Chapter 139 Don't leave me, darling
"Daddy's back!" The little one shouted excitedly upon seeing his father.
"Hey, buddy." Finally, Gabriel moved, his gaze softening at the sight of his son nestled in Teresa's arms. He rubbed his stiffened face and strode towards the hospital bed, crouching down to kiss the excited child.
As he leaned in, Teresa turned her head away, subtly increasing the distance between them.
"Daddy, look, Mommy's sad. Mommy's crying," the little one said after being kissed, pointing at Teresa's reddened eyes and pouting.
"Okay, Daddy's going to make mommy smile. Why don't you go play outside with Grandma for a bit, alright?" Gabriel said as he scooped up the little one and handed him to Katherine.
Catching on quickly to Gabriel's intent, without a word, Katherine and Sophia took the child out of the room.
Once they left, Gabriel closed the door to the room, and while walking back, he saw Teresa throwing off the covers, intending to get out of bed.
Without waiting for her response, he rushed over and swept her into his arms, holding her tightly against him. Then, he lowered his head and kissed her forehead deeply, murmuring hoarsely with contrition, "My dear, I'm sorry."
Teresa sat on the edge of the hospital bed without struggling; she didn't even flinch, allowing herself to be held tightly, void of any reaction.
For no apparent reason, at this very moment, Teresa felt an unfamiliar sting in her eyes, as if tears were on the brink of spilling once more.
But she fiercely held them back.
"There's no need for apologies," she finally spoke after a long silence, her voice eerily void of emotion.
"I'm so sorry, my dear, it's all my fault!" Gabriel held her tight, unable to bear the thought of letting her go, "Yell at me, hit me, do anything, just don't be mad, okay?"
With her eyes closed in his embrace, Teresa gently shook her head, "I'm not mad."
"You mean it? You're not mad and we won't get a divorce?" Gabriel was overjoyed, quickly releasing her to sit at the edge of the bed, eagerly clasping her shoulders as he asked with excitement.
Teresa looked away, not facing his childlike enthusiasm, "I'm not mad. But we should still go through with the divorce, to spare you any future embarrassment and pain."
"Darling..." He just couldn't help it; watching her composed demeanor void of complaints or anger, Gabriel's eyes welled up once again.
He wished she would lash out at him, scream and fight, rather than be this eerily tranquil, as if her spirit had been crushed.
"Darling, I'm just scared. Scared that even now, it's Liam you love, not me. Do you understand?"
Fearful—afraid that the object of her affection was Liam, not him?
Hearing these, Teresa slowly turned her head to face the man inches away, her expression blank as she asked, "And what if it is so?"
"It's not," he declared, pulling her back into his arms with undeniable force, "You're my love. How can you still harbor feelings for another man? You can only love me."
"You don't even believe in your own that I love you. How can you ever truly believe mine?" Teresa said with a faint, self-deprecating smile, "Gabriel, maybe I'm cold-hearted. I don't get too emotionally attached to men. So, a divorce might be the best thing for you."
It finally dawned on Gabriel why Teresa was acting so indifferent.
It’s a disappointment, an utter disappointment in him.
He shook his head, kissing the top of her head passionately, his deep voice resonating with sincerity, "I'm sorry, my love, I was wrong. I promise I'll never doubt you again. No matter how cold-hearted you may be, I'll make you fall for me. You can rely on me. Okay?"
Just as she was going to say no, her mouth opening to say "No," Gabriel let her go. He took her face in his big hands in an instant, tipped her head back, and sealed her lips with a kiss so intense it was like a tsunami rushing over her. Teresa was completely overcome, his yearning taking up all of her air. She stared into those intense eyes and felt her mind spin, lightheaded from lack of breath. Closing her eyes, she kissed him back, slowly and irresistibly.
The moment he felt her respond, something inside Gabriel exploded. Every primal instinct within him surged to the fore, obliterating all thoughts of restraint. He wanted her, completely and undeniably.
In an act driven by urgent need, Teresa barely aware and drowning in sensation, felt Gabriel as he acted decisively. Lifting her into his arms, he brought them together in a single motion of unrestrained passion.
Clutching at his strong frame, the fabric of her clothes a mere interface between them, Teresa sharply winced at a sudden pain. Her beautiful brows knit tightly together.
In the next instant, she snapped out of the haze and slapped Gabriel across the face with a resounding smack.
"Gabriel, you are..." The next word, a curse, was cut off by his crushing kiss. His voice, gruff and blurred, murmured against her lips, "My dear, I'm sorry, but you're mine..."
Ashamed and flustered, Teresa buried her face in the warmth of his neck, her fingers grasping at his shoulders for support. With a voice trembling and edged with tears, she pleaded, "Let's go to the restroom. We might be seen here."
"Alright, let's go to the restroom..."
