Without another word, I raised my hand and struck him across the face.
The sound of the slap echoed, but the crowd around us remained oblivious. Gabriel staggered slightly, his jaw tightening, but he didn’t retaliate.
"That was for everything you’ve done," I said, voice low and venomous.
He didn’t respond. The suffocating silence between us was louder than any words. I turned sharply and disappeared into the sea of guests before he could recover.
---
Once the auction commenced, I slipped away, navigating the hallways toward his private office. Dr. Chelsea had told me there might be something valuable hidden inside—something that could expose him.
The room was pristine, too perfectly arranged. My pulse hammered as I rifled through drawers, scanning files. There had to be proof, something tangible—
Footsteps.
I froze, ducking behind a curtain just as the door creaked open.
"You told me she was dead!" a woman’s voice hissed.
Janette. His assistant.
"You swore Kelsey was gone, Gabriel! This isn’t possible! There’s no way she survived!"
My lungs seized. She was talking about me.
"Lower your damn voice," Gabriel snapped. "Do you want someone to overhear?"
"We planned everything! The explosion should've killed her! Why haven’t they found the body?" Janette’s tone was sharp, accusatory.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
It wasn’t an accident.
Gabriel exhaled in frustration. "She’s dead. That’s all that matters."
Janette scoffed. "You better pray you’re right. If anyone finds out—"
Their voices faded as they left, but I didn’t move. My nails dug into my palms.
He tried to kill me.
They both did.
---
As the final guests trickled out, I slipped through the exit, my mind racing. My breath came in short, furious bursts. I needed air. I needed—
The sleek black car was parked at the curb, waiting for me. Calvin was supposed to pick me up, but I didn’t see him. Something felt off.
Then, the screech of tires tore through the night.
A black van skidded around the corner and halted in front of me.
Panic gripped my chest.
Before I could react, the van doors slammed open.
"Get her!"
Masked men lunged toward me.
I turned on my heel and ran. My dress clung to my legs, my heels clicking against the pavement. I had no direction, only desperation.
“Don’t let her get away!”
Adrenaline propelled me forward. I turned down a narrow alley, gasping for breath.