Is this destiny?

"This proves your wife's mental struggles but does not give you the right to strip her from what belongs to her." Mr. Holt smiled faintly while talking to Gabriel. "We are standing firm in demanding half of your properties and half of what you earned during your marriage with Mrs. Long. That is what she is entitled to by law as your spouse."

Gabriel sneered. How many times in one breath can that man bring up the point that Victoria and he are married? Entitled to half? Over his dead body! He would rather burn everything than give it to Victoria and her parents. After using him for more than a decade, they are not satisfied.

Rage swelled inside Gabriel and he was not sure how long he can control himself from punching Mr. Holt's smug face.

"Your requests are much more than half. And she will not get a penny more than…"

Gabriel stopped talking when Pam put her hand on his shoulder. This was his cue that Pam and Leah are taking over.

No matter what Sarah and Aiden found on the Jost family, Gabriel still hoped that they will give up on their unreasonable demands. Pam and Leah agreed for Gabriel to start the conversation with a condition that if Victoria's parents don't yield, Gabriel will take a step back. Well, this is the time for ladies to take over.

"Mr. Jost… Mrs. Jost…", Leah spoke while getting another folder from her briefcase, together with a laptop. "I would advise you to look at this before we continue our conversation."

"I recommend that you see it first, before sharing it with your lawyer.", Pam added in a sweet voice.

"He can see everything.", Mr. Jost responded stubbornly.

Pam shrugged, indicating that she does not care.

They opened the folder and started flipping through papers while becoming paler by the second.

"What is the meaning of this?", Mrs. Jost asked. "Are you blackmailing us?"

"No.", Leah responded. "We are only showing what we have and what might be released to the public if you don't keep your greed in check. There is a limit to everything, and you exceeded yours."

"You didn't look at what we have on the laptop…", Pam said while opening a folder with video files.

Pam tapped one file, and two seconds after the video started playing, Mrs. Jost slammed the laptop shut.

Mrs. Jost's hands were shaking, and she was sweating profusely.

"We will sign it.", Mrs. Jost said weakly.

"What? Are you serious?", Mr. Jost asked in disbelief. They planned for milking the Long family since they agreed on a relationship between Gabriel and Victoria, and the divorce was the leverage for them to get more for themselves. How can they give up easily?

Mrs. Jost sneered. "Didn't you see what is there? It will ruin us. We will sign the papers and live to fight another day."

Mr. Holt understood that the situation is grave, but he didn't know how bad it is. His contract is for him to get 10% of the settlement, up to 1 million dollars. If they settle for peanuts, there will be nothing for him.

"How about we take these and discuss in private before deciding?", Mr. Holt suggested to his clients.

"There is no time to discuss.", Gabriel said icily. "You have five minutes to sign, or this information will be released starting at noon today. One scandal, every hour."

"You can't blackmail us like this!", Mr. Holt seethed.

Gabriel shrugged. "You came asking me for half of what I own in exchange for my freedom. I am asking you to give up on what is mine so that your clients can keep their freedom."

Gabriel pointed at the file with documents and the laptop and spoke to his in-laws: "Some of these are enough to strip you of your current assets and put you in jail for a long time. I have no interest in you, but if you reach out to grab my things, I will not sit idle. You can call it blackmail, or negotiation, but the truth is that we both want something and unfortunately for you, I am not willing to give up on what is mine. Did you really think that you can extort things from the Long family and get away with it? You have four minutes left."

Mr. and Mrs. Jost exchanged panicked gazes, and Mr. Jost pulled the pen from his inner pocket. "Where do I sign?"

Gabriel nudged Mr. Lydon, indicating to him that this is his part.

"Uhm… here… and here…", Mr. Lydon spoke while pointing at the document.

After the documents were signed, Mr. Lydon and Mr. Holt each took a copy.

Mr. and Mrs. Jost were in a daze as they stood up slowly, ready to leave the conference room.

Mr. Jost reached to take the laptop, and Pam blocked him, taking the device away. "That is my laptop."

Mr. Jost frowned. "But the files…"

"Taking the laptop does not mean that there are no other copies.", Pam explained.

Mrs. Jost shook her head, like she is waking herself up forcibly. "Other copies? What guarantee we have that you will not release this information?"

"None.", Gabriel responded flatly. "This was only for you to know what I have. I already told you that I have no interest in you, but if you dare to plot against me or my family, I will release this. Stay away from me and my loved ones and you don't need to worry about these files."

Gabriel wanted to say that they should stay away from him and Becca. In terms of family, Steve can take care of himself, and Gabriel does not care about the rest. However, it's not wise to reveal Becca's importance. It would only put a target on her back.

Mr. and Mrs. Jost left with their lawyer in tow and two suitcases that contain Victoria's belongings.

Only when the door closed behind them, Gabriel exhaled a breath he was holding. "It's over."

Pam stifled a laugh. "You think?"

Gabriel's eyes darted from Pam to Leah. "Do you know something I don't?"

Leah bobbed her head. "You called Sophia for help. I have a feeling that the dirt she found on your in-laws is only the beginning. Over the years I saw many foolish enough to go against Sophia and Jeff, and their loved ones, and the consequences were much more than a slap on the wrist." 

Leah patted Gabriel's shoulder. "Don't be hard on yourself. What Victoria did is unforgivable. You paying for her medical expenses is more than what she deserves, and those greedy parents definitely don't deserve a penny."

Pam agreed with Leah and added: "If I was you, I would not give them those suitcases either. There are so many poor people who would make good use of them."

"Thank you, ladies."

Gabriel wanted to say that poor can't do much with silky gowns embellished with crystals. Victoria always loved to dress like she is going to a gala.

Gabriel wanted to uproot Victoria from his life so that he can have a clean slate. That is why he gave to the staff all clothes and accessories Victoria purchased after they married. All pictures and mementos are trashed or burned. Gabriel moved to a smaller room in the Long family's villa and he is about to purchase an apartment in Los Angeles for himself.

With those two suitcases his now ex-in-laws took, the last things related to Victoria are out of Gabriel's life.

Gabriel does not want to talk about Victoria with one exception... "Mr. Lydon. When will the divorce be finalized?"

Mr. Lydon blinked a few times before responding. "I will submit this to the registrar right away, and it should not take more than a day or two."

Gabriel nodded happily. "Make sure there are no delays."

"Are you in a rush to remarry?", Pam asked while observing Gabriel keenly.

"Not remarry. But I want to breathe freely."

"Will you go to Becca right away and share the good news?"

Leah's question told Gabriel that two women in front of him know more than he thought. He realized that it must be from Sophia.

"No.", Gabriel responded. "Please, keep this between us for the next few days. I promised Becca a date on Saturday, and I will make sure I give her a date she deserves. I will tell her then."

"I am glad for you. Congratulations.", Leah said. "We would love to stay and chat, but we need to go to work."

Gabriel nodded in understanding. He needs to go and work as well. Steve gave him the morning off and Gabriel will give Becca a call before resuming his regular Monday's routine.

Gabriel needed a few minutes to calm down before calling, because he didn't want Becca to hear him being all giddy and to spoil the surprise. They will see each other on Saturday, and until then, Gabriel will take his time to plan for a perfect date… the one that will end with a kiss. Definitely.

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