Chapter two

Breathe, Gabriel. It’s just another case.”

Daniel’s voice was calm, steady, the way it always was when Gabriel’s nerves showed. They stood just outside the courtroom doors, stacks of files in hand, their suits pressed tightly against them

Gabriel adjusted his tie, though it didn’t need fixing. “This one isn’t just another case, Daniel. You know who we’re up against.”

Daniel’s jaw flexed. “Knight Enterprises. Yes. But that doesn’t matter. You’re the best attorney in this building, maybe this city. Adrian Knight is just another man hiding behind money.”

Gabriel shook his head, voice low. “He’s not just another man, not to me.”

Daniel gave him a searching look. “You’ve been different ever since the case landed on your desk. I didn’t push, but now I need to know—l, what’s between you and Knight?”

Gabriel’s lips pressed into a thin line. “History.”

Daniel frowned. “The kind of history that will cost us this case?”

“The kind of history that makes me wish I’d said no to it,” Gabriel admitted, his voice almost in a whisper.

Daniel let out a slow breath. “Then you better put that history in a box and bury it until this is over. Because if you slip, even once, he’ll notice.”

Gabriel didn’t answer. He couldn’t.

“Papa,” a small voice whispered, tugging on his sleeve.

Gabriel looked down at Elias, his seven-year-old son. The boy’s dark curls were a little messy, his eyes wide with curiosity. Too wide. He had insisted on coming today, despite Gabriel’s protests.

“Are you nervous?” Elias asked softly.

Gabriel crouched down, placing a hand on his son’s shoulder. “I’m fine. But courtrooms aren’t exciting, cariño. You’ll probably be bored.”

Elias grinned. “Then I’ll draw in my notebook.” He held it up proudly. “But I want to see you win.”

Those words steadied Gabriel more than Daniel’s reassurance ever could. He kissed his son’s forehead, then stood.

“Let’s do this,” he said quietly.

The courtroom was crowded, cameras flashing from the hallway as journalists scrambled for headlines. Knight Enterprises always drew attention, and today was no different. Gabriel walked to his table with Daniel, setting files down in neat rows. Elias climbed into a seat in the gallery, swinging his feet.

“Papa, will it be long?” Elias asked.

“Yes,” Gabriel said, brushing a hand over his son’s curls. “You can sit with your crayons. Stay quiet, okay?”

Elias nodded eagerly. “I’ll be good.”

Daniel leaned in as they settled at their table. “Do you want me to handle the opening statement?”

Gabriel shook his head quickly. “No. I have to do this.”

Daniel’s brow arched. “You sure? You’re pale.”

“I’m sure.” Gabriel forced a tight smile. “I need to face him myself.”

The air shifted before Gabriel even saw him.

Adrian Knight entered.

The room responded to him, murmurs, glances. He was taller than Gabriel remembered, broader too. Power clung to him like a second skin, his suit sharp, his eyes darker than Gabriel had braced for.

Daniel muttered under his breath, “He knows how to make an entrance.”

Gabriel didn’t reply. For a moment, he couldn’t breathe.

“Stay focused,” Daniel whispered, sliding a document toward him.

Gabriel forced his gaze back to the papers, his fingers tight around his pen. But it was useless. He could feel Adrian’s presence across the room, heavy, inescapable.

Daniel noticed. “Gabriel, don’t do this now. You’ve handled worse men than him.”

“Not worse,” Gabriel whispered.

When the judge entered, everyone rose. Gabriel did too, but his chest ached. He hadn’t seen that face in seven years, and hadn't expected to feel anything but anger. Instead, something else stirred, a raw ache, deep and dangerous.

The bailiff announced, “All rise. The court is now in session.”

Everyone sat again. Papers rustled and pens clicked. Gabriel’s heartbeat thundered in his ears.

The hearing began. Gabriel spoke first, his voice clear despite the storm inside him. “Your Honor, the plaintiffs argue that Knight Enterprises knowingly violated….”

His words faltered when Adrian looked up. Those eyes…cold steel, but underneath, something Gabriel recognized, recognition and shock.

Adrian leaned slightly toward his attorney, murmuring something Gabriel couldn’t hear. But his gaze never wavered.

Daniel caught the crack in Gabriel’s tone instantly and leaned toward him. “Keep going. Don’t stop now.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened. He didn’t speak. But Gabriel knew that look. He had seen it once before, on the night Adrian left him without explanation.

Daniel tapped the papers under Gabriel’s hand. “Cite the statute now. Don’t give him the satisfaction of seeing you break.”

Gabriel swallowed and forced his tongue to move. “Knowingly violated Section 302B of corporate law by failing to disclose….”

The judge nodded, motioning for him to continue.

But every word felt heavier. Every glance from across the room burned.

Daniel leaned in again. “Focus on the facts, Gabriel. Don’t look at him.”

“That’s impossible,” Gabriel muttered under his breath.

And then, in a moment that stole the air from Gabriel’s lungs, Adrian’s gaze shifted. Past Gabriel. Toward the gallery.

Toward Elias.

The boy sat with his chin propped on his hands, scribbling in his notebook. The resemblance was undeniable, the shape of his jaw, the way his brow furrowed when he concentrated.

Adrian’s face stilled. His hand, resting on the table, curled into a fist.

Daniel noticed it too. His eyes flicked between Adrian and Elias. Then back to Gabriel. He whispered urgently, “Does he know?”

“No,” Gabriel hissed. His hand clenched the pen so tightly it almost snapped.

“You need to control this,” Daniel urged. “If he figures it out…..”

“Not here,” Gabriel said through his teeth. “Not like this.”

Daniel cursed under his breath and leaned back, trying to shield Elias from Adrian’s line of sight.

“Objection, Your Honor!” Daniel’s voice cut through, covering Gabriel’s silence. “Counsel is speculating on intent without factual evidence.”

The judge frowned. “Mr. Vega, continue.”

Gabriel’s throat was dry. He forced himself to nod. “Yes, Your Honor. As I was saying…..” But his voice trembled, betraying him.

From across the room, Adrian didn’t look away from Elias and Elias, sensing the stare, looked up. For the first time, father and son locked eyes, though only one of them knew the truth.

Elias tilted his head curiously, then whispered, “Papa… who is that man?”

Gabriel froze. The question hung in the air, louder than any gavel.