Chapter 131 What are you blocking? If you have the guts, get out tonight!
The conversation ended, and Arabella followed Ella upstairs to the nineteenth floor, where they found the vacant apartment.
"Here it is. Take a look and see what you think. The main living area is down here, bedroom's upstairs—perfect for one person. There's also a small kitchen if you want to cook." Ella gave her the full tour, asking for her thoughts.
Arabella looked around, nodding repeatedly. "It's wonderful. There's a chain supermarket and shopping center right across the street—very convenient."
She stood by the window, gazing at the view. The location seemed excellent; it must have cost a fortune.
"You mentioned buying this as a workspace? For what kind of business?" Arabella asked curiously.
Ella tossed the keys onto the coffee table and settled onto the couch with a relaxed air. "I've been wanting to start my own business, but I haven't found the right partner yet—still in the planning stages. Getting this place was pure luck. The previous owner needed cash fast and priced it low. It was a steal."
Arabella had never pried into her personal life before, but today her curiosity got the better of her. After a pause, she asked, "So you and your daughter... you have another place?"
"Yeah, I have a two-bedroom. Plenty of space for us. When I'm not around, there's a sitter who helps with pickup and basic care."
Ella shared this information openly.
Seeing Arabella still looked curious, she smiled. "Are you wondering how I can afford two apartments?"
Arabella laughed sheepishly and sat across from her, clearly wanting to hear the story.
At this moment, Ella was actually considering a business venture that would include Arabella, so she didn't mind sharing her real situation.
"I'm not from here originally, but I come from money—basically a trust fund baby. When my parents disapproved of my boyfriend, I had a huge falling-out with them. Dad literally disowned me, so I left home..."
"After my boyfriend and I broke up, I discovered I was pregnant. Couldn't bring myself to terminate, so I decided to keep the baby. All those years of birthday money, holiday cash, and allowances—I'd saved up several hundred thousand."
"I got lucky in college, playing around with stock trading and doubled my money... Then when social media took off, I learned video editing, started creating content, built my accounts—caught the wave at just the right time. The monthly income's been pretty solid, so that's how I bought both places."
Ella spoke casually, but Arabella was absolutely stunned by this success story.
"Ella, you're a genius!" she exclaimed, giving her a double thumbs-up.
Ella smiled modestly. "Not really—I just had advantages growing up, more exposure to different things. You could do the same."
Arabella understood it was more than that.
Success always required talent plus hard work and determination.
Being a single mother with a full-time job while also learning content creation, building social media presence—the effort behind all that must have been extraordinary.
Suddenly Arabella felt inspired!
If someone else could do it, so could she!
She would work hard, study diligently, and eventually escape her financial struggles. One day she'd be able to bring both children to live with her, supporting them through her own abilities!
After viewing the apartment, Arabella immediately expressed interest in renting it. When they discussed rent, Ella waved her hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it for now—just move in. We'll figure out payment later. By the way, that sponsored article I had you write? The response was fantastic. Readers loved it—said even my ads were entertaining enough to make them want to buy. Your commission share comes to eight thousand, which should cover about six months of rent."
Arabella was shocked again.
Eight thousand dollars for a two-thousand-word article? More than she made in a month at her regular job!
No wonder Ella could afford two apartments.
And in this neighborhood, monthly rent couldn't be less than five thousand, right? Yet she was only asking for two thousand symbolically?
Arabella was so thrilled she didn't know what to say.
Seeing her about to protest, Ella cut her off. "I genuinely consider you a friend, so don't be stubborn about this. Take the keys—I need to get home. My daughter's been texting non-stop."
Given the circumstances, Arabella graciously accepted.
On the way home, she told Sophia everything. Sophia was equally amazed!
"You absolutely have to introduce us sometime. She sounds like a total powerhouse!" As a stay-at-home mom, Sophia sometimes found herself missing career life during quiet midnight moments. Hearing such an inspiring story filled her with renewed ambition.
"Definitely!"
When Arabella arrived home, Gabriel was playing with Isabella while Henry lay on his play mat, babbling and chewing his fingers.
The children had just finished a crying spell, searching everywhere for their mother. Gabriel's temper was already simmering, and seeing Arabella finally return, he glanced at her coldly with immediate sarcasm: "I thought you were moving out tonight."
With her housing situation now secured, Arabella felt confident. As she bent to pick up Henry, she casually remarked, "Soon enough."
She then carried the baby upstairs to nurse, leaving Gabriel sitting downstairs with a stormy expression, fury building.
To make matters worse, Isabella—who had been content in his arms—immediately reached toward her mother with excited babbling, clearly preferring mommy over daddy, which only fueled his anger.
"What are you fussing about? Your mother's about to abandon you both. From now on, you'll only have daddy, and you're still complaining?" He looked at his precious little daughter with a mixture of love and frustration.
But a baby of several months couldn't understand the complexities of adult relationships.
The little girl, seeing daddy wouldn't carry her upstairs to chase mommy, soon pouted her tiny lips. Her grape-dark eyes squeezed shut as crystal tears rolled down her cheeks, crying with heartbreaking distress.
What could Gabriel do?
He resigned himself to picking up his daughter and heading upstairs to find mommy.
Pushing open the guest room door, Gabriel walked directly over to Arabella without ceremony.
She sat with her blouse unbuttoned, the baby in her arms nursing contentedly.
Seeing him stride over and loom above her with that commanding presence made her intensely uncomfortable. She used one hand to adjust her clothing, futilely trying to cover herself more.
Gabriel's handsome face twisted into a cold sneer. "Cover what? If you're so modest, don't spend another night in this house!"
Arabella swallowed hard, pressed her lips together, and spoke softly but steadily: "If you want me gone tonight, I'll pack up after this."
With her escape route secured, she no longer felt intimidated or cornered.
Gabriel immediately noticed the change in her demeanor, his dark eyebrows rising as surprise flickered in his deep, narrow eyes. "You actually found a place?"
The woman remained silent, only looking down at the baby in her arms.
She just wanted to memorize their faces, to etch her children's features permanently in her mind.
Gabriel felt an inexplicable panic rising, temporarily forgetting his earlier anger as he pressed urgently: "Where?"