Chapter 435 Didn't Want to Forget
Gabriel felt a mix of happiness and worry when he got the news.
He was glad Sophia escaped the fire but worried she still wasn't safe.
He calmed down and made some calls.
Soon, police set up checkpoints all over the city, checking cars.
Ethan was busy coding, sometimes showing traffic scenes on his iPad, other times more code.
Sweat dripped from his face, and his forehead was damp.
Finally, he sent an address to Gabriel.
Gabriel saw the address and sped off.
The kidnappers had circled back to Harbor Bay.
Five miles away, there was an abandoned factory. Gabriel drove there, parked at a distance, and approached on foot to avoid detection.
He also sent the address to Alex.
It was around 4 AM, still dark and quiet. A faint light came from the factory.
Gabriel wiped a dusty window with his shirt and peeked inside. He saw Sophia tied up on the ground.
Her hair was a mess, and her nightgown was dirty. She was struggling and looking at the kidnappers with terrified eyes.
Her mouth was taped shut, making faint sounds.
She wanted to negotiate, offering them money. But they didn't listen.
The kidnappers, masked and holding knives, approached her with fierce looks.
Sophia backed up until she hit a cold wall. There was nowhere to go.
One kidnapper raised a knife to stab her.
Suddenly, Gabriel rushed over and kicked one kidnapper, causing him to crash into the one with the knife, and both fell.
Gabriel had climbed in through the window and fought the kidnappers.
They were ruthless, aiming for vital points. Gabriel, unarmed, got cut on the arm despite his skills.
Sophia's eyes widened with worry.
When Gabriel appeared, she felt hope, but it seemed like more than just the hope of survival.
She untied her hands, then the other ropes. She tore off the tape and grabbed a wooden plank with nails, striking a kidnapper about to attack Gabriel.
The nails pierced the kidnapper's head.
"You..." He glared at Sophia, then fell.
Seeing this, the other kidnappers got even angrier.
"Run!" Gabriel shouted, and Sophia started to run.
But a kidnapper grabbed her, knife ready to stab.
Gabriel knocked down the kidnapper he was fighting and rushed towards Sophia.
In the chaos, the kidnapper stabbed Gabriel, pulled out the knife, and stabbed again.
Gabriel held Sophia tightly, shielding her completely. His grip was so strong she could barely breathe.
In the silent night, a shout rang out, "The police are here!"
The knife was pulled out again, and the kidnappers scattered, fighting the police outside.
Sophia's world shrank to just Gabriel.
Gabriel finally lost his strength and fell to the ground, blood pooling beneath him.
Sophia's hands trembled. She wanted to touch him but was too scared, tears streaming down her face.
"Sophie." Gabriel's face was pale, his lips forming a weak smile. "I'm sorry for all these years. I know saying sorry can't make up for you and the kids."
Shaking her head, Sophie knelt and tried to lift him, holding his hand.
"Don't talk. Save your strength. The ambulance is coming."
Gabriel shook his head gently, his eyelids heavy, his lips pale. He felt his life slipping away.
"If I don't say it now, I might never get the chance. Sophie, I've owed you and the kids so much. I'm not a good husband or father. I never knew what you went through."
"Sophia, is it too late to say I love you?"
Gabriel's breath grew weaker, his eyelids closing. Sophia panicked, leaning close to his ear.
"It's not too late. Gabriel, if you want to make it up to us, stay awake. Don't die on me. The doctor is almost here. You have to live, live to make it up to us!"
Gabriel was brought back a bit by her voice. His lips moved weakly.
"I'm a little cold. Can you hold me tight?"
"Okay, I'll hold you. Don't die, please, Gabriel." Sophia held him tightly, trying to stop his bleeding.
Gabriel struggled to open his eyes, looking at her. He wanted to remember her face in his final moments.
"Can you take care of the kids, Grandma, and yourself? If there's a next life, I'll come to ask for your forgiveness."
Gabriel's voice grew smaller, almost inaudible.
Sophia's body stiffened, not daring to move.
In her arms, Gabriel's heartbeat was almost imperceptible.
"No," she whimpered, terrified. "No, Gabriel, don't close your eyes. We all need you. Wake up and make it up to us yourself."
Sophia frantically tried to keep Gabriel's eyes open.
"Don't leave us, please, Gabriel, hold on. Where's the ambulance?!" she screamed.
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