After the dinner, Gabriel called Luca to ask him to come to the WLS and sent Richard to the Hoffner Hotel. While waiting for Luca, Rosalind and Richard stayed in the living room, talking about the past.
“Richard, why did you get involved with those bad guys?” Rosalind asked. “Please tell me you have nothing to do with them anymore.”
Her brother only shrugged. “Well, what can I say? I didn’t have any money. So selling those was the easiest way out for me.”
“Please promise me you won’t do it anymore.”
Richard sighed and nodded. “Okay, I promise.” Then he grinned and patted Rosalind’s hand. “Since I have already met you and your husband, I don’t think I need to sell those things
Gabriel, Rosalind, and Jane visited a new school the next day. Gabriel and Rosalind wanted to ensure the school would support Jane’s healing from the mental trauma. So, they chose a school with an excellent reputation which provided counselors too.After talking with the headmaster and the class teacher where Jane would study, the teacher led them to the counselor’s office. The office was a small-size room, but comfortable. They also had a garden outside of the counselor’s office if the students needed time to comfort themselves in nature.“Miss Jones, we have a new student, Jane Da Costa. Her parents came as they wanted to consult with you about a few things.” The teacher smiled at Rosalind and Gabriel. “You’re in excellent hands. Miss Jones is amazing! I will leave you with her now.” She nodded at th
Rosalind led the way to the porch outside. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves because it was the first time she witnessed Gabriel’s ruthless nature. Yes, she read about it a few times in tabloids and the internet, and it was said Gabriel could be successful because of his tenacity, to the point of ruthlessness. He wasn’t known as a people pleaser or a weak man.She was also aware Richard didn’t leave a good impression on Gabriel. Even after her husband already did a good thing for him, Richard didn’t show appreciation and came to their apartment without letting them know first. It would be hard to persuade Gabriel to understand Richard if her brother didn’t respect their boundaries.Again, without her asking him, Richard already took a seat. She shook her head because she expected Richard could show her some cour
They enjoyed a few peaceful and happy days afterward. Gabriel was at work. Jane had already started her counseling sessions with Patricia. As Patricia told Rosalind to give Jane a sense of independence, Rosalind let her daughter go to school without Rosalind accompanying her daughter.At first, Rosalind was worried about letting Jane go to school alone, but Gabriel convinced her that Luca would ensure Jane was at school. Since Rosalind knew Gabriel was right, she let Jane go to school with Luca.One day, Jane went home and brought a drawing. She showed it to Rosalind by placing the picture on the living room table. The picture showed a pregnant woman, a little girl, and another woman in the distance. Near the pregnant woman and the girl, a man stood beside them. Then, she added another man somewhere.Rosalind
Jane was at school. Rosalind already met Patricia again after her conversation with her daughter. The counselor noted what Rosalind said and promised to notify the mother if she found good progress with Jane. But Patricia assessed Jane’s ability to express herself and tell what she felt was a good thing to help the healing process.Later, Rosalind visited Anna, as Jane was still in the counseling session. Her school would start a week later. So, she wanted Jane to be prepared to meet and mingle with the children of her age. Rosalind’s stomach was rounder now. She smiled to recall her conversation with Jane when her daughter drew her rounder belly.Anna held Rosalind’s hand. “You smile. I take it everything is good with Gabriel and Jane?”“Yes, Mom.” Rosalind nodd
“Richard—”“You can give me money like the last time, then I will leave right away.”Rosalind took a deep breath as she had the cash, and it wasn’t hard to give it to her brother. But she already promised Gabriel not to give Richard more money. “Sorry, but I can’t give you money.”“You are the only family I have. Where should I turn to when I need someone?”“Richard, you only came to me when you want to ask for money. It’s been twice already.”“So?” He frowned as he was upset with her rejection. “Your husband is one of the wealthiest people in our country, yet you can’t even give me a tiny crumbs?”
Gabriel left her daughter’s room with a smile on his face. He walked to the living room and called Pietro.Without waiting a long time, Pietro picked up the call. “Yes, boss?”“I need you to investigate Richard Miller, Rosalind’s brother. He robbed Rosalind today and made her and Jane scared. Also, hire some guards to keep attention and protect them.”Pietro nodded. “Yes, sir. Anything else?”“Hurry. I don’t know when he would try to meet Rosalind again. I must find something to make him stay away from Rosalind and Jane. He’s a dangerous man.”“Boss, can I say something?”“Sure!”
Rosalind continued making the sandwich, but she didn’t slice it into two pieces this time. She put the entire stack on a plate, brought it to the dining room, and placed it on the head of the table side for Gabriel. She sat on the left while Jane was on the right.That’s when Gabriel entered the dining room. “Good morning!”Jane and Rosalind replied in unison. “Morning, Dad!” “Morning, love!”“Morning, love!” he said to Rosalind, and then he smiled at his daughter. “Morning, sweetheart!” Gabriel hugged and kissed Jane’s forehead. “My daughter is cheerful today. Are you happy to go to school?”“Yes, Dad. I can’t wait to meet my new friends.”
The guards took Richard to the parking lot though he still struggled to release himself. A guard opened a door car and forced Richard to go inside. Another guard handcuffed Richard and tied him to the car seat too to ensure he couldn’t escape.Later, Richard shouted from afar, “I’ll hunt you, bitch! You can’t escape me!”Luca, sitting on a bench a few feet away from the car, gasped to see what happened. He ran and approached Rosalind. “Mrs. Rosalind! I’m sorry! I thought you’d be longer inside.”Rosalind shook her head. “It’s okay. I’m fine ….” Yet, her body trembled badly because it was the second time Richard did it to her. She couldn’t make a reason to defend her brother anymore because she knew Richard wa
Gabriel nodded at his mother. But then he bent his head, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. He wiped his eyes quickly, but Anna could see a drop of tear fall from her son’s eyes. Later, Gabriel straightened his back and smiled as if he didn’t shed his tears for the woman he loved. Doctor Gianni then walked out of the VVIP room. He smiled to see the Da Costa family. First, he shook hands with Leonardo, Anna, Bianca, then he smiled at the youngsters. “Gabriel, you can go inside to see Rosalind and the baby,” the doctor said. “Both are healthy. Congratulations to your new son!”Gabriel shook hands with Doctor Gianni. “Thank you so much, Doctor. I don’t know what I have to say.”The doctor patted Gabriel’s shoulder. “Go inside. Rosalind is waiting for you.”When Gabriel entered the room, the nurse was still wiping and cleaning their baby. So, he approached Rosalind first and kissed her sweaty forehead. “Thank you, baby. You have fought so hard. I can’t imagine what you had been th
Gabriel called his mother right away while waiting for Rosalind to deliver their baby. “Mom, please come to Good Health Hospital. Rosalind’s water has been broken!”Anna was excited but also worried because it was a week faster than the doctor’s prediction. When she delivered Gabriel and Bianca, those two times were even past the due dates. Bianca delivered Jeremy and Isabella passed the due dates too, but with Antonio, the delivery was faster by only two days.Gabriel’s mother frowned as she recalled her memory about hers and Bianca’s giving birth.“Okay, I’ll come to the hospital right away. I’ll call your grandpa and Bianca too.”“Yes, Mom. I’m nervous now. Rosalind asked me to wait outside while I wanted to accompany her.”
Rosalind kept smiling to see how happy their little family was. They had been through a lot, and now they were together in peaceful harmony and happiness. What a priceless gift! She wouldn’t trade her family for anything.“What are you thinking of, baby?” Gabriel said.“Nothing, just how happy I’m to see us together.”He squeezed her hand and nodded. “Let’s have breakfast first.”“Let’s eat!” She nodded and smiled.After eating, they went to the university with Luca as their driver. They walked to the entrance to see many students who would attend the graduation day had already gathered there.
Time went by so swiftly. It was the time for Rosalind’s graduation. To her surprise, she would have a graduation day along with all students who attended the study in the university. So, she was excited to attend the graduation event.Gabriel hired the makeup artist and hairdresser to help Rosalind on her big day. At dawn, they were already busy putting makeup on her. When the makeup artist had finished with her job, it was time for the hairdresser to arrange Rosalind’s hair in an elegant bun.“Mom, you are so pretty!” Jane said. She jumped around as she was excited to see her mother in makeup.“Oh, thank you, sweety.” Then Rosalind glanced at the makeup artist. “Can you help to put on some powder and lip gloss for my daughter?”
Gabriel kissed Rosalind’s forehead and turned her body so he could spoon her. “Baby, you won’t need to worry about,” he stopped for a while, “Richard anymore.” He decided not to tell Rosalind the truth.“What happened?”“Well, I sent him to a rehabilitation center. Then he would go to jail.”Rosalind was quiet. She blew her breath and shook her head. “Richard only brought us troubles …. I’m sorry ….”“It’s not your fault.”“But he’s my brother.” She let out a long sigh.Gabriel had no choice because without telling Rosalind the truth, his wife would keep
After some reassurances from the doctor, Gabriel brought Rosalind back to the car. He nodded and smiled at the couple whose he cut the queue. “Thank you so much for letting us go first. I truly appreciate it!”“Don’t mention it. Is your wife okay? The baby?” The pregnant woman asked.“Yes, My wife and our baby are okay. She only needs a complete rest.”The woman smiled and nodded. “Thank God! We are happy for you.”Gabriel nodded and smiled at the kind woman. “Thank you so much!”Since the doctor’s assistant then called the woman’s name, she waved her hand at Gabriel and entered the examination room with her husband.
Gabriel shook his head again. “No, you just try to get away from the consequences of what you have done, not because you are truly repentant. It’s the punishment that scares you, not the hideous effect of what you have done to Rosalind and Jane. You are a hopeless case! The jail will help you to realize what you have done.”“You will send me to jail?!” Gregory’s voice pitched higher.“Yes.”“Then, go ahead!” Gregory spat to the ground. “I’m not scared!”Gabriel smirked and looked into Gregory’s eyes. “We’ll see. Once you are inside, you’ll shout to ask them to let you die.” Then, he straightened his back. “I’m the man of my word. Since I alr
Warning: this chapter contained violence and heavy cursing. Reader discretion is advised.Again, Pietro followed what Gabriel commanded and poured the water into Richard’s head and body. The man was conscious after a while.“If you don’t want to die, there’s no better time than now to confess,” Gabriel said. “Your name!” he shouted.“I-I’m … Ric—”A punch struck Richard’s cheek. “Again, one lie will get a punch. Keep lying to me and don’t blame me if you will die with no teeth and blood left.”“I’m truly Richard—”Gabriel hit Richard again. “Go on! I
Warning: this chapter contained violence and heavy cursing. Reader discretion is advised.Pietro stared at Gabriel who stood and stared at Richard with a menacing look. As he had been working with Gabriel for twenty years, he knew his boss would do harsh things to Richard. Yet, what Richard did was too much. So he could understand Gabriel’s mood. So Pietro cleared his throat. “Boss, what will you do?”Gabriel only grinned to hear that and removed his tie and opened his button shirt one by one. He even took his time to fold the shirt and tie neatly, then put them on a table. Later, he took his phone from his trouser pocket, pressed some buttons, and put the phone on the table next to his shirt and tie. Pietro gulped again. It reminded him when Gabriel was in his late twenties or early thirties. It was the time when he dealt with someone who betrayed him. “Boss, remember Mrs. Rosalind and little Jane? You don’t want to—”But Gabriel stopped Pietro’s words. “Remove his shirt.”It was a