Chapter 242
“It's been about two weeks since their first hook-up. Liam was on a business trip to Washington when Tessa made the first move," Gabriel capitulated to Teresa's whining. “The next couple of times, they met up at the Harmonious Prosperity Hotel."
Teresa's face fell at his words. “Next time, can we not book a room for Liam at a Nebula-owned hotel? Especially when he's with another woman."
Gabriel couldn't help but chuckle at her suddenly puffed-up cheeks. “What if it was Diana? Would that be okay?"
“That's even less likely," Teresa snapped back, visibly more irritated. “Diana's not someone who'd stand for sharing a guy with other women."
“Hmm." Gabriel nodded solemnly, “Then, you'd better warn Diana not to fall too hard. It'll be tough if she can't pull herself back out."
Teresa bit her lip, her friend's recent behavior flashing through her mind, stirring a sense of unease. “Do you think Diana might..."
Buzz—
Just then, Teresa's phone on the table vibrated. The screen displayed an unfamiliar landline number.
With a sense of foreboding, she snatched up the phone and answered the call.
“Hello, is this Ms. Teresa?" The voice on the other end was respectful—a nurse's tone.
Seeing “Teresa” listed as the emergency contact on Diana's form, the nurse wondered if it might be Teresa Garcia but hesitated, worrying it could be a mere coincidence of names.
“Yes, speaking. Who's this?" Teresa quickly responded, nodding slightly.
“We're calling from River North General Hospital. Diana underwent a termination procedure here, and she suddenly went into hypotensive shock during the surgery. It's quite serious. You should come right away."
“Termination procedure.” “Hypotensive shock during surgery.”
The words left Teresa dazed. Noticing something was off, Gabriel set down his fork and stood up to embrace her. “Sweetheart, what's wrong?”
The sound from above snapped Teresa back to reality. She glanced at Gabriel, then urgently told the person on the phone, “I'll be right there. Please, you have to do everything to save Diana."
“You can count on us. We'll do our best.”
“Thank you!” She hung up without another thought, forgetting even Gabriel's arms around her, and hurried out the door.
“Honey, what happened?” Gabriel quickly pulled her back into his arms, a furrow forming between his brows as he questioned her.
“Diana had a complication during her abortion at the hospital. She went into shock, and I have to get there right away.” Teresa’s eyes began to well up with tears as she spoke.
Gabriel’s heart ached at the sight of her reddening eyes. He held her tightly and kissed her forehead, whispering, “It’s okay, don't worry. I'll have someone make a call to the hospital. Diana will be fine.”
“Yeah, make the call, please.”
“All right.” With a nod of reassurance, Gabriel immediately grabbed his phone to make the call.
...
At the hospital, after an urgent intervention, Diana’s blood pressure and heart rate had stabilized, but she was still unconscious from the anesthesia.
Teresa and Gabriel waited anxiously outside the emergency room. When Diana was finally wheeled out, the doctor assured them she was out of danger, allowing Teresa to breathe a sigh of relief.
Once Diana was settled in her room, Teresa stared at the pale face of her friend, who had become noticeably thinner in just over a week. She couldn’t hold back her growing frustration.
There was no doubt in Teresa's mind that the baby had been Liam’s and that Diana’s heartbreak over Liam’s affair with Tessa had driven her to the hospital for the abortion.
That bastard Liam!
Unable to contain her anger any longer, Teresa turned to storm out.
“Sweetheart, where are you going?” Gabriel caught her immediately, holding her back from running off.
“I'm going to find Liam,” Teresa said, fuming as she faced Gabriel.
Seeing her little face turn red with anger over someone else's troubles, Gabriel felt both helplessness and compassion, “Are you sure the baby was Liam’s?”
“What do you think?” Teresa countered with a question of her own.
“Do you even know where Liam is right now?” Gabriel tried to be practical since he couldn't stop her.
“I'll call and find out.” Teresa reached for her phone.
“Let me do it.” Gabriel quickly stopped her, his voice tinged with indulgence and fondness.
“Darling, Diana almost lost her life today. She’s too vulnerable with Liam. I must get justice for her,” Teresa said as tears of sympathy began to slide down her cheeks.
Her tears weren’t for herself but for Diana. If Gabriel hadn't promptly called the hospital, ensuring that they used their best resources to save Diana, she might have never woken up.
This fool, sick with a fever from the common cold, still dragged herself to the hospital for an abortion. How much pain and despair must she be feeling inside?
“All right, all right!" Gabriel's heart ached as he watched her tears fall, one arm wrapping tightly around her, the other gently wiping the tears from her face, before he bent down and tenderly kissed the tip of her nose. “Even if you wanted to commit arson or murder today, I'd be there with you."
...
