Chapter 363 Stop Hurting Yourself
Brian, clinging to his last breath, slowly opened his eyes. Gabriel was there, his back turned, holding Teresa in a tight embrace. With great effort, Brian shifted his body, stretching out an arm to grab the dagger nearby. Then, summoning the last bit of his energy, he stood up, clenched the dagger, and pounced toward Gabriel.
As Brian attacked with his dagger, a huge wave suddenly flipped the boat. Brian fell into the sea, followed by Gabriel and Teresa. Now, they were all underwater, facing an uncertain future in the deep, dark ocean.At that moment, as Brian charged with the cold glint of the dagger, a colossal wave surged from nowhere, flipping the speedboat into chaos.
A sharp scream pierced the air as Brian plunged into the sea. Gabriel, with Teresa in his arms, shared the same fate, sinking beneath the waves.
The relentless "chop-chop-chop" of approaching helicopters and the "buzz-buzz" of speedboats returned to the scene. Witnessing Gabriel and Teresa's fall, without a second thought, William dove into the ocean, swimming toward the spot where they disappeared.
It wasn't only William; a dozen SEALs quickly shed their gear and leaped into the sea to rescue Gabriel and Teresa, while others trained their spotlights over the area where Gabriel and Teresa had gone under.
In the turbulent ocean, Gabriel sank with Teresa for several meters until the light hit the surface. He looked up and, while holding Teresa secure with one arm, began paddling upwards desperately with the other.
As he fought to swim to the surface, the water around them turned a chilling red — Teresa was bleeding profusely.
Cradling the still-unconscious love of his life, Gabriel's eyes turned bloodshot, nearly bleeding himself, as he swam upwards, repeatedly shouting in his mind, ‘"Sweetheart! " "Sweetheart! " "Sweetheart, don't sleep. You have to wake up, wake up fast.’"
As he struggled to keep them afloat, William and a few SEALs swam over. A speedboat approached and stopped nearby. Noticing Teresa's bare legs, William swiftly removed his jacket, covering her lower half. Together with Gabriel, they hoisted her up. With the help of two SEALs, they managed to get her onto the speedboat.
"Get the helicopter!"
Gabriel quickly grabbed Teresa and shouted for help. Without hesitation, a helicopter arrived and lowered a rope. Two Special Agents secured the rope around Gabriel and Teresa, lifting them both to safety.After scrambling aboard the speedboat, Gabriel immediately wrapped his arms around Teresa and yelled out loud.
The chopper swooped in without delay, lowering a rope as two Special Agents worked in unison to secure it around Gabriel, who was holding Teresa. They hoisted the pair up into the helicopter.
Once they were aboard the helicopter, it took off at full throttle toward the closest general hospital in City N. Meanwhile, William was hauled onto another aircraft heading to the same destination.
"Hang in there, Teresa. Dead or alive, Brian needs to be found," Gabriel managed to say through clenched teeth as he worked to clear the seawater from Teresa's stomach and sinuses.
"Got it," the commander responded with a grave nod, then he ordered his team to continue the search for Brian.
Thanks to the helicopter's speed, they landed on the hospital rooftop in just over ten minutes, where medical personnel had already been standing by.
As Gabriel descended with Teresa in his arms, the medical team sprinted towards them, placing her on a gurney and immediately rolling her toward the elevator, heading straight for the emergency room.
The sight of Teresa on the stretcher, her body drenched, covered with wounds, blood seeping out, and her complexion utterly pallid, tore Gabriel apart as if he were being ripped to shreds from the inside.
‘That monster, Brian! How could he be so cruel?’
If Brian were still breathing, Gabriel would ensure the doctors saved him so that he could make Brian pay a thousandfold for what he had done to Teresa.
"Sir, you can't come in!" The nurse swiftly intercepted Gabriel as he clenched Teresa's hand, intending to follow her into the emergency room.
"She's my sweetheart, I'm her husband!" Gabriel bellowed, his bloodthirsty gaze fleeting towards the nurse.
The nurse trembled with fear at his expression and fell silent instantly. His outburst startled everyone, causing them to turn and look at him.The nurse shuddered with fear at his look, immediately falling silent.
Not just the nurse. Everyone was startled by his outburst and turned their heads to look at him.
"Gabriel, the priority is saving Unity," the Special Agent commander said, being the only one who dared to speak up and try to reason with him.
With bloodshot and tear-filled eyes, Gabriel glanced at the commander before turning his gaze back to Teresa on the gurney. His jaw tightened, and his Adam's apple bobbed as he slowly released her hand. As soon as he let go, the medical team hurried Teresa into the emergency room.Gabriel cast a bloodshot and tear-filled look at the commander, then back at Teresa on the gurney. His jaw clenched, his Adam's apple bobbed, and at last, he slowly let go of her hand.
The moment he released her, the medical team rushed Teresa into the emergency room.
The ER door slammed shut with a resounding clang, and at that moment, Gabriel, overwhelmed by a surge of fury, unleashed a fierce punch against the wall beside the entrance. His knuckles burst open, blood mingling with the paint.
Special Agent Johnson, the team's commander, watched him and softly patted his shoulder.
Gabriel barely registered the gesture, instead clasping his head in his hands and yanking at his hair in anguished frustration, eventually crouching down in despair.
From the moment he had arrived, Gabriel had noticed it—Teresa was bleeding.
Brian was beyond any human decency. Gabriel didn't know, didn't dare to think or guess what this monster could have done to torture Teresa so severely that she fell into a deep unconsciousness. Even as she lay submerged, the sea pouring into her lungs, nothing could rouse her.
If only... If only he hadn't been so soft-hearted at the start, had locked Brian away, or better yet, ended him, then none of this—Teresa's suffering and humiliation—would have come to pass.
And Madison!
If only he had been more vigilant when Madison's body was dumped in the streets—if only he'd verified whether she was truly dead or if someone was pulling strings from the shadows, perhaps today's events might have been averted.
It was all on him!
The torment and indignity that Teresa had endured today were the consequences of his failings.
He deserved to die! He truly did!
In an emotional grip, Gabriel clutched at his dripping wet, messy hair as if pulling out every strand could somehow alleviate the torment, the crushing guilt within him.
"ChimeDing!..."
Just then, the elevator bell rang out in the distance. The doors slid open, and William, Mason, and Raymond stepped out.
William arrived at the hospital by helicopter, while Mason and Raymond were en route to the city in another chopper when they received news of Teresa's rescue. They changed course and headed to the hospital, conveniently meeting up with William on the ground floor.William had arrived at the hospital via helicopter, while Mason and Raymond had been en route to the city in another chopper when they heard that Teresa had been rescued and taken to the hospital. They immediately diverted to join him, conveniently meeting on the ground floor.
Stepping out of the elevator, they caught sight of Gabriel squatting outside the ER, soaked to the bone, his head buried in his arms, his shoulders quivering uncontrollably. Mason, with his peppered hair, winced in sympathy and hurried over on his cane.
Raymond's heart ached just as much as Mason's did for the sight of his only son in such pain. He had always been tough on Gabriel, preferring to keep his affection discreet.
Mason realized only when he walked closer that Gabriel was frantically pulling at his hair. His heart ached at the sight, and he quickly reached out, grasping Gabriel's hand to stop him. "Easy now," he said in a deep voice, "As long as Teresa is alive, everything will be alrightall right."
Raymond stepped up and took hold of Gabriel's other hand, echoing solemnly, "Don't worry, nothing will happen to Teresa."
William stood silently to the side, watching Gabriel's painful self-reproach without uttering a word. He understood Gabriel's feelings all too well.
After all, compared to him, Gabriel was already much more fortunate. Gabriel had the luxury of loving Teresa and being by her side. However, for William, despite being in love, all they could share was resentment.
The commanding officer, respectful and vigilant, stood nearby and greeted, "Mason, Raymond."
Mason looked at him and nodded slightly, replying politely, "You've been working hard."
</Chapter>Chapter 364 The Aftermath: Confronting Loss and the Temptation of Revenge</Chapter>
"It's our duty," the commander replied submissively, bowing his head. "We apologize to Gabriel for not preventing the criminals from harming Unity longer."
Just then, a report about the situation at the docks came through the commander's headset. After listening intently, he informed Mason and the others, "Mason, Mr. Garcia, Gabriel, and Brian have been recovered from the water, dead. His accomplices are in custody, awaiting judgment."
Mason let out a deep sigh. "When will this cycle of vengeance end? Send the body to the Bezos family."
"Grandpa!" Finally, Gabriel looked up at Mason. "Even now that he's dead, I want to tear Brian apart."
"Son, the man is already dead. And I believe that besides Brian, the Bezos family must be unaware of this ordeal. Let it go. Better to spare those you can and avoid breeding another Brian from their ranks." Mason squeezed Gabriel's hand firmly, offering his heartfelt advice.
He wasn't afraid for himself, but the thought of Teresa, or anyone he loved, being harmed again terrified him.
After all the times Teresa had been hurt, no one understood better than Gabriel that no matter how many precautions you take, if someone wants to harm you, they'll find a way.
He couldn't let Teresa ever be hurt because of him again. Not even the slightest bit of harm.
Gabriel clenched his fist and shut his eyes, nodding slowly. "Yvonne might not really have lost her mind."
Mason looked at him with a sympathetic nod. "Don't worry, I've had her committed to the asylum, locked up with the lunatics."
Mason's arrangements reflected Gabriel's thoughts, so he nodded in silence, uttering not another word.
"You two are soaked through. Go change into some dry clothes before you catch a cold," Raymond said with concern, observing the water dripping from William and Gabriel's clothes and their pale, frostbitten faces. He turned to the butler and said, "Quickly prepare some clothes and rooms for William and Gabriel so they can take a hot shower."
Despite N City being in a subtropical region where the winters aren't too harsh, tonight's temperature wouldn't rise above fifty degrees.
"Yes, sir," the butler responded promptly and set off to make the arrangements.
"Yeah, take a hot shower first and change, or you'll both be sick by the time Teresa wakes up. How will you take care of her then?" Mason added earnestly.
He knew that unless it were about Teresa, Gabriel wouldn't budge.
"Come on, Gabriel, when Teresa wakes up, she'll need your care," William urged, placing a hand on Gabriel's shoulder, seeing he had not moved.
The treatments had mostly controlled the cancer cells, and Gabriel's condition wasn't dire, but the side effects had taken their toll on his previously healthy body.
William was concerned that Gabriel might become ill himself. He knew he needed to be there for Teresa when she woke up, to take care of her and stay by her side. He couldn't afford to get sick and leave her alone.William was worried Gabriel might get sick himself.
Indeed, he needed to be there when Teresa awoke to care for her, to stay by her side, ever vigilant. How could he afford to fall ill?
So, he nodded, stood up, and left with William.
Teresa had external injuries, including bites and cuts on her torso and legs from sharp objects. The sight was so disturbing that even the doctors reacted with discomfort. It was incomprehensible what kind of cruelty would lead someone to harm a woman in such a way.Teresa's injuries were all external, from bites to cuts inflicted by sharp objects covering her torso and legs. The sight was so disturbing that even the doctors cringed.
It was unfathomable what kind of depravity would drive someone to harm a woman in such a manner.
As the doctors treated Teresa's wounds, they did so with utmost caution to avoid causing her pain again.
With so many serious injuries, even four surgeons working together couldn't handle them quickly.
After a swift hot shower and a change of clothes at the hospital's VIP ward, Gabriel and William hurried back to the waiting area outside the emergency room.
"Gabriel, get that hand of yours bandaged up," Mason said in a grave voice when they returned and saw the raw, untreated gash on Gabriel's knuckle. He noticed the doctor and nurse wheeling a small medical cart, following right behind the butler.
The butler and William both insisted that Gabriel receive medical attention, but Gabriel was stubborn and hell-bent on waiting outside the emergency room.
Now, seated just outside, Gabriel no longer resisted. Settling down, he rested his injured hand on his knee.
The doctor and nurse rushed over to treat the wound at once.
Gabriel knew his resistance was lower than before; if the cut got infected and he came down with a fever, Teresa would be the one worrying. How could he take care of her then?
He had to stay strong; he couldn't let Teresa wake up to find him in bad shape.
The moment Gabriel's hand was bandaged, the emergency room doors burst open with a clang, and a doctor appeared.
"Doctor, how's my wife?" Gabriel sprang to his feet, anxiously striding toward the doctor in just a few quick steps.
"After a thorough examination, we've determined the patient has multiple injuries, ranging from superficial to deep. Most of the wounds are from bites, in addition to the cuts from the whip and blade," the female doctor hesitated before continuing, "Furthermore, she has considerable tearing and needs stitches."
"Son of a..." Gabriel's eyes blazed like bloodthirsty embers, and his fists clenched before he sent one crashing toward the wall.
But before his fist could meet the wall, William caught it with both hands, holding tight.
"Don't hurt yourself. She needs you to be her caregiver," William urged, not loosening his grip.
As her elder brother, who had doted on Teresa for over twenty years, the thought of his sister in pain filled him with anger and heartache, yet he knew the value of restraint.
Just like his feelings for Hayden, he has managed to stay under control all these years.
Gabriel turned to glance at William, his eyes red and moist, but he remained silent.
"The patient had a head injury, possibly from an impact to the brain, but thankfully, there were no signs of internal bleeding or abnormalities. It seems it might just be a concussion. We'll know more once the patient regains consciousness," the doctor said, noting Gabriel's calmed demeanor before continuing.
"AlrightAll right, thank you. How's my daughter-in-law now?" Mason asked the doctor, taking a deep breath to steady his voice.
"Our team is still treating her various injuries. It'll likely be another half hour at least. And she remains in a coma. As for when she might wake up, we can't make any predictions," the doctor replied respectfully as he looked at Mason.
Mason nodded. "Okay, I understand. Thank you, everyone, for your hard work."
The doctor nodded politely and stepped back to close the emergency room door. However, before the door could shut, Gabriel intervened, "Let me go in to be with my wife."
"Well..." The doctor hesitated for a moment before refusing, "Sir, I think it's better if you don't go in."
The doctor feared that Gabriel, upon seeing the extent of Teresa's injuries, would completely lose control of his emotions.
"Why?" Gabriel pressed, even though he guessed her reasoning. The unshed tears in his bloodshot eyes began to pool rapidly, finally spilling over and trailing down his cheeks.
"Because I believe your wife wouldn't want you to see her in this condition," the doctor said, with a sense of profound empathy.
Gabriel, tall and strikingly handsome with his clean-cut features and extraordinary presence, was at least over six feet tall. It was hard for the doctor to imagine someone as composed and distinguished as him losing himself to tears, especially in front of others.
"Let's listen to the doctor and wait here," Raymond said, seeing the tears at the corner of Gabriel's eye. He gently patted Gabriel's shoulder, speaking with deep affection.
Gabriel, of course, understood the severity of Theresa's injuries. If he saw their full extent, he was afraid...
He closed his eyes and willed the fresh tears away before nodding in acknowledgment.
The doctor thanked him with a nod and slowly closed the door...
After nearly another hour of waiting, Teresa was finally wheeled out of the emergency room.
The medical team had treated all her injuries, dried her hair, and dressed her in proper hospital attire.
Seeing Teresa, Gabriel strode over and took her hand. It was ice-cold, devoid of any warmth.
He looked at her lying in bed with her eyes tightly shut, a slight furrow on her brow, swelling in her cheeks but devoid of color, and Gabriel felt a pang of pain so intense it seemed to cut off his breath.
Mason and Raymond looked at Teresa. Their faces immediately flooded with distress and anger.
Finally, they understood why Gabriel was so tormented with guilt that his tears had fallen.
"After Teresa has been moved to the VIP ward, how is she? Can she be transferred to a different hospital?" Mason took a deep breath and asked several doctors nearby.
The hospital here couldn't compare to the First Hospital, plus it was located in N City, outside the sphere of influence of the Garcia family. A transfer to the First Hospital would offer much more peace of mind.
"Unity has sustained external injuries, but her condition is relatively stable. There should be no problem transferring her," the lead doctor responded respectfully. He added, "If you decide to transfer Unity now, we will make sure that our best doctors and nurses will accompany her. Please be assured, Mr. Mason."
"Good." Mason nodded and instructed the butler by his side, "Arrange for Teresa's transfer to First Hospital right away."
"Yes, sir," the butler replied, nodding before promptly setting off to make the arrangements.
Soon after, accompanied by medical staff and Gabriel, Teresa was wheeled onto a helicopter and flown straight to River North's First Hospital. Mason and Raymond followed in another aircraft.
The flight from the hospital in N City to River North's First Hospital was only a half-hour journey. The receiving hospital had made all the necessary preparations, with professional medical staff waiting on the VIP ward rooftop helipad.
As soon as the helicopter landed, Teresa was immediately transferred to her exclusive VVIP ward and underwent a thorough examination.
It was past two o'clock in the morning by the time the doctors had finished their comprehensive check-up. Once it was clear that Teresa had only suffered external injuries and was not in danger, Mason and Raymond returned to their mansion to rest, and William went back to the Bennett family household.
First Hospital isn't just one of the nation's top medical facilities in terms of healthcare quality; its service and security measures are also second to none, making it the go-to place for the elite. Those who seek treatment at First Hospital are invariably wealthy or influential.
For many years, the Garcia family has relied on First Hospital whenever they've fallen ill. They even have a private VVIP ward reserved just for them. The hospital takes their security very seriously, ensuring their safety during their stays.
