Chapter 198

Abigail still brought the conversation back to the topic. James felt that if Sebastian’s eyes could kill, he would have been tortured to death by now. He averted his gaze, coughed, and said with a forced laugh, “Anyway, since the investigation has made no progress for so long, it seems he’s not doing a good job. Don’t pin your hopes on him. Just rely on us.” “Actually, the Gibson family knows the truth best,” Abigail said. She went on, “If he goes to Stephen, he shouldn’t fail to get to the bottom of it. I suspect that the reason nothing has been found now is that someone is helping to cover it up behind the scenes–maybe Christian.” Abigail was right, but she was wrong about who was helping to cover it up. After the meal, James and Sebastian drove her back to Gibson Villa.

At noon the next day, Abigail was having lunch with Leon and several other colleagues when she unexpectedly saw Quentin and Daniella dining together, and beside Daniella was Gabriel. Abigail took a look, curled her lips, and withdrew her gaze. Back then, things didn’t work out between her and Quentin, and now Gabriel was setting his sights on Daniella. She disliked Daniella, but she also hated Gabriel’s methods. It made her feel sick. Abigail wanted to pull Leon and the others away, but Gabriel had already seen her. He immediately stood up and called to her, “Abby, having lunch with colleagues? Why not join us at our table? I’ll pay the bill.” Abigail’s face turned extremely cold. When Leon saw her turn and leave, he quickly followed her. “Is that your father? Did you have a fight with him?” “No,” Abigail said indifferently. Leon said to the colleagues who followed, “Let’s go to another restaurant.”

Seeing that she ignored him, Gabriel hurried to catch up. “Abby, why didn’t you say hello to me? Oh, right, Quentin will be Daniella’s husband from now on. They’re getting married next month.” Before Abigail could speak, she heard him continue, “Quentin bullied you before, and I was just worrying about how to deal with him. Now it’s perfect. Marrying Daniella to him will cause a lot of trouble then.” “Wasn’t Quentin able to bully me because of your actions?” Abigail retorted coldly. Sensing that the situation was not right, Leon quickly pulled the colleagues away. “It was all just a misunderstanding before. If she hadn’t tricked me, I wouldn’t have let Quentin mess with you, right?” Gabriel said, trying to butter her up.

Abigail’s face showed clear impatience. She glanced over at Daniella in the distance. Right now, Daniella was exactly where she’d been before. Compared to Abigail’s old defiance, Daniella was playing submissive, but Abigail knew that wasn’t her real style. She remembered James saying to keep tabs on Daniella. Now that Daniella couldn’t leave the house and had to go along with Gabriel’s plans, she was probably plotting her next move. “I need to get back to lunch. Stop following me,” Abigail said coldly, shouldering past Gabriel with obvious disgust. Gabriel felt irritated but bit his tongue. After all, she’s our only hope now, he thought. “Make sure you get along with your coworkers. If anyone gives you grief, tell Stevie. He’ll sort them out,” he said, plastering on a smile. Once Abigail was out of sight, he grimaced and mumbled, “Ungrateful.”

Back at the table, he turned to Quentin with a grin. “After lunch, you two should go shopping. Oh, and Quentin, she’s a handful, so keep her in line.” The truth was, the marriage deal was Quentin’s idea. As soon as he found out Daniella wasn’t Gabriel’s real daughter, he came sniffing around. When Gabriel heard Quentin’s family would cough up $700,000 as a wedding gift, he jumped at it. Quentin looked at Daniella across the table, wearing a slimy smile. “You bet.” He never would have dreamed that the Gibson family heiress, someone he once thought completely out of his league, could now be married off for $700,000. Before the photo manipulation scandal, she’d been chased by every wealthy family in high society. The Gibson family had lavished more on her than even most top-tier heiresses. Word was they’d spent over $100 million on her over two decades: designer handbags, custom-made clothes and shoes, and top luxury jewelry—all the latest styles. Not to mention the head-to-toe spa treatments and elite education. Back then, when people talked about Daniella, the Gibson family heiress, society ladies would click their tongues in amazement. Even some heiresses from the most prestigious families used to envy her. She really was the epitome of luxury wherever she went, dripping in jewels and wealth. Who could have guessed now, when the heirs, socialites, and heiresses of wealthy families mentioned her, it was with nothing but scorn. But she only had herself to blame. Of all people, why did she have to offend Abigail, the woman Sebastian had set his sights on?