As soon as Gabriela stepped out of the house, regret settled in. She had come intending to dine with Alexander's grandmother, yet she left in disgrace without even seeing her.
She hadn't been naive about it. Lynda and Caitlin's presence was expected, along with their sarcasm and condescending remarks. She had prepared herself to ignore it all and stay composed, but in the end, she still couldn't hold on.
Pain lingered where the wine glass had cut her arm. Blood slid down slowly, dripping onto the pale stone beneath her feet, leaving scattered stains. Yet that sting was nothing compared to the ache inside her chest, sharp and unrelenting.
Lowering her gaze, she looked at her dress, damp and stained, and realized how much it mirrored her current state. Everything felt messy and ruined.
As if things weren't already bad enough, the situation only worsened. She spent nearly half an hour trying to book a ride, but no one accepted. Even the one driver who took the job canceled as soon as he saw her location.
By the time night fully set in, the fabric clinging to her body had turned cold in the wind. She pulled it closer around herself, though the chill had already seeped through. Walking along the empty road, she became painfully aware of how alone she was.
High up in the hills, the neighborhood was home to the wealthy and influential. From time to time, luxury cars passed by, their headlights briefly illuminating her pale face before leaving her in darkness again.
At that moment, one regret stood out. She should have listened to Lindsay and driven herself. Walking out of this place would take at least two hours.
Some thoughts were better left untouched. The moment she let them surface, the weight of disappointment pressed down on her, making it hard to breathe.
She thought back to the beginning of her relationship with Alexander. No matter where she was, he had always come for her. Rain or shine, he never failed. Now, when she needed him most, he chose to believe someone else and treated her with nothing but disdain. He had even told her to leave.
The memory took whatever strength she had left. She lowered herself to the curb and gazed ahead with empty eyes, wondering if every decision she had made had been wrong.
Nothing about it made sense. How had the man who once cherished her and promised to love her forever become like this? Had she done something wrong, or was this what marriage turned into over time?
At that moment, a car passed by, then slowed and reversed back toward her.
The door opened, and a pair of polished black shoes stepped onto the pavement, stopping right in front of her.
"Why do you always look like this whenever I see you?" His low voice carried a hint of amusement.
Slowly, Gabriela lifted her head. Under the faint streetlight, she finally saw his face clearly. It was the man from earlier, the one who had helped her.
Why was he here?
As if sensing her confusion, Asher spoke first. "I had business here. I thought I might be mistaken at first, but it really is you." His gaze swept over her briefly before he extended his hand. "Come with me. I'll take you home."
Gabriela's eyes fell on the hand he offered. Even in the dim light, it looked steady and refined. She paused, unsure of what to do. Her arm throbbed from the cut left by the glass, and the cold night wind made her teeth tremble. If she remained outside any longer, she did not know what could happen.
Besides, he had already helped her once before. Maybe she could trust him?
Pressing her lips together, she hesitated for a moment before placing her cold hand into his. His palm was steady and warm, and that simple contact eased some of the chill in her body.
With little effort, he pulled her up. She had been sitting there too long, and the moment she stood, dizziness rushed in, making her sway. He caught her immediately.
"Careful," he said in a low voice.
Once she regained her balance, she gently pulled her hand away and said, "Thank you." Her head lowered as she spoke. She didn't have the strength to maintain even basic courtesy anymore.
Asher gave no reply. Instead, he walked ahead, opened the car door for her, and waited.
Warm air filled the car the moment she stepped inside. The heat slowly chased away the cold that had settled into her, letting her breathe a little easier. Almost without thinking, she curled inward and hid her injured arm behind her, not wanting him to notice.
Asher still saw it, though he said nothing. He simply told the driver to drive down the hill, then grabbed a blanket and passed it to her.
In a quiet voice, Gabriela thanked him before pulling the blanket over herself from head to toe.
Silence settled inside the car, broken only by the soft hum of the heater and the sound of the tires moving along the road. Gabriela buried part of her face in the blanket, and as the warmth surrounded her, the tension in her body slowly eased. Exhaustion followed soon after.
Her eyes closed, yet the memories from earlier today refused to fade. One scene after another played in her mind, and the pain in her chest sharpened again. Without realizing it, she curled up slightly, her brows tightening.
Sitting beside her, Asher looked out the window. In the reflection, every shift in her expression was clear to him.
Even with her eyes shut, her distress was obvious. The tension in her face showed how hard she was trying to hide everything she felt.
He gave his knee a light tap with his fingers, then went still. What he could not figure out was this—if she felt so miserable, why would she not simply let herself cry?
And another thought followed. Did she really not recognize him?
At that, he turned and studied her openly.
Years had altered her so much he almost didn't recognize her. The little girl in his memory had been cheerful, with soft, round cheeks and a natural sweetness. The woman sitting next to him now appeared slimmer, more angular, and tired. Her chin was sharper, and faint dark circles rested under her eyes, as though she had gone without proper sleep for far too long.
Even so, he had known it was her the moment he saw her. If he could recognize her instantly, then why couldn't she do the same? Had he changed just as much?
