Chapter 131: Gemma Wanted to Move Out
Gemnina, who had been deep in thought about antidotes, paused when she heard the question.
She slowly looked up.
“I’m not sure.”
She set down the papers, rubbing her forehead as she thought hard.
“Earlier, he kind of blurted out that he liked me to get Marcus off my back.”
“But to be honest, I wasn’t sure if he meant it or if he was just trying to piss Marcus off.”
She paused for a second, leaning her chin on her hand, her clear eyes flickering with a touch of confusion.
“Actually, back in college, Brian was a really good guy. A lot of girls would go to him for help when they had problems.”
“My roommate got pregnant unexpectedly, and Brian was the one who drove her to her appointment when she had an abortion.”
Cali’s eyes widened.
“Wait, he got her pregnant?”
“No!” Gemma quickly reassured her. “It wasn’t his.”
“Brian was studying abroad at the time, and my roommate was a total homebody. She barely hung out with anyone except her boyfriend.”
“And, you know, she couldn’t afford to go abroad–her family wasn’t that well off.”
Cali stared, blinking rapidly, looking like her whole worldview had just been flipped upside down.
Gemma continued.
“After I started at the hospital, Brian helped me a lot during rotations.”
“Everyone around me, the doctors and nurses, all said he was a great guy.”
“Yeah…”
She thought for a moment, summarizing it.
“Brian is really a good person.”
Cali flopped onto the couch.
“I get it now–you’re not emotionally clueless, you just never took it seriously.”
“If it were me, I’d be just as clueless. He’s basically a walking central air conditioner–who would ever date a guy like that?”
Gemma gave a small laugh. “You’re right, that’s actually pretty spot–on.”
Cali laughed out loud.
“Seriously though, when you were with Marcus, at most I was just Mabel causing you trouble.”
“But if you were with Dr. Read? You’d have a whole army of Mabels making your life miserable.”
“Bottom line, he’s a great friend, but not the best boyfriend material.”
The thought of her partner constantly helping other women made her feel suffocated.
Gemma gave her a playful slap.
“Relax, Cali. Don’t worry, even if Brian had feelings for me, the Read family would never let him marry a divorced woman.”
Cali instantly got serious. “You’re breaking free from that loser and finding yourself again—nothing wrong with that! Society’s way more accepting
of divorce these days.”
“I can guarantee, if you walked out and told people you were divorced, half of them would probably be congratulating you.”
Where they came from, once a woman got married, it was like she was tied to a man for life.
If someone admitted to being divorced, they’d be looked down on, and the gossip would drown them.
In their village, people were either widowed or never divorced.
Though they’d left that behind, some of those deep–seated ideas still stuck with them.
Even when they fought to overcome it, it felt like an emotional battle every time.
Gemma saw the worry on Cali’s face and rolled her eyes. “Where’d you see me feeling inferior?”
“I just don’t want to get married. If he really liked me, it’d actually… feel like a burden.”
Cali let out a relieved sigh. “Forget love and relationships–focus on making money. Men only slow us down.”
Gemma chuckled and shook the papers in her hand.
“I’m already making money. What about you? Still just working with Susie?”
Setting
19:35
Chapter 181: Gemma Wanted to Move Out
Cali perked up at that.
“Oh, let me brag alittlel” She went on to talk about her business dealings.
Then she pulled out a bunch of signed contracts from her bag.
*For the next six months, I’ll basically be working nonstop, Ugh, looks like I’ll need more beauty treatments.”
She pinched Gemina’s face, which was glowing with collagen.
“How do you look even younger lately?”
Gemma opened her bag and pulled out a jar of cream.
“I made this whitening cream myself. Tested it out, and it works pretty well.”
Cali squealed. “Oh my god, you’re a genius!”
She rushed into the bathroom with the cream, already slapping on a face mask.
Noah watched in stunned silence.
“Gemma, I want some too.”
Gemma put down her papers and poked his chubby check.
“You’re not old enough for this yet.”
“Oh…”
Noah pouted, looking defeated.
“What’s wrong?”
Gemma asked, her heart softening as she watched him.
Noah sat on a small stool, his eyes big and shiny with unshed tears, but he said nothing.
Gemma’s heart melted, and she quickly scooped him up. Just as she was about to say something, her phone rang.
It was Cassius.
She answered quickly.
“Where are you?”
Cassius’s voice was low and smooth, with a magnetic tone that sent shivers down her spine.
“At Cali’s.”
Cassius’s voice wavered slightly, a rare hint of surprise at her location.
“Mm?”
Gemma explained, “I found a substitute medication, so I didn’t go to the lab.”
Cassius paused. “I asked Cali to take Noah. If you can, would you mind bringing him back?”
After a moment, he added, “He has trouble sleeping in different places.”
Gemma blinked. “Huh?”
If she hadn’t stayed with Noah next door, she might’ve believed him.
But Noah was still from the Raven family, so she had to respect what his parents
“Sure, I was going to head back anyway to try out the new formula,” she said.
said.
“Are you busy tonight? If not, we might need to do some checking too.”
There was a brief silence on the other end.
Only Cassius’s shallow breathing could be heard, each exhale almost brushing her ear.
It sent a tingle down her spine.
“Okay.”
He finally replied, clearing his
“I’ll be waiting at the manor.”
“Alright, I’m heading back now.”
Gemma glanced at the time.
eat.
“I should be there in about half an hour.”
Cali popped her head out, her face covered in a thick white mask.
“You leaving?”
“Yeah, I have to go treat someone,”
Cali waved her off.
Gemm
I as she picked up Noah. “Every second counts.”
Setting
19:35
Chapter 131: Gemma Wanted to Move Out
“Go on, hurry back.”
Gemma glanced away, a little guilty.
“Don’t wait up for me. If it’s too late, I’ll just stay at the hospital.”
Cali nodded without suspicion. “Sure, that works.”
“I’ve got to stay up late for work anyway, so don’t even bother with meals.”
Gemma secretly let out a breath.
She hadn’t had the chance to explain before, and now, with Cassius’s condition needing to stay confidential, she couldn’t say a word. But this guilt also reminded her after everything with Mr. Cassius was over, she’d still have to move back. The manor wasn’t her home.
