Chapter 176 My Brother is Such a Jerk
Teresa and Gabriel’s villa in Foxglove Fields was fully renovated; every piece of furniture, appliance, and curtain was in place. The only thing missing was a collection of decorative artworks.
But the allure and habitable quality of the villa remains apparent. Good art wasn't something you stumbled upon easily; it had to be found at the right moment, under the right circumstances.
Saturday came, and Teresa and Gabriel took their son, Michael, to see their new home in Foxglove Fields. Mason, Raymond, and Katherine joined them for the visit.
Mason, who enjoyed the hustle and bustle, wasn't too keen on Gabriel and Teresa moving out. However, he was progressive in his ways and wouldn't think of holding them back.
Plus, Foxglove Fields was close to the Garcia family estate. Despite their work schedules, Teresa and Gabriel would drop Croissant off at the estate. After work, they'd all meet back at the estate for dinner before taking Croissant back to Foxglove Fields, ensuring quality time with their beloved.
Thus, Mason was supportive, and neither Raymond nor Katherine had any objections.
After exploring the villa, Katherine concluded that "the house is too small, not grand enough, neither is the decor magnificent enough; it feels rather petty." Stated differently, it was incomparable to the opulence of the Garcia family's estate.
Teresa just smiled and nodded, offering no retort.
"Having taken a tour of the house, I am quite certain you are missing a lot," Katherine commented, examining the first-floor room, "No need to trouble yourself, Teresa. I'll take care of whatever your home is lacking."
"Oh, that would be wonderful, thank you, Katherine," Teresa said with a bright smile, readily accepting her offer.
As long as Katherine was happy and didn’t overstep, all the little things could be just the way she liked. That way, Gabriel wouldn't have to feel torn between her and his mother.
Besides, Katherine, her mother-in-law, was genuinely kind to her. There was nothing to complain about.
"However, this house was just renovated. The smell is still lingering. We probably should keep it ventilated for some time before moving in," said Katherine, looking around once more.
"Don't worry. Before we move in, I'll have professionals come and treat everything to make sure it's safe," Gabriel reassured her, draping an arm around Teresa with a content smile.
Wait for some time? As if! Gabriel could hardly wait to move into Foxglove Fields with Teresa tomorrow. Just the two of them, free to do whatever they pleased, wherever within the comfort of their new home; how wonderful that would be!
The entire villa had been fitted with materials and furnishing that had passed rigorous inspections even before their use, ensuring everything was safe and secure.
"You're just too eager, kiddo!" Mason teased as he entered the room, overhearing Gabriel's words.
Gabriel, still hugging Teresa, grinned, "No one knows me better than Grandpa."
Mason gave him a side glance and said, "Alright, we've seen enough, let's go. When it comes to moving, though, we should pick a day."
"Right, we can discuss it and pick out a good day tomorrow," Katherine smiled, following Mason out cheerily.
Teresa was about to follow when Gabriel held her back.
"What are you doing?" she asked, looking up at him.
"Should we take another look at our bedroom?" Gabriel suggested playfully, his dark eyes twinkling with mischief.
Teresa suspected his intentions clearly and as she pushed him away with smug smile made a beeline for the door, almost as if escaping.
Watching Teresa's graceful figure darting away, Gabriel couldn't help but smile and quickly caught up with her.
......
That afternoon, Hayden texted Teresa, mentioning that an internationally renowned jewelry brand had a new haute couture collection at their exclusive River North boutique and invited Teresa to check it out, suggesting she also bring along Croissant.
Teresa thought for a moment, her son's godmother, Diana, had repeatedly stated her wish to see him, but it had been a long time since they had seen each other. Teresa decided after jewelry shopping with Hayden, they could invite Diana to join them for an afternoon tea.
She arrived at the jewelry boutique with her son where Hayden was already waiting for her in the private lounge.
Teresa was escorted into the private room and immediately dazzled by the array of exquisite jewelry before her.
True to its global repute, the designer brand showcased pieces that were both unique and exquisitely beautiful.
Initially, Teresa was there to accompany Hayden in picking out jewelry, but the attention quickly shifted to her. The sales associates draped her in various designer pieces, one after another. Captivated by the sparkling gems, Teresa made a grand gesture and purchased a dozen high-end pieces, racking up a bill of over 3 million dollars.
Meanwhile, Gabriel was at home conducting a video conference when a notification popped up on his phone showing Teresa's spending spree. He couldn't help but smile at the sight.
Finally, she was using the credit card he'd given her; it had been a long time coming.
His primary goal was to make Teresa so accustomed to his presence that she'd never leave, but he knew there was still a distance to bridge, so spoiling her was the plan.
