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
Camella glanced around, taking in the elaborate décor and candlelit surroundings. She smiled faintly. "I don’t usually like open setups this much, but I appreciate the gesture."Internally, Jarod cursed her for not enjoying what he’d painstakingly arranged. He forced a smile and spoke with a hint of sarcasm. "Well, I guess it’s just one more thing to add to the list."Camella eyed him curiously. "You seemed to have spent a lot on all this, Gabriel."Jarod puffed out his chest a little. "Yeah, I spent roughly $1 million to create this special night for us... for you."Her utensils clattered onto her plate, her mouth falling open in shock. "You spent $1 million? On this? Why?"Jarod raised an eyebrow. "What? It’s a special occasion, right?""Gabriel, you've never been this extravagant before," she said, her voice soft but incredulous. "I appreciate it, but... it’s too much."Jarod hung his head slightly, mentally cursing again. "What kind of life did Gabriel live? This guy has over 500
Camella’s expression shifted, uncertainty and confusion crossing her face. She finally found her voice. "Why do you want me to wear this?" she asked softly, holding up the delicate lingerie Jarod had given her."Is anything wrong with it?" Jarod’s voice was calm but insistent."No, Gabriel, but…" She hesitated, glancing down at the outfit. "You’ve never asked me to wear something like this before.""Now I did." His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument. "I want to see you in it. To see you transform."Camella’s reluctance was clear, but Gabriel’s insistence left her with little choice. After a long pause, she gave a resigned nod and walked toward the bathroom. As the door clicked shut behind her, Jarod reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, discreet video recorder. It was barely noticeable, designed to blend in. He set it on Camella's study table, concealing it behind a stack of books. The color of the device matched perfectly with the books, making it nearly invisible.
Jarod burst into a mocking laughter that echoed through the speaker. His voice shifted from amusement to cold menace. “Don’t dare me, Gabriel Wellington. You know exactly what I’m capable of.”Gabriel clenched his fists, fury burning in his eyes. “Don’t underestimate me, Jarod. You’re nothing,” he snapped.Jarod’s laughter returned, chilling and condescending. “Really? That’s rich, coming from someone who can’t even leave that well-built, mechanized cell of his.”Gabriel’s voice trembled with rage. “You’ll pay for everything you’ve done, you coward!”But Jarod only laughed harder, enjoying every moment of Gabriel’s anger. “We’ll see about that.” With a click, the call ended abruptly, leaving Gabriel seething.Gabriel’s gaze shifted to Tamara, who stood quietly nearby. His look was so intense that it unsettled her.“The ball is in your court now, Gabriel,” Tamara said simply before turning and walking away, leaving the cell.Outside, Tamara pulled out her phone and immediately called Ja
Camella didn’t want to believe what her mind was telling her. It couldn’t be true. She leaned closer to the door, pressing her ear to it, hoping to hear something different, something that wouldn’t break her heart. “Goodness, Gabriel, take it easy!” Anna’s voice burst through the thin wood, shattering any hope she had left.“No. I’m not,” came a laugh, unmistakably from Jarod, the one she thought she could trust.Camella stepped back, her heart pounding. She stared at the door in astonishment, frozen in disbelief. Slowly, she turned and walked back to her room, her legs feeling heavy as if they could give out any moment. Her mind was swirling in confusion and pain, lost in thoughts she didn’t want to confront.Once in her room, Camella shut the door behind her and leaned against it, feeling the tears begin to blur her vision. She slid to the floor, her knees hitting the hard surface with a dull thud as her sobs broke free. “How can Gabriel do this to me?” she whispered, her voice we
Camella's words hung in the air like a heavy cloud, suffocating them both."What nonsense are you saying? I... I am your husband - Gabriel," Jarod said, his voice faltering slightly as he tried not to stammer.Camella’s eyes narrowed. "No. You're not my Gabriel.""I'm the one," he insisted. "Are you saying this because of the slap? I'm sorry!"She shook her head, her voice growing colder. "Your eyes." She pointed directly at his face. Jarod instinctively rubbed his forehead in realization. She had seen his real eyes because he had taken off the contact lenses in the middle of the night. The discomfort had been unbearable, and he wanted to feel his real eyes again, even if just for a little while."I’m your husband," he repeated.Camella shook her head again, firmer this time. "Gabriel doesn't have brown eyes. You... you're not him.""Are you stupid?" he barked. "I'm Gabriel. Didn’t I tell you the other day that I wear contact lenses to protect my eyes?""Your natural eye color is haze
Moments after leaving the house, Jarod halted in his steps as a truck pulled up by the driveway. His eyes narrowed as Zoe stepped out. “The pretty officer. Why is she here?" he mumbled under his breath. Unwrapping a piece of gum, he tossed it into his mouth and smiled slyly as she approached, her face stiff with frustration."Hey, angel, why are you here?" he asked, his tone dripping with false charm.Zoe’s frown deepened, clearly unimpressed by his attempt at flattery. "Gabriel, what's been going on with you?""What do you mean?" His voice was flat, void of concern."You've been making Camella feel terrible. I can’t believe you'd go so far as to hit her. And what did you do last night? Did you sleep with Anna?" Zoe's voice was edged with disbelief.His expression turned blank, eyes narrowing as if to calculate his next move."Please tell me it's a lie, Gabriel," Zoe pleaded, her voice softer, but still firm.He smiled and took a step closer to her, his eyes cold as they trailed over