Chapter 164: Women Are Volatile

Avery runs after Evan. Then she remembers his hypocrisy: he made love with Leonie but flies into a rage every time he thinks about her 'betrayal' with Andrew. With an angry huff, she slows down and walks calmly after him. By the time she gets outside, Evan's Maybach is roaring away down the road.

Evan's mood swings are as perplexing as they are sudden. When he's in a good mood, he dotes on her. He picks her up and carries her and flaunt their relationship to the world. But when he's in a bad mood, he'll leave her behind without a backward glance. Avery smiles sarcastically.

"They say women are volatile, but men are far worse," she thinks.

A black car driven by one of Evan's bodyguards quickly pulls up to the curb.

"Mrs. Howel, Mr. Howel had to leave to take care of something," the guard explains, "He ordered me to drive you back."

Avery hesitates, "I can go back on my own."

"Mr. Howel insisted I drive you back," the guard answers firmly.

Avery gets in without saying a word. Evan hasn't asked the guards to drive her to be nice; he just wants to make sure she doesn't go anywhere. There are four people in the car. In addition to the driver, a bodyguard is in the passenger's seat. Another sits with her in the back seat. He's uncomfortable being in close proximity to Avery, and he leans heavily against the door.

Avery sits as far away from him as she can. She opens the window to let the air in. The passengers and shop windows drift past as unreal as a movie. She wonders where she'll be tomorrow.

An electronic ringtone pulls Avery from her reverie. She reaches into her purse and pulls out the white phone Andrew gave her. The caller ID is blocked, but she knows it must be Andrew. She opens the phone and sees a new text message: "Wait for a call at 11:00 tomorrow."

The car leaves the city and drives past the suburbs and into the countryside. Another car is driving in the opposite direction, and its windows are rolled down. Leonie looks out the window, and she and Avery lock eyes. Leonie smirks at Avery, confident in her secret victory. Avery's face remains expressionless.

Avery doesn't see Evan in the house. He doesn't join her for lunch or afternoon tea, and there's still no sign of him by dinner. Avery doesn't mind her absence; she needs to be free from distractions if she wants to finish the diorama on time. The detailed work makes her eyes ache, but she knows she has to finish before morning. She forces herself to keep her sore eyes open.

…

Gabrielle finishes checking Andrew's blood pressure and heart rate and puts the stethoscope down. She makes a worried expression and looks up at Andrew through her long eyelashes.

"Mr. Clifford, your heartbeat is a bit weak, and your blood pressure is a bit high," Gabrielle says, "You're not healing the way you should be, and I confess I'm becoming concerned. I think it's best we go to the hospital."

Andrew wears a bathrobe, and it's open to expose his muscular chest. All-day, he's been in a good mood in anticipation of Avery's arrival. Gabrielle's words make him frown deeply; if he goes to the hospital, he might miss Avery's arrival.

"Why would I need to go to the hospital?" he asks.

"You need a full examination with the equipment I don't have here," Gabrielle says gravely.

Andrew frowns harder, "What if I don't go?"

"That could be very dangerous," Gabrielle says, trying to put the right amount of concern into her voice.

"Give me some medication first," Andrew suggests.

He stares at Gabrielle and tries to read her expression. He suspects she's trying to get him away from the mansion on purpose.

"Medication only alleviates the symptoms; it doesn't treat the underlying cause," Gabrielle objects.

"That's what I want!"

Gabrielle looks down at her shoes to hide her face. She knows that Andrew is staring at her, trying to catch her in a lie. She has to persuade him to go to the hospital so she can run away, and she has to do it quickly. She's been unable to find a map, and there's no way she can find her way out of the forest without one. Even if she did have a map, she'd have to get past wild beasts and dangerous snake. Just the thought brings chills down her spine.

"Look at me!" Andrew orders, "What are you thinking about?"

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Lately, he's begun to grow suspicious. She seems distracted, and he wonders what schemes hide behind her innocent expression and shy demeanor. He abruptly stands up. When Gabrielle lifts her head, she's looking directly into Andrew's face. She jumps and takes a step back.

"I'm thinking about Avery," Gabrielle answers.

"Her?"

"Yes. And Evan. No. I should say, Mr. Howel," Gabrielle stammers, "I'm thinking about why Avery likes him. You are handsome, tall, powerful, talented and rich. Why won't she choose you?"

"What's the answer?" Andrew asks curiously, "Why doesn't she choose me over him?"

"I think it's because Evan is healthier than you," Gabrielle answered, "That is to say, he has a healthy heart. That's why I think you should take your condition more seriously. If you want to win Avery, you need to do everything you can to get healthy—including going to the hospital."

"Hmm, you really want me to go to the hospital, don't you?" Andrew muses.

He grabs Gabrielle's chin and stares deep into her eyes. She looks young and shy, and she seems as meek as a lamb. She sounds serious and innocent when she talks, and her blush makes her look like a naïve schoolgirl. Everything about her confuses Andrew.

"Yes," she says a little too quickly, "I want you to be healthy, though I must admit it's partially selfish. I don't want to be out of a job. I like the salary and benefits that come with this job, and I quite enjoy my time with you."

"Do you know what happens to people who play games with me?" Andrew asks.

Gabrielle feels the color drain from her face, but she forces herself to smile innocently. She shakes her head in mock confusion.

"I don't play games," she says.

Andrew smiles, mysteriously, and claps once. Bodyguards rush into the room, pushing a large glass box filled with water. Several sea snakes undulate in the water. One of the guards throws a white mouse into the water. A snake swiftly bites it on the neck. The mouse flails, and then its body goes stiff, and it sinks to the bottom. Gabrielle's eyes widen with fright.

Andrew puts his jaw on her shoulder and smiles viciously.

"Do you know what that mouse was named?" he asks.

Gabrielle shakes her head in mute fright.

"Gabrielle," Andrew whispers in her ear, "I called that mouse Gabrielle Peters."

"I don't play games," Gabrielle repeats.

Andrew steps away from her, "That's for the best. Do you know what type of snake that is?"

Gabrielle shakes her head.

"Hydrophis belcheri," he answers, "It's the most venomous sea snake in the world. Once you're bitten, you're dead. There is no antidote. There is no cure."

Gabrielle stares open-mouthed at the serpents.

"Are they here for me?" she asks in horror.

"That's the first smart thing I've ever heard you say," Andrew says with a dark chuckle, "Now get me the medication!"

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