CHAPTER 319: ARE THEY... DATING?

"So, to test whether the pendant truly worked, you deliberately orchestrated that attack, fully aware that Amelie was in no condition to defend herself, let alone against a trained assassin?" Gabriel questioned, barely restraining his anger from getting snapped.

"Yes," Mabel admitted quickly. "And I intended to intervene before anything happened to her. I wanted to be the one to save her."

Gabriel’s jaw clenched so tightly that the muscles along his face twitched. His violet eyes darkened, burning into a dangerous shade of crimson as his wolf stirred violently within him, a low rumble vibrating in his chest.

"Mother, you shouldn’t have done that," Casaio said firmly, breaking the tense silence. His gaze shifted between his mother and Gabriel. "And you should have told him the truth from the beginning. He trusted the pendant given to him with his mate’s life."

The words only stoked the storm inside Gabriel. He rose abruptly from his seat and strode out of the room before the rage could consume him. In this state, he wasn’t certain what he might do, cast his own mother out, or worse, something far more reckless, something unforgivable.

"Gabriel..." Amelie whispered softly, her voice laced with worry as her eyes followed him toward the door.

"I’ll go after him," Casaio said quickly, already on his feet. "Zilia, stay close to Amelie. Don’t let her out of your sight."

"I must apologize for this unpleasant scene," Raidan spoke at last, his gaze settling briefly on Ravenna and her grandson. "Let us continue this discussion in the morning. The day has been long, and we need rest."

"Of course, Your Majesty," Carlos said with a polite smile.

"Please, this way," Albus stepped forward with a quick bow, guiding Raidan and Mabel toward their prepared guest room.

As the king and queen rose, the others in the room instinctively stood as well, bowing in respect as the royal pair made their departure.

"Carlos, why did you do that?" Amelie asked softly, her brows furrowed. "You know how deeply Gabriel is hurt by his mother’s actions."

"It had to be done," Carlos replied. "The truth may be bitter, but it cannot be ignored. Now at least we understand what my grandmother must decide."

Ravenna’s voice broke the silence. "Amelie, may I have the pendant for tonight? I need to study it closely before I can give my answer in the morning."

Without hesitation, Amelie reached for the chain around her neck. She slipped the pendant free and placed it gently in Carlos’s waiting hands as he stepped forward.

"At least now," Carlos said, his gaze shifting between Amelie and Ravenna, "you both understand why the Queen acted as she did. Her fear is not of failure, but of losing Gabriel altogether."

"Hmm."

"I’ll see you later, Mimi," Carlos said, taking his grandmother back to her room.

Amelie lowered her gaze, a weird feeling she was getting.

"Let’s go to your room," Zilia offered.

"No. I must wait for Gabriel’s return. I don’t know where he has gone," Amelie murmured.

"Not too far," Dominick said. "Casaio has gone after him, so everything will be fine."

Amelie’s heart, however, was not ready to accept that Gabriel was fine.

~~~~~

Flora stepped out of the car as she walked a few steps ahead. She paused, then turned back toward Karmen. "You weren’t supposed to drive me home," she said softly, a faint smile touching her lips. "But... thank you."

"It was Gabriel’s order," Karmen replied, his gaze fixed straight ahead rather than meeting hers. "I’m only following commands."

Flora tilted her head slightly, her brows knitting. "Does he really think that woman might come after me again?"

At that, Karmen finally lifted his eyes to hers, but only for a brief moment before dropping them again. "Yes. That’s exactly why you’re supposed to call me if anything feels wrong. No matter how small it seems."

"Alright," Flora said with a sigh. "But there’s just one problem, I don’t have your number."

Without hesitation, Karmen drew his phone from his trouser pocket, tapped the screen, and gave her a quick missed call. Her own phone buzzed in her hand, the new contact flashing across the screen.

It surprised her that Karmen already had her number. She understood that Amelie must have given the number to him.

"I’ll save it. You’re welcome to—" Flora began, but her words cut off as Karmen interrupted abruptly.

"No, thank you," he refused firmly. "We don’t share any kind of relationship that would require me to come into your house."

Flora blinked, taken aback by the bluntness of his reply. "I only said it because you’re connected to my sister. There was no other intention behind my words," she snapped with agitation. "But fine, if you don’t want to, then don’t. It was the first and last time I’d ever asked you."

She turned sharply on her heel and disappeared into the house, the door shutting a little too firmly behind her.

Karmen exhaled slowly before he settled back into the driver’s seat. He fastened his seat belt.

Katelyn’s expression from earlier flashed in his memory, her eyes filled with disappointment tangled with hurt. She hadn’t liked seeing him with Flora. That much had been clear.

"Why do they both have to work at the same company?" Karmen muttered under his breath, frustration gnawing at him.

"And what was she doing with Sage? Are they... Dating?" The idea made his chest tighten. He scoffed, shaking his head. "That player isn’t even suitable for her. Gabriel wouldn’t approve of this. Does he even know? I doubt it. But then, he doesn’t even care what his siblings do in their personal lives."

He started the engine and drove back to the mansion. However, upon reaching there, he learnt from Albus that Gabriel left somewhere in anger after argument with his mother.

"The King and Queen are already here!?" Karmen asked to confirm.

"Yes. At the moment, they are resting," Albus replied. "As for Prince Gabriel, I wonder when he will return."