Chapter 9
Two days later, Gabriel showed up again.
He stopped me on my way home from work and brought up the same old
topic.
“Stephie, where is Nicho buried? You took everything–his clothes, his photos. There’s nothing left of him at home. When I miss him, I don’t even have a single thing to hold onto… I know I was wrong. Why are you still punishing me like this?”
He reeked of alcohol. I frowned in disgust.
No matter how sorry he acted, I felt nothing.
“Gabriel, it’s been five years. Nicho’s probably reincarnated by now. You were his biggest pain in life. Why go to disturb him in death?”
“But he was my son!” His eyes reddened. His lips trembled. “Stephie, be honest–did I ever mistreat you or Nicho? I always gave you two the best. You and Nicho were everything to me. It was my fault. I should’ve never listened to Clarissa. I never should’ve used Nicho to threaten you…”
He didn’t get to finish. Suddenly, the roar of an engine split the air behind him.
I turned my head. A red car was speeding straight at us.
“Stephie, watch out!”
Before I could react, Gabriel shoved me hard.
BANG! The car slammed into him. His body flew through the air and hit the ground with a sickening thud.
11
Chapter 9
Blood started pooling fast, bright, shocking red.
The car window rolled down slowly. Clarissa’s twisted face came into view, full of hate.
She jerked the steering wheel, aiming for me next.
Just then, a police car rammed into hers from the side.
I was saved again. Barely.
She hit reverse and fled the scene.
Gabriel and I were rushed to the hospital.
I only had a few scrapes. Nothing serious. But Gabriel wasn’t so lucky. The hit damaged his brain, and he was in a coma.
The doctor said if he didn’t wake up in three days, he might never wake up at all.
Meanwhile, Clarissa managed to slip away. Police were chasing her everywhere.
Three days later, she walked right into my office.
Hair a mess, face wild, she stormed in laughing like a maniac. “Ha! Stephanie, is Gabriel dead yet? Now that he’s gone, my kids can inherit everything, right? Don’t think you can take it all for yourself! I’ll go to prison if I have to, but I’ll make sure my children get what’s theirs!”
I looked at the crazed woman in front of me and let out a cold laugh.
“Clarissa, who told you Gabriel was dead?”
Her smile froze. “He’s… not?”
“Not dead. Just a vegetable,” I said flatly.
“Same thing! A vegetable or a corpse–my kids still have the right to hist money!” she snapped.
“You’re right,” I nodded, lips curling into a mocking smile. “If Gabriel had money, your kids would get their share. Too bad, he’s broke.”
