Chapter 160 Gabriel Actually Sheds Tears?
Stepping back into Parkside Estate, Arabella felt like a thief sneaking around.
Mary beamed when she saw her. "Mrs. Sterling! Come in, come in! Henry's on his play mat—he can sit up by himself now!"
Caught in the act with no escape route, she reluctantly entered the mansion and walked toward her son.
The little guy was chewing on a toy, drool streaming down his chin in a continuous line.
Seeing his mother suddenly appear, Henry first stared wide-eyed in surprise, then threw his arms out wide, babbling excitedly as if calling "Mama."
Arabella's heart bloomed instantly as she rushed over to scoop up her son.
Children changed daily, especially after a week's absence—she truly felt her son had grown so much! He could actually sit up on his own now!
The little one couldn't speak yet, but in his mother's arms he flailed his arms and legs, drooling all over her.
Arabella didn't care. Her heart overflowed with joy as she praised her little boy nonstop, burying her face in his neck and desperately inhaling his milky baby scent.
Gabriel stood in the nursery on the second floor, watching this scene unfold clearly through the security feed on his phone.
A smile tugged at his lips as he looked back at his recently calmed daughter, gently tapping Isabella's nose. "Baby girl, Mommy's home..."
Isabella seemed to understand or not, turning to look at her father and reaching out for a hug.
Gabriel lifted his daughter and headed out.
Arabella had only played with her son for a few minutes, still wondering what excuse she'd use to avoid Gabriel, when Henry began tugging at her clothes.
After a week apart, he still remembered how to ask Mommy for food.
The survival instinct was unforgettable.
And how could a mother who felt endless guilt toward her children refuse such a small request?
Arabella glanced around, not wanting to go upstairs and encounter a certain someone, so she headed toward the side parlor to nurse her son.
She didn't know that the man upstairs stood at the railing, taking in this entire scene.
Isabella initially hadn't noticed her mother's arrival, but when she heard her brother's excited sounds and their mother's cooing voice, she suddenly realized what was happening and began struggling in her father's arms.
Gabriel had been quietly watching when his daughter suddenly started fussing.
Arabella looked up toward the second floor at the sound, locking eyes with Gabriel who couldn't dodge fast enough.
Her head buzzed, her heart immediately wanting to flee.
But she was already here—how could she escape with Henry swallowing audibly, drinking eagerly?
No escape.
From the stairs, the exposed master of the house descended slowly and elegantly, carrying his protesting little girl.
Arabella didn't want to turn around, but her daughter's urgent cries forced her to.
Gabriel approached with Isabella, who was practically throwing herself out of her father's embrace, reaching for her mother.
"Mommy's here... baby don't cry, don't worry sweetie, Mommy will hold you in a moment." She could only free one hand to grasp her daughter's tiny fingers, soothing gently.
But this touch made Isabella even more impatient, squirming frantically until Gabriel could barely hold her.
The scene grew chaotic and awkward. Arabella wished she had more hands. Left with no choice, she looked at the man, "Take her for a walk first, wait until he's finished..."
Gabriel's handsome face remained cool and detached. "Look at her—think she'll go?"
Whether intentionally or not, he loosened his grip as he spoke, and Isabella tumbled directly into Arabella's arms.
This infuriated her brother.
He wasn't done eating yet!
Both children erupted, crying and burrowing toward Arabella, neither willing to leave.
Gabriel stood aside, watching her disheveled and flustered state with complete detachment.
The house staff and nanny had all been sent away by Mary the moment Arabella arrived.
Arabella couldn't handle two babies at once. Looking around and seeing no one, she understood the situation. Helplessly, she turned to Gabriel for help, "Take one of them! They'll fall!"
"Asking for favors requires better manners, don't you think?" Mr. Sterling responded unhurriedly.
"Aren't they your children too?"
"Aren't they yours?"
"One each seems fair."
"But I've been watching them for days while you've been absent."
Arabella knew he'd make things difficult after she came, but she hadn't expected this petty approach—childish to the point of absurdity.
But she truly couldn't manage both children. If this continued, Henry would spit up, making things worse.
She had to compromise, "What kind of attitude do you want from me?"
"First, tell me—how far have you and Manuel progressed?" Gabriel had been home resting for days, turning this question over obsessively.
Arabella's eyes narrowed as she looked at him, her expression indescribable.
So he was still fixated on this!
"Don't you already know? You've had people watching me daily—you know everything about what I eat, drink, and do."
"Beautiful women shouldn't speak so crudely."
"I'm a crude person."
"Did you really sleep with him?"
Arabella looked away, holding both babies with a blank expression, "Yes."
Gabriel's face went rigid, his fists subtly clenching.
After about two or three seconds of silence, his voice was ice-cold, "Who's better in bed—him or me?"
Arabella couldn't take it anymore. "Gabriel, do you think it's appropriate discussing this in front of the children?"
"They're too young to understand. Besides, you weren't ashamed when you were doing it—why the sudden modesty now?"
"Him."
"Is that so?" His lips curved in a smile that was both wicked and sinister. "Which position was he better at?"
Arabella thought he was truly sick—seriously ill!
Tired of being led around by the nose, she suddenly looked up at the man with a challenging glint, "You really want to know? Take the baby first—I can't talk properly like this."
Gabriel looked suspicious, but seeing Henry about to slip from her arms, paternal instinct kicked in and he quickly stepped forward to catch him.
Henry refused to leave his mother, crying and reaching for her while Gabriel held him, murmuring soothing words. He watched the woman turn to nurse Isabella from the other side.
His pupils darkened suddenly as he imagined intimate scenes, painfully looking away.
He'd thought it through these past few days.
If she really had slept with Manuel, he'd have to accept it—call it payback for all his years of ambiguity with Emily.
They'd be even then.
Though convincing himself was difficult and his heart ached, compared to losing her completely—this was the best possible outcome.
Arabella nursed her daughter, noticing his sudden silence as he stood there. She glanced up quietly.
What she saw made her heart skip a beat.
He stood there holding their son, his handsome, deep features turned slightly away, looking as though he'd suffered tremendous humiliation.
If she wasn't mistaken, the always domineering, powerful, invincible Mr. Sterling had reddened eyes—as if he'd been moved to tears by anger!