Chapter 13

"Abigail, money can't replace your health, you know." Felix and Melody were all too aware of the immense pressure Abigail faced since becoming the CEO's right-hand woman. Many nights, they would wake up to her talking in her sleep, negotiating work deals even in her dreams. Time and time again, they had urged her to ease up; their comic studio was thriving, so she did not need that demanding job to live comfortably. But Abigail was scared to hit the brakes, dreading that too much downtime would lead her to dwell on her past traumas. The only way she could find a little peace of mind was by working nonstop, earning money, and watching her bank account grow.

Wiping away her tears, Abigail muttered, "Man, I just can't handle alcohol; it turns on the waterworks."

Felix playfully ruffled her hair. "Go ahead and cry. There's no shame in that."

Abigail retched. "Ugh..."

Felix patted her back. "How much did you drink, you goofball?"

Having hardly eaten that night, Abigail felt a burning sensation in her stomach, wanting to throw up but unable to. "Not too much, just some vodka, wine, and champagne."

Annoyed, Felix replied, "Let's get you home."

"Alright, home." Abigail agreed, still dazed from the booze but remembering the task assigned to her by the CEO. "Please help me get those things on the ground into the car."

"What are all these?" Felix helped her into the passenger seat, fastening her seatbelt before loading the items.

"My boss's ungiven gifts; he asked me to handle them. I plan to sell them all and give him the money." With the items worth millions, tossing them was out of the question. She would not use things that were not hers, so selling them and returning the money to Xander seemed like the best solution.

Having loaded everything into the car, Felix could not help but grumble. "You're this drunk, and he leaves you behind to do his dirty work? What a jerk!"

Despite her drunken haze, Abigail did not forget to mention the money. "The workload is heavy, but the pay is fantastic. If I do well, a million-dollar salary is within reach."

'Money, money, money; that's all she ever thinks about,' Felix thought, texting Melody: [Mel, Caterpie got trashed. Can you make some hangover soup for when she gets back?]

Melody quickly replied: [Sure thing. Keep an eye on our little nasty bugger.]

As Felix drove, he occasionally stole glances at Abigail in the passenger seat. She stared blankly ahead, her vacant eyes tugging at his heartstrings. "Caterpie, what's on your mind?" he asked.

Abigail's thoughts wandered. 'If my mom hadn't left my dad after I was born, maybe he wouldn't have taken that night shift to provide for me. Without the night shift, he wouldn't have had that accident, and my life might have turned out differently.' Despite her ponderings, she never liked showing her vulnerable side to others, even her best friends. She smiled. "Fee, the stars are incredibly bright tonight. Remember when we were kids, and the three of us would sprawl on the rooftop, getting lost in the stars?"

Felix caught her drift, but he did not call her out. Instead, he played along. "Those moments are forever etched in our hearts, unforgettable treasures. How could I ever forget?"

"Once we've saved up more, let's embark on an epic road trip out west together. I've heard the night sky there is simply breathtaking," Abigail said.

Hearing her mention money again, Felix could not resist sharing some fantastic news. "Caterpie, your serialized love story comics set during the Republic era have been a massive hit. Several film companies are eager to buy the screen rights."

Abigail's eyes sparkled. "Which film companies?"

"One of them is the prestigious Ripplewood Films," Felix replied.

"No way! Are you serious?" Abigail asked, brimming with excitement.

There was a saying online: Ripplewood Films meant quality. Their TV shows and movies consistently delivered high ratings, box office success, and rave reviews, making them a rare gem in the industry.

Felix continued. "Their representatives are itching to meet with us and discuss the matter. They know you're swamped, so they're more than willing to schedule the meeting over the weekend. Talk about sincerity!"

"Awesome! When?"

"This weekend. If you're on board, I'll have Mel book our flights to Hayshiport, and we'll jet off right after you wrap up work on Friday."

Abigail quickly weighed Xander's plans for the next couple of days and found she had time over the weekend. Excited, she agreed. "You got it!"

The following day, Abigail woke up feeling utterly rejuvenated, her energy levels soaring.

As she strode into the office, she could not shake the sensation that people were staring at her with a mix of curiosity and bewilderment. Despite her warm greetings toward her coworkers, they seemed to dodge her presence as if she were a walking disaster, whispering and pointing behind her back. The situation was even more pronounced among her familiar colleagues in the CEO's office, who huddled together, gossiping fervently. The moment she appeared, however, their hushed voices vanished, leaving an eerie silence behind.

Completely perplexed, Abigail received a text from Luna: [Abigail, you need to check out the Buzz Hub section on the company's internal network ASAP.]

[Alright.] Abigail replied, eyes glued to her phone. She failed to notice David heading straight toward her, nor did she catch his malicious grin or the devious trick he was about to pull. She instinctively turned her head to dodge only when she sensed danger. The scalding hot water from David's cup missed her face but splashed onto her ear and neck. A searing, red mark instantly appeared on her neck, and she could not help but wince in pain.

"Abigail, I'm so sorry! I didn't see you there. Are you okay?" David feigned concern while his hand surreptitiously inched toward her soaked collar.

Abigail swatted his hand away and snapped, "What the hell are you doing?"

"I want to destroy you!" He snarled, leaning in menacingly, his face twisted into a sinister and venomous sneer. "Abigail, I warned you not to compete with me for the executive assistant position. But you just wouldn't listen. So now, I'm going to make sure you leave Zane Corporation in the most disgraceful way imaginable."

"In your dreams!" Abigail refused to engage further with him. She stormed back to her office, firing up her computer. The post Luna mentioned popped up immediately as she accessed the company network.

[Abigail's Scandalous Affairs Uncovered]

The post contained a series of incriminating photos. The first three captured her and Malcolm engaged in a seemingly intimate conversation at the Cobain residence the previous evening. The camera angle made it appear as if they were whispering closely, their bodies almost touching. The fourth photo depicted her tumbling into Felix's arms, his head lowered as if to steal a passionate kiss. In the fifth, Felix tenderly ruffled her hair. The sixth snapshot revealed Felix standing outside the passenger seat of a car while she sat inside. Anyone would think they were locked in a steamy embrace, but in reality, he was just helping her fasten her seatbelt. The seventh photo, taken at a supermarket, showcased her selecting olive oil while an unknown man with a shopping cart stood nearby, insinuating that he was yet another one of her many paramours. The men's faces were conveniently obscured in all the images, while hers remained strikingly clear, right down to the tiny red mole on her earlobe.

What sent shivers down Abigail's spine was not the deceptive photos, but the barrage of malicious comments that followed. Ignorant people, oblivious to the truth, ruthlessly attacked her under the pretense of moral superiority.