Chapter 23
Gabriella’s POV
My heart pounded as I stepped forward, my father’s arm in mine.
The guests stood, their bright smiles filled with joy. I could hardly believe it. Today was my wedding day, and I was marrying Zander.
His eyes were filled with so much love as he smiled at me. I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t seen i
all these while. Zander had always looked at me like that. How had I been so blind?
I reached the altar and my father squeezed my hand before he stepped back.
“You look breathtaking,” Zander murmured, his voice filled with warmth.
I smiled warmly. “And you look incredibly handsome.”
He smirked. “Stop lying, I look sexy.”
I snorted. “In your dreams.”
The ceremony began, the pastor started talking, but a strange feeling spread through me.
Just as Zander took my hands, the doors slammed open, and everyone gasped.
I turned, and I blinked in shock.
Thomas stood there, looking crazy, and disheveled. He was holding a bag. His suit was wrinkled, his face was pale, and yet, he was smiling.
“Gabriella,” he breathed.
A shiver crawled down my spine.
Zander stepped forward instantly, blocking me with his body. “Get him out of here,” he growled. Thomas ignored him, his eyes were on mine. “I have it, baby. I have everything. The money, the jewelry–everything they stole from you. I’m giving it all back.” His smile widened. He looked crazy and desperate. “You see? I did it for you.”
Silence filled the room.
My stomach twisted. He looked… unhinged. He truly believed this would fix everything.
‘I love you,” Thomas continued, stepping forward. “It was all a mistake. Claire tricked me. I was ost, but I see clearly now. We can start over.”
Zander tensed beside me, his entire body shook with fury.
‘Guards,” my father’s voice called out.
Two men moved toward Thomas, but he stumbled backward, dropping the bag. His hands shook as he reached inside his jacket and pulled out a gun.
My breath caught. Not again.
People started screaming as Thomas lifted his arm, aiming wildly. His hands shook.
‘No one is taking her from me!” he shouted desperately.
He pulled the trigger, and I inhaled sharply.
The sound of gunshot caused me to flinch, my heart pounding in my chest.
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Class shattered somewhere behind me
He had missed. He hit a window instead
Before he could fire again, Zander lunged at kime. He tackled Thomas to the ground, knocking the gun from his gre
The guards rushed in, grabbing Thomas as he fought trying to free kinet
Not Gabriella, pleaser His screams echoes
I released a deep sigh. My heart was racing, but I turned to the officient, my voice stong Les continuer
Everyone was shocked some people gosse, in ascelet,
Zander turned to me, shocked. “Gate, are you sXE?
I nodded firmly, “Yes, I won’t let him ruin this. Today is ours”
The guards began to drag Thomas away, but as they got distracted, he twisted and kicked one of them between the legs.
The guard yelled and released his grip, and in that split second, Thomas wrenched free
“Nor someone yelled, and Thomes bolted
Before anything could be done, he was gone.
Someone called for the police, but I didn’t move.
Tinhaled deeply, shaking off the last of my fear.
Then, I turned back to Zande
‘I love you,” I whispered, then we continued the ceremony
Everything hurt, but Claire kept moving.
‘Claire, what do I do now?” Thomas lamented, pacing the small room.
Chris exhaled sharply, arms crossed. “What do you think? The police are looking for you both You need to lay low
Thomas dragged a hand through his hair. “Damn it! This wasn’t supposed to happen!*
Chris shook his head. “You’re a fool. And now, you’re a hunted fool.”
Claire remained silent, her body screaming in pain, but she refused to stop moving. There was something she needed to do first.
She finished cooking, then she set the plates before them. She didn’t react to their conversation. Instead, her mind flashed back to her experience at the hospital, and the horrible news the doctor had given her.
“It took too long to get help,” the doctor had said gently. “Not only have you lost the baby… but we also had to remove your womb.”
She glanced down at her stomach. It was flat, and empty.
Thomas hadn’t even noticed.
Chris sat down slowly as she placed a plate for him. His eyes narrowed as he watched her. He seemed to sense something was off.
“Are you okay?” He asked.
She smiled bitterly. “I miscarried.”
Thomas didn’t even pause. He continued eating. “That’s… that’s rough,” he muttered absentmindedly. Then he returned to his previous lamenting. “Gabriella. I need to fix things with her. She’s my only chance. If I can just-”
Claire’s grip tightened on her fork. She inhaled sharply, forcing herself to calm down. “You pushed me,” she said coldly.
That got his attention. Thomas finally looked at her with confusion in his eyes. “What?”
“You pushed me, Thomas,” she repeated coldly. “That’s why I lost the baby.”
For a second, he just stared at her, then he let out a half–hearted sigh. “Yeah, well… sorry about that.”
That was it. A stupid apology, as though he had knocked over a glass of water. Then, just like that, he returned to his discussion about Gabriella.
Claire began laughing hysterically, causing the both of them to turn to her in shock.
Thomas coughed. “What’s so funny?” He scowled.
Claire smiled bitterly. “You,” she murmured. “Both of you are really amusing.”
Chris frowned. “Claire, are you okay?”
“No,” she admitted calmly, “Not at all.”
Thomas coughed again. Then he sighed in annoyance. “Look, if you’re going to get all emotional
“Emotional?” Claire smirked. “You pushed me, Thomas. You killed my baby. And you don’t even
care.”
Thomas coughed harder this time. “I already said sorry. What more do you want?”
She smiled, glancing at his food. “Nothing. Nothing at all.”
Chris’s eyes narrowed. Something felt off. He glanced at his plate, then back at Claire. “What did you do?”
Thomas rolled his eyes, but before he could talk, he started coughing hard.
Chris’s eyes widened, and he pushed his plate away, but it was too late, he had already eaten from the plate.
He started coughing also.
Thomas’s face turned red as he struggled to breathe. His body trembled as he gasped. He stumbled from his chair, knocking the plate to the floor.
Chris groaned as he coughed harder. “Why?”
She shrugged. “Because you watched, you let it happen, and you helped him.”
Claire leaned back on her chair with a small smile, then she began eating her food.
Her vision blurred, and she closed her eyes, keeping her fork down. Tears poured down her face.
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She winced at the pain coursing through her body, but she didn’t make a sound.
Finally, Claire released a soft exhale, and her world turned black as the poison killed her.
