Chapter 39

Just as Abigail entered the park, a gentle meowing came from the bushes.

“Cream?” she called.

Recognizing her voice, a small white figure quickly emerged from the shrubs. Cream, despite being a stray, wasn’t dirty but just noticeably thin. Abigail opened one of the packed dishes, intentionally picking the mildest food with minimal seasoning, and placed it in front of Cream. The little cat purred happily, meowing affectionately at her before diving into the meal.

The scent soon drew the attention of several other cats, and soon enough, Abigail was surrounded by a colorful gathering. Among them stood out a shorthair cat with shiny fur and an aloof demeanor. Abigail noticed it seemed to be the leader of the group. The others waited, hesitating to eat until it approached first.

The shorthair cat observed Abigail carefully, as if assessing her, before finally lowering its head to eat with regal indifference. Only then did the other cats scatter toward the remaining food boxes.

Watching them brought a rare sense of calmness to Abigail. After a short while, feeling much lighter, she left the park.

Not long after Abigail left, a car pulled up near the park entrance. Following a locator on his phone, Jeremiah came to this place and got out. The stray cats scattered in an instant, startled by his sudden intrusion. The elegant short-haired cat paused from grooming, glanced up briefly, and resumed its meticulous self-care.

Jeremiah said softly, “Pumpkin, it’s time to go home.”

The cat eyed him arrogantly and gave a lazy meow. Jeremiah added, “Mr. Robinson is waiting for you in the car.”

The cat immediately perked up as if understanding his words and trotted toward the waiting vehicle. The car door opened, and Pumpkin jumped gracefully onto the seat, greeting the masked man inside with affectionate meows. Jeremiah closed the door, returned to the driver’s seat, and drove off. Once their car vanished from view, the scattered stray cats returned to reclaim their peaceful spot.

The next morning, Abigail opened her hotel room door, only to see Ralph standing right outside. Surprise mingled with discomfort filled her eyes. “Ralph? What are you doing here?”

“How did he even know I’m staying here? I didn’t tell anyone,” Abigail thought suspiciously.

“I need to talk to you. Come with me,” Ralph said sternly.

Abigail stood on the spot, frowning slightly. “I have to go to work.”

Ralph raised his eyebrows. “What if it’s about your grandfather? Aren’t you interested?”

Abigail’s heart skipped a beat, anxiety flooding her chest. “What happened to my grandpa?”

Without another word, Ralph grabbed her wrist firmly, pulling her along. Abigail fought the urge to break free, focusing on the worry gripping her heart. Once outside the hotel, she asked, “I came out with you. Now, tell me what’s going on.”

She stared closely into his eyes, afraid that he might bring any bad news. Ralph met her intense stare, avoiding a direct answer. “Get in the car first?”

“Why?” Abigail asked cautiously.

He refused to look her in the eyes and insisted, “Just get in the car, Abigail.”

A histone sparked unease in Abigail. Sensing danger, she turned to leave, but Ralph’s grip tightened painfully around her wrist. Unable to break free, Abigail was forced into the car.

The door locked, and Ralph took the driver’s seat. Abigail turned cold eyes to him, her voice tense. “Where exactly are you taking me?”

Ralph glanced at her and asked, “You joined Halden Group because of that Robinson guy, didn’t you?”

Abigail was startled but quickly regained composure. It wasn’t a secret she worked at Halden Group, after all. She never intended to hide it from anyone.

“Why does that concern you? It’s my personal matter,” she replied coldly, unwilling to discuss it further.

“You’re not suitable for him,” Ralph stated flatly.

“So?” Abigail retorted.

She found his words absurd, and she thought, “First of all, I’m not even with Clark. But even if I were, what gives Ralph the right to interfere!”

She said in a firm tone, “Look, we’ve already ended our engagement. I don’t want others to misunderstand and think I’m hooking up with you. Stop the car. I’m getting out.”

“I wouldn’t mind being misunderstood,” Ralph muttered in a low voice.

Not hearing him clearly, Abigail asked, “What did you say?”

“Nothing. Abigail, I’m only doing this for your own good.” With that, he accelerated.

The car pulled up at Fletcher Group’s entrance. Ralph unlocked the doors, and Abigail moved to exit, only stopping when Ralph spoke again, “Abigail, I can take you to meet your grandfather.”

Her breathing quickened. Logic warned her not to trust him, yet her heart desperately wavered. She asked, “Are you serious?”

A faint smile touched Ralph’s lips. “You know I have the power to arrange that.”

Of course, Abigail knew how her so-called family highly valued Ralph. She stared at him warily and asked, “What do you want from me?” She could sense that Ralph was oddly different today.

“Come with me.” Ralph glanced back and then headed into the company building, as if certain she’d follow.

Abigail stared at his retreating figure, her lips tightening. Finally, she followed him.

They entered the CEO’s office, and just as she was about to speak, someone knocked on the door.

“Come in,” Ralph said.

A female secretary entered, momentarily surprised upon seeing Abigail but quickly masking her reaction. She said, “Mr. Fletcher, the shareholders are ready for you in the conference room.”

“I’ll be there shortly,” Ralph replied.

He approached Abigail and instructed, “Wait here.”

After he stepped out, Abigail heard a faint clicking sound. Alarmed, she rushed to the door, twisting it. It was locked from outside.

It was nearly eight o’clock, and Abigail knew Ralph wouldn’t let her leave easily. She wouldn’t make it to work today. Taking a deep sigh, Abigail pulled out her phone and dialed Timothy’s number. Making up a quick excuse, she spoke into the phone, “Mr. Newman, I've got something urgent to deal with. May I take a day off?”