Sorry My Step-Uncle, I'm Not Your Backup Plan novel Chapter 25

After hanging up, Gabriella carefully reviewed the evening's events.

Why had Sienna sneaked into her room during her shower? Certainly not just to "look around" as she'd claimed.

She had an agenda.

Gabriella surveyed her room meticulously. Besides the shattered figurine, everything seemed untouched.

Then her eyes fell on the glass of warm milk on her nightstand.

She always had warm milk before bed—Rosa had brought it up before her shower.

The Beagle had been on that same nightstand.

If Sienna broke the figurine, she must have lingered near the nightstand.

The milk—she might have tampered with it.

Asher arrived in New York three hours later.

When he called, he was already heading toward Riverside Manor.

Gabriella was busy throwing bags of sorted belongings into the dumpsters outside the house.

"I'm not staying here tonight, Asher." She continued walking back to the house—she had more to dispose of, and it was too late to bother Rosa.

Asher simply said, "Alright."

"Have you booked your hotel?"

He named a five-star property.

"I'll book a room there too. Let's meet at the hotel—no need to come here."

She planned to clear everything tonight and leave this house behind.

Time to say goodbye to Drake too.

Loading her suitcase into the Bentley's trunk, she discovered the hotel was fully booked.

A quick search revealed why—a major exam at a nearby university tomorrow had filled every decent hotel in the area.

The only vacancy she found was at a questionable establishment. The reviews made her wince.

One read: [Paper-thin walls. Could hear EVERYTHING from the couple next door all night. Like a live audio show. Couldn't sleep.]

She understood perfectly.

She had court at 3 PM tomorrow, a three-hour drive away. Factoring in preparation and lunch, she needed to be up by 10 AM latest.

It was already past 11 PM, and she still needed to meet Asher. She couldn't risk poor sleep before court.

She messaged Asher.

[The hotel's full, and so is everything nearby. Could you help with a room?]

While standard rooms were gone, luxury hotels always kept suites reserved for VIPs.

As the Blackwood heir and CEO, Asher could easily secure one.

He replied quickly.

[I have a duplex penthouse suite. Two bedrooms—one up, one down. You're welcome to stay if you're comfortable with that.]

Gabriella hesitated.

They hadn't seen each other in three years—was sharing a suite appropriate?

But where else could she go at this hour?

A duplex meant separate floors. Maybe it would be fine.

After a few minutes' debate, she agreed.

Sienna's eyes glistened as she leaned against his shoulder. "Drake, you're always so good to me."

Holding her, Drake thought of Gabriella.

Had he been too harsh, saying he never wanted to see her again?

But she'd hurt Sienna first—it was her fault!

She'd blocked him expecting him to chase after her. Not this time.

Entering the hotel lobby, Gabriella immediately spotted Asher.

In a black dress shirt and trousers that emphasized his tall, athletic frame, sharp features unchanged after three years, he remained unfairly handsome.

A formally dressed man—presumably his assistant—stood beside him.

Seeing her, Asher strode over quickly to take her suitcase. "Gabby, are you alright?"

She managed a soft, "I'm fine."

"Sir, I'll take my leave," the assistant said deferentially.

Asher nodded.

The penthouse suite was exquisitely appointed, with panoramic views of Manhattan's nightscape through floor-to-ceiling windows.

"Up or down, Gabby?"

Sharing space with such a devastatingly handsome man made her nervous. "Either is fine."

She thought she heard a low chuckle but didn't dare look up.

His deep voice was gentle. "Take upstairs then. I'm here if you need anything."

A suspicious blush crept across her face. "Okay."