Chapter 128 It Turns Out He Had Fallen in Love with Her Long Ago
When Loren spoke, Gabriel was suddenly stunned. The hand holding his cigar halted abruptly. A realization struck him. He had never considered this perspective before, but now that Loren mentioned it, he realized he might have overlooked something very important.
Since reconciling with Jessica, he had always been resolute in his heart. He would never be with Diana again. Especially now, even if he did part ways with Jessica, he wouldn't choose to be with Diana. But why?
Loren was right; If he had loved Diana before, getting back with Diana after divorce would be the best outcome. But why had he always resisted?
"I never thought about it," Gabriel admitted honestly. He had indeed never considered the reason.
Loren extinguished his cigar and said calmly, "The answer is simple. You don't love her anymore; you've fallen in love with someone else." As he spoke, his gaze fell on Gabriel and Jessica's bedroom. Just now, when he was treating Jessica, Gabriel's anxiety had already revealed everything.
But that was the nature of love. The person involved was confused, while the onlooker saw clearly.
"If I'm not mistaken, the person you love now is your wife, not Diana." After saying this, Loren patted Gabriel on the shoulder. "Cherish it. Some things, once lost, can never be regained. Don't end up like I did."
"Thanks!" Gabriel said sincerely.
After Loren left, Gabriel took a shower and lay down beside Jessica. That night, he was almost sleepless, his mind constantly replaying Loren's words, "The person you love now is your wife."
Did he love Jessica? Had he fallen in love with Jessica? This thought kept spinning wildly in his mind. He pondered for a long time. Suddenly, in a moment of clarity, he realized that Loren was right. He might have fallen in love with Jessica long ago, but he just didn't know it.
Whenever she cried, he felt heartache, discomfort, and reluctance. Whenever he thought about her leaving his life, he felt agitated. Even seeing her with Vincent, especially when they were being intimate, drove him mad with jealousy.
Previously, he had always defined this as Jessica being his wife, so she absolutely couldn't do these things. He had always thought it was due to his possessiveness. But now, when he re-examined everything, it all seemed to have a different explanation.
Because of love, he cared; because of love, he was jealous; because of love, he was reluctant. But he had been too foolish. He was so foolish that he realized it too late, woke up too late. It wasn't until she was hurt all over and proposed divorce that he finally repented.
Gabriel reached out and tightly wrapped Jessica's small hand in his own, filled with guilt and reluctance. "Jessica, I was too foolish. I realized it too late. Can you give me another chance? Can you? Will you?"
Even though he knew Jessica was already sound asleep and couldn't hear his words, Gabriel still looked at her and murmured softly. He hoped so much that she could give him another chance. This time, he would cherish her dearly. He hoped genuinely that when she woke up, she could forget everything that had happened before. They could return to the time when they first got married. He would love her twice as much and spoil her twice as much. But, was it possible? Did he still have a chance?
The next morning, when Jessica woke up, the first thing she saw was Gabriel beside her. He was still asleep. He looked handsome. Though he had some newly grown stubble, it didn't diminish his good looks.
Jessica got up, stretched lazily, and then changed into a beautiful dress before heading downstairs. Probably because she had recovered from the illness, she seemed much more relaxed. The bright sunshine also lifted her spirits considerably.
Gabriel, still groggy, reached out to feel the space beside him. Realizing no one was there, he immediately sat up in bed.
"Jessica," he called out, getting out of bed to search for her. He looked all over the room but couldn't find any trace of Jessica.
In that instant, he felt as if he had returned to the previous day when he came home searching for her. He was extremely panicked and terrified. "Jessica," he called again, pulling back the curtains. But unlike last time, there was no one behind the curtains, nothing at all.
Unwilling to give up, he pulled back another curtain, but still found nothing. He bent down to look out the window, but there was nothing outside either. At that moment, he felt a sudden sense of relief. What was he afraid of? Was he afraid she had jumped out the window?
"Jessica." Gabriel redirected his steps and quickly ran downstairs. When he saw the familiar figure sitting in the dining room eating breakfast, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, a faint smile on his lips.
Jessica spun around and was momentarily taken aback at the sight of the unkempt man. His clothes were disarrayed, his slippers donned on the wrong feet, and a scruffy beard adorned his face. The next moment, she was tightly embraced by Gabriel. He hugged her so tightly that she could hardly breathe. She had to tug at him, asking，"You're holding me too tight. I can barely breathe."
Gabriel loosened his grip a bit and said. "Why did you come downstairs by yourself? I thought you were gone. You scared me to death. From now on, tell me in advance where you're going."
Hearing his words, Jessica experienced a whirlwind of emotions that she found hard to articulate. Since their marriage, he had always been a figure of elegance and grace in her mind—a man who used to dress impeccably in suits and ties, with even the patterns on his ties perfectly aligned. And now, he was showing such a disheveled side of himself. For what? Because he thought she was gone, and he had rushed downstairs in a panic to find her?
A man who was meticulous about everything would lose his composure and principles for her? But it was too late. She no longer needed it. Perhaps this was their last embrace, and if she could indulge in it a little longer, it would be good. So, Jessica did not refuse. She let Gabriel hold her quietly.
Finally, they had breakfast together. During breakfast, Jessica ate quietly and elegantly. She didn't speak, her expression soft, and under the warm sunlight, she exuded warmth. Gabriel felt a sweet joy in his heart, thinking that they were back to how they used to be. If only the days ahead could always be like this. But it was ultimately a luxury.
The moment he heard Jessica's words, his dream shattered abruptly. After breakfast, Jessica put down her utensils and looked at him. "Thank you, Gabriel. Thank you for letting me go."
Gabriel was completely bewildered, not understanding what she meant. Jessica smiled and gently reminded him, "Last night, when I was unconscious, you said that you would let go and agree to the divorce when I woke up. You won't go back on your word, will you?"
