Free Web NovelChapter 40: Dramatic
A bright, happy smile quickly spread across her face, lighting up her eyes. "Me???" she asked, her voice full of genuine-sounding surprise and delight. She picked up the bag with both hands and held it close.
"Oh my..." she added, grinning from ear to ear like a child who had just received the best present ever. Then, without warning, she gasped dramatically, clutching the bag tightly to her chest and widening her eyes in exaggerated shock.
Everyone paused for a few seconds. Everyone stared at her, surprised by the sudden burst of energy. Even Henry and his two assistants, Joshua and Luna, looked at her in confusion, wondering what on earth had gotten into her.
"Gosh, Miss bought me a Chanel bag!" Abigail exclaimed loudly, her eyes shining with fake tears of joy that looked almost believable. She blinked rapidly and wiped at the corners of her eyes for effect.
"I’ve never seen this design in my entire life!" She let out a soft, dramatic moan of happiness and turned the bag slowly in her hands, admiring every detail as if it were the rarest treasure in the world. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
The performance was so over-the-top that it nearly made the serious family dinner feel like a theatre show.
Henry frowned deeply. He clearly remembered seeing her with a lot of Chanel items many times before. One of her close friends was a very important customer for the company, so her reaction did not make any sense to him, but he kept quiet, trying to figure out her game.
Luna, who had spent time investigating Abigail’s background thoroughly, felt just as puzzled. She asked herself whether Abigail’s friend Madeline was not actually close to the Chanel manager. The whole dramatic display left Luna tilting her head slightly, trying to connect the dots in her mind. The other family members exchanged glances.
Without missing a beat, Abigail stood up from her chair in one smooth motion. She walked around the table and pulled Selena into a tight, enthusiastic hug.
"Thank you so much!! I love you already!!" she said warmly, squeezing the other woman like they had been best friends forever.
The embrace was full of energy and fake affection. Selena felt disgusted by the sudden closeness, her body going stiff, but she forced herself to tolerate it. She patted Abigail’s back a couple of times with awkward little taps, trying her best to keep a polite smile on her face.
After a few long seconds, Abigail pulled away on her own, looking satisfied. She returned to her seat as if nothing unusual had happened, smoothing down her black pearl dress with a happy little sigh.
"This makes me wonder if Miss has not really seen a Chanel bag before?" Selena asked sarcastically, her voice sweet on the surface but sharp underneath. She tilted her head and raised one perfectly shaped eyebrow, clearly trying to catch Abigail off guard.
Abigail simply shook her head with an equally sarcastic smile playing on her lips. "I’m for real! I’ve never seen it in my life," she replied, matching the tone perfectly and even adding a small innocent shrug for extra effect.
The back-and-forth exchange created a funny, tense spark in the air. A few family members could not help but chuckle, while others watched with raised eyebrows, enjoying the unexpected entertainment.
The old woman, Henry’s grandmother, had been about to ask Abigail more about her family. The Michaelsons always put family first, and she wanted to understand who this young woman really was.
But then her sharp eyes noticed the beautiful black pearls shining on Abigail’s dress and the latest LV purse sitting neatly beside her. She decided to skip the personal questions for now. Instead, she smiled warmly and said, "Let us eat anyway. The food is getting cold." Her words helped ease the moment, and everyone turned their attention to the delicious spread on the long dining table.
Selena made sure to sit right next to Henry, sliding gracefully into the chair beside him with a confident smile. She even brushed her hand lightly against his arm as she settled in.
To her surprise, Abigail did not fight for the spot at all. Instead, she chose the seat directly across from them and began eating confidently, as if the tasty food was the most important thing in the world right now.
She took generous bites, nodding to herself and murmuring little compliments about how flavorful everything was. But while she ate, Abigail noticed something that made her pause mid-bite.
Selena kept touching Henry’s arm and shoulder in small, familiar ways, and Henry did not resist or pull away. It was subtle, but it kept happening right there at the family table.
Abigail told herself she did not have a real problem with it. After all, their marriage was only a contract, nothing more.
Still, the unfairness of it all bothered her deeply. Henry had set those strict rules, saying she could not be seen with any man until the marriage ended, yet he had never told her exactly when the contract would end.
Was he not wasting her time with these double standards? The thought made her chew a little harder than necessary, and she had to force herself to keep a pleasant expression on her face. The tension around the table started to feel thicker and a bit awkward, but Henry remained unbothered. He ate quietly, focused on his plate like the drama around him could not touch his calm mood.
Suddenly, the old woman Michaelson clapped her hands together cheerfully, breaking the growing silence.
"It has been so long since we all ate together like this," she said with real warmth and happiness in her voice. "I have missed these family moments."
Selena nodded in agreement, adding her own bright comment about how wonderful it felt to share a meal with everyone again.
The mood lifted noticeably, and soft laughter spread around the table as people began chatting more freely.
Alan, who had been unusually quiet and watching Abigail closely the entire time, finally spoke up. Her eyes sparkled with a mix of curiosity and displeasure.
"But Abigail, I’ve been expecting you to give us the gift you brought, but nothing happened." The words hung in the air, turning all eyes back toward Abigail once more.
The girl’s tone made it obvious she was not happy about the missing gesture, and the rest of the family waited with interest to see how the new arrival would handle this gentle but pointed reminder.
