Naturally, she had to be trained extensively for the operation as ordered by the higher-ups.
An assessment followed after the two-week training.
Before she went undercover, she texted Abigail:
[I have neither regrets nor fear. The only attachment I have is Jean, so please take good care of her.]
Abigail replied: [I will. Don’t worry.]
[I’m relieved since you see that. See you around.]
Abigail stared blankly at Lulu’s text, a foreboding feeling crossing her mind then.
She wanted to reply to Lulu’s text and ask how she was doing when the door opened.
Abigail looked up to see Stan helping Diarmuid into the room.
She quickly put down her phone and walked up to help Diarmuid, taking him off Stan’s hand.
“What did the doctor say?” she asked.
“He’s recovering well,” Stan said.
Abigail happily forgot about Lulu, all her focus placed on Diarmuid just then.
The blindfold over his eyes was already taken off-he could not see entirely, and most things were just a blur.
Still, the doctor explained that she just had to recover a few days for a full recovery.
Abigail happily said, “It’s been a while since I’ve arrived. Tommy just called last night, asking when I’m going home-we can both go home once you’re better.”
“Yeah,” Diarmuid replied.
However, Abigail was concerned.
While Zachary was on hand to care for home before, Zachary’s focus would be placed completely on Jean.
Stan was here at Minerva with them, and James Cross came over with Erin Gooding while also being wounded.
There was only Eagle back home, but she was more or less worried with two children at home, and she would like to go home soon.
“Was I being capricious?” she asked Diarmuid-coming when she wanted without making arrangements for the children.
Diarmuid told her not to dwell on it, since they would be home soon anyway.
They faced no problems, and nothing would happen.
However, Abigail was traumatized-each time something happened, they were just a hair’s breadth away from danger.
The last time was no exception, and she felt traumatized whenever she saw Diarmuid’s eyes and was profoundly in fear of further danger.
“What do you want to eat? Shall I take you there?” Diarmuid asked, trying to ease her mind on purpose.
Abigail leaned into his chest. “I won’t know where to go. You can make the arrangements.”
As such, Diarmuid took her to a nice restaurant outside, her mood relaxing in Diarmuid’s company.
Over in Franconia, Zachary was staying with the children at the castle, in the company of Mrs. Watson and Sheryl.
Naturally, he had asked Sheryl for pointers on how to raise the children, though Sheryl was laughing when he suddenly brought
Jean home. “How did you get a child when you’re not married?”
Zachary smiled. “By accident.”
“So you just want the child, not the mother?” Sheryl asked, since she was oblivious that the child was Lulu’s.
Zachary’s face fell right then, and Sheryl, realizing that she had misspoken, quickly tried to change the subject. “How old is she?”
“Three months.”
Sheryl stared at Jean emotionally. “Ours are all boys. Would have been nice to have a baby girl too.”
Tommy was watching them as he lay on his belly, asking, “Is she my sister?”
“She can be,” Zachary said. ‘But remember, she’s different from your baby brother because she’s not related to you by blood.”
“What’s the difference?” Tommy asked in curiosity.
While both Sheryl and Zachary were left speechless, Mrs. Watson said,” That means you can marry her when you’re older.”
Tommy could understand that and snapped, “I’m just a kid.”
And with that, he ran off to look for Eagle, who was going to teach him to shoot.
Zachary was left at a loss. “What does he mean? He’s not interested in my baby girl?”
“Wait, you’re really going to betrothe them?” Sheryl asked. “Well, it’s fine if Tommy isn’t interested-there’s still Baby!”
Zachary was speechless. Jean was his baby girl too!
He would never allow her to be passed between the brothers like some object!
‘Til pick my future son-in-law carefully,” he declared.
Sheryl was upset at that. “How’s Tommy or Baby lacking?”
“No-they’re just too young to be talking about marriage,” Zachary quickly explained.
He seemed to remember Abigail mentioning that Diarmuid wanted a daughter, but Diarmuid probably had no hopes for that in this life.
It was time for Zachary to show off his daughter when Diarmuid came back.
Sheryl could read that smugness from his face. “Sons are a blessing for parents too.”
“Of course.” Zachary grinned. “He’s just a little too blessed.”
Sheryl could not say anything to that.
Abigail stayed with Diarmuid at the hospital ward.
It was huge enough for them, and there were no unconcerned people around.
The day before they returned to Franconia, she received a call from Erin, who was pleased to hear that Diarmuid made a full recovery after asking about it.
Then, Erin asked when they could return.
Abigail said, “We’ve booked a flight for tomorrow…”
Erin became silent for a long while at that and appeared hesitant to speak.
“What is it? You can tell me,” Abigail told her.
“I’ve decided to marry James here. Can you come over here again?” Erin asked.
Abigail looked up at Diarmuid, whose eyes were still recovering.
They definitely had to attend Erin and James’s wedding, but…
“When is it?”
“Next Saturday,” Erin replied.
Abigail checked the date.
It was just Wednesday, and there were still ten days until next Saturday.
“We’ll definitely be there,” Abigail promised-it was still early, and they could go back to Franconia to check on the children.
“Okay.”
They spoke a little more before Abigail walked up to Diarmuid and massaged his eyes. “Call from Erin.”
Diarmuid kept his eyes closed as he listened to her.
“She’s getting married to James,” Abigail said, knowing that Diarmuid would understand if she mentioned that much.
Moreover, Abigail was happy for James and Erin-they agreed to get married early on, but too much happened and they had to put it off.
Now that they were finally going to be together, it was worth congratulating.
“So, you’re attending as Erin’s brother? We should prepare something more valuable, right?” she asked.
“Yeah,” Diarmuid replied. “I’ll make the arrangements.”
“Okay,” Abigail replied.
They flew back to Franconia the next day, and Abigail called Sheryl ahead of time, who in turn asked them when they would get home.
She waited with both children when it was almost time.
While Tommy was fine with standing still to wait, Baby insisted on walking around.
He had just begun to walk steadily and preferred to walk on his own now instead of being carried around.
Sheryl had to keep an eye on him while waiting.
Zachary was with them-Jean had just fallen asleep, and he was still free for a while or he would have to carry her too.
When both Abigail and Diarmuid touched down, their chauffeur and Pierre received them at the airport.
Abigail had just gotten out of her car when Tommy ran up, hugging her leg.
“Mommy,” he purred as he nuzzled against her thigh. “I missed you.”
Abigail picked him up. “I missed you too.”
He was getting taller, and carrying him was much more strenuous.
Sheryl turned toward Diarmuid and asked in concern, “Have you recovered now?”
Diarmuid nodded. “Yeah.”
“That’s good to hear,” Zachary said, walking up and wasting no time in bragging. “I have a daughter now, Diarmuid.”
Diarmuid was not surprised since Abigail had already told him.
Nonetheless, Zachary was grinning smugly. “Don’t you envy me?”
Diarmuid scooped Baby up in his arms and shot him a cool look. “Envy you?”
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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