Angela didn't expect she'd feel lighter after having that conversation with Gael in her room just now. He didn't tell her the exact plan on how the De Lucas would handle their situation, and she didn't want to know because knowing what might go down would be tougher on her part.

Despite Gael telling her that he liked her and wanted to be with her, the fact of the matter was that the marriage arrangement was an order given by the union which held all the Italian-American crime families together. Going against it would mean going against the union. And she would technically be the mistress if she stayed. Were they even still together to be called that? What's difficult was that they never labeled their relationship, to begin with, yet all of this was hurtful as if they were official. 'Can I ever call you mine?' she thought.

As they left her room and descended the stairs, Gael's men arrived in front of the house. They would drive Gael to the airport. Some of them would fly with him while the others would stay behind. A couple of the men brought Christmas presents inside the mansion and placed them under the tall tree. Gael told her that it was just a few things he thought her family would like. There were more gifts in the back of one of the cars, too, and he said he'd drop them off at the Cho's house on the way.

Gael turned to face Angela as they stood in front of the front door. He wasn't quite ready to leave yet, but he had to. He had already stayed as long as he could. "Angel… I'll be gone for a while. I have some things I need to do in New York."

"Oh, okay…" Her face fell, yet she nodded with a subtle sigh.

"But I'll call you," he told her right away as if that would reassure her that he wouldn't leave and disappear again. Gael pushed her hair behind her ear. "I mean it. I will. I'll be busy, but I'll make time." He wanted to promise, but that didn't mean much anymore—not like it used to.

Angela lowered her gaze, staring at her wrung hands as though she couldn't look him in the eyes. Then she asked in a voice so soft and uncertain, "Will you be gone long?"

Her question gave his heart a start. It was like the spark that had once been there disappeared, and now it's back again. He felt hopeful hearing her ask that. Did it mean that she'd want him back as soon as possible? The corner of his lips tugged upward. Cheekiness came over him like a tickle on the side.

He tilted his head sideways, peeking at her until she met his gaze. "I'll be back before you miss me."

She scoffed, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms under her full breasts. His smile widened, and he swore there was a hint of amusement on her face too. His Angel was back—somehow—she'd be back; he just knew it.

Gael's stare landed on the velvet box in her hand. She hadn't let go of it since he gave it to her. His heart raced at the thought of her reaction once she'd see it. Would she like it? It looked cute when he first got it a month ago. He wanted to see her expression, but at the same time, he wasn't sure how he'd feel once she'd know what it was.

"Listen, Angel… I hope you don't misunderstand what's in it. I pro—" He sighed, stopping himself from making another promise. "I had my best interest with you in my mind when I picked that."

Angela glanced at the box and held it tighter. "Should I be worried?"

"I hope not."

A car door opened several feet away from them, and Honey came running and barking towards them. Gael instinctively looked down, a loving smile spreading across his face as he knelt and rubbed Honey. "Hey, Little Fry… You ready to go?" The little pupper yapped and happily nuzzled into his hand.

Angela also bent down to their level. "She's coming with you?"

Just as she asked, Honey looked at her and bounced around her knees, her tail wagging so fast like she'd seen the most exciting toy ever. Honey barked once and jumped onto Angela's lap.

"Hello…" Angela giggled when Honey licked her chin. "I miss you too."

"Yeah…" Gael answered. "Can't leave her alone if I'll be gone for more than a day. She'll get lonely." They got to their feet, and Angela carried Honey in her arms. He grinned at the adorable sight.

"Boss?" Rick called behind him.

Gael nodded in response before facing Angela again. Though reluctant, he told her, "I have to go."

"Oh. Right. Of course." The smile slipped from her face, and she attempted to hand Honey over to Gael, but the fluffy ball of fur gripped on her dress, the claws digging into the cloth. "Oh!"

"Honey, come on. We'll be late," Gael urged, reaching out to pull his dog from Angela, but before his hands could even come closer, Honey barked at him. "What the hell?" He recoiled, his brows furrowed in confusion. "Did you just bark at me?"

Honey whimpered and barked once more, causing his brows to knit even deeper. "This has never happened before. What did I do?" And then he looked at Angela who was equally confused as he was. This couldn't be that his dog liked Angela more than him now? He couldn't deny that he felt a tiny pang in his heart, yet his lips curled into a grin. "You like her more than me?" He sighed. "I can't blame you…"

Angela met his eyes, and she bit her bottom lip. She was half trying to get Honey off her and also holding her carefully so that the dog wouldn't fall. Honey was scratching and clawing at Angela's dress, desperate to cling onto her.

Gael shoved a hand into his pocket and scratched his forehead with the other. "Looks like she's picked a side… Do you…maybe...want to look after her for a few days?"

The look in Angela's eyes was pure shock. She glanced at Honey and then at Gael and then back at Honey again. "You're leaving her with me? You trust me with her?"

He was slightly taken aback by her question, and almost instantly, he replied, "Of course. Why wouldn't I—you don't hate her, do you?" Gael had to ask. He'd only seen little interaction between them as the two didn't have a lot of chances to interact with each other. However, those times when they did, he'd seen how gentle she was with Honey.

"Of course not. She's so adorable. How could I hate her?" Angela frowned, scratching Honey's ear.

Nodding, he felt relieved. "If you're okay with it, I'd appreciate it. Constant flying might actually tire her out. I don't want that."

"I think I can handle her. We'll have a good time while daddy's away, won't we?" Angela cooed as if she was talking to a baby.

The smile on Gael's face widened. He couldn't help but feel touched to see his two most treasured ones together. He signaled his men, and they took out Honey's things and placed them at the foyer. This wasn't what he planned at all, but he actually liked this better. He hadn't even left yet, and he was already looking forward to coming back home to them.

Rick walked Honey to the front lawn for a couple of minutes, giving Gael a little more time to say goodbye to Angela.

"You're gonna be late, Gael," she reminded when she saw the time on her phone. She leaned against the door frame as he stood before her.

"I can't seem to leave. I don't want to leave."

Biting her bottom lip, she wanted to tell him to stay, but she couldn't. What could she do to end this night on a good note? They at least earned that after their conversation, right?

"Angel?"

She swallowed and looked up at him. "Did you know that the mistletoe had a violent history?"

"The mistletoe?"

Angela nodded. "Legend said that a god made an arrow out of mistletoe and used it to kill his brother. There were many versions, but...the most common one was that it ended with a decree. To forget the violence that happened, whoever passes under a mistletoe must kiss—a token of love. Once a tragedy, now a tradition."

Gael inched closer, his gaze burning as he stared at her. "What are you saying?"

Her breathing hitched when he slipped his hand around her waist and pulled her to him. She placed her hands on his chest, her heart drumming against her ribcage. "I-I'm saying tonight should end well. But there's no mistletoe."

He glanced above their heads for a brief second before whipping out his phone. "Then let's make one." He tapped so fast and showed it to her; an image of a mistletoe brightly lit up the screen.

Gael raised the phone above them with the mistletoe facing downwards. A charming smirk danced on his lips. "How about now, love?"

She let out a long breath. "Screw it. It's Christmas." Angela clutched his shirt, tiptoed, and pressed her lips to his.