Gabriel’s heart tightened. “But how did you come to the city? And… how did you survive? I thought… I thought you were dead.” He hesitated, his voice breaking. “I didn’t even attend your funeral because I was so angry, so heartbroken. I’m still in shock.”Marie reached out and gently patted his cheek, her touch warm and comforting despite everything. “I understand, my son. But I never died. It was all part of your father’s plan to save me from Russell Walclaw, your grandfather.”Gabriel’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What? I don’t understand… why would Father…?”She nodded slowly, her expression pained as she recalled the events. “Yes. Russell had his thugs ambush me and create a staged accident. Your father reached me just in time and saved me. The body at the funeral wasn’t mine. Your father made it look like I had died in that car accident. After my fake funeral, we argued. I was furious that he didn’t expose his father sooner. He left in anger, and I… I was captured by foreign human
Back in the capital, Master Russell sat in his grand leather chair, his sharp eyes narrowing as his grandson, Greg, approached with hesitant steps. The room was steeped in an air of authority, the weight of their family's legacy pressing down on every word spoken within these walls.Greg bowed slightly, a sign of respect, before glancing briefly at his father, Leo, who stood on the opposite side of the room. Leo’s expression was unreadable, but the tension in the air was palpable.“Grandfather,” Greg began, his voice measured yet strained. “We lost the guy who was keeping tabs on Odell.”Master Russell’s eyes darkened instantly, a storm brewing behind his cold gaze. Without warning, he slammed his hand down on the armrest of his chair, the sound echoing like thunder in the room. “Speak coherently, boy!” he demanded, his voice gruff and filled with impatience.Leo’s gaze snapped to his son, his brow furrowing with concern. “What exactly do you mean by ‘lost’?” he asked, his tone a mix
The following morning, Gabriel stepped out of the bathroom, water dripping from his hair and torso, with a towel wrapped loosely around his waist. His muscles were defined, the water glistening off his skin as he moved. The door creaked open, and without turning, he spoke, "Mother, I asked you to start having breakfast and I will join you…”"No, it's me,” came Anna’s voice, soft yet startled.Gabriel turned, his brows lifting in surprise. Anna stood frozen, her gaze locked on him, trailing from the droplets cascading down his chiseled chest to the towel at his waist. She couldn’t help but feel a rush of heat, her breath catching as her eyes traced the defined lines of his abs and the strong curve of his shoulders."Anna, good morning,” Gabriel greeted, his voice breaking through her trance, but she didn’t respond, lost in the sight before her.He took a step closer, his brows furrowing in concern. "Anna?" He reached out, snapping his fingers in front of her face, jolting her back to
Gabriel joined his mother and Anna downstairs for breakfast. The dining table was set with a spread of pancakes, fresh fruit, and scrambled eggs. As they ate, the room was filled with the sound of clinking cutlery and light conversation.Marie looked up from her plate, her eyes settling on Gabriel. “How have you been living alone all this while, Gabriel?” she asked, a hint of concern in her voice.Gabriel’s face lit up with a smile. “I haven’t really been alone, Mother. I have a family now.”Marie’s fork paused mid-air. “You’ve got a family?”“Yes,” Gabriel said proudly. “A loving wife and a daughter. My wife is the best.”Anna, sitting across from him, suddenly dug a hole in her pancake with her fork, her gaze lowering as a wave of emotion washed over her. Magdalene, seated beside her, seemed unhappy for a brief moment but quickly forced a smile. She glanced at Anna, who returned the gesture with a faint smile of her own.***Later that day, around noon, Camella picked up Jessie fro
Camella’s remorse deepened. “But it was your mother… If I had stayed and helped her, maybe you would have met her sooner. She could have died because of me.”Gabriel reached out, holding her face tenderly, his thumbs wiping away her tears. “It’s okay, Camella. I’m here now, and I’ll fix this. You did what you thought was right at the time.”“Gabriel, do you think your mother can forgive me?” she asked, her voice small and filled with hope.He pulled her into a hug, holding her tightly as she whimpered softly against his chest. “I’ll talk to her. We’ll work through this together.”Inside the house, Anna stood behind Marie, who sat on the edge of the bed, her face etched with hurt and anger. Her hands were clenched tightly in her lap, and her lips pressed into a thin line.“Mrs. Marie, please don’t be angry,” Anna pleaded softly.“I can’t help it,” Marie snapped, her voice cold and bitter. “That woman is a bad person. I don’t know how my son got involved with her. She’s heartless. I hop
Gabriel walked back into the house with Camella, his arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders. As they entered the living room, Marie was descending the stairs, her expression instantly darkening when she saw them together. Her eyes narrowed, and the tension in the room thickened.“Why did she return?” Marie’s voice was sharp, her anger bubbling to the surface.“Mom, please, relax,” Gabriel said, holding up a hand to calm her. “I want you to forgive Camella. It was a mistake. That particular day, she had to leave because she got a call from our daughter’s school. Jessie wasn’t doing well, and Camella had to rush over.”Marie scoffed, her eyes flashing with bitterness. “A mistake? She’s evil, Gabriel! You don’t know the kind of person she is. She left me to die in the street. How can you defend her?”Gabriel’s jaw tightened, his eyes pleading with his mother. “Camella didn’t want to leave you, but she was scared for Jessie. She made a difficult choice, and she regrets it every day
Gabriel returned to the house, his mind still racing with thoughts of the conversation he’d just had. He joined them at the dining table, where lunch had already begun. Marie sat at the head of the table, her posture stiff, while Jessie was animated, chatting excitedly about her day. “Grandma, you should have seen me at school before our spring break!” Jessie beamed, her face lit up with joy.Marie smiled warmly at her granddaughter. “I’m sure you were the brightest star in the class, darling. Just like your father.”Anna, sitting beside Marie, chimed in. “Jessie is so smart, Mrs. Marie. She’s just like Gabriel when he was her age.”“Oh, I do not doubt that,” Marie replied, completely ignoring Camella, who sat silently across from her. Instead, she turned to Anna, her tone filled with warmth. “Anna, you’ve always had such a good eye for these things. I’m so glad you’re here.”“Thank you, Mrs. Marie. I’m happy to help,” Anna responded, casting a quick glance at Camella, who tried to
Leo’s heart pounded in his chest as he absorbed the chilling command, fear and anticipation swirling within him.He carefully backed away from the door, his breath catching in his throat as he tried to remain as silent as possible. His heart pounded with a mixture of fear and dread as he made his way down the corridor, constantly glancing over his shoulder to ensure he wasn’t being watched. Once he reached his room, he quickly slipped inside and locked the door behind him, the click of the lock echoing in the quiet space.Ruth looked up from the bed where she had been knitting, her face immediately creasing with concern as she took in Leo’s ashen expression. “What happened? You look petrified,” she asked, setting her knitting aside and rising to her feet.Leo’s hands trembled slightly as he ran them through his hair, trying to collect his thoughts. “Greg met with Natalie,” he began, his voice low and strained. “But she didn’t tell him anything. Nothing at all.”Ruth’s eyes brightene