Chapter 1

"Abby, the donor just backed out. You have to beg Eric and ask for his help. Your eyes can't wait any longer."

Abigail Reed was packing her hospital bag when her best friend, Jacinta Bennett, called. The news struck Abigail hard, leaving her mind blank and her vision swimming in darkness.

When she finally came to her senses, she gripped her phone tightly, her voice shaky as she asked, "Why did they change their mind? Isn't there any way to talk to them again? I… I…"

Her words faltered, and her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her shirt.

Eric Gomez's cold, distant expression flashed through her mind, and a heavy weight settled in her chest. He wouldn't help her; not after what happened back then.

Eric loathed Abigail—so much so that, in three years of marriage, he had treated her as if she were invisible.

How could he possibly help her?

"Abby, I can't reach the donor. They insisted on keeping their information confidential. You need to find Eric right away. Ask him for help. Your surgery needs to happen no later than early next month."

At some point, the call had ended, but Jacinta's words kept echoing in Abigail's mind, tightening the tension in her chest.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening. A tall figure appeared in the dimly lit entryway, his sharp features cast in shadow, exuding a cold, imposing presence that made Abigail's breath hitch.

"Eric." Abigail snapped out of her thoughts and moved toward him.

As she got closer, the strong scent of alcohol hit her. Eric lowered his gaze and shot her an icy glance before suddenly pinning her against the wall.

"You—"

Before she could finish speaking, Eric suddenly swept her into his arms and strode toward the room.

With a powerful kick, he slammed the door open and unceremoniously threw Abigail onto the bed. He then leaned over her, his lips crashing onto her collarbone with a furious intensity, as though releasing his pent-up frustration.

His cold, lifeless gaze loomed above her, making her heart race. "What happened, Eric?"

Eric remained silent. Abigail felt her vision going dark. Her eyes were failing her again.

In the past few days, her eyesight had been worsening at an alarming rate. What once occurred only a few times a month had now become a frequent affliction, hitting her every couple of days. No matter how much medication she took, it was impossible to halt the decline.

In her hazy state, Abigail managed to glance up at Eric. Through her blurred vision, his features seemed cloaked in shadow and exceptionally cold.

Abigail curled weakly to one side, waiting for the pain in her eyes to subside.

Perhaps her fragile state stirred a rare flicker of sympathy in Eric. Unlike usual, he didn't pull away but instead gently brushed the damp strands of hair from her temple.

"We've been married for three years, yet you're still like this," he murmured. Then, as though realizing something, his expression darkened once more.

Abigail closed her eyes, knowing that he was thinking about the past.

The silence between them stretched on until the sudden ringing of a phone cut through the stillness.

Eric swiftly picked the phone up. The phone screen flashed in front of Abigail, revealing a familiar, unforgettable number. It was his true love, Nicole Hopkins.

The call connected, and a woman's trembling sobs came through the line. "I… I can't see again. I'm so scared. Will I be blind forever? Can you come and stay with me?"

Eric sat up abruptly and assured Nicole, "Don't be afraid. A cornea donor has been found, and your surgery will be arranged in the next couple of days."

A thought flickered in Abigail's mind, but it vanished before she could grasp it.

"Didn't the hospital say I wasn't next in line yet?" Nicole asked skeptically.

"I'll have someone inform the patient that the donor backed out at the last minute," Eric said.

Abigail was stunned by the revelation. The donor hadn't backed out; Eric had intercepted it.

Her eyes widened in shock as she stared at the man standing by the bed, pulling on his shirt.

The smoky gray trousers clung perfectly to his long legs, the tailored suit framing his figure with precision. Standing against the light, his face was shadowed, making him seem unfamiliar and menacing.

"I'm heading over now. Don't wander around the house," Eric instructed before hanging up the call.

Before he could step away, Abigail stood up to block his path. "Wait! You… you stole someone else's cornea? How could you do that?"

Eric stared at her, his face devoid of emotion, as if waiting to see what tricks she might try to pull.

Abigail's mind was a chaotic mess and she found it hard to breathe. "How could you do this? It's unethical, and if—"

"Unethical?" Eric cut her off.

Suddenly, he narrowed his eyes and grabbed her chin, his grip firm and unyielding. With a cold sneer, he said, "What right do you have to talk about ethics? Nicole's eyesight problems started because of the medicine from your family's company. Why are you pretending to be a saint, Abigail?"

Abigail shook her head desperately, but no words came out.

The Reed family had been doctors for three generations. Under her father's leadership, their pharmaceutical company had flourished like never before, developing dozens of groundbreaking treatments beloved by patients.

Five years ago, a scandal erupted. News broke that one of the Reed Corporation's drugs caused blindness, and her father, Connor Reed, was accused of embezzlement.

The fallout was devastating. The family was plunged into ruin, and Connor took his own life by jumping from a building. Nicole had been one of the victims of that scandal.

Abigail forced a bitter smile, a thought suddenly surfacing in her mind. "If I lost my sight, would you be this anxious about me? Would you help me find a cornea?"

Eric gave a mocking laugh before responding, "Never. If you went blind, it would be nothing more than the punishment you deserve. And don't bother with these pathetic mind games. You'll never be as good as Nicole."

Abigail's lips trembled slightly. The tightly wound strings of her heart, stretched taut for five long years, suddenly snapped.

She stared at him blankly and said calmly, "Eric, let's get a divorce."

Chapter 2

Eric thought Abigail's words were nothing more than a joke. "Divorce? Are you trying to threaten me? You tried so hard to be part of the Gomez family. Now you're finally willing to leave? Stop testing my patience, Abigail."

With that, he walked out and slammed the door shut.

A wave of bitterness surged from Abigail's chest to her eyes. She bit her lips hard, refusing to let her vulnerability show. However, the pain in her heart was unbearable.

Abigail had loved Eric from the moment she first saw him. Yet no matter how much she tried over the years, his gaze never lingered on her. All he saw was the shadow of that incident, a wall she could never break through.

Tears spilled over despite her efforts to hold them back. Her eyes burned fiercely, the dull ache turning into a sharp, unbearable pain.

Gritting her teeth, Abigail used the last remnants of her vision to change clothes before stumbling out the door and making her way to the hospital.

By the time she arrived, her vision was almost entirely gone. She bumped into people as she staggered down the hall, barely able to navigate until a nurse finally guided her to Jacinta's office.

"What happened, Abby?" Jacinta exclaimed, rushing over as soon as she saw her.

Abigail clutched her wrist and said in a trembling voice, "Jac, my eyes hurt so much."

"Don't worry. Let me check right away," Jacinta said hoarsely.

As Abigail's primary doctor, Jacinta understood her condition better than anyone. As she finished the tests, her normally composed face betrayed a flicker of unease.

"It's bad, isn't it?" Abigail forced a smile.

Jacinta grabbed Abigail's arm and assured her, "It's nothing to worry about. If it's just a cornea, I'll give you mine if it comes to that."

A soft ache pulsed in Abigail's chest, as though her heart had been gently struck. Tears threatened to spill over once again.

"The cornea donor… never backed out," Abigail said with a bitter smile. "It was intercepted."

"What?" Jacinta exclaimed with disbelief. "How could I not know about this?"

Abigail's mind was filled with images of Eric's calm and patient demeanor. She said, "If he hadn't made that call right in front of me, I wouldn't have known either."

With his power and influence, Eric could easily take a donated cornea without anyone suspecting it.

Jacinta's expression darkened as realization dawned. She urged, "Tell me exactly what happened."

Abigail didn't hold back, recounting the events in detail. As she spoke, Jacinta's outrage grew, her hand slamming against the desk.

Just as Jacinta was about to storm off and confront Eric, Abigail held her back. "Don't act rashly." She hesitated before adding, "I'll get it back myself."

The cornea was hers to begin with. Not even Eric had the right to take it away.

"Get what back?"

A familiar voice interrupted their conversation. Abigail's breath hitched as she turned to see Eric standing in the doorway.

Beside him was Nicole, dressed in an elegant white dress that draped perfectly around her small frame. Her soft, chestnut curls framed her delicate face, and her large, almond-shaped eyes exuded innocence.

"Ms. Reed, there's really nothing going on between me and Eric. You don't have to be so tense." Nicole paused before continuing, "My eyes have been acting up, and Eric was kind enough to help me out of worry. You don't need to sneak around and follow us."

Nicole tried to sound considerate, though she'd slipped her hand into the crook of Eric's arm.

Abigail's chest tightened for a moment before relaxing again. At least they hadn't overheard the earlier conversation.

Feeling angered, Jacinta pointed a finger at Nicole and snapped, "If nothing is going on, why don't you get your hands off him?"

Abigail let out a faint chuckle, her voice cool and steady. "Why would I need to sneak around? I'm not a thief who covets what belongs to others."

Taking her husband wasn't enough—now Nicole wanted her cornea too.

Nicole's eyes immediately welled with tears as she choked out a pitiful plea. "What do you mean by that, Ms. Reed?"

Eric's frown deepened as soon as he saw her cry. He hissed at Abigail, "What nonsense are you spouting? Nicole can't be stressed out because of her eyes. Hurry and apologize to her."

"Apologize? For what?" Abigail shot back.

Who did Nicole think she was? If not for her, Abigail would be undergoing the cornea transplant tomorrow and finally regaining her vision. Now, everything was ruined, and it was all because of Nicole.

A wave of anger surged through Abigail. She glared at Nicole with searing intensity. She wanted nothing more than to rip apart that deceitfully innocent face.

Nicole sobbed and instinctively retreated behind Eric in fear. "I'm scared," she murmured.

Eric immediately stepped in front of Nicole and gave Abigail a stern warning. "You'd better not hurt Nicole. Go home immediately."

"You piece of trash!" Jacinta yelled in frustration.

Abigail grabbed her friend's arm just in time, holding her back. Her vision blurred further, as though a dark veil had fallen over the world.

Abigail struggled to keep her eyes wide open and stare at Eric's protective stance in front of Nicole. A numbing chill spread through her chest and her temples throbbed violently.

Even so, she remained still, gripping the edge of the desk so tightly that her fingertips turned white. "I came to the hospital to see Jacinta. This has nothing to do with either of you."

Eric's scowl deepened. He was convinced that Abigail had stayed only to cause trouble for Nicole.

"I'm heading to a gathering with some friends. You're coming with me," he said. He wanted to keep Abigail by his side to avoid any potential trouble.

She found it ironic. Her husband was going out of his way to protect another woman. "I'm not going," she said firmly.

Eric said impatiently, "You used to beg to come along every time. Are you trying to play hard to get?" He paused, as if realizing something. "Don't worry. I'll make sure they don't bother you again."

Those words pierced Abigail's heart like a sharp knife. So, he knew. He had always known. He just didn't care.

Abigail had married Eric because of an accident.

Years ago, after the Reed family went bankrupt, the creditors, unable to recover their money, took her from school and held her hostage, hoping to force her mother to repay the debt.

Unfortunately, instead of coming to her aid, her mother took her younger brother and the remaining three million dollars and fled without a word.

The furious creditors, left with nothing, were ready to harm her. At the critical moment, Eric had stepped in, paid the ransom, and brought her back to the Gomez family.

A few days later, Abigail and Eric accidentally slept together. Hence, Eric's grandfather, Derrick Gomez, demanded that he take responsibility, citing a debt of gratitude.

Connor had once saved Derrick's life, and he couldn't allow Connor's daughter to be mistreated by his grandson.

Eric had initially resisted the idea of marrying Abigail, but Derrick had threatened his own life to force him into submission.

Left with no choice, Eric reluctantly agreed, but from that day onward, he harbored a deep resentment toward Abigail. This animosity extended to his circle of friends, who made it their mission to make her life difficult.

Abigail blinked quickly, pushing back the tears clouding her eyes. "I wanted to attend in the past, but not anymore."

She didn't even want Eric anymore. Why would she bother trying to win over his friends?

Eric's expression darkened as he snapped, "Abigail, stop playing these mind games. There's a limit to how far you can take this."

"I'm not—"

Eric didn't give her a chance to finish. He stepped forward abruptly, grabbed her arm, and dragged her out.

Jacinta immediately intervened. "Eric Gomze, what the hell are you doing?"

Before she could reach them, two bodyguards appeared, blocking her path. Her temper flared. "Move! What do you think you're doing? Let me through!"

The guards didn't flinch and continued standing in front of her.

Nicole, who had been quietly observing, allowed a flicker of delight to cross her face. She then stepped forward and said, "Dr. Bennett, please don't get upset. I'll call Eric right away."

Jacinta turned and glared at her. "Call him? What for? Who the hell do you think you are to meddle in their marriage? First, you steal someone's cornea. Now you think you can steal her husband too? Did you even see how you look? Maybe you should stare at your reflection in a toilet bowl?"

She then spat in Nicole's direction before slamming the door shut with a resounding bang.

The thunderous sound reverberated like an invisible slap across Nicole's face. Her fingers curled tightly into fists at her sides as her gaze briefly darkened, though she quickly masked it with her usual calm.

Just then, she recalled Jacinta's earlier words. Stole someone's cornea?

Nicole had just known that she was going to undergo surgery. So, how would Jacinta know about that?

She took her phone and sent a message. "Find out who the donor for my cornea surgery was."

The reply came swiftly. "Understood."

Chapter 3

Eric drove at an alarming speed, cutting a 20-minute journey down to just ten.

Abigail, shoved into the car without a chance to fasten her seatbelt, was tossed around like a rag doll in the passenger seat, bumping against every corner. By the time the car screeched to a halt, her whole body ached.

She knew this was Eric's way of venting his anger—punishment for having dared to upset his precious Nicole.

"Get out," he commanded coldly.

Abigail straightened herself, taking a moment to steady her breathing before pushing the door open and stepping out.

It was late at night and the neon lights in front of the club shifted endlessly, their colors flashing on the steps leading inside. Abigail squinted, her impaired vision making it hard to discern the uneven stairs.

Her foot slipped, and she stumbled, instinctively grabbing the corner of Eric's coat for balance.

Eric stopped and gazed at her hand. He then brushed it off and said coldly, "Abigail, I've warned you before. Don't waste your time on pointless gestures."

As her hand fell away, an emptiness settled deep in her chest. The cold wind whistled, leaving her shivering from the chill.

Abigail opened her mouth, but no words came. There were too many misunderstandings between them over the years. Hence, she no longer felt the need to explain herself.

While she stood by the side, waiting for Eric to continue walking, his phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the screen before addressing her curtly, "Go inside first. I'll be there soon."

She hesitated as memories of past humiliations flashed through her mind. However, his impatient look left no room for argument.

After taking a deep breath, she turned and walked inside, her steps slow and cautious.

Deep Blue Club was a regular haunt for Eric and his friends—a place known for its strict privacy and impeccable soundproofing. The hallways were eerily quiet, save for the occasional footsteps of staff passing by.

Guided by memory, Abigail soon found the private room they often used. The door was slightly ajar, and raucous laughter and loud voices spilled out through the gap. She paused before kicking the door open.

The door swung wide, and in the same instant, a bucket came crashing down from above, its contents pouring over Abigail.

The sticky substance clung to her skin and clothes—glue, most likely. From past experience, she knew it would take two to three days of scrubbing to remove the glue. Unfortunately, she'd likely be left with a rash from her allergy.

Before Abigail could compose herself, a voice jeered from inside the room. "Look who's here! Eric's pet! Quick, give her a proper face wash!"

Suddenly, something stinging splashed directly into Abigail's eyes.

A searing pain shot through her, pulling a scream from her throat. Instinctively, she staggered back, but a foot shot out from nowhere, tripping her. She crashed hard onto the floor.

Her disheveled state provoked a chorus of laughter from the room.

Pain. Overwhelming pain.

It felt like countless daggers were stabbing Abigail's eyes. Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.

Abigail struggled to open her eyes slightly, and through the blurry haze, a shadowed figure approached.

He stood over Abigail and surveyed her pitiful state. Finally, he let out a derisive laugh.

"Look at you. You really do look like an animal." Then, after a brief pause, he added, "Just like your coward of a father."

A sharp buzz echoed in Abigail's mind. A surge of strength erupted within her as she stood up and lunged at him.

"You're the coward! Your whole family is full of cowards! Gavin Tucker, is bullying women all you're good for?" she screamed.

"Let go of me, you crazy bitch!" Gavin snarled while trying to shake her off.

However, Abigail clung to Gavin's hair with unrelenting ferocity. Since she couldn't win a fight against him, she bit, scratched, kicked, and flailed instead.

Abigail was utterly unrestrained. All she wanted was to make Gavin pay.

Chaos erupted around them. Shouts and screams filled the air as people tried to intervene.

However, Abigail was oblivious to it all. Her mind was consumed by a relentless reel of memories, playing like a kaleidoscope.

Connor worked tirelessly for his patients even though he was down with a fever. He also spent New Year's Eve in his lab. How could he possibly act without conscience or hurt anyone?

There had to be more to the story! Abigail wouldn't let anyone tarnish his reputation.

Grief, rage, and indignation surged within her. Abigail sank her teeth into Gavin's ear. His screams of pain only fueled her resolve as she bit down harder.

"Are you crazy, Abigail?"

"Let go of Gavin! You're killing him."

"Hurry call the cops!"

Though Abigail heard the chaotic shouts, she paid them no mind. All she wanted was to make the bastard who insulted her father pay for his words.

Suddenly, a hand shot out from the side, gripping Abigail's jaw tightly. She turned her head slightly and stared at Eric with a solemn expression.

"Let go," he commanded.

She ignored Eric, refusing to relinquish her grip. But the pressure on her jaw increased, his fingers threatening to crush her chin.

Unable to withstand the force, Abigail loosened her bite on Gavin. Eric yanked her into his arms with an unyielding grip.

The familiar scent of cedar drifted into her nose, but it only made her frown as she struggled to break free.

Eric held her firmly, pressing her against his chest with deliberate strength.

Freed at last, Gavin looked up, his face was covered with bloodied scratches. The worst one stretched from his left cheek down to his jawline. He looked pitiful, but there was no mistaking the fury in his eyes.

His ear, in particular, was in a dire state, blood trickling steadily from the wound.

Cursing under his breath, Gavin wiped his face and threw a punch in Abigail's direction.

"Enough!" Eric bellowed.

Although Gavin was fuming with anger, he stopped in his tracks and obeyed Eric's command.

Eric looked at Abigail and commanded, "I didn't bring you along to act like a lunatic. Apologize to Gavin."

He had a peculiar fondness for making his wife apologize to others. In less than half a day, this was already the second time he'd said it.

Abigail sneered inwardly but remained silent.

Gavin, however, was far from calm. "What's the point of her apologizing? Will her apology bring my sister back to life? If anyone needs to apologize, it should be her and that damned father of hers—down in hell, to my sister!"

The truth behind Gavin's hatred of Abigail ran deeper.

Years ago, his sister had been diagnosed with cancer. Her condition had stabilized, but after taking a medication developed by Reed Corporation, her health deteriorated rapidly, and she passed away within a short time.

Still, none of that justified his insults toward Connor.

"I won't apologize and you have no right to order me around," Abigail retorted.

Eric was enraged by her defiant attitude. He frowned and said, "Are you crazy? Do you think it's right to attack someone? You act like a madwoman every single day—I've had enough of you!"

His furious outburst seemed to make Abigail calmer.

"Like I said before, let's divorce then," she said flatly. Her vision was blurring again, dark spots clouding her sight. "There's only one thing I want. Return the cornea you took from me. I'm on the verge of going blind."

Chapter 4

The room fell into silence, broken moments later by an eruption of mocking laughter.

"Abigail, do you really need to act like this just to get sympathy?"

"Your cornea? Even if you're going blind, it's nothing but karma."

"Someone's been reading too many novels."

The jeers came without restraint. Abigail, however, paid no attention to them. Her gaze remained fixed on Eric.

Forget about love and affection. All she wanted was to heal her eyes, uncover the evidence that would clear her father's name, and then find a quiet place to spend the rest of her days.

Eric's expression darkened. Something clicked in his mind, and he said furiously, "Shut up! Get out!"

Everyone was stunned by his terse command. However, no one dared defy him. They scrambled to leave immediately.

Gavin hesitated, but someone grabbed him by the arm and dragged him out.

Soon, the room was empty. Eric pulled out his phone and called his assistant to retrieve Abigail's medical records from the hospital.

He turned to her and said coldly, "You'd better not be lying to me."

Abigail remained silent. Her medical records would speak for themselves. There was no need to explain.

She couldn't afford further delays for her eyes. Even if she managed to recover the corner, there was no guarantee that Eric wouldn't find out and take it away from her again.

Abigail could only hope that once Eric confirmed the truth about her eyes, he would consider their marriage and return the cornea.

Eric said nothing more. About ten minutes later, his phone rang. He answered the call, and his expression immediately shifted from calm to seething fury. He looked up and glared at Abigail.

"Do you think it's fun to lie?"

Eric's face loomed close, and before Abigail could react, his hand gripped her neck.

Abigail was suffocating. Her already muddled mind gradually went numb. Before she could struggle, Eric suddenly loosened his tight grip.

"There's no record of your medical visits at the hospital. Your health check from six months ago shows you're perfectly healthy."

Abigail widened her eyes in shock. Impossible. She'd been receiving treatment in the hospital for half a year. How could there be no record?

Abigail tried to explain. "No, I—"

"Still lying?" Eric interrupted, his voice rising with anger. "Do you think this is funny? Do you think I'll let you play me for a fool?"

He paused, his lips curling into a cold sneer. "Even if you were telling the truth, you deserve it."

With that, he released her and walked away.

Abigail collapsed to the floor, gasping for air. Her chest burned, and her mind was in chaos, unable to make sense of anything. Eric's words echoed in her ears, each one cutting deeper than the last. So, this was how much he hated her.

Tears slipped down Abigail's cheeks as she pulled herself up and staggered out of the club. Standing on the sidewalk, staring at the passing cars, she hesitated before taking out her phone.

"Jac, can I stay at your place for a few days?"

…

Half an hour later, Abigail knocked on Jacinta's door.

The moment Jacinta saw her, she gasped in shock. "What happened to you? Did Eric and those bastards do this? I'm going to make them pay!"

Abigail grabbed Jacinta's arm and stopped her. "My eyes hurt so much," she said weakly.

The events of the day, coupled with the earlier pepper spray incident, had left Abigail's eyes severely swollen and throbbing with pain, to the point where her nerves felt numb.

Jacinta quickly ushered her inside and began tending to her eyes. As she worked, her tears started to fall.

Jacinta muttered furious curses at Eric and his friends, occasionally throwing in cynical comments that made Abigail laugh.

"You're still laughing? If you keep this up, your eyes might get so bad that even surgery won't help!" Jacinta chided.

"I know," Abigail said, grinning as she tried to placate her. "But you've got to find humor in the misery, right?"

Jacinta sighed, shaking her head in exasperation. In the end, she couldn't bring herself to stay angry.

Shortly after, she asked, "Do you have any way to get the cornea back? If worse comes to worst, maybe you could talk to Mr. Gomez Senior?"

Abigail shook her head and responded, "I don't want him to worry."

Jacinta said in frustration, "Does Eric really have the heart to watch his wife go blind?"

Abigail's smile disappeared. She stayed silent for a moment before recounting the events in the club earlier.

"He's convinced I'm lying. How could he possibly help me?" she finished with a sigh.

"No medical records? That's impossible!" Jacinta frowned, thinking hard. Suddenly, she grabbed Abigail's arm.

"I know! Earlier, when Eric took you away, I panicked and blurted out that Nicole stole the cornea."

Abigail and Jacinta's eyes met. At that moment, they both understood exactly what must have happened. It seemed like Nicole must have tampered with the records.

Feeling guilty, Jacinta apologized, "I'm sorry, Abby. This is all my fault. I acted too rashly and let the truth slip. I—"

Abigail interrupted, "It's not your fault. Even if nothing had been revealed, I'm not sure I would've been able to get the cornea back. After all, that's Eric Gomez we're talking about."

The Gomez family's power was unparalleled in Hayfield City. When the Reed family was still around, Abigail hadn't been confident she could stand against them. Now, with everything gone, the odds were even slimmer.

"So, what now? If we miss this donation, who knows when the next one will come? Your eyes are getting worse. If this drags on any longer, it could lead to permanent blindness."

Abigail lowered her gaze, her expression dim. She was terrified of the looming outcome, but there was no better solution at the moment.

After a long silence, she exhaled slowly. "One step at a time. But before that, there's something I need to do."

"What is it?"

"Get a divorce."

Even if Abigail ultimately had to face the reality of losing her sight, she wanted to sever ties with Eric before then. The toxic relationship had dragged on long enough.

It was time to end it once and for all.

Chapter 5

After leaving Abigail at the club, Eric received an unexpected call and had to return to the office to handle some work matters.

When he returned home later that night, he didn't see Abigail waiting on the couch. A faint irritation stirred within him.

Abigail was clearly at fault. After knowing about Nicole's condition, she'd tried to manipulate him with a ridiculous lie about going blind. Now she had the nerve to throw a tantrum?

Eric ripped off his tie and strode to the bedroom. If she thought this stunt would force him to turn against Nicole, she was fooling herself.

The Reed family owed Nicole, and Abigail had no right to stir up trouble.

Shortly after, Eric went to bed without caring about Abigail's whereabouts.

By morning, Abigail's continued absence gnawed at him. He summoned a housekeeper to inquire about her. His expression darkened when he learned that Abigail hadn't come home.

"Great," he thought. "Now she has learned to stay out all night."

"Should we send someone to look for her?" the housekeeper asked hesitantly.

Eric replied coldly, "No. She can continue with her nonsense."

By the third day, Abigail still hadn't returned. Eric's irritation boiled over into full-blown anger.

"Wonderful! She has even gone so far as to run away from home now," he thought angrily.

…

"Abby, it's been so long since you've visited. Have you forgotten about me?" Derrick's disappointed voice came through the phone.

"Of course not, Grandpa. I've just been a bit busy lately," Abigail explained.

Derrick let out a soft snort. "I think you're just being ungrateful. You're not even thinking about visiting."

Abigail couldn't help but chuckle. "That's not true. I'll come visit you soon, okay?"

Since her eye condition had worsened, Abigail had reduced her visits to the Gomez residence. She feared Derrick might notice something was amiss and worry unnecessarily.

"If you really miss me, come today, right now. Otherwise, it just means you're tired of me."

Abigail marveled at how someone his age could still act so childishly. Feeling helpless and realizing it had indeed been a while since her last visit, she conceded, "All right. I'll change my clothes and come see you."

"Great. That's great," Derrick said cheerfully. "I'll be waiting for you."

After hanging up, Abigail examined herself in the mirror. The frequent flare-ups of her eye condition had affected her appetite, causing her to lose weight and appear more haggard than usual.

She selected a loose-fitting yellow dress from her closet, hoping its design would conceal her weight loss. She then applied light makeup to brighten her complexion.

Before leaving, Abigail took her medication, hoping it would delay any symptoms during her visit.

The journey from Jacinta's place to the Gomez residence took about thirty minutes.

As soon as she entered, her gaze was drawn to the person on the couch. In just a few days, Eric seemed to have grown even more handsome. Dressed in a custom-made black suit paired with a gray shirt, he exuded an indescribable air of nobility even while sitting casually.

Eric glanced briefly in Abigail's direction before quickly averting his gaze. It was as if he hadn't even noticed her.

"Abby, come here!" Derrick was delighted to see her. He waved her over enthusiastically.

"You've come at just the right time. I was just saying that Eric should take some time today to take you to the amusement park. I've heard it's newly opened, with many attractions you can't find in other parks."

Over the years, Derrick had made numerous attempts like this to ease the tension between Abigail and Eric. From arranging candlelit dinners to sending them on vacations, he had spared no effort in creating opportunities for them to be alone together.

Unfortunately, despite Derrick's intervention, Abigail hadn't been able to change Eric's extreme aversion toward her even after all these years.

Abigail lowered her gaze to the amusement park tickets on the table. She tried to decline, saying, "He doesn't—"

"All right," Eric suddenly cut her off. She turned to him in surprise as he said calmly, "I'll bring her there later."

Abigail widened her eyes in surprise, caught off guard by his response. However, she quickly realized that he was likely planning to take Nicole there and was merely using her as an excuse.

"Finally, you're coming to your senses!" Derrick was overjoyed, his face beaming with happiness.

Seeing hope for their reconciliation, Derrick eagerly ushered them out without letting them have lunch. "Oh my, that amusement park is quite far from here. Don't waste time and hurry along now. You can just grab a quick bite on the way."

With that, Derrick promptly had the housekeeper close the door behind them.

Eric stared at the closed door, seemingly resigned. "Let's go," he said.

"Where to?" Abigail asked instinctively.

He glanced at her as if she was an idiot. "To the amusement park, of course." He walked toward the car and added, "Do I need to invite you into the car?"

Abigail snapped back to reality and hurried after him.

As they drove closer to the amusement park, the emotions she had suppressed began to surface.

Could Eric truly intend to take her there for fun? Her slight hopefulness disappeared the moment she saw Nicole.

"Ms. Reed," Nicole greeted them at the park entrance and swiftly linked her arm with Eric's. She turned to Abigail with an apologetic expression. "I hope you don't mind that I'm here. Eric invited me."

Lowering her head dejectedly, she continued, "I'm about to have eye surgery. If it fails, I might face permanent blindness. So I wanted to see as much as I could before the operation."

Nicole still had a chance of recovery with surgery, while Abigail had to keep waiting day after day. She looked at Nicole and felt a wave of disappointment settle in her heart.