Chapter 52

Christina was so nervous she could barely breathe.

Who knew her words would set Gabriel off? His arms around her suddenly tightened.

"Don't worry, I won't do anything without your permission. I'll wait until you're ready, just don't go sleep in another room."

Christina pressed her lips together and could only nod.

She closed her eyes. Was she really worried about Gabriel losing control?

She was worried about herself losing control. Plus she didn't know anything, and if she made a fool of herself, she'd be embarrassed about it for the rest of her life!

Christina curled up into a ball, forcing herself to sleep.

Maybe it was the exhaustion, or maybe she really did feel safe beside Gabriel, nervous as she was, Christina actually ended up falling asleep.

Feeling her breathing become steady, Gabriel finally calmed down too.

Their home, their room, they would lie together from now on.

This gave Gabriel a sense of peace he'd never felt before.

His arm around Christina pulled just a little tighter, his cheek brushing softly against hers, and soon Gabriel, too, slipped into sleep.

When she opened her eyes again, it was already the next morning. The curtains were partially drawn, making the room bright but not harsh. No one was beside her, so Christina sat up.

It took her a moment to think straight again before the realization hit, she'd slept through the whole night in Gabriel's arms.

Actually, sleeping with someone holding you wasn't so bad.

Christina wasn't in a rush to find Gabriel.

She figured Gabriel had gone to the office.

After she'd washed up and changed, Christina grabbed her bag and went downstairs, and found Gabriel already making breakfast.

It was her favorite - sandwiches and milk.

This gave her the feeling of being back when Lillian was still around.

When Lillian was alive, she would personally prepare breakfast in the morning and call her and Joseph to eat.

Back then, she had asked Lillian why she didn't have Marlon arrange for someone to prepare it like lunch and dinner. Lillian said that families need something they do together to feel happy.

Like sitting together eating the breakfast she prepared.

After Lillian died, Joseph got swallowed up by work, and Christina hadn't felt this kind of warmth in ages.

"Gabriel, you?"

Seeing her come down, Gabriel pulled out a chair for her. "Perfect timing, just finished. Eat it while it's hot."

"Okay." Christina's tears came instantly.

Gabriel frantically wiped her tears. "Don't cry, we're family now."

"Yes, we're family now." Christina's voice was thick with emotion.

After a while, Christina's emotions settled down. She said, "I was planning to take you later, but Gabriel, come with me to see Mom today."

Gabriel nodded. "Okay, our engagement was arranged by your mom herself, I should go see her."

Christina looked confused. What did Gabriel mean?

Gabriel finally revealed something only he and Lillian knew.

"When I first fell for you, your mom noticed. She said if you chose me when you grew up, I shouldn't let you down."

It should have been romantic, but Christina's mouth twitched. "You hit puberty pretty early then."

How old was she when Lillian died? "Gabriel, that's kind of creepy. I was still a kid then!"

Gabriel shrugged. "Like I wasn't a kid back then too."

The Riddick Manor.

Freya looked at Elton. "You're sure you want to bail out Chloe?"

Elton's eyes dodged. "You don't understand."

"I really don't." Remembering what Christina had told her, Freya pressed her lips together, stood up, and started undressing.

"Freya, what are you doing! We can't do this."

Freya let out a snort. "Of course I know we can't. I like them younger! You," she said, giving Elton a slow once-over, "are way too old, probably can't even perform anymore."

Elton's face turned red. "Then stop right now!"

But Freya pretended not to hear him. She'd already stripped down to just her camisole, then lifted the hem and showed him a birthmark on her waist.

"This birthmark!" Elton's head snapped up, looking at Freya. "What does this mean?"

Freya looked at him like he was an idiot. "Isn't it obvious?"

Elton's reaction put Freya in a good mood.

Of course, she didn't actually have to take her clothes off just to show him the birthmark on her waist, she did it on purpose, just to see how he'd react.

And the result? She was very satisfied. Elton got shy, looked away, but couldn't help wanting to look. Christina and Juno were right - Elton wasn't necessarily uninterested in her.

She lowered her clothes. "Now, are you still going to bail Chloe out?"

Elton was silent. "Maybe it's a coincidence, you both have this birthmark." Even Elton couldn't finish that sentence.

Freya laughed in disbelief. "Elton, how about this - choose between me and Chloe. If you choose her, I'll pretend I never saved you back then. If you choose me," Freya walked over and sat on his lap, "we'll date."

After torturing herself for too many years, Freya didn't want to drag this out anymore.

Elton grabbed a throw blanket and wrapped it around Freya. "Don't do this."

"I'm better than you anyway. If I'd known saving you would make you like me, only to have Chloe take credit for it, why did I torture myself all these years! Or do you really like Chloe?"

"No."

He hadn't liked her for a long time.

He knew how Chloe felt about him.

He just went along with it because Chloe had supposedly saved him.

Plus he didn't like how Chloe acted.

But then suddenly being told that Freya was the one who'd saved him, and having her force him to make a choice.

"I won't bail out Chloe, but about us dating, can you give me some time to think?"

He didn't refuse?

Freya clicked her tongue. This actually worked?

She got up and stepped back.

"Fine, you said it. How about this - I'll give you a week. Too short? A month, I'll give you a month. Tell me your answer after a month, or don't blame me for forcing you!"

Freya had made up her mind, if Elton still hadn't decided after a month, she'd pull out the life-saving card to twist his arm!

Freya came in like a whirlwind and left like one too.

Chloe waited at the police station for ages but Elton never came.

She looked completely haggard.

"Why did it turn out like this?" She didn't understand.

"Chloe, someone's here to see you."

Before her disappointment could fully set in, the sudden announcement gave Chloe hope again.

"I knew Elton wouldn't give up on me. I shouldn't have doubted him."

After being here for a day, looking somewhat haggard, Chloe fixed her hair to look less awful.

But the person sitting in the chair wasn't Elton.

"Why is it you! What are you doing here? Come to laugh at me?"