Chapter 11 Please Don't Fight, Mom and Dad
Looking into Gabriel's calm, dark eyes, Lilah instinctively pressed her lips together. Something unfamiliar stirred quietly in her chest.
Gabriel's gaze flicked across her face, then settled back on Aiden.
"Daddy..." Aiden, of course, was clueless about the subtle tension between the adults.
Gabriel reached out and gently pulled his son closer, their eyes meeting.
Even if he wasn't the most hands-on dad, Gabriel always had a soft spot for his son.
"Aiden, whether it's something you like or don't like... I want you to tell me, okay?"
There was a brief pause before Gabriel hesitantly patted Aiden's soft hair, a sigh escaping him.
This kid was so quiet and reserved, barely made a peep most of the time.
Gabriel had always assumed Aiden didn't have much to say, but maybe... he just never bothered to ask what his son truly needed.
"Mm..." Aiden gave a small nod after hesitating.
Then, suddenly, he stepped back and tugged on Lilah's hand.
"Mommy, come here!"
Caught off guard, Lilah stumbled forward and landed right into a warm chest.
His heartbeat thudded against her, so close and steady it made her ears buzz.
Gabriel stiffened.
Flustered, Lilah quickly scrambled out of his arms.
Aiden looked up at them seriously. "Daddy, Mommy, please don't fight."
"We're not fighting," Gabriel finally said after a long silence, his voice low.
"Then can you and Mommy stay together forever?" Aiden blinked up at him, eyes wide and hopeful. "I really like Mommy... She said she won't be mad anymore, so Daddy, you need to forgive her too, okay?"
Lilah darted her eyes toward him in shock. Aiden continued tugging at Gabriel's shirt with both hands.
Oh no, sweetie, what are you even saying?!
Gabriel's expression darkened instantly. His eyes clouded over, emotions boiling underneath the surface.
Aiden must've sensed the shift—he looked scared. "Daddy?"
The silent pressure filling the air made the little boy visibly uneasy.
Gabriel still didn't say anything.
"Mm..." Aiden's lips quivered before he broke into soft sobs.
Gabriel's brow furrowed, then loosened as he clumsily patted Aiden's back. "It's okay, Aiden. Don't cry."
At the same time, Lilah instinctively reached over to wipe the tears from Aiden's cheeks. "It's alright, honey. Don't cry..."
Their hands briefly met near Aiden's face, then just as quickly pulled away.
Lilah hurried to change the subject. "It's almost dinner time... Let's just go."
She couldn't afford to let Aiden keep rambling. It would only make Gabriel's suspicions worse.
They'd only just started to rebuild a bit of trust—she didn't want it crumbling again now.
Gabriel didn't say another word. Holding Aiden in his arms, he turned and strode toward the main house.
Lilah stood frozen for a second before anxiously following after them.
Aiden's little outburst had completely thrown off her plans.
But he was only three—of course he would ache for both his parents' love.
Maybe he'd always been longing for that complete, happy family...
By the time dinner was over, Lilah made a point of not interrupting Gabriel's time with Aiden.
She headed back to her room, opened her laptop, and tried to focus on the flood of financial data.
The proposal she'd given the Hart Group had yielded outstanding results.
With the commission she'd earned, she'd started dipping her toes into some light investments.
Truth be told, every firm she'd contacted so far kept pressing her about who she really was.
Some were even throwing out jaw-dropping offers, trying to hire her outright.
But Lilah politely turned them all down one by one and kept skimming through documents.
Just then, someone banged on the door. Tight and fast.
Her instincts immediately flipped the alert switch.
That wasn't Nina's usual knock.
Lilah stood, straightened her clothes a bit, walked to the door, and turned the handle.A wave of icy tension rushed in uninvited.
Gabriel's tall frame filled the doorway, cutting off most of the light from the hall.
He stepped into the room, swinging the door shut behind him with a loud bang.
The bedroom light lit up his sharp, handsome face in full detail.
Lilah froze for a second, then stammered nervously, "Gabriel, you—"
Before she could finish, Gabriel grabbed her slender wrist firmly.
"Ah!" The sudden grip made her cry out in pain.
She looked up, right into those deep, unreadable eyes.
"Lilah," Gabriel said in a low, threatening tone, "cut the act."
"Even if you are Aiden's biological mother, you can't use him like a chess piece. Just stop, or get out."
Use him? He actually thought she was using Aiden?
Lilah's head snapped up, eyes brimming with tears, her expression full of disbelief and hurt.
"All Aiden wants is to see his parents get along... Gabriel, I don't care if you don't trust me. But how could you question his feelings like that? How could you accuse me—like I'm poisoning the way he thinks?"
The heartache in her voice shattered her composure, tears rolling down her pale cheeks.
Gabriel opened his mouth slightly, as if to respond, but no sound came out. His grip slowly loosened.
"I won't let anyone hurt Aiden," he said hoarsely, voice rough with emotion.
What Aiden said today had made him doubt her. He thought maybe she'd coached the boy.
Lilah yanked her arm free, red finger marks already appearing on her skin.
She backed up a step, but her eyes never wavered.
"Aiden's a smart kid—he knows who really cares about him. If I'd ever done anything to hurt him, you think he'd be this close to me? He wouldn't call me 'Mom' with such sincerity. I've always honored his trust. I've never lied to him."
Gabriel let go completely, his chiseled features clouded with conflict.
Noticing his wavering, Lilah pressed on.
"I mean what I said—and that won't change."
There was a long silence.
Then Gabriel quietly turned and left, not saying another word.
Only after he was gone did Lilah's tense shoulders finally slump in exhaustion.
Would he ever fully trust her again?
Out in the hallway, Verity clutched the stairs' handrail, eyes locked on the door Gabriel had just disappeared behind.
The eerie quiet sent sharp waves of jealousy and anxiety through her.
He'd actually gone to Lilah's room, on his own!
For three years, he'd never once sought her out like that.
Why now? What changed?
As Gabriel's figure slipped out of view, Verity rushed after him.
"Gabriel, it's late... what are you still doing here?"
She reached out, trying to grab his sleeve.
But he smoothly dodged her hand without missing a beat.
"Let Lily know Aiden's new diet plan," he tossed over his shoulder, not even slowing down.
Verity stood frozen in place.
He called her Lily?
Not Lilah. Not like he always did.
That's not right... Something's really off.
All these years, Gabriel had never been this warm toward her...
And now—this sudden change?
Why? Why like this?
That woman, Lilah!
Verity's expression turned downright ugly.
Not far away, Nina walked by with a cup in her hand, casually taking in Verity's sour face.
She didn't react outwardly, but inside, she rolled her eyes hard.
Now that Mr. and Mrs. Wallace were finally getting on better terms, this one's already dying of jealousy.
That face of hers looked like it was about to turn green. As if she had any right to pout!
Oh well—Gabriel sure didn't look like he hated his wife or anything...
Nina bounced up the stairs with an extra spring in her step.
If Mrs. Wallace found out about this? Man, she'd be thrilled!