Gabriel's Obsession

Epilogue

The pen trembled in Amelia's grasp as she signed the necessary papers. The ink glided across the page, each stroke a silent acknowledgment of the demons she was about to confront. The cold metallic feel of the pen, the sterile atmosphere of the prison, and the distant clang of metal doors shutting formed a disconcerting backdrop to the momentous decision she had made.

She had spent months rebuilding her life, yet she knew that true freedom required one final act—facing the man who had once controlled her every breath.

A guard, tall and impassive, gestured for her to follow, leading her through the labyrinthine corridors of the maximum-security prison. The air grew heavier, thick with the weight of unspoken sins. The deeper they went, the colder it became, as if even the walls carried the echoes of the lives ruined within them.

Her heart pounded against her ribs, a battle between fear and determination waging within her. She had imagined this moment countless times, rehearsed every word she wanted to say. But now, standing mere steps away from the man who had haunted her nightmares, she wasn't sure if her voice would hold.

Finally, the guard came to a stop before a heavily fortified cell. The iron bars loomed before her, a physical barrier separating her from the monster that had once held her captive.

"Five minutes," the guard murmured before stepping back.

Amelia drew a slow, steadying breath, forcing herself to lift her gaze. And there he was.

Gabriel.

He sat on the edge of a thin prison mattress, clad in an orange jumpsuit, his once-impeccable appearance now marred by months of confinement. His hair, always neatly styled, was slightly disheveled. His face bore the faint shadow of exhaustion, but his piercing ocean-blue eyes remained unchanged—cold, calculating, and dangerously alert.

For a moment, he didn't move, as if he hadn't registered her presence. Then, as if an invisible force had jolted him, his head snapped up. Their eyes met, and something primal clenched in Amelia's chest.

A chill ran down her spine.

But she didn't look away.

"Gabriel," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

A slow, mocking smirk curled his lips. He rose to his feet, his movements deliberate, predatory. He stepped closer to the bars, his hands casually slipping into his pockets. "Angel," he murmured, the word dripping with a twisted familiarity that sent shivers through her. "I was wondering when you'd come."

Amelia stiffened. "Now you must know how it feels to be in a cage," she said, her voice firmer than she expected. "Having no power. No control. No way out."

Gabriel chuckled, a dark, humorless sound that sent a ripple of unease through her. "Oh, Angel, don't fool yourself." He tilted his head, his gaze pinning her in place. "This?" He gestured around the cell. "This is temporary. You and I both know it."

Her fingers curled into fists. "You're going to rot here, Gabriel."

He exhaled, almost as if amused. "You think signing a few papers, running away like a frightened little girl, and putting on this act of defiance makes you free?" His smirk deepened. "You're still mine, Amelia. You always will be."

A lump formed in her throat, but she swallowed it down, refusing to let him see her falter.

"You have no power over me anymore," she said, her voice steady. "I came here to tell you that to your face."

Gabriel's eyes darkened. "Is that so?"

"Yes," she declared, her chin lifting. "You don't own me. You never did."