Chapter 239: A Cushion Against The Truth
When Aliana stepped out after taking a long, relaxing bath, the warm water had eased much of the soreness in her body, allowing her to walk far more comfortably than before.
She had changed into a flowing lilac sleeveless dress that was fastened with a beautiful bow behind her neck, doing an excellent job of concealing the hickeys Gavriel had left on her skin.
She felt grateful for the fully stocked wardrobe containing everything she needed in her exact size, mentally thanking Gavriel for thinking ahead. After all, it was his property.
As she stepped into the bedroom, her eyes instinctively drifted towards the bed, only to find it empty.
A hushed voice carried in from the lounge area of the suite.
"Enjoy your breakfast, Master."
She immediately recognised Winston’s voice.
Hearing the lounge door click shut, Aliana made her way towards the adjoining room, only to pause at the sight of an elegant brunch spread laid out across the dining table.
Her gaze naturally shifted to Gavriel.
He was already dressed in a crisp white shirt with the sleeves casually rolled to his forearms and a pair of light beige tailored trousers.
A cup of tea rested in one hand as he sat with lazy elegance, looking every bit as regal like always, even without one of his impeccably tailored suits.
Noticing the damp strands of his raven-black hair, she guessed he must have used one of the other bathrooms in the mansion while she had been enjoying hers.
As she took another step into the room, his icy blue eyes lifted to capture hers. Her heart gave a sudden, traitorous thud at the sheer sight of him.
’Jesus, get a grip!’ she chided herself, mortified by her own teenager-like reaction to her husband.
Yet, beneath his quiet gaze, she couldn’t help feeling a little self-conscious.
Clearing her throat to compose herself, she walked over to him and asked, "Winston brought all this?"
"Hm, I figured you would be hungry," Gavriel replied, his gaze remaining fixed on her as if carefully evaluating her recovery.
"I’m... starving," she admitted with a small squeak under his unwavering gaze before quickly taking the seat beside him at the small round table.
Setting his teacup onto its saucer, he began uncovering the silver lids from the dishes. Aliana’s stomach gave an eager flutter at the rich aroma that filled the air.
She had eaten very little the night before due to the swarm of butterflies in her stomach. Now, after their intense physical activity, her body demanded fuel.
She watched in quiet surprise as Gavriel served her everything she liked, placing the exact portions she preferred onto her plate, as if he had lived with her for years.
She considered asking how he knew, but she already knew the answer. Gavriel was meticulously observant, tracking details most people overlooked.
They ate in comfortable silence until the edge of her hunger faded.
Wiping her hands on a cloth napkin, she finally broached the subject. "So... might I ask why you needed to leave to discuss matters with Cillian last night?"
She watched him take a bite of a slice of cake topped with pale blue buttercream before he lifted his gaze to meet hers.
"Something happened that required my attention."
Curiosity immediately flickered across Aliana’s face.
Picking up her cup of coffee, she took a small sip before asking, "What thing?"
Gavriel knew the attack on Jade last night would eventually reach Aliana’s ears anyway. The only reason she had not been informed sooner was because everyone wanted to shield her on the night of their wedding.
Yet, as cruel as reality could be, nothing could alter the truth, so he proceeded to tell her everything.
He had expected her to freak out and become severely disturbed upon hearing the news, to the point where he was prepared for her powers to react.
To his surprise, she did none of that.
Instead, after showing initial shock at the revelation, her expression turned perplexed.
When she remained silent for a long moment, he asked, "What are you thinking?"
"Just that... why would anyone attack Jade of all people?"
A crease formed between her brows as she pondered it further. "I understand that the Ross family business is vast, but Jade is not an only child. Her older brother, Owen Ross, is set to inherit most of the empire, so why target her?"
Gavriel regarded her thoughtfully for a moment before answering. "The assassin didn’t know the reason, nor did he know who hired him."
Aliana studied his face closely before asking, "But you suspect someone, don’t you?"
"I cannot be certain, Ana," he replied calmly.
"Who is it?" Aliana asked.
Aliana knew Gavriel was holding something back, and when it came to the people she cared about, she couldn’t simply let it go, even if he insisted he wasn’t certain.
She had a gut feeling there was far more to the attack than met the eye.
"Who do you suspect, Gav?" Aliana pressed, setting her cup down as she waited.
Gavriel released a soft breath. "Things didn’t add up regarding the attack. It was well-planned, but the choice to target Jade of all people, that too in a highly secured event like this, gave me a pause..."
He fell silent for a moment before reaching across the table and taking her hand in his.
"Ana, before I tell you what I suspect, I need you to understand something."
His thumb gently brushed over the back of her hand. "None of this is your fault. This world is full of evil, and there are countless people who commit unforgivable acts simply because they choose to. So I need you to remember that. Always."
He gazed deeply into her eyes. "Can you do that for me?"
The way he spoke made her feel as though he were carefully preparing her, placing a cushion around her heart, and she understood why. It was because of her powers.
Something told her this incident was somehow tied to her, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.
But she also knew Gavriel was right.
If she carried the burden of every evil choice another person made, she would eventually be crushed beneath its weight.
Understanding that simple truth, she gave him a small nod. "I understand," she said quietly. "Now tell me."
Gavriel held her gaze for another moment before answering with complete honesty.
"I believe the person who attacked Jade... was really trying to get to you."
"Me?" Her brows knitted together in confusion. "Did he come for me?"