Chapter 181

Chapter 181

I found a room that looked relatively quiet and pushed the door open.

A wave of thick cigarette smoke hit me immediately.

The moment I saw who was sitting inside, my stomach lurched. I made a beeline straight for the bathroom.

"Ember, what's wrong? Are you feeling okay?"

A cold voice came from behind me.

My heart sank. I forced myself to stay calm and turned around.

Of course it had to be him.

"Probably just exhausted from the flight," I said, brushing it off.

Then my stomach revolted again. I hunched over the toilet and threw up.

A hand gently rubbed my back, slow and steady.

I turned my head with some effort.

Same serious expression. Cold as ever.

"Maybe we should go to the hospital," Gabriel said.

I shook my head instinctively. "It's an old issue. I know my own body."

There was no way I was going to the hospital. If I did, everything would come out. I wasn't ready for Gabriel to know—if he found out, it would only make everything more complicated.

"Ember, ignoring a health problem doesn't make it go away."

Gabriel stared at me, his face dark.

My brain scrambled for a reasonable excuse. "I already saw a doctor recently."

Then I added, "I'm just wiped out from the flight. Let me sleep it off on the couch in here and I'll be fine."

Without waiting for a response, I dragged myself to the couch and lay down.

My eyelids were already fighting to stay open. Within minutes, I was out.

I had no idea how long I slept. All I knew was that when I opened my eyes, it was completely dark outside.

"You're finally up?"

Gabriel had pulled a chair up across from me, which was honestly a little startling.

"What time is it? Why didn't you wake me up?"

I frowned, staring at the pitch-black sky outside.

"It's eight o'clock."

Gabriel glanced at his watch.

Pregnant women were supposed to sleep more, but this felt excessive even for that.

"How did I sleep that long?" I rubbed my temples, still groggy.

"You've never done this before."

Gabriel watched me carefully, like he was trying to catch every subtle shift in my expression.

"I'm just really tired," I said with a casual laugh, brushing it off.

Seeing my indifferent attitude, Gabriel's expression cooled.

"You don't want me here?"

Gabriel could be surprisingly simple sometimes.

"Then who do I want here?" I looked at him, a little exasperated. When did he get so dramatic?

"Nason."

Gabriel said the name slowly.

I wasn't sure why he was so fixated on Nason.

Did he genuinely think Nason was going to steal me away? That didn't really hold up.

"I have somewhere to be."

I didn't want to keep going in circles with Gabriel, so I got up, opened the door, and left.

The autumn night air was sharp with cold. A gust hit me and I shivered.

My phone rang. It was Ceria.

She was laughing in that weird way she does.

"So our little mother-to-be is finally awake?"

"Thanks for nothing," I muttered. "You could've woken me up."

My stomach flipped again as I said it.

The next second, a heavy jacket was draped over my shoulders.

I turned to look at Gabriel. "Why are you still here?"

Gabriel let out a quiet, resigned sigh. "Ember, do you know how hard it is to answer any of your questions?"

Fine. If he didn't feel like talking, neither did I.

"Where are you headed? I'll drive you."

I was pretty sure this was the first time Gabriel had ever offered to drive me somewhere unprompted.

I was caught off guard.

I'd been planning to go home, but the name of a barbecue skewer place came out of my mouth before I could stop it.

Gabriel gave me a skeptical look. "You've been eating a lot more lately."

"I've been deprived of good food abroad," I said quickly, brushing it off with a laugh. "I'm just making up for it."

"And I'm starving, so can we please stop standing here talking?"

I looked at Gabriel with mild impatience.

"You've been acting kind of strange," Gabriel said, looking at me with a puzzled expression.

He was more patient than usual today, though. He actually drove me there.

"Thanks," I said, jumping out of the car. "You can head back."

Gabriel gave a muted sound of acknowledgment. I didn't wait around. I turned and walked into the restaurant.

This was, now that I thought about it, the first time I'd ever eaten barbecue alone.

It was surprisingly enjoyable.

I absolutely demolished a full spread of skewers, then stepped outside rubbing my stomach, thoroughly satisfied.

Gabriel was still parked outside the restaurant.

"You're still here?"

I frowned at him.

"Get in."

Gabriel said flatly.

I didn't argue. I got back in the car.

"My mom was asking about you the other day," Gabriel said quietly as we drove.

I gave him a look. "Gabriel, have you not told your family that we're divorced?"

Gabriel glanced at me coldly.

It wasn't surprising he'd been avoiding that conversation. His family had always liked me. Maybe even felt they owed me something.

"Scared of the complications?" Gabriel said with a furrowed brow.

"I just think—what if I start dating someone and run into your family on the street? How would I even explain that?"

We were divorced. Neither of us had to tiptoe around each other anymore.

The car screeched to a sudden halt.

I turned to look at Gabriel, finding his reaction kind of funny.

"What?"

"Did I say something wrong?"

I looked at him, almost amused.

"Get out."

Gabriel said coldly.

"Go home yourself."

When I didn't move from the passenger seat, he added that last part.

"Fine by me."

I didn't hesitate. I got out and let the car door swing shut behind me.

Back home, I took a long hot shower and stretched out on my bed.

I placed my hand gently over my stomach.

A small smile tugged at my lips. I still couldn't quite believe it. I was actually going to be a mom.

I closed my eyes slowly. For some reason, even the air felt sweet.

My phone buzzed. A WhatsApp message from Gabriel.

[Did you get home okay?]

This man was something else. He was the one who told me to get out of his car, and now here he was checking in on me.