Sorry My Step-Uncle, I'm Not Your Backup Plan novel Chapter 68

Recently, Drake had been traveling extensively to secure investment for his company.

Since businesses in London were unlikely to invest in Ashcroft Capital, he had been forced to look elsewhere. Most of his time lately had been spent in hotels and on planes.

Today, he had just returned to London, with Mason picking him up from the airport.

In the evening, they were driving to a dinner engagement.

While waiting at a red light, Mason glanced over at Drake.

Drake was scrolling through old photos of himself and Gabriella on his phone.

Mason's lips parted and closed again, hesitating to speak.

Before he could say anything, Drake leaned over, showing him the phone screen, his expression softening with tenderness. "Look how happy we were back then."

Mason's expression was complicated.

Drake had previously asked him to purchase a ring in France, saying he would use it to win Gabriella back.

At the time, Drake had mentioned that Gabriella was about to get engaged, and Mason had commented that stealing someone's fiancée was unethical.

Since returning to London, Mason had avoided bringing up the topic of Gabriella with Drake.

He hadn't seen Gabriella since she left their city, and didn't know anything about her fiancé.

What he did notice was that Drake rarely smiled these days.

At social gatherings, Drake had once been the life of the party. Now, he often drank alone, and when drunk, would call out Gabriella's name with profound sadness.

At this moment, looking at old photos with Gabriella, Drake showed a smile that hadn't been seen in a long time, seemingly lost in self-deceptive memories.

Mason thought Drake had become obsessed.

He wanted to ask, "Did you give her that ring?" but couldn't bring himself to form the words.

In the end, Mason just sighed deeply.

The traffic light turned green.

The driver pressed the accelerator, and the car continued forward.

Mason finally couldn't hold back. "Drake, as your buddy, I gotta say something. Yeah, you guys had a good thing going, but when it's over, it's over. She's engaged now. Don't go doing something you'll regret."

"Regret?" Drake scoffed dismissively. "I've already told you, I don't give a damn about ethics. I just want her back."

Mason frowned, continuing his argument: "She's about to get married, man. You can't just—"

Drake waved this off carelessly. "Come on, Mason. Look at our social circle. How many married people do we know who are still sleeping around? Husbands and wives having their separate things going on is basically the norm, isn't it?"

Mason was silent for a moment before responding. "Drake, just because something's common doesn't make it right."

Drake's face turned cold, and he didn't reply.

Mason stopped pushing the issue.

It seemed that once someone abandoned morality, ethics could no longer constrain them.

He thought Drake was being pathetic.

He hadn't valued Gabriella when he had her, and only regretted losing her after she was gone.

The car reached the busy downtown area.

During rush hour, traffic had backed up into a long queue.

Drake leaned back, staring out the window with boredom, letting his mind drift.

Suddenly, he spotted a famiGabbyr figure.

"Stop the car!" Drake shouted.

Mason looked confused. "What?"

Seeing Drake staring out the window, Mason followed his gaze and instantly froze.

He immediately understood why Drake had suddenly demanded they stop.

On the sidewalk, Gabriella was walking alongside a man.

They were facing in the direction of the car, close enough that their faces were clearly visible.

The man was strikingly handsome with an aristocratic air about him. His attire was impeccable—clearly someone of significant status.

The two were talking and laughing together, their manner intimate.

When Sienna and Rachel had falsely accused Gabriella of theft at the Sterling party, resulting in her public humiGabbytion, they had been too embarrassed to spread the story.

Consequently, people in their social circle still remained unaware of Gabriella's true background.

Mason was one of the few people in Drake's circle with solid principles, who had never looked down on "poor little Gabriella."

Sometimes he had even helped her out.

Gabriella had always thought well of him, so she responded politely now: "Indeed, it has been quite a while."

"And who's this?" Mason asked, feigning ignorance.

Gabriella smiled as she made the introduction: "This is my fiancé, Asher Blackwood."

"Asher Blackwood!" Mason was genuinely shocked, his eyes widening. "You're... you're that Asher Blackwood?"

He had never met Asher in person, and there were few interviews or reports about him online.

But the name Asher Blackwood was instantly recognizable.

Almost everyone in their social circle knew that name.

This was Asher Blackwood, the heir to the Blackwood empire!

Asher's face was cold, his jaw tense, his gaze like a drawn blade, fixed intently on Drake as if he wanted to eviscerate him. "Is there something you require?"

Mason couldn't help but shiver.

This Asher Blackwood had an incredibly powerful presence, truly befitting the Blackwood heir.

The innate authority and commanding aura he projected was something that privileged playboys like themselves could never emulate.

Mason awkwardly scratched his head. "I was just wondering if we could maybe join you guys for dinner?"

Gabriella had been very busy at lunch, only managing to eat a sandwich, and was now starving. All she wanted was to get inside and order.

"You may join us," she said, pointing at Drake, "but he cannot."

Drake's expression grew complicated.

I'll continue translating this chapter, maintaining the established characterization and adapting the dialogue to reflect each character's distinct speaking style.