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
Camella sat in a dark corner of the bar, her hand wrapped around a glass of whiskey. She stared into the amber liquid, her mind swirling with memories of that morning, of Gabriel, and how he had treated her like she was nothing. Like she wasn’t his wife. Her heart ached, and with a sigh, she tipped the glass back, ready to drown her sorrows with another shot.Zoe stepped into the bar, her eyes scanning the room. She furrowed her brows, confused by her surroundings. "Why would Camella ask me to meet her at a bar?” she muttered to herself. This wasn’t like her friend at all.Zoe’s eyes finally landed on Camella, slumped in the corner, holding a drink. Her lips parted in disbelief. "Oh no," she whispered before quickly striding over to her.Just as Camella raised the glass for another shot, Zoe snatched it away from her hand. “What are you doing, Camella? Drinking? This is unbelievable.” Camella chuckled, a sad, hollow sound, and reached for the bottle on the table, but Zoe was quicke
Louis glanced at Camella before he left. "Do tell Gabriel that I can figure another way for him to have access to what he wants if he’s unable to find the diary." He gave a brief nod and walked out of the bar.Camella stood still, the weight of his words sinking in. Zoe gently tugged her arm. "Come on, let’s get you home."They walked out to Zoe’s truck, and Zoe started the engine. As they drove, Zoe tried to break the silence. “You know, I’m not sure what’s going on with Gabriel, but maybe this diary is important for him. Maybe that’s why he’s been acting so off."Camella stared blankly ahead, her mind consumed with Louis' words. "Why does Gabriel desperately want to take everything from the bank?" The question echoed in her head like a drumbeat.Zoe glanced over, sensing Camella’s distraction. "I’m sure whatever it is, it’s not as bad as you think. Men sometimes get lost in their own world. Maybe he just doesn’t know how to talk to you about it."Camella didn’t respond. "He hid the