Gabriel returned the smile, feeling a sense of familiarity wash over him in the presence of his old friend. "It's good to see you, Steward," he replied, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "Is everything alright here?"Steward Baker nodded, though a shadow crossed his face. "All is as it should be, Master Gabriel," he assured, though Gabriel could sense there was more to the story than met the eye.Gabriel pressed the steward for answers, his tone laced with disbelief. "Where's my family?"The steward hesitated for a moment before responding, his voice laden with concern. "They've departed, sir.”Gabriel's brow furrowed in concern as Steward Baker confirmed his family's absence. "Where have they gone?" he pressed, his tone tinged with urgency.Steward Baker hesitated before speaking, his voice laced with solemnity. "Master Gabriel, your family has departed for undisclosed reasons. Your father left instructions for you, but he did not divulge the details of their whereabouts."Gabriel's
Gabriel's world seemed to shatter around him as the steward's words sunk in. “This is all true?" he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.Steward Baker nodded gravely. "Yes, Master Gabriel. Your father went to great lengths to conceal your true identity from his family. He feared they would use you as a pawn in their power struggles."Gabriel felt a surge of anger and betrayal welling up inside him. "And my mother... her death was orchestrated by them too?" he demanded, his voice trembling with emotion.The steward's expression was pained as he confirmed Gabriel's worst fears. "I'm afraid so, Master Gabriel. Your mother's death was not an accident. It was a calculated move by your father's family to eliminate any threats to their power."Gabriel's hands clenched into fists as he struggled to process the truth. "How could they... How could my own family do such things?" he whispered, his voice choked with emotion.The steward placed a comforting hand on Gabriel's shoulder. "I wis
Determined to grow stronger and seek revenge for his mother, Gabriel visited his mother's grave. As Gabriel stood before his mother's grave, the gentle breeze whispered through the trees, carrying with it memories of a cherished moment from his past.In his flashback, Gabriel found himself standing in the grand foyer of their family estate, the sound of laughter and music echoing through the halls. He had just returned home from a long journey, weary but content to be back.As he made his way towards the kitchen, he couldn't help but notice the delicious aroma that filled the air. Entering the kitchen, he found his mother, Marie, standing by the stove, a serene smile on her face as she tended to a pot of simmering stew.Surprised to see her cooking herself despite having a team of skilled chefs and maids at her disposal, Gabriel couldn't help but scold her gently. "Mother, why are you doing this yourself? You have plenty of help."Marie turned to him, her eyes sparkling with warmth.
She was his maternal cousin, Natalie. She was standing nearby, her expression a mix of shock and surprise as she beheld Gabriel's form. Their eyes met, and for a moment, neither of them spoke, the weight of unspoken emotions hanging heavy in the air."Natalie," Gabriel finally said, his voice filled with uncertainty. "What are you doing here?"Natalie hesitated for a moment before replying, her voice barely above a whisper. "I... I was just paying my respects to Aunt. I didn't expect to see you here."Gabriel nodded slowly, still processing the unexpected encounter. "I see," he replied, unsure of what else to say.Their gaze lingered for a moment longer, each lost in their own thoughts and memories. Then, with a polite nod, Gabriel turned to leave, leaving Natalie standing alone by the graveside. Stunned and bewildered, Natalie watched as Gabriel walked past her, his presence seeming surreal after believing to be dead for so long. "Gabriel?" she called out, her voice trembling with
Natalie, after a few talks with Gabriel decided to part ways but Gabriel stopped her. While he had a brief thought, he kept her on the point of nowhere. Then he said he could invest in Natalie's family company.Gabriel's unexpected offer left Natalie stunned, her mind struggling to comprehend the magnitude of what he was proposing. She blinked in disbelief, searching his eyes for any sign of jest, but found only sincerity reflected back at her."Invest in our family company? Are you serious?" she asked, her voice tinged with skepticism.Gabriel nodded, his gaze steady. "I'm serious, Natalie. I believe in your family's company, and I think it has potential," he replied, his tone earnest.Natalie's mind whirled with the implications of Gabriel's offer. Her family's company had been struggling for months, facing rejection after rejection from banks and investors alike. The idea of someone like Gabriel, who appeared to be simple and incapable, investing in their company seemed too good to
Natalie's grandmother, the matriarch of the family, rose from her seat, breaking the heavy silence that had settled over the room. "Who is it that is willing to invest?" she inquired, her voice steady but tinged with hope.Natalie hesitated, searching for the right words to answer her grandmother's question. Before she could respond, her cousin Gideon, the designated heir to the family business, interjected with a scoff, his tone laced with mockery. "Are you daydreaming again, Natalie? Who in their right mind would want to invest in our sinking ship of a company?"Natalie's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she shot a glare at Gideon. She knew he had little faith in their family's business and often belittled her efforts to save it. But this time was different. Gabriel's offer was real, and she was determined to make her family see that.Natalie, with her resolve firm, chided Gideon for his lack of faith and insisted that she knew the investor personally and trusted him completely.
Natalie's excitement bubbled over as she turned to her family, anticipation written all over her face. "What do you think?" she asked eagerly.Before anyone could respond, Gideon interjected, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Well, well, well," he said, clapping slowly. "Looks like we have quite the actress in the family. And let's not forget the fake investor," he added, shooting a pointed glance in Natalie's direction.Natalie's smile faltered, her excitement dampened by Gideon's cynicism. "I'm not acting, Gideon," she said, her voice tinged with frustration. "This person is serious about investing in our company. This could be our chance to turn things around."Her words were met with skeptical looks from the rest of the family. "And what makes you so sure about that?" Gideon challenged, folding his arms across his chest.Natalie took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "I just spoke to him, and he sounded sincere. You all heard him. He wants to help us," she explained, her voi
As everyone dispersed to their rooms, Gideon's mother attempted to dissuade her mother-in-law from meeting the investor and urged her to trust in her son instead. "Mother, please reconsider. Gideon has the best interests of the company at heart," she pleaded.But the grandmother remained steadfast in her decision. "I need to see this investor with my own eyes, alongside Natalie and Gideon," she insisted firmly.Feeling a wave of relief wash over her, Gideon's mother realized that her mother-in-law's decision to include her son in the meeting indicated that she still held him in high regard, despite the criticism from Natalie's mother.With the matter settled for the time being, everyone retreated to their respective rooms. Meanwhile, Natalie wasted no time in informing Gabriel of the restaurant where they were scheduled to meet, hoping that their encounter would lead to positive developments for her family's struggling company.Moments later, In the evening, the grandmother took Nata