Lock You In My Heart novel Chapter 39

Gabrielle felt the overflowing concern that coated Lance's words. She knew that he cared about her very much, and although it moved her, she did not want him to worry.

This matter was only between the Jones and the Morris. It seemed unfair to entangle him in this charade.

"Mom is right, Lance. She asked me to get married, so they could gain more time to look for my brother. Otherwise, our family will be in ruins. Westley does have a formidable temper, you know. The Jones raised me, after all, so I don't want that to happen," Gabrielle replied calmly.

More importantly, she was willing to marry someone whom she did not like for the sake of Bryce. Even if she got bullied every day, she could hold down the fort and wait for him to come back.

Yes, she was silly; she silently berated herself.

Lance let out an exasperated laugh. He knew what she was thinking and that she was only pretending to be clueless.

"Gabrielle, I think the Jones wants you to catch all the blame and not look for Bryce! They do not have the time and patience to look for him. How many days has it been, yet there is no news at all. It is clear as day that they want you to marry Westley!" Sloane muttered discontentedly.

Gabrielle's earlier calm left her, and the smile on her face froze. She wanted to refute, but what Sloane said was almost the same as what she thought now.

Wendy had contrived for her to marry Westley and even drugged her.

It was enough proof to strengthen Gabrielle's hunch that they had no plans to look for Bryce and Nellie.

"Is that true? Did aunt frame you to marry Westley?" Lance looked at Gabrielle closely, finding for any inch of clue.

A trace of panic flickered in Gabrielle's eyes. She quickly defended, "No, don't listen to Sloane. She is merely exaggerating! Everyone in the family is trying their best to find Bryce."

"Who's exaggerating? Your parents want you to marry Westley and Bryce to Nellie. If that happens, then the Jones, the Morris, and the Collins will become related by marriage! Of course, the biggest beneficiary will be the Jones. Don't you see that it is one enormous trick devised by your parents so as not to offend both the Morris and the Collins?" Sloane fervidly explained.

She had been in a rich and powerful family for many years, so she was pretty clear about how devious rich ladies could be.

They could do anything absurd to scale their family's interests and reputations — precisely what Wendy was doing.

She wanted to seize Westley with one hand and hold Nellie with the other, pleasing those two affluent families in the process. But she could also offend them in the end!

The Collins alone was not easy to deal with, but Wendy was overly presumptuous to involve the Morris, too. 'Had she forgotten the very sound of Westley's name?' Sloane wondered.

"Sloane, it's not as bad as you said..."

"Are you planning on staying married to Westley?" Sloane's brows knitted, directing all her frustration to Gabrielle.

Gabrielle flinched and, for the first few moments, was rendered speechless. When she reminded herself that Sloane was sitting across from her,

waiting for answers, she quickly shook her head and said, "I have no plans."

It was the only thing she could think to say, and it was the truth. She would never agree to stay with a cruel and evil man like Westley for the rest of her life.

"What if the Jones can't get Bryce back? Will you still stay with Westley then?" Sloane's arguments were hitting all the sore spots. It was true that Gabrielle married Westley for Bryce, and they had agreed to end it as soon as Nellie came back. But what if they never return? How long would she have to sacrifice herself as Westley's wife?