“The funds will be disbursed into your company’s account today,” Gabriel said calmly as he sipped his coffee. “I have already spoken to three contractors, including your father. They will contact your secretary and book appointments before the end of today.”

Isla listened quietly as they ate breakfast together. The dining room was peaceful, but her heart was not.

Everything Gabriel was saying sounded good-too good.

Things were moving very fast, and that scared her.

She forced a small smile so he wouldn’t notice her fear.

It had been one full week since the attack at the mall. Miss Adams still had not woken up. Every morning, Isla prayed for her, and every night, she cried silently. No matter what anyone said, she blamed herself. If she had not gone to the mall that day, Miss Adams would not be lying in a hospital bed, fighting for her life.

Then there was Desmond.

The little boy resumed school that morning. Isla watched him leave the house with his bag, his lunch box, and two bodyguards. Even with the protection, her heart would not rest. He was too small. Too innocent. And now, he was caught in something dangerous.

“Come,” Gabriel said gently as he stood up from the table. ”

I’ll drop you at work myself before I head to my office.”Isla didn’t argue. She simply nodded. She picked up her phone and bag and followed him. Gabriel held her hand and guided her carefully, as if she might break. His gentleness atmost made her cry.

Outside, their cars were already waiting. Bodyguards stood beside each vehicle, alert and serious.

“My wife will go with me,” Gabriel told Isla’s guards. “You can follow behind.”

They nodded in agreement and moved into their car.

Gabriel opened the door for Isla and waited until she sat down before closing it. He then entered the car beside her.

Another guard sat in front with the driver, Thomas. Stone was not with them—he was working quietly behind the scenes.

As the car moved, Gabriel noticed that Isla was unusually quiet. She stared out the window, her eyes unfocused.

He shifted closer and gently cupped her face, turning her toward him. “Talk to me, my love,” he said softly. “You’re not yourself.”

“I’m fine,” Isla replied quickly. “You don’t need to worry about me.”

She smiled, but Gabriel wasn’t convinced. He had lived with her long enough to know when she was lying.

He sighed. “If you’re still thinking about the things you believe I’m hiding from you… then promise mesomething.”

Isla turned to him. “What?”

“Promise me you won’t panic or get scared by what I’m about to say.”

“I promise,” Isla said quickly. Then she added, “If Desmond is your son, I don’t mind. Just tell me.”

Her words hit Gabriel like a slap.

So she still doubted him?

After everything they had been through? He swallowed his emotions and forced himself to stay calm.

“Desmond is not my son,” he said firmly. “But… I do have a twin brother.”

Isla’s eyes widened in shock.

“What?”

“From what we have discovered so far,” Gabriel continued slowly, “I have a granduncle. He raised my twin brother in

“secret. And now, he may be using him against me.”

Isla’s mouth fell open. “How is that possible?” she whispered.

“Desmond’s wristwatch had a hidden camera in it,” Gabriel explained. “Someone was watching you, Isla. Studying you, your movements and everything.”

Her heart skipped. “You mean… Desmond and his mothercoming into my life wasn’t an accident?”

“No,” Gabriel replied. “It was planned. I believed that someone pushed them to us intentionally, to cause a rift between us. And until your PA wakes up, we don’t have full answers.”

Isla pressed her hand against her chest. “Then call your parents,” she said quickly. “Call my parents too. Someone must know something.”

Gabriel shook his head slowly. “That’s another problem.

My parents’ phones have been unreachable for five days now.”

isla gasped. “What?”

Her fear returned stronger than ever.

Something must be wrong. There should be an explanation for all of this.

Isla’s thoughts drifted back to Gabriel’s mother. A tight feeling settled in her chest. A woman could not live with such a secret and not know the truth. If she had another son somewhere, his mother must know about it. There was no way she didn’t.

Then another name surfaced in her mind, sharp and sudden.

Anna.

Her lips parted as realization hit her. “What about Anna?”she asked slowly, her voice tight. “She must know something.”

Gabriel went still. He had hoped this question would not come so soon. He did not want to tell her the truth-that her own mother had been the one to visit Anna. The thought alone could push Isla deeper into fear, and he couldn’t bear to see that again. But lying to her felt even worse. He had promised himself he would not hide things-from her anymore.

So he told the truth.

“Anna told your mother herself.”

isla couldn’t speak because his words hit her like a hard slap.

She stared at him in disbelief. “My mom was with Anna?” she asked, her voice rising as anger flared in her eyes. Her hands clenched tightly at her sides.

Gabriel didn’t answer immediately, and that silence spoke louder than words.

She took a sharp breath, her heart pounding hard against her chest. “How much more are you not telling me?” she demanded, hurt and fury mixing in her voice.