Sorry My Step-Uncle, I'm Not Your Backup Plan novel Chapter 28

After taking photos, Asher handed back her phone, his expression carefully neutral. "You have a message."

"Oh?"

Gabriella opened it, her face stiffening at Drake's words. She knew message previews appeared automatically—Asher must have seen it.

She glanced back at him nervously, explaining, "My ex. We've broken up."

"I see." Asher's expression remained impassive, his eyes unreadable.

"I've blocked him on everything else—forgot about his number."

Gabriella felt oddly flustered. She was twenty-five; having an ex-boyfriend was perfectly normal. Besides, she'd dated Drake before agreeing to the arrangement with Asher. She had nothing to feel guilty about.

Realizing this, she calmed herself. "I'll block him now."

She did so immediately, with Asher watching.

"Trust me," she added, "once I agreed to our arrangement, any past relationships became exactly that—past."

Asher nodded, his dark eyes still inscrutable. But as Gabriella turned away, the faintest smile played at his lips.

After several days of exploring the city together, it was time to return to London.

She hadn't told her family she was coming home, so no one from the Rodriguez household was at the airport.

Instead, Asher's assistant met them with a black Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

"Shall I come in with you?" Asher asked as they pulled up to the Rodriguez estate.

Gabriella shook her head. "No need."

"Alright."

She stood at the gates, hesitating. Sensing her reluctance, Asher didn't linger.

Only after his car disappeared did Gabriella ring the bell. Three years ago, she'd left without her keys. Now she needed to be buzzed into her own home—the irony wasn't lost on her.

Mrs. Clarke, their housekeeper of fifteen years, opened the door and froze. "Miss... Miss Gabriella? You're home?"

Her voice cracked with emotion.

Gabriella's throat tightened as she nodded.

"Thank goodness. I'll call your father right away."

"He's not here?"

"No, miss. He's at the office. Your stepmother's at Lucy's school for a parent event."

Gabriella exhaled in relief.

She needed time to breathe before facing them all—her stepmother, half-sister, and the father she'd been at odds with for years. Each relationship was its own minefield.

Her bedroom remained exactly as she'd left it, immaculately maintained. Someone had clearly dusted daily.

After unpacking and showering, she heard Mrs. Clarke's knock. "Miss Gabriella? What would you like for dinner?"

Gabriella opened the door with a slight smile. "The usual, please."

"Of course!" Mrs. Clarke beamed, genuinely delighted.

She'd watched Gabriella grow up, loving her like a daughter. She'd been the one to carry young Gabriella in from the snow the night Rosalind died.