As he approached the hotel, Gabriel's eyes scanned the area, assessing the situation. He parked a few blocks away to avoid drawing attention and made his way to the entrance, his posture radiating an intimidating aura. The Rollers Family would soon learn what it meant to cross him. His mind was a cold, calculating machine as he approached the hotel's front entrance, every step a promise of retribution.Meanwhile, outside the hotel at the rear end, Camella stood frozen, her heart pounding as one of Drake's guards approached her. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, and she gulped, casting a quick, desperate glance at her phone, now tightly gripped in his hand. Snatching it back seemed impossible.The guard smirked, clearly enjoying her fear. "You can't hurt me," Camella said, trying to inject confidence into her voice. She hoped that being outside the hotel regardless of the place meant she had a chance to escape.The guard chuckled darkly. "It's going to take an angel to save you no
As Gabriel stepped outside, the fresh air hit him, and he saw Camella and Samantha waiting by his car, their faces a mix of relief and worry."Let's go home," he said, his voice softening as he approached them.They got into the car, and Gabriel drove away from the hotel, the young night air cool and calming. Silence filled the car, a stark contrast to the chaos they had just escaped.After a few minutes, Samantha spoke up, her voice barely a whisper, "Can we stop by a pharmacy? I think I need some painkillers."Gabriel nodded and pulled into the nearest pharmacy. He went inside, quickly gathering painkillers, antiseptics, and bandages. When he returned, he handed the bag to Camella, who was sitting in the back seat with Samantha.As they continued their drive, Camella carefully tended to Samantha's wounds, cleaning and dressing them with gentle hands. She glanced at Gabriel in the rearview mirror, their eyes meeting briefly in silent understanding."Thank you, Samantha," Camella said
Reaching his car, Camella couldn't stop herself. She threw her arms around Gabriel and pulled him into a deep, passionate kiss. Gabriel recklessly savored her lips, pouring all his relief and love into the moment.After a moment, they broke apart, their breaths mingling in the cool night air. "Thank you for being there," Camella whispered, her voice filled with gratitude. "You saved me."Gabriel gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. "I wasn’t going to let anything happen to you, no matter what."She looked at him with amazement. "How did you manage to arrive at the perfect time?"He chuckled softly. "I drove like a mad dog."Her brow furrowed in concern. "What if you had an accident? You need to be more careful!" she scolded him lightly, her worry evident.Gabriel's expression softened. "My lovely wife and the great mother of our wonderful daughter matter more to me than my life. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you."Camella's eyes welled up with tears, but she smiled.
As Walter concluded his grandiose claims about the painting, Mr. Norberg and the other antique experts listened intently, their expressions impassive. All eyes in the room were now fixed on their group, awaiting Mr. Norberg's expert opinion.After a moment of contemplation, Mr. Norberg stepped forward, his demeanor composed yet authoritative. "Thank you, Walter, for your enthusiastic presentation," he began, his voice carrying across the room. "Now, let's see what the experts have to say."With practiced precision, Mr. Norberg and his team of antique experts began their assessment of the painting. They scrutinized every detail, examining the brocade and evaluating the artistic merit of the piece.After what seemed like an eternity of meticulous examination, Mr. Norberg finally spoke, his tone measured yet definitive. "While the brocade of the painting is undoubtedly exquisite," he announced, "the overall artistic level falls short of expectations. I would estimate its value to be aroun
With a confident demeanor, Aliyah asserted her opinion, expressing her agreement with Mr. Norberg's appraisal while dismissing Gabriel's potential input. "I think the painting is quite impressive, but we should trust the experts' judgment," she stated confidently, casting a sideways glance at Gabriel.Feeling dejected by Aliyah's dismissive attitude, Benson tugged on Walter's suit, attempting to console him in the face of their impending loss. Walter, though visibly frustrated, managed to maintain his composure, nodding in acknowledgment of Benson's reassurance.As they observed Gabriel taking a step forward with an enigmatic smile, both Benson and Walter exchanged puzzled glances, wondering what he had in mind. Gabriel's confident demeanor intrigued them, sparking their curiosity about his intentions.With all eyes on him, Gabriel scanned the faces of those present, his expression unreadable. Sensing the tension in the air, he took a decisive step forward, seizing the moment to make
Despite the growing animosity, Gabriel remained composed, determined to regain his footing. He took a deep breath and addressed the room with renewed confidence. "I understand your reservations," he began, his voice steady. "But my intention is not to challenge the expertise in this room. I would like to buy the painting, but first, I need to see it up close."A murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd. Walter's eyes narrowed with skepticism, while Benson couldn't help but chuckle derisively. "You want to buy the painting? With what money, Gabriel?" Benson scoffed, his tone dripping with condescension. "Do you even know how much it costs?"Gabriel ignored the mockery, his gaze fixed on Mr. Norberg. "If you will allow me, I'd like to take a closer look," he said, his tone respectful yet firm.Walter, sensing an opportunity to humiliate Gabriel further, smirked. "Sure, let the man have a look," he said with exaggerated generosity. "Let's see if our resident art critic can find someth
Gabriel met their ridicule with an unflinching gaze. "I know exactly what I'm doing," he said calmly. "I have the means to purchase this painting. My offer stands."Mr. Norberg, seeing the determination in Gabriel's eyes, raised an eyebrow. "And what price are you willing to offer, Gabriel?" he asked, genuinely curious.Gabriel took a deep breath. "I confirm that the painting is as appraised by you and the other experts. Despite this, I'm offering the valued price - 200,000 thousand dollars to buy it from Walter."A murmur of disbelief rippled through the crowd. Onlookers couldn't help but ridicule him, thinking he was just trying to win their respect again by making an offer despite the painting’s downgraded value. Mr. Norberg, who was actually a professor and a true antique expert, has refused to buy the painting for that sum despite estimating it for 200,000 dollars. He felt it wouldn't profit him anyway. “You just want to buy a painting appraised at two hundred thousand which is
Mikelson, giving it a second thought, hesitated as he pondered Gabriel's intention. The painting was worth $200,000 at most, and he couldn't believe his son-in-law had stated he would buy it at that same price. Gabriel's offer was more than generous and caused a collective intake of breath from the crowd.Benson, witnessing Gabriel asking his father-in-law for money for the painting, concluded in his mind that Gabriel was a nobody without much capability. He assumed Gabriel's acquaintance with Mr. Rhinold was merely to leverage his father-in-law's connections. A smirk appeared on Benson's face as he leaned toward Walter."Smart move, Walter," Benson said with a knowing look. "Deciding to sell the painting off to Gabriel was clever."Walter, taken aback by Benson's words, glanced at him. "What do you mean?"Benson patted Walter's shoulder, a grin spreading across his face. "Though you're selling the painting below the purchased price, it's still good that you got $200,000 back from sel