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
The morning sun streamed through the curtains, casting a golden glow over Daniela’s bedroom. She stirred under the soft covers, stretching lazily before turning to her nightstand to check her phone.Except… it wasn’t there.Frowning, she sat up and rubbed her eyes. Had she misplaced it? She clearly remembered leaving it beside her before going to bed.Just as she was about to get up and search for it, a gentle knock sounded on her door.“Come in,” she called, still half-asleep.The door opened, and Gabriel stepped in, carrying a tray with breakfast—freshly squeezed orange juice, warm currant, and a plate of her favorite pancakes poured with syrup.Her eyes widened in surprise. “Gabriel?”He gave her an alarming smile. “Happy birthday, sweetheart.”She blinked. In the midst of everything that had happened recently, she had completely forgotten what day it was.“You remembered?” she asked softly.Gabriel sat on the edge of the bed, placing the tray on her lap. “Of course, I did. Ho
Christiana walked through the dark, lonely streets, her heart filled with tiredness. Her arms ached from carrying her three-year-old daughter, whose frail body felt heavier than ever before. The child’s head rested calmly against her shoulder, her breathing shallow, her limbs lifeless. She had never walked. Never uttered a full sentence. Never even played like other children.Despite every effort Christiana had made—every pill she had bought with the last scraps of her earnings, every tear she had shed over this child—nothing had changed. Her daughter remained broken. Weak. A burden.Christiana became tired and frustrated. She had tried. God knew she had tried.But now, she had no more strength left to fight.She had thought motherhood would be hard, but not like this. Not a life where she starved just to buy medicine. Not a life where she could barely sleep, fearing that one day, she’d wake up and her child would no longer be breathing.She had reached her breaking point.She wa
The faint chirping of birds echoed from the distance, their songs slipping through the parted curtains of Gabriel's living room. A soft golden light painted the walls with warmth, and the scent of roasted coffee beans drifted lazily through the air. Lydia stirred on the couch, the thin blanket wrapped around her shifting slightly as she blinked into the sunlit room.For a moment, she forgot where she was. Then she heard the faint clinking of utensils from the kitchen.Gabriel.She sat up slowly, brushing her fingers through her hair and pulling the blanket closer. Her heart fluttered in a way she hadn't felt in a long time—not from fear or nervousness, but from something warmer, more intimate.She padded softly across the metallic floor, following the sound. There he was—in a plain grey shirt and joggers, sleeves pushed up, standing over the stove, pouring eggs into an attractive pan. His back was to her, but the way his shoulders moved, the way he hummed lowly to himself, made her
The sunlight streamed softly through the blinds, casting a gentle glow on the room as Lydia slowly stirred, the warmth of Gabriel's blanket still clinging to her. The previous night was like a dream,one of comfort, of ease, yet now it felt heavier. She wasn’t sure if it was the vulnerability she had let herself experience or the undeniable pull she felt toward Gabriel. As she opened her eyes fully, she realized the truth: this was no longer just a normal connection.She sat up slowly, taking in the room around her. The familiar scent of Gabriel’s perfume filled the air, mixing with the rich aroma of coffee that was brewing somewhere in the distance. Her body felt a little sore, but not in a bad way—more like she had been wrapped in a kind of tenderness she didn’t know she could enjoy.There he was, standing by the kitchen counter, making breakfast. His figure was calm and composed, but there was something about the way he moved,an easy grace that made her heart do a small sound in
The evening air was cool,a soft breeze carrying the promise of winter.Gabriel sat in the living room of his house, a mug of coffee in hand, his thoughts filled on the message he had received earlier that day. Lydia had texted him a simple line:"Hey Gabriel, I was thinking of coming over to keep you company. I’ve been meaning to visit. Could you describe your house to me?"He stared at the message for a moment, the words sparking a smile that crept across his lips. He hadn’t expected her to reach out so soon, but the idea of spending time with her, just the two of them, seemed like a welcome distraction. He quickly typed a response:"That is a small thing ! My place is a beautiful mansion. When you walk in, you’ll see a large, open living room with big windows that let in tons of light. There’s a fireplace in the corner. I love it on chilly nights. The kitchen is open, with ceramic structure and lots of space, and a little island in the middle. Upstairs, I have a few bedrooms, but I
The palace was cloaked in silence as night swallowed the horizon. Alexander stood at the edge of the bedchamber, staring at Daniela as she slept beneath the silken sheets. Moonlight spilled through the arched window, casting a silver glow across her face, serene and untouched by the chaos that brewed inside him.He clenched the small clay vial in his hand—a second dose, hidden away in the folds of his royal robes. The first had slipped from his grasp earlier, shattering across the marbled floor. But the shrine man had prepared two, warning him: “This is not just powder. It is a betrayal of her will. Use it only when your soul can carry the burden.”Alexander’s grip tightened. Burden? The word haunted him.Was it a burden to fulfill destiny? To produce an heir for a kingdom that demanded tradition above all else?He moved closer to the bed, the vial shaking slightly in his palm. He stared at her peaceful face, remembering her words just days before—the defiance in her voice, the pain i
The silence in the royal chambers was deceptive—like a calm before the storm.King Alexander stood by the edge of the bed, his expression tight with frustration. Candlelight flickered across the marble walls, casting long shadows that seemed to echo the unrest brewing in the room. Queen Daniela sat on the edge of the plush mattress, her gown still wrapped modestly around her, her back turned to her husband.“Daniela,” Alexander said, trying to keep his voice calm, “it’s been weeks. I am your husband, your king. Must I always beg for something that should be ours by right?”She didn’t turn. Her voice was quiet but firm. “Being king does not entitle you to my body, Alexander. I’m not some prize to be claimed when convenient.”He took a step forward, the pressure in his chest threatening to spill into anger. “Convenient? You think this is about convenience? We are married, Daniela! You bear the title of queen, yet you shrink from your duties like a frightened maid.”“Duties?” she repeate
The city flickered on and On,A tone of lights that seemed to shine brightly at the street. Gabriel's eyes scanned the streets from the comfort of his car, but his mind wandered far from the present. He had agreed to meet someone, a familiar face from his past, at a place that carried its own weight of memories. The old park,now renovated but still holding the remnants of their childhood, was where they had ever met.The swings that creaked in the wind, the benches where they sat to talk about their dreams, all of it were still there.But that wasn't were he was heading to tonight. Gabriel fingers gripped the steering wheel tighter as he drove through the streets, his heart pounding for reason he could not explain. This wasn't just any reunion. It was a moment he had been dreading. Instead of pulling into a quiet, weird park, he turned into a more unexpected location. The brightening light of a high-rise tower met him, the entrance guarded by black doors and towering g
The grand hall of the palace was filled with a heavy air of expectations as the village elders sat in a semi-circle before Alexander. Their faces were stern,their expressions unwavering. It had been a full year since Alexander had taken the throne, and tradition dictated that by now, an heir should have been conceived. The oldest of the elders,a man with A long white beard and a voice that carried the weight of wisdom, spoke first.”Your majesty, Its time. The kingdom awaits the birth of the next ruler. You must fufill all your duty and ensure the queen carries your heir”. Alexander sat back on his throne, his sharp eyes narrowing. He had known this conversation was coming, yet it did little to soften the irritation that bubbled beneath the surface. “And what if the child is not a boy?” He asked, his voice gentle and calm. The elder gave him a nervous look before shaking his head. “ Then you must keep trying until a son is born. That is the way of our land. A king must pro
Gabriel sat at his desk in the office, his fingers gripping the arm rest of his leather chair as he stared blankly at the financial reports in front of him. The numbers and projection blurred together into meaningless symbols. His company has hit record profits this quarter, something he had worked tirelessly to achieve, but he felt nothing. Not satisfaction,Not pride, just an unrelenting emptiness. His employees walked aimlessly around the office, their voices merging into a weird hum. He used to thrive on the energy of his workplace, but now everything felt distant and numb. Like he was watching his life unfold through a glass barrier. “Sir?” A voice broke through his thoughts. Gabriel blinked, lifting his gaze to see his assistant, Martin, standing before him in a cautious expression. “Yes?” Gabriel's voice came out colder than he intended, but he didn't care. Emotions were a weakness, and he had spent weeks numbing himself. Martin hesitated before continuing. “ We w
Gabriel paced the dimly lit living room, his mind filled with the next decision to carry on Daniela's matter. Every fibre of his screamed at him to let her go, to accept thàt she had chosen another man over him. But he couldn't. Not yet. He wanted to say a piece of his mind out. She had walked away so easily like he was nothing. But he wasn't done. He needed answers, he needed to look her in the eyes and demand the truth. But where did she actually go? He ran a hand through his hair, his gaze falling on the shattered pieces of his phone lying near the wall. His anger had gotten the best of him, but that didn't matter. He still had another way to find her. His eyes narrowed as a thought struck him. The phone and the car he bought for her. He had bought both for her . And that meant he still had access to certain details. Without hesitation,Gabriel strode across the room, grabbing his laptop from the table. He flipped it open,his fingers moving swiftly over the keyboar