Chapter 276 Gabriel's Insidiousness
She didn't know about other women, but she couldn't bring herself to say those blessings.
The wind picked up, and it got a bit colder. At some point, a light rain started falling, making the night seem all peaceful and pretty.
Jessica kept walking, the night wind was cold, but she didn't seem to feel it. With the cold wind blowing, her chest felt less tight and heavy.
Seeing her approach, Oscar jumped out of the car and ran over with an umbrella. He held it over Jessica's head. "Ms. Morgan, it's raining. Why'd you come out like this? Get in the car, it's warm inside. By the way, where's Mr. Walton?"
Jessica replied, "He said he had something to do and might be a bit late."
"Alright, Ms. Morgan, please wait in the car. Mr. Walton didn't bring an umbrella, so I'll wait for him at the door," Oscar said.
"Okay," Jessica nodded.
The car was warm with the heater on. She exhaled and hugged herself tightly, but no matter how tight she hugged, she still felt very cold. It wasn't an ordinary cold. It was a cold that came from within, chilling her entire heart.
After a few minutes, Oscar came over with an umbrella, and Gabriel was with him. Soon, the car door opened, and he got in. The ride was quiet, neither of them spoke.
As they were about to arrive, Jessica spoke, "Oscar, you don't need to take me home. Just stop at the traffic light." The car was warm, almost stifling. She thought it might be nice to get some fresh air before going home.
"Mr. Walton, what do you think?" Oscar was unsure and immediately looked at Gabriel.
"Didn't you say today was about thanking me and letting me decide?" Gabriel looked at Jessica.
"Yes," she said.
"In that case, I'm hungry," he said.
Jessica was silent. "Didn't you just eat well?" she asked.
Gabriel nodded. "Yes, but after touring the place, I'm a bit hungry again. I suddenly thought of the cake you made for me last time. It was delicious. You wouldn't refuse, would you?"
Jessica suspected he was doing it on purpose. He knew she wouldn't refuse.
"Which cake? I forgot."
"The one you made for me before I went abroad after we confirmed our relationship. I know you haven't forgotten."
Gabriel had blocked all her escape routes.
"You can't do this to me," Jessica looked at him sadly.
"So, your gratitude was all fake?" he asked and raised an eyebrow.
"Alright," unable to argue with him, Jessica finally compromised.
"Your place or mine?" he asked.
"Your place," she was currently staying at Grace's house, and it wouldn be inappropriate to keep bringing him there. Besides, she rarely cooked there, and the kitchen wasn't well-equipped.
Oscar immediately sped up and drove to Gabriel's house. A few minutes later, they arrived. It was quite cold when they got out of the car. Jessica had just rubbed her hands together when Gabriel's coat was draped over her shoulders.
"You promised to make me a cake. I don't want you to catch a cold and have me take care of you," he said arrogantly. Then he walked ahead into the house.
Jessica clutched the coat tight, not looking ahead, and ran to catch up. But she was going too fast and suddenly smacked right into Gabriel's back. She hit a bone. It was hard and she winced in pain.
Rubbing her forehead, she looked up at Gabriel with a pout. "You hurt me."
Gabriel turned around, looking at her with a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Ms. Morgan, you ran too fast and didn't watch where you were going. Technically, I'm the victim here, and you should compensate me."
"It's your fault. You stopped suddenly, and I bumped into you," Jessica argued.
"That's not true. According to traffic rules, the one who rear-ends is at fault, so it's still your fault. But I'm in a good mood today, so I'll just punish you by making you bake for me two more times," Gabriel said.
"Gabriel, you..." Jessica glared at him angrily.
Before she could finish, Gabriel held up his fingers, saying, "Three times, four times, or..."
Jessica had no choice but to agree, "Fine, two times it is."
Gabriel corrected her seriously, "Ms. Morgan, I said two more times, so that's three times in total."
Jessica now had every reason to believe he was doing it on purpose. 'Is it fun to tease me? Why not tease his fiancée?' Thinking of that mysterious "fiancée," Jessica felt a pang of sadness in her heart.
Lowering her head, she walked around Gabriel and ran ahead. But after just a few steps, he caught her from behind.
"Why are you running so fast?" Gabriel asked.
"Cold," Jessica said, giving one word and continuing to run.
"Let's run together." With that, Gabriel ran with her.
Once inside, with the door closed, Jessica was about to take off his coat when he suddenly pulled her close.
"Let go of me. Didn't you say you were hungry and wanted cake? I'll make it now, or it'll be too late and bad for digestion," Jessica said.
"No rush," he said.
The next moment, he gently cupped Jessica's face with his warm hand. Then his warm fingers touched her small, round earlobe, gently rubbing and kneading it. "It's cold outside, and your ears are freezing. Let me warm them up."
"No need, it's warm inside. I'll be fine in a bit." Jessica tried to push him away, but she felt a light, ticklish sensation on her earlobe. "What did you put on my ear? It feels ticklish."
Instinctively, she reached up to touch it. She felt a small, cool, smooth object.
Gabriel opened his hand, revealing the other purple gemstone earring lying in his palm, shining with a gentle and noble light under the lamp.
"Let me put it on for you," he said.
Jessica had already taken off the other earring and placed it in his hand. "Isn't this the shop owner's treasured piece? How did you buy it? Besides, such a valuable thing, I can't take it."
She admitted she was pleasantly surprised to see the earrings, but the surprise quickly turned to panic.
"I said you can accept it, so you can." With that, Gabriel put the earring back on her. Not only that, he also put on the other earring.
"Gabriel, this is way too much," Jessica said.
"Fine, if you don't want it, just take it off and throw it in the trash," Gabriel said.
