On the way home, Gabriel asked about his father, about the time when Michael Moore threatened her at the banquet.
Claire told him the truth. She did not mention that this wasn't the last time she saw Michael. She didn't tell him that Michael managed to come to their home.
Gabriel promised her safety. He promised to protect her. He promised that Michael's threats weren't going to become the truth. She didn't dare to say that it was not possible. She didn't dare to break his heart more.
Michael had ways of destroying things that were beyond Gabriel's capabilities. It was simply because he was beyond the law. But in the end, it wasn't Michael who was going to take her away. This hurt more. It hurt to know that in the end, she was the one to hurt Gabriel.
It wasn't long since Gabriel stepped into the villa that he noticed the bruises on her. As she took her sweater off, her top beneath rocked up, showing off the purplish and blueish ornaments on her ribs. She was too careless.
Gabriel accepted her answer, that she fell off the stairs. It was technically true. She did fall off the stairs - with a little help, of course.
Gabriel's touch, the kisses and the embrace were something that she yearned for so much.
Gabriel was exactly what she hoped for. He was gentle and careful. She knew his strength and yet his touch was soft.
She couldn't believe how wrong she was about him. She couldn't believe that she once hated him. Sometimes she wished that she still hated him. This would've been so much easier.
The day of the trial came fast. She wasn't ready for it to go as well as it did. She wasn't ready for Gabriel to stand behind her so openly.
She was planning to play dead after the first hearing but she couldn't.
She called off the plan during a break. She messaged Pierre knowing that she was a coward.
During the first hearing, she was filled with satisfaction when Michael's face quickly changed when the first evidence was presented but also when he realised that she spoke the truth about Gabriel having her back. Her threats held some truth in them, the truth that Michael was terrified of.
He started attacking her in the way she expected but which was nonetheless still hurtful. He was the reason why she ended up in a mental hospital but somehow he tried to use it against her.
She didn't think she'd succeed but the trial became a criminal case by the end of the hearing. It was the biggest win. Michael was unable to hide anymore.
She was aware of how big of a role Gabriel played. She knew that he ensured the judge couldn't be bribed by Michael, that the jury was indifferent. She knew that it wasn't her sole victory.
As everyone else was leaving the courtroom, Claire went to the bathroom to wash her face.
"You chickened out." Pierre's voice sounded behind her. It startled her but it wasn't a surprise.
"I did." Claire didn't deny the accusation. It was true. She chickened out. She couldn't fake her death right in front of Gabriel. She couldn't stand seeing those beautiful eyes with the sadness that she would cause.
"You know how I've mentioned the bounty on your head? It was one million Pounds. As of now, it is fifty million Pounds."
"Why are you telling me that?" Claire asked with frustration.
"I was about to add that your beloved husband has a bounty on his head, too." Pierre spoke calmly but his words carried the weight that she was unprepared for. She could accept her death but not Gabriel's.
"Gabriel?" Claire looked at Pierre in shock.
"Fifty million Pounds." Pierre said with a nod. "Someone has been intercepted this morning and is currently held up at the police station. You're running out of time."
"I-…" Claire stuttered.
"Have a good day, Claire. I genuinely hope that you know what you're doing."
"Next hearing, Pierre, okay?" She asked. Pierre gave her a nod of acknowledgement. "I just need until the next hearing."
"If you wish." Pierre agreed and left her alone.
She hurried out of the courthouse spotting Gabriel waiting for her when she was ambushed by the reporters.
She was helped out by her bodyguards and she met Gabriel in a previously agreed spot.
"Well done, Claire dear." Gabriel said to her. She smiled. She tried to keep up that smile but the watergates opened. She sobbed into Gabriel's shoulder. There were people who wanted to kill him because of her. Maybe he knew. Maybe he did something to protect himself. But if he didn't, he was in grave danger.
Gabriel did his best to distract her. He took her out to dinner, revealing in the most casual manner that he only bought a building to have dinner with her. It ached when Gabriel spoke of their shared ownership. She made sure that everything he ever gave her was going to be given back to him within days. But he was so happy to tell her of what they owned, not knowing any of her plans.
He spoke of her parents, his wish to support them - he wasn't going to meet them as Claire wasn't going to introduce him. There wasn't enough time.
She thought about how well her family would've welcomed Gabriel. Nonna would have fed him all of the family favourites. Her mum would give him warm hugs reserved for anyone who she thought was her own. And her dad… she wasn't too sure but she always thought that he would get her partner into the kitchen with him, even if it was to chat away from the family about so many things.
All those things just weren't going to happen.
Not anymore. They would've loved him. She knew that. They would've welcomed him with open arms. They would've spoiled him. They would've shown him what a family is supposed to be like. No one would ever hurt him as his father did.
Gabriel complimented her again. She felt awkward when he did that. She didn't deserve his compliments. She didn't deserve a lot of things.
She didn't deserve Gabriel.
Gabriel took her to the plot of land near Claire's childhood home. He spoke of their home. A home that wasn't going to be.
Claire tried to remain composed but she lied right to his face. She tried to hide her upset in hugs.
Upon returning home, a phone call from her uncle made her jump.
He was being followed but she already knew that. And then, he confirmed the next hearing date. The day after tomorrow. Two days left with Gabriel. Not even whole days. Less than forty-eight hours.
Gabriel looked unnerved. He must've sensed that something was wrong. But how could she tell him? How could she warn him of her imminent death?
The next day, she felt a pit in her stomach. The reality was sinking in. Her husband whom she loved dearly was hurt because of her and now she was going to hurt him even more.
She disappeared under the pretext of making him lunch. She sobbed in the kitchen while cooking.
She washed her face and wiped her tears, taking the lunch up the stairs on a wooden tray.
She took a deep breath in and put a fake smile on before entering Gabriel's study.
"What are you conspiring about?" She asked as she found Mark in the room. They went suspiciously quiet as she walked in.
"Nothing." Gabriel's response was quick, too quick. He must know, surely. He must know everything that's going on. She can't just hide the truth in plain sight and expect him not to know.
Claire stared at him, wondering how much did he know. Her body was tense. If she was going to be gone tomorrow, he will have to pick up her work. He wasn't well enough. Not yet. His injuries weren't healed.
As Mark was leaving, Claire excused herself quickly. She followed him down the stairs when he turned around and looked at her expectantly.
"Tell me, what is going on?" Claire asked softly. Her voice barely made it out of her lips.
"I could ask you the same. I'm sure you know more than I do." Mark replied, half-jokingly and half-seriously. She wasn't sure.
"Why is Gabriel so anxious?"
"Claire, you best ask him yourself."
"Is it because of his father?" Claire didn't back down.
"You do know." Mark sighed. "There's a bounty on your head."
"Yeah, I know." Claire nodded which put Mark off. "If you ask me, they think I'm worth more than I am."
"Claire…" Mark wasn't sure how to comfort her. She anxiously bit her nails.
"If anything happens to me, please take care of Gabriel." Claire said carefully.
"Of course, I will but nothing will happen to you." Mark smiled reassuringly. "Unless… did something happen when we were away?"
"No." Claire shook her head.
"Okay. Take care of yourself and good luck for tomorrow." Mark bid her goodbye. She only nodded as he left and then she called Alex. Adam mentioned that they were being followed. She needed to check on Alex as he was being left behind to deal with tomorrow's hearing. She felt bad for her family to have to go through this with her too. They were all in danger because of her.
Alex was panicking and frantic when he answered the call.
"They are on my doorstep. Am I okay to walk out or am I going to get shot?" He asked over the phone. Claire didn't know the answer. They tried to shoot Gabriel but they only followed her for a while.
"I'll come back to you with a plan. For now, stay put." Claire instructed him. She needed time to think. She needed to go and see Alex to make sure that he was safe.
Claire climbed back up the stairs to find Gabriel at the top. He must know, she thought again.
His eyes pierced through her. He surely knows.
When she mentioned that she should go and see Alex, he proposed that Alex should stay with them.
That was a better solution. Alex was safer with them. And… if it were her last day here, she was glad to be able to have two of the closest people with her.
The atmosphere spoke for itself. The mood of everyone was more serious than ever. They were all nervous and tense. Gabriel's suspicious gaze went over her and Alex several times.
Claire escaped under the pretext of a bath. She was teary again. She sat in the bathtub whilst crying. Could she do it? It didn't matter. She had to.
She photos given to her by Pierre flashed before her eyes. They found her parents. No one was safe if the trial continues. No one.
She came back down to check on them. They both looked worried. Gabriel especially.
He must know.
Gabriel stood up quickly bidding good night to his best friend. Claire looked at Alex, knowing that his hurt will be not much less than that of Gabriel.
She thought of her parents and how they will cope. They expected it for a while. At least since Jenny passed away. They were never safe. But Gabriel lived in ignorant bliss though. He wasn't ready. But is anyone truly ready for the death of their loved one?
She gently wrapped her fingers around Gabriel's arm as they walked up the stairs. They've spoken about Alex briefly. Claire helped Gabriel undress wondering how will he manage without her. He was still so unwell…
Her thoughts circled through each of her anxieties and worries.
But Gabriel's embrace, his kisses and his gentleness were a good distraction. And a painful reminder of what was to come.
Claire barely slept. Gabriel didn't sleep much either. They spoke for hours. A lot of it was lies and hopes.
As much as she wanted to bring Michael Moore to justice, she couldn't bare the thought of Gabriel getting hurt again. She tried to come up with another way.
She couldn't.