Chapter 124
All eyes were still fixed on Anna, waiting for her to speak.
Gabriel noticed the uneasiness in his mother’s posture-the way her fingers fidgeted with the napkin, her gaze shifting nervously. He decided to step in before things got worse. Rising slowly from his chair, he spoke.
“I have something to say.”
Every head turned toward him. Even Isla looked surprised. Anna’s heart thudded heavily in her chest. She had no idea what her son was about to say. In her mind, two possibilities came to her. Either he was going to announce their new house, or Isla’s pregnancy. She was almost certain Isla was pregnant.
Gabriel took a deep breath. “I don’t know what has happened, but I need to clarify something,” he began steadily. “Father was not seeing anyone. He wasn’t cheating on Mother, as Isla had said.”
Murmurs rippled through the table, but Alfred’s expression remained unreadable. He was just calm.
“Father,” Gabriel continued, his voice firm but respectful, “I’m sorry for whatever this might have caused you. But you need to know that my wife only said that to Mother in order to get rid of her when she showed up at the club last night.”
Everyone turned to Anna now. Confusion painted their faces. Even Alfred raised an eyebrow.
Why would Anna go to a club to see her son? Why not simply ask to meet him like a proper mother would?
“She came and interrupted my meeting with my friends,” Gabriel went on, his tone calm but cold. “And she started talking about Delphine.”
Landon muffled out a laugh, earning a glare from his wife, Mia, but he couldn’t stop himself.
“Isla got irritated when Mother mentioned Delphine,” Gabriel explained, “so she came up with a way to get back at her. I’m sorry to say it worked. Mother left the club immediately afterward.”
A small, dry smile touched his lips. “I must apologize to everyone for the misunderstanding this caused. But I think it’s time Mother stays out of my marriage.”
The room fell silent again, and then Alfred chuckled softly. “So, Isla is the troublemaker this time?”
His deep chuckle made John smile too, though his eyes still held quiet anger toward Anna.
“Anna?” Alfred called, his tone turning sharp again. “You’ve heard your son. Care to explain how you met Isla at her new house with Gabriel last night?”
Anna’s face flushed crimson. She lowered her gaze, shame filling her chest. She couldn’t say a word.
Her children and daughters-in-law exchanged disappointed looks. Even Sia and Mia didn’t hide the disapproval in their eyes.
Gabriel and Isla exchanged a knowing glance. Neither of them spoke, but their thoughts aligned. Aside from Isla’s parents, no one else knew about their new house.
Gabriel frowned. He knew Isla’s parents wouldn’t have said anything. Which meant someone else had been monitoring him closely. And that wasn’t something he could ignore.
“I didn’t tell anyone about our new home,” Gabriel said, his voice rising slightly. “I had planned to announce it once my wife got stronger, because we agreed to do it together.” He looked directly at Anna now. “So, tell me, Mother-how did you get that information? I need to know.”
John clenched his jaw. His patience was wearing thin.
Anna’s voice shook. “I… I just found out from someone,” she whispered. Then, she continued, louder this time. “I’m sorry I lied
to you all. I couldn’t stand the thought of Delphine suffering alone after she had a miscarriage. I only wanted Gabriel to support her, at least for friendship’s sake. But then… I didn’t realize that Isla’s words couldn’t be trusted.”
Her words fell flat. The disappointment in the room was thick. No one believed her.
Isla stayed silent, remembering what Gabriel had told her before they entered the room. He had asked told her to let him handle it. And she did just that.
Gabriel stood again, his tone colder now. “Well, Mother, for your information, I didn’t want to do this, but I think it’s time I do it anyway. I don’t want any more misunderstandings between my wife and me.”
He paused, scanning the faces in the room before saying it.
“First of all… Delphine was never pregnant to begin with.”
A sharp gasp spread across the room. Mia’s hand flew to her mouth.
“What?” Landon blurted out.
“Hell, no – she was!” Sia argued, shaking her head.
Gabriel’s expression didn’t waver. “I’m telling the truth. I knew Delphine wasn’t pregnant, but I accepted responsibility at the time because I didn’t want to embarrass her. I kept quiet and watched her, knowing that if she really was pregnant, the truth would eventually come out. And when it did, I’d have gone for a DNA test.”
Anna looked confused-lost even. “But you were intimate with Delphine,” she said desperately. “So what are you saying?”
The family murmured again. Everyone seemed to agree with Anna’s question-everyone except Alfred and John, who stayed quiet. They already knew the truth.
“I haven’t been intimate with any woman except my wife since our wedding,” Gabriel said firmly.
“Delphine once drugged me and claimed something happened between us. I knew it was a lie. I didn’t argue because I wanted to handle it privately. But I’ve seen Delphine’s hospital report-six months ago. I knew she couldn’t conceive.”
He looked directly at Anna. “So, please, Mother, stay away from my marriage. I’m happy with my wife.”
The silence that followed was heavy. Anna couldn’t say a word.
Gabriel took a deep breath and continued, his voice softening now. “And while we’re on the topic…” He looked at Isla. Their eyes met, and she smiled. A quiet, knowing smile.
He took her hand and helped her stand. Then he wrapped his arm around her waist with gentle pride.
“We’ll be parents very soon.”
The room froze. Everyone’s eyes widened.
Except two people-Anna and Wyatt, who remained stiff and expressionless.
“My wife is pregnant,” Gabriel announced, a faint smile breaking on his lips. “And I would appreciate everyone’s support. Be happy for us, that’s all I ask.”
For a moment, the room was silent. Then Mia stood up first, her grin genuine. She walked over and hugged Isla warmly. “ Congratulations,” she whispered.
Sia followed, giving Isla a small but sincere hug. “I’m proud of you,” she said softly. “And I wish you both all the best.”
Isla smiled, her voice trembling slightly. “Thank you.” Fresh chapters posted on Find1Novel.net
NUS
John stood next, his joy obvious. “I’m proud of you, son,” he said, shaking Gabriel’s hand firmly before pulling him into a hug.
Landon clapped his hands once. “Well, I’ll be damned-congratulations!” he said, before hugging Isla too.
It was a moment none of them expected. A moment that softened even the hardest hearts in the room—except Anna’s and Wyatt’s.
Florence is a passionate reader who finds joy in long drives on rainy days. She’s also a fan of Italian makeup tutorials, blending beauty and elegance into her everyday life.