The following morning, Anna and Jia were startled awake by the sound of Magdalene screaming. They rushed to her side and found her sitting up in bed, her eyes wide with panic as she clutched her bandaged head.“My son, my son, my son,” she muttered frantically, her voice trembling with desperation.Anna quickly placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to calm her down. “Magdalene, are you alright?” she asked, her own heart racing with concern.Magdalene shook her head vigorously, tears welling up in her eyes. “My son… I… I remember…,” she stammered, her voice choked with emotion.“Calm down, Magdalene,” Anna urged gently. “I promise we’ll find your son, but you need to take care of yourself first.”Magdalene grabbed Anna’s hand tightly, her grip almost painful. “No, dear. I know my son. I remember…”Anna’s eyes widened in surprise, and she exchanged a quick, uncertain glance with Jia. Just then, the doctor walked in, his expression calm but alert. “What’s going on here?” he asked as he
When they finally pulled away, breathless and content, Camella rested her forehead against his, a peaceful smile on her face. Gabriel brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, his voice barely above a whisper. “I love you, Camella. Always.”“And I love you, Gabriel,” she replied, her heart swelling with gratitude and love as they stood there, wrapped in each other’s warmth, the troubles of the past few days fading into the background.Gabriel cupped Camella's face gently, his thumb brushing across her cheek as he smiled down at her. “So, do I still seem angry with you now?" he asked, winking playfully.Camella leaned in, her breath warm against his ear as she whispered sultrily, "Maybe you can do more to make me believe you're not." Her hands started to mischievously unbutton his shirt, her fingers trailing over his chest with a teasing touch.With a growl, Gabriel grabbed her waist and pulled her closer, crashing his lips onto hers in a heated kiss. Camella responded eagerly, her arms
Gabriel nodded, a distant look in his eyes. “Strangely, that’s what my mother used to call me.”Anna arched an eyebrow in surprise. “Really?”“Yeah,” Gabriel confirmed. “I told Camella about it once. Our daughter even teases me by calling me that sometimes.”Anna smiled softly. “Your mother must’ve been a funny woman.”Gabriel’s face fell slightly. “She’s late, though.”Anna’s smile faded as well. “I’m sorry to hear that.”Camella offered a gentle smile. “I guess most endearing mothers give their sons pet names like that.”Anna hesitated, then said, “Gabriel, I need your help. I know I’m being selfish, asking for your help after all you’ve gone through lately, but I just want to help her and…”“It’s okay, Anna,” Gabriel interrupted softly. “I’ll see what I can do.”Anna’s eyes filled with gratitude. “Thank you, Gabriel,” she said, standing up to leave.As she left the house, Gabriel and Camella watched her go, both sensing the weight she carried. The door closed softly behind her, lea
The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the hospital room as Vincent stood by the bedside, his usually composed face clouded with anger. Barry lay there, his arm heavily bandaged, the pain evident in the furrow of his brow.“How are you feeling?” Vincent asked, his voice low and controlled, but the tension beneath was palpable.Barry scowled, his frustration boiling over. “Sir, that bastard Gabriel shot me. Three bullets straight into my arm. I'm not getting any better. You heard what the doctor said—I could lose my whole arm!” His voice shook with a mix of pain and rage.Vincent’s expression darkened, a muscle in his jaw ticking as he processed the implications. “Gabriel needs to pay,” he muttered, his voice cold and dangerous.Barry gritted his teeth, eyes blazing with the same fury. “He’s cost us too much already. And now, he’s maimed me.”Vincent’s eyes narrowed, his mind racing with thoughts of revenge. “That man has crossed too many lines. The person who kidnapped his daughter—it
The tension in the room was palpable as Vincent realized his plan was falling apart. His hope of an alliance crumbled before him, leaving him standing in silence as the Marlows turned away from his offer of vengeance.Vincent clenched his fists, refusing to accept their decision. “Jackson, you can’t back out now. Gabriel has taken everything from me, and if you stand by, he’ll do the same to you.”Mrs. Marlow stepped forward, her tone sharp. “Vincent Morgan, you need to understand something. That young man is not someone you can take down so easily. You’ve seen what he’s done. Do you want more destruction for my family? I won't let that happen.”Vincent scoffed, his eyes narrowing. “Is it because of your wife, Jackson? I didn’t expect you to be a coward, letting a woman dictate your decisions.”Jackson’s face hardened. “It’s not about fear, Vincent. Look at what’s happened to you. Your reputation, your business—it’s all gone because you went up against Gabriel. I’m not willing to put
Zoe walked into a dimly lit room at the police station, one of those spaces where officers could take a quick nap or escape for a moment of quiet. The worn-out couch in the corner and a small table littered with old magazines gave the room a cozy, albeit tired, feel. She spotted Dan leaning back in a chair, his legs stretched out as he flipped through a case file. As soon as their eyes met, a flicker of tension passed between them, despite the casual atmosphere. Zoe walked up to him, her footsteps echoing softly on the tiled floor. "Hey," Dan greeted her, his tone light but with an undertone of something unspoken. "Here to talk about the new burglary case?"Zoe shook her head, smiling softly. "No, I actually wanted to thank you for your help with Gabriel’s daughter’s kidnapping."Dan shrugged nonchalantly, trying to play it cool. "Didn’t get caught, didn’t get queried, so no big deal.""Still, it means a lot," she insisted, her eyes earnest. "You really came through for me."Dan stu
Gabriel stared at the sketch in his hands, the shock evident on his face. He blinked a few times, his brow furrowing as he scrutinized the features. Camella, sitting beside him, noticed his reaction and leaned over to take a look. Her eyes widened as she took in the image."Oh my," she gasped, turning to Gabriel with a teasing smile. "Why does this have some striking facial features with you, Gabriel?"He shook his head, still trying to wrap his mind around the uncanny resemblance. "It's shocking too."Camella grinned mischievously, nudging him with her elbow. "Is there something you're not telling me? A secret twin brother, perhaps?"Gabriel chuckled, the tension easing from his shoulders. "Everyone has seven lookalikes in the world, right? This might be one of mine."Camella burst out laughing, shaking her head. "Oh, come on, that's just a myth!"He shrugged, a playful glint in his eyes. "Maybe, but doppelgangers are a real possibility. Haven't you heard the stories?"Camella paused
Zoe arrived at Gabriel’s house and they sat down in the living room. Gabriel handed her the sketch, his expression still clouded with unease. Zoe studied the drawing for a moment before looking up at him, her eyes widening slightly. “It looks like you,” she remarked, her tone soft but filled with curiosity.“The resemblance is striking, can't deny." Gabriel nodded, a furrow deepening on his brow. “How do we find him?”Zoe waved her hand dismissively, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “Don’t worry about that. I’ll start by having some of my colleague friends in the capital check his bio in the system. Maybe I can put some pieces together from there. But,” she paused, “I’ll need the woman’s pictures too.”Gabriel nodded, relieved by her proactive approach. “I’ll get one from Anna and forward it to you.”As they continued to discuss their next steps, Camella came downstairs, her footsteps light on the wooden floor. She smiled warmly when she saw Zoe, her eyes sparkling.