Alice walked steadily along the hallway of Mount Avery Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center, the tapping sound of her heels against the white tiles creating a regular rhythm. Her eyes wandered to the right and left, where there was a green lawn where some of the patients sat and enjoyed the cool afternoon breeze. Their conditions looked good and stable, not like people with mental disorders. They looked very normal except for one woman who seemed to be silent, staring blankly at the grass spread out before her. Alice stopped her steps right where she was, focusing on the woman whose beauty seemed not to be eroded by age. Still as beautiful as she remembered. Not long after, a doctor stopped beside her, looking in the same direction as her. "Are you her family?" the handsome doctor asked. Alice turned to him, a smile playing at the corners of her maroon-colored lipstick-polished lips. "No, I'm not. However, I know one of her family. A fan of their family, to be precise. Oh, can I
Sunday seemed to pass slowly for Abby. She felt bored just staying at home without friends. She had always avoided making friends with anyone. She didn't want the image she had formed from the beginning to be destroyed because people nearby recognized the real her.That's why Abby preferred to spend time in the school or college library. Just by herself and immersed in what she's reading. And that was what people knew her for: a cold, introverted bookworm.However, at thirty, she began to find her life boring. She remembered her childhood—having a male friend, the only one she could trust. Unfortunately, their friendship was short-lived because the next thing she knew, he was no longer in Estern Shore, their hometown.She thought back to Zac, as well as the dinner plans that he had to cancel because of his girlfriend's arrival. It was unfortunate; they should have talked about anything this evening or even more than that.Unfortunately, it was all ruined by the girlfriend's arrival.A
Abby walked alone on the sandy beach. Her feet kicked at the foam of the water moving to the shore. She enjoyed being alone like this; it made her feel calm. Although being between her uncle and aunt made her feel like she had a family again, she still needed a time when she could recall memories of her family.She lay down on the sand, washed by the waves, letting her body get wet and slowly dragged into the middle of the ocean. She didn't want to end her life but wanted to feel the sensation of being between life and death. The thought came suddenly.Her brain didn't even want to prevent whatever she was doing now. She closed her eyes, enjoying the sweeping and cool waves of the warm spring day. Abby felt sleepy because of the rays of the sun above her.Suddenly, a voice called her name."Abigail!"Abby let the voice come closer, confirming that it was real. She wasn't dead and was still on earth."Abby!"She remained still, savoring the warmth and cold of the sunlight and waves th
Sidney and Zac were in the car after their dinner. What had been an intimate and warm atmosphere changed instantly when Zac suddenly looked pensive. His eyes stared straight at the paved road before him, but several times, he almost grazed other vehicles, even nearly colliding. Sidney knew Zac well. He wouldn't be as distracted as he was now if he didn't have something on his mind. "What's wrong with you, honey? It's like you're not really concentrating on the road in front of you." Sidney opened the conversation, knowing Zac wouldn't start if she didn't. He refused to answer at first. He remained silent, not saying a word. Pretending to be focused on the crowded street in front of him when, in fact, his mind was not where it should be. "Zac, you didn't answer my question." Sidney began to look impatient. She turned her body slightly so she could ascertain the look on her lover's face. "Is there a problem at the office? Shouldn't you be happy you won the stock match the other d
Abby stopped the car when she saw who was sitting on the side of the road with a woman. Unmistakably, it was Zac and a familiar-looking girl. Maybe it was the girl named Sidney, Zac's girlfriend. She pulled the car over, rushed out, and approached the two. "Zac? What are you doing here?" Abby asked, and she didn't need to repeat the question when her eyes fell on the reddish bruise on Zac's forehead. Sidney got up and approached her. The two looked like a pair of enemies about to destroy each other. A look of displeasure could be seen in Sidney's eyes, while Abby, who stood before her, looked calm. "Hi, I'm Abigail, Zac's rival and potential business partner. You must be..." Abby reached out to shake Sidney's hand but was quickly brushed off by the girl. "No need for small talk; what do you want to come here for?" asked Sidney sternly. Abby just smiled and then threw her gaze at Zac, who was preparing to get up, just in case of a commotion between the two women in front of
Abby sat on the front porch as her uncle and aunt searched for her. She enjoyed the humid breeze and the warm morning sun. Slowly, Alex and Alona sat down next to her on the gently swaying swing. Alona touched Abby's fingers, making her realize the arrival of her two loved ones. She slowly opened her eyes to stare at her adoptive parents. "Dear Abby, Today I will meet a lawyer appointed by your father to take care of all the assets he left for you. Are you ready to meet him today? If you want to buy some time, I'll tell him," Alex said carefully, worried about disturbing the teenage girl's peace. Abby could have been disturbed because she wanted to live a quiet life without any interference from her father's businesses. However, with her goal of avenging her father, she might want to know how much of an asset she has. Abby turned to Alex, who was still waiting for her answer. "What time do we leave? What should I prepare?" she asked. "Uhm, Abby, if you're not ready to di
Zac walked into Abby's office, feeling awkward. He hadn't gotten over his attitude towards her a few days ago, and now, what was his purpose in coming to the girl's office he rejected even if she wanted just to be friends? Was it to correct his words? Or was it to avenge Abby's cold attitude the other day? Abby pretended to busy herself with a pile of files—which she had actually finished a few hours ago. She was a disciplined leader who would never delay any work. However, for the sake of her plan this time, she was willing to become an actress who played a role with wondrous totality. "Have a seat, Mr. Emerson," Abby greeted, not taking her eyes off the sheet of paper in front of her, though the tail of her eye glanced at Zac's reaction to her formal address. "You called me by—" "Yes. I call you what you want me to call you. Isn't that so?" she shot, who had now raised his face and was staring intently at Zac, making him feel mentally intimida
Abby and Zac had finished their dinner. Although she could not understand what kind of friendship Zac expected, she, who did not take what she did and said to him seriously, did not want to bother. After all, the relationship she built from the beginning with him was only for the sake of revenge. There was no feeling whatsoever in Abby's heart towards Zac. Not at all. Now, they were sitting together watching television, just like best friends. Laughed when they saw a stomach-churning scene, argued when their favorite players turned out to be mortal enemies, and many things they did that seemed very natural. They even joked without limits, almost looking like lovers now. "You just admit that I'm the winner in the end, Abby. You lose." Zac took the dice from Abby's hand while they were playing Monopoly. Not accepting that Zac was cheating, she tried to grab the cube-shaped object that was now in his grasp. "No, Zac, you're cheating. Give m
Two years later...Abby looked at her and Zac's wedding photo with tears still falling. It wasn't supposed to be this way. She should have left when she first realized she was pregnant or maybe when she first started to feel different vibes in her heart towards Zac.He was too naive to get entangled in Abby's false love, but even when he knew that, he remained unmoved and loved Abby and tried to forget the crime she committed.Zac was a kind-hearted man who was hurt and took things wrong. However, Abby was touched when her father-in-law returned after visiting him. What was that sad look on his face?"What did he say?" Abby asked, curious. It had been so many times that her father-in-law and Gin had come to visit Zac. They even asked many questions, such as whether the case he was facing could be suspended with some bail. However, Zac strongly rejected their intentions."I made a mistake after all. Abby was hurt because of me. So let me serve my sentence as it should be so that I will
Right after her phone conversation with Ashton, Abby felt everything happened quickly. The next day, several police officers came to the Emerson family residence and revealed the evidence they had received regarding the case they had committed against the Anderson family.The only suspect, of course, was Amanda, while her daughter, Monica, was still unaccounted for and had disappeared into thin air.Gin read the headline news with a satisfied grin. Since the beginning, he had known many secrets about Alice, who turned out to be her aunt, then Ashton, who had been like a grim reaper for Amanda and Robert Marra, and Jude, who was the older brother of Tamara—Abby's assistant at the office.That was why they seemed to work together to avenge what had happened to James and Selena, and they became protectors for Abby and Gin.Abby couldn't believe how easily everything unfolded, and now it was time for her to tell Zac the truth. However, the news about his mother had left Zac quite devastat
Abby was still bothered by what Garry had said at dinner. She would get her father's share of the business they had worked on, but that wasn't what she wanted.Luckily, Abby was still an intelligent woman who had foreseen everything she would face. She had recorded the conversation between herself and Garry, and repeatedly listening to it made her feelings worse.This morning, she had been in and out of the bathroom several times, vomiting up everything she ate. Even when there was nothing else she could spit out, the nausea she felt intensified.She became suspicious of what she was feeling at the moment."Al, tell me honestly, did the doctors perform an abortion back then? Tell me if they removed the fetus?" Abby asked Alice who took the time to visit her. However, Alice chose not to say anything.As much as Abby hated Zac and the Emerson family, the fetus should not be victimized."Do you want to hear my words?""Alice, I'm not in the mood to negotiate.""No, you're not. I'm not go
Abby and Zac were already in the dining room with Garry, but she didn't see Amanda anywhere. Abby decided to search but didn't want to show everyone that she wanted to know how Amanda was after finding out her daughter was missing."What the hell did you guys do to eliminate those rats? Now I've lost track of my daughter." The woman sobbed. "By all means, search and find my daughter. I don't care about Sidney. I only want Monica. Are you listening!?"Abby had heard enough. Not from the beginning, but the snippets of conversation between Amanda and whoever was on the phone made her think.It was true that Alice had said that Amanda was the one who was being deceitful. She wanted to have everything and didn't even care about others. Everything was only about her. So, how did Garry deal with it all?How could he endure all this time living with a woman who didn't love him? Even behind his back, Amanda betrayed him and made him a target to get what she wanted.Did Garry do that on purpose
"Are you busy today? Mom and Dad asked us to come over for dinner. But if you don't want to, it's fine if we don't come," Zac said as he shaved while Abby cleaned up his work clothes that had just been washed.Something she'd never done before—cleaning up after herself. Even though several servants were ready to help or do everything for her, for now, she felt like doing everything, even taking care of Zac's needs at home and work.Abby's movements stopped when she heard Zac's words. Instantly, she remembered what happened on her wedding day. She shouldn't have been afraid and asked Garry what made him so sure of his words. It could be that this was her chance.The other thing that makes Abby do it is Gin's statement, which says everything that happened to their family resulted from Sidney's father, Robert Marra. If that was true, then what role did Garry play? That was what she needed to find out.One way was to get close to the head of the Emerson family."Okay, no problem. We'll go
Alice was relieved she had good instincts, especially regarding her best friend. If not, who knew what would have happened to Abby by now? It could be worse than this. She felt terrible when she learned that Abby had asked her to take her to a suspicious location. She had heard many things about the district. High crime, looting, robbery, even murder. Another one that worried Alice was the high abortion rate.Abby probably wouldn't do it, but what if she did?Alice followed where her friend was going, and when she entered a secluded alley, she knew her instincts were right. She was now pointing a gun at men dressed as doctors and medical staff—Alice wasn't sure if they were actually in the profession. There was no way a doctor would sully his title for the immoral deeds they were doing now."I'm Detective Denver. Let her go, or I'll take you to jail," Alice said firmly, gun in hand. The others raised their hands, allowing the convincing-looking woman to take Abby away.Alice left no
According to some, including Zac, everything was going well, and he was living a beautiful and passionate married life. However, he had no idea that a time bomb was about to explode. He only envisioned a life of love with Abby, who showed the same towards him.For Zac, Abby's attitude was getting better, and Abby didn't understand what she was going through. She became very attached to Zac and was reluctant to let him go to work or the slightest distance so that she would sulk."Al, do you know what I'm experiencing is very strange? How is it possible, who has been reluctant to get close to Zac except to attract attention and ensnare him with a love trap so that he falls into my trap for revenge, now everything seems to be reversed? I hate being apart from him." Abby wrung her hair in frustration while at the office and received a visit from her best friend. "Is there something wrong with me?"Alice held her chin and looked thoughtful. She had never experienced the same thing; even th
A fierce duel was inevitable between Jude and the man standing guard, along with some of the men who eventually moved to all sides to confront Jude's friend, who had managed to fend off the criminals attacking them outside."Jude, come in; I'll deal with them. Save Alice!" commanded one of them, who seemed to be the most elegant among the others and had been trying to block the attack on Jude.This time, however, the gang's boss would not let Jude go. He insisted the man stay there to fight the last drop of blood. Jude didn't mind doing that and still faced him, but his friend didn't let that happen. Again, Jude protected his position so he could immediately enter the room where Alice was. He managed to break down the door, which was already rickety and saw Alice trying to free herself by scraping the broken glass on the rope that bound her. Instead of breaking the rope, it was her hand that was scratched by the object, and she was helpless except to grimace in pain as the blood con
Not many expected this, including Gin when one of Zac's confidants, who he said was one of the men he could rely on to help find Alice, was a familiar face to the Genovhia family.Gin's eyes almost glazed over as the man entered the room and removed the distinctive brown hat and coat he always wore, even when meeting Abby."Mr. Thompson?" muttered Gin, still unable to believe what he saw. Did this mean the man had betrayed his sister?"Hi, Young Master Genovhia," the man greeted when he saw Gin in the room with the others. Gin was the only one he recognized, so to the others, he only bowed slightly. "What can I do for you, Mr. Emerson?"The man was immediately quick to ask the task Zac was going to give him. Meanwhile, Gin, who felt trapped in this, immediately grabbed the shirt collar of the man who had not yet sat in his chair and dragged him out of the room regardless of his brother-in-law's call.He was on the verge of throwing a punch if Mr. Thompson didn't stop him immediately.