Chapter 50: Angels Saved Gabrielle

Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Angels Saved Gabrielle

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Chapter 50 continues....

Flora zoomed the video to 70%.

The video had caught the face clearly.

"Boom!"

Her eyes widened. She couldn’t believe it.

Gabrielle!

Flora leaned closer. "Unbelievable."

No wonder she was acting strange this morning.

She looked up. Mrs. Smith was still sitting beside her, oblivious.

Flora forced her expression back to normal.

"Thank you so much, Mrs. Smith, for coming all the way."

"You’re welcome, Mrs Darwin."

"Can you send me the video? For my records."

"Of course."

Beep! The video landed on Flora’s phone.

"Thank you. I appreciate it."

Mrs. Smith stood, adjusting her gown. "I should go. My mother is waiting."

"Tell her I’ll check on her later."

"I will. Have a lovely day."

"You too."

The moment the door closed, Flora’s smile vanished.

She stared at the video. "Gabrielle, what were you looking for in my study?"

She dialed a number.

"Grace."

"Yes, Madam?"

"Bring Gabrielle to the living room. Now."

"Right away."

Flora dropped the phone on the table and waited.

Minutes later, Grace entered with Gabrielle.

"Good morning, Madam."

Flora’s eyes locked on Gabrielle. "Where were you last night around 1:20 a.m.?"

Gabrielle blinked. "Last night? I was sleeping in my room, Ma."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Ma."

Flora held out her phone. "Watch this."

Gabrielle took it. The second the video played — her face changed. Lips trembling, eyes wide.

She dropped to her knees.

"Madam, please! I’m sorry!"

Grace stared. "What’s happening?"

"This woman has made begging a professional skill," Grace muttered.

Flora ignored her. "Stand up and talk"

"Please, Ma..."

"I said stand up!"

Gabrielle rose, shaking.

"Who sent you to my house?"

"Nobody, Ma. Believe me."

"Do you think I’m stupid?"

"No, Ma!"

"You attempted climbing into my private study at midnight with a rope. Do you know what that is? Burglary! What were you looking for?"

"Please..."

"Don’t interrupt me!"

Gabrielle went silent.

"If I hand this video to the police, you will face criminal charges. Understand?"

Tears filled her eyes. "Please, don’t call the police. I’ll talk. I promise."

"Good. Start talking."

"I never wanted to do it. The pressure was too much."

"What pressure?"

Gabrielle looked down.

"Gabrielle, I don’t have patience for stories. Who sent you?"

Her lips trembled.

"And don’t lie. The staff-wing camera went dark while others worked. You tampered with it. Right?"

"Yes,Ma..

In less than few minutes,the noise drew the staff inside the living room. Everyone was whispering loudly. Even Maya appeared at the doorway.

The gardener placed two hands on his head. "What has Miss Open-Toe Shoes committed?" This mall girl whose fake toenails were shooting bullets on her first day?"

Flora turned to them. "Silence!"

She turned back to Gabrielle.

"For the last time. Who sent you to my study window?"

Gabrielle’s knees shook. The whole living room went dead silent.

She wiped tears with the back of her hand.

"Madam, please..."

"Don’t call me Madam until you tell me the truth. Who sent you?"

Gabrielle opened her mouth. No words came.

Simon watched closely. He knew this confession would expose more than a burglary.

Ring! Ring!

Gabrielle went pale. Tears still in her eyes, she turned to Maya.

"Maya, please," she whispered. "Don’t let your mother involve the police. I don’t want to go to jail. I know what I did was wrong, I did it out of ignorance. I was going to talk about it. I never meant for it to get complicated."

Maya said nothing. Her face was tight with anger. She wouldn’t even look at Gabrielle.

The phone rang again.

Flora answered. "Hello, Mum."

Flora glanced at Gabrielle. "Mum, I’m busy. I’ll call you back."

"Who is crying? Where is Maya? Give her the phone. I want to speak to my granddaughter."

Flora closed her eyes. "Mum, please. I’ll call you back. I have something important—"

"Flora, don’t tell me you’ll call me back. Is Maya there or not?"

"Yes, she’s here, but—"

"Maya! Let me speak to her!"

Flora looked at Maya. "Maya, your grandmother wants to speak to you."

Maya stood with arms folded, looking away.

Flora frowned. "Maya, I’m talking to you. Your grandmother wants to speak with you."

Still silent.

Flora couldn’t understand it. Whatever was happening, there was no reason to ignore her grandmother.

"Mum, I’ll call you back," Flora said and ended the call. She was displeased, but there were more important matters.

She turned to Gabrielle. "Now, are you ready to talk?"

Gabrielle swallowed, fingers trembling. "Madam, I..."

"Don’t give me unnecessary explanations. I’ve given you enough time. Just tell me the truth."

Simon stepped forward quietly.

"Madam, please take it easy on her. She’s frightened. She will explain if you allow her to calm down."

Flora turned sharply. "Excuse me?"

Simon lowered his head. "Madam, I only meant—"

"How dare you tell me to take it easy? Did I ask for your opinion? Have I asked you to interfere?"

"I’m sorry, Madam," Simon said calmly.

Maya stepped forward. "Mom, shouting at everyone doesn’t make you a good person. It makes you a terrible person!"

The room went dead silent. Even Gabrielle looked up..

Flora slowly turned to her daughter. "What did you just say?"

Maya didn’t retreat. "I said shouting doesn’t make you good. I hate watching this. You can get answers without shouting. Why must everyone be afraid of you before they speak?"

The staff exchanged uncomfortable glances.

Flora stared at her in disbelief. Was Maya really challenging her authority in front of her employees?

"Maya, watch your mouth," Flora warned, her voice low.

"Then stop treating everyone like they’re cabbage!" Maya shot back.

That was the last straw.

Flora walked to her — not in rage, but in hurt authority.

She stepped closer, her voice low and cold enough to make the staff step back.

So you can open your mouth to disrespect me, but you cannot open that same mouth to speak to your grandmother?" Flora demanded, her voice shaking.

"You think shouting makes me terrible? No, Maya. What makes a person terrible is insulting the mother who feeds you, in front of her own staff, to look brave."

"You want to defend them? Then learn how to speak like a woman who deserves respect. Go to your room. We will talk when you remember who I am."

Flora’s hand trembled. For a second, her hard expression cracked.

Maya’s eyes filled. She had wanted to defend Gabrielle and Simon, and now she stood burning with embarrassment. The betrayal hit harder than her mother’s words.

Simon saw the tears she was fighting, the way she curled into herself.

He stepped forward quickly. "I’m sorry, Madam, "Maya is still young. Please don’t let this moment hurt you two."

Maya turned to him, her voice trembling with disappointment.

"Really, Simon? I was defending you! When Mom shouted at you, I defended you, and now you’re supporting her?"

Simon looked at her, steady but kind. "I never asked you to defend me that way, Maya. Your mother is your mother. You can express your feelings without insulting her, especially before others."

"But I only—"

"Next time, be more respectful," he interrupted softly. Not to shame her — to save her dignity.

Maya’s lips parted, but nothing came. She felt everyone’s eyes on her. The embarrassment became unbearable. She lowered her head and ran toward the staircase.

Simon watched her go. Gabrielle stood frozen.

Flora adjusted her clothes, trying to regain composure, and turned to Gabrielle. "Now, where were we?"

Gabrielle swallowed hard.

Flora looked directly at Gabrielle, who stood before her with tears running down her cheeks. The young girl could barely raise her head.

"Gabrielle, you are a very smart girl. You should be able to know when you are exposing yourself to danger," Flora said calmly.

She paused, studying Gabrielle’s frightened expression.

"Do you know something? I can choose to punish you for what you have done. I have every reason to do so. But even if I punish you, what exactly will I gain from it?"

Gabrielle quickly wiped the tears running down her cheeks.

"Madam, please, I was going to talk to you about everything. I swear I was. But I was already committed, and I didn’t know how to get out of it. Please, I never wanted things to get this far."

Flora looked at her without changing her expression.

"You were going to talk to me? After everything you did behind my back?"

Gabrielle lowered her head.

"I made a terrible mistake. Please forgive me. You have been so kind to me, and I don’t know why I allowed myself to do this."

Flora took a slow breath.

"That is exactly what I don’t understand, Gabrielle. I was nice to you."

She paused briefly before continuing.

"And do you know why I was nice to you? It wasn’t because you earned it. It was because kindness is one of the ways I pay my debt to the world for the privilege of living on this earth."

Gabrielle looked up, her eyes filled with tears.

"I don’t understand how you could take someone’s kindness and turn it into an opportunity to hurt them. You saw my kindness as weakness, but you forgot something. Kindness still prevails, even when people take advantage of it."

"Please forgive me, Madam. I am begging you. Don’t punish me."

Flora shook her head slightly.

"I won’t punish you, Gabrielle."

Gabrielle’s eyes widened.

"Madam?"

"Remember the day you ran to me,I gave you my time, sympathy and justice. I gave you something that went beyond money. Did I ask you to prove that you deserved my kindness before helping you?."

"No, Ma.

Flora’s voice became softer, but her words remained firm.

"Though you had a bad motive, I don’t regret helping you. As long as your need has been sustained, I am satisfied. I will never regret doing something good simply because someone chose to repay me with betrayal."

The staff members standing nearby watched silently. Nobody dared to interrupt. Some exchanged uncomfortable glances, while others looked at Gabrielle with disappointment.

Flora noticed them.

"Everyone, please return to your duties. There is nothing more to see here."

Immediately, the staff began to disperse. Within seconds, they had returned to their duties.

However, Simon remained where he stood.

Flora noticed him but said nothing. Her attention returned to Gabrielle.

"So, Gabrielle, I will ask you one more time, and this will be the last time. Who sent you to my house?"

Gabrielle swallowed hard. She looked at Flora, then briefly glanced towards Simon before lowering her eyes again.

"Madam, please..."

"Answer my question," Flora interrupted calmly.

Gabrielle’s lips trembled. She knew whatever she said next would change everything.

Her voice broke to a whisper.

"It was Laura."

Flora frowned.

"Laura?"

Gabrielle nodded slowly, tears falling faster.

"Yes, Madam. Laura, your late husband’s secret wife."

For a moment, Flora couldn’t move. Her eyes widened as she stared at Gabrielle, trying to understand what she had just heard.

Laura?

Her fingers suddenly went numb.

The phone slipped from her hand and crashed onto the floor, the screen shattering.

Author ’s note.