Gabriel managed to settle in his bed, with a newly installed tv in his bedroom. Claire already made him dinner before she stood up to go downstairs.
"Where are you going?" Gabriel asked she carefully observed her.
"I was planning to watch tv downstairs to not disturb you." Claire responded carefully.
"If you're planning to watch the press conference, I'll put it on in here." Gabriel said, watching Claire's body tense up.
"I-…" Claire stuttered unsure whether she should admit that it was exactly what she was planning to do.
"Sit down." Gabriel said with a smile giving her a nod towards the armchair that has been moved into the bedroom earlier in the day. He switched the channels, feeling rather nervous himself. It was never a good sign when his father was to do a public speech, never mind following the attack on Gabriel that he was most likely behind.
Claire was biting her nails nervously as she stared at the screen when the man she hated so much appeared on it. Claire's blood boiled at merely his sight but his statement was even worse.
"I understand that my son spoke earlier in defence of Miss Thompson. Indeed, she wasn't the one to shoot him." Michael Moore stopped for some dramatic effect. "Initial investigation through private detectives found that Miss Thompson was the one who paid the shooter for his service."
Claire gasped as she heard the statement. Gabriel clenched his sprained hand, holding tightly onto the crease in a blanket as if it was going to be of any help in containing his own stress. His father's accusation was outrageous.
But Michael persisted in his statement, waving bank statements in front of the camera as evidence. Claire's eyes welled up as the unfair accusations landed. Gabriel looked to the side at Claire, unsure what to do to make her feel better, knowing full well that what his father said was a blatant lie, and knowing that currently, he was powerless. He couldn't even reach far enough to embrace her and comfort her.
"Miss Thompson hoped to gain profits from my son's death. Due to her role within the company, without the resignation earlier in the week, she would have been a natural choice for the next CEO of Diamond Corporate. My son is a smart man but often naive. Besides, Miss Thompson is a skilled liar." Michael took another document out of the briefcase. "This woman has a history of mental health issues. She has been hospitalised in the psychiatric ward a few years ago. I strongly believe that she has the capability to lie and manipulate people to her advantage. She can be delirious and dangerous, as these records show." He opened the document showing Claire's partial medical records to the world. Claire was sobbing, more so out of anger and powerlessness than sadness.
"Claire…" Gabriel said her name softly. "Hoping to distract her."
"I haven't paid anyone to shoot you!" Claire said almost defensively, sobbing more and more.
"I know."
"The bank statements are wrong. I haven't used my card in weeks. I've used an account in your name so that…"
"So that you don't get tracked. I know, Claire dear." Gabriel nodded. "I'll see what those bank statements are about."
"No, Gabriel. You must rest. We can deal with it soon enough." Claire said decisively. "I'm just so angry about it. It's such a shameless lie!"
"I know. I am genuinely impressed with his imagination though." Gabriel mused. Claire laughed at his statement or rather the ridiculousness of it.
"Is that your take on this? Aren't you worried that I might've something to do with that shooting?" Claire stopped sobbing, she wiped the tears away and asked him with a slight smile as she tilted her head.
"As you've said, you haven't used your card in weeks if not months now, and I have some knowledge of your outgoings from the card in my name. I admit that I don't track it, but it appears alongside my spending on the bank statement. Although, I did notice that your spendings are outrageously low." Gabriel looked at her with a warm smile. "Besides, I strongly believe that you're smart enough to not get caught on such a simple thing."
"Gabriel!" Claire gasped.
"What? I'm complimenting you!"
"Honestly, I would have preferred it if you said that you trust me enough to know that I won't shoot you…" Claire said quietly.
"I definitely trust you over my father." Gabriel admitted. It scared him a little to know that he would be willing to blindly follow her into the fire, barely questioning it. Maybe, indeed, he was a little naive.
Michael continued presenting 'evidence' on the screen not long after. It wasn't much longer before their phones started buzzing almost simultaneously. They both received messages from their families and friends, mostly checking in on them. Eva was the first one to call Gabriel, who quite keenly spoke to her. Claire walked out of the room to give him privacy, briefly hiding in her study as she tried to get her thoughts together.
"What the heck?" Eva asked rather bluntly. "Why is father on the tv?!"
"You may ask him if you want." Gabriel replied, starting to struggle as the evening fell.
"And accusations against Claire?"
"Obviously it's not true." Gabriel said sharply.
"I haven't doubted Claire. But, what's going on with father?"
"I'm not sure Eva." Gabriel said quietly. "Look, I think he's doing something dodgy. I know that you won't approve of it but…"
"You can't let him slander Claire like that!" Eva interrupted him. "I'm going to visit by the end of the week so we can talk about it then but make sure to stand up for her."
Gabriel spoke with Eva for a little longer, happy to know that his sister stood beside him and Claire, not doubting Claire even for a second.
Claire's phone rang showing an unknown number on it.
"Hello." Claire answered.
"How are you doing, Claire?" Leanne's voice sounded on the other side, full of concern for her daughter.
"I'm okay, mum." Claire lied.
"I've seen a lot on the news recently and I've wanted to check on you."
"Thanks, mum. I'm fine." Claire repeated.
"What's going on, baby girl?"
"Well, Michael Moore is definitely having a good go at trying to get me." Claire said with a slight sneer.
"I saw." Leanne let out a sigh. "Although the interview with his son seemed very different. I'm guessing that Gabriel didn't side with him."
"No, he didn't." Claire laughed nervously.
"That's good, isn't it?"
"I don't know, mum. Gabriel already got hurt because of it and I don't think I can drag him through it all."
"Does he know?"
"He knows some of the things but not all of them. I'm seeing uncle Adam soon and I'll tell him once the date of the first hearing is confirmed."
"You went and did it anyway…" Leanne said with a sigh.
"How are you and dad anyways?" Claire asked in the hope to change the topic.
"Well, we were wondering about the relationship between you and Gabriel since we've seen the interview…"
"Once everything's over, I'll introduce you formally." Claire said with a weak smile that her mum couldn't see.
"I do hope so." Leanne said in a cheerier tone.
"By the way, it turns out that our Alex has been friends with Gabriel since uni years." Claire spoke in a cheerier tone.
"That's good, right?"
"Not too sure about that yet." Claire chuckled. "It's hard to get Alex to shut up about all of the embarrassing things we did as kids."
"I'm sure I and dad will have plenty more to add." Leanne added, happy to hear some happiness in Claire's voice. "How serious are you two?"
"Fairly." Claire replied carefully.
"That's good. I do hope that he recovers quickly from that vile attack. I'm so sorry that you both have to go through it."
"He's stubborn. I'm sure that he'll make it through." Claire said more to herself than her mum.
After the call, she went back into the room where Gabriel was already asleep. He was grunting in his sleep. His pain was worsening. Claire felt a pit in her stomach as she saw his peaceful face twist in pain every few moments.
She turned the bedside lights on and turned the tv off. She went to get herself ready for bed, coming back not long after. She was careful to lay down at the furthest edge of the bed and not to touch Gabriel.
As she lay down, she studied him carefully, admiring him in every way. She knew that what was yet to come was going to be much worse and she dreaded what impact it'll have on Gabriel.