Chapter 41 – Second Chance Love of the Missing Groom Novel

Knock, knock!

Suddenly, someone was knocking on the door, and Lionel entered before Abigail said a thing

“Abigail!” He promptly got to the point. “You have to talk to Diarmuid Althoff.”

After more than a week had passed, he was now more than aware of the details about the car accident Ricky was involved in. The boy had crashed into Diarmuid Althoff’s car, and though no one was killed, Stan was extensively injured, even though he has recovered considerably alter treatment.

However, Diarmuid was now pressing charges.

To make things worse, Ricky had driven without a license, and since he was already an adult, he must therefore face the law’s judgment.

There had been traffic cameras which had captured the incident perfectly as well, including how Ricky ran away immediately after the accident, making it a hit-and-run which only added to his guilt!

Nonetheless, Abigail remained nestled on the couch, leveling her bright gaze for a moment and batting her thick eyelashes as she blinked. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Why do I have to talk to him?”

She obviously knew what Lionel was talking about, but feigned ignorance.

“Your brother drove your car and somehow crashed it into Diarmuid Althoff’s car. You’re his wife, but he’s still pressing charges and doing all he can to punish our family! How can he do that?! Ricky is your brother…”

“Lionel,” Abigail cut him short. “Mom only had one child and that’s me. Since when did I get a brother?”

Lionel’s face stiffened and cleared her throat naturally. “He may have a different mother, but you both have the same father…”

“As in, the father who never cared about me? Why would I speak on behalf of such a man?” Abigail asked.

Even if she had long since become apathetic to Lionel’s behavior, blood runs thicker than water-the grievances more or less lingered.

Lionel took a deep breath, but kept himself from flipping out. “Have I ever wronged you in any way?”

Abigail looked up at the man with white sideburns. “Lionel, have you forgotten how you tried to stop me when I enrolled in medical school? You actually refused to give me money for my tuition just because I was studying medicine -”

“And what good would come of studying medicine?” Lionel cut her short before she could finish. “Being a doctor only leads to a busy and exhausting life, and you get paid peanuts for all that trouble. I was grooming you so that you could marry the finest men

– so that you wouldn’t have to worry about a thing for the rest of your life. See what came of it? You’re now Diarmuid Althoff’s wife, and I’m sure he’d be heads over heels for you if you actually made an effort.”

Abigail could not retort immediately, but eventually asked, “I’m a human and I can think for myself, to decide what I want. Do you even have ambitions, Lionel?”.

“Of course,” Lionel replied. “My grandfather was just an average Joe, and my father was just a chauffeur. I don’t want to lead a life of mediocrity- I want success, a legacy… And do you have any idea how hard it is to achieve that without a powerful family, backers, or connections?”

Abigail was actually given pause then.

All she knew was that Lionel was self-centered.

He only ever cared about himself, and used everyone like they were mere tools-just like how he did not hesitate to kick her into hell.

That being said, Abigail never once tried to understand what Lionel was thinking, or what he actually wanted.

In fact, the success he wanted was almost no different from her ambition to become a military doctor. It was just that they had different ambitions, and wanted different things for their lives.

“All I want is for our family to rise as a dynasty, and my daughter to become an heiress, “Lionel said then, pressing his argument because he sensed that Abigail was relenting slightly.

Nonetheless, Abigail pursed her lips and asked, “So, you’re saying you have the right to sacrifice me for the sake of your ambition?”

“How could you call that a sacrifice?” Lionel retorted as if he was in the right. “Is Diarmuid Althoff ugly or poor? So many ladies want to marry him but it would never happen, but we have that opportunity–why shouldn’t we seize it? In fact, what sort of a husband could you find for yourself if you didn’t marry Diarmuid? Would he be better than Diarmuid?”

Abigail was actually stumped.

She knew very well how incredible Diarmuid was, and heard about how women would hover around him.

However, she had also realized how rotten a person he was since she started to live with him.

There was just no way of coexisting with that personality, and he could well be just good for his looks.

With men like him, one should just be admiring his good looks from a distance without getting close.

“You overestimate me, Lionel. I won’t help you no matter what you say,” Abigail said as she rose to her feet. “Moreover, Samantha is the homewrecker who ruined my mother’s marriage-why would I help her son?”

“I’m tired, so leave,” she said, ordering her unwanted guest’s departure.

“Ricky is your brother no matter how you try to deny it,” Lionel insisted.

Abigail simply looked at him and said, “And I’m denying it anyway. What can you do about it?”

Lionel was showing signs of rage, but had to bear with Abigail’s stubbornness given the present situation-alter all, one should at least look the part when begging for a favor.

“Tell me, what do you want to agree to help?”

Abigail simply lay down in her bed, closed her eyes, and said nothing.

Furious, Lionel was finally driven over the edge. “Get up, Abigail! What’s wrong with having a brother? Who would help you when you’re in trouble? Only a brother who shares your blood would truly support you! Sure, I’ve wronged your mother in our marriage, but I never abandoned you two! Can’t you think from my point of view for one second?”

There was a terrible look on his face, but there was no place for him to vent his grievances. All he could do was hold it in, leaving a stuffy, burning sensation in his chest.

“Fine, sleep on it!” Lionel snapped as he turned and headed for the door, and stopped just as he reached the doorway. “Why are you here? Are you sick? Is it serious?”

In her bed, Abigail slowly opened her eyes, staring blankly at the ceiling and saying quietly, “Finally realizing that I’m here, Lionel?”

Lionel’s heart skipped a beat.

However, he only had his own negligence to blame-he had been too worried about. Ricky.

“Fine, it’s all my fault: forcing you to marry someone you don’t love and making you lead a life you hate!” he snapped as he strode outside…

… and ran into Diarmuid, who had just arrived.

Lionel did not expect to see him there, and promptly greeted him fawningly. “Mr. Althoff.”

He was the senior here, but he had no guts to pull rank-in fact, he was keeping his head down and his voice unassuming.

Be that as it may, Diarmuid had a horrific look on his face, seemingly because he had overheard Lionel’s last exchange with Abigail.

He simply ignored Lionel and entered the ward, humiliating Lionel ever so slightly.

No matter the circumstances, he was his father-in-law, was he not?

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