Husband With Benefits
Chapter 637: Missing

Chapter 637: Missing

A Few Hours Ago:

His grip on the steering wheel had made his knuckles white as he drove his car out of the woman’s house. Honestly, he was sick and tired of these games that Arabelle had played and Elena Winthrope insisted on playing. The audacity of that woman! She actually dared to try and contact Autumn and lead her on behind his back.

That woman really did think that she could control him because of Arabelle. Thankfully, he had Autumn now. So he was not that same blindly foolish Gabe.

He sighed and thought back to the conversation that he’d just had with that infuriating woman. At least he’d learnt something of importance.

Just looking at her smug face had made him want to turn back and leave, instead of the reason he was here. And then she’d said," I was expecting you. Though I thought you’d respond sooner." As if she knew him too well to know what he would do next.

Gabe had kept his expression neutral, refusing to give her the satisfaction of knowing how much she irked him. Without a word, he reached into his pocket, pulled out the USB, placing it on the table between them.

Her eyes had flicked to the small device, and he watched the hint of triumph in her gaze. "My patience is at an end, Elena," he said, his voice cold and measured. "I won’t take kindly to any more attempts to you trying to interfere."

Elena’s confident facade faltered momentarily. "Have you even watched the contents of the USB?" she had asked, a touch of confusion in her voice.

He felt the satisfaction then. She had expected him to come running for Arabelle. With a simple nod, he answered," Yes." and watched the disbelief on her face as she scrutinized him with eyes narrowed, "Did you watch all the way?"

"Of course, I did."

She paused then, stepping back. Cocking her head, she asked," And yet you are not here looking for her? Your beloved wife?"

Gabe’s jaw tightened, and he looked Elena straight in the eyes. "As far as I’m concerned, she is dead."

Elena’s eyes widened in shock. "You don’t love her anymore?"

"I will always love her in my heart," Gabe answered steadily. "But to me, she is dead. So, I will not look for someone who is dead."

Elena stared at him, stunned and speechless for a moment. The triumph and smugness drained from her face, replaced by a mixture of confusion and realization. "You... you really mean that, don’t you?"

"Yes, I do," Gabe replied firmly.

A bitter laugh erupted from Elena, her eyes glinting with a manic edge. "So, the saying that the Frosts love for life is just a bunch of hoax. You’re all full of lies! The reason you can’t be bothered is because you’re in love with your new wife. Typical man behavior, lusting after the new while forgetting the old!"

"Elena—" Gabe began, but she cut him off, her voice rising with each word.

"You’ve forgotten about Arabelle and moved on, haven’t you? It’s disgusting. Arabelle was foolish to believe you would only ever love her. You Frost men are all the same, pretending to be devoted.

Her rant grew more hysterical as she paced the room, hurling insults as Gabe stood there unmoved. Finally grabbing a small, locked diary from a nearby shelf, she hurled it at him. Gabe caught the leather-bound book instinctively as she continued to shout,"

"She left this for you," Elena spat. "But of course, you wouldn’t bother to check it."

Gabe glanced at the diary but made no move to open it. He could feel Elena’s eyes boring into him, her bitterness palpable. But he paid it no attention, simply warning her," I’ve said my piece, Elena. Don’t contact Autumn or me again, or you’ll regret it."

"You’ll be the one who will live with the regret. The regret of being so cavalier about my daughter’s death, Gabe," she hissed. "Especially when your new wife is gone with her stepfather..." She trailed off, a cruel smile curling her lips as she let the sentence hang, unfinished and ominous.

Gabe didn’t bother responding. He turned on his heel and walked out of the house, slamming the door behind him. The chill of Elena’s final words sent a shiver down his spine, but he forced himself to stay focused as he climbed into his car and drove away.

Gabe sighed as he slowed down the car. So, their doubts were confirmed. Elena had indeed been involved in the matter with Gregory Savoy. He glanced at the locked diary, tempted to open it. And yet it felt wrong to open it. As if it would be cheating on Autumn. He wouldn’t do it unless Autumn was around and only if she wanted it.

The hesitation in opening this diary made him realise his shift in loyalties and he sighed. They still needed to bring this to a permanent solution.

Suddenly, he felt something off with the car. He pressed the brake pedal, but the car didn’t slow down. His heart skipped a beat, and he pressed harder, but the car continued to speed forward.

"What the—" Gabe muttered, his hands tightening on the steering wheel. He glanced down, seeing that the brake pedal was completely unresponsive.

He shifted gears, hoping to slow the car down, but it had little effect. The car continued to speed along the winding road, and he could see a curve up ahead, knowing that once he was on the main road, then there was a possibility of him running into some other car.

With no other option, Gabe tried the emergency brake. The car skidded slightly, but it wasn’t enough to stop the momentum. He fought to keep the car on the road, but the steering suddenly felt sluggish, almost as if it had been tampered with as well.

Spying an underbush in the near distance, he braced himself for the impact as the car veered suddenly.. He tried to hold on, but the force of the impact threw him forward.

Pain exploded in his head as he was thrown against the steering wheel. The airbags deployed, cushioning the blow, but the force still left him dazed. The car finally came to a halt, the engine sputtering and then falling silent.

Gabe’s vision blurred, and he struggled to stay conscious. Blood trickled down his forehead, and every breath sent a sharp pain through his chest. He tried to move, but his body felt heavy, unresponsive.

As darkness began to close in, Gabe’s last coherent thought was of Autumn.

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