Chapter 49

Daniella cut Ralph off, “Ralphie, I’ve always liked chess, but I haven’t learned how to play yet. Could you teach me sometime?”

Ralph nodded, but just as he was about to continue his previous words, Abigail stood up and turned to Adam. “Adam, I’m afraid we’ll have to continue this game another day. I’ll come back and play with you when I have time.”

Adam, though a little disappointed, nodded in understanding.

They were talking, and Abigail just said she would leave. Ralph’s face darkened after getting ignored by Abigail again, and he thought she just didn’t take them seriously.

Daniella’s eyes flickered with irritation, but when she looked up, her expression was one of wounded innocence.

Naturally, Stephen couldn’t stand to see her upset. His tone was sharp as he turned on Abigail. “Abigail, Ralph and Dani are speaking to you. Who taught you to be so rude?”

Abigail couldn’t be bothered to respond. She’d already greeted Adam and spent time with him. That was all that mattered.

Abigail turned to leave, but Stephen stepped in her way. “What kind of attitude is that? We are still here. Who said you could leave?”

“My attitude isn’t clear enough?” Abigail glanced at them all—excluding Cillian and Elena. Though she knew they disliked her, Abigail would still show them some respect for the sake of Adam.

Stephen clenched his jaw and growled, “Abigail, we came here today for an important matter. Stop making a scene.”

Abigail genuinely couldn’t understand why Stephen thought she was trying to make a scene. All she wanted was to leave.

“Mr. Adam Fletcher, Gabriel and I came today to discuss the engagement. We wanted to hear your opinion,” Bianca said.

As Stephen held Abigail up over the chess table, Gabriel and Bianca had already led Daniella over and were now seated with Cillian, Elena, and Ralph.

Adam wasn’t surprised to hear that. He gave a slight nod and replied, “I have no objections.”

Daniella looked shy and overjoyed, her gaze tender and full of longing.

Ralph frowned, confused. “What engagement?”

Despite wanting her son to marry someone from a prestigious family, Elena couldn’t deny that Daniella was still one of the best choices among Cobridge’s socialites.

The Gibson family’s children were all competent, and there was a good chance that their family would rise again.

Thinking this, Elena turned to Ralph with a smile. “It’s a good thing, of course. You and Dani have known each other for so long. We’re thinking of hosting an engagement party for the two of you and making it official.”

Stephen cast a smug look at Abigail. “Did you hear that? And you said it wasn’t important?”

Abigail let out a soft laugh, her tone flat. “That doesn’t sound important to me. Now move.”

Stephen warned her, his voice low and threatening. “What are you planning to do? Don’t even think about ruining this.”

Abigail’s eyes held thinly veiled contempt. “I have better things to do than meddle in this kind of farce.”

She stepped around Stephen, just as Ralph’s voice rang out. “I don’t agree.”

All three people from the Gibson family widened their eyes.

Daniella looked completely stunned, her voice trembling. “Ralphie, y–you don’t want to be engaged to me?”

Ralph looked at her with guilt in his eyes. To be honest, he had never thought of that before. “Dani, I’m sorry. I’ve only ever thought of you as a friend. I never considered…”

“Stop it. I don’t want to hear it.” Daniella broke down instantly. Her eyes turned red with tears as she stood up and ran off.

“Dani,” Bianca called after her in a panic.

Cillian and Elena looked equally alarmed. “Ralph, go after her. Hurry!”

Ralph reluctantly stood up and chased after her.

Abigail watched the scene unfold with amused detachment, as though she were watching a well-rehearsed play.

Stephen wanted to run after Daniella too, but before he did, he turned and grabbed Abigail by the arm.

Abigail stumbled from the sudden force, trying to shake him off. But the difference in their strength was obvious.

She protested, “Stephen, let me go.”

“Don’t move. Just come with me. I’m not going to hurt you.” He glanced at her, visibly irritated, and pulled her along even faster.

Abigail was shoved into a car. As the vehicle started, she looked calmly at Stephen and asked, “Where are you taking me?”

Stephen didn’t respond. He kept his eyes glued to the window, searching for Daniella. She had disappeared and he couldn’t see her anywhere. He wasn’t sure if Ralph had caught up to her.

Getting no answer, Abigail gave up on asking. She pulled out her phone and started scrolling casually.

Stephen grew more agitated by the minute without seeing Daniella. Seeing Abigail’s relaxed expression in the rearview mirror ignited his fury.

He snapped, “Abigail, do you even have a conscience? Dani ran off, and you’re sitting there playing with your phone?”

Abigail looked up, her tone laced with sarcasm. “Did I ask her to run? She only stormed out because she knew someone would run after her.”

Stephen’s expression turned dark. “What the hell do you mean by that? If it weren’t for you, none of this would’ve happened.”

Abigail’s gaze grew cold, cutting through him like ice. “Am I wrong? I told you before, Ralph and Daniella were bound to end up together. I warned you to stay away from Ralph. And what did you do?

“You ignored it. A perfectly good engagement is ruined because you can’t mind your own business. Abigail, if you had even the tiniest shred of decency, you’d feel guilty. You’d take responsibility for all this.”

Stephen, now with a full outlet for his frustration, dumped every ounce of blame onto Abigail.

Abigail stared at him, her expression unreadable. “Are you done?”