Chapter 33
Serena knew deep down that the things she’d once refused to do becoming his lover–would now turn into an unspoken agreement between them after tonight.
She didn’t have much to offer him in return. The only thing she could give was what he wanted back then–her willingness to follow him, whatever role that meant. Without Gabriel, tonight would have been hell for her.
“It’s okay. I’ll manage, Serena said seriously, meeting his eyes.
Gabriel narrowed his eyes. “Do you even know what I mean?”
She lowered her gaze, nodding. “L. I’ll be a good lover to you. But, there’s
one more thing I need your help with”
“Go ahead.”
“My brother… Can you get him into a hospital in Pashew?”
“Sure.
“Really?” Serena’s eyes lit up with surprise and relief. She hadn’t expected him to agree so quickly.
Gabriel was pleased with her obedience, so he had no problem fulfilling her request. His eyes lingered on her face, and for a moment, something shifted in his chest. He felt a brief flutter. “Anything else?”
Well… I can be your lover, but during that time…you can’t have other women.”
He snorted lightly. “You think I have anyone else?”
“Quite a few… like Carina Serena remembered how he had sent a car to pick up Carina from school more than once.
Gabriel knocked her lightly on the forehead, his tone casual. “My mother’s been looking for a friend’s child, but she can’t find her. Recently, her health’s been poor, so I had Carina go and fill in for her.”
Serena looked at him in disbelief.
“And as it turns out, her intentions weren’t pure. After just two meetings, my mother realized something was off.” He raised an eyebrow, “A month ago, at Rose Garden, I actually wanted you to meet my mother.”
Her face flushed instantly. So, she had misunderstood everything. She thought Gabriel was looking for a virgin for sex. And then… they…
Gabriel pinched her ear gently, smirking. “Remember? You slept with me and even charged me,
“I… I…” Serena stammered, her cheeks burning. She wished the earth would swallow her up so she never had to see him
again.
But Gabriel wasn’t about to let her off the hook. “Not only that, you even tried to distance yourself from me after.
“I didn’t mean it like that… I misunderstood. I thought you were looking for a woman for… Her gaze flicked down to his abdomen. The sight made her feel a little too warm, so she quickly averted her eyes.
Gabriel seized her wrist, his voice turning sharp. Tm not the kind of person who sleeps around.”
The sharpness in his tone made Serena stiffen, a chill running through her. “Sorry.”
He released her wrist, his voice still cold but more controlled. If ever have another woman, I’ll let you go. At most, a year
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Chapter 33
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The car fell silent after that, the tension hanging in the air. As thy neared the hotel, Serena spoke up again. “If you need me to meet your mother, to make her happy, I can do that.”
Gabriel’s response was flat. “Not the right time yet.”
His mother was supposed to be accepting that friend’s daughter is a goddaughter–if she really found her. But Serena was
now his woman
If things went that way, they’d have to pretend to be siblings in front of his mother. It would be awkward, at best.
Gabriel dropped Serena off at the hotel and left.
Serena ate a bit of food that the hotel staff brought her, then took a long, hot bath. Everything felt foggy; she was barely aware of what was going on around her.
Her mind kept spiraling back to the past few days–how Gabriel saved her, how he promised to help bring Jonathan back to the country. Then, amidst it all, Xander’s words crept into her mind, looping like an unsettling nightmare.
Maybe it was exhaustion, but she dozed off, slumped against the edge of the bathtub. She didn’t know how much time passed before she felt someone pinch her nose. Blinking, she opened her eyes, confused, only to find Gabriel standing over her.
He was leaning on the edge of the bathtub, his sleeves rolled up, showing faint veins beneath his skin. He still had that cold. detached air. “You have got a fever. Get out,” he said, then turned and left, allowing her some privacy.
Serena propped herself up with weak arms, staggering out of the bathtub, wrapping herself in a towel. “Get a doctor…” Gabriel’s voice could be heard from outside the bathroom, muffled but still clear.
On the table beside her, there was a light–colored nightdress and undergarments–likely things he had brought in for her.
Serena was delirious from the fever–even worse than the last time. Her steps were unsteady and light as air as she slowly approached Gabriel. “Are we still doing it?”
He clearly hadn’t expected her to ask that right off the bat. A mischievous thought crossed his mind. “With a fever like this, you can still do it?”
Serena’s breath was labored, and her words seemed to come out in a soft, heated whisper. “Well before… it was always you taking the lead.”
He smirked as he tilted her chin up. “Shouldn’t it be you pleasing me this time?”
She nodded, her brows knitting together in a troubled expression, looking both shy and endearing. “Okay… T’ll take charge.”
Gabriel couldn’t help but chuckle at her. He could tell she was really shaken up from everything that had happened, and now this fever was proof of it
In truth, he had gone to the casino today to save someone–only that person never made it into the auction. If things hadn’t turned out the way they did, he might never have seen Serena again. Thinking about this, he silently sighed in relief. Thankfully
“Not tonight. You’ll just pass out again. Co lie down, and I’ll get the doctor to check on you.”
But Serena didn’t move.
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Chapter 33
“What’s wrong?
She hesitated, then spoke up, “It’s about my brother… He needs to be transferred, fast, I’m worried that his previous doctor might hurt him.”
Gabriel shot her a cold look before walking over to the desk–Serena followed him step by step–he picked up his phone, swiping through it, and said flatly, “So, you’re only acting like this because you’re worried I might back our?”
Serena didn’t deny it. It was probably Dr. Ziegler who’il sold her to the auction, simply because she’d messed with his plans And now? She couldn’t shake the fear that he might still be testing some new treatment on Jonathan.
“Give me his hospital and his details”
“Antelope Hospital. Jonathan Murry… 27 years old…”
“Jonathan Murry?” Gabriel interrupted her, handing her a pen. Write it down.”
Confused, she did as he asked.
He glanced at the name she wrote down, then turned to look at her with a mix of emotions. “Jonathan Murry is your brother?”
You should remember him. You went to the same school back in high school. You even fought him once, Serena said, her voice dropping to a whisper
Gabriel furrowed his brow, his gaze focused on her as if recalling something. I think I saw you back then, in high school.”
Her heart did a little flip, and a wave of emotions hit her all at once, Memories of those days flooded her mind, and for a split second, the boy she once knew blurred into the man standing in front of her.
But she shook her head, feeling a heavy weight in her chest. “I was really young then. I don’t remember clearly.”
Gabriel didn’t press the issue. He just went back to texting Darren. “When did he fall into a coma2*
Two years ago. He came to Faliden for a business deal, and got into a car accident,”
“Even so, you shouldn’t have ended up like this.”
Serena sighed, her face falling, “Our family’s property was all sold off. The money was taken by my uncle… and I haven’t heard from him since.”
He took her in, recalling how she hadn’t gone to school for the past month, had to juggle various odd jobs, and was bullied at work. She was way too thin for her age, and her living situation was a total mess–everything was falling apart.
A complex mix of emotions surged through him. He set his phone down and gently touched her cheek, his tone soft for once. “You’re my lover now. No one will hurt you again.”
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