Chapter 91
Abigail’s brows furrowed instantly at the angry shout. Christian, who’d been working abroad, had actually come back.
But her attention was on Sebastian, whose expression had turned icy. His happy birthday had been ruined because of her. Abigail felt deeply guilty. “I’ll deal with this personal matter first. Sorry, Mr. Robinson, for ruining your birthday party.”
At that moment, she couldn’t help thinking that without the Gibson family, her life might have been better. Before going to prison, she’d already had enough money. She could be a designer and attend a good university with tuition waived and scholarships.
She would have her own friends, and none of this would be happening now.
Sebastian gave a lazy smile, his tone casual. “Birthdays are the same every year. I’ve been bored with them for ages. This year’s actually a big surprise.”
Hearing this, James and the others stepped back to their original spots.
Christian stood at the door, staring straight at Abigail beside Sebastian, his voice furious. “This is a Gibson family matter. I don’t care who you are—out of it.”
James couldn’t help snickering, and Sebastian’s friends even let out soft laughs. Abigail thought Christian, having been praised too much during his years working abroad, had forgotten who was in charge here tonight.
“Abigail, if you want to go out and talk with him, we won’t stop you. If not, we’ll handle it,” Sebastian said slowly. Since rising to power in Cobridge, he’d rarely met someone so reckless as to provoke him.
Seeing his unfriendly gaze, Daniella quickly turned to Abigail. “Abby, Chris just got back and doesn’t know these people. Could you–”
Abigail interrupted impatiently. “He’s your brother. What does his life or death have to do with me? You ruined Mr. Robinson’s birthday party–don’t you think you should pay for that?”
Christian tried to speak, but Sebastian had already acted. He picked up the iron dice box and smashed it into Christian’s face, making Daniella scream and stumble back several steps.
Sebastian’s eyes were icy, yet his face still wore a careless smile. “Close the door,” he said, cracking his wrists. The sound made Christian finally feel a flicker of fear.
Daniella hadn’t expected this from Sebastian and turned to blame Abigail. “Anyway, the Gibson family raised you for years. Are you just going to stand there and watch Chris get beaten?”
James couldn’t stand it anymore and sneered. “Stop the moral grandstanding, will you? You barged in here uninvited and ruined Seb’s party. If you hadn’t asked for trouble, he wouldn’t be getting hit. Being on the moral high ground doesn’t make you right.”
“Well said,” the mild-looking man beside him chimed in with a smile.
Abigail thought that men who smile while squinting were actually intimidated.
Daniella had been pursued by men since childhood and had countless suitors as an adult–no man had ever spoken to her so harshly.
She knew her advantage as a beauty and had used it to the fullest; otherwise, Christian, Stephen, and even Ralph wouldn’t have always defended her unconditionally.
But tonight, her beauty and watery eyes seemed useless to Sebastian and his friends.
As they spoke, Sebastian had stepped in front of Christian. He was half a head taller, and when he looked down coldly at Christian, the latter’s heart trembled. Christian’s legs instinctively went weak, and he nearly knelt.
Daniella refused to give up. With red eyes, she stepped forward, putting on the delicate expression she’d practiced countless times. “Mr. Robinson, it’s all my fault. Please don’t hurt Chris.”
Sebastian looked at her with extreme indifference. “Weren’t you going to kneel earlier? Why are you still standing?”
Daniella saw the disgust in his eyes. In the past, men had only looked at her with desire, affection, or infatuation–never disgust. It was as if her heart were being squeezed, and her body couldn’t stop trembling.
“Kneel,” James chimed in.
Abigail had been forced to kneel, slap herself, and beg for mere countless times in similar situations. Watching Daniella now filled her eyes with nothing but helplessness, panic, and shame. Now it was Daniella’s turn, with no one to help her. Her eyes kneel wasn’t as satisfying as Abigail had thought.