CHAPTER 315: GABRIEL’S AFFAIR

"Oh!" Jeanne’s lips parted on a sharp breath, a fleeting light of relief flashing in her eyes. ’Better he never wakes up,’ she told herself.

When she moved her attention to Anne, she found her staring at her with an intensity that made her stomach sink. She forced her features into a careful blend of concern and sympathy, masking her satisfaction.

"That’s bad... I hope he wakes up soon." Slipping into the seat beside Anne, she reached for her hands. "Don’t worry, sweetheart. He’ll be fine."

Anne didn’t look away, nor did she pull her hands away. She studied her carefully. She recognized the false concern hidden beneath the mask of worry, but chose to remain silent, merely giving a small nod.

Turning away, Jeanne addressed the old man. "Dad, I have something to discuss with you. Can we go out?"

Dimitri’s grip tightened on his cane. He had come to see his grandson. Without doing so and knowing how Augustine was, leaving felt wrong.

"You go first," he said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "If you need to talk, come to the mansion. We’ll speak there, not here."

"But it’s urgent," Jeanne insisted. "I went to the mansion this morning to find you, but when I heard you were here, I came straight away."

His eyes narrowed slightly. He could guess her true intent—no doubt she wanted to talk about Denis.

"Please, Dad," she pressed, "I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important."

"Grandpa, you should go," Anne interjected. "I’ll keep you updated about Augustine’s condition."

Dimitri let out a slow sigh. He was still reluctant to leave, but he was also curious to know what Jeanne had to say that she couldn’t wait.

Finally, he gave a small nod. "Fine. I’ll go," he relented. "Call me if there is anything."

"Of course," Anne replied, offering him a faint, reassuring smile.

Dimitri rose with the support of his cane, his steps slow as he made his way to the door. Jeanne followed close behind.

The late afternoon light spilled over the hospital’s entrance as they came out. The butler stepped forward, pulling open the rear door. Dimitri eased himself inside. Jeanne slid in after him. Closing the door, the butler took the driver’s seat. He glanced at the rearview mirror, meeting Dimitri’s gaze.

"Are we heading to the mansion?" he asked.

"No," Jeanne cut in before Dimitri could speak. "Let’s go somewhere else. I know a place."

Dimitri’s head turned sharply toward her, his brows knitting with confusion. "Whatever you want to discuss, we can do it at home—in private. Why go elsewhere?"

She shifted in her seat, her hands tightening around the strap of her bag. "Because this... isn’t something I can discuss there," she murmured, her hesitation clear.

Her eyes dropped to her bag. She then reached into it and pulled out her phone. She scrolled through the gallery until she found what she wanted. "Here. Look at these."

She passed the phone to him.

Dimitri adjusted his glasses and leaned closer to the screen. The moment the images came into focus, his face stilled.

"This..." His eyes snapped back to Jeanne, disbelief etched into his features. The next minute, he snatched the phone from her and looked at the photos with shock written all over his face.

The photos showed Gabriel with a woman, captured at various places together. Her face was hidden in every shot, her head turned or her hair shielding her profile in every shot, while Gabriel’s face was sharp and unmistakable.

But her body language told a story: the intimate way her hand was resting on his arm, fingers entwined with his, and the way she leaned into him left little doubt they were involved in an affair.

Dimitri’s mouth set into a hard line as he swiped to the next image, and the next. Each one painted the same picture, leaving less room for doubt. Anger simmered in his eyes.

Jeanne slowly lifted her head and met Dimitri’s eyes, moisture glistening at the corners. "This is what I wanted to talk about. Let’s go somewhere...Please..."

She didn’t dare to talk about it at home, fearing the servants might hear their conversation.

For a moment, Dimitri seemed distant, his mind still tangled in the images he had just seen. Then, almost mechanically, he gave a short nod. "Take us where Jeanne wants to go."

The butler glanced at them in the mirror, confusion flickering across his face, but said nothing. He started the engine, and the car rolled smoothly away from the hospital.

The city thinned out after a while, the road becoming almost empty with less traffic. They passed stretches of greenery and low buildings until the car slowed in front of a grand restaurant sitting on the edge of the city.

The air felt cooler. As they were about to enter the restaurant, the butler followed behind them, ready to escort Dimitri inside. But Jeanne stopped him.

"I’m sorry, you can’t come in with us. Stay here in the car."

The butler hesitated, his gaze shifting to Dimitri as if seeking permission.

"Stay here," Dimitri told him. "I’ll be fine."

Still, unease lingered in the butler’s eyes. He didn’t like the idea of leaving the old man alone with Jeanne. There was something in her manner that made him suspicious. What if something went wrong with the old man?

But Dimitri’s word was final. After a reluctant nod, he stepped back, watching as they walked into the restaurant.

Jeanne moved to the reception gracefully. At the reception desk, she leaned forward slightly. "I’m Jeanne Beaumont. I booked a table."

The receptionist, a young woman with neatly tied hair, gave her a polite smile. "Let me check." Her fingers tapped briskly over the keyboard. After a moment, she looked up with a grin.

"Yes, Mrs. Beaumont. You have a reservation. As per your request for privacy, your table is set in the backyard. One of our staff will guide you there."

Almost on cue, a woman in uniform approached and greeted them warmly. "Hello, Mrs. Beaumont." She turned to Dimitri. "Hello, sir. Please, follow me."

They walked behind her through a side corridor until they came to a garden tucked behind the building. The space was expansive yet quiet. Flowering plants bordered the edges in bursts of color, and in the center, a three-tier fountain trickled water.

Along the sides, a row of patios stood apart from each other, each with its own neatly set table, giving every group a pocket of privacy. Only a handful of guests occupied the area.

The staff member led them to a secluded patio in a far corner. "This is your table," she said, gesturing toward the cushioned chairs.

As they settled in, she asked, "May I take your order?"

Jeanne turned to Dimitri, but his expression was hard. "I don’t want to eat anything."

His mind was still trapped in the photographs she had shown him, the anger simmering in his chest. How would he have the mood to eat anything?

"Dad, you look tired," Jeanne said softly. "You should eat something. I’ll order for you." She turned to the young woman and began listing dishes.

The staff member noted everything down. "The food will be served shortly," she said before walking away.

Jeanne’s smile faded. Her shoulders sank as unshed tears turned her eyes red. She drew in a slow, shaky breath before facing Dimitri.

"I’ve been noticing the change in him," she began. "He might have come home late before, but he never spent the night away unless it was for a business trip. Now..."

Her gaze dropped to her fingers on the table. "Now, he hardly comes home at all—and even when he is, he leaves again in the middle of the night."

Her words faltered. A tear slid down her cheek. "I’ve asked him several times what’s going on. Every time, he shut me out. I told myself he was just... busy. I never thought—" She sobbed, the words catching in her throat. "I never thought he’d be with another woman... cheating on me."

Dimitri’s brow furrowed, deep lines cutting across his forehead. His hand tightened around his cane, rolling it against his palm. A suffocating weight seemed to press over his chest.

He had made the same mistake once, betraying his wife, and the consequences of that choice still followed him to this day.

Now Gabriel seemed to be treading the same path, and frustration swelled inside him like a rising tide.

"I don’t know who she is," Jeanne went on between sniffles. "I don’t even know when it started." She bowed her head, tears slipping freely onto her lap. When she looked up again, there was a steadiness in her gaze.

"I want you to help me find her," she said firmly. "I don’t want Denis to know about it. He’d be furious, and I’m afraid he might... do something reckless." Her lower lip trembled, her eyes pleading with him. "I can only rely on you, Dad. Please."

Dimitri nodded, his expression grim. "I’ll find out. I won’t let anyone tear this family apart."

Jeanne smiled through her tears. "Thank you, Dad. Thank you..."