Chapter 51 After Everything We've Been Through, I Don't Hate You
Gabriel roared in fury, "I told you that child has nothing to do with me! That's Dominic's child!"
Arabella didn't argue with him. Instead, she pulled out her phone, found the fresh trending news story, and walked over to show him.
Gabriel frowned, staring at the phone screen for two seconds before his dangerously narrowed eyes revealed murderous intent, "Who the hell is spreading this nonsense now!"
He'd finally managed to clarify the situation and suppress the media buzz—how was it trending again?
"Emily admitted it herself. No one's spreading nonsense," Arabella said calmly.
"She must have said that during a fight with Dominic, just being spiteful." Gabriel truly understood Emily, and though he hadn't witnessed the incident, he hit the nail on the head.
Arabella pocketed her phone, offering no argument, "It doesn't matter. I want a divorce anyway. Please, Mr. Sterling, be generous and set me free."
Gabriel was so infuriated by her resolute attitude that he couldn't speak, one hand pressing against his stomach with crushing force.
Arabella watched him curl over in pain, the veins at his temples visibly throbbing, his face contorting. Out of kindness, she advised, "You should eat something quickly, then take your medication."
Gabriel said nothing, but closed his eyes in agony and sank back against the headboard.
Arabella had intended to leave, but seeing him like this, she couldn't bring herself to abandon him.
In the silence, Gabriel's voice, hazy with pain, slowly emerged, "Must you divorce me? Even considering our children, isn't there any room for reconciliation?"
His softened attitude made Arabella's heart waver.
"Emily will be leaving Luminara soon. My relationship with her isn't what you think. Her divorce from Dominic isn't because of me."
Whether she believed him or not, Gabriel insisted on explaining once more.
Hearing this, the cold hardness in Arabella's heart softened again.
Should she feel grateful?
After all, this was the heir to the prestigious Sterling family—she was probably the only woman in the world he'd repeatedly tried to keep.
Even if he didn't love her, even if he looked down on her from the bottom of his heart, he was still trying to make her stay, again and again.
At least it proved that her pitiful, ridiculous existence had some value—that she wasn't completely worthless.
With self-mockery in her heart, she suddenly felt a measure of peace. Walking forward, she sat on the edge of the bed and picked up the chicken soup, gently stirring it with the spoon.
"Gabriel, thank you for showing me my meager remaining worth. But we truly have no fate together—let's not force it anymore."
She spoke with calm resignation, then scooped up a spoonful of soup, approaching him with rare gentle initiative, "After everything we've been through as a couple, you gave me two years of comfortable luxury and two beautiful children. I don't hate you, and I won't bite the hand that feeds me. Let's part on good terms."
As her words ended, the spoon in her hand reached Gabriel's lips.
This gentle care was everything Gabriel had dreamed of.
But now, he felt unworthy of it.
Compared to her acceptance and peaceful resignation, he wished the Arabella before him would keep fighting with him forever, never giving up.
Seeing him motionless, staring at her with emotions swirling in his eyes more intensely than during their earlier confrontation, Arabella was puzzled.
She smiled helplessly and nudged the spoon closer, "What's wrong with you? Can't I be grateful? Let's stop fighting—it's torture for both of us. Get well soon, and we'll finalize the paperwork."
Gabriel finally reacted.
Seeing her sudden peace offering, all for the sake of getting him to sign quickly.
"No need. I'm not hungry. You can go." Disappointment, helplessness, heartache, and anger all transformed into distant rejection as he raised a hand to push away the soup at his lips.
Arabella frowned. "You've barely eaten all day. Do you think your body can take much more of this?"
"Gabriel, if you actually starve yourself to death, I'm the one who benefits in the end. Think about that carefully." To get him to eat properly, Arabella resorted to reverse psychology.
He smiled mockingly. "If I died, wouldn't that be exactly what you want?"
Arabella suppressed her displeasure and took a deep breath, but suddenly lost all patience. Setting down the chicken soup, she reached out decisively, grabbed his chin with one hand, and with her other hand expertly forced the soup into his mouth!
The entire motion was swift and seamless, executed with fluid precision.
Gabriel was stunned from head to toe, the soup in his mouth forgotten as he stared at her in complete shock, unable to believe he'd been forced like this!
"What are you staring at? If you really die, the Sterling family won't let me off! Henny and Isabella are still babies who need their parents—I can't bear to see them become orphans!"
This was exactly like Arabella—gentle and kind on the surface, even appearing weak and easily bullied.
But once pushed to her limit, courage would surge from nowhere, and she could do anything.
"Still glaring at me? Eat! Or I'll pour the whole bowl down your throat!" She threatened fiercely, apparently worried he might spit it out, and covered his mouth with her hand.
Gabriel was completely dumbfounded.
In his life of arrogance, conceit, and even tyrannical behavior, no one had ever dared treat him like this!
Even when he'd been deeply in love with Emily and indulged her to the point of complete compliance, she'd never been this brazen with him.
Yet here was Arabella—with no status, no position, no backing—daring to be so presumptuous!
It was absolutely outrageous!
But strangely, he felt a sweet satisfaction beneath it all.
Her hand covered his mouth, half his face touched by the soft, smooth warmth of her palm.
Like a marionette, he found himself submitting to her intimidation. After a long standoff, he actually began to swallow obediently.
Arabella kept watching him, and seeing him finally willing to eat, her expression showed some satisfaction. She turned to scoop another spoonful, preparing to continue force-feeding him when the man shook his head slightly to break free. "I'm not a prisoner."
Clearly, this method of care was too humiliating for him to accept.
"Then behave yourself and eat on your own—properly!" Arabella said sternly, handing him the soup bowl.
Gabriel suddenly seemed to change completely, losing his temper as he propped himself up and accepted the soup she offered.
Watching him eat obediently, Arabella finally relaxed.
"Wouldn't it have been better if you'd been this cooperative from the start? Did you think starving yourself would hurt anyone else? Getting stomach problems at such a young age—have you forgotten how Grandfather passed away? If you don't know how to take care of your body, you might not even live to his age."
William had died of stomach cancer.
Gabriel was still so young, yet his gastritis attacks were already this severe. Without careful management, the condition could very well deteriorate into cancer.