N hummed in response. She was about to take out the trash, so she decided to walk Damon downstairs as well.


    Damon, wanting to spend more time with her, refrained from offering to take the trash for her.


    N’s apartment wasn’t on a high floor, so despite Damon’s intentions, there wasn’t much time to linger.


    Once they reached the ground floor, N threw the trash into the bin and turned to Damon. “Mr. Sumner, I won’t see you off any further.”


    Without waiting for a reply, she turned and walked away.


    Damon watched her retreating figure with aplex expression. He sensed that N had truly let go of their past.


    He wasn’t sure how long it would take for her to forgive him, but he believed that day would eventuallye.


    Back at her door, just as N was about to unlock it, a sudden noise from the stairwell startled her.


    She turned to see Gabriel emerging from the hallway, his gaze fixed on her, eyes dark and unreadable.


    A wave of unease swept over N as she instinctively fumbled with the lock, trying to get inside. Just as her hand touched it, Gabriel grabbed her wrist.


    “Let go of me!” she cried, struggling to free herself.


    However, his grip was firm, leaving her no chance to escape.


    He smirked, his tone calm and deliberate. “N, when we met earlier today, I realized you know I was the one behind it all.”


    Fear surged through N, draining the color from her <b>face</b>. “Gabriel, I’ve never done anything to wrong you. Why would you set me up like this?<b>” </b>


    As Gabriel met her gaze, his expression softened, his affection no longer hidden.


    “Because I want to be with you,” he confessed.


    <b>+25 </b>


    * her eyes.


    with disbelief. She stared at him as if he had lost his mind.


    “Are you crazy?! We’re practically siblings! Who ruins someone’s life just to be with them?” she demanded. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    Gabriel chuckled, gently brushing his hand against N’s face, his expression one of pure contentment.


    His cold fingers made her shudder, and she pped his hand away. “Don’t touch me<b>!</b>”


    Her eyes zed with anger and disgust. If he had imed to hate her or seek. vengeance for Wren, she wouldn’t have been so repulsed. But to say he had orchestrated her downfall just to be with her?


    “N, we’re not rted by blood. When you were with rk, I was abroad and couldn’te back. After you got married, I had no right to interfere. But now, you’re divorced. Why can’t we be together?” Gabriel asked.


    N red at him, trembling with rage. “Because I don’t like you.”


    The moment the words left her mouth, Gabriel grabbed her chin and forced a her.


    N turned her head sharply, and his lipsnded on her cheek, making her feel utterly nauseated.


    “Gabriel, let go of me! You don’t love me. You just want to destroy me!” she cried.


    He leaned close to her ear and whispered, “I just want to be the only one by your side. Only then will you rely on me.”


    “You’re insane!” N eximed.


    es on


    Gabriel ignored her insults. Smiling, he grabbed her chin again, attempting another


    kiss.


    N’s eyes filled with disgust, and though she struggled, it was futile.


    Just as Gabriel’s lips were about to touch hers, the pressure on her body suddenly vanished.


    By the time N realized what had happened, Gabriel and Damon, who had returned, were already fighting.