Natalie was beaming with happiness as she talked to her mother over the phone while driving. Her hands rested comfortably on the steering wheel as she listened to her mother’s cheerful voice on the other end. "Mom, I'm so glad that Aunt Marie is alive and with Uncle Oliver, safe in Springfield City. It's such a relief," Natalie said, her voice filled with warmth.Her mother’s laughter was contagious. "Oh, Natalie, you have no idea how happy this makes me! Our family is finally coming together again.""Maybe we should go visit them soon," Natalie suggested, the excitement evident in her tone."Yes, absolutely!" her mother replied enthusiastically. "I can’t wait to see my sister, Marie. It’s been far too long."Natalie’s smile faltered slightly as she noticed a van in her rearview mirror, seemingly tailing her. Her instincts kicked in, and she tried to maintain her composure. "Mom, let’s talk more about this when I get home, okay?""Sure, dear. Take care and drive safely," her mother r

Camella walked through the supermarket, taking in the bright, bustling environment around her. She watched with admiration as the staff moved swiftly, attending to customers with warm smiles and efficient service. She felt proud of how well the place was run. She had dropped by to surprise Gabriel, but Mike, the manager, approached her. "Hello, Camella, good to see you!" Mike greeted warmly."Hi, Mike. I thought I’d surprise Gabriel," she replied with a smile. "Is he around?"Mike shook his head. "No, ma'am. He hasn't come in today for the usual weekly assessment."Camella frowned slightly. “Uh- oh... He did mention earlier that he'd be taking his mother and Jessie to lunch with my parents. Goodness, I forgot."Mike offered a polite suggestion. "You could wait for him in the office if you’d like. He might drop by soon."Camella nodded. "Alright, I'll wait. Thanks, Mike."She made her way to Gabriel's office and sat down on the couch, looking around with a contented smile. She pulled o

A few hours later, Greg lounged comfortably in a swing chair, the metal frame creaking gently with each sway. He seemed relaxed, one leg dangling lazily over the edge, a glass of whiskey in his hand. The cool breeze brushed against his face, but his eyes were fixed on Natalie.Natalie was drenched in sweat, her clothes clinging to her body. She was just two feet away from the scorching cauldron, her legs curled up tightly beneath her. They ached terribly, muscles quivering from exhaustion and the intense heat radiating toward her. Her face was pale, and her breaths came in short, ragged gasps.Greg took a sip from his glass, watching her with amusement. “How’re you holding up over there, Natalie?” he called out, his tone mocking. “Getting a bit hot, isn’t it?”Natalie glared at him, but she was too weak to respond.He chuckled. “Come on, don’t be shy. We’ve still got some time to chat. I’m quite enjoying our little… bonding session.” He smirked, leaning back further into his chair. "Y

Shaking, Ruth stepped forward, clutching the stick tightly in her trembling hands. She stared at Gabriel, slumped on the ground, his body motionless. Her breathing was rapid, fear coursing through her veins. Suddenly, Leo rushed in, his eyes widening as he took in the scene. “Ruth, what did you do?” he exclaimed, staring at the stick in her hand.“I… I didn’t mean to hit him!” Ruth stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.Leo’s gaze shifted from Ruth to Gabriel, confusion and concern etched across his face. “Gabriel…? Why did you hit Gabriel?”Ruth swallowed hard, her face pale. “He almost killed our son,” she murmured, her voice shaky. “I had to hit him to stop him. I just hope… I hope he’s not dead.”Leo quickly knelt beside Gabriel, his fingers pressing against his neck. After a tense moment, he nodded. “He’s alive,” he confirmed, relief washing over him.Ruth sighed deeply, her body sagging with the weight of the tension. “Good. It’s a good thing we’ve been keeping tabs on Gr

Gabriel rushed into the hospital moments after the taxi dropped him off. His heart pounded as he hurried down the hall, searching for Camella’s room after being told what room she was in. Finally, he found it and pushed the door open.Camella’s face darkened with anger when she saw him. "Where were you?" she demanded, her voice sharp. "Don’t even try to touch me!" She flinched as he reached for her. "Go back to wherever you were yesterday, Gabriel.""I'm sorry, Camella," he pleaded. "I got caught up in something…""Something more important than me, right?" she shot back, her eyes filled with hurt. "I almost died, and you didn’t bother to come. Everyone was here, worried about me, except you. What was so important that kept you away? You always disappear when I need you most. Is this a new habit of yours?""Camella, please, it's not like that," Gabriel tried to explain, his voice calm yet desperate. "I had to handle something urgent—"“Don’t lie to me, Gabriel!” she cut him off, raisi