Not One, But Two!
Chapter 171

Chapter 171

Chapter 171

After Abigail left the Fraser Residence, she made her way over to the location Hugh had sent her. Itwas only when she arrived there that she noticed it wasn't too far from Mansfield; it was only one streetover. It was no wonder then that Greg had thought Alissa was in Mansfield when she sent him herlocation yesterday.

Presently, Abigail got down from the car and decided to text Greg about her whereabouts. But a briefsecond later, she changed her mind and called him instead.

"Abigail, are you okay?" Greg's anxious voice filled the other line as soon as the call was put through.

She was somewhat stunned by how worried he sounded. "Why wouldn't I be?" she asked with a raiseof her brow.

"Because Victoria picked on you, didn't she? Don't you worry; I promise I'll settle the score with thatmoron of a woman!" He wasn't even trying to hide his contempt for his sister at this point.

While Abigail was surprised that he had heard about the incident at Fraser Residence, she brushed itoff and said, "There's no need for that because I've already taught her a lesson."

"That's not enough. You're my girlfriend, but she still went ahead and asked a bunch of men to gang upon you. All these years of material comfort have turned her into an ignorant fool who doesn't know herplace! You're the rightful young mistress of the Buckley Family, and she's just a child the family took inout of pity. I can't believe she ever thought she held any real power or position."

In the past, he would never have used such scathing words, but he was truly outraged today.

For Victoria to summon her men to gang up on Abigail was an insult to him. Everyone in Harrion knewthat she was his woman, which meant it took a lot of nerve and stupidity on Victoria's part to pick onher.

A smile tugged on Abigail's lips when she heard this. She placated quietly, "There's no need to get intoa bitter fight with your sister because of me."

"I won't."

"Good," she replied. "Anyway, I only called to tell you that I've found Allie and Aria. Just sit tight, and I'llbring them home in a bit."

When Greg heard this, he straightened up and pressed urgently, "So they really were at the Frasers'?"

"No, they're somewhere else. Look, save the questions for later. I'll be back as soon as possible, and Ionly called to give you some peace of mind. I'll talk to you later. Bye." With that, she hung up thephone.

A dark look passed over his face when all he heard on the other line was the monotonous beeping toindicate that the call had ended. Abigail hadn't told him where Alissa and Arianna were, but he had afeeling that he would be heartbroken if he were to replace out where she was going.

He was about to call her back and demand her location, but he decided against this, even though hehad already pulled up her number on his phone.

I ought to trust and respect her, he reminded himself. He would come off as unreasonable if he insistedon asking her for her whereabouts. The fact that she had called him first meant that she was beingconsiderate of him, and he should return the favor.

He was giving himself a pep talk.

Never had he imagined that he would care so much for a woman that his confidence and faith wouldfalter in the face of uncertainty.

Frustrated, he tossed his phone onto the coffee table and sighed. He suddenly thought of Victoria andJonathan, and he figured that he might as well toy with them while he waited for Abigail to return home.

A devilish smile tugged on his lips as he began to scheme, and Valerie felt a chill run down her spine atthe sight of how much he resembled the devil. "Oh, my age is certainly catching up to me. I'm worn out,so I think I'd better lie down for a while in my room. Let me know when Allie and Aria get home."

Having casually thrown those words in Greg's direction, the old lady slowly rose to her feet and shuffledback to her bedroom.

However, she had barely taken a couple of steps when she heard Greg pipe up breezily, "Just areminder, Mom: the phone in the bedroom shares a line with the phone in the living room."

Valerie froze at this, then shook her head in exasperation. I guess this boy has set his mind on teachingJonathan and Victoria a lesson.

She sighed weorily ond went into her room without onother word.

The butler cought sight of the despondent look on the old lody's foce ond osked curiously, "Old ModomBuckley, ore you reolly just going to let Mr. Buckley do whot he will with Miss Victorio?"

"Whot else do you expect me to do? Stop him? I hove to odmit thot Vicky hos only gotten morewoyword with eoch possing yeor. She could mess with onyone she wonted, but the person she pickedon todoy wos Abigoil. You've wotched Greg while he wos growing up, so you know whot he's like oswell os I do. He is truly in love with Abigoil, ond he is overprotective by noture, so we're lucky thot hehosn't shot o hole through the sky obove Froser Residence ond let the universe collopse in on them.Besides, Vicky procticolly roised him from o young oge, ond she should hove known better thon to trifle

with whot belongs to Greg. She chose this poth of self-destruction, so she'll hove to beor theconsequences. I've done whot I could to help her, ond now I'm woshing my honds off her."

Volerie reolly did look worn out os she loy down on the bed ond closed her eyes. Within seconds, shelooked like she hod drifted off to sleep.

The butler left the room ond closed the door os quietly os he could, but he neorly screomed when hesuddenly sow Greg looming over him by the door.

"Mr. Buckley! When did you get here, ond why didn't I heor you?" the butler osked os he potted hischest to soothe his wildly beoting heort. He hod neorly, in o fit of shock, osked Greg why he woseovesdropping ot the doorwoy.

Greg seemed noncholont os he shrugged ond soid, "I only come to see if my mom needed onything,but I won't bother her now thot she's follen osleep." With thot, he spun on his heels ond wentdownstoirs.

The butler wos still trying to get over the initiol shock, ond he chided himself for hoving soid too mucheorlier.

Downstoirs, Greg grobbed his coot ond left the house.

At thot exoct moment, Abigoil found herself stonding outside on old house, which hoppened to be thelocotion Hugh hod sent her. She couldn't hide her surprise os she thought, I don't remember him hovingony properties in Horrion, ond this certoinly is no hotel. Does this meon he's bought o house here, ondhe plons on toking up long-term residency?

For some reoson, such o notion irritoted her. She took o deep breoth ond gently knocked on the door.

"Come in. The door's unlocked," come Hugh's voice from inside the house.

She opened the door ond wolked in, ond she wos instontly greeted by the sight of Hugh ond Alissoploying with eoch other. When Alisso sow her, she soid cheerily, "Mommy, look whot Popo got me!They're the lotest boxing gloves on the morket, ond Popo olso hod on owesome boxing ring built here.He olso soid he's going to stoy here for the long run, which meons I con come by ond ploy with himwhenever I wont!"

The little girl's excitement wore off when she belotedly noticed the grove look on Abigoil's foce. Shesuddenly stopped in her childish prottling os she osked somewhot bewilderedly, "Mommy, whot'swrong?"

"Where's Ario?" Abigoil wos growing worried when she sow thot Arionno wos nowhere to be found.

Alisso onswered hurriedly, "Popo instolled o filter like the one we hod bock in Morono, so Ario's osthmodidn't oct up ot oll. She must be sleeping now in her bedroom."

"Go into Ario's room ond stoy there while I tolk to your popo obout some things, "Abigoil instructed in olow voice, but it wos on outhoritotive one thot mode Alisso stond to ottention ot once.

"Oh, okoy," she muttered os she begon to toke off the boxing gloves.

Hugh frowned ot this ond quickly soid, "You con bring the gloves into the room, Allie."

"It's okoy, Popo. I con olwoys ploy loter."

Hugh knew thot she loved the boxing gloves, ond it upset him to see her leove them behind justbecouse Abigoil looked ond sounded os if she wos bothered by them. "The kid wos just hoving somefun. Surely there's no need for you to look so gloomy. Besides, this isn't the first time the kids hovecome to my ploce for ploytime. You didn't mind this before, so why do you toke such offense to it now?Is it becouse Greg doesn't wont the kids honging out with me?"

"Leove him out of this," Abigoil soid os she rubbed her temple tiredly. All the pent-up worry over thechildren's sofety went out of her now thot she hod seen Alisso ond determined thot she wos unhurt.

She sighed wearily and went into her room without another word.

The butler caught sight of the despondent look on the old lady's face and asked curiously, "Old MadamBuckley, are you really just going to let Mr. Buckley do what he will with Miss Victoria?"

"What else do you expect me to do? Stop him? I have to admit that Vicky has only gotten morewayward with each passing year. She could mess with anyone she wanted, but the person she pickedon today was Abigail. You've watched Greg while he was growing up, so you know what he's like aswell as I do. He is truly in love with Abigail, and he is overprotective by nature, so we're lucky that hehasn't shot a hole through the sky above Fraser Residence and let the universe collapse in on them.Besides, Vicky practically raised him from a young age, and she should have known better than to triflewith what belongs to Greg. She chose this path of self-destruction, so she'll have to bear theconsequences. I've done what I could to help her, and now I'm washing my hands off her."

Valerie really did look worn out as she lay down on the bed and closed her eyes. Within seconds, shelooked like she had drifted off to sleep.

The butler left the room and closed the door as quietly as he could, but he nearly screamed when hesuddenly saw Greg looming over him by the door.

"Mr. Buckley! When did you get here, and why didn't I hear you?" the butler asked as he patted hischest to soothe his wildly beating heart. He had nearly, in a fit of shock, asked Greg why he waseavesdropping at the doorway.

Greg seemed nonchalant as he shrugged and said, "I only came to see if my mom needed anything,but I won't bother her now that she's fallen asleep." With that, he spun on his heels and wentdownstairs.

The butler was still trying to get over the initial shock, and he chided himself for having said too muchearlier.

Downstairs, Greg grabbed his coat and left the house.

At that exact moment, Abigail found herself standing outside an old house, which happened to be thelocation Hugh had sent her. She couldn't hide her surprise as she thought, I don't remember him havingany properties in Harrion, and this certainly is no hotel. Does this mean he's bought a house here, andhe plans on taking up long-term residency?

For some reason, such a notion irritated her. She took a deep breath and gently knocked on the door.

"Come in. The door's unlocked," came Hugh's voice from inside the house.

She opened the door and walked in, and she was instantly greeted by the sight of Hugh and Alissaplaying with each other. When Alissa saw her, she said cheerily, "Mommy, look what Papa got me!They're the latest boxing gloves on the market, and Papa also had an awesome boxing ring built here.He also said he's going to stay here for the long run, which means I can come by and play with himwhenever I want!"

The little girl's excitement wore off when she belatedly noticed the grave look on Abigail's face. Shesuddenly stopped in her childish prattling as she asked somewhat bewilderedly, "Mommy, what'swrong?"

"Where's Aria?" Abigail was growing worried when she saw that Arianna was nowhere to be found.

Alissa answered hurriedly, "Papa installed a filter like the one we had back in Marona, so Aria's asthmadidn't act up at all. She must be sleeping now in her bedroom."

"Go into Aria's room and stay there while I talk to your papa about some things, "Abigail instructed in alow voice, but it was an authoritative one that made Alissa stand to attention at once.

"Oh, okay," she muttered as she began to take off the boxing gloves.

Hugh frowned at this and quickly said, "You can bring the gloves into the room, Allie."

"It's okay, Papa. I can always play later."

Hugh knew that she loved the boxing gloves, and it upset him to see her leave them behind justbecause Abigail looked and sounded as if she was bothered by them. "The kid was just having somefun. Surely there's no need for you to look so gloomy. Besides, this isn't the first time the kids havecome to my place for playtime. You didn't mind this before, so why do you take such offense to it now?Is it because Greg doesn't want the kids hanging out with me?"

"Leave him out of this," Abigail said as she rubbed her temple tiredly. All the pent-up worry over thechildren's safety went out of her now that she had seen Alissa and determined that she was unhurt.

She kept her gaze on Hugh and asked in a low voice, "Why did you buy a house here? Why are youplanning to stay here long term? I distinctly remember you telling me that you hate it here."

"Yeah, but you don't, and the kids like it here, too. I might as well just change my mind about the placeand move in," he replied matter-of-factly.

Alas, there were some things that were different now, and Abigail knew that. "Hugh, you know what Imean. I'm grateful for all that you've done for me and the girls for the last few years, and if you'rewilling, you can still be their papa. But right now, they have a biological father who loves them andtakes care of them, and you doing all this will only make him uncomfortable."

Hugh's face was stormy after he heard this. "Uncomfortable? So what if he is uncomfortable? I was theone who took care of the three of you all these years. Where the hell was he? I was the one whojumped into the sea to save you from drowning, and I was the one who kept you company when yourchild nearly died from blood loss. Where was Greg then? Now he's enjoying the fruit of my hard labor.After all that I did for you in the last five years, are you just going to kick me out of your life now thatyou're moving on to someone new? How am I not good enough for you, Abigail? Tell me what he hasthat I don't, and I'll prove to you that I can be better than him! Tell me!"

Abigail stared at him as her heart twisted at his anguished display.

She knew how he felt about her and how the feelings had only grown over the years, but she hadhinted to him and told him expressly that she was not interested. However, he refused to listen. Nowthat she had found her true love, she had no choice but to hurt him.

That said, she would rather hurt one person than two.

One couldn't afford to leave things hanging when it came to love. At some point, a clean break becamepivotal.

Whatever favors she owed Hugh could be settled in the future, but she definitely could not make it upto him with false sentiments, and her mind was clear on this.

If she refused to make her stance clear now, then she would only hurt Greg in the end, and there wasno way a prideful man like him could take it in stride.

"He didn't know I was pregnant five years ago, and if he did, he might have assumed the role of a goodfather. Five years later, he's the one I choose to be with. You're one of my closest friends, Hugh, and Ihope you could give us your blessing."

"Blessing? Abbie, you know how I feel about you! You're being cruel by treating me this way, don't youthink?" Hugh thought he might suffocate from heartache alone.

At the sight of his reddened eyes, she swallowed and ignored the tightness in her chest, then said, "Allthese years, I've only ever seen you as a friend, a brother, and a listener. I've told you as much sincethe day you saved me."

"But we've known each other for five years. Abbie, isn't five years worth more than the mere few weeksyou had with Greg since your return to Harrion?"

"Hugh, you can't measure love with time. I have no romantic feelings for you and forever won't changethat. Why can't you just understand that?"

Her words infuriated him. "I can't understand that? Abigail, if you think I would be okay with you cominghere just to kick me out of your and your children's lives, then you've sorely mistaken! I saved you, soyou're mine! You always will be! I raised the kids, and I spent a great deal of time and energy being afather figure to them, and I won't have any man take them away from me! Neither you nor the childrenare leaving this house today, and that's final!"

Abigail froze at this. "Hugh, there's no need to do this. There are girls out there who are better thanme."

"Shut up! I don't want to hear another word from you! Don't try to fight your way out of this, Abigail, anddon't bother trying to contact Greg, either; otherwise, I can't promise what I'll do to your mother."

Upon hearing the last line of his threat, Abigail felt shock rip through her.