Entwined With the Villainous Guardian
Chapter 226: His Proposal

Chapter 226: His Proposal

Lionel closed the door behind him. He watched Gabriella walking to the bed. Wearing a comfortable loungewear, she looked very different from how he’s used to see her. Weirdly, he was uneasy being in a locked room with her.

He has long lost the anxiousness he felt some time ago. He was calm to be in front of her, looking at her face. He clutched the watch to his chest.

Lionel leaned on the wall facing Gabriella. With her head bowed, she was looking at the floor. The sunlight cast shaking shadows of the leaves that blocked the rays on her glowing face.

Although her silvery eyes cast a shadow of confusion on her face, her cheeks were rosy. "You look good," he said. It’s been a long while since he’s seen color on her bare face. She always used makeup to make her look like she even had an ounce of attachment to life.

"It’s like she said..." Gabriella looked up. "I... that watch..." she then scoffed with a wry smile. "Guess, fate doesn’t want us together."

Lionel, the romance scriptwriter was lost for words facing such a situation. He’s written few of such situations where the lovers were star-crossed. And he’s written clever retorts to such words.

What did he write again?

He couldn’t remember. He blankly stared at Gabriella. Maybe fate was cruel to them. If he knew that she was in love with him he would have done everything to save herself from such a fate.

He waited to see if she gives anymore explanation. He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

"I understand your anger for not asking you for help... But you should understand...I was in such a state that...."

"What state? You wanted money. I had money. What situation stopped you?" Lionel asked.

Gabriella shrinked in her seat hugging herself.

Lionel regretted shouting at her seeing her reaction. "Sorry, I didn’t mean to shout. I..."

"It’s fine..." Gabriella shook her head. She was not worried about that. She was wondering if she should tell the whole truth to Lionel.

She remembered Leander’s apology. And she saw how beautiful Melanie’s been smiling these days. Melanie might not know it but her happiness is very dependent on Leander’s happiness. And she knows how much Leander values his friendship with Lionel.

After staying in Leander’s home for all these days and spending time with Melanie... she is not even mad at Leander anymore. He did a great favor by freeing her from the contract. She wouldn’t have been able to stay there even for a day more.

"I felt like I needed to do something for myself...I felt lost then... All of a sudden, my world came crashing down. I was this orphan who was given the privilege to know a blueblood like you. But BOOM! I wasn’t even rich anymore. I thought... I lost the right to be with you. I thought you’d move on with your life... I should say, I didn’t think the contract I signed was that terrible until I lived through it..." Gabriella said.

Yes, she didn’t have another choice. But she still could have sought Lionel’s help. These were the reasons that stopped her.

"Money?" Lionel was stunned.

Yes, he knew that her brother stole all the money and left her penniless. But why did she think that her financial status mattered to him?

"Now that I look back, I can see how stupid I was... If only... if only I..." Gabriella buried her face inside her hands.

Lionel was distressed seeing her covering her face. "Did anyone from my family talk to you?" he asked. Why did she think her financial status mattered?

"No," Gabriella shook her head. "I’ve never met anyone from your family," she spoke the truth. "But, Nellie... Do you think I was suitable for your family? You are the heir to the Waldorf fortune. And who was I? And now the chasm between us has deepened further. That’s why we cannot~"

"Is our status the only objection you have for us to be together?" Lionel asked.

Gabriella’s eyes reddened seeing the pleading look on his face. He looked like he would beg her if she asks for it. But she has already made up her mind. She didn’t want to change it.

"I was talking about back then, Nellie. Now... now it’s just next to impossible..." she looked at him.

She was a penniless orphan then. And she thought she won’t be suitable for him. She now has "prostitute" added to that list. She can never become his wife or even his mistress. It’s impossible.

"Because of what...where you were staying for the past years? I made a life for me, Brie... I am not the heir to the Waldorf fortunes, at least not according to me. I am Nellie Yannis, a self-made director/producer. I decide who becomes my wife. Not someone else. And I know how to protect my wife from wagging tongues. Do you think I didn’t think about all that in all these years I was waiting for you?" Lionel asked.

Gabriella was stunned. Her heart that had been calloused because of all the wounds and scars softened hearing those heartfelt words. His words were like a soothing balm that eased her heart and yearn for something she always wanted—love.

How can she not be moved if the only man she loved with all her heart tells her that he will protect her and he wants her still, knowing what she has become?

What she has become...

Her senses dragged her back to reality. She cannot be swayed by his words even if he is honest. He might be able to do everything for her. But he will lose his respect while doing so. She cannot allow for that to happen to him. Not for her sake.

"You do not understand me, Nellie. It’s not something simple. Not just my mind, Nellie... these past years, I’ve faced a lot mentally and physically. I do not want to be with a man anymore. Certainly not in a physical way..." she shook her head as Lionel tried to say something.

"Before you say that physical intimacy is something you can live without, or if you think that therapy is going to help me...I still refuse. I do not want to be with you anymore. I would be happy if you leave me alone."

"Liar!" Lionel walked to her.

Gabriella gulped and sat hugging her knees. She did not feel good watching Lionel walking toward her.

"So, you don’t love me anymore?" Lionel asked bending to her level.

"No," Gabriella said with no hesitation. She lied a lot. What would one more lie do?

She saw the flicker of disappointment on Lionel’s face but then he calmed down.

"Find someone else, Nellie," she spoke in a soft voice almost like a whisper. The deepest parts of her soul was hurting and her mind was struggling to keep up the appearance of indifference. "Have a good life for my sake. Don’t make me blame myself for your unhappiness," she said.

This is the truth. She didn’t want him to be unhappy thinking of someone like her. She’s rather bear seeing him with another woman rather than knowing that he is despondent and alone.

He wanted him to be happy at least out of the both of them. Her life is over. She has few options left for her. She wanted the rest of her life to be quiet and uneventful. Lionel cannot give her that life.

"Who said I am unhappy?" Lionel asked raising his brows. He leaned closer to her face and she breathed out slowly to avoid takin in his scent. She won’t be able to bear it.

"Start an family, Nellie. You’ll like it once you see your kids running to you as you return... You won’t even remember me then. And you know what, I would be happy to see you with a family."

Lionel’s firm glance raised her heartbeats. She couldn’t handle his nearness. Clearing her throat, she tried to lean back. Whenever she’s with him she reverts back to that innocent teenage girl.

"Kiss me," Lionel said.

"What?" Gabriella’s voice cracked as she covered her chest out of reflex. What is he asking all of a sudden?

"Let me kiss you once. I’ll leave you alone afterward."

"What nonsense is this? If you want to leave me alone, you leave me alone. What’s with this indecent proposal?" Gabriella didn’t know what to do when faced with this trouble.

"A peck..." Lionel pinched his fingers. "One little peck on the lips. I’ll leave you alone. Tell me, Brie... Can’t you let me have at least this?"

Gabriella pressed her lips. If he puts it this way with his pitiful face, how can she refuse him?

She nodded. Her heart was pounding so hard and she had to press her chest to alleviate the pain. She was so nervous, her eyes got wider.

"Close your eyes. It’s weird if I have to..." Lionel pointed at her eyes.