Sorry My Step-Uncle, I'm Not Your Backup Plan novel Chapter 19

Gabriella woke naturally at ten, stretching luxuriously. "Mmm... not working feels amazing."

After her morning routine, she headed downstairs for breakfast.

Rosa had prepared enough for two.

Gabriella glanced at the empty seat across from her, saying nothing.

"Miss Rodriguez, will Mr. Ashcroft be joining for breakfast?" Rosa asked hesitantly.

"He didn't come home last night," Gabriella replied between sips of coffee. "So no."

"Oh." Rosa retreated to the kitchen, knowing she'd overstepped.

After breakfast, Gabriella got a message from Asher.

[Thoughts on engagement gala attire? Custom or designer ready-to-wear?]

Was there even time for custom?

Come to think of it, she didn't know the engagement date.

[When's the gala?]

Asher: [Not set yet. Waiting to see when you're back in London?]

Gabriella: [Nine more days here.]

Asher: [Perfect.]

Worried about custom timing, she replied: [Let's go with designer. I'll look at collections.]

Asher: [Let me know what you choose.]

As she was about to close WhatsApp, Drake's chat notification appeared.

It was a video.

In a dimly lit private room at some club, a drunk Drake was leaning into Sienna's embrace, mumbling, "Sienna, you're finally back... I knew you'd come back... I waited five years..."

The background was noisy with their friends' voices—Drake's usual crowd and Celine among them.

All people she knew.

In the video, Sienna held Drake, smiling down at him. "Drake, you're drunk."

Drake nuzzled closer. "I'm not... I'm perfectly clear... You're Sienna, the love of my life... See? I know exactly what I'm saying..."

Someone off-camera: "Drake, if Sienna's the love of your life, what about Gabriella?"

Drake: "Who's Gabriella? I only... only love Sienna..."

"Looks like you're the only one for him," Celine's voice carried clearly. "Look how he clings to you when he's drunk. You're all he sees."

Gabriella's lips curved in derision.

Three years with Drake, and she'd never heard them call her anything but "the girlfriend."

No surprise there. They'd never considered her Drake's real partner.

"Why can't Gabriella take a hint? Sienna's back and she's still hanging around. Zero self-awareness." That was Celine's friend, the same one who'd called her necklace fake. She'd always looked down on Gabriella.

Celine chimed in: "Girls like her don't let go of trust fund babies easily."

Gabriella's eyes lowered, a cold smile playing on her lips. Celine would never say this to her face.

Now she knew for sure—that look of disdain at the birthday party hadn't been her imagination.

Celine's friendly act was just that: an act. Like the others, she saw Gabriella as beneath them.

"Sienna, we're all on your side."

"God, yes. We never liked her. She needs to understand her place, trying to force her way into our circle."

"She's probably read too many romance novels about the billionaire falling for the commoner. She's a joke and doesn't even know it."

"Exactly! She's not our class. Drake was just slumming it. Now that Sienna's back, Gabriella needs to go."

Gabriella felt nothing.