Chapter 33: Invitation

"Haaaa." Gabriel let out a long sigh before inhaling deeply, his chest rising with a contented breath. A soft flush bloomed on his cheeks as he stretched his arms above his head. "God, what an amazing morning! I can’t remember the last time April greeted us with such perfect weather."

Anna offered a quiet smile, the gentle curve of her lips tinged with warmth.

She hadn’t expected Gabriel to join her for a walk—she had secretly hoped Madame Anaïs would accompany her instead. But when Mrs. Garrel was suddenly struck by a migraine, it was Gabriel who stepped in, and now the two of them strolled through the estate gardens alone.

She didn’t really mind. Even after all this time, there was still an underlying awkwardness in Gabriel’s presence, but she had come to appreciate his companionship. He had proven himself to be a loyal and steadfast friend, and there was something comforting about having someone so effortlessly reliable by her side.

Since Gabriel was still finishing his studies, he often found himself with an abundance of free time—though, in truth, most of it was spent scheming ways to avoid more lessons and business training. Spending time with Anna had become a welcome distraction for him, and, in a way, for her as well.

"Do you think your grandmother will be all right?" Anna asked, her gaze drifting over the vibrant spring garden that framed the Garrel estate in a lush embrace. "Spring is always a difficult season for her. The constant shifts in weather seem to toy with her blood pressure, too."

Gabriel chuckled, running a hand through his unruly mass of heavy curls. "You sure care about my grandma a lot. It’s... kind of adorable."

Anna shot him a pointed look. "Of course, I care about her! After everything she’s done for me, how could I not? It’s only natural."

Gabriel laughed again, the rich timbre of his voice carrying through the crisp morning air. "You know, I think it’d look a lot more natural if my family had just gone ahead and adopted you. Grandma already treats you like one of her own, so..."

He paused as he caught the fleeting melancholy in Anna’s expression, realizing—too late—the weight of his own words. Ugh, what an insensitive moron. He inwardly berated himself, shaking his head in quiet disapproval.

"By the way," he said, hastily changing the subject, "I heard you and Grandma talking about your departure. I didn’t realize you’d be leaving so soon."

"Soon?" Anna echoed, tilting her head slightly as a wistful tone crept into her voice. "I suppose it might seem that way. But I have a goal to reach, and the longer I stay idle, the more anxious I feel."

Gabriel scoffed, his reaction louder than he intended. "Idle? You? That’s ridiculous!" His voice carried enough force to make Anna flinch. "You’ve been working non-stop for months. Are you sure it’s a good idea to jump right into the next thing? Maybe you should take a break first—go on vacation or something."

Anna couldn’t help but chuckle. For all the mischief Gabriel stirred up, she had come to see him as someone who cared deeply, someone whose concern for others was always genuine, even if wrapped in teasing remarks.

"I don’t think I’d be able to enjoy a moment of rest until I’ve accomplished what I set out to do," she admitted. "It’s just something I have to see through."

Gabriel let out a dramatic sigh, his lips pushing into an exaggerated pout. Amused, Anna reached up and tousled his unruly curls, offering him a reassuring smile.

"Don’t worry about me, Gab," she said softly. "I’m no longer the weak, faint-hearted woman you met all those months ago. I’ll be fine."

He huffed, looking away. "I need to find a way to convince Grandma to send me with you when you leave," he muttered under his breath.

Anna arched a brow. "What was that?"

But Gabriel only sighed again, shaking his head. "Nothing," he mumbled. Then, after a beat, he met her gaze, his voice quieter, more sincere. "I just got used to having you around. I’ve really enjoyed spending time with you."

"Aren’t you sweet." Anna reached for his hair again, but before her fingers could tousle the unruly curls, Gabriel caught her wrist. His grip was gentle, but there was something different in his gaze—a quiet intensity that darkened his deep blue eyes.

"I’m serious, Chloe."

Anna stilled, startled by the sudden shift in his voice. But before she could respond, the low hum of a car engine broke through the silence between them. Both instinctively turned toward the driveway as a sleek black BMW pulled up to the entrance of the Garrel estate.

"Whose car is that?" Gabriel muttered, watching as the vehicle came to a smooth halt. But before he could speculate further, Anna’s expression brightened, and a delighted gasp escaped her lips.

"Violet!"

She nearly ran to the woman stepping out of the car, enveloping her in a warm embrace. Violet returned the hug with just as much affection, a laugh spilling from her lips.

"Ms. Dumas, long time no see! You look wonderful," Violet said, stepping back to take in Anna’s refined appearance.

"I haven’t seen you in months," Anna pouted, crossing her arms. "How come you stopped checking up on me?"

Violet sighed, looking a little guilty. "I’m really sorry, but those were Mrs. Garrel’s orders. I didn’t have much of a choice."

Anna’s irritation faded just as quickly as it had come. "It’s alright, I understand."

Violet’s concern returned. "So, how have you been? How are your eyes? Is everything okay?"

Anna nodded, her smile widening. "Yes, I’m perfectly healthy. My vision is great, too."

"That’s a relief," Violet said, though her gaze flickered away awkwardly, as if there was something left unsaid.

Anna hesitated before carefully asking, "Is... William here too?"

As expected, the answer wasn’t what she wanted to hear.

"I’m afraid not," Violet replied, her tone edged with apology. "He’s been swamped with work. The company, the charity foundation—it’s all consuming his time. We’re almost ready to launch, so he barely has a moment to breathe."

"Oh..."

Anna hadn’t expected anything different, yet the familiar pang of disappointment settled deep in her chest.

William hadn’t contacted her in months, and she had convinced herself that she’d grown used to his absence. But that wasn’t true, was it? She missed him—more than she wanted to admit, even to herself.

Forcing her voice to remain light, she tried again. "Then... does this mean I can go back?"

Violet’s expression dimmed. "Not yet," she said, dashing Anna’s hopes in an instant. But then, as if to soften the blow, she pulled a glossy envelope from her purse. The elegant white paper gleamed under the sunlight, adorned with golden embellishments and tiny pearl details. A knowing smirk curled at Violet’s lips as she handed it over.

"What is this?" Anna asked, retrieving the beautifully crafted card. "An invitation?"

Violet nodded, her grin turning sly. "One of the rats has come to you instead, Ms. Dumas."

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