The club was filled with energy, a stark contrast to the suffocating silence that had filled Daniela's mind since she learned about her father's death. She sat in the dimly lit VIP lounge, a glass of whiskey in her hands, swirling the liquid absentmindedly. Loud music was filled in the air, the bass vibrating beneath her feet, but it barely drowned out the guilt eating deep in her blood. She had come to the club to escape, to calm her nerves down. But no amount of alcohol could raise the growing doubt in her chest. As she stared at the dance floor, her eyes was drawn to a man watching her across the room. He was tall, Confident, with black piercing eyes and he had a particular charisma that made him stand out in the crowded club. Their eyes met and for a moment, Daniela thought She imagined him kissing her lips deeply. Not long after, he moved straight towards her. He sat beside her, his scent rich perfume mixed with something dangerously intoxicating filling her se
Gabriel leaned back, his whiskey glass resting against his knee as he studied Daniela. The way she carried herself intrigued him, so he wanted to know more about her. He had met many women in clubs before—some looking for excitement, some chasing wealth, others simply bored. But Daniela? She wasn’t any of those.She was drowning.And she didn’t even realize it.“You don’t strike me as someone who usually drinks alone,” Gabriel finally said, breaking the comfortable silence between them.Daniela exhaled a humorless laugh,sipping the last remnants of her drink. “I don’t. Not usually.”“Bad day?” he tried to examine.She let out a breath, shaking her head slightly. “Try a bad life.”Something flickered in Gabriel’s eyes. “That bad, huh?”She turned to look at him, taking in the way he held her gaze without hesitation. Most men would have backed off by now, sensing the weight in her voice. But he didn’t. He held steady, waiting, offering no judgment—only curiosity.“I lost my father,
The first thing Daniela felt was something pounding in her head.The second was the unfamiliar warmth of soft sheets beneath her.Sunlight streamed through the curtains, a golden feeling settling over the modest guesthouse room. The air was quiet except for the tap water that was running speedily. Daniela stirred, groaning slightly as she pushed herself up on the bed.For a moment, she forgot where she was.Then, it all came back—the club, the music, the drinks, and… Gabriel.Her eyes filled across the room, landing on his dark suit jacket draped over the chair. That single sight made her heart skip. He was still here.As if on cue, the bathroom door opened, and Gabriel stepped out, steam curling around him. A towel hung loosely around his neck, his shirt unbuttoned at the collar, exposing just a hint of his toned chest. His hair was damp, slightly tousled, as if he had run his fingers through it.“Morning,” he greeted, his deep voice carrying an unmistakable smoothness.Daniela ru
Days turned into weeks, and before Daniela even realized it, Gabriel had become a constant presence in her life, reassuring her and making her feel loved.At first, she had been hesitant to let him in. She had been burned before—used, abandoned, discarded like she was nothing.But Gabriel was different.He didn’t push. He didn’t demand too much.He was just… there.Every morning, she woke up to a text from him:"Good morning, beautiful. Have a great day."At night, another message:"Hope you ate today. Don’t overwork yourself."It was strange. No man had ever cared about the little things.And then there was the money.She never asked, but he sent it anyway. A small alert on her phone would pop up, and when she checked, there it was—a transfer from Gabriel."Just something to make things easier for you."****"Get something nice for yourself, Dani."He was everything she had ever wanted in a man. But more than the money, it was the fact that someone actually cared.Kind. Generous. Thoug
Gabriel wasn’t just kind with his words—he took action.One evening, as they sat in a quiet restaurant, he took her hand and looked into her eyes."I know you love working at the company," he started, "but I think you deserve more, Daniela. You’re smart, hardworking, and capable of much bigger things."She blinked at him, slightly taken aback. "Gabriel, what are you talking about?"He slid a neatly folded envelope toward her."A job offer," he said simply.Her heart pounded as she hesitantly unfolded the paper.It was from a well-respected company—a high-paying position as an administrative officer.She was filled with joy deep inside her. "How did you—?"Gabriel smiled. "I have connections. But you earned this, Daniela. I just pointed them in the right direction."Tears was filled in her eyes.She had struggled for so long, fought so many battles alone. And now, here was a man who wasn’t just promising her the world—he was actually helping her build a future."Gabriel, I—" She did
Daniela sat in silence, staring at Gabriel.The man she had trusted. The man she had started falling for.And yet, his brother,Desmond was the reason her sister had suffered.The arguments between them was thick with tension.Gabriel reached for her hand, but she pulled away."Daniela," he whispered, his voice pained. "I swear, I had no idea. Desmond… he’s always been reckless, but I never knew he—"She stood up as fast as possible. "I need to think, Gabriel."His expression darkened, but he nodded. "I understand."But deep down, she didn’t know if she could ever look at him the same way again.That night, Daniela couldn’t sleep.Her mind kept replaying everything—her sister’s tears, Desmond’s name, and Gabriel’s face when she told him the truth.Her phone rang suddenly, removing her away from her thoughts.Unknown Number.She hesitated before answering."Hello?"There was silence for a while.Then, a deep, unfamiliar voice."Stay away from Gabriel if you value your life."Her
Daniela sat on her couch, holding her phone so tightly that her knuckles turned white.Desmond’s words refused to leave her mind."Ask Gabriel what happened five years ago."Her stomach turned her.Gabriel had been her safe space. The one man who had given her hope again. But now?Her heart was filled with doubt. A slow, suffocating poison.Her instincts screamed at her to walk away,to bury the past and never dig it up again.But she couldn’t.She needed answers.Without thinking twice, she grabbed her bag and stormed out of her apartment.Gabriel opened his apartment door, his usual warm smile in place.But the moment he saw her face, the smile erased.“Daniela?” His brows tiled. “What’s wrong?”She pushed past him, stepping into the apartment.“We need to talk,” she said, her voice like steel.Gabriel closed the door behind them, his eyes filled with concern. “Talk about what?”She turned sharply, meeting his gaze.“Desmond.”Gabriel’s entire body stiffened. “What about him?”
Gabriel stood speechless in the middle of his apartment, his hands clenched into fists. The sound of the door slamming shut echoed in his ears like a gunshot. Daniela had walked away, her heart shattered by the truth. She had not been replying to his messages for a while due to the fact that she was scared that he might do something worst than that.And it was his fault.For years, he had tried to erase his past. He had buried his regrets beneath wealth, success, and the illusion of a new life. But the past had a way of resurfacing, and now, the woman he had come to love despised him.He couldn’t let this be the end.Gabriel grabbed his car keys and rushed out, determined to find her.Daniela walked aimlessly down the street, the cool night air chilling her skin. Her arms wrapped around herself, not just from the cold but from the ache spreading inside her.Tears blurred the lights of the city, distorting everything around her.She had finally opened her heart again—let someon
Gabriel stared at Daniela's name on his phone screen, his thumb hanging over the call button. His mind screamed at him to stop, to delete her number and erase her from his life. But his foolish bleeding heart refused to listen. He pressed the button. The phone rang once and then twice then also the third time. His ear began to shake as he imagined her reaction. Would She scoff at the sight of his name? Would she Ignore him completely? Or worse still was she Lying in Alexander's arms, Laughing at his desperation?. On the fourth ring, The call connected . A cold, detached voice filled his ears. “ Hello?”. Gabriel's breath almost left him. He hadn't really prepared for this . Now that She was on the line, the words tangled inside him, choking him. He had imagined her reaction when she saw his name on her screen. Was she smiling at his call?Would she groan in annoyance and cut the call while rolling her eyes at Alexander? But now that she had picked the call, all he could do
Gabriel sat in the dimly lit living room, staring blankly at the wall. The silence of the house was suffocating, pressing against his chest like a heavy weight. The absence of Daniela felt like a gaping hole in his life, one that he never imagined would exist.Just days ago, this house was filled with warmth, laughter, and the familiar presence of the woman he loved. Now, it was just an empty space—lifeless, cold, and unbearably quiet.He let out a long, shaky breath as he ran a hand through his disheveled hair. His eyes, bloodshot from lack of sleep, flickered toward the half-empty bottle of whiskey on the table. He had never been much of a drinker, but tonight, the burn of alcohol seemed like the only thing keeping him grounded."Why, Daniela?" he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why did you do this to me?"The pain in his chest tightened as memories of her flooded his mind. The way she used to smile at him, the way she would rest her head on his shoulder after a long da
The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the vast, fertile lands of the village as Alexander’s convoy approached. The air buzzed with excitement, and the entire community had gathered in anticipation of the arrival of their new king and queen.Alexander sat in the back of his luxurious black car,his fingers joined together as he stared out of the window. Beside him, Daniela sat quietly, her expression unreadable. She was dressed in a flowing royal blue gown, adorned with intricate golden embroidery that shimmered in the fading sunlight.She had not spoken much since they left the city. Alexander had noticed the distant look in her eyes, but he didn’t care. All that mattered was that she was here with him, and soon, she would be crowned as his queen.The journey had been long, winding through dusty roads and dense forests, but finally, they reached the grand palace at the heart of the village. The palace, though ancient, stood with an air of majesty—its walls adorned w
Gabriel stood frozen, his entire world crashing down around him. The wrumpled note in his trembling hands felt heavier than it should, as if it carried the weight of all the emotions swirling inside him. His chest tightened, his breathing uneven as the words replayed in his mind. I’m sorry. I don’t expect you to understand, but I have to go. Please don’t look for me.His throat left him and before he knew it, hot tears welled up in his eyes. His hands trembled as he wiped his face, but the tears kept coming. He let out a sharp breath, gripping the edge of the dining table for support.Why?Why would Daniela suddenly leave him like this? After everything they had been through, after everything he had done for her?He staggered backward, dragging a hand through his hair in frustration. His mind reeled with unanswered questions. This wasn’t just a simple breakup—it didn’t make sense. Daniela had given no signs of being unhappy. She had never complained. If anything, she had seemed happy
Gabriel stirred in his sleep, shifting slightly as he reached out for Daniela, expecting to feel the warmth of her body beside him. His fingers touched nothing but cold sheets. His brows furrowed as his eyes flickered open. The dim glow of the bedside lamp illuminated the empty space beside him.“Daniela?” he called groggily, his voice thick with sleep. No response.His heart pounded slightly as he sat up, running a hand through his messy hair. He reached for his phone on the nightstand and checked the time—2:37 AM. A strange sense of unease crept up his spine.Maybe she had gone to the bathroom? He swung his legs off the bed, planting his feet on the cold tiles before standing up. He walked toward the bathroom door and knocked lightly.“Dani?”Silence.His chest tightened as he pushed the door open, only to find the bathroom empty. He frowned, stepping out into the dimly lit bedroom. His eyes darted around, his mind struggling to stay rational.“She must be in the kitchen,” he murmure
The city was wrapped in silence, the streets nearly empty except for the occasional flicker of headlights cutting through the night. The digital clock on the bedside table blinked 2:13 AM in bold red numbers, casting a faint glow in the dimly lit bedroom.Gabriel lay beside her, deep in sleep, his chest rising and falling steadily. The rhythmic sound of his breathing should have been comforting—it always had been. But tonight, it suffocated her.Daniela sat up slowly, careful not to make a sound.Her mind was a tangled mess.She didn’t understand what was happening to her. A few hours ago, she had been living her normal life—working, loving Gabriel, planning for their future. But now, all she could think about was Alexander.His voice.His face.His presence.It was like an invisible thread was pulling her toward him, tightening around her chest, making it impossible to breathe unless she was closer to him.Her heart ached for him.And she had no idea why.Shaking off the confusion, s
The sun hung lazily in the sky, casting soft golden hues through the curtains of Daniela’s cozy apartment. The room was quiet, except for the faint hum of the air conditioner and the occasional chirping of birds outside. It was her day off from work, and she had planned to rest, maybe even do some cleaning, but she hadn’t expected a visitor.And certainly not him.Alexander stood at her doorstep, his usual confident smile in place, holding a neatly arranged gift bag. Daniela's brows furrowed in mild surprise. She hadn’t seen or spoken to him in weeks. She had moved on—at least, she thought she had.Still, curiosity got the better of her."What are you doing here?" she asked, crossing her arms.Alexander let out a small chuckle, his deep voice smooth. "Relax, Daniela. I just wanted to check on you. No pressure, no trouble. Just... an old friend bringing a gift."Her eyes flickered down to the bag in his hand.She hesitated.She knew Alexander too well. He was never one to do things wit
Alexander sat in his lavishly furnished bedroom, the golden chandelier above casting a dim glow over the space. The air was thick with the scent of expensive cologne and faint traces of burning incense—remnants of the chief priest’s visit from the previous day.On the polished mahogany table in front of him lay a small, dark vial.He picked it up, rolling it between his fingers. The chief priest had promised him that this would change everything. One drop of the sacred potion, and Daniela would no longer resist him. She would no longer see Gabriel. She would no longer refuse his love."Daniela, you will be mine again. You don’t have a choice."The thought sent a wicked thrill through him.He leaned back in his leather chair, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest. He had spent the entire night thinking about how things had spiraled out of his control.When he and Daniela were together, he had never once thought she would leave him. He had been confident—too confident—tha
The morning sunlight streamed through the tall glass windows of Alexander’s penthouse, casting long shadows across the floor. He had barely slept, his thoughts consumed by the memory of Daniela—her laughter, her sharp tongue, the way her eyes once softened when she looked at him. But that was in the past. Now, she was engaged to another man, willingly giving herself to someone who wasn’t him.That knowledge burned through his veins.No matter what, she would be his.A sharp knock on the door jolted him from his thoughts. He straightened, already knowing who it was. He strode toward the door, his heart pounding with anticipation, and pulled it open.Chief Priest Okanga stood before him, draped in a flowing red robe embroidered with ancient symbols. His presence was as commanding as ever, his dark eyes holding the wisdom of generations past. Around his neck, cowries and beads rattled softly as he stepped inside.“You summoned me, my prince,” Okanga said in his deep, measured voice.Alex