Chapter 5 I Heard Arabella Wants to Divorce You?
Such insulting words would enrage anyone.
But Arabella laughed bitterly, pausing before delivering her cutting response, "His inability to appreciate me is his loss, not mine. Your aggressive, hysterical behavior is what truly damages your reputation as a refined socialite."
"You...!"
Emily, raised as a proper lady with all the finest etiquette training, found herself speechless in the face of such a direct retort.
Watching Arabella walk away victorious, Emily turned and approached Joanna, her voice full of wounded indignation, "What was Grandpa William thinking, forcing Gabriel to marry her? She's absolutely disgracing the family name!"
Joanna also looked down on Arabella from the bottom of her heart.
But hearing Emily's complaint, she didn't entirely take her side. Instead, she said reproachfully, "Gabriel's been devoted to you, but you only have eyes for Dominic. How exactly is Gabriel inferior to Dominic? If you'd been with Gabriel and married him earlier, Arabella would never have been able to steal your place."
Emily listened to Joanna's words with clear disapproval.
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Arabella had fallen a few steps behind, and just as she entered the elevator, Gabriel's call came through.
"Hurry up. I need to get to the office," came his cold, impatient voice the moment she answered.
Arabella was also in a foul mood, but too tired to argue. "Then just go to the office. You don't need to drive me."
"How will you get back?"
"Taxi, subway, bus—plenty of options. I'm perfectly capable of getting myself home," she shot back with bitter amusement.
She wasn't a three-year-old child or some helpless fool who couldn't navigate her way back.
Gabriel didn't respond and simply hung up.
When Arabella lowered her phone, she was just stepping out of the elevator.
By the time she reached the lobby entrance, she caught a distant glimpse of Gabriel's Bentley pulling out of the parking area.
Her heart felt numb—she felt nothing at all.
She stopped, checking the time on her phone. It was already eleven o'clock.
Ever since having the children, her life had become completely confined by them.
No job, no social life—she didn't even have close friends in this city.
She'd thought about wandering around for a while, but as she descended the hospital steps, she dismissed the idea.
Never mind. Better to just go home.
As she left the hospital and headed toward the subway station, her phone rang.
Seeing the caller ID, her face lit up with joy, and she quickly answered.
"Sophia! What made you think of calling me?" It was her high school classmate and close friend, Sophia Wilson.
Sophia replied, "I'm in Luminara on business, thought I'd visit you, my rich friend. Remember that promise about not forgetting each other when we strike it rich? Now that you've married into wealth and become a woman of means, you haven't forgotten about me, have you?"
Arabella laughed delightedly. "I could forget anyone but never you! Where are you? I'll treat you to lunch."
"Perfect! I want the full luxury dining experience."
"Absolutely!"
After hanging up, Arabella thought for a moment about a nice restaurant, looked up its location, and sent it to Sophia.
An hour later, the two women who hadn't seen each other for over six months had an excited reunion, embracing tightly.
Once seated, Sophia looked her over with a frown and teased, "You're way too low-key. The wife of a billionaire CEO, and you dress just like us regular people."
Arabella felt a bit embarrassed and explained, "I gained weight after having the babies. Nothing looks good on me anymore."
"Nonsense. You were too thin before—this suits you perfectly." She leaned in closer, lowering her voice with a mischievous smile. "Women need to be curvy and soft—that's what drives men wild."
Arabella blushed inexplicably and quickly pushed the menu toward her friend to change the subject. "See what you'd like to eat."
As they ordered and chatted, Arabella learned that Sophia's husband was being promoted and transferred to Luminara, so their whole family would be relocating. This business trip was also to scout out rental properties in preparation for the move.
"That's wonderful! Finally, I'll have a good friend in this city!" Arabella was thrilled.
Sophia smiled. "I thought it was quite a coincidence that you happened to be in Luminara too."
The two chatted so enjoyably that they lost track of time. Eventually, a call from home about the children acting up forced Arabella to leave.
When it came time to pay, she pulled out a black card and handed it to the server.
Sophia grinned teasingly, "Now that's the proper wealthy socialite move."
But Arabella sighed, "Honestly, I'd rather have a job and support myself with my own abilities."
Though Gabriel had given her this unlimited card, she always felt uncomfortable using it.
She longed to thrive in the workplace, to achieve something meaningful, to experience a more fulfilling life.
High society was like an ocean—Sophia understood some of it and offered comfort, "When the children are older, you'll definitely be able to do that."
The server returned with the black card, and Arabella stood to bid farewell to her friend before hurrying home.
————
At the office, Gabriel had just finished a meeting when he noticed a bank notification on his phone, his brow furrowing slightly.
A restaurant charges: $876.
He'd given Arabella this card after their marriage.
But in two years, she'd used it only a handful of times.
Today was unusual. Who had she gone to lunch with?
This uncharacteristic behavior puzzled Gabriel, and he couldn't help connecting it to her recent divorce talk.
Was she consulting with a lawyer? Getting advice from friends?
Thinking about her made Gabriel's thoughts spiral into chaos again.
She'd been throwing around divorce threats for two days now—what was she really thinking?
When they married two years ago, they'd indeed reached an agreement; after William passed away, they would divorce amicably, and he would provide appropriate financial compensation as thanks for her cooperation.
Back then, they never intended to be a real married couple, much less have children.
A year ago, when Emily married Dominic, he'd served as best man, watching the woman he'd loved for years marry someone else. His devastation that day led to heavy drinking.
When Arabella cared for him that night, he'd mistaken her for Emily in his intoxicated state, and they'd ended up sleeping together.
Afterward, he'd apologized and told her to take appropriate precautions, but two months later came the shocking news of her pregnancy.
Many things happened after that, and even now, remembering it all filled him with rage and frustration.
Who would have thought that someone as shrewd as him could be outmaneuvered by a seemingly innocent woman, losing everything in the process?
His phone rang, interrupting his chaotic thoughts.
Seeing the caller ID, his expression softened, and the ice in his eyes melted considerably. "Hello, Emily."
It was Emily calling, and she got straight to the point, "Gabriel, I heard Arabella wants to divorce you?"
Gabriel's face darkened. "Who told you that?"
"Joanna mentioned it," Emily explained. "After leaving the hospital this morning, Joanna went to Parkside Estate to check on the children. She overheard the staff talking, saying Arabella brought up divorce with you this morning, and you ignored her."
Gabriel frowned, his expression growing stormy as he leaned back in his chair, coolly rubbing his temples.
It seemed the household staff needed a serious talking-to. Gossiping about their employers' private affairs was absolutely forbidden.