"See you at the gala then," Casaio said and walked out of the office. However, he didn’t leave right away, instead, he went to see Amelie.
She was checking the files that were stacked on her desk when heard the door opening.
Lifting her head, Amelie found the eldest prince standing in front of her. She was quick to greet him in her humble tone while keeping her gaze low.
Casaio didn’t respond to her and approached her. "Our mother will not like your presence next to Gabriel. So, make sure you don’t attend the gala. She doesn’t like Gabriel, and your presence may trigger her more. I hope you understand what I mean, Miss Amelie," he said, keeping the talk straightforward.
"Yes, Sir," Amelie replied.
"Good," Casaio took a step back and turned around only to see Gabriel.
"I told you to leave right away, not to lecture Amelie," Gabriel stated.
Casaio let out a low chuckle, a knowing smirk playing on his lips, before walking past his younger brother without another word. His silence was more provoking than any parting remark he could have made.
Gabriel stood rigid, his jaw tightening as he watched his brother leave. A storm of fury brewed within him.
His mother’s resentment was something he had long endured, but now his eldest brother had joined in, meddling where he wasn’t needed.
Casaio had always found ways to get under his skin, but this time he crossed the limit.
He exhaled sharply, turning back to Amelie. "Don’t listen to him. And don’t—"
"I will attend the gala with you," Amelie interrupted.
Gabriel’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. He had expected instant refusal from her. After all, she had just been warned about the consequences.
But Amelie had made up her mind. Gabriel had done so much for her, more than anyone ever had. If attending this gala was what he wanted, if standing beside him in that grand hall was what it took, then she wouldn’t back down.
Gabriel studied her for a moment, his anger momentarily replaced by her small, genuine smile.
"Is it out of obligation?" Gabriel asked.
"No. Not because of that. But I want to do it," Amelie replied. "I want to choose you," she asserted.
Gabriel’s breath caught at her words. ’She wants to choose me.’
For as long as he could remember, he had been seen as a ruthless, untouchable and heartless Alpha, a man feared and respected but never truly chosen by anyone. His past relationships had been to fulfill his sexual needs. They were built on necessity, never on something as simple yet profound as want. However, he never even wanted any of those women from his past to be with him since they never attracted him the way Amelie did.
But Amelie’s words shattered that perception.
Deep inside, beneath the hardened exterior, he had always been like a child, yearning for warmth, for attention, for someone who would be willing to stay by his side.
For the first time, his heart fluttered against his chest.
"Sir, shall we go to the conference room? You have an important meeting with the departmental managers," Amelie’s voice brought him to the reality again and he saw her picking up a file from the desk along with the tablet.
"Amelie, thank you." Gabriel’s response bewildered her for a brief moment. Before she knew, he was in front of her and hugged her in a warm, comforted embrace.
"Amelie, your presence means a lot to me. You have no idea what it does to me," Gabriel whispered.
Amelie placed her hand on his back hesitantly. She had given him words to stay by his side to make sure he would get the answers.
He pulled away, ready to walk out.
"Gabriel, do you possess a cologne with a musky scent?" Amelie finally asked the question, which had been bothering her since the day she got it.
"No," Gabriel refused. "Did you–"
"Sir, you are getting late for the meeting," Karmen interrupted as he walked in through the open door.
Gabriel hummed and walked out first, followed by Amelie and Karmen.
~~~~~
David Conley set the newspaper down on the table, reaching for his teacup.
"Honey, did you find out why Alpha Alex suddenly ordered the search for Amelie to stop?" Samyra asked with curiosity and concern.
David exhaled slowly, swirling the tea in his cup before taking a sip. "I couldn’t find any answers," he admitted. "But it works in our favor. If the search had continued, it could have tarnished our family’s reputation." His expression darkened, a bitter scoff escaping his lips. "I wonder who she had a child with. To think we wasted years raising such a worthless daughter, Samyra."
"Don’t say that," Samyra murmured.
"Why not?" David frowned. "Did Amelie ever bring anything good to this family? An Alpha’s bloodline cannot produce an omega, yet at the ceremony, her wolf was revealed to be omega. Then, at the Awakening Ceremony, she failed. Never in the history of the Conley family has such a disgrace occurred." He scoffed, shaking his head. "Look at how smoothly everything has been running since she’s been gone. She was nothing but a curse to this family!"
David’s harsh words struck Samyra, making her flinch. A deep frown creased her forehead, but she chose to remain silent.
"Say something," David demanded, finishing his tea and setting the cup down with a sharp clink.
Samyra exhaled. "I have nothing to say."
David studied her, then leaned back with a contemplative sigh. "I know you gave birth to Amelie, and I’ve never once doubted that. But every time I looked at her, I couldn’t help but wonder why was she so different from us? Why couldn’t she be an Alpha?"
"Sometimes it’s difficult to understand the Moon Goddess’s wish," Samyra replied. "But it’s good she’s not in the Red River Pack anymore," she asserted.
"Alex has a good relationship with our family. I think that’s the reason he wishes to stop this search. Let’s focus on the upcoming grand event of our daughter’s marriage with Alex," David pronounced with a smile.
Samyra nodded her head. "Even I’m excited for Flora’s marriage with Alex."