Chapter 146 Confess to Her Directly and Say I Love You
"Don't talk nonsense! I just can't stand her cheating on me!" Gabriel was still being stubborn.
Dominic couldn't stop laughing. "What's so hard about just admitting you love her? Be straight with her—tell her 'I love you, I can't live without you, we're not getting divorced, let's make this work'—I guarantee she won't be so hell-bent on dragging you through family court!"
Dominic's method was simple and crude, but it might actually work.
But with Gabriel's personality and temperament, he'd rather die than do something like that.
"You think if I actually said that, she'd believe me? You have no idea how thick-headed she is. Any kindness or concern I show her, she twists it around, thinking I have ulterior motives, that I'm up to no good."
So he didn't dare imagine what Arabella's reaction would be if he poured his heart out!
She'd definitely think he was a lunatic and have him committed to a psychiatric ward!
While talking, Gabriel glanced over at that table again, just in time to see Arabella getting up to take a phone call.
He quickly looked away and even turned his body inward, terrified of being spotted.
Meanwhile—
"Hello, Mary..." Seeing it was Mary calling, Arabella worried something had happened to the children and quickly left her seat to answer.
On the other end, Mary chuckled and reassured her, "Don't panic, don't panic. I'm not calling with bad news—the children are fine."
Hearing the urgency in her voice, Mary knew she was probably overthinking and quickly soothed her.
"Oh, as long as the children are okay."
"Well, it's such a nice sunny day, so the baby nurse and I are taking the children for a walk in the neighborhood, getting some sun... I was thinking, you haven't seen the children in several days, you must miss them terribly—do you think you could come back and visit them?"
Arabella was immediately tempted, but quickly thought of something and asked nervously, "Is he home?"
"No, he's on a business trip. Won't be back until next week."
On a business trip?
Arabella's heart soared.
She dreamed every night of playing with the children, all of them happy together, but waking up alone was heartbreaking. If she could go back and spend time with the children...
"Mrs. Sterling, don't worry. Apart from Samuel, all the other security has been dismissed. You can come back safely. If you're really worried, just meet the children somewhere in the estate—you don't have to go to the house."
Knowing Arabella was afraid of being trapped if she returned, Mary tried her best to think of ways to help her avoid being caught.
Sure enough, after this reassurance, Arabella finally made up her mind: "Alright, I'll come over."
"Great, we'll be waiting!"
After hanging up, Arabella returned to her seat and looked at the two people still deep in conversation, apologizing, "Um... I have to leave early. You two take your time eating and talking. Ella can fill me in on what you decide later."
Seeing her flustered state, Manuel asked with concern, "What's wrong? You seem so urgent. You haven't even finished your meal."
Arabella grabbed her purse, her face showing a hint of joy. "It's nothing... there's a chance to see the children. I'm going to visit them."
Ella was startled and asked curiously, "Are you sure? It's not a trap, is it?"
"No, it won't be. Mary wouldn't lie to me." Arabella missed the children terribly and trusted Mary completely, so she believed without doubt.
Without waiting for Ella and Manuel to say more, she quickly said goodbye and left.
Gabriel had been quietly observing the whole time. When he saw Arabella turn and leave, he quickly looked away and sat back, looking thoroughly guilty.
Dominic shook his head with laughter, mocking, "I should really record you skulking around like this and show it to Arabella someday."
"Get lost!" Gabriel shot Dominic a fierce glare.
With Arabella gone, there was no point in him staying either.
Figuring Arabella had already gotten in the elevator, Gabriel also stood up. "You take your time eating. Put it on my tab. I'm leaving."
Dominic frowned. "We haven't finished discussing business!"
"You decide whatever you want."
They'd come to lunch today to talk business, but who knew they'd accidentally discover Arabella's group at the restaurant.
So Gabriel had been distracted the entire meal, constantly watching her table.
Now that Arabella had been successfully lured back home, Gabriel's heart had flown away with her.
Dominic was speechless, sitting there waiting to watch the spectacular show of his eventual regret.
————
Arabella returned to Parkside Estate.
After contacting Mary, she found the walking group by the lake across from the villa.
"Sweetie." Seeing Mary holding her daughter from a distance, Arabella was overjoyed and couldn't help but run toward them.
The twins, who hadn't seen their mother in several days, were delighted to see her sudden appearance. They "coo-ed" happily and waved their little hands in their caregivers' arms as if they wanted to jump up.
Finally holding her daughter in her arms, Arabella couldn't help but bury her face in the baby's swaddling, breathing in the sweet milky scent.
Henry, sitting in his stroller, saw mommy holding his sister and became anxious. His little body bounced up and down, making the stroller rock back and forth.
"Quick, quick, Henry's about to cry. Mommy needs to check on Henry right away." Mary watched this scene with a pleased smile, quickly reminding her.
"Okay, okay, come here. Mommy will hold both of you, both of you." Arabella sat down on a wicker chair by the lake, took Henry from the baby nurse, and settled one child on each leg, holding them both close.
This was what having the whole world felt like.
"Mrs. Sterling, you've lost weight. You're not eating well out there, are you?" Mary looked at Arabella like a mother watching her own child, her eyes full of concern.
Holding her twin children, Arabella comforted Mary: "No, I'm eating and living well. I'm just busy with work."
"Of course, earning money is never easy."
"It's nothing. Once I get used to it, it'll be fine. Don't worry, Mary. I'll take good care of myself."
Then Arabella looked down at the twins in her arms. The children were clearly being well cared for—they'd obviously grown a bit more.
"If you'd told me earlier that I could see the children today, I would have brought breast milk with me. There's quite a bit stored in the freezer."
Mary looked guilty. "I... only thought of it at the last minute. It's been cold—I didn't dare take them out for walks, afraid they'd catch cold."
"Mm, that's important. It's troublesome when little ones get sick."
"Yes, we're being careful."
As Arabella chatted with Mary, the two babies in her arms were initially well-behaved, but after a while they became "restless," their little hands constantly tugging at mommy's clothes, their heads nuzzling against her.
Seeing this, Mary smiled and said, "These two little smarties—they still remember you after several days apart. They're burrowing into you because they want to nurse."
Arabella was embarrassed.
She'd come out today completely unprepared, wearing a long down coat. Trying to breastfeed outdoors in this would be quite troublesome.
Seeing her dilemma, Mary suggested, "How about... going back to the house to feed the children?"
Arabella hesitated somewhat.
Even though Gabriel was away on business, it still didn't seem appropriate for her to go back to that place.
"Mary, how about you all come out with me instead? We can find a coffee shop or somewhere. The wind by the lake is a bit strong—I'm worried the children will swallow cold air and get sick." She could brave the cold and unbutton her clothes, but she was concerned about the children's stomachs getting chilled, which would defeat the purpose.
Mary hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "That works too..."
So Arabella carried her daughter, Mary pushed Henry's stroller, the baby nurse walked alongside them, and the group headed out of the estate.