Chapter 24 – News Headlines!!
Gabriel’s Pov
“Touchdown,” the pilot announced.
I glanced out the window as the jet began its descent.}
New York’s skyline glittered like a steel crown beneath us.
“Daddy, look! The buildings are so tall!” lan squealed beside me, bouncing in his seat. “They’re called skyscrapers,” Ace corrected smugly, eyes glued to his tablet.
“Alright, boys,” Lily said, smoothing her perfectly curled hair. “Let’s not act like tourists.”}
I didn’t say anything. My thoughts weren’t on the view.
They hadn’t been for days.”
I haven’t been able to stop thinking about one person all these while.
Funny thing is when she was in the mansion back home I barely spared her a glance.”
The irony.”
The moment the plane stopped, I turned my phone back on. A missed call. Then, a message from my private investigator.” Pl: Call me. Urgent. I found her.
My throat tightened. I stepped away from Lily and the kids, pretending to check in with the driver, and hit the call button. Tell me,” I said the second he picked up.”
“She changed her name. Faye Berkeley. She’s been living in New York for months now.”
“Berkeley?” I repeated, like it tasted foreign on my tongue.
“Yes. And that’s not the only thing,” the PI said. “You’re going to want to see today’s paper.”
“Today’s papers? What has that got to do with anything?” I asked surprised.
“Just check. I can’t tell you this. You have to see it yourself,” my Pl answered.
I barely ended the call before Lily’s voice cut in behind me. “Gabriel, are we going to the penthouse or the hotel first?“}
I didn’t answer. My eyes locked on a nearby newsstand just outside the airport terminal. Something caught my eye–a familiar face. There she was.
Right on the front page of the New York Herald: “Hunter Blackwell Announces Engagement to Faye Berkeley–Tech CEO and NYC’s Newest Power Couple.“>
My heart stopped.
It was her.
Wearing a pale blue dress, standing beside the one man known in the entire business world as ruthless and annoyingly successful. Hunter Blackwell. A calculated smirk on his face. Her hand held up just enough to flash a diamond ring.
Lily followed my gaze. “Oh my God… is that-?“}
“Yeah,” I muttered, grabbing the paper.
Lily snatched it from me and gasped. “She’s a CEO now? What the hell? When did Faye become this?“>
I didn’t answer. I was too busy reading every word of the article.
Apparently, Faye has always been a heiress but she abandoned it all for me. And now she’s back to reclaim her position.
And she’s engaged.
To him.
“This makes no sense,” Lily muttered, clearly shaken. “I mean, she was always plain. Always the quiet one. How is she marrying Hunter freaking Blackwell?”
The jealousy practically dripped from her voice.”
But all I could think was–how had I missed this? I searched her name on my phone. Multiple articles. Press releases. Glamour shots. Even paparazzi photos of them entering some rooftop restaurant just last night.
It was real!
I dialed her number. Straight to voicemail. I tried again. Blocked.”
My chest tightened.%
“I need to see her,” I said out loud, already heading toward the car. “Right now.”
“Gabriel, slow down,” Lily called. “We just landed.”
But I wasn’t listening.
We drove straight to her company building. Sleek. Modern. Twenty floors of glass and steel.
“I’m here to see Faye Berkeley,” I told the receptionist.
The woman smiled politely. “Do you have an appointment, sir?“%
No. But tell her Gabriel Caldwin is here. She’ll want to see me.”
Headings!
11:36 AM
She tapped something on her tablet and paused. “I’m sorry, sir. Ms. Berkeley’s calendar is full today. You’ll need to book an appointment
I clenched my jaw. “Then book me in.“>
“The earliest is tomorrow morning. 9 a.m.”
“Fine.”&
She handed me a visitor slip. I took it and walked out, feeling more lost than I had in years.”
Back in the car, Lily stared at me like I’d grown another head. “You’re actually chasing her now?“>
“She’s not the same girl,” I said, not looking at her.
“No, she’s not,” she snapped. “She’s better. Richer. More powerful. You’re not used to that, are you?“}
I didn’t answer.
Because she was right.
Faye had changed. And somehow, she had become everything I hadn’t expected. Everything I had underestimated.
And tomorrow, I’ll finally see her again.§
