The gloomy atmosphere in the conference room quickly cleared thanks to that.
Someone who thought that he was in a good mood actually asked, “Did something good happen, Mr. Althoff?”
Diarmuid looked up at the person who asked. “Yes, but I’m afraid I can’t share it. Let’s hope that your report is satisfactory so that I will stay in a good mood.”
Naturally, the person was confident enough in his report to ask-Diarmuid’s words actually boosted his confidence instead of leaving him fearful of his life!
It was not until four hours later when the meeting finally concluded, and everyone’s drinks must have been refilled over six times in that period.
Everyone was exhausted, but they waited until Diarmuid left before leaving.
He was loosening his necktie as he headed to his office, telling his secretary Debbie as she followed, “Get a set of confectionery. Make sure it’s good.”
“Yes, Mr. Althoff,” Debbie replied and left, while Diarmuid dropped on his couch once he was in his office, throwing his necktie aside.
He flexed his neck before leaning into his seat, his posture nonchalant as he napped to recharge.
Over at Rose Garden, Abigail’s throat was parched after yelling for a long while without response.
She could not move either, and it felt as if she was meat on the chopping block!
She had no idea who her captors were either, and that felt absolutely terrible!
She started to wonder who it could be, with Chad Ross being on top of the list of suspects.
Diarmuid never crossed her mind, because she believed that he would be reluctant to mess with her now that she was getting married.
Diarmuid always carried himself as if he was above the rest. Stalking a married woman cheapened him! It definitely would not be him!
As for Chad, who was Abigail’s prime suspect, she believed that they had no feud.
Moreover, Chad himself said that he wanted to get back at Diarmuid for driving Whitney to her death, and would use her to that end.
She laughed bitterly at the thought–Diarmuid had already divorced her, and found himself a new lover. If Chad wanted revenge, he should be abducting Kathy instead.
Why her?
She looked around, studying the whole room, but did not recognize it as she had long since forgotten about it.
The curtains were left open with a foot wide gap, and light was spilling in, illuminating the room. She blinked, suddenly not interested in moving while feeling dryness in her entire mouth!
She closed herself to sleep–maybe she would not be that thirsty afterwards.
Still, it took her a long while to doze off!
When she finally opened her eyes again, she picked up the scent of food and spotted the confectionery on the table nearby. The exquisite appearance alone was mouthwatering, and it only tempted a famished person like her further.
Her lips parted, and she found the insides of her mouth sticky–she would rather drink than eat at the moment, but she was definitely hungry too.
Also, the confectionery was not there when she woke up just now. Whoever brought it must have done so after she fell asleep.
Was it bait? Could it be poison?
Why else would they make her starve, and suddenly put food there?
She turned around despite much difficulty–out of sight, out of mind.
But she was certainly suffering! Was anyone ever coming to save her?
Meanwhile, Diarmuid was watching her every move from the living room.
Her lips were dried and she looked withered.
It hurt Diarmuid to see her like that, but he steeled himself and closed his laptop so that he did not have to.
“Thirsty…”
Abigail narrowed her eyes in the darkness as night arrived.
Her voice was almost as quiet as a mosquito, and she might soon be mute.
Diarmuid picked her up, and helped her drink the water left on the table.
“Water.”
She started to gulp it when her lips touched the moisture, and felt alive as it reached her stomach.
Diarmuid held her in his arms and rubbed her back. “Sleep.”
He had untied her, but the discomfort from being bound lingered, and she felt as if she was dreaming because of her thirst. There was no way water would have come to her otherwise!
If it really were, she hoped the dream would last longer.
“Tommy…” she mumbled in her sleep, missing her child too much.
Her voice was too small for Diarmuid to hear, and she started to blame herself for not protecting him. “Mommy is sorry…”
She parted with him soon after he was born, and even afterward, they were repeatedly separated, and he was repeatedly exposed to danger!
She had failed as a mother.
A tear trickled from the corner of her eye down to her nose, dropping quietly onto her pillow and disappearing!
Diarmuid heard her just then, and thought that she was crying because she dreamed of their lost children.
He could understand how she felt–he was the twins‘ father, after all.
He gathered her in his arms within a warm embrace, as if that alleviated the misery in his own. heart as well.
If only they could have more children…
It was a long night, but Diarmuid could not fall asleep no matter how he tried.
And in the morning, Abigail woke up…
Abigail was left gaping when she saw the face that was inches away from hers.
“Diarmuid Althoff?!” she cried in surprise, but she was still too weak and was not all that loud, and therefore did not wake him.
He only fell asleep when it was almost morning, which was why he was sleeping soundly.
That was when Abigail saw that she had been untied, but was only in her underwear, leaving her utterly confused.
Did he strip her?!
“Bastard!” She could not help cursing–he always did this to her!
Also, why did he abduct her in the first place? Did he have nothing better to do, or did he really think that she could be bullied so easily?!
She really wanted to strangle him just then, but she was too weak to do so. However, he was now defenseless, and she must do something for herself!
She quietly left the bed, keeping her breathing quiet so as to not startle Diarmuid. As her bare feet touched the floor, she looked around for something that she could use to cover herself, and resorted to picking up Diarmuid’s clothes since there was the only thing around.
She basically lunged at the food and water on the table, popping the cap of a bottle of water and chugging it right then, only stopping when she finished half of it. Then, staring at the food for heartbeats, she eventually gave in and started to stuff everything into her mouth!
She had no idea who her captors were, and was therefore afraid to eat the food.
Somehow, she was relieved to know that it was Diarmuid–despite knowing his terrible temper and abusive nature, she was sure that he would not kill her.
Which was why she was not worried at all.
Still, she was too hungry and ate without restraint, and her stomach was so full it hurt.
As she was left clutching her belly, an alluring voice asked, “Is your stomach hurting?”
She looked up to see that Diarmuid was already standing before her.
And it was all his fault she was like this!
“You really are that horrible, aren’t you, Diarmuid Althoff? What good would staving me do to you?” she demanded–but she was still too weak to make herself sound threatening.
Diarmuid reached out to grab her chin just then, and she had to rear her head–her neck and chin were almost forming a single line. It certainly hurt and almost suffocated her!
“Let me go!” She breathed through her teeth.
At the same time, she reached out to try to push him away, but he simply caught her hands.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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