Chapter 193

Chapter 193

"Forget it, it's just a small thing. I can handle it myself." I stopped her.

Gabriel and Azure, that toxic couple, didn't matter to me anymore.

But if my parents got sick from stress over this, I definitely wouldn't let those two off the hook.

My mom knew my personality well enough and finally stopped nagging.

---

The next few days were actually pretty peaceful.

Gabriel and Azure seemed to have an unspoken agreement not to bother me, and my morning sickness had gotten a lot better too.

Still, I knew I couldn't hide my growing belly much longer.

Just as I was thinking about that, I heard clanging and banging from across the hall.

I got annoyed. It was the weekend—couldn't they let people sleep?

Maybe it was the pregnancy hormones making me irritable, but I got more and more pissed off. I decided to go out and say something, only to find the door across from mine was open. Someone was moving furniture in. Looked like the place had been rented out.

I turned to head back inside. Just as I closed my door, a familiar voice spoke behind me. "Ember!"

I looked back to find Gabriel standing there. When had he shown up?

My eye twitched.

How was it him?

I instinctively looked at the apartment across from mine, and something clicked.

So he and Azure had moved in across from me just to piss me off?

Seeing my complicated expression, Gabriel spoke slowly with a slight smile. "What, surprised to see me here?"

Then he pointed across the hall. "We're neighbors now. Looking forward to getting along."

Getting along my ass!

I cursed silently.

When I didn't respond, Gabriel added, "What's wrong? You don't seem too happy about your new neighbor."

I don't know why, but I felt like Gabriel's brain had stopped working properly since he got together with Azure.

Did he really need to ask? Who would welcome their ex-husband moving in across the hall with his new girlfriend?

"Just you?"

"What, can't even be bothered to have your little girlfriend help you move?"

I stared at Gabriel coldly.

"Ember, what are you talking about? I'm living here by myself."

Gabriel's voice was ice cold.

"Oh really?"

I obviously didn't believe him.

"If you're living here alone, won't your girlfriend be upset?"

"I don't know what goes on in that head of yours." Gabriel couldn't be bothered with me and went back to what he was doing.

I went back inside to catch up on sleep and shut the door.

I decided I'd look for a new place and move out in a bit.

---

The day after Gabriel moved in, he threw a huge party at his place. Even Kevin, one of his friends from back home, came over. Nason was there too, along with Azure and some guys and girls I didn't know.

I looked through the peephole and watched the crowd go into the apartment across from mine. It looked lively.

Gabriel had actually sent me a message inviting me.

I ignored it. I thought he was insane.

I couldn't figure out why this man would think his ex-wife would peacefully coexist with his current girlfriend.

I curled up on the couch alone watching TV, planning to go to bed soon.

If they got too loud later, I'd just call the police.

After watching a few episodes of a cheesy drama, I couldn't stay awake anymore and went to bed.

I don't know how long I'd been asleep when thunder outside woke me up.

It was 3:30 in the morning.

I was scared of thunderstorms. Faced with this weather, I instinctively pulled the blanket tighter around me.

Crash! It sounded like the window on the balcony hitting the wall.

That's when I remembered—I'd forgotten to close the balcony door before bed.

I wrapped my clothes around me and went to check the living room, my heart pounding hard.

Just then, several loud thunderclaps split the sky. I was so scared I curled up behind the couch.

Suddenly, there was knocking at the door. To me, it sounded like salvation.

I jumped up and rushed to open the door. At that moment, I didn't care who was outside.

Even if it was Azure, I'd take it.

I opened the door. Gabriel stood there quietly.

Crack! Another thunderclap.

I threw myself into Gabriel's arms.

Gabriel gently patted my back, unusually gentle. "Don't be scared. It's okay. It's just thunder."

I pointed toward the balcony. "I'm too scared to go over there."

Gabriel settled me on the couch and went to close the balcony door himself.

The thunder and rain finally quieted down.

I handed Gabriel a towel. "Dry off. You're soaked."

Gabriel mumbled an acknowledgment and silently dried his hair.

After a long moment, he finally looked up at me. "This apartment complex doesn't have great facilities."

A random complaint out of nowhere.

"So what are you trying to say?"

Without the thunder and rain as distraction, I'd sobered up quite a bit.

"If you already knew this complex wasn't good, why did you move here?"

And right across from me, deliberately trying to annoy me.

I stared at Gabriel hard, waiting for his answer.

The only reason I could think of for him moving across from me was to piss me off. I couldn't come up with any other explanation.

"It's close to work." Gabriel came up with some high-minded excuse.

I knew he was lying.

He could easily find a place with a better environment.

"So when are you planning to move back?"

I took a sip of hot milk and asked casually.

"That eager to get rid of me?" Gabriel frowned at me.

His comeback left me speechless for a moment. The atmosphere started getting awkward.

I shook my head awkwardly. "You misunderstood. I was just asking."

Gabriel nodded quietly, his gaze suddenly falling on the coffee table in the living room.

"Are you sick?"

Following Gabriel's line of sight, my heart sank. Crap, I'd forgotten to put away the medication.

I tried to stay calm as I grabbed the pill bottle, but Gabriel had already noticed the panic in my eyes.

"What kind of medicine is that?"

Gabriel's voice had an edge to it.

"Vitamins," I said vaguely.

"Nothing to see here." I quickly put the medicine away, then shifted the conversation to Azure.

Sure enough, that tactic worked perfectly.

Gabriel lost interest in continuing our conversation and silently turned to leave.

Watching Gabriel's retreating figure, my gaze drifted down to the pill bottle in my hand. I let out a soft sigh.

So what was real and what was fake?

After that close call, I honestly didn't know whether to feel happy or disappointed.

---

Because I hadn't slept well the night before, I was completely out of it at work the next day.

My coworkers saw how awful I looked and showed a lot of concern.

For a moment, I suddenly felt like this place wasn't so bad after all.