Chapter 17

Matthew's Pov

As I walked up the stairs to our apartment, I couldn't help but feel like a failure. I had just left the comfort of my closest friends, who had given me the best advice they could—advice I was honestly too stubborn to hear earlier. But now, the anger had faded, replaced by a deep unease. I didn't know how to fix what had happened. All I knew was that Gabrielle had a way of making me feel both complete and like a wrecking ball all at once.

I reached the door to our apartment and paused. My fingers lingered on the doorknob for a moment, my heart racing faster than I would’ve liked to admit. What if she was still angry? What if she didn’t want to talk to me at all? My fangs, which had ached only a few hours ago in frustration, now throbbed with a different kind of tension. It wasn’t anger anymore. It was guilt.

I opened the door quietly, almost afraid of the sound it might make. The apartment was dark, save for the soft light filtering in from the city outside, casting long shadows across the floor.

I could hear movement from the living room, and my heart skipped a beat.

"Gabrielle?" I called, my voice quieter than I intended.

She appeared from the hallway, her eyes swollen, as if she’d been crying. She wore a simple robe, her hair slightly messy, but she still managed to look like an ethereal goddess even in such a state.

"Matthew," she said, her voice soft, tentative. She was clearly unsure of how to proceed, and that only made the ache in my chest grow.

"I… I’m sorry," I blurted out, my words tumbling over each other. "I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I was angry, and I took it out on you, and that’s not okay."

Gabrielle crossed her arms over her chest, still holding herself back. "You think?" she said, her tone playful but with a hint of hurt beneath it.

I winced, taking a step forward. "I don’t expect you to forgive me right away, but I need you to know that I never meant to hurt you."

She raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that? Because when you yelled, it kind of seemed like you meant every word."

I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. "I didn’t, Gabrielle. I was… overwhelmed. You do that to me. You make me feel like I’m losing control of myself, and I don't know how to handle it."

There was a long pause as she studied me, her gaze softening just a little. Slowly, she dropped her arms and walked over to me, her eyes still wary but no longer angry.

"I didn’t mean to upset you," she murmured, her hand brushing against mine. "I just… I don’t know what I’m doing half the time, Matthew. I’m trying, but it’s not always easy."

I sighed deeply, taking her hand in mine. "I know, love. I know. But that’s no excuse for how I acted. You’re doing your best, and I should’ve been there for you, not snapping at you."

Gabrielle studied me for a moment before reaching up to touch my cheek. Her fingers lingered there, sending a jolt of warmth through my body.

"You’re such a stubborn vampire," she said, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "But I guess that’s one of the things I love about you."

That comment hit me like a freight train. I had been so focused on my own frustration, I hadn’t even stopped to think about how she must’ve felt. Gabrielle, my sweet, beautiful wife, was trying to navigate a marriage with someone as old and complicated as me. She didn’t deserve my anger.

I leaned down, brushing my lips against hers gently, taking in the softness of her mouth and the faint scent of lavender that seemed to linger in her hair.

"Don’t ever doubt how much I care you, Gabrielle," I whispered against her lips. "Even when I’m a complete idiot."

She chuckled, a sound that always made my heart skip. "You are a complete idiot, Matthew. "

We stood there for a moment, just holding each other, the world outside seeming to disappear. There was no rush, no urgency, just the quiet comfort of being with each other again.

After a while, Gabrielle pulled back, her face still flushed from our embrace.

"Now," she said, her voice teasing. "You’re going to make it up to me."

I raised an eyebrow, wondering where this was going. "Oh? And how, exactly, do you expect me to do that?"

She grinned mischievously. "A date. A real one. No work distractions. No vampires chasing after us. Just you, me, and some quiet time."

I smirked. "That sounds like a challenge."

She winked at me. "I love a good challenge."

...****************...

Later that evening...

The night was still young when we stepped into one of my favorite restaurants—a quiet little place hidden away from the prying eyes of paparazzi. It was the kind of place I could relax, where no one would recognize me. Of course, I’d have to keep Gabrielle under wraps as well.

We were seated in a dimly lit booth at the back, a private corner where we could enjoy the peace and quiet. The moment we sat down, Gabrielle’s smile returned to her face, that soft, contented expression that made everything else fade into the background.

"So," she said, tapping her fingers on the table, "how do we fix this mess? You’ve been pretty terrible to me today."

I smirked, leaning back in my seat. "I’ve got a few ideas."

"Do you now?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, her lips curling into a playful smile. "What, are you going to buy me diamonds? Maybe a pet tiger to keep me company when you’re too busy brooding?"

"Diamonds are overrated," I said, shaking my head. "But I could arrange a pet tiger if that’s really what you want."

"Well, as long as it doesn’t eat me," she said, grinning.

I chuckled, enjoying the ease between us now. "It’s a deal, then. A pet tiger and all the diamonds your heart desires."

Gabrielle laughed softly, and I knew in that moment that we were going to be okay. There would be bumps along the way, and I might be a bit of a stubborn idiot from time to time, but I was willing to work on it. Because I couldn’t imagine a life without her in it.

"Alright, Mr. Vampire," she said, teasing. "Now let’s get to the food. I’m starving."

I chuckled, motioning to the waiter. "Anything for you, my dear."

The rest of the evening passed in a blur of laughter, shared glances, and the occasional flirtatious comment. We were a team again, and that was all that mattered.

As I looked across the table at her, the woman who had completely flipped my world upside down, I felt a sense of peace I hadn’t known in centuries.

And maybe, just maybe, things weren’t so bad after all.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***