Is this destiny?

"Do you remember the crisis that happened about a month ago?", Penny asked Becca.

Becca didn't need to think much to recollect the events Penny was talking about. "The one when dad worked several days without coming home?"

Penny confirmed. "That one. It was an organized attack on White, Smith, and Long families, and Victoria was one of the people behind it. I don't know if Gabriel ever looked at Victoria romantically, but they were partners and she betrayed not only him, but she was willing to sink several families out of anger because she can't get what she believed belongs to her. People died. I was there on the day of the attack, with Victoria… She was not afraid that she will be caught or that her friends are in danger. Her biggest problem was that kids are too noisy and that no one is willing to give her a tour of the property."

Becca noticed that Penny stopped talking and she waited to hear more but there was nothing.

Becca had to ask: "How does that relate to Gabriel making a second woman out of me?"

"You didn't pay attention, Becca. You need to know that with Victoria, Gabriel didn't have a choice. Everyone manipulated him, Victoria included. You can't be a second woman if there is no first one. She might be his wife on paper, but she is not in his heart. After what she did, I am surprised that she is alive. We can't control when we fall in love or with whom. Gabriel was in a dark place and he saw you as a ray of light that you are, and he decided to follow after it. I remember when I met your father… my parents were telling me that I need to smile for Jeffrey White, but I could not control myself and I went to see Ben. Because that is what love does… It makes us ignore the consequences and do crazy things, and no matter what your past or your present is, everything fades in comparison to the need to be with your loved one."

"Becca, I know that Gabriel is interested in you because he requested Ben's permission before asking you on a date. He is not a man to fool around with women, and there is a good chance that you are the first girl he approached without anyone telling him to do so. So, let me ask you… do you like him?"

"Yes…", Becca whispered.

"What? I didn't hear you."

"Yes!", Becca exclaimed. "I like him and I'm afraid that he will take advantage of me."

Penny smiled and patted Becca's hand. "He can't take advantage of you if it's consensual. If you want to be with him, do it."

Becca exhaled a shaky breath while remembering all the harsh things she told Gabriel before she stormed into the house. And the most heartbreaking was the hurt in his eyes. "It's too late."

Penny took her phone and tapped into the live feed from their front-door security camera. "It's not. He is sitting in his car…"

Becca glanced at the phone and a second later, she dashed outside.

As soon as Becca was out of sight, Ben peeked in the kitchen.

"Is there any hot cocoa for me?"

Penny laughed. She knew that Ben was eavesdropping, and she was surprised that he didn't come inside. Probably he didn't want to interrupt the heart-to-heart talk between two women.

"I can make you some."

She hopped off the chair and when she passed next to Ben, he pulled her into his embrace.

"No need… I will take my sugar like this…", Ben whispered into Penny's lips before kissing her.

Penny broke the kiss. "Is Oliver sleeping?"

"Yes."

Penny smiled and wiggled her eyebrows playfully. "Let's call it a night…"

Ben frowned. "Not until Becca comes in."

Penny didn't approve. "Gabriel is a gentleman and Becca is levelheaded. They will talk and clear the air between them and not do anything inappropriate while we might miss our window of opportunity…"

Ben wanted to object, but Penny was stroking his erection over his pants while maintaining eye contact and she broke his resistance. He could never say no to Penny.

They held hands while rushing upstairs, toward their bedroom.

…

Outside…

"Gabriel… can I say something?", Becca asked reluctantly.

Gabriel was sitting in the driver's seat with his eyes closed and the only signal that he heard her was the slight twitch of his eyebrows.

"Please?"

Gabriel opened his eyes and looked at her.

Becca's stomach was tied up in knots and she struggled to keep it together and not dissolve into sobs.

"I am not wonderful or sunny. That is only a façade I put on to hide that I am broken. I tell myself that it's fine, that it's over, and that I'm the master of my own path, but whenever I feel vulnerable, my old self resurfaces. I was nearly assaulted more than once by my mother's lovers and when I told my mom about it, she said that it was my fault. She treated me as a thing she can use whenever she wants more money from my dad while keeping me away from him. I coped with all that by shutting myself in and acting out. You said I'm lacking confidence and I will add that I am missing much more than that… I am sorry for saying mean things, but that is my mechanism for chasing people away when they get too close."

Becca saw that Gabriel is not responding and she didn't know what else to say, other than: "Thank you for listening. The truth is that I had fun tonight. You treated me like a princess, and I will never forget that."

Becca forced a smile and she felt that her eyes are stinging. She decided to go inside. Gabriel is not saying anything, why would he? He is good looking, and older than she is, and way out of her league in every possible way. They met three days ago and had one date. Realistically, that is not much, and he does not owe her anything… and she does not want to fall apart in front of him.

Becca made one step back and in a flash, Gabriel leaped out of the car and his arms wrapped around her.

After Becca stormed into the house, Gabriel felt that the ground below him is shifting and he staggered to his car.

'How can I be so stupid? I hurt the only girl that ever looked at me with warmth without thinking about my family's name. Now what?'

He knew that he should go home, but his chest was constricted by the sharp pain that intensified over time and he closed his eyes while waiting to calm down.

Gabriel didn't expect that Becca will come out and pour her heart out. He could see that every word was difficult for her, yet she kept on talking. He cursed himself for not seeing how fragile she is under that cheerful façade.

He was so absorbed in his newfound freedom and joy of Becca's company that he ended up neglecting her. 

But things seem to be better now. Becca is in his embrace and even though her shaky shoulders are telling him that she is crying, she is not pushing him away.

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