Gabriel’s peaceful moment was abruptly interrupted by his phone ringing incessantly. Still in the bathroom with Isla, he was unaware of the urgent calls until he emerged, dripping wet and wrapped in a towel. Seeing his father’s name flashing repeatedly on the screen, Gabriel felt a surge of anxiety, knowing his father only called in serious situations. Isla comforted him with a gentle embrace as he hurriedly returned the call.
On the phone, Gabriel’s father informed him about a troubling incident involving Wyatt. At the hospital, Sia had caught Wyatt cheating, leading to a violent confrontation where Sia, Delphine, and Mia attacked the woman Wyatt was involved with. The situation was severe, and Gabriel’s father needed his help at the Apex Bureau. Gabriel, shaken but resolute, promised to be there soon and explained the situation to Isla, who immediately sensed his worry.
The story quickly went viral on social media, with videos of the brutal attack spreading across platforms and igniting public outrage. The woman assaulted was from another influential family and was pressing charges, escalating the scandal. Isla waited anxiously in the car outside the police station, following the growing media frenzy on her phone. Despite the chaos, she felt a quiet relief that someone was standing up for her.
Outside, reporters swarmed the police station, capturing every moment and hungry for sensational headlines. Isla’s unease grew as she watched the intense media attention, fearing the disastrous impact the scandal could have if it reached Alfred Wyndham, whose health was already fragile. Her primary concern was to shield the old man from this devastating news, hoping to contain the fallout before it could reach him.
A relentless ringing shattered the stillness of Gabriel’s bedroom. The phone vibrated loudly against the wooden dresser, its insistent buzzing echoing through the quiet room.
It was Gabriel’s phone, and it wouldn’t stop. Yet, no one was there to answer it. He and Isla were still inside the bathroom, unaware of the urgent calls piling up.
Suddenly, the bathroom door swung open, and Gabriel emerged in a rush. Water dripped from his dark hair and traced slow paths down his bare chest. A crisp white towel was wrapped securely around his waist, exposing the defined V-shaped lines of his abdomen. Without hesitation, he strode toward the dresser and snatched up his phone.
At first, he assumed it was a call from the hospital. But the screen illuminated with his father’s name, accompanied by multiple missed calls. His heart skipped a beat.
A surge of anxiety washed over him. His father never called unless something serious was at hand. His chest tightened painfully as he hurriedly returned the call, silently hoping it wasn’t about his grandfather. Though the old man was frail and aging, Gabriel wasn’t prepared to lose him just yet.
Isla appeared behind him, her slender figure wrapped in a soft, fluffy white bathrobe. She slipped her arms around his waist, a gentle touch that offered a brief moment of calm amid the rising storm. That small gesture allowed Gabriel to steady his breath, if only for a moment.
The call connected, and Gabriel’s voice quivered slightly. “Father?”
His dad’s voice came through, steady but laced with gravity. “Don’t panic, son, but there’s a problem. Meet me at the Apex Bureau.”
Gabriel frowned in confusion. “Apex Bureau?”
Isla’s hands slid away from his waist as she moved to face him. His free hand instinctively rested on her hip, grounding himself in her presence.
“Father, what’s going on? Why are you at the police station this late? You should be resting,” Gabriel asked, concern evident in his tone.
His father exhaled heavily. “It’s Wyatt. We just left the hospital. But—”
“Hospital?” Gabriel interrupted, his heart racing. “What do you mean?”
His father’s voice grew heavier, filled with frustration. “Sia caught him cheating. Things got ugly. She attacked the woman he was seeing—with help from Delphine and Mia. It was bad, Gabriel. Really bad. I need you here. This is more than I can handle alone.”
Gabriel closed his eyes briefly and ran a hand through his damp hair, trying to process the news. “I’ll be there as soon as I can,” he said firmly before ending the call.
When his weary gaze met Isla’s, she immediately recognized the worry etched deep in his eyes.
“What happened?” she asked softly, her voice tinged with concern.
Right now, Isla’s only thought was to prevent this story from ever reaching the old man’s ears.
The chapter closes on a tense and fragile moment, where the weight of family loyalty and public scandal collide. Gabriel and Isla are thrust into a whirlwind of uncertainty, their emotions tangled between fear for loved ones and the harsh glare of social media judgment. Despite the chaos, Isla’s quiet gratitude hints at a deeper yearning for justice and protection, underscoring the complex layers of their relationship and the challenges they face together.
Amidst the storm of accusations and media frenzy, the vulnerability of Alfred Wyndham looms large, casting a shadow over the unfolding drama. The chapter delicately captures the emotional strain on both Gabriel and Isla as they brace for the impact of the scandal, emphasizing their resolve to shield their family from further pain. It is a poignant reminder of the fragile balance between love, loyalty, and the harsh realities that threaten to unravel everything they hold dear.
The next chapter promises to deepen the tension as Gabriel and Isla confront the fallout from the explosive scandal that has erupted online. With the media frenzy intensifying and the involvement of powerful families, the stakes are higher than ever. Readers can expect emotions to run raw as secrets threaten to unravel relationships and loyalties are tested under the harsh glare of public scrutiny.
As Gabriel steps into the turmoil at the Apex Bureau, the weight of responsibility presses heavily on him—not only to protect his family’s reputation but also to shield his grandfather from the devastating impact of these revelations. Meanwhile, Isla’s quiet determination to keep the truth from reaching Alfred hints at the emotional battles that lie ahead, where trust and resilience will be crucial. The delicate balance between love, loyalty, and the harsh realities of their world is poised to shift in unexpected ways.
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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