Betrayed By The Hero, Loved By The Lord
Chapter 71: Trouble in the market (4)

Chapter 71: Trouble in the market (4)

Gabriel trusted Oliver would spread the rumours well since he was desperate for money. Since he met Oliver, Gabriel never thought there would ever be a day when he would be useful, but the day had come.

In Gabriel’s opinion, Oliver was a fool to turn his back on Selene since she was the one who always helped Fiona. With her married to a nobleman, Selene could have helped them even more.

Gabriel didn’t have any plans to help Oliver after this since Xavier would go after the one spreading the rumour and he wasn’t going to warn Oliver about what was coming his way.

Gabriel couldn’t help but laugh at Selene’s coming betrayal. Aside from losing him, it was going to cut her deep to lose Fiona. Had Selene acted differently when she walked out of his home then maybe he would have stopped Oliver.

’Will this be enough to send her away?’ Gabriel wondered. He was confident there would come a time when Xavier would go back to his old ways and send Selene away.

Despite what Gabriel told Cassandra and his mother, he would invite Selene back to his home. Then she would be the one without status made to feel small beside him as he felt with her.

Gabriel didn’t make it far from where the crowd started to gather to hear the gossip before he was approached by his mother.

Lucinda hit Gabriel’s arm out of anger that it took so long to find him. "Why are you here of all places when I need you?"

"Mother," Gabriel grabbed her arm to take her to somewhere secluded.

"Do not be rough with me," Lucinda complained. She couldn’t have rumours that Gabriel treated her horribly.

"What is it now, mother? Where is Cassandra?" Gabriel asked, looking around for his future bride. "Don’t tell me that you left her all alone in a town she’s now getting used to. Mother!" He whined.

Lucinda wasn’t worried about Cassandra since it should be easy for someone of that age to go around the town. "Relax, Gabriel. I sent her to look at some other dresses. If she wanders off and gets lost then it isn’t my fault. What kind of person doesn’t know their way around?"

"One who isn’t from here," Gabriel argued.

He needed to find Cassandra fast before she was cornered by anyone. She was new and about to be his wife so many would take interest in her.

Lucinda grabbed Gabriel’s arm to stop him from leaving. "That is not important right now. That woman is here in the market. Selene.’

Gabriel stopped to listen. "And? I hope you did not approach her."

Lucinda bit her lip.

"You! You’re the one who wants me to forget her but then you go causing trouble. Mother, think. What will it look like to others to see you approaching her? Do not lie to me since I am most certain you went to her," said Gabriel.

Lucinda was offended he would jump to the assumption that she started it. "I am walking around to get what your future wife will need. How could you be so cruel to your mother to think I started a mess? I don’t like how you try to defend her."

Gabriel sighed. "I am not defending anyone. Now is not the time for me to clean up any mess you make. Whenever you get close to her, pretend that you don’t see her. That’s the best reaction."

Lucinda didn’t like it since someone needed to tell the town about Selene. "You’re letting her off too easily."

"Selene will have a lot to deal with soon so just leave her. I don’t need you to become a target for Lord Blackthorn. Since she’s around, let us get Cassandra and leave. I want it to be a nice quiet day," said Gabriel.

Lucinda didn’t see the reason they needed to leave. "We came here first so why must we leave? I don’t like any of this. Are you afraid to face her because of her husband or you might want her back if you see her?"

"Enough!" Gabriel raised his voice, gaining the attention of people who hadn’t noticed them before. "I am tired of you going on and on about her especially when you are in front of Cassandra. How do you think she would feel to see you care so much about the woman before her?"

"I don’t care for her-"

"Then stop speaking about her around the family I am starting. For someone who wants me to forget, you bring her up too much. She is married to Lord Blackthorn now so you must be careful with how you approach her. She already has something coming her way so do not go near her," Gabriel advised his mother.

"What is coming her way? You must tell me," Lucinda said, excited to know what Gabriel had planned. "You cannot say that and then not tell me more."

Gabriel touched his mother’s shoulders to calm her down. "You will hear of it soon but it is not good to speak of it here. People are listening all around."

"But we haven’t said anything wrong. Those creatures," Lucinda muttered, watching the vampires walk around. She would love it if they did as the old tales said and only came out at night. Why did the town need to be ruined by their presence?

Gabriel moved his hands from his mother’s shoulders and stepped away. There had been plenty of times when he wanted to remind her that he was also a vampire through his father.

Did she think he was more human because his mother was a human or deep down, did she despise him too? From a young age, Gabriel could never understand why his mother picked a vampire to marry and made a child with him when she hated their kind so much.

"We need to find Cassandra before something happens. I don’t want her to cross paths with Selene since she might not be able to defend herself. I will get the carriage and take you home," said Gabriel.

"Home?" Lucinda replied, puzzled by why she would be going home. "I am to go home with you two to help plan the wedding."

"I think Cassandra and I could do with a moment alone. There’s a lot for her to learn about being a lady and running our home but she needs a break sometimes and I don’t want her to feel overwhelmed. You should go be with father as well. Is your marriage fine?" Gabriel asked.

Lucinda let out a dry laugh. It was ridiculous that he was bringing that up now. "I am not the one with marriage troubles, son. Or have you forgotten you are moving on to your second marriage? I know when I am not wanted so I will find my way home."

"Mother, do not be like that. Let me take you home," Gabriel offered. An innocent question shouldn’t upset her like this. It was out of concern that he asked about her marriage.

Lucinda continued to walk away to leave Gabriel to think over how he was treating his mother. She was looking out for him and this was the thanks she got? He should be worried about what she would tell his father.