After the mother-daughter talk, Olivia called for a family meeting. Olivia and Amelia were seated in their sumptuous living room waiting for the other family members to join them for the meeting.
Olivia was stroking her kitten that was resting lazily on her lap while Amelia was busy on her phone.Although a barrage was brewing in her mind, she kept her face void of any emotion. Olivia Romano was known for her viciousness and lavish-obsessed life.She has always been an egocentric person. Her family repetition and her luxurious life is everything to her, and she would do anything to keep it that way.Gabriel put the teapot in front of her along with her favorite snacks. With a snap of her finger, she dismissed him.Gabriel was about to walk away when Amelia's cousins arrived. They glanced at him with revulsion and walked past him. Gabriel took a deep breath and took a step to walk away.“Hey, you clean my room. I will stay here for a few days,” Amelia's cousin, Adam, said.“Yes sir,” Gabriel answered while gazing at the polished floor.“Bring me my salad and blueberry juice with five raspberries and two cubes of ice,” Amelia's other cousin, tristiny said while taking off her expensive glasses.“Yes, ma'am,” Gabriel nodded.“Don't mess with my order this time. We would rather not repeat last time's mistake, right,”? Tristiny mocked.Gabriel shuddered as the last time memories hit him like a truck, but he quickly shook it off. Muttering a small yes, he went to the kitchen.Gabriel quickly took out all the required ingredients and started making the salad. He was halfway making the salad when a maid entered the kitchen.Gabriel offered her a kind smile, but she rolled her eyes at him. Quickly making everything, he took the tray to the living room.“Free-loader,” a maid taunted him as he was passing by her in the hallway. Gabriel's heart sting, but he shook the feelings away. By now, he is used to all of these, but it still hurts him.On the other hand, in the living room, everyone was sitting in complete quietness. Olivia has told them about the betrayal of Mr. corrigan. She also informed them about the marriage proposal.Olivia and Amelia silently wished for any of her cousins to agree to the marriage. Although, they don't like Gabriel and consider him a burden. They can't neglect the fact that he is handsome and well-mannered.Mrs. Morotti's son was an ugly and fat man. He was a total douchebag. Free-loading on his parents' money and bonking anything with a hole. Rumors are that he is even got one of the maid pregnant, but nobody cared because he is from a well-known family.“So, what would we do,”? Adam asked, finally lifting his head from his phone.“We have to accept the marriage proposal. It's not like we have any other option presently,” Olivia said bitterly.“Who's going to marry that ugly prude,”? Asked Charlotte, tristiny's mother.Everyone's eyes wandered to Amelia and then to tristiny. They all were thinking the same thing. They all refused to be the bait, but secretly they all wanted his money. They all have their secret ways to grab money from him if anyone from Romano's got married to him.“Oh no on… I'm not going to marry that cripple ugly creature,” tristiny said, standing up.“Tristiny,” Charlotte said in a warning tone.“No mom. I can't marry him. I love someone else,” tristiny exclaimed.“Who,”? Adam said, standing up.“That I can't tell you now but, my boyfriend is rich, and he can help us with our business in the future,” tristiny said smugly. She glowers at Amelia.Tristiny has always been jealous of Amelia. Amelia is the most beautiful and astute in the Romano family. Everyone praises her for her beauty and her shrewd nature.Tristiny was happy that for the first time she has something way better than Amelia.“ I think Amelia should marry him,” Kyla said with a bored tone while examining her perfectly done nails. Kyla is tristiny sister and a total brat.“Excuse me,”? Amelia said, acting baffled.Although, she has already thought about this marriage proposal. She would rather not appear too indigent or eager. She was kind and shrewd, but she vetoed being any less than her other cousins.“Kyla is right,” tristiny said, siding with her sister.All of Amelia's cousins were jealous of her. They were the black sheep of the Romano family. They were covetous of her beauty and her smartness. Furthermore, they wanted to destroy her, and this was the perfect opportunity to do it.“She's married if you are forgetting it,” Olivia said with gritted teeth.“I think my daughters are right, Olivia,” Charlotte said, standing up.“And what marriage are you talking about? What has this marriage given her,”? Charlotte taunts her with an evil smirk.“A good-for-nothing loser,” tristiny coughed, and all of them burst out laughing.“I'm sorry, Amelia, dear. I want the best for you, but if you had found someone more suitable for you like my tristiny did, then maybe the situation would have been different,” Charlotte said with a fake smile.“Not everyone can get the prince charming, mom,” tristiny heckled with a forgery smile.Amelia tightened her fist and gritted her teeth. She was boiling from inside but kept her cool. She faked a smile and stood up firmly.“I agree to this marriage,” she announced, and Olivia gasped in surprise.Everyone was surprised at her announcement, but deep down they were happy and satisfied that now she will marry that ugly man.“But I have a condition,” Amelia said firmly.“Oh come on, Amelia, what more do you want,” tristiny taunted.“Yeah, you already have two handsome men on your tail,” Kyla winked at her.Amelia ignored them and turned to her family.“I want 30% of shares for my mom and one million dollars for Gabriel,” Amelia declared openly.Everyone was shocked at her demand. Tristiny and Kyla gritted their teeth. This wasn't what they were expecting.“What will that prude do with one million dollars,” Adam said irritatedly.“Yeah, dear. I'm sure he didn't even see that much money in his entire life,” Charlotte said with bogus sweetness.“This is my condition. If you agree to this, then I agree to marry him or tristiny or Kyla can marry him,” Amelia disparaged with phony sweetness.Amelia knew they won't acquiesce to this marriage, and she will get her cash on hand. Everyone was still shocked and angry but, nonetheless, they agreed to her condition.“Okay, we agree,” Charlotte declared.“I don't agree,” someone shouted.Gabriel shouted, entering the living room. The tray fell from his hand with a loud thud. His heart was thumping wildly, and his hands were clammy. He didn't sleep a wink since last night. His eyes were heavy and foggy due to his lack of sleep. He has spent the whole night, tossing and turning in bed, feeling restless. A heavy feeling has sunk into the pit of his stomach. His entire body was on fire, But his heart was paining the most. He has given three years of his life to this marriage and family, but still, they never considered him anything apart from a free servant. What hurts him the most is Amelia's acceptance of this marriage proposal. He knows that their marriage is not based on love, but he still loves her with his full heart. And hoped, that one day she will love him the same. He knew it would take time, but he was willing to wait for her. “What did you say prude,”? Adam disparaged him.“ I don't agree with this marriage,” Gabriel said slowly, gazing at Amelia. He rubbe
Olivia dragged Gabriel with her all the way to the other living room. All the family members were following closely. Tristiny and Kyla had an evil smile adorned on their faces. Amelia's face was expressionless, not a single emotion was shown on her face. Olivia jerked Gabriel harshly, and he fell on the floor near her foot. He hit his head on the pointed edge of the marble table. Hissing in pain, Gabriel closed his eyes and took a deep breath to subtle the pain. Touching the spot, Gabriel looked at his fingers to see blood on them. He gazed at them and saw they all had made a circle around him. “This is where you belong,” Adam said, smirking evilly. “In our foot,” Tristiny said, and stood on Gabriel's hand with her tapered heels. He screamed in pain and tried to take his hand away, but Tristiny pressed harder. Tears streamed down from his eyes, not only from pain, but also from opprobrium. Gabriel gritted his teeth and pushed Tristiny away. Not expecting it, Tristiny stumbled ba
THREE YEARS AGO: AT SIGMUND'S MANSION:It was Gabriel's birthday when his life turned upside down. Elijah pressed his hand to his chest in pain. Gabriel was giving him medicine when someone hit him from behind.Gabriel grabbed his head and looked back. He couldn't see his face, covered with black covet. He fell to the floor and his vision went blurry. Furthermore, he saw that man putting something in Elijah's mouth, and then everything went blank. Gabriel woke up with a gasp as a bucket of water was splashed over him. He lifted his foggy eyes to see that all his family members were standing before him with murderous glares. “Grandfather,” Gabriel whispered. “He is alive. You did your best to kill him, right,”? Gabriel's cousin, Noah, sneered at him. “I di-didn't do anything,” Gabriel said, standing up. “Tell me why you did it. For property,” Gabriel's uncle growled at him. Accusations were thrown over him from every angle. They didn't listen to anything and kicked him out of the
Gabriel's forehead scrunched in confusion. He couldn't understand what she was implying. “What do you mean,”? He raised a question. “Inside, I was fighting for you and here you are celebrating your freedom,” Amelia yelled at him. Gabriel still couldn't understand what they were saying, but his eyes went wide when he finally took hold of the meaning behind their words. “No, no, listen…,” Gabriel started but stopped when a force collided with his face. His face turned to the side and his eyes brimmed with tears of humiliation, but he refused to let them fall. By now all the guards were watching the free play. Gabriel's eyes turned hard, and he glared at Olivia. No matter how much they degraded him, he couldn't hit a woman. “How dare you glare at my mother,” Amelia yelled at him. Before he could say anything, Amelia yelled for guards, and they came towards them. “Throw this garbage out of the mansion,” Olivia ordered. The guards took hold of Gabriel and started dragging him outside.
Gabriel watched as they both were cracking up at him and pointing toward his scooter. Gabriel quickly moved towards his scooter and pick it up. He was looking for any ruin when he felt eyes wearing on his back, but he choose to ignore it. By now, people have amassed around them and were attending the free show. They were gossiping and pointing toward Gabriel. He ignored the nasty looks of the people and went on with his work. His shoulders were hunched in fatigue and humiliation. Although he doesn't need this scooter anymore as he has millions of dollars fortune of business in his name, he still can't let it go. He can't forget where he has come from and what's his reality. Gabriel has always been a firm believer that all humans are made of soil, and that we all are equal. We shouldn't discriminate and never forget our genealogy. He has lived by this belief. “Oh, Is your Tesla defaulted,”? Kyle taunted. Sasha laughed out loud at her boyfriends' utterances. “Oh honey, you are so f
“But sir, maybe he needs some help,” the intern said slowly. He was veering around from one foot to another in nervousness. Although he was dead scared inside but seeing the way they all were accusing Gabriel, he couldn't help himself but voice out his opinion, Oblivious to the warm gaze on him. Gabriel was tired, mentally and emotionally. And the starvation for days was also not helping him. But he was grateful that at least someone believes in him. He knows that the day, people know about him being rich, they will kiss his feet. But, this gentleman was siding with him without knowing anything about him. “Sasha is right, he is some salesman or a delivery boy. I mean, look at his cut-price clothes,” Kyle said, wounding his feelings for Gabriel more.“He isn't even allowed near the premises of this company, and you let him in,” Kyle turned towards the receptionist and lashed out at her.“If you want to avoid bidding goodbye to your job today, then kick him out,” Kyle said smugly. “
“I'm Gabriel Sigmund,”. A voice yelled, causing everyone to freeze. The voice held authority and an inferential thread. Kyla and Sasha's heads snapped toward the source of the voice. Mutterings commenced erupting from all around them. Sasha's eyes were went-wide. She hunched her forehead in confusion but deep down she started comprehending what Gabriel meant. While Kyle looks at Gabriel as if he has grown two skulls. “For someone who is in Kyle's position, Kyle surely is dopey,” Gabriel thought as he rubbernecks straight at him. “Yes, and I'm the President of France,” Kyle laughed and dramatically clapped his hands, but when no one laughed with him, Kyle quickly sobered up and fixed his tie. Clearing his throat, he walked towards Gabriel. “What are you still doing here? I guess you only understand the hands' language,” Kyle laughed and asked while taking powerful steps towards Gabriel. Sasha tried saying something, but he totally ignored her. Gabriel watched as Kyle tried to e
“Please, sir. I apologize for bullying you for all those years. It won't come to pass again,” Kyle said pleadingly. His eyes brimmed with unshed tears that were imperiling to fall any second. His shoulders were hunkered down in affliction. The people on the staff look at him with empathy, but some were looking at him with grimaces on their faces. “I was foolish. And, it was just a mistake of my immature self,” Kyle continued pleading.Gabriel chuckled at his words. They think he is doing all this just because they bullied him. Gabriel was never someone to hold grievances against anyone. Despite how people behaved toward him, he would always exonerate them and treat them with utmost respect and kindness, but now he is not the same old Gabriel Sigmund. “Please Gabriel…,” Kyle began, but Gabriel raised his brow at him. Quickly gulping the Saliva, Kyla corrected himself. “Sir,” Kyle mumbled, and Gabriel rewarded him with his signature smirk. “Please sir. Forgive me,”. “Please, sir. Do