Chapter 54 Is She Divorcing Just to Become a Stepmother?
When they reached Parkside Estate, the heavy rain had stopped, leaving only a drizzle.
Worried that Gabriel might be home and see her getting out of another man's car—which could lead to misunderstandings—Arabella had Zachary stop around the corner from the mansion.
"Sophia, thank you both. You should head back now—Lily will be uncomfortable sleeping like that in the car seat." Arabella got out and waved goodbye to them.
"Take care of yourself, and call if you need anything," Sophia said, holding Lily with one hand and waving with the other.
The BMW X3 made a U-turn and drove away while Arabella walked toward the mansion through the misty drizzle.
In the distance, a Bentley slowly approached.
Gabriel, behind the wheel, turned his head with a sharp, piercing gaze as his car passed the BMW.
The front windows had light-tinted film, but the rear windows were completely black. Gabriel caught a clear glimpse of the man driving.
His memory was exceptional.
He immediately recognized the driver as that foolish woman's lover.
His grip tightened uncontrollably on the steering wheel, knuckles turning white with tension.
So she really had gone out for a secret rendezvous today, brazenly letting her lover drop her off at home.
Probably feeling guilty, she didn't dare have him drive all the way to the front door, getting out early to walk home in the rain instead.
Gabriel glanced at the BMW's license plate in his rearview mirror—it was from out of state. He looked away and immediately called his assistant.
"Run a license plate check for me."
As Arabella neared the house, the rain began falling harder again.
Without an umbrella, she could only hold her purse over her head and jog toward home.
If she had looked back then, she would have seen a familiar car following quietly behind at reduced speed.
Gabriel watched the woman's disheveled state, his expression cold as carved stone.
He gritted his teeth and, for a moment, felt tempted to floor the accelerator and ram straight into her.
Fortunately, reason ultimately prevailed over impulse.
However, noticing a large puddle on the road ahead where she was walking, Gabriel's eyes flickered, and a malicious smile curved his lips as he suddenly accelerated.
"Ah!" Just as Arabella reached the puddle, a luxury car sped past, sending up a cascade of water that drenched her completely!
After her startled cry, rage immediately consumed her. Soaking wet and furious, she shouted, "Are you blind? Can't you see there's..."
Her angry words died as she recognized the vehicle, leaving her frozen in shock.
It was Gabriel's car!
So he'd done it deliberately!
She stood there for a long moment, eyes reddening with anger, until the water had soaked through to her skin and the cold made her shiver. Only then did she snap out of it, wipe her face, and continue walking home.
When she entered, Mary gasped in shock at her appearance!
"Madam! What happened to you... It's raining—why didn't you take an umbrella? You could have had Samuel pick you up! You'll catch pneumonia soaked like this!"
Mary exclaimed while quickly having the staff bring large towels.
"Go upstairs for a hot shower right away. I'll have the kitchen prepare some hot cocoa to warm you up."
Arabella accepted the towel and was dabbing at herself when she entered the living room and saw the man sitting on the sofa, drinking coffee.
"It's not like I'm bankrupt. Don't you even have money for transportation? Walking home in the rain like some vagrant?" Gabriel glanced at her disdainfully, his opening words dripping with mockery.
Arabella was already furious, and hearing his cold sarcasm made her snap back without hesitation, "Since you're so wealthy, maybe invest in some eye surgery. Otherwise, next time you're driving, you might end up in a ditch!"
Gabriel was caught off guard by her retort.
"Oh, wait! Eye surgery alone won't be enough—you also need to learn basic manners!" Arabella's cutting words were sharp as knives.
Mary emerged from the kitchen and heard them attacking each other, feeling confused.
How were they already fighting the moment she got home?
Oh right! Gabriel had only arrived a few minutes before Arabella. They must have encountered each other on the road, so Arabella was probably upset that Gabriel hadn't given her a ride home.
Gabriel had expected that after today's guilty behavior, she would at least feel ashamed and not dare confront him when she got home.
Who would have thought she'd be so brazenly defiant, showing no trace of guilt or unease?
Furious, he laughed coldly, looking at the bedraggled Arabella with even more vicious words, "I have no manners, you have no shame—we're perfectly matched, aren't we?"
Arabella was bewildered. "Stop making baseless accusations!"
Seeing them about to escalate again, Mary quickly intervened, "Mrs. Sterling, your clothes are still wet. Please go upstairs and wash up before you get sick. Mr. Sterling, please say less. She's a young woman—you should be sweet-talking her, not constantly being sarcastic."
Gabriel was displeased but didn't want to continue the scene in front of the staff, so he snorted coldly and backed down.
Arabella stomped across the hall and went upstairs to shower.
That evening, Gabriel's phone rang.
Ralph reported, "Mr. Sterling, about that license plate you wanted checked—it's registered in Everglade City down south. The owner is named Zachary, a lawyer. He used to work in Everglade City, but recently his firm opened a branch office in Luminara, and he transferred here."
Gabriel listened silently, then asked, "Is he single or married?"
Ralph continued, "Married with a family. He has a daughter who's over two years old."
"I see. That's all."
Hanging up, Gabriel ground his teeth, wishing he could drag that stupid woman over and humiliate her thoroughly.
She wanted a divorce and had found her next target. If the man had better prospects than he, that would show she had skill and good judgment. Even if he lost, he could accept defeat gracefully.
But the reality was that she'd fallen for some slick, pretty boy who already had a wife and child. She'd rather be a mistress, a stepmother, than stay married to him!
What was the reason for this?
Had someone put a curse on her? Had she lost her mind?
The more Gabriel thought about it, the less he could understand. The angrier he became, the more he realized this foolish woman had stained his distinguished life with humiliation!
No, he had to get to the bottom of this!
Rising from his study, he searched room by room until he finally found the source of his rage in the guest bedroom farthest from the master suite.
Arabella was revising her divorce agreement. Zachary had advised her to make the visitation clauses clearer and more detailed to prevent Gabriel from finding loopholes that could deny her access to the children later.
The door was suddenly pushed open, startling her. She spun around sharply.
Seeing Gabriel standing in the doorway with a menacing expression, she immediately went on full alert, her heart racing with alarm.
The man stepped inside, seeming to radiate an aura of frost.
Arabella stood up and moved her hands behind her back, clutching the divorce papers as she backed away.
Not understanding what had set him off this time, she retreated until her back was against the balcony's sliding door, her heels hitting the track and nearly causing her to stumble.
"What... what do you want?" she asked boldly, trying to take the offensive.