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.”<
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
“Finally!” Rosalind Miller walked to the front door and turned the mark hung on the restaurant door from ‘Opened’ to ‘Closed’. However, she bowed her head and smiled at the last few customers who would leave the restaurant. The bell’s sound rang a few times each time the customers left since the door movement hit the bell. “Please come again and enjoy your night,” she said. The closing time was something she was grateful for. Rosalind enjoyed serving people in the Premium Steak, one of the best steak restaurants in the capital. Her supervisor and co-workers were nice and considerate. Also, she appreciated the salary and tips from customers. At 9.30 p.m., Rosalind rubbed her aching waist. The restaurant was closed at 9 p.m. So, for the last half hour she had already cleaned up the empty tables. The restaurant had over fifty tables. As she needed to comfort herself, she took a deep breath while closing her eyes. Sometimes working at night was almost unbearable. Tonight was one of
Rosalind did nothing and only gazed at some random spots on the table with an empty look. The server who had brought her coffee approached her. “Miss, sorry, but we’re about to close. Do you want more coffee or do you want to bring the coffee home?”Rosalind gasped and shook her head. “No, thank you. I’m sorry for staying too long.”The server smiled and waved her hand. “Not at all, but since you came near our closing time, I’m so sorry to rush you.” He pointed at the earlier cup. “This one is free.”“But—”The server even brought her a packed cup of coffee. “Please receive this as our courtesy and apologize. I hope you will come again.”Rosalind nodded. “Thank you so much.” She took the packed coffee and walked outside of the restaurant. The chilly wind blew again. Rosalind shuddered and hugged herself. Yet she kept walking in a random direction. She didn’t want to go home. Alone at home would make her cry all night.Five years! She wasted five years for someone who didn’t even have
Rosalind sighed and tried to roll her body. However, something halted her movement. She was exhausted, and a hammer felt like pounding on her head. So she still lay on the bed, trying to figure it out what happened last night. The pounding didn’t stop until she couldn’t take it anymore. “Oh, stop!” she shrieked. The ache in her head was too much until she promised to herself not to be drunk again. Somehow, there was a move behind her. She felt a kiss on her left shoulder and that’s when she realized an arm wrapped around her waist. “You’re awake?” The man’s voice was hoarse. “Oh!” Rosalind tried to move her body to see who was talking. But the ache in her head was too much. “I promise I won’t get drunk ever again.” She groaned and rubbed her temples. “It’s good, baby. I’m glad to hear that.” The man’s words sank into her brain slowly. Then Rosalind gasped, trying to turn her body. It was already hard because the pounding in her head still continued. However, she strived to open
Rosalind took a deep breath and gazed into Gabriel’s eyes. “Everything? What do you mean by everything?”He shrugged and rubbed her lower lip with a thumb. “Well, I can give you everything you want to buy. You won’t need to work anymore.” “In exchange for what?” She raised her eyebrow. It was a tempting offer. After working so hard for years, could she rest now?“Being mine.” He rubbed her cheek, jaw, and then back to her lower lip again. “You only need to be here, darling. I’ll pamper, protect, and satisfy you.”“Being here?”Gabriel nodded. “Yes, unless you want to stay elsewhere. I can buy another apartment or house if you prefer it.” Since Rosalind didn’t reply, Gabriel kissed her lips and then whispered in her ear, “I’ll even give a lesson to Jeremy. He doesn’t appreciate you.”Gulping, Rosalind clasped her hand together. She took a deep breath because hearing Jeremy’s name opened a new, unhealed wound in her heart. Then she closed her eyes because she didn’t want Gabriel to see
Rosalind wrapped her body in a wide dry towel and sat on a chair near the mirror. The easiest decision was to accept Gabriel’s offer. She didn’t need to work hard anymore, even no need to work again. He even promised her to give a lesson to Jeremy, though she didn’t know what he would do. Her mind pondered the option. It seemed Gabriel was sincere with his offer, but how long would it be? She heard Gabriel’s reputation as one of the wealthiest people in the capital. Many feared him because they heard he wouldn’t hesitate to do anything to get what he wanted. But many women also sought after him because of his wealth, power, and impressive look. Gabriel’s skin was tan, although he was a Caucasian since his business was in transportation. Despite he had been successful, she heard he still worked outside, checking his business in so many places regularly. No one dared to mess with him. Since she knew Gabriel and his family were immigrants in her country, his success was even more impre
Rosalind took a seat on the couch. After taking a deep breath, she stared at Gabriel. “Gabe, I told you. I didn’t want to be your mistress.”“Why not?”“We know nothing about each other.”Gabriel shook his head. “Wrong! I know enough to want you. Be mine, baby. You know, I don’t ask this to many women.” He creased his forehead while thinking. “You are the second woman I asked. So it’s a compliment.”“So I need to say thanks?” she said sarcastically since she didn’t like what he implied.Gabriel shrugged, not be offended at all with what she said. “I don’t expect your gratitude. I want you to be mine.”“Gabe, you can’t have everything you want.”“Really?” He raised his eyebrow. “I’ll make you mine in three days.”She shook her head and let out a long sigh. “The more you insist, the more I will refuse.”Gabriel laughed out loud until his head bent backward. “You only make things more interesting, darling. Are you playing hard to get? Is this a challenge?”“No! I don’t play any games and
With a flushed face, Rosalind shook her head. She clenched her hands and took a deep breath. “No, Gabe. Please don’t force me ….” Instantly, Gabriel stopped his advance though his breath was rasping. He touched his forehead to hers, closed his eyes, and sighed. “Woman, you truly know how to torture me.” “It’s not my intention ….” Rosalind closed her eyes too. “Please, let me wear my clothes again. If you won’t force me, we won’t have sex.” Gabriel finally let Rosalind go and wore his clothes too despite he was eager to seduce her again. However, he didn’t want to take her by force. It was something against his values. When he stared at her, she grasped her hands and gazed back at him. Brushing her hand on her trousers, Rosalind asked, “Can I go now?” “Not yet. Sit and I’ll tell you something.” Rosalind creased her forehead. “What is it?” “Sit first.” Touching her nape, she still stood there. “So?” “Patience isn’t your virtue, is it?” Gabriel teased her. He sat first on the co
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