Chapter 408 Lingered with Gabriel's Suppressed Breath
He pulled back from her lips but still had her pinned against the door, his forehead pressed against hers, making her look up at Gabriel's face, which was so close she could feel his breath on her nose.
So close that all the love and nerves she’d buried deep down were now blazing up. Something inside her felt like it was slipping away, taking her mind with it.
Breath hung in the air.
Feeling a mix of nerves and excitement, she wanted to push him away but found her legs had turned to jelly. With her eyes flickering from the kiss, she managed to pull one hand free, trembling as it pushed against his chest. Ignoring how their lips were almost touching, she tried to speak.
Gabriel beat her to it.
"Brave?" Gabriel's coat was open, letting the cold wind in. "You never thought to ask me about my plans when you hit a bump. You just cut ties, quick and clean. Is that bravery? Hmm?"
"Your childhood made you unable to handle anything that might hurt your or your daughter's pride. You'd rather live a life you think is tough than let someone in, even if that someone is me."
Gabriel pushed her hand back to her side, ignoring her silent struggle. He looked down into her eyes, which finally showed some cracks. "You're scared Danielle will be looked down on and feel hurt. You'd rather hide with her in a shell you think protects her. Is that your bravery?"
He knew.
He knew everything.
Jessica wasn’t shocked that Gabriel knew about the past. Because of what he knew, he was disappointed in her choices and her coldness, which was why he pushed her away so much.
So, even without any misunderstandings or resolutions, they could still keep a relationship that wasn’t even friendly, giving each other a bit of dignity, even if it was all a front.
She thought this was peaceful enough. Stayed apart, and even if they crossed paths, there’d be no more drama.
After all, in life, no one was truly indispensable. Nothing lasted forever. Just because you loved someone didn't mean you had to be together for life. This world didn't have that many undying loves. Mostly, it ended, and getting back together was just a fairy tale. The real world was way different from imagination.
Especially for someone as cool and controlled as Gabriel, she always thought he felt the same. They’d meet again, each wearing their masks, maybe shake hands, and then move on like they never met.
That’s reality, right?
Jessica closed her eyes.
It felt like the walls of the past two years were suddenly crumbling. She’d worn the mask for so long she almost couldn’t take it off, but now it felt like it was being ripped off, flesh and all.
Yeah, she could ditch her pride. Facing the solid walls of the Harriman family, she could charge ahead, even if it meant breaking herself.
But she had to think about Danielle.
She wasn’t just one person.
She was Danielle's mom, and it was her job to keep her kid safe.
Jessica shut her eyes and stayed quiet for a long time, not saying a word. She turned her head and said, "Can you let me go?"
Gabriel saw her stubbornness and turned her chin back. "Open your eyes."
Jessica frowned and yanked her hand away from his, pulling her hat down and turning to leave.
Gabriel wasn’t having it. He quickly lifted her hat. "This hat isn’t your hedgehog shell. Wearing it won’t help. I told you to open your eyes."
Jessica didn’t move, but she was pissed her hat got taken off. She leaned against the door, pretending to be dead.
The air was thick with silence until Gabriel said softly, "Scared to face me? Scared to see I’m really disappointed in you, or scared I won’t let go? Wanna guess what I’ll choose?"
Her rationality was hanging by a thread. Provoked, she snapped her eyes open, but before she could get a good look at Gabriel, he grabbed the back of her neck and kissed her again, not giving her a chance to react or breathe.
Jessica gasped, "Gabriel, stop it."
Outside the door, someone seemed to be approaching the changing room, making rustling noises, unsure if they were passing by or eavesdropping.
Jessica instantly fell silent.
Amy came out of the store with four or five shopping bags and found no one in the car.
Jessica and Zoey weren’t in the store either.
She went back to ask the clerk, who said the two had gone to the restroom on the second floor.
Zoey hadn’t gone initially, but after waiting for a while and not seeing Jessica return, she got worried and went to look for her. But she hadn’t come back either.
Amy had no choice but to carry the shopping bags and head to the second floor to find them.
When she got near the restroom, she saw Zoey sitting on a sofa chair, patiently waiting for something.
"Where’s Jessica?" Amy asked as she approached.
Zoey quickly pulled her to sit down beside her. "Shh, keep it down."
Amy was puzzled.
"Just wait quietly."
"What’s going on? Is someone secretly filming Jessica in the restroom? Are paparazzi in the U.S. this creepy?" Amy looked around but didn’t see anyone with a phone or camera. "Hey? There’s no one."
Zoey didn’t bother to explain, just sat on the sofa, resting her chin on her hand, glancing at the temporary changing room next to the restroom.
Amy followed her gaze, saw the closed door, and didn’t think much of it. She looked towards the women’s restroom, thinking Jessica might be having stomach issues or something, which is why she hadn’t come out yet.
Inside that door.
Gabriel’s kiss had turned gentle and tender, as if he was trying to soothe her, or cherishing something lost and found.
Jessica’s hands were completely free, her nerves so tense and sensitive she didn’t know what to do next.
Outside, Amy had gone to the women’s restroom door to ask if Jessica had fallen in, but as she passed the changing room door, she heard some noise inside. She hadn’t seen anyone go in for a while, so she instinctively pushed the door open to check.
The door wasn’t locked. It opened a crack.
The door closed again, and Jessica was once again pinned against it.
Amy thought, 'What the heck is going on?'
