Chapter 313

Someone who knew their stuff immediately recognized the gemstone chess set. "These pieces are made from rare, high-grade gemstones, right?"

The moment these words came out, the crowd collectively gasped.

Among gemstones, these rare varieties were the most valuable, each set easily worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

No one expected Abigail to give Adam such an extravagant gift.

Someone exclaimed, “No wonder Mr. Fletcher treats Abigail like his own granddaughter. Everyone knows how much he loves chess."

Feeling all the shocked and admiring looks cast toward Abigail, Daniella clenched her fists so tightly her nails nearly dug into her skin.

“Stevie, did you help Abby prepare that gift?” Daniella’s voice wasn’t quiet, and some in the crowd suddenly looked their way.

One person said, “Looks like that gift was from the Gibson family. They’re so generous.”

Another added, “Of course they are. The Gibson family and the Fletcher family are practically in-laws already.”

Stephen stared at Daniella in shock, ready to deny it, but suddenly a thought hit him: Where did Abigail get the money for such a pricey gift? Did they give her the money?

Josephine Garcia let out a cold laugh. “I thought Abigail prepared it for Mr. Fletcher herself. Turns out she just used family money to score points. Not even close to the kind of effort Dani puts in.”

“Josephine, don’t say that. Abby just came back. Everyone in the family wants to make it up to her,” Daniella said gently.

Josephine gave Daniella a frustrated look. “That’s your problem, Dani. You’re too soft. I heard she hasn’t even called your parents Mom and Dad since she came back. She doesn’t see you all as her family at all.”

Blanca’s face turned sour at that.

Daniella’s voice stayed delicate. “Josephine, stop. As long as Abby’s happy, it doesn’t matter if I have to put up with a little mistreatment. I just feel bad for Mom, Dad, and Stevie.”

Stephen felt a warm surge in his chest. The reason we favor Dani is because she always cares so much about us. Not like Abigail. His gaze toward Abigail grew even colder.

“That’s not true,” Abigail said, breaking the silence as she looked at Adam, “I didn’t use the Gibson family’s money.”

Adam paused for a moment, then nodded. “Abby, I really like the gemstone chess set you gave..."

He’d made up his mind. Whether Abigail used the Gibson family’s money to buy this gift or not, he wouldn’t let her bear the cost of something so expensive. He’d buy the chess set himself.

“You expect us to believe that just because you said it?” Josephine sneered, her face full of disdain. “Where would you even get the money to buy a gemstone chess set, with your high school diploma that even small companies don’t want?"

“Dani, you see? And you still defend her? She can’t even admit she used your family’s money.”

As Josephine scoffed, Abigail’s expression darkened. Abigail hadn’t planned on dealing with people like this. She’d come to the party for one reason–to visit Adam. But she hated being falsely accused.

“Abby, the family’s money belongs to Mom, Dad, and our brothers; if you got their permission, it’s fine to use it,” Daniella said, then turned to Bianca, “Right, Mom?”

Bianca frowned. She was sure she hadn’t given Abigail any money. Did Abigail take it on her own?

“Abigail didn’t say anything to me about money, Dad, did she tell you?” Stephen asked immediately, looking at Abigail.

Gabriel knew there hadn’t been any large transactions from the company, so it had to be from the household funds. Was it Bianca that gave it to her?

“We’ll talk about this at home,” Gabriel muttered under his breath, not wanting to be a laughingstock in front of all these people.

Still, thinking about how the gemstone chess set cost hundreds of thousands and Abigail hadn’t even mentioned it to them before giving it away, couldn’t hide the frustration in his chest.

A flicker of amusement flashed in Daniella’s eyes. She glanced at Josephine, then bit her lip and said nothing.

Josephine was clearly annoyed with the Gibson family. Of course they’re playing favorites just because Daniella’s adopted. She went through all that trouble to impress Adam, and Abigail still stole the spotlight. I’ve got to stand up for my bestie.

Josephine turned and asked, “Mr. Gibson, are you sure Abigail didn’t steal your family’s money to buy that gemstone chess set?”

Stephen’s expression darkened. He didn’t say anything, but the doubt was already eating at him. He just couldn’t figure out how Abigail would access the family funds.

“Josephine, that’s enough,” Daniella said, putting on an anxious look.

Abigail lifted her gaze and looked directly at the Gibson family. “I said I didn’t use the Gibson family’s money.”

The room fell silent for a moment. Then someone suddenly spoke up, “Has no one noticed? This gemstone chess set isn’t something that could be easily bought."

“As far as I know, only two sets were ever made with these rare gemstones and both have already been acquired. One of them is with the Moore family. Does that mean Abigail has some kind of connection with them?”

The murmurs in the crowd shifted direction again. As suspicion flared, jealousy followed. Before Abigail could respond, a voice laced with malice broke through the noise. “Did she steal that gemstone chess set?”

Someone spoke, “The Moore family doesn’t just let anyone into their circle.”

Another chimed in, “But isn’t Abigail supposed to be the Gibson heiress? How would she even get close enough to steal from the Moores?”

Then someone else scoffed, “Heiress? Please. She wasn’t even raised by the Gibsons. Who knows what she was doing before they brought her back? She probably worked as a maid in some rich family’s house.”

Abigail stared coldly at the crowd. Just a few words, and they were ready to brand her a thief.

That same relative of the Fletcher family sneered, “Adam treats you so well, and this is how you repay him? You’re dragging him down with you!”

Abigail could ignore the rest, but not when it came to Adam. “Mr. Fletcher, I didn’t steal it,” she said.