The hallway was quiet as we walked, the soft sound of our footsteps echoing through the large house. The place hadn’t changed much since I last visited-still grand, still a little too big to feel truly warm. But the room they led me to was beautiful.
It had a cozy charm. A large canopy bed stood in the center, neatly made with soft cream and gold bedding. There was a couch by the window, a shelf filled with books, and a vanity already prepared with fresh flowers. Everything looked so well put together, like someone had taken their time to make me feel welcome.
“Wow… this is beautiful,” I whispered, running my hand along the polished dresser. “Thank you, my lady,” one of the maids said with a polite smile. “I’m Dalia, and this is Miren. We’ll be attending to you during your stay here. If you need anything-anything at all-just call.”
I turned to face them properly. “Thank you. I’m Olivia.”
They both bowed slightly. It’s a pleasure, Lady Olivia.”
There was a short silence before I spoke again, my curiosity getting the better of me.
‘s Home
“Do you think… Lady Abigail would come around? I’d really like to get to know her. Maybe even be her friend if she lets me.”
Dalia and Miren exchanged a glance before Miren spoke, a confused look on her face.
“Lady Abigail’s attitude today was very surprising,” she said softly. “Lady Abigail is usually very warm and friendly. She treats the staff kindly, never raises her voice, and she always smiles when guests arrive.”
Dalia nodded. “Yes, honestly… we thought she would be happy to see you. She’s never reacted that way even to strangers.” before. No “
Their words made me pause.
Gabriel had said she was hostile to everyone since her accident… but now the maids were telling me the opposite. That she was kind. Eriendly. 1
Except… to me.
I sat down on the edge of the bed, trying to piece it together.
“Maybe… maybe she just had a bad day,” I murmured to myself. But deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Abigail’s hatred wasn’t random.
It felt personal.
But why?
Olivia’s POV
“Perhaps she’s heard the rumors… maybe she knows I was once mated-married-to the triplets. Maybe that’s why she isn’t happy with me being here. Maybe she doesn’t want me for her brother…”
If that was the case, then… I understood her.
A soft knock pulled me from my thoughts. I inhaled quietly, and from the scent alone, I already knew it was Gabriel.
“Come in,” I called gently. “The door’s open.”
The door creaked as it pushed open. Gabriel stepped in and closed it quietly behind him. He gave me a warm, welcoming smile before walking over to the bed and sitting beside me.
“So… do you like your room?” he asked.
I smiled and nodded. “Yes. But it’s a bit too extravagant for someone like me,” I added with a small laugh.
Gabriel chuckled. “You deserve more than that, Olivia,” he said, his tone sincere. looked down, his words making my heart warm for a moment. A comfortable silence settled between us-quiet, but not awkward. Just peaceful.
Then Gabriel’s eyes lifted to my neck.
“Their marks…” he said softly, “they’re gone.”
I instinctively raised a hand to my neck and nodded. I had almost forgotten about them. The mating marks. The ones I had carried for months. They had vanished after the rejection.
“Yes,” I said, my voice low, but loud enough for him to hear. “I rejected them. A couple of hours ago.”
Gabriel’s eyes widened in surprise, as if he hadn’t expected that.
There was a pause, and then he leaned in slightly, his voice gentler now. “And.. are you happy, Olivia?”
I opened my mouth to answer quickly-too quickly. “Yes,” I said with a smile.
But deep down, I felt something twist inside me.
Was I really happy?
Or was I just trying to convince myself I was?
Gabriel reached for my wrist and gently traced his fingers along the bracelet I wore. “This is beautiful,” he murmured, admiring it.
I looked down at it too, my chest tightening.
“It’s a gift,” I replied quietly. “From them…”
The words left a bitter taste in my mouth. Slowly, I unclasped the bracelet, my fingers trembling slightly. I stared at it for a second longer before placing it gently on the bed beside me.
“I don’t want anything that reminds me of them,” I whispered.
Silence hung between us again. But this time, Gabriel’s energy shifted-subtle, but I felt it. His eyes remained gentle, watching me as if carefully weighing what to do next. He reached up, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. His touch was soft, careful, like he was afraid I’d pull away. My breath hitched slightly, and before I could process what was happening, he leaned in.
His lips met mine.
The kiss was slow, tentative at first-then deeper, more desiring. His hand moved to the side of my face, holding me there like he didn’t want to let go. And for a second, I let myself melt into it. I let myself believe I could want this. That I could feel something again.
But the moment didn’t last,
As his hand slid to my waist, drawing me closer, something inside me tensed. My body stiffened, and I pulled back gently, placing a hand on his chest. 3
“Gabriel… I-I’m tired,” I said softly, trying not to make it sound like rejection, though it was.
He blinked, stunned at first, then quickly nodded and pulled away, his cheeks flushed “I’m sorry,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I got carried away. I shouldn’t have…
“It’s okay,” I murmured, forcing a small smile. “Really.”
He stood, still looking a little embarrassed, and straightened his shirt. “I’ll let you get come rest. I’ll see you at dinner?”
I nodded. “Yes. Thank you.”
Gabriel gave me one last lingering look, then turned and walked toward the door. I watched him go, guilt slowly creeping into my chest.
He didn’t deserve to be turned away like that. He was kind. Gentle. Everything I should want.
But I couldn’t do this. Not now.
So much was happening to me at once. And even though part of me felt bad for how things ended just now… another part of me was relieved.
I quickly picked up my phone and dialed a number. It rang a few times before someone answered.
“Lady Olivia, I was just about to contact you,” came the voice on the other end of the call. It was Lolita’s uncle-the private investigator I’d hired to look into my father’s case.
“There’s a change of plan,” I said firmly, sitting up straighter on the bed. My heart beat faster just saying the words out loud. “My father isn’t dead. He’s alive. And I need to find out where he is.”
There was a short pause on the other end of the line.
“Alive?” he repeated, surprised. “Are you sure, my lady?”
“I’m sure,” I replied. “I don’t have all the details yet, but I know he’s out there. Someone’s been lying to me… and I need the truth.”
“I’ll start digging immediately,” he said. “Do you have anything else I can use? A name? A location?”
No,” I whispered. “But I believe Sir Damon may know something. Or someone else him does.”
“I’ll be careful,” he said. “And I’ll update you as soon as I find anything,
“Thank you,” I breathed, ending the call.
I lay on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, my thoughts racing.
I needed to find my father.
I needed to know why he was alive and never contacted us. Why had he been hiding? Pretending to be dead all this time?
Why?
I raised my hands, staring at them. My healing abilities… where had they come from? I wasn’t born with them, and no one in my lineage had been a healer. I had so many questions, and I knew only he could give me the answers.
Suddenly, my phone rang.
I sat up quickly. The screen showed an unknown number.
That was strange.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.