Before Life 4
Posted on July 09, 2025 ยท 0 mins read
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Chapter 4

Abigail didnโ€™t want to see Bianca and Daniella putting on their sweet mother-daughter act.

Just as Abigail walked past them, she saw Stephen coming from the other direction. He seemed to notice Bianca crying and quickened his pace, his tone sharp with anger. โ€œAbigail, what did you say to Mom?โ€

Abigail stared at him expressionlessly and asked calmly, โ€œMr. Gibson, maybe you should ask your mother what she said to me. I only said one thing to her.โ€

Stephen looked at Abigail with clear disbelief. He was about to say something when Bianca spoke up, โ€œStevie, be nicer to Abby. Iโ€™m fine. Iโ€™m just really happy to see her again.โ€

Stephen was scolded by Bianca and gave Abigail an annoyed look, but didnโ€™t say anything more.

โ€œAbby, I got you new clothes and shoes. Why are you wearing something that doesnโ€™t even fit?โ€ Bianca glanced at Abigail, frowning slightly.

Abigail looked up, her tone still laced with impatience. โ€œNo need. This is fine. Iโ€™m going to see Grandpa.โ€

She was about to leave, but Stephen reached out to block her and said, โ€œGrandpaโ€™s already sleeping.โ€

โ€œNo way. Ralph is still with him, isnโ€™t he?โ€ Abigailโ€™s voice grew anxious. She hadnโ€™t seen Wyatt in three years, and now she was desperate to see him.

โ€œRalph already left,โ€ Stephen replied, clearly annoyed. He thought, โ€˜If it werenโ€™t for her, Ralph wouldโ€™ve stayed for dinner.โ€™

โ€œAbby, donโ€™t worry. You can see Grandpa tomorrow,โ€ Bianca said gently, trying to soothe Abigail.

Abigail lowered her eyes in frustration. If it werenโ€™t for them, she wouldโ€™ve made it in time to see Wyatt. She stayed quiet and turned to go inside.

โ€œAbby, your roomโ€™s all ready. Now that youโ€™re back, I really want to make things right,โ€ Bianca remarked softly.

Abigail didnโ€™t react. She never planned to stay here in the first place. She just hadnโ€™t seen Wyatt yet.

โ€œOkay,โ€ Abigail replied with a nod.

Bianca was overjoyed. Her eyes swept over the backpack in Abigailโ€™s hand, and a flash of pain crossed her expression. โ€œStevie, is Abbyโ€™s room all set up? Let her get some rest first.โ€

Stephen looked a little uneasy. He answered, โ€œThe roomโ€™s not ready yet. Just let her stay in the maidโ€™s room for now.โ€

โ€œStevie, what did you just say?โ€ Bianca looked like she couldnโ€™t believe what she was hearing. Stephen didnโ€™t say another word.

Abigail spoke up, โ€œWhereโ€™s the maidโ€™s room?โ€

She didnโ€™t want to argue with them anymore. After getting an answer, she picked up her backpack and walked into the room on the first floor.

Bianca looked like she still wanted to say something, but when she thought of what Stephen had done, she stayed quiet.

Abigail shut the door. The maidโ€™s room was simply furnished, but it had everything she needed. The Gibson family was wealthy, and even the maidโ€™s room wasnโ€™t small.

Abigail wasnโ€™t picky about where she lived. Sheโ€™d stayed in solitary confinement in prison before. In fact, the conditions here werenโ€™t bad at all.

She unpacked a little, took out her phone to charge it, and replied to a few messages. Then she heard a knock at the door.

โ€œAbby, Mom asked me to call you for dinner.โ€ Daniella stood at the door with a bright smile.

But Abigail clearly saw the hostility hidden in Daniellaโ€™s eyes. She replied, โ€œGot it. Letโ€™s go.โ€

Chapter 4

At the dinner table, Bianca enthusiastically placed food onto Abigailโ€™s plate. Abigail instinctively shielded her own plate and pulled away. A piece of broccoli fell onto the table.

Stephenโ€™s voice was low and laced with anger. โ€œAbigail, what are you dodging for? Momโ€™s just trying to serve you.โ€

โ€œSorry. Itโ€™s a habit,โ€ Abigail said.

She really had gotten used to it. In prison, anytime someone reached over during meals, it was either to steal food from her plate or to throw trash onto it. If she didnโ€™t move fast enough, she wouldnโ€™t be able to eat at all.

Stephen let out a sharp laugh out of anger. โ€œAbigail, youโ€™re such a bad liar. You think weโ€™re actually going to believe that?โ€

Abigail put down her utensils and looked straight at him. โ€œWhether you believe it or not is up to you.โ€

Bianca quickly stepped in. โ€œStevie, Abby didnโ€™t mean anything by it. Come on, letโ€™s eat before the food gets cold.โ€

Stephen held back his anger and stayed quiet, but the way he looked at Abigail felt like he was throwing knives at her.

Abigail pretended not to notice. Sheโ€™d seen worseโ€”crueler, darker stares than his. Compared to them, Stephen was nothing.

โ€œAbby, why arenโ€™t you eating? Is the food not to your taste?โ€ Bianca looked at her, concerned.

Abigail didnโ€™t know why Bianca was paying so much attention to her today. If this had been three years ago, she wouldโ€™ve been thrilled, thinking Bianca had finally seen her, finally cared, finally wanted to be gentle with her.

Three years ago, Abigail wouldโ€™ve needed Biancaโ€™s attention. But now, she didnโ€™t.

โ€œNo, itโ€™s just a bit too heavy. I canโ€™t handle it,โ€ Abigail said.

The food on the table wasnโ€™t greasy, but everything had that sweet-and-spicy flavor Daniella liked.

Stephen couldnโ€™t help himself and sneered, โ€œDidnโ€™t you eat just fine before? Now suddenly you canโ€™t?โ€

Abigail looked up at him, her voice flat. โ€œBack then I hadnโ€™t starved myself sick. After three years in prison, being hungry became normal, eating fast became normal. And getting stomach problems became normal, too.โ€

Stephen froze. Biancaโ€™s eyes turned red as she asked, โ€œAbby, why didnโ€™t you call us and say something? I always thought you were doing fine in there.โ€

Abigail only found it ironic. โ€˜How could prison life ever be fine?โ€™ she thought. They were the ones who sent her in, and after that, they didnโ€™t lift a finger to help.

Prison was the kind of place where the strong thrived and the weak got crushed. Abigail had no money, no power. Getting pushed around was her everyday reality.

As for the phone calls, Abigail could only let out a cold laugh at the thought. โ€œI did call,โ€ she said.

โ€œThatโ€™s impossible,โ€ Stephen blurted out. โ€œNo one at home ever got a call from you.โ€ As he spoke, he suddenly stopped.

A trace of mockery appeared in Abigailโ€™s eyes. โ€œTwo months after I went in, I called home. A maid answered. She told me you all said I should focus on serving my sentence and not call again.โ€

The atmosphere at the table froze instantly.

Chapter 5


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