Chapter 3

Before Gabriel could finish, Isabella's phone rang.

Owen's tearful voice poured through the speaker. "Bella, where are you? You think I'm a burden now, don't you?"

She rubbed her temples, murmured a few reassurances, and stood.

"Gabriel, get some rest. I'll come back later."

He watched her hurry away with a sad, crooked smile. Only after the door closed did he finish the sentence she'd interrupted.

"Isabella, I'm not waiting anymore."

Two weeks left. After that, he hoped he'd never see her again.

On the day he was discharged, Gabriel handled the paperwork himself. When he arrived home, Isabella was waiting near the entrance.

She wore a crisp white blouse and carried a large navy suitcase. At the sight of him, uncertainty crossed her face.

"Gabriel! You're out already? Why didn't you ask me to pick you up?"

He said nothing. If she'd cared enough to remember his discharge date, he wouldn't have needed to remind her.

Noticing his eyes on the suitcase, Isabella looked guilty.

"The proposal and the accident upset Owen. His episodes have been getting worse. He insists that I stay with him, so he's going to live here for a few days. Please don't..."

"Fine."

She blinked, then let out a relieved breath. "I'm glad you don't mind."

Gabriel almost laughed. What right did he have to object? Clearly this wasn't his home.

Inside, Owen was directing the household staff as though he owned the place.

"Get Isabella's bedroom ready for me. Throw out the couple photos on the walls and desk; I don't want to look at them. And clear half the study. I want to be able to watch Bella work."

Isabella stood behind him without a word of protest.

Gabriel went straight to his room.

He gathered the gifts Isabella had given him over the years, along with the love letters she'd written at the start of their relationship, and packed them into a box.

He had just lifted it when his door was kicked open.

Owen stood with folded arms, surveying the room. "This one gets good sunlight. I want it. Be out by tonight."

"All right."

Gabriel knew it was another attempt to provoke him. But he was leaving anyway. None of it mattered.

Owen seemed suspicious of the easy surrender. Then he spotted the contents of the box, and his face twisted.

"You bastard! Showing off all her presents right in front of me? You're trying to trigger another episode! You want me dead!"

He lunged and shoved Gabriel to the floor. Pain shot through Gabriel's body as he landed hard.

While Gabriel struggled to stand, Owen produced a packet of fine powder and scattered it over his head.

The familiar scent of tulips filled the air.

Gabriel went white. He had a severe allergy.

He grabbed for his phone to call for help, but Owen snatched it away. Gabriel fought to draw a breath and reach it. Dark spots spread across his vision.

The last thing he saw before losing consciousness was Isabella running toward him, her face contorted with fear.

He woke after an entire day and night of emergency treatment.

A nurse exhaled in relief when she saw his eyes open.

"Young man, you have to take better care of yourself. If you know you have a severe tulip allergy, you need to keep your emergency medication close. Your girlfriend was beside herself. Anaphylactic shock can kill you. You were lucky this time. What about next time?"

Gabriel clenched the sheets, his nails digging into his palms.

He had spent years swallowing Owen's insults and tantrums for Isabella's sake. But Owen had almost killed him.

How could he possibly keep giving way?

Gabriel managed a weak smile. "My phone is dead. Could I borrow yours to call the police?"