Gabriel abruptly enters Isla’s office without knocking, immediately commanding attention and fear from everyone present. He orders the team to leave, leaving only Isla and himself alone. Gabriel firmly tells Isla to pack her things and leave with him immediately, refusing to take no for an answer. Despite her protests and anger, he physically picks her up and carries her out, ignoring her demands to be put down.
Once inside Isla’s Range Rover, Gabriel directs the driver to take them to his penthouse. Inside the car, Isla confronts him, demanding to know his intentions, but Gabriel remains cold and authoritative, insisting they speak quietly. Upon arriving, Gabriel changes the penthouse door password and commands Isla to go to his bedroom, which shocks her. She insists on talking in the living room, and he reluctantly agrees, motioning for her to sit.
Gabriel returns with wine and pours them both a glass, signaling a tentative truce with a toast “to a new beginning.” The moment is heavy with unspoken emotions, reminding Isla of their past before their marriage fell apart. Gabriel then quietly admits he wants their marriage to work and asks for a chance to make amends. Isla is caught off guard, torn between skepticism and a flicker of hope, as she senses a different side of Gabriel emerging.
Gabriel didn’t bother knocking. He simply pushed open the door to Isla’s office, his presence immediately filling the space like a storm rolling in.
Everyone inside froze instantly. Jeff and the others halted midsentence, their faces pale and tense with fear. This was their CEO—no one dared to challenge him. They could only manage small, nervous nods.
Isla herself was caught off guard, her lips parting slightly in surprise. He had only left minutes earlier. She had been on the verge of calling it a night, but the team had kept her longer than expected.
“Everyone. Leave us.”
His voice was sharp and commanding, brooking no argument. No one dared to resist. One by one, they slipped out quietly, their eyes flitting nervously between the two of them, as if retreating from a battlefield before the first blow was struck. The door clicked shut behind them, leaving just Isla and Gabriel alone.
Isla took a steadying breath, about to speak, but Gabriel cut her off.
“Pack your things. We’re leaving. Now.” His tone was firm and final, giving her no room to refuse.
Her heart pounded fiercely. “I’m not going anywhere with you. Just leave me alone.”
Gabriel’s jaw tightened, his green eyes flashing with warning. “Don’t push me, Isla. Remember what I said earlier—I meant every word. You either walk out that door with me, or I’ll carry you myself. The choice is yours.”
A sharp ache tightened her chest. “What do you want from me?” she shouted, her voice cracking with frustration. “It’s not like you care. Just leave me alone!”
He didn’t flinch. Not even a blink.
Instead, Gabriel stepped forward, snatched her phone, and shoved it into her clutch. Before she could react, he swept her up into his arms and strode toward the office door.
Her eyes widened in shock, her body stiffening. “Gabriel! Put me down, now!” she snapped, tapping lightly on his chest. But he ignored her protests, his strides long and certain as he carried her out.
The bodyguards spotted them immediately. One hurried to open the back door of Isla’s Range Rover Autobiography.
Gabriel gently set her down inside, but before she could even think of escaping, he slid in beside her and closed the door with a firm thud.
One guard hesitated. “Where to, sir?”
“My penthouse,” Gabriel replied, his voice cold and unwavering.
“Yes, sir.” The car started moving.
Isla crossed her arms tightly over her chest, pressing herself against the cool leather seat. Her electric-blue eyes blazed with anger, fire burning deep inside her. Gabriel sat beside her, his expression equally intense, his jaw clenched tightly.
“What do you want from me? Why are you doing this?” Her voice rose, trembling with emotion.
“Lower your voice when you speak to me, my dear,” he said without turning his head.
She raised an eyebrow, then scoffed bitterly. “Since when? Fine. What do you want?” Her tone softened slightly, but her gaze remained sharp.
“I want this marriage to work,” he said quietly. “Let me make amends.”
Isla’s breath caught in her throat. His words sank deep, heavier than she had expected. Yet she kept looking at him, her mind spinning, her heart torn between disbelief and hope.
She had promised herself she would never fall for his lies again. But this Gabriel… he seemed different.
The charged silence that settled between Isla and Gabriel was filled with more than just unspoken words—it carried the weight of their shared past, the fractures in their relationship, and the fragile hope of reconciliation. Despite the bitterness and anger that still simmered beneath the surface, there was an undeniable shift in the air, a tentative step toward healing. Both were caught in a moment of vulnerability, where pride softened just enough to allow the possibility of understanding and forgiveness.
This chapter closes on a poignant note, capturing the complex dance of emotions between two people bound by love and pain. Gabriel’s earnest desire to mend what was broken and Isla’s guarded yet flickering hope reflect the enduring human struggle to reconcile hurt with the yearning for connection. It is a delicate beginning, one that promises challenges but also the chance for renewal, reminding us that sometimes, the bravest step is simply to try again.
The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the fragile and charged dynamic between Isla and Gabriel, revealing layers of their complicated history and the emotions still simmering beneath the surface. As Gabriel’s unexpected plea for a fresh start hangs in the air, readers will be drawn into the tension-filled space between hope and skepticism, wondering if Isla’s guarded heart will begin to soften or if old wounds will reopen.
Emotions are poised to run high as the two navigate the uneasy truce in Gabriel’s penthouse, a setting that holds both intimacy and the weight of their shared past. The question lingers: can Gabriel truly change, or is this just another chapter in a story of control and conflict? The delicate balance between reconciliation and resistance will keep readers on edge, eager to see whose resolve will falter first and what sacrifices might be demanded in the name of love.
Florence is a passionate reader who finds joy in long drives on rainy days. She’s also a fan of Italian makeup tutorials, blending beauty and elegance into her everyday life.

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