He guided me to the living room, his hand still wrapped around mine, and we sat down on one of the plush leather couches. The softness enveloped me, and for a moment, I felt a sense of comfort.
"Are you feeling better now?" Gabriel asked, his eyes locked on mine, filled with genuine concern. I was taken aback by his sincerity, considering the darkness I knew lurked beneath his polished exterior. I couldn't reconcile the caring person in front of me with the ruthless individual who had murdered Wu and slaughtered others without hesitation.
Despite my reservations, I decided to proceed with caution, hoping to appeal to whatever humanity he had reserved for me. "Ryan came back earlier today," I began, my voice measured. "He told me about everything you've done for me. I realize I'm still alive only because of you. Thank you."
Gabriel's face lit up with a warm smile, and for an instant, I saw a glimmer of vulnerability. "I only did it because it was you," he said, his voice low and gentle.
I hesitated, unsure how to proceed, but I needed to know what lay ahead. "So, what do you plan to do with me going forward?" I asked, trying to sound calm despite the turmoil brewing inside. My mind was racing with worst-case scenarios: being trapped as his personal slave, or worse, a plaything for his twisted desires.
Gabriel's expression changed, and he looked at me with a hint of confusion. "What do you mean? I don't plan to do anything with you. I just hope you'll continue to live here and attend school."
I felt a surge of unease at his response. It sounded too good to be true. "And what if I don't want that?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Gabriel's demeanor shifted, and his tone darkened. "I don't think you have an option," he said, his words dripping with an unsettling intensity.
I felt a lump form in my throat, and I swallowed hard, trying to push down the rising panic. Gabriel's smile, once warm and reassuring, now seemed perfectly deceiving, a clever mask hiding his true intentions. He patted my back, a gesture that felt more condescending than comforting.
My heartbeat quickened, pounding in my ears like a warning drum. I knew, in that moment, that I was trapped. Gabriel was not going to let me go, not anytime soon. I was his prisoner, a captive of his whims and desires.
"Anything wrong?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of curiosity, as if he were trying to measure my reaction. I forced a smile, trying to appear nonchalant despite the turmoil brewing inside.
"Nothing," I lied, the word feeling like a betrayal on my lips.
Gabriel's smile widened, and he leaned in, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "I'm so glad you're feeling better. I've been waiting for you to start school again. I can finally introduce you to my friends... as my girl."
His words dropped like a bombshell, leaving me stunned and reeling. "Your girl?" I repeated, the phrase feeling like a suffocating shackle around my neck.
"I bet they're going to be jealous," Gabriel said, his voice low and husky, his eyes roving over me with an unnerving intensity. "Have I mentioned how hot you look tonight?" He leaned in, his gaze burning with a desire that made my skin crawl. "It makes me want to do things to you."
I recognized the look in his eyes, the same hungry gleam he'd had when I'd taken a bite of sushi in the hospital room. My stomach churned with revulsion, and I felt a wave of panic wash over me.
Gabriel's voice was low, inviting and menacing. "Wanna go to my room?" He leaned closer, his eyes never leaving mine.
I jolted upright, my heart racing, and took a few hasty steps back, desperate to create some distance between us. I needed an excuse, and fast. "I... my injuries... I'm still not feeling well enough," I stammered, trying to sound convincing. "I think I better get more rest."
I forced a weak, awkward chuckle, hoping to deflect the tension. But Gabriel's eyes never left mine, his gaze burning with an unspoken promise that made my skin crawl.
"If you say so, sweetheart," Gabriel replied, his voice dripping with a sweetness that felt unsettling after the tension that had just passed between us. He rose from the couch, his movements fluid and effortless. "But aren't you hungry? The cook already left for the day," he added, his voice laced with a concern that seemed almost genuine.
I was taken aback by the sudden shift in his demeanor. How could he switch from being predatory and intense to warm and caring in the span of a few seconds? It was as if he had two distinct personalities.
"It's okay, I'm not hungry," I replied despite my stomach urging me to feed it. "I'll eat if I get hungry."
He smiled and retreated into the hallway connecting the rooms.
I collapsed onto the couch, exhaling a sigh of relief as the tension seeped out of my body. Gabriel's sudden departure had been a welcome reprieve, and I'd been grateful for the silence. I'd assumed the clothes in the closet were meant for me, given his reaction to the outfit I was wearing.
My stomach had growled with hunger, and I'd wandered into the kitchen to scrounge up something to eat. The leftover curry had been a welcome discovery, and I'd decided to cook some rice to accompany it. As I worked, the silence had been a comforting blanket, wrapping around me like a shield.
But that shield was shattered when I heard the sound of footsteps behind me. I turned, my heart skipping a beat, to find Gabriel watching me with an intense gaze. His eyes seemed to bore into mine, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.
I realized, belatedly, that I should have retreated to the safety of my room, hunger or no hunger. Now, I was trapped, alone with Gabriel in the kitchen.
"Gabriel... Oh... I just wanted a small meal," I stammered, trying to sound nonchalant despite the growing unease. "I hope you don't mind." I forced an awkward chuckle, hoping to diffuse the tension, but Gabriel's expression remained unreadable.
"Do you mind adding my portion to that small meal?" Gabriel asked, his voice low and smooth, his eyes gleaming with a warmth that made me feel uneasy. "I would very much like to eat food prepared by you."
I hesitated, feeling a sense of discomfort at the prospect of sharing a meal with him. "Um, sure," I replied.
Gabriel's gaze seemed to pierce through me, and I felt compelled to explain myself. "If you're wondering how I knew where the foodstuffs were, I'd taken a tour earlier this evening," I said, trying to sound nonchalant. "I hope you don't mind."
Gabriel's expression softened, and he smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Betty, this is your house now," he said, his voice dripping with sincerity. "Be free to do what you want." His words sent a shiver down my spine, and I wondered if he truly meant them, or if they were just another clever manipulation.