Chapter 106

Since getting out of prison, Abigail had never once cried in front of the Gibson family. No matter how angry or wronged she felt, it never even crossed her mind to shed a tear.

But today, just setting foot in the city she had dreamed of so many times, her emotions started spiraling out of control.

This was the city Abigail had always hoped her mom, dad, and brother would bring her to, just like they did for Daniella.

Abigail used to imagine taking photos with them, saving her smiling face in the camera, posting them to Instagram, and telling the orphanage director she was doing great.

She wanted to tell Judy Wilson, too–that she had a family now, parents and a brother who loved her. But by the time she landed in prison, none of it had ever happened.

Tears streamed down Abigail’s face, one after another. Her voice hitched as she tried to hold it in. She wiped at her cheeks, but they just kept coming.

She never understood why the things Daniella got without even trying always seemed totally out of reach for her, like some dream that could never come true.

Back then, Abigail hadn’t realized it. She didn’t know that she had never been loved by the Gibson family and never truly accepted by her own kin.

Sebastian’s warm fingertip brushed beneath her eye. When she glanced up, one crystal tear slid along his finger, slowly making its way into the center of his palm.

He stared at Abigail’s tear, his eyes deep and unreadable. Even though that little tear barely had any warmth, it carried all the hurt and hardship she had been through over the years.

“Sorry,” she whispered.

James gave Abigail a look full of concern, while Warren’s laughter died down. Sebastian didn’t say anything. Instead, he just reached over and offered her a tissue.

When Abigail was done crying, she felt the awkwardness creep in. She stared out the window and took a few long sips of her water, trying to steady herself.

They were staying in a suite hotel. James led her into the only single-occupancy master bedroom and told her, “This one is yours. Go ahead, take a shower and get some rest.”

Abigail said, “Let Mr. Robinson have this room instead.”

She still wasn’t used to calling Sebastian “Seb.” That one time earlier? She had only managed it because they egged her on and got her worked up enough to say it. Now, no way.

“Hey, how come you’re not calling him Seb anymore?” James teased as he nudged Abigail into the room.

From the living room, Sebastian cut in coolly, “She can call me whatever she wants. You’re the only one making it a thing.”

“I was just asking,” James mumbled under his breath, closing Abigail’s door for her so she wouldn’t have to go through the hassle of switching with Sebastian.

He walked over and dropped onto the couch where Sebastian was sitting, glancing out the floor-to-ceiling window. “Why do you think she was crying now?”

Sebastian didn’t answer, his expression cold.

Warren was pushing their suitcases into the room. He paused at the question and said, “Maybe something from the past upset her. Let her rest this afternoon. Seb, you go meet Mr. Brown on your own.”

Leaning back against the couch, Sebastian spoke in a low voice. “Don’t let her stay cooped up in the room this afternoon. Take…”

James narrowed his eyes at him, studying his face. “You think being here reminded her of something?”

Sebastian shot him a look like he had just asked the dumbest question in the world.

Meanwhile, Abigail had showered and was lying in bed. She kept thinking about how she had called Sebastian “Seb” and then cried in front of them.

The whole thing was so mortifying, she just wanted to hide in her room instead of going out to see them.

Abigail stayed in her room until nearly noon before James came and knocked on the door. “Abby, you awake?”

She didn’t sleep at all, just kept coding to help herself chill out. She got up and opened the door, looking at him. “Yeah, I’m up. Have you had lunch yet?”

James chuckled, “Are you hungry?”

“Not really,” Abigail replied, though her eyes instinctively drifted toward the living room and saw that Sebastian wasn’t there.

James caught on instantly. “Looking for Seb? He went to meet with Mr. Brown.”

Abigail frowned, “He went alone?”

She wondered, ‘Is it because I cried? Does he think I’m useless and can’t handle anything?’

Warren came out of one of the rooms just then, his voice light with amusement. “Seb probably knows why you cried. That’s why he asked us to take you out and help you clear your head.”

Hearing that, Abigail pressed her lips together without thinking.

For lunch, they had some of Blairwind’s local specialties. In the afternoon, James and Warren took her to see Pioneer Fortress and strolled through a nearby garden.

She took photos along the way, and on the ride back to the hotel, she kept staring at them on her phone, scrolling through again and again before finally putting it down.

Sebastian had gone to see Winton and didn’t make it back in time for dinner.

After a whole afternoon of walking around, Abigail was so worn out she fell asleep early.

Sebastian only returned to the hotel around nine-thirty. As soon as he stepped inside, James hurried over and whispered, “She wore herself out this afternoon and crashed already. Keep it down, alright?”

Sebastian nodded, keeping his voice quiet. “Did she have a good time?”