Chapter 185

Chapter 185

I nodded. "I should head up. You get some rest too."

"I'll wait here until you're inside."

Compared to Gabriel, Nason was infinitely more thoughtful. Azure really had terrible taste, choosing Gabriel—a guy who was always messing around. Maybe it really was just fate.

I unlocked the building entrance and carefully started up the stairs. The property management was completely useless—the hallway lights had been broken for months with no one bothering to fix them. I gripped the railing and inched my way up slowly.

On the third floor, the stairwell light flickered randomly. It reminded me of every horror movie I'd ever seen. I quickened my pace, and suddenly a pair of hands grabbed me hard.

I almost screamed, but then a familiar voice came from right next to me. "Don't. It's me."

Gabriel.

I stared at him, heart still pounding. "Do you have any idea how badly you just scared me?"

He didn't answer. He just held me quietly. The smell of alcohol was strong on him—he'd clearly had way too much to drink.

For some reason, my heart was still racing harder than it normally would after a scare. Probably because of the baby.

I looked at the man in front of me, rattled. I wanted to yell at him, maybe even hit him. I raised my hand.

But reason stopped me halfway. My hand hung in midair until Gabriel grabbed it and held it firmly.

Those amber eyes—even in the dark, they were impossibly bright. Hard to look away from.

He pinned both my hands above my head. His warm breath brushed against my ear. He didn't say anything, but his chest was rising and falling like he was furious.

I didn't have the strength to fight back. Between the height difference and his build, it wasn't even close.

So I went on the offensive verbally instead.

"Gabriel, what is your problem? You got drunk and now you need someone to console you? Go find your little girlfriend. Why are you here?" I practically shouted.

"Ember, do you really hate me that much?"

Gabriel's voice was hoarse. Maybe I was imagining it, but I could've sworn there was hurt in his tone.

The next second proved I was definitely imagining it.

Because before I could argue back, Gabriel's lips crashed down onto mine.

It was rough, demanding, possessive. He bit at my lips, trying to force his tongue into my mouth.

I could barely breathe. The sensation was both familiar and foreign.

He probably did this with Azure all the time. After all, he'd been in love with her for years.

"Can you let go of me now? My head hurts and I can barely stand."

I tried reasoning with him. I knew that when Gabriel was drunk, he was like a dog that needed careful handling.

Gabriel didn't move. Same position.

Anger flared up in me. This was humiliating. I stopped holding back and dug my nails into his neck.

Gabriel hissed in pain. "Ember, are you a cat?"

I stared at him coldly. "We're divorced. I don't owe you anything anymore. What you're doing right now is assault. I could call the cops."

Gabriel raised an eyebrow like he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

I looked at him, almost laughing. "We're divorced. I gave up being Mrs. Sinclair. So what exactly is this supposed to be? And how can you do this and still face your girlfriend?"

Staring at the man in front of me, a word suddenly came to mind. Perfect for describing what was happening to Azure.

Karma.

The motion-sensor lights flickered with a dull yellow glow. I could barely see Gabriel's face, but I could feel his heart pounding hard against his chest.

"I never wanted to divorce you," Gabriel said, his voice rough.

"And what's the point of saying that now? I spent years trying to warm up your cold heart. And what did I get? I was the punchline."

I stared at him. Love that came too late meant nothing. My heart was still racing and wouldn't settle.

"Ember, why won't you believe me? I told you to give me time. I said I'd handle things with Azure. Why won't you trust me?"

Maybe I was imagining it, but his voice sounded almost wounded.

"Handle it how? Keep one at home and one outside and never let them cross paths?" I looked at him like he was ridiculous.

"Your ex-girlfriend's death wasn't my fault, but you took all your anger out on me anyway. Don't you think that's unfair?"

I locked eyes with Gabriel, like I was trying to pour out every ounce of resentment I'd been holding onto.

We were divorced now. I had the papers. There was no reason to keep swallowing my feelings for him.

"I gave you my entire youth. And what did I get? You humiliated me. Disgusted me. You had one girlfriend after another and never stopped."

My voice started to crack—not because he didn't love me, but because I felt sorry for the girl I used to be.

How could I look back on those years and feel nothing?

We stood there frozen when suddenly footsteps echoed up from below.

The next second, a fist connected with Gabriel's face. He hissed in pain.

Nason, who'd just thrown the punch, finally registered who he'd hit. He must've thought it was some creep.

Gabriel had a notoriously terrible temper. He never let anything slide. But this time, strangely, he didn't fight back. He just looked at me quietly.

"Feel better now?"

I gave him a cold smile. "What's the point of any of this?"

"Gabriel, if you've already decided to let go, why are you still dragging this out?" Nason's voice rose sharply. It looked like he was officially done being Gabriel's friend.

"What are you even doing here?" Gabriel turned to Nason, his voice icy.

"So you two are living together now?" Gabriel's tone was thick with barely-contained anger.

I was about to explain, but Nason beat me to it. "Yeah. We're living together."

I knew Nason was just trying to stick up for me. He knew Gabriel well enough to know exactly what to say to set him off.