CHAPTER 171: EXPECT ME TO FORGET

"You always get me wrong," Casaio pinched the skin between his brows while leaning forward, thus no longer taking the support of the desk.

Gabriel caught his collar tightly, catching him off guard. "You should’ve told me the truth. I hate it when you and Nick mess with me like this," he said.

Casaio held his fists, asking him to calm down. "Listen to me first before turning so aggressive," he said.

"You’ll preach and take the side of our mother again. You never dared to raise your voice against her. Instead, whenever she did wrong Dad, you and Nick asked me to stop. It annoys me more than anything. And then, you all expect me to forget everything from the past," Gabriel said, his eyes staring deep into his brother’s.

"Gabriel, are you inside?" Amelie’s voice came from outside as she lightly knocked on the door. The door clicked, but before she could see them arguing, Gabriel had moved away from Casaio while Casaio was smoothing his collar.

"I—I came to tell you something—" Amelie began. Her gaze shifted between the two brothers, sensing that she had interrupted something significant.

"I’ll excuse myself," Casaio said curtly. He brushed past her without another word.

Amelie stepped aside to let the eldest prince through, watching him disappear down the hallway before turning back to Gabriel.

"Did something happen between you two?" she asked gently.

Gabriel’s expression softened. "No. We were just talking."

"What brought you here?" he added, attempting to change the subject.

A warm smile returned to Amelie’s face. "Your mother called. She invited us to the palace. There’s a celebration in the palace for us. She said she’d like to introduce me to some of your extended family."

"We’re not going to the palace," Gabriel replied immediately.

Amelie’s smile wavered, but she held onto her hope. "Gabriel... she really wants us to be there. She said it would mean a lot. I think she’s trying, in her own way."

"Can’t you understand once? We aren’t going to the palace," Gabriel snapped at her. Immediately, he regretted his words and apologized, "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you."

Amelie blinked at the sudden outburst, visibly taken aback.

"I—I should go," Amelie whispered. Without waiting for a response, she turned and rushed out of the room.

"Fuck," Gabriel muttered under his breath. Without wasting any second, he followed her.

When he reached the room, he found her inside, her back turned to him. She was already at the bed, picking up the laptop she had left there earlier.

"Amelie, I’m really sorry," he said gently. "I never meant to hurt you. Please... don’t shut me out. Don’t be upset."

"I’m not upset with you," she replied while her eyes fixed on the screen.

"You are. I shouted at you," Gabriel said. "I’m sorry."

Amelie let the laptop rest on the bed again and turned to him. "I admit it hurts," she said. "What made you so charged up? I hope you won’t keep me in the dark. I won’t step in the areas, where you don’t want my entry, especially between your mother and you. I simply thought it would be nice to meet more people in the palace and the Queen might not consider me a bad choice for you."

Gabriel crossed the room to approach her and hugged her.

His head rested on her shoulder while his arms circled her waist.

"Mom tried to separate you from me," Gabriel whispered. "Casaio and I were arguing because he chose to lie to me. The reason was our mother. And then, you came asking we should go to the palace. I’m not making an excuse of my outburst, but that’s what made me angry. I’m sorry. It’s just I don’t want you to leave me. And my mother is doing everything to keep us apart. It scares me that you’ll leave me too, and I’ll be alone, without any love and care."

"I promised you I would never leave you. It’s a vow I took," Amelie said, giving him a gentle push so that she could look into his eyes. "Don’t you trust me?" she whispered.

"I do," Gabriel replied, holding her hand and bringing it to his mouth to kiss on it. "But I don’t trust my mother. A day before our wedding, she tried to kidnap you because she didn’t want us to be married. Everything she will do, feels like a trap to me."

Amelie could feel the fear in his eyes. The fear of abandonment. Even she wanted to know why the Queen was doing it. The only thing she knew was that Gabriel’s mother was protecting him from something bad.

"Gabriel, you’ll see me growing old with you," Amelie said, smiling. "I’m not leaving you in any situation."

"Did you forgive me then?" Gabriel asked.

"Hmm. That’s why we are talking like this," Amelie said. Then tiptoeing, she planted a kiss on his cheek. "See, I’m no longer upset."

Gabriel heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank you. It means a lot. I can’t see you getting upset. It turns me mad," he murmured, hugging her.

Amelie heard the beats of his heart and the two of them stayed like that for a while.

"You shouldn’t argue with Brother Casaio. Talk to him with a calm mind why he chose to lie to you," Amelie said in a soft tone.

"Though I don’t want to hear what he thinks, but since you’re asking for it, I’ll do it," Gabriel said.

"As far as I’ve seen your brother protects you," Amelie stated.

Gabriel scoffed, not agreeing with her.

"Who knows Brother Casaio thought you were going to lose your temper if you find out the truth. Then, you would’ve fought with your mother. So, maybe he felt not to tell you for your peace of mind," Amelie opined.

Gabriel hummed, but remained silent.

"Say something," Amelie tilted her head up to look at him.

"I’ll talk and find out what was in his mind," Gabriel assured her.