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The house was steeped in a thick, velvety darkness. In Gabriella's room, a sliver of moonlight fought to penetrate the heavy curtains. Dona was fast asleep in the large bed. The door creaked open, and a soft yellow light from the hallway spilled briefly onto the carpet before the door was pulled almost shut.
Gabriella's mom, Roselette, glided into the room, coming to take the juice tray she'd forgotten earlier. "Did they fall asleep so early?" she whispered to herself, noting the stillness. She saw Dona peacefully resting, and next to her, a figure fully concealed beneath the bedsheets. How sweet, Roselette thought, coming closer to kiss her daughter's forehead.
She gently peeled the sheets down from the figure's face. Roselette's eyes, normally warm, widened in sheer horror. It wasn't Gabriella.
The sound of the sheets, the sudden change in the room's energy—it woke Dona. She unconsciously opened her eyes and saw a large, shadowy figure standing over the bed. She blinked, realizing it was Roselette, her face a mask of shock and fury.
"Agh!" Dona screamed, bolt upright.
Roselette, adrenaline spiking, fumbled for the light switch and flipped it on. The room was bathed in harsh, undeniable light. Her voice was sharp, laced with icy rage. "Where is Gabriella?"
Dona looked down next to her, seeing only the large pillow she had so cleverly arranged. A crushing wave of regret washed over her. Roselette's glare was accusatory, her expression now hard and knowing. The trick was over. Dona couldn't speak, her silence a confession.
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Caught in the Act
Outside the large, wrought-iron gates of the house, Gabriella stood, her hand already reaching for the lock. Her phone rang.
"I'm here, I just reached," Gabriella answered.
"Your mother found out!" Dona's voice was a frantic hiss from the other side.
"What?!" Gabriella was shocked.
"Just come, you'll see," Dona quickly finished, and the line went dead.
Gabriella panicked for a brief, heart-stopping moment. She took a deep breath, steeling her nerves. Andria doesn't panic. She pushed open the main door.
As she entered, the lights snapped on automatically, flooding the grand living room. She stunned. Waiting for her—standing like judges in a courtroom—were her mother, her father, and a petrified Dona.
Gabriella forced a smile. "Hi, everyone! What's with the—"
Roselette stalked towards her, her face a thundercloud of anger. "Where have you been?"
"Ha?" Gabriella stammered, trying to look innocent.
"How dare you sneak out after I specifically told you no!" Roselette hissed.
As Roselette closed the distance, Gabriella bolted, putting the closest sofa between them. "Come here right now!" Roselette ordered.
Before Roselette could start the chase, Gabriella's father, Frederick, stepped in between them. "She told me," he announced calmly. "She's going to the club."
Roselette swung around to face him, her eyes narrowed. "So, both father and daughter are fooling me?"
"No, honey, I was about to say but I forgot," Frederick explained, trying a sheepish smile. "She's eighteen now, of course, she likes to go out."
But the explanation didn't stop Roselette. She lunged, ready to pursue Gabriella, who was already running around the cluster of sofas. Roselette followed, her voice raised in indignation.
Dona stood near the staircase, watching the bizarre, high-speed family drama with a completely shocked face.
Frederick finally managed to stop his wife, gently restraining her. He turned to the girls. "Gabriella, Dona, go to sleep now. I'll talk to Auntie."
Grateful for the reprieve, they both hurried upstairs.
Roselette turned back to her husband. "Why are you stopping me? She needs to learn—"
"Leave it," Frederick interrupted, a sly look in his eyes. "Aha, one more thing I forgot to mention."
"What?" Roselette demanded, still reeling.
"Your brother called me," Frederick said. "He invited us to your house."
Roselette's angry expression softened slightly. "Really?"
"Your mother wishes to see you," he added.
Roselette's face turned emotional, the anger completely replaced by a complicated mix of longing and apprehension.
----
The Club's Covert Conversation
The Night Club was a blur of flashing lights and pounding music. Raina sat alone in a booth, sipping her drink, while Ronnie was surrounded by a gaggle of beautiful women.
Raina leaned in as Ronnie finally shooed the women away for a moment. "How's it going so far? Did you get any hint?"
Ronnie finished his drink. "Why are you so rushing in this matter? Lara lost her memories, she won't trouble us anymore."
Raina stared at him, her eyes sharp and focused. "I can't hold back anymore. These days, Lara is getting so close with Gabriella. If Gabriella got Lara's pendrive, we're trapped."
Ronnie focused on swirling the ice in his glass.
Raina continued, her voice low and tense. "She's already targeting us for what we did to her. If she gets that pendrive too, she won't leave us. It's our weakness, too. Ronnie, are you listening?"
Ronnie nodded slowly. "Wait... Are you told Han and Selina that Gabriella is Andria?"
"No," Raina said.
"Why?"
"They're enjoying their dates. I don't want to upset them too . I want to solve this before they know ."
Ronnie smiled, a predatory look in his eyes. "Next Saturday, I have a date with Lara. I will find a chance to get into her house and find that pendrive. Leave it to me, don't worry." He paused, his smile fading. "Wait, does Jake know Gabriella's real identity?"
"I gave him the evidence already," Raina said, frowning. "But he refused to watch it. I don't even know what he's planning."
Ronnie chuckled playfully. "I think he's fallen for her."
Raina's eyes widened in genuine shock.
"What?!"
----
A Sister's Picture
Later that night, the house was quiet again. Frederick gently pushed open the door to Gabriella's room.
"Are you sleeping?" he whispered.
Gabriella and Dona were sitting up in bed. "No, Dad," Gabriella replied.
Frederick sat on the edge of the bed. "Don't worry. Your mother is always like this. She'll cool down."
"Thanks, Dad, for covering up for me," Gabriella said in a low, appreciative voice.
Frederick patted her head affectionately. Dona watched the moment between father and daughter with a look of warm admiration.
"So," Frederick asked, his voice suddenly serious but gentle, "where did you actually go so late at night?"
Dona and Gabriella froze.
Frederick saw their reaction, and then his serious expression melted into a kind smile. "It's okay. If you don't want to tell, fine. It's late, go to bed. I'm going."
He started to leave,
Gabriella noticed it still resting on the comforter. She picked it up. As she did, she saw the lock screen wallpaper—an old selfie. It featured her younger parents and another young girl.
"Dad!" she called.
Frederick turned.
Gabriella held out the phone. "You forgot this." She then asked, gesturing to the screen, "Who is in this wallpaper?"
Frederick smiled, a deep, fond expression. "My naughty sister... your Auntie."
Gabriella was stunned. "You have a sister too?"
Frederick nodded.
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The Handover
The next morning, Gabriella and Dona were standing face to face outside the house.
"Come anytime, bye," Gabriella said cheerfully.
Dona nodded, a serious look on her face. "Don't trap me anymore in your plans. You don't know how much I was afraid when your mother found out."
Gabriella smirked. "You want to be my friend, right? Of course, you have to be with me, whether it's for victory or trouble."
Dona was stunned by the boldness of the statement. "Of course, but… I can't argue with you. I'm leaving."
"Wait." Gabriella stopped her and handed her a small object. "Take this."
Dona took the object. It was a pendrive. "Why did you give this to me?"
"Keep it safe," Gabriella instructed. "I don't think it's safe here."
Dona pocketed it. "Don't forget to erase your video in Jake's phone, got it?" she said, giving a conspiratorial smirk.
Gabriella smiled. Dona left, and Gabriella headed back inside.
----
In the modern, spacious kitchen, Roselette was cooking. She called out, "Andria!"
"Mom?" Gabriella came in.
"Can you buy some eggs in the near supermarket?" Roselette asked.
Gabriella nodded.
Frederick, eating his breakfast at the dining area, overheard. "Roselette, tell the maid. Why are you telling her?"
Roselette came to the dining area, raising an eyebrow. "Are you pampering your daughter?"
Frederick didn't reply, just smiled.
Roselette turned back to Gabriella. "She always goes to the supermarket when we were in our old home. It's a habit."
"Oh," Frederick said.
Gabriella smiled. "I'm going."
"Take your scooter," Roselette instructed.
"Safe drive," Frederick called out. Gabriella smiled and was gone.
----
Surprise Attack
At the Supermarket, Gabriella took a carton of eggs. As she turned, she got a suspicious feeling. Someone was following her. She quickly made her way to the billing section.
After paying, she walked out toward the parking lot. She looked behind her and saw a person in a black hoodie tailing her. She decided to confront them. She quickly hid in a blind corner of the building, waiting.
As the person came close to the corner, she moved in a flash, grabbing their hand from behind. They struggled, unable to move. She quickly yanked the hoodie off their head, then turned the person around.
He smiled and winked at her. "Surprise."
Gabriella's eyes widened. "You!" It was Jake.
He flipped his golden hair back playfully. "Were you expecting someone other than me?"
Gabriella smirked, momentarily annoyed. "Why were you following me?"
He smiled, a mischievous light in his eyes. "I was bored, so…" He leaned closer, intending to kiss her.
She quickly placed her hand on his chest, stopping him. But Jake didn't stop completely. He grabbed her waist and pulled her body close to his. Gabriella blinked rapidly, her breath catching in her throat.
He looked at her with intense focus, their faces only inches apart. Gabriella's brain struggled to process the moment, caught between her mission and his overwhelming proximity.
Suddenly, a woman's hand shot out and grabbed Jake's hair. He yelled and struggled, momentarily released from Gabriella's grasp.
Gabriella looked on, shocked. The woman was around thirty-three to thirty-five years old, dressed in a sharp black suit with vivid red lipstick. She had straight, black, shoulder-length hair. She removed her black sunglasses and fixed a furious glare on Jake.
"How dare you misbehave with my niece," the woman said, her voice commanding and cold.
Gabriella was completely stunned.
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