“You’re heavy…” she murmured as she pushed at him again.
Diarmuid kissed her neck and started to undress her, without forgetting to answer, “Nope.”
His breathing was soon short and rushed, and Abigail forgot herself amid the sounds of his breathing.
There was no telling they had been at it, but she was left so tired she did not want to move, while all her limbs were sore.
However, Diarmuid remained vigorous and persisted.
“I still have work tomorrow… Umph…”
He kissed her before she could finish, cutting her off mid-sentence.
It was after a long while that she was finally willing to release her, and she lay limply under the blanket, rasping, “Get me my pills.”
Diarmuid opened the drawer, but saw that the pill bottle inside was empty.
He poured her a glass of water and said, “You finished the pills.”
Abigail remembered then that she took the last one a while ago.
Diarmuid straightened her disheveled hair just then and asked, “Won’t there be side effects if you take too many?”
“It’s fine. There aren’t many side effects,” she closed her eyes. “I’ll get another box next time.”
With that, she returned to sleep.
Diarmuid was going to ask if there were other methods or he could take some medication instead, but he did not wake her since she looked very tired.
Pulling the blanket over her, he went to take a shower.
…
Unsurprisingly, Abigail woke up late the next morning.
It was nine when she opened her eyes, and Diarmuid had already left when she hurried downstairs.
Everyone already had breakfast, and Tommy was playing in the living room.
Seeing her arrive, Mrs. Watson asked, “Would you like to eat now, Mrs. Althoff? I’ve been keeping your portion heated for you.”
Abigail waved her off. “No, thanks.”
Nonetheless, Sheryl stopped her. “Eat—even if you’re busy. Whatever it is, it can wait.”
While Abigail paused awkwardly, Mrs. Watson chimed in, “That’s right. Your health is very important— you should listen to your mother.”
Seeing both elders were so concerned for her, Abigail hence turned around and headed to the dining room to eat.
While Mrs. Watson brought her foot, she called Finn and started to stuff food into her mouth.
Sheryl came over and snatched the phone out of her hands, hanging up the call. “Eat properly.”
Abigail was left silent, but not daring to retort, she simply kept her head down and ate.
Mrs. Watson stood nearby and smiled. “Mr. Althoff would not dare to discipline you, so it’s good your mother is around or you’d really be unruly.”
Abigail looked up at Mrs. Watson as she chewed. “You’re with them too, huh?”
“We just want what’s best for you,” Mrs. Watson said.
“That’s right,” Sheryl echoed.
Abigail hung her head—fine, she lost this one.
Sheryl only allowed her out of the door after she tamely finished her food, and threw her phone at her when she asked for it.
“I’ll be home early today,” she said.
Sheryl snorted. “Do whatever you like.”
Abigail was certainly aware that she was late because of work, but Sheryl was more concerned about her health than her work.
Once out of the house, she got in her car and called Diarmuid while Eagle drove.
Soon, he answered with his usual deep voice, “You’re up?”
“Why didn’t you wake me?” Abigail asked a little grumpily.
Diarmuid sounded amused. “It’s your own fault for sleeping so soundly.”
“That’s because you—”
Realizing then that she was still in front of Eagle, she stopped herself in time!
Hearing a quiet chuckle from the other end, Abigail’s nails dug into her lap. “You better come home early tonight.”
“Why?” Diarmuid asked.
“Payback.”
With that, she hung up.
Diarmuid stared at his phone screen after she did, raising his brow and grinning broadly!
…
James arrived at Minerva, resting for the night at a hotel since he arrived late.
He was going to see Erin in the morning, and was not tired despite the long flight. In fact, he was spirited, perhaps because he would get to see Erin soon.
He followed Diarmuid’s advice to meet her directly instead of sneaking around, and hence waited for her at her workplace.
Erin was going to work when she saw James standing outside her office building, and she did not hesitate to turn and leave.
However, James saw her and promptly gave chase!
James called out to Erin. “Hey.”
It would have been better if he did not, as she quickened her pace when he did.
James quickly ran after her and caught her wrist. “Why are you running?”
His tone was relaxed and did not convey his frustration.
However, Erin did not feel the same.
She did not like James’s touch because she considered herself filthy.
“Let me go!” she snapped, dead serious.
James refused. “I came all the way to see you. You’d hurt me if you still hid from me,”
He kept his tone as mild as possible so that Erin could let go of the past. “How about a movie tonight, seeing that I’m being sincere?”
Unmoved, Erin snapped coolly, “Let me go!”
James did not and kept smiling. “Whatever you say.”
Unable to shake him off, Erin was almost hysterical, and leaned down to bite his hand so that he would let go.
He did not, even though she could taste blood.
In fact, he was looking at her determinedly. “That brings me back.”
Erin then remembered her scuffle with James soon after they met, and it felt like ages ago!
However, she was much more rational these days, and certainly not as mean.
Looking into James’s eyes, she said, “I’m not who I was…”
“You’ve never changed in my heart, and that will never change.” James smiled, and started to gather into her arms.
Erin turned pale right then. “Don’t touch me!”
She was so hysterical that James felt jolted, and he released her in reflex.
Her emotional outburst drew many stares, and unable to calm down, she started to run again.
James quickly gave chase when he came to his senses, but kept his distance this time without closing in recklessly.
He was relieved to see her run back to home.
…
As Erin ran back to her room, Mick Gooding saw her abrupt return and asked, “What’s wrong?”
She was supposed to be at work, and it was not a public holiday…
Worried, he knocked on Erin’s door and asked, “What’s wrong, Erin?”
Erin wiped her tears as she replied, “I’m fine, Dad.”
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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