Chapter 24 Don't Worry, I Have No Ulterior Motives
Gabriel's voice came from above her head, "Yes, it's confirmed for next Monday at Greenwood Memorial Park."
Today was Friday, which meant three days from now.
"You need to recover quickly. What worried Grandfather most before he passed was your well-being. When the time comes, don't attend the funeral while you're still ill." Gabriel looked down at the woman in his arms, his tone low and gentle.
Arabella nodded.
When they reached the master bedroom, Gabriel placed her on the bed.
Mary followed them in and reminded, "Mrs. Sterling, you're still weak. Mr. Sterling should accompany you while you shower so you don't fall."
Arabella was shocked, "What?"
How could she possibly let Gabriel accompany her in the shower!
To spare them embarrassment, Mary left immediately after speaking.
Gabriel stood beside the bed, looking at her flushed face, equally awkward himself.
Seeing that he wasn't leaving, Arabella stared for a moment before gathering courage to look up at him, stammering, "I... I can manage by myself. You must be exhausted after such a long day—you should go shower and get some sleep."
She meant that she would shower alone while he used the guest bathroom.
Gabriel frowned, unconsciously raising his hand to rub the bridge of his nose.
It was an unconscious gesture people made when nervous and at a loss.
"We both need to shower anyway, so let's do it together. I'll keep an eye on you in case you get dizzy from the steam and fall."
This had happened before when she'd just given birth.
A week after delivery, while washing her hair and showering, she had stayed in the bathroom too long. The steam had made her faint, and she'd fallen straight down, leaving her forehead and knees black and blue.
Seeing her silence, he spoke again in a low voice, "Let's hurry up and shower. It's getting late."
Arabella wanted to refuse, but when he leaned down to lift her again, she quickly pushed him away in alarm, "Don't carry me—I... I can walk myself."
Seeing her get up and walk toward the bathroom, Gabriel straightened up and followed, unbuttoning his shirt as he went.
But Arabella simply couldn't accept this.
When normal couples took a bath together, it was about intimacy and romance.
But for them to do this would obviously feel very strange.
Once in the bathroom, she stood there with one hand clutching the front of her robe, her beautiful, fair face growing even redder.
"Um, maybe you could just wait there, stand with your back turned, and I'll call you if I need help." Face burning with embarrassment, she stammered out these words.
Gabriel had just removed his shirt, carelessly tossing it into the laundry basket with one hand.
Looking up at Arabella, his expression was calm and unreadable. "We're married. Is it necessary to be so formal with each other?"
"We..." She wanted to say, we have no feelings for each other, and this marriage will end soon.
But the man seemed to read her mind and interrupted, "Before Grandfather passed, I promised him I would treat you well."
So during these busy days, he had also seriously considered their relationship.
He had once loved Emily, and she had her lover too—they were even, in a way.
Gabriel convinced himself to accept this fact, thinking that after Grandfather's funeral, he would find an opportunity to have a proper talk with her.
Since their marriage would continue, what was taking a shower together? Any intimate behavior was both a right and an obligation.
Arabella was rendered speechless by his words. Before she could think of how to refuse, he was already striding toward her with his long legs.
"Gabriel, you... don't..." She was panicking, faced with Gabriel's strong chest so close to her. The intense masculine presence made her unsure where to look.
He said nothing, reaching for the showerhead and turning on the faucet.
The initial water was cold, and he considerately moved it away to avoid splashing her.
But Arabella still shrank back in alarm, about to flee when she heard his low voice behind her, "I've been run ragged these past few days. I have no ulterior motives toward you. Let's just shower and get to bed early."
With him putting it that way, if she continued to be coy, it would seem affected and pretentious.
Moreover, hearing his low, hoarse voice, not just tired, but also carrying the suppressed grief of losing a loved one, made Arabella's heart instantly soften.
"The water's warm now. Are you going to undress yourself, or should I help you?" He brought the showerhead closer, and steam immediately began to rise.
"I'll... I'll do it myself." She was terrified, quickly raising her hands to her robe.
Earlier that evening, Mary had called a lactation consultant to help with the massage. Though it had helped clear some blockages, it had left her skin red and inflamed, and it still hadn't faded.
Moreover, after giving birth, her belly that had been stretched by twins hadn't fully recovered, making her waistline unsightly.
She didn't want Gabriel to see any of this, so she turned away.
Gabriel watched her movements, his eyes growing deep, but he said nothing.
Arabella's skin, smooth and delicate as white jade, was gradually revealed, gleaming under the lights and catching his hungry gaze.
His brow furrowed slightly as he looked away, letting the warm water flow down from her neck.
He'd only intended to help her shower, but the scene before him would provoke a reaction from any physiologically normal man.
Gabriel's breathing grew heavier, and one hand unconsciously lifted to rest on her shoulder.
"Ah..." Arabella jumped in fright, instinctively turning sideways.
"Sorry, I..." He apologized reflexively, not knowing what excuse to make.
In his embarrassed confusion, his eyes caught sight of something, and he suddenly asked with concern, "What's wrong with your chest? Is it an allergic reaction?"
Otherwise, why would it be so red and inflamed?
Arabella quickly covered her chest, her face flushing to her ears as she stammered, "No... it's from clogged ducts, mastitis, and fever. The lactation consultant helped clear the blockages."
The clearing process had caused this?
"Does it hurt?"
"Very much."
She'd only just learned how painful clearing blocked ducts during mastitis could be—almost equivalent to the pain of childbirth.
The sweat covering her head and body had been cold sweat from the pain of the massage.
Hearing her say "very much" while her face still showed traces of discomfort, his heart trembled, and he couldn't help but say, "I'm sorry. I was too busy these past few days and neglected you."
Arabella looked up, her clear, bright eyes meeting his, her heart beginning to pound erratically.
The words he'd spoken that day at Grandfather's bedside—she'd assumed they were well-intentioned lies meant to give the old man peace.
But at this moment, seeing the gentle consideration he was showing her, she began to have illusions again—that he really had changed, reformed, and was beginning to care for her, perhaps even to love her.
Gabriel leaned down slightly, his eyes meeting her upturned gaze.
The sound of water filled the air, steam swirled around them, and the atmosphere between them imperceptibly changed.
When Gabriel leaned down to kiss her, Arabella knew she should pull away, but as if bewitched, she stood frozen, not moving.
In their intimate embrace, two wounded hearts found rare unity and healing in each other.
But just as Gabriel wanted to go further, the woman in his arms suddenly went limp.
"Be careful!" He was startled, quickly tightening his hold on her.
Arabella struggled against her dizzy mind, leaning against him to steady herself, saying embarrassedly, "My legs went weak..."
She'd just broken her fever and was naturally weak and powerless. Gabriel put aside any amorous thoughts and reached for the showerhead again.
"Let me help you wash quickly. Staying in the bathroom too long can cause oxygen deprivation, too."