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
Jarod’s face drained of color as he saw the open box. His eyes widened in shock, and without a word, he stormed over to where Camella stood. Grabbing the box from her hands with a rough pull, he quickly closed it. "Why did you touch my stuff?" he growled, shoving her aside as he placed the box in the drawer, slamming it shut, his movements sharp and aggressive.Camella blinked in disbelief, rubbing her arm where he'd shoved her. "Your stuff? You’ve got these dangerous things? Why, Gabriel?"His jaw clenched as he avoided her gaze. "It's none of your business. I… I use them for…," he stammered, unable to think of a proper excuse.”For what? she demanded, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and confusion.Jarod turned to her, his eyes flashing with frustration. "Why were you snooping on my stuff?" he barked, ignoring her questions."Snooping? I wasn’t snooping, Gabriel. I was just looking for a hair tie. But what I found—" she gestured toward the drawer. "Those are dangerous things
Anna laughed, a sharp sound that cut through the tension in the room. "You really thought you could keep Gabriel all to yourself?" she said, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Face it, Camella. He’s getting interested in me. It's only a matter of time before he realizes what he's missing."Camella's fists clenched at her sides, her heart pounding in her chest. "You're delusional, Anna. Gabriel and I—"You and Gabriel?" Anna interrupted, stepping closer, her lips curling into a smirk. "Oh, please. I see the way he looks at me now. The way he’s been distant from you. He needs someone who understands him, not someone who’s constantly questioning his every move."Camella felt her anger rising, but she fought to keep her voice steady. "You're wrong. Gabriel is just... going through something. This won’t last. You’re just a distraction, Anna."Anna chuckled, shaking her head. "You really are funny, Camella. Clinging to false hope. But let me tell you something." She leaned in, her voice drop