Chapter 72 Neither Know nor Care
The Garcia family estate, with its nearly century-old history, sprawled across hundreds of acres. It featured not only a main house and three guesthouses but also boasted over a dozen horses, stables, a golf course, tennis courts, a flower garden, an orchard, a vegetable garden, an artificial lake, and various rare plants, many of which were rarely seen by average people.
Teresa slept soundly during the ride but wasn't out cold – she woke up on her own as the car pulled into the grand estate of the Garcia family. When her eyes fluttered open and she took in the view of the estate through the car window, she was momentarily taken aback.
The Garcias' wealth was legendary across the country, but Teresa never imagined the extent of their opulence. In her eyes, the sprawling estate seemed to stretch into infinity.
"Awake?" Gabriel said, his voice warm with affection. He leaned down and planted a gentle kiss atop Teresa's head as her eyes fluttered open, still clouded with confusion.
Teresa gathered her wits and turned to glance at him. "Am I going to live here with you in the future?" she asked.
Gabriel chuckled at her bemused yet adorable expression. "You like it? If not, we don't have to stay. You can choose wherever you want us to live."
Teresa just looked at him.
At that moment, the housekeeper arrived to open the car door for them. Teresa left Gabriel alone to reach for their peacefully sleeping child, Croissant, in the safety seat.
"I've got our son," Gabriel declared, faster than Teresa, as he unbuckled the little one and lifted him into his arms.
"Mommy..." The child woke instantly in his father's embrace and started wanting his mother.
"Come on, Daddy's got you," Gabriel cooed.
"No, I want Mommy!" And with that, the sleepy, unfamiliar toddler slapped Gabriel squarely across the face.
Gabriel's countenance darkened as he looked down at the little guy in his arms.
"Ooh... Daddy's mean, I want Mommy!" Croissant pouted, as though he hadn't just hit his father but had been the one wronged instead, his sulky mood as heavy as any post-nap grumpiness.
Teresa couldn't help but laugh at the sight, not bothering with their spat, and stepped out of the car herself.
"Which hand hit Daddy?" Gabriel asked solemnly, holding the little hand in question.
"This one," the child admitted, his lips turned downward.
"And why did it hit Daddy?" Gabriel inquired, still serious.
With a pouting act, the child pronounced, "I want Mommy to hold me. Daddy go away."
"Okay, you used to be with just Mommy, that's true. But now you’ve got Daddy too, and both Mommy and Daddy are here for you. Isn't that nice?" Gabriel tried to reason with his son.
"Hmph!" The little one turned away. "Daddy's trying to take Mommy from me. Not nice!"
Gabriel sighed.
He decided it was better just to get out of the car first.
"Mason, Raymond, Katherine," Teresa called out as she stepped out of the car, while from the other two vehicles, the other three Garcias got out as well.
"Mr. Garcia, sir, ma'am," the housekeepers greeted the family respectfully, their eyes showing a keen interest as they secretly scrutinized Teresa.
"Hey there!" Mason replied cheerily and walked over to Teresa. "Come on, Teresa, let's go inside."
Teresa gave a smile and followed Mason toward the mansion's grand foyer.
"Oh, my sweet grandbaby's awake! Come here, Grandma wants a cuddle," Katherine cooed as she got out of the car, immediately reaching out to embrace the kid as Gabriel just got out with Croissant in hand.
"No, I don’t want to leave Daddy!" Without Teresa to cling to, the little guy could only tighten his grip around Gabriel.
Gabriel couldn't have been happier, feeling his son's affectionate hug around his neck, making his heart melt. "Mom, Michael's a bit shy. Let's give him some time to warm up," he said.
With that, he scooped up his son and quickly caught up to Teresa and Mason.
Katherine, not minding her grandson's preference, smiled warmly and followed them inside.
"Mr. Garcia," the butler greeted as everyone entered the mansion. Noticing Teresa, he composed himself, and with a polite smile, he said "Teresa."
Teresa returned the smile to the elderly butler. "Hello!"
"Go gather everyone in the house; I want to introduce Teresa to them all," Mason commanded firmly.
"Yes, Mr. Garcia."
"Come, Teresa, follow me," Mason said.
"Okay," Teresa nodded and continued with Mason to the spacious hall, which boasted a grandeur that managed to be both elegant and understated. The hall was enormous, easily accommodating five hundred guests for a banquet.
The little guy, brought in with his father, gazed around the grand foyer with his shiny eyes, full of wonder. Meanwhile, Katherine was immediately ordering the housekeepers around, all the while beaming with joy around the little one.
"This is going to be your new home, Michael. Do you like it?"
Michael, grabbing a piece of cake, looked up at Katherine and nodded vigorously, "If Mommy likes it, then I like it!"
Teresa just looked at her son, smiling.
Which part of her looked like she liked it already?
"Honey, let me show you our bedroom and we can brainstorm some decor ideas," Gabriel said, already standing up and gently taking Teresa's hand.
Feeling a bit uncomfortable sitting with everyone, Teresa didn't give it much thought and let herself be led upstairs by Gabriel. However, once they stepped into the room and he closed the door with a soft "click", she realized she might have been duped.
A flicker of surprise crossed her mind as she turned to look at him, but before she could react, Gabriel pinned her between the door and his tall, commanding figure. His long fingers lifted her chin, and he descended upon her lips with unerring precision...
"Mmph!" Teresa gasped, pushing him back, "Gabriel, what are you doing?"
"Sweetheart," he said as he leaned in again, capturing her lips, "today's our big day! Don't you think it's worth celebrating?"
Teresa's eyes were wide open as she looked at the earnest while slightly bruised face before her. Gradually, her brows relaxed and she closed her eyes, no longer resisting his fervent advance, although she did not reciprocate.
For Gabriel, this kiss was a long-awaited gift, filled with an exquisite yearning, so immersive that it made him crave even more than the entanglement of their lips.
Just as his burning hand began to move fervently over her clothing, Teresa jolted awake, her eyes snapping open and, in a reflex, she shoved the overwhelming presence off her with all her might.
Caught off guard, Gabriel stumbled backward. Looking at him, Teresa's face was flushed, her heart racing with a mix of annoyance, "Don't push it, okay?"
She vividly remembered the night three years ago, much like this one.
The pain of that night was so acute, it felt like she was being torn apart whenever she thought about it.
Seeing the mix of anger and panic in her eyes, Gabriel instantly understood. Their night together had been her first, and perhaps, she had not been with anyone since.
