Chapter 161

I reached out and tapped Gabrielle on the forehead.

“I know you’re crazy about me. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been the first one to rush over when everything went south. After I lost my memory and had nothing, you still stayed by my side, and you’re telling me you don’t love me?”

Gabrielle rolled her eyes, but after a beat, she mumbled, “As long as you know.”

Her tone was quiet, almost drifting. “You have no idea how much it hurt when you got married…. never mind, forget it. If I keep talking about this…”

She stopped mid-thought and leaned in, sniffing around me like a hound.

“What are you doing? You smell like a dog,” I said with a laugh.

Gabrielle huffed, clearly annoyed.

“I know what happened! You went to Alicia’s birthday party, which I could live with, but then Frederick went and announced to everyone that you’re his god-sister. And on top of that, he said you and Aria are like real sisters! What the hell is that about?”

I wasn’t sure what exactly had set her off. Was she mad that Frederick declared I was his god-sister and didn’t tell her first? Or was it something else?

I had no choice but to try and explain. “I didn’t know about it either. He just suddenly said it in front of everyone, I was just as surprised as you."

“That’s not what I’m talking about!”

Gabrielle cut me off and pinched my cheek. “You’ve barely known Aria, and now you two are like sisters?”

So, that was what she was jealous about…

I sighed and gently took her hand away. “Alright, don’t get worked up. He was just talking. You really think anyone could replace you? Come on.”

Gabrielle clearly didn’t buy it. The more I talked, the more upset she seemed to get—this time for real.

“You always do this! Saying whatever you think I want to hear. You used to say I was the most important person to you, but after you got married, I kept making compromises. We barely spend time together anymore, and Jonathan, he still-”

She suddenly cut herself off, as if she’d said too much.

“Forget it, it’s all in the past. No point digging up that mess now,” she muttered.

My eyes flickered, and something in my gut told me Gabrielle was definitely hiding something.

“Gabrielle, is there something you’re not telling me?”

“I don’t know anything!”

She immediately turned her back on me, sounding annoyed.

“Anyway, I’m not believing a single word you say anymore! If there’s really nothing going on between you and Aria, then why would Frederick say you two are like real sisters?”

I let out a long sigh. “Are you seriously jealous right now? Yeah, I’ve been spending more time with her lately, but there’s no way we’re closer than you and me."

“Really?” Gabrielle finally turned around, looking at me with a hint of suspicion.

“Of course it’s true!” I raised my hand like I was taking an oath. “If I’m lying–”

“Ugh! Forget it!”

She quickly reached out and covered my mouth. We looked at each other, then both burst out laughing.

“You’re acting like I’m some cheating jerk who lies to you all the time.”

“And you’re making me look like some clingy ex throwing a fit.”

We used to talk like this all the time. Once things were out in the open, it always blew over.

Gabrielle sighed, her tone tinged with nostalgia. “If only we could’ve just stayed best friends.”

I looked at her, a little sad too. “Yeah… I don’t even know what I was thinking back then. If it were 18-year-old Elise, she’d never have cut you off.”

Gabrielle suddenly looked at me, her expression softening as she leaned her head on my shoulder, gently nuzzling me.

The gesture felt intimate.

Just then, the sound of slow, steady footsteps echoed through the hallway. I looked up, and there was Jonathan, staring at us with eyes like ice.

Chapter 162