Abigail's POV
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My fury was beyond words, and all I could do was clench my jaw and bite back the urge to rip into the witch's neck. I knew that violence wouldn't solve anything, but it was hard to keep my emotions in check.
Though I would have preferred to look away but i forced myself to turn and face her. I caught sight of the tray in her hands, trying to ignore the smell of fresh, warm food."Ah, it's wonderful to see your daughter here, isn't it? I'm glad we've moved past our differences. It was quite a difficult time, but we've come out stronger." She flashed a feigned surprise and approached me with an angelic smile.Her smile was so sickeningly sweet, it made me want to gag.Despite the cheerful expression on her face, I could see the malice and hatred behind her eyes. It was clear that she despised us, and we felt the same way about her. The act she was putting on was so transparent, it was almost laughable.This woman, with her saccharine smile and forced kindness, was the same person who had schemed to destroy my life five years ago. She hadn't changed a bit, and I knew that she would never stop trying to bring me down. No matter how much time passed or how different our circumstances became, her hatred for me remained unchanged.I chose to stay silent, not wanting to give the woman the satisfaction of seeing me riled up. I turned my attention back to my father, "Goodbye dad, I will always love you." I leaned in close, gently pressing my lips to my father's cheek.My father didn't respond but his eyes said it all, that was all the validation I needed.Clutching my purse tightly, I strode past my stepmother, shooting her a cold stare before leaving the room.***I raised my hand and waved down a taxi, opening the door and sliding inside. As the car pulled away from the curb, I gave the driver directions to Allen Garden, where my friend Joyce lived. I leaned back and closed my eyes.The drive was over all too soon, and the car pulled up to the wrought iron gates of the estate. I took a moment to collect myself before stepping out of the car.I handed the driver his fare, along with a generous tip, and he smiled at me in thanks.Knock knock!Joyce teased, "Wow, you sure took your sweet time getting back from the airport! We were practically holding our breath waiting for your return."I chuckled softly and proceeded to make my way indoors."Mummy mummy, you are back!"Audrey's excitement bubbled over as he hurriedly made his way towards me, his arms outstretched in anticipation of a heartfelt hug.With a soft chuckle escaping my lips, I couldn't resist teasingly remarking, "Well, how could I possibly decline the embrace of an angelic being such as yourself?"After our embrace, he turned and shuffled back to the couch, never taking his eyes off the television. It was clear that he was engrossed in the program, and I was happy to let him enjoy it."Did you find your purse?""Oh yes! Here it is" I brought it closer for her to see."Hmmm "She was scrutinizing me with such intensity that could make me wish for the ground to swallow me."You lied, didn't you?" she blurted out, causing me to bow my head, avoiding her gaze in embarrassment."I...i" I stammered and could not find the right words to say.Joyce was my closest friend, and the guilt of deceiving her weighed heavily on me. I couldn't bear the thought of lying to her again."I met him," I said, looking up to finally meet her burning gaze."Who?" she inquired, raising her eyebrows with a touch of curiosity.Breathing down deeply, I whispered, "My father "Joyce placed her hands on my shoulders, as if offering comfort, and uttered, "After all he did."In a fit of anger, I retorted, "It wasn't him, it was them," before quickly realizing my mistake and regretting my sharp tone."I deeply regret deceiving you; it wasn't my intention. But my father is innocent and loves me as much as I love him."She looked at me with a mix of compassion and concern. I guessed she knew that I was struggling with my emotions, and didn't want to push me to talk if I wasn't ready."It's okay. You can stay as long as you want, I don't mind."I nodded my head, "no no, I don't want to be a burden."Joyce stood up and made her way to the dining area, her footsteps echoing in the quiet room. I followed close behind, my steps uncertain."You can never be a burden"I finally heard her say after a minute of silence."I found an apartment online, and we're moving in tomorrow. You've already done so much for me, please." My lips curved into a bittersweet smile.Joyce gestured for me to take a seat on the table, and I complied.The tantalizing aroma of freshly cooked spaghetti and meatballs enveloped me, instantly igniting my senses. Even the savory scent wafted through the air and swirled around me like a comforting embrace. My mouth watered involuntarily."This is yummy" I said with a mouthful of spaghetti in my mouth, and she smiled warmly."You know I'm a good cook."As she boasted, I couldn't help but shake my head. Just as I opened my mouth to speak, I suddenly remembered something, but she beat me to it, speaking before I could utter a word."Don't worry, he's already eaten.""Oh," I muttered quietly, feeling a wave of relief wash over me.After dinner, I showered and retired to a spare room for the night.Audrey lay sleeping beside me, his eyelashes gently resting on his closed eyes."Goodnight, love," I whispered, planting a tender kiss on his adorable little face before making my way over to the computer.Abigail's POV *** I had many schools to choose from in my neighborhood, but one caught my attention. It was close to my apartment, just a short walk away. That was an important factor, as I didn't want to waste time commuting. Plus, the school seemed like a good fit for my son. I carefully reviewed all the details about the school, and I was convinced it was the right choice for my son. So I clicked the "Apply" button and uploaded a photo of my son, Audrey. The payment process was straightforward - I just had to enter my credit card information into a secure online form. I appreciated the convenience of paying online, as it saved me the hassle of writing a check or mailing a money order. Once I completed the payment, I was able to move on to the next step. I tried to keep my eyes open, but they felt heavy and began to droop. Satisfied that I had successfully enrolled my son in the school, I shut down my computer and headed to bed. I lay down, my body feeling heavy and my eyes g
Third POVA middle-aged woman, with her gracefully aging features, offered a friendly wave to a young girl. Her stunning red gown complemented her equally radiant lipstick and the makeup she wore concealed the natural signs of age, transforming her into a youthful woman who could have passed for someone in her thirties.Kate slowly lowered her hand as she watched her daughter disappear from view, her shoulders relaxing as she exhaled a contented sigh. A fan as exquisite as a work of art was produced from her purse, and she waved it with a flourish, as though she were royalty.Kate walked with an air of poise and confidence, her hips swaying with the kind of effortless grace that can only come from years of self-assurance. Her body was a work of art, even in her maturity, and one could sense the allure that must have drawn people to her in her youth.The sleek silhouette of her Bugatti Veyron stood out among the other vehicles in the parking lot, and she strode towards it with a sense
Third POV "Father?" Kate called out, her voice echoing through the vast emptiness of the living room. The room was impeccably clean, with not a speck of dust to be seen, but there was no sign of her father. Only the servants were there, busying themselves with their chores. Exhaustion washed over her, and she sank down onto the plush velvet couch, leaning back into the soft cushions. "Get me an iced water, now!" Kate snapped, the frustration clear in her tone. She felt the heat rising within her, and she needed something to cool her down.A maid quickly scurried off to get the iced water, her footsteps echoing on the marble floor. She soon returned, carrying a tall glass filled with ice and cool, refreshing water. She placed it on the table in front of Kate, who reached for it gratefully. The maid stood motionless, waiting for Kate to dismiss her. She was trained never to leave the room until she was explicitly told to do so. She watched as Kate gestured for her to go, and she bow
Abigail's POV ***I approached the door to the office, and as I drew near, it slid open effortlessly, almost as if it was beckoning me inside. The door was clearly high-tech, a marvel of modern engineering. Its smooth, gleaming surface reflected the fluorescent lights above. "Welcome, Abigail," the woman said warmly, gesturing to the chair across from her. "My name is Elena, and I'll be reviewing your application documents today." The room was well-lit and inviting, and Elena's smile put me at ease.With a quick, curt nod, I took my seat, the smile still plastered on my face."It's nice to meet you, Ms. Elena," I said, extending my hand for a handshake. She took it in hers.I took in the crisp, perfectly-ironed blue shirt she was wearing, and noticed the carefully applied makeup on her face. Her hair was immaculately styled, and every detail of her appearance was flawless as if she'd just stepped out of a fashion magazine. Ms. Elena adjusted the rim of her glasses and leafed through
Abigail's POV *** "A meeting?" I mused to myself, the words echoing in my head. I knew I had to get there on time and make a good impression, especially since it was my first day on the job. I couldn't afford to make a bad first impression.After carefully adjusting my dress, I took a deep breath and checked my reflection in the mirror. The silk gown shimmered in the light, and I made sure the fabric was smooth and wrinkle-free. It didn't take long to find the executive floor, thanks to the clearly marked signs and helpful staffs. The elevator whisked me up to the correct level, and I stepped out into a gleaming hallway, decorated with fine art and luxurious furnishings.I entered the room, the door creaking slightly as it closed behind me. Inside, a group of people were gathered around a large table, and they turned to look at me in unison. I felt their collective gaze on me, like a spotlight shining down on me from above. I tried to keep my composure as I looked around the room u
Abigail's POV *** After what felt like hours of endless discussions, the meeting finally came to an end.I stepped into my office, and the sight that greeted me was a mountain of paperwork, neatly arranged on my desk.My forehead creased as I picked up one of the files and studied it, wondering how it had ended up on my desk.The contents of the file indicated that it was meant for the CEO, so I knew I would have to hand-deliver it to his office.Suddenly, it all made sense - the file was a list of designs that we had been assigned to work on. Elena had mentioned something about it earlier on her way out of her office.As much as I hated the idea, I didn't have a choice and maybe I could get on his good side but with the way he looked at me in the meeting room, I knew I stood no chance.I grabbed the files and held them close to my chest. If it meant walking into the den of the lion to keep my job then I would.There was something about my new boss that irked me, and I couldn't shake
Abigail POV***"Could you prepare a macchiato espresso using the coffee machine?"Reluctantly, I turned to face him, feeling a pang of irritation. What did he think I was? I wasn't a coffee maker; I was his personal assistant.But despite my reluctance, I couldn't refuse. I didn't have a choice; my job was at stake."Yes, of course," I responded, my voice coming out slightly stiff. With measured steps, I walked back to the table and carefully set down the files.I made my way over to the coffee maker, which was somewhere in his office.It took me a while to prepare it, but when I finished, I reached out to hand him his freshly made coffee."Here it is"The scalding heat from the coffee burned my fingertips as I held it, but I gritted my teeth and endured the discomfort, silently urging him to take it from my outstretched hand."Take a sip," he instructed, his tone firm.I shook my head in protest, signaling that I couldn't drink something that wasn't intended for me."I'm sorry, but
Abigail's POV***A lump rose in my throat and I held back the tears that threatened to spill from my eyes. I couldn't help but wonder, "Why did he hate me so much?" Feeling devastated and angry at myself, I knew I should have been more careful with the cup of coffee.I heard a familiar sound behind me, a sound I knew so well - the sound of John's footsteps. "Hey, Abigail!" he called out, and I turned to see his friendly face.Even though he seemed to be struggling to catch his breath, he still wore his usual big smile."Hey, want to come join us in the cafeteria for lunch?" he asked, his eyes filled with hope, and I responded with a nod of agreement."Absolutely!" I giggled, hoping my laughter would hide the sadness I felt inside.The thought of grabbing lunch with my coworkers didn't sound bad. I mean, it could be a nice opportunity to mingle and really get to know the people around here.I thought it was high time I make more of an effort to connect with the people I work alongside