Ba enjoyed the tour Gabriel gave her. It was novel, and she felt like she is visiting a museum or a castle.


    They held hands as they walked through the wide and tall hallways.


    Gabriel showed Ba the living room, the sunroom, the library, the family room, the study, the music room, the kitchen, the pantry (which wasrger than the kitchen in Ba''s apartment), the wine cer with an attached wine-tasting room, the breakfast room, the formal dining room, etc.


    As they progressed through the areas, Gabriel and Ba would meet the house staff who moved to stand next to the wall and greet them with a small bow. A few of them even said, "Master Long…", as they passed, and Gabriel would hum in acknowledgment of their greeting.


    Ba observed everything with her big eyes, admiring the decorations and noticing how the rooms are excessively spacious. At the same time, she wondered why Gabriel would leave this luxurious ce where his every need is catered to? Why did he rece all this splendor for her apartment where he needs to cook? No matter how she looks at it, it''s a downgrade.


    "Is there something, in particr, you would like to see?", Gabriel asked.


    Ba shrugged. "It seems you have a room for every activity you want to do. Do you have separate areas for lunch and dinner? I assume there is a gym."


    Gabriel chuckled. "There is a gym."


    "Does ite with a sauna, spa, and a swimming pool?"


    "No. The sauna and the spa are separate from the gym. But the pool is attached to the gym with a hallway that can be closed. The smell of chlorine is not pleasant while you are lifting weights or running on a treadmill.", Gabriel responded with a straight face.


    Ba shook her head. "This ce looks like a luxurious hotel. It evenes with a staff that will serve you food and clean-up after you, like room service. Did you really live here?"


    Her real question was why he left, but she didn''t want to ask because she feared that his answer would be, <em>''Victoria''</em>. It''s not that Ba feels that her position by Gabriel''s side is threatened by Victoria, not anymore. However, Ba hates the idea that Victoria impacts Gabriel so much, and Ba hoped that her love will be able to boost Gabriel''s willpower to push Victoria in the far corner of his mind where memories belong.


    "Mhm… I lived here since the day I was born.", Gabriel responded.


    "Can I see the room you used to live in?"


    Gabriel hummed and led the way upstairs where the bedrooms are.


    The hallway upstairs was not as wide as the ones below, but it was still luxurious with walls that were lined with paintings and golden details around the edges.


    They stopped at the third door on the left, and Gabriel opened the door for Ba to step in first.


    The room was majestic, just like the rest of the mansion. Even the ceiling had ornate etchings that formed circr patterns from the chandelier onward. There was a four-poster bed, a desk, and a sitting area with a sofa and two sofa chairs around a coffee table. Two additional doors were on the wall to the right, and Ba could see that those are for the bathroom and a walk-in closet.


    Ba removed her shoes and stepped barefoot on the fluffy area rug. She wiggled her toes which almost disappeared in the soft bristles that tickled her feet.


    "Is this the room where you spent your childhood?", Ba asked while tracing the intricate designs on the firece''s mantle with her fingers.


    "When I was not in school, yes."


    "You stayed in dorms?", Ba guessed.


    Gabriel confirmed. "From middle school until I graduated from college. My parents said that it will build my character."


    Ba peered into the closet and observed that it''s full of clothes which are for grownups. "Are these your current clothes?"


    "Yes. I will get some of them packed for us to carry when we head back to your ce."


    "I thought this was your childhood room."


    "Correct. I moved back in here after I divorced."


    "Why?"


    "I couldn''t stay in the other room. It has too many bad memories."


    Ba felt her heart cracking, it seems that they can''t avoid mentioning Victoria. At the same time, Ba believed that this is her opportunity to step up and show her support.


    "Will you show me that other room, the one you shared with Victoria?"


    Gabriel observed Ba''s expression keenly. "Why?"


    "I want to know everything about you.", Ba responded honestly.


    Gabriel was moved by this simple request, and he could not say <em>''no''</em> to it. "Alright."


    They took a right turn down the hallway and Gabriel paused in front of one door before opening it.


    Ba made her way inside first and observed that this room was muchrger than the previous one. There was no desk with a chair, but the sitting area had two chaises and matching ottomans around the firece. The bed wasrge enough to amodate six people, and Ba assumed that the big empty wall above the bed used to hold a painting of Gabriel and Victoria, or maybe their wedding photo.


    There was a reading nook with in-built shelves that were lined up with books and afy-looking sofa next to the window where one can get lost in the fluffy pillows.


    The view from the windows of this bedroom overlooked the garden, and Ba could see the party that was still ongoing below like she had VIP seats in the theatre.


    The walk-in closet was bigger than Ba''s bedroom in her apartment and other than dark brown shelves of different sizes, and ss enclosures that would prevent dust to build up, the closet was empty.


    After checking out the massive spa-like bathroom, Ba sat on the sofa with a bunch of pillows on it, and she confirmed that they are fluffy.


    "This is the best thing ever!", Ba eximed and waved at Gabriel. "Quickly, give me one book."


    Gabriel shook his head at Ba''s silly antics, but he gave her one book from the shelf and watched Ba as she lifted her legs on the sofa and took an exaggerated reading pose.


    "How do I look?", Ba asked.


    "Stunning, as always.", Gabriel responded.


    Ba giggled. "I was more going for <em>''schrly''</em>, but I will take thepliment."


    Gabriel sat on the sofa and ced Ba''s feet in hisp.


    She observed him as his eyes scanned through the room with longing.


    "Gabe, why did you leave this ce?"


    Gabriel looked at Ba and it took him some time to respond. "It has too many bad memories."


    "Like?", Ba persisted.


    "You know…"


    "No, I don''t. Tell me."


    "Of Victoria…"


    Gabriel''s answer hurt, but Ba didn''t let it show on her face. Victoria is part of Gabriel''s past, and unless they confront it openly, Victoria will keep on throwing a shadow on their present and future.


    "Is that the only thing?", she asked.


    "What do you mean?"


    Ba shrugged. "You told me that you stayed in the other room until you graduated. So, I can assume that you spent here with Victoria three, maybe four years, right?"


    "Do you really want to talk about her?"


    "No.", Ba admitted. "But I want to talk about you, and I can''t ignore that she was part of your past. However, with the way you are behaving, she is still part of your present, OUR present... and I hope to understand your state of mind so that I can understand my ce in your life."


    ---


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