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
Gabriel spent the evening combing through various hotels and locations in the city, desperate to find any trace of his father. He checked every lead, asked questions, and even slipped a few bills to receptionists in the hopes of getting some information. But as the night wore on, it became painfully clear that his search was in vain. Each place he visited led to a dead end, the frustration gnawing at him as he realized how elusive his father had become.After another fruitless inquiry at a small hotel on the outskirts of town, Gabriel stepped outside and leaned against a lamppost, his exhaustion evident in the slump of his shoulders. The city lights flickered in the distance, but they offered no comfort. Pulling out his phone, he dialed Louis's number, hoping for a breakthrough."Louis, any updates?" Gabriel asked, his voice tight with impatience.Louis's voice crackled through the line. "I'm working on it, Gabriel. But nothing yet."Gabriel sighed, running a hand through his hair. "O
Anna gently tucked Marie under the covers, brushing a loose strand of hair from her forehead as she softly hummed a lullaby. Marie’s eyes fluttered closed, and soon her breathing deepened as she drifted into a peaceful sleep. Satisfied, Anna quietly left the room, carefully closing the door behind her before heading downstairs.Gabriel was seated in the living room, his brows furrowed in deep thought. His mind was racing, filled with worries about his father, his family, and the danger lurking around them. Anna approached him, her footsteps light.“She’s asleep now,” Anna informed him gently.Gabriel looked up, relief washing over his features. “Thank you, Anna. I couldn’t seem to find the right way to calm her down. That’s why I left it to you.”Anna nodded, her expression understanding. “I know. It’s hard sometimes.”Gabriel stood up, stretching slightly. “Alright then, I should head home. Goodnight, Anna.”As he turned to leave, Anna quickly reached out and placed a hand on his arm
Embarrassment flooded Anna as she dropped her hands from her body and straightened her posture.“I… I was just feeling cold,” she lied, trying to regain her composure.Jia glanced at the air conditioner. “But the AC is off.”“I just had a shower,”-Anna muttered, trying to sound nonchalant.Jia nodded slowly and placed the glass of water she had been holding on the table. As she turned to leave, her eyes caught sight of the portrait of Gabriel, and she gasped. “You’ve got a portrait of him…”“Yes. I was planning to give it to him as a gift. Don’t tell anyone,” Anna replied quickly, her voice a bit too sharp.“I won’t say a word. Goodnight, Ms. Anna.” Jia assured her with a small, knowing smile before quietly leaving the room.Anna stood there for a moment, her heart still racing from the intensity of her daydream and the sudden reality check. She sighed, realizing just how deep her feelings for Gabriel had become, and how dangerously close she was to losing herself in them. Anna dropp