Chapter 99 Escalating Conflicts
"What's that supposed to mean? I'm your mother—seeing you living in such misery, what's wrong with offering advice?"
"I don't need it." Gabriel showed no gratitude whatsoever.
In his view, Joanna's interference wasn't helping—it was escalating the conflict.
Joanna was so furious she could barely breathe, opening and closing her mouth several times before asking in bewilderment: "Gabriel, what's gotten into you? How did your attitude change so quickly? Aren't you two getting divorced? Why haven't you gone through with it yet? Look at her—she doesn't respect us at all!"
Gabriel closed his eyes, his brow furrowed.
Walter was pressing on his abdomen, and the pain was so intense he couldn't speak, so he had to endure it for now.
"How has Mr. Gabriel Sterling been eating these past few days? Besides stomach pain, any bloating or acid reflux?" Walter hadn't expected to encounter this kind of drama on a house call and could only play deaf and dumb while focusing on his professional duties.
Gabriel was too tired to elaborate, saying curtly: "Had something spicy this morning, skipped lunch. Just stomach pain, nothing else. Just prescribe something."
Walter frowned deeply, clearly disapproving of his eating habits, and sternly advised: "You need to maintain a light, regular diet and stop irritating your stomach."
"Fine."
Though Joanna was angry with her son, seeing him lean back on the sofa with a pained expression, unable to speak, her heart softened again.
She moved to sit on the other side of the sofa, saying with both heartache and indignation: "I told you she doesn't know how to take care of anyone—she might even be doing it on purpose!"
Arabella couldn't listen anymore.
In Joanna's eyes, she was nothing but an ungrateful, malicious, and ill-mannered woman.
There was nothing more to say.
This marriage had no solution other than divorce.
"You can take care of him. I have things to do—I'm going out." Without caring what they thought, Arabella turned and left.
Watching her leave so casually, Joanna was once again speechless with rage: "Look at this rude woman! Just got back and she's leaving again—doesn't care that her husband is sick. And what about Henry and Isabella? This is... Gabriel, you need to finalize the divorce proceedings as quickly as possible!"
Gabriel had a pounding headache from Joanna's complaints, his expression growing more irritated. "Mom... please go home. I need to rest."
"How can I go home when you're like this? Is Dr. Wood finished with his examination? Does he need medicine or an injection? If it's an injection, let's go upstairs so you can lie down." Joanna fussed over her son.
Gabriel was mentally exhausted and physically unwell, too tired to deal with his parents anymore. He dragged his weary body up from the sofa and headed upstairs.
Meeting with Sophia didn't improve Arabella's mood much.
Lily was dressed beautifully, looking obviously much better than when she'd been under the care of Zachary's mother.
Sophia reflected: "Children really need their own mothers to raise them properly. Leaving them with grandparents always makes you worry they won't be careful enough."
Arabella's mind was full of thoughts about how to divorce quickly—she couldn't endure another day of this life. Hearing Sophia's sentiment reminded her of Henry and Isabella.
If she divorced, she wouldn't be able to watch Henry and Isabella grow up.
She wondered how Gabriel would raise them.
Thinking of Joanna's aggressive and arrogant manner, she worried Henry and Isabella might turn out the same way.
Her resolve wavered.
"What's wrong? You've looked dejected since I saw you. Did you and Mr. Sterling fight again?" Sophia noticed her heavy thoughts and asked with concern.
Arabella was fed up and needed to vent the emotional garbage filling her heart, so she recounted everything that had happened over the past two days.
Sophia listened, gasping several times.
"Manuel sounds amazing!" After hearing everything, though Sophia felt sorry for Arabella's situation, she was more interested in the gossip. "Do you think Manuel has feelings for you, like Mr. Sterling said?"
"How is that possible? Why would he be interested in me? He's just kind—probably feels sorry for me. He's been looking out for me since we were kids."
Arabella had always lacked confidence.
She didn't believe she could attract any good match at this point in her life.
Besides, Manuel's qualifications surpassed 99% of men.
Manuel liking her? She wouldn't dare dream of it.
Sophia pursed her lips and shook her head: "Just from your description, I think Manuel might really have feelings for you. You don't need to put yourself down—you're actually wonderful. You're not only beautiful but have good values and a kind heart. That's pretty great. And even if you're married, so what? He probably doesn't care about that."
Arabella pulled at the corner of her mouth in a bitter smile.
She hadn't thought about any of that.
Even if she could divorce Gabriel smoothly, she didn't want to be with anyone else, much less get married again.
She'd already had children—a son and a daughter—completing a woman's mission of motherhood. She had no regrets.
Living alone, carefree and independent—wasn't that the life many people dreamed of?
"Before, when you talked about divorce, I kept advising you to think twice. Now I see that divorcing might not be such a bad thing—after all, you have Manuel. As your best friend, I support whatever decision you make!" Sophia raised her juice glass and clinked it cheerfully against Arabella's.
Arabella knew Sophia misunderstood, but she was too tired to explain.
These past two days and night had exhausted her. Right now she just wanted to empty her mind and have some quiet.
Before they finished dinner, Sophia's phone rang.
After taking the call, she looked at Arabella: "How are you getting home later? Is the family car picking you up or are you taking the subway?"
"I'm too tired today—I'll take a taxi," Arabella said.
"Then I'll go with you." Sophia's expression showed slight displeasure. "Zachary's been incredibly busy lately, working even weekends. He was supposed to pick up Lily and me after our dinner, but now he says he has to go back to the law firm and told me to get home myself."
Arabella asked curiously: "Is he so busy because of the partnership with Sterling Group's subsidiary company?"
"I'm not sure. But he said your husband's casual remark really helped him a lot—he calls it a blessing in disguise."
After all, if Gabriel hadn't misunderstood the situation, Zachary wouldn't have received this compensation, leading to partnership with such a major company.
Arabella thought it was good news and smiled with a nod: "That's great. With his career progressing steadily, you can feel secure being a stay-at-home mom."
"Yes... we don't have major financial issues right now. He says once he gets his year-end bonus and profit sharing, we can look at houses after New Year's—start with a small place."
"That sounds wonderful." Arabella was genuinely envious.
That was the kind of life she'd imagined—a harmonious family, a cozy little home, husband and wife supporting each other, each doing their part, living peacefully and steadily.
After chatting for several hours, Arabella returned home around nine in the evening.
The enormous mansion was quiet; the children were already asleep.
She went upstairs, stood at the landing looking toward the master bedroom, then finally pushed open the guest room door.