Lock You In My Heart novel Chapter 342

'My husband?'

Gabrielle hardly stopped herself from making a sudden, surprised movement. The way that she never disclosed her marriage in the studio and yet Jackson knew about it was no small thing. Even Jason didn't know that Gabrielle was in wedlock. If there was someone aware of it at all, it was only Austin.

'Nevertheless, Jackson actually knows.'

Gabrielle was almost frozen. Her stupefaction wasn't hidden at all.

"Don't give me that surprised look. Your kind cousin told me, thinking that I had an affair with you," Jackson scoffed, sarcasm evident in his cold tone.

"I..." Gabrielle stuttered, thinking how Jackson must be feeling, "I'm truly sorry that you heard such ridiculous rumors because of me." She felt no need to explain herself and just made an apology.

And when her mind whirled towards Mindy, Gabrielle sighed. She couldn't doubt that Mindy wouldn't scheme against her in every possible way. Of course, Mindy wasn't able to digest Gabrielle's pureness, the reason she was always busy making it muddy in front of the world.

And this time, Mindy thought that Gabrielle was having an affair behind Westley's back when she saw her with Jackson in the mall. 'Dirty brains think dirty forever!'

Surely, Mindy's next aim was to tell Jackson that Gabrielle was a slut who changed men like clothes and that he was her next target. Mindy must have wanted to warn Jackson away from Gabrielle, ruining her reputation in his eyes.

'Mindy is exceptional in thinking evil.'

"Don't be sorry. After all, we don't share that kind of a relationship. Plus," Jackson said, looking Gabrielle in the eyes, and making himself as much straightforward as he could. "You're not my type, and since you're married, you can never provoke my interest."

Those words might have been prickly for another girl, but to Gabrielle, their explicitness was rather amusing. "I guess I am relieved to know that I am not your type then." Gabrielle stopped a smile coming to her lips before continuing, "Jackson, you disliked me from the beginning, didn't you?"

"Well," Jackson paused before continuing to explain his divergent thoughts. "It's not that I disliked you particularly, Gabrielle. I just don't like people who try to approach me. Also, I don't much love teaching new disciples. So you can say that I'm halfheartedly doing it just because Jason forced me to do so," Jackson explained calmly.

It was who he was. He didn't like to aim at someone and make them feel bad. He just didn't like getting too close to anyone.

"I understand. And I know it's not your fault that I lack in experience and knowledge and that you have to teach me everything," Gabrielle honestly admitted.

Being well aware of her strengths and flaws was a virtue Gabrielle used beautifully.

"That's nice to hear that you know your liabilities." Jackson felt relaxed to know how well Gabrielle had a clear estimation of herself.

Hearing him, a small smile appeared on Gabrielle's lips. "I'll take it as a compliment."

"So," Jackson started the topic again that kept intriguing him. "What in heaven's name went so wrong that you decided to get married at such a young age? But, if you think you won't be comfortable telling me, don't tell me. I am surely not interested in talking about your private issues." Jason asked, curious but resistant because of asking about a personal matter of someone else, "And I guess no one, even Jason, knows about your marriage in the studio, right?"

Nevertheless, the idea of a young girl getting married at the age when most girls desired dresses, outings, freedom, and endearing romantic relationships, seemed quite contradictory.

Gabrielle was just twenty, a college student who should enjoy her life, but surprisingly enough that Jackson asked, she'd already been wedded.

"Jackson, I may feel better if we won't talk about my personal life. Whether I am married or not, I don't think it should affect my professional life in the studio. No one said that married women can't work, after all," Gabrielle said in a confident tone, avoiding showing her heartfelt guilt.

She came as a bachelorette employee in the studio but within a flash, Gabrielle got married. Her marriage was too much for her to take, let alone for her to spread the fire of it in the studio, the reason why she thought the better of it than telling everyone.

"I have no objection with that." Jackson didn't control

the faint smile coming to his lips.

Of course, he wasn't one of those old-fashioned people to whom work was a ban for married women.

But doubtless, to admit, Jackson met a polar version of Gabrielle. Before today, she was just an intern, a student of Jason, and a hardworking girl who got too immersed in work that she was seldom noticed by others.

But today, Jackson was quite stunned to comprehend her new identity.

'She has got some wits.'

Since day one, Jackson had seen her as a reticent girl who seemed to stay away from any spotlight. But now he felt that Gabrielle was quite cunning that she kept doing her job soundlessly, without disturbing anyone else.

Right now, Jackson's wrong perceptions of Gabrielle were quite visible, or maybe she was well hidden under her mask. He wasn't sure.

'She has the potential to win big dreams if she tried though.'

"I feel like Jason is clueless about your marriage. Am I right?" Jackson asked, propping his chin on his fist.

"Only Austin knows," Gabrielle paused before managing to explain herself further. "When the time comes, Jason will know too."

Hiding her marriage from Austin would've been impossible since he was Westley's cousin. Plus, Austin must be going through a hard time accepting his junior, Gabrielle, as his cousin-in-law.

Under the layer of selected words, Jackson interpreted that Gabrielle was restricting him to stop raking her marriage. Whenever she would tell Jason was Gabrielle's own problem.

Jackson, being the man who already was the least interested in someone's personal matters, silenced the topic finally. 'Of course, Gabrielle knows the best she had to do with Jason.'

"Don't get bothered by me. I am already too busy to question your life," Jackson said. Then his mind drifted to the reality that he had no time to think about himself than to dare and extract time for others.

"But," Gabrielle's face revealed a slight uneasiness and curiosity as she spoke. "Do you still dislike me?"

"Talk to me about liking you when I see your designs. Does it make any difference if others dislike you since you're married now?" Jackson showed his usual indifferent face that he wore more often than usual.

"That's not it. Others' opinions about my design work indeed matter to me the most. What people say about my marriage or myself are of almost no importance to me."

Gabrielle honestly smiled.

Having Jackson ask her about her personal life felt way better than anyone else in his place, for he didn't keep on probing her. His trait of not wanting gossips made Gabrielle more relaxed.

At least she wasn't worried about finding herself on a newsflash because of someone's hearsays.

It surely wasn't Mindy's day to burn the town with gossip because the guy she met was a coldhearted apathetic person who wasn't going to give rise to any sparks.

As always, it was another one of those pathetic attempts of Mindy in which she tried to show Gabrielle her doom. This time, she tried using Jackson, the utterly wrong person and failed.

"Let's continue to eat." Starting eating again, Jackson said, "You may wait for your husband after you finish." Continuing with his food, Jackson didn't say anything more.

His mind, though, still was on the way Gabrielle changed most of his thoughts about her. Yet, they did little to no good in improving his impression of her.

With silence engulfing both of them, they peacefully ate their dinner.

Talon, who was silently watching them share a serene aura, couldn't help the possibility of them having a chance together.

When, after finishing their meal, they were about to leave, Talon brightly said to Gabrielle, "It will be an honor to serve you again with Jackson, Miss Jones. I've never seen him have dinner here with a girl. You're the first." Talon smiled with hopefulness.

"You know, Talon, Jackson is too busy to tag along with me anytime I want. So, preferably, I will bring my friends here to devour over your deliciously cooked dishes." Gabrielle returned Talon a polite smile.

'She's amazing! A pretty, innocent, and kindly girl. I am not going to accept that the cold and arrogant Jackson mistakenly brought her for dinner.'

"It's fine so long as you accept to come, alone, with or without friends or Jackson. You're always heartily welcome, Miss Jones." Talon was beaming. "Be careful on your way back!"

"Sure, Talon. See you then. Bye!"