Chapter 196 Contraceptive Pills
Before Arabella could finish her tirade, Gabriel's eyes narrowed dangerously, his whole body radiating menace as he gripped the back of her head and crushed his mouth to hers!
Arabella tried to twist away, but her body was already trapped completely in his iron grip—there was no escape.
His scent overwhelmed her, intense and intoxicating.
Once, his smell had been what she treasured most. During those two years sharing a bed, whenever he traveled or stayed out late for business, she would bury her face in his pillow, breathing in that familiar scent until she could finally drift off to sleep.
But now, that same scent sent waves of pain through her heart.
Was she completely unaffected?
That would be impossible.
After all, Gabriel was her first love.
Women always maintain special feelings for their first love.
But those fleeting emotions weren't enough to make her change her mind.
She had fought so hard to see clearly, struggled so long to reach this point, was so close to finally seeing victory—she absolutely couldn't let a moment of weakness or lingering attachment throw her back into the abyss.
In their violent struggle, the vast difference in physical strength between men and women ultimately forced Arabella into retreat.
When Gabriel hoisted her over his shoulder like a sack and headed straight for the bedroom, her furious screams and shouts nearly shattered her vocal cords, but still couldn't change her fate of becoming his prey.
Throwing her onto the bed, Gabriel loomed over her, one hand cupping her face with a twisted tenderness beneath his ruthlessness. "Do not forget you agreed to my terms. Don't say I'm forcing you."
Arabella frowned, shaking her head frantically. "No... I changed my mind, I don't want this!"
"Too late for regrets now..." he smiled methodically, pressing down to kiss her deeply once more.
This encounter held no warmth or tenderness.
Arabella could feel it—he was doing this deliberately, punishing her sharp tongue and constant provocations. So throughout the entire ordeal, he was venting his anger, even worse than that time in the bathroom at the estate!
Silent tears soaked the pillow. When it was finally over, the sun was high in the sky.
Gabriel rose, pulling the blanket carelessly over her. Standing beside the bed as he put his shirt and suit pants back on, he glanced at the woman whose tears had dried, his tone lofty and superior, "Mary and the nanny will bring the children over shortly. I keep my word."
"Get out!" Her face was expressionless, her voice cold, even the strands of hair at the corner of her mouth trembling with the force of her angry whisper.
Gabriel's lips curved in a wicked smile before he turned and walked away without a backward glance.
The bedroom door closed.
For a long while, Arabella's body, feeling like it had been taken apart and reassembled, slowly began to move again, as if learning to coordinate itself anew.
If she hadn't experienced it firsthand, she truly couldn't believe that a man who appeared so dignified and upright in public could be so callous and inhuman in private.
How could he force himself on her again and again!
But no matter how hurt and angry she was, she still had to pull herself together.
Calculating the dates, these were not safe days. Having experienced that chemical pregnancy before, she didn't dare take chances. She immediately got up, dressed, and headed out to find a pharmacy.
Her mood was devastated and the weather was cold, so she pulled her hat low and walked with her head down, not noticing that Gabriel's car was still parked at the community entrance.
Ralph spotted Arabella and exclaimed in surprise, "Mr. Sterling, isn't that Mrs. Sterling?"
Gabriel had been looking at his phone with a dark expression. At Ralph's words, his gaze shifted to the window, immediately recognizing her.
Having taken her so roughly and urgently earlier, he was still worried whether her body could handle it, whether she'd be bedridden for half the day. He hadn't expected her to be out so soon.
Ralph turned back to ask, "Should we follow and see? Mrs. Sterling doesn't seem to be in a good mood."
He had no idea his boss had just committed an act of total bastardry that morning.
Gabriel was worried too, so he nodded slightly. "Follow her."
He'd thought Arabella was heading to the subway station, but instead she crossed the street and ducked into a pharmacy.
Buying medicine?
Gabriel's brow furrowed—was she sick? Uncomfortable? Had he hurt her just now?
Wild speculation made his heart increasingly regretful.
Actually, the moment he'd left the apartment, he'd been so remorseful he wanted to slap himself hard.
He'd come over last night with his mind full of romantic, beautiful scenarios, imagining all sorts of sweet words to repair their relationship—never dreaming things would end up like this, making their relationship even more strained and bitter.
The car hadn't moved. He was torn about whether to do something to make amends when he saw her hurry out.
While Gabriel's thoughts churned, Ralph reported again, "Mrs. Sterling went to buy medicine."
"I'm not blind!" Gabriel snapped irritably, startling Ralph into silence.
Arabella quickly emerged from the pharmacy, hands still buried in her oversized coat pockets, hat pulled low as she walked with her head down.
From her appearance, he couldn't tell what was wrong or what medicine she'd bought.
"Turn around. Go ask at the pharmacy," he ordered.
"Yes, sir..."
The Maybach quickly made a U-turn and stopped in front of the pharmacy.
Ralph got out to inquire, then returned to the car and reported, "Mr. Sterling, Mrs. Sterling bought emergency contraception."
Gabriel's expression instantly froze, his eyes going deadly cold.
She felt terrible, but still remembered to come out in this freezing weather to buy morning-after pills first thing.
How terrified was she of carrying his child!
————
Arabella returned home, took the pills, and seeing it was already 10 AM, decided not to bother going to the studio.
After coordinating work online with Ella, she proactively called Mary.
That bastard had said the children would come over today. She'd endured the ordeal and cleared her schedule—naturally she couldn't miss this precious time with her babies.
About an hour later, Mary arrived with the nanny and the two babies.
But they also brought two servants carrying several large bags.
Arabella was confused. "What's all this?"
Mary smiled. "Mr. Sterling's orders. He told us to bring the silk bedding from the house, plus two silk comforters."
Arabella's mouth fell open, but no words came.
If not for this morning's unpleasant episode, she definitely would have called to demand an explanation.
They'd agreed this was her home, but he was even moving bedding over—what exactly did he mean?
But because of this morning's extremely unpleasant experience, she now despised that bastard too much to bother contacting him.
After handing over the children, Mary immediately led the servants to the guest room to start setting up, making beds with the fancy linens.
Arabella stood in the doorway holding her daughter, watching Mary bustle about, her heart burning with suppressed anger.
"Mary, I live alone. I do not need so many rooms prepared."
Mary looked back while continuing to work, smiling. "Why wouldn't you need them? What if the children come to stay overnight? Even if they're still small and can sleep with you, the nanny and I need somewhere to sleep too."
This reasoning seemed sound, but Arabella knew this was definitely part of Gabriel's scheme.
He planned to keep imposing himself here for overnight stays.
But with the children now beside her, she had no mind to worry about anything else and could only let them finish their preparations.