Chapter 211 Let Her Go
“Gabriel, just got word that Teresa is on her way here,” the informant said.
Gabriel had also spent a sleepless night at the Hotel, dealing with business affairs all through the night.
Only when a sliver of golden dawn began to illuminate the east did he stop his work, closed his eyes, leaned back in his chair, massaged his weary brows, and then rose to walk toward the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The photos with Kay Baxter were never meant to be leaked, but the thought of Teresa and Terry, the resolute words she said to him, and her cold, stubborn demeanor over so many days without a single initiative to reach out to him, crushed him.
From the time they met, it always seemed to be him compromising, admitting fault, and appeasing her.
This time, he didn’t want to do this again.
However, if she were prepared to make a small concession—to even simply bow her head or reach out to him once—he would pretend as though nothing had happened and would give her his entire world.
Standing in front of the windows, watching the brightening gold of the east, he didn't stand long before Luke came to report to him.
Finally, she was coming!
Was it the entertainment headlines of him and Kay Baxter spending the night together that made her come, just so she could catch a cheat?
“Go, call Kay Baxter up here,” Gabriel instructed, his lips twisting into a bitter and mocking curve.
“Gabriel, Teresa will be here any moment. Why do you want Kay Baxter to come up?” Luke no longer wanted to listen to Gabriel’s orders.
Was he really going to let Teresa catch them in the act?
"Just do as you're told, why all the questions?" Suddenly, Gabriel's voice deepened, tinged with unmistakable irritation.
Luke understood that Gabriel must have his reasons for being assertive. After a brief pause, he nodded and sent someone to call Kay Baxter.
Kay may be the hottest actress in the country right now, but no matter how sought-after she was, she was just an actress. Next to Gabriel, or any big shot for that matter, she was insignificant; she merely had to comply obediently.
...
That morning, the streets were startlingly clear, with practically no red lights, making the drive from the Garcia family home to the hotel a swift twenty-minute trip.
As soon as the car stopped in front of the hotel, Teresa pushed the door open and strode into the lobby.
The hotel was a property brand of Nebula, and every employee knew Teresa. She walked through the lobby with the poise of a graceful princess and the commanding presence of a queen, leaving the staff utterly astounded and breathless.
The overnight entertainment headlines had been unavoidable; none of the night shift staff would’ve missed them.
And for those who hadn't seen the news, word of mouth had done its job. After all, Gabriel had been famously doting on his wife, showering her with affection publicly.
Someone even said, the more public the love display, the quicker its demise. There were plenty out there eager to see them fall and laugh at their expense.
Gabriel's scandal hit the news like a meteor strike; it spread like wildfire, becoming the talk of the town in no time.
"Mrs. Garcia... good morning!" the duty manager, recovering from his initial shock at seeing Teresa, greeted her with a smile.
"Which room is Gabriel in?" Teresa asked the manager, her tone measured and calm. She offered a controlled smile before adding, "He forgot to tell me when he called."
The manager, sensing that Teresa wasn't there in a jealous rage, visibly relaxed and respectfully replied, "The penthouse suite, 4802."
"Thank you!" Teresa politely expressed her gratitude and then proceeded to the private elevator. The manager quickly followed to operate the elevator for her.
The penthouse suites were exclusively served by private elevators, which required a special hotel keycard for access.
Stepping into the elevator, it quickly ascended toward the 48th floor. The bodyguard stood behind Teresa, and though her face was the picture of calm, her eyes betrayed not a single ripple, he could sense the mounting tension, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
"Ding..." The elevator reached the penthouse level, and its doors gradually opened.
"After you, Mrs. Garcia," the lobby manager said with a respectful gesture.
"Thanks," Teresa replied curtly, striding out and heading straight to Suite 4802.
Outside the suite, Luke and another bodyguard stood watch. As Teresa approached with a stride that mixed iron resolve with graceful poise, Luke's heart leapt to his throat.
"Good morning, ma'am!" he greeted her with due respect.
"Luke, open the door," without a second thought, Teresa gave her order, not bothering to consider why Luke would be stationed there with the keycard, perhaps waiting specifically for her.
"Ma'am, this..." Luke feigned difficulty.
"Is it really that hard?" Teresa asked with a slight smile.
She didn't want to make it hard for Luke. If opening the door was truly difficult for him at that moment, she was ready to turn around and leave, foregoing even her final words to Gabriel.
"No, ma'am, right away." Without further hesitation, Luke lifted his hand to the doorknob, and with a beep, the solid wooden door of the suite swung open.
Teresa didn't delay a half-second; she stepped decisively inside.
Entering the living room, her gaze swept across the scene in an instant. The sight before her eyes unleashed the fierce beast she had been suppressing, and in a mere glance, its vicious claws and gaping maw swallowed her whole.
At that moment, she seemed to be motionless, observing without saying anything. Gabriel came out of the bedroom carrying Kay Baxter, who was also wearing a matching robe. Teresa's heart stopped, her breathing stopped, her pulse stopped, her thoughts ceased, and her mind became a gray blur.
"Gabriel, your wife is quite the early bird, isn't she?" Kay purred from Gabriel's embrace, her hands playfully wrapped around his neck. After casting a beguiling glance at Teresa by the door, she turned to Gabriel with a teasing tone.
