Sorry My Step-Uncle, I'm Not Your Backup Plan novel Chapter 100

Drake reached toward James. "Let me see that."

James handed over his phone.

Drake clutched the device, watching the birthday video over and over, tears flowing uncontrollably.

Trump's face darkened with anger. "Looking at you like this makes my blood boil! Pull yourself together!"

Margaret pulled at his arm. "Our son is lying here after trying to kill himself, and you're making things worse? What do you mean, 'pull yourself together'? Wasn't he the one who secured that investment for your company? Without Drake, your company would have gone bankrupt by now!"

Trump maintained his rigid expression without responding further. He gave Drake one long, penetrating look before turning and walking out.

Sienna, watching Drake obsessively replaying Gabriella's video like a man possessed, couldn't bear to stay any longer and also left.

"Honey, you need to forget about that woman," Margaret wiped away her tears, her voice breaking. "I'll introduce you to someone much better."

James sighed deeply. "Drake, come on man, there are plenty of fish in the sea. Why fixate on just one? I can hook you up with anyone you want."

Drake stared at the video vacantly, saying nothing.

Mason shook his head helplessly. "Let's give him some space. He needs time alone."

"No way!" Margaret objected. "I'm not leaving him by himself again! What if he tries to kill himself again?"

...

Teresa's bone marrow transplant was successful. She showed no signs of rejection, and her life was no longer in danger. Gabriella could finally turn her attention to other matters.

These past few days, she had been busy preparing case materials and attending court.

After learning about Drake's desperate suicide attempt, Gabriella no longer felt safe staying at her Tribeca flat.

Asher had purchased a new apartment for her at Pan Peninsula in Canary Wharf, about four miles from her law firm—not too far, making for a convenient commute.

That Saturday, Gabriella hired a housekeeper to pack her belongings and called a moving company.

As the last suitcase was being carried out, Drake emerged from the lift.

He looked deathly pale, with sunken eyes and dark circles beneath them. He appeared utterly haggard, having lost a considerable amount of weight.

Drake saw the movers carrying out luggage and stopped, his melancholy gaze turning toward Gabriella.

"You're moving out?"

Gabriella merely nodded without saying anything. As she stepped toward the lift, passing Drake, he suddenly grabbed her wrist.

"Gabriella, please don't go," Drake's tone was pleading, his eyes filled with fragmented emotions. "I promise I won't bother you anymore. Please don't move away. I just want to be near you, quietly by your side."

Gabriella lowered her gaze to Drake's hand, her voice ice-cold. "Let go!"

Drake maintained his grip.

Gabriella tried forcefully to pull away.

Drake tightened his hold.

"Drake, you're hurting me!" Gabriella cried out with a furrowed brow.

Drake released her immediately, as if he'd been shocked.

Guilt flashed across his eyes. "I'm so sorry, Gabriella. I didn't mean to—I just... I just don't want you to leave."

Gabriella rubbed her reddened wrist, speaking in a detached tone: "I've made myself perfectly clear. We can never go back to the past, nor can we start over. There's no need for these self-pitying dramatics."

She took a few steps forward, then suddenly seemed to remember something. She turned back, looking directly into Drake's eyes. "I heard about your suicide attempt. Drake, if you're truly this unstable, I can only be grateful that I left you, not touched that you supposedly love me so much you can't live without me."

Gabriella continued calmly: "Don't try anything like that again. I don't want a failed relationship to end with blood on my hands."

With that, Gabriella entered the lift with the movers.

Drake stood rooted to the spot, replaying Gabriella's parting words in his mind.

She had said, "Don't try anything like that again."

Didn't that mean she still cared about him?

She cared whether he lived or died. She didn't want him to devalue his own life.