Chapter 169 Two Men Competing for One Woman
Manuel wanted to convince Gabriel to just sign the divorce papers and stop dragging this out.
Gabriel had barely managed to suppress his rage, but those words words reignited it completely. "Mr. Wright, did you travel halfway around the world just to steal another man's wife? Since you're so concerned about reputation, aren't you afraid I'll expose this whole affair and ruin your career?"
Manuel had been about to say he and Arabella had nothing going on—but then he remembered that Arabella had already used him as a shield. If he revealed the truth now, her lie would crumble completely.
He suddenly felt trapped in a web of his own making. Glancing at Arabella, he saw her face flush red with embarrassment, her eyes full of guilt and embarrassment. His heart softened, and he felt willing to pay any price to protect her.
So he smiled it off. "Mr. Sterling, if you want to go down in flames and take everyone with you, then I guess I'll have to oblige."
The two men already had business dealings—a joint development project that was proceeding at full steam. If they really tore each other apart without caring about the consequences, it truly would be mutually assured destruction.
Arabella stood between them, feeling the tense atmosphere of two men ready to come to blows at any moment, her heart pounding with fear.
As soon as Manuel finished speaking, Gabriel stepped forward. Terrified, Arabella instinctively pressed both hands against Gabriel's chest to stop him. "Gabriel, just go home. Whatever you have to say, save it for court tomorrow. I don't want to discuss this now."
Gabriel had been about to retort to Manuel, but he hadn't expected her to be so quick to intervene.
To him, this clearly looked like she was protecting Manuel.
His gaze darkened as it fell on Arabella. Looking at that beautiful, radiant face, resentment began to grow in his heart.
"Have you already forgotten what I told you last time? For this man, you're willing to abandon your home and children..." Gabriel felt both heartbroken and disappointed.
He could understand her losing hope because of the mistakes he'd made initially, but there were still two children—so small, not even six months old. What kind of mother could be so heartless and ruthless?
To be with a man hiding an illegitimate child, she was willing to abandon her own flesh and blood.
Gabriel hated her, and he hated himself—hated that he'd actually fallen for Arabella and compromised again and again, even humbling himself.
Arabella didn't dare turn to see Manuel's reaction.
She never expected karma to come so quickly. The lie she'd told was being exposed right in front of everyone, and it was about a romantic relationship, of all things.
"Say whatever you want. We'll be over soon anyway, and who I'm with is my freedom."
Since there was no way back now, she steeled herself and decided to see it through to the end.
Gabriel lost all reason by her stubborn attitude.
He'd been thinking seriously these past few days and had almost decided to let her go as she wished.
But now he suddenly changed his mind. Why should he? Why should he let her live happily ever after with Manuel?
"Over soon? I wouldn't be so sure about that..." He repeated her words slowly, a cold smile flickering in his icy eyes, then suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward his car.
Caught completely off guard, Arabella stumbled. "Gabriel, what are you doing? Let go of me!"
Manuel had been watching for Gabriel to pull something unexpected. Almost the instant Arabella was grabbed, he quickly stepped forward and caught her other arm.
"Mr. Sterling, this is completely ungentlemanly!" Manuel's face also turned cold, his contempt for Gabriel's behavior evident.
Arabella found herself being pulled between two men like a rope in a tug-of-war.
Some passersby happened to be walking nearby and cast curious glances at this spectacle.
Arabella felt utterly humiliated.
"Mr. Wright, and stealing another man's wife is gentlemanly? Let me remind you—we're not divorced yet! Legally, she's still my wife. What you're doing is called being a homewrecker!"
Manuel, stuck with the role of the other man, was immediately at a disadvantage. Being confronted like this, he felt cornered.
Arabella felt guilty about dragging Manuel into this mess and potentially ruining his reputation.
In her guilt, she naturally defended him, "It was my choice! Don't drag at an innocent person into this! If you want to blame someone, blame me!"
Hearing her defend Manuel at every turn, Gabriel's rage flared. He stared at her through gritted teeth. "Arabella, don't get too cocky! You'll see how I deal with you when we get home!"
After delivering this chilling threat, he yanked her toward him again.
But Manuel held firm from the other side, pulling her back. "Arabella! Don't go with him! Everything can wait until court tomorrow!"
"Manuel, let go! Or don't blame me for what happens next!" Gabriel's patience was at an end, that destructive fury taking over him again.
But Manuel wasn't intimidated. Just as the threat ended, he pulled Arabella again. "Arabella, I'm here for you, so don't—"
Before he could finish, a fist came flying through the air.
The sharp sound of the punch echoed in the cold night, especially jarring. Arabella screamed in terror, startling the passersby.
Gabriel had been wanting to beat Manuel senseless from the moment he'd laid eyes on him, only holding back to avoid making a scene. But Manuel remained completely oblivious, continuing to provoke him.
Now he finally didn't have to hold back. After landing that first punch, Gabriel's fury exploded completely. He lunged forward, grabbed his rival by the collar, and slammed him hard against the hood of the Porsche.
A heavy thud echoed as bystanders scattered even further away.
Arabella went white with terror. After a moment of shock, she rushed forward to pull Gabriel away. "Let go, stop it. Don't hit him!"
Gabriel had Manuel by the throat, his rage making him lose control of his strength. He was choking Manuel so hard that the man's refined, handsome face quickly turned red and contorted.
"Gabriel, let go. Let go now!" Arabella was terrified this madman might actually kill someone. She desperately beat and pushed at him.
Having lost the initiative, Manuel was pinned down, but when breathing became difficult, survival instinct kicked in with explosive force.
He first tried desperately to pry Gabriel's hands away, but when that failed, in his struggle he managed to land a hard punch to his opponent's face.
Gabriel cried out in pain, his grip loosening slightly. Combined with Arabella's interference, he momentarily lost his hold, allowing Manuel to get back up.
But this wasn't over.
Gabriel quickly recovered, his hawk-like eyes filled with cold, bloodthirsty menace as he raised his fist to strike again.
Manuel was ready this time. The punch didn't land—he blocked it with his arm and began his own attack, driving his knee toward Gabriel's stomach.
When grown men fight, neither shows mercy.
Regardless of consequences, each only wants to destroy the other completely.
The two grappled fiercely, neither yielding an inch. Arabella followed their movements frantically, crying with desperation, without thinking of her own safety as she reached out to separate them.