Chapter 107
Casaio placed a hand gently on Gabriel’s shoulder, only for Gabriel to coldly shrug it off.
“Did you inform our parents?” Gabriel asked, his tone clipped and accusatory.
“I didn’t,” Casaio replied, shaking his head.
Before either of them could speak further, Amelie stepped forward, her voice calm yet firm. “I need to speak with you in private,” she said to Gabriel and began ascending the stairs without waiting for his response.
Samyra watched her daughter with a quiet ache in her chest. She could see the exhaustion weighing on Amelie’s face. *’The Queen still isn’t accepting her, just like David feared,’* she thought grimly.
Katelyn approached Samyra with concern in her eyes. “Aunt, why don’t you sit down? Or would you prefer I take you to the hospital?” she offered gently.
“I was thinking of going there with Amelie, Princess,” Samyra murmured. “You need not trouble yourself p>
“It’s not a trouble,” Katelyn assured her with a small smile. “Gabriel will take her there soon. For now, you should go ahead p>
Samyra hesitated for a moment before speaking again, her voice touched with hope. “And what about Flora? She shouldn’t be imprisoned any longer p>
“That’s Gabriel’s call, Mrs. Conley,” Casaio responded, stepping beside them. “But for now, your husband needs you. Please go with Katelyn p>
Samyra cast one last glance toward the stairs where Amelie had disappeared before finally nodding. She turned to leave with Flora, trusting the rest to unfold in Gabriel’s hands.
Meanwhile, Dominick edged closer to his brother, his voice low. “Looks like Gabriel and Mom will be at odds from now on. But… who told them everything that happened p>
“I don’t know,” Casaio replied, his brows furrowing in confusion. “I honestly have no idea. And what worries me how things will go from now on p>
In the room upstairs, Gabriel shut the door behind him. He turned to face Amelie, feeling guilty for what happened in the living room, how his mother again started blaming Amelie.
“My mother… I didn’t know she’d come here,” Gabriel said.
“Don’t argue with her because of me,” Amelie spoke gently, her voice soft as a feather against the storm in his heart. “She has her own reasons, Gabriel. She’s not entirely wrong either… and I don’t mind what she said p>
Gabriel let out a bitter chuckle, shaking his head. “You want me to just stand there and let her throw harsh words at you?” His eyes met hers, full of conflict. “That’s not possible, Amelie. She keeps belittling you as if you’re the wrong one here, and I won’t let that slide. As your mate, it’s my duty to shield you from anything that tries to dim your worth p>
Amelie reached for his hand, her touch anchoring him. “I understand your concern, truly. But she’s not just any woman, she’s your mother… and the Queen. There must be something deeper behind her actions. Maybe fear, maybe tradition… whatever it is, I’d rather try to understand her than become the reason you grow distant from her p>
Gabriel didn’t agree with her reasoning. His gaze darkened as he replied, “She’s angry at me, but she’s taking it out on you. That’s not fair, Amelie p>
Amelie shook her head gently. “No, Gabriel… I think your mother cares deeply for you. She’s afraid of losing you, of seeing you hurt. It’s just that… her way of showing concern isn’t the gentlest p>
She paused for a moment, then added with a faint smile, “You know, I used to believe my own family never cared for me. I thought they had abandoned me the moment I was rejected by my mate. But in the morning before breakfast… I spoke to Tyler, my father’s loyal driver p>
Gabriel’s brows furrowed. “What did he say p>
Amelie looked away briefly. “He told me what happened. That they tried to protect me in their own way. That there were decisions made I never knew about, sacrifices I never saw. It made me realise how little I truly understood what lived inside their hearts p>
She turned back to him. “Maybe it’s the same with your mother. Maybe we just don’t see the whole picture yet p>
Amelie gently took Gabriel’s hands in hers, her touch grounding his frustration. “And I want to understand her, Gabriel,” she said softly. “I want to know what’s in her heart and why she acts the way she does. So please… don’t argue with her. Fighting every time won’t help. It only builds more distance p>
Gabriel gazed into her eyes, his defenses slowly crumbling. “Why are you so good?” he asked, almost in a whisper.
A faint smile touched her lips. “Maybe… it’s because you never let that part of me die,” she said. “You saved me when I had nothing left, no hope and no home. And because of you, I learned that I still have the strength to hold on to the good in my heart p>
Amelie cupped Gabriel’s face gently, her thumbs brushing across his cheeks with soothing tenderness. “Let’s not allow our wedding days to be clouded by bitterness, sadness, or resentment,” she whispered, her eyes searching his. “After I see my father, I’ll speak with Flora. I want to hear her side and understand everything. I also need to face Jodie and Alex, just once more… not for vengeance, but for closure p>
Her voice trembled slightly with sincerity. “I want to make things right, for us. Until now, it feels like I’ve brought nothing but trouble into your life p>
Gabriel leaned into her touch, his eyes softening. “But I think you’ve brought me peace,” Gabriel murmured. “Your presence… it makes me feel alive.” He leaned in, his nose brushing against her cheek before he pressed a series of soft, lingering kisses there.
Amelie’s breath caught, but she steadied herself. Gently, she placed her hands on his chest and pushed him back ever so slightly. “Let’s finish what we need to do first,” she said with a smile. “There’s still so much left to handle p>
Gabriel gave a reluctant nod. “Sure,” he asserted.