I chuckled softly, letting the silence hang in the air just long enough to make Gabriel sweat. His voice had the sa old arrogance, but there was a hint of panic creeping in.
"What’s this news, Kiara?" he growled, clearly rattled. "Are the William family insane? I’m sitting here reading this article about you being reinstated as the Williams heir? What the hell are they playing at?"
I leaned back in my chair, staring at the ceiling with a smirk still playing on my lips. Oh, Gabriel. You’ve always been so easy to provoke.
"Well," I said, feigning innocence, "I don’t know what you’re so upset about. I an, it’s all over the news now, so there must be so truth to it, right? Maybe my family finally realized how valuable I am." I could practically hear his teeth grinding on the other end of the line.
What did he have planned for that he seems so angry about.
Gabriel let out a frustrated sigh. "Valuable? You’ve been a ghost for years, Kiara. What the hell are they trying to pull? I didn’t even know you were talking to your family again."
I laughed, the sound low and mocking. "Maybe they realized they can’t bury as easily as they thought."
I could hear him rustling papers, no doubt skimming through the article I’d crafted so perfectly.
The story was laid out like a masterpiece—highlighting how I had been unjustly cast out, how the Williams family had wronged , and how I was finally being welcod back.
Of course, it painted them as the bad guys, letting the dia chew on the scandal.
Gabriel’s voice turned cold. "This... this doesn’t look good, Kiara. What if your family gets pissed and cuts us off completely? I am worried about you"
Us? I almost laughed out loud. He really thought he still had a place in my life.
"Oh, I don’t think that’s going to happen, Gabriel," I said sweetly. "They’re already spinning it in my favor. It’s too late for them to deny it without looking worse."
Gabriel stayed quiet for a second, clearly unsure of what to do. Then, in typical Gabriel fashion, he pivoted. "Well... since it’s out there, I guess we should celebrate, right? I an, if you’re really back in their good graces, that’s sothing worth toasting to. What do you say? How about we go to that old pub we used to like? Grab a few drinks?"
I smiled to myself. Idiot. He hadn’t changed at all. Always so eager to smooth things over with cheap gestures, like a few drinks could make everything okay. But I had a different plan in mind.
"That sounds... nice," I said, keeping my tone soft and agreeable. "It’s been a long ti since we did anything together like that."
Gabriel perked up, his voice lightening. "Great! We’ll catch up, like old tis. I’ll call Jessica too, she’ll want to be there."
"Jessica... why her, Gabriel? I thought it would be nice if it were just us. Just you and ... like it used to be." I injected just the right amount of vulnerability into my voice, playing on his ego, his desire to feel wanted.
There was a pause, and I could almost hear him smiling on the other end, thinking he still had wrapped around his finger. "Yeah... yeah, you’re right. Just the two of us. We don’t need anyone else tonight." His voice had softened, falling for the act entirely.
I waited a beat, letting the silence stretch out before finally relenting, my voice a little quieter. "But... if you really want to invite her, I guess I can deal with it. I an, I know how close you two are."
Gabriel rushed to reassure . "No, no, it’s fine! Just us, Kiara. I’ll handle Jessica later. We’ll have a good ti, don’t worry."
I smiled darkly, my eyes glinting as I stared at the phone. "Alright, then. I’ll see you tonight."
As soon as I hung up, the sweet act dropped from my face, replaced with cold calculation. Celebrate? Oh, we’re going to celebrate alright, Gabriel. But this ti, I was the one setting the rules.
****
The bar was dimly lit, filled with the usual chatter and clinking glasses. I stepped inside, scanning the room until I saw them—Gabriel and Jessica. Gabriel was already in full celebration mode, laughing and grinning like an idiot, as if he was the one who’d been reinstated as the heir. The nerve of him.
I made my way over, my heels clicking against the worn wooden floor. As soon as Gabriel spotted , his face lit up like I was so long-lost prize he’d just found. He raised his glass in the air, half-filled with whiskey, sloshing the liquid around. "Kiara! You made it!" he cheered, his voice a little too loud, a little too enthusiastic.
Jessica, of course, was perched right next to him, her hand resting on his arm like she owned him. She flashed a sweet, innocent smile—the kind that only made want to slap it off her face. She always had that I’m-so-perfect act down, as if she didn’t stab people in the back every chance she got. Her fingers trailed up Gabriel’s arm, and I could see his posture relax, like he was used to her touch—too used to it.
I slid into the seat across from them, my expression neutral, though inside, my patience was already wearing thin. Gabriel leaned toward , clearly in high spirits. "Can you believe it, babe? This is huge for us. You’re back in the Williams family!" He said it like he had anything to do with it, like this was his victory too. The arrogance was sickening.
Jessica giggled, then reached for her glass, "accidentally" brushing Gabriel’s chest as she did. Her eyes flickered over to , watching my reaction. Gabriel, being the oblivious moron he always was, gave her a quick pet on the shoulder, like she was a puppy that needed reassurance.
I smiled sweetly, but my voice was like ice. "Hello, Gabriel. Girlfriend sitting right here."
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