Chapter 4 Visit to the Frey mansion

Dinner was luxurious. One could tell from the pork quality and the aroma of expensive spices.

Pa Frey was seated at the head of the table. To his right was Clara and two ladies who were probably her daughters. And to the left was pa Frey's other daughter,she was quiet and kept her head down, beside her was a little girl of age 5, probably.

"So,you like my son and my grandson." Pa Frey began. "It's...it's complicated." Abigail sighed. "Liam lost and Ethan won." Pa Frey laughed.

"Grandfather,your food is getting cold." Clara plastered on a fake smile. Pa Frey threw her a frown.

"Don't mind my daughter." Pa Frey looked at Abigail with those old eyes. "Why wouldn't both men fall for a beautiful woman like you."

"I should get going." Abigail dropped her cutlery. "Why? We've only just met." Pa Frey frowned. "I'm sure she must have work to do." Clara smiled.

"Say one more word and I'll make sure Alicia never gets to model!" Pa Frey's voice was firm and clear.

"Mother,"Alicia held her mother's hand under the table. She'd worked so hard to get into the old man's good books,she couldn't lose all that in one night.

"I'm sorry, Father." Clara bowed.

"Will you stay?" Pa Frey turned to Abigail with a warm smile,the opposite of how he treated his family. Abigail had this feeling that he'd force her to stay. And besides,this place was way saver than under Liam's grip. "Yes,pa Frey". She smiled.

"Oh, just call me grandfather."

Abigail checked her phone before sleeping. There were no texts from Ethan. "He must be busy,"she whispered. Just as she was about to drop her phone on the table,it rang.

"Babe,how are you?" He sounded really happy. "I'm okay. How's work?'' Abigail asked. "It's going well. Are you home?" Ethan asked.

"Yes"she lied. She didn't want to bother Ethan with such a small issue. Besides, she'd leave the mansion soon.

"Hmm. Goodnight then."

And that was the end of their call.

Ethan frowned after putting down the phone. Why didn't Abigail tell him she was at the family mansion?

"Maybe she just doesn't want to bother you." Justin butted in. "She should bother me. I want to be bothered." Ethan frowned.

"Mr Michelle is already in the VIP room." Justin bowed. In the VIP room, Michelle was busy toying with two strippers.

Ethan entered the room,his mask on. "Ahh, you're here." Michelle ushered the stripers away. "You still haven't changed." Ethan was disappointed.

"Ahh. Once a playboy, always one. Speaking of,I heard you got a girl with you now." Michelle lit a cigarette and placed it between his lips.

"You should stay away from her. If even a strand of her hair is hurt...'' Ethan was quite protective.

"It's not me who'll hurt her. It's Bruno and the other guys. You know how things are." Michelle said. Ethan traced his fingers around the rim of the wine cup he was holding. He knew Mitchelle was right,he couldn't provide adequate protection for Abigail.

Abigail couldn't fall asleep no matter how hard she tried. Was it the mansion's hostile faces or something else? She couldn't tell.

She Draped a blanket over her shoulders and left the room for some air. The halls were dimly lit with a few servants here and there.

"Excuse me,where's the garden?" Abigail stopped a servant. "Left turn by the hall." The maid kept her head bowed throughout,but Abigail could see that half of her face was scarred.

As she approached the garden, she could hear Clara punishing a maid. It seemed the maid had tried to steal her jewelry.

"I'm sorry Miss. My son is ill,the doctors say he'll die if he doesn't get surgery soon." The maid cried on her knees.

Clara spanked the maid. "Is your wretched son worth my jewelry?" She asked. Abigail stood by the hallway, watching the drama unfold.

The woman reminded her of a friend of hers in the orphanage. He was terminally ill and needed surgery to extend his time. Abigail was willing and set to sell her jewelry,the only thing she had of her parents. The Nuns said they found it on her when they found her and it looked like it was worth a lot.

Before she could sell the jewelry,her friend died overnight. He committed suicide in the children's playing ground. The situation had a mental damage on Abigail for a long time.

"Ahh!" the maid started convulsing at some point. "What...what's happening to her?" Clara couldn't stand firm anymore. If Pa Frey found out she'd be dead.

"Someone call the doctor!" Carli shouted. "Mary!" One of the maids ran past Abigail. The smell of strong potion wafted through Abigail's nostrils. Her eyes widened and she immediately ran after her.

"Mistress,please I have the antidote." The other maid knelt before Clara. "Give her immediately,you idiot!" Clara shouted.

The maids hand shook as she unbottled the bottle of black potion. "Stop!" Abigail intervened. "What are you doing here,this is my quarters" Clara raised a brow.

Abigail looked at her with disgust,how could she still care about borders in a situation like this. She faced the servant. "That potion,where'd you get it?" She asked.

"The seller said it would help resolve her convulsing issues." The maid stuttered like she was hiding something but Abigail didn't want to bother with that.

"That potion is poison. If you really want to help your friend,you have to get her some Chinese herbs." Abigail said.

"And why would we follow what you just said?!" Clara rolled her eyes. "Because you don't want grandfather to strip you of your position." It didn't take long to guess Clara loved her position more than anything.

Abigail wrote the maid a prescription and walked away. She really needed fresh air,none of the house drama was of any interest.

Clara frowned and bit her lip all the way to her room. Charli entered the room minutes later. "That stupid girl,what is she up to?"

"I have a solution Miss." Charli stepped forward. She had a tiny bottle in her hand. "The poison?" Clara's eyes widened. "You can't possibly think I'd kill her."

"Not her,but Pa Frey?" Charli brought the bottle closer to Clara. "Are you insane?" Clara shouted.

"I know this poison, Miss,when mixed with another potion,it would only make him unconscious for a while." Charlo assured.

Clara thought about it for a while. This potion could make her father hate Abigail for life and then she'd never marry Ethan. "Okay,what's the plan?" She asked.