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The morning sun was just starting to peek through the tall windows of the Gabriella Mansion, but for Gabriella, everything felt cold. She walked through the grand foyer, trying to keep her face steady. She had just left Felix, her heart in pieces, but she couldn't let her mother see the cracks. She lied, telling Roselette that Felix was just busy with a late-night project.
The Childhood Secret
Gabriella retreated to her bedroom—a sanctuary of soft cream walls and velvet furniture. She was still wearing her emerald silk gown, the fabric heavy and rustling against the floor like a secret.
Suddenly, a knock sounded. Roselette entered, carrying a small, vintage velvet box. She looked at Gabriella with eyes full of a strange, deep emotion.
"Mom? What is it?" Gabriella asked, trying to hide her exhaustion.
Roselette sat on the edge of the bed and handed her the box. "Open it, Gabriella. I've kept this safe for twenty years."
With trembling fingers, Gabriella flipped the lid. Her breath hitched. Inside, resting on a bed of black satin, was a silver chain with a half-moon pendant. It was beautiful, antique, and hauntingly familiar.
"This belongs to you," Roselette whispered, her voice thick with love. "When I adopted you from St. Jude's, this was the only thing you were wearing. It was the only piece of your past you had left. I thought it was time you wore it again."
As soon as Roselette left the room, Gabriella's "perfect daughter" mask shattered. She rushed to her vanity drawer and pulled out the half-moon silver bracelet that Raina had given her on the rooftop before she died.
She laid the bracelet next to the chain her mother had just given her.
Her heart did a slow, painful somersault. The silver was identical. The craftsmanship was a perfect match. But most importantly, when she pressed the two half-moons together, they clicked. They fit perfectly, forming one complete, full moon.
A cold sweat broke out on her skin. Raina hadn't just been her enemy. She was the other half of the moon.
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The Unexpected Chef
Hours later, She walked to the long mahogany table, her mind heavy with the secrets of the silver moon bracelet. As she sat down, a hand reached out to serve her breakfast. But the hand was too large, the movements too certain to be her mother's.
Gabriella grabbed the wrist, pulling the person closer, only to find a face just inches from hers. She gasped, her heart leaping into her throat. Felix.
He wore a simple black t-shirt that showed the tension in his shoulders, his dark hair slightly tousled. "Good morning," he smirked, though his eyes were tired.
Gabriella stood up abruptly, her chair scraping against the marble floor. "Why are you here? Where is my mom?"
"She went to the women's club," Felix replied, his smile softening. He pushed a bowl of cereal toward her, trying to act like everything was normal.
Gabriella didn't take a bite. Her gaze was like ice. "Are you going to answer me now? Why were you at that nightclub the night my father died?"
The smile faded from Felix's face instantly. "Gabriella... please."
"If you aren't willing to tell the truth, you can leave," she said coldly. She turned on her heel and marched upstairs to her room. Felix followed her, his footsteps heavy behind her, but she slammed the door shut and locked it. "GO AWAY!" she shouted.
A second later, she heard a heavy thud against the wood, followed by the sound of someone collapsing. Her heart hammered against her ribs. Was he hurt?
She threw the door open to check on him, but the hallway was empty. "Felix?" she whispered, stepping out into the corridor.
Suddenly, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her from behind. Felix pulled her back against his chest, burying his face in the crook of her neck. Gabriella stood stunned, the heat of his body melting her resolve for just a second.
"I can't tell you everything yet, Gabriella," he whispered, his voice raw and breaking. "But I have my reasons. I'm not like your betrayer brother Han, and I'm definitely not like Jake. Believe me... just one last time."
Gabriella could feel the vibration of his voice against her skin. It sounded like the absolute truth. She turned in his arms, looking into his desperate eyes.
"Fine," she said, her voice shaking with deep emotion. "But I'm not coming home with you. Not yet. When you are ready to tell me the whole truth, I'll come back. Until then... go."
She stepped back into her room and closed the door. She listened until the sound of his footsteps faded and the front door clicked shut. Felix was gone.
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The sun was climbing high over the city, but it felt like a cold spotlight on Han's new villa. After the government seized their mansion, the family had moved to this smaller, sharp-edged modern house. It smelled of fresh paint and desperation.
The Secret of the Royal Heir
Gabriella climbed the stairs, her heart hammering against her ribs. She was dressed in a midnight-blue leather jacket and slim-fit jeans, looking like a girl on a mission. Her hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail, showing the sharp, determined lines of her face.
She found Selina in the upstairs lounge. Selina looked tired, her pale pink silk robe hanging loosely on her shoulders. She gave a small, chilly smile—nothing like the warmth they used to share.
"Looking for Han?" Selina asked, her voice tight. "He's at the office trying to save what's left of our lives."
"No," Gabriella said, her voice steady. "I'm here for you."
She reached into her pocket and pulled out the silver half-moon bracelet. The metal caught the morning light, gleaming like a cold star.
The color drained from Selina's face. She let out a choked sob. "How... how do you have that? That was with Kevin, wasn't it?"
Gabriella didn't flinch. "Answer me first, and I'll give you your answer. What is so special about this bracelet?"
"It's a unique piece from the Royal Family," Selina whispered, her hands trembling. "Raina gave it to Kevin. It belongs to her—the heir of the Royal Group is the only one allowed to wear it."
Gabriella felt a chill run down her spine. "A royal heir... did Raina have any siblings? Any cousins?"
Selina lowered her voice to a haunting whisper. "She had a sister. But she was kidnapped when she was only two years old. She was lost forever."
Gabriella's eyes widened in total shock. "What?"
"Raina used to wear the pendant as a chain," Selina continued, tears streaming down her face. "I saw it around her sister neck in old photos too. Later,Raina redesigned it into a bracelet to give to Kevin as a token of her love. Now, tell me! How did you get it?"
"I found it at Kevin's house," Gabriella lied, her voice devoid of emotion. She turned on her heel and began to walk away.
"Wait!" Selina called out, her voice cracking. "The rumors... they aren't true, right? You didn't... you didn't kill Raina, did you?"
Gabriella froze for a split second, but she didn't look back. She ignored the question and walked out of the villa, her mind a whirlwind of horror. Why? Why is this happening? She can't be my real sister. We can't be blood...
Behind her, Selina collapsed onto the sofa, frustrated and sobbing. "Why didn't she answer me? I'm sure Raina didn't commit suicide... I know she didn't."
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The morning sun was hidden behind a thick blanket of clouds as Felix sat in his sleek, black armored SUV. The car was parked in a deserted alleyway, the tinted windows reflecting the cold, grey world outside. He looked sharp but exhausted in a navy blue tailored suit, his tie loosened just enough to show the stress weighing on him.
The Mystery of the Rooftop
The door opened, and his lead assistant slipped into the passenger seat, clutching a tablet.
"How is the police inquiry going regarding Raina's death?" Felix asked, his voice low and dangerous.
"The police officially closed the file as a suicide, sir," the assistant replied. "There was no evidence of a struggle, and her fingerprints were on the only weapons found. Case closed."
Felix's eyes narrowed into slits. He stared out the windshield, his mind replaying the night on the rooftop. "I still don't get it. Why did Raina choose an area with zero CCTV? And why didn't she dodge when Gabriella stabbed her?"
He shook his head, his jaw tightening. "I know Raina. She has no mercy for her enemies. It's too mysterious... it's like she planned to make it look like a suicide. But why would she want Gabriella to escape the blame for this crime?"
"Maybe she was protecting her?" the assistant suggested.
"But from what?" Felix whispered. He turned to his assistant. "Enquire about a name: Scarlet. Find every person with that name in Raina's inner circle. Now."
The assistant nodded, but he didn't leave. He hesitated, his fingers trembling slightly over his tablet.
"What else?" Felix snapped. "Say it."
"The final inquiry report regarding your parents' car accident 4 years ago just arrived," the assistant said softly.
Felix felt his heart stop. He had spent years hunting the man who killed his family, always believing it was Richardson. "And? It was Richardson, right?"
"No, sir," the assistant whispered, looking down. "The brake lines weren't cut by Richardson's men. It was Robert."
A wave of pure, red fury washed over Felix. His vision blurred with rage. The man he had been fighting for years—was the one who had made him an orphan.
"HIM." Felix growled, the word sounding like a curse.
In a fit of uncontrollable anger, his fist slammed into the steering wheel. The loud, piercing blare of the horn echoed through the empty alley, a sound of pure agony and vengeance.
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The moon hung low over the Midnight Highway, a long stretch of asphalt cutting through the jagged, dark silhouettes of the hills. The only sound was the roar of an engine pushed to its absolute limit.
The Breaking Point
Gabriella was behind the wheel, her foot heavy on the gas. She was dressed in a ivory silk blouse that was now wrinkled and damp with her tears. Her heart felt like it had been physically shattered; the truth she had discovered was a pain far deeper than any physical wound. Every breath was a sob that caught in her throat.
"Why? Why? The enemy, I was hunting for years....turned as my own blood,My sister " she choked out, her vision blurred by the salty sting of betrayal.
She saw the bright, blinding headlights of a massive semi-truck looming ahead. Her heart jumped. She slammed her foot onto the brake pedal.
Nothing.
The pedal hit the floor with a hollow thud. The brakes were dead.
"No, no, no!" she screamed, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the steering wheel. In a split-second reflex, she jerked the wheel to the right. The tires screeched, the car spinning wildly before slamming into the rocky embankment at the base of the hillside.
The truck didn't even slow down. It roared past, its tail lights disappearing into the dark.
Silence returned to the highway, broken only by the hiss of steam from the crumpled hood. Gabriella was still conscious, her head spinning. With trembling hands, she forced the jammed door open and crawled out onto the cold pavement.
She was a mess. Her forehead was gashed, blood trickling down into her eyes, and her hands were raw with scratches. She leaned against the wreckage, exhaling a jagged breath of survival.
THWACK.
A heavy, sickening blow landed on the back of her head. Gabriella's world tilted and turned black as she collapsed onto the hard road, her blood pooling on the asphalt.
Through the haze of pain, she saw a pair of polished shoes. A man stepped into the light of the flickering car lamp. It was Robert. His grey hair shone like tarnished silver in the moonlight, and a twisted, manic grin was plastered on his face. This was Jake's father—the man who had escaped prison just to finish what he started.
"Same hit," Robert laughed, his voice like gravel. "Just like that."
He knelt down, grabbing Gabriella's chin with a cold, skeletal grip, forcing her to look at him. "Didn't you die yet? Good. Hold on just a little longer. Your husband is on his way."
He leaned closer, his eyes dancing with malice. "I want to see the light go out of his eyes when you die right in front of him."
Gabriella's vision was fading, but she forced her cracked lips to move. "It won't... happen," she whispered, her voice a defiant rasp. "I won't die... in your hands."
Robert just smirked, his grip tightening.
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The night sky was a bruised purple as Felix tore through the city streets. He was behind the wheel of his high-performance SUV, his hands gripping the leather steering wheel so hard his knuckles turned white. He was dressed in a fitted black tactical turtleneck and dark trousers—the uniform of a man who lived in the shadows. He had just received a tip about Robert's hiding place, and his heart was racing with the need for justice.
The Predator's Call
Suddenly, his console lit up. An unknown number. He swiped to answer.
"Hello?" Felix snapped, his voice tight.
A jagged, chilling laugh filled the car. "Hello... my favorite secret agent."
Felix's brows furrowed in instant recognition. "Robert." His voice was a low growl. "I know you're listening. I'm coming for you. Don't think you can run this time."
Robert chuckled, the sound distorted and mocking. "Are you now? But I'm not where you think I am, Felix. And more importantly... you have no idea why I'm calling." The voice turned pitch-black. "Your beloved wife is currently under my custody."
SCREECH!
Felix slammed on the brakes, the tires screaming against the asphalt as the car fishtailed to a halt in the middle of the empty road. "What? You're lying!"
"If you want to see her one last time," Robert whispered, "come to the hillside highway. Don't be late, Agent. The view is... killer."
The line went dead.
Felix felt a wave of pure terror wash over him—a feeling he hadn't felt in years. He frantically pulled up his tracking app to check Gabriella's location, but the screen just spun.
"Damn it!" he roared, slamming his fist against the dashboard. "The signal is jammed!"
He breathed heavily, his mind racing through every detail of the morning. Then, it hit him. The diamond-drop earrings he had presented to her on wedding. He had hidden a microscopic, independent GPS tracker in the setting—a secret he had never told her, a precaution for a day he hoped would never come.
"Please be wearing them," he whispered, his eyes stinging with unshed tears of desperation. "Please, Gabriella."
He opened a secondary, encrypted app. For a heartbeat, the screen was blank. Then, a tiny, pulsing blue dot flickered to life. It was moving fast, then it stopped abruptly at the exact coordinates Robert had mentioned—the desolate hillside highway.
His eyes widened in horror. The trap was set, and she was the bait.
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The Hillside Highway was a desolate strip of asphalt, haunted by the whistling wind and the smell of burnt rubber. The moonlight hit the scene like a cold spotlight. Gabriella was kneeling on the hard, gritty road, her hands bound tightly behind her back with rough rope. She was a vision of broken beauty in her blood-stained ivory blouse, her hair matted with dust.
The Predator's Grudge
Robert's men stood in a semi-circle, their cold, black guns pointed directly at her head. Robert sat on the hood of his car, watching her with a sickening, mocking grin.
"Why are you doing this?" Gabriella spat, her voice trembling but her eyes full of fire.
"To make Felix regret," Robert said, his voice dripping with malice. "He messed with the wrong man. You don't even know who you married, do you? He's not a businessman, Gabriella. He's a Secret Agent."
Gabriella's heart skipped a beat. A secret agent? The shock hit her harder than any physical blow. "What?"
Robert chuckled, a dark, hollow sound. "Pathetic. You don't know anything. And don't expect sympathy from me. You humiliated me when you rejected my son, Jake, in front of the whole world. You exposed our plan to take your company. Now, you pay the price."
Suddenly, the roar of an engine drowned out the wind. A car tore down the highway, tires screaming as it drifted to a halt just yards away. Felix leaped out, his face a mask of pure terror.
"GABRIELLA!" he roared, his voice breaking as he ran toward her.
A wave of relief washed over her. Felix... you came. But before he could reach her, Robert stepped forward and swung a heavy wooden stick with brutal force against the back of Gabriella's head.
The world turned into a blur of grey and red. Gabriella's knees hit the pavement. As she fell, she saw Felix's desperate face through her fading vision. A tiny, sad smile touched her lips.
Robert and his men piled into their cars and sped away into the night, leaving a trail of dust. Felix reached her in seconds, sliding on his knees and pulling her limp body into his lap.
"Gabriella! Stay with me! Open your eyes!" he begged, his hands trembling as he tried to stop the bleeding.
Gabriella's eyes fluttered open one last time. She reached up, her blood-stained hand weakly cupping his cheek. "I didn't expect... our story to end like this," she whispered, a single tear trailing down her face.
"No! No!" Felix cried, his chest heaving with agony.
Suddenly, a horrific memory flashed before his eyes—the exact same scene from four years ago. His first love, Jane, lying on a highway just like this, her head bleeding, her life slipping away. Jane had said those exact same words to him before her heart stopped.
He came to reality.
"Nothing will happen to you!" Felix sobbed, his voice raw. "I won't let them take you from me!"
But Gabriella's smile began to fade. Her hand slipped from his cheek, and her eyes slowly drifted shut.
"Our story... doesn't end like this," Felix whispered into the silence, his voice cracking as he felt her heartbeat slowing down beneath his palms.
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To be Continued...
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