<h4>Chapter 777: Hurting you and the baby</h4>
As the car came to a halt in front of the pce, Noah’s eyes widened. He pressed his small hand against the ss, pointing at a figure standing near the entrance and calling out to his mother.
Amelie looked through the window and saw Denzel. He was standing perfectly still, but his expression was heavy with a visible, lingering trouble.
Gabriel opened the door, stepping out first to let Amelie and Noah exit.
"Denzel," Amelie said softly, acknowledging his presence.
"Caca!" Noah chirped, squirming in her arms. She walked toward him, encouraging the toddler to say hello, trying to break the heavy tension.
Gabriel remained by the car, his hands shoved deep into his trouser pockets. Karmen moved to stand beside him, his voice barely a murmur. "You have to forgive Denzel," he whispered.
Gabriel offered no reply. His gaze was fixed on Denzel, and for a long moment, their eyes met, an unspoken weight passing between the two men.
"Let’s go inside," Amelie stated, her voice firm as she led the way, sensing that the conversation needed to move away from the driveway.
As they entered the living room, Amelie settled onto the couch to rest while the men took their seats after Gabriel.
"How was the vination day, Your Highness?" Albus asked, gesturing for a maid to serve water to the group.
"It went well. Noah wasn’t scared at all, but Gabriel certainly was," Amelie said, her eyes drifting toward her husband with a lingering tease.
Albus let out a lightugh, but quickly cut it short when he caught Gabriel’s sharp re. He turned quiet immediately, bowing his head in a silent apology. Ashna entered the room just then, and Amelie handed the boy over to her, instructing her to put Noah down for his nap.
"Your Highness, I came here to apologize," Denzel said, his voice steady despite the tension radiating from the Alpha Prince.
"And I told you I wouldn’t forgive," Gabriel replied sternly, his posture stiffening as he refused to meet Denzel’s eyes.
"Why?" Amelie intervened, setting her ss of water down on the table.
"Denzel merely wanted Juniper to be heard. In the heat of the moment, you and Brother Nick ended up fighting, but that’s in the past. You should forgive him now."
"He could have messaged me. A phone call would have been better," Gabriel muttered, his gaze finally shifting toward Denzel. "Nick could have had him killed for interfering like that."
"But he didn’t," Amelie countered.
"Gabriel, I admit I handled it poorly," Denzel asserted, stepping forward. "But in all our years, you have never once had a reason toin about my loyalty or my work. I acted out of a sense of justice for her."
Gabriel remained silent for a long moment.
A servant rushed into the living room, bowing slightly as he caught the Alpha Prince’s attention. "Your Highness, someone named Juniper is here to see you."
Gabriel’s brows furrowed, a flicker of irritation crossing his face. "What is she doing here?" he murmured, his voiceced with suspicion.
"Please, let her in," Amelie intervened before Gabriel could dismiss the visitor.
The servant bowed and hurried out. A few momentster, Juniper walked into the room. She held her handbag tightly against her shoulder, her other hand clutching a gift bag with such force that her knuckles were pale. Amelie and Karmen both stood to greet her, but Gabriel remained seated, his posture rigid.
Juniper offered a respectful greeting to Gabriel before turning her attention to Amelie. "This is for you," she said, extending the gift bag.
"Thank you. Please, take a seat," Amelie offered with a polite smile, handing the gift to a nearby maid. Albus immediately signaled for another staff member to bring refreshments.
"How is Noah doing?" Juniper asked, her voice softening as she looked around the pce interior. "I’m sure he’s grown so much since Ist saw him."
"You shouldn’t be asking about my son," Gabriel interrupted, his gaze sharp and fixed on her.
"Don’t mind him," Amelie said quickly, trying to diffuse the coldness in the room. She shot Gabriel a pointed, silent look that pleaded, ’Don’t hurt her with your harsh words. Please.’
Gabriel rolled his eyes and looked away toward therge windows, though he didn’t leave the room.
"Noah has definitely grown up. He can even crawl on all fours now," Amelie replied warmly. "I heard about the attack. Denzel did a great job ensuring it came to the pce’s attention."
Juniper looked toward Denzel, who remained standing nearby.
"Yes, if not for him, I would be dead," Juniper admitted. She turned back to Amelie, her grip tightening on her shoulder bag which was on herp now.
"I never got to apologize to you. I always thought I was supreme, untouchable, just because I was once Dominick’s wife. Honestly, I never knew the love of a family. The mother who wanted me passed away too soon, and seeing how Noah was treated... It made me feel how unfair life had been to me."
Gabriel shifted, his jaw tightening as he prepared to interject, but Amelie quickly grasped his hand. Her firm grip silenced him before he could speak.
Juniper lowered her head, her fingers fidgeting nervously. "I truly lost my mind back then. I think about everything I did every night before I go to sleep. I’ve been contemting for so long how to approach you. I am so sorry for the things I said about Noah." She lifted her head, her eyes shimmering with tears. "Please forgive me, Amelie, for hurting you and the baby with my words."
Amelie pursed her lips together for one moment. "I forgive you. I don’t carry any resentment towards you, Juniper. Honestly, I never did. If anything I felt only pity that you thought so wrong for my Noah."
Juniper wiped the tears from her eyes. "I am truly sorry," she whispered.
Amelie felt bad seeing Juniper in that state. Gabriel, on the other hand, felt it was all her show to bring his kind wife into her words. Though a part of him knew that Juniper was truly regretful for her actions, he couldn’t seem to agree to that part.