Chapter 111

Abigail had dreaded coming back. Just thinking about facing their endless chatter made her stomach turn. But after seeing what James did, she realized that there was nothing so terrifying about their guilt-tripping after all.

Backed into a corner, Branca turned to Daniella. “Dani, this all started because of you. You should be the one to apologize—”

Daniella cut in, “Mom, you told me to come along just so she could help clean this up. You even said you would help me—”

Bianca squeezed her hand, trying to soothe her. “Don’t you see how they’re acting now? Even Mr. Fletcher thinks you were wrong and should apologize. Just do it this one time, okay? Let’s fix this mess for our family first, alright?”

It was actually Gabriel’s idea to have Daniella come over. He was worried Abigail might not let this go, so at least if Daniella apologized, there would still be a chance to smooth things over.

He worried that if this really went to court, a real investigation would be a disaster for them, and he couldn’t even guess what might happen to him then.

Daniella shook her head. “I didn’t do anything wrong. What did I do? I told you! I didn’t edit the pictures. I didn’t spread rumors.”

There was no way she would apologize to Abigail like some pitiful scapegoat in front of Ralph. It would ruin her dignity in front of him for good.

James said coolly, “Mrs. Gibson, as long as she apologizes and you pay up, I’ll consider the matter settled. Otherwise… who ends up in prison and for how long? That depends entirely on my mood.”

He was determined to teach Daniella a lesson today and to show the Gibson family that Abigail wasn’t alone anymore. If they thought they could still guilt-trip her and shove her around, they were dead wrong.

Abigail looked at James, gratitude and emotion softening her expression. Ralph noticed it, and his hands clenched tightly at his sides.

Ralph thought bitterly, ‘She welcomes all that help from Sebastian and his people, but won’t even acknowledge me. It’s like I’m a stranger now. After all these years together, I mean less than someone she’s known for just a few months?’

Bianca, fully aware that James wasn’t someone to mess with, gripped Daniella’s hand tightly.

“Dani, just do this for our family, okay? Besides, you were in the wrong to begin with. We raised you all these years. You can’t expect us to clean up your mess too,” Bianca pleaded.

“Ralphie, say something for me. Please!” Daniella sobbed and tried to pull away.

Ralph looked at her calmly. His tone was flat, unshaken. “Stevie and I both think you did edit those pictures. Halden Group is a massive corporation. If they were really spreading lies, you could’ve sued them. But you didn’t. Instead, you blamed Abby. Why?”

Daniella stared at him, stunned by the question. She could hardly believe what she was hearing.

Ralph looked at her and continued, “You were clearly the one in the wrong. If you had just apologized and admitted it, this would’ve been over. But instead, you act like nothing ever happened. Dani, you weren’t like this before.”

His words hit Daniella like a bolt of lightning. That was when she realized that he had already believed Halden Group’s statement from the start.

“It was Sebastian who asked the Halden Group to issue that notice,” Ralph said calmly. “He has no personal grudge against you. Why would he go out of his way to smear you for no reason?”

He sighed and looked at Daniella with quiet disappointment. “Turns out you’ve been hiding a lot more than I thought.”

Daniella shook her head, blurting out, “That’s not it… It’s not true. She’s the one who smeared me in front of Sebastian—”

James cut her off immediately, “Oh, give me a break. Who do you think you are, huh? You think she’d bother trying to smear you? She doesn’t even bother with trash like you.

“All you do is create drama for yourself. Don’t you get how pathetic that is?”

Daniella had never been insulted like that in her life. She broke down in tears. “I didn’t… I didn’t do anything…”

“Apologize!” James’ voice rose sharply, his glare carrying weight and pressure.

Watching him take such a commanding stance, Abigail couldn’t help but let the corner of her mouth lift in the faintest smirk.

Tears welled up in Bianca’s eyes as she tried to plead, but James cut in, “Go ahead and try guilt-tripping her one more time. Say one more thing that rubs me the wrong way, and I’ll make sure she suffers even more today.”

Bianca turned to Daniella with a desperate plea. “Dani, please just apologize. If you don’t, we’re not leaving.” It wasn’t just about leaving anymore. If the victim’s family pressed charges, Gabriel could end up in jail.

Daniella cried harder, consumed by despair, thinking, ‘No one’s protecting me anymore… It’s like Abigail and I have switched places.’

With Bianca sobbing beside her and pleading nonstop, Daniella finally collapsed to the floor with a dull thud. The wave of humiliation hit her so hard, it sank into her very marrow, making her whole body shake.

“I’m sorry… Abby, please forgive me…” Daniella’s voice trembled, choked with tears, her every word laced with helpless grief.

Bianca was crying too as she asked, “Is that enough, Abby?”

James turned to Abigail, clearly pleased. “Feel better now, Abby?”