Chapter 122 She's my favorite wife.
"Mason, I'm fine, it's not Gabriel's fault," Teresa quickly jumped to Gabriel's defense.
Watching his lady stand up for him, Gabriel's heart swelled with a sweetness as if it had been filled with honey.
"Teresa, feeling a little tender towards the fella now, huh?" Mason sauntered over to the couch and took a seat, casting his gaze over the family of three, a playful grin spreading across his face.
Teresa looked at him, at a loss for words.
"Of course, she’s my beloved wife, who else is gonna stick up for me if not her!" Gabriel boasted with a swagger, reaching an arm around Teresa.
She glanced at him.
Give him an inch and he take a mile, she thought wryly.
"What happened to Gabriel? Did something happen?" Katherine burst in from the kitchen, her eyes flitting between Gabriel and Teresa and then to Mason and Raymond.
"Does he look like anything's wrong?" Raymond shook his head, knowing all too well Katherine's penchant for overreacting. Seeing Gabriel in good spirits and flush with health, he chose not to worry her with unnecessary concerns. Changing the subject, he asked, "Is dinner ready yet? Michael's starving."
"Grandma, my tummy's all shriveled up!" The little tyke, still nestled in Gabriel's arms, said with an exaggerated pout, patting a clearly plump belly.
Katherine melted at the sight of her grandchild, nodding enthusiastically with a cheerful laugh, "Alright, how can we let grandma's little angel go hungry? Over to the table, everyone!"
With a happy clamor, the whole family made their way to the dining room.
After dinner, Raymond and Gabriel headed to Mason's study to discuss some business pertaining to Capital Construction, while Teresa and Katherine stayed downstairs with Croissant.
By now Katherine could find little or no fault in Teresa. While keeping croissant entertained, she engaged in a lengthy conversation with her. The underlying message was clear; she hoped that Teresa would move in with Gabriel soon, now that everyone was aware of their marital status.
This time, Teresa displayed none of her previous resistance, nodding in agreement throughout the conversation. Seeing Teresa so amenable, Katherine's spirits soared, and she decided to have her old jewelry appraised and passed on to Teresa.
"Excuse me, I'm going to make a call," Teresa said with a smile, rising to her feet with her phone in hand, excusing herself from the somewhat cheered up Katherine.
"Go ahead, dear!" Katherine replied with a beaming smile, turning her attention back to croissant.
Teresa smiled and walked outside, dialing Sophia's number.
Patrick had been discharged from the hospital, but he was still not fully recovered, convalescing at home.
"Teresa, how are you doing?" The moment the call connected, Sophia's warm voice came through.
The incident that afternoon at school was under a gag order, so Sophia was naturally clueless.
"Mom, I'm not coming back tonight. I'm staying over at the Garcias' with Croissant."
"That’s fine. Since everyone knows about your marriage to Gabriel now, and he's treating you with so much love and devotion, I'll have your and Croissant's things packed up tomorrow and moved them to the Garcias." No sooner had Teresa stopped talking than Sophia rattled on non-stop.
Teresa fell silent, "Mom, are you trying to kick me and Croissant out?"
Yes, you're getting kicked out. You are not permitted to continue living here." Sophia spoke in an assertive tone.
The Garcias, especially Gabriel, were so good to Teresa, making it clear that she wouldn't be mistreated there.
Teresa felt a twinge of hurt, "Suddenly, I feel like I'm not even your real daughter."
"Oh, you silly girl," Sophia chuckled at the nuttiness in her daughter's voice, "Don't worry, your father's fine, there's no need for you to come home every day. A visit every few days will do."
Teresa sulked and protested, "I'm hanging up now. You and Dad should get some rest."
"Alright, just remember not to be too capricious or give Gabriel the cold shoulder, okay?" Sophia advised lovingly.
She knew her daughter's temperament better than anyone.
"Uh, okay."
Her response was lethargic, but just as Teresa was about to hang up, a pair of strong arms wrapped around her from behind, pulling her into a warm and spacious embrace. The clean, pleasant scent of the man engulfed her senses, filling her lungs.
In less than half a month, Teresa realized she had fallen completely for Gabriel, his scent, his warmth, and even the safety of his arms.
As she put away her phone and turned, he lifted a hand to gently tilt her chin, leaning down to intertwine with her neck and press his lips firmly against hers.
Though Teresa was growing fond of his kisses, even a bit attached, she felt uneasy in the wide-open Garcia family garden, wary that Katherine might spot them at any moment. Without thinking, she pushed him away.
Luckily, Gabriel's kiss was brief; a gentle taste and no more, his fingers lightly cradling her chin.
"What did you tell your mom?" Gabriel released her, turned her to face him, encircling her with his arms, his voice a husky whisper.
"I told her I'd be back with Croissant later and that she and Dad should head to bed early, no need to wait up," Teresa lied flawlessly, looking into his eyes without a flicker of doubt.
"Aren’t you worried about the patient suddenly feeling ill or spiking a fever tonight?" Gabriel asked, his forehead against hers, his eyes shining like stars, his voice softly rough with concern.
Teresa smiled, her lips curving, "What do you have in mind, then?"
"Stay with me, darling. Please?" Gabriel pressed his forehead to hers, his lips warm as they brushed against the tip of her nose.
Under the dim light, gazing at the man entwined with her every breath, Teresa's heart rippled with a new, electrifying thrill that raced through every cell uncontrollably.
She knew she had fallen, hard.
Gabriel was irresistible, faultless by any measure.
She had fallen for him, deeply and utterly, longing to be pampered, protected, and loved by him only, forever inseparable.
"You gonna beg me for it?" Though her heart fluttered wildly out of rhythm, Teresa's voice was teasing, her expression playfully insincere.
