Chapter 87

Jeremiah stood outside Gibson Villa with a polite smile. "Ms. Gibson, all packed?"

"Yes." Abigail walked toward him, her steps light.

That morning, Jeremiah had informed her that Wyatt had already been transferred. Only she and Sebastian would know his whereabouts. The Gibson family would never find him.

Finally free from this toxic place, Abigail felt an indescribable relief.

Upstairs, Gabriel stretched by his bedroom window. When he spotted Jeremiah personally picking up Abigail, he froze. By the time he rushed downstairs, the car was already gone.

"Why didn't you stop her?" he barked at Stephen and Bianca.

Bianca looked at him with tear-filled eyes, whispering, "Did we make a mistake?"

"Parents never make mistakes!" Gabriel snapped, then softened upon noticing Ralph. "Mr. Fletcher, are you here to reason with Abby?"

"Stevie asked me to come," Ralph replied calmly, though deep down, Abigail's cheerful departure with Jeremiah unsettled him.

He thought, "She seemed so happy. Since when was she so close to Sebastian? Back at Maplewood Hospital, Sebastian wasn't even that friendly toward her."

Gabriel walked over to the sofa and sighed dramatically, "You treated Dani like a sister. If you felt the same way about Abby, maybe our families couldn't unite through marriage."

Ralph stayed silent. He had never intended to marry Daniella, and his feelings toward Abigail were complicated.

Stephen, recognizing Gabriel's manipulation, intervened. He was angry at Abigail for turning the Gibson family upside down, but he wouldn't drag Ralph into it.

Stephen said, "Dad, Ralph came because of our family ties. Abby is beyond persuasion now." He pulled Ralph toward the door. "We'll have breakfast before work."

Once in the car, Stephen muttered, "Don't take my dad's words seriously. With Dani out of Halden Group, he is literally clutching at straws now."

"I know." Ralph hesitated. "Abby works at Halden Group, but why is she so familiar with Sebastian's assistant?"

"Halden Group has cooperation with Celestial Group. Quentin gave Abigail a hard time and asked her to bring Sebastian on board. None of us thought she'd actually manage it. And now they're close. What's wrong? Are you jealous?" Stephen asked with a teasing smirk.

Ralph didn't answer. He kept his gaze fixed out the window and thought, 'So that's why Abigail approached Sebastian. But our first instinct was to accuse her...'

Regret and frustration tangled in Ralph's chest, making it hard to breathe.

Stephen studied his expression. "Ralph, do you like Abigail?"

Ralph glanced at him but didn't deny it. His voice was low and serious. "You know Sebastian's reputation. He's brilliant at work, but his extracurricular habits keep him sidelined in the Robinson family. You're fine with Abigail working closely with him? Aren't you afraid that..."

Sebastian was often seen with women. No one knew if they were his girlfriends or just companions. He never gave them any status, and after parting ways, those women always kept quiet.

"You mean I'm worried they'll end up in bed?" Stephen said bluntly. "That's her business, not my call. She treats me as an enemy anyway."

"Maybe because you earned that hatred," Ralph muttered.

For once, Stephen didn't defend Daniella. He started the engine after a long pause.

"I used to think Dani could do no wrong. But after her lies..." His grip tightened on the wheel. "I suddenly realized there were a lot of things about her that just didn't sit right."

Stephen had been stewing over this for days. Back then, he had been so focused on protecting Daniella that he had overlooked many things. But after realizing her lies, he found what she had told him was all so calculated.

"Just focus on her treatment. She's clearly unwell." Ralph wasn't interested in dissecting Daniella. For years, he had seen her as the sweet, gentle neighbor girl. But now, after she spread those rumors about Abigail, he found that he had never truly known her.