Gabrielle blinked at the beautiful and iconic skyscraper visible from the twentieth floor of her penthouse. The tower she could see stood tall and proud, reaching into the sky like a giant among buildings. Its shiny windows reflected the lights of Chicago, making it gleam against the urban backdrop.
Despite the beautiful view, Gabrielle 'Gabby' Lockwood was unable to suppress the irritation slowly creeping into her stomach.
"Gabby… the food is ready," a voice echoed behind her. She turned around and saw a woman who almost looked like her—her twin sister, Alessandra. Unlike Gabby who was wearing her sweatpants, Alessandra was wearing a beautiful yellow dress, her hair was curled to perfection. "Grandmother's hungry…" Alessandra's pink lips curled into a smile.
"Right…" Gabby nodded, her eyes sweeping through her luxurious office before she began walking towards her sister.
"You don't really mind, right?" Alessandra asked, her green eyes staring at Gabby. "I mean, Ryan…."
Gabby's gaze lingered on Alessandra's bulging stomach. "It's fine…"
"This would be the first time that Ryan would see you after that incident. I mean…" Alessandra bit her lower lip. "Can you at least act cordial to the father of my child?"
Gabby stared at her sister with a blank expression. The man Alessandra was talking about had been Gabby's fiancé about a year ago. The wedding was supposed to happen after New Year, but Gabby caught Alessandra and Ryan in bed together– the very same bed that Gabby bought. Now, Alessandra is pregnant and wants to make amends for the sake of her child.
"Of course," Gabby said coldly. She tried to walk past her sister, but Alessandra suddenly held her arm.
"Please, Gabby…" Alessandra's tears were already brimming in her eyes. As always, the woman was about to use her tears to get her way. "I know you hated him. I—"
"Hate is such a strong word," Gabby interrupted her before she could start crying. Then she shook off her sister's hand. "I agreed to let him come… didn't I?" she asked. It was all for the sake of their grandmother, but Gabby would not tell Alessandra that.
Without waiting for Alessandra to say another word, she walked out of her office and into the grand living room where their grandmother—the very woman who raised them—was.
"Grandma…" Gabby forced a smile.
"Gabby… " Elena Lockwood's wrinkled face immediately lit up when she saw Gabby. "Are you done with work?"
"Yes," Gabby said. She had to find an excuse to leave the room when Alessandra arrived. As always, Alessandra insisted that she cooked their food, so Gabby simply left the kitchen. She already had a lot on her plate, pretending to be cordial with Alessandra in front of their grandmother was simply a lot.
"How could you work even when it's Christmas?" the older woman with the same green eyes as Gabby and Alessandra frowned. She had been watching some shows on the large TV earlier, so she quickly used the remote and turned it off.
"Grandma, I will take you to the dining now," Alessandra arrived and slowly pushed their grandmother's wheelchair to the dining table.
"Hmm…." The older woman said. "What about Ryan?" she asked.
"He is already on his way," Alessandra said, shooting a look at Gabby. Since their grandmother already had Alzheimer's, she could no longer remember that just a year ago, she was talking about Ryan and Gabby's wedding. Gabby simply shrugged before she followed them into the dining room.
"This place is too huge for you…" their grandmother said. "Why don't you go back to the mansion where you could spend time with me and Alessandra?" Elena said.
"Grandmother, you know how Gabby has been very focused on work lately… the mansion is two hours away from her office." Alessandra had a gentle smile on her face as she made sure their grandmother was comfortable in her wheelchair as they settled at the dining table.
She placed a cushion behind Elena's back, adjusting it until the older woman nodded in approval. Alessandra then checked the table settings, ensuring everything was in its place.
"Thank you, dearest," Elena said, patting Alessandra's hand. "Always taking care of me, just like your mother used to."
Alessandra smiled, her attention shifting to the Christmas Dinner Feast spread across the table. The aroma of roasted turkey and baked ham filled the air, accompanied by the enticing scent of garlic mashed potatoes and buttered green beans. The table was adorned with festive decorations—a centerpiece of red and green and flickering LED candles.
"What do you think?" Alessandra asked Gabby.
"It's beautiful," Gabby nodded. Alessandra was an international chef, so she already expected delicious food for today's menu. She brought a lot of things earlier when she arrived, so Gabby already knew that she must have brought her decorations.
Between the two of them, Alessandra has always been good with design and cooking, and everything that a woman should be.
Gabby, on the other hand, was the exact opposite.
"How come you don't have anything that we can use to decorate in your place?" Alessandra asked. "You should buy more decors. If you want, I can help you. There is this place in—"
"It's fine…" Gabby said. "I don't always stay here anyway." She would prefer to stay in her lab, surrounded by her specimens. To her, talking to her specimen is better than taking people's bullshit.
"Your sister is right, Gabby…" Elena said. "As a woman, the least that you can do is decorate your place. Look at this …" Elena turned her head. "All black and white and glass. Not even a Christmas tree. A stranger would think this is a hotel or perhaps a place where a bachelor lives."
Gabby nodded, not wanting to upset her grandmother."Then I will just have to let Alessandra take care of it. I don't have the time to go around buying some frames or something."
"Hmmm… you really… " Elena shook her head. However, before she could say another word, the doorbell rang. Alessandra immediately jolted up.
"That's Ryan. I will get him." Alessandra then immediately left them. Not long after, she came back with the man that Gabby had been with for three years. After an awkward greeting, they finally said their graces and started eating.
Today, Ryan and Alessandra were supposed to stay here to spend Christmas Eve with Gabby. This was something that their grandmother orchestrated. She wanted to spend her remaining days with her two lovely grandchildren.
While Gabby does not want to spend some time with her pregnant sister and ex, she has no choice but to agree to her already seventy-eight-year-old grandmother.
"So, when are you going to introduce a man to me?" Elena interrupted the silence that filled the dining area as they enjoyed their meal. Almost immediately, the once peaceful atmosphere shattered. Alessandra could not help but stare at Gabby while Gabby looked at her grandmother.
"Right now, that is not my priority." Gabby's answer came almost immediately. "We are about to have another breakthrough and—"
"Work. Work. Work. Really…" Elena sighed. "You remind me too much of your grandfather…"
Just as Gabby wanted to say something, her phone vibrated in her pocket. "Ah… let me take this call." She got up and walked outside the dining without saying another word.
The timing was simply too perfect as she did not want to spend more time with Alessandra and Ryan today.
"Allen?" Gabby said. "Really?" Her expression changed when she heard the person on the other line. "Good. That's good. I will be there in a minute. Right… see yah." She ended the call and was about to turn to go back to the dining to say goodbye when she noticed Ryan standing not too far away from her.
"Do you have a minute?" he asked his voice a little low—something that he usually does when he is upset.
Gabby lifted an eyebrow; her gaze met his dark brown orbs.
"What do you need?" she asked.
"I know you hated us, but your sister is currently pregnant. The least that you can do is act cordial and stop making her cry." Ryan said his tone calm. "She's pregnant, and her hormones are all over the place. If—"
"Seems like you got it all wrong," Gabby interrupted him. At one point, she wondered why people always liked to think that she was bullying Alessandra. After years of rummaging her brain, she finally gave up and stopped caring.
"I knew she was crying before I arrived. Her eyes were swollen."
Gabby was tempted to roll her eyes. "You are overthinking things," she said as she approached him.
"I always knew coming here was wrong…" Ryan said.
"Then why did you? I don't remember forcing anyone to come," she retorted. Why were they making her the bad guy here?
Ryan let out a sigh. Then he shook his head. "If only you were as kind as your sister."
Gabby snorted. She heard these words all her life. "Are you telling me that you wouldn't sleep with her if I was as kind and gentle?" Ryan opened his mouth but was unable to utter a single word.
Seeing this, Gabby snorted. "But then again, you're a lowlife cheater. You will always find an excuse to cheat… right?" Gabby said without hiding the disgust in her eyes. Then she turned away, leaving Ryan standing there, speechless.