Chapter 141 Sitting in the Car Watching Her
"Did you manage to bring all your luggage with you? Do you have enough winter clothes? The temperature's going to drop even more in the next couple of days." Seeing Arabella in her pajamas, Ella asked with concern, wondering if she was short on clothing.
Arabella had barely brought any warm clothes with her. Even the coral fleece pajamas she was wearing had been delivered by a courier service after Sophia went home and arranged it for her.
The dire state of her circumstances was something she hadn't anticipated.
"Yes, I have enough. Besides, I don't really need to go out much anyway." Too embarrassed to admit the truth, she smiled and put on a brave front.
Ella was too sharp not to see through the lie. She immediately pulled out her phone. "Let me transfer five thousand dollars to you first—consider it an advance on your salary."
"Ella! No—"
"Don't be polite with me. I'm counting on you to be my assistant, and I can't have you getting sick from the cold and collapsing on me. That would interfere with work." As she spoke, Ella had already completed the transfer.
"You go ahead and eat. I need to get back to my daughter. If you need anything, just let me know right away."
Ella was efficient as always—from entering to leaving, it took less than ten minutes.
After seeing Ella off, Arabella stared at the five thousand dollars in her account and felt tears threatening to fall from pure gratitude.
Earlier that day, when Sophia had come over and learned about her dire situation, she'd also offered to lend her money. Arabella had refused.
Sophia wasn't working now and had no income—she'd have to ask her husband for money. Money was the most sensitive topic between the married couple.
When Arabella wouldn't accept it, Sophia, not wanting to hurt her pride, didn't insist. But after going home, she'd sent a delivery with a package of items: thick pajamas, a heating pad, and a pair of brand-new fleece-lined slippers, worried about her freezing.
Life had thrown her into a storm, but it had also brought her the most genuine and touching friendships.
---
Living alone was simple and peaceful—except for missing the children.
The freezer already held more than ten bags of breast milk. Arabella wanted to send them back to the children, but she was afraid of running into Gabriel, and even more afraid of going there and never being allowed to leave.
After much consideration, she called Mary directly and arranged a time and place to meet.
At a local diner, Mary was overjoyed to see Arabella. "Mrs. Sterling, where are you staying? It's so cold today—don't let yourself freeze out there. Please just come home!"
"Mary, I'm doing fine. You don't need to worry." Arabella thanked Mary for her concern and picked up an eco-friendly bag. "This contains breast milk. I've been very careful about hygiene, so there shouldn't be any problems."
Thinking about the harm the contaminated breast milk had caused the children last time, Arabella was now extremely careful when pumping, and kept it isolated from other food in the refrigerator.
"Of course." Mary nodded and accepted the breast milk, noticing Arabella's somewhat thin clothing. She said awkwardly, "I wanted to bring you some clothes, but I was afraid that..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but Arabella understood and smiled reassuringly. "You don't need to. I won't freeze or starve, don't worry."
"So you're... really not coming back?"
"I'm not coming back. Please take good care of the babies, and if anything happens, tell me immediately." Arabella desperately wanted to ask more about the children, but she was afraid that the more she knew, the more her resolve would weaken, and she might regret the step she'd finally taken.
So after giving these instructions, without waiting for Mary's response, she got up and hurried away.
The wind was fierce and snow heavy. She was bundled up with a hat and scarf, her vision obscured, and didn't notice the Rolls-Royce parked by the street.
Gabriel sat in the warm, comfortable luxury car, looking through the frosted window at the woman on the street who was hunched against the cold, walking quickly. His expression was stern, his eyes dark.
Mary soon returned, settling into the passenger seat before turning to report, "Mr. Sterling, Mrs. Sterling asked me to meet her to deliver breast milk."
"Mm."
Mary watched her employer's gaze directed toward the window and understood. After a moment's consideration, she tried to advise, "I feel like Mrs. Sterling might be having some regrets about leaving home. Maybe you should try talking to her again? Women can't resist kind words. If you coax her a little, she'll definitely change her mind."
Gabriel acted as if he hadn't heard, saying coldly, "Home."
Mary fell silent.
Samuel acknowledged and turned the steering wheel, merging the Rolls-Royce into the main road.
---
After saying goodbye to Mary, Arabella received a call from Manuel on her way home.
"Arabella, I heard you moved out?"
She was startled. "How did you know?"
Manuel chuckled. "Ms. Martinez added me on Facebook. She mentioned you moved out two days ago."
Arabella was somewhat surprised.
When the three of them had met downstairs at the apartment building last time, it was just out of social politeness that Manuel had handed out his business card. She hadn't expected Ella to actually add him on Facebook.
But this kind of directness was very much in character for Ella.
"Yes, I moved out, but I'm not divorced yet. It might take some time." Arabella honestly described her situation.
Actually, she'd been hesitating and struggling these past two days about whether or not to ask Manuel for help.
Gabriel definitely wouldn't agree to an amicable separation. That night he'd nearly destroyed her, and the next day he'd gone back on his word anyway. Now that she'd moved out and they couldn't see each other face to face, there was even less opportunity to discuss divorce.
The only solution now was litigation.
But finding a reliable lawyer wouldn't be easy, and Manuel was the only person she could turn to for help.
Manuel was clever too. Hearing her bring up divorce voluntarily, he understood and suggested, "If he won't agree to divorce, then you'll have to file a lawsuit in court."
"I've thought about that too... but he's powerful and influential. I'm afraid no lawyer will take the case..." She was also worried that if word got out, it would cause more problems.
Manuel immediately said, "I'll arrange for the lawyer. Don't worry, I'll make sure you get your freedom back."
Arabella had been waiting for those words, but when he said them so readily, she started to worry again. "Manuel, Gabriel is very vindictive. I'm afraid if he finds out about this..."
Manuel laughed. "He won't. I have a way."
He was being mysterious, making Arabella intensely curious. "What way?"
"It's a long story. I'm out of town on business these few days—oh, and Ms. Martinez suggested we all have dinner together this weekend. I'll explain everything then."
Actually, Manuel had initiated the dinner invitation, but he didn't want Arabella to feel burdened, so he said it was Ella's idea.
Hearing this, Arabella felt somewhat puzzled.
Was Ella's overly proactive behavior a sign that she was interested in Manuel?
After hanging up, she messaged Ella on Facebook about Manuel calling her.
Ella quickly replied: [Yes, I added him on Facebook to ask about something, and mentioned in passing that you'd moved out. I thought he might come to the apartment to find you.]
So that was it...
Although Arabella was curious about what Ella was consulting Manuel about, she figured it was private business and didn't pry. She just replied: [He's on a business trip. He said you suggested dinner this weekend, so we'll see each other then.]
Ella, who was still at work, looked at this message with a slightly stunned expression.
She had suggested it?
It was clearly Manuel who had brought it up.
But smart people think quickly, and Ella soon understood: [Yes, because I have more things to consult with him about, so I thought we could meet for dinner to chat.]
Arabella hesitated for a moment but couldn't resist her curiosity: [Are you interested in him...]
She deliberately left the sentence unfinished, but anyone could understand the implication.
Ella stared at her phone, stunned again.