Third Person POV
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"H-How could you say that… right in front of Gabriel?"
Ingrid's voice cracked with disbelief as she dropped to her knees and clutched Gabriel's small shoulders, breaking into loud sobs.
Rome's brows furrowed, his patience wearing thin. He watched silently as Gabriel looked up at his mother, confusion and sadness swirling in his young eyes. The boy clung to the hem of Ingrid's dress.
"G-Gabriel… your dad is abandoning us," Ingrid whispered between soft hiccups, pulling her son into a tight embrace. "He's planning to leave us… soon."
Rome's jaw tightened at her words, grinding his teeth as rage surged in his chest. He could see exactly what she was doing—playing the victim, feeding lies to Gabriel to gain sympathy, and hoping to manipulate the child who had come to love him like a real father.
It made his blood boil.
Gabriel looked up at Rome, tears brimming at the corners of his eyes.
"D-Daddy… is it true? Are you really going to abandon us?"