Chapter 11 Divorce Settlement
Jessica regained her consciousness, surrounded by sterile white walls and the scent of disinfectant permeating the air.
Gabriel was seated nearby. Upon seeing her regain consciousness, he approached with wide strides, "How are you feeling? Does it still hurt?"
"It's a little better now." Her face was ghostly pale, her lips nearly colorless.
"I had some porridge heated up for you, try to eat a little." Gabriel opened the thermos, his slender fingers expertly scooping up some pumpkin porridge, her favorite.
"I'm not hungry," she protested, shaking her head weakly.
But Gabriel persisted, bringing the bowl to her, "You've just woken up, missed dinner, and your body’s frail. You need to eat something to recover."
"You've got a point, hubby. You need to keep your strength up," encouraged the doctor, stepping in wearing her white coat.
Jessica straightened up at the sight of the doctor and turned to Gabriel, "Could you get me some bananas?"
"I'll ask Oscar to pick some up," Gabriel offered.
She frowned slightly, "I'd like them better if you got them yourself."
"All right, I'll go," he agreed.
Once Gabriel had been gone a little while, Jessica turned back to the doctor, her voice trembling as she struggled with the words she couldn't finish, "Doctor, my baby..."
The doctor smiled warmly, assuring her, "You and your baby are very lucky; your little one is still safe and sound, asleep in your womb."
"Really?" Jessica's face broke into a grin, her anxiety and sorrow instantly wiped away.
Perhaps out of sheer joy, she began to cry again, "That's wonderful, thank you, Doctor!"
"There’s no need to thank me, I’m just doing my job. The baby is safe for now, but you can't take that lightly. The next three months are crucial; you must be very cautious. Avoid any risky activities and try to stay happy. Your baby’s well-being in your womb depends on your own."
Jessica nodded earnestly, "I will, I will remember everything you've said."
"And don’t forget to keep up with your prenatal visits."
"I won’t," she promised.
Staring down at the bowl of pumpkin soup on the table, the doctor spoke again. "You need to eat regularly. Without food, how will your baby get any nutrition? Remember this, for your baby to be healthy, you must take care of yourself."
"I'll remember that well, I'll make sure to eat on time from now on," Jessica assured the doctor.
"I can tell your husband is very attentive and caring. With something as important as pregnancy, are you sure you don't want to tell him?" the doctor asked calmly.
While in the emergency room, Jessica clutched at her sleeve imploringly. "The man waiting outside is my husband. Though he doesn't know I'm pregnant, please don't tell him."
Jessica's eyes gradually dimmed. "We're about to get a divorce, he doesn't want the child, but I want to keep it," she explained.
"So, Doctor, I'm begging you to help me with this. Don't tell him, or I might lose the baby," she pleaded.
The doctor sighed deeply with her gaze full of sympathy. "Unless it's necessary, unless you really must get divorced, I suggest you give it some serious thought. A child thrives best under the love and protection of both parents."
"Thank you, Doctor. I'll take your advice to heart," Jessica replied.
When Gabriel returned, Jessica was eating her soup. Cradling the bowl in one hand and scooping with the spoon in the other, she sipped slowly and with earnest focus.
To his surprise, when she finished, she asked him, "Is there more?"
"Yes," he answered quickly.
The question excited Gabriel. He eagerly ladled another bowlful and handed it to her.
Jessica finished the second serving of pumpkin soup, then picked up a banana. It was rather large, and feeling full after the soup, she hesitantly set it back down.
"Why put it back?" Gabriel frowned.
"I'm a bit full, and it's too big. I can't finish it and I don't want to waste it."
Gabriel peeled the banana, ate half of it and then handed the other half to Jessica. Watching him devour it, her eyes widened in surprise. "I thought you didn't like bananas?"
"I don't mind them every once in a while," he said.
"Oh, I'm really tired, I think I'll go to sleep now," she excused herself.
"Sure, get some rest," he said and nodded in response.
The next morning, Jessica woke up in disbelief. "You didn't go back last night?"
There was Gabriel, looking disheveled with his hair tousled and shirt wrinkled. It was a far cry from his usual polished demeanor. And to Jessica's astonishment, he had stayed with her the whole night?
A knock sounded at the door and Oscar entered, carrying a bag. "Gabriel, I've got your clothes ready."
"Okay," he replied.
The sound of running water filled the bathroom. Each drop felt like it weighed upon Jessica's heart, sparking a whirlwind of erratic thoughts she couldn't control.
‘Gabriel, who are you truly? If you don't love me, then why are you so painstakingly attentive? If you were crueler, perhaps I could walk away with a firmer resolve.
When he emerged from the bathroom, Gabriel had reverted to his usual demeanor, with sculpted features so alluring.
“Did you bring the stuff?” His voice was cool as he addressed Oscar.
"It's all printed out." Oscar presented the documents to Gabriel with utmost respect.
"Leave us," Gabriel commanded.
Once Oscar left, the room fell into a silence punctuated only by the presence of her and Gabriel.
"I had an international conference last night. It stretched past four in the morning, so I crashed here," Gabriel explained, as if to clarify her doubts.
She understood then that it was all her presumptions.
Gabriel sat poised on a chair, his tall figure statuesque and his slender fingers meticulously flipping through the pages of the document with intense focus.
"Did you send Oscar away because you have something to say to me?" Jessica inquired.
"Just a moment," he responded without lifting his gaze from the papers.
Jessica couldn't discern the content of his intense scrutiny.
Around five minutes later, he closed the file, strode over, and handed her the documents, his voice as tranquil as still water. "I've made the changes you requested. Have a look."
The words "Divorce Agreement" jumped out at her, and an unexpected urge to laugh bubbled within Jessica.
That's what he had been obsessing over, and she had assumed he was reviewing some official document.
Her request? When had she ever made a request? She hadn't uttered a single word about it.
Holding the divorce agreement, Jessica's palms felt unbearably warm. It took a moment for her to collect her thoughts before she looked up at him, puzzled, "I don't recall making any requests."
"Read it through carefully first," Gabriel instructed.
It took her ten minutes to go through the 'Divorce Agreement.' Then she didn't know whether to cry or laugh.
Gabriel had revised the division of property, gave her two villas and two luxury cars, and agreeing to a startling sum of ten million dollars in cash.
‘Huh...’ Jessica lifted her head, her eyes brimming with tears. Ten million? An orphan like her had never realized her worth could be so high.
To finalize their divorce, he spared no expense, displaying a level of generosity that bordered on lavish.
"Gabriel, in the end, you still believe that I leaked our divorce to Mom, trying to extort you. You think my aim was to grab a larger share of the assets when we separated, right?" Jessica looked at him, and suddenly, she felt like a colossal failure.
After two years as his wife, she was nothing more to him than a gold digger, ready to sacrifice everything for money.
"What if I asked for a hundred million? Gabriel, would you agree to any demand I make just to get a divorce?" Jessica asked with a wry laugh.
