Chapter 159

Chapter 159

Brian’s eyes held a depth that was intense and possessive.

Yet, just as he began to unbutton his shirt, a series of knocks on the door shattered the silence of the hospital room.

Annoyed, he grabbed the water glass from the bedside table and hurled it toward the door.

Silence fell outside for a moment.

But after a few seconds, Reid mustered the courage to speak, “Mr. Brian! Something happened

at the Howard Manor! Mr. Davis says you must come back right away!”

Interrupted for the second time, Brian’s mood soured considerably, and he ceased his

undressing, a frown knitting his brow.

Beneath him, Natalie covered her face, not daring to look at Brian as she caught her breath and whispered, “You should go back.”

Brian remained silent for a moment before pulling back the covers and tucking Natalie in snugly. He then lingered a comforting kiss on her forehead before reluctantly letting go.

He got up, slipping into another suit he had left at the hospital.

Natalie lay still, listening to the sound of his dressing and the click of the door closing behind him. After a while, she pulled the blanket from her face.

She and Brian had been impulsive. Her mind didn’t snap back to clarity until Reid mentioned

Davis.

Brian rushed back to Howard Manor. He spotted Gracia’s vehicle parked in the garage when he

exited the car.

“Mr. Brian,” the butler greeted him respectfully.

Brian gave a curt nod, redirecting his attention from the car.

As he stepped through the front door, peals of laughter echoed out from the living room.

Seated toward the entrance, Gracia was the first to see Brian as he walked in. She rose, her voice laced with surprise. “Brian, what brings you back so suddenly?”

Brian met her gaze without a word and walked toward the foyer slowly.

It seemed Davis had tricked him. There was no emergency at the manor after all.

“What did you call me back for?” Brian asked, his voice edged with suppressed anger as he looked toward Davis seated on the sofa.

“I just took a little trip to our neighbors and brought back some gifts for you and Gracia,” Davis

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Chapter 159

replied cheerfully.

With that, he signaled a servant to pick up a velvet box from the table and hand it to Brian. “Got a few pieces of top–notch diamond. What do you think? Should we make a bracelet for Gracia or some inlaid jewelry?”

It was an offer of a gift by proxy. Davis, though claiming the gift for himself, was putting the decision in Brian’s hands, pressuring him to court Gracia’s favor.

Brian’s brow furrowed in irritation, and after a few seconds, he replied icily, “Whatever she likes, make it according to her preference.”

“Look at me. I’m an old fogey indeed! Brian’s right. Gifts should suit the receiver’s tastes,” Davis said, seizing the opportunity to agree.

Brian detested this attitude, almost wishing he could drug Davis and lock him up with Gracia.

Glancing over, he caught sight of Gracia’s shy demeanor.

He once had found Gracia sensible, gracious, and proper. Inexplicably, she seemed different, off–putting even.

Even if that fan had acted alone in avenging Gracia by running over Natalie, and Gracia was innocent, the Wright family’s greed and vulgarity were enough to turn his stomach.

With that, his distaste for Gracia had manifested. Even a glance her way was nauseating.

After some silence, Brian turned to Davis again and said in a low voice, “Usually, I’d let it go. But at a critical point in an overseas company merger, you call me back for this thing? Business battles are no child’s play!”

The laughter and chatter that had filled the room abruptly ceased as everyone fell into an uncomfortable silence at Brian’s sudden outburst.