Free Web NovelChapter 36: Sleeping separately
Abigail slowly lifted her head..." You?" her wet hair plastered against her face and raindrops still clinging to her eyelashes.
She blinked through the downpour and froze. Standing right there in front of her, holding a large umbrella that shielded her from the heavy rain, was Henry. For a moment, she could not believe what she was seeing. Henry Michaelson, the powerful man who had offered her a contract marriage to seal a company alliance. The same man she had shared one unexpected, heated night with not long ago. Her heart raced as she stared up at him, hardly able to process it.
Without thinking twice, she pushed herself up from the ground. "Henry..." she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. In the next second, she ran straight into his arms and hugged him tighter than she had ever hugged anyone. She buried her face in his chest, clinging to him like he was the only solid thing left in her crumbling world.
Henry stiffened in surprise. They had never been close or even friendly most of the time. Their relationship had always been full of arguments, sharp words, and awkward tension. But this time, he let out a long, tired sigh, gently patted her back with one strong hand, and held her for a brief moment. His bodyguards moved quietly around them, giving them space but staying alert.
After a short while, they stepped forward and carefully guided Abigail toward the waiting black car, helping her inside while Henry followed.
Once inside the warm, dry car, Abigail finally started to calm down. The city lights blurred past the windows as they drove away from the rainy street. That was when the embarrassment hit her like a wave. She had just run and hugged Henry like they were longtime lovers or something. Her cheeks burned hot, and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat, avoiding his eyes. She glanced sideways at him and noticed the lace black mask he always wore, covering part of his face. It looked mysterious and elegant at the same time. She wondered again what secret he was hiding behind it and why he never took it off in public.
"How did you know?" she asked softly, turning to face him. "How did you find me out here in the rain like this?" Henry did not answer. He kept looking straight ahead, his expression calm and unreadable behind the mask. The silence stretched between them for the entire ride. freёwebnovel.com
Abigail tried asking again, but he still ignored her questions. She eventually gave up and leaned back against the seat, watching the streets until the car finally pulled up to his grand house. But deep down, the feeling of punching his jaw has returned!
Inside the house, Abigail gathered her courage and spoke up. "I want another room," she said firmly, crossing her arms. "This whole contract thing is already weird enough. I don’t want to share space with you."
Henry barely glanced at her. "You’re not special," he replied in a flat, almost bored tone. "You’ll stay where I put you. Besides, you’re visiting my family tomorrow anyway." With that, he turned around and walked away without another word, disappearing down the hallway like the conversation had never happened.
Abigail stood there feeling completely confused. Her mind spun with so many unanswered questions. Had he come looking for her because of his family? How had he known exactly where she was and when she needed help? Well, he was a powerful man with connections everywhere, so maybe it should not have surprised her. Still, it left her head spinning and her heart unsettled.
She walked to the room prepared for her and stepped inside. The space felt surprisingly welcoming and well-organised. She took a long, hot shower, letting the water wash away the rain, the tears, and the stress of the day.
When she opened the closet afterwards, her eyes widened in shock. Rows of beautiful new clothes hung neatly inside, all in her exact size. Even better, they were mostly in her favourite colours—soft blues, warm creams, and rich greens that always made her feel pretty and confident. She stood there, stunned, running her fingers over the soft fabrics.
How did Henry know all these details about her? It felt too thoughtful, too personal for someone who acted so cold most of the time. She shook her head and muttered to herself with a small, amused smile, "Whatever. Just get dressed and stop overthinking." She picked out a comfortable yet nice outfit and slipped it on. It fit perfectly, like it had been made just for her.
After getting ready, Abigail sat on the edge of the big bed and let her thoughts drift back to everything that had happened earlier that evening. She still could not believe how her mother had reacted. They had believed Anna’s dramatic story so quickly, without even listening to her side. The memory hurt more than she wanted to admit. She had dreamed for so long about reuniting with her real family, but instead, she felt pushed away and unwanted. It was almost funny in a sad way, Anna falling down the stairs by herself and then acting like the victim. The whole thing had turned into a ridiculous mess.
She was still lost in these thoughts when her phone buzzed on the bedside table. New messages had arrived from an unknown number. Abigail picked it up and read the words glowing on the screen:
"I can make your life more miserable. For it not to happen. Leave Henry Michaelson. You are not worthy of him."
She stared at the message, her heart beating faster. The threat hung in the quiet room like a dark cloud, making the comfortable space suddenly feel less safe.
Abigail set the phone down slowly, wondering who could be watching her life so closely and why they wanted her away from Henry. The night had already been full of surprises, and it seemed like more were coming.
After thinking for a while...her eyes darkened. " Selena Stone" she murmured and clenched her fists.
