Chapter 74 Go Take a Shower First
Gabriel hung up angrily, and Arabella glumly set down her phone.
Returning to her workstation, she looked at the promotional proposal she'd just started developing on her computer. She could only save it and email herself a copy, planning to work on it more at home tonight.
On the subway ride back, she leaned wearily against her seat, watching the packed train car, her mind racing with countless thoughts.
After just one day of work, she was already feeling the weight of how difficult life could be.
During these past few years with Gabriel, no matter how much she tried to maintain boundaries, she'd inevitably enjoyed many luxuries of the elite lifestyle, developing a certain sense of entitlement along the way.
Today, reading people's expressions, navigating office politics, and having to strategically turn a blind eye to things—just the mental energy spent on interpersonal dynamics alone was exhausting.
But this was the life she'd fought so hard to achieve. No matter what, she couldn't give up.
Everything was difficult at the start. She believed that once she got through this adjustment period, things would get better.
Arabella got off the subway, still having to walk over two miles to reach the gated community.
And even within the estate grounds, she'd have to continue walking quite a distance...
In a normal, loving marriage, this would be the perfect time to call her husband, act a little sweet, and ask him to drive out and pick her up.
But clearly, that wasn't quite appropriate for her and Gabriel.
Oh well, better to just walk slowly.
Just as she entered the estate grounds, her phone rang again.
"Arabella, are you crawling home? Even a turtle moves faster than you!" Clearly, Gabriel had reached his breaking point after waiting so long.
Arabella jumped at the shouting through the phone, quickly holding it away from her ear. After he finished his outburst, she said, "Almost there, I'll be home soon. Ten minutes."
He hung up immediately.
She rolled her eyes helplessly. Though exhausted, she quickened her pace, jogging the rest of the way home.
Mary was waiting by the front door. Seeing Arabella, she immediately rushed over, saying with concern, "You must be exhausted, Mrs. Sterling. Mr. Sterling is being completely unreasonable. I suggested he go pick you up—he refused. I suggested sending the driver—he wouldn't allow that either. He has no consideration for you whatsoever."
"It's fine, I'll consider it exercise," Arabella laughed it off, pretending not to care, though she knew in her heart that Gabriel was doing this deliberately—making her struggle so she'd give up.
Before even entering the living room, she could hear Henny and Isabella crying their hearts out inside.
Whether they were hungry or needed changing, they were absolutely inconsolable.
Hearing them broke Arabella's heart, and she unconsciously quickened her steps. After entering and setting down her bag, she headed straight for the children.
Gabriel blocked her path with a cold expression.
"What are you doing?" Arabella asked, looking up at him with annoyance, worried about the children.
The man's face was expressionless, maintaining his superior attitude, his eyes scanning her from head to toe like lasers. "You just came in from outside. You're not clean. Go shower and change clothes before getting near the children."
Arabella stared at him, unable to argue.
She had taken the subway home and definitely needed to clean up.
Gabriel had always been particular about such things.
He typically traveled by private car, and even at home, he'd shower and change into loungewear before playing with the children.
Though she knew he was being reasonable, Arabella still felt he was deliberately targeting her.
After a two-second standoff, she could only obediently listen, turning to go upstairs to wash and change.
By the time she came back down, both Henny and Isabella had cried themselves out, their eyelashes still damp with tears as they sniffled occasionally, looking absolutely pitiful.
She quickly picked up Isabella to nurse first, soothing her, then switched to feed Henny.
According to the nanny, the children hadn't gone hungry—they'd both adapted well to the combination feeding routine.
So why the endless crying?
Mary explained, "The children are getting bigger and starting to recognize people. Once it gets dark, they only want their mother. When they can't find you, they cry. It's completely normal."
Arabella had attended prenatal classes and understood infant developmental stages and behaviors.
But experiencing it firsthand still exceeded her expectations.
Seeing her silence, with nothing but heartache and guilt in her eyes, Mary sighed softly and gently advised, "Mrs. Sterling, maybe wait until the children are older and weaned before returning to work?"
Arabella looked down at Henny in her arms, remaining silent.
She wasn't sure if this was Gabriel's idea, having Mary persuade her.
She'd fought so hard for this opportunity, finally taking this step. If she gave up right at the beginning, she couldn't imagine how Gabriel would mock her.
Besides, failing this time would mean losing even more voice in future decisions with Gabriel, becoming even more of an appendage to this man.
She didn't want to give up so easily.
"Mary, I just started working. The initial period is challenging because I haven't adapted yet. Once I get used to this routine and become more efficient, I won't be coming home this late," she replied warmly after thinking for a moment.
Mary, being a servant, had no right to interfere in her employers' lives, so she couldn't say much more.
That evening, after the children were sound asleep, Arabella was yawning from exhaustion.
Looking at the clock—nearly ten o'clock—she hesitated between working overtime or just collapsing into bed.
After a few seconds of indecision, she forced herself to rally and went to the study to continue working on the proposal.
To stay alert, she downed a cup of black coffee.
She'd just gotten into her work rhythm when the study door opened. Too absorbed in her work to notice, she didn't realize Gabriel's figure was looming over her until she suddenly looked up, startled.
Seeing it was him, Arabella relaxed, glancing at him before returning her attention to the computer screen.
Gabriel stood there with his hands in his pockets, looking casual and lazy.
After staring at her for a full three minutes, Gabriel spoke with cold mockery, "How much is that damn trash company paying you per month that you're busier than I am?"
Knowing that whenever he spoke, it was to mock her, Arabella didn't take offense, explaining calmly, "I just started, and my supervisor assigned me such important work. It shows they trust me. If I want to prove myself, I have to do this project well, which means putting in the effort."
After speaking, before Gabriel could respond, she added, "You should go to bed first. Don't wait up for me. I won't be too much longer—I have to get up early for work tomorrow."
Gabriel ignored her latter comment, focusing only on her earlier explanation, "Prove yourself, and then what? The company gives you a promotion and a raise?"
Seeing his words dripping with denial and mockery, Arabella frowned, her tone becoming more rigid. "As a workplace newcomer, I don't dare expect promotions or raises."
"Then why are you putting yourself through this, neglecting the children? For what?"
She couldn't answer, or perhaps didn't want to.
Gabriel continued, "This type of clerical work pays at most five thousand dollars a month. I'll pay you ten times that to come back and properly care for the children."
Arabella's hands, which had been typing on the keyboard, finally stopped. She looked up at him.
Gabriel met her gaze, but with a condescending attitude.
"So Mr. Sterling, are you trying to turn me into one of your employees too?" she asked calmly, though her tone carried clear displeasure.