Abigail tried to reason with Ricky, convinced that someone was using him in his grieving state, since it was his mother they were talking about!
However, while Ricky could not refute Abigail’s words, he shook his head. “It has to be Diarmuid.”
Abigail was left fuming. How could he be so stubborn?
Still, she kept trying to persuade him. “It’s obvious someone is using you against Diarmuid, Ricky! Don’t be stupid!”
Ricky was actually a little shaken then, since he could not refute what both Abigail and Diarmuid said.
“Ricky, I promise we’ll find out who killed Samantha, and bring them to justice,” Abigail promised. That left Ricky in confusion.
He had been in so much grief when he found out that Samantha was dead. When he received that video showing Diarmuid at the location where she died, along with the text claiming that he had reason to do it, his earlier suspicion and anger toward Diarmuid for beating him up all erupted at once, and he easily bought the lie.
Now that he calmed down and thought about it, it appeared that someone had been framing it so that he would think that way, and then used him like a tool.
Like Abigail had said, they could have hurt his mother in prison if they wanted to, instead of extracting her out of prison first. Doing it otherwise was illogical, though there was only one reason for doing that-the culprit wanted to utilize his mother’s control over him.
Still, Ricky did not give in right away despite coming to a realization.
In fact, he was even more staunch now, and growled viciously, “I don’t believe you. Don’t try to brainwash me-I won’t fall for it. I know very well that you’re different from my mom, Abigail, but you’re not so saintly that you wouldn’t hold a grudge after all my mother did to you. That’s why I’m sure you had a hand in my mother’s death, and I’ll have my revenge!”
As he lifted his finger over his detonator, looking like he would press it soon, Abigail’s eyes widened in disbelief-not because Ricky would blow her up, but instead, because he never trusted her.
“Ricky-”
“Stop! I don’t want to hear any of that!” Ricky snapped, cutting her short while turning toward Diarmuid. “You love her, don’t you?”
Abigail turned toward Diarmuid right then, as if Ricky’s words were odd for the situation… or because she had never expected him to say that.
Diarmuid was staring at her.
Even as Abigail and Diarmuid’s eyes met, Ricky asked, “Why aren’t you answering? Hah! You don’t love her, do you? After all, a man like you can have any woman you want-why would you even get worked up over one woman? If anything, you’re keeping my sister… No, you’re keeping Abigail just because she gave you a child!”
Abigail never considered that, and when Ricky suddenly said it, it somehow made sense.
Was Diarmuid being nice because he loved her, or because of Tommy?
Ricky’s words certainly affected her, and if Ricky knew that, someone as smart as Diarmuid should know that as well.
That was when Diarmuid started walking toward her.
“Don’t come!” Abigail exclaimed “The bomb!”
Diarmuid did not seem to hear her, however, and kept walking.
Abigail blinked even as she watched him, blinking back tears as she smiled faintly and sobbed, “I’m sure you love me.
“You’re really stupid, aren’t you? He hasn’t said a thing and you believe him already?” Ricky exclaimed with a tone that said ‘I’m-doing-this-for-you.” “It’s only proof that he loves you if he dares to die with you!”
Abigail turned toward Ricky. “Wait, what are you doing?”
“Testing him, of course.” Ricky said, looking at Diarmuid. “If I press this button and he still doesn’t move, I’ll believe that he isn’t responsible for my mother’s death, and that he truly loves you.”
With that, he pressed the button.
The timer on Abigail started to count down in turn.
60, 59, 58, 57… They did not even have a minute!
Abigail screamed at Diarmuid, “Run! You have to run!”
She did not need Diarmuid to prove his love like this-if they both died, Tommy would be orphaned.
And would Tommy survive, with all the enemies Diarmuid had?
The answer was almost certainly no, but if Diarmuid survived, he would be able to protect Tommy.
Nonetheless, Diarmuid merely smiled at her with a mysterious expression, leaving her speechless.
Was he crazy, laughing at a moment like this?!
“Think about Tommy oof-”
Diarmuid had leaned in to kiss her before she finished, while the timer kept ticking away.
45,44, 43…
“I know you’d be afraid if you were alone. So I’m staying with you-so you won’t be afraid,” Diarmuid whispered beside her ear then..
Abigail’s heart skipped a beat, her eyes widening even as her lips trembled.
“You’ll die…” she rasped.
Diarmuid simply embraced her in turn. “I’m so happy to have met you, Abigail.”
Abigail’s throat turned parched and scratchy right then.
She was afraid, but with him staying with her, having someone face death with her did not make it that horrifying.
At that very moment, she believed that Diarmuid loved her.
“I’m sorry,” she said, resting her head against his chest. “I shouldn’t have doubted you.”
Diarmuid put his wide palm over her cheek, stroking it gently.
His hand was firm and warm, and calmed Abigail’s heart as if magically.
The bomb continued to tick away.
10, 9, 8…
3, 2, 1.
Abigail closed her eyes then, feeling no conflict or fear-because Diarmuid was with her.
And yet, seconds passed… but nothing happened.
What?!
Abigail opened her eyes to find the timer on the bomb staying at zero without detonating.
Just as she was puzzled, Ricky spoke.
“Sorry, sis. I was just using you to force Diarmuid into admitting that he killed my mom, and give that evidence to the police to arrest him. But I had no intention of hurting you-that’s why it won’t blow up.”
Abigail could hardly believe it. “Ricky…”
“I accept what you told me, and I understand now-if Diarmuid wanted Mom dead, he didn’t have to get her out of prison to do it. It’s clearly someone who was using me,” he said, as he walked up to untie her. “Are you angry at me?”
“No.” Abigail shook her head.
After all, her heart was filled with unexpected warmth-Ricky was in grief after Samantha’s death, and it was understandable that he resorted to extreme actions.
Even so, he used a dud bomb, making it clear that he did consider her family and did not want to hurt her.
Hugging him, she said, “Even though our father left us, you’re my brother, Ricky. We’ll definitely find the one who killed your mother and put her to justice.”
Ricky nodded. “Thank you… But don’t you hate me?”
Abigail did not, since any grievance she held against Samantha died with the latter. There was no way she would obsess over the past, and letting go of it was being kind to herself as well.
Moreover, Ricky and her were family, and she had no cause to hurt the living over the departed.
“Why would I? You’re in grief, and that’s how they exploited you.” Abigail smiled. “Let’s do our best together from now on. We’ll seek justice for your mother.”
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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