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☕ In The Coffee Shop: The Unraveling
The late afternoon sun of the city, filtered through the tall windows of the luxurious Nightstar Hotel's sleek coffee shop, cast long, amber shadows across the polished marble floor. The air, thick with the aroma of expensive espresso, was a low hum of hushed conversations and clinking china.
At a secluded, plush leather booth, Selina was the picture of effortless cool. She wore a tailored black cropped blazer over a crisp white tank top and ripped, high-waisted jeans, her eyes hidden behind oversized, chic sunglasses. Her fingers moved quickly across her phone screen, scrolling with a bored, rhythmic impatience.
A shadow fell over her table. Without a word, a girl slumped into the seat opposite her. Selina finally looked up, pulling her sunglasses down to the tip of her nose.
"Why are you late?" Selina asked, her voice a low, even murmur.
The girl was Elisabeth. She was impeccably dressed in a sharp, structured emerald-green dress, but her face was pale, tight, and utterly devoid of a smile. Her eyes, usually bright with competitive fire, were flat.
Selina, reading the landscape of her friend's anguish, switched to a normal, almost bored tone. "What happened?"
Elisabeth spoke, her voice strained, and recounted the whole story: the public humiliation, Jake's infidelity, the shocking cancellation of the engagement by Robert.
Selina listened, then let out a short, cynical chuckle.
Elisabeth stared, aghast. "What does that mean? Are you laughing at my situation?" Her shock morphed instantly into sharp anger.
Selina leaned back, crossing her arms. Her expression was utterly cold. "No. But you have to be a little patient. I knew this would happen."
Elisabeth's eyebrows drew together. "What?"
"Because of your rush plan, you lost it." Selina's voice was flat, matter-of-fact.
Elisabeth couldn't hold it back any longer. "I couldn't just sit back! So, I planned to attack that Gabriella by street bullying. How can a fiancée endure when her fiancé kisses someone else?" she spat out the last words, venom dripping from them.
"I can understand the impulse," Selina conceded. "But look. Your rush plan ruined everything. And look at yourself—Jake's father canceled your engagement."
Elisabeth brought her hand down on the table with a loud slap. "I won't leave that Gabriella!" The anger was pure, white-hot, and consuming.
Selina stood up, signaling the end of the meeting. Before turning to leave, she said, with deliberate weight, "You have to remember one thing: Think twice before doing anything. And one more thing: Gabriella isn't an ordinary girl."
Elisabeth stopped her. "Selina!"
Selina turned, impatient. "What now?"
Elisabeth looked up, her expression hardening into a chilling, cold resolve. "I need one favor."
"What?" Selina was genuinely confused.
"Can I stay in your house?"
Selina's cold demeanor broke, replaced by a slight, almost calculating smile. "Of course."
Elisabeth did not return the smile. Her anger towards Gabriella was an immovable mountain.
🏛️ In Gabriella's House: The Revelation
The Gabriella Enterprise family home was a testament to old money—a sprawling estate where every column and fixture whispered of history and wealth. In the opulent main living room, Gabriella walked in, clad in a stunning, long, sleeveless pearl-white gown that seemed to absorb and reflect the soft light, making her look like a warrior goddess wrapped in silk. Her face was etched with fatigue.
Her parents, Frederick and Roselette, were waiting. On a plush velvet sofa, her aunt, the notoriously bossy lady Fiona, sat casually, observing the scene with an air of detached amusement.
Frederick, a man used to commanding boardrooms, stood up. "Gabriella, I need to talk to you."
Roselette, her mother, was already trembling with outrage.
Gabriella instantly read the dense, charged atmosphere. She knew: her parents were furious because she had publicly rejected the engagement with Jake.
"I have already told you," Gabriella said, planting her feet. "I don't—"
Roselette cut her off, her voice laced with pain and fury. "Are we looking like fools to you, Gabriella? Because of you, we got insulted in front of them!"
Suddenly, Gabriella's tiredness was replaced by a furious surge of her own. She met her mother's accusation head-on. "Did you guys ask my permission before this arrangement?"
Roselette was genuinely shocked at the defiance. "Gabriella!"
Fiona stood up, her posture rigid. "Gabriella, she is your mother. Don't talk like that."
"I am telling the truth," Gabriella stated simply.
Frederick stepped in, his voice more controlled. "We arranged this because we thought you liked him, right?"
Gabriella took a breath and then delivered the truth, cold and hard. "Because of that, I can't let it happen... Mrs. Robert's business strategy... that..." She hesitated, her eyes flickering. "...that Takeover Gabriella Enterprise through this marriage."
The silence was deafening. Everybody was shocked. "What?" they whispered in unison.
Gabriella walked towards the grand staircase.
Just as she reached the first step, Frederick's voice, now desperate, echoed behind her. "But... You love him, right?"
Gabriella froze. Without turning, she said, her voice dropping to an icy monotone, "Yes. But it does not mean I would let down my parents in front of them. Gabriella Enterprise always belongs to you. I won't allow others to take them."
She walked upstairs, leaving her parents paralyzed by the devastating revelation of Robert's plan.
Fiona watched the retreating figure of her niece. She moved closer to Gabriella's parents' retreating backs and whispered, a hint of anger and pride in her voice, "Emilda Group Heir's won't change. First, they moved their plan to capture Gabriella Enterprise by Xander and my wedding. Now... Jake and Gabriella."
A sudden, proud smile curved her lips. "I am seeing my old self from her now." She turned and walked away.
🏫 In Brighton Wosdom School: The Savior
The school ground was chaos—an electric buzz of teenage energy. Three massive tourist buses were lined up, ready for the trip. Students were moving everywhere, carrying luggage, their excitement a palpable force.
Raina entered one of the buses. Selina, already seated, raised a hand to catch her eye. Raina saw her and they took seats near each other. Raina was dressed in a cold and bold style—a black leather jacket and combat boots. Selina was elite in her designer sportswear.
"I thought you wouldn't come," Raina stated, expecting a heartbroken Selina.
Selina met her gaze, utterly cold. "I didn't act like the whole world was destroyed because Han broke up with me." She smirked.
Raina smiled, equally cold. "I like that spirit."
Selina's smile disappeared. She still missed Han.
Han entered the bus, wearing a relaxed, cool costume. He saw Selina. She deliberately avoided his eye contact. He sat down with a male friend, his mind instantly flashing back to their previous tour—a time when they were a happy lovers, enjoying everything together. He snapped out of the painful memory.
"What happened?" his friend asked.
Han shook his head.
Outside, a sleek, luxury car pulled up near the bus. Gabriella stepped out. Her aunt, Fiona, followed her.
"Are you alright?" Fiona asked.
"Yes," Gabriella replied. Fiona, dressed in a sharp suit, helped with the luggage. "Forget everything and enjoy your tour. And keep this strong mentality every time."
Gabriella gave a playful, slight smile.
"Don't mock me," Fiona warned.
Gabriella put on her sunglasses, the large lenses masking her eyes. "I'm not," she said, her voice soft. She smiled a little more. "Don't worry about me. I am not a girl who worries about the past. My only focus is how to get rid of that..."
Fiona smiled, filled with proud relief. "Okay. One more thing: I am going abroad. Tonight's flight. I probably won't be here when you get back."
Gabriella hugged Fiona tightly. "Safe journey."
"You too," Fiona said, surprised by the emotional display.
Fiona drove away. Gabriella started walking toward the bus.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed her wrist.
She turned, startled. The person wore a wide-brimmed hat, concealing their face. She leaned down to look, but before she could, he removed the hat.
It was Ajax.
Gabriella was literally shocked. "You said you wouldn't come to the tour."
Ajax's face was straight and serious. "Yes, I'm not on the tour. But don't change the subject." His serious expression intensified. "What happened two days ago?"
Gabriella frowned, confused.
"You were removed from the School Student President position, right?"
Gabriella nodded, her confusion clearing.
Ajax's fury erupted. "Why didn't you tell me earlier? I was in the interschool competition, so I didn't know about it! I only found out today, so I hurried to meet you in person! Don't you know how hard it was to get that position?"
"Sorry," Gabriella said in a normal tone. "I know how hard you people helped me to get that position, even you said you didn't..."She paused.
"But I know it was you who did it," Gabriella finished.
Ajax was shocked. How did she know?
"But don't worry," Gabriella continued. "Whether I have authority or not, I can still defeat them and stand against them."
"I know you have the strength, but that authority can easily get everyone to obey you," Ajax insisted.
Gabriella gave a strained chuckle.
She suddenly looked past him, towards the bus. Ronnie was kissing Lara's forehead, helping her bring her luggage onto the bus. Gabriella watched them, a deep, quiet pain in her eyes.
"Are you missing your bestie?" Ajax asked, noticing the painful glance.
Gabriella's voice was flat. "What is the point that I miss her? She is the one who is staying away from me."
Ronnie entered the bus. Lara, turning casually, saw Gabriella. They held eye contact for a few seconds. Then Ronnie called her, and Lara walked onto the bus.
Gabriella turned back to Ajax.
"And I know that Erica and her friends made false accusations about your character," Ajax's face darkened with rage. "How can they do that?" He was about to explode.
Gabby quickly grabbed his hand, her touch calming. "I will handle it."
Ajax turned to her, his expression softening but still furious. "Why didn't you say who was in that photo? If you had said the truth, you wouldn't be accused of having a bad character! I know you didn't do anything wrong, but you have to tell that truth! No one will come to prove for us ; only we have to do that."
Gabriella chuckled, a sound heavy with bitter knowledge. "If I said who he is... would they believe me that I'm not a bad character?" Ajax's face was filled with sorrow.
Gabriella continued, the cold truth of her sacrifice ringing in her voice. "No. If I said his name, then I would lead him to the same terrible situation, too. Thank you for believing me. And I don't want to prove myself to those who don't believe me."
Gabriella moved to leave. Ajax grabbed her hand again, his eyes locking on hers.
"Who is he?"
Gabriella smiled, a flicker of pure, devastating affection in her gaze. She leaned in, her voice a whispered secret.
"It's you."
She gave his hand a gentle squeeze and turned, walking towards the bus.
Ajax stood still. The memory flashed back to him: the swimming pool. There were no one else there. Gabriella had tripped. He just helped her from falling. But they hadn't kissed. Erica and her friends had set them up, capturing pictures at an angle that made it look exactly like they were kissing. Only Gabriella's face was visible; Ajax's face was hidden by the cap he was wearing.
He looked at the bus, the realization hitting him like a physical blow.
Gabriella hadn't just been protecting her reputation. She had rescued him by hiding his name.
Ajax looked to the bus. His heart hammered in his chest—a feeling not just of gratitude, but of profound, protective friendship.
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To be Continued.....
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