“Sorry, she can get a little talkative—”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Abigail felt guilty after hearing what Hannah had to say, and was naturally uncomfortable that Diarmuid had forced Stephen into retirement.
Nonetheless, Stephen chuckled.
“I’m going to retire eventually.”
“But your career. You should have retired as a doctor decorated with honors…”
“Those don’t matter,” Stephen said.
“As long as you’re not upset with me.”
After thinking about it, he added, “I let my frustrations get the better of me, since Diarmuid was threatening me with my family…”
“I get it,” Abigail replied.
“I know what he’s like.”
“Anyway, I had no idea what or who tipped him off, but he somehow realized that the body wasn’t yours and he came looking for me.”
Even now, Stephen was convinced that his plan had been flawless, and he simply could not understand how Diarmuid found out.
Abigail did not either, but it did not matter now.
She showed Stephen the research materials, saying, ”These are the data of Mead Clinic’s research on a fully artificial heart. I’m sure it would help our country’s own research on the subject, but I just don’t know who I should give it to.”
Stephen looked at her in surprise.
“Shouldn’t this be shown at the forum?” Abigail smiled ironically.
“It turns out that salvation has borders.”
Stephen understood right then, and he told her, “Just leave this to me.”
“Yes,” she replied.
“I will have ease of mind now—at the very least, Zidonia’s medical development wouldn’t be so passive.”
Stephen’s eyes twinkled as he looked at her.
“I was right about you. He was pleased that Abigail’s ability and vision far surpassed what he expected — it was as if such vigor was not expected of her age group and gender.
“I stole this. I need to return to my hotel soon,” she said just then.
Stephen nodded.
“Be careful.”
“I know,” she replied, but Stephen stopped her again just as she reached the door.
“Did Diarmuid put you on the spot?”
Abigail turned around then, wondering where that had come from.
“I told him that you left him for another man, and that your child was someone else’s…”
Stephen said, and quickly explained, “I was just trying to rile him up—he really is too much sometimes.
Abigail was not upset, however, and she even smiled.
“No, he didn’t,” she said, even assuring Stephen, “It’s good that you did it, too—he really should be put in his place from time to time.”
Stephen sighed.
“Sorry, I only remembered that he might really hurt you if he bought my lies when I came home…”
“I’m fine. You should rest —I’ll get going now.”
Hannah politely walked Abigail to the door, but when she opened it, she saw that Diarmuid was still standing outside!
Seemingly worried that Diarmuid would harass Abigail, Hannah told her, “I’ll come downstairs with you.”
She linked an arm around Abigail’s, locking the door behind her.
It was as if she was worried Diarmuid would storm inside and abduct Stephen again.
Abigail saw the scowl on Diarmuid’s face right then —given his terrible temper, it would not do if he harassed Hannah too.
Abigail smiled.
“I’m fine on my own.You should stay and take care of Dr.Carr—he’s sick and shouldn’t be left alone.”
That was certainly true, but Hannah was still hesitant.
“What about your”
“I’ll call the cops if I’m in danger,” Abigail told her, sliding a peek at Diarmuid as she spoke pointedly.
“As long as you understand,” Hannah told her.
Abigail smiled in return.
“I know. You should go inside.”
Hannah was smiling ear-to-ear with Abigail, but her expression cooled immediately when she glanced at Diarmuid, as if he were some criminal.
As she returned inside, she reminded Abigail before she shut the door, ‘Watch out. Remember, call the cops right away if you’re in danger.”
Ierne smiled and nodded, “I will.”
With that, Hannah warily shut the door, and locked it from behind audibly while Abigail was still outside.
Both Abigail and Diarmuid were speechless.
That was when Diarmuid said, “I’d happily do it again.”
Diarmuid was convinced that he had done nothing wrong —Stephen was the one who made Abigail the scapegoat for Yvaine Lynd’s death, and he even helped her run away from Diarmuid.
He should at least do something, right?! Inside the house, Hannah was grumbling as she headed into the bedroom.
Seeing that her husband was sitting while leaning on the headboard, she said, “Honestly, Abigail might be in danger.”
“Why?” Stephen asked.
“And what danger? She’s perfectly fine.”
“But that man is with her,” Hannah pointed out.
Stephen gave her an enfeebled look.
“That’s her husband—no matter how terrible he is, he’s not going to lay a hand on his own heavily pregnant wife, is he? Hannah was left speechless for a moment, before her eyes widened in shock.
“What?! I thought Diarmuid Althoff wasn’t married! When did he get a wife?”
“Beats me,” Stephen replied, but he was under the impression that it was a hidden marriage—Diarmuid never publicly announced it, nor was there a wedding.
“I should have known!”
Hannah exclaimed as she smacked her own lap just then.
“They showed up together and he was willing to wait outside for her.They clearly are a couple, but I stupidly warned Abigail that he’s a terrible man…”
How awkward that was! She hit Stephen just then.
“Why didn’t you warn me?”
“How was I supposed to do that? She was standing right there,”
Stephen pointed out.
Hannah thought about it, and had to agree.
“But Abigail looks like a good girl.Why would she marry such a man? I wonder if domestic violence was involved…”
Stephen told her feebly, “Oh, just quit meddling with others’ business.I need fresh clothes to go out right now.”
“Where are you going? You’re still sick,”
Hannah certainly did not agree to it.You should be resting—don’t you know what your condition is like right now?”
“I do—that’s why I need to leave,” Stephen said solemnly.
“You have to listen to me.”
His tone made his stance clear, and Hannah left reluctantly to get him a set of clothes.
In Diarmuid’s car, Abigail said, “I need to go back to the hotel.”
When Diarmuid’s face fell, she explained, ‘I have something to do tomorrow, and I don’t want others to find out that I left the hotel.”
“Fine, let’s go together,” Diarmuid said.
Abigail was going to say that she returned for business when James’s phone rang, cutting her short.
James answered it, but they could not hear what he was saying as his brow creased.
After he hung up, he glanced at the rearview mirror.
“We may have a problem, Mr.Althoff.”
Diarmuid frowned, because he was hoping that the issue did not require his attention.
“What is it?”
James did not answer immediately, but instead slid a peek at Abigail.
Catching the cue, she said, “I should not listen, I guess? You could stop the car, and I’ll get myself a taxi.”
“No, it’s—”
“Just spit it already!’ James quickly tried to explain, but Diarmuid snapped impatiently —it almost looked like he wanted to hide everything from Abigail.
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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