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
After a few hours of pleasure, Jarod lay beside her with satisfaction, breathless, their bodies tangled beneath the sheets. He let out a laugh, still catching his breath. “You know, if you keep this up, I might actually start thinking you enjoy this.”She smiled, her cheeks flushed. “Maybe I do, but you make it hard to breathe!”He chuckled again, collapsing onto his back, feeling the warmth of her body next to him. “Well, at least you didn’t pass out this time,” he teased, pulling her closer into his embrace.“Just give me a moment to recover, will you?” she gasped, her laughter bubbling up again.Jarod closed his eyes, letting himself drift. “I appreciate you, you know. You’re like my own personal recovery spa.”Her laughter faded as she nestled against him, content and warm. “You’re ridiculous.”“Yeah, but you love it,” he murmured, succumbing to sleep.The next morning, Jarod woke to sunlight streaming through the window. He turned and saw her still sleeping, her face peaceful. H
Gabriel stirred after what felt like hours of restless sleep. His body was aching, especially his neck, from the awkward position he had been forced into all night. As he blinked his heavy eyes open, the sight of Tamara sitting near him made his annoyance spike. His gaze immediately settled on the chains that still bound him, and the frustration boiling inside him intensified."You're still keeping me chained like some animal?" His voice was rough, thick with resentment.Tamara glanced at him, her expression calm but with a flicker of remorse. "Hey, I'm sorry," she said plainly. Despite the emotionless tone, her eyes held an unusual sincerity, something Gabriel found unsettling.He scoffed. "Sorry? Why exactly are you doing this, Tamara? Holding me captive? For what?"She looked away for a moment, hesitating. "Because… if you leave, my life will be in danger. Master Russell won't let me go if you escape. I'm stuck, Gabriel."Gabriel's laugh was bitter. "So, I'm your ticket to a better
Jarod stormed into his car, his face tight with frustration. He slammed the door shut, gripping the steering wheel as his mind raced. Anger still simmered beneath the surface. “This didn’t work out,” he muttered, a sly smirk forming on his lips. “But at least I get to know Gabriel’s weakness.” His expression turned smug as he reached for his phone and quickly typed a message to Tamara: "I’m going to make him reveal the truth. Let’s work together."Satisfied, he sent the message and immediately made another call. His tone was cold and direct. "Set up a good dinner date for two. Make it perfect." He ended the call and leaned back in his seat, his smirk deepening as he envisioned his next move. His eyes gleamed with the thrill of manipulation.---Back in the cell, a heavy silence hung between Gabriel and Tamara. Gabriel's earlier statement still lingered in the air, creating a cloud of tension and uncertainty."Let’s see about that," Tamara finally murmured, her eyes never leaving his f
Camella's fingers paused over the keyboard, and she glanced at him. "Just go, Gabriel."Instead of leaving, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a single rose. "I’m not leaving until you accept this. Please, forgive me."She sighed, feeling the tension in her chest ease slightly. His apology seemed sincere, and though a part of her wanted to resist, she took the flower from his hand."Thank you, my love. I promise I will do anything you want from now on.""It's okay," she said, her voice still distant. "Get up."Gabriel stood, trying to lean in for a kiss, but Camella shifted away, brushing a hand through her hair.He tried again to touch her, but she stood quickly, walking to her cabinet as if looking for something. She could feel his eyes on her, and when she turned back, he had a pained expression. Guilt tugged at her."You need anything else?" she asked, forcing a smile."Actually, I've got a surprise for you.""A surprise? What is it?" She looked at him, curious but c