Chapter 224
Teresa gave a sad smile and shook her head. "Gabriel, you've always doubted my love, suspected I'd be disloyal, thought I’d betray you... If that's the case, avoiding divorce now only means we'll face it later."
Gabriel also shook his head. "No, sweetheart, I was wrong this time. I should have known—it was Dakota who drugged you and Terry. It's my fault for not protecting you and for misjudging you. I'm sorry."
"Gabriel, if you're at fault, is it really for not protecting me?" Teresa asked, her voice taking on a grave intensity.
"Honey, I..." Gabriel began, his voice trailing off, fraught with emotion and the weight of their shared pain.
Gabriel, do you truly doubt me, or is it that you're lacking faith in yourself? What's it going to take for you to believe, to believe that I love you? I can't stand the thought of another man as much as laying a finger on me. It disgusts me, it's unbearable!" Teresa cut him off before he could even respond, unleashing the voice from deep within her soul, "The only man I've ever loved, from childhood to this very moment, is you."
—The only man I've ever loved, from childhood to this very moment, is you.
Gazing at Teresa in that instant, Gabriel was momentarily stunned as a tidal wave of joy swept over him, completely engulfing him.
"Honey, what did you just say? Could you please repeat it?" Gabriel's eyes, once dim and lifeless, now shimmered with delight like those of a child.
"Gabriel, are you being dense? I sleep next to you every night, wrapped up in your arms. If not you, who else would I love?" Teresa was visibly frustrated, "Do you really think I have feelings for Terry? If I did, would I have waited until now after four years of being classmates?"
"Sweetheart, I'm sorry, truly sorry!" Gabriel wrapped his arms around Teresa yet again, his smile childlike as he begged, "Say you love me, one more time. Just once."
"Gabriel, you jerk, let me go!" Teresa squirmed in discomfort, her fists weakly thudding against his back.
"Honey, just once more, please?" Gabriel insisted, refusing to let go.
"No, let go of me!" Teresa retorted stubbornly, "Weren't you the one who wanted to provoke me by seeing other women, the one who signed those divorce papers? Go ahead, let's get that divorce then!"
"Sweetheart!" Finally, Gabriel released her but kept one hand on her shoulder, raising the other as if taking an oath, his eyes earnest, "If I ever so much as flirt with another woman, may I never be able to... Rise to the occasion again!"
"Shut up!" Teresa cut him off forcefully, her hand over his mouth, scolding him, "If you ever fall for another woman and want a divorce, fine, let's do it anytime, I'm game!"
"So you...?"
"Do you still not trust me?" Teresa interrupted Gabriel once more before he could speak.
"No, it's not that." Gabriel embraced her again. "Sweetheart, I'm genuinely sorry. I won't ever doubt you again."
"Let me go, you're making me uncomfortable." Teresa furrowed her brow and gave him another punch.
Gabriel realized something was wrong and quickly let go of her, scanning her from head to toe with immense concern. "Sweetheart, are you okay?" he asked, his voice tinged with nervousness.
Teresa shot him a pained look, choosing to remain silent.
"Call the doctor, quick, get the doctor!"
...
Teresa had awoken, and after a thorough check-up, the doctor confirmed there was no serious harm. Now what she needed most was to rest well and recuperate.
Once the doctor had left, Gabriel had someone prepare corn Tacos al Pastor with a side of light vegetables and began to feed Teresa.
For Gabriel, this intimate and tender moment felt like a long-lost treasure, too precious to share. So, he told no one of Teresa's awakening, wishing to simply sit in silence beside her.
"Honey, it's cooled down now." Gabriel, sitting by the bedside, tested the temperature of the Tacos al Pastor before bringing it to Teresa's lips.
Propped against the headboard, Teresa looked at him, obediently opening her mouth and sipping, "I want to see our little one."
Losing their child was what weighed heaviest on Teresa's conscience, and in these moments, her greatest wish was to see their little one.
In the past, she had managed to bring her baby into the world under challenging circumstances. Now, in love with Gabriel, they had lost their child due to a series of misunderstandings, and her heart ached deeply.
"Sweetheart, I'm so sorry," Gabriel spoke with remorse, setting down the spoon and taking Teresa's still-cold hand into his, looking into her eyes, "Once you're well again, we can have as many kids as you want."
"I just want to see our little one," Teresa insisted, her voice carrying a lilt of coquettishness.
"Alright, I'll call Mom right now and have her bring the baby over," Gabriel relented and immediately phoned Sophia.
Relieved to hear that Teresa had woken up, Sophia disconnected the call and hurried with the baby to the hospital.
Gabriel continued to feed Teresa a bowl of Tacos al Pastor followed by some vegetables. After warming a towel, he gently wiped her mouth and hands. Then, removing his shoes, he lay on the edge of the bed, carefully wrapped an arm around Teresa through the blanket, and, leaning down, kissed the crown of her head with feeling.
Though it had been less than a half a month since their falling out in the capital, holding Teresa now, Gabriel felt as if he had been given a new lease on life.
"The baby's arrival is about half an hour away. Try to get some sleep," Gabriel whispered softly, embracing her and gazing down at the person in his arms.
"I can't sleep!" Teresa shook her head and looked up at him, touching his chiseled cheek with a pained expression. "Honey, you've lost weight."
He grasped her hand and kissed it gently. "Yeah, I guess I've been missing you a bit too much."
