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.
Gabriel just kept looking at her, unable to bring himself to speak, his silence heavy with unspoken fears.Camella broke the silence, her voice gentle but firm. "Gabriel, you can’t keep things from me. You promised.”Gabriel held her face tenderly, his eyes filled with regret. “I’m sorry, but I’m keeping this.”She sighed deeply, her frustration evident. “You promised to tell me everything, Gabriel. I need to know what’s going on.”“I’m not disputing that, Camella. But I can’t tell you this. It’s for the best.” His voice was steady, though it pained him to keep her in the dark.She nodded slowly, searching his face. “I trust you.”Just then, his phone beeped. Camella picked it up and saw a message from Zoe on one of his social media accounts. Handing it to him, she watched as he quickly typed out a response, his fingers moving over the screen with practiced ease. When he noticed her watching, he explained, “Zoe followed me on all my social media platforms.”Camella smiled softly. “Th
The old man, Master Russell, a man whose presence commanded respect and fear, leaned forward in his chair, eyes narrowing with curiosity and impatience. "So, Leo," he drawled, his voice low and menacing, "tell me more about this 'someone.' Who is it that you have in mind?"Leo cleared his throat, sensing the weight of his father's scrutiny. "Her name is Natalie Wilson. She's from the Wilson family."Master Russell’s eyes narrowed further as he tried to recall the name. "Wilson... Wilson... Ah, yes, the Wilsons. But how exactly do they fit into our plan?"Leo nodded, eager to explain. "The Wilson family is connected to Oliver’s wife, Marie. It’s her maternal family.”The old man leaned back, a twisted smile creeping onto his face as he cracked his knuckles. "Hm, interesting. So, his son is hiding in Springfield City, while his mother's maternal family remains here in the capital. This is perfect." He shot a cold, demanding gaze at Leo, urging him to continue.Leo hesitated but pressed o
Ruth still wasn't convinced. Her skepticism was clear as she crossed her arms over her chest, narrowing her eyes at him. “You don't want Odell to be found but you suggested to your father that they could get him through his maternal cousin, Natalie.Leo sighed heavily, running his hand through his hair in frustration. “I know she wouldn't know much about Odell, which is why I suggested it to him. I am trying to play submissive to my father so I don't get on his bad side.”“So, you want to kick licking your father's ass, huh?" Ruth's voice was laced with bitterness as she glared at him.Leo met her gaze, his expression pained. “I can't do anything else. I am doing this to keep us safe from my father's wrath. I sincerely have nothing against Oliver, and I don't want either him or his son to die. But if I don't act like I am supporting my father, it can be tragic for us. He sees me as a useless son, and when he decides someone is useless, he discards them. Do you understand that?”Ruth's
Gabriel’s emotions churned within him, a mix of confusion, fear, and a deep sense of responsibility. The idea that his father might be closer than he thought, silently watching over him when his life too was in danger, was almost overwhelming. “Master Gabriel,” Butler Moore's voice wavered slightly, “I don’t know much about your father’s family, but I know your father well. He loves you dearly and won’t think twice before risking his life for you. It was unfortunate that he couldn’t save your mother, but if things get worse, he will offer himself to his father, Master Russell, in exchange for your life.”Gabriel felt a knot in his throat as he absorbed the weight of Butler Moore's words. “Thank you for telling me this. Please, keep trying to find him. I think we should be together rather than apart.”“I think so too, Master Gabriel. I’ll let you know if my spy in the capital finds anything.”“Thank you,” Gabriel replied before ending the call. He sighed deeply, his hand tightening in