Chapter 285 Is Having a Child with Me Also a Misfortune?

Chapter 285 Is Having a Child with Me Also a Misfortune?

As Arabella walked out of the office building, she spotted a familiar figure waiting by the roadside.

Manuel.

Their eyes met, and Arabella's heart skipped a beat. She wanted to avoid him but couldn't, so she walked over with forced casualness. "Manuel, what brings you here?"

"I was passing by and saw your studio lights still on, figured you were working late." Manuel smiled, pulling open the car door. "Come on, didn't you say you wanted to take me to dinner as thanks? Perfect timing—I'm starving."

Arabella had been determined not to get in his car, but with that reason, she couldn't refuse.

After all, he'd been instrumental in the Zachary incident!

"Alright, I'm hungry too." She maintained her casual demeanor and ducked into the car.

Manuel walked around to the driver's side and started the engine, asking with concern, "Have all your injuries healed?"

"Yes." Only a few faint bruises remained, but there was no need to mention that.

"What about your ear? Has your hearing recovered? Have you gone for a follow-up?"

"It's better. I've been too busy to get it checked."

"You can't be careless about this. No matter how busy you are, you need to see a doctor."

"Mm."

They found a well-reviewed restaurant nearby and walked in together.

Manuel wanted a quiet corner table, but to avoid any appearance of impropriety, Arabella deliberately chose a spot in the middle of the bustling dining room.

"We can hear the piano from here. It's nice," Arabella justified her choice.

In the center of the restaurant, an elegant woman played piano, the melodious notes filling the air.

Manuel smiled and nodded. They sat down and began ordering.

After finishing his own dinner, Dominic was leaving when he crossed the dining room and spotted Arabella studying a menu.

Looking at the man across from her, he found him familiar—after a moment's thought, he remembered meeting Manuel at the club's billiard room over the holidays.

Dominic's face lit up with interest. He pulled out his phone and discreetly recorded a ten-second video clip, sending it to Gabriel.

Arabella remained oblivious throughout. When the food began arriving, her phone rang.

She glanced at the screen and hung up without hesitation.

It rang again almost immediately.

She simply blocked the number.

"Arabella, eat up. You look like you've lost weight lately." Manuel didn't ask who kept calling, simply serving her food.

"Thanks, Manuel, but I can help myself." Arabella quickly picked up her utensils, maintaining polite distance.

Manuel disliked this formality but felt helpless to change it.

"Will you return to Whispering Pines to pay respects to your grandparents?" Manuel asked suddenly during the quiet meal.

Arabella froze, realizing how quickly time had passed.

"I... I should probably go back." Every year she returned to visit her grandparents and father.

Come to think of it, missing this past holiday had been quite unfilial.

"I thought you'd skip it to avoid your mother," Manuel commented casually.

Arabella's grip on her utensils faltered, thinking of that woman made her stomach turn.

She hadn't gone home for the holidays precisely to avoid encountering her.

But she couldn't hide forever.

She smiled faintly, deflecting: "What's meant to be can't be avoided. I can't let her keep me away for the rest of my life."

"When you decide on a date, I'll go with you. That way if you run into her, having me there will make things less awkward."

"Okay..." Arabella agreed verbally while thinking she absolutely couldn't return with him.

She considered going back in the next few days, paying her respects early to avoid the peak period and hopefully miss that woman entirely.

After the meal, Arabella called over the server to pay.

But Manuel suddenly intervened. "Let me get this one. You can treat next time."

He was clearly creating an excuse for another dinner together.

Arabella understood his intention and insisted firmly: "Manuel, we agreed. This meal is on me. You saved me last time, so I should—"

"Sir, madam, please don't argue. Someone has already paid for your meal," the server interrupted with a smile.

Arabella froze, turning to the server in surprise. "Someone paid for us?"

"Yes, that gentleman over there." The server gestured toward their left.

Following the indication, Arabella's brow twitched and her expression stiffened.

Gabriel.

When had he arrived?

How had he found them?

Had he planted a tracker on her? Or sent someone to follow her?

Gabriel, noticing them both looking his way, elegantly raised his wine glass in acknowledgment.

Arabella stood abruptly, shocked and furious, her first instinct to march over, snatch that glass from his hand, and throw the wine in his face!

"Arabella!" But Manuel quickly grabbed her arm.

Arabella forced herself to calm down, taking several deep breaths before grabbing her purse and walking out.

Manuel glanced at Gabriel before hurrying after her.

But as Arabella stepped out of the restaurant, she came face to face with Mary and the nanny, each holding one of the twins.

"Mrs. Sterling!" Mary greeted her with delight.

Arabella's steps halted, all other emotions evaporating as her eyes fixed on the children.

Mary was holding Isabella. Seeing her mother, the little girl squealed excitedly, waving her tiny hands.

Before Arabella could react, the baby lunged from Mary's arms.

Arabella instinctively caught her.

Manuel watched the scene, feeling ready to explode with frustration!

Gabriel only knew one trick—using the children as leverage!

As he fumed, Gabriel approached unhurriedly, catching up to them.

"Dinner's over. Let's go home." He walked past Manuel straight to Arabella, wrapping an arm around her.

"Let go!" Arabella snapped quietly, driving her elbow back.

Gabriel smiled faintly, elegant and devastatingly charming. "Don't make a scene. The children are staying at your place tonight."

His display of intimacy was entirely for Manuel's benefit.

Manuel clenched his fists. If not for the crowd at the restaurant entrance, he'd have thrown a punch.

Fortunately, Arabella remembered his presence. Holding her daughter, she turned with an apologetic, embarrassed expression. "Manuel, you should head home. I need to take care of the children."

Manuel's mouth moved wordlessly. After a pause, he smiled and nodded. "Alright. Call me if you need anything."

"I—"

"Mr. Wright, she's with me. Nothing will happen to her. Thanks for your concern," Gabriel cut in smoothly before Arabella could speak, his tone light but pointed.

Arabella shot him a withering look.

Manuel was equally exasperated, then retorted bluntly: "Meeting you was the greatest misfortune of her life. You've got some nerve saying that."

"Is that so?" Gabriel remained unruffled, instead gazing at Arabella with tender affection, asking softly, "Was having my children also a misfortune?"