Halfway through, Gabriel’s head suddenly lolled to the side and he passed out cold.


    “Fuck! Gabriel, are you seriously impotent or something?!”


    Lilypletely lost it, cursing like a sailor. If Gabriel hadn’t built his business empire back up, she wouldn’t have bothered with this borate scheme.


    But as long as they were in the same bed tonight, it would be enough to seal the deal.


    Gabriel woke from his hangover and instinctively reached beside him-no one there. He snapped awake immediately.


    Lily sat at the foot of the bed, eyes red from crying:


    “You…” <fn1146> ?????? ???? f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fn1146>


    ‘Gabriel, I know you don’t love me, but why did you force yourself on me? What am I supposed to do now? I might as well just die.”


    Gabriel’s mind wentpletely nk. Before he could say anything, the door burst open.


    Mr. Rose’s furious voice boomed: “You bastard! How dare youy a hand on my daughter!”


    His fist connected hard with Gabriel’s face.


    Dad, it’s not Gabriel’s fault.”


    My sweet girl, you’re still protecting this man who doesn’t care about you! He has a girlfriend and you’re still throwing yourself at him. Your mother told you lot toe back from overseas, but you insisted. Look how he’s treated you all these years?”


    My poor baby, what a terrible fate!”


    Mom, it was all my choice. I deserve this.”


    You piece of shit, if you don’t give me an exnation today, we’re not done!”


    All the voices crashed into his head at once, threatening to explode his brain.


    But the clearest thought was that he and Ste were finished.


    fis Ste-someone who cared so deeply-would never take him back once she found out he’d slept with Lily.


    Gabriel, just go. Please go! Let’s pretend nothing happened today.” Lily broke down screaming, her thin silhouette somehow ovepping with Ste’s.


    jabriel closed his eyes, opened them again, his fists clenched tight.


    I’ll marry her!”


    What did you say?!”


    I said I’ll marry Lily.” Gabriel stared at Mr. Rose, whose fury instantly transformed into beaming joy. “Now that’s more like it! A real man takes responsibility fter sleeping with my daughter.


    ince that’s settled, you better break it off with that girlfriend of yours. Our Lily is our precious treasure-she won’t share a man with anyone.”


    sabriel drove home in a daze, wondering how Ste would react. Would she be stone-faced or scream at him to get out?


    Early in their rtionship, Ste had curled up in his arms, half-joking butpletely serious: “Gabriel, I’m really possessive. If you’re with me, there can’t be nyone else. If you betray me, I’ll leave forever.”


    ‘I swear, Ste Rivers will be my one and only precious girl.”


    That promise had now be a boomerang, pping him in the face.


    His Ste would never forgive him.


    Gabriel squeezed his eyes shut and pushed through the door, bracing for the confrontation-but there was only silence and an empty apartment.


    41.79


    Ste wasn’t back yet.


    That was impossible.


    He immediately called her-the line was busy. He tried texting-red exmation mark appeared instantly.


    Gabrielpletely panicked.


    Hello, is this Mike?”


    Mr. Sterling! I had no idea you were getting married soon or I never would have bothered you about the reunion. My apologies! When’s the wedding? Wessmates should definitely send gifts…”


    Did Ste Riverse?”


    like’s rambling was cut short.


    Huh?”


    I asked if Ste Rivers came to the reunion!” Gabriel’s voice seethed with barely controlled rage through the phone. Mike nearly fell to his knees in terror.


    ste… Ste didn’t show up.”


    abriel hurled his phone against the wall where it shattered into pieces, mirroring his current state of mind.


    [e paced frantically. Ste had vanished. Where could she be? Had someone taken her?


    ist as he reached for thendline, a piece of paper fluttering in the breeze caught his attention.


    ecognizing the handwriting, his pupils dted as he read and reread the note three times in disbelief.


    te was gone. The in white ringy in his palm.


    his thing she never took off-she’d discarded it like trash.


    he didn’t want the ring anymore. Didn’t want him anymore.


    Ste, why did you leave me?”


    abriel clutched the ring desperately. It was from their first anniversary during their most financially desperate time.


    nable to afford anything else, he’d crafted this ring by hand.


    te had just finished filming then-ying a noblewoman who sacrificed herself for her kingdom during medieval times. When she saw him, she’d rushed


    to his arms like the wind.


    What brings you here today?”


    You worked so hard, Ste.” He tenderly brushed hair from her face.


    Sorry, baby. I hate making you live like this with me.”


    Now if you keep talking like that, I’m gonna get mad.” Ste mock-threateningly raised her fist, her exaggerated expressionbined with her borate period own making him think she really could have been a captivating duchess, cherished and protected by royalty.


    et this same duchess had been thrilled over a worthless ring.


    No, I won’t give up like this. Wait for me, Ste. I’ll fix everything.” Gabriel gripped the ring tightly, his resolve stronger than ever.