Chapter 35 Jessica, I Can Afford to Keep You
Gabriel's hand, as he applied the ointment to her skin, paused abruptly – but for only a few seconds. His expression quickly reverted to his usual composure.
"You already know why I married you, don’t you?” His voice was as low and steady as ever.
Of course. The sinking feeling in Jessica's chest plummeted. It was the answer she had expected, an answer she had no right to hope for, but she had to ask. Now, with the truth laid bare, she could let go of her unreal dreams.
It was clear to her now. She had been wrong. Dreadfully wrong.
For all these years, his heart belonged to Diana, and only Diana. Perhaps her dream shattered the moment Diana returned, the moment he suggested divorce.
And now, the pieces lay scattered, irreparable.
‘But Gabriel, do you realize how cruel you are? If not for love, why treat me with such tenderness? Could it truly be just a favor for Xavier?’ Jessica wondered.
Such gentleness, it's not out of love. It was because of pity. It was sympathy. The very kind she wished against.
Roused from a daze, Jessica abruptly withdrew her hand, glancing at him, “Thanks for applying the ointment, but I don’t need your help. I can handle it.”
“Stay still, let me do it.” Gabriel pressed down on her hand.
Determined, Jessica pulled away, “I told you already, I don’t need you. It's just applying ointment, not rocket science. I can do it.”
“Jessica, don’t be stubborn.” Gabriel grasped her hand once again.
This time, Jessica didn’t pull away, instead her gaze drifted to the opposite booth.
“Haven't you noticed? Your sweetheart's waiting out there. You asked her out for a fancy dinner tonight, bought gifts, planned surprises—all that effort will go to waste and lose its charm if you linger here with me.”
“Give me the ointment; I can manage this little task,” Jessica insisted.
However, Gabriel, as if deaf to her words, quickened his pace, continuing his task. The ensuing touches lacked the previous gentle finesse, eliciting a sharp sting from Jessica’s inflamed wound. Only after finishing did Gabriel release Jessica’s hand.
“Still say today’s just like any other day?” His gaze bore into her, depth in his dark eyes.
Avoiding his stare, Jessica retorted, “Regular or not, it's none of your business. Better get back—Diana's waiting!”
“So eager to send me off?” Gabriel asked, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
It wasn’t about her sending him away, but that his heart wasn't with her. What was the point in holding on?
“Today's Valentine’s Day, and you're not here for me. If you're dedicating your evening to her, then do it right. What's the point in stopping by?” With each word, Jessica felt a growing sourness in her chest.
“It wasn’t intentional,” Gabriel tried to explain.
“No need to explain to me,” Jessica said, cooly.
“Are you upset?” he probed further.
Jessica shook her head, “No.”
His eyes caught sight of the bag beside her, “And still you say you're not upset.”
Receiving the credit card alert, he’d been puzzled by the sudden large expense—now seeing the several diamond rings she bought, his confusion cleared.
“It's Valentine’s Day. Can't I buy myself gifts I fancy? Besides, you sent Oscar to shop with me, how can we shop without spending?”
Standing up, Gabriel ruffled her hair with a chuckle, “I never said you shouldn’t spend. You could spend ten times this amount, and I’d still be able to afford it.”
Initially, she was truly vexed, but his words crumbled her defenses, leaving her soft and without resistance.
Always like this with him—a slap followed by a sweet date.
‘Gabriel, oh Gabriel, you’re like poison, so addictive despite the pain. I can't seem to kick the habit,’ she murmured in her heart.
At that moment, his phone rang. Diana’s voice came through clearly on the other end, “Where did you go, Gabriel? I’ve already sliced the cake. Come back quick!”
“Okay, I’ll be right there,” he responded.
Before leaving, he reiterated his instruction to Oscar, “Take good care of her.”
Diana was clutching her hands so tight that they had turned white. Had she not inadvertently glanced over, she never would’ve imagined Jessica was also dining in the same restaurant. And yet, Gabriel had left her alone to check on Jessica.
Today was supposed to be about her, Gabriel was meant to be with her. What was Jessica stirring up now?
But that wasn’t the real annoyance. The real frustration was feeling so angry without the ability to express it, forced to just bear it. Biting back the anger.
Hearing footsteps, Diana quickly let go of her hands, her face morphing into a gentle smile: “Come on, Gabriel, try the cake. I just had a piece and it's delicious.”
Next thing she knew, she was holding a forkful of cake to Gabriel’s mouth. All he could do was open his mouth and take a bite.
Jessica nearly broke down in tears. Back on their second anniversary, she had baked a cake herself and sent it to him via Oscar.
But what had he said? That he didn’t like sweets. Yet, here he was happily eating Diana’s cake without a single complaint.
"Oscar, would you say your boss is fickle?" Jessica asked, turning with a bitter smile.
Oscar became flustered, trying to reassure her, “Look, Jessica, it’s different with Gabriel today… He’s…”
Jessica cut him off calmly, “Never mind, I won't make you make excuses for him. That's unfair to you.”
“I’m done here. Let's go out,” she announced.
“Yes, Jessica,” Oscar replied.
Perhaps it was eating fish that evening that made Jessica feel nauseous as soon as she stepped out of the restaurant.
After using the restroom, she met up with Oscar only to find Diana and Gabriel exiting the restaurant too.
“What a coincidence to keep running into you today,” Diana said with cordiality in her voice.
“Yeah, a coincidence,” replied Jessica, uninterested in further interaction, but Diana was insistent.
Spotting the bag in Oscar’s hand, Diana gasped in surprise,“ Jessica, so it was you who bought those rings!”
"I was totally blindsided, you know? When Gabriel and I got back, they told us that someone had snapped up all three rings. I was wondering who it could be, never imagined it would be you."
Jessica looked up with a wry smile. "Yeah, I fell for them and just had to have them all."
"Well, my hubby is rolling in dough, so it's not like we're hurting for cash, right?" she quipped.
Diana's face went pale with anger at Jessica's retort, but she bit back any explosive response.
"You're not wrong, but I still think a girl should have some independence, don't you agree, Gabriel?" Diana shot an intentional glance at Gabriel.
Jessica replied coolly, "Really? I don't harbor grand ambitions like Diana. I'm shallow—I don't want to work hard, just to be pampered by my hubby. After all, he's happy to splurge on keeping me in style."
