Chapter 16
Five years later, Gabriella walked through the Hanbridge Airport in a wool coat, her massive sunglasses hiding half of her face and concealing her emotions.
Only her swift footsteps betrayed the turmoil within.
Behind her, Stephen hauled a huge suitcase along.
“Hey, wait for me! Wait for me, Gabby!” Stephen didn’t even bother to lower his voice, but that clearly did not stop Gabriella from furiously marching on.
However, a man who passed her by stopped in his tracks.
He swiftly turned around with astonishment–he couldn’t believe his ears.
Was it another Gabriella, or was she really Gabriella Robinson?
Messy thoughts coursed through Alex’s mind. He couldn’t help but study her figure.
In their six years of marriage, they’d never taken a photo together. She had also thrown out her gifts to him and Lucas.
Back then, Alex had rummaged through the villa before finally giving up. He accepted the fact that she had removed all her traces before she left, leaving nothing behind for him to remember her with.
After five years without Gabriella, he nearly could not remember what she looked like. Hence, he didn’t immediately recognize her when they passed each other by. Stephen shouting “Gabby” reminded Alex of something. He stared at her figure and thought she resembled Gabriella.
Feeling surprised and delighted, he croaked in disbelief, “Gabby?”
Even after five years, Gabriella could immediately recognize Alex’s voice.
Alex Palmer, whom she was married to for six years, also gave her six years‘ worth of nightmares.
Gabriella paused in her tracks. Stephen could finally catch up with her, dragging that suitcase with him. He saw Alex out of the corner of his eye and rolled his eyes at the latter. Before Alex could react, Stephen had held Gabriella’s waist and led her out of the airport. “Gabby, don’t be mad. I’ve booked us a table at Savora. Let’s have a meal, shall we?” Gabriella was no longer angry at Stephen, especially after he had booked a table at her favorite restaurant. Still, she felt a little awkward and refused to let it go, but the fact she didn’t push him away proved that she had agreed to his plans.
The couple reached a tacit agreement to act like they didn’t know Alex and leave the airport.
Alex ran after them and was shocked at their interaction.
He belatedly realized that Stephen and Gabriella were in a relationship, and he had no idea whether to feel angry or sad. Before he could process the situation, his body had sprung into action.
“Gabby, wait for me!” Alex had wanted to stop Gabriella only to realize that she and Stephen quickened their In the end, the two broke into a run.
Alex watched them enter a car without a pause. After the doors shut, the car sped away, leaving him behind. His arms dangled by his sides; he looked defeated.
His business partner questioned through the phone, “Mr. Palmer? Mr. Palmer, are you still listening?”
When Alex snapped back to reality, his business partner had hung up.
That didn’t bother him too much. Scrolling down the phone screen, he dialed another number.
steps.
“Please look into Stephen Thompson’s movements over the recent years and what he has done. Let me know when he’d gotten into contact with Gabby.”
His assistant, Hector Becker, was confused by his sudden interest in Stephen Thompson.
Yet, Hector’s heart sank when he heard Gabriella being mentioned, and he immediately agreed to look into the matter.
Gabriella kept her movements a secret, but Stephen’s were not.
Alex had not found Gabriella after five years of looking around. However, three hours later, Hector had sent him all the information he needed. He skimmed over it.
