Chapter 9
977 Words
"You don't even get a chance to be trash."
Abigail gritted her teeth, every word sharp and deliberate.
Those who bullied the weak and feared the strong-this was all they could do.
"You little b***h, what did you just say?"
The woman twisted her face in fury and slapped Abigail hard across the cheek.
Snap!
A fiery red palm print bloomed immediately on her skin.
Abigail stared at the woman without flinching. Then, with a sudden surge of strength, she elbowed the two men holding her.
They yelped in pain and released her. Abigail seized the moment, darting toward the back door-but half the crowd blocked her path.
Every escape route was sealed.
"Catch her! I want to see what she's capable of today!" the woman shrieked.
Abigail inhaled sharply, then hurled all the heavy books in her arms at the nearest people.
Leaping onto empty desks amidst curses and screams, she pressed forward toward the back exit.
Just as she cleared the last table, a sharp shove sent her crashing backward.
Instinctively, Abigail twisted mid-fall, bracing herself with her arm.
Pain radiated through her, cold sweat breaking out on her forehead.
......
A quiet corner of campus.
Rishima's voice trembled. "Abigail... I'm so sorry. I couldn't help you just now..."
She had wanted to protect her, to fight for her, but lacked both courage and strength.
"Rishima, this isn't your fault." Abigail shook her head, wincing slightly at the throbbing pain.
Rishima's face tightened with worry as she saw the bruises and blood on Abigail's arm. "Abigail. You're bleeding. I have to take you to the infirmary."
"It's fine," Abigail replied lightly. "Rishima, go to class. I just need a moment alone."
Her heart was a storm of chaos and conflicting emotions. She just wanted to disappear for a while.
After hesitating, Rishima suddenly pulled out her phone.
"I'm calling Dante."
"What-what are you doing?" Abigail grabbed her wrist in shock.
How did Rishima even have Dante's number?
"If he hadn't been pestering you, why would you have become a target? Now you're hurt because of him... shouldn't he take responsibility?" Rishima snapped, yanking her hand back in frustration.
"I have nothing to do with him," Abigail murmured, her eyelashes drooping like fallen wings.
"It's nothing? He hovered around all day, even escorting you back to school!" Rishima said angrily, dialing Dante's number.
The call was made after she had secretly followed Abigail from the wall at night, watching Dante wait outside. Rishima had thought he was persistent but sincere, and that Abigail's life would improve soon.
But these days, Abigail's life was still miserable, and she was targeted and isolated at school.
Now, if Dante hadn't intervened, she might have truly believed the lies of the study committee.
"Follow him all you want. It's none of my business," she muttered to herself.
Not long after Rishima left, Dante arrived.
"Are you hurt?" His gentle voice fell over her, eyes taking in the bruised arm and the redness and swelling on her cheek.
Abigail kept her head bowed, silent.
Dante's expression darkened with guilt. "I... I didn't know it would affect you this badly. I'm sorry."
He just wanted to hear her voice.
Abigail inhaled lightly, still saying nothing.
Should she tell him how she felt?
But they had nothing to do with each other, hadn't they?
"Your arm is still bleeding. Let me take you to the hospital." He reached out to lift her gently.
"Let go."
Abigail pushed his hands away and curled her arms around her knees, hugging herself tighter.
Unbidden, tears spilled over.
She bit her lips, trying to stifle her sobs, but couldn't.
For a long while, Dante withdrew his frozen hands.
He watched her trembling shoulders, unsure what to say.
Finally, Abigail lifted her eyes, meeting his concerned and apologetic gaze.
"I beg you... Please don't play with me anymore, okay? You are the only child of the Hendricks family. I... I'm supposed to be the future CEO of Hendricks Corporation, but I'm nothing. My sister... she's still waiting for treatment. My family... they're still counting on me. I can't afford to..."
Tears slipped from her eyes again, sparkling with helplessness.
Her voice was bright, yet choked with anguish, and Dante felt his throat tighten, suddenly at a loss for words.
After a long pause, he whispered, "I'm not playing with you..."
She knew that... but still...
All her emotions were caught in her throat, swelling.
"I told you long ago... I am not Orabelle. If it's because my voice is similar, I apologize. But this-this is me. I was born like this. I can't change it. Your concern, your obsession... It's all for Orabelle. I... I just happened into your life by accident..."
Ordinary people...
"It's just the wine girl..."
Her voice fell soft and light, like a feather drifting on the wind, fading gently.
She no longer dared meet his eyes, hugging her knees closer.
"You stood up for me at the bar, escorted me home... none of this was for me, and I wouldn't thank you for it. Dante... I'm begging you... Let me go. I need to work at the bar, I need to learn, I need to survive."
Years of hardship had dulled her pain, numbed her wounds. She craved love, yet she refused to be a substitute for someone else's whims.
Yes, she was a hostess.
But she would never let herself be cheap.
And maybe... she no longer dared to continue.
"Orabelle... Abigail..."
"I'm sorry."
His hand, stiff, patted her back lightly.
At that moment, Dante had no words left but apologies.
For the first time, he truly realized the girl in front of him was not Orabelle. Her voice held a strangeness he hadn't noticed before.
Perhaps... this had all been a mistake from the very beginning.
"I won't pester you anymore."
- Writer
