The storm outside raged through the night, wind howling against the windows as if nature itself knew the turmoil inside Piper’s heart. She lay awake, staring at the ceiling, Gabriel’s words looping in her mind: “I’ve got you.”
He had been a steady, unwavering presence in her life, a quiet comfort in the chaos. But as much as she wanted to believe in him — believe in them — something nagged at her. Trust didn’t come easily to Piper anymore. Not after Noah. Not after Jasper. And especially not with the tangled web she found herself caught in.
Noah’s threats, Isabel’s betrayal, and Gabriel’s growing presence — everything was swirling together, dragging her deeper into confusion. But she knew one thing for certain: the fight for Lily wasn’t over. And if Noah’s behavior had taught her anything, it was that the next attack would come from the shadows.
The next morning, Piper sat at the kitchen table, nursing a cup of coffee that had long since gone cold. Gabriel had stayed late the previous night, leaving only after she was certain Noah wasn’t coming back. But now, in the quiet light of day, the reality of her situation felt heavier.
She picked up her phone and texted Amanda.
Me: I want full custody. No more shared time. It’s too dangerous.
The response was almost immediate.
Amanda: I’ve been expecting this. I’ll push for it. But we need to be prepared. Noah won’t let go easily.
Piper exhaled slowly, the words “He won’t let go” sitting heavily in her chest. She knew Amanda was right — Noah wasn’t the type to bow out gracefully.
Her phone buzzed again — this time, a message from Jasper.
Jasper: I found out something else. We need to talk.
Piper’s pulse quickened. The revelation about Noah’s secret dealings with Isabel’s firm was still fresh, and each new piece of information felt like another knot tightening around her. But she had no choice but to keep pulling at the threads.
When Piper met Jasper later that afternoon, he looked even more tense than usual. They sat in his apartment, the familiar scent of his aftershave stirring old memories she didn’t have time to indulge.
“What did you find?” Piper asked, cutting straight to the point.
Jasper pulled out his laptop and opened an email chain. “I’ve been digging through the firm’s records. There’s another player involved — someone with influence, someone who’s been working behind the scenes to keep this custody case going.”
Piper frowned. “Who?”
Jasper hesitated, his expression conflicted. “It’s Gabriel.”
The words hit Piper like a punch to the gut.
“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “That’s not possible.”
Jasper turned the laptop toward her. “I wouldn’t have believed it either, but it’s all here. Financial transactions, backchannel communications — Gabriel’s been involved with Isabel’s firm from the beginning.”
Piper’s heart raced, disbelief and betrayal crashing over her in waves.
How could Gabriel be tied to the very people working to keep Noah in her life?
“It doesn’t make sense,” she whispered, staring at the emails as if the words might rearrange themselves into something less damning. “Gabriel’s been helping me... He’s the reason we found the evidence to use against Noah.”
Jasper’s expression darkened. “Or maybe that’s what he wanted you to think.”
Piper shook her head, trying to make sense of the tangled web. “No. Gabriel’s not like that. He wouldn’t —”
“Piper,” Jasper said gently but firmly. “We’ve both been burned by people we thought we could trust. Don’t let it happen again.”
Piper’s hands trembled as she closed the laptop, the weight of the betrayal settling over her. Could it really be true? Had Gabriel — her anchor, her steady presence — been playing a game this whole time?
She couldn’t believe it. She didn’t want to believe it. But after everything she’d been through, doubt was a familiar and dangerous companion.
That evening, Piper sat on the porch, the chill of the autumn air cutting through her thin sweater. Gabriel had texted her twice, but she hadn’t answered. She needed space, needed time to think.
The problem was, no matter how hard she tried to make sense of the situation, she kept circling back to the same question: Why? Why would Gabriel help her if he was working with Isabel’s firm? Why expose Noah’s lies if his goal was to hurt her?
The answer came quietly, unbidden.
Because the truth can be a weapon, too.
Piper shivered, rubbing her arms. She was so used to fighting — so used to looking for hidden threats — that she wasn’t sure she’d know real trust even if it stood right in front of her.
As if on cue, Gabriel’s car pulled into the driveway. Piper watched him step out, his expression concerned but calm.
“Hey,” he called softly, walking up the porch steps. “You okay? You’ve been quiet all day.”
Piper stood, crossing her arms tightly. “We need to talk.”
Gabriel’s brows furrowed, his dark eyes scanning her face. “What’s going on?”
Piper took a deep breath, forcing herself to meet his gaze. “Jasper found some emails... Emails connecting you to Isabel’s firm.”
Gabriel’s expression didn’t change. He didn’t flinch, didn’t deny it. Instead, he let out a slow breath, as if the weight of the truth had finally caught up to him.
“I was going to tell you,” he said quietly.
Piper’s heart clenched. “You knew? You knew and didn’t say anything?”
Gabriel ran a hand through his hair, frustration flickering across his face. “Yes, I knew. But it’s not what you think, Piper.”
“Then what is it?” Piper demanded, anger bubbling to the surface. “Why are you involved with them? Why would you keep this from me?”
Gabriel stepped closer, his voice low and steady. “Because I’ve been trying to protect you. From the very beginning.”
“Protect me?” Piper scoffed, her chest tight with hurt and betrayal. “How? By lying to me?”
Gabriel’s gaze was unwavering. “I had to get close to them. I had to play their game to figure out who was pulling the strings.”
“And you didn’t think to tell me?” Piper’s voice cracked, her emotions spiraling out of control. “You let me trust you, Gabriel. You let me believe you were different.”
“I am different,” Gabriel said softly, his voice full of quiet intensity. “I care about you, Piper. I care about Lily. Everything I’ve done has been to help you.”
Piper’s breath hitched, her mind a tangled mess of doubt and emotion. She wanted to believe him — wanted so badly to trust him — but the scars of past betrayals ran too deep.
“I don’t know if I can believe you,” she whispered, tears stinging her eyes.
Gabriel’s expression softened, but there was a flicker of something else — something Piper couldn’t quite read. “I get it,” he said quietly. “You’ve been through hell. But I’m not Noah. And I’m not Jasper.”
He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “I’m here, Piper. And I’m not going anywhere.”
Piper’s heart ached, torn between the desire to trust him and the fear of being hurt again. She wanted to let him in — but could she afford to?
Gabriel reached for her hand, his touch warm and grounding. “We’re on the same side, Piper. You just have to believe that.”
And in that moment, standing in the cold autumn night, Piper made a choice — one she wasn’t sure was the right one but knew she had to make.
She squeezed Gabriel’s hand, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Okay,” she said. “But no more lies.”
Gabriel nodded, his gaze steady. “No more lies.”