Chapter 272
She met Gabriel first, but he barely gave her the time of day. It wasn't long before she realized that Gabriel had already taken his heart and belonged to a woman named Teresa.
Falling for Liam was easy. His looks and mannerisms attracted her first, his status and wealth came second, and third was the fact that she had given herself to him for the first time.
Her feelings for Liam were more than unique, though she'd fallen head over heels for him after that first night.
His generosity and tender care made her fall even deeper.
If her parents hadn't run into trouble, she would have had the means to stay with Liam.
But now, what did she have to offer?
Her youth and beauty? There were plenty of young, attractive women around. Liam could have anyone he wanted—why would he stay with the daughter of convicts?
After staring at the man beside her for a few seconds, Tessa, though reluctant, knew she had to leave.
So, she carefully peeled back the covers and slipped out of bed.
"You're not setting foot in a club again," he mumbled, his voice lazy with sleep.
Just as she reached for her clothes, planning to get dressed, his voice came again.
Tessa froze, then turned to look.
Liam, previously deep in slumber, was now propped up in bed, his gaze fixed intently on her. He continued, "If you need money, I'll give it to you. Twenty grand a month. Move in here."
"Ha..." Tessa responded with a laugh, standing there bare, her figure on full display. "Liam, are you proposing to keep me?"
"Is that not enough?" he said with a straight face.
Tessa quickly shook her head, "I don't need twenty grand a month. Five thousand is enough, three thousand for my grandparents and two thousand for myself."
Liam's eyes narrowed darkly as he considered her.
After a moment of silence, he nodded, "All right, five thousand."
With a bright, carefree smile, Tessa thanked him. "Thank you, Liam. Now get some more sleep—I've got to head back to campus for morning study."
As Liam watched her, something stirred in him. He motioned to her with a crooked finger, "Come here."
"All right," Tessa said with a nod, obediently heading toward the bed. But as she reached the edge, Liam's arm shot out, pulling her back onto the mattress and swiftly towering over her...
...
Gabriel had commenced his second round of treatment, and due to the side effects of the medication, his appetite waned while episodes of vomiting became more frequent. To minimize the nausea, the doctor suggested smaller, more frequent meals.
Fortunately, the team of top-notch chefs at the mansion created a variety of nutritious and delectable dishes daily, ensuring Gabriel stayed nourished. As a result, he didn't lose weight and maintained a strong spirit, managing his usual workload and even sticking to his morning exercise routine.
Apart from her Monday to Friday school commitments, Teresa devoted all her time to being with him. Katherine would also visit the hospital daily for a couple of hours, allowing the family to spend quality time together until it was time for the little one to head to bed around eight or nine in the evening.
Once the youngster was tucked in for the night, Teresa would prompt Gabriel to take his shower. He wasn't supposed to stay up late, ideally. He should be in bed by ten, so Teresa kept a strict watch, ensuring he was asleep by eleven at the latest.
Previously, Gabriel enjoyed keeping Teresa awake until the wee hours, but now, with her being less inclined to comply, these late nights had become a rare occurrence. Nonetheless, each morning when he woke, he was relentless, his vigor and stamina belying his condition.
"Stop working. It's time for your shower." It was past nine, and Gabriel was still pouring over some documents. Teresa snatched them from his hands and urged him toward the bathroom.
Gabriel laughed, caught her hand, and pulled her into his embrace—his head bent down to plant a kiss near her ear, whispering, "Let's shower together."
"No, you first," she rejected the offer without a second thought.
If they both got into the shower, there was no telling how long they'd be. While she wouldn't mind, she was concerned about him overexerting himself, which could be detrimental to his recovery.
Gabriel chuckled and didn't insist. Instead, he opened a drawer in the nearby desk and took out an envelope, handing it to Teresa.
"What's this?" she asked with curiosity.
"A reward," he murmured, nearly nibbling at her ear as he hugged her tighter.
Just yesterday, Teresa's paper won a national award for foreign language teaching research in higher education. Mason and Raymond had already showered her with gifts upon receiving the good news. As her husband, how could Gabriel do any less?
Teresa playfully looked at him before opening the envelope.
Inside was a deed for a three-story log cabin villa nestled at the foot of the Swiss Alps, and emblazoned across the document was the name Teresa.
"It's Switzerland. Once I'm better, I'll take you and the kid to live there for a couple of months," Gabriel whispered, pulling her close and kissing her temple with a raspy voice.
Teresa looked up at him and couldn't help but smile, her hands winding around his neck, "Since we've got the cabin, two months won't be enough. I want to spend every spring, summer, fall, and winter there with you."
Gabriel nodded, "All right, sweetheart, whatever you say. We'll spend every season there together."
Her smile blossomed, and she kissed his lips like a reward for a good student, "Thank you, honey. Go take a shower!"
"Is that 'thank you' genuine?" he teased, his voice growing huskier as he eyed her.
"Mhm," Teresa nodded.
"Then let's shower together." With that, Gabriel scooped her up effortlessly and strode toward the bathroom.
"Hey, honey, put me down—mmph!"
Before Teresa could finish her protest, she was silenced by his kiss.
