Chapter 94 Weren't Things Pretty Harmonious Last Night?
Arabella choked on her noodles, nearly inhaling them into her windpipe.
If it weren't for last night's bitter conflict that left her seething with hatred toward Gabriel, she would have burst out laughing and thoroughly mocked him right now!
"Don't force yourself if you can't handle it. Nobody's laughing at you," she said, suppressing her amusement while maintaining her cool, indifferent tone.
Gabriel ignored her, cursing silently while continuing to eat the pasta. "Just hurry up and eat. We have things to do afterward."
Things to do?
Arabella looked puzzled. What things? Nothing more than rushing back home.
The three of them eating together created an awkward atmosphere.
Manuel finished first and got up to take a phone call outside.
Once Manuel was out of earshot, Gabriel's face finally showed his distress. He grabbed Arabella's water glass and gulped it down frantically.
Seeing him suffer so much, Arabella wanted to remind him not to force himself—especially with his stomach problems. If this triggered another episode, it would be a case of pride before the fall.
But remembering last night's events and his despicable behavior, her anger remained undiminished. She merely glanced at him coldly and said nothing.
Gabriel finished the water and handed her the empty glass. "It's too spicy. Get me another glass of water."
"Can't you get it yourself?" Arabella shot back directly.
"..." Gabriel was stunned by her retort, his swollen red lips glaring at her as he ground his teeth silently.
He got up and looked around until he found the electric kettle.
But when he poured and drank the water, it was scalding hot, instantly doubling the burning sensation.
He did have bottled water in his car, but crossing the courtyard would mean Manuel seeing him, and right now he'd rather die from spice than lose face in front of Manuel.
So he could only endure the fiery pain in his mouth and return to the low table to continue eating.
Arabella couldn't watch anymore. She grabbed his bowl away. "Enough. This isn't exactly a place where you can call an ambulance easily, and the hospital's far away too."
Gabriel's mouth was red and swollen, and even his deep-set eyes were tinged with red.
He really couldn't handle the spice anymore and didn't insist further, but he glanced at Arabella's bowl.
Seeing she had finished eating, Gabriel frowned deeply, "How was I supposed to know you could handle spicy food like this?"
"Mine wasn't very spicy. Manuel knew I'm nursing, so he made my portion mild," Arabella replied truthfully without thinking.
The next second, seeing Gabriel's expression grow strange, she quickly explained, "It's because you can't handle spicy food—don't read malicious intent into everything."
Gabriel sucked in cold air while letting out a cold laugh.
Reading malicious intent?
He'd bet money Manuel did it on purpose! He even suspected his bowl had been loaded with extra spice!
However, there was no way to prove such a thing.
And confronting Manuel about it would be the stupidest move possible.
Having swallowed this bitter pill, Gabriel's hostility toward Manuel intensified even further.
"Had enough? If you're full, take me for a walk outside." Gabriel angrily suppressed his displeasure and got up to address Arabella.
Arabella looked confused, raising her eyes to him, "A walk? Where to?"
"..." He hesitated, his expression somewhat awkward. "I mean... didn't you come back to visit your grandparents and father?"
"I went yesterday."
"But I haven't been."
Now that he was here, as Arabella's husband, it was only right that he should pay his respects.
Arabella listened to his words and studied his serious expression, full of suspicious bewilderment.
What was he really after?
In the past when she'd return to Whispering Pines, he'd completely ignore it, obviously not considering it any of his business.
Now, with divorce papers literally on the table, he was suddenly changing his attitude?
As they stood there in silence, Manuel returned from his phone call.
"Arabella, I have business back in Luminara, so I'll head back now since you're with Mr. Sterling," Manuel said. Though he wanted to rescue Arabella, the timing wasn't right yet.
Arabella nodded, "Alright, drive safely on that long trip by yourself."
Manuel smiled, "Don't worry, I'll be fine. I'll contact you when I get there."
"Okay!"
Manuel looked toward Gabriel, his handsome, refined face taking on a polite smile, "Mr. Sterling, we can discuss our collaboration project once I'm back in Luminara."
Gabriel's mouth was still red and swollen, diminishing his usual cold aloofness and making him look somewhat cute and comical instead.
Smiling meaningfully, he replied coolly, "Mr. Wright should figure out where he stands first before talking business with me."
The implication was clear, if you have designs on my wife, forget about collaboration—I'll hunt you down and run you out of the country!
Hearing the heavy undertone of hostility in his words, Arabella immediately stepped forward to interrupt them, "Manuel, drive carefully."
She was telling him to leave quickly and not engage with Gabriel's pettiness.
Manuel looked at Arabella, his eyes seeming to hold a thousand unspoken words.
Honestly, he was deeply worried and wanted to take her away directly, to free her from Gabriel.
But reason prevailed—he knew he had no right, and acting rashly would only make Arabella's situation more difficult, subjecting her to even more bullying and humiliation from Gabriel.
Taking a long look at Arabella, he suppressed the turbulent emotions in his heart and nodded gently, "Take care of yourself. If you need any help with anything, you can find me."
Arabella understood the deeper meaning in these words, but she didn't dare respond.
Manuel turned and left. Gabriel watched the taillights gradually disappearing, the fake smile and politeness on his face slowly withering away.
Arabella went back inside, thinking to fold up the bedding from the rooms, put the new bedding aside to give to Jenny, lock up, and then they could leave.
She didn't know when she'd be back next.
She had just finished folding a quilt and turned around with it in her arms when she glimpsed Gabriel's tall, lean figure entering the room.
She acted as if she hadn't seen him, her expression remaining completely unchanged as she carried the bedding past him toward the closet.
Gabriel watched her quietly, his face unreadable.
When she finished putting away the bedding and turned to pass by him again, he reached out and grabbed her arm.
"Are you upset that I came and ruined the atmosphere of your date?" Gabriel opened with cold sarcasm.
Arabella completely ignored him, forcefully raising her arm to shake off his grip.
Gabriel frowned, his face showing surprise, then curved his lips in a cold smile.
"Weren't things pretty harmonious last night? Today you're already finding me disagreeable again?"
His tone grew colder with each word, the light in his eyes increasingly dangerous. By the end, his face was completely expressionless, cold and intimidating as he asked directly, "Are you going to bring up divorce again?"
Arabella hadn't been thinking about it originally, but his reminder immediately brought those thoughts surging back.
She continued tidying the bedding, not even looking at him as she said coolly, "The divorce papers are still at home. If you can't stand me and think I'm cheating on you, then we can sign them when we get back today."
Gabriel laughed bitterly, "What? You're making it sound like I'm the one who doesn't want to make this work, like I'm the one wanting the divorce?"
All along, she'd been the one constantly bringing up divorce.
Arabella remained silent, carrying more bedding to stuff into the closet.
Gabriel watched her moving back and forth, completely disregarding his presence, his anger growing hotter, "Arabella! Can you please talk to me properly!"