Chapter 64 May the Best Man Win
The weather today was exceptionally lovely. At dawn, a golden sunrise bathed the earth, casting a bewitching, dreamlike glow over everything.As Gabriel neared the Bennett family's villa, he hadn't even stopped the car when he rolled down the window, peering through. No one was in sight, yet a cheery German song floated from the garden, soft but clear."Mommy, just like this, just like this, hands up high, come and jump with me," a child's crisp voice chimed in, pure as silver bells, reaching Gabriel's ears.A pleasant surprise welled up in Gabriel's heart. He parked the car outside the villa's wall and walked briskly to the gate.Standing at the large wrought iron gate, he caught sight of the joyful scene in the garden — two figures, one big and one small, dancing like adorable bunnies to the music."Mommy, Mommy, wrong, wrong. You should do it like me — like this, shake your butt, stick out your tongue." In the garden, Croissant, hands on hips, gave a comical wiggle of her chubby bottom, then playfully stuck out her tongue, utterly heart-melting."Is this how, sweetie? Watch Mommy and tell me if I'm doing it right." Teresa mirrored her child, hands on hips, a wiggle here, a tongue-out there.Gabriel stood there, watching the charming mother-and-child duo, his smile beaming brighter than ever, his rugged handsomeness complemented by uncharacteristic warmth.But somehow, he found Teresa's imitation even more adorable than the child's, so enchanting that he felt a delightful restlessness stirring within him."That's right, Mommy! You're amazing!" Inside the garden, the little one applauded Teresa vigorously."You're even more amazing!" Teresa leaned in and planted a kiss on her child. "What's the next move?""Like this, like this, hands up high, and a little twist." With that, Croissant raised his hands and proceeded to shake his little bum once more. Teresa laughed along, mimicking the little one's moves, while Gabriel stood by, watching them with tenderness, joy, and satisfaction in his deep-set eyes that he had never known before."Sir, who are you looking for?"Just as Gabriel was lost in the immense joy of watching Teresa and her little dance partner, eyes fixed on the Croissant of happiness, Bennett’s housekeeper spotted him and approached with a curious inquiry.Hearing the voice, Teresa looked up as well.Upon laying eyes on the man standing outside the gate, her smile vanished instantly. She turned off the music, scooped up the little one, and headed inside."Mommy, what's wrong? I want to teach you dancing," the little one protested."We're not dancing now. It's time for some milk. After that, we can visit grandma and grandpa at the hospital, okay?" Teresa coaxed her child as she strode purposefully toward the house."Mommy, look, it's daddy!" Suddenly, the little tyke with eagle eyes spotted Gabriel outside the gate and began excitedly pointing and shouting.Daddy.Hearing the child's call, Teresa visibly faltered, her steps halting.Outside the gate, Gabriel, heart swelling with indescribable excitement and emotion as the child once again called him "Daddy" just like yesterday, swiftly assured the housekeeper with a smile, "I'm a friend of William and Teresa. Please, let me in.""Sure, sir, you may..." Please come in!"No, don't let him in!"Just as the housekeeper was about to unlock the gate, Teresa snapped back to reality and shouted out to her.The housekeeper, momentarily baffled, looked at Teresa and then at Gabriel outside the gate, at a loss for what to do."Please let Gabriel in," William instructed as he stepped out of the house, glancing at Teresa and the little one before directing the housekeeper at the gate."Yes." the housekeeper complied and proceeded to open the gate."William!" Teresa erupted in protest."Mommy, Daddy, that's Daddy!" Croissant, gazing with sparkling big eyes at Gabriel entering through the gate, pointed at him and said."Baby, that man is not your daddy, and you mustn't call him that, or Mommy will get upset," Teresa told the little one sternly. The little guy gazed up at Teresa. His lips pouted before he raised his chubby hands to cradle her face and planted a kiss on her cheek. "Don't be mad, Mommy. You will grow wrinkles when you're angry.""You didn't get it wrong, baby — I am your daddy." Gabriel strode forward, eyeing the pair with unwavering certainty. "Teresa, you can't lie in front of our son — it'll hurt him."The word "baby" rolled off Gabriel's tongue with such ease, harmony, and love."Gabriel, shut your mouth! Are you not scared that karma might strike you down for saying such things?" Teresa whirled around to glare at the man before her, barely able to contain her fury.Gabriel just flashed a grin. "Even if it kills me, I can't deny my own baby, Teresa.""Gabriel…"Before she could erupt again, Gabriel interrupted, shoving a document in front of her. "Look, this is the paternity test — it confirms he's my son, our son.""Mommy, that's Daddy!" The little one stared up at Gabriel with his big, bright eyes, speaking with heartfelt earnestness.Teresa cast a glance at the child in her arms and then shot another fierce glare at Gabriel, her eyes brimming with tears, her words emerging through clenched teeth. "Gabriel, you're despicable, sneaking around and seeing my son behind my back.""I wasn't behind your back. He saw me at the airport yesterday, ran to me, and called me daddy. At that moment, I didn't even know he was our child," Gabriel replied, shaking his head.Teresa, reminded of Diana's comments at the airport the night before, grew even more incensed."Teresa, this is what they mean by blood being thicker than water. I've never met him, and he's never seen me, but he recognized me instantly. You can't deny it even if you want to," Gabriel said, looking at Teresa's reddened, tear-filled eyes, his voice cautious with every word."Just stop talking! If you didn't go behind my back, then where did you get the sample for this paternity test?" Teresa demanded, fighting to keep her cool."It was me who provided the sample to Gabriel last night," William interjected from the side."William, you —" Teresa's gaze turned to William, and the tears started to fall, heavy and uncontrolled."Mommy..." The sight of Teresa's tears caused Croissant to pucker his lips, on the verge of crying himself. His little arms wrapped around her neck, hugging her tightly as he smacked his tiny lips, a pitiful pre-cry expression on his face. "Don't cry, Mommy. It makes me sad when you cry.""Gabriel," Teresa spat out venomously, her words a defiant shield, "Even if Croissant is your son by blood, you'll never take him away from me!" With that, she whirled around, ready to storm back into the house."Teresa." But she was immediately stopped by Gabriel's firm grip.Gabriel, with a furrowed brow and a husky voice filled with an unfamiliar humility, pleaded, "I've never thought about taking the child away from you. I just want to make things right for you and our son! I was wrong before, and I’m sorry. If you can accept me, we can be a family. Whatever terms you set, I'll agree to them.""Are you insane, Gabriel? Now, get out! I can't stand the sight of you. Did you hear me?" Teresa snapped her head around, her fury, contempt, and perhaps even hatred for Gabriel blazing in her eyes as each word seethed through gritted teeth."Teresa, I —""Gabriel!" Gabriel's hand was still on Teresa's arm, not letting go, when William stepped in, taking hold of his hand to intercept him.With a knowing glance at William, Gabriel finally let go.As soon as he did, Teresa swept Croissant up in her arms and marched into the house with swift, determined steps.Once they were gone, William turned to Gabriel, advising, "You know how stubborn Teresa can be. The more you push, the more she will resist. Take it slow, all right?""I can't let Teresa marry Liam," Gabriel said sternly, his gaze following Teresa and the child's disappearing figures."Whether Teresa ends up with Liam or chooses you, the Bennett family won’t object. But we can't have Teresa hurt again, Gabriel. That includes Michael. And we don't want you and Liam becoming enemies over this as well," William said with a wry smile. "I'm sure that's the last thing Teresa would want to see too.""I get it. I'll have a clear talk with Liam and apologize," Gabriel said earnestly. And with that, he strode away.Watching Gabriel's retreating figure, William's brow knitted in concern.It seemed inevitable that someone would get hurt in this affair.Buzz, buzz, buzz.Liam was immersed in perusing a budget proposal while on his way from his apartment to the office, when his smartphone started to vibrate on the seat beside him.It was a call from Gabriel."Gabriel, what's up?" Liam answered, cutting right to the chase."Where are you, Liam?""On my way. I'll be at the office shortly.""Good, I'm waiting for you in your office." With that, Gabriel hung up.Liam put his phone away, his brows knitting together in concern. Gabriel coming to see him this early definitely wasn't about business. Could it involve Teresa?A sudden unease took hold of him, and Liam set aside the document, leaning back in his seat while massaging his temples.If this were about Teresa, he wouldn't back down no matter what. He had no reason to give ground.The car soon came to a halt at the front entrance of the Evans Group skyscraper. As Liam stepped into the lobby, his secretary approached briskly and reported, "Liam, Gabriel is here. He's waiting in your office.""Did he say what it was about?" Liam asked, striding toward the private elevator."No, sir." The secretary replied respectfully, following after him.Liam's frown deepened, but he asked no further questions and entered the elevator, which swiftly ascended to the top floor.In his office atop the building, Gabriel was lounging on the sofa in the sitting area. Legs crossed, elbows resting on the armrest, chin in hand, brows furrowed in thought.A cup of hot coffee stood before him, untouched.At the sound of footsteps, Gabriel's gaze lifted.It was Liam."This is your first visit to my office." Liam walked in, spotting Gabriel, and smiled as if nothing was out of the ordinary.Gabriel returned the smile, uncrossing his legs. "Yeah, it actually is.""What's so urgent that you had to come all the way here this morning?" Liam sat down across from Gabriel, casually crossing his legs. The smile on his face remained only around his mouth.At that moment, another assistant came in with a freshly brewed cup of coffee for Liam and set it down before him with a respectful air, then quietly left the room."Take a look at this." Once the assistant had closed the door behind her, Gabriel slid a document envelope across the coffee table toward Liam."What's this?" Liam glanced at it and asked with a light-hearted smile."Read it first." Gabriel urged.
Glancing at Gabriel, Liam finally reached out and took the envelope, pulling out the documents inside to examine them.It was a paternity test report. However, the report didn't specify the names of the father and son. It simply confirmed that there was a paternal bond between two individuals.But Liam wasn't a fool. Just seeing this document, he began to form a guess, a speculation that bore down on him with the weight of a mountain, an unbearable force that nearly choked him."What's this supposed to mean?" Liam asked after a moment of heavy silence, struggling to maintain his composure. The friendly smile had vanished from his face."Liam..." Gabriel started, seemingly finding himself cruel for having to say it, "Teresa's child... is mine."Teresa's child is mine!It was a simple sentence, a few words, and it was like Liam couldn't breathe.He might have had an inkling, but to have the brutal truth exposed in front of him was entirely different.Unacceptable!"What did you say? Say it again," Liam demanded, his voice steady, locking eyes with Gabriel, enunciating every word."Liam, Teresa's child is mine."Thump!No sooner had Gabriel's words left his lips than Liam lunged forward, grabbing Gabriel's collar and swinging a vicious punch."Gabriel, don't think because I treat you like a brother, you can do whatever you want, spouting such inhuman accusations," Liam hissed with fury, his forehead veins throbbing as he glared down.Liam's punch was powerful. Gabriel started bleeding from the corner of his mouth.But he seemed indifferent to the pain, just straightened his collar and met Liam's fiery gaze with a calm intensity, continuing, "Teresa wasn't drunk at some class reunion when it happened. It was during her shift at the Frostpine Grand Hotel that she was dragged into a stranger's room and assaulted.""Keep talking, Gabriel, just try it!" Liam towered over him, seething with rage."The assailant, it's me —"Thump!Before Gabriel could finish his sentence, Liam's fist crashed into his face again, hitting the same spot.Gabriel stood there unflinching, allowing Liam to vent his anger. That evening, by a twist of fate, Unity barged into my room pretending to be Teresa, and the Lewis family had tampered with the hotel's surveillance, leading to..."Gabriel, even if that man was you, you're nothing more than a rapist. Do you actually believe you can foster any real feelings with Teresa? Think you can whisk her away from me?" Once again, before Gabriel's words could settle, a seething Liam cut him off.If it weren't for Gabriel, he and Teresa would have tied the knot ages ago, and they might even have had kids by now.But now, the child Teresa bore was Gabriel's.One side of his face took two hard punches, turning red and swollen, with a trickle of blood edging from the corner of his mouth.Gabriel lifted a hand, casually wiped the blood from his lips with his thumb in a move that was effortlessly sexy, and continued to gaze calmly at Liam with a slight smile, "Teresa and I have a baby, and the little one takes after both of us."Watching the infuriating figure of Gabriel, Liam's fists at his sides popped with tension, barely containing himself. He swung another blow toward Gabriel.This time, though, Gabriel didn't stand there to take it.As Liam's punch sailed through the air, destined for his face, Gabriel swiftly dodged and, in a swift motion, rose from the couch, grabbing Liam's wrist."Liam, that night was an accident instigated by the hotel’s boss, Carter Mellon, who drugged me, and neither Teresa nor I knew who the other was. But later, when I first laid eyes on Teresa, I fell for her," he said, gripping Liam's wrist tightly, his gaze fixed on the incensed man before him, with a tone steady and sincere, "I know I've wronged you, but now that I know Teresa's son is also mine, I'm sorry, but no matter the cost, I'll fight to take Teresa back from you.""Crack!"Once more, as Gabriel's words echoed in the air, Liam's other fist flew, striking Gabriel's other cheek.Gabriel could have easily ducked, but this time, he chose to stand his ground and take the hit.“Gabriel, all these years, nearly three decades, I've treated you as my closest, most trustworthy brother. But to think you'd betray me — sleep with my woman, steal my wife,” spat Liam with venomous pain after landing a crushing blow.
Staring at Gabriel, who took it without resistance, didn't fight back, merely absorbed the punches and curses, Liam leered mockingly. “What, you figured that after raping Teresa, after the surprising birth of Michael, a simple 'sorry' and an 'I like you' would make her accept you? That she’d acknowledge Michael as your son, let him call you 'daddy,' and agree to marry you?”“Even if she's not willing now, she will be one day.” Gabriel returned Liam's gaze, his voice calm, unwavering, and resolute.“Ha, you wish. You won’t get the chance. Teresa agreed to marry me. We're getting our marriage certificate tomorrow.”“Oh, I'll tell you this much — I won't let that certificate...”“Thump!”Another punch cut Gabriel off mid-sentence, Liam’s fist hammering precisely into Gabriel's face.Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, his cheeks reddened and swollen. Wiping the blood away, Gabriel cracked a cryptic smile. “Liam, Teresa is mine, and I'll never let my son call another man 'daddy.'”With those words, Gabriel turned and strode out with long, determined steps.“Gabriel, I’ll never give up on Teresa; just wait!” Liam roared, his fists cracking, as Gabriel reached for the door handle.“Then let the best man win,” Gabriel paused, tossed that last line back over his shoulder, then flung the heavy office door open and marched out.Watching Gabriel leave, a wave of panic washed over Liam. He had always sensed Gabriel's desire for Teresa, but he never imagined that Gabriel would be the first one to sleep with her. Not only did Gabriel do so, but a twist of fate also led to Teresa bearing his son.Thoughts raced — Liam's unease grew. With anyone else, he would not have felt worried he wouldn't be this rattled. But this was Gabriel — the undisputed leader of the four young elites of River North. A man with prestige, talent, look, and character that towered over the rest of them, a man who made countless women swoon, who could drive them wild with a mere mention of his name.Liam was in turmoil — was Teresa in the loop about everything already? Did she even have feelings for Gabriel? The answer eluded him, but one thing was crystal clear in his mind: he couldn't let Gabriel take Teresa from him—no way, not under his watch.With a sense of urgency fueling his steps, Liam pivoted on his heel and strode out of the office.
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