Chapter 326 The Final Test
Chapter 326 The Final Test
Teresa had been in the hospital for two weeks, and Gabriel remained by her side throughout the entire duration.
They were inseparable, like conjoined twins, for those two weeks.
As Teresa neared full recovery and didn't want to remain in the hospital any longer, especially with the New Year approaching, she opted to go home to recuperate. A doctor would visit her daily to check on her progress.
Three days after Teresa and Gabriel were discharged, it was William and Michelle's engagement day.
Teresa had thought that after William's trip to another state to seek Hayden, he would have sorted out his feelings, recognized his genuine emotions, and called off the engagement with Michelle. So, when Gabriel mentioned casually the night before that William and Michelle were getting engaged the next day, Teresa was utterly dumbfounded.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" she said, snapping out of her astonishment.
Gabriel hugged her tenderly, kissed her now rosy lips, and whispered, "Didn't I tell you to stop worrying about your brother and Hayden's issue?"
"No, I mean, why didn't anyone tell me about my brother and Michelle setting their engagement date for tomorrow?" Teresa asked, still struggling to grasp the news.
"The engagement date wasn't a secret; your brother had announced it to everyone. No one was hiding it from you," Gabriel responded, raising his eyebrows with an innocent expression.
"But..." Teresa frowned, briefly speechless.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm her emotions. "I just thought that after my brother's trip, he would have..."
"He would have what?" Gabriel pressed her for an answer.
"He would have realized who he truly loves is Hayden, not Michelle," Teresa said with a mix of frustration and irritation.
Gabriel lowered his head, his forehead gently touching hers, his voice deep and smooth, filled with tenderness as he whispered. "Sweetheart, your brother's thirty-one, a decisive man in the corporate world, never hesitates. He knows what he wants and what he doesn't, so there's no need for you to worry, okay?"
"But..." she started.
"There are no buts." Gabriel didn't let Teresa finish her sentence before he interrupted her.
Letting go of her waist, he leaned down, lifted her up in his arms, and carried her toward the bed. "Let's call it a night. If you don't feel like attending your brother and Michelle's engagement party tomorrow, then we won't go."
"He's my brother, my very own brother," Teresa said with a slight pout, her arms naturally wrapping around his neck.
"Then we'll go! But no more being upset," Gabriel said, bending down to peck at her lips.
"No, I need to call my brother now and find out what he's really thinking," Teresa insisted, reaching for her phone as Gabriel set her down on the bed.
"Honey!" he said, grabbing her hand in desperation, "We agreed you wouldn't worry."
"But I..." Her objection was hushed as Gabriel's head descended again, capturing her lips in a kiss.
Teresa initially resisted, but soon, she found herself lost in his tenderness, becoming more and more spellbound.
But she wasn't the only one ensnared. The moment Gabriel kissed Teresa, his restless side came alive.
The more he wanted, the less he could control, his kiss soft but insistent, like a gentle rain down upon her.
"Honey, what should we do?" Gabriel finally lifted his head after a timeless interval, his gaze deep and vibrant, a flame flickering within, threatening to overflow as he gazed down at her.
Her once pale cheeks now flushed like a ripe peach as she returned his gaze, her lips slightly parted, murmuring, "Then..."
Gabriel's arm reached out slowly, taking her clenched hand in his, his voice husky as he spoke, "You haven't fully recovered yet. Could you help me?"
She glared at him, a tearful note in her voice. "Darling, I'm exhausted."
She remembered the days of sore hands after her intense workouts with Christine, and a shadow crossed her mind.
"Don't be afraid," Gabriel murmured, descending once more to claim her lips, his words a blurred whisper.
The next day, William and Michelle's engagement ceremony was held at the Harmonious Prosperity Hotel.
The Bennett Group, with the joint efforts of the Bennetts—father and son—and the support of the Garcias, had surpassed the Harrimans. They were on the verge of surpassing the Campbells, poised to become the third most prestigious family in River North.
Given the Bennetts' rapid ascent and their solid familial connection to the Garcias—especially with Teresa being Gabriel's beloved daughter, cherished by everyone in the Garcia clan—it was inevitable that William's engagement as the Bennetts' eldest son would be extravagant and lively.
Patrick and Sophia were against William marrying Michelle, hoping he would choose Hayden instead. However, they were left with no choice when their son was determined to follow his own path. Despite their disapproval, they couldn't deny their love for their son William.
Reluctantly, Patrick and Sophia had to accommodate the situation.
Michelle wasn't from River North, so William went to great lengths and chartered two planes to fly in Michelle's family and friends in waves to attend their engagement ceremony, accommodating them all at the grand Harmonious Prosperity Hotel.
Michelle's parents, both doctors, came from the esteemed and scholarly Harriman lineage, which held considerable local influence. Michelle was considered a fitting match for William due to her family background.
Given that Patrick and Sophia had no choice but to concede, all preparations needed to reflect their status and dignity.
Indeed, the attendees weren't just friends and relatives of the Harrimans; they also included notable figures from River North and even across the country. The media were present early, eagerly awaiting the event.
Although Teresa was annoyed that William had ultimately chosen to get engaged to Michelle, he was her brother, after all. He had doted on her since childhood, and as his sister, it would have been unforgivable not to attend his engagement ceremony.
So when the time was right, she did her makeup, styled her hair, and changed into her outfit to head out with Gabriel and the Garcias to the Grand Harmonious Hotel.
William's engagement was a momentous occasion, which is why not only Raymond and Katherine were present, but Mason also showed up, paying tribute to the Bennett legacy with his attendance.
