Chapter 38 Idiot Hooligans


    Exiting Mia''s office, Gabriel, who was feeling rather ufortable, dered he needed to use the


    restroom.


    It took him a good half-hour before he emerged.


    Emerging from the restroom, he felt reinvigorated and fresh, as if he had just chugged an energy


    drink.


    "After a simple bathroom break, why do you look like you''ve had an energy drink?" Ava quipped,


    noting Gabriel''s change of expression.


    Gabriel gave an awkward smile, stretchedzily, and said, "Let''s go, have barbecue for lunch, and


    grill some garlic and oysters!"


    Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    Ava raised an eyebrow and said, "Ew, you''re so gross!"


    No sooner had Ava finished these words than her face flushed red, and she finally grasped the


    implications of his remarks.


    With a look of disdain, she put some distance between herself and Gabriel.


    As a result, their barbecue n went down the drain!


    Instead, they had hot pot at Ava''s strong insistence.


    After filling their bellies, they ascended to the mall''s rooftop like other young couples.


    They bought two movie tickets.


    The movie of choice was the currently popr "Goodbye, My Ex-girlfriend!"


    It oddly fit the asion.


    They also got some popcorn and soda and settled into the back row.


    As they watched the film and the plot thickened, the atmosphere became increasingly sad,


    especially at the movie''s conclusion when two people in love couldn''t be together.


    They had to make the painful choice to part ways and ept someone they didn''t love.


    At that moment, Taylor Swift''s "Back to December" yed.


    The emotions of everyone in the theater reached a breaking point, especially Ava, who leaned on


    Gabriel''s shoulder, crying her heart out.


    Her tears flowed like a waterfall, soaking Gabriel''s clothes.


    However, Gabriel remained unmoved.


    He allowed Ava to release her emotions freely.


    He knew in just a few hours, they would too be parting ways!


    After the movie, Ava''s eyes turned red, and her spirits were low.


    The dimples that would asionally appeare on her cheeks were now concealed by her somber


    expression.


    "Let''s go, our final destination. I''ll treat you to a fancy, upscale dinner!" Gabriel reached out and took


    Ava''s hand, taking the initiative for the first time in seven days.


    It was the first time in seven days that Gabriel had held Ava''s hand.


    In that moment, Ava looked up at Gabriel.


    Her palm felt warm, and she held Gabriel''s hand tightly.


    Then, her long-lost smile reappeared.


    Her mncholy wasn''t due to the movie.


    It was because she knew that today, she and Gabriel would be parting ways.


    That was the real reason why she was devastated just now.


    A whileter, they came to the revolving restaurant at the TV tower-Silverwood''s most upscale and


    romantic French eatery.


    The two of them sat by the window, enjoying a panoramic view of nearly half of Silverwood.


    On the table was a luxurious French meal.


    In an unprecedented move, Gabriel ordered two expensive sses of red wine.


    The hotel had thoughtfully arranged a live violin performance.


    The atmosphere was charged with romance, and everything was delightful.


    Midway through their meal, Ava was suddenly ovee by a sense of wistfulness.


    How wonderful would it be if none of this had to end after this meal!


    "Gabriel, when this meal is over, we''ll be parting our ways, don''t we?" She inquired of the blue, her


    eyes welling up with unshed tears.


    She gave herself a subtle pinch to force back tears, willing her emotions back under control.


    "It''s not quite true, Ava. It''s just that our agreed-upon timeing to a close," Gabriel replied, taking


    a sip of his wine while gazing at the scenery outside.


    He had initially believed he wouldn''t be too affected by their impending separation, but now he


    couldn''t deny a sense of mncholy creeping in.


    He found himself pondering a question.


    If he didn''t carry so much baggage and if the person he was with wasn''t in any danger, would he


    consider a future with Ava?


    He himself couldn''t answer the question.


    "An agreement is only an agreement, after all. But sometimes I wish we had agreed for a longer


    period," Ava sighed with a bittersweet smile. She turned her affectionate eyes towards Gabriel.


    "You''re incredibly handsome, you know that?" she said to herself.


    Remorse seized her.


    "An agreement has its terms, doesn''t it? Let me share this meal with you and let''s not dwell on


    anything else, okay?"


    Gabriel said the words with a faint smile, contemting Ava affectionately.


    The atmosphere turned somber.


    In Ava''s mind, Taylor Swift''s "Back to December" started ying again.


    A solitary tear cascaded down her cheek,nding softly in her wine ss, causing ripples in the


    crimson liquid.


    "Listen up, everyone at the table. If you don''t want to get in trouble, you better clear out right now!"


    Attention was suddenly diverted from their intimate moment as amotion erupted at the


    restaurant''s entrance.


    Gabriel''s demeanor shifted instantly.


    This was meant to be their farewell dinner, and someone had the audacity to disrupt it at this crucial


    juncture. They must be out of their mind.


    Turning to look, Gabriel spotted a group of unruly hooligans led by a young man with a conspicuous


    neck tattoo. They were aggressively pushing the restaurant staff.


    As they barged in, they started shouting and throwing objects and driving customers out, prompting


    other diners to hastily vacate their tables.


    Pandemonium ensued.


    Fortunately, Gabriel and Ava were seated toward the interior of the restaurant and were, for the


    moment, unaffected.


    However, Ava was visibly shaken by the disturbance. She was not afraid for herself but rather


    concerned that these idiots might provoke Gabriel.


    "No need to go. Let''s stay put," Gabriel replied calmly, his gaze turning icy.


    He raised his wine ss and emptied it in a single gulp.


    His left hand clenched into a fist, the bones audibly cracking.


    In this moment, he contemted whether he should teach these troublemakers a severe lesson or


    simply incapacitate them.


    "Hey, you two, don''t you dare move! Or you''ll be feasting on shards of ss!" barked a burly man


    with an arm tattoo, addressing Gabriel and Ava.


    Ava dared not make a move and locked her eyes onto Gabriel.


    She was well aware of Gabriel''s temperament. And she was on the verge of verbally dismantling


    these hooligans.


    "Why do you have to provoke this lunatic?" she asked inwardly.


    Their final dinner was marred by these intruders.


    Gabriel slowly turned his head, fixing his icy stare on the tattooed man.


    Just as he was about to take action, a familiar voice chimed in unexpectedly.


    "You guys are getting way out of line, causing trouble here?"


    Emerging from the depths of the restaurant, apanied by several waitstaff members, a graceful


    woman in uniform stepped forward.


    She possessed a seductive figure and a captivating presence.


    The moment she appeared, all the men''s eyes brightened, and they felt a tingling sensation.


    "Holy shit, it''s Ste Turner!"


    Gabriel paused for a moment.


    He hadn''t anticipated that the woman who had emerged from the fray should be Ste.


    So, this swanky revolving restaurant was under Ste''s ownership?


    It was quite the twist of fate.


    "Ms. Turner, your timing couldn''t be better. Your brother owes me a substantial sum. Are you


    nning to take responsibility for his debts, or are we going to have a little ''ident'' involving one


    of his legs tonight?" Sam, the man in the lead with the neck tattoo, leered at Ste..


    Ste''s response was firm: "What my brother none of my concern. If you gentlemen don''t leave


    immediately, I will have to call the police."


    Although she spoke as if she didn''t care at all, her clenched jaw and resentful re revealed her


    deep-seated disappointment towards her sibling.


    Sam shrugged nonchntly and sighed, "Well, you don''t seem to be a good sister. You won''t even


    lift a finger for your own flesh and blood. In that case, we won''t be leaving tonight, and you can go


    ahead and call the police. It won''t bother us."


    With those words, Sam signaled to his henchmen.


    Following his lead, seven or eight burly men began a rampage, smashing tes, dishes, and


    ssware, sending fragments scattering across the restaurant floor.


    It was at this chaotic moment that the arm-tattooed man noticed Gabriel and Ava were still seated


    calmly at their table. He unleashed a string of profanities and menacingly approached them.


    He grabbed a wine bottle and pointed it menacingly at Gabriel. "You, buddy, are you looking for


    trouble? If you don''t clear out, I''ll crack this bottle over your head and maybe even undress your


    lady!"


    Upon hearing this, Gabriel sprang to his feet.


    With lightning speed, he seized the man''s head and mmed it forcefully onto the table.


    The sheer force of the impact shattered the ss, sttering blood everywhere.


    "Why do you have to provoke me at this moment? You know what would be of you?"