Chapter 76 Stunning Beauty
Looking at Ella, Arabella thought about how the day before, after their meeting, Ella had also initiated a conversation with her. Though her attitude wasn't particularly warm, that was probably just her personality.
Feeling grateful, she walked over to Ella and smiled warmly, "Thank you, Ella."
Ella tucked a loose strand of her short hair behind her ear and smiled back. "Don't mention it. I wasn't helping you specifically—I was just fighting against modern society's prejudice toward women."
Hearing her straightforward response, Arabella smiled knowingly. "Well, I still need to thank you. Let me take you to lunch sometime."
"Lunch? Do you have time for that? With babies at home needing to be fed, don't you have to rush home right after work?" Ella raised an eyebrow with a half-smile.
Arabella laughed helplessly. "You're right... Well, maybe on the weekend then. There'll be a chance eventually."
"Mm, we'll see."
Ella picked up her coffee and walked away. Arabella glanced at the refrigerator, her expression deflating slightly, then returned to her desk to continue working.
At three in the afternoon, Gabriel suddenly called.
She was feeling drowsy at that moment, but being in her nursing period, she didn't dare drink too much coffee and was relying purely on willpower to stay alert.
Seeing Gabriel's incoming call, she stood and walked to the hallway outside to answer, "Hello, what's up?"
"Why aren't you home yet?" The man's voice boomed like thunder, making her flinch from the very first words.
Arabella was confused. "It's only three o'clock—I haven't finished work."
"Did you forget what I told you about tonight's cocktail party?"
"Ah..." She really had forgotten.
Having just started work, Arabella's nerves were completely on edge, focused only on work and work-related matters. How could she remember anything else?
"Get back here immediately. If you mess up my business tonight, I think that damn job of yours doesn't need to continue!"
After Gabriel's domineering command, he hung up without caring how she'd explain things to her supervisor—he just wanted to see her as quickly as possible.
Arabella gripped her phone, her heart racing with panic.
Gabriel was a madman who always followed through on his threats. If she stood him up, that guy would definitely make her lose her job.
After some consideration, she figured that since her colleagues had already discovered her pumping and everyone knew she was nursing, she might as well use her children being sick as an excuse to leave work early.
"Your child is sick? Is it serious? Did you take them to the hospital?" Sure enough, when Zane heard this, he immediately showed concern.
Arabella had to continue lying, "Just a fever. Family members took them to the hospital, but they can't handle everything alone—they need me there."
"This is... requesting leave on your first week isn't good. You'll lose part of your bonus, and this kind of thing during your probation period really doesn't look good." He looked troubled.
Arabella could only smile apologetically. "I understand. Deduct whatever needs to be deducted—it's my responsibility, and I don't blame the company."
Since she put it that way, Zane naturally let her go.
Rushing all the way home, she worked up a sweat in the autumn weather.
Entering the house, she saw several people sitting in the living room.
When Gabriel saw her return, he nodded faintly toward the group, "That's her. Work efficiently—get it done within an hour."
The lead woman stood and walked over to examine Arabella from head to toe, nodding approvingly, "Mrs. Sterling has beautiful, striking features and good skin. Aside from some dark circles under her eyes, there's no problem. We can finish in an hour."
Only then did Arabella realize the three people were a styling team.
She was instantly bewildered.
What kind of cocktail party was this? Not only had they specially ordered evening gowns a few days ago, but now they needed professional styling too?
Before she could react, the stylist pulled her into a chair. A large case opened, and a ring of makeup lights suddenly blazed to life before her eyes.
What followed was like being a doll—completely at their mercy.
During the process, Henny and Isabella woke up crying, but the nanny held the twins nearby to watch their mother getting her makeup done. Two pairs of sparkling eyes stared unblinkingly at their gradually beautifying mother, and they stopped crying altogether.
The stylist glanced at the pair of babies and exclaimed in amazement, "These two children have perfectly inherited your and Mr. Sterling's excellent genes. They're absolutely gorgeous."
Of course, Arabella knew how adorable Henny and Isabella were.
Whenever she felt down, looking at the babies' round, bright eyes and chubby little cheeks could cure the gloom in her heart without any medicine.
If it weren't for her deep, unwavering attachment to the two children, she would have left Gabriel long ago and escaped this gilded cage.
After her makeup was finished, Arabella's long hair had been styled into beautiful, fashionable loose curls that cascaded over her shoulders, adding considerable elegance and allure.
Once she changed into the evening gown, she was absolutely radiant—a completely different person from her usual simple appearance.
Gabriel had already changed into his formal suit and was sitting in the living room playing with Henny and Isabella.
When Arabella gracefully descended the staircase, he initially didn't notice—it was Mary's exclamation that alerted him.
"Oh my! Mrs. Sterling looks absolutely stunning!"
Hearing this, he looked up and saw the figure descending the stairs step by step. His eyes immediately froze.
Arabella wasn't used to high heels.
Although these nude pumps were only two inches, she still wasn't comfortable in them and had to hold the banister with one hand, afraid of losing her balance and tumbling straight down from the second floor.
Mary's exclamation made her feel self-conscious, and seeing Gabriel looking up and staring at her intently made her even more nervous and flustered. She simply held onto the banister and stopped moving.
Her cheeks instantly flushed pink—she didn't understand what Gabriel's expression meant.
This was her first time dressing so formally, and she worried that trying too hard might make her look ridiculous instead.
Mary's gaze moved between the two, seeing that Gabriel was so captivated by Arabella that he forgot to react. She quickly stepped forward and whispered a reminder, "Mr. Sterling, Mr. Sterling? Mrs. Sterling rarely wears heels and has trouble with stairs. You should go help her!"
When a woman in heels walked down stairs, any gentleman should offer assistance.
Gabriel really hadn't thought of this. Mary's hint brought him back to his senses, and his handsome face showed some discomfort.
The two kids were still babbling, but he lost interest in entertaining them.
He stood up, adjusting his suit jacket slightly, and walked toward the staircase with studied coolness and composure.
Being gallant wasn't his style. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, he put his hands in his pockets and looked up slightly at the woman halfway down, his dark brows furrowing, "Hurry up and come down—we're going to be late!"
Hearing this, Mary rolled her eyes in exasperation.
With that emotional intelligence and sharp tongue, if William hadn't planned and forced him into marriage, he probably never would have found a girl willing to accept such a tedious man in his lifetime!
Arabella had thought he would come up to support her, maybe even compliment her beauty. Instead, all she got was that line, and all her internal preparation went to waste.
The shyness, anticipation, and restraint on her face instantly disappeared. Embarrassed, she lowered her head, lifted her skirt, and continued down the stairs with a wooden expression.
Unfortunately, distracted as she was, her next step landed on the hem of her gown, and her body suddenly lurched forward.