Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan) novel Chapter 2610

He let the matter drop and returned to fixing the record player. “During the New Year, you said you saw a friend in the old town, but she had to leave suddenly. Was that Vivian?”

The mention of that time brought a soft ache to Sylvia’s heart. She nodded gently. “Yes.”

Because Grace had to leave unexpectedly, the three of them had missed the chance to connect. If she had stayed, they would have realized they all knew each other long ago. Perhaps it was for the best, she thought, as it saved them from an awkward reunion now.

Sylvia steered the conversation back to the task at hand. “What can I do to help?”

“What could you possibly do to help?” Gabriel retorted.

“Anything,” Sylvia said, then quickly added, “But don’t expect too much. Try to find something I’m actually capable of doing.”

A low chuckle escaped him. “I don’t need your help. Just stay out of my way.”

Sylvia gasped. “When have I ever gotten in your way?”

He shot her a cool glance. “Do you want me to list the times?”

Sylvia raised her eyebrows, then averted her gaze, looking slightly guilty. “No, that won’t be necessary.”

A faint smile touched Gabriel’s lips as he went back to his work.

True to her word, Sylvia didn’t bother him. She got up, wandered around the room, and picked a book from the shelf. With no chairs available, she slid down to sit on the floor, leaning against the wall, and began to read intently.

Every few pages, she would unconsciously look up, her eyes landing on the man focused on his task. Occasionally, he would glance back at her. The moment their eyes met, she would quickly look down, pretending to be absorbed in her book.

Sylvia jolted awake, instinctively reaching out and grabbing his pants leg, her eyes wide with alarm.

Gabriel frowned, the sharp lines of his face softening with a repressed pain. For a second, the woman before him became the little girl from seventeen years ago, cowering in a dark, damp cage, clinging desperately to his clothes.

His voice was uncharacteristically gentle. “I saw you were asleep. I was going to get you a blanket.”

As awareness returned, Sylvia immediately let go of him and looked down. “Thank you,” she said quietly.

When Gabriel came back with the blanket, Sylvia was already engrossed in her book again, her demeanor now tinged with a cool, polite distance. “You don’t have to. I’m not sleepy anymore.”

The sky was already darkening outside, and they could hear the cheerful sounds of people as the children finished their lessons and began to play on the lawn.