Dark Revenge Of A Jilted Bride: Till Life Do Us Part!-Chapter 131: A Gift

Gianna hoped she didn’t still have the look of a woman panting for sex as Noah led her out of the garden.

She used her free hand, since Noah was holding the other, to pat her dress of creases, smoothing the fabric down repeatedly even though Noah had already taken care of that earlier, under Mason’s watchful eye.

The memory alone made her hold back a sigh, the kind that wanted to escape her chest without permission.

She wasn’t naïve. She wasn’t new to the love scene, or was it the lust scene, and so she knew that her boss wanted her, romantically.

Or maybe he was just trying to forget her, hard as that was, considering his cousin was dating her.

She hoped it was the latter. Truly hoped so. She wasn’t up to being dragged between cousins in a family. She didn’t want to be the reason for a family war.

Although she could sense the contention already, well, from the children.

The parents, seemingly, had no issues. And the contention was from Noah especially. He wanted to break out of the mold. Wanted to make something of his own.

And of course, she couldn’t blame him for that. She actually admired him for it, that hunger, that refusal to stay boxed in.

But seeing as he had already done that, considering his reputation overseas, and the fact that he had returned here to prove something... she was having second thoughts.

Only because Arthur might not like the rivalry. And Isaac too.

She wanted peace, not war. That, truly, was the summary of the matter.

And unless Noah would have some sit-down with his family, some form of agreement, especially with the jewellery company he wanted to open soon, there would be a family war.

She could see it brewing already.

"Where’s your mind, beauty?" she heard Noah murmur, his voice low, teasing.

She took note then, of the change in scenery. It seemed they were walking toward the back of the mansion, not into it. They passed the flight of stairs, rounded a bend of the mansion, and then she was greeted with another garden altogether.

Before she could fully process the beautiful, unexpected sight, she saw Isaac sitting on a cane chair under a huge tree with wide, generous branches.

He was in discussion with both Arthur and Levi, Noah’s father, who were also seated on cane chairs, leaning toward the patriarch with the deepest concentration.

She wondered what they were talking about, what kind of decisions were being shaped in low voices.

They stopped immediately once she and Noah got within hearing distance, a plastered smile appearing on their lips as though rehearsed.

"Gianna, my dear, I hoped you had an eventful night, a pleasant one nonetheless..."

Gianna gave a quick nod to Isaac’s statement, even as she wondered if he could see that she and Noah had been entangled in a web of lust just minutes prior. "Yes, thank you."

She held back rolling her eyes when Noah’s hand slipped around her waist.

He needn’t now show off every second, she mused, noting the amusement in Levi’s eyes, the quiet satisfaction there. Had he really wanted to marry off his son?

No pressure, she hoped, counting seconds until Isaac said why he wanted her here.

"I’m glad you did enjoy your dinner. Will you be staying back tonight? I’m sure arrangements have been made..."

Gianna smiled. "No sir, maybe another time?"

Isaac nodded slowly. "Of course. Send my regards then to your family, my old friend too. You know Edwards and I were close friends."

"Really?" Gianna said, pretending ignorance, even though she didn’t know what was expected of her from Isaac.

Was it some test? Maybe he wanted to know if she was close to old Mr. Thorne? One could never tell with these men.

"Yes. And I have a gift for him. Because I’m sure you won’t be able to keep my presence at the dinner away from them."

Gianna kept her face intact, her smile firmly in place, even though inwardly her brows had shot up. Had he been expecting her to keep it quiet? Didn’t he want his survival known?

But why? Why were they keeping it away from the world? Wasn’t he tired of being confined to the manor?

"I’m sure he will appreciate it," she settled on, not confirming or denying that she would keep his presence a secret from her family. Because truth be told, she couldn’t.

She watched as he lifted a leather bag from beside him, one she was only just noticing. It was a dark, rich brown, clearly handcrafted, the kind of leather that carried the quiet scent of wealth and age.

It wasn’t big, about the size of a large book, enough to fit into a laptop bag, but solid enough to suggest importance.

"Here. My regards, personally, to him."

Gianna accepted the bag respectfully with both hands, her curiosity piqued when she sensed there was some sort of case within it. "I’m sure he will appreciate it. Thank you."

"All right then. Noah will drop you off." A slight pause followed. "And again, welcome to the family."

Gianna gave a perfunctory smile, tilted her head in a slight bow, and wished him goodnight, him and the people with him.

"Don’t be scarce," Levi said as she turned to leave. "You can visit as much as you want. Maybe it will make this prodigal son come see his parents more often."

Gianna laughed, nodded, and allowed a smiling Noah to lead her away from the spot.

"You are surely not planning to visit more often, are you?" Noah asked as they walked toward the garage, which was just as large as everything else in the manor.

Gianna laughed. "What? Are you scared? Why don’t you visit your parents?"

Don’t you know you don’t have forever with them, she wanted to add, but clamped her mouth shut.

No need pouring her regrets onto the fellow.

If she could have had her parents back, she would have spent every waking day with them. She would have let them fuss over her like a child, as much as they wanted.

"I do visit them, just not as often as they’d like," he said, opening a car door for her.

It was a different car from the one that had saved them that day. She slid in but didn’t shut the door, looking at him, waiting for him to finish his thought.

He sighed. "I’m just busy with business and all. And sometimes, they can be overbearing."

Enjoy it while it lasts, she would have loved to say. Instead, she nodded calmly and faced ahead, exhaling only when he finally shut the door.