Chapter 95 We're Getting Divorced Today!
Arabella raised her voice sharply, "Who exactly can't have a normal conversation between us? Who's the one being sarcastic from the get-go? What's wrong with me spending one night at my hometown? Did you really need to chase after me all night and humiliate me in front of someone else?"
"Look who you came back with! A man and woman alone together, spending the night—what husband would be okay with that?"
"Manuel's family house collapsed, he had nowhere to stay. What's wrong with him staying here one night?"
"No house to stay in? Are there no hotels either? Hell, he could've slept in his car for one night! Bottom line is, he has ulterior motives toward you. Stop making excuses!"
"We did consider a hotel, but I was afraid you'd misunderstand even more! You'd think I deliberately came out here to stay in a hotel with another man!"
"Isn't that exactly what happened?"
Arabella listened to his unreasonable accusations. Even though she felt she'd done nothing wrong, she couldn't find words to respond for a moment.
At the end of the day, it was about mistrust, twisted possessiveness, and paranoid suspicion.
How could she spend day and night with a husband like this? How could she spend a lifetime with him?
She remembered Manuel's words—this kind of marriage was irresponsible to her own life. Indeed, she was just exhausting herself, wasting her time. Why bother!
"Fine, if that's what you think, then that's what it is. I'm done making excuses. Didn't you just ask if I was going to bring up divorce again? Yes! We're getting divorced today when we get back. Whoever backs out is a damn coward!"
Shouting this angrily, she shoved Gabriel hard and went to pack up the other room, then carried the new bedding outside.
Gabriel was baffled and cursed under his breath in frustration. Seeing her walk toward the courtyard gate, he called out, "Where are you going!"
She ignored him completely and left.
Gabriel ground his teeth, not understanding how things had escalated to another fight out of nowhere.
He knew that in this tense situation, they shouldn't be having arguments—it would only push her further away.
But for some reason, just seeing her ignited an inexplicable rage in him. Especially when he thought about how she laughed and chatted with Manuel—that anger was like someone had poured gasoline on a fire and then pumped it full of oxygen, making it explode instantly!
Gabriel hadn't even calmed his anger when Arabella returned from outside.
Giving himself a mental pep talk, he restrained himself repeatedly before managing to speak calmly, "How much longer will it take to finish packing? Didn't we agree to visit your grandparents and father?"
"No need. Just leave!" She didn't want to see this man at all right now.
Gabriel frowned. "If I leave, what will you do?"
"None of your business." She'd already decided—she'd take the train back herself rather than endure four or five hours in his car.
Hearing her tone, Gabriel's barely suppressed anger flared up again, "I'm your husband. Your business is my business. How is it none of my business? I came all this way to pick you up. Don't push it too far."
Arabella didn't want to waste words with him. She went inside, gathered the remaining two sets of bedding, and headed out again.
Gabriel realized she was probably giving the bedding to neighbors and waited quietly at the house.
Arabella soon returned, went inside to grab her bag, and picked up the things Manuel had bought yesterday.
After Manuel had forced the door lock yesterday, he hadn't forgotten to buy a new one. When Arabella pulled the new lock from the shopping bag, a touch of warmth crossed her heart.
Manuel was truly thoughtful and considerate, thinking of everything without needing reminders.
Actually, if a man like this really liked her, that would be true luck.
What did noble status, vast wealth, or overwhelming power matter if the person wasn't good? It was all meaningless.
Gabriel stood to the side, watching her pull out the door lock to secure the house, wanting to speak several times but holding back.
The atmosphere was tense when voices came from outside the courtyard gate, "Arabella, are you getting ready to leave already?"
Arabella turned around at the sound, immediately breaking into a smile. "Jenny."
Jenny came in carrying a large bag of things, saying a bit embarrassedly, "You rarely come back for a visit. I don't have anything fancy at home, just some homegrown peanuts and beans, and fruit picked from the tree by my front door. Since you drove here, you can easily take them—they won't be a burden."
Jenny's eyesight wasn't very good, and only after finishing her words and walking closer did she notice that the man standing beside Arabella wasn't Manuel. Her expression immediately showed surprise, "This... this gentleman—"
Arabella's expression also became awkward—she didn't want to make introductions. But Gabriel wouldn't miss this opportunity, putting on his most refined demeanor, "Hello, I'm Arabella's husband. I came to pick her up."
"Arabella's husband!" Jenny was startled, staring at him closely, then looked at Arabella and said excitedly and happily, "Such good taste! Finding such a tall, handsome husband who's also gentle and considerate! Very nice, very nice."
Arabella felt even more embarrassed. Her mouth opened but before she could speak, Gabriel had already stepped forward boldly and took the canvas bag from Jenny's hands, "Thank you so much. Arabella doesn't have any family left in her hometown. We're so grateful that you treat her this way!"
Arabella was stunned!
Was this man insane? A billionaire tycoon actually coveting some rural folk's local specialties!
"Gabriel!" she called out sternly, immediately stepping forward to stop him, then thanking Jenny, "Jenny, thank you for your kindness, but we don't need these things. Please keep them for yourself."
"Oh my! These aren't anything valuable—I have plenty at home. Take them with you!"
Jenny insisted on giving them, saying embarrassedly, "When you and Manuel came to dinner at my house last night, those things you brought... I video-called my children last night, and my son said those gifts were all high-end items, very expensive! These little things of mine are nothing special—please don't think poorly of them! And also... I'll keep those blankets at my house. When the weather's nice I'll take them out to air them, and whenever you come back to stay, I'll bring them over for you."
Hearing this, Gabriel realized that the two of them had also gone to Jenny's house for dinner last night. His heart immediately felt unsettled again.
He was clearly the husband, yet he felt like a complete outsider, unable to participate in his wife's life.
"Jenny, we really don't need to be so polite..."
"Jenny, thank you so much. Homegrown country produce is the good stuff—all organic, the kind you can't buy with money in the city." Gabriel interrupted Arabella's words again, sweet-talking Jenny, then turned to his wife, "It's the thought that counts. Let's take them."
Jenny was delighted to hear this, laughing cheerfully, "Exactly, exactly! Our own homegrown stuff—you can eat it with confidence!"
Gabriel bent down to pick it up, but Jenny quickly stopped him, "No, no, don't dirty your clothes. I'll put it directly in your car for you."
"Alright, thank you, Jenny."
Gabriel was all smiles, walking outside with Jenny, opening the trunk, and letting Jenny put the bag inside.
Arabella followed behind, watching this scene speechlessly.
She had to admire Gabriel's acting skills once again!
How could it be so seamless, so perfectly executed!
With his status, what kind of premium ingredients or organic vegetables couldn't he get? Did he really need to take what people had worked so hard to grow in their fields?
This was insane!
Before Gabriel closed the trunk, he saw two gift boxes inside and suddenly remembered they were from a client a few days ago that Ralph had put in the trunk and forgotten to take out.
Perfect—they'd come in handy.