The Tycoon's Secret Wife's Escape

hapter 23

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I woke up and found myself in the apartment Gabriel and I once shared. How long would it take for him to finally accept that it was over-that I had ended everything between us?

"Baby, let's talk, please." His voice cracked with desperation.

Turning to him, I search for something-anything-that might stir my heart. All I saw was his restlessness, and I wanted to believe that I had turned Gabriel's world upside down with our breakup.

It had been a month since we separated. During this time, Gabriel's persistence had done more harm than good, tarnishing my reputation with his refusal to let go. Any lingering embers of affection I once had for him had long since burned out.

The scandal linking my name to his-and Sabrina's-would never end unless he accepted the truth: we were no longer together..

Right now, all I felt for Gabriel was disgust. But I kept my expression neutral, refusing to let him see the depth of my disdain.

"What happened last night? And where's Cassie?" I asked, rubbing my temples and trying to soothe the dull ache pulsing in my head.

"Her fiancé took her."

"Fiancé?" My eyes widened.

"Mr. Asher Reid?"

Gabriel nodded solemnly.

A sour taste filled my mouth. Of course, I knew who Asher Reid was. But Cassie? Engaged? That was news to me. My stomach twisted at the revelation.

'That woman. I'll scold her when I see her,' I thought bitterly.

Gabriel's voice broke through my spiraling thoughts. "Apparently, Mr. Reid was at the bar last night with some friends. They got worried when they saw men escorting you and Cassie out of the VIP room and into another."

I stiffened as he continued, "Mr. Reid called for a doctor to treat you both. The bar staff got involved, and a waiter pointed out Maya-she's the one who paid to spike your drinks. Mr. Reid handled everything and seemed to know I was your fiancé. He let me take you home."

Gabriel had all the information, so I remained silent.noveldrama

He seized the moment, his voice filled with desperation. “Baby, I can't accept that we're breaking up. Please give me another chance. Let me show you how much I love you. Don't take the things I said to Sabrina to heart-I only spouting nonsense because I was drunk..."

I felt a wave of disgust wash over me, along with a strange clarity that made my skin prickle.

Was this how he'd always made excuses? Had I been naïve enough to swallow them before?

He pressed on, "I'm ready to tell the public about our five-year relationship and our plans to get married for the past two years if that's what it'll take for you to forgive me."

"Gabriel, you know the series is set to release in the next few months."

That's when I realized how expertly he was twisting the situation to his advantage.

19:29 Sat, 12 Apr.

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Thanks to our contract with the series' producer, any scandal or issue between us could destroy everything we'd worked for, and both of us knew that.

If he delayed the public confession, he'd make himself out to be the victim, saying that management and the producers were holding him back-while acting like he was just trying to protect me-always the same excuses he made in two years. With my current reputation, I'd only dig myself into a deeper hole. I'd likely end up paying damages again, now to the producers of Whispers of the Heart.

He sighed, reaching for my hand. "Baby, I know you're angry at me. If telling the world is what it takes to stop you from being mad..."

I wanted to scream at him, but something inside me calmed me down. I realized I had approached Gabriel all wrong. To him, this was just about Sabrina and me being angry over one mistake. But I know this isn't over.

*Fine. I'll give you another chance, Gabriel. But only if you can stay away from Sabrina for three months." The words tasted like ash in my mouth.

"Uh..." he hesitated.

I clenched my fist, feeling my nails bite into my palm.

“I'll do it!” he quickly said, reading my expression. "Just give me a chance. Please, Issa."

"Alright," I said, "I'll stay at my apartment in the meantime. Our names are all over the media right now, and it would be hard to explain if they found out I'm living here."

"I agree," he replied, then smiled. "Thanks, Issa! God, I missed you, baby!"

He moved to embrace me, but nothing was left in me that wanted his touch. When he leaned in for a kiss, I turned away.

"You need to prove that you deserve a chance, Gabriel," I said, my voice steady

as steel. "And clean up the mess you've made. I'm not speaking up, but let Golden Stage handle this."

I grabbed my bag and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" he asked, panic in his voice.

"My parents have plans tonight," I said, then paused, realizing how I could use him. "They're pushing me to marry someone else because they think we've broken up. If you come with me, it might help," I suggested, observing his reaction.

I'd use Gabriel as a shield against my family's machinations while keeping him at arm's length. Let him believe things were healing between us while I orchestrated my plans.

He hurt me. What right did he have to keep making my life harder?