Chapter 255 – Second Chance Love of the Missing Groom Novel

Abigail had changed her name for work reasons, though she had every reason to hide her real name too.

However, as there was not much other information, Diarmuid was left frowning. “Is this all you have?”

“I’m afraid that’s all I’ve got on her,” Mark admitted. “But I assure you, if you agree to this investment. I’ll personally travel to meet Dr. Tanner. If she has even the slightest conscience, I’m sure she’d agree to return to our country to continue her research.”

‘Not interested.” Diarmuid refused him right away. “Debbie, get him out of here.”

It was obvious that he did not want to waste his breath or time on a project he had no hopes for.

Refusing to give up, Mark blurted right then, “Mr. Althoff, what would Ms. Bernstein do if she were still here?”

Diarmuid’s face fell immediately and he leveled a dark look at Mark. His eyes seemed placid, but he was really just a fraction away from throwing a fit.

Naturally, Mark regretted his own words right after he spoke-Abigail was a sensitive topic around Diarmuid, and the mere mention of her would invoke his wrath.

“Pretend I never said nothing,” he said, and hurried out of the office, wiping the sweat off his brow.

He wanted to mention Abigail because she was a doctor, so that Diarmuid would agree to his proposal for her sake.

Instead, it was as if he had poked the hornet’s nest.

Be that as it may, Mark had no idea that Diarmuid had lost his inner peace because of what he said.

He could not sleep that night, and medication did not work.

He eventually ended up taking up to six pills, and he must have developed an immunity to it-he did not even start to feel drowsy.

He simply grabbed a handful without knowing how many pills it was, and washed it down with water.

He did not care even though it was going to hurt his health.

As he lay down again, he remembered what Mark said.

If Abigail were still here, would she really hope he invested in that project? She did have a messiah complex-that was why she chose to be a doctor. There was no question that she would want him to invest in that project

Picking up his phone, he called James. “Talk to Mark Wickers-tell him to put together a viable proposal and submit it tomorrow.”

“Yes, sir.” James said from the other end, and Diarmuid hung up.

The drugs were not helping him sleep at all, so he turned to look outside the window.

The moonlight was gently sprinkling through the curtains and gently grazing his face.

His chiseled face appeared even more defined and alluring under the glow, but the pain of his longing was clear in his eyes.

After Mark got the call, he immediately did his research on the development of fully artificial arts and put together a decent proposal.

He then traveled to Minerva, so that he had everything he needed to persuade Diarmuid with a single stroke.

Since he was a pharmacist, he had a couple of associates who could help him arrange a meeting with Jane Tanner.

At Mead Clinic, Abigail was doing her research in a lab.

Although their goal was to develop a fully artificial heart, it was not literally fully artificial, with the heart being actually

irreplaceable, and its structure and function of respective parts complex and atypical.

As such, the objective was instead to develop parts that could take the place of defective parts of a patient’s heart, so that they could treat any heart condition.

At the moment, they were searching for a substitute for capillaries that suffered blockages, just over two micrometers wide.

Since it was otherwise invisible to a human eye unless viewed through microscopes, it was difficult to keep the flow within a channel so narrow, making any efforts to replace it difficult.

However, they were not exactly clueless since they were using tree leaves as inspiration-the spider web-like structure of veins in leaves were just like capillaries under the microscope.

“How about dinner tonight?” Jeff Cartman said just then.

He was born in Zidonia, but was raised and educated in Minerva, and had been working at Mead Clinic for six years. He had garnered much accolades in that time as well, but he and Abigail still considered fellow countrymen, and were quite close although

Abigail was basically on good terms with everyone else.

“Sure.” Abigail nodded.

“Then, I’ll book a place,” Jeff said with a grin.

Later, when Abigail arrived at the designated spot, Jeff was already there.

However, Abigail stopped at the doorway when she saw Mark sitting next to Jeff.

What was Mark doing here?!

That was when Abigail remembered something else: she might have been close with Jeff, but he had never bought her dinner before!

That was why she thought something was weird about this… he had a reason for inviting her.

She turned and left the diner right then, while texting Jeff: [Sorry, something came up and I couldn’t make it.]

She strolled along the bustling foreign streets in her beige dress and loose jacket. She had a scarf pulled up to her face to cover her burned cheek and neck.

She folded her arms as she slowly strolled along the streets-it was a rarity for her to be idling like today, and she even had time to admire the sights.

“Alright, I got it.“ Harvey was on the phone even as he strode along the street, when he knocked into someone.

He turned around, about to apologize, but saw that it was the ugly woman from the auction.

This time, she only covered her burned cheek, only revealing her brows, eyes and forehead.

It reminded him so much of someone…

As he spaced out, Abigail quickly hid her face, lowered her head and walked away.

Harvey came to his senses right then and dashed up to her. “Hey, where do you think you’re going, ugly? I won’t hurt you.“

Abigail kept her head down and did not respond, so Harvey caught her by the wrist. “You ruined my show last time and you never paid me. Don’t think you’re getting away

“

As he pulled her firmly toward himself, there was a breeze and Abigail’s scarf slipped down to her shoulders, baring her burned cheek.

Harvey flinched-the burn scar was utterly gruesome, and beautiful was the last word to describe it.

Abigail flung off her hand and quickly covered her face again, but Harvey still cut off her escape.

“Look, I mean no harm, and it’s always nice to meet a fellow countryman abroad. I mean, you’ve seen me speaking Minerverse to everyone else around here, but I get to stick to Zidonian with you. Don’t you think this is a fateful encounter?”

Abigail’s eyes widened-it was certainly true, they had spoken in Zidonian the instant they met at the auction hall.

She had certainly been too nervous and forgot her situation.

It seems that silence was the best policy now.

Waving him off dismissively to show that she did not want to speak with him at all, she hurried off, leaving Harvey behind, standing there as he stared after her.

He must be seeing things.

That ugly woman might well be a different being compared to Abigail Bernstein, and there was no way they had anything to do with each other either.

He shook his head to throw away those messy thoughts right then.

Abigail arrived at Mead Clinic the next morning, and she put on her employee ID, face mask, and lab coat as she usually did.

As she stepped out of the dressing room with her hands in her pocket, Jeff called out to her.

“Can I have a word?’ He seemed to have been waiting for her a while now.

As Abigail walked up to him, he asked, “What kept you last night?”

Abigail did not know how to answer-she surely could not say that she knew Mark, and that she did not enter that diner because she did not want him to see her?

“Actually, I was going to introduce you to another Zidonian, and since we’re all fellow countrymen, I was eager to help. He expressed an interest in the fully artificial heart we’re developing, and you know how important the role Mead Clinic plays in this process. Once they succeed, they might create a monopoly, and every other country would be placed at a disadvantage.”

“I know.” She certainly understood where he was coming from.

Naturally, Jeff frowned.

“Then what were you thinking? The man also told me that if you returned to Zidonia to help him with the project, you may ask for anything you need since he has Remy’s backing. I have only a rough idea, but I remember that while Remy tends to be subtle, they have investments in enterprises across the globe. You have nothing to worry about once you have their support, and everyone here knows that you’re good, but if you keep working here, your accomplishments would only be attributed to Minerva.”

Abigail had every reason not to return to Zidonia, and the mention of Remy only strengthened her resolve.

“Then why don’t you go?” she asked in return.

Jeff gave her an incredulous look. “I was born and raised here in Minerva, even though I was educated in Zidonia. We’ve already assimilated here and have no reason to return.”

“On the other hand, you’re different. You only joined Mead Clinic recently, and weren’t you harassed a little when you first came?

They only changed their opinions of you because of your ability. Sure, your Minerverse and your skills would allow you to flourish here, but they are just using you- you’re ultimately Zidonian, and don’t you want to save more Zidonians?”

“All lives are equal,” Abigail replied.

Jeff breathed a sigh in exasperation. “Yes, but can’t you think about this?’

Abigail’s hands clenched into fists in her pockets. “No. I’m never going back.’

Naturally, Jeff could not do anything about that.

While there was no doubt that his words reached Abigail, she had no choice.

Needing time to calm down, she stepped out of the room when a familiar face appeared before her.

Her eyes widened in surprise and she quickly turned to leave, but she was caught!

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