Russell Walclaw sat in his grand study room, thick cigar smoke swirling around him. He leaned back in his leather chair, a satisfied grin playing on his lips as he talked to his grandson, Greg. "I can’t wait for Jarod to finish the job. Once he gets me all of Gabriel’s wealth, I will finish Gabriel and his entire family for good."Greg chuckled, raising his glass. "You’ve really thought of everything, grandfather. No loose ends. No one will see it coming."Russell nodded, clearly pleased with himself. "That’s the beauty of it, Greg. We get the fortune, and the Walclaw legacy is secured for generations. Gabriel’s been a thorn in my side for too long. It's time to remove him permanently."They clinked glasses in a toast, both of them savoring the moment. Outside the door, Ruth stood frozen, her heart pounding in disbelief. She had overheard the entire conversation. Her father-in-law, Russell, plotting to destroy Gabriel, and worse, her own son was involved. How had this happened under
Gabriel stormed into the room, his eyes filled with rage. Without a word, he rushed at Jarod, grabbing him by the collar and delivering a fierce punch to his jaw. Camella, still in shock, quickly wrapped the duvet around her body, her eyes wide as she looked between the two men. The resemblance was uncanny—both of them looked exactly the same. She couldn’t believe what she was witnessing.Gabriel didn’t stop. He punched Jarod again, sending him stumbling back. “You imposter!” Gabriel growled, his voice filled with anger. “You’ve been pretending to be me!”Jarod held his hands up in defense, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. “No! Don’t believe him, Camella! He’s the imposter! I’m Gabriel! I’m your husband!” He struggled to get the words out, his eyes pleading with her.Camella's head spun as she watched both men. She couldn’t tell who was telling the truth. They both looked the same, and her heart raced in confusion.“Look at him, Camella! He’s desperate,” Gabriel said, hi
Zoe stepped back into the house, Gabriel right behind her. The moment Camella saw him, her heart raced, and she barely contained herself. "Gabriel," she mumbled, running toward him. She threw her arms around him, sobbing into his chest. The warmth, the familiarity, it was all there. This was her real husband, not the imposter she'd lived with for weeks. Relief washed over her.Gabriel held her tightly, his arms strong and comforting. "I'm here now," he whispered, soothing her. She felt the connection between them, stronger than ever, filling her with immense joy.Across the room, Marie, Oliver, and Anna stood in shock. They exchanged uneasy glances, their minds racing. How had they all been fooled by an imposter?Oliver finally broke the silence, running a hand through his gray hair. "I can't believe we let this happen... How did none of us notice?"Marie, looking flustered, sighed deeply. "It's my fault. I pampered him. I thought he was stressed from work and gave him space… too muc
The tension in the air was thick as Russell Walclaw, sitting in his oversized chair, growled, “Finish him off!” His deep voice echoed through the dimly lit room, making Gabriel's pulse quicken. The guards, six men built like mountains, advanced toward Gabriel with menacing grins. "Tear him to pieces!" Greg added, a sneer twisting his lips as he watched.Gabriel stood his ground, scanning the men around him. They were all at least twice his size, their bulging muscles dwarfing him. He looked like an ant in comparison. Desperate, he lashed out first, kicking one of the guards in the gut. But the man barely flinched, grinning down at him before delivering a slap that sent Gabriel stumbling backward."This is hopeless," Gabriel muttered under his breath, steadying himself. Another guard, as big as an elephant, grabbed him by the arm and hurled him toward the wall. Gabriel’s body hit the cold concrete with a sickening thud, and he crumpled to the ground, coughing up blood. His vision blu
Tamara glared up at the old man, her eyes blazing with fury. “This isn’t over, Russell. You won’t win.” Russell said nothing, his once victorious smirk fading into uncertainty as Gabriel began to come back to life, supported by Tamara’s power. But suddenly, Gabriel felt drained. He lay there with a racing heart, his vision blurring as the chaos around him blurred and sharpened. He felt as if he was slipping, losing control over his mind and body. Tamara’s powers ought to have worked on him, but now, it was as though they were ineffective. He felt weaker by the second despite how he was coming up a second ago. Tamara, looking puzzled, reached out to him with a trembling hand, her energy faltering as well. She couldn’t understand why her abilities weren’t restoring him. Fear gripped her heart.Master Russell, seeing Gabriel slipping out again, smirked. He moved toward Tamara swiftly, grabbing her by the arm with force. "Well, isn’t this pathetic enough?" Russell sneered, his voice l
Tamara studied him for a moment before replying, her tone thoughtful. "Gabriel, you’re a descendant of the Sapphira. You have powers—magic, inherited from your father's lineage. It’s from your grandmother.""What?" His voice was barely above a whisper. "How’s that possible?""Your father never told you," she continued. "You need to ask him. There are things he must have kept hidden, things you deserve to know."Gabriel's confusion deepened. "I don't understand. What else has been kept from me?"Tamara sighed. "There's more to your life than you realize. You need answers."Their eyes locked as the weight of her words sank in.Tamara stepped closer, her eyes narrowing as she spoke. “Let me tell you this — there might be a bigger war ahead of you. First, confirm your originality.”Gabriel blinked, confused by her cryptic words. As Tamara turned to leave, he quickly called after her, "Where are you going?"She shrugged without looking back. "Anywhere. I don't know."Gabriel frowned, still
Marie, looking intrigued and worried, leaned forward slightly. "Gone?" she whispered, glancing cautiously at Jessie. "You mean… dead?"Gabriel nodded, his face grim. "And his accomplice—his grandson—will pay for his crimes too, in jail. Just like Jarod."A silence hung in the room as Gabriel’s words settled in. Jessie looked between the adults, unsure of the heavy tension.Oliver leaned closer, his voice barely above a whisper, “How much do you really know about Russell’s dealings, Gabriel?”Gabriel's eyes flickered, an unreadable expression crossing his face. The room seemed to grow colder as if they were on the brink of uncovering a dark secret. His voice was low but steady. “Russell Walclaw is involved in things most people wouldn’t even believe.” He paused, glancing at their shocked faces. “He’s been operating in the capital, running illegal trades, laundering money, and silencing anyone who tries to stand against him. And somehow, he’s always managed to slip away, untouched by t
Camella returned home earlier than usual, around 1 p.m., her heart light with excitement. She was going to surprise Gabriel with his favorite lunch—roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and a special salad. He had been away for some days, and though it wasn't unusual for his business to keep him out of town, this time felt like centuries to her. Her mind was clouded with everything that had happened before, but today, she wanted to focus on the good things.As she chopped the vegetables and stirred the sauce, the aroma began filling every corner of the house. She smiled to herself, imagining Gabriel's reaction when he walked in and saw the spread. It was a small gesture, but she knew how much he loved her cooking.Suddenly, she felt a presence. She turned and noticed Anna standing in the doorway, arms folded, watching her quietly. Camella chose to ignore her, turning back to her cooking."You're making food?" Anna’s voice broke the silence, her tone hinting at sarcasm.Camella continued c