“If you’re going to say that I can’t help it.” She didn’t want to argue with him any longer, this man could call white black if he wanted to.
“Is that man not going to be saved either?” Joshua suddenly came in a mood when seeing her slump shoulders and no longer looked at him.
Abigail’s beautiful eyes flashed with supplication. “Please, don’t embarrass him anymore, you can do whatever you want me to do.”
Joshua tilted his head, seemingly weighing her worth.
“Please!” She fell to her knees on the stairs and pleaded, “Please.”
She cannot let Will get hurt otherwise it will affect her sister’s studies, Abigail let go of all her dignity and fell to the ground.
“I can let him go.”
For a long time, Joshua only decided. Abigail lifted her face in surprise like a lost person in the night seeing a glimmer of light,
“However, I have a condition,” Joshua said unhurriedly and not anxious.
“I’ll agree to any conditions,” Abigail assured like she couldn’t wait.
“Be Michelle’s substitute from now on, use Michelle’s name and appear in front of me dressed as Michelle.”
Abigail didn’t expect that he would use this as a condition of exchange. Her face was filled with shock, a wave of aggravation surged up to fill in her eyes, but she held back avoid letting them fall.
He was asking her to completely lose herself, change her life, to be a living dead person! But could she say no in that situation?
“What? Disagree? That’s fine.” Abigail’s hesitation made him unhappy. He lifted his legs and crossing her body towards the upstairs.
“No, I agree!” Abigail was summoning up the courage to choose to compromise. The tears rolled down her face as she nodded, the liquid falling quickly into her collar, bringing a bone-chilling chill to her.
“I agree.” She knelt there and repeated with difficulty, her voice feeling distant and unreal.
“That’s right.” Joshua took a step back and pulled up the Abigail, kindly wiping her tears for her.
“Tell me, who are you?” He asked softly, but his tone was incredibly gentle.
“Mi… Michelle.” After some hesitation, the name was still answered.
“Good.” He was quite satisfied and wrapped his long hand around her tiny waist. “Michelle, not only if the name is Michelle, but the person needs even more like Michelle, I can’t wait to test it right away.”
Joshua walked towards the wedding room withholding her small hand.
“Remember, call me Josh!” As he closed the door, he whispered in her ear…
Abigail felt she lose all her strength and she wrapped her arms around her thin body tightly.
Will had been released, Joshua not only let him go but also let her say goodbye to him. He held her hand and said that he wanted to find Joshua to settle this matter.
“Abigail, you have suffered such a great grievance, how can you let me leave like there was nothing happened. No! I can’t just stand by and watch my beloved to be harmed in this way. Abigail, come with me, even if you die, it’s better than being insulted here!”
The pain that showed in Will’s eyes was real, Abigail held back her tears and tried to convince him.
“Will, I already know this outcome, don’t worry or feel sad for me, Joshua treat me well. Although I wasn’t given a name, I was given the respect I deserved.” She knew that Will would never believe that, and she forced herself to believe it and tried to look happy.
“Will, if you still consider me as your friend, take care of my sister for me and take her out of this country tomorrow. You know that my sister more important than mine, and if she is getting hurt, I will suffer for the rest of my life.”
Will was silent for a long time, he refused to leave alone stubbornly until Abigail took out the packet of medicine that she had been keeping by his side.
“Will… if you don’t leave, I’ll eat this rat poison right now!”
This packet of medicine she had always carried with her, she did not want to use it to scare people, nor did she ever think she could threaten him at this moment. The moment she made a gesture to swallow the powder, Will finally gave up
“Abigail, I know that this is not your intention, and I know even more that you’re not living a happy life at here, but I promise you that tomorrow, I will bring Breslin out of this country. Don’t worry, I won’t talk to her about anything that happened tonight, I’ll try to tell her that you’re doing well…”
The next words choked in his throat, and he sobbed.
Abigail couldn’t stop the tears from rolling down after seeing the security guard take him away. The small hand squeezed tightly, and there was a packet of rat poison powder she had just used to force Will to go away.
She wanted to swallow the powder, but Will told her that her sister wanted to repay her properly after she returned from school. She wanted to see her sister again, to hear she call her sister again…
She can’t die!
She didn’t know how she went back to her room with hard steps, but the moment the door closed, she slipped and fell to the floor, hugging her body helplessly and crying.
She didn’t know how long it took, but there was a knock at the door, and Rowena was calling her outside.
Abigail opened the door after wiping away her tears and let Rowena came in.
“This is the key to Miss Michelle’s wardrobe, Mr. Caunter has ordered that you keep it in the future,” Rowena said without any expression.
At this point, she wished that Rowena could say something, even if it was to give her a glimpse of contempt, she would feel better. Without any unnecessary words, Rowena left the room after giving her instructions.
Abigail smiled miserably after looking at the tiny key in her hand.
Soon, she will be Michelle’s substitute!
Finding a dress that didn’t quite match Michelle’s style and putting it on, she didn’t care to look at herself in the mirror. The staff who often did Michelle’s makeup came to the house and did her hair and light makeup as Michelle had looked before she died.
“Miss Hanson is truly natural beauty, and with this makeup, you resemble with Miss Michelle.” The make-up artist was saying this unintentionally. Abigail’s heart so pain that she couldn’t help but frown her thin eyebrows.
“What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?” The hairdresser eased the force in her hands and said with a apologetic smile.
Abigail was shaking his head and denied it. “No, it’s me.”
“Your dream comes true?” Behind the back, the long-used voice with sarcasm sounded suddenly appeared in front of her.
Stacy was leaning against the door, her originally long curly hair had disappeared and turned into a short hair, ambling on top of her head messily. It was bringing a rebellious and unrestrained feeling to people who look at her.
“How does it feel to turn into Michelle?” She dropped her hand and walked towards her and staring at Abigail’s face in the mirror and asked in a cold voice.
As usual, Abigail did not reply.
“Why did Miss Caunter change your hairstyle?” The hairstylist was a regular visitor to Caunter’s Villa, and of course, she knew Stacy.
Stacy tossed her short hair, frowned and scowled at Abigail. She stretched out her fingers to point at the ends of her hair. “Do you guys think I must do the same hairstyle as her? Her hairstyle makes me sick!”
The hairstylist shut her mouth awkwardly, and Abigail shook her head unintentionally, if she could, she wouldn’t want to show off with such a hairstyle, she wanted to be herself again.
“Miss Hanson, it’s done.” The makeup artist finished tracing the eye shadow and said softly.
“Okay,” Abigail responded unintentionally.
“She’s Miss Michelle.” The magnetic voice sounded at the door, Joshua appeared at some point, and he gave Stacy a warning glance.
“I’m sorry, Miss Michelle.” The make-up artist corrected awkwardly, and Abigail closed her eyes sadly, nodding in acknowledgement.
“You guys may leave now, and you also!” Joshua said unmercifully at Stacy. Stacy shrank her shoulders, wanting to say something, but eventually obeyed and walked out.
Joshua stared at Abigail, who was dressed in Michelle’s costume, and her eyes radiated with approval. “Quite perfect, my Michelle.”
Abigail’s body stiffened slightly; her thin shoulder was shrugging.
Joshua was unconcerned and stretched out his arms to enfold her. The hair was curled, and it was being held in Joshua’s palm.
Abigail found that being Michelle wasn’t a bad thing, at least at this time, not having to face Joshua’s hostile gaze and can have his gentle touch.
She tried to avoid his touch in disgust, but she was still held in his arms. She had the feeling of being a pet…
At his shove, she came passively to a huge closet.
“Open it.” Joshua pointed to the key in her hand and ordered. The tone of his voice was
more gentle than usual.
Abigail was unaccustomed to his sudden tenderness towards her, she tried to move her body away from his embrace and obediently twisted the lock of the closet. She knew that it was full of Michelle’s clothes, she had already seen them.
Joshua took the initiative to let go of the person in his arms, his long fingers stroking the rows of valuable clothes and his eyes filled with tenderness.
“These are your clothes; do you like them?”
Abigail wanted to tell him that she didn’t like it, and she didn’t like it even more as a stand-in for this other person, but she always reminded herself must be obedient to him.
She nodded her head to Joshua.
“Put on this one, this one suits you better.” Joshua locked his gaze on a pure white princess dress, which was Michelle’s favorite dress.
Abigail hesitated, but still took off that dress. She had already agreed to be Michelle’s substitute, hadn’t she? So, Michelle should be acted more realistically.
Abigail changed down the dress without any expression in front of Joshua.
Joshua watched with satisfaction as the dress was worn by “Michelle”, and once again cradled her in his arms.
“It’s time to take my Michelle to go out to meet people.” He whispered.
Annie’s eyes widened; she couldn’t believe that the woman who kills Michelle would show up at a ball with Michelle’s identity.
“What’s going on here?” Annie was wearing seven-inch high heels and a black low-cut outfit. She walked towards Joshua and pointed at Abigail beside him and chided him angrily.
Before Joshua reacted, she immediately lowered her voice and said, “Joshua, are you crazy? Tonight, is my birthday party, why did you bring such a woman, are you mad at me? You mad that I didn’t protect my cousin?”
Her fingers almost poked Abigail’s face, Joshua grasped her fingers in dissatisfaction and pushed her back.
“You invited me to your birthday party, you didn’t say I couldn’t bring anyone if you’re not happy, let’s go.” Joshua was hugging Abigail’s waist and about to leave.