Chapter 340 In Truth, I've Betrayed You Long Ago
The Garcia family's New Year celebration was filled with more excitement than ever, thanks to Teresa and her croissants. Friends, relatives, and employees arrived in a continuous stream to exchange New Year's greetings.The Garcia family's New Year festivities buzzed with more excitement than ever, thanks to Teresa and croissants. Friends, relatives, and employees streamed in to exchange New Year's greetings in an endless procession.
After breakfast on the third day of the year, Kyle arranged to meet Liam and Aaron to pay a visit to the Garcia household.
It had become a tradition for the trio to celebrate together at the Garcia estate. Now, only Gabriel had gotten married and become a father. With both Gabriel and Teresa dealing with health issues, it felt even more important for the three friends to get together.It had become a tradition for the trio to celebrate together at the Garcia estate. Now, only Gabriel among them had tied the knot and become a father. With both Gabriel and Teresa facing health challenges, it seemed even more imperative for the three friends to visit.
Upon arriving, they finished exchanging pleasantries with Mason and Raymond. Lauren, beaming with joy, handed them hefty red envelopes. The four friends then swiftly moved to the card table, with Gabriel joining them.
In the past, they would enjoy horseback riding or a round of golf on the expansive Garcia estate. But now, with Teresa's condition, those activities were out of the question. Gabriel, being the devoted husband he was, wouldn't even consider leaving her side for leisurely activities. So, playing cards indoors had become their new routine.In the past, they would indulge in horseback riding or a round of golf on the sprawling Garcia property. However, these activities were off-limits, given Teresa's present condition. Gabriel, the devoted husband he was, wouldn't dream of leaving her side for frivolous pursuits. Thus, card playing within the comfort of their home had become the new norm.
While it started as a men's game, it quickly turned into the three friends playing against Teresa. Gabriel cozily wrapped his arms around her, his chin resting gently on her shoulder as he advised her with a grin.
The guys couldn't help but feel a mix of resentment and envy at Gabriel's whipped demeanor. When would they ever be lucky enough to embrace a beauty like Teresa, living a life as sweet as honey?The guys couldn't help but feel a mix of resentment and envy at Gabriel's whipped demeanor.
When would they ever be lucky enough to embrace a beauty like Teresa, living a life as sweet as honey?
"It's your turn, sister-in-law," one of them reminded.
Aaron took the seat to Teresa's right, Kyle to her left, and Liam sat directly across from her.
Liam started with a pair of threes, followed by Aaron's pair of nines. Teresa, not used to playing cards, took her time organizing her hand.Liam led with a pair of threes, followed by Aaron's pair of nines. Teresa, who wasn't accustomed to cards, took her time sorting her hand.
Noticing Aaron's pair, she glanced at her cards and confidently played a pair of tens.
"Are you just handing me points? I've got a pair of—"
Just as Kyle was about to win over Teresa's pair with his kings, Gabriel's glare cut through the merriment. Kyle got the hint, abruptly closed his mouth, and happily corrected himself, "Oops, my mistake, I saw it wrong. No pair of kings here. Can't beat that. Your turn, keep going."
Teresa glanced at Kyle, then turned to nod at a certain someone holding her from behind and continued with her next move.
For an hour, Teresa had been at the poker table, winning every single round against Kyle and the other two guys. They had all lost their substantial bonuses earned from Mason. Not only did they give their winnings to Teresa, but they also found themselves in quite a financial predicament.Teresa had been sitting at the poker table for an hour, winning every single round against Kyle and the other two guys, who had all lost their hefty bonuses earned from Mason. Not only had they handed their winnings over to Teresa, but they had also dug themselves into quite a hole.
Kyle and Aaron were only going easy on Teresa because they were wary of Gabriel's formidable reputation, while Liam willingly accepted his losses to her with good grace.
After an hour at the table, Teresa was feeling tired. Just then, Croissant came looking for her, and she took the opportunity to leave and play with Croissant, letting the four men continue their game.
With Gabriel joining the game, it was time for some serious play. Unfortunately, the other three remained in the same position.: Tthey lost.
"Gabriel, I think it's your lucky spot that's doing all the magic. How about we switch seats and test that theory?" Aaron suggested with a chuckling smile as he shuffled the cards after yet another loss.
"This spot's still warm with all the good vibes and luck from my Sweetheart. I can't just hand it over to you, kid," Gabriel replied, visibly in high spirits.
Buzz,- buzz, -buzz.
At that moment, Liam's phone vibrated on the table. He glanced at it, excused himself from everyone, and headed to the balcony outside to take the call.
Liam went onto the balcony just before a call and heard laughter and joy below. He looked down and saw Teresa blowing bubbles with Croissant in the garden, completely absorbed in the moment. Liam got so lost in the scene that he forgot about the phone in his hand, still buzzing with the incoming call.Stepping onto the balcony before the call connected, the echoes of laughter and joyful voices below caught his attention. Looking down, Liam saw Teresa blowing bubbles with Croissant in the garden, enraptured by the delightful scene of mother and child under the radiant sunshine. So spellbound was he by the sight that he momentarily forgot about the still-vibrating phone in his hand.
Down below, Teresa blew bubbles and then felt the weight of two intense eyes on her. She followed the gaze and looked up.Below, Teresa blew a string of bubbles, suddenly feeling the intensity of two bright eyes upon her. She followed the gaze and looked up.
Their eyes met mid-air, and for a brief moment, a tiny frown flickered across Teresa's brow.
Realizing he'd been caught staring, Liam quickly flashed a grin, withdrew his gaze, and answered the buzzing phone, then carried on the conversation as if nothing was amiss.
Teresa stood below, gazing up at him in silence, her mind a whirl of thoughts. She knew that Liam and Faith had broken up, though the reasons for their split escaped her.
Teresa had her doubts about why Liam had been involved with Diana and Lauren. She was too sharp to be completely clueless. Gabriel even mentioned that Lauren looked a bit like her and was her student, while Diana, her longtime friend, surely had some similarities with her.But she had her suspicions about why Liam had been involved with Diana and Lauren—Teresa was too astute to be completely in the dark. Gabriel had even pointed out that Lauren bore a slight resemblance to her and was her student, while Diana, her long-time friend, undoubtedly shared some commonalities with her.
So, Liam had never let go of her in his heart.
Otherwise, the intense, longing look he gave her earlier wouldn't make sense.
Liam was young, talented, and full of life, the golden boy since childhood, but ironically, his love life was a spectacular failure.
To love deeply yet remain unattainable, to reach a point where even dreaming felt like too much to ask, was a pain Teresa might not have gone through, but she understood all too well.
Liam's only point of dismay was that he had never won her over, a thorn embedded deep in his heart that he refused to pull out, and no one else could either.
As the saying goes, "It takes the one who tied the bell to untie it." Even though Liam had crossed some lines, he had never harmed her from beginning to end; he had always been there to safeguard her.As the saying goes, it takes the one who tied the bell to untie it. Although Liam had gone too far in some ways, he had never hurt her from start to finish; he had always been there to protect her.
With these thoughts, Teresa pulled out her phone, scrolled to Liam's contact, tapped on it, and sent a voice message, "Liam, is there something you want to say to me?"
