“He’s giving you the cold shoulder, huh?” Zachary asked gleefully.
Abigail started daggers at him right then. “That pleases you, huh?”
“Should I be honest?” Zachary asked.
“Of course,” Abigail almost rolled her eyes at him. Was she telling him to lie?
“What, hadn’t you heard? James Cross is brazenly flaunting his sweet marriage in my face every day, and I’ve been meaning to kick his butt for a while now! Do you think I’d be pleased if you and Diarmuid did the same?!’
Abigail simply rubbed salt on his wound. ’You should be happy for us.’
Zachary was speechless. “You’ve really changed, huh? You even have the gall to tease me now…”
Abigail simply smiled while Zachary was left seething. “I’m not talking to you. All you people ever do is bully me.”
He strode off, but he had not walked more than a few paces when he stopped and turned since Abigail was not stopping him.
“Aren’t you going to sweet talk me? Are you actually my friend?”
Abigail simply remained where she was. “Sweet-talk you?”
Right now, she was at a loss of how to sweet-talk Diarmuid-did she even have time for Zachary?
“Sweet-talk yourself. I’m busy,” she said bluntly.
Zachary was left speechless. “You people have no conscience and don’t care about me. Fine! Playtime is over-l’m taking my daughter home.”
“See you,” Abigail said without even looking his way.
Zachary was left speechless again, but he soon returned and sat beside her. “I refuse to leave just because you want me to.”
Abigail simply got up and left him alone to play with her children, though Zachary did not seem upset and simply watched quietly.
After a long while, Mrs. Watson arrived outside with Jean, and he took her baby daughter back inside—she was still too young to stay outside for too long and had to return indoors after playing for a while.
James and Erin came to the castle for dinner as well, having learned from someone that Abigail returned.
Pierre also asked the kitchen to prepare a lot of Zidonian dishes, a gesture to welcome Abigail back.
“Since Abigail has been gone for a while, let’s have a drink to celebrate,” Zachary suggested.
James was the first to argue. “No drinking.”
“Why?” Zachary asked.
“You wont get it. Only married people would,” James replied.
Zachary was speechless. “Trying to ostracize me?! I have a daughter! Do I wave it in your face?!”
What was so impressive about getting married anyway?!
“Yes, you have a daughter, but you don’t have a wife!” James retorted.
While Zachary was speechless, Erin could not help nudging James in the arm. “Come on. Stop upsetting him already.”
Abigail chimed in, “He is blessed, having a daughter when others can’t.”
Zachary loved hearing that. “That’s right. I have what you don’t have.”
“And you don’t have what I have either,” James countered, insisting on rubbing salt into Zachary’s wound. “I have a wife, so I’ll eventually have children. You may have a daughter, but you don’t have a wife-the advantage is mine.”
Zachary sighed. “I don’t think I have an appetite.”
“Alright, I’m just kidding,” James said, sliding a shrimp onto Zachary’s plate. “Let’s have a drink.”
“Forget it. You haven’t recovered yet.”
Despite all the banter, they did care for each other.
Just then, Abigail asked Pierre to bring some liquor, leaving Zachary and James gaping at her.
Still, it was not as if she wanted to drink-she just thought that since everyone except Diarmuid was there, she needed something to fall asleep.
Call it capricious or whatnot.
Zachary leaned in to ask quietly, ’Having a fight with Diarmuid? Can’t sleep because he’s cold-shouldering you?”
Abigail shot him a glare. “Move. I’m eating.”
Zachary pursed his lips but said, “I’ll drink with you.’
James began, “Me-“
Erin suddenly cut him short. “No.”
James smiled. “Actually, I just wanted to say I’ll stick to eating.”
Erin was preparing for her pregnancy after all, and James would stick to a diet with her.
Zachary shot James a look. ‘The missus is strict, huh?”
James was not about to take the bait. “You don’t even have one to be strict with you.”
Zachary shut up right then-he had to be upset again!
Since he could not fight back, he just had to hide!
If he snapped at James, James had his wife to back him up, and he alone would never win against two.
Picking up the wine bottle and pouring it for Abigail, Zachary said, “Let’s drink a little since Diarmuid isn’t around.”
Abigail frowned. “Don’t mention him.”
“Who?” Zachary asked despite knowing the answer, and he chuckled as Abigail shot him a glare.
Even if Abigail had a husband, right now, she was alone like him-having a kindred spirit certainly made it feel a lot less lonely.
Since he was not the most tragic person around… did that mean she was the same as him?
“If I recall, you’re bad with liquor. One drink, and that’s all,” Zachary said, but he poured her a full glass, clearly trying to get her drunk.
As Abigail rolled her eyes, Zachary said, “Come on. I’m keeping you company. M
He was clearly trying to tempt her.
Still, Abigail drank it even though she really could not hold her liquor, which was both bitter and burned her throat.
Her cheeks were flushed soon enough.
Despite knowing that she could not hold her liquor, Zachary kept goading her anyway. “Keep drinking and you’ll get used to the taste.”
Abigail kept eating instead to try to quell the bitter aftertaste, but Zachary poured her another glass. “It’s just how alcohol tastes.”
Abigail waved him off-she could not drink anymore. “Stop it.”
Zachary simply stuffed the glass into her hand. “Trust me. Drink this, and you won’t find it terrible anymore.”
“Really?” Abigail stared at him, tipsy but skeptical. “I don’t believe you. I’m going back to my room.”
Zachary walked up to help her stand. “How are you going to mingle with Diarmuid’s business partners if you can’t drink?”
“He doesn’t need me to,” Abigail replied.
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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