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
Gabriel’s eyes widened in surprise, and Anna took advantage of his shock before he could fully react. She moved closer, leaning in to kiss him, but Gabriel grabbed her shoulders, gently pushing her back."Stop it, Anna!" His voice was firm, both amazed and upset by her actions.Anna blinked, confused. "What? I said I love you.""I heard you," Gabriel replied, his tone soft but persistent. "But I'm sorry, I don’t feel the same way."Anna’s face twisted with disbelief. She has never expected an outright rejection. "No, no… that can’t be true."Gabriel sighed, trying to be as gentle as possible. "It’s the truth. I’ve never thought of you in that way. What I feel for you is more like agape love. Pure and selfless, but not romantic."Tears welled up in Anna’s eyes. "Why? What does Camella have that I don’t? Is it because of Jessie?"Gabriel shook his head. "No, it's not about that. I truly love Camella. I always have, and I always will. No one can take her place in my heart."Anna's voice
Anna entered the house, pushing the door open with an air of confidence. Jia, the housekeeper, appeared at the entrance, greeting her politely. "Welcome, Ms. Anna."Anna frowned, her eyes narrowing slightly. "You should've locked the door, Jia," she scolded lightly.Jia, looking a bit flustered, apologized immediately. "I'm sorry, Ms. Anna." She took Anna's luggage, her brow furrowing as she studied Anna’s face. "Are you okay, Ms. Anna?"Anna gave her a sharp look. "Don’t I look okay?"Jia hesitated, then spoke gently, "You look a bit pale."Anna opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, a sudden wave of nausea hit her. Her stomach twisted, and she bolted toward the nearby room, barely making it to the bathroom. Jia stood frozen in shock, unsure whether to follow her or stay put. Moments later, Anna emerged, dabbing the back of her hand against her mouth. She looked weak, her face paler than before. Jia rushed toward her again."Are you okay, Ms. Anna?" Jia asked, her voice
Camella took a step closer to Gabriel, her eyes filled with curiosity. "How long have you been standing there?" Gabriel asked with a slight smile on his face.She shrugged, moving even closer. "Long enough to see you're planning something big."Gabriel raised an eyebrow, a playful expression on his face. "You know me, always thinking ahead."Camella smiled softly but couldn't hide the flicker of curiosity in her eyes. "I hope whatever you're planning works out.""It will," Gabriel replied confidently. "It always does."Their eyes locked, and for a moment, it felt as though everything around them disappeared. There was a brief silence between them before Camella spoke again."Are you really going to build a mall?" she asked, her voice almost hesitant.Gabriel nodded. "You heard that.""Yeah," Camella replied. "But it would require a lot of funds, you know.""I know," he said, his tone calm and collected. "I'll handle it. I need to build that mall so I can reinstate my old staff from th