The woman turned around and dragged her feet to the door. Just when she was about to open the door and leave, a voice suddenly rang out.
“Wait!” Larry shouted.
All at once, Gabriella’s face lit up in delight.
Has he finally relented and is willing to allow me to stay?
Nervously rubbing both her hands, she slowly pivoted and stared at the man a near distance away as she anticipated his next remark.
“Take your gift with you!” Larry threw the gift box right at her.
At that, Gabriella’s face instantly flushed bright red.
It was the first time someone had ever refused a gift from her, and it was the man whom she loved to boot.
“You’re going too far, Larry! I’m just here to celebrate your birthday!” Finally, the reins on her emotions snapped.
Well, well… What a stupid woman! Doesn’t she know what she has done? Yet, she has the temerity to come and claim that she’s here to celebrate my birthday, huh?
“As I said, I don’t need that!” Larry retorted coldly.
As Joan gazed at his wintry expression, she felt that he had gone a bit overboard. Just when she was about to intervene, Dustin interrupted her.
“Gabriella Ward, you should just leave if there’s nothing else,” he suggested softly.
He was merely reminding her that Larry loved Joan wholeheartedly, so she didn’t stand the slightest chance.
However, Gabriella would never give up so easily.
Damn you, Dustin Silverman! How dare you side with him? Her gaze turned a tad vicious, and the atmosphere became so tense that one could cut it with a knife.
Gabriella’s presence here was abhorred by all, including Nancy.
While she hadn’t had much interaction with her, she knew about how she had once set Caspian up back then.
She’s definitely a cunning woman, Nancy reckoned as she stared at Gabriella some distance away.
“Larry, I’ll just leave if you don’t want me to attend your birthday party. There’s no need for your friends to insult me here, no?” Gabriella declared resentfully.
Upon hearing that, Dustin sneered.
Hah! I haven’t even exposed her, yet she’s now taking me down a peg first. She’s really a character all right.
“Hey, hey, what’s happening here? It’s a joyous occasion today, so why is everyone pulling a long face? Also, irrelevant individuals should just buzz off instead of spoiling people’s moods here,” Nancy drawled, deliberately snubbing Gabriella.
Bang!
All of a sudden, Gabriella viciously threw the gift onto the ground, shocking everyone around her.
“Fine! You win!” Then, she left without a backward glance.
Phew! She has finally left! Joan breathed a sigh of relief. If she were to stay, who knows what other problems she might cause!
“Okay, okay, she has left, so let’s continue eating,” she urged.
Subsequently, the atmosphere reverted to back before Gabriella turned up. Caspian and Nancy went back to their game while Dustin and Larry drank together. Meanwhile, Joan slowly picked up the gift box on the ground.
In the box was a necktie.
Ah, this must have cost a fortune!
Joan scrutinized the necktie, only to notice that it was branded.
But Gabriella probably doesn’t have it easy, no? She had been kicked out some time ago, and she doesn’t have much savings.
At that thought, her gaze dimmed as she stared at the necktie.
“Joan!” Larry suddenly called out.
“Huh? What’s the matter?” Joan promptly glanced back at him.
“Just throw it away!” Larry asserted as he pointed at the necktie in her hands.
I have no interest in Gabriella Ward’s gift! I only want to keep my distance from her, and ideally, to never see her again!
“Larry, this necktie must have burned a hole in her pocket,” Joan remarked in a whisper.
“I don’t need it,” Larry countered placidly. Well, I’ve got enough neckties.
“I mean, we can give it back to her so that she can get a refund,” Joan explained.
Looking on, Dustin gaped at her in surprise.
Is she for real? Why is she so foolish? Gabriella Ward purposely put her in a difficult position, yet she’s actually speaking up on her behalf!
