Entwined With the Villainous Guardian
Chapter 254: Patience Is A Virtue

Chapter 254: Patience Is A Virtue

"Mm..." Gabriella wetted her lips as she couldn’t get Melanie’s name out. It was stuck in her throat.

When Lionel’s eyes ended up on her lips, she held her breath and her eyes widened. She once again got stuck like when she was a teenager.

But she was able to fool him then. She had hopes that she can fool him now too.

"Get back! Why are you in my face?" she pushed him.

"Seat belt," Lionel said. He looked at her, confused.

"I can wear the seatbelt," Gabriella said trying to take control.

Lionel didn’t step back but allowed her to do what she said she will do. He watched her hands shaking as she tried to buckle the seat belt. But she couldn’t finish that simple task even after arduously trying more than five times.

"It’s...It’s...Why is it not buckling?" she shouted at the buckle.

Lionel watched her. His first instinct was to move. She would shout like this in the past and he usually leaves her alone after that with a heavy heart, thinking that she rejected him.

This time, he didn’t want to do that. He realized something; she is not mad at him.

In the past, after he realized his feelings for her, he would tease her like this at times. She would shout; not at him, but at something. When she shouted, he would infer that she was mad at him and would leave her be.

But she never was mad at him. Just like his heart pounds when he is near her, her heart pounds too and she gets nervous. In her nervousness, she’s being...cute... She hasn’t changed one bit.

How did he not see it before?

"Ah, there it goes..." Gabriella finally buckled up. "You’re still here!" she glared at him.

"I am," Lionel smiled.

He leaned closer to her face. She leaned back and her eyes widened.

"What did he do?" Lionel asked.

"Who?" Gabriella wetted her lips.

"Did he tease you? Did he kiss you? My twin..." Lionel’s eyes lit up with a smile. "You’re acting weird."

"Oh fuuck! You’re still on it, Nellie?" she hit his chest.

With a hearty laugh, Lionel backed off. He didn’t want to tease her anymore. Her head was turned away, but he could see that her cheeks were red. She grazed her fingers on her lips as if she remembered the little peck, they shared a few days ago.

"I should have waited for a cab," she mumbled.

Lionel got in the driver’s seat. "Your friendly neighborhood cab driver, at your service," he bowed placing his hand on his chest.

Gabriella bit her lips to stop herself from laughing. He’s Nellie, all right? Her most favorite person in this whole wide world—her precious Nellie.

"Where do you want me to take you, Madame?"

Gabriella’s smile vanished.

Ah, that’s right! She was planning on leaving.

"To... the railway station," she said.

She then picked up the thick stack of papers on the dashboard. "This is the script, right? I’ll try to finish it soon."

Lionel looked at her smoothening the folded edges of the rough draft with the curiosity she always has. His lips curved into a smile.

He started driving. She said to take her to the railway station. She didn’t mention which one. She has no idea where she should go.

Why do you want to leave, Brie? Don’t you know I will miss you?

He can see that she misses him just like he misses her.

He wanted to prove to her that she will miss him even if she thinks that keeping him away is the best decision for her. Only to prove that he didn’t disturb her for days. It’s not going to be easy to make her confess that she misses him, but he will give her what she wants—as always, he will be by her side.

"Can I ask you something?" Gabriella asked.

"What?" Lionel turned to her. He thought she had some doubts about the script.

"How did you...? Did Leander tell you?" Gabriella asked. She wanted to know. She had a feeling that Leander does not want her with Lionel. If so, why did he tell Lionel about her plans to leave?

"I got a text from his phone that you were leaving tonight. I don’t think it was he who texted me though," Lionel said.

The text consisted of far too many words to be sent by Leander.

"She had his phone in the evening," Gabriella smiled and leaned back on the seat.

So, it was Melanie... That girl... Why does she think that I am suitable for Lionel?

Lionel was a little surprised. Leander does not let anyone touch his phone. But is it a surprise that he allows his wife to use his phone?

Not much.

Lionel didn’t know if Leander had realized it yet or not. Leander is considering his wife as a part of himself. And it is good.

"Bellissima is... something, huh?" he mumbled.

"Why the nickname for her?" Gabriella asked. She doesn’t remember Lionel being so cozy with other women, especially Leander’s wife. He was under the impression that the woman he loves is in love with Leander. How did he end up liking his friend’s wife that much?

"Why?" Lionel raised his brows. "Are you jealous?" he leaned at her.

"Shut up!" Gabriella waved her hand. She would never get jealous for a stupid reason like this. And jealous of Melanie? No way!

Lionel focused on the road. "She was... honest and kind. Leander, that guy deserves real love for once, I thought, and she can show him what love is. That’s why I liked her."

"You are a very good man, Nellie," Gabriella said.

Of course, he wouldn’t want to sabotage his friend’s love just because his love didn’t succeed.

"Then, change your mind, Brie," Lionel wanted to tell her but he stopped himself. She is already in a very burdened state. He didn’t want to add to it by nagging her. He needs to play the game patiently. All he has is time.

Lionel smiled at Gabriella. She smiled and continued reading the story.

’You’ve researched well about the court case," she said. "Wouldn’t it affect your family’s friendship with the Kastello family? Would Leander even accept it? What if he gets angry at you thinking you are slandering him?" Gabriella asked.

He’s written everything as it happened. It’s going to open a can of worms. She still feared how the public will take it.

"You’re a romance writer, Nellie. You sell fairy tales. Why are you bothering with reality? It’s...so unnecessary!" she shook her head.

Lionel smiled. Bellissima told him this story because she wanted it out. She didn’t care about how it might affect him because she wanted the truth to be out.

He did not blame her at all. She has suffered that much and she wants closure. It’s only human nature. He knows that she loves him as a friend and cares for him.

But Brie’s reaction is different. Her love is different. She does not care about anything else, but him. He for sure knows that this is spousal love that would stop their spouse from doing something dangerous or stupid.

How can she expect him to move on from her if she shows him how much she loves him?

He laughed.

"Don’t laugh!" Gabriella hit his arm playfully. "I’m being serious here. Run your script through lawyers in any case. What if someone sues you?" She sighed.

She curled her lips and turned her face away.

"There are chips in the glove box," he said.

"Why didn’t you tell me earlier?" she pouted.

Lionel watched Gabriella reading page after page of the script seriously. She didn’t even realize that he had parked the car.

He watched her silently. There were many nights he spent with her in hotels where she read his scripts. But this time everything is different.

She is a free woman and he knows that she only loved him; she is still in love with him.

He was beyond joyful.

Gabriella went through the script. It was pretty interesting. But then she came to the place where there was the "big reveal".

"Oh my God, Nellie! This is.... Wow!"

She was astonished.

"Melanie told me just today that she sometimes wondered if Leona’s soul might have replaced Leander’s soul when they were in the fire. And you just... This is... Did you come across any proof?" she asked.

What Lionel wrote was so astonishing and yet there was a possibility that could have happened.

Lionel shrugged. "Not definite proof. But..."

"Wow!" Gabriella said again. She couldn’t find any other words to say.