After My Death, My Husband Who Threw Me Into the Hunting Grounds Went Insane novel Chapter 99

AUDREY

I understood the reason behind Gabriel's outfit, the place where he brought me was the last thing I would expect. He took me to the coast of the Classic Harbor Line, where I found a beautiful view of the Hudson River. Jones was already waiting for him, standing by a fine-looking yacht.

"Mr. Stark, Miss Hopkins, " he greeted his boss, and Gabriel approached him with a pat to his shoulder.

"Jones." I smiled at him.

"She ready?" Gabriel asked Jones, probably referring to the yacht behind him.

"Whenever you are, Mr. Stark." Jones gave way to Gabriel first, and he hopped onto the majestic boat, and then he reached out his hand to me.

"Come."

"Are we riding that?"

He cocked his head. "Yes. Give me your hand."

I clasped my palm with his, and while he was pulling me to him, Jones helped me step onto the deck, but he didn't come after us,

"Enjoy your sail, Mr. Stark, Miss Hopkins."

"What is going on? Are we really?" I cleared my throat. I was still confused. "Is this okay?"

"Don't worry. Keeping my private life safe is Jones's duty. Wait for me here." Gabriel disappeared into the cabin, and while he was gone, I strolled around the deck and leaned onto the railings.

I inhaled the air and lifted my chin as I let the sun warm my face. I wasn't sure why or how I ended up coming here with Gabriel, but I'd never been on a yacht before, and so this feeling stirring inside me was too brand new. I was a bit overwhelmed.

The wind and the weather were just right for cruising.

"Whoa!" I held on to the railing.

Gabriel appeared next to me, but he settled behind the wheel and handled it by himself, then we began to sail on the waters.

A half-smile playing at the sides of his lips. "You okay?"

"Um, yeah, but where are we going?" I grinned. "Are you driving this thing?"

"This thing has a name. Carpe Cross. And yes, I'm driving this."

Did he name the boat Cross?

I froze. My chest tightened for a moment.

I had only known one Cross in my life—the man I destroyed, I hurt, but still always had a place in my heart. I had suffered a great deal from it. I'd lost, tired, and filled myself with other things, but I couldn't erase it. My sin in the past remained my wound over the years. Now it was coming back again to me.

What was I doing now? If fate was testing me, how would I survive?

I couldn't contain my emotions. My chest was going to explode before I even knew it.

"Audrey?" he called with a smile across his face. "Come here."

I hesitated, but when I looked up at his face, the first thing I saw was the shadow of Liam's features. His eyes, nose, lips, the shade of his hair… My knees collapsed.

"Audrey!" Gabriel panicked, then abruptly stopped maneuvering the wheels, and the boat stopped in the middle. He swiftly moved next to me and held my face. "Are you okay?"

Air abandoned my lungs. "I can't… I can't do this…" I said breathlessly. I slipped a glance on his face, but I couldn't bear it. I looked away.

"What's wrong, mm?"

No. This was only an illusion. I had survived up to this moment. My fate with Liam wouldn't be the same as Gabriel—not when I realized a relationship with him is impossible. The huge difference was already in front of me. All was just an uncanny coincidence.

I calmed myself down. "I'm fine."

"You're not." Gabriel picked me up from the ground and brought me to his arms. "Hold on."

I slipped an arm to his shoulder and clutched onto his jacket. My throat burned. I'd never lost myself like this for a long time, and I was embarrassed that it had to be at this moment.

We reached the cabin, and Gabriel brought me down the sofa. I wandered my eyes around and let myself at least admire the yacht's interior. Only about a ten-foot-tall ceiling, the cabin was decorated with exquisite furniture and fixtures. It had a living room, a kitchen, and a wine bar, compacted in lesser floor space.

Gabriel walked into the kitchen and came back with a glass of water.

"Bottoms up."

"Thanks." I gulped the water gradually. I set the glass over the table in front of me, and he slumped next to me.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't think I can't do this. I mean with you alone like this."

Gabriel shoved an arm behind me and leaned on the sofa. His mouth was close to my ears.

"Why?"

"Because I'm not ready."

"Am I rushing you?"

"No, honestly, you aren't. It's just going to be too much for me to bear. You see, I'm not in the right state of mind."

"Okay." He nodded. "I'm listening."

"But you're not. I can't be with you or anyone else. I deserve to be alone." I scratched my head. "I hurt people around me, Gabriel, but I don't know how I can explain to you because I can't."

"You don't want to, " he concluded. Gabriel lifted his leg onto the couch behind me, then he moved his hand on my shoulder and pressed me against his body. But he was not done. He gently brought my head onto his chest. "Better?"

 I nodded.

"Audrey, do you think I'm capable of leaving you alone now that you're within my grasp?" he whispered.

I shrugged.

"I'm not. You wouldn't believe me if I told you I've waited for this."

"Will you tell me?"

"I will show you, " he suggested.

I rolled to my side, wrapped an arm on his body, and then sunk myself onto his chest. I'd never imagined that I'd get to touch and feel Gabriel Stark in my arms when I first walked into his company for an interview. From the first time I saw his face, I knew he was already special.

He fondly stroked my hair. "Do you like it here?"

"I like it very much."

He chuckled softly. "Is this how you say you don't want me?"

"I didn't say I don't want you."

"Then do you?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you want me?"

I bit my bottom lip, I hesitated to admit for a moment, but I eventually nodded. "I want you."

I felt his smile. "Then the feeling is mutual. What could go wrong with that?"

I lifted my head and glanced up at his face. "You don't understand."

My hands trembled. I wasn't sure what it was, but the feeling was frightening. "I believe I asked you, Gabriel. How did you know about my house?"

"Simple. I'm curious about what you've been up to in Phoenix."

"And you looked up behind my back? Gabriel, this is absurd—"

"Audrey, " he said tightly. "You thought you've become a person of your past, and I will tell you that this is who I am. I look closely at things that interest me."

"And my house interests you?"

"No." He sat back next to me. "You. Only you interest me."

"We're fucked up."

His eyes squinted. "Do you see it now?"

"But Gabriel, I don't want you to do this for me. You can't spend your money like that on me. You didn't even tell me how you did this."

"I will tell you, but hear me out first. This is only paper. I didn't buy the house… yet, but we can talk about it."

I looked at the papers again. An amount was already written below, and Gabriel had already signed above his name. The only thing left was my signature.

"What do you want?"

"You."

"Gabriel, I told you before, right? I don't like you to spend on something like this as if you are buying me!" I raged.

"Audrey, when I said I want you, I told you I want it for free. But this is my proposition. I'll pay for your debt, and then I'll give you your house back, but in exchange, you'll pose for me. That's it. You don't have to do anything."

My mouth parted. "I don't."

"But I have a requirement." He smirked sexily. "Nude. I have a really good position in mind."

Position? Oh my God.

I trembled. I was suddenly confused again. My cheeks flushed. "You will paint me? I can't… I don't know."

Gabriel laughed softly. "Is that what you are worried about?"

"What? Worried about what?" I shook my head. "I can't. In front of you, I can't."

"I'm not a painter, Audrey. I know a very close friend. A very good artist and I've collected a few paintings from her."

"Her?"

He nodded. "If you want, I will show you some of her work. It's at my house."

Ah, hence the invitation to his house.

"What do you think?"

"I can't answer for now. But…" I chewed on my lip. "I'd like to see it. Her paintings."

"No problem, but you don't mind staying here a bit? I can make lunch." He grinned.

Finally, the mood had lightened. I grinned back. "Gabriel Stark can cook?"

"I'm not always like this, Audrey. As a child, I had to stand up with my own feet. I started working at age thirteen. Come. Help me in the kitchen."

I could already imagine ourselves working in the kitchen together, but one thing imprinted in my mind.

Gabriel had a rough start in life, which was odd. Weren't the Starks always a wealthy family?