Chapter 161 You Clearly Love Me, Why Won't You Admit It?
Arabella looked away, her expression calm on the surface, but fury still burned within her.
What was Gabriel's game?
This wounded, martyred look—as if he couldn't bear to let her go—almost made one believe he'd actually fallen in love with her. Deeply, desperately in love.
The atmosphere in the side parlor grew strange and tense. Arabella didn't know what to say to break the silence, so she simply looked down at her daughter.
She'd been sick these past few days with little appetite, which had significantly reduced her milk supply.
Isabella was used to drinking heartily, but after a few unsatisfying sips, she protested with cries while latching on even more aggressively.
Arabella hadn't nursed directly in a week and couldn't handle the intensity. She winced, her brows furrowing in pain.
Gabriel watched this scene, about to scold her for being an inadequate mother who couldn't even properly feed her child, when Mary hurried over from the main room. "Mr. Sterling, Ms. Davis is here."
Both of them turned toward the living room.
Arabella's heart sank—what terrible timing. She hadn't expected this unfortunate coincidence.
Last time, Emily had actually helped her escape. Now that she'd returned on her own, who knew what fresh mockery and sarcasm Emily would dish out when she found them here.
But suddenly, she remembered something, looking at Gabriel questioningly. "Didn't you say she was leaving the country?"
It had been over two weeks—hadn't she left yet?
And judging by appearances, the two hadn't cut off contact. Emily was still coming to the house openly.
Gabriel hadn't expected Emily to show up today either, especially after such a long absence. Understanding her implication, his expression darkened as he explained, "I haven't been in contact with her lately. I have no idea."
Before his words had fully faded, Emily's voice drifted in from the living room, "Gabriel, I heard you haven't been to the office these past couple days. Is your stomach acting up again..."
Emily entered with familiar ease, but when her gaze found Gabriel's location, she naturally spotted Arabella on the sofa as well. Her unfinished sentence died away abruptly.
Her eyes widened in shock, her face changing dramatically as she stared at Arabella. "What are you doing here?!"
And in Gabriel's presence, with her clothes disheveled—how intimate!
Arabella's mouth moved, but before she could speak, Gabriel cut in, "Did you need something?"
Emily looked from the woman to the man, seeming to struggle with what to say.
Then her attention caught on the injury on Gabriel's forehead, and she exclaimed again, "Gabriel, how did you hurt your head?"
Gabriel had a nail-sized scab on the right corner of his forehead—from when Arabella had struck him during his forced advances two days ago.
Afterward, the family doctor had treated it, giving him a tetanus shot and leaving topical medication for the wound.
The doctor said it was quite deep and might leave a scar, though since it was near his hairline, growing his hair slightly longer could cover it.
He didn't rely on his looks for a living, so he was indifferent about potential scarring.
If it did leave a mark, that might be good—he could use it to mock the perpetrator whenever he saw her. He refused to believe she'd remain unmoved.
Emily approached with concern and nervousness, even raising her hand as if to touch the wound.
Gabriel was holding Henry but still shifted away from her reach. "It's nothing. Just a surface wound. It'll heal in a couple days."
After speaking, he asked again, "Did you need something?"
"Can't I visit without needing something? You're usually such a workaholic—two days without going to the office, I thought you were seriously ill. I came to check on you."
Emily explained, then shifted her gaze back to Arabella with obvious mockery and sarcasm. "Last time you went to great lengths asking me to help you leave this place. Why are you back again?"
Arabella was indeed in the wrong. "I—"
"Emily, my personal affairs don't require your involvement. I didn't hold you accountable for last time—you should be grateful for that." Gabriel protected Arabella again, his expression serious as he warned Emily.
Now it was Emily's turn to feel guilty. She put on that innocent, coquettish expression again, speaking softly and weakly, "It was Joanna's idea. I was just a scapegoat..."
"Emily, don't treat others like fools, and don't be too clever for your own good." Gabriel wasn't polite in his exposure of her lie.
Whether it was truly Joanna's idea or if she'd dragged Joanna in as a shield—he knew perfectly well.
Emily's face immediately couldn't maintain its facade. She bit her lip tightly and lowered her gaze.
Arabella watched this scene and felt unexpectedly sorry for Emily.
From childhood, Emily had been thoroughly doted on by both Gabriel and Dominic as her devoted protectors. She'd enjoyed everyone's adoration.
Now, not only had Emily's relationship with Dominic fallen apart, but even Gabriel, who had always blindly adored her, had turned against her. From her perspective, this dramatic reversal must feel like the end of the world.
In contrast, Arabella had lived a miserable life since childhood. Her current situation was practically paradise compared to her past.
Emily stood there dazedly, tears falling unexpectedly. After sniffling, she said pitifully, "Fine, I was wrong... But she doesn't want to live with you anymore. Why must you force her to stay? Trapping a woman who doesn't love you—why bother? It's not like you don't have other options."
Arabella suddenly understood as she listened to these words!
Could it be that Emily had changed her mind and wanted to be with Gabriel?
Excited by this potential gossip, she looked between the two of them and squeaked out, "After you both get divorced, you being together would indeed be a match made in—"
"Shut up!" Gabriel interrupted her fiercely before she could finish.
But Arabella continued, "Haven't you loved her for so many years? Now you're finally getting your chance—she's willing to be with you..."
Shouldn't he be weeping with joy?
Gabriel felt intensely annoyed. He turned to look at Emily with an extremely cold attitude, "You should go. Don't keep coming here whenever you feel like it. Also, we're ordinary friends at most now. Don't harbor any other thoughts."
Emily shook her head with tears in her eyes. "That's not true, Gabriel... The person you love is me. When you were intimate with her, weren't you just pretending she was me?"
Gabriel's brow furrowed tightly as his gaze turned coldly toward Arabella on the sofa.
She must have said that—how else would Emily know!
Arabella felt a chill down her spine under his icy, intimidating stare. She swallowed hard. "I... it's the truth."
Emily gathered courage to step forward and grab Gabriel's arm, looking infatuated. "Gabriel... I was wrong before. I was confused... I couldn't figure out who I really liked, but now I'm clear—you're getting divorced anyway, and Dominic and I... can't make it work either. We could completely—"
"Samuel! Where is everyone? Did you all drop dead?" Gabriel didn't let her finish, shouting angrily toward the door.
The next second, Samuel appeared immediately, having been keeping his distance. "Mr. Sterling..."
"Show her out."
"Gabriel!" Emily panicked, becoming somewhat incoherent. "You obviously love me—why won't you admit it? Is it because I was married to Dominic that you're disgusted now? I know I hurt you in the past, and you have every right to be angry, but we've already missed our chance once. We shouldn't miss it again."