"Gabriel, calm down," Amelie said gently. "Look, even Noah’s crying." She brushed a soothing hand over the baby’s chest, her voice trembling with worry.
"How am I supposed to calm down?" Gabriel snapped, his voice rough with fury. "How dare June say something like that in front of me? Every word out of her mouth made my blood boil." His fists tightened. But then, Noah’s cries made him realize that he had to stop acting in that way.
"Noah, Daddy isn’t angry anymore. Don’t cry," Gabriel murmured as he took the baby from Amelie. He began pacing slowly across the room, patting Noah’s back in a steady rhythm. After a few minutes, the crying softened to little hiccups, then faded altogether.
"I’m sorry, Ame," he said at last, his voice lower now. "I should’ve kept my temper, but I couldn’t help it. You heard what June said, she’s completely lost her mind."
"Don’t speak like that in front of Noah," Amelie chided gently.
Gabriel exhaled reluctantly, and laid Noah carefully in his cradle.
"Da!" Noah chirped, his voice bright and clear. The sound drew a smile to Gabriel’s face. Amelie stepped beside him and brushed her hand along his arm.
"Ma! Ma!" Noah babbled again, kicking lightly in his cradle.
"Yes, baby. Daddy isn’t angry anymore," Amelie murmured, giving the cradle a gentle push. She watched until Noah’s eyes fluttered closed and his breathing deepened into sleep.
Taking Gabriel’s hand, she led him quietly toward the door. Outside the bedroom, Ashna lingered in the hallway.
"Please stay with Noah," Amelie said softly. "He’s asleep now."
Ashna bowed and walked in while Amelie and Gabriel made their way to the grand balcony of the chamber.
Letting go of his hand, Amelie said, "You can’t say that your sister-in-law. Brother Nick loves her. I think something has happened between them. And–"
He cut her off, voice sharp. "That doesn’t matter to me, Amelie. June said something unforgivable. What did she mean, ’Noah isn’t a Sinclair’? Who gave her the right to say that? If it weren’t for you and Noah, I—" He stopped for a second, "I would have killed her right there."
"Gabriel, don’t say that," Amelie whispered, shaking her head.
"Dominick loved a very wrong woman," he went on, pacing a few steps as if he could walk the anger away. "June is going to destroy this family. Mark my words."
Amelie recalled Flora’s words that Juniper wasn’t who she pretended to be. She brushed it off at that time.
"Noah is a Sinclair," Gabriel said. "He’s my son. I will never call myself just his stepfather." He set both hands on Amelie’s shoulders, anchoring himself to her. "I’m sorry you had to hear that. I promised you wouldn’t."
"You don’t need to apologize," Amelie murmured, lifting a hand to his cheek. "I know what you are to Noah. What Juniper said was something beyond anyone’s imagination."
Their conversation was cut short when a servant entered the room and cleared her throat nervously.
"Your Highnesses," she said, bowing slightly, "Prince Dominick is outside. He wishes to—"
"Let him in," Amelie interrupted, not waiting to hear the rest.
The servant nodded quickly and left their sights.
"Nick must be here to apologize to you," Gabriel said.
"Don’t say anything to your brother. It’s not his fault, remember that," Amelie replied softly. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
Gabriel said nothing. He strode ahead, and Amelie let out a quiet sigh before stepping away from the balcony. As she entered the living room, her eyes fell on Dominick, guilt written plainly across his face.
"Amelie," he began, "I know what Juniper said is unforgivable, but I have to apologize to you."
"It’s fine, Brother Nick," Amelie said gently.



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