Chapter 164: You Haven't Won Me Yet

Chapter 164: You Haven't Won Me Yet
Luna's POV

Julian's words hung in the air like toxic fumes, choking the life out of the room. I stood frozen as Gabriel's whole body tensed up, his shock twisting into something pitch-black and dangerous.

"Say that one more time," Gabriel growled, his voice dropping to that deadly whisper that meant heads were about to roll.

Julian actually laughed—laughed—blood still trickling from his busted lip. He hauled himself up to his knees, his eyes raking over me with a gross hunger that made my stomach turn. I stepped back without thinking.

"I like Luna G—"

Gunshots cracked like thunder, blasting my eardrums into a high-pitched ring. Before I could even blink, a shadow lunged across the room.

Caleb dove in, yanking Gabriel's arm just as he squeezed the trigger again. The shot veered off, shattering an antique vase on a pedestal. Shards flew everywhere, and screams erupted.

"NO!" I screamed, my voice lost in the uproar.

The room exploded into total chaos. Barbara's shrieks cut through the air as she staggered back, grabbing a chair to stay upright. Richard was yelling something, but the ringing drowned it out. Julian hit the floor again, eyes wide but unscathed.

I stared at Gabriel in shock. His face was a stone-cold mask of rage, clutching a sleek black handgun—where the hell had he stashed that? His knuckles were bone-white on the grip, arm still half-pinned by his dad.

Blood soaked through Caleb's sleeve from where the stray bullet had grazed him. He winced but held on tight.

"Gabriel! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR DAMN MIND?" Caleb bellowed, pressing his bleeding arm. "HE'S YOUR BROTHER!"

Gabriel let out a hollow, crazy laugh that iced my veins. His eyes were dead-empty as he jerked free and swung the barrel back at Julian's sprawled body.

"You think I give a damn about blood ties right now? I'll end him!" Gabriel's voice was eerily calm amid the madness.

Julian looked up at him, and what I saw in his eyes freaked me out more than the gun—almost like relief, as if he'd been gunning for this moment.

"You know what's funny, bro?" Julian whispered, smirking through the blood. "I've been waiting for this since you came back. The big showdown."

"ENOUGH!" Richard's voice boomed like a thunderclap. He smacked his silver-headed cane on the floor with surprising force for an old guy. "STOP THIS RIGHT NOW!"

Richard wheeled on Gabriel, face twisted in fury. "What kind of monster are you? This is the Ashford family home, not your war zone! Put that gun down NOW!"

I don't know what came over me—maybe the sheer unfairness, or three years of pent-up anger—but I snapped.

"Monster? Monster?" I stepped up, my voice steadier than my shaking hands. "Isn't this exactly what you made him? You've spent years playing favorites with Julian, treating Gabriel like he doesn't belong in his own damn family. Did you really think he'd just suck it up forever?"

Richard's icy glare pinned me. "Luna Gray," he snarled, like my name was poison, "you're not an Ashford. You don't belong here. If you hadn't wormed your way between my grandsons, they wouldn't be ripping each other apart. You're the curse that's destroyed this family!"

I didn't back down. "I love Gabriel—not your precious Ashford money or status. And if it's sides today, I'm with him. Every time."

A flicker of surprise crossed Gabriel's face before he zeroed back in on Julian. In a blur, he spun, aimed, and fired. The bullet zipped past Julian's shoulder, nicking a thin red line.

Screams ripped through the room again. I slapped a hand over my mouth, my heart pounding like it wanted out.

"The family inheritance rights," Gabriel said, cool as ice. "Sign them over to me right now, or the next one's through his heart."

Richard went pale, eyes bulging. "You'd pull this crap? Against your own flesh and blood?"

Gabriel fired again, the shot kicking up marble chunks inches from Julian's leg. Shrapnel sliced his calf, drawing blood.

"Three seconds, Grandfather." Gabriel's tone was robotic. "One... two..."

"GIVE IT TO HIM!" Caleb yelled, still clamping his arm. "For Christ's sake, just do it! Somebody call a doctor!"

Richard looked like he'd aged twenty years in seconds. He sucked in a ragged breath, staring Gabriel down.

"The Ashfords have bred one hell of a ruthless heir," he said at last, his voice laced with disgust and a grudging nod. "Maybe our century-old empire will hit new peaks under you."

He squared his shoulders. "Follow me to my study."

As Richard turned away, Julian's weak voice croaked from the floor. "Brother... you won this round, but the war's just starting."

Gabriel paused, flashing a smile that never touched his eyes. "I've got a special 'surprise' lined up for you, little bro. You'll find out soon."

Julian licked blood off his lips. "What a coincidence. I've got a gift for you too. Hope you... enjoy it."

"We'll see whose hits harder," Gabriel murmured, sliding the gun back into his jacket.

Their stares locked like invisible blades clashing. I shivered—this was nowhere near done.

---

I paced the hallway outside Richard's study, nerves frayed until my legs burned. When the door finally creaked open and Gabriel stepped out, I rushed him, wrapping my arms around his waist.

"Is it over?" I whispered into his chest.

Gabriel pulled me close, planting a soft kiss on my forehead. "Yeah, it's done. Thanks for having my back in there, love."

I nodded against him, gunshots still echoing in my head like bad memories.

Glancing up, I caught Barbara watching us from a few feet away, her face unreadable except for a tiny upward curve of her lips—like quiet approval.

Gabriel spotted her too, and we walked over. He took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

"From now on," he said softly, "you don't have to play the perfect Ashford wife anymore, always bending to everyone. You can just be you."

Tears shimmered in Barbara's eyes as she hugged her son. "My boy's all grown up."

I cleared my throat, feeling like an outsider crashing the moment. "Mrs. Ashford, you're welcome to crash with us for a bit. It's quieter there."

Barbara smiled warmly but shook her head. "You kids need your space. I don't want to get in the way."

Before I could argue, Gabriel jumped in. "Yeah."

I shot him a puzzled look, but Barbara just chuckled softly.

"Luna, as long as you two are happy, I'm good. It's been a hell of a day—head home and crash. I've got some stuff to handle."

"What stuff?" I asked, curiosity winning out.

Barbara locked eyes with her son, something wordless passing between them.

"Divorce." Her voice was steel—flat, final, no room for debate.