Chapter 100 Like a Man Abandoned
"Ah!"
In the midst of their phone conversation, a motorbike whizzed past Teresa, and with a scream, she fell hard to the pavement.
The phone flew from her grasp, skidding several feet away, while the offending motorbike sped off without a hint of stopping.
"Honey!" Gabriel, already on edge, felt his heart leap out of his throat as he heard Teresa's scream from not far outside the school gates, “Honey, what happened? Honey!"
But no matter how frantically he called out, there was no response from Teresa. He hastily got out of his car, clutching his phone to keep the call, calling her name incessantly as he sprinted toward the building where Teresa's lecture was given.
On the sidewalk some seven or eight hundred yards from the school gate, Teresa lay on the ground, her ankle twisted, unable to get up.
Yet, seeing her phone a few feet away and thinking of Gabriel waiting on the line, she tried to crawl to it, to tell him she was alright.
However, just as she managed to prop herself up a little, she collapsed again, re-twisting her ankle and sucking in a breath from the sharp pain.
"Teresa, are you okay?" Suddenly, two male students who saw her rushed over to help her up and retrieve her belongings.
Trying to put on a brave face, Teresa shook her head with a pained smile, “Thanks, I'm alright. Could you just hand me my phone, please?"
"Sure, right away," one of the students quickly fetched her phone and handed it to her.
"Teresa, Teresa!" the anxious voice of Gabriel came through as soon as she grasped the phone.
Furrowing her brows and taking a deep breath, Teresa assured him, "Gabriel, I'm fine."
"Do you want us to take you to the nurse's office?" one of the students asked.
She shook her head, "No need, I just need a moment to rest."
Hearing her voice, Gabriel's worry knotted his brows tighter, his legs churning like wheels on fire as he raced toward her location, drawing curious glances from bystanders who watched his rapid approach.
"Teresa, stay put, I'm on my way," Gabriel called out while running. After he finished speaking, Teresa's figure came into view.
He sprinted toward her like a sprinter, closing the distance at breakneck speed.
Teresa was leaning on a few youngsters for support when she heard a voice on her phone. She glanced up in time to see a man sprinting from a hundred yards distant toward her.
In that instant, a sudden surge of emotion hit her, and she felt her eyes well up.
"Teresa, if you're not going to head to the nurse's office, let's at least get you seated over there," one of the boys suggested, pointing to a bench nearby.
Teresa quickly fought back the tears and shook her head, "No need, my husband's coming for me."
Husband!
Both boys were taken aback and then followed Teresa's gaze.
They were stunned as they spotted Gabriel approaching from a distance, dressed in an immaculately tailored suit and a crisp white shirt, topped off with a pale blue tie, towering over the other pedestrians.
His stature, his looks, and his aura left the boys in awe, dumbstruck.
In no more than a few seconds, Gabriel had arrived amidst the gazes of the onlookers. He effortlessly took Teresa from the two boys, inspecting her with great concern, “Are you okay? Where did you hurt?" he asked without even pausing for breath.
Teresa came to her senses, looked at him, and shook her head.
Seeing no obvious injuries on Teresa, Gabriel didn't hesitate. He picked her up and stated, "We're heading to the hospital now."
"There's no need; I'm fine." Teresa instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck and refused, shaking her head.
"Teresa, here's your bag," the boys chimed in, having recovered from their initial shock, quickly handing over her belongings.
Gabriel reached out, took the bag with a "thanks," and then, with Teresa in his arms, they strode away.
"Thanks, guys," Teresa said without resistance, just turning her head to thank the two students as Gabriel carried her off.
With a smile, the boys watched them go, still unable to believe Teresa was married to a man so powerful and domineering.
Gabriel had always been a head-turner, but now, with Teresa in his arms, it was impossible to ignore them.
Feeling the weight of many eyes upon her, Teresa nestled her face into Gabriel's chest, hoping to avoid recognition from anyone in the crowd.
Gabriel strode forward, his lips curving into an involuntary smile as he glanced down at the petite woman nestled in his arms, her face buried in his chest and her cheeks tinged with a blossoming flush. He softly pressed a kiss atop her head.
"Gabriel!" Teresa's voice, a hushed shriek of warning, came as she felt his kiss.
"Mmm, I'm here. What can I do for you, my queen?" Gabriel's husky, seductive voice was tinged with a chuckle as he responded.
Teresa's face turned even pinker. Abruptly, she looked up at him with a glare. But when she saw the mischievous gleam dancing in his deep, bright eyes, she couldn't help but pinch his shoulder forcefully.
"Ouch!" Gabriel winced dramatically, though his eyes remained full of mirth, “What's this, my queen? Looking for another kiss? Consider it done."
He leaned in for another peck, but Teresa quickly buried her face back into his chest, wriggling in his embrace as she mumbled, "Gabriel, if you kiss me again, I swear I'm getting down right here."
"Alright, alright, no more kisses," he said, but not before sneaking one last kiss onto her head.
Teresa, staying tucked in his chest, pinched him again in vexation, not daring to lift her head this time.
All along their way, every eye was on them, their gaze filled with a mix of curiosity, envy, and admiration; it was like a scene straight out of a TV show.
