Chapter 10 Supporting Her
Benjamin, protecting Chloe, hurried over upon hearing his eldest and second brothers talking.
“Zach, she was just asking for trouble! A good beating would’ve set her straight. So what if that driver is from the Zechman family? She just married into the family. Do you really think the Zechman family would stand up for her? Besides, the patriarch of the Zechman family is on his deathbed. Who would even care about her? We’ve done her a favor by taking her in. How dare she upset Mom and Chloe?” Benjamin was feeling quite indignant.
Recalling the resolute look in Gabrielle’s eyes, he couldn’t help but shudder.
In the past, she was always fawning over him. Now, she dared to show her temper, which left him feeling quite embarrassed.
“Even if we need to deal with her, it can’t be today! If that driver spills the beans and the Zechman family doesn’t pursue it, we won’t come out unscathed,” Zachary said rationally.
After all, he was the heir to the Seavers family, managing many of the family’s businesses. As a businessman, he naturally had a far–sighted perspective.
“Zach! She stepped on your glasses and broke them. How could she have the nerve to slap you? Zach, does it hurt? Let me blow on it for you,” Chloe said, her voice choked with emotion.
Tears streaming down her face, she crouched down to pick up the glasses that had just been crushed under Gabrielle’s foot.
Suddenly, her finger was cut by a glass fragment by accident.
“Ah, it hurts,” she whispered. As she pulled back her hand, a droplet of fresh blood pricked from her fingertip, the vibrant red blood seeping out onto her fingertip
Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked up. With a slight pout, she whispered, “It’s all my fault. I’m to blame! If I had gone through with the marriage, Gabrielle wouldn’t have fallen out with you all. However, why does she have to torment my brothers and mom, even if she despises me?”
As she spoke, her face turned pale, drained of all color. She stared helplessly at her injured fingertip, tears rolling down her cheeks incessantly.
Seeing her in such a state, they all felt a pang of heartache and immediately gathered around her.
“Be good. Stop crying! It’s Gabrielle who doesn’t know any better. It’s not your fault. Hurry up and bandage it!”
They all gathered around her, tending to the wound on her fingertip while simultaneously comforting her.
1/4
Marilyn sat stunned on the couch, staring blankly in the direction where Gabrielle had left. She felt as if she had lost her soul, her mind filled with the image of Gabrielle rushing forward to tear the emerald pendant from her neck.
After her emerald pendant was taken away, she felt a chill coursing through her body. She instantly lost all her energy.
“Mom, what’s wrong?” Zachary looked up, noticing his mother’s off expression. He quickly moved to sit in front of the couch, asking anxiously.
Marilyn redirected her gaze, her voice laced with worry. “Has she developed a grudge against us? She even took the bridal gifts. What if she refuses to leverage her connections with the Zechman family for us in the future?”
With that thought in mind, Zachary felt a vague but intense headache coming on.
He had just gone to discuss a project. Everything was going smoothly initially. However, as soon as the other party received a phone call, their demeanor changed drastically. They declared that they wouldn’t cooperate with the Seavers family.
For some reason, he vaguely felt as though he had been suppressed.
Over the years, although the Seavers family had offended quite a few people in the business world, no one would openly take action against them.
“No, she must return the bridal gifts. They’re worth a billion. Does Gabrielle think she’s entitled to take them? Those things were originally meant for Chloe.” Benjamin was furious.
Zachary, on the other hand, was much more composed. A deadly intent, tinged with bloodlust, had seeped into his eyes.
“Didn’t Zach secure a spot for her on the variety show? Once she’s on the show and the island, it’s up to you, Ben, to deal with her,” Felix said with a smirk.
As soon as his words fell, everyone fell silent, evidently agreeing to him.
Chloe lowered her gaze, unable to suppress a mocking smirk. Everything was progressing just as she had planned.
The Zechman residence.
The luxury car cruised leisurely along the extended cypress–lined avenue. The sight of century–old trees on either side of the road was a view to behold. The road seemed endless, yet at the far end, a vintage mansion stood tall and proud.
Outside the mansion, willow trees were planted. On one side of the artificial hill, there was a small bridge
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Chapter 10 supporting ner
for attention under the harsh sun.
“Mrs. Zechman.” The car door was opened, and upon seeing her, the housekeeper immediately bowed. respectfully.
Gabrielle gave a slight nod, then proceeded to walk inside.
Occasionally, she would come across a housekeeper. Upon seeing her, they treated her with the utmost respect, a stark contrast to the haughty Seavers family members who always seemed to have their noses in the air.
She hurriedly walked in, only to find the butler busily engaged with his duties, with no sign of Jonathan anywhere.
Clearly, when the driver mentioned that Jonathan wanted Gabrielle to head home for dinner, it was merely an excuse to send her back. As she thought about this, her mood inexplicably improved.
After she left the Seavers residence, her mood had significantly improved.
The Zechman residence was located in the southern part of the city, where the air was particularly fresh. She was about to ascend the stairs when she heard heavy footsteps behind her. Startled, Gabrielle quickly turned
around.
She saw Jonathan’s towering figure stride in from the outside. The man was dressed in a blue shirt, paired with well–fitted trousers, accentuating his imposing stature perfectly.
His shirt sleeves were rolled up halfway, revealing part of his arms. His visible veins indicated regular exercise which suggested he had a strong physique.
“Come over here,” Jonathan commanded in a deep voice when he saw her.
Raising an eyebrow, Gabrielle followed him toward the backyard.
Jonathan carried a box, placing it on the mahogany table. He then opened it and spoke in a low voice. “These are all medicinal herbs, over a hundred years old. I’ve only managed to find half of the items on your list. I estimate it will take a few more days to locate the rest.”
Gabrielle approached with a hint of surprise, looking at the medicinal herbs in the box. Most of them were century–old collections that couldn’t be found on the market. She delicately picked up a piece of ganoderma with her fingertips and brought it to her nose for a sniff.
“No rush. I have to attend a variety show tomorrow, and I’ll probably be back in about two weeks,” Gabrielle said before closing the box.
Jonathan watched her with a burning gaze as she was focused on the medicinal herbs.
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on a variety show?”
“Mm–hmm,” Gabrielle responded softly.
After a moment, she snapped back to her senses and quickly added, “Don’t worry. I’ll prepare these medicinal herbs. You just need to soak in them for half an hour every night. This should help control the rate of your poisoning. When I return from recording the variety show, as long as the medicinal herbs are ready, I can help you prepare the pills.”
She spoke in a refined and organized manner, not out of a deliberate attempt to impress or show off, making it a pleasant experience for the listener. There was no inclination to refute what she said.
“The variety show offered to you by the Seavers family?” Jonathan asked in confusion after she finished speaking.
From the information Keiran had gathered, it was clear that the Seavers family had been exploiting her, treating her like an unpaid laborer. They not only withheld her wages but also had her running errands everywhere.
She never truly participated in any shows. At best, she was only cast in minor roles like the fourth or fifth female lead.
For an entertainment company like Seavers Group, if they were genuinely promoting someone, they wouldn’t use this approach. Even an outsider could see that something was amiss.
“Yes. I signed a contract with them for eight months, and it’s due to end in half a month,” Gabrielle said with a soft chuckle. “They arranged a variety show for me, so I have to show up, right? If I don’t, I’ll have to pay a penalty.”
It wasn’t a matter of her needing the money at the moment; even if she had money, there was no way she would let them benefit that easily.
When Jonathan heard her words, his handsome face, as if sculpted by the heavens, slightly darkened. A glint of chill flashed in his eyes as he asked in a deep voice, “Do you need my help?”
