Chapter 137: Chapter Eighty Six

Gabriel

I watched as a plethora of emotions crossed Arian's face while she carefully traced the words in the letter through the glass, and I was left wondering why she looked so sad. She had told me once that she didn’t like sad stories, but I sensed it was something far deeper than she was letting on. Something buried. Something she didn’t want me to see.

When her eyes lifted to mine, glistening with unshed tears, my chest tightened. For that fleeting moment, I imagined her whispering that she was my Kareena.

It was absurd—I knew it was—but no two people could evoke such profound feelings in someone, and that was exactly how I had felt with Kareena so many years ago.

Our meeting had been brief—less than an hour—but I remembered, even at eight years old, when I had no idea what love truly was, knowing with childlike certainty that she was the one.

And now… staring at Arian… I wondered if fate had played a cruel trick, bringing me full circle to a longing I thought I had buried.

“Why are you crying?” I asked softly, though I feared the answer.

She handed me the picture frame, quickly wiping her tears and turning away from me. “I don’t know,” she sniffled. “Today was just… a rollercoaster of emotions, I guess. I mean… Kary turned six today, and… it makes me feel like she’s growing up too fast.” She chuckled faintly, but her voice trembled. “I wasn’t even there when she was born.”

A lump formed in my throat as I set the frame back on the table. “Yeah. She was this tiny little thing who came into the world screaming her lungs out. I was a complete wreck that day. Terrified… but also the proudest I’d ever been.”

Her eyes brightened with curiosity. “Do you have pictures?”

“Yeah,” I nodded, grateful for the shift. “The album’s in the library.”

She grabbed my hand and tugged me toward the door with sudden excitement. I followed willingly, relieved that the tears had vanished from her face. In truth, I would’ve followed her anywhere.

We reached the library, and I pulled the heavy album down from the shelf. We settled onto the sofa, flipping through the years that had been frozen in glossy images. She cooed over every single picture of Kary—every month of her growth, her first birthday, her first steps.

I had taken so many photographs, desperate to preserve each fleeting moment. Maybe part of me had always feared that Lucille would try to steal those memories too.

“She looks like she was forced to sit for the picture,” Arian remarked, her lips curving faintly.

“That’s because her mother forced her to,” I sighed. The bitterness crept into my voice before I could stop it. “Lucille never loved her daughter. She fought me tooth and nail to have another child, but it was never out of love.”

“She probably wanted to tie you down even more,” Arian reasoned gently.

“Yeah,” I admitted, the memory making my jaw tighten. “There was one time we argued, and I honestly imagined throwing her out of the window. I didn’t, of course. I realized I’d rather divorce her than spend the rest of my life rotting in prison because of her. She’s the bane of my existence.”

“Did she call to wish her daughter a happy birthday?” Arian asked carefully.

“She never has.” I shook my head. “Kary gives away the gifts Lucille sends to the kids at the orphanage. When Lucille found out, she got furious and vowed never to even wish her a happy birthday again.”

“If she didn’t want a child, why get pregnant in the first place?” Arian frowned, genuinely confused.

“To tie me down,” I muttered bitterly. “I hated her, and she knew it. Pregnancy was her trap, and she succeeded.”

“You could’ve said no, even knowing she was pregnant,” Arian pressed.

“I didn’t have a choice. My parents wanted the marriage for the sake of their friendship with hers.” I exhaled, running a hand over my face. “Till this day, I still don’t know what spell the Kendricks cast on my parents to make them so blind. They were never like that before.”

“I’m sorry,” she murmured softly.

“It’s fine.” I set the album on the coffee table. “I should’ve stood my ground from the very beginning.”

“You’ve not spoken to her since she left?”

“She called a few times at first, but I told her never to call again,” I said flatly. “I might have lied to her about the divorce just to make her leave me alone.”

“You told her you weren’t going to divorce her,” she stated.

“Yes.” I nodded. “But I fully intend to once she returns.”

“You’re evil,” she teased, grinning at me.

“I know.” I smirked, allowing myself the smallest hint of mischief. “I think everyone’s asleep.”

“Yeah, so?”

I reached for her before she could retreat, pulling her against me. “Let’s have another dance,” I whispered, my lips brushing her shoulder. “That one we know too well.”

“Gabriel,” she sighed, shaking her head. “Let’s not.”

“Why not?”

“Because… we shouldn’t.”

“That’s not enough of a reason.”

“Should there be one?” she challenged, arching a brow.

“Arian.” I caught her hand and placed it on the front of my jeans, unable to hide my need. “This has been killing me since I saw you earlier today.”

Her lips parted as if to argue, but closed again with a sigh. My triumph flickered quietly inside me—I knew she felt it too. Gently, I pulled her onto my lap, letting her straddle me.

“Why do you make it so hard for me to resist you?” she whispered.

“Maybe because I can’t stay away from you,” I murmured back. My heart thundered as I said the truth I had been holding back. “You’re in every thought, Arian. Between every breath I take.”

As usual, she hadn’t said anything, and I hadn’t expected her to as I brought her head down for a toe-curling kiss. I poured every unspoken feeling, every raw emotion into that one kiss, because words always seemed to fail me when it came to her. How could I possibly tell her that she had become the axis around which my entire world spun?

Soon, we were frantically tearing off each other’s clothes, the hunger between us impossible to contain. I thrust into her in one hard stroke, and her cry tore through the quiet of the room.

That sound always undid me—it was the one reminder that she needed me just as much as I needed her.

“You feel so good, Arian,” I rasped, my voice strained with desire and something dangerously close to devotion.

“Harder.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, her arms tightening around my neck like I was the only thing anchoring her to this world.

I obeyed her command, driving into her with a desperation that mirrored the storm inside me. Her cries of pleasure soon filled the room, and I had to cover her mouth with my hand so she wouldn’t wake everyone else.

A selfish part of me almost wanted them to hear—so they would know she was mine. But no, this moment was ours alone.

She climaxed, her body trembling against mine, but I didn’t follow her over that edge. Reluctantly, I pulled out, easing her off my lap before rising to my feet.

“You didn’t come.” Her eyes flicked from my hardened length to my face, questioning. “Why?”

“I intend to ravish you all night long, gorgeous,” I murmured, brushing my fingers across her cheek. My chest ached with the tenderness I rarely allowed myself to show. “Turn around and get on your knees.”

She licked her lips, desire shimmering in her gaze, and obeyed. God, the sight of her willingly giving herself to me—trusting me—was enough to unravel every ounce of restraint I had.

I was glad she wanted me as much as I wanted her, because I planned to take her until exhaustion claimed us both.

“Ready?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.

“Yes,” she breathed, her voice trembling with anticipation.

I wanted to tell her then—I love you. The words pressed against my tongue, aching to be freed. But I swallowed them down. One day, she would be ready to hear them… and when that day came, I hoped to God she would say them back to me. Until then, I would show her in every kiss, every touch, every breath.