Although Gabriel and the others had fully confessed to what happened back then, the case was extremely difficult to build due to the lack of solid evidence, and the judicial authorities still insisted on continuing the investigation.
Public outrage online was intense, and the officials were treating the matter with utmost seriousness.
Since Abigail had been wrongfully accused in the past, the authorities were determined to ensure all evidence was in place before reopening the case This also gave Gabriel and the others a chance to request permission to hold Wyatt’s funeral.
On the day of the funeral, Abigail arrived early with the funeral procession at the cemetery. All of Gibson Group’s shareholders attended the funeral as well.
The ceremony was solemn and dignified. A lot of people showed up, and Abigail didn’t cut any corners when it came to expenses. However, the tombstone had already been purchased by Wyatt himself.
It wasn’t until Abigail inquired that she learned Wyatt had purchased a burial plot for himself when he resumed control of the Gibson Group.
Everyone lined up to pay their respects at the tombstone, and Gabriel stood near Abigail. In just over 40 days, nearly all his hair had turned white. Just then, he felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. It was a call from an unknown number.
Lately, Gabriel had been getting so many calls that he barely paid attention. Without thinking, he hit the answer button,
“Dad…” Christian’s hoarse voice came through the phone, choked with sobs.
Hearing the pitiful tone in his son’s voice, Gabriel instantly saw red. But with so many people around, he held himself back. Clutching his phone, he strode off to find a more private spot.
Once he found a quiet spot, he exploded. “You’ve got the nerve to cry? Your grandfather was burned alive by Daniella because you helped her!”
Christian had been bursting with things to say, but that one sentence from his father shut him down completely.
“The Gibson family’s done for!” Gabriel snapped. “I, your mother, and your brother–we’re all going to prison. Don’t you dare come back, not now, not
ever!
“We’ve struck your name from the family register. I don’t care where you end up, dead or alive. We’re done with you. That’s final.” With that, Gabriel hung
- up.
Talk about bad timing. Of all days, Christian just had to call Gabriel on the day of Wyatt’s funeral.
“D–Dad, I know I messed up. I’ve been sold to a scam compound. They said if you don’t wire them two million dollars, they’ll amputate my legs and send you the photos.
“Dad, please save me. Just give them two million dollars and they’ll let me go.” Christian hated having to say
nis.
But these days, he would get beaten up every single day. There was not an inch of his body left unbruised. He’d thought about running away, but he got caught and was beaten up mercilessly every time.
Three beatings broke him, so he stopped running and gave in.
“Dad, I never thought Daniella could be so heartless. She tricked me into giving her the attic key, promising we’d go abroad together.
“But when I woke up, I was already on a plane to Zentria, and then I had no idea where I was.” Christian’s voice broke as he burst into tears.
Gabriel was momentarily at a loss for words. He just felt a wave of bitter emptiness inside.
“I can’t help you, son. Your grandfather died in that fire. Ever since the media exposed what we did to Abigail, our stock has tanked. All the deals your grandfather worked so hard to secure fell through, leaving us 150 million dollars in debt.
“Even after selling off everything we owned, we only managed to scrape together six million dollars to plug the hole. Where do you think I’d find two million more for you?” Gabriel said.
Christian fell silent.
Gabriel continued to question, “Abigail was severely burned, and it was all Daniella’s doing. She could’ve just run off abroad, and no one would’ve come after her, so why did she have to block the keyhole to Abigail’s room?
“Why set the place on fire and try to kill her? Your grandfather died in that same fire, and you’re partly to blame. How dare you call now, asking for
money?
“You know how these scam compounds work. Pay them two million and they’ll ask for four. Give four, they’ll demand six, until the Gibson family’s bled dry.
“Chris, I can’t help you. All I can do now is report it to the police. Once the funeral’s over, we’re headed to the detention center ourselves.”
Gabriel sighed heavily. “Our family deserves this.”
“I won’t be using this number after today. Don’t call me again,” Gabriel said coldly.
Of course, it broke him to hang up. But the Gibsons truly had nothing left to offer. Even as he ended the call, he could still hear Christian’s voice, begging on the other end. However, it was too late for regrets now.
Gabriel returned to the funeral, standing before his father’s tombstone as tears streamed silently down his face. He was at a complete loss, not knowing what to do.
There was no way Abigail would help Christian. If not for him, Wyatt would still be alive. Bianca, seeing her husband secretly wipe away his tears, felt her heart ache with shared sorrow.
After the funeral ended, Abigail’s phone rang. She had written her own detection program, and it immediately flagged the unknown number as an international call, so she decided not to answer it.
