Paid in Blood for a Lie

Noelle cleared her throat.

“Gabriel, could you come with me for a moment?”

The second I was called away, the office erupted in hushed chatter.

“Oh, my God! Did you see the news? Noelle is the chairwoman of Strom Inc.!”

“Gabriel just hit the jackpot, but did you see the look on his face?”

“You don’t get it. The couple is having a spat, but I reckon things will blow over behind closed doors.”

Everybody saw me as the lucky man who was about to step into the CEO role.

Unbeknownst to them, I was only looking for an exit.

In the office, Noelle reached for me.

I backed away from her.

“Ms. Strom.”

Noelle furrowed her brows.

“Why didn’t you come home last night? Are you still mad at me?”

I shook my head.

“I was with Mom.”

The reason I stayed away was to spare Bridget from Noelle’s presence.

With treatment, Bridget could’ve had the chance to live.

However, Bridge chose to end her life so as not to add to our burden.

Noelle picked up that something was off.

After a brief silence, she said, “We should visit Bridget tonight.”

Struck by a thought, Noelle appeared hesitant.

She slipped me a bank card.

“I’ve deposited a million dollars in this account. Buy Bridget some clothes. Consider it a little something…”

I didn’t take the bank card, my eyes staying locked on it.

Money couldn’t even begin to cover the cost of what she had taken from my family.

My silence sparked an alarm within Noelle.

Before she could say anything, her phone cut her off from her thoughts.

Noelle pulled out her phone and glanced at me.

After much hesitation, she stepped away.

I knew that it was likely one of her games, meant to test my loyalty and my intentions toward her wealth.

However, I couldn’t care less at that point.

I handed in my resignation.

Even at my abrupt request to leave, Elfed Barwise, the VP, didn’t seem the least bit surprised.

“Are you leaving because Ms. Strom has other plans for you, Gabriel?”

I clenched my fists, finding the whole thing absurd.

Everyone assumed I’d marry the chairwoman and take my place in high society while running her company as the CEO.

They envied my luck.

If only they knew that it came with the price of my mother’s life.

Given a choice, I’d rather have never met Noelle at all.

On my way out, I ran into Noelle and her childhood friend, Charles.

Noticing my gaze, Noelle jumped to explain.

“This is Charles Atkinson. He’s my—”

Charles took her arm.

“Fiancé.”

Amid my silence, Charles uttered, “Excuse me. Could you step aside?”

Defiance flickered in Charles’ eyes.

Without a word, I stepped back and gave way to them.

Noelle looked at me, conflicted. Clearly, there was something on her mind.

In the end, Charles pulled her away.

That night, I went to the chapel to place Bridget’s ashes, remaining there until the prayers for her peace were finished.

Noelle didn’t show up or ask questions.

I didn’t care.

It didn’t matter whether she was aware of Bridget’s death. Her knowledge wasn’t relevant anyway.

I believed that if Bridget knew the truth from beyond the grave, she would never want to see Noelle again.

Five years of misplaced devotion ended there and then.

…

I returned home in the wee hours of the morning.

Noelle was nowhere to be found, but it wasn’t my concern.

While I packed my bags, the broadcast announced that Strom Inc.’s chairwoman had appeared at a gala alongside her fiancé, Charles.

I stared at the couple matched in heaven, feeling nothing inside.

Zipping the last of my bags, I got up to leave.

Then came the turn of the door lock, and Noelle walked in.

Noelle rushed over and grabbed my hand the moment she saw me.

“Where did you go last night? Why didn’t you take my calls?”

Taken aback, I withdrew my arm from her grip.

“I was with Mom last night. I didn’t want to disturb her rest, so I turned off my phone.”

The mention of Bridget filled Noelle with guilt as the conversation from the other day came to mind.

“I’ll get the best doctor for Bridget.”

She took out a box and pressed it into my palm.

“This is the gift I promised Bridget.”

I opened the box, and inside was a bracelet.

It was the genuine version of the bracelet that Bridget had been so fond of.

I was stunned.

In the past, Noelle would hold Bridget’s hands, promising earnestly to present her with a genuine piece of real worth.

Back then, Bridget gazed at Noelle with joyful affection, not concerned about the authenticity of the bracelet.