Gabriel stumbled toward Anna's room, his steps unsteady but determined. When he knocked, Anna opened the door and smiled, her eyes lighting up at the sight of him. "Gabriel," she greeted warmly, "I was hoping you'd come by."He smirked, stepping in without a word. She shut the door behind him, and he wasted no time. His lips crashed onto hers, kissing her with a hunger she had only imagined in her fantasies. She melted into him, wrapping her arms around his neck as he pulled her closer, his hands exploring her body.Gabriel’s hands roamed over her bare back, pressing her against him as if he couldn't get close enough. His other hand squeezed her through her shorts and camisole, making her gasp in surprise and pleasure. She heard a knock on the door, but ignored it, pushing Gabriel onto the bed, her heart racing.“Gabriel, are you there?” Camella’s voice came through the door, freezing Anna in place. Her excitement quickly turned to frustration. Reluctantly, she pulled away from Gabri
Camella's face was tight with suppressed emotion as she walked Jessie out of the house. She held her daughter's hand a little too firmly, her thoughts still caught in the whirlwind of what had just happened.“What happened, Mommy? Why was Dad so angry?” Jessie asked, her eyes wide with confusion and worry.Camella took a deep breath, trying to keep her cool. She forced a small smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Let’s just go, honey,” she replied softly. She hurried Jessie into the car, hoping to leave the tension behind them.After dropping Jessie off at school, Camella sat alone in the car for a long moment. The air felt heavy, suffocating even. She clutched the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles turning white as the memory of Gabriel’s outburst replayed in her mind. The way he had grabbed her, the fire in his eyes... it wasn’t the Gabriel she knew. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she blinked them back, refusing to cry in public.Instead, her thoughts drifted to Zoe. Zoe
Gabriel's heart pounded in his chest as he stared at the man who looked exactly like him. The resemblance was unnerving—same height, same build, even the same cold smirk that Gabriel sometimes wore when confronting his enemies. But this man, Jarod, was a twisted reflection.Gabriel's eyes darted from Jarod to the woman in the black outfit, still standing silently by the door. She remained unreadable, her face concealed by her mask.“What the hell is going on here?” Gabriel’s voice came out low and threatening, but beneath his tone, there was an edge of panic.Jarod casually walked around the room, picking up a small object from a nearby table and fiddling with it. “Oh, don’t look so surprised, Gabriel. You should’ve known Master Russell would have a contingency plan. I mean, after all, you’ve been a real thorn in his side for years.”Gabriel clenched his fists, his muscles tensing against the ropes binding him. “What are you talking about? What plan? And why do you look like me?”Jaro
The woman in the black outfit turned her head, her eyes widening as she watched him. She opened her mouth to say something, but stopped, mesmerized by the sheer force of his will. Gabriel’s eyes shut for a moment, and all he could see was his family—Camella and Jessie. The thought of Russell laying a hand on them sent a wave of dread and rage crashing over him.Jarod’s words echoed in his mind. “He’ll kill your family… wipe them out…”“I will end them,” Gabriel muttered under his breath, his voice low and filled with venom. “I swear.”The woman’s eyes widened at his words. Slowly, almost hesitantly, she reached up and pulled off her mask, revealing a stern expression. Her gaze was severe, yet there was something unreadable in her eyes as she stared at him. Her focus drifted lower, to Gabriel’s neck, where a faint glow began to emerge. A symbol—one she hadn’t noticed before—was appearing, illuminating under his skin, spreading along his veins like lightning.She shook her head slowly,
Jarod paced outside frantically, his hands running through his hair in frustration. "I can't stand this. What should I do? That fool didn’t even flinch at my threats," he muttered under his breath.He stopped for a moment, glancing back toward the building. "Should I go back and force him to spill the truth?" His fingers twitched with irritation, but then he shook his head and headed toward his car. "No. If I do that, he’ll know I’m desperate, and I can’t give him the upper hand. Better to let my words work in his mind first."Settling into the driver’s seat, he started the car, gripping the wheel tightly. As he began driving, his phone rang. Glancing at the screen, he muttered, "Greg is calling."Jarod answered with a casual tone, "What’s up, Greg?""There’s a new mission for you regarding Gabriel Wellington," Greg said, his voice all business.Jarod’s lips curled into a sly grin. "Really? I *am* Gabriel—""Stop it, Jarod! I’m in no mood for your jokes today!" Greg cut him off sharp
Jarod’s breath hitched. He turned slowly, covering his real eye as tactfully as he could, but he felt it was too late. The truth had slipped out—literally. The hazel contact lens he had been wearing to conceal his natural brown eyes lay on the floor, exposed. Gabriel’s eyes were hazel, and without the lens, his disguise was unraveling. His heart raced as he moved swiftly, casually stepping forward and covering the lens with his foot. “It’s nothing. Just an eyelash or something,” he said, his voice tight, forcing a smile. “Really, Mother, I’m fine.”Marie narrowed her eyes, her confusion deepening. “But your eye color... you’ve never had brown eyes.”Jarod’s mind scrambled for an excuse. “It’s the light in the room,” he said quickly. “Hazel eyes sometimes look brown under certain lighting. You’re probably just seeing the brown tint because of that.”Marie frowned, still not convinced but not pressing the issue. She shook her head, glancing around the room. “If you say so…”“Yes, pleas
Master Russell stood behind his desk in the dim light of his study, his back turned to Greg. His hand clenched around the phone he had just hung up, his knuckles white with fury. His jaw was set, his face twisted with anger.“That Jarod is an idiot,” Russell spat, his voice a low growl. “I can’t believe this is happening.” He tossed Greg’s phone back without even glancing at him.Greg caught it and cleared his throat nervously. “Grandfather, I think Jarod just needs more time. If you could—”“No!” Russell barked, cutting him off. “I don’t have time to spare! Do you think I can wait forever? My second political campaign is coming up. I need to pour everything I’ve got into it if I’m going to secure the mayoral position.”“I understand, Grandfather.”Russell’s hands gripped the edge of the desk, his fingers drumming impatiently. He finally turned, his face hard with resolve. “Once I found out Gabriel was worth more than we initially thought, I had to act. After Oliver made him the succ
Inside the low-illuminated cell, Gabriel jerked up from the chair, his chest heaving as he fought against the restraints. With a fierce growl, he yanked his wrists, the cuffs biting into his skin, drawing blood. He winced, but his determination overpowered the pain. With a final pull, the metal snapped, falling to the ground with a dull clang. Gabriel stood still for a moment, staring down at the broken cuffs in shock. “How did I…?” he whispered to himself, his eyes wide in disbelief. His strength had grown beyond anything he had imagined.But there was no time to dwell on it. He needed to get out. Fast. His family was in danger, and he couldn’t rely on anyone—not Tamara, not anyone else. He had to protect them himself. Without hesitation, Gabriel rushed to the iron door, his heart pounding in his chest.When he reached it, he realized it was locked. “Damn it, Tamara!” He groaned. He had thought she would have left the door unlocked since she set off the set-up X-rays. “I will brea