Chapter 63 Not the First Time Taking a Bride
Once Gabriel had the DNA sample, he immediately sent it to the testing center, asking them to expedite the results.The results would be ready in six hours — the fastest possible.So Gabriel decided to wait right there at the center. That way, he would be the first to know.While he was waiting, Katherine called him, wondering where he was and why he hadn't come home yet. "Mom, something's come up. I won't be home tonight," Gabriel said, and then he promptly ended the call.In the months after marrying Unity, Gabriel hadn't spent a single night at the Garcia family’s mansion. But since the divorce, he seemed to favor the mansion for his nightly repose, although he had since switched bedrooms. The room once occupied by Unity remained untouched as if its door concealed memories too painful to revisit.However, for two or three days out of every week, Gabriel didn't stay at the Garcia mansion, preferring the solitude of his own apartment instead. So, when he mentioned he had plans and wouldn't be returning that night, Katherine hardly found it strange.But no sooner had Katherine hung up when Mason's call came through."Where are you, Gabriel?" Mason got straight to the point.Just moments ago, Mason had been sifting through a lifetime of Teresa's records, even pausing to study a photo of a Croissant. Teresa had always been such a guileless soul. Even as the Bennett family's business empire grew and their influence in River North became ever more pronounced, Teresa lived a remarkably unassuming and simple life despite being the cherished daughter of the Bennett clan. To Mason, her restraint was impressive and refreshing.Other heiresses might clamor for the spotlight, vying for entry into River North's exclusive circles of socialites and ladies of leisure in a bid to forge valuable connections for their families. Teresa, on the other hand, pursued a quiet life of study abroad and, in the same tranquil fashion, had given birth out of wedlock.Mason had a hunch, a suspicion growing stronger by the minute, that this child might very well be the future heir to the Garcia legacy."The testing center," Gabriel replied to Mason. There was no point in being coy."That was quick," Mason said, chuckling. "You already got a DNA sample from Teresa's son?"Gabriel wasn’t surprised that Mason had pieced everything together so fast. He simply hummed an affirmation."I saw the kid's photo," Mason continued, his voice warm with amusement as he gazed at the picture of the Croissant he was holding. "He's an adorable, plump little cherub with a spark — a spitting image of both Teresa and you. It doesn't take a genius to see he's your boy."If Mason had any lingering doubts before about the child being their Garcia grandson, Gabriel’s current whereabouts, the testing center, erased them completely. Now, he was utterly certain."Do you have photos of my son?!" Gabriel exclaimed with joy. "Send them to me, quick!""Hah..." From the other end of the phone, Mason chuckled immediately. "Well, aren't you getting the hang of it just fine?""Grandpa, please send them," Gabriel pleaded, his voice tinged with the same excitement as a kid on Christmas morning."No way, come back and look for yourself," Mason said with a smug tone, abruptly ending the call.Hearing the sudden ‘beeping’ of the disconnected line, Gabriel didn't hesitate, snapping his phone shut and striding out the door, making his way back to the Garcia family mansion.Inside the grand house, Mason was still looking at the photo of the Croissant, grinning as if marveling at a masterpiece. The more he looked at his new little great-grandchild, the more endearing and handsome the baby seemed to him."Dad, what's got you smiling like that?" Katherine asked as she walked in, noticing Mason's unusual expression.It had been a while since they'd seen Mason's eyes twinkle with such delight."Just looking at my chubby little great-grandchild," Mason replied without taking his eyes off the photo."Great-grandchild?!" Emily chuckled, bringing over a cup of coffee, "Dad, you're not getting confused, are you? I haven't even met my grandson yet. Where did this great-grandchild come from?"Setting down the photo, Mason took the cup from Katherine's hand, took a sip, and said with a contented smile, "No rush, you'll understand when Gabriel gets back.""Didn't Gabriel say he couldn't make it home tonight because he had plans?" Katherine asked curiously, glancing at the photo Mason had just put down.With just one look, she was captivated by the adorable Croissant, couldn't resist picking up and closely examining the photo, and said with a smile, "Dad, this is the child you're talking about? Whose kid is it?""I told you, it's my great-grandchild," Mason stated matter-of-factly."Great-grandchild?!" At that moment, Raymond Garcia joined them, much quicker on the uptake than Katherine, "Dad, don't tell me this is another one of Gabriel's flings out there. He's really getting out of hand."Mason just laughed, setting down his coffee, "Whether it's a fling, I can't say, but what I do know for sure is that this little one is my great-grandchild, no doubt about it!"
"You know, the kid does resemble Gabriel, especially how Gabriel looked as a little boy. Check out this photo, Ray," Katherine said as she handed over the picture to Raymond Garcia.Taking a glance at the snapshot, Raymond couldn't help but agree. The chubby-cheeked little tyke with those glossy, big, black eyes sparkled with mischief and bore a striking resemblance to Gabriel."So, Dad, are we sure this time? This is really Gabriel's kid?" Raymond scrutinized the photo for a good minute before he turned to Mason.Mason nodded affirmatively, "No doubt about it this time."Raymond persisted, "And who's the mother? Who is she, Dad?" As Katherine looked on at Mason, her brow furrowed, her skepticism palpable. "Please don't tell me this photo came from the mother, hoping to snag a spot in the Garcia clan by using the kid as a bargaining chip?"Mason scoffed at her, fixing her with a steely gaze. "Not every woman is out there gunning for a family name like those Lewis ladies. This time, it's your son who's been head over heels, and she wasn't even paying him any mind!"Katherine stared at Mason, momentarily lost for words."But Dad, if the kid is truly Gabriel's and he's got a thing for the mom, then who is she?" Raymond pressed, his curiosity piqued."Yeah, Dad, you must know. Spill the beans!" Katherine's impatience was evident. She bombarded Mason with questions. "What's her story? What about her family background? Is she decent? And is she pretty?"Mason raised his graying eyebrows at Katherine's rapid-fire interrogation. "My goodness, you sure ask a lot of questions. And what if she isn't from the right kind of family, or if her past isn't crystal clear, or if she isn't conventionally attractive? Could you really stop your son if he's fallen for her?""Looking at the kid, I'd say the mother can't be too shabby," Raymond chimed in from the sidelines, comparing the kid's features to those found in a stock photo of a Croissant."I don't know anything about it. Your son will be back soon. You can grill him all you want. But let me tell you, I've taken a shine to this great-grandchild already," Mason declared with a certain stubborn pride.Raymond and Katherine exchanged looks, both at a loss for words in the wake of Mason's firm stance.
Mason softened for a moment as he observed their reactions. Slinging the folder full of Teresa's information toward them, he said, "All right, all right, here's your daughter-in-law's file. Look through it yourselves! And give me back the photo of my great-grandchild. I haven't had my fill of it yet!"Raymond Garcia was at a loss for words. He obediently handed the photo back to Mason and then grabbed the folder, flipping it open and starting to peruse the contents. Katherine scooted closer, eager to look over the information together.When Katherine first glimpsed the name "Teresa," she was momentarily stunned. As she continued to read, confusion gave way to shock. Barely two minutes in, she couldn't contain herself and turned to Mason, asking, "Dad, how come it's Teresa? Isn't she the girlfriend of Liam from the Evans family? How did she get mixed up with our Gabriel?""Don't ask me — I don't want to say anything. Go ask your son," Mason replied gruffly, clutching the photo of the Croissant and heading out toward the sunroom with his cane.Raymond and Katherine exchanged glances."Have you met this Teresa before?" Raymond, having skimmed the documents, questioned Katherine with a furrowed brow."Yes, I have," Katherine nodded. "About three years ago. Dad was still in recovery at First Hospital. Gabriel and Unity weren't married yet. I met her at the hospital, and she seemed quite close to Liam. The Evans family even said she was his fiancée."Raymond's frown deepened. "Judging from the photo, the child must be two or three years old by now. If it was three years ago, Gabriel must have already been involved with Teresa.""Exactly. If the child is that old, there had to have been something going on!" Raymond's analysis made Katherine feel dizzy with confusion.But back then, there was no sign of any connection between Gabriel and Teresa. Why on earth would he marry Unity if that was the case?What a mess!"Let's wait for Gabriel to come home," Raymond said, his voice dropping into a growl. "If he doesn't give us a clear explanation today, I swear I'll teach him a lesson."......Racing against time, Gabriel returned to the Garcia family’s house just past eleven in the evening.The entire family was up, anxiously awaiting his arrival.He bolted out of the car and into the main house, promptly grabbing a housekeeper to ask where Mason was, then dashed off in search of him.Mason, the epitome of calm, was in the study, fluidly practicing his sketching."Grandpa, where's the photo?" Gabriel blurted out the moment he entered the study.Without even glancing up, Mason continued his meticulous brush strokes and casually nodded toward the corner of the desk.Gabriel zeroed in on the location and snatched up the photo... His composure had held up until that moment, but as soon as he caught sight of the little one in the picture, his mind exploded into a blur.The child in the photo – wasn't this the very boy who had thrown himself at Gabriel's legs, calling him "Daddy" over and over just hours before at the airport?It really was his son. The boy he'd had with Teresa!But something wasn't adding up. Why would his and Teresa's son be calling another woman mom?"Grandpa, are you sure this is Teresa's kid?" Gabriel, after staring dumbfounded at the photo for a good five or six seconds, finally gathered his wits and sought confirmation from Mason."What? Don't tell me you can't see the resemblance between you, Teresa, and this boy?!" Mason replied with a raised brow and an exasperated look.Reassured by Mason's affirmation, Gabriel felt an enormous surge of joy, leaving him completely overwhelmed and at a loss for words."You look like you've just struck gold, huh? Lucked out with a bouncing baby boy," Mason scoffed, seeing the dazed excitement on Gabriel’s face, though inside, he was just as thrilled."Grandpa, you're wrong. I didn't just luck out I put in the effort," Gabriel said, clinging to the photo, his eyes never leaving the image, his voice brimming with elation.Mason just snorted in response, both amused and speechless. He had seen shameless, but Gabriel's audacity was on another level. Indeed, the apple didn't fall far from the tree!Just then, Raymond Garcia and Katherine entered the room. Katherine smiled tenderly at the sight of her son, while Raymond's expression was stern."Gabriel, you're back!" Katherine said warmly. Raymond, however, cut straight to the chase, "Let's hear it then. What's going on with this child and Teresa?" Gabriel glanced at Raymond and Katherine, then at Mason, and immediately knew what was going on here.He had set his mind on Teresa. It was time to lay all his cards on the table and get the Garcia family on board to support and welcome Teresa fully. So, Gabriel explained the whole story carefully and clearly.Raymond and Katherine were struck dumb for a moment. They never imagined Gabriel would have ended up with Teresa under those circumstances and that she gave birth to the little one they affectionately called 'Croissant' in such a situation.For Croissant, Teresa was even willing to break up with Liam.Three years ago, Liam was seen as an incredibly eligible bachelor for Teresa and the Bennett family, practically the kind of a real gem of a husband-to-be, one in a million.!Studying abroad alone, Teresa kept her family in the dark, bravely decided to keep the baby, and raised such an adorable child well past the toddler years, making it impossible not to fall in love with the little one at first sight. It was truly extraordinary.Any other woman might have chosen a different path, perhaps seeking the status of becoming the glamorous Mrs. Evans."Are you certain the child is really yours?" After a long silence, Raymond managed to ask just this one question."The paternity test results will be in four hours, but there's no need for them now. I am one hundred percent sure this child is my and Teresa's son," Gabriel said firmly, looking at the photograph of Croissant in his hand."Yeah, I'm sure of it too. This boy is definitely our Garcia family member," Mason chimed in, nodding his head before dropping a casual remark."So..." Katherine was still trying to process everything, "Son, are you going to marry Teresa?"Gabriel looked at Katherine with firm resolve and said, "Yes, she's the one I'm going to marry."Katherine was speechless.Mason chuckled, "That Bennett girl's got some spunk. It's not a sure thing she'll marry you. Don't count your chickens before they hatch." Yawning, Mason rose from his chair. "I'm beat. It's bedtime for an old man."With that, he leaned on his cane and made his way out of the study.Gabriel watched Mason go wordlessly. "Son, just because Teresa gave birth to our grandson doesn't mean she and Liam are...”“Mom, it's settled. I'm marrying Teresa. If you don't like her, after we get married, we can stay away from the estate forever. We don't ever have to see you again." The moment Katherine's opposition reared its head, Gabriel's gaze cut through her with such sharpness and resolve that it nipped her dissent in the bud.Katherine looked at her son, her heart shattering to pieces in an instant. "Son, I... I didn't mean to oppose the marriage. If you like her that much, then do it, get married! I promise to treat Teresa well in the future if she agrees!""You better start treating her right now as if she were your own daughter," Gabriel said with an implied threat.Looking at him, Katherine's heart felt like it was crushed into dust all over again.It really is true — a son is a son till he takes a wife. Katherine bitterly conceded the point."All right, when you get the paternity test results, bring them back," said Raymond as he stood up from the couch and pulled Katherine along. "Let's go to bed.""Raymond, aren't you going to say anything?" In that moment, Katherine desperately wished her husband would defend her and speak on her behalf."What's there to say? If he wants to get married, let him. It's not the first time. Let's see how long this lasts," Raymond said indifferently, glancing at Gabriel.In truth, after hearing everything Gabriel had to say, Raymond found no grounds to object. Moreover, it was clear as day what Mason wanted, so what was there for him to oppose?And even if he did object, it wouldn't make a difference.Katherine looked at Raymond, speechless.All right then. Whether she liked it or not, she had to accept it now.Without another word, she obediently followed Raymond out of the room.Once everyone had left, Gabriel glanced once more at Croissant’s photo he'd been holding, then rose and swiftly left the study, heading downstairs.He couldn't wait for another second!He was off to the Bennetts' right now...
Having reached the Bennett residence at 1 a.m., Gabriel found it enveloped in the stillness of the night, with all its lights out, save for the sporadic glow of amber night lamps scattered around the garden.Knowing there was no use waiting outside and it wouldn't do to wake people up at this ungodly hour, he made a sharp U-turn and sped back to his apartment.Sinking into the couch, Gabriel's mind was a whirlpool of moments spent with Teresa. From their first official "meeting" in the stairwell of the Frostpine Grand Hotel, where she never once gave him a kind glance, this very Teresa had captured his heart to the point of madness — every cell in his body roared her name.Never had Gabriel imagined he'd be so crazily infatuated with a woman.The excitement was so intense that he did not feel a hint of fatigue or drowsiness.Leaning back on the couch, Gabriel looked through the vast floor-to-ceiling windows, absorbing the calm, serene moonlight as Teresa and the thought of Croissants filled his thoughts.Time seemed irrelevant until the doorbell shattered the silence. Snapping out of his reverie, Gabriel knew instantly who it was and strode quickly to open the door."Gabriel, the results are in," said his driver, who had been patiently waiting at the testing center. With the result out, he had rushed it to him without delay."Go get some rest," Gabriel said dismissively, taking the envelope."Yes, Gabriel," he responded with a nod, respectfully making his exit.Gabriel closed the door, holding the sealed envelope without a shred of curiosity about its contents.Even so, he couldn't resist tearing it open to find the paternity test report inside.As he had hoped, the possibility of a father-son relationship stood at 99.999%. Croissant was his son — his and Teresa's.At that moment, thoughts of how he had wronged and humiliated Teresa flooded back, and he could have smacked himself.How utterly wrong he had been to treat her so poorly without knowing anything.It was no wonder she despised and even hated him. She had every reason to."I'm sorry, Teresa. From now on, I'll do everything in my power to make it up to you and our son to treat both of you right. " Gabriel put the report away, glancing at his watch to see that it was already past 5 a.m. Without hesitation, he shrugged off his suit jacket and strode toward the bathroom.Fresh from a refreshing shower, Gabriel stepped out of the bathroom and made his way to his walk-in closet. Standing before the wardrobe, his lips curled into a smile at the sight of the suit Teresa had gifted him three years ago — the one he'd never brought himself to wear.Today was the day he finally slipped into the suit.Staring at his reflection, Gabriel had never felt more dashing. It was as if he glowed from within. Dressed properly and with the paternity test results in hand, he left his home and headed straight for the Bennett residence....
