Chapter 10 - The Uninvited Guest
The next week passed in a beautiful, exhausting blur of midnight feedings and quiet family moments.
Gabriel proved to be an incredibly devoted father, completely ignoring his billionaire status to change diapers at three in the morning.
We decided to host a small, intimate dinner party at the penthouse to celebrate Elara’s one-month milestone.
Only our closest friends and most trusted colleagues were invited to the gathering.
The atmosphere was warm and filled with genuine laughter as champagne was poured.
I was standing near the grand piano, holding my sleeping daughter while chatting with my lead financial analyst.
Gabriel was across the room, smiling at me while he poured drinks for our guests.
Everything was absolutely perfect.
The private elevator chime suddenly echoed loudly through the foyer, signaling an unexpected arrival.
Gabriel frowned slightly, setting down a crystal glass and walking over to investigate.
The heavy elevator doors slid open, revealing a private courier dressed in an immaculate black suit.
"Delivery for Mr. Gabriel Lancaster," the courier said in a monotone voice, handing over a sleek black envelope with no stamp or return address.
Gabriel thanked the man, closed the elevator doors, and walked back into the living room.
He casually tore the top of the envelope open while walking toward me.
I watched his face carefully, expecting it to be a late congratulatory card from a business partner.
Instead, all the color completely drained from Gabriel’s face in a single, terrifying second.
His hand began to tremble violently as he pulled the contents out of the envelope.
"What is it, Gabriel?" I asked, taking a cautious step forward with Elara in my arms.
He couldn't speak; he just silently handed me the high-resolution photograph hidden inside the envelope.
It was a picture of Gabriel from exactly five years ago, standing intimately next to a woman who looked identically like me.
Written on the back in elegant, dripping red ink was a single, horrifying message.
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"Did he tell you what happened to his first wife, Khloe?"
"Because you are sleeping next to a murderer."
