Chapter 84 Do I Need to Feed You Myself?
Gabriel deliberately didn't answer, maintaining his cold, hard tone. "Go eat dinner."
Arabella opened her mouth but didn't dare ask more questions, afraid of angering him and losing his help in finding her phone.
She had no choice but to go eat.
Henny and Isabella were playing in their strollers. She ate while entertaining the children, and soon heard a car pulling up in the courtyard.
Gabriel got up and went outside. She craned her neck to peek.
The man returned quickly, still empty-handed, just as he'd left.
When their eyes met, he smiled teasingly. "Why are you stretching your neck like a giraffe?"
She wasn't angry, just asked, "Where's my phone? Did you get it back?"
"Who told you I got your phone back? Ralph came by for me to sign some documents."
The expectation on her face instantly deflated.
Originally, Arabella had planned to work overtime tonight to continue revising her proposal—Ella had given her some feedback during the day.
But losing her phone had completely killed her motivation.
Crying sounds came from outside. She got up and went to nurse Isabella again.
It was getting late. She hesitated outside the master bedroom door for a moment, then quietly turned the handle and went in.
Gabriel was leaning against the headboard with his laptop in front of him.
Seeing the woman enter, he glanced at her casually. "I thought you were going to hide until I was asleep again before coming back to the room."
Arabella pouted but didn't dare retort, silently walking to the bed and pulling back the covers.
Gabriel watched her, the corner of his mouth curving up. After putting away his laptop and setting it on the nightstand, he reached into the drawer and pulled out a phone.
"Look."
That single word made Arabella bounce up instantly with joy, taking the phone with overwhelming happiness. "You found it! When did you get it back? Why didn't you tell me sooner!"
She unlocked the phone to see the familiar wallpaper and desktop. Opening the photo gallery, all her pictures and videos were still there.
"Thank goodness, none of the photos or videos were deleted." She murmured to herself, her face glowing with the joy of recovering something precious.
Gabriel watched her happiness and explained, "When the police tracked it down, the thief was trying to get someone to factory reset it. Fortunately, the shop owner had principles—he could tell it was probably stolen and refused to wipe it."
Otherwise, even if they'd gotten it back, everything inside might have been gone.
Arabella looked at the man, her eyes shining. "Thank you."
"I'm your husband—what's there to thank? Besides, rather than just saying it, how about some actual gratitude?" He smiled wickedly with meaningful intent, his gaze heavy with suggestion, practically advertising his thoughts.
Arabella certainly understood what he meant, but unfortunately...
Her cheeks flushed as she lowered her lashes, saying embarrassedly, "Tonight won't work... I, I got my period—"
"Got what?" Gabriel hadn't heard clearly.
She pressed her lips together and spoke more clearly, "My period... it started tonight."
"..." Gabriel's face instantly became more embarrassed than hers.
Before Arabella had entered the room, he'd been fantasizing about how she'd thank him tonight.
Last time when he'd agreed to let her work, she'd been more proactive that night, clearly more engaged than her usual reluctant demeanor.
He'd been anticipating a repeat performance for a while, only to get this result.
The atmosphere fell into awkward silence. Arabella watched his expression, not daring to make a sound.
Deep down, she actually felt a bit of vindictive satisfaction.
After a moment, Gabriel lay down, coolly tossing out, "Let's sleep."
"Mm." She responded softly, quietly turning off the light and lying down.
Arabella used to have severe period pain that required painkillers to get through.
After giving birth, her cramps had improved considerably, but the backache and abdominal bloating were still inevitable.
She tossed and turned, having trouble falling asleep.
Gabriel wasn't asleep either. Feeling her restlessness, he spoke with slight irritation, "What's wrong? Are you uncomfortable?"
Arabella stopped moving and apologized quietly, "Sorry, maybe I should sleep in the guest room."
She wanted to find Mary, get some hot chocolate, and use a heating pad.
Before she'd finished speaking, she propped herself up to leave, but before she could pull back the covers, Gabriel turned and pressed her heavily back into the bed, roaring, "Arabella, which of my words suggested I wanted you to leave? Or do you have issues and find sleeping with me unbearable?"
This was infuriating!
Always wanting to sleep in separate rooms at the drop of a hat!
What husband could tolerate that?
Before, when she'd complained about his unclear relationship with Emily, her fuss had been understandable.
But now he'd clearly cut ties with Emily and was caring for her attentively. Wasn't that enough?
Arabella was startled and lay there stunned, staring wide-eyed. "I... I didn't mean it that way."
"Then what did you mean!" He insisted on getting to the bottom of it.
"I just... I'm uncomfortable and can't sleep. All my tossing and turning will disturb you..." Arabella stammered her explanation, sounding a bit aggrieved.
Now it was Gabriel's turn to be stunned.
After two seconds of silence, his tone softened. "What's wrong? Where does it hurt?"
"It's just... when I have my period, I get backaches and stomach pain."
"Menstrual cramps?" Gabriel did understand this.
After all, having been ambiguously involved with Emily for so many years, he certainly knew about women's monthly biological responses.
Arabella's eyes flickered with surprise, though she quickly understood—he must have learned from Emily.
When their eyes met, though neither said anything, both caught that subtle awkwardness.
Gabriel inexplicably felt guilty and explained as he got up, "That's basic knowledge from middle school biology. Don't read too much into it."
Arabella wasn't having it. "Explaining is just covering up."
Gabriel got out of bed, leaving her with his back. "Think whatever you want."
At the door, he suddenly turned back. "Stay put!"
Arabella was about to ask what he was doing, but his command cut her off, and she obediently lay back down.
Gabriel went downstairs to find Mary. After explaining the situation, Mary immediately had the kitchen prepare hot chocolate.
"Sir, give this heating pad to the missus. It'll help her feel better."
Gabriel looked at the fluffy thing with an awkward expression but took it anyway.
On the bed, Arabella lay limply. She wasn't in severe pain, but possibly due to being too tired from work recently and physical exhaustion, she felt her knees aching.
Just as she was considering whether to just take a painkiller, the bedroom door opened again.
"Sit up and drink this." Gabriel entered carrying a steaming mug, not particularly gently calling to her.
Arabella was lying on her side, curled up in a ball, her brow tightly furrowed.
Hearing his voice, she lifted her head slightly, surprise in her eyes.
The high-and-mighty Gabriel was actually serving someone?
Seeing no reaction, Gabriel raised his voice slightly. "What, do I need to feed you myself?"
"No, no..." she quickly responded, then sat up and took the mug. "Hot chocolate?"
She was even more surprised, thinking he really was Emily's devoted protector—he knew so much.
Gabriel was too tired to care what she thought and simply sat on the edge of the bed, saying flatly, "Mary suggested it. She said it's good for you right now..."