Chapter 110 Jessica's Birthday
After taking a bath, Jessica stepped out of the bathroom.
To her surprise, Gabriel was still there. However, although they were in the same room, it seemed that they no longer had any common topics.
Jessica had washed her hair, water droplets still dripping from her strands.
As she wiped her hair, she walked around Gabriel.
"I'll help you." Gabriel stepped forward.
"No need, I can do it myself," she replied.
After drying her hair, Jessica got into bed. By then, Gabriel had already left.
Jessica watched his departing figure, and suddenly, tears streamed down her face.
She had promised herself not to cry, but the tears seemed to have a switch. Once a certain nerve was touched, tears flowed automatically, beyond her control.
She had known that someone as proud as he would never tolerate her coldness and distance.
He had always been a figure surrounded by admiration, never needing to please anyone else.
It would be better if he left. With him gone, she wouldn't have to see him constantly.
Not seeing him might mean she wouldn't hurt.
Not seeing him might mean she wouldn't feel so miserable.
But where would he go so late at night?
The answer was clear and evident.
Regardless of the passage of time, no matter how many years have gone by, he person he longed for was still Diana.
In the past, she always thought she had a courageous heart. She wasn't afraid of giving, suffering, or waiting.
But reality proved her wrong. She was more cowardly and fearful than anyone else.
Turning off the light, Jessica lay in bed with her eyes closed.
Though she lay in bed, she wasn't asleep at all, merely staring at the ceiling and the crystal chandelier above.
She didn't remember how much time had passed when suddenly, someone seemed to push the door open.
Immediately after, she heard footsteps.
Gabriel had come in.
'He hasn't left?'
'Hasn't he gone to be with Diana?'
Soon, the wardrobe was opened, and Gabriel took out his pajamas before heading straight to the bathroom. The sound of running water was clear for Jessica.
At that moment, she suddenly felt she couldn't fathom him.
A fresh, pleasant scent reached her nose and a pair of gentle yet strong hands wrapped around her slender waist. Jessica realized he had gotten into bed and was holding her.
"I'm not used to this," Jessica murmured, pushing him away gently.
"You'll get used to it," he replied.
Jessica was furious. She turned around and glared at him with hatred in her eyes.
Suddenly, she lowered her head and bit down on his shoulder.
Jessica bit with real force, and Gabriel quickly felt the pain.
He grunted, but his hands remained tightly wrapped around Jessica's waist, with no intention of letting go.
Jessica released her bite, her dark eyes once again locking onto Gabriel's face, filled with anger and frustration. "Gabriel, let go of me."
"No," he responded.
This time, his reply was even more straightforward and direct, leaving no room for negotiation.
Jessica lowered her head again and bit down on the same spot.
This time, she bit even harder than before.
She was painful and heartbroken as if she were about to shatter. Why did he seem unaffected?
'Gabriel, you bastard, how dare you make me so heartbroken?'
With a sudden force, Gabriel's wound began to bleed, the bright red blood seeping through his clothes and into Jessica's mouth.
A strong taste of blood spread through her mouth.
Jessica finally stopped her actions.
She lifted her head and saw that Gabriel furrowed deeply, his face etched with pain and endurance.
"Why didn't you dodge?" she asked sharply.
Instead of answering, Gabriel asked, "Have you vented enough?"
As he spoke, he reached out to touch Jessica's hair, but she evaded him without hesitation.
She wasn't his pet, to be petted when he wanted to and discarded when he didn't.
"Still angry?" Gabriel asked again.
Jessica turned away, ignoring him.
Since he wanted to hold her, and since she couldn't break free in any way, she might as well let him hold her.
When Gabriel woke up, the room was already brightly lit.
The space beside him was empty. Jessica was nowhere to be found.
He immediately picked up his phone to call Jessica, but her phone was already turned off.
Jessica had gone out early in the morning and had turned off her phone when she left.
Because today, she didn't want anyone to disturb her. She just wanted to take a good walk alone.
Passing by a cake shop in the square, she suddenly heard someone shouting promotional slogans. Jessica glanced over unintentionally and realized that today was her birthday.
Yes, her birthday.
But she had actually forgotten her own birthday.
In the past, her birthday was always the time she looked forward to the most.
Back then, although her family wasn't wealthy and was often in debt, Giselle would always buy her a small cake for her birthday.
At that time, she loved eating shrimp the most, and Giselle would prepare a big plate of shrimp for her, peeling the shells and preparing the dipping sauce.
Up to now, even though she had tasted many different kinds of shrimp, she still felt that the dipping sauce her mother made was the most wonderful flavor in the world. Unfortunately, she could never taste it again.
In the evening, when all the lights in the house were turned off, Giselle would light the candles on the cake, put a little crown on her head, and let her blow out the candles.
Before she turned fourteen, her birthday wish was always the same: to study hard, to give Giselle a good life, and to escape from her gambling dad.
After she turned fourteen, the year she met Gabriel, her birthday wish added a new line: she hoped that one day she could meet him again, and she hoped that one day she could stay by the side of this dazzling boy.
Back then, she was so shy and timid.
She couldn't even imagine that one day she would marry him and become his wife.
It was something she didn't dare to dream of in her youthful years.
She always felt that being able to reunite was already a great blessing from God.
Sometimes, Jessica wondered if everything would be different if she hadn't met him again and entered his life.
He might forever remain the object of her admiration, the unattainable, shining star in her world.
If that were the case, she wouldn't have expectations, and she wouldn't have the current disappointment and heartache.
The cake shop's promotion was lively, and there were many people.
Jessica followed the music and walked in.
"Hello, miss. What kind of cake would you like?"
"I want a cake with lots of cream."
She couldn't eat the cake base, so the shop assistant recommended a strawberry mille-feuille, with each layer filled with rich cream.
Jessica left the cake shop with the cake in hand. When she saw the figure with his back to her, she suddenly froze.
How did he find her here?
Holding the cake, she instantly felt her whole body stiffen.
At that moment, Gabriel turned around, his tone as gentle as ever. "Why did you come out without telling me?"
