MasukGabriella's POVIt had been three days.I sat at the wooden desk in the corner of my bedroom, surrounded by stacks of white paper. Pages were scattered across the floor, draped over the edge of the bed, and piled high around my laptop. The continuous hum of the small desktop printer vibrated through the room as it spit out another set of property records, public deeds, and financial disclosures.My eyes burned from staring at the bright screen in the dim lighting. My stomach was a tight, painful knot of empty air, but I ignored it. I had not eaten a bite of food in seventy-two hours. I had not left this room. My entire world had shrunk down to these four walls, the ink on these pages, and the relentless search for my mother.The bedroom door clicked open.Raphael walked into the room carrying a porcelain plate loaded with hot food. Steam rose from the meal, filling the room with the smell of meat and vegetables. He stepped over a pile of printed documents on the rug and walked over to
GABRIELLA POV"Why?" My voice was shaking now, the anger bubbling up behind the shock. "Why would she do this? Why would she try to destroy her own family?"Levi walked closer to me. His eyes were full of a deep, aching pain. "She is not trying to destroy her family. She is trying to take back what was taken from her.""What was taken from her?""I do not know the full story," Levi said. "She never told me everything. But I know that something happened to her a long time ago. Something that broke her. Something that made her the way she is today.""And Mariano?" I asked, my heart racing. "What does he have to do with this?""Mariano is the obstacle," Levi said plainly. "He is the one who stands in her way. He is the one who has what she wants."I felt the tears start to prick at the back of my eyes. "I do not understand. I do not understand any of this."Levi reached out and took my hand. His fingers were freezing cold against my skin."I am sorry," he said again, his voice breaking.
CHAPTER EIGHTY-EIGHT: THE BROTHERGabriella's POVThe taxi pulled up to the curb on the east side of the city. I paid the driver, opened the car door, and stepped out onto the pavement. The air hit me instantly. It was cold, damp, and heavy with the smell of salt water and rotting wood from the harbor.I looked around. The area was completely abandoned. The old docks stretched out before me in long, silent lines. The warehouses were rusted and falling apart, their metal walls peeling away from the frames. The water in the harbor was dark, still, and black under the grey sky. There was no one around. There were no cars parked on the streets. There were no people walking by. There was only the sound of the wind blowing against the metal buildings and the distant lapping of water against the concrete piers.I started walking.I walked past building one. The windows were smashed out, and dark holes stared back at me. I walked past building two. The wooden loading dock was splintered and b
I stood straight against the wall. I did not run. I did not yell for help. I stayed right where I was and looked at her.“Nok,” I said. My voice was steady.“You look different,” Nok said. She took a slow step closer to me. She kept her hands in the front pocket of her hoodie. “You are not crying. You are not trembling. The last time I saw you, you were terrified. What happened to you?”“I grew up,” I said. “And I stopped being afraid of you.”Nok laughed. It was a short, dry sound. “You should still be afraid. You stand here in this alley with no security, no Mariano, and no father to shield you. You are completely alone, Gabriella.”“I am not alone,” I said. “I came looking for you.”Nok stopped walking. Her smile faded a little bit, and her eyes narrowed as she looked at me. “You came looking for me? Why would you do something that stupid?”“Because I need to find Levi,” I said. “And you know where he is.”Nok stared at me. She did not answer right away. She tilted her head and loo
The law office was small and clean. It smelled like fresh coffee. I sat in a leather chair across from a woman named Mackenzie Cole. She was in her forties with sharp eyes and short dark hair. She had been recommended to me by a former classmate who owed me a favor. She did not work for my father. She did not work for Mariano. She worked for me.“I need you to understand something,” Mackenzie said. She folded her hands on the desk in front of her. “You are facing serious charges. Plagiarism. Embezzlement. The evidence against you is strong on paper. But paper can be burned.”I leaned forward. “I do not want you to burn anything. I want you to help me fight.”“That is what I am here for.” Mackenzie picked up a pen and tapped it against her notebook. “Tell me everything. From the beginning.”I told her everything. I sat in the chair and spoke clearly. I told her about my mother. I explained how my mother had manipulated me for months. I told her about the forged documents that had my na
Gabriella POVI walked toward the door of my room and reached out, gripping the brass handle. I turned it and pulled the door open. The hallway outside was dark, silent, and empty."I have been letting people control me my entire life," I told him, stating the stark reality of my existence. "My father controlled me. My mother manipulated and used me, building a web of evil that has nearly destroyed us both. Davis used me. You used your power over me. And I am done.""Gabriella, please—""I am going to find my mother," I continued, stating my purpose clearly. "I am going to make her pay for what she did. For the framing, for the ruin, and for threatening your life. I am going to hold her accountable. And I am going to do it alone.""You cannot do this alone," he argued, his tone desperate, filled with fear for my safety. "She is ruthless. You do not know what she is capable of.""I can. And I will." I took a deliberate step out into the hallway. "I do not need you, Mariano. I do not ne
Gabriella's POV"—and then Darius came along to claim the proposal but I beat him to it and got the patent." Davis droned on"Nice." I said half-heartedly "Nice? I just told you how I worked hard during my travels and all I get is 'Nice'?" He turned to me annoyed that I was fawning over him like b
Gabriella's POVI woke up to a knock. Groggily I tossed around the bed, swinging my arm to the space beside me. I patted it twice but didn't feel the figure that should have been there.I opened my eyes to see an empty room. Where was Mariano?The knocks came again. I sat up searching for my dress
Gabriella's POVIn one swoop I was in his arms as he walked towards a different door. I helped him open it and there was an inner room with a more simple yet luxurious decor.He dropped me on the bed, towering over me as he threw his shirt to a corner of the room and then his hands moved to his bel
Gabriella's POV "Excuse me?" His voice snapped me out of my daze. "Huh?" I looked up at him. God he was more handsome up closer. His eyes were deep like whirlpools slowly dragging me in. "I believe you must be in the wrong place." He said, his voice was deep but the sound slid through m







