Not One, But Two!
Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

When Abigail's eyes lit up, Greg noticed her subtle reaction and confirmed that his suspicions wereright. Thus, he chuckled coldly and said, "You'd better hope I don't replace anything, or else…"

"I'm not going to waste my breath talking to you." Abigail turned around and made her way towardAlissa's room.

The moment she entered the room, she was slightly stunned—it seemed like it was Greg's room. Theinterior of the space had a simplistic black and white theme to it, and Alissa could be seen curled up inthe large, white bed as she slept adorably.

Abigail walked closer and removed the blanket that was covering her face. Upon sensing the child'ssteady breathing in her sleep, Abigail smiled and felt surprised about the fact that Greg was so certainthat Alissa was his daughter. At the thought of that, she wasn't sure if she should be happy or sadabout the matter.

All of a sudden, Alissa grasped Abigail's arm in her sleep while she mumbled, "Daddy! I have a daddy,so stop laughing at me!"

Upon hearing her daughter's words, Abigail couldn't help but feel a stab of pain in her heart. As shelooked at the smile on Alissa's face, she felt a pang of guilt surging through her.

Over the years, she always made sure to give her daughters the best life and education they deserved.She did everything she possibly could to make that happen, but even so, she failed to fill the emptinesswithin her children's hearts.

Is it really that important for them to experience fatherly love?

When Abigail was younger, Philip had married Sasha and took her home along with Emma. However,her life took a turn for the worse when Philip chose to stand by and do nothing to stand up for her everytime Sasha wronged her. Instead, Abigail was the one who always received the scolding and lecturing.

As time went by, she started to think that her father would never protect her at all. Thus, she naturallythought that a father figure wouldn't make a difference in changing her children's life for the better untilshe witnessed the desire on Alissa's face. As her daughter's expression made her tears well up in hereyes, she stood up and walked toward the window.

In front of Abigail was the bird's eye view of the entire city of Harrion, yet she was worried about heryounger daughter, Arianna. As she wondered how her daughter was doing, Abigail reached for herphone and video called her daughter. As soon as the call connected, Arianna was seen lying in bed ina sickly manner.

"Mommy, when are you coming back with Alissa?" Arianna appeared to be wearing her pajamas withcartoons on them as she rubbed her nose non-stop.

"I don't think I'll be back anytime soon. Something has come up with my latest surgery, and I need toget it fixed, my dear. How do you feel now, Arianna?" Abigail asked in a concerned manner.

"Much better."

"I thought we stored some medicine for you in case of an emergency, right? How did the asthma attackhappen?" Abigail couldn't figure out the reason behind Arianna's latest attack. After all, Arianna'scongenital asthma was the biggest reason that motivated Abigail to venture into the medical world.

Arianna shook her head. "I don't know. I remember putting it in front of the computer, but it was goneafter that. Perhaps I misplaced it or something."

"Who touched your computer?"

"No one, but I think Alissa used the computer to browse the internet earlier."

Upon hearing Arianna's story, Abigail began to understand what had happened. Judging from Alissa'sbluff manner, it didn't come as a surprise to Abigail that her elder daughter might have carelesslyknocked the medicine over from the computer while she was using it, which was likely the reason whyArianna couldn't replace her medicine. "Please keep it with you wherever you go from now on. Okay?"

"Okay, I heard you," answered Arianna obediently.

"Take good care of yourself, and give me a call if there is anything. Meanwhile, I'll arrange for someoneto deliver you your meals." Abigail couldn't stop worrying about her younger daughter.

However, Arianna shook her head and said, "Don't worry about me, Mom. Papa said he'll take me tohis place where I can stay for two days while we wait for you to come and pick me up."

Abigail froze when she heard that. "Your Papa is back?"

"Yeah, Papa is back." While Arianna happily answered her mother's question, Abigail appeared a littleavoidant in response to that question.

"Well, I guess it's better for you to be with Papa. I won't be as worried then," Abigail subconsciouslyreplied.

Soon, Arianna heard the sound of a car's engine and happily asked, "Papa is back, Mommy. Do youwant to talk to him?"

"No, dear. I'm a little busy right here, but I want you to behave yourself when you get to your Papa'splace, okay?"

"Alright, Mommy. Bye." Arianna quickly ended the video call.

At the thought of Hugh, Abigail couldn't help but feel goosebumps running all over her body. Deepdown, she reckoned it was wise for her to distance herself from him, but she could trust him to treat herdaughters well nonetheless. As soon as Abigail hung up the call and turned around, she saw Gregstanding at the door and was frightened by the sight of the man. "Oh, gosh! Are you a ghost orsomething? I didn't hear your footsteps at all. Besides, why didn't you knock before you entered theroom? I didn't know you had a habit of listening in on people's conversations!"

Greg's eyes were rather cold, and he asked the lady, "This is my room, so why do I have to knockbefore coming in?"

Abigail was rendered speechless, and she did not know what to say in response. "What did you hear?"Her heart was pounding rapidly. After all, she didn't want Greg to learn about Arianna's existencebecause Alissa had already been exposed to him. Otherwise, she would have to cry and beg for bothher daughters' attention.

Nonetheless, Greg acted as if he didn't hear Abigail and went straight to Alissa's bed to sit there. Withhis eyes focused on the girl's adorable appearance as she slept, his expression appeared to be muchgentler.

"Hey, I'm talking to you." Abigail experienced the man's silent treatment once again.

Greg knitted his eyebrows and said in a hushed tone, "My daughter is sleeping. Can't you see that? Ifyou want to talk with your 'sugar daddy' over the phone, do it outside. I don't want you to set a badexample for my daughter right here." The man nearly succumbed to his anger. Papa?! I can't believeshe has a sugar daddy! While sugar daddies were nothing strange in modern society, he didn't thinkAbigail would pursue a life of comfort and wealth at the cost of her pride and decency, but he knew itwasn't easy for her to raise her two daughters alone. As his mind was filled with images of Abigailhaving an intimate moment with an older man, Greg's anger and disgust immediately surged throughhim.

Meanwhile, Abigail was stunned when she heard his words. Wait, what? A sugar daddy? Ugh! Gregmust have missed the earlier part of the conversation. She then heaved a sigh of relief and said, "It'snot what you think it is."

"You don't have to explain it to me, Abigail. I wouldn't have given a damn about how you lived your lifeif this happened back then, but now that I'm aware of my daughter's existence, I don't want her to hangaround with a promiscuous mother like you. From now on, I'm going to take back my daughter'scustody," Greg responded in a serious manner.

"I gave birth to my daughter, Greg! You want the custody back? Sure, tell that to yourself in yourdreams!" Abigail was exasperated.

"Try me then." Greg finished his sentence and looked away as he spoke in a deep voice. "Get out ofmy room! I don't want you to dirty my place."

"You!" Abigail was angered by Greg's statement, wondering what the man meant behind thoseoffensive words. Is he saying that I'm an escort or something? Now, he's even forbidding me to showup in front of my own child?! Is he out of his mind or something?! She then walked closer to Alissa withthe intention of carrying her away, but before her hand could reach the girl, Greg deflected it with hispalm. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm taking my daughter out of here."

"You can leave, but my daughter stays! Besides, don't you dare touch her—I don't want her to inheritany of your disgusting illnesses."

As Greg became more verbally abusive, Abigail raised her hand and swung it across the man's face,only to have her wrist caught by the man mid-air. "Do you think you can just slap me in the face all youwant?" The moment he flexed his wrist, Abigail was sent flying onto the ground right beside the bedframe.

"Greg, who are you to stop me from touching my daughter?! I'm her mother!"

Abigail's blood was boiling, but when she turned around, she saw Greg wiping his hand with a piece oftissue paper with a disgusted look on his face.

Just when she was about to explain what the misunderstanding was about, she immediately swallowedthe words that were forming at the tip of her mouth because she knew she would have to mentionArianna. Considering Greg's domineering character, she was certain that he would take Arianna awayfrom her as well.

At the thought of that, Abigail quickly took a deep breath and suppressed her anger, thinking that sheshould be less concerned about his opinions. What he thinks about me is his own problem. In fact, Ithink it's probably better for us if he keeps thinking that way. There is no better excuse to stay awayfrom this man than this one, after all. Despite the thought of that, Abigail still couldn't help but feel sadand disappointed as she walked out of the room with a heavy heart. Fine, I'll grant his wish then. I don'twant to stay here and see his face either.

Watching as Abigail walked away, Greg's eyes turned cold and indifferent. How could this lady justabandon her daughter and leave like that? Is she really Alissa's mother? Greg could barely hide hisanger when he recalled Abigail mentioning her sugar daddy on the phone. However, what irked himmore was that Abigail did as he said and walked out on him and Alissa like that. Are you seriously amother, Abigail?

Greg got up from the bed huffily and made his way to the bedroom's door, and he caught sight ofAbigail talking to his butler. "Hi, is there a guest room in this house?"

Was she not planning to leave?

Upon seeing that, Greg lightened up considerably. He felt glad that Abigail still had some sense in her.Hmph!

When he turned around and looked back, he realized that Alissa had already woken up.

At that moment, Alissa rubbed her eyes and slowly made out Greg's face with her sleepy eyes. Themoment she managed to identify Greg's looks, her eyes lit up with thrill and excitement like the stars inthe sky even before she figured out where she was. "Daddy!" She then sat upright, ready to spring offthe bed while giving Greg a frightening scare.

"Slow down, girl!" Greg quickly approached the girl, but due to his height, he had to crouch down tocatch her. In the meantime, Alissa had no idea that her action just gave Greg a heart attack. Instead,she praised her father happily with a bright smile.

"You're awesome, Daddy! You managed to catch me!"

Seeing the girl's smiling face, Greg swallowed his lecture while rubbing Alissa's head. "I can do manyother things too besides catching you. You'll replace out in no time."

"Is that so?" Alissa appeared skeptical.

Greg refused to show weakness to his daughter, so he nodded in response. "Of course."

"In that case, are you able to fight?"

Greg was stunned, wondering what kind of question Alissa had just asked. Did she just ask if I couldfight? When he noticed the excitement that filled his daughter's eyes, Greg suddenly had a bad feelingabout what was going to happen.

"You like to fight, don't you?"

"Not really, I just like to be active."

Upon hearing Alissa's words, Greg curled his lips upward while questioning Abigail's parenting methoddeep down. How did you raise your daughter, Abigail? At the thought of the lady, his eyes darkened ashe was somehow reminded of the sugar daddy she had been talking about.