"I am pretty sure I love you Gabriella." He yelled slapping his rough hand against her already bruised face.
"Ryan get off of me. I know you don't love me." Gabriella shot back as she tried to break way from Ryan tough grasp against her tiny waist.
"The waitress, I was just showing her a good time." He grinned then pulled his head back and laughed at her innocence.
"Ry, I know what I saw." Gabriella said as tears rushed down her face.
"What did you see? A pretty blonde topless and her underwear in my hands." He laughed again this time more sternly.
"Exactly Ry you were cheating on me. You have been for the past month. You use your success and me to live up to your family name. At night you hurt Claire, Brooke, Sam, and me. You go out with your friends and drink booze and cheat on me with helpless and clueless employees of yours." Gabriella blurted her feelings out as if telling them to him would solve everything but she knew it wouldn't.
"What are you going to do leave me?" He spat out the sentence like someone spitting on the sidewalk.
"You know what Ryan I just might." Gabriella said walking inside from the pouring rain and stepping into the living room where there three kids Sam, Claire, and Brooke were watching television. She continued walking towards the Master Bedroom she was serious about leaving and she was taking the kids with her. She had gone all the way to their walk-in-closet when she felt a tight-rough grip on her left arm. She turned around and saw Ryan he was soaking wet and his eyes screamed dark with anger. "If you let my-our secret out about the real me. The kids will be next." He threatened. Gabriella studied the look on his face it was serious she could tell he would be devastated. She knew that if the word got out it would only get worse no for her children and her sake. But he would continue to hurt other people feeding them countless compliments making them feel like their on the top of the world. Slowly seducing them into what he called a healthy relationship but it was so much more it was an abusive relationship. She finally replied when she noticed his grip got stronger. "Ryan the last thing I would want is for anyone to know. I just want to get out of this nut house." She said the tears coming back. He pulled her into a gentle hug kissing her forehead before he left and would fix himself a glass of Vodka. "Mommy, why do we have to leave?" Sam the youngest of the Evans kids had asked. "I told you were redecorating and Auntie Taylor wants you to come over." She said not wanting to repeat the statement again. "But mom can I at least bring my cell phone." Brooke asked upset at the fact her mom said she could only bring one electronic item. "Well what did you bring?" Gabriella asked trying to pack everything into the families Red Ford Expedition '08. "Duh, my Mac book pro." She said in everyone knows tone. "Sure you can get as along as you come back here in five minutes. Brooke came back three minutes later and once everything was pilled in they took a thirteen-hour drive and finally arrived in front of a big house in the suburbs of Upstate New York. A light flicked on in an upstairs window. Soon the kids and Gabriella stood in the doorway of what seemed to be a Brampton mansion. Claire rang the doorbell and a man with messy dark brown hair and electric blue eyes answered the door. He had perfectly tanned skin and crystal white teeth. He was wearing a blue plaid dress shirt and some khaki slacks. "Gabriella?" He said making it sound more like a statement than a question. "What are you doing here?" She asked not telling him her name. "I am helping Taylor with the Christmas tree decorations and it seems your visiting for awhile." He said gesturing towards their bags. "Don't get your hopes up Bolton." She said giving him a tight hug. Brooke grunted and they pulled away allowing Gabriella to introduce her kids. "This is Claire." She said pointing to a girl with layered blonde hair and perfect side bangs. Her skin shone in the evening night. Her teeth glistened like a chandler. She had a warm smile that made anyone feel comfortable. She clutched a book in her right arm, which Troy guessed made her smart just like Gabriella. "This is Brooke." Brooke was 5'7 and fourteen the oldest of the Evan bunch. She had dark brown brunette hair that long and luscious. It looked and felt soft and silky. She was wearing hot pink nail polish and instead of a book she was clutching a Cherry Pink LG Chocolate phone. Her skin and teeth was a lot like her sisters. She was outgoing and friendly but extremely exclusive. "Last but not least this is Sam." She said pointing to a boy about 3'11. His hair color was a mixture between his two sisters. His tan skin was lighter and his teeth somewhat yellow. However, you couldn't see what he was clutching for he was hiding behind his mom's legs. Troy motioned them inside and showed them to the room Taylor had picked out especially for each of them. Once the kids were busy enjoying the special rooms Taylor had put together to measure their style. Gabriella had gone downstairs to share a drink with Troy.
"So why are you the only one decorating the tree. Where is the tree might I ask." Gabriella said curiously.
"Oh, that, yeah well me and Taylor went to help out a charity tonight and she invited me over afterwards."
Gabriella got an upset look on her face. She still loved Ryan she knew that she loved him that feeling was just lost somewhere. However, having Troy available always made her feel at ease.
"Gabby were not together. I have a girlfriend Amber Von Tussle. We have been together for over two years."
Gabriella smiled when Troy said Gabby it had been awhile since someone called her that. Her smile immediately turned to disappointment when she found out he had a girlfriend for over two years though.
"Troy, I am happy for you." She said trying to put on a smile.
"Thanks Gabby, it means a lot to me that you care. Your opinion really matters to me."
Gabriella felt her heart skip a beat. "Troy do you think your going to pour me a drink?" She asked her mouth dry from the long drive.
"Oh sure thing." He said getting up and pouring Gabriella an Apple Martini and himself a Bud Light.
They talked for a while and soon Troy said good-bye and Gabriella went to sleep. She was awoken the next morning with someone shaking her from side-to-side. She opened her amber green eyes hopping to see Sam in his army pajamas instead she was surprised to see Taylor. She got up immediately pulling her best friend into a hug. They jumped up and down for a while instantly feeling like teenagers again. They talked for a while and Taylor soon realized that it was time for work and told Gabriella that she would meet up with her during lunch at 12:30. She also informed Gabriella that they didn't need to do practically anything. She had a chef named Hector, a chauffer name Miles, a pilot and co-pilot named Brown and Jeff, and she has three maids Maria, Jasmine, and Kim. She has a servant quarters about a 5 minutes away from the house so they wouldn't be bothering her in the early hours of the morning. Gabriella walked down stairs and Hector served her breakfast. Her Breakfast however was interrupted by another stern grip on her arm.