Chapter 134: Chapter Eighty Three

Gabriel

Every word felt like a battle with him. It was exhausting, this constant war between my heart and my family’s judgment. I’d waited so damn long — two decades — for a love that felt real, and the moment I found it, they wanted to rip it out of my hands.

“Do you think her ex-husband would just sit there and watch you marry his ex? A woman who ruined his life forever?” Dad’s voice hardened, his words sharp enough to slice through me.

I scoffed, leaning forward with a bitter laugh. “Are you trying to tell me… that he’s going to trapeze out of prison, come down to Nigeria, and kill her?” Sarcasm dripped from every syllable.

“His entire family was arrested, Dad. His assets were frozen. He’s completely broke now… and even if he wasn’t, I doubt the Mexican government would let him break out of prison.”

“Gabi did say I shouldn’t bother trying to reason with you.” His lips curled in irritation. “She’s probably fucked the common sense out of you.”

The insult landed harder than I expected. My jaw clenched. “I’ve waited for two decades to finally experience love, and now that I’ve found it… you want me to let it go?” My voice cracked with disbelief. “You were there when she left me. You were the one who gave me that letter and told me never to give up.”

“I did,” he admitted quietly. “I still don’t want you to give up, but… this woman you want is totally unacceptable."

Unacceptable. That word lodged deep in my chest like shrapnel. They didn’t even know Arian — not really. They didn’t know the scars she carried, the pain she endured, the quiet strength it took for her to keep living. And yet, here they were, condemning her. Condemning us.

“Why?!” I snapped, my voice rising. “I know you don’t care about the fact that she might be a gold digger or whatever. I pay her fifty thousand a month to take care of my daughter, and she’s done more than that.”

“Any other woman would have done what she’s doing!” he barked back. “Will you open your eyes?!”

“To what?!” I bellowed.

“Gabriel!” Mom’s shrill voice cut through the tension like a blade. She stood in the doorway of Dad’s study, her expression a mix of anger and disappointment. “How dare you talk to your father like that?”

I laughed bitterly. “You called me here for this? We could’ve had this conversation on the phone — and I’d have saved you the trouble by hanging up."

Dad rose from his chair slowly, every movement deliberate. His face was devoid of emotion, which somehow scared me more than if he’d been furious. I couldn’t remember the last time we stood on opposite sides of a battlefield like this — father and son, blood yet divided by love.

“Lucille’s pregnancy was a mistake, and I didn’t want to marry her, but you forced me to,” I reminded him. “You didn’t want to look bad in front of your friend, so I married her to make you happy. I was never happy in my marriage, Dad. Kary wasn’t either — she wished every day that I’d divorce and find someone else. Now that I have… you don’t want her for me?”

“You’d be putting your life and your daughter’s life in danger by associating with that woman,” Dad warned, voice low but firm. “Men like Rafael Navarro don’t ever give up. It wouldn’t matter that they’re locked up — they always find a way.”

“That aside, Raine,” Mom interjected, arms folded tightly across her chest. “He seems to have forgotten that Lucille would never let a woman like that steal her husband. Have you thought about how you’re going to deal with your wife? She doesn’t strike me as someone who likes to lose.”

“She lost the day I forced her to travel to Bali,” I shot back coldly. “I should’ve done it sooner. I can handle my own wife, thank you very much.”

“This is for your own good, Gabriel.”

“Let me be the one to suffer the consequences, Dad.” My voice softened — not with weakness, but with resolve. “Thank you for looking out for me, but I’ve made my decision. It’s been a long time coming.”

“Fine,” Dad said finally, his shoulders sagging. “You’re a grown man capable of making your own decisions… so do as you see fit.”

“Now we finally agree on something.”

“No.” He shook his head. “I want you to learn this lesson the hard way. If you can come out of this unscathed… then I’ll let you be.”

“I’m going to marry that woman,” I declared, my voice steady, unwavering. “It’s your problem if you don’t want to accept her. You’re happily married to Mom, and Gabi’s in the same boat as you are."

"I’m the one on the outside looking in, shackled to a woman I loathe more than the devil. I’d rather be without you guys than be without Arian.”

Dad’s sigh was heavy, final. “I wish you all the best.”

“Goodnight.” I nodded curtly and turned to leave.

Aurora met me in the hallway, her wide eyes full of questions I didn’t have the patience to answer. I kept walking until her hand gripped my arm.

“What?” I snapped, harsher than I meant to.

“I heard everything,” she said breathlessly. “Are you really going to marry Arian?”

“Yes. You got a problem with that too?”

“No.” She shook her head quickly, her voice softening into something that startled me. “I’m happy you’re finally getting your life back, big brother.” She smiled — a small, genuine smile that reached her eyes. “I don’t know Arian really well, but I think she’ll make a better mother for Kary than Lucille ever was.”

“You think so?” My anger dissolved in an instant, replaced by a warmth I hadn’t felt all day.

“You wouldn’t be so adamant about her if you didn’t think so yourself,” she teased gently.

I pulled her into my arms without warning, shocking her into silence. “Thank you,” I whispered into her hair. “You just made me feel so much better about myself. I’m glad to have a little sister like you, Rory.”

“You’ve always had my back,” she murmured. “It’s time I had yours.”

I kissed her forehead, releasing her with a soft smile.

As I glanced over her shoulder, I caught sight of Mom watching us from the hallway — her expression tinged with something that looked like regret. Maybe even guilt. But it wasn’t enough to erase the disappointment and anger lodged deep inside me.

She’d have to come to terms with this on her own. If she wanted back in my life, she’d have to accept the truth: I loved Arian. And nothing — not Rafael, not Lucille, not my parents — would ever change that.

Even if Arian herself didn’t want me… I would wait. I

was born to love that woman. And nobody was ever going to tell me otherwise.