May I be your friend?

If I were ever that vulnerable, with no one to protect me and no one to care for me, would you treat me the way you treat Lucian? Would you protect me at the risk of your own life as you do for Lucian?

— Gabriel

==================

Liz, on the other hand, felt her cheeks flush with a mix of frustration and indignation. The way Gabriel seemed to effortlessly dismiss her concerns irked her to no end.

Before Liz could interject, Gabriel nodded thoughtfully and drew a conclusion. "Certainly not. You love Lucian, and you hate me."

His sardonic grin remained as he continued, "Well, you certainly have a heart of gold, Liz, for the weak and those in need. I can't deny that your compassion is one of your most endearing qualities."