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The Abundant Building Trap
The Abundant Building was not abundant in life, only in shadows. It was a derelict, skeletal structure in the city's forgotten industrial zone—a perfect, chilling stage for a confrontation.
Gabriella stood on the wide, concrete rooftop. The sky a bruised dark blue, and the air was cold, thick with dust and the scent of urban decay. She wore a elegant, light green slit gown that allowed her to move quickly, reflecting the grim purpose in her eyes.
She wasn't alone.
Raina was there, standing dangerously close to the crumbling edge. She was dressed in a sleek, blood-red velvet slit gown , a luxury item that looked wildly out of place against the rusted railings. Her friend, Erica, hovered nearby, holding a small, metallic box.
But it was Dona, standing a little too close to Raina, her eyes wide with mounting terror, who drew Gabriella's focus.
Raina showed an evil smile to Gabriella, her high-heeled boots echoing ominously on the cracked cement. Her smile was slow, deliberate, and chilling—the smile of a predator.
"Welcome, Gabriella," Raina purred, her eyes turning a terrifying shade of hard, cold black as they locked on her. "No fancy party tonight. Just us. And you know why."
Raina said , her voice dropping to a straight, merciless whisper. "Do you remember those two words, Gabriella? Shock. Afraid." The temperature seemed to drop further. "And last but not least… Pain. I'm going to give you pain."
Raina's arm shot out with unexpected force, shoving Dona.
Dona shrieked, stumbling backward toward the low, broken railing. Her balance failed.
Gabriella's heart seized, a frantic, agonizing beat against her ribs. "No!" The single word was ripped from her throat.
Dona fell, tumbling over the edge and into the dizzying void. She squeezed her eyes shut, convinced this was the end—the terrifying, sudden end of her life.
Then, a miracle of physics and speed.
A figure, a silent shadow draped entirely in a black hoodie and dark, utility pants, materialized. He hadn't been standing with them; he seemed to have burst from the shadows of the adjacent, higher section of the building. He launched himself across the gap, catching the corner railing and swinging out in a terrifying arc.
Before Dona could drop beyond reach, his hand snaked out and seized her wrist with a crushing grip. His other hand found purchase on a stable piece of the railing.
Dona's panic was instantly replaced by a thundering, painful pulse of adrenaline. She was hanging. But she was alive. She could feel the brutal, life-saving pressure of his hand.
She looked up, seeing the familiar profile framed by the dark hood. It was Ajax.
He met her gaze, a small, reckless smirk touching his lips despite the gravity-defying danger. "I won't let you die, Shorty."
Dona was overwhelmed, speechless. Ajax, using sheer strength and agility, hauled her upward. Gabriella rushed forward, grabbing Dona's waist and pulling her over the railing until they were both safely back on the cracked concrete.
"Are you alright?" Ajax asked Dona, his tone intensely serious as he checked her quickly.
Dona could only nod, hyperventilating. Gabriella let out a shaky breath, relief washing over her in a cold wave, before her eyes snapped back to the enemy.
Raina was already walking away, an infuriating smirk playing on her lips. "Oh, my bad. Clumsy girl," she muttered dismissively. Erica followed, offering a cold, mocking laugh.
Furious beyond words, a blinding red haze descending, Gabriella moved. She was driven by the single, primal need for justice.
She exploded toward Raina with terrifying speed. Before Raina could react, Gabriella snatched a small, silver knife from Raina's hand .
Gabriella raised the knife, poised to strike. The blade, inches from Raina's abdomen, reflected the sickly light.
"No!" Dona's scream was raw, powerful, and it cracked the moment.
The knife stopped. Raina was frozen, the shock replacing her smugness. Erica was wide-eyed, standing a few steps away. Ajax, silent, stood guard beside Dona.
Gabriella's mind flashed to her deepest pain: Kevin's Digital Diary. 'I love Raina. I want to protect her forever.'
The memory was a shackle. She was bound by Kevin's last wish, his impossible love. She couldn't complete the revenge, not like this. Tears of rage and betrayal stung her eyes.
Raina, sensing her victory, chuckled—a sound that scraped across Gabriella's soul. She pushed Gabriella's arm away with a single, contemptuous finger.
"You can't," Raina sneered, her triumph absolute. "You people aren't worth taking another's life. Look. Am I right?"
Gabriella's vision blurred with unshed tears. She couldn't violate Kevin's words.
Raina walked away, a silent promise of future cruelty in her retreating silhouette. Erica, a sickening grin plastered on her face, followed.
Broken. Defeated. Gabriella let out a raw, guttural cry of anguish and rage. She dropped to her knees.
Dona rushed to her, but Ajax gently held her back. "No. Let her cry."
Gabriella was lost in a storm of grief, sobbing uncontrollably. The evidence was lost. The moment was gone. Her enemy had walked away a winner. Again.
The Kiss & The Accusation
Dona's Mansion
The next morning, the sun streamed into Dona's opulent, pastel-pink bedroom. Gabriella woke up, finding Dona sleeping peacefully beside her. She gently stroked Dona's forehead, a quiet, tearful whisper escaping her lips.
"Because of me… I almost lost you."
Dona blinked awake. Gabriella quickly withdrew her hand, trying to look composed.
"When did you wake up?" Dona asked.
"Just now," Gabriella replied, trying for a normal tone.
They could hear Dona's mother downstairs.
Downstairs, Gabriella's father, Frederick, was waiting.
"I had to tell your parents," Dona whispered to Gabriella, catching her friend's nervous glance. "Otherwise, they'd worry, right?"
"I understand," Gabriella said. "But…"
"What?"
"Didn't you know what happened to me at the party?" Gabriella narrowed her eyes, confused by Dona's casual tone.
"What happened?" Dona teased, grinning. "Ah-ha! A kiss! A kiss!"
"Enough!" Gabriella blushed, a rare sight. "Yes, I don't know how to explain it to my father…"
"You have to confront him, Gabby. Tell him what's in your heart."
"But… It's his fault! I'm even surprised by his unusual behavior."
"Do you like him? Tell me the truth."
Gabriella hesitated. "I… I… But he is my enemy."
"Fine. I'm asking straight: How is he treating you? Is he still treating you as the enemy he was before?"
"No…" Gabriella's voice was barely a whisper. "He's different now."
A vivid flashback assaulted her: Jake catching her, his arms strong, rescuing her from a falling chandelier while she danced on stage in a delicate white dress. The forbidden, intimate moments they shared.
"But… he…"
Dona touched Gabriella's lips with a finger, silencing her. "I can see it. The way he looks at you. It's love. But you're right, he's your enemy. He needs to confess his feelings clearly. If he's genuine, you'll know by his expression. Then you decide: accept or reject. Right?"
Gabriella removed the finger and nodded, the turmoil in her heart visible.
A few minutes later, they were downstairs. Gabriella was anxious as her father, Frederick, spoke to Don's mother. "Then, we are going, or I will be late for the office."
Dona watched, worried. Gabriella greeted Dona's mother and followed her father.
Frederick stopped near his car. He didn't look angry. He looked sad.
"Gabriella." He turned, his voice controlled. "I know it's not your fault. I could clearly see that he forced you. I won't leave him."
Outraged, Frederick started to turn away, but Gabriella, panicked, grabbed his hand.
Frederick was shocked. He stared back. "What does this mean? Do you like him? Is that why you didn't…?"
Gabriella was stunned, ready to explain everything. But Frederick cut her off, his fury replaced by an exhausted disappointment.
"If both of you really love each other… I won't be against it. Leave the rest to me. I will handle it." He climbed into the car.
Gabriella was utterly confused. But she didn't explain. If she said anything, her father would go to Jake in a fury, and that would be a disaster. I will explain later, she thought.
In the car, Frederick whispered, only for Gabriella to hear, "How can these days' youngsters do like that? If he has a lover, why is he engaged to another girl?"
The car pulled away.
Brighton Wisdom School
At Brighton Wisdom School, the elite academy of high expectations and higher gossip, Gabriella stood on the balcony. Every student who saw her whispered. She looked out at the view, lost in thought.
A hand touched her shoulder. Lara, her friend.
Gabriella offered a small smile, but Lara's face was serious. "Gabby, I need to tell you something important."
"What?"
"Don't trust Jake. He is a two-timer."
Gabriella didn't flinch. "Oh," she said, turning away.
Lara turned her back. "Are you listening? He is…"
Gabriella smirked, turning to face her straight. "I know. It's Elisabeth, right? His fiancée."
Lara was shocked. "You know? Then why are you still…?"
Gabriella scoffed. "Yes. I won't mind it. Did you mind it when you found out your lover Ronnie was a playboy?"
"Gabriella!" Lara shouted, her face burning.
Gabriella's smile disappeared. "When I told you to stay away from him, did you listen? Why are you expecting me to do so?"
Lara walked away, defeated.
"Why are you talking so rude to her?" a voice said behind her.
Gabriella turned. Ajax. His face was straight, his hands in his pockets.
"I am giving back what she gave to me," Gabriella said coldly.
Ajax smiled slightly. "Do you like him?"
"What?" Gabriella snapped.
"I saw yesterday," Ajax said, his expression softening.
Gabriella hesitated. Then she said flatly, "No."
Ajax's smile widened a fraction in relief. "I think that's better. You won't get distracted by anything… like love."
"No one can distract me when I'm in revenge." She narrowed her eyes. "Why did you come to the party yesterday?"
"Actually, when I hung up after your call, I felt something strange. If you were there alone, your enemies would harm you. And I was right. When I came there as a waiter, I found out Raina and Erica were planning something huge, but I couldn't hear it properly. So I dropped a note for you to warn you."
Gabriella was stunned. "So that was you! Why didn't you show up then?"
Ajax smiled. "I know you. You won't like anyone to help you. So… but I couldn't leave you alone, so I followed you without you knowing." He turned serious. "And after that, you know what happened."
Gabriella smiled, genuinely grateful. "Thanks. If you weren't there…" Her voice lowered in pain. "I can't even imagine what would have happened to Dona."
Ajax's playful smile returned. "Don't. I won't allow anything to happen to you or the people related to you." He sounded sincere.
Gabriella was confused by his intensity. "But…"
He changed the subject. "I have to go. Inter-music festival now. Then, bye."
"Break a leg!" Gabriella said enthusiastically.
He turned, smiled, and walked away.
Gabriella turned back to the view. A girl rushed up to her. "Do you… know?" She showed Gabriella her phone.
The news was spreading like wildfire. A picture: Jake passionately kissing Gabriella.
The headline blared: EMILDA GROUP HEIR'S SECRET LOVER!
Gabriella's eyes went cold, but furious.
She walked fast, heading toward Jake's classroom. Before she could reach it, a boy stopped her. "The Principal called you, Gabriella."
She nodded, turning toward John's office.
Principal John's Office
Tension hung heavy in the air, thick and suffocating. Gabriella walked into the Principal's office. Erica and Anitta, were standing on one side of the room, smug and victorious. Other students were peering through the glass of the door.
"We have a report against you, Gabriella," Principal Mr. John said stiffly. "You have been reported for… bad character."
"What?" Gabriella asked, confused.
Mr. John showed her a photo on his tablet. The picture was taken in an indoor swimming pool. No one else was visible, but in the center, Gabriella was kissing a boy from her school. The boy's face was not visible.
Gabriella smirked.
Erica jumped in. "Look, Mr. John. She accepted that she did it!"
Gabriella's eyes turned glacial.
"Our school has a code of conduct," Mr. John lectured. "You are the School President; you are supposed to be a role model, not a leader of dismal behavior!"
Gabriella tightened her fist, pissed off. "Are you accusing me without knowing the truth? And are you believing the girl who gave this evidence? Do you forget that she used to bully students in another school ?"
"That's your trap!" Erica hissed.
"But you did it here, too," Gabriella smirked.
Erica smiled angrily. "But I'm not like you! You are playing well as a secret lover, and behind his back, you have another relationship!"
Gabriella wanted to slap her.
"Do you have anything to say, Gabriella? Who is that boy in this picture?" Mr. John demanded.
They don't know the truth. Ajax helped me before I fell. They took pictures that looked like a kiss. Gabriella scoffed internally. If they knew it was Ajax, they would punish him, too, for false accusations.
She scoffed aloud.
Mr. John got angry. "These days, youngsters don't obey me!"
"Why should I have to prove anything if you don't believe me?" Gabriella said, her voice dangerously calm.
"Gabriella!" Mr. John shouted. "You can't stay as School President after this incident!"
Gabriella smiled, a smile of profound disappointment.
"Then fine," she said coldly.
She removed her School President badge from her blazer, placed it swiftly on the table, and turned to leave.
She walked backward until she stood face-to-face with Erica.
Then, with a terrifying speed and force, she slapped Erica hard across her cheek. The sound cracked like a whip in the silent office.
Principal John and everyone watching gasped.
Gabriella leaned in, her eyes burning into Erica's shocked, cut-marked face.
"You have no right to talk about my character. Before you pry into others' lives, look at yourself!"
She straightened up and walked out, leaving chaos in her wake.
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To be Continued...
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