<h4>Chapter 544: My own life is messed</h4>


    Amelie stood up after cing the bouquet of white lilies over Ravenna’s grave. She joined her hands together, praying silently for Ravenna’s soul. Gabriel watched her, deeply moved, and did the same.


    As they both stood praying, Amelie spoke softly, "I don’t know when we wille here again, but I will keep my promise to you. Just stay in peace wherever you are, Grandma."


    ’I never felt the pain of anyone’s departure before this. I was never connected with any elder the way I got with you,’ Gabriel thought with grief. ’You were not even rted to me, yet you taught me things I never knew I needed to learn. You helped me and brought me closer to the truth about why I faced such hardships in love, not caring about your own life. I will keep Carlos as my sworn brother by my side.’


    "Gabriel, shall we go?" Amelie asked softly, finding his hand and intertwining their fingers to offerfort.


    He nodded, a silent acknowledgment, and walked out of the graveyard with her. Sitting back in the car, the driver started the engine and smoothly drove them back toward the house.


    As they stepped out of the car, Gabriel’s phone buzzed. He pulled it out and checked the name. It was a call from his father, the Alpha King.


    "You go inside. I will be taking Dad’s call out here," he stated, knowing the call was likely serious and needed privacy.


    Amelie hummed her agreement and walked inside the house. Gabriel answered the call and walked to the right, stepping into the quiet solitude of the garden.


    "Good afternoon, Dad. How have you been doing?" he asked.


    "I am well. What about you? You’vepletely forgot your father and mother again," Raidan remarked, his voice carrying the faint disappointment of a distant parent.


    "It’s not like that Dad. Grandma passed away," Gabriel delivered the upsetting news to his father with a heavy voice. "That’s the reason I couldn’t get in touch."


    "That’s indeed upsetting. May her soul rest in peace. How’s Carlos?" Raidan paused, offering brief condolence. "You two should stay there for some more days then, to settle things," Raidan advised.


    "I was actually thinking to return soon," Gabriel replied, indicating his readiness to leave. "I’ve to go to Aurevalis soon, that’s why I want Amelie and Noah to be in the pce before that."


    "Then,e home," Raidan stated, his voice softening. "I’ve been missing my grandsontely. Even your mother misses Noah," he added. "Tell Carlos that our condolences are with him."


    "Is everything alright there?" Gabriel asked, changing the subject to inquire about the pce. "Idris was hurt. Is he better now?"


    "Yes, he is," Raidan replied. "Casaio handled the situation well. Gabriel, what do you think about the next Alpha King’s position?"


    "Dad, please. You know my answer," Gabriel replied immediately.


    "Casaio is currently getting bacsh for his recent choices and public perception," said Raidan, pressing the issue.


    "So? He is clever; he will bring the people back in his favor soon enough. I don’t have any interest in serving the people," Gabriel gave his decision once again, resolute in his path toward freedom. "My own life is messed up enough, so I just want peace in it."


    "Alright. Take care of yourself and Amelie. I’ll hang up now," Raidan stated, epting Gabriel’s final answer for the time being.


    ~~~~


    Dominick stepped out into the bustling evening city with his Beta, Evan, intending to explore.


    "Your Highness, why did you suggest going to a hostess bar?" Evan asked, slightly confused by the choice of location for their outing.


    "Because that ce is full of information," Dominick replied coolly, adjusting his jacket. "And if omegas are indeed being pushed into the ve trade as the report suggests, then that ce can give us the easiest and quickest information about everything."


    "You’re right," Evan agreed, acknowledging the sharp logic behind the Prince’s decision.


    After walking for a while, they finally stopped outside their destination: avishly lit establishment known as the most famous hostess bar in the heart of the city district, Gridlock.


    They headed toward the VIP lounge area, but were abruptly stopped by the guards stationed at the velvet rope.


    "Show your pass," one of the imposing men said tly.


    "Pass?" Dominick arched his eyebrow, clearly unused to being denied entry anywhere.


    "Yes. Not anyone can enter this ce without the pass," the same man replied with an upromising stance.


    Dominick pivoted slightly on his feet, gesturing to Evan with a subtle shake of his head that their nned infiltration of the inner circle wouldn’t be as simple as walking in.


    They both went to the first floor and sat on the counter chairs. Ordering whiskeys for themselves, Evan said, "I will arrange the passes by tomorrow, Your Highness. We’ll get into that VIP lounge one way or another."


    "That will be better," Dominick confirmed, his mind already calcting their next move.


    The bartender put two whiskey sses in front of them. As Dominick grabbed his ss, he suddenly heard a pleading, distressed voice cut through the loud music.


    "Please, don’t do this to me!"


    He looked around himself, scanning the crowded bar floor, but found no source for the sound immediately visible near them.


    "What happened?" asked Evan, who hadn’t seemed to hear anything unusual over the noise.


    Dominick shook his head, dismissing the strange sound for a moment. He almost took a sip of the whiskey when the same voice echoed again, this time sounding even more desperate. Against the loud, thumping music, it was impossible to pinpoint exactly where such a clear voice wasing from.


    "I’ll be back soon," Dominick said, leaving Evan behind as he searched for the voice. Something wrong was going to happen and if he wouldn’t intervene, the woman who was crying for help could lose everything.


    He got bumped against a few drunkards while navigating the bar floor, who drunkenly cussed at him. But Dominick ignored thempletely, his focus solely on tracing the sound. He stopped near the pool area, an unexpected feature in thevish bar, and paused, still wondering precisely from where that pleading voice hade.


    Just then, a huge ssh of water was heard, sudden and loud, as if something significant had been forcefully thrown into the pool.