Chapter 31
It was four days before the wedding.
The city outside glowed with the fading lights of the evening, but inside Gabriel’s office, the world was quiet except for the faint hum of the air conditioning and the soft tapping of his fingers on the keyboard.
Gabriel was immersed in his work, determined to leave his office spotless before taking a break for the wedding.
After today, he wouldn’t be returning until after the honeymoon, and he couldn’t stand the thought of coming back to a desk buried in papers and files.
Every document, every contract, every report had to be in its proper place, neat and orderly, ready for the day he returned.
By the time he finally leaned back in his chair, he realized it was already 9:00 pm.
His eyes were heavy, his shoulders aching from hours of concentration.
With a tired sigh, he began tidying his desk, straightening papers, stacking files, and shutting down his computer.
The last click of the monitor echoed in the silent office as he stood up, ready to leave and finally rest.
When Gabriel arrived home, the warm glow of the living room met him, but something felt off.
His parents and Nicole were already there, and Nicole’s expression was unsettling.
She looked… upset. Her lips were pressed into a thin line, her eyes distant, and she didn’t rush forward to greet him with a kiss, the way she usually did. A small, nagging worry gnawed at him.
“Is everything okay?” he asked, his voice cutting through the quiet, immediately drawing their attention.
Helen’s expression hardened. Her hands were on her hips, and the slight frown creasing her forehead was evidence of her frustration. “Everything would’ve been okay if you remembered to pick up your tux today,” she said sharply, her tone carrying just enough authority to make Gabriel flinch.
Nicole stood up from the couch and walked toward him, her movements purposeful but tense. She ran her fingers through her hair, a gesture betraying the frustration building within her.
“For once, Gabriel, think about yourself and not your company… It’s not fair how you abandon our wedding preparations for me, like I’m the only one involved,” she said, her voice quivering slightly but laced with irritation.
“I know you’re busy,” she continued, “but this… this is our wedding. Sometimes your actions make me think you’re not interested in this relationship anymore.”
Gabriel blinked, confusion and concern knitting his brows. What was coming over Nicole? Where were all these thoughts coming from?
“What are you saying?” he managed to ask, trying to keep his voice calm despite the rising tension in the room.
Nicole’s eyes blazed with emotion. “You get me engaged and act like you don’t care about us anymore.
Is this how it’s going to be after our wedding?
… Just tell me if you’re no longer interested in this relationship so I’ll leave because I’m sick and tired of all this!
” Her words hit him like a physical blow.
Without another word, she stormed out of the living room in tears, leaving Gabriel frozen, his heart pounding in shock.
Her words echoed painfully in his mind, like a cruel déjà vu. They reminded him of Ashley’s words the night she had ended things with him—words that had left him shattered. It was as if history was mocking him, playing itself out again in the cruelest way possible.
“Son, you better go after her and apologize because I don’t want to lose Nicole as my daughter-in-law. Or… you can do otherwise if you want to cease being my son.” Helen’s voice snapped him out of his spiraling thoughts, her seriousness striking through the tension.
Gabriel’s gaze shifted to his parents.
Helen’s eyes were firm with concern, while Jacob’s held pity.
Guilt washed over him. He had been so consumed by work and the looming wedding that he hadn’t noticed Nicole’s feelings escalating.
Without a moment’s hesitation, he turned and went upstairs to their bedroom.
He found Nicole at the closet, methodically pulling out clothes as if preparing to move out. The sight of her so calm after the earlier storm of emotion made him pause.
“What is going on? Are you leaving?” he asked, confusion coloring his tone.
Nicole turned, her eyes flicking toward him, a small smile touching her lips.
“No. I’m only going to my bedroom,” she replied softly, her whisper only deepening Gabriel’s confusion.
“I don’t understand,” he said, his brow furrowing as he stepped closer.
Nicole stopped what she was doing and moved toward the door, peeking outside before closing it quietly.
“Okay, the coast’s clear,” she whispered, a playful glint in her eye.
“What are you talking about?” Gabriel asked, impatience creeping into his voice.
Nicole walked over to him, taking his hand gently and guiding him toward the couch. Her touch was reassuring, yet there was an energy about her, playful and yet tinged with a hint of sadness.
“I’m sorry about all that drama back there.
I had to react that way because your mom was really upset when you didn’t show up at the boutique today, and I had to make her believe that I felt the same way, although I was worried when you didn’t show up,” she explained carefully, weaving her words with both honesty and a soft charm.
Her voice softened further as she continued, a small excitement creeping in.
“And… I also needed to make use of this opportunity to leave your bedroom because my mom always told me how fun it was for a bride to stay away from her groom days or weeks before the wedding so he misses her a lot before the big day.”
Gabriel’s heart tightened at the subtle sadness in her voice. “I know all of this isn’t real and my mom isn’t here… I just wanna know what it feels like,” she admitted, a quiet vulnerability showing through her playful demeanor.
Gabriel’s chest ached instantly. He had forgotten, even for a moment, that her mother was no longer alive, that she had no family to share these moments with. His heart sank as he realized he should have tried harder to prevent his mom from making wedding plans that highlighted Nicole’s loss.
“I’m sorry about your mom,” he said quietly, his words gentle, hoping to soothe the lingering sadness he saw in her eyes. Nicole shrugged, brushing off his sympathy with a small smile.
“Anyways… I picked your tux myself. It’s in the closet and it’s just your size, you’ll see,” she said, her brightness returning as quickly as it had been shadowed. Gabriel couldn’t help but marvel at how quickly she could shift moods, like sunlight breaking through a sudden storm.
“Thanks,” he said simply, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
“I better continue with what I was doing,” Nicole said, giving his hand a light squeeze. Gabriel held her hand a little longer, reluctant to let her go.
“Don’t ever scare me like this again,” he said softly, his eyes locking onto hers, a silent plea underlying his words. Nicole’s smile widened, her cheeks flushing slightly.
“Well… I’m only doing my job,” she replied, her tone teasing, though he could hear the sadness hidden behind the playfulness.
Gabriel’s chest tightened. He remembered the day he had referred to her as one of his employees during an argument in his study.
Hearing it come from her lips now made him feel a pang of guilt and remorse.
He should never have thrown those words at her.
Gabriel was still lost in his thoughts when Nicole announced she was done packing. He barely noticed her leaving the couch, moving quietly with purpose. He rose, following her to the door.
“Don’t miss me too much, okay?” Nicole said, planting a tender kiss on his cheek. The warmth of her lips made him smile involuntarily.
“Goodnight,” he replied quietly, brushing his lips across her forehead in a soft, lingering kiss before she stepped out of the room.
Gabriel stood alone, the quiet of the bedroom suddenly pressing down on him.
He hadn’t realized just how much he had grown accustomed to her presence beside him in bed, the comforting weight of her body, the subtle warmth of her breathing.
Now, the bed felt impossibly large, and sleep seemed an unlikely companion without her there.
He let out a slow sigh and decided he would have to force himself to rest, though his mind lingered on her smile, her voice, her touch, as he headed for the bathroom to take a shower, hoping that the water would wash away both the exhaustion and the lingering ache of absence.