Chapter 273

Abigail found herself thinking, "So this is the kind of woman a powerful family raises? She’s nothing like Daniella."

To Blair, that speech about love had probably sounded laughable. It wasn’t that Blair was incapable of love, but perhaps the world she belonged to simply didn’t allow for it. Still, just because her choices were calculated didn’t mean they were right. Abigail couldn’t make sense of it. She didn’t even try to pretend she understood. She was an ordinary person, someone who longed for love, money, beauty, and tenderness in this life. The way Blair seemed to strip human feeling from every decision, weighing only value and utility, was a mindset entirely foreign to her.

Later that afternoon, as she was leaving work, Sebastian arrived to pick her up.

"Jeremiah told me Blair came to see you today," he said the moment she got into the car. He had assumed that after such a meeting, Abigail would call him. But the day passed without a word. He had no idea what Blair had said.

"She did," Abigail replied, pulling the door shut and glancing at him. "We talked a bit, mostly about relationships and marriage. Honestly, Ms. Prescott was more composed than I expected. I just don’t get why she’d try to interfere in my case from a legal angle."

"What she does behind the scenes is one thing," Sebastian said, reaching over to take her hand gently. "But when she shows up in person, she should know how to behave. She didn’t give you trouble, did she?"

"In my own office?" Abigail replied, unconcerned. "What trouble could she possibly give me?"

"No harsh words?"

Abigail studied the lines of his face, so composed and striking. "Nothing rude. She was surprisingly polite, cultured, even."

Up until today, Abigail had imagined Blair as the classic spoiled heiress, arrogant, temperamental, used to getting her way. But now, she realized she’d been projecting a stereotype.

"So she’s not the brat she used to be," Sebastian murmured.

Abigail was surprised. So, he did remember Blair, at least to some degree. She’d thought perhaps he didn’t.

The car pulled into Sebastian’s private drive. Abigail noticed someone standing in the courtyard—and not just someone familiar, too familiar. It was Blair again. Several cats, evidently comfortable with her presence, were sprawled on the lawn, rolling over in delight as she stroked their fur.

Sebastian stepped out of the car, his expression darkening at once. "How did you get in here?"

"Ida told me," Blair replied smoothly, rising to her feet with practiced grace. "Didn’t she ask you for the code a while back?"

Then, seeing Abigail step out, she smiled. "Ms. Gibson. Living with Seb now, are we?" Her tone had the ease of a hostess greeting a guest in her own home.

"Abby, head inside," Sebastian said softly, draping his arm around her shoulders. "I’ll handle this. No point in both of us getting annoyed. I don’t want you thinking I’ve lost my manners."

Abigail was about to respond when Blair cut in, still smiling. "No need. I only came to say hello. I’m leaving now."

Sebastian frowned, his voice tight. "We’re not that close, Blair. You don’t need to stop by uninvited. And honestly, you’re making things unnecessarily complicated." He despised the way Blair inserted herself into his life. He had never made her any promises. Yet because the elders of the Robinson family had hinted at the possibility, Blair had taken it upon herself to assume the role of his future wife. Today wasn’t a visit. It was a show of dominance, and the target was Abigail. Abigail had no powerful family standing behind her. Blair, on the other hand, had the full support of the Prescotts, the Robinsons, and an entire network of allies eager to win favor with both houses.

Blair turned toward Abigail, her gaze soft but pointed. "See how uneasy he gets when I’m around? You know why that is, don’t you? It’s because your relationship isn’t solid. You may be lovers, but you’re not equals. He’s panicking, maybe because you don’t really trust him."

Abigail turned to Sebastian. Then she looked back at Blair. "Maybe," she said evenly. "We haven’t been together long. There’s still a lot we’re figuring out. But you’re right. Your presence has been disruptive. And since you say you’re leaving, I won’t stop you."

She linked her arm through Sebastian’s. "But thank you for the reminder. We’ll talk it through, properly."

Blair gave a light smile. "Let’s have coffee sometime."

"Of course," Abigail replied, returning the smile with one of her own.

After she left, Sebastian’s expression turned cold as he stepped into the house. Abigail walked beside him and let out a quiet sigh. "Actually… she wasn’t wrong about everything. I probably haven’t been a great girlfriend. Maybe that’s why you’re always on edge."

"It’s not your fault," Sebastian said gently. "It’s mine. I should’ve told you from the beginning, about her, about how she’s tied to the Robinson family. I kept thinking that if I distanced myself from them, I wouldn’t need to explain so much." He had been too naïve. He might have tried to cut ties, but the Robinsons had never intended to let him go.