The secret

Gabriel's body slumped into the chair as if the strength had drained from his bones. His hand instinctively clutched at his chest, trying to steady the sudden storm raging inside him.

That secret—buried so deep he had almost convinced himself it never happened—was now out in the open. And it hit like a punch to the gut.

His eyes locked on Dimitri's, wide with disbelief. "Why now?" he grunted. "You promised… You swore you'd never speak of it."

"You brought this on yourself." Dimitri's voice rang through the quiet room, hard and unwavering. "Your cruelty… your temper… it cost you your own child. Don't pretend to forget. You were the one who came crawling to me, begging for help. Have you already buried that night too?"

The color drained from Gabriel's face, and memories he had fought to suppress came flooding back with brutal clarity.