N pressed her lips together and called him. “I’m still out. There’s no need to bring me anything next time.”


    After a few seconds of silence on the other end, Gabriel’s gentle voice came through. “Alright. It’s already past 10:00 p.m. Do you need me to pick you up?”


    Because of what Wren had said, N wasn’t eager to have too much contact with Gabriel. She declined, “No, my friend is giving me a ride. If there’s nothing else, that’s it.”


    She hung up, and Vrie looked at her with curiosity. “Who were you talking to?”


    “My stepbrother,” N answered.


    Vrie’s eyes widened in surprise. “He’s back? When did that happen?”


    Since Vrie used to visit N’s home often, she had met Gabriel several times.


    “Just a few days ago,” N replied.


    “Oh, he seems to be quite concerned about you now. I remember when I used to visit you. He was pretty aloof,” Vrie remarked.


    “Yeah. By the way… I said I’d cover the bill tonight, but you ended up doing it. Send me the bill, and I’ll reimburse you,” N said.


    Vrie red at her. “Keeping tabs like that? Just cover it next time. By the way, how did you end up at the hospital with Damon tonight? Were you injured?” Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    N briefly exined what had happened in the restroom, and by the end of it, Vrie was fuming.


    “I knew she was a scheming little bitch! Are you just going to let this go?” Vrie demanded.


    The thought of Nathaniel making N apologize to Reba made Vrie want to confront him.


    “There were no cameras in the restroom, and only Nathaniel saw what happened. He won’t back me up,” N said.


    “Nathaniel ispletely under Reba’s spell, so he’ll definitely side with her.” The more Vrie spoke, the angrier she became


    It felt like having a fly stuck in her throat–nauseating to swallow but impossible to spit out.


    It was no wonder Reba had managed to make Damon and N break up as soon as she returned to the country. Most people wouldn’t have the heart to harm themselves to get what they wanted.


    “Consider today a lesson learned. I’ll keep my distance from her in the future,” N said.


    Vrie snorted. “I’m just worried that you might want to keep your distance, but she won’t let you.


    N frowned, her expression growing cold. “I won’t give her a chance to scheme against me a second time.”


    “I see Damon seems quite concerned about you. If you really wanted topete with Reba, you might not necessarily lose,” Vrie remarked.


    N smiled wryly. “If a rtionship requires constant scheming and fighting with another woman, then it’s better off without it.”


    She might like Damon but wouldn’t sacrifice her dignity for him.


    “True, there are plenty of men out there. If this one doesn’t work out, just move on to the next, Vrie remarked.


    N was a bit surprised. “You didn’t use to think that way.”


    “It just means I was too naive before. If men can fall for someone new so easily, why can’t I?” Vrie countered.


    N was somewhat speechless. “Alright…”


    There might be some truth to that.


    Anyway, she wasn’t interested in rtionships right now. She just wanted to focus on work and earn more money.


    Vrie dropped N off downstairs and then left.


    As N took the elevator to her floor and stepped out, she saw Gabriel–standing at her door.


    When he saw her, he quickly approached and handed her a bag. “I thought you


    wouldn’t be <b>back </b>so soon.


    The bag contained some packed meals.


    N didn’t take it.


    “I made this myself. I noticed you’ve been ordering takeout every night, and it’s not good for your health,” Gabriel exined.