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
Inside the house, Camella was walking down the stairs, her mind racing. As she reached the bottom, she overheard a conversation between Anna and Marie."Aunt Marie, I never knew Gabriel's natural eye color was brown until last night," Anna said casually.Marie’s brow furrowed. "Brown? No, dear. Gabriel has hazel eyes. Always has.""What?" Anna looked confused.Marie repeated herself, her voice firm. "My son has hazel eyes, not brown. I think there’s some confusion."Anna’s face faltered, her gaze shifting away. "Oh, I must have been mistaken." Camella froze, her eyes narrowing. "Gabriel told me his eyes were brown? Why would he lie?" Her gaze settled on Anna, her anger rising."I think he's just playing some prank on you," Marie said, patting Anna's arm.Anna smiled faintly. "Okay then."Suddenly, Camella stepped forward, her face hardened with anger. Before anyone could react, she slapped Anna across the face. "You tramp!" Camella shouted, grabbing Anna’s arm. "How dare you seduce m
Camella arrived home late that night, her mind heavy with thoughts. She headed straight for Jessie’s room, opening the door quietly. Jessie was fast asleep, her small form curled up under the blanket. Camella walked over to the bed, her heart swelling with love. She took out a small pair of scissors from her pocket and gently snipped a lock of Jessie’s hair, careful not to wake her. She placed the lock into a small Ziploc bag, kissed her daughter softly on the forehead, and then slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her.Returning to her bedroom, Camella found Jarod just stepping out of the bathroom. He glanced at her, a mix of frustration and restraint in his eyes. He wanted to confront her, to ask why she’d hidden the messages from him, why Louis had been involved without his knowledge. But instead of lashing out, he kept his composure, deciding to let it go for now. Without a word, Jarod climbed into bed. Camella removed her shoes and sat at her dressing table, brushing