Chapter 56

Phyllis faltered under the weight of Gabriela's unblinking stare, a twinge of unease threading through her simmering anger.

She had no doubt that Gabriela would make good on her threat and drag them both into hell.

"I'm perfectly happy with Dustin. We're getting married tomorrow-why on earth would I waste my time provoking you? Get over yourself," Phyllis snapped.

With that, she spun on her heel, retreating to her bedroom in a huff. She threw herself onto the bed,willing her pulse to settle.

She wanted a good night's sleep, hoping she would look breathtaking for Dustin the next day.

Once the door clicked shut behind her, Gabriela felt a heaviness settle over her. The confrontation left her utterly drained, not from fear but from years of enduring the same weary cycle.

Since high school, she'd stopped counting on Marie or Josh, clawing her way through every exam and tuition payment alone. She'd earned her degrees,carved out her career, and now stayed rooted in this place for one reason only-because she wasn't leaving without reclaiming the house that had been stolen from her.

Watching her mother's hard-built business fall into the hands of people she loathed was a humiliation Gabriela refused to swallow.

Josh might have promised to give the house back,but she knew Marie would guard it like a rabid dog.

And freeing her mother's burial plot from Marie's grasp-so her mother could truly rest-was another battle she had to win.

To accomplish all of that, she needed two things:money and the right allies. She swore to work harder than ever, chasing every opportunity until she had both.

But money took time to build, and tomorrow demanded her attention first.

The thought of Phyllis's smug little smirk made her want to show up dazzling, steal the spotlight, and watch that arrogance crack.

She'd already chosen her weapon: the gown she'd kept after attending a banquet with Wesley that night -a dress that had turned heads before, and would again.

Just as she reached for the gown to take it out for a fitting, her gaze drifted to an ornate box resting on the side table. Wesley had mentioned it earlier,saying it was a return gift from Brenden.

Though Gabriela had little interest in anything from Brenden,curiosity nudged her to lift the lid.

Inside lay a pristine white dress, paired with a necklace featuring a single ruby teardrop that glimmered faintly in the light.

A matching bracelet rested beside it, its fine craftsmanship hinting at a steep price.

The dress lacked the extravagant flair of the one from SK Elite Boutique, yet Gabriela decided to slip it on.

Its design was clean and understated, but when she saw her reflection, she was taken aback-the fabric draped over her with an effortless grace, exuding a quiet,refined luxury she hadn't expected.

Gabriela couldn't help but be impressed by Brenden's surprisingly refined taste.

Even more unexpectedly, he had remembered to prepare a thick coat for her this time.

Once she'd changed, her gaze lingered on the bracelet clasped around her wrist. After a moment's thought, she decided against wearing the new one from the gift box.

Then she composed a courteous message to "NotASaunders." "Thanks for gifting me this gorgeous dress, Mr. Saunders. The wedding begins at 5:30 PM tomorrow at the Deluxe Hotel. Can you get there on time?"

Her message vanished into the chat without a reply.

Gabriela's certainty faltered. Brenden was unpredictable at the best of times-would he even bother showing up tomorrow?

Playing it safe, she logged into a rent-a-date site,wired over a three-thousand-dollar deposit,and booked a strikingly handsome young man who seemed like a reliable choice.

After picking up a tailored suit for Brenden, she was left with barely six thousand in her account.Watching her savings dwindle by half again made her chest tighten with regret.

···

Before long, the house buzzed with noise as Josh and Marie returned, brimming with cheer while putting the final touches on the wedding preparations.

Thankfully, Gabriela had been smart enough to reserve a hotel room. She told Josh she had work to wrap up and slipped out.

Marie shother retreating figure a frosty glance and muttered, "Phyllis's wedding is tomorrow, and Gabriela can't be bothered to help at all-just how ungrateful can she be?"

Josh's thoughts drifted back to the heated fight between Gabriela and Phyllis, replaying each accusation Gabriela had thrown. He parted his lips to speak, but shut them again.

He still couldn't say who was truly in the right. It was better to keep the two of them apart than risk another blow-up.

That night, Gabriela let go of her worries and slept more peacefully than she had in days.

By the time she stired the next morning, the sunlight was already streaming across the room. Her energy felt completely renewed, the sparkle back in her eyes.

Realizing it was already noon, she rushed through her wash-up, smoothing her hair and freshening her makeup until she looked effortlessly polished.

A sudden knock broke the quiet. "Miss Haynes,the styling team you booked is here. Should I send them in?" a hotel attendant called through the door.

Gabriela blinked, momentarily thrown.

Last night, she'd chosen the cheapest single room they had-just eighty dollars a night.

Yet somehow, the staff had upgraded her to the penthouse suite, claiming the first ten new guests each day received complimentary premium service.

She had thought it odd at the time, but now the situation felt downright suspicious.

When the stylists swept inside, arms laden with cases of cosmetics, the scene felt almost unreal. They were the very team responsible for Claire-the reigning goddess of the entertainment industry.

At their head stood Annie Wright, her warm smile lighting up the room. "Well, Miss Haynes... looks like fate's brought us together again."

After exchanging pleasantries, Gabriela let Annie and her team get to work, still a little dazed by the turn of events.

For more than two hours, the stylists moved around her in a flurry of quiet efficiency before finally helping her into the white gown and fastening the ruby pendant at her throat.

Under the soft lighting, she looked even more breathtaking than she had on the night of the banquet, and Annie couldn't help showering her wvith praise.

When it came time to slip on the matching bracelet,Gabriela shook her head.

Annie tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her eyes Gabriela brushed it off with a flimsy excuse."I'll have a coat on anyway, so no one will even see the bracelet."

She certainly couldn't admit that she didn't want to take off the plain, unassuming bracelet already on her wrist.

Annie let the matter drop. "WVell, there's a natural elegance to your wrists. This bracelet may be simple,but on you, it looks effortlessly stylish."

The compliment warmed Gabriela more than she expected.

She'd been faintly annoyed that Wesley's year-end gift had been nothing more than an unremarkable bracelet, yet hearing genuine admiration for it stirred an unexpected flicker of joy.

Annie kept her own observation to herself-that the ruby pendant at Gabriela's throat was worth millions and would outshine everything in the room.

Whether or not Gabriela wore the bracelet was irrelevant.

Once the makeover was done, Gabriela saw the team off,headed downstairs for a quick meal, and pulled out her phone to message Brenden, asking when he'd be there.

His reply still hadn't come, yet an unexpected calm settled over her.

If he had arranged for the styling team to be here,he surely would show up.

And even if he wouldn't, she had a contingency ready.

Her hair was styled into a chic, effortless updo that lent a fresh, youthful air to her poised elegance.

The moment she stepped out of the car, a ripple of surprise passed through the onlookers-several failed to recognize her at first and leaned toward one another in hushed speculation.

"Who is she? She's breathtakingly gorgeous. Did the Haynes family hire a celebrity guest?" "No clue. We'll find out soon enough."

Without so much as a glance at the murmuring crowd, Gabriela glided toward the entrance of the Deluxe Hotel.

Josh had taken over the entire venue, and a gleaming row of luxury cars lined the driveway.

By the doors stood a towering wedding portrait of Phyllis and Dustin.

The couple were stationed at the entrance, smiling as they welcomed arriving guests.

But the moment Gabriela neared, Dustin's eyes locked on her, and his confident grin faltered,the smugness slipping from his face.