Gabriel clenched his fist, but he said nothing. He already decided to hear everything first before considering what he would do.
“It’s one of the happiest and saddest moments at the same time. I was happy because I would have a baby, but also sad since the man I loved couldn’t be with me.” She wiped her tears. “I didn’t want you to see me in the most miserable time of my life. So I left you. I …” Lydia took a deep breath, “disappeared since I didn’t want you to hate me. I knew it would be easy for you to find my replacement.”
“You were wrong. I was almost crazy when I lost you …. I tried to search for you, but I couldn’t find you.”
Lydia nodded. “I knew. I didn’t want you to find me. That’s why I disappeared
Jane hugged herself while still bending her head down. “I … I hope you won’t hate me. When Mommy wanted to come here, I didn’t want to come, but she was angry ….” Glancing at Rosalind, the little girl’s eyes were teary. “I didn’t want to hurt anyone ….” Her lips trembled. “I swear!”It squeezed Rosalind’s heart to see how sad and hurt Jane was. “I know you are a good girl, sweetheart,” she said, trying to soothe the little girl.“C-can you adopt me?”Rosalind’s eyes widened to hear the plea. “Adopt you? But what about your mommy? Don’t you want to stay with her?”The little girl’s legs nudged. “I …. I want to stay with Mommy, but she doesn’t want me ….”“I’m sure it’s not true, Jane.”
When they were in their room, Gabriel helped Rosalind remove her dress and take her hairpins out of her hair. She also helped him unclothes. After changing clothes to casual ones, they lay on the bed.Rosalind took a deep breath as she had mixed feelings about what happened today. Gabriel hugged her waist with a hand and touched her cheek with another hand.“Baby, we need to reschedule our wedding ceremony. I’m sorry. You should have become Mrs. Da Costa right now.”She smiled and kissed his hand on her cheek. “It’s not your fault.” Then she stared at Gabriel. “Are you sure you still want to marry me?”“Of course! Why did you ask?”Lowering her eyes so she didn’t look into his eyes, Rosalind sighed as she didn’t w
After taking a nap for a half hour, they made love again. Later, feeling sated after the lovemaking, they lay side by side, trying to breathe and slow their heart rate after another passionate session they had.Rosalind took Gabriel’s hand and kissed it, then she leaned her cheek on his hand. “I just remembered something,” she said.“Hmm?”“When I told you I wanted to go to the bathroom before we left the church, actually it was only an excuse.”Gabriel raised his eyebrow. He turned her body so they could stare into each other’s eyes. “Why did you do that?”“I was concerned about Jane. When I was with her, I found she had a scar on her upper arm. Jane denied it was a scar, but I knew what I saw.” Rosalind sighed. “Also,
Gabriel gazed at Rosalind for a while. “I’ll consider it, but if she’s not my daughter, of course we should plan it carefully. The law is on Lydia’s side. No matter how much you want Jane to be yours, you can’t take her away just like that.”“Even after Lydia abused her?” Rosalind protested. Her hand clenched as she was upset. “I’m sure Lydia abused Jane, physically and verbally. We must protect her, Gabe. Please!” She pleaded with him.“I’ll contact my lawyer to see if we can build a case. If the evidence is strong enough, maybe we can have Jane as our adoptive daughter.”“Promise?” she pleaded with him again.“I can’t promise you anything.” Her face was gloomy to hear that, but he later added, “But I will do anything I can to protect the little girl.”
Rosalind blew her breath. Being fired twice on the same day was devastating her. She even lost a bit of her confidence. Yet, it was a relief to know it had happened not because she was a lousy worker. Instead, it was because Gabriel worked behind the scenes to make her fired.“Baby, don’t be mad at me, okay?” he pleaded with her. “I wanted you badly, so I did what I thought was a way out. I’m sorry if I hurt you, but I’m not sorry that by doing it, I could have you.” He wrapped his arm around her waist. Then he stroked her cheek. “Don’t be mad, okay?” Rosalind still said nothing. It was in the past. No matter what had happened, she would still come to Gabriel and ask for his help. So finally, she let out a sigh. “Okay.”“Okay? You aren’t mad at me anymore?”“I’m still upset because the jobs were the only thing I got, but it’s already in the past ….” She took a deep breath. “Also, you were honest with me. It’s hard for me to know you did it, but again, you could sweep everything under
But she shook her head fast and squeezed his hand hard. “No, don’t do that! She may hurt Jane more. I don’t want the little one to get hurt. Please don’t do that, Gabe!”“Okay, okay. Calm down, baby.”She took a deep breath. “Before we can adopt her, I don’t think I can be calm …. After seeing the scar and hearing how mean Lydia was to Jane … I’m constantly worried about the little girl ….”“We will do anything we can. Meanwhile, you must calm yourself because stressing yourself isn’t good for our baby.” He pushed her back so her body bent forward. Then he pulled her until she sat on his lap. “Baby, remember what Doctor Gianni said. Don’t stress!”“I know ….” Rosalind pouted, but then she leaned her head on his chest. “Gabe?”
Gabriel parked his car, a black sedan, at Cafe and Dine. He chose the simple car because he didn’t want to attract too much attention. The meeting place was a place he used to date Lydia.The place was an old cafe and restaurant, owned by a senior couple who disliked doing nothing in their retirement days. It was old but comfortable, and their food was superb.He walked inside. The old lady saw him and beamed.“Gabriel! I can’t believe my eyes! It’s been a while since the last time I saw you here!”Gabriel hugged the old lady. “Yes, Eugenia, it’s been a while. How are you?”“I’m good, despite my old bones cracking every time.” She grinned, showing her teeth. “Come, you must eat a lot.”
Jane glanced at Lydia with a fearful look, but her mother gave her a reassuring smile. “Go to Daddy Gabriel, darling.”When Gabriel saw how Jane was hesitant to approach him, he patted a seat next to him. “Come here, Jane. I want to talk to you.”The little girl followed what Gabriel said and sat next to him. Her hands grasped the hem of her dress as she was nervous. “Yes, Uncle Gabe. What do you want to talk about?”“Not Uncle!” Lydia snapped. It startled the little girl until she gasped and put her hand on her chest. “How many times do I need to tell you to call him Daddy?”“I-I ….” Jane gulped and nodded. “Yes, Daddy ….” Her hands frantically grasped her dress
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