Diarmuid found it fishy too, while she continued, “The examination after he woke up proved that he was healthy. Ray Hall was watching even though I did not personally examine him, and I trust Ray’s character and competence.”
Still staring at her, Diarmuid asked, “Are you saying that he died, but not because of the surgery?”
“Yes,” Abigail replied, and voiced her suspicion, “Dennis woke up—and that means his body was adapting to the artificial heart. I could tell that he was in good spirits as well. The sudden death is simply abnormal.”
“I’ll have someone look into it—”
“It’s alright,” Abigail said, cutting Diarmuid short. “I have an idea.”
She did not tell him that she asked Lulu to examine Dennis’s border since Zachary was there.
Diarmuid saw her hesitation in speaking, and he merely gave her a long look but stayed silent.
“Abigail, if there’s anything I can help with, just ask,” Zachary said just then.
Diarmuid rolled his eyes at him, but Zachary pretended that he did not see it.
He knew Diarmuid hated him calling Abigail by her first name, but he insisted on doing it the more it upset Diarmuid.
“I’m thirsty, Abigail. Could I have a glass of water?”
Abigail was just rising to her feet when Diarmuid caught her wrist while leveling a hostile look at Zachary. “Get it yourself.”
Zachary shrugged. “I don’t know where to get water here.”
Diarmuid snapped, “Then go home. Drink your own water.”
While Zachary was left speechless, Abigail glanced between them.
What had gotten into them?
“Are you two having a fight?” she asked.
Zachary grinned. “No, it’s just your darling being petty.”
Abigail was confused. “Why is he being petty?”
She turned to Diarmuid with a look as if to ask: what are you being petty about?
Zachary then explained, “He doesn’t like me calling you ‘Abigail’. I mean, we both go way back, and I’ve always been calling you ‘Abigail’. But he’s so petty he forbade me from doing it—please reason with him if you have the time to do so.”
Abigail was utterly speechless.
These two grown men could not have been more childish!
Meanwhile, Zachary appeared gleeful. “Don’t you think he’s petty, just like a child?”
Abigail stared at him then. “There’s something I’ve been keeping from you, Zachary.”
Zachary was still smiling. “What is it?”
“Lulu got married,” Abigail replied.
Zachary’s smile stiffened even before she was finished, and it was hilarious to see it left freezing on his face.
Naturally, it was Diarmuid’s turn to tease him. “You shouldn’t be petty. She’s married already, right?”
Zachary said nothing, but sprang to his feet in disbelief, staring at Abigail as he snapped, “You’re really taking after him, aren’t you? It’s like you won’t suffer being on the backfoot. Did you have to lie like that to upset me?”
“I’m not lying,” Abigail replied seriously. “It’s true.”
She certainly thought things through before she told him about Lulu’s marriage—she was hoping he would get over her and find someone better instead of continuing to wait.
As Zachary continued to stare at her, he saw that she did not flinch, just as her determined gaze told her that she was serious and not joking around.
Even so, he still had a hard time taking in the news.
He wanted to appear understanding, but he could not even smile.
Dropping back on the couch, he laughed self-deprecatingly. “I thought I’d be a winner with Ricky Bernstein gone. It turns out that I’m still a loser.”
Abigail said, “Be more open-minded about this.”
Zachary laughed coolly. “Would you be, if Diarmuid had another woman?”
Abigail was speechless—she was playing nice, and he snapped at her anyway?
Locking arms with Diarmuid as she watched Zachary, she asked, “Do you know why I’m telling you this now?”
Zachary returned her gaze. “Because I was calling Diarmuid petty? That’s why you’re deliberately upsetting me?”
Abigail nodded. “You’re so smart.”
Zacahry was speechless for a moment, and he laughed despite himself. “You… You two are really Bonnie and Clyde! Criminals, both of you!”
Abigail shrugged. “Just don’t mock my man. I couldn’t be happier if he’s jealous over me.”
“I quit,” Zachary snapped, knowing that he would have to suffer more displays of affection if he stayed.
As he got up and left, Abigail asked, “Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.”
Zachary waved her off. “You shouldn’t keep flaunting your affection, you know—that’s a death flag.”
“I know,” she replied.
She was going to withdraw her hands after Zachary left, but Diarmuid stopped her. “Stay.”
“We’re home,” Abigail said quietly.
Diarmuid lifted her chin. “I like it when you snap at people.”
Abigail blinked, her curved gaze flickering like a crystalline surface. “Were you jealous of Zachary? Was that why you forbade him from calling me Abigail?”
“Are you kidding? Me, jealous? That’s the behavior of men who lack confidence,” Diarmuid said, straightening his back, puffing his chiseled figure with pride.
Abigail was speechless.
As she rose to her feet, he asked, “Where are you going?”
“Going on a date with another man,” she smiled faintly. “You won’t get jealous, after all.”
Diarmuid was at once speechless, helpless, and amused. “You’re really not taking anything lying down, huh?”
Abigail smiled. “I got that from you. Didn’t you hear Zachary? I’m taking after you.”
“Fine.” Diarmuid gave in, tugging at the hem of her blouse. “I am jealous.”
Abigail sat down then, while he brushed her sidelocks with his clean, strong fingers.
“Stay home over the next few days, Abigail,” he said in his deep voice solemnly.
Abigail turned toward him. “Are you worried that Neil Turner would try to hurt me again? I have to show up at court if he maintains his lawsuit, not to mention that our priority right now is to find out what killed Dennis.”
“I’ll get a forensic doctor—”
“I’ve already asked Lulu.” Abigail cut him short.
Diarmuid stared calmly at her for several heartbeats. “She agreed to it?”
Abigail nodded. “Yeah.”
Diarmuid thought about it, and he then said, “Alright, let’s go with that. The cause of death is priority.”
They would come up with solutions afterwards, although Diarmuid had every intention to keep throwing money at Neil until he was satisfied.
But since Abigail had a plan, he could go with hers for now.
Abigail got to her feet just then. “I have to clean a guest room for Lulu when she comes over.”
“Mrs. Watson can do it,” Diarmuid told her.
Abigail shook her head. “Mrs. Watson is cooking dinner. I can do it—oh, and spend some time with Tommy and our baby. It’s rare for you to come home early.”
“Okay,” Diarmuid said softly.
…
Later in the evening, Abigail got a call from Lulu, saying, “I’m around twenty minutes out.”
“I was just about to head out,” Abigail replied.
In fact, she had been ready all this while—she left the hilltop mansion once she got Lulu’s call, and she had Eagle drive her to the train station.
She waited at the exit when she arrived, and Lulu was stepping out within minutes in a petaled dress and a pale jacket.
However, it did not hide her bulging stomach.
Ireene’s eyes narrowed, while Lulu smiled in greeting when she saw her. “Abigail.”
Abigail walked up to greet her. “The journey must be tiring?”
“It’s alright,” Lulu replied.
Unsure of how she should thank Lulu just then, she simply gave her a bear hug.
Moments later, Lulu pulled away and said, “I have someone to introduce to you.”
Abigail turned toward where she was gesturing, and saw the man standing behind Lulu, who was carrying their luggage.
He smiled at Abigail as Lulu introduced, “This is Martin York, my husband.”
Abigail offered him a handshake. “Hello.”
“Hello,” Martin said as he took it.
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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