As the car ca to a halt in front of the palace, Noah’s eyes widened. He pressed his small hand against the glass, pointing at a figure standing near the entrance and calling out to his mother.
Alie looked through the window and saw Denzel. He was standing perfectly still, but his expression was heavy with a visible, lingering trouble.
Gabriel opened the door, stepping out first to let Alie and Noah exit.
"Denzel," Alie said softly, acknowledging his presence.
"Caca!" Noah chirped, squirming in her arms. She walked toward him, encouraging the toddler to say hello, trying to break the heavy tension.
Gabriel remained by the car, his hands shoved deep into his trouser pockets. Karn moved to stand beside him, his voice barely a murmur. "You have to forgive Denzel," he whispered.
Gabriel offered no reply. His gaze was fixed on Denzel, and for a long mont, their eyes t, an unspoken weight passing between the two n.
"Let’s go inside," Alie stated, her voice firm as she led the way, sensing that the conversation needed to move away from the driveway.
As they entered the living room, Alie settled onto the couch to rest while the n took their seats after Gabriel.
"How was the vaccination day, Your Highness?" Albus asked, gesturing for a maid to serve water to the group.
"It went well. Noah wasn’t scared at all, but Gabriel certainly was," Alie said, her eyes drifting toward her husband with a lingering tease.
Albus let out a light laugh, but quickly cut it short when he caught Gabriel’s sharp glare. He turned quiet imdiately, bowing his head in a silent apology. Ashna entered the room just then, and Alie handed the boy over to her, instructing her to put Noah down for his nap.
"Your Highness, I ca here to apologize," Denzel said, his voice steady despite the tension radiating from the Alpha Prince.
"And I told you I wouldn’t forgive," Gabriel replied sternly, his posture stiffening as he refused to et Denzel’s eyes.
"Why?" Alie intervened, setting her glass of water down on the table.
"Denzel rely wanted Juniper to be heard. In the heat of the mont, you and Brother Nick ended up fighting, but that’s in the past. You should forgive him now."
"He could have ssaged . A phone call would have been better," Gabriel muttered, his gaze finally shifting toward Denzel. "Nick could have had him killed for interfering like that."
"But he didn’t," Alie countered.
"Gabriel, I admit I handled it poorly," Denzel asserted, stepping forward. "But in all our years, you have never once had a reason to complain about my loyalty or my work. I acted out of a sense of justice for her."
Gabriel remained silent for a long mont.
A servant rushed into the living room, bowing slightly as he caught the Alpha Prince’s attention. "Your Highness, soone nad Juniper is here to see you."
Gabriel’s brows furrowed, a flicker of irritation crossing his face. "What is she doing here?" he murmured, his voice laced with suspicion.
"Please, let her in," Alie intervened before Gabriel could dismiss the visitor.
The servant bowed and hurried out. A few monts later, Juniper walked into the room. She held her handbag tightly against her shoulder, her other hand clutching a gift bag with such force that her knuckles were pale. Alie and Karn both stood to greet her, but Gabriel remained seated, his posture rigid.
Juniper offered a respectful greeting to Gabriel before turning her attention to Alie. "This is for you," she said, extending the gift bag.
"Thank you. Please, take a seat," Alie offered with a polite smile, handing the gift to a nearby maid. Albus imdiately signaled for another staff mber to bring refreshnts.
"How is Noah doing?" Juniper asked, her voice softening as she looked around the palace interior. "I’m sure he’s grown so much since I last saw him."
"You shouldn’t be asking about my son," Gabriel interrupted, his gaze sharp and fixed on her.
"Don’t mind him," Alie said quickly, trying to diffuse the coldness in the room. She shot Gabriel a pointed, silent look that pleaded, ’Don’t hurt her with your harsh words. Please.’
Gabriel rolled his eyes and looked away toward the large windows, though he didn’t leave the room.
"Noah has definitely grown up. He can even crawl on all fours now," Alie replied warmly. "I heard about the attack. Denzel did a great job ensuring it ca to the palace’s attention."
Juniper looked toward Denzel, who remained standing nearby.
"Yes, if not for him, I would be dead," Juniper admitted. She turned back to Alie, her grip tightening on her shoulder bag which was on her lap now.
"I never got to apologize to you. I always thought I was supre, untouchable, just because I was once Dominick’s wife. Honestly, I never knew the love of a family. The mother who wanted passed away too soon, and seeing how Noah was treated... It made feel how unfair life had been to ."
Gabriel shifted, his jaw tightening as he prepared to interject, but Alie quickly grasped his hand. Her firm grip silenced him before he could speak.
Juniper lowered her head, her fingers fidgeting nervously. "I truly lost my mind back then. I think about everything I did every night before I go to sleep. I’ve been contemplating for so long how to approach you. I am so sorry for the things I said about Noah." She lifted her head, her eyes shimring with tears. "Please forgive , Alie, for hurting you and the baby with my words."
Alie pursed her lips together for one mont. "I forgive you. I don’t carry any resentnt towards you, Juniper. Honestly, I never did. If anything I felt only pity that you thought so wrong for my Noah."
Juniper wiped the tears from her eyes. "I am truly sorry," she whispered.
Alie felt bad seeing Juniper in that state. Gabriel, on the other hand, felt it was all her show to bring his kind wife into her words. Though a part of him knew that Juniper was truly regretful for her actions, he couldn’t seem to agree to that part.
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