Xavier shot Gabriel a sidelong glance, his voice tinged with a hint of defiance. "Why do you care if I'm not hitched? If anyone should be walking down the aisle, it's you!"
Gabriel's ruggedly handsome features twisted into a smirk. "Marriage? Haven't given it a thought."
With a knowing chuckle, Xavier replied, "Same here, my friend!"
"Don't follow my lead on that one—it's hardly something to brag about," Gabriel snorted dismissively, shaking his head.
Xavier just laughed it off, a hush-hush whisper of amusement.
Back at Estelle's side, Norah was visibly distracted. The sight of the neglected bowl of soup on the coffee table only deepened her agitation.
Her eyes briefly caught the tall silhouette outside the window, and she leaned in to ask Estelle, "What's up with Mr. Flemmings? He's looking a bit under the weather."
Estelle answered solemnly, "He's been injured!"
"What?" Norah almost yelped, guiltily scanning her surroundings before lowering her voice to a worried whisper. "Is it bad?"
"It's bad, but he probably won't make a fuss about it."
Norah's face was a mask of anxiety. "That's just like him—never taking his own troubles seriously."
"Don't worry. I'll have Damian and Zachary look after him," Estelle reassured her.
Norah glanced towards Xavier, her insides churning with concern.
Zachary and his crew were known for their laid-back attitude. Were they really up to the task of taking care of Xavier?
She was irked, not just because she couldn't openly show her concern, but also because her own restlessness was getting the better of her.
She told herself that her path wouldn't cross with Xavier's again. He had turned her down more times than she could count, and there was no point in clinging on. Yet, she couldn't help but notice him whenever he was around.
This tormenting taste of unrequited love was utterly excruciating!
"Okay!" Evelyn eagerly agreed.
The others didn't know Evelyn's true identity and assumed she was a new friend of Estelle's. They showered her with extra care and warmth, leaving her feeling both flattered and extremely cautious.
After her conversation with Evelyn, Estelle received a call from Sallie.
As soon as Estelle picked up, Sallie's excitement was palpable through the phone. "Estelle, you're absolutely killing it!"
Estelle's expression remained cool. If it weren't for the Crawleys and the Macclains pushing her to the edge, she wouldn't have wanted things to escalate to this point.
"Did they drag you into this mess?" Estelle inquired.
"Not at all. Grandpa and the Crawleys have been making threats, but they've been too preoccupied to act on them," Sallie reported, then added urgently, "Oh, by the way, Grandpa just called my dad about auditing the accounts between the branch and the head office. They might be planning to skip town with the cash tonight."
Estelle's voice turned icy. "They won't get away—not a single one of them!"

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)
Thank you for the updates....
Finally some storyline on Gab... Will he reach on time for Sylvia? Thank you for the updates....
Please fix chapter 2553…we’re missing the total encounter of Sylvia entering the fight that began in chapter 2552. BTW, thanks for the updates....
Thanks for the updates....
Thank you for the updates. Glad that Gabriel is coming back....
It’s time for Gabriel to make his way back to Sylvia so that they can become a couple and not give Eugene false hope that he has a chance with Sylvia....
Thank you for the updates....
Thank you for the updates...
Up...
Thanks for the updates....