Chapter Eighteen

**OLIVER'S POV**

The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the condo. The previous day’s events still weighed heavily on my mind, but the thought of finally having a future with Gabriel made it easier to bear. Samantha had left earlier for a final shopping trip, the money safely deposited into an offshore account, ensuring her father couldn’t trace her. Gabriel and I were alone, savoring the quiet after the storm.
I was in the kitchen, nursing a cup of coffee, when the doorbell rang. The sound echoed through the condo, breaking the silence. I froze, my heart skipping a beat. Gabriel looked up from the book he was reading, a frown creasing his brow.
“I’ll get it,” I said, setting the mug down with a shaky hand.
I opened the door to find my parents standing there. My father’s face was a storm of barely contained rage, while my mother looked worried, her eyes darting around as if expecting the worst. The air grew thick with tension the moment I saw them.
“Dad… Mom,” I greeted, stepping aside to let them in. My heart pounded in my chest as I closed the door behind them, already knowing why they were there.
“Oliver, what the hell have you done?” my father thundered, his voice echoing through the condo. “Samantha’s father called me last night. You called off the wedding? After everything we’ve done to secure this alliance?”
I felt a chill run down my spine, but I stood my ground. “I didn’t have a choice, Father. Things have changed.”
“Years of trust and friendship,” he spat, his face turning a dangerous shade of red. “You’ve destroyed everything, all for what? Some foolish notion of love? You’ve disgraced this family!”
My mother placed a hand on his arm, trying to calm him. “Please, dear, let’s talk about this…”
He pushed her away roughly, not even sparing her a glance. “Don’t try to placate me, woman. This is your fault as well, coddling him all these years. Look at the mess he’s made!”
Before I could react, Gabriel stepped out of the hallway, his presence drawing all eyes to him. My father’s face twisted in fury when he saw Gabriel, recognition flaring in his eyes.
“You,” he snarled, taking a threatening step toward Gabriel. “What are you doing here? You gold-digging bastard, you’ve corrupted my son!”
He raised his hand, aiming to strike Gabriel, but I moved faster. I grabbed his wrist, stopping his blow just inches from Gabriel’s face. The force of my grip surprised even me. “Don’t you dare touch him,” I said, meeting my father’s shocked gaze.
For a moment, the room was silent, the only sound was my mother’s soft gasp. She had never seen me stand up to him like this. Hell, I’d never seen me stand up to him like this. But something had changed, and I wasn’t going to let him hurt Gabriel or control my life any longer.
My father yanked his hand back, his eyes wide with disbelief. “You ungrateful little—” he started, but I cut him off.
“Leave,” I said, my voice cold. “You are no longer welcome here.”
His mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air, but he couldn’t find the words. With one last furious glare, he turned on his heel and stormed out of my condo, slamming the door behind him.
My mother stood there, looking between me and Gabriel. Her eyes softened as she looked at Gabriel, her voice trembling. “I’m sorry for his behavior,” she whispered, “We never meant for things to turn out this way.”
Gabriel hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Thank you,” he said quietly.
She turned to me, her eyes pleading. “Oliver… I know you blame me for what happened to your brother. But please, don’t shut me out. We’re still your family.”
I stiffened, the old wounds reopening at her words. I couldn’t face her, not with the guilt that gnawed at my soul every time I thought about my brother. Instead of responding, I stepped away from her, creating a distance that spoke louder than words. Tears welled up in her eyes as she realized what I was doing. Without another word, she turned and left the condo, her shoulders hunched in defeat. The door closed softly behind her, leaving Gabriel and me in silence. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding, the tension slowly draining from my body.
Gabriel moved closer, his hand resting on my arm. “Are you okay?”
I nodded, though my heart still ached with the weight of what had just happened. “Yeah,” I replied, my voice thick with emotion. “I think so.”
Gabriel pulled me into a hug, and for the first time in a long while, I allowed myself to lean on someone else. I rested my head on his shoulder, feeling the warmth of his body against mine. Together, we stood there, finding solace in each other as the world outside continued to spin out of control. As the minutes passed, the silence between us was filled with unspoken words, shared emotions that didn’t need to be voiced. Gabriel’s steady heartbeat against my ear was a comfort, a reminder that I wasn’t alone in this. The world might be collapsing around us, but here, in this moment, we had each other.
I finally pulled away, looking up at him. “Thank you,” I said softly.
“For what?” he asked, his brow furrowing slightly.
“For being here. For standing by me, even when it’s hard,” I explained, my voice barely above a whisper.
Gabriel smiled, a small, genuine smile that made my heart swell. “I’m not going anywhere, Oliver. We’ll get through this together.”
His words were a balm to my soul, soothing the raw edges of my emotions. I leaned in, pressing my lips to his in a gentle kiss. It wasn’t about passion or desire; it was about connection, about grounding ourselves in the love we shared.
When we finally parted, I took a deep breath, feeling a sense of calm wash over me. “We need to be prepared for what’s coming next,” I said, my voice more resolute.
Gabriel nodded, his expression serious. “Whatever happens, we’ll face it together.”
As we stood there, holding onto each other, I knew that the path ahead wouldn’t be easy. But for the first time in a long time, I felt like I had the strength to face it, because I wasn’t facing it alone.