"But dad…!" I cried out in shock.
"That's it." He said as he stood up, interrupting me and heading towards his bedroom.
Oh my God, why Gabrielle's house? Why don't I go with them? For the first time, I felt my legs tremble with shock.
"What's wrong with you? Isn't this good news? I thought it would make you happy…" My mother said in surprise.
"Why would it make me happy? To leave me alone with strangers?"
The signs of surprise were clear on my mother's face, as if she was trying to understand why I was upset.
"But it's your friend's house…? And you usually like to stay alone…?"
She and I both know very well that it's not about my friend's house, but about Gabrielle. Half of me wants to refuse completely, and the other half is shocked by the idea. How can I live with him for a week under one roof? I don't want to get involved any more than I already am.
I tried to keep my voice calm, and said to my mother so that she wouldn't notice my tension: "Yes... but she is my friend... and being away from you for a week is something I have never experienced before."
My mother smiled gently and came closer to place her hand on my cheek tenderly, and said in a soft tone: "I know, my little one."
But my curiosity did not leave me, so I asked her: "What is this urgent work, mom?"
Her features suddenly changed, and turned into clear tension. She seemed to be hiding something, her eyes fixed on the ground and her words hesitant.
"Your father asked me not to say... and I obey him as you obey him."
"Mom...!!"
She quickly interrupted me and said: "Don't worry, it's not work that harms us... but it's between adults, and you have nothing to do with it."
My mother was silent for a moment, then added in a calm tone: "Yes, I forgot to tell you, this morning your father was angry about what happened yesterday, because of the way Elena and Gabriel treated him. He was thinking of taking his anger out on you, but thank God he forgot now."
"He can go to hell!" I said it spitefully without thinking.
My mother raised her hand and gently hit me on the forehead, as if she wanted to wake me up from the foolishness of what I said, then she said in a calm but firm voice: "He is your father, little one, choose your words carefully."
My mom walked into my dad's room and said in a clear tone, "Get your clothes ready, your dad talked to Gabriel yesterday and he accepted you into his house."
Those were her last words before she closed the door to their bedroom behind her.
---
8:00 AM.
We were all in front of the door. My dad was busy putting their bags in the car, while I stood in my school clothes watching them silently as they got ready to leave.
My dad paced back and forth carrying the bags, then suddenly stopped to glance at me and said,
"Raquela, we don't want any trouble... Be a sensible girl for a week."
I just nodded silently.
I stood in front of the house, silently watching them finish loading the luggage.
I said goodbye and hugged my mother, though the hug was filled with endless last lectures.
Finally, they got into the car and left, leaving behind an eerie silence.
I sighed slowly and stood on the sidewalk, waiting for Ramsay to get off so we could go to school together.
Ramsay walked out of their house with cheerful steps, so I walked towards her excitedly to hug her.
But I stopped suddenly when I noticed Gabriel walking quietly behind her, walking with heavy steps.
My breathing quickened for no apparent reason, and I remembered that night that was still engraved in my memory. But from his calm features and distant looks, it seemed as if he had forgotten everything.
Why do I feel so confused? Why is my heart beating so fast? What is happening to me?
While I was lost in thought, Ramsay interrupted me, saying:
"I came to tell you that I will not be going to school today."
I froze for a few seconds, a new shock added to the series of shocks that did not end this day. I asked her in surprise:
"Why?"
She replied calmly:
"I have a family appointment. My mother and I will go, so I will be absent."
I was not completely surprised, her presence or absence does not change anything about the boredom that fills my school day. But I thought of a way to show my disappointment, so I deliberately changed my features to clear frustration.
"Oh... Really? You will leave me alone?"
She laughed lightly and said:
"Don't worry, just one day!"
I smiled despite everything, then looked at my watch, my eyes widening in horror; I was six minutes late! I panicked and screamed:
"Ramsay! I'm late! The principal will kill me!"
I quickly kissed her cheek and turned to run towards the school, but her voice stopped me as she called her father, saying: "Dad, take Raquela. She's late!"
I felt really embarrassed when I realized what Ramsay had done. I was afraid he would refuse, but Gabriel said nothing, just walked to his car and got in silently.
Ramsay gently slapped my arm to encourage me:
"Come on, go..."
I hesitated a little and said in a low voice:
"But he didn't..."
She interrupted me with a firm tone:
"Go!"
I gathered my courage and got into the front seat. I hugged my wallet tightly, trying to avoid looking at him. Since that night in the kitchen, it seemed as if we had completely avoided eye contact, as if there was a silent agreement on this.
Ramsay waved her hand at me with a reassuring smile, while Gabriel started the car with a low grumble, and we drove off in complete silence.
He didn't speak, just stared at the road, while I remained drowning in my embarrassment. The situation was really confusing; I didn't know if I should start talking, or if he should take the initiative, or if silence was the best option for us.
I cleared my throat lightly, trying to break the deadlock:
"Uh… Thank you for letting me stay at your house this week."
He didn't reply, but he held the steering wheel with one hand, and for a moment, I saw a smile appear on his lips.
"What's so funny?"
I asked him with genuine curiosity, and my question wasn't meant to be sarcastic. I smiled back, that wonderful smile that lit up his face and made my heart race. How lucky his wife was, that damn woman!
Finally, he broke his silence and asked me with a slight smile:
"Are you happy to be spending a whole week at my house?"
I lowered my head shyly, and smiled automatically. Why? Just to hear his voice.
"Girl…" he said, waking me up from my thoughts that had wandered far away.
I replied with obvious confusion:
"Of course, I would be happy…"
He raised his eyebrow inquiringly:
"the reason...?"
I froze for a moment, unable to respond. Should I tell him the truth? Should I admit that he was the real reason for my happiness? Or should I hide behind Ramsay as an excuse?
A moment of silence fell between us, as I tried to sort out my confused thoughts. Deep down, I knew I could say that Ramsay's presence was what excited me, but the truth was clear; he was the main reason, and I wouldn't dare admit it.
Then, suddenly, he broke my silence with a low whisper:
"Say it…"
I turned to him in confusion and asked in a hesitant voice:
"What do I say?"
His smile was faint, but he answered in a calm tone:
"What are you thinking about."
I felt my face heat up, and I lowered my gaze to my hands. "Oh… The reason? Yes… Ramsay of course, being by my friend's side for a week would be so much fun."
He didn't turn to me, but he continued my words in a calm tone that stirred something inside me:
"And her father…"
His voice was balanced.i
As I sat there silently thinking, I suddenly remembered what Grandma Maru had told me. I felt a little hesitant; what if he wasn't the person I meant? But curiosity got the better of me, and I couldn't hold back the urge to ask. Gathering up my courage with difficulty.
I hesitantly said, "Have you ever visited the flower shop next to our house?"
He slowed down the car a little, then turned to me with a serious look as if I had asked him an embarrassing question.
"I don't remember giving us any flowers recently."
What the hell… what does this have to do with us? Why does he always choose his words carefully to make them hurt? I felt something strange pressing against my chest, as if I didn't even want to hear her name from him.
I raised my lips in disgust and said coldly, "Forget it."
He gave me a sarcastic smile as if his words were intentional, knowing full well that they would annoy me.
We continued on our way to school, only two minutes left to arrive, but suddenly, another car appeared next to us, driving at the same speed as Gabriel's car, as if it was racing with him. I looked towards it, but its dark glass prevented me from seeing who was inside.
I turned to tell Gabriel, but what I saw stunned me. His face was tense, his features tense and pale, as if panic and anger had overwhelmed him. This was not the face I was used to seeing.
Without a word, he pressed the gas pedal hard, the car's engine roaring under his feet, and the car's speed increased. At that moment, I felt my heartbeats racing madly, and fear began to creep into me. What is happening?!
He quickly pulled out his phone, his fingers moving skillfully, and dialed a number without hesitation. I watched him, my bag clutched in my trembling hands, until I saw him suddenly swerve to the left, leaving the school road on the right. I felt panic rising inside me when I noticed that the black car behind us had also changed lanes, following him at the same speed.
I shouted, "What's wrong...! Gabriel...!"
He didn't look at me, as if I wasn't there. He answered the phone in a calm, controlled tone despite the tension in the atmosphere, "He's here... Be at our old neighborhood in five minutes."
He hung up the phone forcefully, ignoring my questions, and focused his eyes on the road, watching the car in the side mirror.
"What's happening? Who are these people? Please, take me to school!" I said in a hoarse voice full of fear.
But he didn't even bother to look at me. He simply said coldly, "Don't worry... Just keep your mouth shut, and don't do anything stupid for the next ten minutes."
His words didn't reassure me. On the contrary, it made me even more afraid...
I remained silent despite my racing heart. The air in the car was tense, and any word I might say felt like it wouldn't change anything. A few minutes later, I found myself in front of a vast square, unfamiliar to me. The place looked strange, like a mix between an airstrip and a secret headquarters. The black cars were lined up neatly, luxurious and shiny.
I looked away towards the large gate, where there was a building that looked like a supermarket, but there was something unusual about it. Its lights were dim, and its design suggested that it hid more secrets than it revealed.
The car that had been chasing us stopped beside us. Fear reignited within me, but before I could say a word, Gabriel turned towards me.
For the first time, I saw a strange mix of warmth and seriousness in his eyes.
He grabbed my hand tightly, and approached me calmly, carrying a stern warning tone:
"Please… stay in the car. Don't get out no matter what."
Those were his last words before he walked away, let go of my hand, and closed the door behind him. The warmth I felt at that moment quickly dissipated, and fear returned to my chest. I looked out the window anxiously, following his steps as he headed towards the unknown.
A second car arrived to join the scene, and three cars were now lined up next to each other. Gabriel was the first to get out, his steps steady, but there was something in the air that suggested the seriousness of what was happening.
The shock wasn't just in the situation, but the moment I saw him approaching a huge man who got out of the first car. It was him... that man, the monster who shot me from where I didn't expect.
I felt a shock that paralyzed my thinking, my heart beating strongly as if I could hear its beats in my ears. I knew... I was sure that Gabriel wasn't just an ordinary person, and that there was a secret that connected him to this man, but I never imagined that I would see this scene with my own eyes.
Fear began to take over me, and tension made my hands tremble. What if they were planning to kidnap me?
This wasn't the only shock. From the car that was chasing us, another person got out. At first, I thought he was a stranger to me, his face didn't suggest anything to me... but, wait. There was something familiar in his features.
I focused more... then I felt a greater shock wash over me like a torrent. That face... I've seen it before. Yes, in a photo album.
It's... Harry Blore.
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