Chapter 8 - What Abigail Chose
Abigail did not sign the annulment papers.
She also did not return.
For twelve days, she rebuilt something she had almost forgotten existed.
Her own life.
She returned to the bakery.
She finished her university assignments.
She took Rose to school and helped Tommy build an embarrassingly unstable model bridge.
Walter entered treatment for gambling addiction.
He stopped asking Abigail to forgive him.
That helped more than apologies.
Simon never called.
That annoyed her.
By day eight, Abigail found herself checking her phone.
By day ten, she became angry that she was checking it.
On day twelve, Marcus Kane entered the bakery.
Abigail looked up from arranging croissants.
“If Simon sent you—”
“He didn’t.”
Marcus ordered coffee.
“He specifically told everyone to leave you alone.”
“That sounds like him.”
Marcus nodded.
“He’s miserable.”
Abigail stared.
Marcus drank his coffee.
“I’m violating approximately fourteen professional boundaries by telling you that.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s also becoming unbearable.”
She laughed.
Marcus smiled.
Then became serious.
“There’s something you should know.”
Charles Armitage had agreed to cooperate with federal investigators.
Edward’s criminal network was collapsing.
But one piece remained unresolved.
Robert Wexler’s murder.
Armitage claimed the physician who falsified Robert’s records was still alive.
Simon had gone to meet him that morning.
“Where?”
Marcus hesitated.
“Abigail—”
“Where?”
An hour later, she found Simon outside a federal building.
He looked genuinely shocked.
“What are you doing here?”
“Apparently ignoring your request that everyone leave me alone.”
Simon looked at Marcus.
Marcus shrugged.
“She’s persuasive.”
Abigail approached.
“Did you find the doctor?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
Simon’s expression changed.
“He confessed.”
Robert Wexler had been poisoned slowly with a cardiac medication.
Edward had arranged it.
Margaret discovered the altered bloodwork.
That discovery ultimately put her family in danger.
Abigail absorbed this quietly.
“My mother spent her last months terrified.”
“Yes.”
“She still protected us.”
“Yes.”
Simon looked at her.
“And she protected my family too.”
They stood beneath a gray Philadelphia sky.
Abigail finally asked, “Why didn’t you call me?”
“You asked for space.”
“I didn’t say disappear.”
Simon blinked.
“I was attempting to respect your choice.”
“You’re terrible at normal relationships.”
“I’ve never had one.”
That answer softened her anger.
“Neither have I.”
Simon looked almost amused.
“So we’re equally unqualified.”
“Basically.”
Silence.
Then Abigail reached into her coat pocket.
Simon saw the wedding ring.
His expression changed.
“I haven’t signed the annulment.”
He said nothing.
“I’m still angry.”
“You should be.”
“I still don’t completely trust you.”
“I know.”
“And if we continue this marriage, there are rules.”
Simon almost smiled.
“Of course there are.”
“No lies.”
“Agreed.”
“No using money to solve arguments.”
His smile vanished.
“That seems unnecessarily restrictive.”
Abigail laughed.
Simon stared at her as though he had missed that sound.
“No deciding things for me because you think you’re protecting me.”
He hesitated.
“Simon.”
“I’m considering the operational implications.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Agreed.”
“And my siblings are not leverage. Ever.”
“They’re family.”
Abigail’s breath caught.
Simon realized what he had said.
Neither looked away.
Finally, Abigail held out the ring.
“Would you?”
Simon took it.
But instead of immediately placing it on her finger, he asked:
“Are you choosing this?”
“Yes.”
“Me?”
Her eyes softened.
“I’m choosing the possibility of you.”
Simon slid the ring onto her finger.
“That is disturbingly cautious.”
“You’ll survive.”
“I usually do.”
She kissed his cheek.
Simon froze.
Abigail smiled.
“Still breathing?”
“Barely.”
Then his phone rang.
Marcus answered his own simultaneously.
Both men’s expressions changed.
“What?” Abigail asked.
Marcus looked toward Simon.
“Edward escaped federal transport.”
Abigail’s smile disappeared.
Simon stepped closer to her.
May you like
Marcus continued.
“And the first place his people were seen was outside Rose’s school.”
