Chapter 184 Evidence of Infidelity
The tension was suffocating. Deep down, Arabella feared Gabriel and had no desire to provoke him, knowing it would only make the divorce proceedings more difficult. After briefly meeting his gaze, she took the initiative to break the silence. "Good morning. I haven't seen the children in days—are they doing well?"
The children were the only safe topic left between a divorcing couple.
But Gabriel showed no mercy. His lips curved in a cold smirk, and as his icy gaze withdrew, he delivered a cutting response, "If you want to know, go see for yourself."
Before she could respond, Gabriel's tall, imposing figure was already striding toward the courthouse steps.
Arabella felt the sting of his dismissal, heat rising to her cheeks in embarrassment.
Standing beside her, Manuel watchedthe exchange with sympathy, gently patting her shoulder. "Come on, this will all be over soon."
He could see how Arabella reacted to Gabriel like a mouse confronted by a cat—there was an instinctive fear and resistance in her posture.
It was impossible to imagine how she'd endured such a marriage dynamic for over two years. How difficult those days must have been.
When a capable, well-resourced man with a compassionate heart encounters a beautiful woman being oppressed and vulnerable, it easily awakens the heroic and savior complex buried deep in his bones.
That was exactly Manuel's situation.
He now possessed a fierce courage and determination to rescue Arabella from this torment, no matter the cost. He would defeat Gabriel and restore her freedom, even if it destroyed him.
She was entering a courtroom for the first time in her life, and it was to end a failed marriage.
From the moment Arabella saw the judge, to the moment she sat down, her body began trembling uncontrollably.
She was too dazed to fully absorb what either side's attorneys were arguing during their opening statements.
It wasn't until Gabriel's lawyer played a video and the sound of crying children filled the room that she snapped out of her fog, her heart instantly constricting.
"These children are so young and innocent—they shouldn't be abandoned by their mother. Any mother with an ounce of kindness, responsibility, or basic humanity wouldn't heartlessly abandon her own children. Therefore, this marriage shouldn't end, at least not until the children have finished the nursing period."
The nursing period—meaning from birth until age two.
During this phase, unless there were extreme circumstances, judges indeed rarely granted divorces.
Arabella stared intently at the screen, her eyes reddening as she watched her daughter crying and reaching out for someone to hold her. Her heart shattered.
Manuel, sitting in the gallery, noticed Arabella's emotional breakdown and silently worried this wasn't going well.
Fortunately, the lawyer he'd hired wasn't incompetent either.
Faced with the opposing counsel's emotional manipulation, Arabella's attorney immediately presented counter-evidence.
Gabriel's ambiguous relationship with Emily, their romantic rumors, and even reports of an alleged illegitimate child weren't difficult to find online.
Beyond that, there were numerous videos and recordings showing the two in overly intimate situations.
Seeing those images, Arabella's heart grew colder.
Gabriel had claimed he'd cut ties with Emily, that they would no longer associate—apparently he'd just been avoiding public scrutiny.
Watching those surveillance footage clips, Gabriel's expression darkened.
He had underestimated Manuel and his hired attorney.
They had actually managed to extract these pieces of evidence from surveillance footage across multiple venues.
From both times he'd taken Emily to the hospital, and carrying her into the emergency room.
And when Emily accompanied him to various public events.
There was also a footage of Emily appearing at Sterling Group offices.
"As everyone knows, Mr. Sterling and Ms. Davis are childhood sweethearts with a deep emotional connection and intimate relationship. My client, as the defendant's wife, has had to endure her husband's infidelity, causing tremendous psychological and emotional damage. I have personally witnessed Ms. Davis harassing and humiliating my client, which further proves that it was Mr. Sterling's marital unfaithfulness that caused this marriage to break down. Given these facts, my client has every right to request termination of this marriage that exists in name only."
The lawyer's argument was well-reasoned and evidence-based, bringing Arabella to tears.
Any remaining hesitation in her heart—especially the fear of how difficult it would be to see the children after divorce—solidified into resolve. Seeing once again Gabriel care and protect Emily once again, her softness hardened into an iron wall.
But Gabriel refused to acknowledge the evidence's validity.
He stared intently at the woman's avoidant expression, watching her red-rimmed eyes as she quietly wiped away tears, his heart filled with regret for his past actions.
"Those videos are taken out of context. My help for Emily stems purely from ordinary friendship. Ms. Davis has her own marriage, and many online reports are fabricated rumors that cannot be considered evidence. The person I love now is my wife—Arabella. I will make up for my past shortcomings in this marriage, pay more attention to her, spend more time with our children, and never let her be hurt again."
In front of everyone, Gabriel openly declared his feelings, surprising even Manuel in the gallery.
Gabriel was in love with Arabella?
Was it real or fake?
Arabella kept her head down, but hearing Gabriel's words, her chest trembled slightly.
For someone with his personality and temperament to make such a public declaration of love was truly remarkable.
The lawyer smiled and replied directly, "Mr. Sterling, the person you clearly love is Ms. Davis. Why deceive yourself? My client wants no share of assets, won't fight for custody, and chooses to leave with nothing—this is extremely favorable for you. For the sake of having been married, won't you grant her even this basic dignity?"
"Plaintiff's counsel, your words should be backed by evidence. I've stated that the person I love is my wife, Arabella. I do not consent to this divorce."
Gabriel deeply resented this out-of-town lawyer and immediately responded with a stern rebuke. Then he looked at the woman beside him, his gaze carrying newfound remorse. "Arabella, I'm here today only because I want to clarify things with you face-to-face one more time. In the past, I did have my faults, and I can understand your anger and resentment toward me."
The courtroom fell silent. Gabriel remained calm and composed, his eyes fixed intently on the woman across from him, his deep voice clearly coming from the heart. "But no one is perfect. I genuinely want to move forward with you now, to raise our children together—I can promise before this judge that from now on, I will absolutely never do anything to hurt you again."
As his words concluded, the silence continued. The judge seemed moved by Gabriel's sincerity and remained quiet for a moment, then turned his attention to Arabella.
Arabella kept her head down, the tissue in her hand long since soaked with tears.
Just as the judge prepared to ask for her opinion, Attorney Anderson, seated beside Arabella, received a signal from Manuel in the gallery and immediately stood up with a new request. "Your Honor, I'd like to call a witness to the stand. She can prove that Mr. Sterling has long since betrayed this marriage and severely damaged my client's emotional well-being."