Chapter 139 - Are You Happy?

"Hi?"

Gabriella raised her brows awkwardly, as Devon stared at her like she was a ghost. She carefully took her purse, about to walk away, but Devon spoke.

"Wait. Are you... happy?" Devon's question just slipped past her lips without going through the process of going through her mind. 

"Am I happy?" Gabriella furrowed her brows as that sounded a little abrupt. However, she still smiled brightly and nodded.

"Of course, I am. Why wouldn't I?" 

Devon studied her expression, couldn't trace any sign of deception in her face. Gabriella really looked happy and satisfied. Although Devon had worn that face her entire life, she couldn't remember smiling as brightly and as beautiful as that.

"Are you happy?" Gabriella inquired, raising her brows as she didn't mind having such a conversation with a stranger. 

"Am I happy?" 

Gabriella chuckled, propping her bottom against the sink, arms crossed. Her smile remained, gazing at Devon straight in the eye.

"Do you want me to answer that for you?" she asked, tilting her head to the side. "You look like you're about to cry, but I can see that you're happier than ever."

"How did you know that?"

Gabriella shrugged. "I just know. I have a very good eye on people."

Devon remained silent, pursing her lips into a thin line. Even Gabriella's voice sounded just like hers. Their only difference was their personality. This woman in front of her was like the morning on the first day of spring, while Devon in her previous life was akin to a frigid night of winter. 

The corner of Devon's lips stretched into a bitter smile. Meeting Gabriella for the first time was a shock for her, but this time, it felt... strange. It was as if she was talking to the happy version of herself. 

"You're kind." Devon let out a shallow breath. "You might find it strange for a stranger to ask such a question."

"Not really. I'm glad to talk to people; my father is strict and overly protective just like my big brother. I know they love me, but because of that, I can't even get a boyfriend...." Gabriella unconsciously complained and went on and on as if she didn't mind complaining to a stranger. 

As she complained, her voice started to fade in the background as Devon just stared at her. An overprotective family? Pampered princess? That was what Devon understood from Gabriella's complaints. Even so, it sounded like her family was simply doing it because they love her as a family — and not just someone like a property or a political card.

It gave Devon these mixed emotions. But overall, she was glad that this version of herself in this world was... happy. It gave her this sense of fulfillment because that was just what she wanted. 

A family.

"Do you love them?" Gabriella stopped talking at Devon's question. "Your family, do you love them?"

"Of course, I do! They are annoying, but I love them regardless. Do you? I mean, do you love your family?" 

"I don't." Devon's response was quick, making Gabriella bite her tongue. 

"I'm... I'm sorry. It seems I just went on and on without considering your feelings."

"It's fine. There's nothing to be sorry for." 

Gabriella pressed her lips together. "I like you."

"Pardon?"

"Let's be friends." Gabriella grinned brightly. "I'm only in the country because my brother let me tag along with him. So, I don't have many friends and I'm getting bored. We clicked the first five minutes of our conversation, so I guess we'll be good friends."

"Are you always this carefree?"

"Hehe. I'm not. I'm actually the sophisticated, elegant, and smart type of lady." Gabriella winked. Although her tone was full of confidence, her actions so far said otherwise. Seeing that Devon was staring at her with doubt in her eyes, Gabriella let out a sigh.

"Fine. My brother always tells me I play a lot and always acting like a child — I'm not. I'm just lonely and had no real friends." She pouted, averting her eyes away from Devon, who was like the real sophisticated, elegant, and smart type of lady.

Devon bit her lower lips before a chuckle escaped from her mouth. Her soft chuckles slowly grew into melodious laughter, catching Gabriella's attention.

"You have a nice laugh." Gabriella pointed out, smiling as this woman she just met surely looked like a good person. "So, are we friends now?"

"Friends... sure."

"Great!" Gabriella clasped her hands excitedly as her eyes sparkled. "Are you alone here? Do you want to join me, I mean, only if you like so we can chat more."

"I'm actually with my friends. Are you alone..." Devon trailed off as she recalled Gabriella's conversation earlier on the phone. 

"I'm not. My brother is outside, waiting for me. He kept calling me --" Gabriella clicked her tongue in irritation, seeing another incoming call from Quentin. She cast Devon a smile.

"I'll pick this up really quickly." Her expression then changed, placing the phone in front of her ear. "Are you bored? I will eat more. You should go back to the hotel first. Goodness. I'm not a child!" 

Gabriella and Quentin argued throughout the three-minute phone call before she hung up. It was obvious her brother had pressed her nerves.

"Are you alright?" asked Devon, seeing that Gabriella was frowning. "He didn't let you stay?"

"It's not that. I'm just angry at him because my brother is such a jerk, but he let me stay for a while." The smile on her face resurfaced again, as if she didn't banter with her brother just now. "Can I join you and your friends?"

"Uh..." Honestly, Devon didn't plan on inviting her. However, after hearing all that argument and how she looked at her with puppy eyes, how could she refuse?

A weak sigh escaped Devon's lips. "Sure. You can join us."

"Great! I got new friends!" 

With that being said, Gabriella hook her arms around Devon as if they just became the best of friends. Devon gazed at her for a moment, but the former cast her a bright smile.

"Let's go to our friends," Gabriella suggested excitedly. Her energy in meeting people and how Quentin let her go by herself gave this strange feeling to Devon's heart. Overall, it was a good feeling as it seemed Quentin wasn't obsessed with her. 

"They will like you," Devon smiled at her, making Gabriella blush. "You seem like a good person."

"You too. I feel like we're connected or something. Please don't look at me like I'm a strange person." Gabriella giggled sweetly. "Anyway, what is your zodiac sign?"

The two of them conversed as they headed back to where Bella's group at. When they returned, the three — Bella, Dion, and Mike — gazed at Devon's new friend in disbelief. 

"Sis, didn't you say you will just go to the restroom?" asked Dion while Devon and Gabriella took a sit. 

"Can they speak in English?" Gabriella wondered, tilting her head as she didn't understand Dion's question. 

Just then, Devon realized she was speaking another language. She just did. Well, Ghost Lin could speak a few languages and Devon inherited the skills.

"Of course we can," Bella answered awkwardly, casting Devon a strange look.

"Uhm... can she join us?" 

"She's already sitting here!" Dion exclaimed in dismay as Gabriella sat first before Devon could sit.

"Uhm... are they angry?" Gabriella murmured as she leaned closer to Devon. "Also, why is your friend, raising his voice? Does he hate me?"

"No, I don't hate you." Dion let out a frustrated sigh. "We're just surprised, that's all. My sister is a very kind person and --"

"You're my type." Dion nearly choked as Gabriella suddenly confessed, as if she was simply asking 'how was the food like?'.

Bella, Mike, and Devon looked at each other in silence. That was far from their expectation. Well, the two were rather welcoming, as Devon's energy attracted everyone to her. Dion, on the other hand, was a little territorial. 

"Miss, seducing me won't work. You're not the only person who came at me, confessing they're in love with me."

"I didn't say I'm in love with you." Gabriella corrected. "I simply said I like you. I like your honesty and how you show you dislike me. I approve." 

Gabriella raised both her thumbs with a bright grin on her face. The grumpy Dion could only scrunch his nose up, understanding that Devon's friends were just as strange as her. 

"By the way, my name is Gabriella De Luca. I'm a foreigner, obviously. Single and ready to mingle, but you have to know that my big brother and father were a little..." She trailed off, tilting her hand as her expression changed just thinking those obstacles in why she was still single. Just then, she noticed Dion's stony expression.

"De Luca? The De Luca winery?" Dion quirked a brow while Gabriella's eyes brightened up.

"You heard about us?" 

"You should go, Miss De Luca." His tone was cold, making Devon furrow her brows.

Bella and Mike weren't surprised, as they had already heard the news in the business industry. It was quite the nasty fuzz the Qin Empire was making that was worth the news articles, after all.

"Huh?" Gabriella pursed her lips, seeing that Dion's eyes were glinting menacingly. "What did I..."

"My surname is Qin, Qin Dion.. I'm sure that gives you enough answer why we shouldn't be sitting at the same table, Miss De Luca."