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Before Gabriel could respond to Matthew''s usations, Rafe jumped in with a bright smile, his voice dripping with innocence. "I''m the most obedient son, Father. You''re the only family I have left in this world. Who else could I rely on?"
Rafe then turned to Gabriel, his face painted with an expression so pitiful that it could tug at anyone''s heartstrings.
For a fleeting moment, Gabriel thought he saw a shadow of the woman who had once given up
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everything for him in Rafe''s face. A strange warmth flickered in his heart, only to be quickly buried under years of caution and calction.
Of course, that didn''t mean Gabriel truly believed Rafes words.
If he were that easily swayed, he wouldn''t have climbed to the heights of power he held today.
"Obedient or not, Rafe''s still a step above the rest of you."
Gabriel thought his legitimate sons were nothing but a bunch of useless good- for-nothings.
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Even Benedict, the eldest whom he had personally
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groomed, refused to obey him or follow his orders.
If it weren''t for Benedict''s
status as the eldest son, Gabriel would''ve gotten rid of him long ago.
But while Benedict might be untouchable, there was
someone else Gabriel had no qualms about dealing with.
Gabriel cast a subtle nce at Rafe, the illegitimate son he had brought back.
That rebellious brat might have warned him not to act
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rashly, but if Eliza ended up dead at the hands of this
illegitimate son he brought back, who could possibly
me him for it?
Rafe seemed to have sensed
something, his sharp eyes locking onto Gabriel''s
calcting gaze.
Though Gabriel quickly
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masked his expression, Rafe''s
natural instincts didn''t miss the fleeting glint of scheming in his father''s eyes.
Rafe''s mind worked quickly, piecing together the puzzle in an instant.
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He sneered coldly in his heart, hiding the look of contempt in his eyes very well.
''Do you think you can use me? Let''s see if you''ve got the guts for it, you old schemer.''
Before long, Gabriel threw out a parting remark, "Don''t forget the other task I gave you." With that, he led Rafe away from Matthew''s courtyard.
He directly led him to the study.
"Your room has already been arranged by the steward. For now, stay in your courtyard. Without my explicit
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permission, you are not
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allowed to leave." Gabriel''s tone
was cold andmanding.
Rafe raised an eyebrow at that.
''So he brought me back just to lock me up? How amusing!
Not that it mattered to Matthew, there wasn''t a ce in this world that could truly
hold him.
Still, he had to y along.
Feigning confusion, he asked, "Father, what''s this about? Did I do something wrong?"
Gabriel sat behind the desk, his gaze lifting to meet Rafe''s. The
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young man stood there, pretending to be at a loss, but Gabriel''s coldugh cut through the act.
"Did you really think I''d trust you so easily?" Gabriel''s voice wasced with disdain.
His expression remained indifferent as he continued, "Your biggest mistake was going to Eliza first and letting her send you back to Hasen City."
Matthew kept up the act. "Father, what are you talking about? I don''t understand." Gabriel''s palm mmed onto
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the desk with a loud thud, the sound reverberating through
the room. His sharp gaze locked onto Rafe.
"You think I don''t know about the little deal you struck with Eliza?" Gabriel''s voice was sharp and using. "She sends you back here, and you act as her spy in the Duke''s estate, keeping tabs on my every move. Am I wrong?"
Rafe was a bit surprised.
For a moment, he thought Gabriel''d actually figured something out. It turned out it was just this nonsense.
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''Wait, do they seriously not know that Eliza is a sorcerer?''
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