While Mick survived a car crash, he was injured considerably. It was only thanks to the advancement of medical technology that he made a full recovery.
Even so, Yvaine’s death still hit him badly-he looked much older now, and the tip of his hair was turning white, as if he aged a decade in an instant.
After Mick entered, he gave Abigail a business card. “Here’s my number and address. Contact me if you need help.”
Abigail took it out of politeness. “Thank you.”
“You don’t have to. I mean, didn’t you come here because you helped me, and got into an argument with Diarmuid?” Mick asked.
Abigail shook her head. “No, it’s our own problem-it has nothing to do with you.”
“Then may I ask the reason?”
Abigail stayed silent, clearly reluctant to tell him.
Knowing that he had stepped out of line, Mick said, “Alright, just pretend I never I never asked.”
Abigail smiled faintly then, but she clearly appeared enfeebled-she was tired and wanted to rest
Mick saw that, and got to his feet. “I’ll check on you again next time.”
Abigail walked him out.
Time passed in the blink of an eye, and Abigail had now been abroad for six months, getting used to the climate and the work hours.
Things went smoothly at work too-she had been singled out and even harassed, but her enthusiasm and diligence for medicine slowly earned everyone’s approval.
While she worked, she started to further study Minervese. She had been fluent before, but she still needed to learn more especially if she wanted to apply it with medical jargon as well.
In truth, she knew more than a handful of foreign languages. She was forced to study it even if she did not want to and had no time for it, but Lionel Bernstein had told her to do it or he would stop her from taking her exams for a medical license.
Lionel had always wanted her to marry into the Althoff family. From his perspective, a woman who could win a man’s heart had to be learned in the arts, though knowledge and socializing skills would also play a vital role in the case of a more successful man, since any woman would be an embodiment of her husband’s prestige.
Lionel certainly had vision, rating his own daughter highly from the start and insisting that she win Diarmuid over.
He would have been pleased if he was not dead, since his plan worked-he just did not live to see Diarmuid fall for the daughter he groomed with such painstaking effort.
It was very late and Abigail was still in front of her desk, which was piling with stacks of books and notes.
Her hair was loose, hiding her gruesome burn scars so that she only showed the flawless side of her face.
There was a tender look in her eyes beneath the faint glow of the table light, and she put down her pen to put a hand on her bulging belly, while she stared at her calendar.
It would soon be Tommy’s birthday, and her clock jingled just then, indicating that it was now 12 AM.
She constantly missed her baby and thought of him often, and the arrival of his birthday made him miss her further.
She then picked up her phone, her fingers clenching over it fora moment as she hesitated, but made the call!
Abigail’s call was soon answered. “Is there a problem? Why are you calling at this hour? It must be midnight over there…”
Abigail had been keeping contact with Stephen over the last six months, and he occasionally took photos or videos of Tommy there.
In fact, he recently sent her a video of Tommy, but she was now calling him again, intent on asking for more favors despite it although she would be asking too much.
But it was Tommy’s birthday.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Stephen noticed her silence. “Like I said, I’ve already gathered the stuff you left on your desk.”
Stephen did not dare to tell her the truth. Knowing that she would get worried, he decided to just tell her that she took everything- she was not going to find out from over there anyway.
Abigail said softly, “I know, but that’s not what I’m asking about. It’s my son’s birthday…”
“It took me over a month to get that video for you,” Stephen told her.
It was certainly difficult for Stephen to reach Tommy, what with Sheryl and Mrs. Watson watching, as well as the bodyguards keeping watch.
“I won’t impose, then,” Abigail said, understanding his point.
Stephen realized then that he was a little harsh, and sighed. “Sorry, I’ve just retired and I’m not in a pleasant mood. I shouldn’t have thought like that.”
“But you’re not at the age to retire,” Abigail pointed out
Stephen wondered if he could tell her right then that it was all because of Diarmuid.
All the merit and honors he earned over his career was all gone now.
The man was certainly as ruthless as he was unforgiving!
Abigail seemed to pick up on what he was thinking, too. “Is Diarmuid harassing you because he found out?”
“No, I’m just getting tired. I could use the time to spend with my family too, ” Stephen said, but even the look on his face said otherwise.
He appeared haggard, since his life’s work was gone in a snap.
Nonetheless, he changed the subject and asked, “How are things over there?”
“Yeah, I’m fine, and work is going smoothly too,” Abigail replied. “I’ll have my papers published next month too.”
‘TH make sure to read it,” Stephen told her-he had been keeping a constant eye on her.
It had just been six months, but Abigail had improved and enriched her knowledge so much he could barely keep up.
After a few more exchanges, they hung up, and Abigail lay in bed, watching the video Stpehen sent her repeatedly.
It was a video of Diarmuid alighting from a car with Tommy in his arms.
It was just a split second, but the video clearly captured Diarmuid’s towering figure and his chiseled face.
He was still his mesmerizing self in the months they had been apart.
Tommy was content with staying in his arms, and was grinning broadly.
Abigail smiled as well-her baby was doing fine with Diarmuid.
Putting away her phone, she looked outside the window as faint moonlight spilled in, illuminating her face.
The clear illumination over the wrinkled, scarlet burn scars on her right cheek was exceedingly gruesome.
As she slowly closed her eyes, a crystalline tear trickled off the corner of her eye and disappeared in her pillow.
Mick arrived when Abigail was going to leave her apartment in the morning, asking, “Would you be home early?”
She had been spending most of her time at work in Mead Clinic and always returned home late.
In fact, he did not get to see her much at all.
Abigail did not answer directly, and instead asked, “What is it?”
Mick hesitated before saying, “I have a favor to ask-just a month ago, I managed to secure seats for myself and Erin at an auction, but she had to go abroad and I don’t have a suitable replacement…
“Can’t you go alone?” Abigail asked.
“No,” Mick said. “I wont be allowed in if I go alone.”
“I might be busy…”
“I know you’re not. You just don’t want to leave the house,” Mick said, exposing her right then.
Abigail took off her mask then, revealing the burn scars on her face and held his gaze. “Don’t think I’m the right person for that.”
“You can wear a mask,” Mick pointed out.
Seeing that he was insistent, Abigail had to agree to it. “Alright.”
Mick smiled then. “I’ll pick you up after work when it’s time.”
“Okay.”
The day passed quickly and Mick was already waiting when Abigail stepped out of the hospital.
He lowered the window and beckoned. “Over here.”
Abigail got in and they headed straight to the auction center.
In the car, Mick told Abigail, “There’s going to be a lot of expensive antiques, jewelry, and other items at the auction. Tell me if you see anything you like, and I’ll get it for you.”
He then added, “I don’t mean anything by this. You were Yvaine’s daughter- in-law, and I already think of you as my daughter.”
Abigail smiled. “I’m not really interested in all that stuff.”
“I see… Actually, I collect old books and antiques, and Yvaine used to attend these auctions with me…”
Misery showed on his face once he mentioned Yvaine, and Abigail changed the subject. “Are the people attending rich?”
Average Joes would not be able to afford anything from such auctions after all.
“Yeah,” Mick replied.
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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