Gabriel didn't flinch, his eyes never leaving Gaganda's. "You know this won't end well for you," he said. "You're outnumbered and outmatched."Gaganda's grip on the gun tightened. "I'm not afraid of you, Gabriel. You may have your goons, but I have my own ways of dealing with threats."Andrei, standing beside Gabriel, cracked his knuckles, ready for action. "You're making a big mistake, Gaganda," he said. "Just hand over Louis, and we can end this without any more bloodshed."Gaganda laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "You think I'm afraid of a little bloodshed? I've been waiting for this moment. Your threats mean nothing to me."The room fell silent, the only sound the ticking of a distant clock. Gabriel's smirk widened. "Then let's settle this, once and for all."Gaganda's eyes flickered with uncertainty, but he didn't lower his gun. The standoff continued, each man daring the other to make the first move.Gabriel held his composure as he told Gaganda, "The clubhouse is surrounded by

The public hall buzzed with anticipation as Isabella made her entrance, exuding confidence that commanded attention. She glanced around, taking note of the formidable representatives from the four prominent families, their expressions determined as they prepared for the heated auction ahead.Isabella approached the bidding table with a steely resolve, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. As the auctioneer announced the commencement of the bidding, she wasted no time in jumping into the fray."I will start with 10 million," Isabella declared boldly, her voice ringing out with conviction.Immediately, representatives from the other families countered with higher bids, sparking a fierce competition that filled the hall with tension. Isabella didn't flinch, doubling and tripling her bids as the stakes continued to rise."We will offer 30 million," one of the prominent family representatives announced confidently.Isabella met the challenge head-on, matching their bid without hesit

After arriving home, Camella ensured Jessie freshened up after her lunch. Once Jessie was settled, Camella slouched on the living room couch, her mind swirling with thoughts of Kiara's invitation. The idea of the dinner weighed on her, stirring a mix of curiosity and apprehension.As she pondered, her phone beeped, drawing her attention to a new message. It was from Kiara, detailing the place they would meet that evening. Camella's eyes lingered on the screen, absorbing the information, when Jessie approached her."Mommy, are you going out with Daddy later this evening?" Jessie asked, her innocent eyes filled with curiosity.Camella hesitated, her thoughts still caught in a whirlwind. "Yes, sweetheart, I think we are," she finally responded.Jessie smiled brightly. "Can I spend the evening with Aunt Jojo and play with her daughter? I won't bother you and Daddy."Camella's heart warmed at her daughter's thoughtfulness. She nodded, pulling Jessie into a tight hug. "Of course, honey. Tha

They arrived at the restaurant reserved by Kiara. As they stepped inside, Kiara greeted them with an exuberant smile. "Camella, Gabriel, this is my boyfriend, Francis. He's an Oxford-educated PhD," she said proudly.Francis stood up, extending his hand. "Nice to meet you both.""Nice to meet you, Francis," Camella said, shaking his hand warmly. Gabriel nodded, shaking Francis' hand firmly.As they took their seats, Kiara began singing Francis' praises. "Francis has been working on some groundbreaking research. It's really quite impressive. Tell them about your latest project, honey."Francis launched into a detailed explanation of his work. Kiara hung on his every word, nodding enthusiastically. "Isn't he amazing?" she said, glancing briefly at Gabriel and Camella.Camella tried to engage in the conversation. "That's fascinating, Francis. Gabriel has been working on some exciting projects too."Kiara, however, seemed intent on sidelining Gabriel. "Yes, well, not everyone can have a Ph

After a brief chat with her boyfriend and allowing Camella to cool her temper by holding Gabriel's hand, Kiara turned back to Camella with a sly smile. “Oh, I almost forgot to tell you,” she began, “I invited another one of our classmates to join us.” Curiosity piqued, Camella asked, “Who did you invite?”“Benson,” Kiara announced. Camella smiled, remembering Benson fondly, but Gabriel’s expression turned stoic as memories of Benson came flooding back.With a thinly veiled attempt to insult Gabriel, Kiara began praising Benson’s success. “Benson has done so well for himself,” she said, glancing at Gabriel with a smirk. “He’s really made a name in the industry.”Feigning politeness but with an edge to her tone, Kiara added, “Gabriel, why don’t you cover the bill tonight? Consider it an investment in our help to get you that job.”Gabriel didn’t object, remaining calm and collected. “Sure,” he agreed, much to Camella’s silent admiration.At that moment, Kiara’s eyes lit up as she spott