Chapter 168

Recently, Abigail got bored and decided to build her own AI. She was just doing it for fun–because looking up data was too laborious.

People all said AI tools were great, but the ones she tried all had limits. The good ones were mostly made for big tech companies and weren’t very useful for personal use.

Late at night, feeling a little hungry, she went downstairs to the kitchen to grab something from the fridge.

Just then, Stephen rushed back with a box in his hand. He was already in a good mood, and seeing Abigail in the kitchen with an armful of snacks made him even happier.

“You’re still up this late?” he asked warmly, his tone full of care.

Abigail shivered a little. “If you’ve got something to say, say it now. I’m eating, then going to sleep.”

“Come eat in the living room. I’ve got something for you–I think you’ll really like it.” Stephen grabbed her wrist and led her toward the living room.

Abigail tried to pull away, but she was afraid of dropping the cupcakes in her arms.

Upstairs, the voices weren’t blocked by the thin walls. Daniella heard them clearly. She opened her door just in time to see Stephen gently pulling Abigail to the sofa, speaking softly to her. She instantly wept in a sulk.

Stephen had once adored her more than anyone. Now he clearly couldn’t stand her.

Stephen handed Abigail the gift box. “Open it and take a look.”

“I don’t want it.” Abigail refused without hesitation, still holding onto her snacks.

“Just take a look, please.” Stephen sounded desperate.

Abigail sighed, set her snacks down with reluctance, and opened the gift box.

Inside was a delicate butterfly hairpin. As she moved, the wings trembled like they were about to take flight.

Abigail stared at it with no change in expression.

Stephen had expected her to be touched. Seeing her so emotionless made him anxious. “What’s wrong? You don’t like it?”

“I can’t wear that clip. Give it to someone else.” Abigail set the butterfly hairpin on the table and picked up her snacks again.

“Abby, don’t you remember this butterfly clip?” Stephen looked at her, full of hope.

“Why should I remember it?” Abigail stared back coldly.

“Stop doing these unnecessary things. Who are you trying to move–yourself?” She said that calmly, then picked up the rest of her snacks and walked off.

The ones she couldn’t carry, she left on the table.

Back in her room, Abigail shut the door and broke into tears. Of course she remembered that butterfly clip.

It was the first real humiliation she suffered after arriving at the Gibson family. Daniella stole it from her, and Bianca said it looked ugly.

Beth had told her the clip looked beautiful on her and that Bianca would love it. But the first day she wore it in the Gibson family turned out to be one of the most painful days of her life.

She’d been hurt, but Bianca had insisted Daniella looked more elegant with the clip, and Abigail had to stand by awkwardly and pretend to agree.

After that, Abigail lost more and more of her belongings. No matter what jewelry she wore, Bianca would always say it didn’t suit her.

Sometimes, she’d sit alone in the yard staring at the moon, wondering what she had to do to be beautiful.

She’d tried so hard to please Bianca, thinking that maybe if she gave in enough, Bianca would come to like her. But even after prison, Abigail had never once felt that Bianca liked her.

Abigail sat by the bed. She ate her cupcakes, but the sweetness couldn’t wash away the bitterness of that first childhood trauma.

Stephen really thought what he did was touching. She had almost forgotten all of it, and had told herself not to think about the past. But now Stephen had torn that wound right open again.

Abigail finished the whole cake, but it didn’t ease her discomfort at all.

Her phone buzzed. She picked it up, only to find her eyes clouded by tears.

She wiped them away, and when she saw Sebastian’s name on the caller ID, she didn’t answer right away. She waited until she was sure her voice would be clear. Once she felt ready, she pressed the answer button.

Hearing her slightly stuffy voice, Sebastian paused for a moment before saying, “Stephen somehow got my number. He said he upset you and asked me–your boyfriend–to cheer you up.”

That was the most awkward thing he could’ve possibly said.

“He’s got to be insane,” Abigail muttered, and then couldn’t hold back anymore. She started crying, furious that Stephen had made her cry like this.