AFTER GABRIEL TOOK HIS BATH, he threw on faded grey sweatpants and a white sweatshirt. He thought about getting new clothes, something that would make him more breathtaking in Sydney's eyes. He grumbled. Pretending to be a Lumberjack had nothing to do with his bad choice of dressing, naturally, he was bad at picking clothes. He took a large beach hat and sauntered outside to see Sydney standing by his bike, wearing his plaid shirt and worn-out pants with shades. He held a smile and put the hat on her head. " I don't think you can wear a helmet with this on."He reckoned the clothes looked better on her than they ever did on him. She wanted to hide her face so no one would recognize her. Gabriel had the bright idea to offer her shades and a large beach hat.Sydney adjusted the hat and said, " Why do you even have something like this?" He had gotten it on a trip to Santa Monica Beach for some lady he met at sea that wouldn't leave him alone. He'd love to take Sydney there one da
AVERY SAT IN a booth in Berky's diner, reading a fashion magazine. She sighed with a smile when she heard a comment from someone in the diner. " Isn't that Mr. Reed's new wife?" Not yet sweetheart, soon. Avery remarked silently. She felt thrilled. Before she'd left the smart house for Berky's, she'd noticed in the mirror how much her skin was glowing. Surely, the rich life looked good on her. But, she didn't want to get too comfortable and forget her motive behind destroying her supposed bestie's home. Auxanger had called her earlier, telling her to meet him at the diner and order however amount of food she likes, bills on him. Knowing her father and the amount of money that could fit in his pocket, Avery kept a few bucks just in case. The doorbell rang as Auxanger walked in; Avery shot out a hand, waving for him to come over. Auxanger walked to the booth and slid into the chair in front of his daughter. He looked at the empty table and then at his smiling daughter. " No f
BEFORE THE SUN BEGUN TO set, Gabriel had taught Ethan the ropes of fishing. Ethan was a quick learner and he learned how to cast the fishing line in no time.Emily joined in and asked Gabriel to teach her.Gabriel replied in a tender tone, " Your brother would teach you, I'm a bit sore in the knee."Ethan, who had cast the fishing line into the lake, half-looked at his sister and said teasingly. " Make sure you don't a-t-e the earthworm."Emily chuckled fakely, " It's e-a-t Ethan and that's disgusting. "Gabriel laughed at their childishness and left them to themselves. He walked to Sydney and sat next to her. She was almost falling asleep when he came.He looked at her sleepy figure and said softly, " Do you want to go back and hit the sack? "Sydney shook her head dismissively, " No, I'm okay here. Er, thank you for today. "" You can thank me by cooking dinner. " He smiled.Sydney chuckled tiredly and nodded, " Sure, I don't do anything anyway. "Being a couch potato was tiring fo
AUTHOR'S POVIT TOOK GIL ALL his pride to drive to Sofia's house. He tried to calm his racing heart after knocking on her door. "Since when do you get nervous because of a woman Gil? Get yourself together."Gil's heartbeat was all over the place when Sofia opened the door. He had made sure to come an hour after her closing time so he'd meet her home.Sofia looked shell-shocked seeing Gil. She didn't think he'd try talking to her again after ignoring his calls. She was happy to see him, however she didn't want to read much into it.He basically called her a whore in his conversation with Gabriel.Maybe he showed up because he wanted a taste of her again. She'd show him.Gil resisted the urge to stare her up to down. With a grin plastered on his face, he said charmingly, " Hi."Sofia crossed her arm around her chest trying to look intimidating. " What's it?"" Aren't you going to invite me in first?" " No, I don't trust you'd keep your hands to yourself." And she couldn't trust hers
GAVIN'S ROOM WAS A mess as he searched every nook and cranny for his travel documents Archer had claimed to have mailed to him.Travelling had never been a big deal to him but he really needed to get out of the country before he went nuts. In more direct words, he needed to get away from Avery." Are you sure you mailed the freaking documents to my home?" Gabriel asked Archer exasparatedly over the phone." Yes, boss. You could as Alexa, it confirmed the mail was received."Gavin straightened. It then beckoned on him that he shared a house with a mad woman. He ended the call and walked to Avery's room. Without knocking, he checked in his thumbprint and entered the room just to see Avery sitting on the bed with a cigar in her mouth and his travel documents in ashes on the floor.Gavin blinked, making sure what he was seeing wasn't real.Avery noticed him by the door and smiled disdainfully, " Join me for a smoke, you look like you need it."Control. Control.Gavin held his waist with
AUTHOR'S POVSATURDAY CAME BY quickly to Sydney's dismay. Somehow, she'd hoped Gavin got into a car accident or something that would make him not show up, but she quickly shook off the thought.It was very inconsiderate of her to put her fears over Emily's happiness. Right now, all that was important was her children's happiness.Sydney lied to Gabriel she was going to get her and the kid's annual medical checkup so he wouldn't have to follow her.There would be havoc between him and Gavin if he'd show up." You are shaking." Sydney squeezed Emily's shoulder affectionately as she squatted in to look at her.Emily replied raspyly, " I'm a bit nervous mommy."It was the last round of the National Spelling contest and Emily managed to get to the top 50 participants. Plus, the boy on the chair next to Emily's looked very intimidating.He wore braces and glasses, so he must be intelligent! Emily reckoned." Calm down, keep your eyes on me the whole time, and believe in yourself."Sydney
GAVIN CAUGHT THE LOOK of bewilderment immediately the word left his mouth. It was the same look he had when he'd read the words of the paper Avery had given him.He knew Avery made his sleep with her despite her alignment to punish him for what he'd done to her as a teenager.His father had warned him Karma was a terrible b**tch but he'd been too in love with Sydney to give a damn.Look who's regretting it now!Sydney opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. She looked ahead and leaned into the chair, her eyes slightly widened.When her ability to speak finally came through, she uttered savagely, " I hope you had a share of her virus."Was he just finding out about it? Wait, was that the reason he used protection the last time he slept with her?Various questions plagued Sydney's mind. Although she wanted Gavin to pay for what he did, she didn't want him to get infected." I'm not sure, I went for a test yesterday. The result isn't out yet." Running a test was just to be a hu
THE SOUND OF THE gunshot kept on ringing in Sydney's head as she stared at Gavin who was being treated in the hospital ward.After the capturer had made the stupid decision of pulling the trigger, hell broke loose. People began pouring out of the hall, running for their lives. Luckily, the intimidating-looking kid's father was a cop, and he had brought his colleagues along with him to the contest.The capturer barely got anywhere before he was pinned down by the cops. Seeing Gavin and Sydney's condition, someone had the bright idea to call an ambulance. Fortunately, whoever hired the man to kidnap Sydney must have been low on cash because the man seemed like it was his first criminal work.He had a bad aim, so the bullet penetrated Gavin's arm instead of his chest.It had been an hour since she and Gavin were brought to the hospital; she had already been treated.Sydney didn't want to imagine what would have happened to her if Gavin hadn't gotten in the way. She remembered when the
ETHAN'S POV It's been five years since I've last seen Dad. Since we'd left California, he had been non-existent from the world. From us. From me. Old classmates tell me his posters have been ripped from the walls; his business has been wiped out from the physical and virtual world. A Mafia man has taken his place in his company. His name is no longer talked about on likable lips. He had disappeared into oblivion. Mum kept crying about it, and I told her she shouldn't cry over the dead. She said dad is not dead; she said he's living; she said someone had seen him in New Orleans. She is lying because I only know that he's dead. Mum is talking over the phone; she is mentioning Dad's name. I can hear his voice over the loud call, but I know it is not his since the dead do not talk. Dad is dead. Someone called my name. Mum is looking at me. She says something. I think she says Dad wants to talk to me. I make no effort to move because I know my father is not living. " Ethan."
GIL'S HEART POUNDED in his chest at Sofia's silence.It was approximately twenty seconds since he proposed the question.21. 22. 23.Gil was sweating in the cold.He detested rejection more than anything else. He was a mess after his ex left him. He nearly jumped into the ocean when his family disowned him.He told himself he'd end his life if she said no."Baby..." Gil gave a crazy drawl. "I understand that it is early, but—"Gil was caught off guard when Sofia wrapped her arm around his neck and gave him a big wet kiss.She put her forehead on his and drew her lips away. She was smiling, blushing, crying."What if I said no?" She teased."Next week would be the date of my funeral."Sofia laughed and kissed him again. "I love you, and yes, there is nothing I'd want more than for you to be my groom.""Oh, boy." Gil sighed and pulled away.With trepidation, he removed a ring and placed it on her ring finger."Perfect fit." He laughed and pulled her into a short kiss before pulling awa
Sofia was just about to head to the coffee shop to begin her business task for the day. She insisted on doing the task that day even though Alfred informed her it could be done any day of the week.After thinking what Sydney said through, she called Alfred and told him she wanted to postpone the task.Alfred was also in the light about Gil's plan and cleverly replied to her, careful not to create any suspicion.Up in her room, Sofia put on a crimson button-up dress that was slim-fitting, put on a little makeup, tucked her hair in a tidy bun, and left for Gil's apartment.By the time she'd reached his front door, her heart was in her mouth. She was a bundle of nerves."You can do this." She let out a breath and reached for his doorbell, only to discover the door was open.She thought it'd be fun catching him off guard, so she slowly opened the door further and entered into the house that was almost completely dark.She could see nothing but the sun's rays that filtered through the heav
SYDNEY GRABBED EMILY'S bag off the dining table and ran to the front door where Gavin stood. He'd stopped by every morning to pick up the kids and drop them off at school. Sydney hardly spent time with them anymore, since they spent most of the day in school and with their daddy. It was only at night Gavin would drop them off, and at times, they'd sleep over at his place. As much as Sydney missed them, she knew their relationship with Gavin had dampened over the months, and spending quality time with him will strengthen their bond once again. She'd been happy to see Ethan smile genuinely again. Although he stopped playing hockey after being disqualified from the championship game, he played hockey with his daddy at the public hockey field. "Emily has been complaining of tooth pain." Gavin said as he collected the bag from her. Leaning against the doorframe, Sydney scratched her brows. "You give her too much candy." Sydney accused. She complains that you give her too many apple
" When I was a kid I had this unquenchable desire for things. My father gave me everything I wanted on a silver plate, it was always a yes as an answer and never a no." He rested his hand on the vanity and exhaled. " Because of that, I grew up with the expectation of getting everything I wanted. One day I came home from school and saw... " He paused and shut his eyes. " I saw my mum on bed having s!x with a man that used to be my father's co-worker. I don't know why, but I knew at that moment I wanted him dead; I wanted to squeeze him with my bare hands and rip him into pieces." " And I did, it felt so good seeing him cry and beg for mercy... Mother explained that she loved him. She said he was the right man for her." Gabriel scoffed. " I saw them once, he cuffed her to the walls and hit her like she was his play doll. Again and again, he did; he kept on saying I love you; it's just the pain that comes with being in love, you piece of shit." Gabriel's knuckles were white with rage.
EYES WIDE in shock, Sydney searched the counter for a knife or something she could use as a weapon of defense. Her gaze was still trained on Gabriel as his eyes searched the house before it eventually dropped on her.A plate fell to the ground and shattered.Sydney flinched from the sound and piece that made contact with her skin, but she didn't move, nor did Gabriel.Despite breaking a plate, Sydney still resumed her search for a knife." What are you doing here?" Gabriel was walking towards her now. He was dressed in blue tailored khaki pants, a grey shirt, and a blue polished brogue. He had a fresh new haircut and looked more like a wealthy specimen than a broke lumberjack." You are too careless." He looked at the cut on her leg, frowning." I thought I warned you to stay away."His eyes met hers. For the first time, she saw an indifferent, unsympathetic look in his eyes. Was he going to try to kidnap her and lock her up?Sydney finally felt a butcher knife on the counter and q
SCHOOL RESUMED PRETTY early, so, Sydney was left alone at Sofia's place with herself and thoughts. She decided to vacuum the house and do the laundry and other household chores to kill time. She had thrown out the laptop alongside all the things Gabriel had gotten for her. She refused to hold on to anything he gave her. It all poured down on her like lava when her mind was off Avery's death. The jet. His next to perfect personality. The yacht. The necklace. Clothes. Chains. The faint screams she'd heard in his penthouse, she thought it was her mind playing tricks on her. The truth was there all along, looking her in the face. No wonder he was friends with many rich people. Everything was all a facàde. He must have pretended to be poor to cover up his crimes! Sydney fell to the couch and shoved a hand through her hair. " The drawings oh my God! " It occurred to her he'd draw the people he'd tortured. He'd drawn the things he found appealing. Sydney shut her eyes a
A week went by, businesses were reopening. People returned from their holiday vacations, employees resumed work. Sofia returned to Beverly Hills just to receive news on what had happened.Sydney stayed in a motel with her kids before Sofia returned. She asked Sofia if she could crash at her place till they left the country. Sofia asked why she wasn't staying with Gabriel and Sydney told her all that occurred. Sydney felt like she ripped a hole through Sofia's heart after that because Sofia wouldn't stop crying afterward.Meanwhile, Auxanger was found hanging lifelessly from a rope on the ceiling after Avery's death. When he heard his daughter was dead, he called Caleb and blamed him for everything that happened. He threatened to report to the cops. Caleb showed up at his home uninvited, suffocated him to death with a pillow, and tied him to the ceiling so everyone would believe it was suicide.On the other hand, Gil tried reaching out to Sofia, but she wouldn't pick up his calls. He
TIME STOOD STILL and so did Sydney. A mortified gasp escaped her parted lips when she saw the permanent look of shock on Avery's face.Sydney stepped back as Avery began to stumble backward, mouth wide open and eyes the shape of a crystal ball.The bullet penetrated her upper chest, blood was flowing out, staining her shirt." No, no." Sydney felt suspended in the air. All she could hear were the echoes of silence.The front door opened.As Avery crumbled to the ground, Sydney's gaze was now fixated on Gabriel, who stood wide-eyed by the front door." J**sus Christ, what happened?!" Gabriel stormed into the house nearly tripping over his leg. He grabbed Sydney's shoulder firmly and pushed her back protectively as if Avery would wake up and try to attack her.Gabriel's eyes quickly scanned Sydney's pale face. " Did she try to hurt you? Shit, I shouldn't have left you alone. Did she touch you, huh? Sydney why aren't you saying... "His words caught in his throat when he desicried the p