The Trades Bride

"Listen, Honey! Do we really need to take this girl home?" Erma Beckett asked, looking at her husband with an agitated face that showed her displeasure against her husband Dale Beckett's decision.

"Yes, because I have come to know that my cousin Fred has kept some money in this girl's name, which can be received only after she turns 18." Dale tried to explain to his wife the main reason why he wanted the girl.

"Money? What are you saying?" Erma's eyes sparked, and she turned greedy as soon as she heard about money in her husband's mouth.

"Yes, I'm telling the truth."

"Yesterday, I just met my cousin's lawyer, Mr James, and he informed me that Fred left some deposit behind him for his daughter, which only she can obtain as soon as she becomes an adult." Hearing Dale's words, her face lit up with happiness.

"Did he tell you how much the money is?" She eagerly asked while holding his one arm.

"It's 10,00,000 dollars, dear! He gave his daughter all the savings!" His voice turned excited when he thought about the money.

"1...10,00,000 do...dollars..!"

"This is a big amount!" Erma felt shocked and amused, and her voice turned loud. The next moment, he put his finger on her lips, making her gesture to talk slowly so no one could hear them. He made her remember that they were still in the orphanage!

She instantly understood his gesture and nodded. Only then did he pull his finger from her lips.

"Yes! I know, dear! So, let's just adopt that girl as we are her father's relatives!" Dale voiced out as there is a delighted smile on his face to become rich.

Erma also showed a joyful expression as she never knew before coming to the orphanage that the girl contained huge money power behind her. So, when her husband suddenly told her that he wanted to adopt his aunt's son's daughter. She felt angry and frustrated. She fought with her husband but he just ignored her and came the next afternoon here.

But now, as he had already informed her about money, she was glad and too happy to turn rich in just one day.

"Alright then! I agree with you to adopt her. Except for money, she can also help me with my household work." She laughed sarcastically. As the girl is not only a money doll for her but also a free maid for her.

Hearing his wife's tone, he knew what she was planning, but it did not matter to him until his wife was ready to bring the girl home.

"Thank you! Honey!" He held her hand and kissed her knuckles sweetly.

Her cheeks flushed.

"Now we will be rich!" He laughed out loud.

"Yes! Yes! I know that!" She replied and chuckled.

When they were busy with their secret talks, the little girl Abigail listened to their whole talk from the door right outside the room while her eyes tried to peek inside through the little opening. Her one hand carried a small doll that her parents had given her. So she carried the doll everywhere almost.

Abigail is the girl they came to adopt. She's only ten years old. A cute and sweet little girl.

When in the early morning, she got the news that her father's relatives wanted her to adopt. She was so happy and grateful. But now listening to their words she was upset. She came here to look at them out of curiosity. But hearing them. She's no more excited.

She's only ten years old, but after her parents' car accidents, she already turned mature and was left all alone in the world until she was finally sent here where she met all the children like her without parents and family.

Even though it happened to be one month for her to live in the orphanage, still she never liked staying there. She wanted a home and a family. She wanted to be loved. Just like her old days when her parents were still alive.

Her small doe eyes looked at the man and woman with an upset look but she was somehow glad also that now she would no longer be an orphan and can have her family.

Though they just want her for her dad's money, which she doesn't know how much? Or how is it so important?

But until they let her live in the home. She will be satisfied. She truly wanted to leave this place and find a home for herself.

When Abigail was busy peeking through the room, that's when someone suddenly comes on behind her and puts his hand on her small shoulder which makes her immediately panic and the doll in her hand falls to the ground with a thud sound.

"Who?" She turned and shouted.

Erma and Dale also heard the child's voice and felt nervous.

They both looked at each other and gestured as they instantly ran through the door to check who was there behind the door. But as soon as they open the door nervously. They saw no one in the corridor which made them sigh in relief the next moment and they again closed the door and this time completely. No more peeking through.

"Thank God! There is no one!" Erma said, looking at her husband, who nodded.

"Yes, honey! Now let's go and check out the orphanage's owner and sign the documents as the brother's lawyer would come anytime. To check on the girl and complete the last formalities for adoption."

"Alright! Let's hurry then!" She exclaimed.

After the conversation, they both opened the door and finally moved in the office's direction.

.....

Abigail looked at the boy, who was just a few years older than her age.

When Dale and Erma walked to open the door. Abigail already runs through a corridor with the boy to avoid getting caught.

Now, they were children's rooms where everyone was playing, talking, and studying with each other.

While they both stare at each other with curiosity.

"Who are you? And why did you scare me?" Abigail asked with a pouting lip, glaring at him with a cute, angry face.

Her small arms crossed around her.

At that moment, she was so scared and thought that it was a ghost.

The boy smiled to see her pouting cute face and said in a tender tone, "Sorry little girl if I scared you! But I don't mean to..."

Abigail nodded while he continued his talk.

"Little girl, let me introduce myself!" He was happy to meet her.

"Hi, I'm Caleb! I'm 13 years old and I came here with my parents!" He forwarded his hand in front of her for a handshake but she looked at him from head to toe and asked another question avoiding his hand.

"With your parents? Do you have parents?" Abigail asked as her childish voice turned a little serious while her brows up to make her look cuter.

From the day she is here, all the children have told her that they do not have parents just like her while others are informed that their parents have left them or they do not know about them.

But the boy who is in front of her is telling her he has parents, so why does he come to the orphanage? She doesn't understand at all.

Abigail thought orphanages are just for without parents' child. As she heard it from other children and elders who take care of them daily.

On the other hand, her question amazed Caleb. He had never heard this type of silly question before.

He backwards his hand and spoke out.

"Hey! What are you asking? Who doesn't have parents? Is this even a question?" He chuckled out loud, feeling funny.

But his words hurt her.

Abigail's calm face frowned instantly again, and she responded in an angry tone, "No! You are wrong! Everyone doesn't have one! Like me! I don't have parents as they died in a car accident! That's why I'm here!"

Her eyes turned upset while Calebs suddenly realized, Yes, it's an orphanage where no parents' child live. As his parents explained what an orphanage is to him in the car when they were coming here. Only because of that he was so curious to meet those children.

But now, seeing Abigail upset, he felt sorry and tried to apologize.

"Little girl! I'm sorry! I don't want to hurt you!" As he said those words, Abigail looked at him but didn't respond at all.

Caleb thought for a second and finally thought about changing the topic to make her mood better.

"Now, Little girl, Can you tell me why you are standing outside the door and listening to my parents talk?"

Hearing his words, her eyes became enlarged. While she let her hands-free.

"They are your parents?" She pointed her small finger at him.

"Yes! That's correct!" He responded while nodding.

"Now, tell me, what were you doing there?" He crossed his arms this time while raising his brow, looking like an adult.

He saw his parents making this action whenever they had a serious conversation. So, he followed it.

Abigail felt hostility against him after learning who his parents were.

"I'm not listening to anything there! I'm just walking casually!" She immediately made up a story.

Calebs knows she's lying. He stood there for a long time before he finally took the steps to touch her shoulder.

"But with my own eyes, I have seen you peeking inside the room!" He asserted while Abigail pressed her lips tightly, feeling caught by him.

Her eyes move around with nervousness.

Caleb saw her action and said, "If you don't tell me what you were doing there, then I need to report my mom and dad!"

She felt scared to hear him; what if he genuinely did that and complained to his parents?

No!

She can't let him do that. What if they change their mind and don't adopt her?

Her eyes turned moist while tears were ready to come out.

Caleb saw her tears and couldn't help but get nervous.

"Hey! Don't cry!!"

"I'm not going to say anything, to anyone! Just stopped crying!" He hurriedly said feeling worried for her.

Abigail looked at him with moist doe eyes.

"Are you telling the truth?" Her voice turned low as a kitten.

Caleb sighed to see her finally stop crying.

"Yes! But only if you accept my one condition!" He raised his index finger.

Abigail's eyes blinked with confusion while she looked at his finger and then at him.

Finally, she nodded her head in a hurry.

"Okay!" She agreed.

Caleb's lips curled up wide to hear her positive response.

"Good! So now listen to my condition carefully!" He made a serious face again like an adult.

She heard him and nodded while her lips pressed tightly with nervousness.

"So, the little girl, my condition is..." He paused and looked at her serious, cute face, which made him laugh inside his mind.

My condition is "let's be friends". He forwarded his hand again in front of her.

Abigail looked at his small hand and then his face with an open mouth for a moment.

"That's it? She asked with a curious face.

"Yup! I like you! You are cute! Let's be friends!"

Hearing his words, her nervous face finally showed a bright smile, and she reached out with her hand to shake him.

"Alright! Let's be friends!" Her voice turned sweet. She never thought she would make friends like this. But she feels delighted. Now she will have a family. Not warm but it's better than being alone and lonely without family.

"Great!" He shook hands.

"Now! We are friends!" he declared, which made both of them smile wide and laugh out loud.

"Honey! Did you see that! Our son..." Erma said, looking astonishingly at her son and the girl from Farsight.

"Yes...sweetheart! Our son is great. He already made a friendship with her. Now it's all easy for adoption!" He chuckled greedily.

"Excuse me, Mr. And Mrs. Beckett!" Suddenly, Abigail's father's lawyer comes from behind, and they look at him.

"Yes! Mr.James!" Dale immediately smiles to see him, while Erma shows a soft smile and stands beside her husband silently.

"The papers are ready to sign! But did you meet Abigail?" The lawyer asked.

Both husband-wife looked at each other before looking straight at Mr.James.

"No, we don't meet her! But we know she will be happy to see us!" Dale grinned with confidence.

Seeing their confidence, he asked.

"How do you know that, Mr. Beckett?" He raised his brows.

"Mr.James! Just turn your head and look in that direction!" This time, Erma spoke out while pointing in the children's direction, where Abigail and Calebs were laughing.

Mr.James saw the scenario and felt glad.

"Our son has already become best friends with her!" Dale laughed.

Mr.James turned to them again.

"It's good then! Now you can proceed then!"

Hearing him, their eyes filled with joy.

"Ohh, that's great! Then let's go! Mr.James! We want Abigail in our home as soon as possible! We want a daughter, and she's the one who can fill that position!" Dale showed a lovely father character to make Mr.James believe in his words.

"I'm happy that you both great people wanted her to become your part of the family!" Mr.James said while showing a small, happy smile.

"Let's go now!" He added.

The husband-wife smirked happily.

8 YEARS LATER

"Happy Birthday Abigail!" Caleb's eyes looked at Abigail who has now turned into an eighteen-year-old beautiful young woman.

As he glanced at her top to bottom, he couldn't help but hug her the next moment.

Suddenly, hugged by Caleb, Abigail's face turned redder as her arms wrapped around his back, hugging him back.

"Thank you, Caleb!" She happily smiled, feeling great joy in her heart.

After a quick hug, he released her from his arms and glanced at her face with a smile while her amber eyes also constantly looked at him with softness.

The next second, his attention was attracted by her dress as his eyes moved to her appearance.

His eyes first move to her clothes where she is wearing a white floral sundress which is just above her knees and has a small slit cut in the corner of it. The dress was given by him to her as a birthday gift.

The dress hugs her above parts while the waist side is flowing freely. It shows her delicate waist that is too slim and glamorous.

The dress fits perfectly to her body, which exhibits her flawless figure.

Her dress neckline is in sweetheart shape with slim straps carrying the weight of the whole dress on her shoulders faultlessly.

Seeing her in his gifted dress, Celebs couldn't help but smile widely, feeling satisfied.

He knows she's beautiful and carries a bright aura around her which made anyone fall for her. But his dress made her beauty look a hundred times nicer as it made her appearance fascinating in his eyes.

After checking on her appearance, his black eyes finally moved at her little delicate goddess face which was looking breathtaking on her special day.

Her gorgeous amber eyes made him adore her more. While her eyelids are lower, her eyebrows are bushy and shaped in the round and complement her white beauty. Her eyelashes are thick, long, and winged naturally. Her cheeks looked more pinkish because of the little blush she applied to them.

Her heart-shaped lips are in pink color naturally where she applied light nude peach color lipstick which made her smile more beautiful.

She applied a little bit of makeup for her birthday and let her long black hair flow freely behind her back.

"How am I looking, Caleb?" As she found him looking at her for a long minute without any words, she couldn't help but ask with a nervous smile on her face. As she tried her best to appear best for him.

"Abigail, you are looking too gorgeous! That I can't take my eyes off you!" His words made, heat rising on her face and her cheeks turned soft pinkish.

From the day she comes to live in his house, Caleb is the only one who gives her family feelings. His parents just treat her as a free maid and an extra person. They don't say to her face that they don't like her, but their action always makes her clear. In these eight years, only Caleb helped her to adjust to this house. Without him, she doesn't know how hard it is to live here. And these years, she doesn't know when she started to like him and think about her happy future with him. So, when Caleb complimented her for her appearance and told her how she was looking wonderful! She couldn't help but feel satisfied and blushed instantly.

"Thank you! This is all because of your gift! Caleb!" She pointed to her dress while a smile was always playing on her lips.

Caleb found her action cute and answered, "No Abigail, you are truly beautiful! I have never seen someone more gorgeous than you!" His words and eyes were tender when he said those words as his hands touched her shoulders making a gap a little less between them.

Abigail couldn't help but feel electrified by his touch and looked at him with a beautiful smile.

"You are also looking handsome, Caleb, as always!" She said with a shy face.

Seeing her shying, he couldn't help but chuckle.

When he met her for the first time eight years ago in the orphanage, he thought she was so much like a fiery little girl, but with time, he found out she was too soft from the inside and gentle.

And when his parents announced she would live with them, he was too happy.

As a child, everyone loves to have siblings. So, he also treated her like that in the first few years, but with time, he realized his feelings were different for her, and he knew she also thought the same. But he never confessed to her until now.

"Do you think so?" He adjusted his jacket and looked at her with a charming smile.

"Yes!" She met his visions.

If Abigail is beautiful, Caleb is no less good-looking than a man.

He is handsome and followed by many girls in his school. But he never glanced at them which made Abigail always happy in her heart and secured.

For Abigail's birthday, today he wore her favourite blue shirt with a black blazer on it. He is tall and muscular. His natural brown hair complements his pale complexion. While a good boy's smile is always carried on his lips.

"So, where is my gift?" She asked with a kidding tone while forwarding her right hand.

Caleb's brows lifted to see how she was trying to tease him but he had planned for today. So, he showed a playful smile the next moment as he held her forwarded hand with his palm and get closer to her ears, and whispered in a soft tone.

"You will know it! Now let's go!" Hearing his words, she smiled childishly and bit her lower lips to control her inner excitement.

He walked fast as she followed him. Their hands are interconnected with each other and smile beaming on their faces all time.

"Caleb, Why did you bring me here?" She looked at their house's terrace.

"You will know!" Caleb said and went towards the switchboard.

Abigail stood there in confusion as there was darkness. But the next moment, she heard Caleb's voice through the darkness.

"Abigail, I hope you like my surprise!"

And suddenly, the next moment, Caleb's switch was on, and the whole place sparkled with lights.

Her eyes filled with surprise while her hands pressed on her mouth with shock. She couldn't help but feel like this was a dream.

She roamed her eyes around as the whole spot is decorated with lights and balloons while there is a cake on the table in the middle.

Her eyes filled with tears. She couldn't help but feel emotional.

Suddenly, Caleb came to her side and embraced her from behind.

"Do you like my gift?" He whispered in a low tone.

Feeling his warmth, she closed her eyes and spoke in a delicate tone.

"Yes! Everything is just so beautiful, Caleb! Thank you for making my 18th birthday this special!"

"I'm glad!" He said and released her from his arms.

Abigail turned to him with a joyful smile.

"But this is not the end!" He added to make Abigail curious.

He showed a tender smile and held her hand to walk towards the cake.

Abigail's eyes always focused on him

as she wanted to know what he was planning next.

After they stood in the middle of the cake, Caleb put his hand in his jacket's pocket, and the next moment, the small beautiful box came out with his hand.

Abigail's eyes widened with shock as she could guess what was next coming to her.

"C..Caleb...is this..."

Caleb looked at her with a lovely smile as he could see how shocking her reaction was.

"Yes, Abigail, you are thinking right!" Caleb opened the small box and there is a gold chain with a heart-shaped locket in which both of them's first Alphabet names "A&C" crave on it.

Abigail felt she was dreaming about everything but Caleb's next words made her realize that everything is true! Not a dream!

"Happy birthday, My love! Will you be my girlfriend?"

At this moment, Abigail felt her heart would almost jump out of her chest. She never thought he was going to propose to her on her birthday.

She was shocked, and tears were already rolling down her cheeks.

"Abigail, I love you! Will you accept my love?" His voice and eyes turned tender while her tears streamed down nonstop.

Caleb saw her tears and came closer to her.

He wiped away her tears with his hands while saying these words, "Abigail, your every tear is precious to me! And I promise I'll always make you happy and never let these tears take place in your eyes!"

As Abigail heard him, she couldn't help but feel a touch in her heart and hug him tightly between her arms.

"Caleb! I love you too! I have loved you for a long time!!" As she confessed, Calebs happily smiled and held her tightly.

"Thank you, Abigail! For accepting my love!" He couldn't help but shout with excitement While Abigail chuckled in his arms happily.

Both of them stood in the same position for a minute before finally breaking the hugs.

Caleb looked at her beautiful smile before he pointed at the necklace which was in his hand.

"May I..."

Abigail's eyes looked at him with love, and she nodded her head in 'Yes!"

Caleb instantly went beside her and put the necklace on her neck.

"Now, you are mine!" He kissed her cheeks.

Abigail's face turned reddish to hear his announcement and the way the first time he kissed her.

.......

A FEW MONTHS LATER

"Abigail, you know, I want to be successful in my life and build my career for a long time!" Caleb's face turned a little serious.

"Yes, I know Caleb! This is your young-age dream!" Abigail looked at him, smiling.

"Abigail..."

"Hmm..."

"Actually, I wanted to tell you something!" His voice hesitated while his eyes looked down on the floor.

Abigail felt his uneasiness and asked him, "What do you want to tell Love?"

Caleb's eyes raised to meet her amber eyes.

"Abi, my parents decided to send me 'X city' for further studies!" As he muttered, Abigail's eyelashes flickered with a blow.

"Love..." he held her hands as he saw how her face turned stunned.

"I know.."

"This is not easy for you to send me far. But I hope you will understand my situation and stand by my side!" He squeezed her hands with nervous eyes.

Hearing his sudden announcement, she felt upset.

From childhood, all she has is Caleb as a family, friend, and now lover!

Without him, she never spends her single days. So, now when she thinks about it, he has been going to another city for years. She started to feel uncomfortable in her small heart. She never knew how her days would go without his presence.

"Love! Are you okay?" Suddenly, his words made her look at him, shook her inner thoughts where she's still fighting with herself about what she answered him at last.

"Yes..."

"I'm alright!" She nodded, trying to look calm.

"So, What's your decision?" He looked at her with a pleading gaze.

Abigail bit her lower lips and looked at the floor.

As she thought, She can't let him stay here just because of her own selfishness. When it's for his future.

If he truly wanted to go to X city for high study. Then she needs to happily accept his decision and should encourage him as his girlfriend.

She can wait for him. It's only for a few years. After that, he will be beside her for a lifetime.

"Abigail, you didn't say your answer?" He asked.

Abigail looked at him as she raised her head to see his nervous face.

"Caleb, if you truly want to go, then don't worry about me! I'll manage everything here and wait for you in our house!" She smiled warmly.

"Thank you, Love!!!" He instantly hugged her with excitement while Abigail hugged him back.

"Thank you for understanding me and my situation! I promise! You will never regret your decision! And it's just for a few years! Then we will be together." As he declared happily. Abigail forgot about her worries and hugged him tightly.

"I love you, Caleb!"

"I love you more! Abigail!" He responded with the exact unison.

After their conversation, Caleb booked the next day's first flight and flew there. Abigail's life is no longer full of fairy tales.

As Caleb left, his parents started to make her life hell because of her dad's money, which was legally sent to her account on her 18th birthday the next day.

But before both people could ask about money. Caleb warned his parents that if they take her money. He will leave the house with Abigail.

Only then do they stop bragging about money. But now they have a chance, as Caleb is not there.

So, they tried to manipulate her with their words but Abigail understood their tricks and didn't say a single word related to the money.

With resentment, they both husband-Wife started to treat her as low as a maid and she can't argue because she doesn't want to stress Caleb.

She promised him to take care of everything until he came back.

TWO YEARS LATER

PRESENT

Caleb suddenly comes back to the city one day without informing his parents and Abigail in advance.

The first few days went well as he made an excuse to take a few days off from college and they were happy to see their son after so long. Especially Abigail, she can't put her feet on the floor when she sees him. But suddenly one day two men in black suits came to meet him in the house. His parents thought they were his friends while Abigail felt something was not right but what? She can't guess.

After those men left the home. They saw how Caleb's face lost all his colour as he was on the verge of death.

Only then, besides Abigail, Dale and Erma realized something was going on with their son.

"Caleb, What happened? Who are those men?" Dale questioned, looking at his son with a serious expression.

Abigail was standing in the corner with worried eyes but couldn't go so close to him as his parents were talking to him and she's not a member in their eyes.

Not after their son confessed his love for her too dearly that he was ready to go against them.

"Mom! Dad!" His complete body started trembling while his voice turned to shake. His eyes looked at the floor with grief.

Erma saw his son's reaction and felt anxious for him.

She sat on the couch beside him while Dale still stood and looked at his son with a straight face.

"What happened, son? You are scaring us!" She muttered with nervousness now.

Abigail also felt anxious to see him like this and could guess whatever the reason was. That was big.

"Mom, Dad..."

"I'm in a big debt..."

His voice turned weak while he was constantly shuddering with nervousness.

Hearing his sudden declaration, Abigail and his parents were completely shocked.

"What?"

"What do you mean 'In debt'?" Dale angrily shouted at his son.

"What debt are you talking about, Caleb?" He questioned angrily while gritting his teeth with frustration.

Abigail wanted to support Caleb, so she ran beside him without caring about his parent's anger.

But before she could go beside him, Erma glared at her and warned her with eyes to not take more steps.

Abigail stopped to see her reaction and just stood behind the couch and touched his shoulder from there to give him some comfort. As she could feel. How much pressure he is under right now.

Caleb felt her touch and looked at her for a second. He deeply inhaled before telling the complete truth to his parents.

Dale is still glaring at him angrily. He didn't mind Abigail at all. All attention is on his son.

"Mom, Dad!.." He looked at his parents as he started.

"My best friends and I wanted to start our own business for a long time, so, finally, we planned to make it happen, as we are already in our last semester of college and could graduate in a few months."

"As you all know, starting a business needs lots of money and a nice spot where we can build our small business. So, after thinking for a whole week. We finally made up our minds to get a loan to buy land to start a new business in partnership together. We started our search for perfect land, and it was finally over after ten days of searching."

"You bought the land?" Erma asked with shocked eyes.

"Yes..." Caleb answered.

"Where the hell did you get a loan to purchase land?" Dale yelled and threw the flower vase next second, which was just beside him, on the small table.

The loud sound of shattering shocked everyone.

"Honey! Please control your anger and let our son explain himself!" Erma rushes to her husband and holds his one arm to control his anger.

Abigail also gets frightened to see how angry Uncle Dale is with Caleb.

"Alright! Let's hear him!" Dale's eyes turned sharp.

Erma nodded hurriedly and signalled her son to start speaking.

Caleb understands and nods in pressure.

"For a loan, My friend used his old home as a mortgage. While I used all my college savings to combine it with the loan money. And finally, we purchased the land. Everything goes well! But after a few days of purchasing land. We got the notice that the land is under the government and we were deceived by the landman! He was a fraud!"

"Ohh, my goodness!" Erma pressed her hands against her mouth.

Abigail felt shocked while her eyes widened.

Dale clenched his fist with anger.

Caleb could see how big a blow they got because of him, and he truly felt sinful about it.

"We were in losses and suddenly we started to get a notice from the bank for paying their money or else we need to face the consequences." As he spoke, his eyes closed with frustration.

"My friends told me that we can earn so much money from casinos. And we finally decided to take the last risks as we don't have any options."

"What happened then?" Erma inquired with worry.

"But in the end, we got into more debt! And lose our last single penny also!"

Both his parents felt speechless and horrified as they could not handle his words anymore.

On the other side, Abigail doesn't know how to react. For her, Caleb was not like that before. He never does small things without his parent's permission. And if he did not tell them, he would surely share with her. But now he is in huge debt without even knowing any of them.

"Debtors started to threaten us and asked for their money. We were so scared as they were powerful people, and they would not be willing to listen to our words, so we finally decided to run back to our cities. To save ourselves! We thought they wouldn't find us. But we were wrong. As those two men in black suits work for casino owners, they come to warn me. Not to try to run and pay my debt in a few days." He looked guilty.

"Oh, my gosh!" Hearing Caleb's words, Erma felt she was going to faint any moment and lose her body balance.

"Mom!!" Caleb felt anxious and ran fast to held his mom at the right time not to hit the ground.

"Honey!" Dale comes beside her while Abigail goes to the other side.

"Aunt!" She tried to rub her hand. As she had already fainted.

Dale felt numb to watch his wife suddenly lose her conscience like this. He asked Caleb to take her to their bedroom.

On the other side, Abigail called the Doctor urgently.

"The patient fainted because of stress and High BP." The Doctor reported after checking Erma.

"Doctor, when will mom wake up?" Caleb asked with an anxious face while Dale also looked at the Doctor with nervousness.

Abigail stood in the corner from them and listened to the Doctor.

"She will wake up after resting. So, Don't worry!"

Caleb nodded.

"For now I'll give you some medicine names. Let her take it on time as per my prescription!" Doctor instructed.

"Thank you, doctor!" Caleb thanked him, and the Doctor nodded.

"Now it's time for my leave!" The Doctor announced and turned to leave.

After the Doctor left, Dale looked at his son with anger and told him to leave them alone. As he doesn't want to see him for now!"

Caleb went to his room feeling upset and guilty for everything.

Abigail felt worried for him and instantly followed him behind.

She knew he would blame himself for everything and his mom's condition.

Abigail went to his room, as it was unlocked and the door was completely open. She could see Caleb standing on the window side. So, she steps towards him.

She stopped behind him and touched his shoulder while calling his name.

"Caleb..."

As soon as he heard her voice, he turned in her direction and hugged her tightly, and tears poured down his cheeks.

"Abigail, this is all my fault! This is all my fault!" He repeated the same word again and again between his sobbing.

Abigail never saw him broken like this before. No matter what situation comes in their paths he is always a confident person. But today she saw how broken he is.

"Caleb!" She tightly hugged him while her tears also came out.

"Please don't worry! We will find a way to pay the debt!" She tried to console him.

"No! There is no way! Abigail...! There is no way!" He said helplessly.

"Caleb..." She broke the hug while holding his hands.

"You need to calm down first! If you think like that we will just lose time! And don't forget about your parents. They are still in big shock and you need to be strong for them. Do you get it?" She looked at him with seriousness.

Caleb looked at her and said, "I don't know Abi..."

"The debt is not a small amount!"

"What do you mean? How much money do we need to pay?" She asked, feeling shaking.

"It's one million..." He felt speechless.

Hearing him, her eyelashes flickered with anxiety.

"Wh...What?" Her voice turned shocked with this new information.

"One Million, Caleb?" She shook her mind in confusion.

"I don't get it! How could you get into this much big debt? Is there anything you didn't tell us? You hide something, Caleb?" She looked at him with serious eyes.

Watching her stare at him, he tried to avoid his gaze.

Abigail bit her lower lips as she already guessed he had hidden something.

"Caleb, what have you truly done?" She asked, raising her voice.

"I used our home to gamble!" Her eyes widened with disbelief.

"Our home?" Her voice was shaking.

"Abigail..." he squeezed her hands.

"I truly don't want to do that, but because of the loan. I used our house as my last bet! But it's gone wrong! And I played again and again with the landed money from the gambler's owner."

"I don't know how many times I played that it turned out to be this big amount?"

"How could you do that, Caleb?" She angrily shouted.

"Abi..."

She retreats from him.

"How did you get the properties paper?" She asked.

Caleb looked at the ground and said," When I come in on new year's day to meet all of you. I stole it from dad's cupboard!"

"Why did you do that?".

"What if they come and ask us to leave the house?"

Abigail felt terrible.

"I'm sorry! Abigail! I know I made a big mistake! But believe me! I never thought the landlord turned out to be a fraud, and I need to gamble in the end!" He knelt in front of her.

"But what if they come?" She also knelt.

"I don't know Abi..."

"I don't know! And that's what scares me!"

"What about your friend? Didn't he also gamble with you?" She asked, feeling curious.

"Abi. It was a lie!" He pressed his lips.

"What?" She started to feel Caleb changed. The more she spoke, the more she felt.

"For gambling, it was only me who went to the casino." He explained.

"Then what about the loan?" She tried to understand the whole thing.

"He ran away after we got in debt!"

Abigail now understood everything.

"Abi...as you know, Mom and Dad are still not aware of it. Please don't tell them about it!" He looked at her with pleading eyes.

Abigail feels like the Caleb she is looking at is not the same one. As she never thought he could do something like this.

But now what? He is already guilty and facing a big problem.

And as his girlfriend, she needs to be there for him.

"Caleb..." she cupped his face.

"Don't worry! We both tried out to solve this big problem in any way! And until then I'll not tell you about home things to your parents!" She assured him.

Her eyes turned serious with her words, even when she knew very well that the amount is not a small deal. It's big enough to make them homeless.

"Thank you, Abi..." He hugged her.