Chapter 54 Longing Deeply, I Miss You So Much
Jessica's face flushed immediately. Though they were in an underground parking lot, in broad daylight, she lacked the audacity. Her lips pursed in a kittenish pout.
Gabriel's gaze icily swept over Oscar, who understood the cue and grunted lightly.
Oscar promptly turned around and commanded the nearby bodyguard, "Look away, everyone, turn around."
Feeling even more embarrassed, Jessica hesitantly moved forward, standing on her tiptoes to lightly peck Gabriel's face, then quickly stepped away.
Gabriel smiled, visibly content.
"Can we talk now?" Jessica asked, still blushing.
Gabriel took her hand and they got into the car, sitting side by side in the back seat.
Oscar drove them off, and once the car was smoothly cruising, Gabriel finally spoke, "I gave him the money and warned him to quit gambling for good, or else I'd break his hands."
Jessica fell silent after hearing this.
"Are you upset?" Gabriel asked, gently.
"Not really," Jessica shook her head, "Just find it kind of sad."
"Ever since I was little, I envied those families where parents loved each other, living happily. I never had that. I never expected him to love me extravagantly or make a fortune for a lavish life. I just wished he could be down-to-earth like other dads, hardworking, striving, earning with his own hands.
"Even if that meant a tougher life, not affording the dolls I liked, or pretty clothes, I would be beyond happy and truly content. But even such a small wish couldn't come true." As Jessica spoke, her voice became softer and softer.
These memories were the most painful parts of her life, the past she could hardly bring herself to discuss.
As an adult, she kept everything about "Dad" tightly locked away, afraid that others might discover her father was a compulsive gambler and make unjust assumptions about her and Giselle's character.
These were secrets that she kept them to herself, never telling a soul. But now, she had shared all of this with Gabriel. And it wasn't a bid for sympathy, rather, it was trust that made her want to open up.
"You loved dolls, and beautiful clothes?" Gabriel asked.
Jessica nodded, "Of course, what girl doesn't?"
"I remember on my tenth birthday, Mom gave me this really big, really pretty doll with golden hair, big eyes, and long eyelashes. I loved it, but then..." Her eyes dimmed, "He got drunk, and he threw my doll away."
"I remember it poured that day. I was so heartbroken that I ran out into the rain trying to find it. I searched through every trash can but couldn't find the doll," she continued.
"And then what happened?" Gabriel listened intently.
"Later..." Jessica looked up, blinking back tears as she continued, "Giselle offered to buy me an identical one, but I refused."
"Why not take it?" he asked.
"That doll was expensive, costing several hundred. Carter got so mad when he found out, he hit Giselle right in front of me.
"I was little and short then. I remember crying desperately, throwing myself at Giselle, but he just pushed me away with one hand and threw me to the ground. I hated him so much. I kept thinking, as soon as I grew up, I'd take Giselle away from there, and give her a happy life.
"But Giselle didn't live to see that day, and I never kept that promise," she recalled, pain twisting within her chest. Jessica's tears silently fell.
Such memories remained unknown to anyone but Grace.
Perhaps because Grace shared similar experiences, they, still so young, would huddle together for warmth.
They grew up, all polished and graceful in public, intelligent and elegant. But the shadows etched in their hearts during childhood lasted a lifetime.
Those dark, foul days, so close to breaking them, were like a mire of mud, nauseating to even recall.
If Carter hadn't reappeared, she might have almost forgotten about him. Yet, he was her father. No matter how much she detested him, she couldn't escape that fact.
"How much does he owe?" Jessica snapped back to the pressing issue and quickly asked.
"One million eight hundred thousand." Gabriel did not hide it from her.
"What?" Jessica’s eyes widened in disbelief, barely able to trust what she was hearing.
Before, his debts were in the thousands, then tens of thousands, and eventually in the hundreds of thousands.
She had thought, even if the amount was larger this time, it might just be a few hundred thousand. But it was almost two million dollars.
"You just handed over that much money to him?" Jessica asked, baffled.
"To me, it's a drop in the bucket. I can afford it," Gabriel replied nonchalantly.
Jessica looked at him seriously and explained, "Gabriel, this isn't just about the amount of money. Today, it's two million you gave away. Next time, he'll ask for five million, and it'll escalate to fifty million. I know his character better than anyone."
"All you're doing is feeding his greed. He's going to cling to you like a vampire, sucking you dry until there's nothing left. We can't just let him have the money. I'm going to get it back." The more Jessica thought about it, the angrier she became.
Gabriel took her hand, his voice a soothing balm, "Don't worry. I wouldn't have given the money if I didn't have a plan. I won't let him keep bleeding me dry."
"Are you sure?" Jessica was still worried.
"Yeah, trust me." It was only after Gabriel reassured her several times that Jessica felt a bit more at ease.
But she still called Carter, "It's me, Jessica. Don't think that just because you got the money today, you can do whatever you want."
"Carter, consider this a warning. This is the last time. Neither I nor Gabriel will give you money ever again. You've been warned," Jessica warned with finality.
After an eventful day, at their home, the marital adventures resume…
One of the perks of a large house was the abundance of bathrooms, making everything so convenient.
After dinner, Jessica took a shower in the bathroom attached to their bedroom, while Gabriel used another one.
As she was getting out of the shower in her pajamas, Gabriel's phone pinged with a notification. It was on the bedside table charging, with the screen still on, and Jessica couldn't help but glance over.
That fleeting look sent a jolt through her, freezing her in place, her hands mid-motion drying her wet hair.
It was a WhatsApp message from Diana.
Diana: [Meet me, would you?]
Diana: [My hand's inflamed, serious. If you don't come, just let the pain kill me.]
Diana: [I miss you. I miss you so much.]
One after another, the messages popped up at the top of the screen. So glaringly clear, that it would've been hard to miss even if she tried.
At that moment, Gabriel emerged from the bathroom. Jessica quickly resumed drying her hair, pretending to be oblivious to it all.
As he walked over to check his messages, Jessica’s heart hung suspended in uncertainty.
Would he go see Diana? Agree? Or refuse?
