Chapter 77
Back at the window, Gabriel stood still, the monotonous "beep" signaling a disconnected line. However, all he could hear, echoing persistently, were Teresa's final words: "Goodnight."
For over a thousand nights in the last three years, it was the first time Teresa had said "goodnight" to him.
The words, sweet as honey, reached straight to the bottom of his heart.
Just as Teresa had stepped into the kids' room, handing Croissant his milk bottle and watching him sip his milk, her phone buzzed in her pocket again.
A message from Gabriel.
"Honey, goodnight! Oh, and accept my friend request on Skype, will you?"
Teresa, "..."
Too lazy to bother with him, she put the phone back into her pocket and focused on Croissant.
The next morning, after Teresa and Croissant had freshened up, they walked downstairs to find a man already lounging on the living room sofa, engrossed in conversation with William about business matters.
"Uncle, Daddy!" Croissant dashed towards the two men, but ended up in William's arms.
Gabriel, sitting opposite and filled with joy, ended up with disappointment.
"Honey." Gabriel stood and walked towards Teresa with a warm smile. "Morning."
Teresa eyed him skeptically. "So, you've come over this early to get a free meal?"
Gabriel's eyes shone brightly as he flashed a grin and nodded. "That’s right, I haven’t eaten."
For some reason — either too excited or consumed by thoughts of Teresa — he had barely slept the entire night and woke up unusually early.
"Hey Teresa, you might as well move in with Gabriel sooner rather than later. All this back and forth must be tiring for the three of you," William suggested as he approached with Croissant in his arms.
—The three of you.
Those words were music to Gabriel's ears. Teresa, on the other hand, looked visibly deflated.
"William, 24 hours have barely passed, and you're already pushing me and Croissant out of the house? That's pretty cold," she protested.
Gabriel watched her pout with amusement and wrapped his arm around her. "Honey, we, along with our son, are a little family. With Patrick, Sophia, and Uncle William, we're one big family."
Teresa shot him a sidelong glance.
William raised an eyebrow, smirking, "Come on, let’s have breakfast."
With that, he strode to the dining room, Croissant in his arms.
"Daddy, Mommy, it's breakfast time! Come on, come on" The little guy beckoned them with his tiny hands, his big shiny eyes sparkling.
"Let's go, honey!" Gabriel urged, with a smile just for Teresa.
Teresa shot him another sidelong glance and shrugged off his arm from her shoulder, heading solo to the restaurant. Gabriel, with a knowing smile, followed suit.
After breakfast, Gabriel drove Teresa along with Croissant to visit Patrick at the hospital.
Patrick was in good spirits, which naturally meant a quick recovery. He was up and about again, beaming as the family of three arrived. He was especially thrilled to chat with Gabriel, as the two of them could go on for hours about all things related to the shopping mall.
Gabriel, a man who usually prefers to keep his words to a minimum around others, showed remarkable patience with the Bennetts, perhaps even more so than William, when it came to talking to Patrick and Sophia.
They lingered in the room for about half an hour. When Teresa urged Gabriel to get a move on to his own affairs, Raymond and Katherine showed up, hands full of various items.
However, Raymond and Katherine's primary reason for visiting wasn't to see Patrick, but rather to take the little Croissant back home with them.
Reading Katherine's intentions, Teresa preempted her by turning to her child, "Sweetie, how about you go home with Grandma and Grandpa? Mommy has something to do today, okay?"
"Grandma, Grandpa, I have two grandmas and two grandpas! Hehe…" The little tyke sat on the couch, flashing two tiny fingers and grinning from ear to ear.
"Wow, our little treasure is so smart. Come here for some grandma kisses," Katherine exclaimed with joy, swooping over to shower him with affectionate kisses.
Everyone had chitchat for a while before Raymond and Katherine took off with Croissant, and Teresa walked Gabriel out.
"Hon, why don't you come to the office with me, what do you say?" Gabriel asked with a grin, his arm around Teresa's shoulders, after Sophia nudged her toward the elevator.
"Not a chance," Teresa shot back, rolling her eyes. She reached out to push the elevator button for him and then shrugged his hand off her shoulder. "We had an understanding — no meddling in each other's business."
"So, what are you up to later?"
"I've got things to do. You're so annoying. Now get going." The elevator dinged at that moment, and Teresa nudged Gabriel inside.
Gabriel gave a reluctant smile and, with lightning quickness, turned around to firmly press a kiss to her lips, not forgetting to nip gently as he let go.
"Alright, I'm off. Let's have lunch together," Gabriel said, releasing Teresa and slipping into the elevator with a contented look on his face.
Despite wanting to stay mad, Teresa couldn't help but soften at his bruised but boyishly bright smile. She gave him a sharp look and tossed the words "In your dreams" at him before heading back to the room.
Gabriel held the elevator door open until Teresa was out of sight, then finally let it close.
After spending a little more time with Patrick and Sophia, Teresa left for Evans Group. Before heading out, she texted Liam to make sure he was at the office.
Now that she and Gabriel were married, the ring Liam had given her years ago rightfully needed to be returned to him in person.
Truth be told, after waiting for more than three years and ending up marrying Liam's childhood friend and best buddy, Teresa was filled with more than a little guilt.
Aware that Teresa would be visiting, Liam had instructed his secretary to inform reception, so as soon as she arrived, they were to send her straight to his office.
Teresa had been in Liam’s office once before, three years ago, not long after they'd started dating.
Upon arriving at Evans Group, Teresa gave her name at the front desk, where she was promptly and respectfully escorted to the executive elevator.
When the elevator doors slid open, Teresa thanked the receptionist and stepped in, heading straight for the floor where Liam's office was located.
The mood between the first and the second visit couldn't have been more different. Besides returning the ring, Teresa wasn't sure what to say to Liam.
The chime of the elevator announced her arrival on the right floor, and she stepped out, gathering her thoughts.
"Hello, you must be Teresa?" greeted a stylish secretary as soon as Teresa exited the elevator.
"Yes, that's me." Teresa nodded with a slight smile.
"Liam's been expecting you. Please, follow me," the secretary said with a welcoming gesture.
Teresa nodded again, smiling as she walked alongside the secretary toward Liam's office.
At the door, the secretary knocked before entering. Teresa caught a glimpse inside and to her surprise, there was Liam, but Tyler and Yvonne were also there.
"Liam, Teresa's here," the secretary announced, seemingly oblivious to the tension in the room.
"Sorry, I didn't realize you and Yvonne were here too, Liam. I can come back another time," Teresa said hastily, noting Liam's perturbed expression.
"Teresa, playing the innocent quite convincingly, aren't you? To find a seductress as skilled as you in River North would be a tall order," Yvonne sneered, rising from the couch as soon as Teresa finished speaking, her face twisted in scorn.
Liam glanced at Yvonne and gestured for the secretary to leave before stepping over to the door, placing a hand on Teresa's shoulder with a look of regret, "Teresa, something's come up that I need to deal with. Let's catch up afterward."
"Sure, you take care of business first," Teresa replied, ignoring Yvonne's remark as she nodded and turned to leave.
"Don't you dare leave!" Yvonne shouted suddenly.
...
