“The baby… is Zachary’s,” Lulu said flatly.
There was no emotion in her voice even as he mentioned that name.
She had composure too, because she was over him.
However, Abigail was assuredly surprised by the answer.
Lulu’s baby was Zachary’s?!
Suddenly, she realized that she should have realized that sooner.
After all, Martin had not known Lulu for that long, and there was no way Lulu would get pregnant with a man’s child so soon after meeting him.
However, Abigail suddenly said, “Martin is a good man.”
He has certainly been good to Lulu, even accepting her child.
One can imagine how understanding, forgiving, and kind a man he was from that alone.
Lulu certainly thought so too—she agreed that Martin was a man that any woman could entrust their life to.
Looking at Abigail, Lulu said, “It seems that I must treat him better from now on.”
Abigail smiled. A man like Martin was certainly worth cherishing.
She then asked, “Can I meet Ricky?”
She was not supposed to stay here for that long—she could be at ease since Martin and Lulu were fine.
However, she had no idea if she would have the time to return after this, and she therefore should visit Ricky while she was here.
After Lulu helped Abigail contact Johnny, he brought Abigail to meet Ricky.
Abigail almost could not recognize her stepbrother.
Cuffed on the wrist, he was now scrawny and very tanned, while his face was bruised and his forehead bandaged.
Unable to find any trace of Ricky’s former self from the man before her, Abigail felt her eyes turning moist.
She could not help blaming herself for not going after him back then, for he might not have gone astray!
“Hello, sister.”
Nonetheless, Ricky was looking at her with a twinkle in his eyes, unlike his melancholic self right after he was arrested.
Smiling, he said, “You don’t have to feel sad for me, y’know.”
As Abigail said nothing, Ricky asked, “Is he alright?”
When Martin took the bullet for him, Ricky realized that Martin was a real man, and he earnestly acknowledged Martin right then.
Lulu would definitely be protected if she stayed with Martin.
However, Abigail did not quite realize who Ricky was referring to, and she said, “Lulu and her daughter are both fine.”
“I meant Officer York,” Ricky told her.
Abigail was taken aback, but she quickly replied, “He’s fine too.”
“I see. That’s good.” Ricky first heaved a sigh of relief before then sighing again emotionally. “Lulu has a daughter now, huh? That’s great.”
“Is there anything I can do for you?” Abigail asked.
“You don’t have to worry about me, Abigail. I’m fine,” he replied. “Lulu and Officer York had already done all they could to earn me leniency from the courts. Even so, I have made mistakes, and I must now pay the price.”
Abigail stared at him just then, realizing that he had really matured.
Nodding, she said, “I can’t stay for long, so…”
“I know.” Ricky grinned. “Just go. Don’t worry about me.”
Abigail lowered her head and pretended to straighten her hair when she was actually wiping her eyes.
“I’ll come to visit when I can,” she said and left.
Leaving the precinct just then, Abigail booked two tickets back to Cloud City.
The other was for Brian Adams, who was still in New Kent.
Abigail would return to Cloud City with him, while Stan awaited.
She visited Lulu again and told the latter she was leaving before she went, and Lulu did not ask her to stay.
But despite Abigail pretending that she was fine, Lulu could tell that something was weighing on Abigail’s mind that she was not telling Lulu.
Abigail was still moody on the flight to Cloud City, and it was written all over her face.
“What’s wrong?” Brian asked. “You’re scowling although the patient was saved.”
Abigail came to her senses right then, and she sighed even as she glanced at him. “I’m thinking about something else.”
“Oh,” Brian replied, and he did not bother her again.
Abigail then said, “Thank you for your help.”
“Oh, it’s fine,” Brian replied—it was actually not a big deal, and Abigail would not have asked him if it was not that important.
Moreover, he owed her—he would never have become director of Hotmesh Research if not for her, since he had always been a loner who did not have influences to call upon.
He was convinced that he would not amount to much in life, and he was surprised to have such an opportunity appear in his life.
“Are things going well at work?” Abigail asked—things certainly had been rough for her when she first became director herself.
Brian knew that too. He said, “Well, they’re more accepting of me since I’m old and I’ve been working there for a while. Things were a little different for you, with the rest having trouble accepting you since you’re too young and since you were airdropped to the post of director.”
Abigail thought about it, and she had to agree.
Soon, their flight landed in Cloud City, and Stan was waiting for Abigail at the airport while she said goodbye to Brian.
As they got into the car and left, Abigail was leaning against the window, her eyelids heavy. “Where are we going now?”
“To a hotel. You need some rest,” Stan replied.
Abigail looked up at him from the rearview mirror. “James asked you to come with me to Twinrise, didn’t he?”
“That can wait. We’ll be staying a day anyway, and you need some rest after traveling back and forth —”
“I’m not tired,” Abigail said. “I can’t sleep even when I lie down, so let’s not waste our time and get this done, then return to Franconia.”
Moreover, there was still no word on Diarmuid, while her sons were still there—how could she feel at ease?
“Okay,” Stan replied, stopping the car in front of the hotel. “Your clothes and anything else you would need are prepared in your room.”
Her clothes were certainly too wrinkled to be presentable.
Abigail alighted, inadvertently using her wounded foot, and it hurt a lot.
She remembered the spray ointment Eagle gave her and took it out of her bag, spraying some on the swollen part of her leg.
It had a cooling sensation and a strong scent, but Abigail felt it take effect soon enough, and her foot did not hurt so much.
She then took a shower at her hotel room,
After that, she changed into fresh clothes and put on heavy makeup to hide her pallid face.
Bzzt—
Her phone vibrated on her desk, and she picked it up while applying lipstick with her other hand.
However, after she glanced at the text, she froze.
She did not tap on it, because the notification alone shocked her.
Her fingers were shaking as she tapped on the whole text, and she sprang to her feet.
“Stan!” she called out once she stepped outside, though Stan was already waiting for her outside.
“You’re ready? Let’s go—”
Stan trailed off when he saw that Abigail was still holding her lipstick and wearing her slippers.
Even her hair was still wet—a clear sign that she was not prepared.
On the other hand, Abigail’s throat seemed to clench from excitement, as if she suddenly could not speak.
It had not been that long, but her face was red from pent-up emotion.
She simply raised her hand, holding up her phone screen in front of Stan. “Look!”
Stan lowered his eyes to the screen and saw the text…
[Diarmuid Althoff is in my custody. Return Smartville Tech to me if you want him released. Based on my understanding, you’re his wife. That’s why I’m messaging you.]
Stan frowned after reading the message, and he whipped out his phone. “I’m calling James.”
They had to discuss this.
Abigail, however, stopped him and asked, “Is Smartville Tech that company you mentioned before? The one bought below its market value?”
“Yes.” Stan nodded.
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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