Chapter 159
Despite the small dose of the drug, it was enough to make him lose control and go wild. He hadn't been able to stop, even when Teresa begged him to.
"Don't you dare damage yourself, and stop drinking strange stuff!" Teresa fumed, punching his sweaty chest with all her might.
"Alright, I won’t damage myself. For you, my love, I won't allow it," Gabriel said, pressing her hand to his lips and kissing it gently; his clear-headedness was a relief after the effects of the drug had worn off.
Teresa glared at him, attempting to pull her hand away, "You stink, don't touch me for a whole week."
Gabriel held on to her hand, not letting go. He looked down at the lovely woman in his arms and pleaded, "How about just three days?"
"Two weeks," she retorted, even more annoyed.
"Okay, okay!" He capitulated immediately. "You say a week, then it's a week."
"What if you can't keep your promise?" she challenged.
"I'll do whatever you say," he replied.
"If you break your promise this time, we're getting a divorce."
Gabriel's eyes twitched as he looked at her, his voice cautious, "Babe, can we not talk about divorce?"
"Then be a man of your word."
Gabriel fell silent.
...
Despite the late night at Kyle's mansion, they returned to the Garcia family estate.
The next day was a weekend, and after the exhausting night, Teresa slept straight through till noon. When she finally came downstairs, she was just in time for lunch.
As lunchtime was winding down, Teresa's sister-in-law, Katherine, broached the subject with her, "Teresa, now that everyone knows you and Gabriel are married, don't you think it's about time to start planning your wedding?"
"Sure, I'll follow your lead," Teresa agreed pleasantly.
She had way too much on her plate and, frankly, the thought of planning a wedding was overwhelming. It made perfect sense to let Katherine take the reins. It would save Teresa from a whirlwind of tasks, and Katherine would revel in the joy of organizing one.
"That's wonderful! Tomorrow, we'll sit down with your parents and pin down a date for the wedding," Katherine said, beaming at Teresa's compliance, "And how about we throw a little get-together before the wedding? Invite all our relatives and close friends to formally introduce you. What do you say?"
Teresa nodded in agreement, "Yeah, there are quite a few family elders I've yet to meet. It would be great to meet them. I'm all for following your plans, Katherine."
"It's settled then. You and Gabriel go about your business, and leave everything to me," Katherine declared, her face lighting up with joy.
"Thanks," Teresa said with gratitude.
After lunch, Teresa and her little one spent some time picking fruit in the orchard behind the grand house. When they were done, exhausted, Michael nestled into Teresa's arms and fell asleep almost instantly.
Taking advantage of Michael's naptime, Teresa hurried to catch up on her own tasks, occasionally fended off Gabriel's playful interruptions with a playful yet stern look.
By late afternoon, once Michael was awake, the three of them headed to the Bennett house for dinner.
Patrick had been recovering well, and his spirits were particularly high, buoyed by the recent joys, especially Gabriel's engagement to Teresa. With the help of the Garcias, the Bennetts' business was thriving, and Patrick was in great spirits.
Back at the Bennett home, Michael couldn't get enough of his "Grandpa" and "Grandma," delighting the older couple to no end.
"Where’s uncle, Mommy? Could you take me to see uncle?" Michael tugged at Teresa's hand after a while, wanting to seek out his Uncle William.
"Your uncle isn't home right now. Let's ask Grandma, okay?" Teresa responded, then turned to Sophia, "Mom, where's William? Isn't he coming home for dinner tonight?"
"He will. Sophia instructing the chef briefly in the kitchen, then emerging with a smile on her face continued, “He just called before you guys arrived. He said he's bringing his girlfriend over to meet me and your dad,"
"A girlfriend?" Teresa exclaimed, shooting Gabriel a meaningful glance.
In a perfectly synchronized move, Gabriel caught her eye, and they shared an understanding smile.
"Mom, did William mention her name?" Teresa couldn't contain her excitement; she never expected Hayden and her older brother to move so quickly.
Sophia shook her head and moved over to Teresa's side, picking up Croissant, "He's never mentioned a girlfriend before. Suddenly, he says he's bringing her over for dinner. Your dad and I are curious, too. We'll find out soon enough. Given your brother's taste, he surely wouldn't bring anyone unsuitable home, right?"
"Of course not. You and Dad will definitely approve of his girlfriend," Teresa said confidently.
"You've met your brother's girlfriend?" Sophia was curious, "Do I know her?"
With a secretive smile, Teresa replied, "Like you said, Mom, we'll find out soon enough."
Sophia gave her a playful look, "You all are in on it, keeping your dad and me in the dark."
"Grandma, what's a girlfriend? Can I have one too?" The little one in Sophia's arms inquired with wide-eyed curiosity.
"You, young man, have to wait until you're older before you can have a girlfriend."
"Sir, Ma'am, William has just arrived," announced the housekeeper.
"Hayden!" Teresa lit up and dashed toward the front door. Gabriel watched her swift movements and couldn't spot a trace of discomfort that she claimed to have earlier.
So, women's words in bed can hardly be trusted; he was definitely duped!
"That girl, she's still such a child at heart, not much difference from Michael at times. Gabriel, you can't spoil her too much," Patrick advised, watching Teresa's enthusiastic reaction.
Gabriel grinned, "Well, I love the way Teresa is. She's perfect to me."
Patrick nodded with a smile, "Good, as long as you cherish her. That's what matters in a marriage."
Gabriel chuckled, "Being able to marry Teresa is the greatest blessing of my life."
How could he ever complain about Teresa when, in reality, it was he who was trying to keep up with her every day!
Gathering her breath, Teresa raced to the front gate, arriving just as William's car pulled up. He stepped out and circled around to open the passenger door.
"Hay..." Teresa’s greeting was cheerful, but her voice hitched abruptly, stuck in her throat, as she caught sight of the passenger exiting the vehicle. She froze.
...
