"Ron...""Go on?"Abigail took a deep breath. "If Emma is actually still out there, and you happen to find her, I'm begging you, don't mess up her life. She deserves to live it her way, the way she's chosen.""Has Emma ever talked about me?""Yeah, she mentioned you.""What did she say? Can you share it with me?"Ron, noticeably aged and steadier than before, seemed to have left his impulsive rage behind. Abigail found herself believing in his gradual transformation. "Emma used to have deep feelings for you. But your emotional coldness after you got married made her lose trust in you. And what you did to her... It just drove her to want to get away from you." Her gaze held Ron's. "You're well aware of your actions, so there's no need for me to reiterate."Ron remained quiet.Abigail noted the white strands in Ron's hair, thinking to herself, 'Ron's hair turned white so suddenly, probably due to Emma's death. He must have really cared about her, just... in a misguided way.' She
Winston's tone was firm. "Mr. Hagrid, it's time to leave."Being on the Blau family's turf, Ron knew better than to linger. "Okay, I'm off. But if Ms. Renee changes her mind, tell me right away."Without another word, Winston simply repeated, "Mr. Hagrid, please leave."Ron attempted to ease the tension. "We go way back, Winston. Why so serious?""Mr. Hagrid, do you really not know why I'm upset?"Ron clarified his position. "I've made things right with Johann. At the airport, I only meant to spook Xander, not harm Abigail."Winston was unyielding. "You're only here because Mr. Blau is resting. Had he known about your visit, he wouldn't have let you in, especially not to see Ms. Renee."Ron conceded. "I knew Johann would be resting, that's why I came to see Abigail."Winston's face grew stern. "Have you been spying on the Blau residence?""Who would dare to spy here? It's easy to learn about Johann's routine if you ask around." Winston did not respond. Ron added, "Okay, I'm of
Abigail immediately grabbed her phone, scouring the internet for any scoop on Viscerovorax. Despite her intense search, she found nothing. That was when she remembered Nova, who was arrested for making fake drugs, and the link to evidence Raymond collected that Melody had mentioned. 'Is it possible Nova's drug is Viscerovorax?'With this idea, she quickly called Melody, hoping to connect with Raymond for more information. But all she got was a chilly automated message: "The number you've dialed is off. Please try again later." In her rush, she totally spaced out that Melody was likely on a flight from Valtara to Florivera.Abigail realized she did not have Raymond's number, so she quickly looked up Margaret's. Dialing without a second thought, she was startled to find Margaret's line constantly engaged. It seemed less like a genuine busy signal and more like she had been blocked. Every path to the truth she tried was sealed off, keeping her out in the cold. Then, she remembered Lydia
Lydia, confident in how to handle Abigail thanks to instructions from her hirer, still felt a twinge of guilt when confronted. "I'm the one in charge here. There's nobody else."Abigail's gaze was piercing. "Look into my eyes and say that one more time."Lydia battled her guilt. "What's up with you? Has someone been talking to you? Come on, sit down. Let's chat."A slight smile appeared on Abigail's face. "Maybe I'm just reading too much into things.""What's on your mind?""Just thinking out loud." Abigail shrugged it off.After a brief pause, Lydia said, "How about you crash at my place tonight? We could really talk it out.""No thanks, I better head home."Abigail began to leave, moving slowly and heavily as if each step was a struggle. As she stepped out of Lydia's house, she stumbled a bit, and Lydia was quick to offer support."I'll walk you home, Abigail."Abigail withdrew her arm. "No need. I'll go by myself."A few steps away, Abigail crouched down, sneaking a glanc
Abigail was on the edge. "He's avoiding me? I'll just have to find him myself." She headed back inside.Just a few days ago, Lydia had pointed out that the third floor was off-limits, a private area. But Abigail was sure that if Xander was in the villa, he would be hiding there. Determined, she headed straight to the third floor, unchallenged. It led to the master bedroom, a massive suite that was neat and organized but strangely lifeless, as if no one really lived there. It lacked any personal touch that Abigail could recognize. A sinking feeling began to gnaw at her.'Could the online gossip about Xander's death actually be true? Maybe Ron was correct, and Xander is no longer with us.'Suddenly, a wave of sharp, numbing pain overwhelmed Abigail, leaving her too weak to stand. Murmuring to herself, she asked, "Did I arrive too late? Did I learn the truth only after it was too late?" But unexpectedly, as she turned around, she was greeted by a very familiar face. "Grandma?"Margare
Kane glanced back at Margaret and then at Nathan, who was lying on the bed without moving. "Don't worry, Old Madam. Nathan hasn't woken up yet, but his vital signs are steady."Margaret felt a bit more at ease knowing Nathan's vital signs were stable. She stepped into the room, her eyes also resting on Nathan. "He figured out that Abigail was suspecting something, so he told me to rush over to Valtara to help him out. I followed his plan, but I'm not sure. Are we really doing the right thing for Abigail by going along with this?"Margaret remembered the look of utter despair on Abigail's face earlier and began to doubt their actions. She had been close to revealing the truth to Abigail, even considering bringing her to see Nathan. Yet, ultimately, Margaret chose to respect Nathan's wishes. They had hidden the truth from Abigail for so long; it seemed wrong to give up now.Kane said, "I've talked to Nathan about this, but just look at him. His biggest fear right now is Abigail seeing
"I did it all for Abigail, really. I didn't want her to end up alone so young. That's why I went along with Xander's plan and kept her in the dark. After she and Xander split, I pretended to be clueless. I was pretty mad at Xander, and at the same time, I tried to find new guys for Abigail.I figured with all the awesome guys I knew, she'd definitely find someone she liked. But things just didn't go the way I thought they would. Everything went off the rails. And Dana, seeing Abigail so upset, it makes me wonder if helping Xander keep that secret is really the right thing to do.""Mr. Blau..." Edward rushed over, cutting off Johann's monologue. "I found out something. Lydia next door, she's definitely up to something."Johann looked intrigued. "Is she connected to the Zane family?"Edward confirmed with a nod. "Yeah, she is. And I think Abigail is onto her too. She went next door just a bit ago to check things out."Johann raised his eyebrows in surprise. "That kid is still causin
Before Johann had a chance to speak, Abigail quickly said, "As soon as I'm done with this job, I'm going back to Florivera."Johann was instantly worried. "Are you mad at—""No, Grandpa, I'm not mad at you. I made a deal with Mel and Fee. We all run the studio together, so it's only fair that I do my part and not just share the profits, right?""That makes sense, but—"Abigail interrupted him again, gazing at her grandmother's photo. "Grandma, I've been living like you told me to, doing well all this time. The baby will be born soon. I'll bring the little one to North Florivera to see you." She stood up. "Grandpa, I'm going to bed. You should hit the hay early too.""Let me walk you to your room."Abigail gently refused, "No need for that. You probably want to spend more time talking with Grandma. Take your time."Johann, still worried, got up as well. "Abigail..."Abigail flashed him a comforting smile. "I'm really fine. Don't worry about me."Johann reluctantly accepted her
Emma turned and dashed into the bathroom. She cranked the faucet on and splashed water on her face, aiming to soothe her nerves.Although they were engaged, they were still too young, with countless uncertainties looming over their future. The possibility of actually walking down the aisle was up in the air.Decisions made in a rush of happiness could eventually become sources of regret. And Emma knew all too well that she couldn't afford any regrets.She thought that fortunately, Ron hadn't pushed things further, which gave her time to cool off.After freshening up, Emma stepped out to find Ron on the balcony, a cigarette in hand.She couldn't resist chiding him, "I've told you to cut down on smoking. Why can't you seem to remember?"This time, Ron complied, snuffing out the cigarette. "We should get some sleep. We've got to put our best foot forward when we meet your family tomorrow.""Okay, I'll sleep on the couch. You take the bed," Emma responded.Ron simply replied, "As y
Ron looked at her dawdling pace with disdain. "If you, a lady, can handle it, why can't I, a grown man, stay?"His words sounded noble, but Ron regretted them the moment they arrived at the hotel.Despite now earning a decent income, Emma was still reluctant to spend money.This place was hardly a hotel; it was clearly a budget inn charging only a few dozen bucks a night. The hygiene was questionable at best, and safety seemed like a gamble.Ron turned on his heel, dragging her suitcase behind him. "We're leaving, now.""It's too late, and we can't get a refund for the room.""Are you trying to get us killed?"Emma fell silent, her thoughts a whirlwind of frustration. 'I told him he wouldn't be used to cheap places. He insisted on coming with me, and now he won't even let me stay here alone. Why is he so annoying?'However, considering Ron had rushed over in the middle of the night to help her, Emma decided not to hold it against him.Ron picked the best hotel in the area—the
Rebekah glanced over at Ron; she exchanged a knowing look with him before saying, "I'll have someone tidy up the rooms. Why don't you two stay here tonight and keep me company?"Ron replied simply, "Sure."Emma had purchased a midnight flight back to South Florivera, necessitating a rush to the airport, which made staying over after dinner impossible.Yet, she found herself at a loss for words, struggling to decline Rebekah's kind offer.As she hesitated, Ron stepped in to clear the air. "Mom, I've got something on tonight. After dinner, I'll drive Emma back to her dorm."Rebekah raised an eyebrow. "What's so important?" she wondered aloud, thinking, 'Wasn't he the one insisting Emma stay over? What's he up to now?'Ron kept it mysterious. "Life stuff."Rebekah could not help but chide him lightly, "You, always the joker."Right after dinner, Ron insisted on leaving to take Emma back to her dormitory. But as soon as they were out of the gated community, he asked, "So, you reall
Ron chuckled. "I didn't know you were aware that even a cornered rat will fight."Emma shot him a glare. "Are we going or not?"Ron quickly said, "Of course. When Miss Blue commands, how can I dare not obey?"Fearing another of his notorious driving escapades, Emma hastily buckled her seatbelt as she settled into the car.Thankfully, this time Ron kept it smooth, driving steadily.As they neared their destination, Ron finally spoke up, "You know, that Tucker guy is a married man. Don't let his kindness fool you into being the other woman."Emma's gaze on Ron was fiery, seething with anger. "Do you even hear yourself? Is that what you think of me? For the last time: Tucker and I share nothing more than a mentor-mentee relationship. There's nothing else between us.""I'm just looking out for you, worried you might get deceived," Ron said, witnessing Emma's fury for the first time. Yet, he could not help but find her anger not at all intimidating, but rather endearingly foolish.R
The two sisters had a pact: no cell phones at home to keep their secrets from the prying eyes of the Blue family. Thus, Emma could call only at prearranged times, the sole window for Rihanna to catch up.Rihanna's voice bubbled with excitement over the phone, as she chattered away about her life's minutiae.Knowing Rihanna was doing well eased Emma's mind.Just as Emma was about to end the call, she heard Rihanna's voice, soft and wistful. "You're really not coming home for the holidays? If you don't, I'll be all alone."Emma's heart clenched at those words, and she made up her mind in an instant. "I'll come back the day before New Year's Eve."The Blue family had their hands full with festivities that day, too busy to notice Rihanna's absence. Emma figured slipping back unnoticed then would be her best shot.After hanging up, Emma immediately booked a flight from Valtara to South Florivera. With her ticket secured and her last bit of work finished, Emma prepared to leave her off
Emma had no interest in romance, let alone the audacity to dream that Ron might fancy her.This time, she did not pick up the thread of conversation.After dinner, Ron, as usual, drove Emma back to the university.Before parting, Ron said, "Winter break is almost upon us, and the dorms might be off-limits. Are you sure you don't want to stay at my place for a couple of months?"Emma offered a smile in response. "Thanks for the offer. I've spoken with the dorm supervisor and submitted an application in advance. I'll be able to stay over the holiday period."Ron paused before saying, "Well, if you need anything, just let me know. I'll text you my number in a bit; make sure you save it."Emma nodded. "Sure."Without further ado, Ron drove off.Upon returning to her dorm, Emma saw Evelyn and Cassie, busy packing their bags, surrounded by gifts for their parents bought from Valtara.Evelyn asked Emma, "Are you really not going home for the winter break?"Emma replied, "No, I won't
Emma did not have the guts to risk failure because she did not have a safe haven to fall back on.Lucas kicked Ron in the shin. "Come on, if you fancy her, out with it. No Hagrid heir dithers like this."Ron glared at him. "Mind your own business." In his head, Emma was already his. The thought of losing her was unimaginable.Lucas said, "Without my meddling, she'd never be yours."Ron changed the subject. "I called you here for a serious discussion."Lucas replied, "No matter how serious, it can't outweigh the matter of your lifetime happiness."Ron was exasperated. "Lucas!"Lucas relented. "Alright, alright, you talk, I'm all ears."Ron spelled out Emma's music venture with Tucker. After hearing it all, Lucas could not help but see Emma in a new light."Never pegged Emma as such a dark horse," Lucas said.Silently listening to their conversation, Emma was thrilled to have her work recognized.Lucas said, "But, getting back to it, whether a song makes money, and how much, d
Ron barked, "Lucas!"With a chuckle, Lucas responded, "Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing Emma. I'm starving. Let's grab some food and talk business while we eat."Ron snapped, "Get lost!"Lucas could not help but revel in Ron's frustration. "Ron, have you fallen so quickly? Who was it that told me they would never accept an arranged marriage?"Emma was increasingly confused by their banter. "If it's inconvenient for me to be here, I can just take a cab and leave."Ron said, "Call you dumb and you won't admit it!"Emma thought to herself, 'I didn't want to be a third wheel, cramping their style. Was that really so wrong? No good deed goes unpunished, apparently.'Suddenly, Ron grabbed Emma's hand and led her inside. "It's cold out; let's go inside."Emma had to quicken her pace, practically being dragged along.Seeing them together, Lucas laughed heartily from behind. "Ron, oh Ron, never thought I'd see the day.""Don't laugh too soon. Your day is coming," Ron shot back.Th
Emma said, "Okay."Ron asked, "Have you won over your crush?"Lucas responded, "Secret."Ron replied, "Looks like you haven't won her over."Lucas said, "As long as I make a move, there's no girl I can't win over. But I haven't made a move yet because the timing isn't right."Ron asked, "Is it because of the Sandow family?"Lucas answered, "The Sandow family wants to marry their daughter to me, and my family wants me to marry her too. But I've told them long ago that I'm not willing to do that. Nobody can make me marry a girl I don't like."Emma remained silent. 'I didn't expect that Lucas would also have the same problem as me and Ron.'It seems like the wealthier the family, the more they'll arrange marriages based on social status without considering personal preferences.'Lucas seemed to sense Emma's thoughts. "Emma, my situation with the Sandow girl is different from yours and Ron's. Don't lump us together."Ron looked at Emma and suddenly said, "There isn't any other gi