Chapter 21 - Gabriel’s Real Plan
Police were already approaching the estate.
Thomas had sent the recording.
Margaret heard distant sirens.
For the first time, she looked afraid.
Gabriel looked pleased.
Too pleased.
Caleb moved toward the guesthouse.
Gabriel blocked him again.
“You said after she confessed.”
“She hasn’t finished.”
“She’s finished enough.”
Gabriel’s smile disappeared.
“No.”
June stepped closer.
“What else do you need?”
“Ownership.”
Caleb stared.
“There it is.”
Gabriel looked at him.
“Whitcomb Holdings belongs to victims.”
“Then dismantle it legally.”
“You think law fixes thirty years?”
“No. But kidnapping babies doesn’t.”
Gabriel’s voice sharpened.
“You inherited everything.”
“I didn’t choose that.”
“You kept it.”
“I didn’t know.”
“And now you do.”
Caleb understood.
Gabriel wanted more than truth.
He wanted Caleb to sign control of the company over.
Margaret laughed from across the room.
“I told you.”
Gabriel turned.
“Quiet.”
She smiled.
“You pretend you escaped me, but you learned every lesson.”
Gabriel’s face tightened.
Margaret continued.
“Leverage. Fear. Hostages.”
Evelyn whispered, “Gabriel.”
He looked at her.
“Don’t.”
“You’re hurting the wrong person.”
“I’m correcting what they did.”
“You’re using Elara.”
“I protected her.”
“You’re still holding her from her father.”
Gabriel’s composure cracked.
“He had everything.”
Caleb stared.
There it was.
Not justice.
Resentment.
Gabriel continued.
“A mother. A name. A home.”
Caleb laughed painfully.
“A mother? She was gone when I was fourteen.”
“She came looking for you.”
“She never reached me.”
“At least she wanted you.”
Evelyn stepped toward Gabriel.
“I wanted you too.”
He looked away.
“You chose them.”
“I was seventeen when you were taken.”
“And later?”
“I was afraid.”
Gabriel’s eyes filled.
“So was I.”
For one moment he looked like a child.
Then he pulled a gun.
Everyone froze.
June moved instinctively toward Caleb.
Gabriel pointed the weapon toward the doorway.
“No police.”
Caleb raised his hands.
“Put it down.”
“I want the company transferred.”
“No.”
“Then you lose Elara.”
Evelyn gasped.
Caleb stared at his half-brother.
“You said she was safe.”
“She is.”
“Until I say no?”
Gabriel said nothing.
Caleb nodded slowly.
“Margaret did teach you.”
That hit him.
May you like
Gabriel’s hand trembled.
And behind him, Meredith quietly reached for the control panel that unlocked the guesthouse.
