Chapter 55 Can't Emily Satisfy You Now That She's Pregnant, So You Turn to Me?
Gabriel caught every detail of her panicked, guilty reaction, and he certainly didn't miss whatever secret Arabella was hiding behind her back.
Without answering her question, he continued forward until he had backed her against the balcony railing with nowhere left to retreat.
Arabella's mind was buzzing, her breathing labored as she watched his face draw closer and closer. She could only crane her neck back as far as possible.
Gabriel was still deliberately crowding her.
They were so close their breaths mingled. Watching her grow more and more flustered, so frightened she was carefully controlling her breathing, a sinister smile curved his lips as he reached around behind her, asking softly, "What little treasure are you hiding back there? Let me have a look."
Before he'd finished speaking, his hand had already grasped the papers.
Arabella's heart hammered frantically, her words coming out in stutters, "It's... it's nothing. Just some doodles I was scribbling."
"Is that so?"
Behind her back, they engaged in a silent struggle—one pulling outward with force, the other gripping tight and refusing to let go.
Until the paper tore in half.
Gabriel looked down to see that he was holding the upper portion, where black text on white paper clearly read "DIVORCE AGREEMENT."
His pupils contracted several times uncontrollably. He gritted his teeth, then let out a cold laugh, "So eager? Did he pressure you again?"
Arabella released a long breath, too tired to address his accusations. She might as well be direct, "Since you've seen it anyway, perfect timing. Sign it today, and we'll finalize everything at the courthouse Monday morning."
"On what grounds?" Gabriel asked unhurriedly.
Arabella scoffed, demanding angrily, "There's no love between us. We were never from the same world to begin with. You have your own preferred woman, and now she's even carrying your child—do you really think our marriage serves any purpose anymore?"
Gabriel was so furious he nearly rolled his eyes. He turned away to collect himself, then looked back at her, "What century are you living in, still believing in love? As for social status, I'm not the one looking down on you, so why are you obsessing over it? And regarding Emily—I've explained repeatedly that there's nothing between us. The child has nothing to do with me."
"I don't believe you." She turned her head away.
Every time this topic came up, they fell into the same endless loop, leaving Gabriel extremely frustrated and irritated!
Arabella was right—there truly was no trust between them whatsoever.
She didn't believe Gabriel was innocent with Emily now, just as Gabriel hadn't believed she'd taken birth control pills back then.
Gabriel was experiencing the same frustration, getting his just desserts.
They remained locked in their standoff, still maintaining an extremely intimate position, so close that their chests nearly touched with each breath.
After a long moment, Arabella could barely hold the position anymore. Frowning, she looked at him and said with forced composure, "Someone of your status should marry a well-matched socialite who could elevate the Sterling family's position even higher, not marry someone like me—a nobody you're embarrassed to be seen with in public."
Gabriel misinterpreted her meaning, "Are you upset that in two years of marriage, I've never brought you to any public events?"
Arabella looked up at him, her beautiful eyes full of speechless exasperation. "That's not what I meant!"
But Gabriel ignored this, continuing, "There's a very formal reception next week where I'm required to bring a date. Perfect—you can accompany me."
Seeing him deliberately playing dumb, Arabella pressed her lips together, feeling utterly powerless.
When would he finally face these issues head-on?
This deflecting and avoidance couldn't solve any of their current problems.
Seeing her silence, Gabriel thought he'd successfully appeased her. He raised his hand to cup the side of her face, his thumb gently stroking, "No matter how worthless I am, I'm still your children's father. That blood connection can't be severed. But if you go play stepmother to someone else's kids, that's just asking for trouble."
Stepmother? Arabella frowned deeply, looking at him strangely, "What are you talking about?"
Seeing her denial, Gabriel didn't want to elaborate.
His proud ego prevented him from dwelling on the subject—otherwise it would seem like he cared too much, as if he were jealous.
His thumb continued stroking her cheek as he smiled in an utterly chilling way, then dropped his hand and tore the half of the divorce agreement he'd seized into shreds.
Arabella watched silently, feeling defeated.
That evening, when Arabella prepared to return to the guest room, Gabriel locked the master bedroom door the moment she came in to get her clothes!
She tried the handle twice but couldn't turn it, then turned back to the man in frustration, "Gabriel, open this door!"
"It's late at night—of course, the door should be locked for sleeping." He leaned against the headboard, answering casually.
"What's the point of forcing me like this?"
"I find it quite entertaining." Gabriel's mind flashed to her sneaking out for a secret rendezvous that afternoon, igniting a raging fire in his chest.
No matter what, he wouldn't let her leave tonight. He had to make her face reality about her true position.
Arabella couldn't be bothered arguing with him. She bent down to examine the door lock mechanism.
She'd never seen anyone with such an odd bedroom lock. There was no visible way to unlock it from the inside!
Just as she was at her wit's end, he lounging on the bed, spoke up, "Don't waste your energy. I have the remote."
She looked back to see him dangling a small device from his finger.
After a moment's hesitation, she marched over angrily to snatch the remote.
Predictably, Gabriel wasn't about to hand it over.
The remote was just bait to lure her into his trap.
The moment Arabella reached out, Gabriel's arm holding the remote twisted, instantly capturing her delicate wrist.
"What are you doing! Let go—it's late, and I don't want to fight with you!" Startled, she immediately struggled, but to no avail.
Gabriel applied slight pressure and pulled her over, directly imprisoning her in his arms.
Their distance closed instantly, making Arabella tense up immediately, "Gabriel, let me go!"
"Arabella, I've reminded you—we're not divorced yet, so you still need to fulfill your marital duties." Ignoring her resistance, he rolled over and pinned her beneath him.
Arabella was terrified!
She never would have dreamed Gabriel would speak of this so matter-of-factly now.
Before, he couldn't even be bothered to look at her properly. How was he now acting like he was addicted to her, seeking her out every few days to...
Thinking it over, there was only one possible explanation.
"Gabriel, is it because Emily can't satisfy you now that she's pregnant, so you can only take your desires out on me?" She couldn't think of any other reason.
The man who had just pinned her down, about to lean in for a kiss, suddenly froze at these words, his handsome face suspended above hers as if turned to stone.
She would actually accuse him of this!
Their eyes met, the air crackling with tension.
Seeing he didn't deny it, Arabella laughed with cold mockery, "Who would have thought you'd be so particular about cleanliness? With women willing to sleep with you lined up around the block, you still have standards enough to settle for me."
She deliberately spoke these vicious words to provoke his fury, hoping to make him lose interest in her.
Given how far they'd deteriorated, she simply couldn't accept physical intimacy anymore.
Of course, she might also fear her own willpower wasn't strong enough—that she'd be seduced by these hormones again and waver in her resolve.
But she'd miscalculated Gabriel's mindset.
He was indeed enraged, but the consequence of his anger wasn't abandoning his intentions—it was growing even more determined! He even wanted to destroy her!