"I've warned you many times, Abi. Stop consuming alcohol. You know it has unpredictable interactions with medications. Your vitamins will be waiting if you don't show up on time."
Roger always had a reason to lecture him with all kinds of sentences that unfolded at times like this. The special check-up schedule, which unfortunately could not be rearranged, despite Abihirt's serious attempts to avoid the doctor and most intimate cousin. He gave Roger a half squint after the man slid a bottle of vitamin capsules and circled the schedule for a blood transfusion. "Come back here next week. Got it, Abi-oh stop playing with my expensive collection!" Roger immediately got up-not that he was going to let Abihirt run his fingertips over his expensive robot series. He quickly slid the glass cabinet shut-carefully-then pocketed the key into his coat pocket. There were various kinds of patients, and they did not dare to just glance, but this one was an exception. "Let me remind you again, do not consume alcohol. I hope last night was the last time." I don't know how many times it took for Roger to stop talking. Abihirt massaged his temples in frustration, finally stepping over to Roger's desk. He picked up the vitamin bottle as he inhaled roughly while thinking of the best response to Roger's ramblings. "I won't drink for no reason, you know that. Roki forced me to come to the club under the pretext of celebrating my wedding day. I couldn't refuse." Roger suddenly chuckled as if he thought Abihirt's statement was just self-defense. "You should have just ordered a glass of mineral water," the man added. A suggestion that made Abihirt glower in sanction. "You think I'm an onion child?" Abihirt was only bound by the rules. Nothing more. However, Roger would always think differently. The man had a way of finding loopholes by asking other questions. "So you actually came to the club to show who can handle alcohol better? What do you get if you win?" The body of a young girl. But it was all pure accident. It was Barbara's fault for not wanting to introduce him to Moreau long ago, and Roki's actions were out of control. That bastard would have been content to keep a video recording of Abihirt carrying Moreau away towards the club's exit, and then threaten him with money. "I got pleasure." That was all that came to his mind to say. Before Roger could say anything more serious, Abihirt quickly took a step to leave the man's office. He had heard enough of the off-the-cuff advice. There was work left to be done. Barbara said she would ask the lady's secretary to send the contract letter of engagement. Abihirt reached for his phone as he walked towards the car park. A text message from Barbara provoked a frown on his forehead. [Sorry, Darling. I left our cooperation file in my private office at home. I called Moreau earlier to bring them to your office. She's probably already on her way. Are you there?"] Abihirt just stared at his cell phone with a cold look in his eyes. Barbara's habit was often to rush and end up like this. Perhaps Moreau would arrive soon. She needed to travel faster to the office. *** "Moreau?" The call from a familiar voice gave Moreau an indication that something was about to make her feel uncomfortable. She froze-hoping the thought wasn't true, hoping that wasn't what was going to happen right now, which left a great urgency, and Moreau needed to fight for the sake of making a big decision. Right now, the need to turn away could not be prevented. Moreau took a long breath, turned half of the body and turned .... The choked air soon followed. Meeting Froy somewhere unwanted was a most unpleasant experience. Something that also felt odd when she found the man in her stepfather's office. What was Froy doing? "Why are you here?" In fact, instead of Moreau being able to ask a question. Froy had first piqued the man's curiosity. Not much had changed, but Moreau was never going to pay attention to her former lover again. Let Froy go about life as usual. Moreau also had her own busy life. "Important business." She only answered briefly. Maybe that would make it clear to Froy; there was no need for much conversation here. Moreau wanted to leave. Already intending to walk away. However, Froy's touch on her wrist left a rude impression. "This is a big company. What important business brings you here?" Moreau's bright blue irises glared. The man asked as if she was nothing. If only Froy knew, but Moreau would not feel proud. Abihirt owned this large company with their relationship status only being that of stepfather and stepdaugther. Nothing more. At the very least... it was necessary to add a date to the total overnight. However, whatever it was. Moreau didn't want to bring it up again. She was only charged with the business of handing over an important file after Barbara contacted her for help. Thinking this would be over in a minute, then she could take the training session in stride. "I have to go, Froy. Let go of my hand." Without revealing more. Moreau dismissed Froy's grip on her hand. The man should know that their relationship had been over since last week. Indeed, there was still a great deal of curiosity about the most plausible reason why Froy had made such a unilateral decision. Sadly, at the moment the man refused to speak. Moreau would never insist on what Froy was hiding from her. It was useless. Suspecting that the man wanted a successful life. Achieving his goals, being forced to give up their relationship, was enough to make Moreau feel better. "Honey, who are you talking to?" A fashionably dressed woman appeared. Moreau knew now. What a fool. She snorted instinctively. Almost laughing, the irony, it sounded like clucking. Faint. Even so... Moreau's actions very likely made Froy stare anxiously in his direction. "Who is this?" The question from the same woman was only met with a faint smile. Moreau thought she needed to help Froy reveal something by lying. The man didn't seem to want his new girlfriend-who had only taken a week to find a replacement-to think of Moreau as a threat. "I'm Froy's schoolmate." Nice improvisation, but Moreau was a little surprised when Froy prevented his new lover's hand from slowly extending. The man smiled nervously while glancing around. "You'd better get back to the car, Lewi. Moreau and I will talk for a while." "Lewi? So she's your old college friend?" Moreau asked the question right after Lewi left the two of them in the office parking lot. The knowledge at the top of his head grew clearer. Sh3 gave Froy a bitter look. Swatting away the man's hand roughly as another near-touch ended at the wrist. "So it turns out you betrayed me long ago. No wonder, all this time until the day of your graduation, you always had no time." "You must not misunderstand." Moreau's eyebrows raised high to detect Froy was about to continue. "Lewi is pregnant. I brought her here because we just got back from the gynecologist, but I also had some business with my uncle. So tell me what are you doing here?" "Pregnant?" Instead of answering Froy's question directly. Moreau marked the most shocking statement. Froy dissolved their relationship because he betrayed, and even impregnated, another woman. That's how it should be. The corners of Moreau's lips curled bitterly while avoiding eye contact with Froy. Her intention was still the same, to leave this man. However, for whatever reason Froy continued to block Moreau's decision to take a step away from their conversation here. "Moreau?" Abihirt's deep, hoarse voice had recently become the most familiar thing in Moreau's mind. She immediately turnud her face, somewhere between relieved and frozen to find the man in the dark blue suit, so handsome... towering-slowly approaching them. It was a good thing Froy didn't make any threatening moves at the same time, or Moreau would have called the man equally surprised to find Abihirt already an inch away engulfed in a heavy dose of masculine scent. "Uncle, do you know her?" The shock behind Froy's voice gave away something, which Moreau seemed to have missed. She scanned Abihirt and Froy's faces alternately. Not necessarily by resemblance, but why had Froy never told her about his uncle in Madrid? "Moreau is here to see me. You'd better let her go." When Froy said nothing more than to argue. Moreau understood the man was not brave enough to face his uncle. Perhaps Abihirt had the power, which Froy knew would be hopeless if and when he made a scene here. There wasn't even another word as Abihirt suddenly grasped Moreau's hand to walk away."So, can you explain to me why your family wasn't at the wedding yesterday?" Moreau would not be put off any longer by her curiosity after her accidental encounter with Froy. It was strange to know Abihirt was related by blood to her former lover, but Froy was nowhere to be seen on the wedding day. Now she was beginning to doubt what Abihirt's unrevealed thoughts were. Moreau feared that Abihirt was ultimately a dangerous man, while she and her mother had become involved in a committed relationship with him. Moreau's fingers unconsciously tightened waiting for Abihirt to say something, at least a little, even though the man seemed to be so preoccupied with reading the file she had brought at Barbara's request. How serious... Abihirt's cold face was unbelievably handsome. Moreau swallowed roughly. Trying not to be mesmerized - unwilling to stare at the man's face any longer. She preferred to move her attention around the office. It was a beautiful place. Almost every corner of th
Abihirt soared up from the second floor of a building only to observe a beautiful, slender body with perfect curves... twirling its arms and legs on a slippery layer of ice. The solemn sight would almost never make Abihirt leave her natural brown hair, tied in a ponytail, swaying in various directions with every movement created. Moreau is beautiful to look at from any angle. A natural image of the young leaf's radiance. Occasionally, there was a faint smile as Moreau's bright blue eyes smiled amusedly at the man she was dancing with. Juan Baker began to lift— perhaps—so lightly with such youth that Moreau seemed to have put all her trust into never doubting anything that was about to happen. They looked good together as figure skaters. Dancing like a couple and Abihirt would look away for a moment... at the close-ups of faces. There was no kiss. Just Moreau's hand cupping Juan Baker's face as the corner of Abihirt's eye tried to keep looking. Moreau's smile and laughter in the
"Thank you for your interest in injecting funds into our organization's team, Mr. Lincoln. Many people know you as a successful young entrepreneur, so it would be great if more people would consider sponsoring us in the future." "No need to be shy, Mr. Pablo. My late mother was also a former ice dancer. I'm happy to do it." It was only when Barbara recounted Moreau's busy day and everything on the young girl's personal file. Abihirt was suddenly interested in doing challenging activities. The many stories about his mother's elegance had always intrigued and mesmerized him. There was no denying that Moreau's beautifully curved body had slightly whetted Abihirt's worn-out appetite. Simply getting into something-apparently-wouldn't be enough to give Abihirt leverage. He looked up at Mr. Pablo and accepted the handshake of the man before him. The deal was loaded. The conversation was over. He needed to leave this place after handing over some work in full to his right-hand man. Besides
"Sorry, I'm late." After quite a rush to deal with the tense street traffic. Abihirt took the right position facing each other with Barbara. He observed the sour face that was barely trying to be hidden. It seemed that the woman had waited too long for what he was trying to think. Abihirt understood, and he hoped Barbara should understand that important meetings did take up more time, especially if some unexpected parts came up to fill in the gaps left between serious discussions. Yet, here was Barbara. Abihirt frowned briefly, acting a bit calm and mature in the face of an angry woman. Leaving Barbara waiting alone for almost half an hour might have been the part to handle. Alone. Yes, perhaps that should be underlined as well. Abihirt's gray eyes moved. It was only then that he realized that the whole time he had been walking into the restaurant he had missed something odd between them. The silence was almost devoid of a single patron. Abihirt locked Barbara's face ag
It didn't seem like the right decision to go home alone. Abihirt was barely able to control the steering wheel properly after having to deal with the serious urges that were building up inside him the whole time. His entire chest and throat felt like they were on fire. He had already contacted Roger, sending him Barbara's home address so that he could catch up, or if things didn't go as planned, Roger would arrive first. Abihirt had searched for the fastest way home, the least traveled. But that, too, seemed to be a big mistake. Instead of the darkening skyline accompanying the faint sounds in the air, wild bikers were ungraciously making their presence known. One after another popped up. They were speeding. Then one of the bikers had an absolute collision. Abihirt made a steep slam-his foot pressed against the brake until it jerked violently forward, while the man with the head protector rolled several times onto the asphalt. The dragged motorcycle brutally sparks until it comes to
"What are you doing here, Moreau?" Abihirt's question was like a lump of meat that made Moreau's throat tighten. She didn't know how to answer, when it seemed like there was something her stepather was trying to hold back in front of so many people. And perhaps, because Moreau was still silent for a long time. Juan's voice soon chimed in. "I brought Moreau to this place, Mr. Lincoln. Please don't scold her." "I'm not talking to you." The gray eyes glared unusually sharply. Moreau instinctively pushed against Juan's chest to make the man beside her back away. She realized they had become a spectacle. This was no longer about a wild race, but how Abihirt barely cared about the people around him. Moreau didn't want anything to go wrong. Struggling to force her groaning tongue to speak. "I-I, just got here. Juan said there's a racing show, so we'll just be spectators. That's all. You... why are you in this place too?" However, the relationship between them was something Moreau
They reached the courtyard faster than Moreau could have imagined after doubting Abihirt's ability to drive most of the way. A man who was not well, but insisted on driving. Moreau still had that half-knowledge in the top of her head as she watched Abihirt walk almost in a huff towards a man who seemed to have been waiting for a long time. They only spoke briefly, but Moreau witnessed Abihirt's hurried steps to reach the living room. She trailed behind and swallowed harshly as her stepfather roughly flopped down on the sofa, while the other man was pulling something out of a leather briefcase. "What are you doing?" Moreau understood that the man she had been observing from the start was a doctor. She just wanted to know what specifically was being done-she mean, in what kind of order or illness that Abihirt seemed to have an urgency that needed to be dealt with immediately. "No need to worry, Miss Riveri. I am Roger, Abi's personal physician.
[Darling, I'm staying at Ferarra's house. We're having a drinking party. I won't be able to drive later. No need to wait for me and I don't want you to pick me up either. You can go to bed first. I love you. Love, Barbara]. That was last night's message. Abihirt exhaled roughly and put the handheld cell phone back on the glass table. Roger had given him medicine, but it felt like he was really going to catch a fever. His entire body was incredibly crushed, stiff, and the bones between his hands and feet were aching. Abihirt winced as he tried to get up. Slowly resting his back on the back of the sofa. There was no one in the living room. The memory of Roger that same night, telling him that the man had said goodbye, had given him a long rant. It would have been better if he wasn't here. The fact that Roger could make the top of his head throb was something Abihirt could not shake off. He tentatively reached out to grab the cell phone b
Now Moreau's attention quickly fell on the surface of the soft mattress, where some sinister image of her mother and stepfather's romance continued here like something painfully incarnate. She never wanted to be caught between potentially painful things. Six months had not yet been completed, but Moreau was already overwhelmed—not by how Abihirt would be rough in bed; but rather... she felt; sort of bound by the urge not to share the man with anyone—not even her mother, though Barbara was the most entitled. This was very wrong. Moreau recognized that. Just couldn't control the forbidden ego when the survival instinct had taken over. She was afraid this would end up worse. More painful; like having to plunge into more violent feelings—then, there was no way out. "Are you going to stay there until sunrise or until your mother comes home?" Abihirt's deep, raspy voice almost sounded like something urgent—demanding Moreau to be dragged to the surface, so she had
Now Moreau was seized by the same tension as earlier. Her eyes moved restlessly, hardly knowing that she had a purpose here. Things were not in good order, though that was why they still needed a reason. "Chicao made me chase her all the way to my mother's room. That's all." Yes, that was it. She did not feel obliged to explain things to her stepfather. "It's not because you secretly did something to me?" Woefully, Moreau could not think straight. In the end she knew Abihirt would not hide the man's knowledge long term. There were no answers. None could be found. Moreau swallowed harshly again. Suddenly her tongue was very groggy. Afraid that Abihirt would ask her something that was still relevant. "Why aren't you sleeping?" Fortunately, no. This time Moreau was a bit adept at controlling something inside her that was so gray. "I was just watching. Wanted to go to my room, but Chicao wandered off with a bell around her neck," and replied almost
Moreau felt her entire pulse and heart forced to speed up. The loud voice in her chest was pounding. She gasped for a moment. Stunned. Almost too afraid at the thought of having just been caught doing something forbidden. Abihirt would probably be angry anyway, the man still seemed to be trying to understand the situation around him. Still learning things... where the inappropriate part was finding someone else here. Something like a new event. Moreau continued to watch every single thing Abihirt did. Staring nervously and swallowing quite hard; hoping not to hear a throaty sound like a big splutter. "What are you doing here, Moreau?" Abihirt's deep, raspy voice resembled a croak, as if the man had been completely immersed, so it took a while to recover a lost memoir. In fact, with the remnants of sleepiness still pervading, her stepfather would blink a few times, rubbing his rough face, then Moreau would find the man would not leave eye contact between them.
No idea what made such a distinction. She was sure there were many secrets inside Abihirt and wanted the man to let them out, but her stepfather chose not to try just once. Perhaps it wasn't as if Moreau knew that Abihirt was sick enough of Barbara's infidelity to decide to retaliate in a more devious way. Her position was on the line. Moreau understood how she had been used as an outlet. Just couldn't help herself when she started to like the man. Idiot. She smiled bitterly at the thought of buying foolishness. Abihirt would not try to fall for another, while only towards Barbara was the man so in love. It was, sort of, a thing; truly pathetic. Silently taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly. Moreau tentatively extended a fingertip to simply brush across her stepfather's upper arm. Feeling every touch there, was probably what Barbara did most often anyway. There was still no specific reaction where the man's hand remained flexed in a position forming the angle
The corner of Moreau's lips twitched faintly. No idea why this felt like something that seemed to give her leverage. Barbara really knew how to charm Abihirt, while she had never given the slightest thought to simply seeking the man's attention. It felt unnecessary—perhaps, and a little inappropriate. "It's nice to be petted by your master, doesn't it?" Still lightly stroking Chicao's soft fur. Moreau tilted her face slightly as she thought about things. She wasn't talking about the touch of Abihirt's hand on the man's pet—just something that came closest—when they started to want each other; venting everything they held back, even if it was a big mistake; as Chicao suddenly twisted her body. Almost simply making a circular pattern, following the tail that was also wagging. However, Moreau never expected Abihirt's dog to run away immediately. "Wait, Chicao. Where are you going?" The prospect of where Chicao was headed was terrifying. Moreau didn't want them t
There was not much to do after Barbara left home. It's worth pointing out that Moreau still took a disobedient course of action—deliberately deciding to watch until quite late with so little interest in climbing the steps, but she had to. She and her mother did not strike up much of a conversation after Barbara's last statement at the dinner table. Their complicated relationship could not be said to be entirely at fault, though it was. Moreau couldn't expect things to go well, while they knew Barbara always wanted what she thought was right—then never wanted to try to take the place of simply standing in someone's point of view; no matter if it was wrong or not. It would have been the worst decision if Moreau hadn't expressed all the disgust in her mind, because after all, they knew what finally made Barbara stop from wanting to see Abihirt's expensive watch in person. The man is sleeping .... There was something Moreau could not describe when thinking back
Dinner would not have been so awkward if the events of the previous afternoon had never happened. Moreau had just sat directly in front of Barbara who had said nothing, even though the woman knew they had resolved the conflict by hanging perhaps, but there was really nothing more to talk about. She didn't think owning expensive things was a mistake. Or perhaps Barbara was waiting for someone else. Moreau just realized Abihirt was nowhere to be seen. Normally, the man would have been at the dinner table earlier; keeping Barbara company. Strange. If she had to admit something; she was still interested in just taking a step back—about the man's pale face when he persuaded Barbara to leave her room. Perhaps the correlation between the two was quite plausible. Moreau silently exhaled air from her lips, a little accidentally noticing that Caroline had prepared a special dinner—a healthy meal for the man who was not present here. The woman hadn't even left yet. Had it not bee
There was something odd about her mother's statement. Moreau didn't think she had ever reflected anything to the woman, but the knowledge in Barbara's mind seemed to have gone beyond the point of simply taking the silent action of monitoring things. "Since when and how did you know my account balance?" asked Moreau to make sure her mother was really going to post a confession. It didn't matter if Barbara ended up snickering before the woman got started. "Ever since you started being a rebel, and I hope you haven't forgotten that I'm still your mother." There was certainly no justification for the status between them. Moreau understood that her mother was trying to appear in control. She just didn't like her exaggerating things. Exaggerating things where Barbara barely had the right to simply take the long view. "I'm adult enough, Mom. All the money in the account is my money. You have contributed nothing and you have even violated my privacy." Still in
"Looks like you're shopping in bulk, Moreau ...." There was no impressive information when Barbara suddenly appeared after opening the door to the room a little rudely, then stood proudly with her arms folded in front of her chest. Moreau would not deny it as she stared straight in her mother's face. There was no smile. Instead, there was a cynical tendency, as if it had been in place before Barbara had set foot here. Moreau silently snorted. It was quite surprising and strange to have her mother come unexpectedly. That woman shouldn't know anything, but perhaps it was just a habit; showing up; commenting; and saying inappropriate things. In any case, she was too lazy to deal with her mother. Knowing there would be more serious problems if they eventually crossed the line. It could end up as a bad prospect to say that all of this was bought by one person. Moreau had refused when Abihirt offered something more. She just didn't want to. Coincidence—indeed; th