Chapter 3

Isabella's POV

I stood rooted to the spot, unable to tear my gaze away from Gabriel. His presence radiated a quality that seemed to scream danger. Even in his tailored suit, he couldn't hide that dangerous, wild energy.

Taking a deep breath, I gently pulled Emma closer to him. "Emma, Jack, say hello to Mr. Vasquez."

"Hello," Emma said shyly, half-hiding behind my leg.

Looking at the children before him, Gabriel's stern expression softened as he bent down slightly, making his intimidating height less frightening when addressing the kids.

"Hello there," his voice was surprisingly gentle. "Are you going out to play today?"

Jack nodded enthusiastically. "We're going to the museum! Isabella's taking us!"

Watching Gabriel interact with the children, Sarah's earlier words echoed in my mind: Even Gabriel Vasquez's sample is stored here. Thinking about this powerful man who might be unable to have his own children, I felt an unexpected pang of sympathy rise within me.

Just as Gabriel was asking Jack about his favorite dinosaur, Jack suddenly spotted something across the street.

"My plane!" Jack shouted, his eyes lighting up, probably at a toy that had fallen from his backpack earlier. Before I could react, he darted away from us, straight into the driveway.

When I saw a car turning into the street and accelerating, my heart nearly stopped beating. The driver hadn't seen Jack.

"Jack! Come back!" I screamed, about to rush forward.

The next second, a blur moved past me—I'd never seen anyone move so fast. Gabriel was instantly in the middle of the road, scooping Jack up and leaping backward. The car sped past them with a blaring horn cutting through the air.

I ran toward them with Emma in hand, my heart pounding so violently it felt like it might burst through my chest. "Jack! Oh my God!"

Gabriel set Jack down but kept a firm hand on his shoulder. His expression had turned serious.

"Young man," his voice was deep and powerful. "Never run into the street without looking. Do you understand how dangerous that was?"

Jack's lip trembled, tears welling in his eyes. "I'm sorry... I just wanted my plane..."

I knelt beside Jack, holding him tightly in my arms. "We can always buy another toy, Jack. But there's only one you in this world." I gently rubbed his back, my voice quavering slightly from the fear that hadn't quite subsided.

Looking up at Gabriel, I said with genuine gratitude, "Thank you so much. That was... absolutely incredible. I've never seen anyone move that fast."

A flash of vigilance crossed his eyes before he shrugged nonchalantly: "Must have been the adrenaline."

Gabriel smiled at Jack and said: "Have a wonderful day."

"He moved so fast, Sarah. One second he was beside me, the next he had Jack in his arms," I paced back and forth in Sarah's living room that evening, still shaken by the day's events.

I expected to see shock or doubt, but Sarah's face instead showed deep worry. She sat on the edge of the sofa, her fingers anxiously intertwined.

"Sarah?" I stopped pacing. "What's wrong? Why aren't you surprised by this?"

"Nothing," she said softly. "I'm just glad Jack is okay."

"What's going on?" I pressed, sensing her distress ran much deeper than it appeared.

She shook her head. "You have enough troubles already, Izzy."

"Tell me," I insisted, sitting beside her. "You know you can trust me."

Sarah took a deep breath. "Gabriel's sperm sample is missing. And it disappeared while under my watch." Her voice nearly broke. "Not only will I be fired, I might lose my medical license forever."

"Missing?" I repeated in disbelief. "How could a sperm sample possibly vanish into thin air with such strict security measures?"

"That's exactly the problem," she said miserably. "Someone must have stolen it, and I'll be the one to take the fall. Gabriel is one of the main investors in the Silver Creek City Supernatural Reproductive Center, and he's furious."

I remembered Gabriel's protective instinct toward Jack today, that almost instinctual kindness. Anyone who cared so much about children couldn't be completely cold-hearted.

"I'll go speak to him," I suddenly said.

Sarah's head snapped up. "What? No, Izzy, you can't do that!"

"Why not? He seemed reasonable today. I just need to explain clearly, ask him—"

"You don't know what kind of person he is," Sarah interrupted urgently. "Gabriel Vasquez isn't just wealthy and powerful. He's... he's dangerous."

I squeezed her trembling hand. "For you, I have to try."

The following afternoon, I walked once more along the immaculate streets of Galaxy District. As I approached the Vasquez mansion, I felt my heartbeat quickening. I tried to shift my focus to my possible pregnancy, which calmed me slightly.

Two security guards spotted me as I neared the gate. They spoke in hushed tones, obviously informing Gabriel of my arrival.

My confidence wavered. Was I really going to plead with one of the most powerful men in Silver Creek City? But thinking of Sarah's support over the years, I knew I had to do this.

As I approached, the gates opened, and Gabriel himself came out.

I summoned my courage: "Mr. Vasquez?"

"What is it?" Gabriel's voice was deep with a natural authority.

"I'm Isabella Morgan, Emma and Jack Carson's nanny."

Gabriel's response made me uneasy, his green eyes flashing with dangerous light: "I know who you are, Isabella."

"I'm sorry to disturb you," I said quickly. "But I'm a friend of Sarah Collins..."

At the mention of Sarah, Gabriel's expression immediately turned cold, a flash of gold appearing in his eyes.

"She told me she's having trouble at work," I continued, words tumbling out rapidly. "I know you're an investor in the reproductive center. I hope you could put in a good word for her. She's an excellent doctor who just made one mistake—"

Gabriel's anger radiated from him in almost palpable waves. "Your friend's 'mistake' was extremely serious," he interrupted, his voice dangerously low. "She should take responsibility for her actions rather than sending you to plead her case."

"She didn't send me," I insisted. "She doesn't even know I'm here. I just wanted—"

Just as Gabriel was impatiently about to turn away, he suddenly stopped, his brow slightly furrowed, nostrils flaring gently, as if he had caught some special scent.