Chapter 12 Wanting to Win Back His Wife
So, Gabriel casually picked up another shrimp from the plate, peeled it, and placed it on the small dish in front of Arabella.
Arabella's expression grew subtly complex.
She'd been startled earlier when Gabriel peeled shrimp for Emily.
Everyone knowing about their relationship was one thing, but openly fawning over Dominic's wife right in front of him was quite another.
Unexpectedly, he'd thought to save face for her, immediately offering her one as well.
Unfortunately, she couldn't eat it.
"Thank you..." A gentle smile crossed her serene face as Arabella picked up the peeled shrimp and placed it back in Gabriel's bowl, saying softly, "I can't eat it. Isabella has allergies—if I eat shrimp, she'll break out in a rash."
At these words, Gabriel's face froze, and the atmosphere at the table grew even more awkward.
Gabriel, as the children's father and a new dad for over three months, didn't even know his daughter had allergies.
This clearly showed how little attention he paid to his wife and children.
Dominic, sensing the tension between them, immediately began peeling shrimp for Emily with his knife and fork.
When the couple's eyes met, Dominic's gaze was clearly meaningful, and Emily felt embarrassed as well.
She turned away and looked at Arabella with a forced smile, "Don't misunderstand—the three of us have been like this since childhood. They've always doted on and protected me."
Her explanation only made things worse.
She was essentially saying she was so charming that both men served her.
Arabella smiled, "It's fine. If you like it, have some more."
Everyone at the table fell silent.
After finishing their meal, Gabriel offered to drive Arabella home.
While Dominic and his wife were going to the hospital to visit William, the two parties separated in the parking lot.
Getting into the car, Dominic didn't look at Emily, his tone flat, "In the future, when Arabella's around, keep your distance from Gabriel."
Emily knew this carried a rebuke and pouted, muttering, "Today wasn't my fault. I asked you to peel shrimp for me, but you wouldn't."
Dominic was driving and didn't turn around at her words, but his profile clearly grew colder, "Emily, that's just how I am—not as gentle and considerate as Gabriel. I thought you understood that clearly when you married me."
Emily never expected Dominic to say something so harsh. She turned to look at his cold expression, her face full of disbelief.
Tears quickly gathered and soon began to fall.
She angrily wiped them away, trying to hold back, but couldn't, her voice suddenly rising, "Dominic, what do you mean? Are you saying I threw myself at you, that I deserve this?"
The man remained unmoved, "I didn't say that."
Emily couldn't sit still anymore, her heart about to explode with anger, suddenly commanding loudly, "Stop the car! I want to get out!"
Dominic said, "Weren't we going to see William?"
"I don't want to go with you! Stop the car!"
In a normal marriage, when a couple argued, an understanding husband would immediately smooth things over, and the matter would pass.
But Dominic had no such intention and actually pulled the Porsche over to the side.
Emily had just been throwing a tantrum, expecting Dominic to apologize,, and everything would be fine. But who knew he would actually pull over? Now, with no way out, she could only angrily push open the door and slam it hard.
Dominic was equally ruthless, pressing the gas pedal without hesitation and driving away.
Emily stood on the busy street, completely humiliated.
Though it was October, the sun was blazing, and the temperature was high. Watching Dominic's car disappear, tears streamed down her face.
————
Sitting in the car, Arabella thought about the scene at lunch and worried about what Gabriel might say, her heart wanting only to escape.
"Samuel, just drop me off at a subway station. I'll get home myself—you can take Gabriel back to the office," she said, sitting up and addressing the driver.
Samuel glanced in the rearview mirror, and seeing his boss hadn't spoken, understood tactfully and replied respectfully, "Mrs. Sterling, we're not in a hurry. We'll drive you home."
Arabella was speechless.
Gabriel had been on his phone in the car, replying to several messages.
Hearing their conversation, he put away his phone, his brow furrowing slightly.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know about your dietary restrictions." He apologized quietly, genuinely.
He had to admit that the two children had been born for over three months, and he'd barely participated in their care.
There were nannies, housekeepers, servants, and her at home—so many people surrounding the two children, he felt it was enough.
Plus, initially, he hadn't been prepared to become a father, so seeing those two children, he didn't feel that excitement, joy, or even tears of happiness.
But now he was beginning to reflect.
Regardless, those two children carried his bloodline.
Any decent person should shoulder a father's responsibilities and take on the duty of raising them, not simply pay others to take care of them.
Arabella had been dreading him bringing this up.
Because she had no idea how to respond, nor did she want to think deeply about the issue.
Her own husband was in love with another man's wife and fawned over her, yet completely neglected her, his legitimate wife—who would want to dwell on that?
Wasn't that just asking for trouble and torturing herself?
But Gabriel had brought it up anyway.
Her thoughts were complex, and she remained awkwardly silent for a long while before forcing a magnanimous smile, "You don't need to apologize. Taking care of babies is quite troublesome—it's normal that you don't understand."
"But I'm their father. I should understand." Gabriel continued her words, his eyes fixed on her serene profile.
Arabella knew he was watching her and turned her face even more toward the car window on her side, not wanting to meet his gaze.
"In the future, I'll make an effort to learn these things. You can teach me, too." Seeing her avoid him, Gabriel felt vaguely displeased and continued making his position clear.
Arabella didn't turn around, nodding randomly, "Mm, I understand."
When the car reached Parkside Estate, she couldn't wait to get out.
Before the car door closed, Gabriel said, "I'll come home early tonight. We can have dinner together."
Whether Arabella heard him or not was unclear—her graceful figure walked toward the villa without pause.
Samuel saw his boss still staring outside and tactfully didn't drive away immediately.
After a long while, Gabriel withdrew his gaze and said quietly, "Let's go."
Back at the company, Gabriel's executive secretary, Evelyn Thomas, approached him with a frown, "Mr. Sterling, why are you only back now? These documents are urgent!"
Evelyn was in her forties, a veteran company employee and mature woman with outstanding work capabilities whom Gabriel greatly respected.
Trusting his executive secretary's abilities, he took the documents and signed them with a flourish without even looking.
Evelyn bustled off immediately.
Gabriel returned to his office and looked at the mountain of documents on his desk, but had no heart for work.
His mind was full of thoughts about lunch.
It was just peeling a shrimp for Emily—something that had been commonplace over the past decade or so.
But today, he'd felt guilty the entire time, as if he'd committed a serious wrong.
Earlier in the car, he'd wanted to explain to Arabella, but the words never came out.
Now thinking back, he still felt troubled and irritated!
There was another knock on his office door, and Evelyn came in to remind him of his schedule, "Mr. Sterling, Mr. Perez, and his team will be here in ten minutes."
"Mm." Gabriel nodded, looking at the mature, professional secretary before him. Thinking she was someone with experience, he suddenly asked, "Evelyn, when you women are angry, how does one make things right?"