58

AUDREY
“Well, it’s because we’re communicating. How easy it is, right?” Gabriel said as we continued to walk.
“It’s true when they say communication builds trust. So, what happened then?”
“The Starks found me. I was lost, and there I met Coulson. He was once an introverted kid. He didn’t speak to anyone and sat almost his entire life in a wheelchair. As a child, he was frail, and we found and helped each other. We’ve become brothers. He started walking again, and he’s the reason why I am who I am now.”
“That explains your very close relationship. But what do you mean, he started walking again? I didn’t realize he was ill.”
“He had a knee failure from bone cancer, but he’s all better now. He’s healthy, and our bond somehow drove him to get surgery. He trusted me. I trust him. That’s how it works. But don’t tell him I told you.” He winked at me.
“Don’t worry.” I genuinely grinned. “And you are brothers. That’s why.”
“Yes.” He exhaled in relief. “The Starks saved me, Audrey, and gave me a purpose, but deep within, I was still angry with what your family did to me—well, I still am—to your father.” A muscle in his jaw rippled. “Your father killed my parents, Audrey. I’ll make him pay for what he did.”
The typical reaction of a child hearing those things referring to one’s own father would be general. It would rage and disappointment towards the person who wanted to harm her family, but that wasn’t the case for me.
“I want Edward Hopkins to be stopped, Gabriel,” I said. “For everything that he has done to us.”
Gabriel suddenly stopped and gazed at me in surprise. “You’re not against it?” he asked softly.
I shook my head. “You’re not a bad person, Gabriel. I know you won’t do what he did to you, so I trust you. He neglected my mother and me, but he’s still my father. However…” I paused, slightly hesitating. “I want to learn more about myself.”
We continued the stroll. “What do you mean?”
“He told me I wasn’t his daughter,” I confessed. “At first, I thought he only told me that because I was a bad daughter who ran away from home, and he didn’t want me anymore but calling my mother a…”
“A what, Audrey?”
“Whore,” I whispered. “It’s something I can’t ever accept. Him, insulting the only person who accepted him wholly and raised his children from another woman as her own. My father had two wives first before Mom, but Samuel and Anton are from the same mother. His second wife.”
“And you thought maybe you’re not his biological daughter?”
I nodded. “Somehow, but I don’t know. Maybe I was only delusional, wanting to run away from him.”
“What if that’s the case?” he asked.
“It’d be easier to move on—to finally let him go and fight back.” I shrugged. “He has taken everything from me.”
Gabriel nodded and looked at the space as if in deep thought, then spoke again, “What if I tell you that it was the case? I mean, the real case. Will you help me?”
“Help you with what?”
“Audrey… There’s something else you need to know. Something that you might not want to know.” We stopped in the middle of our stroll again, and he took both my hands and kissed each hand alternately.
“What is it?”
“I’ve had your background checked ever since the day we met again. During your interview, I already knew who you were.”
I snorted. “Why am I not surprised?”
“But I’m not keeping secrets from you anymore,” he promised. “But you should know now.” He cupped the back of my neck, his thumb brushing my cheek. “I’m looking after Samuel’s death, but my investigator and lawyer are still on it, and in a matter of time, they’ll be able to find out who murdered him. And yes, you may be right. You’re probably not your father’s daughter, Audrey.”
I blinked, unable to speak for a moment. “Why? What did you find out? But wait.” I shut my eyes. “I’m asking because I’m curious, but it doesn’t mean I want you doing a background check about me.”
He chuckled richly. “That’s why I’m telling you. Anyway, um…” he paused. “You’re maybe not a Hopkins, and neither was Samuel.”
“What? Why?”
“My investigator was only looking after Sam’s case, but he also found out that he appears to be your real brother—from the same parents, and it’s not Edward Hopkins.”
I scowled, and my legs felt cold. “What? What do you mean?”
“I only had a suspicion before that you might not be Edward’s daughter.”
“Why would you suspect that?”
“Audrey, I saw your birth records, and Edward’s name is not listed as the father. It was left blank.”
I nodded. Yes, but I always thought it was just a matter of a registry error. He even manages to dig it up to that point? Oh, Gabriel.
“And how he treated you—selling his daughter and marrying her off to some old man,” he went on. “No real father would do that to his own daughter.”
“I couldn’t believe it myself either,” I agreed with his last statement.
“So, I sent someone to the hospital who took Samuel’s body to do some DNA test with your sample, and the results came two days ago. You and Samuel were definitely siblings by blood because the DNA matched, so I stopped my speculation. I was convinced you were Edward’s daughter.”
“But?” I breathed. My heartbeat quickened with each word he said.
“But along with the DNA test, my investigator sent me the authentic documents of Samuel from the registry, and the name Michele Andolini was listed as his father. Do you know who his mother was?”
“What? I think his mother’s name was Maria.”
“No. It was Georgina Rossi, Audrey. Your mother’s name.”
I caught my mouth in pure shock, and my eyes grew wide along with it.
“Samuel was your brother, Audrey,” Gabriel said. “He’s your real brother. It means you both were not part of the Hopkins family.”
“Oh my God.” I felt a tear rush down my cheek, and the building tension in my chest finally exploded. “But Dad, he loved Samuel. He loved him more than me. He mourned for him when he—”
I stopped. I was then reminded that he did not attend the funeral. It couldn’t be. What the hell was happening?
Gabriel’s arms instantly hovered around me, soothing me with every stroke he made at my back. I buried my face in his chest and finally cried so hard.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m sorry for getting angry at you for the last eight years—the woman who’s a victim herself. The woman I love.”
I momentarily stopped at the word he uttered. Slowly, I looked up at his impossibly beautiful face, and his eyes had never looked so affectionate as it was now.
“What?” I breathed.
His lips curled in amusement. “What?”
“You said—” I cut off my sentence, completely understanding now that Gabriel wasn’t the person to talk about his feelings. He’d rather show it.
I glided my arms around his waist, squeezing him against me so hard that I realized how much I really missed him. Those days without his touch had been torture.
I love you too…
“Finally,” he stated.
“Hmm?”
“Finally, you found me again. You remember your first.”
Did I? I chuckled. Yes, I did. I think I understand him now. He was the first who held me, the first lips I ever kissed, and the first man I ever trusted.
”Yes…” You’re Gabriel—the boy I first admired.
“We’ll get through this together, Audrey. You and I,” he whispered. “We still have a lot to figure out, but we will do it together.”
I nodded. “I trust you, and I accept your proposition.” I searched for his eyes. “I want the painting now, Gabriel. I’ll do it.” I declared. “But we’re not done talking.”
He laughed. “Of course. Stay with me tonight if you want,” he offered.
I hugged him again. “I will stay with you tonight.”