Chapter 34
The First Kiss
Pov : Sloane
That night, Gabriel moved us to his estate. The car ride was quiet, save for the low hum of the engine, and I watched the city lights blur into streaks against the black windows.
I should be worrying about Adrian’s message, a small voice insisted, but the worry felt distant, muted by the closeness of the man beside me. I shifted in my seat, feeling the tension drain away, replaced by a strange, humming anticipation I could not name.
We didn’t bother about Adrian's new message. Gabriel had simply taken my phone and placed it facedown on the center console before he started the car.
It was a silent, protective gesture that meant more than any spoken promise could have. He wants to shut the world out, just for a little while, I realized, and that thought settled a new warmth deep in my chest. I trusted his judgement completely in that moment, letting the safety of his presence wash over the recent anxiety.
Gabriel’s estate was far from the center of everything, a quiet place hidden behind tall gates. He led me through the massive front door and straight into a large, comfortable room with deep couches. He did not turn on many lights, leaving the space bathed in the soft, yellow glow of a single lamp.
This place feels safe, I thought, breathing in the subtle, earthy scent of the old house. I sank into a cushion, watching him as he moved around the room, gathering drinks for us.
Daisy was asleep already, she was taken upstairs.
Gabriel and I talked late, the conversation meandering easily from one simple topic to the next. We spoke about the city, about the future, and about things we both wanted but had never dared to say out loud.
Every word he spoke felt important, even the mundane ones, creating a tight, invisible thread between us. I feel like I have known him for years, the thought surfaced clearly, surprising me with its simple certainty.
The weight of the day, of Adrian and his threats, finally lifted entirely.
I told him about a silly memory from my childhood, something I had never shared with anyone else before. He listened intently, a faint smile playing on his lips the whole time.
He responded with a story of his own, a small vulnerability that matched mine perfectly. He understands me in a way no one else ever has, I decided, and the realisation made my heart thump an unsteady rhythm against my ribs.
I knew then that this night was different from all the others we had shared.
His eyes burned into mine as the talking finally slowed and stopped. The air in the room suddenly felt thick, heavy with everything that had been left unsaid. I could see the reflection of the lamp’s low light flickering in the dark pools of his irises.
What is he thinking right now? I wondered, my internal voice a mere whisper of sound.
I held his gaze, unwilling to be the one to break the powerful connection between us.
He shifted closer to me on the couch, the movement slow and deliberate, taking up the small space that had remained between our bodies.
I could feel the heat radiating from his arm and shoulder, a warmth that was both comforting and intensely exciting. Do not move, just wait, I commanded myself, though every nerve ending in my body felt alive and ready to leap.
My palms grew damp where they rested in my lap, and I focused on trying to regulate my breathing.
He raised a hand and gently brushed a stray lock of hair away from my cheek. The simple touch sent a jolt, a sudden, powerful spark through me that took my breath away.
This is real, this is finally happening, the thought screamed in my mind, banishing all logic and reason.
I leaned towards him, offering a silent answer to the question in his eyes. The whole world narrowed down to the space between our faces.
And then we kiss, slow and hot. His lips were firm, moving against mine with an unhurried, devastating certainty.
The initial hesitation vanished instantly, replaced by a deep, immediate need that pulled me closer. I have wanted this since the first day I saw him, I knew, finally admitting the truth that had been hiding beneath my polite reserve. The kiss deepened, becoming more insistent, drawing a soft, involuntary sound from my throat.
My body was alive, suddenly and completely awake, vibrating with an intensity I had never known. I reached up and tangled my fingers in the dark hair at the back of his neck, pulling him fractionally closer still.
Everything around us—the quiet estate, Adrian, the world—ceased to exist entirely.
This feels like coming home, a profound sense of rightness washed over me, a feeling of deep belonging I never expected to find.
He moved his mouth away, just slightly, catching his breath before returning to mine, his kiss now a breathless continuation of the same intense pressure.
He tasted faintly of the whiskey he had been drinking and something entirely unique to him. I never want this to stop, I thought, clinging to the moment as if my life depended on it.
I kissed him back with a ferocity that surprised even myself, pouring every confused, hopeful feeling I had into the simple act.
The moment stretched out, perfect and consuming, until he finally pulled back, resting his forehead against mine. His breath was ragged, matching my own uneven gasps for air.
He feels it too, the evidence was in his rapid pulse and the tremor in his hands where they held my face. I opened my eyes slowly, seeing the smoky, satisfied look on his own.
Neither of us spoke for a long moment; there was no need for words. The silence was not awkward but full, heavy with the weight of what had just passed between us.
I reached up, my hand trembling slightly, and touched my fingertips to his lower lip.
This changes everything, I realised, the simple truth of the matter settling like a warm stone in my stomach.
The complexity of our situation suddenly seemed manageable, eclipsed by the power of the shared moment.
Gabriel finally pulled back completely, but he kept his hand firmly clasped around mine. He brought my knuckles to his mouth and pressed a light, quick kiss to them.
I am safe with him, was the last thought that passed through my mind before he spoke, his voice low and a little rough.
I waited for him to say whatever it was he had decided to tell me next, ready for any future he would offer.
Chapter 35 : The Touch of Trust
POV: Sloane Harper
The contract papers were finally signed, and the room fell into a quiet buzz.
I looked at Gabriel across the table, and he gave me a small nod. I nodded back, trying to ignore the tightness in my chest. I had done it. I had partnered with Hale Enterprises.
“Congratulations, Ms. Harper,” Gabriel said, his tone low and calm.
“You’ve made the right choice.”
“I hope so,” I replied, my fingers resting on the edge of the folder.
“This means we’re officially partners now.”
He smiled, the kind of smile that didn’t reach his eyes but was polite enough for business.
“Now the hard part begins. Keeping everyone else out of our way.”
I didn’t want to ask who “everyone else” meant, but I already knew. Adrian. His name hung in my mind like a shadow.
He had tried to stop this deal before it even started. I could still hear his words in that message last week, cold and clear: You’ll regret trusting him.
When the meeting ended, Gabriel leaned closer. “There’s a joint event tonight. The board wants us both there. Are you ready to show them what we’ve built?”
“I’ve been ready for months,” I said, even though my stomach twisted.
“Let’s show them.”
That evening, the hall buzzed with lights, cameras, and faces I half-recognized. Gabriel stood beside me, his calm presence almost too steady. He handled greetings with charm while I focused on remembering every word I planned to say.
“This partnership means growth, innovation, and unity,” I said into the microphone.
My voice didn’t shake, though my heart did. “Together, Harper and Hale will build something stronger.”
Applause filled the room. For a moment, it felt real. Success. Trust. A future. But then I saw Adrian.
He stood near the back, his expression unreadable. My pulse jumped. Gabriel followed my gaze and stiffened. “Ignore him,” Gabriel whispered.
“He won’t do anything here.”
“I know him,” I murmured. “He’ll find a way.”
Minutes later, Adrian took the microphone.
“A wonderful speech,” he said smoothly.
“But I can’t help wondering if this partnership was built on truth—or something else.”
The crowd stirred. I froze. Gabriel’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t stop him.
Adrian smiled, the kind of smile that made my skin crawl.
“I have documents that suggest Harper Tech’s data was compromised before this deal. Maybe Hale Enterprises didn’t know that.”
Murmurs rose like smoke. I could feel eyes on me, sharp and questioning. My heart raced. I wanted to shout, but Gabriel’s hand brushed mine under the table.
“Stay calm,” he whispered. “I’ve got this.”
He took the microphone. “Mr. Adrian seems to forget the investigation last month cleared Harper Tech completely,” he said, his tone steady.
“If he’s still confused, I can forward the official reports to him. But tonight isn’t about grudges—it’s about progress.”
There was silence, then applause. Then louder applause. I exhaled for the first time in minutes.
Adrian’s face darkened. He looked at me, his eyes full of something between anger and warning. “This isn’t over,” he said under his breath as he walked past me.
I wanted to believe him wrong. I wanted to believe the night was saved. But I knew Adrian didn’t make empty threats.
After the crowd eased and people began to leave, Gabriel and I stayed behind for the press photos. “You did great,” he said, his voice softer now.
“I didn’t do anything,” I replied quietly. “You saved us out there.”
“You trusted me,” he said. “That’s what made it work.”
Something in his tone made my pulse skip.
I wanted to ask if he really meant that, but his phone buzzed. He looked at it once, frowned, then pocketed it. “Nothing important,” he said quickly.
We walked through the quiet hallway toward the back exit. The sound of our shoes echoed, filling the silence between us.
I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know if I wanted to ask why he looked tense after reading that message.
“You think Adrian will try again?” I asked finally.
“He already has,” Gabriel said. “But we’ll stay ahead. We always do.”
“Do we?” I asked. “Because it feels like we’re one step behind him.”
He looked at me for a long moment. “Not tonight. Tonight, you won.”
We reached the empty conference room where the event began. My folder still sat on the table, the signed contract sealed inside. I ran my fingers over it, as if to remind myself it was real.
“You should celebrate,” Gabriel said. “This deal changes everything.”
“It already has,” I said quietly. “I don’t even recognize my life anymore.”
“Then maybe that’s a good thing,” he said. “Sometimes you have to lose the old version of yourself to move forward.”
His words stayed in my head as we stood there. The air between us shifted, heavy and quiet.
“Gabriel,” I said, not sure why his name came out like that.
“Why did you really choose me for this deal?”
He didn’t answer right away. “Because you’re the only one who doesn’t see me the way everyone else does.”
“And how does everyone else see you?”
“As the man who never loses,” he said simply.
I looked at him then, trying to read his face, but he was unreadable as always. Still, something flickered there—something I couldn’t name.
When the last of the staff left, the hall went silent. Only the two of us remained.
He moved closer, picking up one of the brochures from the table. “You handled yourself well tonight,” he said. “Even when Adrian tried to make you doubt me.”
“I didn’t doubt you,” I said before I could stop myself. “Not once.”
He looked at me again. “That’s dangerous, Sloane.”
“Why?”
“Because trust always comes with a price.”
The words lingered between us. I didn’t know what to say. My heart beat faster than I wanted it to.
He reached out to hand me the brochure, and for a moment his hand grazed my waist. It was light, almost accidental, but it sent a strange rush through me. I froze.
He didn’t pull away immediately. Our eyes met. The world seemed to shrink into that single point of contact.
I swallowed hard. “Gabriel,” I whispered.
“Don’t,” he said softly. “Not tonight.”
“I just”
“Don’t,” he repeated, his voice lower now.
Chapter 36: The arrest
Pov: Sloane
I sat on the couch in my silk pajamas, staring at the television screen as the late-night news flashed images of police cars outside Adrian's office building.
My heart raced with a sudden rush of joy when the anchor announced his arrest for fraud, and I whispered to myself that this was finally the end of his hold on me.
Gabriel squeezed my hand tightly, his eyes wide with shock, but inside I thought, at last, I am free from that monster who called himself my husband.
The gala had ended hours ago, leaving me exhausted from smiling at strangers and pretending everything was perfect in my life.
I had changed into comfortable clothes and poured a glass of wine, thinking the night would be quiet after all the fake laughter.
Then the breaking news alert came on, and there was Adrian's face on the screen, handcuffs glinting under the lights as officers led him away, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me like cool water on a hot day.
Gabriel turned up the volume, his voice low as he said we needed to see this through together. I nodded, but in my mind, I replayed every lie Adrian had told me during our marriage, every promise of love that turned into control.
The reporter detailed the charges—millions embezzled from investors, fake documents, years of deception—and I thought, He deserves this cage more than he ever deserved me.
We watched in silence as the footage looped, showing Adrian's surprised expression turning to anger while photographers shouted questions.
My phone buzzed with texts from old friends asking if I knew about this, but I ignored them, focusing on the screen where the anchor said the arrest happened right after the gala's VIP after-party.
Inside, I celebrated silently, thinking, the timing is perfect; he thought he was untouchable, parading his new girlfriend while I rebuilt my life.
Gabriel pulled me closer, whispering that this changed everything for us. I leaned into him, feeling safe for the first time in years, but my thoughts raced back to the divorce papers I had signed months ago, wondering if this news would drag me into more drama.
The news cut to a press conference where police confirmed evidence from anonymous tips, and I smiled inwardly, suspecting some of his victims had finally spoken up.
The segment ended with a promise of updates in the morning, and Gabriel muted the television, asking if I was okay. I told him I felt lighter than I had in forever, but deep down, I worried about the media storm heading my way as his ex-wife.
He kissed my forehead, saying we would face it as a team, and I thought, yes, with you, I can handle anything now that Adrian is exposed.
I stood up to refill my wine glass, my legs shaky from the adrenaline. The kitchen light felt too bright, but I stared out the window at the city lights, imagining Adrian in a cold holding cell. In my head, I said to him, “You manipulated everyone, but karma caught you tonight.”
Gabriel joined me, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind. He asked if I needed to talk about the past, but I shook my head, telling him the arrest spoke for itself.
My mind wandered to our wedding day, how charming he seemed, and how quickly the charm turned to chains, making me grateful for this moment of freedom.
We returned to the living room, and I checked my phone again, seeing missed calls from numbers I did not recognize. I thought reporters would hunt for quotes from the scorned ex, but I decided to stay silent and let the truth unfold without me.
Gabriel suggested we go to bed soon, but I wanted to savor the news a little longer, feeling empowered by Adrian's downfall.
The clock ticked past midnight, and another news channel replayed the arrest with expert commentary on white-collar crime. I listened to them discuss possible prison time, and inside, I hoped he would rot for all the pain he caused me and others.
Gabriel held my hand, reminding me that tomorrow would bring new beginnings, and I agreed, thinking, “Free at last, truly free.”
I finally turned off the television, the room falling into quiet darkness. My body relaxed against the cushions, but my thoughts kept spinning with memories of Adrian's betrayals. I whispered to Gabriel that I never expected this night to end with such justice, and he smiled, saying fate had a way of balancing the scales.
We headed to the bedroom, the hallway dim and familiar. I slipped under the covers, my mind buzzing with possibilities for a life without Adrian's shadow. Gabriel lay beside me, his breathing steady, and I thought, “This is what peace feels like after years of fear.”
Sleep came slowly, interrupted by dreams of courtrooms and flashing cameras. I woke once, checking the clock at 3 a.m., and saw online updates confirming the arrest details. In the quiet, I told myself, “He is gone from my world now, locked away where he belongs.”
I tossed and turned, replaying the news footage in my head over and over. The image of Adrian in handcuffs brought a smile to my face even in the dark. Gabriel stirred beside me, asking if I was alright, and I assured him I was just processing the best news ever.
Morning light filtered through the curtains, and I heard Gabriel in the kitchen making coffee. I joined him, the aroma waking me fully, and we turned on the news again without speaking. The anchor reported that Adrian had been released on bail just hours ago, posting a million dollars to walk free pending trial.
My stomach twisted at the sight of him leaving the police station, flanked by lawyers, looking defiant in a suit. I thought, “Bail means he is out, still dangerous, still able to scheme.” Gabriel cursed under his breath, saying money buys temporary freedom, but I felt a chill, wondering if he would come after me for revenge.
We ate breakfast in silence, toast and eggs tasting bland under the weight of this twist. I checked my emails, finding one from my lawyer about potential statements, and replied that I wanted no part in the circus.
Inside my head, I raged, “He escapes again, but this time the world sees his crimes.”
Gabriel suggested we go for a walk to clear our heads, but I declined, needing to process alone. I sat by the window, watching people hurry to work, and thought about how Adrian's bail meant the fight was not over. My freedom felt fragile now, like a balloon that could pop with one wrong move
Chapter 37: The bail
ADRIAN’S POV
When I stepped inside the apartment after my release on bail, I expected to hear Mia’s voice. I waited in the doorway for a moment, thinking she would come out from another room. Nothing happened, and the silence felt strange. I said her name softly, but the air stayed still.
I walked farther in and looked toward the bedroom. I called out again, hoping she was sleeping or hiding from the noise outside. Still nothing. I felt a small worry begin to rise in me, but I tried to push it down.
When I opened the wardrobe, I froze. The spaces where her things once sat were empty. I checked again, hoping I was wrong, but I saw nothing of hers. My chest tightened as I tried to understand what I was seeing.
I moved to the drawer where I kept some money. It was open, and the stack that used to be there was gone. I checked another drawer where I kept gold and other items. The box was empty. I held the edge of the drawer as my hands grew weak.
“She left,” I said to myself quietly. “She really left.”
I sat down on the bed and held my head. I tried to make sense of the situation. I had always thought she would wait for me. I had believed she cared enough to stand by me.
“How did I not see this coming?” I asked myself. “How did I trust someone who could walk away from this easily?”
I remembered every time she told me she loved me. I remembered how she said she wanted a future with me. I remembered the way she convinced me that she was loyal. The memories now felt sharp, like small cuts in my mind.
I stood up again and walked around the apartment. I opened every drawer and checked every corner as if something would suddenly appear. My movements became faster, almost desperate. When I found nothing, I stopped and breathed slowly.
“This is what you chose,” I told myself. “This is what you brought into your own life.”
I went into the kitchen and filled a cup with water. My hand shook as I tried to drink. I felt drained, not from the long day, but from the truth sitting in front of me. I had placed my trust in someone who cared only about what she could take.
“I need to think,” I whispered. “I need to face what I did.”
I leaned on the counter and closed my eyes. I tried to avoid replaying the past, but the memories kept coming. I saw the moment I allowed Mia into everything she wanted. I heard her voice telling me that she would always support me. I believed every word without question.
I returned to the living room and sat on the floor. I let my mind settle there, trying to breathe evenly. The silence inside the room reminded me of how quickly things had changed. I felt the emptiness growing, and I had no idea what to do with it.
“She said she would be here,” I thought. “She said nothing would make her run.”
Each thought brought another wave of disappointment. I had expected her to stay, even if things were difficult. Instead, she chose to walk away and take what mattered to her. She did not give me a chance to ask why.
I held my phone tightly and unlocked it. I checked for any message from her, but the screen stayed blank. I refreshed again and again. I tried calling her, but it went straight to voicemail. The silence from her number made everything clear.
“She planned this,” I thought. “She waited for the right moment.”
I placed the phone on the couch and stared at it. I tried not to imagine her leaving with my things, but the picture kept appearing. I saw her packing quietly when she thought I would not return. I saw her walking away without looking back.
“She did not care,” I told myself. “She never did.”
I stood up again and walked across the room. I spoke out loud to steady myself. “Face the truth,” I said. “You created this.”
I paced slowly, letting each step help me think. I had ignored every sign. I had ignored every doubt. I had convinced myself that Mia meant well simply because I wanted to believe it.
“I threw away everything,” I thought. “And for what?”
I sat down again and let the truth settle deeper. Mia had walked into my life with promises and sweet words. She left with my trust, my belongings, and whatever hope I had left in me. I felt foolish for letting it happen.
I looked around the apartment and saw how empty it felt. I realized it mirrored what was inside me. I had expected stability when I left the bail office, but instead I found a reality I never prepared for.
“What now?” I asked myself softly. “What is the next step?”
I picked up my phone again and scrolled through old messages from her. I read lines where she called me her everything. I read lines where she said she would always stay close. Each message now felt like a trick.
“She knew what she wanted,” I thought. “And it was never me.”
I remembered arguments we had before my arrest. She always talked her way out of responsibility. She always turned things around. I always believed her because I thought she would not hurt me. Now I had proof that she could.
I placed the phone down and leaned back. I let the weight of the truth press into me. I had chased after something fragile, and now I was left with the pieces. I could not blame anyone but myself.
“I should have been wiser,” I thought. “I should have paid attention.”
I stood and walked toward the window. I watched people move outside, going about their day without any idea of what I was facing. I wanted to feel normal again. I wanted to feel in control. Instead, I felt like I was starting from nothing.
“I have to rise,” I said quietly. “I cannot stay like this.”
I need to go after her.
I turned back to the room, I looked at the disorderEd room and I began to pick up scattered items and return them to where they belonged. I stayed focused on each small task.
Then a message popped up on my phone…
CHAPTER 38 :
ADRIAN’S POV
When the notification sound came from my phone, I picked it up without expecting anything important. I thought it would be a reminder or a random message, nothing more.
But the moment I saw the headline on the screen, something inside me tightened so strongly that I lost my breath for a second.
I stared at the words and tried to make sense of them, but the sentence was clear. It said Sloan and Gabriel’s marriage had been confirmed publicly.
I blinked several times, hoping I was misreading it, but the message did not change.
I opened the link attached, and the full story appeared. My hand shook a little as I scrolled through it.
Each line felt like a blow. My mind kept repeating the same words:
“She is married, She is really married now.” I felt a strange heaviness settling in my chest.
I kept reading even though every sentence harmed me more than the last. I saw the part where they mentioned Gabriel, the CEO of Hale Enterprises. Of course, Sloane had partnered with them days ago.
I dropped the phone on the couch as anger and disbelief fought inside me.
“How did this happen?” I muttered. “How did I lose her like this?”
I leaned forward and pressed my palms together. My mind kept pulling me in different directions.
I remembered all the moments I pushed her away. I remembered the arguments, the silence, and the times she tried to reach out to me and I refused to see what she was giving.
I remembered everything, and none of it felt good anymore. It all felt like a chain around my neck.
I picked up the phone again and looked at the trending section, there were countless posts about them.
People were celebrating their relationship. Some were talking about the moment she said yes to him. They called it magical, some called it inspiring.
I stared at those words and felt something twist deeply inside me.
“So this is it,” I thought. “I finally lost her.”
I tried to breathe, but the air felt too heavy. I kept scrolling even when I told myself to stop.
I saw pictures of Sloan smiling beside Gabriel, short clips of the event, comments praising their bond. Each post felt like another door closing in my face.
I tried to look away, but I couldn’t. My eyes kept going back to the image of her hand in his.
“How did I let this happen?” I asked myself. “Why didn’t I fight harder?”
I set the phone down again, but my thoughts kept racing. I felt back the guilt that had been building for days.
I remembered how many times I ignored her, how I brought her best friend to our bed, I remembered how I broke the trust we once had.
Now she is gone, she belonged to someone else. Now her life had taken a turn that did not include me at all.
I felt heat rising in my face as anger pushed through the sadness. I stood up and walked around the living room, trying to steady my thoughts. “Gabriel,” I said under my breath.
“He won. He really won.” I tried not to think of him holding her. I tried not to imagine them laughing together, but my mind refused to cooperate.
I stopped walking and placed my hand on my forehead.
“You did this,” I told myself. “You created the space he stepped into.”
I felt restless, like I needed to break something or shout, but I didn’t move.
I just stood there, breathing heavily, trying to understand how everything had turned into this.
I thought she would come back like before, or she would never leave my orbit. But the truth was right in front of me now. I had run out of time.
When I sat down again, the phone buzzed once more.
This time more photos of the event filled the screen.
I opened them even though my heart resisted.
I saw Gabriel holding her waist as they stood together. I saw her looking up at him with a smile I knew too well. It was the smile she used to give me years ago.
“Why does this hurt so much?” I thought. “Why now?”
My chest felt tight as I continued staring at the screenshots.
The caption said she said yes to him ,They said he surprised her with the proposal.
I imagined the room, the moment, the sound, and the look on her face as she accepted him. It made my hands tremble.
“I should have been there,” I whispered. “I should never have let her go.”
I leaned back against the couch and shut my eyes tightly. Memories of her flooded my mind. I remembered her laugh. I remembered her voice calling my name. I remembered her telling me she cared. I remembered how she waited for me even when I didn’t deserve it.
I opened my eyes slowly. I looked at the phone again and saw more posts appearing.
People kept congratulating them. Some People said they fit perfectly. People said Gabriel treated her like treasure. I felt a burn in my chest that got stronger with every word I read.
“Why him?” I asked. “Why did she choose him over me?”
A voice inside me answered immediately: “Because he treated her the way you didn’t.”
I wanted to deny it, but I couldn’t. I knew the truth. I had pushed her into another man’s arms. I had created the space Gabriel now filled. I had been careless, selfish, blind, and now I was paying the price.
I rubbed my face with both hands, trying to calm the storm inside me. I felt like everything around me was closing in. My thoughts pulled me in so many directions that I didn’t know where to focus. The only thing that remained clear was the reality I could not escape.
She belonged to someone else now. And not just anyone.
She belonged to a man who offered what I failed to give.
I stood again and walked to the window, keeping my eyes on the street below. My mind, however, stayed on her.
I felt restless because I could not undo anything.
I could not go back and fix the things I broke. I could only stand there and accept that another man was living the life I could have had.
“I lost her,” I whispered again. “I really lost her.”
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