Prologue

Gabriel

Seven years ago 

There are two kinds of decisions people make that inadvertently change their lives - either for better or for worse. The first decision is one where you know that what you're doing at that moment would not make you regret your entire existence - you're happy about that decision because it's beneficial to you and in the long run, you prove to whoever almost made you second guess yourself that you were right in making that particular decision.

The second decision is one where you have absolutely no choice but to make that decision. You have a tight noose around your neck that would never be loosened until you decide to just give in. 

It is a matter of life and death - a decision where lives hang in the balance and you're the only one that can prevent any disastrous thing from happening.

Now... You must be wondering what the hell I'm talking about. My name is Gabriel Emerson Brillantes Cruz and my life - my very perfect life that I'm sure every man wants to live - got ruined when I made the decision to accidentally sleep with Lucille Kendrick and got her pregnant. That is where all my life's problems began.

"What the hell were you thinking man?" My best friend Simon Wilson hisses at me. "Lucille Kendrick? Really?" 

We're at a bar having a late night drink. I'd called Simon to meet me here when I could no longer handle the thoughts running through my head. You'd think I had murdered someone and was wondering just when the police would catch up with me.

"I was drunk." I say for the one thousandth time that day. "Or maybe she spiked my drink." I shake my head and sigh. "You know I'd never sleep with her even with my eyes closed."

Simon shakes his head in disgust. He knows just how vile Lucille is. My siblings know the kind of person she is and my twin sister Gabi is probably still in shock that she'd soon be related to Lucifer's queen.

"She told you she's pregnant?" Simon inquires. "Like you took her to a doctor and got her tested?"

"Yeah." I hang my head in shame. "She's four weeks pregnant."

"She can still abort the baby." Simon says. "It's still early."

"She almost bit my head off when I suggested it." I rake my fingers through my hair in frustration. "I'm fucked Simon. Finished."

"Don't panic until you have to." Simon chides. "You can't be sure that the baby is yours. What if she slept with someone else and wants to pin the baby on you?"

"Well, I talked to my uncle Carlos's doctor and he gave us options. We'll both fly out to Italy tomorrow to see him." I inform him. "He's going to perform a non invasive paternity test to see if I'm the father of the baby."

Simon looks surprised. "And she agreed to it?"

"Yes." I nod. "I was shocked too but one thing I know about Lucille, unfortunately - is that she never has anything to hide."

"Fuck." Simon breathes.

"Gabi told me that if I ever get married to her that she'll never talk to me again." I say. 

Simon sighs. "She'll forgive you. I'll talk to her on your behalf."

I force a smile on my face. "Thanks."

Gabi finally admitted her feelings for Simon years ago on our graduation day from university but didn't start dating him until she started her internship at Cruz Tech as a software developer. 

Now they are married with three adorable children - twins Emilio and Emilia and Gabrielle who is the last child and Gabi is the Chief Technology Officer at Cruz Tech and Emerson Cruz Group.

"Where is she by the way?" Simon winces as if he suddenly swallowed a sour lemon. "She used to cling to you like a leech."

I shrug carelessly. "She's out with her friends or something."

"So... She's moved in with you?"

"First chance she got." I rumble. "She's littered my closet space with her ridiculous clothes and shoes and bags. Most of them have never been worn but she keeps buying more apparels." I visibly shudder. "It's like a rat infestation."

Simon chuckles dryly. "Sorry bud. You made the bed." 

And I have to lie on it even though I don't want to. I want to run far away from this situation that I've found myself in. I want to go somewhere far far away - change my name just to avoid seeing Lucille Kendrick but I can't. 

My family and Lucille's are close. I used to wonder why my dad thought it was best to get mushy with Lucas Kendrick who is his rival in business but I later realized that Lucas Kendrick is nothing like his arrogant, self centered daughter and I grew to like the man. 

Unfortunately for me, this news about Lucille's pregnancy was pleasing to her parents' ears when they found out. My mom is not thrilled about the fact that she might be getting Lucille as her daughter in law but she decided to hold her tongue on the matter because she is friends with Lucille's mother Ethel.

"Oh God." Simon gasps and his face goes white. 

"What is it?" I try to turn around in my seat but Simon grips my forearm forcing me to stay put.

"She won't see us if you don't look." He hisses.

"She'll see you and then she'll know it's me you're talking to." I remind him.

"Ah geez." He groans. "She's coming."

"God please no." I cry.

"I'm sorry but I have to leave you with her." Simon drains his drink in one go and rises to his feet just as Lucille gets to us.

"Hey baby." She wraps her arms around my neck and leans down to kiss my cheek. She straightens and smiles at Simon. "Simon. So good to see you again."

"The feeling is not mutual, Lucille." He says through gritted teeth, pushing his chair in. "See you around bro." He throws me a mock salute and walks away.

I groan inwardly when she pulls out the chair Simon evacuated and makes herself comfortable. I scowl at the Cheshire cat smile on her face but she is not intimidated.

"I've missed you darling. You've been avoiding me." She reaches out her hand to touch mine but I quickly withdraw mine and hide them under the table.

"What do you want?" I grind out. "You could've waited for me to get home before cursing me with your presence. This is the only time I get to talk to my friend."

"You actually listen to that guy when he gives you advice?" She snickers.

My scowl transforms into a full-on death glare which she recoils from and I smirk. She knows I hate her talking trash about Simon.

"How did you find me?" I lean back in my seat and fold my arms. I mentally think of ways to get out of here and probably find somewhere else to spend the night.

"I put a tracker in your car." Her smile widens. "Genius right?"

"What?" I snap.

She shrugs. "That way I can know where you are. It's for my peace of mind."

I want to scream, punch her in her ugly face and then run away still screaming but I don't do anything. I count to twenty in my head and let out my breath slowly.

"You're going to remove it." I tell her in a pseudo calm voice. "And if you've put trackers anywhere else - you'll remove them too."

"I put tiny cameras on your ties. You won't notice them unless you look closely."

If there is one thing I appreciate Lucille for - it's her honesty. She's bloody annoying but she'd never tell you lies.

"Good." I say. "When we get home, you'll remove them."

"I don't want to." She pouts.

"My patience is this thin Lu." I indicate how little it is with my thumb and forefinger. "I want to go home, shower and sleep. It's been a long day at the office."

"You know what else you can do?" She shoots me a sly smile. "That will make this night much better?"

"Enlighten me." I drawl.

"You make love to me." Her smile turns seductive.

I stare intently at her for a long time until her smile fades and I rise to my feet. Time to make my escape.

"Where are you going?" She frowns.

"Restroom." I grumble and walk away.

I'm taking the coward's way out as I make my way to the fire exit, push open the door and go out but I don't give a flying fuck right now because hell will have to freeze over before I'll touch her again.  

Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. Never again.