Chapter 8: Too High-Profile

Words : 1838 Updated : Oct 23rd, 2025

"Took a stroll down Everson Lane," Gabriel said with a smile. Madison's brows knit even tighter. She studied him and asked, "Gabriel, have you thought about doing something productive?" She had lain awake the night before, turning things over and over. Whether yesterday's miracle was real or not, she still wanted him to change for the better. He was her man. They had no love for each other, but they were husband and wife. It sounds simple, but the bond was hard to put into words. She disliked the marriage, but since her grandfather had arranged it, she didn't want things to get ugly. As for Gabriel, what she felt most was disgust. Gabriel realized this was the first time in three years Madison had ever asked him anything. She'd always treated him with cold indifference. Was she giving him a chance? "If possible, I'd like to open a clinic," Gabriel said lightly, meeting her eyes. "A clinic," he added. "A traditional medicine clinic." "Traditional medicine? You're being impractical. Do you even know what you're doing?" Madison frowned. "You just got lucky yesterday. Don't think that just because you happened to save Pedro, you suddenly know medicine." Gabriel gave a helpless smile. Her prejudice didn't form overnight. If he didn't understand, who else would dare claim they did? "I know a bit. Your family runs beauty salons. Cosmetic work is kind of an offshoot of medicine. I want to help you, so I've studied a lot. Give me some time and I'll develop a beauty elixir for you," Gabriel said with an easy smile. "All right, eat," Madison said coolly. She lowered her head and focused on her rice, saying nothing more. She might've believed he wanted to try, but she didn't trust his ability. Seeing Madison's expression, Gabriel shrugged. As expected, she still didn't believe him. They fell quiet. Lauryn spoke up instead. "Honestly, opening a clinic wouldn't be a bad idea." Gabriel glanced at Lauryn. He didn't naïvely believe she supported him. Lauryn, who worshiped money, simply wanted him to make more of it. "What's so great about that? He doesn't actually know medicine," Madison said, her tone sharp. Lauryn snorted, unconvinced. "If he knew nothing, how could he have saved Pedro, and why would the Warth family have come in person to thank him? If you ask me, maybe it's like Gabriel says. Maybe he has actually been studying." "Mom, please don't let him fool you," Madison said, heat rising in her voice. "That day was a coincidence. The ambulance arrived, and Gabriel only helped lift Pedro onto the stretcher." "What? It wasn't Gabriel who treated him?" Lauryn shrieked. She still stared between Madison and Gabriel, unwilling to accept it. "Why are you looking at me? That's how it happened," Madison said flatly. Seeing Madison's expression and with Gabriel not denying it, Lauryn finally believed it. She huffed, then said, "Then the Warths might find out and demand their money back, right?" "I'm warning you, Gabriel. If the Warths come asking, you will have to pay back the money," Lauryn snapped. "I wasn't the one who spent it. Why should I pay? And I didn't ask for it," Gabriel said calmly. At that, Lauryn flew into a rage. "Do you really think you're some divine healer? How dare you talk back to me? If I'd known, I wouldn't have let Wilson leave that day. Look at the mess you made." "So what if I spent the money? When the Warth family shows up, they'll be looking for you. Hmph." Gabriel couldn't be bothered to look at her. He ate in silence. "Hmph. A loser is still a loser. All you do is scam people for money," Lauryn sneered. Madison, at her limit, finally spoke up. "Mom, you were the one who spent the money. How can you make Gabriel pay it back? Besides, look at him. Where would he get ten thousand dollars? If the Warth family shows up and you refuse, I'll return the money." "Don't you dare! Have you all forgotten who runs this house? Your father's away for a few days and now you're bullying me? Why is my life so hard? I married your father, a coward, and you married a useless bum. I might as well die!" Lauryn howled, pitching straight into a full-blown scene. Madison frowned, set down her cutlery, and said, "I'm done eating," then went straight upstairs. The door slammed shut. Gabriel looked at the half bowl of rice she'd left. He frowned. She hadn't served herself much to begin with and had only eaten a few mouthfuls. How could her body stand that? He shot Lauryn a displeased glance and set his cutlery aside. "What are you looking at me like that for? You live off the Ades family. What right do you have to glare at me?" Lauryn saw his face darken and exploded, the insults getting uglier by the moment. Seeing she was about to blow up again, Gabriel scoffed and shot her an icy stare. Lauryn flinched. What was that look from this so-called good-for-nothing? Why was it so frightening? "He's just a useless man," she told herself. Even so, she dialed it back and muttered under her breath, "Don't act tough with me. If you have what it takes, go earn some money." Gabriel ignored her and stood to clear the dishes. In the kitchen, he paused, thought for a moment, then put a pot on. He cooked a bowl of noodles with an egg, served it up, and carried it upstairs. He stopped at Madison's door and knocked. "What is it?" Madison's voice came from inside. "You hardly ate dinner. I cooked you some noodles," Gabriel said softly. The door creaked open. Madison opened the door in her pajamas. Seeing the bowl in his hands, she should have been touched, yet anger flared up in her chest instead. "Gabriel, why can't you do something meaningful? Even a few hundred dollars a month would be fine. You spend all day hanging around the kitchen. Is that really how you want to live?" Madison's voice rose as she stared at him. Gabriel's gaze had already strayed, caught by the show of skin at her collar. Her pajamas were loose, and in her own room, she hadn't fastened all the buttons. She had opened the door without thinking. The neckline gaped, revealing a pale expanse. Following his gaze, Madison tugged her clothes tight with a snap. Fury burned in her eyes. "What are you looking at? You're useless." "Do you think I embarrass you?" Gabriel asked evenly. He seemed unaffected by her temper, or maybe he'd long since grown used to it. "So you do know," Madison said, stone-faced. "If you had a decent job, I wouldn't look down on you. But look at yourself." He took in her breathtaking face, and despite himself, a soft warmth came into his eyes. "In the past, I didn't try. I kept humiliating you. Soon enough, you'll think I'm too high-profile."

Chapter 8: Too High-Profile

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