Chapter 27 Jessica, Leave Now
"It's unbearable," Gabriel said, his voice a deep, gravelly whisper.
His eyes, flushed with a feverish desire, snapped open and locked onto Jessica's figure. "But having you here... it's torture for me. Jessica, I'm no saint. If you stay any longer, I can't promise to keep my control."
Jessica had no choice but to turn and leave. She lay down on the bed, tossing the covers aside, but sleep eluded her. Her mind and all her senses were attuned to every sound coming from Gabriel, her ears pricking up with each and every movement he made.
Half an hour had passed, and the water had been changed three times already. He must be burning up, suffering, continuously exchanging the water for a cooler respite.
Remembering the way he'd endured, his eyes bloodshot, his body scorching, brought an unbidden sting of tears to Jessica's eyes. His pain became her anguish.
In the bathroom, while changing the water for the fourth time, Gabriel couldn't bear it anymore and dialed Oscar, "I need the antidote now, immediately."
"What antidote, Gabriel?" Oscar asked.
"What do you think? My mom's trying to set me up with Jessica," Gabriel barked back, leaving Oscar with his mouth agape. "Madam is certainly pulling out all the stops."
"Just get the medicine and come over. And don't say I didn't warn you—hide it well. Otherwise, don't come crying to me," Gabriel cautioned.
"Crying? Me? You underestimate me, Gabriel," Oscar said proudly.
Hanging up the phone, Gabriel sighed with relief, now just hoping Oscar would arrive quickly with the antidote. The longer it took, the more potent the drug's effects became, making his agony all the worse.
Unable to ignore his muffled groans any longer, Jessica got out of bed, barefoot, she burst into the bathroom. Seeing him with his eyes a crimson red, desperately holding back, sweat trickling down his forehead, she didn't think twice. She reached out and drained the bathtub. Then she filled it with warm water.
"Jessica, what are you doing?" Gabriel asked, stunned by her actions.
"I..." Jessica was at a loss for words. However, she climbed into the tub and embraced Gabriel, whispering gently into his ear, "I can't stand to see you in pain."
"If… if I'm willing,” her face was now flushed to the point of radiance, the rest of her sentence mustered with all the courage she had, "would it spare you this agony?"
"Jessica." Gabriel suddenly lifted his gaze, his anger barely veiled as he looked at her. "Leave now."
"Why? It's obvious you're in so much pain." She simply couldn't bear to see him suffer. She'd cast aside her pride and her self-respect for him.
Jessica kept telling herself that if he was just gentler, just a bit gentler, their baby wouldn't be affected. She'd repeated these words to convince herself, only to be met with his heartless rejection.
"If you're worried about the divorce tomorrow, rest assured, I won't cling to you. Once tonight's over, I'll act as if nothing happened," Jessica tried to reassure him.
"I'm not that heartless. Get out," he barked.
His voice was loud and fierce, and it pierced through Jessica’s resolve, triggering the tears she’d fought so hard to hold back.
"People say that this drug is potent. If it isn't relieved, it could be fatal." Ignoring the tears streaming down her face, Jessica suddenly leaned in, pressing her lips against Gabriel's. Her slender arms wrapped tightly around his neck, pulling him close.
"Jessica," Gabriel said, his anger barely contained as he pulled away from her. His eyes blazed with rage as he spat out, "Don't make me tell you again, leave now!"
"What if I want to stay? What if I don't leave?" she challenged, her defiance surprising even herself.
"What about that man you've loved for ten years? Does submitting to me not feel demeaning? Besides, I can't wrong Diana anymore," he rationalized.
How could she tell him that the man wasn’t someone else; it was him, Gabriel. But she couldn’t bring herself to say it.
At this moment, all her dignity was trampled under his feet. No matter how courageous she was, she couldn’t bear to try anymore. She felt humiliated enough as it was before him.
"Don't make excuses for me. I get it that you're not upset, you're not worried about slighting me. You just want Diana, not me,"Jessica said, disappointment and heartache swirled within, "It's all because I'm not the one you want."
Turning away, Jessica grabbed her phone and stepped back inside, "Since you so desperately want Diana, fine, I'll call her for you." If Diana was who he wanted, she'd simply have to accept it. How could she stand to witness the man she loved die?
She reminded herself that they were getting divorced tomorrow anyway.
They'd end up together sooner or later; one day wouldn't make much difference. Even if they didn’t do it tonight, eventually, they'd share those intimate moments.
Maybe once Diana arrives and she walks away, the pain will fade.
"Hello... Diana? This is Jessica. Gabriel, he—" Her call was abruptly cut short as Gabriel stormed over, snatching the phone from her hand and ending the call.
With a fiery glare, he pinned her with his eyes. "Jessica cut it out. When did I ever say I was looking for Diana?"
‘Cut it out?’ Jessica's head tilted back as tears crazily streamed down her cheeks.
Wasn't she already behaving? Wasn't she obedient enough? She had been so compliant, so accommodating, and yet he was still blaming her.
That must be the difference between love and its absence.
"Gabriel, if you have any ounce of manhood left, just own up to it. We're over soon anyway. If you want Diana, there's no point in hiding it." Jessica couldn’t bear it any longer. Speaking her heart out, "Just go, go to her now. I wouldn't want a man dying for love in my room; I can't bear that guilt."
"Jessica." Gabriel gritted his teeth, his eyes nearly spitting fire. "Is that really what you think of me?"
"I'll ask you again, are you so eager to have me spend the night with Diana?" he asked.
Hearing his words, Jessica felt her heart bleeding. It wasn't her wishing him away, but his heart, all his love was with Diana.
Even if she threw herself at him, he'd refuse her for his loyalty to Diana. That love, deep as it was, even moved her.
Two years of marriage, two years of sharing a bed. But in the end, she mattered less to him than even Diana's little finger. Jessica closed her eyes and, with an aching heart, nodded. "Yes, I'll let you go. I am letting you go."
"All right, remember you said that." Gabriel suddenly rose from the bathtub, dressed up, and strode out of the bathroom.
At the sound of the door slamming shut, Jessica felt all her strength evaporate. Her legs gave way and she crumpled to the floor in a heap. She hugged herself, desperately covering her mouth, tears cascading onto the floor, her heart in excruciating pain.
It felt as if someone was gouging out her heart with a knife.
"Gabriel, you big jerk, how could you do this to me?"
