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Chapter 4

Penulis: Ena Starr
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2024-11-22 00:13:34

Abigail

My stomach dropped. “What?” 

“Susanna fainted,” he said, his voice rising. “The doctors think it could be something she ate. She said it started after breakfast.” 

“You think I did something to her?” I snapped, my frustration boiling over. 

“I’m not accusing you,” he said, though his tone didn’t fully match his words. “I just need to know if there was anything unusual in the food. Susanna’s health—”

“Was fine when I left the house,” I interrupted sharply. “I made her an omelette. Eggs, cheese, a pinch of salt. Nothing unusual. The same thing I’ve made a hundred times before.” 

He sighed on the other end of the line, and I could almost picture him pinching the bridge of his nose. “I’m not accusing you of anything, Abigail. I just—” 

“Just what?” I interrupted. “I’m here at the hospital, dealing with my own recovery, and now I have to defend myself because Susanna fainted? You think I’d harm her?” 

There was a long pause, and for a moment, I thought he’d hung up. Finally, he said, “No, I don’t think that. I just… I’m trying to understand what happened.” 

I let out a bitter laugh. “Maybe you should start by asking her. I’m sure she’ll have an answer that suits her.” 

The phone felt heavy in my hand as I listened to Susanna’s shaky voice come through the line.  “Oh, Abigail, please don’t feel bad,” she said. The words made me grit my teeth. “This isn’t your fault. I should have been more mindful of what I ate. Pregnant women need to be careful, after all.” 

I could hear Conrad murmuring something on the other end, his voice low and soothing. 

“Susanna, you need to rest,” he said gently, and there was a pause before he added, “Abigail, I think you owe her an apology.” 

My grip on the phone tightened. My breath hitched, but I managed to keep my voice steady. “Apologize? For what? For making toast?” 

“Abigail,” Conrad said, his tone a warning. 

I bit the inside of my cheek, my anger barely contained. “If she feels faint after eating the same food we all had, maybe the problem isn’t with the food.” 

“Abigail!” Conrad’s voice rose slightly, but I had already pulled the phone away from my ear. With a sharp press of my thumb, I ended the call and shoved the phone into my pocket. 

The house was silent when I returned, something I was beyond grateful for. I needed to clear my head. As I headed up the stairs, I could hear the faint ringing of a phone, echoing through the house. The sound seemed to come from Conrad’s private study. My stomach twisted with curiosity. What if it was important news about Alexander? He rarely allowed anyone in that room, especially when he wasn’t around, but I didn’t want to miss a potential update. I needed to answer it.

I hesitated only for a moment before moving toward the door. With a glance over my shoulder, I pushed the door open and stepped inside. It felt like crossing an invisible boundary, but the phone continued to ring, reminding of what I had come in here for. The room was dim, filled with rich mahogany furniture and shelves lined with books. I could feel the weight of Conrad’s disapproval in my chest, but I pushed it aside.

I could see the phone perched on his desk, still ringing. I picked it up, my pulse quickening as I introduced myself. “Hello, this is Abigail, Conrad Remington’s wife.”

“Ah, Mrs. Remington,” a male voice replied, sounding relieved. “This is Marshall, from the search team. We’ve been trying to reach Mr. Remington. We have an update regarding the situation with your brother-in-law, Alexander Remington.”

I straightened, every bit of my attention now focused. “What is it?” I asked, my heart pounding.

“We’ve found some potential leads and need to discuss them with him. We’re gathering more resources for the next phase of the search; it’s important that we follow up as soon as possible, with Mr. Remington’s approval, of course.”

“Yes, absolutely. I approve whatever is needed. I’ll let Conrad know. Please continue,” I said, my mind steady.

“Thank you, Mrs. Remington. We will keep you informed.”

As the voice on the other end provided details, I scribbled notes, my heart racing with the weight of the news. After we finished, I hung up, my breath shaky but my heart a little lighter. There was hope, even if it was only a little.

I stepped away from the desk, glancing around the room when something caught my eye—a beautiful oil painting hanging on the wall. I stepped closer, the dim light revealing the details. It was a stunning piece, almost ethereal, and I realized it resembled my silhouette, the lines delicate and graceful. It was me. The contours of the face, the hair swept back in a soft cascade, captured in a moment of serenity. I couldn’t hold back my gasp.  

Beside the painting was a bouquet of vibrant red roses, their rich color popping against the muted walls. Attached to the stems was a card. I picked it up opened it, my breath catching as I read the words inside:

“For someone special, whose strength shines brighter than any star. I hope this brings you joy on your special day.”

Happiness spread through me, and I felt a flutter of hope—was this a surprise for me from Conrad? Had he been planning this all along, to make up for the way he’d let Susanna come into our home, and all the stress she’d caused me?

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, and for a moment, I let myself believe that he had meant this for me, that he had been thinking of me all along, even when it seemed like his focus was elsewhere. I smiled at the thought, my heart lifting as I imagined sharing this news of my pregnancy with him alongside his surprise.

I decided to pretend I didn’t know about the roses, to wait for him to tell me himself, and to plan for the right moment to share my own news. It felt like a delicate dance, one that could tip the scales in our relationship. 

I stepped away from the painting, still smiling goofily.  Just as I turned to leave the study, the door opened, and Conrad stood there, his expression shifting from surprise to concern as he took in the sight of me. 

“Abigail? What are you doing here?”

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    AbigailHis voice held a hint of tension, and I felt a rush of apprehension.“I—uh, I heard the phone ringing.” I said, my mind racing to think of how to play this off. I couldn’t let him know I’d seen my surprise. “It was so loud, and I thought the call might be important.” His eyes narrowed slightly, and I could see the tension in his posture. He stepped into the room, a flicker of irritation crossing his face. “You shouldn’t have come in here, Abigail. You know how I feel about people being in this room without my permission.” He replied, his tone sharper than I expected.“I’m sorry. I didn’t think it would be a problem,” I replied. “You weren’t around, and it sounded urgent. It was about Alexander. I took the call. They have some leads, and I gave my permission for them to proceed.”The tension between us was thick as I stood there, waiting for Conrad’s response. His brow furrowed as if trying to choose the right words. But when he finally spoke, I felt my frustration boil over a

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  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 6

    AbigailA surge of doubt and fear almost made me faint. What if the person in this painting was Susanna? We do look quite alike, but I’m sure the person in the painting is me. It’s identical to the poster from my first role, the one my mother keeps, and I see it every time I go home. But if it’s my painting, why would it be given to Susanna?Susanna’s tears fell in perfect little drops, and her voice trembled with just enough emotion to be convincing.“Every year, Alexander would do something special for my birthday,” she sniffled, clutching the bouquet like a lifeline. “Thank you, Conrad. I never thought... I never thought anyone could make me feel like that again. This makes me feel like he’s still with me.”My husband placed the roses into Susanna’s hands with a smile so warm, it burned. “Happy birthday, Susanna. I hope this reminds you of Alexander—of how much you’re loved.”She burst into delicate sobs, burying her face into the roses as if overcome with emotion. It was a picture-

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  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 7

    AbigailMaybe it was because I had just heard his reasonable explanation and trusted him, or maybe I had a feeling there would be more reasons waiting for me. Either way, for the sake of the baby, my sleep was more important than where Conrad went. So, I turned and went straight to bed, deciding to leave the problem for tomorrow.By the time I got up, Conrad was already getting ready to leave.“Good morning,” Conrad stood by the mirror, adjusting his tie with practiced ease. His dark suit was crisp and perfectly tailored, the kind of sharpness that made it immediately obvious he was a man from a powerful family.“Morning,” I replied briefly, leaning against the doorframe, masking my unease with casual conversation. “Where were you last night?” I asked, my voice steady.His hands froze for the briefest second before he recovered quickly, smoothing the tie knot. “Working,” he said simply. “In the study.”I raised a brow, waiting for him to say more, but he didn’t. Instead, as if to steer

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  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 8

    AbigailI fastened the necklace around my neck, letting the cool metal rest against my collarbone as I studied my reflection. The earrings were already pinned to my ears. The jewelry Conrad had given me the night before sparkled in the morning light, a perfect complement to my plain dress. Despite everything, I wanted to feel put together, like myself. And this reminded me that above all else, my husband loves me.Stepping out of the bedroom, I barely made it a few steps before Susanna’s voice rang out, sickly sweet. “Oh, good morning, Abigail!”Her smile was bright, almost too bright, as her eyes flicked to the jewelry I wore. I gave her a polite nod, bracing for whatever comment she had prepared. “Morning, Susanna.”She tilted her head, an air of fake innocence about her. “Oh, that’s a lovely set you’re wearing. Did Conrad pick it out for you?”“Yes, he did,” I replied, unwilling to say any more.Her smile widened, but there was something predatory in it. “Speaking of jewelry, I can’

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  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 9

    AbigailI walked away from my room with deliberate steps, my fingers still tingling from the anger I had suppressed during my conversation with Conrad. The gall of his request was enough to make my blood boil. Yet, I hadn’t allowed my voice to rise. I couldn’t.But it still echoed in my ears. Lend Susanna my jewelry? The set he’d just given me last night as a token of his appreciation? Did he even hear himself?“Abigail,” Conrad called after me, his footsteps echoing down the hallway as he hurried to catch up. It followed me even as I tried to walk faster. His hand closed around my arm, halting my steps. “Wait.”“Don’t walk away like this,” he said, his brows knitted together. “What’s wrong with you today? Why are you making this such a big deal?”I turned to him slowly, keeping my face calm, though the fury simmering beneath threatened to boil over. “What’s wrong with me? Conrad, you just asked me to strip away what little respect I have left in this household and hand it over to your

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  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 10 (1)

    AbigailI stared at the boy, as he kept screaming, accusing me of touching him inappropriately. I could feel the disgust rolling off the crowd around us. As the security guards arrived, their authoritative presence immediately silenced the murmuring crowd around us. The noise of the crowd died down as they made way for the guards like Moses parting through the Red Sea. The teenage boy pointed at me as if I were a villain in a cartoon before launching into his dramatic story of lies. Tears even welled in his eyes.“She touched me,” he insisted, his voice loud and quivering just enough to sound convincing. “And then she threatened and hit me! Someone help me!”My jaw tightened as I glanced at Roxy, whose face was a mirror of disbelief. “This is ridiculous,” she hissed.But the guards weren’t taking chances. They exchanged glances, then looked at me, suspicion shining in their faces even though they tried to look professional.“Ma’am,” one of them said, his tone cautious but firm, “we’ll

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  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 10 (2)

    AbigailConrad patted the boy's head and calmly said, "No, I'm not her husband." Then he pulled his arm out of Susanna's and tried to take my hand.I took a step back to avoid his arm. Conrad looked confused and asked, "What's going on? What happened?"The officer explained what had happened, white the boy was still shouting loudly, "Aunt, you know this woman? She's a thug, she touched and hit me!"I saw Liliana’s face shift ever so slightly as she processed the details."Oh, Harry, stop." Liliana stopped the boy, Harry, from accusing me and then turned to me.“Oh dear,” she said with a gentle laugh, turning all her attention to me. “It seems there’s been a bit of a misunderstanding. We’re all family here, aren’t we? I’m sure it wasn’t anything inappropriate. Perhaps Harry was being naughty, and Abigail tried to discipline him? Boys can be such a handful at this age.”Her words were sugar-coated, but the implication was razor-sharp. My hands clenched at my sides as the officer’s frown

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  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 11

    Abigail“Abigail’s right.”Conrad’s agreement caught me off guard, so much so that I almost didn’t believe my ears. The surprise must have shown on my face, but I quickly masked it.Apparently, Susanna didn’t believe her ears as well, as her face twisted into a picture of wounded disbelief. She looked as if she'd just been betrayed by her most loyal supporter.“What?” she said, her voice high-pitched.“Abigail’s right,” he repeated firmly, turning to Susanna with a seriousness that had only been directed at me before and never her. “Harry is at an age where recklessness can lead to disaster. What if it had been y

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  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 149

    AbigailThe smell of the food filled the entire room, and something about the presence of Alexander beside me dulled the tightness I’d been carrying all day. The tension behind my eyes had started to fade as I picked at the grilled fish, letting the flavors roll across my tongue, my limbs slowly unknotting with every bite.“I’ve been getting calls from Liam,” I said, my voice tired but audible. I didn’t know why I chose now to bring it up; maybe because I finally felt safe enough to say it out loud.Alexander’s hand stilled mid-motion, his chopsticks hovering above the container of scallops. “Liam?” His eyes flicked to mine, sharp. “How long?”I nodded and swallowed. “It’s been a few times now. He says he’s changed and keeps asking to see me.”His brows drew together, and I could see him piecing something together. “He’s been coming to me too and asking to see you.” He paused. “He’s not been released from Ridgewell officially, but this is part of the treatment program; they release so

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    Abigail I didn’t know where I was going, I just kept driving. One street turned into another and headlights flashed past me in a blur. The city was quietly winding down while something restless stirred in my chest. My fingers were clenched so tight around the steering wheel, they ached. I told myself I would find a hotel. Or maybe I would go to Roxy’s, even though it was too late and she’d worry. But the truth was, I wasn’t thinking clearly at all. I wasn’t thinking at all.I just didn’t want to go home.And somehow, without meaning to, I ended up here. The car rolled to a slow stop in front of the tall, glittering building before I fully realized where I was. I blinked up at it, dazed and slightly breathless, my stomach twisting into an uncomfortable knot. I knew this place; it was the high rise I had met Alexander before we went to Ridgewell to see Liam. The lights shimmered against the glass like stars in a city that forgot what the real ones looked like. But I wasn’t looking at

  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 147

    AbigailAfter work, I found myself walking to the park instead of driving straight home.I told Roxy I’d leave early today, mostly because she looked ready to duct-tape me to my chair if I didn’t. But now that I had, I didn’t know what to do with myself. My body wasn’t worn down enough, and that small sliver of energy still lingering in me made me restless. If I’d had my way, I would’ve stayed in the office till one a.m., working until even my thoughts couldn’t keep up with me anymore. But Roxy had been especially worried lately. So, I’d smiled, packed up, and walked out like someone who had a life waiting for her outside those walls.I didn’t.So, here I was, wandering through the park with my coat still buttoned, my shoes making soft sounds against the path. The air was crisp but not cold, and the faint scent of blooming grass and wet earth filled my lungs. It was peaceful, in a way that made the ache in my chest feel sharper.To my left, I noticed a picnic spread out on a checkered

  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 146

    RoxyAnd yet he always asked as if he had nothing to do with it. As if it wasn’t his driver who opened the door for me, or his expense account that covered the seafood platter I’d been daydreaming about since 3 p.m.I settled in, crossing one leg over the other. What I couldn’t quite wrap my head around what I never could was how a man like Alexander could share even a single drop of blood with someone like Conrad.Conrad Remington, the walking ego. The emotional toddler. Every time I thought about him, it made me want to demand a DNA test on Alexander’s behalf. Maybe they swapped cribs at the hospital. Maybe one of them was adopted. Maybe God just wanted to play a particularly cruel practical joke.Still, why was I thinking about Conrad with what was in front of me?Sitting beside Alexander was one of the most delicious motivations I’d ever had for showing up anywhere on time; Daniel Woods, his secretary. The tall drink of sin I’d been lowkey thirsting over since the first moment I l

  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 145

    RoxyI yawned so hard I swore my jaw cracked. My screen dimmed in front of me, signaling the finality of another day. With a satisfying click, I shut down my computer and sat back in my chair, allowing myself a tiny internal cheer.Done. All of it. Not only had I cleared every task on my to-do list—emails, reports, that ridiculous revision James from Marketing demanded this morning—I had also accomplished the almost-impossible: I’d managed to convince Abigail to leave on time. No 11 p.m. grind, no haunting the office like a lonely ghost with the cleaning crew. She actually packed up and went home like a normal person. That was a victory in itself.I stretched my arms above my head and yawned again, this one longer. All I wanted now was to kick off my heels, boil water for some scandalously sodium rich ramen, and fall asleep in the middle of an episode of Love & Lies: Southside Edition. It was my guilty pleasure, that trashy little reality series with way too many slow motion breakups

  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 144

    AbigailI told myself not to let that reflection haunt me. It was just a slip. I had slept poorly last night and barely remembered to eat breakfast this morning. I was tired, yes. A little thinner? maybe. But I wasn’t broken. I wouldn’t let my own reflection, however unfamiliar it seemed, get to me.By the time I returned to the office, the feelings of listlessness still clung to me like damp clothes, but I pushed through. I had too much to do to afford even a second of moping. The artificial white lights overhead buzzed softly as I walked through the open-plan floor, sandwich bag in hand, ignoring the curious glance Elle shot me from her desk.She didn’t say anything. But the slight furrow in her brow and the tight purse of her lips told me exactly what she was thinking.She didn’t like that the small bag in my hand was far too small for the elaborate meal she had wanted me to return with. I sat down without acknowledging her and unwrapped the sandwich like it was the key to world pe

  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 143

    “You don’t have to stress yourself over me,” I said quietly, watching Elle storm around like a small, angry thundercloud. She spun around sharply, her eyes flashing. Before she could say anything, Roxy stepped forward. Without a word, she pulled her credit card from her pocket and thrust it toward me. “Go get lunch,” she said, her voice firm. “Anything you want. Expensive, greasy, complicated, I don’t care. But when you get back, I better see a substantial charge on that card, or I swear I’ll put you on forced vacation.” I opened my mouth to protest, but Roxy narrowed her eyes at me like a predator eyeing its prey. And Elle looked like she’d physically drag me to the nearest restaurant and force feed me if I dared say no. So I just nodded, accepting the card with quiet obedience, even though I felt like a child being scolded by two very determined mothers. I grabbed my bag and left the office, their combined gazes hot on my back, daring me to come back empty-stomached. As I stepp

  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 142

    AbigailI stared at the list for a few moments longer, letting my thoughts drift. Allan would be the last one I would target for a while. Things were heating up too fast. Conrad was furious with how successful I was; Elle often gossiped about how her old coworkers were walking on eggshells around him, flinching at his temper and avoiding his gaze. And he’d threatened me two more times since that embarrassing outburst in the hallway, his words carrying warning. Ha, all bark, no bite.He didn’t scare me. What did I have to lose? There was a meeting coming up in a few days and something about the way the internal memo had been worded told me there was going to be a vote. I wasn’t totally off guard, I had heard things from the talk making its way around the company. It had to be about that risky new project Conrad proposed a while back. On paper, it looked promising and bold. But the risk was astronomical, and I knew most of the board members were hesitant to sign off on it.This was my

  • Abandoned by Ex, Married to His CEO Brother   Chapter 141

    AbigailAfter Conrad dragged me into that conference room and tried to intimidate me, I walked away with my heart steady and my head high. Trying to rattle me and drag me back into the little box he once kept me in had failed. If anything, it only lit the fire under me.Ross Delaney had only been the beginning.Elle submitted her transfer request the very same day. I’d barely finished going over a few client files when she popped her head into my cubicle and asked, “Still want me?”I nodded, smiling. “More than ever.”By the time the sun dipped below the skyline that evening, Roxy strolled by my desk, leaned against the frame of my door with her usual languid elegance, and quipped, “You work fast.” Her mouth lifted in a smile. “I saw the transfer request from Acquisitions a while ago. Mr. Hayes already processed it. Elle’s yours.”“Thank you,” I said, smiling back at her. I liked the way Roxy often looked at me these days. I had always seen respect there, but now, there seemed to be mo

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