Chapter 26 Mr. Sterling Gets Shy!
Seeing Gabriel standing there like a deer in headlights, completely clueless, Mary felt embarrassed too, "The baby doesn't have enough strength; Mrs. Sterling's milk ducts are blocked. If the baby can't latch properly, but an adult can help!"
Before she could finish her sentence, Mary's face turned beet red, and she quickly spun around and fled the scene.
Gabriel remained frozen in place, but his handsome face gradually flushed crimson, the strange redness spreading all the way to his ears.
Clearly, he had understood what Mary meant.
Arabella was still trying to adjust her position, hoping Henry could nurse a bit more, but the little guy was impatient—when he couldn't latch on, he cried, his tiny face scrunching up as his whole body protested.
Gabriel swallowed hard, listening to Henry's urgent, frustrated cries. After hesitating for a long while, he finally took slow steps toward them.
"Um... do you want me to help?" he said haltingly, then immediately realized the ambiguity in his words and quickly clarified, "I mean, should I try to comfort Henry?"
Arabella's eyes were rimmed with red, her brow furrowed tight.
It wasn't about being dramatic—it was the pain, an indescribable agony.
Seeing her distress, the man's frown deepened, his chest tightening in response. "I... what can I do to help you?"
Arabella had no choice but to say, "Please get me a hot towel."
"Of course, just wait!" He quickly turned and went to the bathroom to fetch a hot towel.
Outside, Mary hadn't left, lingering by the door listening to what was happening inside.
It wasn't that she didn't understand boundaries—she was just desperately hoping these two would reconcile.
With children so young, especially twins, how could they manage without their mother?
She knew Gabriel had wronged Arabella and their family in the past, but he was changing now, slowly becoming the kind of husband he should be.
She believed that given enough time, Arabella would surely see that Gabriel's remorse was genuine and would give him another chance.
Hearing the bedroom fall quiet, even the baby's cries gradually subsiding, Mary felt relieved and finally went downstairs.
About half an hour later, she heard movement from upstairs.
Mary was in the living room taking care of Isabella when she heard footsteps on the stairs. Looking back, she smiled, "Mr. Sterling's coming down. Breakfast is ready, just..."
"No need, there's urgent business at the office." Gabriel's expression was cold and rigid, his voice tight as he declined while striding toward the door without pause.
Mary had just stood up, watching in bewilderment.
Had they fought again?
A maid noticed something, whispering, "Sir's face is all red—could he be sick too?"
Mary suddenly understood, obviously guessing what had happened.
"He's not sick, what are you thinking! Get back to work!" She smiled while scolding the maid, understanding everything perfectly.
So even men could be this childishly shy, putting on a cold front while finding excuses to escape.
————
Upstairs, Arabella wasn't just blushing—her entire being was flushed with embarrassment.
Henry, in her arms, was nursing contentedly, drinking in big gulps, even playing with her hair with his free hand, no longer crying or fussing.
She looked down at Henry, but her mind kept replaying images she'd never experienced before.
She'd never be able to look at the top of Gabriel's head the same way again.
All day, Arabella hid in her room, unwilling to come out.
She felt as if everyone knew what had happened, leaving her too ashamed to face anyone.
As evening approached, just as she was wondering when Gabriel would return from work, her phone rang.
She picked it up and was slightly startled, immediately feeling defensive.
Emily.
Her instincts told her that this woman was calling about Gabriel.
After hesitating for a while, she still answered, "Hello, Ms. Davis."
Sure enough, Emily started with an accusation, her tone aggressive, "Arabella, you've gone too far! Dominic, Gabriel, and I grew up together—we're like siblings. What right do you have, after only two or three years, to drive a wedge between him and us?"
Arabella was stunned, hesitating for a moment, "I don't understand what you're talking about."
"Stop playing dumb—what's the point! Just because Gabriel's changed his attitude toward you a little, you think you can change everything? When William died, we grieved just as much as Gabriel did—that kind of bond is something an outsider like you could never understand. We want to be there for Gabriel, to help him feel better, but he has to worry about your feelings and is actually distancing himself from us! If you weren't making a fuss about divorce, would he treat us this way?"
Now Arabella understood.
However, she had never forbidden Gabriel from seeing them.
Besides, Gabriel was out of the house—even if they had met, unless Gabriel chose to tell her, how would she know from home?
Could it be that Gabriel was actually keeping the promise he made to his grandfather, which had infuriated Emily enough to confront her?
Before she could respond, Emily continued, "He's already stressed enough every day. If you can't be understanding, if you can't share his burdens, that's one thing—but you're adding to his troubles and putting pressure on him. Arabella, William was so good to you, yet you're biting the hand that fed you!"
Arabella hadn't said anything and was being attacked from all sides—anyone would be fed up.
Pushed to her limit, she abandoned politeness and shot back, "Mrs. Kingsley, how I treat my husband is my business and none of your concern. Did Gabriel complain to you and ask you to fight his battles?"
"You..." Emily clearly hadn't expected her to fight back and was somewhat taken aback.
Arabella pressed her advantage, "Mrs. Kingsley, if you have this much free time, you'd be better off figuring out how to get pregnant with Mr. Kingsley's child and stabilizing your own marriage."
"Arabella!" This comment thoroughly enraged Emily. Her biggest frustration was that Dominic still refused to have children, claiming the timing wasn't right, so no matter how passionate their lovemaking was, he never forgot to use protection, leaving her with no opportunities at all.
Hit where it hurt most, Emily lost her refined composure and lashed out furiously, "What right does a low-class nobody like you have to lecture me? Just wait and see—Gabriel will never love someone like you. You're going to be cast aside!"
The phone was angrily hung up. Arabella set it down, her expression calm, as if nothing had happened.
Not long after, the sound of a car came from the courtyard—Gabriel was home.
She found it strange, but at the same time, understood something.
Had Emily tried to arrange a meeting with Gabriel, only to be rejected by him?
If that was truly the case, it was quite unexpected.
She had always thought Gabriel's promise at his grandfather's bedside was just to help him pass peacefully, never expecting him to actually keep his word.
But now Arabella felt some renewed hope for love, her once rationally cooled heart slowly warming, gradually nurturing new expectations.
And indeed, Arabella had guessed correctly.
Emily had contacted Gabriel today.