Chapter 36
Gabriel’s parents traveled back to Las Vegas two days after they returned from their honeymoon.
Their departure left the mansion quieter than it had been in weeks.
The warmth their presence brought faded almost instantly, replaced by the familiar quiet rhythm and stillness that settled deep into the walls of the house.
Nicole returned to her bedroom, to Gabriel’s displeasure, though he kept it to himself.
He had no right to complain. This arrangement had never promised permanence.
It had always been built on and conditions, rather than promises.
Yet, the distance between them felt heavier now than it ever had before.
A week passed, and everything gradually slipped back into the familiar routine that existed before Gabriel’s parents had arrived.
Gabriel resumed work at the office, immersing himself in meetings, files, and endless responsibilities.
His days were long and exhausting. Yet despite the workload, his mind remained restless.
The stress was no longer coming solely from business.
For days, his thoughts circled around one unavoidable reality—he needed a believable explanation for when he and Nicole eventually went their separate ways.
It wasn’t the public he feared disappointing. It was his parents. Their joy, their pride, their relief at seeing him married weighed heavily on him. He needed a story they would accept without question, or suspicion, something clean and reasonable, something that wouldn’t break their hearts.
After days of mental exhaustion and sleepless nights, Gabriel finally came up with a plan.
He called Nicole into his study so they could talk.
He asked her to name any place in the country she would like to reside once the contract between them expired.
Gabriel didn’t want her to feel trapped within the walls of his mansion when she had her own life to live.
At the same time, he couldn’t bear the thought of her returning to her old apartment.
In his mind, she deserved comfort, luxury, security, stability—she deserved to live like a queen.
Gabriel explained that the only way to end everything without raising suspicion was for Nicole to file for a divorce after one year of marriage. A year would make the separation seem natural, believable, and unforced.
Nicole felt numb as he spoke. The words settled into her chest slowly, heavily, like weights pressing down on her heart.
Reality hit her all at once, as it suddenly became clear that every moment they had shared—the laughter, the intimacy, the tenderness were not just false— they had an expiration date.
She had known that from the start, yet still, she couldn’t believe that she had allowed her heart to wander so freely, allowed herself to feel during the contract period.
Now, she was the one bleeding silently in the end.
Still, she managed to conceal her emotions.
She refused to let him see how deeply his words were cutting her.
She didn’t want Gabriel to think she was weird.
She mentally gathered herself, smoothing her expression, steadying her breath, and asked for time to think about her preferred state or city.
Gabriel nodded, understanding, and told her to take all the time she needed. She then left his study quietly.
The moment Nicole stepped out, Gabriel reached for a bottle of whiskey.
He poured himself a drink, then another, his chest tightening as the silence closed in on him.
Saying those words to her had felt like tearing something out of himself.
He had noticed how the color drained from her face while he spoke, how her eyes dulled for just a second.
He had wanted to stop. He had almost stopped.
He wanted to take everything back. But he didn’t—because in his twisted reasoning, this was for her happiness.
He convinced himself that her reaction came from being accustomed to his mansion, to the lifestyle, and not to him. That was why he was willing to go to any length to ensure she lived comfortably—far away from any hardship.
Gabriel wasn’t a heavy drinker, but that night proved habits could form quickly. He stayed in his study, the bottle slowly emptying as the hours passed.
Nicole, on the other hand, locked herself inside her bedroom and broke completely.
She cried uncontrollably, until her chest hurt, until her eyes burned, until her thoughts blurred together.
Starting over felt impossible. She hadn’t felt this pain in a long time, as her heart had shattered once again.
But, this time the man responsible didn’t even realize it.
Gabriel was utterly unaware of her feelings.
It hurt knowing that after months together, he hadn’t developed even the slightest attraction toward her.
In her pain, she convinced herself he must still be deeply in love with his ex-girlfriend.
She had known from the beginning how this would end, yet her foolish heart had fallen anyway.
She cried herself to sleep with that truth weighing heavily on her soul.
A month passed.
Gabriel bought a mansion for Nicole in Miami, Florida—the city she had chosen.
Together, they came up with a story: Nicole would be touring the country and would return to New York occasionally until the tour officially concluded.
Gabriel’s parents accepted the explanation, much to their relief.
Gabriel and Nicole were in his study.
Nicole was about to say goodbye; she was leaving for Miami that very day.
Gabriel had already transferred the remaining twelve and a half million dollars into her account.
It was supposed to make her happy—it was the reason she had agreed to the contract in the first place—but instead, she felt hollow.
The money felt distant and meaningless now, a reminder that everything between them had always been a deal.
Gabriel stood by the window, his hands buried deep in his pants pockets, his posture rigid.
Nicole stood a few inches away from the door, as though she needed the reassurance that escape was close.
An awkward silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating.
It felt unfamiliar, and painful. Gabriel found himself staring at her without restraint.
She looked as beautiful as ever, dressed in a pink striped bandage dress, nude heels, and a matching purse. She looked composed.
The silence was killing Gabriel. They had never stood together like this before—quiet, restrained, unsure. Nicole had always filled the space with her voice, her warmth, her presence. Now, there was nothing but tension.
“I already destroyed the contract papers to avoid leaving any trace of evidence,” Gabriel said, finally breaking the silence.
“Okay,” Nicole replied quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I hope you still remember our discussion,” he said, his voice calm, and controlled.
“I’ll file for a divorce after a year because you’re so insensitive to my feelings and only care about your company, thereby making the marriage a boring and unbearable one to be in…
I remember everything perfectly well… But you know that’s not true…
” Nicole replied, the last part spoken with a concerned tone that betrayed her calm exterior.
Gabriel said nothing. He couldn’t. The words hit too close to home.
Ashley had left him for those very reasons, and the thought of Nicole being painted by the same brush—even falsely—made his chest tighten.
He never wanted any woman to suffer because of him, especially not Nicole.
With the age difference between them, she was too young and too gentle for the emotional weight that came with loving someone like him.
Nicole felt the sting of his silence immediately.
He stood there composed, like the businessman he was, his face a practiced mask devoid of emotion.
She, on the other hand, was fighting a losing battle, as she struggled to keep herself together.
Her eyes burned, already glassy with unshed tears.
“You promise to keep in touch?” she asked, her voice shaking despite her efforts.
“Yeah.”
“You promise we’ll remain friends even after the divorce, right?”
“I promise,” Gabriel replied calmly, though it cost him more than she could ever know.
“So, this is it?” she asked, glancing slowly around the study, as though memorizing the room.
“Remember, you can’t begin a new relationship until the divorce is finalized,” he said.
Nicole nodded silently. The thought of being with anyone else felt impossible. Even trying to imagine it made her chest ache. What she felt for Gabriel was deeper than anything she had ever known.
“And you?” she managed to ask, softly.
“You don’t have to worry about me. I have a company to run.”
“That’s true,” she said, forcing a smile. He was always like this—solid, unmoving, unreachable. Just then, a tear slipped down her cheek.
Gabriel saw it, and it shattered him. He wanted to cross the room, wipe her tears away, pull her into his arms, and confess everything he had buried. But fear rooted him to the spot. Fear of rejection. Fear of losing her completely.
“When we eventually get divorced, I’m taking all the clothes in my closet,” Nicole said, forcing a smile as she wiped her tears, trying to lighten the mood.
“They’re yours, and you’re welcome to visit anytime,” he replied.
“And don’t get jealous ’cos I’m leaving with my teddy bear,” she added, earning a small smile from him.
She is a strong woman, Gabriel thought.
“Gabriel?”
“Mmm?”
“Can I give you a goodbye kiss?” Nicole asked, surprising him.
The question caught him off guard. Why would she want to kiss him now, with no one else around?
“I mean, we’re still married and all,” she added, pulling him out of his thoughts.
“Okay,” he replied.
Nicole walked toward him, stopping when only inches separated them. She looked into his eyes, searching—hoping—for something. Gabriel could see the hurt reflected in her gaze and wondered how he had caused it.
She stared at him for a moment longer, hoping to catch even the slightest crack in his emotional armor. Finding none, she gave up trying to understand what he felt and leaned in, pressing her lips against his.
The kiss began slowly, tentative, as though neither of them wanted to admit what it meant.
Then it deepened. Gabriel wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer, while Nicole’s fingers slid into his hair.
He kissed her with everything he couldn’t say, pouring all his regret and affection into that moment.
When they finally pulled apart, they were both breathing heavily.
Nicole wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly. She felt safe there—safer than she had ever felt anywhere else. Gabriel pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head before she finally let go.
“Goodbye,” she said softly.
“Goodbye,” he replied quietly.
Gabriel watched her walk out of his study—and out of his life. He couldn’t believe he wasn’t going to see her beautiful face and enjoy her company anymore. He remained by the window, his chest aching, as he watched her chauffeur drive her away toward the airport.
The mansion fell into an unbearable silence.
In the few months Nicole had lived there, she had turned his house into a home. Now she was gone, it felt empty again, and Gabriel was left alone, wondering how he would survive without her, as he was returning to the miserable life he once thought was enough.