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
Louis huffed, wiping the blood from his hand. “He was really a loyal one to give up his life for his boss. I guess he felt it was better to die than to say anything about him.”Gabriel’s eyes burned with determination. “This is severe. But I won’t back down, Louis.” The two men stood there in the flickering light, the room heavy with the stench of death and unspoken resolve. The battle was far from over.Louis called out sharply, summoning two of his masked subjects who stood nearby. "Take this body away," he ordered, his tone cold and unfeeling. The men moved quickly, lifting the lifeless form from the iron chair and carrying it out of the room without a word.Gabriel watched them leave, his anger still simmering beneath the surface. Louis, noticing the tension in Gabriel’s posture, approached him.“Don’t worry about this,” Louis advised, his voice steady and calming. “We’ll find another way. There’s always another way.”Gabriel’s brow furrowed with worry, his thoughts drifting to th
Zoe leaned in closer, her voice gentle yet firm. "Gabriel, we’re friends. We shouldn’t lie to each other. If you’re hiding something, you need to be open with me. It’s the only way we can get through this together."Gabriel met her gaze, feeling a wave of guilt and trust. He had always considered Zoe a true friend, someone he could rely on. After a moment, he sighed and decided to confide in her. “It’s true, Zoe. I’ve been living in this city under a new identity, but I’m not trying to deceive you or play with your intelligence by asking for your help. Honestly, I’m just as surprised as you are about this connection to the woman.”Zoe’s eyes softened, and she asked, “Who are you really, Gabriel?”He hesitated before answering, “I used to be Odell Lux Wellington, but now I’m just Gabriel.”She nodded slowly, taking it in. “And you’re no ordinary man. You’re behind Greenovation Gardens and other big businesses in this city, aren’t you?”Gabriel raised his eyebrows in suspicion. "You’ve
Anna nodded and stepped aside, allowing them to enter. As she closed the door, she turned to them. “Is everything all right?”Gabriel’s eyes were serious. “I wanted to see the woman.”Anna started to speak, “Gabriel, I don’t think—” but her words trailed off as she caught sight of Magdalene standing, her face a mask of shock.Gabriel followed her gaze to Magdalene, and his eyes widened in disbelief. “Mother?”Zoe turned to look at Magdalene, who was staring at Gabriel, her jaw slack with shock. Magdalene took a shaky step forward, attempting to speak, but then she collapsed, fainting.Gabriel rushed forward as Anna and Zoe gasped, their eyes wide with concern and confusion.Gabriel knelt beside Magdalene’s unconscious form, his heart pounding in his chest. His hands trembled as he gently lifted her into his arms. “Mother, wake up. Please, wake up,” he called out, his voice thick with worry.Anna hurried over, her own face pale with shock, but before she could reach them, Gabriel turn