Mr. Morris' Sweet Trap

"The Bride is Missing?! Wedding of the Century is Held as Scheduled!"

"Antawood's Prime Economic Mover and Shaker Being Dumped by His Fiancee?"

"Westley Morris Was Abandoned! Is the Rumor About His Impotence True?"

Numerous news kept popping up.

After coming out of the shower, Gabrielle Jones looked at her phone and read the headlines. Her heart sank.

The press members actually had the balls to report something like this. Clearly, they weren't afraid of the consequences.

The thought of Westley's possible reaction to the news sent shivers down her spine. It was going to get messy if he decided to do something about it.

As she towel-dried her hair, she refreshed the page to read more. But to her surprise, all the news about Westley disappeared.

She initially thought that there was something wrong with her phone. So she restarted it before opening the website again. There was nothing about Westley's wedding.

At first, Gabrielle was a little confused. She sat down and kept on browsing other sites, wondering what just happened. It was then that realization finally dawned on her. It must have been Westley's doing-he was the only one powerful enough to block the news in such a short time. Gabrielle huffed out a breath in amazement, her phone forgotten in her hand.

This man was really something else. His power and influence were beyond her wildest imagination.

She put down her phone. The moment she raised her head, she saw Westley standing right in front of her.

Why didn't he make even a little sound when he walked? It was creepy.

It suddenly occurred to her that she was only wrapped in a towel. Her instinct kicked in, and she moved to put on some clothes. But as soon as she took a step forward, Westley grabbed her and threw her onto the bed. Gabrielle scooted towards the headboard, putting as much distance between them as possible.

"Why... Why... Why are you here?" As Gabrielle spoke, she pulled the towel around her more tightly.

"Have you forgotten? This is our bedroom. Of course I can come here anytime I want." Westley looked her up and down and continued, "You look so sexy in just a towel, by the way. You know I was coming? That's probably why you only have that on. Do you long for my body that much?"

"No... No, of course not. I thought you wouldn't come back." Gabrielle sat up nervously. Some of her damp hair stuck to her forehead, so she tried to brush it away.

Yesterday was Gabrielle's wedding, and it wasn't a happy event. She was forced to marry Westley. She was sent here last morning after she left the Jones family.

She had been waiting for an entire day, but Westley didn't come back. He didn't bother letting her know when he would be home, so Gabrielle thought he wouldn't come. 'His timing is impeccable, ' she thought sarcastically.

"Are you disappointed because I didn't touch you on the night of our wedding? I totally understand if you are."

"No..."

Before she could finish her words, Westley moved quickly and leaned over her on the bed. He hovered above her, and with both of his arms on either side of her, he basically imprisoned Gabrielle. Westley stared at her fiercely.

"I'll satisfy you now. I promise I will make it worth your while." As he spoke, he put his hand on her waist. It made Gabrielle flinch from his touch.

"No, no, no, don't do this. Get off me." Gabrielle gripped the bath towel, her knuckles white. She turned her head to the side and closed her eyes, hoping he would leave her alone.

"No? But we're married now. Or did you forget that one little fact?" Westley tightened his grip on her.

As he did so, he pulled the towel off a little bit. Gabrielle could hear the roaring in her ears. She was so frightened that tears welled up in her eyes, and her body trembled.

"Stop playing innocent in front of me!" Westley only wanted to frighten her, but he didn't expect her to cry. Westley got off, stood up, and looked down at her. His face was a mask of fury and disgust. "Ask Bryce to hand Nellie over. Otherwise, you will become my wife in every way. That includes fulfilling your duties within the four corners of this room."

"Mr. Morris, please. I kept on calling my brother, but he turned his phone off. Dad and mom are also looking for him. We haven't stopped trying to contact him," Gabrielle hurriedly explained.

Three days ago, Westley and his men burst into the Jones' house. He claimed that her brother, Bryce Jones, fled with Westley's fiancee, Nellie Collins. Westley was apoplectic with rage-so much so that Gabrielle feared for her family's life in that moment.

Westley gave them two choices. One, they would find Bryce and Nellie and bring them both to Westley. If they couldn't do it, they would need to go with the second option, which was for Gabrielle to marry Westley-this would buy them enough time to find Bryce.

Gabrielle spent the next two days anxiously waiting while her family tried to locate her brother and Westley's fiancee. She was a bundle of nerves. In the end, what happened was the thing that she feared the most. Her mother asked her to marry Westley. She promised Gabrielle that they would continue the search and find her brother as soon as possible. Gabrielle felt her entire world crumble. Still, she had no choice but to do it-if only to save her family.

Besides, Gabrielle believed her mother. The Jones family raised her for more than twenty years, and they would never treat her like their scapegoat. This was just temporary.

"Keep calling him. If you don't find him, you will see the destruction of the Jones family." Westley glared at her one last time. He then turned around and strode towards his walk-in closet.

Gabrielle breathed a sigh of relief as she watched Westley's retreating back. She slumped back on the bed and tried to calm her racing heart. However, what he said worried her. It wasn't over; it was far from over. Westley wasn't going to stop tormenting her until Bryce showed up.

After taking two steps, Westley stopped. Without turning to face her, he said, "Go get changed. Grandma asked us to go back."

Gabrielle wiped away her tears. She got out of bed and pulled out her suitcase from the corner of the wall. She opened the lock, took out a choice of clothes, and went to the bathroom to change.

After changing his own clothes, Westley came back to the room. He was buttoning his shirt, but he stopped at the sight of Gabrielle's dress. He frowned and stood with his arms akimbo.

"Gabrielle Jones, are you headed out to do some hard and dirty work? Didn't the Jones family teach you how to dress properly?" Westley didn't mince his words. He saw her squirm at his vicious comments.

She lowered her head and looked at her own outfit. She was wearing a blue long skirt over a white T-shirt. This was her style and she liked it a lot.

"That's how I usually dress..."

"Well, you aren't the adopted daughter of the Jones family anymore. You are now my wife. Don't embarrass me with such shabby clothes. There are some dresses in the wardrobe. Go and choose something for yourself," said Westley, frowning.

Gabrielle hadn't really had an exquisite life. He doubted if her place in the Jones family was no different than a servant's.

Gabrielle looked toward the wardrobe but was having trouble taking a step. "But, there isn't..."

"Don't you understand me? Do you want me to take off your clothes myself?" Westley spoke sharply with his eyes narrowed.

Gabrielle sprinted to the walk-in wardrobe without another word.

She was stunned to see how exquisite the clothes were! She soon realized they were prepared for Nellie Collins. Gabrielle was only a substitute.

"Listen! I am giving you five minutes. If you don't dress quickly, I will come and dress you myself!" Westley's displeased voice hit her ears, shocking her.

Gabrielle did not know to what extents this man could go. She quickly caught a light pink dress, and put it on thoughtlessly. When she caught herself in the mirror, she couldn't believe her own appearance.

The off-shoulder top revealed her collar bones and shoulders teasingly. The knee-length, pleated hem granted her a dignified and elegant look. Surely, the dress was designed by some elite brand.

Exactly five minutes later, Westley slid the door of the wardrobe open, rudely barging in without a warning.

Her exposed shoulders and slender legs caught his eye. He felt he was enticed by her, but he tried to suppress the feeling.

"You didn't have to come in here. I'm ready," Gabrielle said in a small voice, looking at him reluctantly.

"Didn't I say I would only give you five minutes? Well, time's up!" Westley said cockily.

Gabrielle opened her mouth to say something but suddenly saw what Westley was holding in his hands. He had brought her a necklace and a pair of silver stilettos.

"Mr. Morris, don't you have anything cheaper?" Gabrielle had graduated majoring in jewelry design. She could tell the authenticity of a piece just by sight. By merely looking at it, she could tell the necklace was extremely expensive. If she lost it, she would not be able to compensate for it.

"No. You can't wear cheap jewelry and go out into the world as my wife! Just put it on. It's not a choice." After a few seconds of silence, Westley spoke again impatiently. "Well? Do you want me to help you put it on?"

Every word he spoke in her direction reeked of disgust. The mere sight of this woman reminded him of Bryce, the arrogant man who had dared to take Nellie away from him.

"I'll wear it myself." Frightened by his cold gaze, she quickly snatched the necklace from his hands. Breathing quickly, she tried to buckle it up but her hands were hardly functioning in nervousness.

Westley grew even more impatient. Seeing how clumsy she was, his anger started to build up.

"Oh! Give me a break!" he grunted and walked toward her quickly. Flicking her hand aside, he grabbed the hook of the necklace and leaned toward her neck. Gabrielle was even more nervous to be standing so close to him.

"Hold your hair the other way!" ordered Westley.

"No, it's okay. I'll do it!" muttered Gabrielle.

"I don't like to repeat myself. Do what you're told!"

Gabrielle swallowed hard and held her hair obediently. She looked up at the mirror and noticed how pale she looked. Gently, she dared to look at the reflection of the man behind her. He had a serious expression on his chiseled face and was very focused on the job at hand.

She could feel his breath on the back of her lean neck. Despite his rage, Westley noticed how slender and beautiful her neck was.

His fingertips touched her every now and then. Gabrielle's heart beat faster.

"I am only helping you wear a necklace, and your face has turned red! Jesus! You are pathetic," said Westley suddenly, looking at her in the mirror coldly.

She lowered her head and said nothing.

"I hope you can at least put the shoes on yourself. I don't have any time to waste on you." Westley glanced at her bare feet.

"This isn't my size. I'm wearing size 6.5. The size of this pair of shoes is 6." Gabrielle spoke, wetting her dry lips.

"Do you want me to buy a new pair of shoes for you now? Gabrielle, don't flatter yourself."

"No..." She bit her lower lip and shook her head slightly, eyes distant and sad.

"Then put these shoes on quickly. Are you planning on making Grandma wait for you?"

"No, not at all!"

"Then I should see you downstairs in five minutes. And you know I mean five when I say five!" Westley then swiftly turned around and headed out.

Gabrielle tried to fit her feet into the shoes, feeling like she was one of Cinderella's evil stepsisters. Her feet bulged and hurt, turning red.

She almost gave up trying but remembered Westley's angry face. She couldn't afford to have another argument with him.

She squeezed in both her feet in the shoes, and stood up. The pain shot up her ankles. Every step she took was an ordeal.

Going down the staircase was even more difficult. She winced in pain, trying not to show it on her face.

When she finally got in the car, she made sure to sit as far away from him as possible.

Sharing such a small space with him was suffocating. She looked outside the window pensively, wondering when this charade would come to an end.

"Gabrielle, when we reach the mansion, don't be chatty. After you greet Grandma, please shut up. You don't need to say anything else," said Westley.

"I know," Gabrielle responded robotically, then turned back to the window. The morning light was beautiful. She wished she was quietly sitting in a garden somewhere instead of being locked in here with this scary man.

The silence in the car stretched on. It was becoming stifling inside. "Mr. Morris, may I ask you something?" Gabrielle finally plucked up the courage to ask. She faced him, and she saw that he didn't even spare her a glance.

Before he could answer, Gabrielle continued fearlessly, "Why did your fiancee run away before the wedding?"

"What are you trying to say?" Westley turned to look at her with coldness in his eyes.

"I am just wondering why you can't find her with your resources and power. With your ability and reach, I am sure you can find her faster than the Jones family..."

"Are you really trying to tell me what to do? It was Bryce who took her away, so it is him who must bring her back. Bear in mind that if I send someone to look for them, they will return with Bryce's corpse. Would you like that?" said Westley coldly.

His words pierced into Gabrielle's heart. A chill ran through her spine.

She could not let that happen!

"Mr. Morris, I will try my best to contact my brother and ask him to bring back Nellie as soon as possible." Gabrielle spoke with resolve.

'I know he is a terrible person, and yet I have struck up the conversation. How stupid I am!'

The two of them remained silent the rest of the ride. The car finally pulled into the driveway of the Morris' Mansion.

All the elders of the Morris family were waiting in the living room to greet the newlyweds. The sight made Gabrielle nervous. Her palms began to perspire, and she felt a trickle of sweat trail down her back.

The pair of shoes she wore was terribly uncomfortable. It was too small and tight for her. Her feet were aching, and she found it difficult to walk. As they headed inside, she twisted her ankle and lost her balance. She was about to fall down when a hand reached out and held her wrist.

"Are you okay?" A voice of concern rang in her ears from behind.

"Thank you. I'm fine." Gabrielle thanked the man who had supported her, glad that she hadn't made a total fool of herself.

"Gabrielle? Oh, my god! What are you doing here?" The man who spoke was Austin Foster. His tone was gleeful and surprised!

"Au... Austin?" Gabrielle was even more shocked when she saw Austin's face.

Gabrielle used to work as an intern in a jewelry design studio. Austin was her boss's cousin. He often visited the office, so she knew him well.

She hadn't expected to see Austin here, but surely was glad to see a familiar face.

"Yes! It's me! My grandmother is from the Morris family. Why are you here? And why are you dressed like this?" Austin asked in disbelief.

"I..." Gabrielle started, feeling self-conscious.

"Are you unable to walk by yourself?" yelled Westley as he came back to see where she was. He saw her looking at Austin with a sweet smile. He was inexplicably annoyed at her.

"Westley, why is Gabrielle..."

"She is your sister-in-law, Austin. Don't call her so intimately. It's impolite." Westley walked up to Gabrielle and put his arm around her shoulders, leading her inside rudely.

The two passed Austin in silence, leaving him alone on the patio. Puzzled, Austin looked at Gabrielle's receding figure.

On their wedding yesterday, only Westley showed up. No one saw the bride. Therefore, this was the first time they would lay their eyes on the bride. It was not until then that Austin realized Westley's bride was Gabrielle. He couldn't believe it at first.

He frowned at the thought. His eyes kept following Gabrielle. He watched her stiff shoulders and how she carried herself. It was clear that she was ill at ease.

Gabrielle greeted the elders politely. Among everyone in the room, it was Miley who beamed at Gabrielle. She was obviously delighted to meet her.

"Gabrielle, come here. I have something for you." Miley waved at Gabrielle.

Gabrielle slowly walked towards Miley, careful not to look clumsy with each step.

"Grandma, what can I do for you?" Gabrielle said obediently, feigning a smile.

Miley was taken by Gabrielle. She looked so obedient, beautiful and gentle, completely different from the willful and impolite Nellie.

"Gabrielle, this is a gift from me," said Miley in delightful voice, brushing Gabrielle's cheek lightly. She handed a black sandalwood box.

Just looking at the box, Gabrielle knew there was something invaluable inside it. How could she, Westley's fake wife, accept it?

"Mom, this is for Nellie. How can you give it to an outsider so easily?" Liana, Westley's mother, immediately stopped Miley. She stepped in front of Miley, not bothering to hide her dislike of Gabrielle.

Nellie had always been Liana's favorite daughter-in-law. It broke her heart that the wedding did not push through. Liana was convinced that it was Bryce's fault-that he brainwashed Nellie to leave with him.

What's more, she felt like this was all part of the Jones family's plan. It was just too convenient to be mere coincidence. Bryce took Nellie away and, in turn, they made Gabrielle marry Westley. Liana wouldn't be surprised if they did it so Gabrielle would be a part of the Morris family and enjoy a luxurious life.

They seemed to have planned this very smartly.

Gabrielle didn't deserve to be a member of the Morris family. She didn't belong to this world. It angered Liana that Gabrielle would now enjoy all the things that should have belonged to Nellie. Liana failed to understand why Westley even suggested this stupid idea in the first place. What had gotten into him?

"Why, Liana? Westley insisted on marrying Gabrielle. How can she be an outsider? This is my gift for my granddaughter-in-law. She deserves it because I say so." Miley placed the box in Gabrielle's hand gently.

Gabrielle glanced at Westley in fear.

"Grandma is giving it to you. Accept it then," Westley said indifferently, as if he had sensed she was looking at him for permission.

"Thank you, Grandma." Gabrielle smiled and walked toward Westley with the box.

Austin had now entered the living room. Gleeful, he spoke, "Grandma, will my future wife also receive such gifts?"

"Of course, you silly boy. Last time, you said you had someone special. Where is she? When will you bring her to visit me?" Miley was not against this wedding at all, and was thus in high spirits.

"Yes. Austin, when will you bring your girlfriend to visit us? Don't follow Westley's example... picking up a random woman and marrying her," Liana said in disdain of Gabrielle's identity, shooting her a piercing look.