Chapter 20 Farewells and Family Affairs
Teresa wasted no time in dotting the i's and crossing the t's on her exchange application. Within a week, she had her papers in order, ready for her overseas adventure.
Diana, too, had secured her spot, though at a steep cost to her family's modest savings. As they both prepared to set off, a farewell dinner with their classmates was arranged.
"Is Unity not coming?" Teresa asked Diana, scanning the Pavilion where they'd gathered and noticing Unity's absence.
Teresa and Unity, both from wealthy families, had always been close, even though Unity tended to keep everything to herself. Despite this, they'd invited the entire class to their send-off dinner via the group chat.
With Unity nowhere in sight, Teresa excused herself to call her.
Elsewhere, Unity was at the Garcia estate, caught in a tense meeting with her parents and the Garcias. Her phone rang - it was Teresa. Flustered, Unity silenced the call and turned off her phone.
"If Unity is indeed carrying my son's child," Katherine said with poised authority, "we'll need Gabriel here immediately to address this claim." Her voice was calm, betraying none of her contempt for the Lewis family and Unity in particular. She instructed the butler to summon Gabriel.
"Yes, Madam," the butler replied, stepping away to call Gabriel.
After Teresa's call disconnected, she shrugged off Unity's apparent desire for solitude and rejoined the dinner.
Back at the Garcia estate, the butler, getting no response from Gabriel, called Finley instead.
Finley, the CEO on constant alert, was in the midst of a critical meeting at Nebula Consumer Products when the call came through. He excused himself and headed straight to Gabriel's office.
Gabriel was in the midst of a power play with senior executives. He barely acknowledged Finley's entrance, his attention fixed on the men before him. He presented them with retirement packages, his tone light but seriousl.
One elder bristled at the dismissal, his anger evident as he left in a huff, the others following suit.
"What's up?" Gabriel inquired after they'd left.
"Madam's called you home for an urgent matter," Finley reported dutifully.
Gabriel checked his phone, saw the missed call, and dialed back immediately.
Hayden, the butler, answered, "Young Master, it's about Unity. She's here with Mr. Preston, claiming she's pregnant with your child. Madam insists on your presence."
Gabriel's response was swift and sure, as if he'd expected this news all along.
Hayden sensed Gabriel wasn't surprised. Gabriel had been prepared ever since his parents had arranged a marriage for him with Hayden, whose controversial past he was well aware of.
Unlike Lin, Unity was different—she had given her first night to him.
"Understood," Gabriel said. "Be there soon."
Hayden, reassured, went to inform Katherine. Gabriel's knowledge of Unity's situation was clear; he had been expecting this moment, ready to face whatever might come next.
