Lock You In My Heart novel Chapter 53

"Gabrielle, what's wrong? Are you upset because of Westley?" asked Remy. He tried to make conversation with Gabrielle while he helped her prepare the stuff, in an effort to make her feel more relaxed.

"No," replied Gabrielle. "I'm worried about a friend of mine. She's currently in the operating room." Matters concerning Westley were of little importance to Gabrielle.

"Oh, don't worry. I'm sure your friend will be fine. I've never seen Westley lose control before. It seems like he cares a lot about you," said Remy. He wanted to help them feel closer to each other and minimize any misunderstandings between them.

It didn't matter if their marriage to each other was for show. It was still a marriage.

When compared to Nellie, Gabrielle was better suited the role of Westley's wife.

"You believe he cares about me? I don't think so. He hates my guts!" declared Gabrielle. "He forbade me to die as long as we're still married, because he couldn't stand to be a widower." Just the thought of Westley's unkind remarks infuriated Gabrielle. She couldn't believe he would dare to say such things. She resented him.

"Westley didn't want to be a widower?" asked Remy, inquisitively.

He was surprised that his friend had so deeply ruminated about such a matter. The thought of it brought a smile to his face.

"Gabrielle, Westley isn't as bad as you think he is. His only vice is being a little sharp-tongued and blunt. It is true that one has to be tough-skinned around him, for his words can cut like knives. But I promise you, he is incredibly kind-hearted and gentle," Remy implored. "He wouldn't give someone a second thought unless he cared about them," he continued. Remy knew his friend well. He couldn't help but share his thoughts with Gabrielle.

However, his efforts were in vain. Nothing he said seemed to be of any interest to her. "Dr. Remy, I know why you're talking him up to me. You're a good friend of his. It is your job to put in a good word for him. But you have to understand, my arrangement with him is simple and straight-forward. We are supposed to be divorced as soon as Nellie returns. Hearing about the niceties of his character will not change that," responded Gabrielle.

Remy opened his mouth to respond, but caught his words.

He didn't say anything further. It was their private matter, after all. Intruding could make things worse.

"Gabrielle, the disinfectant will sting a little when I press it to your wound. Please remain calm and try to endure the pain," said Remy, picking up the cotton ball soaked in alcohol with a pair of tweezers. He proceeded to clean her wound.

"It's alright, Dr. Remy. I can bare the pain," said Gabrielle. Gabrielle's petite appearance often misled others. Though she looked weak, her willpower was as strong as it could be.

How else was she to have born the suffering for all these years?

Remy admired Gabrielle's endurance. She remained calm and collected while he treated her wounds. An occasional bite of her lip gave away her pain.

"Gabrielle, the wounds have been treated. I've also given you a tetanus shot. Remember that the dressing on your wounds has to be changed and reapplied every three days. I will be at the Vineyard Villa, and will change it for you. Please make sure that the wound is not stained by water," instructed Remy. He took off his gloves and discarded them into the bin.

Gabrielle looked at her wounds. They were carefully dressed. She then looked up at Remy, uneasily. "Yes, I understand perfectly. Thank you," she replied. "Does my face look terrible?" she asked.

"Well if you care about your face that much, why did you fight the others? You were fearless in that moment," said Westley, sarcastically. His voice echoed from the door as he walked into the room.

Gabrielle turned around to see Westley making his way to her and immediately looked away. Her reaction was subconscious. She seemed to take no interest in his arrival.

She could feel the burn of the medicine on her face. A voice inside her mind reminded her that she looked dreadful with the gauze covering her face. Embarrassed, she could barely imagine looking at herself in a mirror right now.

Westley had always held a great prejudice against her. But Gabrielle was adamant that what she had done was right. How could she have not helped Sloane back then? How could she have stood there watching Sloane being bullied?

"Ah Westley, you're just in time. I've finished treating Gabrielle's wounds. She's going to be perfectly fine. Yo

u can take her back. She needs to change the medicine after three days. Do ensure that the wound is not stained by water," repeated Remy. He pretended not to acknowledge the tension between Gabrielle and Westley.

He had come to treat Gabrielle's wound. And now that he was done, there was no reason for him to stay longer.

He was confused why Westley had personally asked him to treat Gabrielle's wounds. There were many excellent surgeons in the hospital. Surely any one of them could have done the job better than him. The odd request made by his friend confused him.