Rejected and Pregnant Claimed By The Dark Alpha Prince novel Chapter 575

Chapter 575: The room to consider it

"Denzel, you should head back to San Ravendale," Karmen said, the car coming to a smooth halt as he applied the brakes. "Gabriel is unable to focus on anything else right now, so you need to keep an eye on the company’s operations in his absence."

"Sure. But what about the witch?" Denzel questioned, his brow furrowing with concern. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Well, Carlos has returned, and Gabriel believes we should involve as few people as possible," Karmen asserted. "In his past life, he lost everyone he held dear. He’s taking every precaution this time to ensure history doesn’t repeat itself."

Denzel nodded slowly, understanding the weight of Gabriel’s trauma. "I’ll leave in the morning then. If things get sideways and you need me, just give me a call."

"I will," Karmen promised. Denzel stepped out of the car, offering a quick wave before heading toward his parents’ house.

Karmen reversed out of the driveway and began the drive back. He hadn’t gone far when he spotted a familiar figure on the curb. Aisha, looking frantic as she tried to flag down a passing taxi. He pulled the car over and lowered the passenger window.

"Get in," Karmen offered.

Aisha didn’t hesitate. Escaping the biting chill of the wind, she quickly settled into the passenger seat.

As Karmen pulled back into traffic, Aisha said, "I could not find any taxi on this route. It was a busy hour thanks to the weekend."

"Did you go to work? I suppose it’s off on weekends," Karmen replied as he navigated the sluggish crawl of the evening traffic.

"Well, I went to see my sister. Then, I decided to stop by a friend’s house," Aisha answered.

"I see." Karmen kept his focus on the road ahead, his hands relaxed on the steering wheel.

"Were you working late?" she inquired, trying to sustain the conversation.

"No," he answered shortly. "I went to the palace to see Gabriel."

"Oh." A silence followed. Aisha began to fidget with her fingers. Seeking a safer topic, she asked, "How is your mother?"

"She is doing well," Karmen replied, checking his mirror before turning the car left into a quieter street.

"You should see someone, Karmen. Your mother is eagerly waiting for you to get married," Aisha opined with genuine concern and lighthearted advice.

Karmen chuckled, a dry sound that didn’t quite reach his eyes. He shifted gears and pressed on the accelerator as the road cleared. "You’re suggesting I settle down while you yourself are running away from marriage?"

Karmen sat in the idling car for a moment. He looked at the bag before driving back to his home.

~~~~~~

Casaio flipped through the report Estelle had handed him earlier, the pages rustling under the warm glow of the lampshade. Earlier that day, he had met with a family whose lives had been shattered; they had lost their son to the crushing weight of huge debts.

The creditor, a well-established moneylender in the capital with a reputation for predatory tactics, had coerced the family into signing a document that was clearly designed to be a trap. The legal language was intentionally convoluted, masked by "tricky" clauses that effectively stripped them of everything they owned.

"You are still awake," Zilia’s voice drifted from the doorway. She stepped into the room.

"I thought it best to resolve this matter by tomorrow," Casaio answered. "I also have to meet Gabriel tomorrow," Casaio added, his eyes drifting from the papers. "Estelle mentioned that Carlos has finally returned. They are moving into the final phase to end Ophelia. I know Gabriel prefers to handle these things on his own, but I can’t help worrying about his safety. He carries too much on his shoulders."

Zilia leaned against the edge of the heavy oak desk. "We couldn’t even make it to the palace today because that urgent matter pulled you away. I only hope Gabriel actually includes you this time. He has a habit of keeping us at bay whenever a situation becomes personal to him."

She tilted her head, reaching out to slide the report toward her. As she skimmed the predatory terms laid out in the ink, her brow furrowed. "The moneylender was clever; he made this look entirely legal on the surface. In cases like this, where the law is on the side of the creditor, justice is notoriously difficult to find. How do you intend to handle it?"

"There must be a loophole," Casaio replied.