Chapter 153 Can't You Be More Behaved?
Gabriel's handsome features were etched with cold mockery. "Save your thanks. Just talking less would be better than anything else."
Just half an hour ago, he'd been jolted awake by his phone ringing. Seeing it was Ralph calling, he'd assumed there was some urgent business emergency.
Instead, Ralph had said that Zachary called to inform them that Arabella was sick and had no one to take care of her.
He'd been completely bewildered at first, not remembering who Zachary was.
After Ralph's explanation, he finally recalled—it was the man he'd previously misunderstood, Arabella's best friend's husband.
After that misunderstanding, they'd shared a meal together and exchanged contact information—though with his busy schedule, he naturally hadn't paid much attention to such minor acquaintances, giving out his work phone number instead.
Ralph usually managed that phone, so Zachary's call had gone to Ralph first.
Learning she was seriously ill, he'd immediately snapped awake, throwing off the covers and getting dressed. He'd been out the door in less than five minutes.
Racing over, his heart had burned with both fury and resentment.
He'd planned to humiliate and mock her thoroughly when he saw her, but seeing her half-dead appearance, all that anger had instantly evaporated, replaced by waves of pain in his chest.
He knew that ache was called heartache.
You only felt heartache when you cared about someone.
You only felt heartache when you had feelings for someone.
Yet she scorned his caring and feelings. All she wanted was freedom, independence.
Lost in these swirling thoughts, he said nothing more for the rest of the drive, focusing solely on getting to the hospital.
At the hospital, having contacted the administration in advance, they were quickly seen by an emergency room doctor.
After a thorough examination, it was confirmed to be severe influenza.
"The flu's been particularly bad recently. Those with better immunity or who've had vaccinations experience milder symptoms. But those with compromised immune systems, who've been pulling all-nighters or dealing with high stress, get hit much harder," the doctor explained while writing prescriptions. "Mr. Sterling, would you prefer hospitalization or returning home after IV treatment?"
Arabella sat to the side, her head pounding so severely she could barely lift it.
Even in this state, she answered without hesitation, "No need for hospitalization... I'll go home after the IV."
Gabriel was about to speak when she cut him off. He glanced back at her, his thin lips pressed tight, ultimately choosing not to argue, "Do as she says."
"Understood."
Though hospitalization wasn't required, given Gabriel's status and position, the hospital quickly arranged a private room where Arabella could lie down comfortably during her IV treatment.
By the time everything was settled, it was already 3:30 AM.
Arabella had developed nasal congestion, making breathing difficult. She could only find relief by sitting partially upright.
But this position made proper sleep impossible.
Especially with that cold, statue-like figure sitting beside her bed, making her even more anxious.
"You should go home... the children are there—" Actually, she was worried about the hospital being full of germs and viruses. If he stayed too long and caught something, then passed it to the twins, that would be a disaster.
Adults suffering was bad enough, but if babies only a few months old caught this severe flu, the suffering would be unimaginable—hundreds of times more heartbreaking than being sick yourself.
Gabriel glanced at her coldly, his lips curling sarcastically, "What, do you own this hospital? Am I bothering you by sitting here?"
"That's not what I meant..."
Gabriel had been holding back all night, but now his patience snapped as he mocked acidly, "This is the independence and freedom you wanted? You can't even take care of yourself. Aren't you afraid of dying alone in that apartment with nobody finding you?"
His words were deliberately vicious, cutting as sharply as possible.
Arabella's face fell, but feeling too awful to respond, she remained silent.
She rarely got sick, and this kind of severe flu was a first for her.
It was probably because her life had been so chaotic recently—too many worries, poor sleep, depression, and then suddenly learning about her birth mother had reopened psychological wounds buried for years. That had been the final straw.
Seeing her complete silence only made Gabriel angrier, but noticing her flushed face and pale lips—clear signs of serious illness—he couldn't be bothered to continue arguing.
He turned and walked away, thinking out of sight, out of mind.
Seeing him leave, Arabella secretly breathed a sigh of relief, closing her eyes and drifting into a dazed sleep.
She had no awareness of when the IV finished.
When she woke again, daylight was streaming in, and he was nowhere to be seen.
He must have gone home.
After all, they were getting divorced—there was no reason for him to watch over her all night. Just bringing her to the hospital was already more than generous.
But as she started to get up from the bed, a sharp voice rang out, "What are you doing getting up? Can't you just stay put for once?"
Arabella looked up to find him standing right in front of her, cold-browed and stern, radiating an icy aura.
She swallowed painfully, her throat still raw and burning, working her mouth several times before managing, "You... you're still here?"
Gabriel felt his temper flare at her words!
He'd brought her to the hospital—wasn't he supposed to see her home safely?
He wanted to scold her but felt it would be a waste of breath, so he simply raised his hand irritably, "Eat!"
Only then did Arabella realize he'd gone out to buy breakfast.
The distinguished Mr. Sterling had actually gone out early in the morning to buy her breakfast.
Feeling somewhat overwhelmed by this unexpected kindness, she frowned and swallowed painfully again before managing, "Thank you..."
Gabriel didn't know what was wrong with him—seeing her just made him furious, wanting to lash out.
Arabella could sense his anger too, knowing he resented her. With admirable self-awareness, she said, "I'm feeling better today, thank you for taking care of me all night... You must need to get to work. I... I can get home by myself later..."
Gabriel had originally planned to take her home before handling his own business, but hearing her repeatedly trying to dismiss him, his temper flared and he lost interest in being helpful.
"Here's your medication—the dosage instructions are clearly marked. Don't worry, I'm traveling on business today, so I won't have time to worry about whether you live or die. Do whatever you want." He tossed the plastic bag of medicine into her lap, delivered his cold instructions, and without waiting for her response, turned and left.
Arabella's mind was working slowly, but when she suddenly thought of something and looked up, he had already disappeared through the doorway.
The court was waiting to hear their divorce case, and now he was traveling on business—when would he even be back?
Divorce proceedings took at least two to three months under the fastest circumstances, but if he refused to cooperate and kept claiming to be out of town, it could drag on much longer.
Arabella sat frozen, her heart sinking with uncertainty.
Was he doing this on purpose?
She managed to drink barely half a bowl of porridge before giving up—it felt like swallowing past razor blades, each gulp agony.
She'd never had such a severe cold before. It was like dying and coming back to life.
Just as she finished taking her medication, her phone rang. It was Sophia.
"How are you feeling? Any better?"
Arabella replied in her hoarse voice, "A little better... I'm at the hospital, about to head home."