Chapter 118 If It Scars, I I'll Nag You for Life
After that, Teresa's days became whirlwinds of activity.
She juggled with her job at the language school and took care of the renovations of the new home Gabriel had acquired. She prepared for the diplomat's exam which was just two months ahead. Any spare moments were dedicated to her son and parents. She simply had no time to dwell on anything else.
But her lack of attention to the outside world didn't mean she went unnoticed.
Since her marriage to Gabriel hit the headlines, paparazzi lay in wait at her school daily, snapping photos every time she stepped into view. Thankfully, Mason's warnings kept the media alert, with the eager reporters only daring to shoot from a distance and not daring to approach Teresa.
Since those secret shots didn't disrupt her life or work, Teresa didn't mind. The online buzz and media snippets about her and Gabriel's life were trivial at best; she'd take a peek and move on, unaffected.
Following the revelation of Teresa's affiliations with the Garcia family, her classes became the campus's hottest ticket; everyone wanted a piece of the professor whose grace was as renowned as her lectures.
To ensure Teresa's safety, Gabriel and the school administration imposed entry restrictions. Only students enrolled in her course, identification in hand, could attend her lectures. This cautious move weeded out any non-students looking to cause chaos.
Yet, some enterprising students secretly recorded her lectures and spread them across social media or sold them to magazines. In no time, Teresa's teaching videos went viral.
Her professional, engaging teaching style, along with her striking appearance and her confident, elegant demeanor, won her rave reviews across the internet.
With Teresa's soaring popularity, the Bennett Group's exposure skyrocketed, particularly for Queen's Avenue, a hospitality consortium under Bennett Group. The names of all its restaurants, hotels, and clubs were plastered online, and business doubled overnight. The Teresa Pavilion, in particular, became so sought after that securing a table was nigh impossible within a day's notice.
Inside the CEO's office of Nebula Consumer Products, Gabriel leaned into his executive chair, chin propped up in his hand, eyes glued to the computer screen. He watched Teresa, standing at the podium, lecturing with a focus and poised confidence. Her deep eyes sparkled with warmth and fond admiration.
Gabriel was not the only one engrossed in Teresa's lecture video; Mason, cuddled up with Croissant whose face lit up at the sight of Teresa onscreen, was also captivated. He also shared a deep sense of pride in her.
The Garcias in all their glory wished they had someone like Teresa—someone who could uphold the Garcia name, was smart and sophisticated, and had left the business world to carve a name for herself.
Thus, Mason's fondness for his granddaughter-in-law, Teresa, grew by the day. His support for her work knew no bounds.
The stories about Teresa and Gabriel, along with her lecture videos, went viral. The societies of River North, especially the circle of well-to-do women, were all abuzz, inundating Katherine with congratulatory messages, praising the Garcias for having such a capable and beautiful family member.
Teresa had indeed brought pride and dignity to the Garcias and to herself. Naturally, Katherine was over the moon, her contentment with Teresa ever increasing.
Meanwhile, Dakota sat fuming at home, the onslaught of news about Teresa and Gabriel on her screen almost driving her to hurl her phone against the wall.
These past few days had been hellish due to the constant reminders of the couple. Stepping out meant facing whispers and stares. She had become the butt of the elite socialites' jokes, openly mocked and shamed on social media, losing her dignity so much so that her once-close friends had suddenly ghosted her.
"Teresa, you've become the sweetheart, while I've become a laughingstock for all," Dakota seethed. "I swear, this isn't over. Vengeance will be mine."
With fierce resolve, Dakota dialed her assistant's number. She instructed them to spare no expense in hiring an army of trolls to besmirch Teresa's name, to flood the internet with vitriol, the nastier, the better.
On the other end of the phone, the assistant listened to Dakota's trembling voice, "Dakota, the internet is overflowing with support for Teresa right now. If we suddenly pay a bunch of trolls to trash-talk her, we'll be called out immediately. We could hire an army of them, but they're still no match for her genuine fan-base. Have you seen it? Her videos on that one site are hitting almost a hundred million views; and the comments, nearing ten million, with 99.9% in her favor. Any negative comments we plant will get drowned out in no time."
"Then what do you suggest we do?!" Dakota roared, nearly losing her mind with rage. "I have to take Teresa down, or I'll never be able to show my face again."
"Didn't you say Teresa used to date Liam? And Teresa and Unity were best friends in college, with Unity being Gabriel's ex-wife," the assistant suggested a plan, "Sometimes, you don't have to get your hands dirty."
A light bulb went off in Dakota’s mind.
That makes sense. Why should she fight this battle alone?
"Get me the dirt on why Teresa and Liam broke up as soon as possible," Dakota instructed decisively.
"Okay. I'm on it right now."
After hanging up, Dakota seethed with fury and resentment, “Teresa, you'll regret crossing me, I'll make sure of it!”
...
Teresa had declared she wouldn't see Gabriel for the next week.
But with Croissants in the mix, staying away completely was impossible.
Still, Teresa had been stern. Even though they had to meet because of their son, she didn't utter one word to Gabriel; she just picked up Michael and left.
However, she had no issues accepting his daily gifts.
By Friday, Gabriel couldn't take it anymore. He cleared his afternoon schedule and made his way to the university to sit in on Teresa's lecture.
