Chapter 381 - Catching Up With The Past (1)

At lunchtime, Gabriella came to the hospital, bringing food that Nana and Alice prepared. The four of them ate while they talked about the hilarious times they had growing up and when J and Mika joined the De Lucas.

Angela enjoyed listening to their stories and couldn't help but share some of her and Oliver's mischiefs when they were kids.

It wasn't lost on Angela that there was something off about Gabriella—as if she wasn't her usual bright self. The younger one always looked cheerful. Though Gabby smiled most of the time that day, Angela noticed that she'd often check her phone and nervously twisted the bracelet on her right hand.

Gael apparently noticed it too because he asked her what's wrong, but Gabriella shook her head and smiled, saying it was nothing—that she just didn't have enough sleep last night. He narrowed his eyes at her like he didn't believe it—though he chose to drop the subject.

Angela, however, thought that she could pry a little more, wanting to make sure she was okay. But she did it while Mika took her afternoon nap and Gael had to go out for a few minutes to talk to the doctor.

"You sure you're okay?" she probed.

Gabriella looked at her, twisted her bracelet once again, and swallowed. "I think so…"

"You think so?" Angela knitted her brows. "What do you mean? What's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong, really—I mean, unless you count me supposedly getting married next Saturday wrong." Gabby rolled her eyes. "It's just… I haven't been able to sleep well lately, and I don't think it's because of that. I feel that something is going to happen… Something…bad?"

"Like what?"

"That's the thing. I don't know. I've just been anxious about something I don't know, and it's such a bitch." She sighed, then laughed it off. "Don't worry about me. I feel like this sometimes. It's just a little more annoying today."

Angela reached for her hand, giving it a squeeze as she said, "I may not have an army behind me—"

"You have us. We're an army," Gabriella interrupted with a smile.

Angela rolled her eyes and chuckled. "You know what I mean… But I'm here, Gabby. You can talk to me if you need someone to listen."

"I will take you on that. You know… I don't have many friends. I mostly just hang out with Mika, J, or Trigger, but the guys have been too busy lately. Dad doesn't allow me to go out unsupervised, so I didn't get to see my college mates back in the university unless our guards were with me, and that irks my friends, so I stopped going out with them. I have friggin' graduated and will start working at SVR Corp pretty soon, but even then, I feel like my dad would have four of his men watching me while I work." She tsked.

"I get that." Angela let out a small sigh. "My dad is strict too. Had his guards following me everywhere. I went clubbing with my best friend, and they'd stand there like I was on parole, and that I'd escape on their watch—not that I blame them because I did escape several times on their watch." She laughed, and Gabby laughed with her, saying she also did a few times.

When their laughter died down, Gabby said in a low voice, "I love my parents…my brothers…my uncles… Everyone in my family. But I envy those who do not belong in my world sometimes." She gave Angela a small smile and told her, "Thanks, Angela. I'm so glad my brother has you. Now I have another friend and a future sister-in-law." She winked.

***

Angela and Gael left the hospital after lunch, leaving Gabriella with Mika. Gael had a feeling that J had already told Gabby that he was coming, seeing as the two were close. He could only sigh inwardly at the two. They probably thought he wouldn't notice how they acted around each other.

He wasn't particularly fond of the idea of Gabriella and J dating, especially since he knew J's ways—sleeping around with women. Gael was being hypocritical, and he knew that, but Gabby was his baby sister, and he wanted to protect her at all cost—even if it was J.

On the drive on the way home, Angela's phone rang. She checked the screen and subconsciously bit her bottom lip when she saw Andy's caller ID.

"Who is it?" Gael asked when he caught her reaction.

She hesitated for a second, wondering if she could just reject the call and say it's nothing. However, she decided to be truthful and turned the screen towards him. "It's Andy."

His jaw clicked as he faced the road. "Answer it. Put it on speaker."

Angela didn't want trouble, but after a short contemplation, she pressed the green button and then the speaker icon. "Hey, Andy."

"Hi, Angie. I didn't think you'd answer my call." The smile on his voice was evident. "How are you?"

"I'm good. You?"

"Good. Good. Listen… I'm not sure you received my text the other day—wait, you probably did since you know it's me calling." He chuckled. "Anyway… Um… I was wondering if you'd meet me for dinner tonight? I just got back from a trip, and I was hoping you'd join me for a meal."

Angela glanced at Gael, whose stare was still on the road, but he was obviously listening to the conversation because his grip tightened on the wheel, though he remained quiet.

"I…don't think it's a good idea, Andy," she said.

"Is it because you have a boyfriend now?"

Yes. And no.

For Angela, Gael wasn't just a boyfriend. He was certainly more than that, even if they didn't have the whole speech or have the elaborate talk about their relationship.

"Besides that, I don't think we have anything to talk about."

There was a few seconds of silence before Andrew's voice came back. "You sure? I know it's been more than three years, Angie. But we didn't exactly…break up."

Gael snapped his head towards her, his brows drawing together as he stepped on the break and pulled the car to the curb. Cars horned behind them, but he ignored it and focused on Angela. They didn't break up? "What the hell?" he mouthed.

She swallowed, her lips parting as if she wanted to say something, but no words came out.

Then Andrew added, "I took the hint. But I thought we could one day sit and just… I don't know… Catch up?" He softly chuckled. "You're in New York after you told me you'd never move to a different state. I have sort of accepted we're over… But I guess seeing you again made me realize… I don't think I've actually moved on from how you ended things."

Angela closed her eyes, took a deep breath and met Gael's questioning stare. Then she said, "Okay."

"Okay?"

"Okay, I'll meet you. But instead of dinner, how about coffee? I can meet you in a couple of hours."

Even though Gael didn't say it, judging by his hard stare, she knew that dinner would be too romantic, so she suggested they meet in the afternoon instead. He still didn't like it, but there was a small relief in his expression—on top of all the questions he had for her.

"Sounds good. Shall I pick you up?" asked Andy.

"No, it's okay. I'll meet you there."

"Sure. I'll text you the address."

When the call ended, Angela lifted her gaze to Gael who was waiting for her to say something. How was she going to tell him that she did what she hated? She left just like her mother did. Angela packed her stuff, left Andy a letter, and didn't look back.

She hated that she became her mother. The only difference was that she didn't have kids to leave behind, but it didn't change the fact that she still left the man who loved her. Until now, she couldn't forgive herself for doing that to Andy which was why it wasn't easy for her to face him.