“Relationship?”
“Brotherhood, I mean.”
Zachary switched gears right then.
Still, Diarmuid was not forgiving Zachary so soon.
“I thought you learned your lesson, but you’re still such a hothead.”
Zachary hid his face behind his palms.
“Had a bit too much to drink.
He had yet to sober up from last night and had gone drinking again today, which led to all that mess.
With that, the car turned silent as it drove steadily onwards, and Diarmuid was silent for a long while before he said, “The same goes for you.Do you have to mess about like him?”
Abigail was caught off guard and left speechless.
Was he talking to her?
“You mean me?” she asked, pointing at herself.
Diarmuid kept his eyes on the road as he continued, “You can tell that the bald man and his boys are common thugs, and those types really hold grudges.You knew that you were stepping on his toes when you demanded money, and I told you not to talk too because IT could handle it myself.Why did you have a go too?!”
Abigail was silent and did not answer, but there was no doubt that she had been reckless.
“You weren’t impulsive before.What’s with you today?”
Diarmuid turned to glance at her then.
Abigail reclined against her seat.
“Might’ve been the alcohol.”
“Were you drinking?”
Diarmuid’s voice became louder.
“It’s the director’s farewell party,” Abigail explained.
“It’s just the one glass.” Zachary leaned toward her and tried to gossip.
“Does he usually keep such a tight leash on you?”
“Shut up!” Diarmuid snapped.
Zachary rubbed his nose in turn.
He could keep his secrets as much as he wanted—who cares?! Soon, they returned to the hilltop mansion, and they alighted.
Abigail snuggled up to Diarmuid then.
“I’ll watch out next time.I wasn’t thinking straight.”
Diarmuid did not want to scold her, but he really did not want her to get involved in another person’s mess, nor allow her to get hurt— he would not be able to take it.He gave her hand a squeeze.
“I’ll tell James to keep an eye on things.”
“Yeah,” Abigail murmured, just as they entered and saw the man standing in the living room.
As she turned in reflex to look at who it was, she became worried…
Since Ricky was impulsive and easily got into conflicts with others, he was naturally on edge when he saw Zachary.
Abigail quickly turned to Zachary.
“It’s late.You should head straight home.”
She barely finished when a blur darted toward them and punched Zachary in the face.
Abigail quickly caught Ricky.
“What are you doing?! Both of you are hurt!”
On the other hand, Zachary wiped his lips and looked at Ricky askance.
Still, he said.
“It’s fine…I’ll be giving up on Lulu, Ricky.Just do what you will with her—you don’t have to be hostile with me now.”
Although he did not hit back, Ricky snorted.
“You’re despicable, Zachary Slate.Playing goody two shoes now after what you did? She wouldn’t have left if you’d let go of her sooner!”
“Left? Where to?”
Zachary, who was completely in the dark, was naturally surprised by what Ricky said.
After all, Lulu did not have relatives, and her only connection was her best friend, Abigail.He quickly turned toward Abigail and asked, “Where did she go, Abigail?”
“I don’t know,” Abigail admitted.
“When Lulu regained her memory, she told me she wanted to start over and would marry if she finds the right person.”
Zachary turned flustered, his tone urgent.
“How could you just let her? You could have called me…”
“She made up her mind, Zachary, and I think it’s the right choice.
Do you really think you still have a chance with her? How is she supposed to stay with your mom? Just let her go!”
Neither Zachary nor Ricky spoke—a curiously similar reaction.
“Anyway, it’s time you both left.Don’t make a ruckus when my children are sleeping,” Abigail said, but neither moved.
Ricky then spoke.
“Look, she left because of us, and it’s clear she’s determined because she didn’t tell Abigail.She’s probably never coming back.”
“So?” Zachary asked.
“Whoever finds us gets to be with her.The other stays away.”
Though Ricky spoke his mind, Zachary stayed silent.
After all, he believed that they must respect Lulu’s decision instead of making their own call.
What if she did not like the first person who found her? Turning toward Abigail, Zachary said, “You should get some rest.I’m going home now.”
“Hey, Zachary —”
Ricky was going to press him if he was agreeing to it, but Abigail stopped him.
“I need to talk to you.”
Ricky stayed despite his reluctance, while Diarmuid headed upstairs.
Sitting at the living room couch, Abigail rubbed her eyes to ease her exhaustion.
“What did you want to talk about, Abigail?” Ricky asked.
Abigail stared at him for a couple seconds before asking, “How’s work lately?”
“What? I’m not working,” he answered without hesitation.
He certainly had no intention of working since Lulu’s departure left his heart a mess.
“What about you would Lulu have to be interested in?” Abigail asked.
“Does she need a reason to like me?”
“Doesn’t she?” Abigail asked in return.
“You can’t even focus on one job, so how long do you think you can stay loyal? Lulu is a mature adult and she would definitely think further than you.You have no house, no career, and you’re impulsive— what part of you could she possibly like?”
Pausing for a moment, she continued, ”On the other hand, Zachary has a solid job, and that’s at least one reason for her to like him: she would have a steady life where she doesn’t have to worry about money.What would she get if she chose you?”
Ricky turned silent in turn, genuinely taking Abigail’s words to heart —she was making sense, after all.
What happiness could he offer Lulu? Abigail passed him the check again.
“Resume your job or start anew business.”
Ricky thought about it briefly and took the check, calmly saying, “I understand now, Abigail.”
Abigail saw him out, though she sat on the couch for a moment before heading upstairs.She opened the door but found the room empty.
“Diarmuid…? She was just about to speak when a pair of hands wrapped around her! She stiffened, unable to help exclaiming, “Who is it?!”
“It’s me,” Diarmuid whispered softly into Abigail’s ear.She turned and smacked him on the chest in annoyance.
“You scared me.” Diarmuid held her hands down.
“I’ll be more careful next time.”
Abigail took a moment to calm down then—her heart had almost leapt out of her throat just now, as she thought someone had broken in.
Still, she became worried anyway.
“I wonder how Lulu’s doing.Where would she go? She’s all by herself…”
Diarmuid frowned slightly and asked, “Aren’t you tired?”
Abigail flexed her neck in response— it had certainly been a long day, and it was very late.
“Yeah,” she replied with a yawn.
“So why bother?”
Abigail realized then that he was not concerned, but complaining that she was being a busybody instead.
“They’re family,” she grumbled.
“I can’t do nothing—”
“Yeah, now go to bed.”
Diarmuid wrapped his arms around her then.
She sighed.
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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