Chapter 229
Abigail remembered Ralph had been investigating Daniella’s hit-and-run case from years ago. A thought crossed her mind: Could he have already seen something? Is that why he’s pulling out now, worried it might affect the Fletcher family’s stock prices?
“Is the Fletcher family’s withdrawal really that damaging to the Gibson family’s company?” This was the first time Abigail had seen Wyatt so worried.
Wyatt sighed, “Of course it’s damaging. They’ve been partners for years. They abruptly sold off all their shares and severed their relationship with the Gibson family. To outsiders, it looks like something’s seriously wrong with the Gibson company. It’ll affect every deal going forward.” Wyatt hadn’t expected Ralph to make such a drastic move.
What bothered him most was that no one in the Fletcher family had tried to stop it. It was too early to call Ralph and ask what was going on.
“Do you think it’s connected to what Daniella did years ago? I heard he’s been digging into that case,” Abigail speculated.
“That’s possible. I’ll call the Fletcher family later today and find out,” Wyatt said with a sigh.
After hanging up, Abigail focused on her work. But all day long, the Halden Group’s R&D department buzzed with gossip about the two families–it had become the biggest scandal in their business circle.
Upon her return home that evening, she discovered Gibson Villa in a state of chaos. Ralph had shown up in person.
Abigail took one look at the scene and headed upstairs to her room to continue working on her project.
“Abby,” Wyatt called out to her.
Abigail sighed inwardly but turned back toward the living room sofa.
As she approached, she noticed Ralph watching her with an odd expression–as if he had a thousand things to say but couldn’t find the words.
Abigail ignored it and sat down on the sofa. She pulled out her phone to check the time. “Let’s keep this brief, Mr. Fletcher. We programmers are always busy.”
She was juggling three projects and had no time for pointless conversations.
If he’d really found evidence of Daniella’s wrongdoing, he should be at the police station, not here at Gibson Villa talking to her. She was tired of hearing apologies and regrets.
“I know you don’t want to hear my apologies, but I need to say I’m sorry,” Ralph said. He’d come today to give Wyatt an explanation, but since Abigail happened to be here, he owed her an apology too.
“You don’t owe me an apology,” Abigail said calmly. “You had no obligation to believe I was innocent back then.”
“I had no idea even the evidence I received was fabricated by the Gibson family.” Ralph pulled out a USB drive and slid it across to her.
Abigail frowned at the device. “What’s this?”
“It’s a recording. Listen to it when you have time. The choice of what to do with it is yours,” Ralph replied.
Abigail looked at the USB drive, then reached out and took it. Despite all the resentment she’d harbored over the years, holding this USB drive somehow made her anger toward Ralph fade away.
Her hands began to tremble despite her efforts to control them. ‘What could be on that recording?’ she wondered. ‘Evidence damaging enough to bring down the entire Gibson family?’
Wyatt stared at the USB drive in silence.
Chapter 229
Ralph had been here all this time without mentioning the drive–clearly, he didn’t trust anyone else with it. He trusted only Abrets.
“Abigail, I’m removing myself from your life,” Ralph said calmly. “From now on, the Fletcher family and the Gibson family will part ways. The engagement our elders arranged ends today.” He gave her a bittersweet smile, then turned and walked away.
He carried himself with dignity, but only he knew the pain tearing through him. He wasn’t good enough for Abigail.
True nobility came from the soul, not from birthright. The different worlds.
The moment he’d looked down on her for being from an orphanage, they’d become people from different worlds.
He regretted it deeply. His family had chosen such an exceptional woman to be his fiancée, and he’d driven her away with his pettiness. Perhaps this was his fate.
He’d spent all night thinking about it. The best thing he could do for Abigail now was to cut all ties with the Gibson family completely.
Whatever happened between her and Sebastian was no longer his concern–he’d lost the right to have an opinion about her life.
“I’m going back to my room,” Abigail said to Wyatt, holding the USB drive.
Wyatt watched her for a long moment before reaching out to clasp her hand tightly. “Finally, you’ll clear your name. I’m truly happy for you, from the bottom of my heart.”
Abigail smiled softly and gave a quiet acknowledgment.
Back in her room, she plugged the USB drive into her computer and put on her headphones. She clicked play.
Stephen’s voice filled her ears. “Daniella hit someone with her car, and Dad fabricated evidence to cover it up. I don’t know who he got to forge everything, but I’m sure a lot of people are involved. Ralph, I was such an idiot back then. I actually believed Daniella had depression and thought she’d die if she went to prison. So I went along with my family and pressured her too.”