Chapter 18
Bianca’s body trembled, barely able to stay upright. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but no words came out. She had never imagined Abigail saw her that way.
Bianca thought, ‘So I’ve neglected Abigail to this extent?’ She had genuinely resolved to make it up to Abigail.
But now, she had to face the truth – Abigail hated her. Bianca turned away, tears streaming down Bianca’s face.
Sadly, the compassion Abigail once felt for her had long since been worn away. Bianca wasn't happy when she learned her biological daughter had been found. She slumped onto the sofa, staring at Abigail’s back as Abigail walked away.
After work, Abigail returned to Gibson Villa. As soon as she walked into the living room, she saw a middle-aged man sitting on the sofa.
Bianca was next to him. When she saw Abigail, she stood up with a smile. “Abby, come here. Your father’s back.”
Gabriel Gibson’s eyes landed on Abigail. As he took in the way she was dressed, his gaze turned disapproving. “Your mother says you’ve been working.”
Abigail didn’t answer. Instead, she asked, “Mr. Gibson, did you need something?”
Gabriel’s face darkened. “Is that how you talk to your own father?”
Abigail’s tone was flat. “Don’t you always hate having me as your daughter? If that’s the case, why care about what I call you? Mrs. Gibson, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head back to my room.” She then turned to leave.
“Abby,” Bianca called after her and quickly walked over. “I know you’re still upset with us. If you don’t want all of us, Mom and Dad, at home, then don’t."
“This is an invitation from the Fletcher family. Three days from now, Mr. Adam Fletcher is having his eightieth birthday party. He’s always been kind to you. You’ll go, won’t you?”
Bianca glanced cautiously at Abigail’s expression. Seeing this, Gabriel snapped, “She has to…”
Bianca shot him a glare. “Abby, don’t mind what your dad said. You have to go even if she doesn’t want to. She has no say in this.”
As Bianca spoke, she caught sight of the indifference in Abigail’s eyes and couldn’t go on.
“I got it,” Abigail said, taking the invitation from Bianca’s hand and quickly heading back to her room.
Gabriel was clearly displeased with how she ignored him. “Look at her. Is that how a daughter’s supposed to act? She has no respect at all.”
Bianca choked up and said, “Abby’s still mad at us.”
Gabriel’s tone was cold. “She has no right to blame us. If she hadn’t bullied Dani all the time and fought with her for attention, Dani wouldn’t have gotten into that accident. Everything that happened is just Abigail paying the price for what she did.”
Bianca suddenly felt a pang of dissatisfaction. But before she could say anything, Daniella’s cheerful voice rang out. “Daddy, you’re finally back from that trip abroad!”
Daniella threw her arms around Gabriel, her voice full of excitement. “I missed you so much, Daddy.”
Gabriel smiled warmly at her, the doting father through and through, “I missed you too, sweetie. I got you a gift—go check it out.”
Bianca watched the touching scene of father and daughter, but what used to feel heartwarming now stung a little. She knew that Abigail was the one who was truly their daughter.
Chapter 18
Abigail opened the invitation and thought of Adam, who had always treated her with the same warmth Wyatt had.
When she first returned to the Gibson family, it was those two elderly men who gave her a sense of comfort and care.
Abigail had been back for a while now, but because she had been so worried about Wyatt, she still hadn’t visited Adam. Just thinking about it filled her with guilt.
For Adam’s upcoming birthday party, Abigail began to consider what kind of gift to get him.
She mused, ‘I remember Adam really loves chess. I’ll get him a chess set.’
But Abigail couldn’t decide which chess set to get. She sent a message to someone.
That person replied quickly: [When do you need it?]
Abigail: [Three days from now.]
At the same time, in the living room, Daniella had been smiling happily. But the moment she heard that the Fletcher family had sent a private invitation to Abigail, her expression shifted. She looked like she wanted to say something but hesitated.
“Dani, just say what you’re thinking,” Gabriel said, turning to her.
Daniella pressed her lips together, a trace of gloom in her eyes. “Dad, Abby’s been at odds with the family this whole time. If people find out, they’ll laugh at us. And…”
As she spoke, she glanced at Bianca, a flicker of doubt in her eyes. She couldn’t quite explain it, but Bianca’s attitude toward her had started to feel different.
“And what? Go on,” Gabriel remarked, his tone already tinged with anger, clearly provoked by her words.
“Abby might say something to Mr. Fletcher. He adores her, and if she says anything, he definitely won’t turn her down,” Daniella mumbled.
What she said reminded Gabriel of Abigail’s engagement with Ralph. Abigail had been in prison for three years—there was no way the Fletcher family would actually let her marry Ralph.
But what Gabriel feared most was Abigail being spiteful, ruining the engagement between the Gibson and Fletcher families just because she couldn’t stand to see Daniella doing well.
Gabriel’s expression turned cold as he looked at Bianca. “Keep an eye on Abigail at the party. Don’t let her run her mouth. Make sure she keeps her mouth shut.”
After so many years together, Bianca instantly understood the deeper meaning behind her husband’s words.
She was taken aback and wanted to argue that Abigail wouldn’t do something like that. But then Bianca thought of how Abigail had refused to call them Mom and Dad ever since she came back. In the end, Bianca nodded. “I understand.”
Three days passed quickly, and Stephen returned just before the party. He brought Daniella a gift—one of the newest pieces from the jewelry exhibition.
Abigail received a set as well, and Stephen’s tone was harsh. “Don’t show up looking like some country bumpkin, like we’ve been mistreating you or something,” he said.