Chapter 24
Nicole woke up to the soft sounds of movement around her.
She blinked, still half-dreaming, and realized the faint shuffle of footsteps coming in and out of the room.
Squinting through the morning light, she noticed maids carrying clothes in their hands, moving them carefully from one place to another.
Her eyes widened as she took a closer look at the garments — the colors, the textures, the familiar fabrics.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Those were her clothes.
She immediately bolted out of bed, her bare feet brushing against the floor, adrenaline replacing her morning grogginess.
“What’s going on here?” she asked, her voice sharp with confusion and rising panic.
“Ma’am, the boss’s mom ordered us to move your belongings to this room,” one of the maids explained politely.
Nicole’s mind raced. “What! Why?” she asked, her voice now a mixture of shock and disbelief.
“I have no idea, ma’am,” the maid admitted, shrugging gently.
Nicole hurriedly left the room, her steps quick and tense, and made her way to her bedroom. There she saw Helen standing tall, confidently giving directions to the maids, her hands gesturing gracefully as she orchestrated the transfer of Nicole’s wardrobe.
“Helen, why are you moving my things?” Nicole asked.
“Good morning to you, too,” Helen replied with a warm smile, completely ignoring Nicole’s question, as though her question had never been asked.
“Helen, please make them stop,” Nicole pleaded, her voice desperate now.
“Why?” Helen turned to face her, her expression calm, patient, and almost amused.
“Gabriel isn’t going to like this,” Nicole insisted, her words tinged with panic.
Helen’s eyes softened, but her voice was firm. “You both are a couple, and couples sleep together. They share the same room.”
“But we both love our privacy… Please ask them to stop,” Nicole begged, trying to make her point stick.
“Well, my dear,” Helen said, still directing the maids, “the both of you would not be enjoying such privileges anymore. You need to learn to share.”
Helen’s smile broadened, almost triumphant, as she added casually, “After all, you’re both getting married in a month.”
Nicole felt a wave of internal frustration crash over her.
Nothing she said seemed to make the smallest dent in Helen’s resolve.
Spending a night in Gabriel’s room had already been challenging enough, but this — this takeover of her belongings — was extreme.
She tried to speak, tried to argue, but Helen’s indifference left her speechless.
She could only stand there, watching helplessly, a pit of anxiety forming in her stomach as she imagined Gabriel’s reaction when he saw it.
Later that day, Gabriel returned from work.
Nicole was waiting for him in the living room, her posture stiff and shoulders tense.
Her hands fidgeted with the hem of her top, her eyes darting nervously around the room.
Gabriel noticed the look of unease in her expression.
He paused for a moment, puzzled. He had thought last night’s reconciliation had smoothed over any awkwardness between them. So why was she so tense now?
He chose not to ask, deciding instead to head straight to his bedroom.
Nicole followed quietly, almost gliding behind him, her footsteps muted. Her heart pounded in her chest, anticipation and fear mingling.
When they reached his closet, Gabriel froze. His expression shifted from confusion to shock.
“I — I… It wasn’t me,” Nicole stuttered quickly, trying to explain before he could misread the scene.
Gabriel raised an eyebrow, silently demanding clarification.
“Y-your m-mom did it,” Nicole continued, her fingers emphasizing her words, her voice catching slightly. She mentally cursed herself for stuttering so badly. “I t-tried to stop her b-but she ignored me.”
Gabriel, still stunned, left the room immediately, determined to confront his mother. His knock on their bedroom door was firm, impatient.
“Oh honey, you’re back already. How was your day?” Helen greeted him warmly, her tone smooth and inviting.
“Mom, can you please explain to me why you did what you did?” Gabriel asked sharply, ignoring her pleasantries.
“You’ve always had things done your way, Gabriel. I’m not going to let that happen this time,” Helen said, unwavering.
“You invaded my privacy and space,” Gabriel replied, tension rising in his voice.
“Really? Did I?” Helen countered lightly, her hands on her hips. “Nicole’s your fiancée, and you’re getting married soon. The sooner you get used to the changes, the better for you.”
With that, she shut the door firmly in his face, leaving Gabriel momentarily speechless. He couldn’t argue with her; he had no choice but to follow her plan, at least outwardly, if he wanted to avoid raising suspicion.
“How did it go?” Nicole asked nervously as soon as Gabriel returned to the room.
“It’s hopeless talking her out of it,” he replied, slipping off his tie and letting out a long sigh.
“It looks like she isn’t joking about the whole wedding thing,” Nicole said, her voice barely above a whisper.
“She isn’t,” Gabriel confirmed, running a hand down his face.
“So now… we do have to get married, right?” Nicole asked, anxiety and hesitation threading her words.
Gabriel sank into the bed with a heavy sigh. “Yes. But we’ll figure something out after the wedding,” he reassured her, his voice steady yet weighed down by the complexity of his thoughts.
“I’m sorry for putting you in this sort of mess,” he added, a tinge of regret in his tone.
Nicole felt a wave of sadness wash over her.
She didn’t mind walking through hell for Gabriel, but it seemed he didn’t feel the same way.
She understood his anger, his frustration, and his grief.
He had every right to be unhappy, even mad, because he deserved to marry someone he truly loved, not someone barely known.
“It’s okay,” she replied quietly, though her heart ached. She felt disappointed — not with him, but with the reality of their situation. He must have had very strong feelings for Ashley, she concluded, her gaze dropping.
The next morning, Gabriel awoke to an empty bed. He blinked against the morning light, confused. Nicole was usually asleep at this hour — 6:00 am — so where could she be?
He decided to go shower, the thought of warmth easing the fog of sleep. Entering the bathroom, he froze.
A naked figure was under the running water.
“What the hell are you doing in here?!” Nicole screamed, spinning around, startled.
Gabriel scrambled back, embarrassed, panic blooming in his chest. He had forgotten — they would now be sharing the bathroom.
Steam curled around the glass door, softening the view, but he could still see enough to know…
she was perfect. A goddess, sculpted and radiant, her skin glowing from the steam, her hair slicked against her shoulders.
Why was he nervous? He asked himself, even as his pulse raced. Did he see too much? Or nothing at all?
The door opened just then, revealing Nicole wrapped in a towel, another towel twisted atop her head. Her eyes, still wide with embarrassment, met his.
“You should’ve at least knocked, you know,” she scolded softly, bringing him back from his thoughts.
“I had no idea you’d be in here,” Gabriel said, his voice rushed and awkward, as he tried to defend himself.
Nicole’s cheeks burned pink as she realized the near exposure of her body. She glanced away, shy and flustered.
“I’m sorry for barging in like that,” he apologized, noticing her nervous expression.
“I didn’t see anything, I swear.” He added.
“Are you sure?” she asked timidly, barely meeting his gaze.
Gabriel stepped closer, gently lifting her chin with a finger. “Believe me. I didn’t see anything,” he assured her, his tone soft and calm.
Nicole’s blush deepened, just thinking about their current position, she was practically naked with only a towel around her while Gabriel was shirtless with only his pajama pants on.
But relief washed over her at his reply .
So she nodded, believing him, and swiftly ran into the closet, grateful for the little privacy left.