Imitated, Ralph let out a cold laugh. “You called me Ralphie in front of my grandpa, and now it’s Mr. Fletcher. So, I’m just a tool you throw away when you’re done with it?” His last words came out through clenched teeth.
Abigail frowned slightly. She had assumed Ralph understood that the way she addressed him before was just a way to help dissolve things without causing trouble.
She thought, “Wasn’t that what he wanted too? Why make it sound like I broke his heart?”
Abigail said, “Mr. Fletcher, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now.”
“Abigail,” Ralph’s voice turned cold, tinged with anger. “Do you really want to be this distant with me?”
When his eyes met Abigail’s indifferent gaze, something twisted in his chest. But in the end, he softened his tone. “I’ll drive you home. You wouldn’t want me to go against his wishes, would you? Grandpa asked me to.”
At the mention of Adam, Abigail couldn’t refuse anymore. “Sorry for the trouble.”
A flicker of displeasure flashed through Ralph’s eyes. The two walked in silence toward the parking area.
Abigail didn’t pay attention to Ralph as they walked together in deafening silence.
“Abigail, if you’re being mistreated by the Gibson family, you can tell me,” Ralph suddenly spoke.
Abigail looked at him in confusion. She didn’t respond, nor did she think there was anything worth responding to. The words sounded ridiculous to her.
“Abigail,” Ralph couldn’t get used to her indifference. Just three years ago, she’d always looked at him with so much warmth and attachment.
“Mr. Fletcher, what are you trying to say?”
He stopped walking. Abigail didn’t understand why and looked at him with a puzzled expression.
Her tone carried a trace of irritation. Under the moonlight, her gaze was so clear and cold it felt like it could see right through him.
Ralph suddenly looked away, his voice tinged with a mix of frustration and anger. “Whatever issues you have with the Gibson family have nothing to do with Dani.
“She wants to get along with you. There’s no reason for you to keep treating her like the enemy.”
As he spoke, he looked straight at Abigail with a serious look on his face. “You can see how much the Gibson family loves Dani.
“Even if it’s just to make things easier on yourself, don’t bully her. And remember, unless the Gibson family agrees, you won’t be able to see your grandfather.”
He made it sound like he was looking out for her, but Abigail felt the urge to laugh.
She thought, “So, in the end, Ralph still thinks I’m the one bullying Daniella.”
“Mr. Fletcher, I’d like to go home now,” Abigail’s expression was cool and distant. Her tone was calm and direct as she spoke. If it weren’t for Adam, she wouldn’t have wanted Ralph to drive her home at all.
Ralph’s expression darkened. He thought, “I only said all that because I care about Abigail. But clearly, she doesn’t appreciate it. Now it just looks like I’m meddling.”
Suppressing the discomfort in his chest, he turned and got into the car.
Abigail reached for the back door, but Ralph suddenly opened the passenger side and said, “Get in.”
Not wanting to waste words over something as petty as where to sit, Abigail said nothing and got into the front seat.
Chapter 316
The car quickly pulled away from the villa. The ride was unusually quiet.
Ralph glanced at Abigail. “By the way, my grandpa really liked the gemstone chess set you gave him.”
Abigail gave a small nod. The mention of Adam softened her expression slightly, and her lips curved just a bit.
“By the way, where did you get that chess set?” Ralph asked casually.
The smile on Abigail’s lips faded. Her voice was flat. “A friend gave it to me.”
“What kind of friend gives you something that expensive?” Ralph frowned as he spoke, his tone carrying clear disapproval. “Abigail, you shouldn’t get gifts that are too extravagant.”
Abigail lowered her eyes. She hadn’t expected that person to give her such an expensive gift. She thought, “I already gave it to Adam. I should probably ask how much it cost and pay that guy back.”
“Alright,” Abigail agreed, surprisingly compliant, which gave Ralph the illusion of seeing the girl from three years ago.
His grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly, and a faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “There’s enough on this bank card to cover the price of that gemstone chess set. Take it and pay your friend back.”
Abigail looked at the black card he held out but didn’t take it. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll handle it myself. The chess set was from me to your grandfather.”
Ralph understood what she meant and didn’t insist. He set the bank card aside. “So, have you thought about what I said earlier?”
Abigail was caught off guard, clearly confused. “What are you talking about?”
The car was already entering the villa district. Ralph rested one hand on the wheel, speaking casually, “The job at my company…”
“Mr. Fletcher, I already turned it down,” Abigail was straightforward. She had never considered working at the Fletcher family’s company.
Ralph took a deep breath, trying to suppress his irritation. “If you don’t want to work, that’s fine. You could still go back to school. Your academic records are still registered with your high school.
“I’ll get everything arranged so you can finish your senior year and get into college. Abigail, you know how important a degree is. Don’t ruin your future out of spite.”
Abigail found it laughable. She thought, ‘So Ralph thinks I turned him down out of spite? I stopped wasting my breath on them a long time ago.’
She replied, “No, Mr. Fletcher, I’ll handle my own life.”
“Abigail, are you really going to throw everything away over a moment of anger?” Ralph took another deep breath, his gaze filled with disappointment as he looked at her.
A flicker of sarcasm passed through Abigail’s eyes. She didn’t want to argue with Ralph anymore. None of this mattered to her.
The car stopped in front of Gibson Villa. Ralph said nothing, his face cold. Abigail remained composed as she opened the door, stepped out with her purse.