Chapter 2

“Mom, but…”

In one year, Gabrielle would graduate from school.

She didn’t expect her mother to send her to college. She just wanted to graduate safely. If she could just finish school, she could find a decent job. She had always been at the top of her class, so with a little luck, she could get a full scholarship to a vocational school on the principal’s recommendation.

Suppressing her rising emotions, Gabrielle tried to explain calmly. But her mother’s response was icy.

“When do you think that’ll happen?”

“Mom?”

“It’s hard enough for you to make it through another year to graduate. I can’t afford your tuition until then. And what? Vocational school?”

Sabrina snorted as if she couldn’t believe it, then furrowed her brow.

“Who gets to do everything they want? How can you only think about yourself, Gabrielle?”

Gabrielle’s nose tingled at the harsh words. Heat rushed under her eyes and her lips trembled. She had always been a good, obedient daughter. But just this once, she couldn’t back down.

“But Chris and Angela both graduated! And now they’re preparing to study abroad.”

“What did you say?”

Sabrina’s eyes widened at her daughter’s first rebellion. But her next words crushed all of Gabrielle’s resolve.

“You really take after your real father. How could you ever be the same as your stepbrother and stepsister?”

“…….”

“Just be grateful to your stepfather for paying your living expenses and tuition. If you get greedy, you’ll be punished, Gabrielle.”

It felt like she’d been slapped. All the strength left her body and Gabrielle staggered without realizing it. Then, as if to heal the wound she’d just inflicted, Sabrina gently stroked Gabrielle’s cheek.

“I’m sorry, Gabrielle. There’s nothing I can do. You understand, right?”

It wasn’t a request—it was a command. The brief sparkle in Gabrielle’s eyes quickly faded.

After that, Gabrielle worked at a factory during the day and attended night school. She barely managed to land a contract secretary position at a mid-sized trading company.

The pay was meager and overtime was constant, but she was satisfied just to be working in an office, given she hadn’t even finished school.

Of course, Gabrielle’s life didn’t change completely. Her stepfather’s business went under, and Chris and Angela, who had been studying abroad, had no choice but to return home.

But their spending habits remained the same. They wasted what little money was left, spending it like water. Neither held a steady job, living off what was left.

In the end, it was Gabrielle’s small salary that supported all five family members. It was hard enough to take care of herself, let alone support everyone else. She tried several times to become independent, but each time Sabrina’s tears broke her resolve.

That day was one of those days.

“This month’s paycheck is small, Gabrielle.”

They were at a small café in front of her company. Sabrina counted the money from Gabrielle’s paycheck and, as if it were only natural, slipped it into her own bag.

“With such a tiny salary, have you thought about changing jobs? The factory’s hiring a lot of people these days.”

Gabrielle regretted how quickly her pay vanished, but she answered calmly.

“I didn’t work much overtime last month. I’m not planning to quit. You don’t need to come by at lunchtime just to pick up the living expenses, Mom.”

“That’s a cold thing to say. I came to see my daughter’s face, too.”

Sabrina laughed and suddenly turned her head to point outside the window.

“If you met a man who drives a car like that, do you think I’d worry so much?”

She was pointing at a car that looked expensive even at a glance. The driver’s door opened, and someone got out, then opened the rear passenger door. Another person stepped out—a tall man, though his face was not visible.

“You should make sure your mom lives that well, right?”

Gabrielle felt a sudden sense of inferiority toward a man she didn’t even know. She stood up.

“I should get going. Lunch break is almost over.”

Back at city hall, Gabrielle was immediately greeted by that same unknown man. She recognized him instantly from his tall build and neat clothes.

“I’m Dominic Moore, acting director, filling in for the executive director on leave.”

His hands were straight and beautiful, as neat and white as a pianist’s. Gabrielle stared at his hand before belatedly shaking it, noticing his gaze.

“I’m Gabrielle Brooks, the secretary. I’ll be assisting you with work.”

His hand was cooler than she expected. The man smiled faintly and withdrew his hand.

“It’s nice to meet you, Miss Brooks. I look forward to working with you.”

The new acting director. Her new boss, at least for a while.

After a brief handshake, the man smiled gently. His cold impression quickly softened, making him seem warm. Gabrielle, staring blankly at his face, replied in a trembling voice.

“I look forward to working with you as well.”

* * *

The day after Chris’s company’s stock listing party.

She barely escaped that event, but Dominic Moore’s presence continued to haunt Gabrielle. For example, the fact that even his name wasn’t real.

“Julian Rogers?”

“What?”

“The person you mentioned. I keep thinking it’s him. When did you meet him? Do you know him?”

“That’s not his name. He definitely said he was Dominic Moore.”

Gabrielle shook her head, denying Chris’s words. The brief hope in Chris’s eyes quickly cooled.

“He’s a stranger. It’s not like that kind of look is common; you must’ve been mistaken.”

“No, I wasn’t.”

She was sure it was him. The fiancé she’d dated for a year and was about to marry. But she couldn’t say so confidently. She had never introduced Dominic to her family. She had never met his family, either. She only realized how strange that was after he abandoned her so cruelly.

Just thinking about it made her chest hurt and her stomach churn.

“Anyway, it’s good timing. I was going to introduce you two anyway.”

“Introduce me? Why?”

“He said he was interested in you after that day. He’s an advisor to the investment company that put a lot of money into ours.”

“I don’t want to.”

Whether he was the same person or not, Gabrielle hated it. She didn’t want to be used as a tool again, so she abruptly stood up.

“I’ll be going now.”

“You’ll regret it if you do, Gabrielle.”

As she turned to leave, Chris’s low voice stopped her.

“Your mother. Sabrina.”

Gabrielle froze and slowly turned her head, like a broken wind-up clock.

“You know she’s an alcoholic now, right? She gets drunk every night, and Dad’s fed up. Angela and I are only keeping her around out of pity.”

The more Chris spoke, the more Gabrielle’s face flushed with anger and shame.

“Mom was the one who supported you and Angela all this time. How can you be so cold?”

“Whatever happened in the past is the past. Now is now.”

Chris shrugged and slowly stood up, then took a business card from his jacket pocket and handed it to her.

“Just go meet him. The appointment is for lunch, the day after tomorrow, at the Clinton Hotel café on the first floor.”

Gabrielle pressed her lips together. She didn’t want to go. She was almost certain the man Chris mentioned was the same person she knew.

“I don’t want to.”

If that was true, she wondered why he’d used a fake name back then—or if the name he was using now was fake. She wanted to vent all her built-up resentment and maybe curse him out, but it was better not to meet at all.

“Did I say this was a request, Gabrielle?”

Maybe sensing Gabrielle’s thoughts, Chris put a hand on her shoulder and quietly warned her.

“This is an order. If you don’t care what happens to your mother, you can refuse.”

It was a threat, not a request, and Gabrielle finally nodded. Only then did Chris smile in satisfaction and tap her cheek with his finger.

“That’s better. My good little sister.”

* * *

Dominic Moore was someone who had lived a life on the elite track, from another world entirely.

Even though Gabrielle became his personal secretary, she rarely saw him face to face. Unlike the previous executive director, he was often out of the office.

Her work was always waiting for her at her desk in the morning, or he’d call with instructions. His directions were concise, clear, and to the point.

The former executive director had suddenly taken leave due to illness, and the very next day, the young acting director arrived.

Everyone at the company was talking about it. Many colleagues tried to get information about him from Gabrielle. But she always said the same thing.

“I haven’t met him much, so I don’t know.”

“Really, Gabrielle? If you keep things to yourself like that, people will start to dislike you.”

“I’m serious. I don’t know anything. I haven’t spoken to him outside of work.”

She’d only exchanged a few words with him, just during their first meeting. All she knew was that he was a man as straight and pale as a birch tree.

“Is that really true?”

Her supervisor narrowed her eyes, but Gabrielle nodded.

“It’s true. And why are you so curious about him, Chief? You have your own family.”

“Oh, what do you take me for? He’s handsome, but not my type. It’s for other reasons.”

“Other reasons?”

“There’s a lot of talk about the acting director. Some say he’s connected to higher-ups and was brought in to replace the previous director.”

“Is it a factional fight?”

“Well, maybe. You have to know which side to take, whether to follow or keep your distance.”