Chapter Ninety Two

Chapter Ninety Two
Gabriel
“Lucille?” I rose to my feet, Arian mirroring me almost instinctively. My heart raced. “When did you… You’re not supposed to be back yet.”

She walked in, shutting the door behind her with a slam that reverberated through my bones. Her eyes darted between me and Arian, then back again. The hatred in them was so thick it seemed to darken her irises until they were almost black.

“So, the rumors are all true,” she said coldly. “My husband is cheating on me with the nanny.”

“You came back because of that?” I asked, genuinely surprised. “Weren’t you getting it good from your Indonesian men?”
The bitterness in my tone shocked even me, but I didn’t care. Not anymore.

“I was,” she admitted with a nod. “But I didn’t bother fulfilling your wish—you know, the one about me falling in love with someone else and forgetting about you? Yeah, it didn’t work out.”

“Good thing I told Fabian to go ahead with the paperwork, then,” I shot back. “Now that you’re here, he’s going to serve you wherever you’re staying. You’ll sign the papers and make me a free man. Honestly, I’d prefer an annulment. It’d mean I was never married to a bitch like you.”

Her face contorted in fury. “This bitch gave birth to your daughter! Show some respect!”

“Like I told you before, Lu, you were just a surrogate,” I spat. “Just because you carried her for nine months and pushed her out doesn’t make you her mother. You never loved her. And yes, the rumors are true. I’m moving on from you already, so deal with it.”

Her gaze snapped to Arian, venom dripping from her voice. “I knew there was something not innocent about you when we first met. I knew you’d steal my husband, and you did. I should have killed you when I had the chance.”

She lunged forward, but I stepped between them immediately, blocking her. My body burned with adrenaline. If she so much as touched Arian, I would—God help me—I would destroy her.

“I’ve already sent your remaining belongings to your father’s house,” I told her icily. “You have no business here anymore. After the divorce, I’m going to marry Arian. She’ll be the mother of my daughter, because my daughter loves her.”
I knew my words would only pour fuel on her fire, but I couldn’t stop myself. I wasn’t afraid of Lucille. Not anymore.

“I waited seven years for you to love me, Gabriel, but you never did. Now you’re planning to marry her after barely meeting her?” Her voice cracked in disbelief. “Everything that happened between us was your fault. If only you’d loved me just a little—”

“You can’t force me to love you, Lu. Not when you drugged me and forced your way into my life.” My chest heaved with rage. “You know what? Our marriage wasn’t even consensual. It happened under duress.”

“You don’t have proof,” she snapped.

“I recorded my conversation with Abigail,” I said with a grim smile. “She told me everything. When we go to court, the judge will decide.”

Her face went pale. “You’re a bastard, Gabriel Cruz.” Her voice shook with fury. “If you think I’ll let you live happily ever after with her, you’re bloody mistaken. I’ll make you pay.”

I sneered. “Ha ha, I’m shaking in my shoes. You’ve already lost, Lu. Accept defeat. And if you try anything stupid…” My voice dropped to a lethal whisper. “I’ll make sure you end up like your lover Vincent Harvey—or worse. Dead.”

She went silent, and I saw it in her eyes. She knew I meant it.

“You love her so much you’d kill me?” she asked, as if needing confirmation.

“Yes,” I said without hesitation. “She’s my world.”

Her lips curled into a bitter, mirthless chuckle. “Wow. I would’ve given anything to hear you profess your love to me like this.”

“Guess you can’t always have it all, Lucille,” I shrugged. “You’ll sign the papers tomorrow.”

“Do I have a choice?”

“No, you don’t.”

“Very well.” She inhaled sharply. “Am I allowed to say goodbye to Kareena?”

“Of course.” I nodded, then turned to Arian. “Let’s go together.” I extended my hand to her.

She hesitated. Her eyes lingered on my hand, doubt flickering across her face. My heart lodged in my throat. Please, I begged silently. Please, Arian. Take my hand.

“It’s not a good thing when a woman is having second thoughts, Cruz,” Lucille muttered from behind. “You sure you want to go down this road with her?”

I ignored her, still holding my breath.

Arian looked up, met my gaze, and whatever she saw there must have steadied her—because she slid her hand into mine. She even squeezed gently. Relief flooded me, so strong it nearly buckled my knees.

“Let’s go,” she whispered, offering me a small, apologetic smile.

Lucille’s silence behind us was louder than any curse she could have hurled, but I didn’t care. She’d lost.

Back at the party, we ran into Gabriella. Her shock was evident the moment her eyes locked on Lucille—and then even more so when she saw Arian’s hand entwined with mine.

She stared, dumbfounded, and I spoke before her imagination ran wild. “We’re signing the divorce papers tomorrow. Meet my girlfriend, Arian.”

“So… you’ve finally gone mad.” Gabi’s brows shot up. “Mom and Dad know about this?”

“They gave their blessing last month,” I said. “Yours isn’t needed. Even Zia Layla likes her.”

Her glare told me I’d struck a nerve, but for once, I didn’t give a damn. I was too high on Arian’s hand in mine.

“Where’s Kary?” I asked.

“Daddy!” My daughter came running, throwing herself into my arms.

“Hey, princess.” I kissed her cheek. “You’re sweating a lot.” I dabbed at her face with my handkerchief, but she was too busy staring at her mother.

“Daddy?” Kary’s voice trembled. “Why is she here? How is she here right now? Why didn’t you tell me she’s back?”

“He didn’t know,” Lucille cut in before I could answer. “I took him by surprise.”

“I don’t want you here.” Kary’s glare was fierce, her little hands balled into fists. “Go away.”
"I’ll go away," Lucille said. "I just came to say goodbye to you."

Kary’s gaze slid to mine, her eyes wide with something I hadn’t seen in her in a long time—hope. She already seemed to guess why her mother was saying those words. God, my little girl was smarter than most adults. And cruelly, she was right. Lucille’s departure was a blessing, not a wound.

"Does this mean... she won’t be in our lives anymore?" she asked, almost holding her breath.

"Yes, baby." I nodded, my throat tightening. "We’re finally getting a divorce."

"Yay!" She clapped her hands, her joy so pure it made me ache. "Thank you, Daddy!" She wrapped her small arms around my neck, and I held her tight, inhaling the sweet scent of her hair. This—this was all I ever wanted. Her happiness. Her freedom from the shadow of Lucille.

"I guess this is my cue to leave," Lucille’s voice cracked, the sound jagged with the realization that even her own daughter wanted nothing to do with her. "Goodbye... Kareena. Can I hug you?"

But Kary recoiled, burying her face against me as though Lucille was poison. My heart burned at the sight, but I didn’t push her. I stroked her back gently, giving her the comfort she needed, and with a firm gesture, I told Lucille to leave. To my relief, she obeyed and walked away without another word.

"Is she gone?" Kary asked, her little voice muffled against my neck.

"Yes, baby," I assured her softly. "You won’t see her again if you don’t want to."

"I don’t want to see her again." Her eyes, so much like mine, looked past me to Arian, and she reached for her. I passed her over carefully.

"I love you, Arian. I want you to be my mother," Kary whispered, clinging to her like she had always belonged there.

Arian’s eyes widened, shimmering with shock, then darted to me. I gave her a half shrug, silently telling her this was her choice. If she couldn’t accept the role, I wouldn’t hold it against her. I didn’t need labels. As long as she stayed, as long as she didn’t walk out on me and Kary, I’d wait forever.

"I love you more, Kary," Arian finally said, her voice soft but steady.

I glanced at my sister. Gabi’s conflicted stare burned into Arian, but I didn’t interfere. That was her battle to fight—her decision to accept or reject Arian. As for me? My mind was made up. Arian was mine. She was family, whether Gabi liked it or not.

"Um... I think it’s time to cut the cake," Gabi finally said, breaking the silence.

"Let’s go," I told Arian.

She set Kary on her feet. "I’ll wait here."

"You’re part of my family now, Arian," I told her firmly, not caring who heard. "Let’s go."

As usual, she hesitated. Always hesitating, as if torn between running and staying. Then, with a small nod, she followed me, and together we walked to where my parents waited. I introduced her as my girlfriend, and my chest warmed with relief when they welcomed her without hesitation. Arian still seemed skeptical, her posture guarded, but I could see the cracks forming in her armor. Maybe, just maybe, she’d let herself believe she belonged here.

When the party finally ended, I carried Kary upstairs. She was heavy with sleep, her arms dangling loosely around my neck. Tucking her into bed was a sacred ritual, one that soothed me as much as it did her. Since she was spending the weekend here with Gabi’s kids, I was damn near giddy. Finally. Time. Space. A chance to remind Arian what it felt like to fall asleep in my arms. God, how I’d missed her warmth beside me.

But as I shut Kary’s bedroom door and turned, I nearly bumped into someone. My baby brother stood there, waiting in the hallway.

He gave me a look that told me he wasn’t just passing by. He wanted to talk.

I nodded in greeting and tried to walk past, but he called my name, his tone low and deliberate, like he carried a weight that needed lifting.

Whatever it was, I had a bad feeling it wasn’t going to make my night any easier.