with a napkin, signaling that he was done eating. A question lingered in her mind.
Had he asked them to prepare this because of her?
Was this his way of apologizing?
But then another thought crossed her mind - she remembered how he didn't want her gaining weight.
Gabriel stood up and walked toward her.
Without saying a word, he leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before leaving the dining room.
Nicole froze for a moment, surprised by the gesture.
She hadn't realized how much she missed even the smallest form of physical contact with him until she felt his lips against her skin.
How did this man manage to break down her walls so easily, without even trying?
Shaking off the thoughts, she decided to stop overthinking and focus on her breakfast.
After finishing her meal, Nicole headed to the living room. As she entered, she saw Gabriel seated there, working on his laptop.
Seriously... wasn't he going to the office today?
The thought annoyed her. She didn't want to be in the same space as him, not when her emotions were already so unsettled. Deciding it would be better to leave the house for a while, she spoke up.
"I'm going out," she announced.
Gabriel lifted his gaze from the laptop, finally acknowledging her presence.
"Okay, but don't go too far," he replied.
His response made her pause. Instead of leaving the house, she changed her mind and headed toward the garden instead.
Once Nicole left the living room, Gabriel dropped his laptop onto the coffee table and leaned back, lost in thought.
He couldn't stop thinking about her. She looked beautiful in the dress she was wearing.
It wasn't tight or revealing, yet it fit her perfectly.
He noticed how deliberately she kept her distance, and it saddened him deeply.
He wished he could tell her the truth - that he hadn't been angry at her that day, but at himself. That he didn't understand what he was feeling, nor did he know how to express it. Fear had held him back. Fear of rejection. Fear of confronting emotions he wasn't prepared to face.
Letting out a heavy sigh, he picked his laptop back up, attempting to focus on work. It was pointless. He called for a maid and asked if Nicole had gone out as she said she would. To his surprise, the maid informed him that she was in the garden.
He dismissed the maid and went to his bedroom, where he had a clear view of the garden.
Curiosity stirred within him. He wanted to know what she was doing.
But was watching her the right way to find out?
Wouldn't it be better to simply go out there and join her?
He contemplated it, but fear held him back. He was scared of her reaction, scared that any attempt at conversation - especially an apology - would only deepen his guilt. The mental torture he was already enduring felt overwhelming. He didn't want to add emotional pain to it.
So he stayed where he was, watching her quietly from the window.
Nicole had brought a magazine with her to the garden, hoping it would serve as a distraction. After flipping through the pages absentmindedly, she placed it beside her and stared off into the distance.
"You can't have feelings for him, Nicole, because he will never feel anything for you. He only needs your help, and you need the money," her subconscious reminded her relentlessly.
"I just hope I can learn to forget about him," she whispered softly before picking up the magazine again and pretending to read for the umpteenth time.
Gabriel was still watching her when a knock sounded on his bedroom door.
"Come in," he said, turning away from the window.
The door opened, revealing his administrator.
"Sorry to disturb you, sir, but I came to inform you of your parents' arrival."
Gabriel was surprised. He hadn't expected them so soon.
"Okay, I'll be down in a minute," he replied.
"If you'll excuse me, sir," the administrator said, about to leave, but Gabriel stopped him.
"Inform my fiancée of their arrival," he instructed.
"Okay, sir," the administrator replied before leaving.
Gabriel took one last look at Nicole in the garden before stepping away from the window. A quiet hope settled in his chest.
He hoped everything would go fine.