Gabriel appreciated Aliyah's offer, even though he understood her underlying motives. "Thank you, sister-in-law," he said graciously.Aliyah waved off his thanks with a smile. "Oh, don’t mention it. I'm sure those bags of clothes are heavy for you, so I don't mind helping you take some home."Gabriel smiled, declining her offer with equal grace. "Thank you, Aliyah. That would be really helpful, but it's not necessary, you know."Aliyah chuckled at his response, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Of course, but I'm always here to lend a hand," she replied, glancing at her friends again with a knowing look.Jessie chimed in, teasing her aunt playfully. "Auntie, are you sure you're not expecting anything in return for your kindness?"Aliyah laughed, impressed by her niece's perceptiveness. "Well, sweetie, I just like helping people out, regardless of what I get in return," she said with a grin."Don't worry, Aliyah. I will manage," Gabriel assured her, appreciating her offer but determi
After Gabriel returned home, he went to the kitchen to make a meal. When he was done, asked Camella to eat the dish he prepared, she inexplicably got angry at him.“Don't touch me let alone talk to me, Gabriel!”Gabriel's heart sank as Camella's unexpected outburst washed over him like a sudden storm. "What's wrong, Camella?" he asked, his voice tinged with confusion.Camella's anger flared, her words laced with frustration. "Why did you waste time going shopping?" she snapped, her tone sharp.Gabriel's brows furrowed in bewilderment. "I did it for Jessie," he explained patiently, hoping to ease the tension between them. He looked around for their daughter and attempted to call her but Camella's anger only seemed to escalate as she cut him off. "Well, while you were busy in the kitchen, Aliyah and Fredrick came by and took her," she spat, her words cutting through the air like a knife.Gabriel's heart clenched at the mention of Fredrick's name, his frustration mounting. "You shouldn't
Gabriel didn't say anything much and decided to go to Baigh company the following day. When he got there, he overheard some persons in the company gossiping about his wife, Camella having an improper relationship with their general manager.Gabriel's heart sank as he listened to the whispers, feeling a surge of anger and disbelief wash over him. He clenched his fists, struggling to process the shocking revelation about his wife.Gathering his composure, Gabriel approached the group, his jaw set with determination. "Excuse me," he interjected, his voice firm and steady despite the turmoil raging within him. "Is there a problem here?"The group fell silent, their eyes widening in surprise at Gabriel's unexpected interruption. One of them, a young woman with a guilty expression, cleared her throat nervously. "Uh, no, sir," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "We were just... discussing some work-related matters."Gabriel fixed them with a penetrating gaze, his suspicion evid
When Gabriel was making his exit out of the company’s building, he halted in his tracks as he collided with Camella in the foyer, their unexpected encounter sparking an immediate tension between them. Before he could even utter a word, Camella's accusatory tone cut through the air."Why are you following me?" she demanded, her eyes flashing with frustration.Gabriel shook his head, his own irritation mounting. "I'm not following you, Camella," he countered, his voice firm but tinged with exasperation. "I have my own matters to attend to."Camella's expression hardened, her words laced with bitterness. "Well, maybe if you tried to find a better job instead of lingering around here, things would be different," she retorted, her tone dripping with disdain.Gabriel's jaw clenched at her words, his patience wearing thin. "I have been trying," he shot back, his voice tinged with feigned frustration. "But it's not as easy as you think."Their argument escalated, each word adding fuel to the
Camella's patience wore thin as he continued to make unwelcome advances, his hand lingering on hers with an uncomfortable familiarity. She attempted to pull away, but his grip tightened, trapping her in his unwelcome embrace."Listen, I'm not interested," she stated firmly, her tone leaving no room for negotiation. "I'm here to discuss business, nothing more."The client's smug smile faltered slightly at her rejection, but he quickly recovered, his eyes gleaming with a predatory glint. "Come on, Camella," he persisted, his voice dripping with arrogance. "You know you want this. And trust me, I can make it worth your while."Camella's resolve hardened as she met his gaze with steely determination. "I said no," she reiterated, her voice firm and unwavering. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to attend to.""I'm your work, woman. You just need to please me and you’ll get my favor.”Camella scoffed. “You're unbelievable." With that, she pulled her hand free from his grasp and rose fro
With a stern voice, the CEO inquired, “Hope everything is going well with the cooperation with the woman. You shouldn't upset her, okay?" The client's face drained of color as he listened to the CEO's blistering reprimand, his heart sinking with each word. "I-I understand, sir," he stammered, his voice trembling with fear.The CEO's voice crackled with authority through the phone, his tone unwavering as he issued his orders. "You will cease all harassment of Camella immediately," he commanded, his words leaving no room for argument. “You should finalize the cooperation with her. I hope you've not done anything absurd?”The client was speechless as he recalled harassing Camella. Sensing the client's hesitation, the CEO's tone turned steely. "And I expect you to rectify every wrong you've committed," he continued, his voice brooking no dissent. "Failure to do so will result in severe consequences for your position within the company."The client swallowed hard, the weight of the CEO's
Camella blinked in surprise at the client's unexpected question, momentarily taken aback by the sudden shift in conversation. "Um, sorry, what do you mean?" she asked, furrowing her brow in confusion.The client hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Well, I was just wondering if you had any connections to someone influential," he explained vaguely, a hint of hesitation in his voice.Camella's confusion deepened, unsure of where the client was going with his question. "I'm not sure I understand," she admitted, her tone wary.The client sighed, realizing he needed to be more direct. "I apologize if I'm being too forward, but I've heard rumors about certain connections you may have," he confessed, his gaze searching hers for any hint of recognition.Camella's eyes narrowed, a flicker of suspicion crossing her features. "I'm not sure what rumors you're referring to," she replied cautiously, her mind racing with questions.The client shifted uncomfortably, suddenly regretting his decis
As Camella made her way through the bustling corridors of the company, the whispers of her success followed her like a shadow. The news of her sealing the massive deal spread through the office like wildfire, igniting flames of jealousy among her peers.As she headed to her next meeting, Camella couldn't help but overhear the hushed conversation of two colleagues, a male and a female, who were standing just around the corner."I heard Camella closed that big deal with the client today," the male colleague whispered to the female, a tinge of envy evident in his voice."Yeah, I can't believe it. How did she manage to pull it off?" the female colleague responded, her tone tinged with skepticism."I don't know, but it's definitely raising eyebrows around here," the male colleague replied, his voice filled with intrigue.Camella paused for a moment, feeling a pang of discomfort at the thought of being the subject of their gossip. However, she brushed it off and continued on her way, determ
The day of Camella’s delivery was a difficult one. The air was thick with tension, and Gabriel paced the hospital corridor, his face lined with worry. His heart pounded each time he heard footsteps approach, hoping for news. Dan stood beside him, trying his best to calm him down."She's strong, Gabriel. She'll get through this," Dan said, placing a hand on his shoulder. Zoe nodded in support. "Remember how well she did with Jessie? She can do it again."Gabriel nodded but his eyes were distant, full of concern. "I know, but this is different. The doctors said there were complications. It wasn’t like this with Jessie."Dan sighed. "Sometimes things don’t go as planned, but she’s in good hands. You have to trust that."Time dragged on, each minute feeling like an hour. Then, finally, the door to the delivery room opened, and the doctor emerged. His expression was serious, almost grave, and Gabriel's heart sank."Doctor, is she okay? Is the baby okay?" Gabriel asked, his voice almost bre
Gabriel's return was like a sudden burst of light piercing through the darkness that had settled in the room where his body was laid before he left, making his way downstairs. His family had been sitting in silence in the living room, weighed down by a sense of gloom, each lost in their thoughts when his voice echoed softly from the doorway."I'm back," Gabriel said, his tone gentle but firm, as though those two words were enough to bring peace to the chaos that had lingered. Everyone's heads snapped up, eyes widening in disbelief. Camella was the first to react, tears spilling down her cheeks as she rushed toward him. "Gabriel! You're...you're here!" she choked out, wrapping her arms around him tightly. "Yes, I'm here," he whispered, holding her close. "I’m back, and everything is going to be alright." Soon, the others joined in, surrounding him, their faces a mix of relief, joy, and astonishment. Marie, his mother, was tearful as she cupped his face, studying him as if she couldn
Gabriel’s eyes remained steady as he faced Thelma. Her expression was tense, eyes flickering with a mix of urgency and despair. She had tried reasoning with him, threatening him, yet he stood firm, his gaze unwavering. “Gabriel, this is the last chance you’d get. Forever,” Thelma's voice trembled, but it was clear she meant every word.Gabriel let out a slow breath. “Let it be so. Please, go save your mother. She doesn’t deserve to die at my expense.”Thelma blinked as if she hadn’t expected such calmness. Her eyes, filled with confusion, fixed on him. “The life is ebbing from you,” she said, stepping closer. “And my mother… for her to be restored, she needs the magical ring you’re putting on.” Gabriel glanced down at the ring, a simple yet powerful artifact, now glinting in the dim light. He looked back up at her, his lips curling into a sad smile. Without a word, he slowly slid the ring off his finger and held it out to her. “You can use it to save her.”Thelma was stunned. “Are y
In the dimly lit hall of Noctura, Seraphina’s laughter echoed against the stone walls, her eyes gleaming with a sadistic delight. Gabriel stirred, groaning as he slowly regained consciousness. His eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the sight before him—Seraphina, standing there with a mocking grin, her shoulders shaking with laughter.“Why are you laughing?” he asked, his voice hoarse, barely masking his confusion. “Do I look amusing to you, lying here wrecked like this?”“Not really,” Seraphina replied, her lips curling. “Actually, I played a little trick earlier, and it seems to be working. I can hear the cries echoing all around. They’re devastated… those weak humans.”Gabriel frowned, trying to process her words. “What do you mean?”She stepped closer, her dark eyes glinting as she leaned down, speaking in a low, deliberate tone. “I gave you a claim mark,” she said, her fingers lightly brushing his arm. “It’s imprinted right there, on your skin.”Gabriel’s eyes widened as he looked
Gabriel was thrown back into his dark, cold cell, his body bruised and battered. The guards had shown no mercy, following Queen Seraphina's orders to the letter. They took turns flogging him, their harsh laughter echoing off the stone walls. He had barely any strength left, yet he forced himself to stay conscious, unwilling to give them the satisfaction of seeing him break. After the beatings, they chained him up, suspending his arms so he couldn’t lie down. The heavy chains cut into his wrists, but he bit down hard, swallowing his pain. As if that wasn’t enough, cold water was splashed on him, drenching him, making the chill seep deep into his bones. It was all part of the queen’s relentless torment. Meanwhile, Thelma watched from the shadows, her heart aching. Her mother’s cruelty had gone too far. But she had been powerless to stop it, her powers restricted under strict orders from Seraphina. She clenched her fists, unable to bear seeing Gabriel in this condition any longer. Gath
Thelma stood there, her gaze fixed on Gabriel, her eyes shimmering with a mixture of determination and longing. Gabriel, shackled and weary, looked up, confused. "Why are you here, Thelma?" he asked, his voice rough from exhaustion.Thelma hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly, "Why? Do I need a reason?""Yes," Gabriel replied, his eyes narrowing. "Answer that. I'm sure your queen won't want you to be here.""Yes, my mother would be furious," Thelma admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "But I don't care. I just care about you."Gabriel's expression softened, but he was still cautious. "What?""Yes," she said, her eyes shining. "I care about you and... I want you to marry me."Gabriel's eyes widened, disbelief written all over his face. "Marry you?"Thelma took a step closer, her gaze unflinching. "Yes. Marry me. I can help you." He stared at her silently, trying to read her intentions, but she continued, her voice pleading. "I promise you, Gabriel, if you marry me, I can vouch t
Zoe felt a chill run down her spine, and she struggled to find words. "I... I didn’t know," she said, barely able to process what Tamara was saying.Camella, though lost in her own world of grief, heard Tamara’s last words and turned, her eyes wide with horror. “What are you saying?” she whispered, her lips trembling. “Someone has to die... for him to wake up?”Tamara hesitated, seeing the fear in Camella's eyes. "I wish it wasn't true, but... yes. That’s how it works. It’s a cruel trade," she said softly, her own voice betraying her sadness.Camella felt the room spin for a moment, her heart pounding. She looked at Gabriel, her lips quivering as she whispered, “No... there has to be another way. There has to be.”Zoe moved closer to Tamara, her mind reeling from the revelation. “Is there really no other way?” she asked, almost pleading."I've searched, Zoe," Tamara said, shaking her head. "But the truth is, in his condition, if he wants to return, a life must be taken. It’s not someth
Gabriel stood there, his breath heavy, the dark silhouette of the creature looming over him. It was unlike anything he had ever seen—a twisted mix of shadows and fangs, with eyes that seemed to glint even in the darkness. His heart pounded as he gripped the hilt of an available sword tighter, the sweat from his palms making it slick. He knew he had to act fast, but the creature’s movements were unpredictable, darting around him, taunting him.“Come on,” he muttered to himself, trying to steady his breathing. “Just one opening… that’s all I need.”The creature lunged, and he sidestepped, narrowly avoiding its sharp claws. The air was thick, almost suffocating, and his muscles ached from the strain of dodging and countering. He swung his sword, managing to nick the creature’s side, but it only hissed, unfazed, and retreated into the shadows. The brief moment of reprieve was shattered when he heard the snorting and stomping behind him. Turning, he saw the massive bull charging toward him
More machines attacked, but Gabriel was relentless, his mind focused on one thing: survival. He fought with a ferocity he didn’t know he had, each blow more powerful than the last. For every machine that attacked, he countered with swift, brutal precision, his eyes glowing brighter with every strike.As he stood amidst the shattered remains of the machines, his chest heaving, he heard Seraphina’s voice echo through the realm. “Impressive, Gabriel. But this is only the beginning. You will break, and you will serve me… or you will die.”Gabriel looked around, wiping the sweat from his brow, his breath ragged but steady. “I’ll never be yours,” he shouted defiantly, his voice echoing through the dark, empty expanse of Noctura. “I will find a way out of this place, and I will destroy everything you throw at me.”Seraphina's laughter echoed, dark and mocking. “We shall see, Gabriel. We shall see.”As the darkness around him deepened, Gabriel steeled himself, knowing that this was only the b