The Bennet Scandal

Revelations in the Aftermath

Gabriel saw Sophia exiting the courtroom, and he gasped out a deep breath before moving after her. The courtroom door swung open, and the cool air from outside rushed in, bringing with it a mix of relief and anxiety. He stepped out and glanced around, the verdict still echoing in his mind. While he felt a weight lift, the thrill of victory was dulled by the turmoil that lay ahead.

As he turned, he spotted Camila standing a few steps away. He approached her, his voice a whisper tinged with sincerity. "Thank you, Camila. For everything."

She waved her hand dismissively, a faint smile creeping onto her lips. "I had to do this. It's about protecting Sophia's future. She's already suffered so much."

Just then, Sophia came near Camila and said, "Mom..."

Camila looked at her and instantly pulled her into a tight hug. "I missed you, Mom," Sophia said, her eyes glistening with tears.

"I missed you too, sweetheart," Camila replied, her voice heavy with emotion.

After a moment, Sophia pulled back and examined her mother closely, noticing the flicker of pain in her eyes. "You seem... different," she said, concern creeping into her voice. "What's going on?"

Camila's expression shifted; the weight of unspoken words hung heavy in the air. "I'm in the last stages of blood cancer," she revealed, her voice steady but cracking at the edges.

A rush of shock and disbelief washed over Sophia. "Why didn't you tell me before? Why keep it hidden?"

"I found out only recently, and I'm going to England for treatment. It's the only option left," Camila said calmly.

Gabriel, still nearby, listened silently. Hearing about Camila's illness made his heart sink. "I'm sorry, Camila," he said softly.

"I don't expect sympathy," she replied sharply, though her gaze softened as she looked at him. "I don't care how Marshal reacts to my choices. What I did was for Sophia."

Then she turned to Sophia, her voice firm yet gentle. "Sophia, dear, you're a grown woman now, and you need to take life seriously. What happened to you was unfortunate, but at least it showed you who your true well-wishers are and who was just using you."

"I know you love your dad most... but Marshal never loved you purely. He didn't have it in him. He used you as a means to excel and had plans to use you in the future for his business. So, stop dreaming about getting back to your father. You need to build your own life," Camila said.

She was trying to instill some sense in her daughter, who had spent her life under the influence of Marshal Bennet—a selfish man. Now, she wanted Sophia to live freely.

"I don't know, Mom. I don't know what to do or how to survive," Sophia said slowly, tears welling in her eyes as she looked at Camila.

"You need to know, sweetheart. I did this to protect you. I love you too much to let you be trapped in that life."

Sophia pulled back, her tears glistening. "I didn't know you were sick, Mom. Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I wanted to shield you from this burden," Camila replied, her voice breaking slightly. "You have to be strong now, for yourself."

She took Sophia's hands and turned her toward Gabriel. "You have a strong man here to protect you. Gabriel is far better than the husband your father or I would have picked for you."

Sophia's gaze shifted to Gabriel, who stood silently, his heart pounding. The moment felt suspended in time, but he knew it was just the beginning of a long conversation.

"Both of you need to give your relationship and feelings a chance. I know it would work," Camila said with a smile. Then she added, "I should leave now. I have a few other important tasks, and then I'll go back to England tonight."

"Mom, don't go," Sophia said, hugging Camila tightly.

"I have to, but I will come back to see you," Camila said, stepping away from them.

After a few minutes, Gabriel and Sophia stepped out of the courthouse, the sun blazing overhead, almost mocking their heavy hearts.

Gabriel turned to Sophia, looking at her with a mix of confusion and hope in his eyes. "Why didn't you save those documents on my laptop?" he finally asked, the question he'd wanted to ask for so long.

"I wanted to," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I turned it on and saved them, but then I deleted them."

"Why would you do that?" Gabriel probed, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

"Maybe I've gotten used to living with you," she confessed, her gaze dropping to the ground. "I didn't want to send you to jail or let you curse me more. I already have a stock of your curses," she said with a mocking tone.

Gabriel looked at her with deep eyes, his heart racing. "So, you chose to protect me? After everything?" he asked, his voice low.

Sophia nodded, her expression softening. "I don't know... but I'm tired of this cat-and-mouse game. It's exhausting, and I wanted to end it."

He searched her gaze for the truth behind her words. "You know I've never met a girl like you."

"You're a rare creature," he added, holding her eyes.

"I already know this," Sophia said, wiping away her uncontrollable tears.

"Then why don't you just admit that you love me?"

Sophia shot him a harsh look, her cheeks flushing with indignation. "I will never say that! It's you who needs to admit that I saved you from your boring married life and the trap set by my father and your ex-wife."

Gabriel let out a booming laugh, startling Sophia. "Okay, that's true! Since you came into my life, everything has changed. You turned my boring routine into something thrilling." He stepped closer, feeling the heat radiate from her.

His heart thundered as he took a deep breath, finally letting his walls down. "And yes, I love you. I've always loved you, but circumstances made me bitter," he said, his tone heavy.

Sophia looked into his eyes and before she could say anything in response, he pulled her closer. Their eyes locked as if the world around them had faded into oblivion. Without another thought, he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, pouring out all the emotions he had kept bottled up—his fear, his desire, his longing.

Sophia responded, her hands finding their way to his hair as she kissed him back with equal fervor. Her lips brushed his and she let her emotions overshadow anything else.

Their surroundings blurred into nothingness, the taste of their shared passion electrifying the air between them. This moment of intimacy felt eternal as if they were weaving their lives together with each heartbeat.

When they finally pulled apart, both breathless, Gabriel rested his forehead against hers, the silence enveloping them like a warm blanket.

"We'll figure everything out," he promised softly, determination shining in his eyes.

Sophia nodded, her heart swelling with a mixture of fear and hope.

"Together?" she asked, a tentative smile breaking through her tears.

"Always," Gabriel replied, sealing their pact with another lingering kiss, each second stretching into forever, promising a future neither of them had dared to imagine.