“Granny, you are back! Welcome!”
“Tz…” Stacy humphed mockingly, she didn’t agree with Abigail at all.
Annie moved her body, trying to get closer to Joshua, and at the same time fixing her hatred eyes on Abigail. The dining room was filled with awkwardness.
Only Mrs. Caunter laughed wholeheartedly after seeing Abigail.
“Abigail, you are here! I want to eat now.”
“Okay!” Abigail was infected by Mrs. Caunter’s happiness, and started to smile as well. She got a bowl of rice for her, and placed it in front of her.
“Granny, you should eat some tofu, it’s soft and easy to chew.” Abigail gave her some of the dish, both of them looked as if they were actually a family.
“Pf!” Stacy couldn’t bare to look at the two, took her bowl of rice, and placed it hard on the table.
“Abigail, I am scared!”
Stacy’s sudden and loud movements frightened Mrs. Caunter, and she leaned towards Abigail.
Joshua’s brows slightly knitted, and on his pretty forehead were two lines now. He was looking at Abigail and Mrs. Caunter who were so close, and demanded from his sister.
“If you don’t want to eat you can leave, if you do want to eat, better behave!”
“Who cares!” Stacy threw her dishes off, and ran out, not forgetting to throw the door in loud as well.
“Don’t be angry, let’s eat.” Annie moved her legs closer towards Joshua, and smiled at him.
“In the future, you will be responsible for Granny’s meals to be taken in the dining room.” Joshua laid his serious eyes on Abigail, and said to her.
Abigail’s skinny shoulders shook, she didn’t really want to do that. Her small gesture was noticed by Mrs. Caunter, who started stoking her back, staying on one side with her.
“If Abigail doesn’t want it, then I won’t eat in the dining room.”
“No, she wants to.” Joshua covered his surprised face, and answered for Abigail.
Abigail didn’t have a choice but to nod in agreement. In their contract was said that she had to listen to any demands he was giving her, she didn’t have the right to deny or veto on it.
And Mrs. Caunter always wanted her to be on her side, even if she didn’t want to face any of the others, she was happy to be with Granny.
“The doctor said that her condition was getting better, so you need to take good care of her. Of course, I will also try to find time to spend with her.”
Joshua picked up his chopsticks, and got some vegetables for Mrs. Caunter, telling Abigail at the same time.
“I will also find some time for Granny, Joshua! I know that I can even take over to take care of her!” Annie didn’t like to be ignored, and put her hand on Joshua’s waist.
“No need.” Joshua declined her offer. He took her hand off his body, and shook it off.
Abigail tried to ignore what was going on between those two, and put all her attention on Mrs. Caunter, getting her food, bringing her water, helping her with fish bones.
Annie stared at Abigail and Mrs. Caunter with her eyes filled with hate, her face expression darkened.
“Joshua, you should also eat some more!” She still tried to make nice with him, but she didn’t expect that he stopped her chopsticks midair.
Annie drew them back awkwardly, and started to eat her food, but her eyes were fixed on Abigail.
“No, no!” Mrs. Caunter was suddenly acting childish, declining the food that Abigail tried to put in her bowl.
Abigail didn’t know why, and she stopped her hand, looking at Mrs. Caunter questioning, “Granny, I thought you liked to eat this dish?”
Annie smiled evil, she was just denied by Joshua and was embarrassed about it, but now it was Abigail’s turn. Apparently this girl can also not gain the old lady’s heart?
Mrs. Caunter squeezed her eyes a little, and pointed to Joshua, “He likes to eat that too, give it to him!”
“But…” Abigail was feeling awkward.
Her hand with the chopsticks were still in the air, should she take it back or not.
“Granny is right, I like that.” Joshua said, and pointed towards his bowl, Abigail thought for a while, but then decided to put the food in it.
“Good, good good!” Granny was laughing like a little child, and clapped her hands. “More, more, Abigail, give him more!”
Abigail was now feeling even more awkward, her face was red like a tomato. She swallowed, and lowered her face so much that it was almost touching the table.
“Granny, don’t…” She was saying to Mrs. Caunter, in her voice was coquetry, and it sounded really charming.
Joshua was already holding his bowl closer to Abigail. “If Granny says more, then give me more.”
Abigail had no choice, but to mingle more of each dish into his bowl.
Annie was just like an outsider, who has been forgotten by the others. She was so mad, that she wanted to smack both Mrs. Caunter and Abigail, but because Joshua was there, she couldn’t do anything at all.
This bitch! No, actually both of them are bitches, she would not let this go easily. Annie was cursing both of them in her heart.
Joshua accepted the dishes, that Abigail put in his bowl and enjoyed them very much, but he noticed that the nice scent on her body was mixed with the smell of something else today, and it made him frown on it.
Was she hurt? It was a light smell, but his nose still got hold of it, it was clearly the smell of a medical cream.
Her hands weren’t as flexible as they usually are, was it because of her injuries?
Abigail didn’t feel quite comfortable with Joshua staring at her lie that, and took her hands back, then she moved awkwardly on her chair. Even though she had put on the medicine on her back, but because of her movements, she pulled her wounds again. But because she didn’t want anyone to know about this, especially Joshua, she decided to take in the pain silently.
Her eyebrows knitted every time though, when she forced herself not to scream out loud in pain.
The whip that Stacy used to beat her up left so many marks on her body, that every single move of her was hurting her.
Mrs. Caunter on the other hand didn’t notice anything about Abigail that she felt was off. She was completely buried in her own happiness. She was so happy now, that she stood up and pulled Abigail towards her own seat.
“Granny, what are you…” Abigail was still confused about what was happening, when Mrs. Caunter already put her hand on Joshua’s.
“Oh!” Mrs. Caunter accidentally pulled on her deepest wounds of all, and Abigail couldn’t help this time but to make a sound. Joshua was quiet, but his gaze stopped on her back, and he knew exactly where she was hurt.
“Great, great, Joshua is Abigail’s, and Abigail is Joshua’s.” Mrs. Caunter said happily, not caring about the awkwardness in the room, and totally ignoring Annie who was looking at this scene with darkened eyes. Mrs. Caunter was very happy about her work with the young couple.
Joshua pulled Abigail into his arms, and didn’t forget to put pressure on her back.
Abigail drew in air through her teeth when he did that. She didn’t dare to move at all, not even resisting his hug, afraid that it might make everything worse.
He was right! Joshua was now sure where she was hurt, and didn’t forget to put more pressure on her back, making Abigail very uncomfortable, and so in pain that her tears almost ran down her cheeks, but she forced herself to keep quiet now.
Her back was stiffened, afraid to be touched, and not daring to move.
“That’s your punishment.” She heard a voice say next to her ear. An outsider would have thought that Joshua was saying something sweet to her.
“You…” Abigail didn’t understand why he wanted to punish her, maybe he misunderstood something, that Granny’s act today was by her lead? “I didn’t… do anything.” She tried to explain herself.
All she got in return was his humphing.
He didn’t believe her. Abigail decided not to say more.
The dinner was finally finished, and Abigail took Mrs. Caunter back to her room. She could feel the other two staring at her until they vanished from their sight.
“Huuuh…” Abigail took a deep breath, both her hands sank down powerless. Granny was asleep, and she went back to her own room.
During the day she took in a hard beat by Stacy, and now that the medicine stopped working, it started to hurt her again, her whole back felt like a big fire was burning on it, not a single inch of it was bared.
She needed to apply the cream again.
Abigail turned to look for the medical air, when the door was pushed opened quietly, and Joshua entered her room.
Oh, he’s here. Abigail’s body shook scared. Was he going to…
But, her injuries were hurting her so bad, she can’t…
Abigail stood where she was, and looked at him begging.
“Are you waiting for me?” Joshua ignored her innocent gaze, and started to unbutton his shirt while walking towards her.
“I… you…” Abigail’s eyes were full of fear, his movement were clear on what he wanted to do! He wanted to take her! She wanted to decline his demands, but she was also afraid that he will know about her wounds.
“What?” He stopped in front of her, looking her up and down.
Shit, she was really badly injured, but she didn’t say anything to him. Apparently, this woman needed more punishment.
Abigail could see how his eyes were turning darker, and she couldn’t help but to take a step back. What was wrong with him? He looked so angry.
Joshua took a few steps towards her, until she tripped over something on the floor, and fell to the back, her body landed on the soft bed. But as soon as she landed, her back pained her so much, that her face crunched into a grimace.
“You can’t wait?” Joshua smiled sly, misunderstanding her expression.
His body laid down on hers.
“Oh… no…” Abigail was afraid and tried to turn away, standing the pain on her back. It was so painful that she couldn’t take his body.
Joshua reached out and pulled her back on her ankle, and laid her below himself again. To keep her from moving, he directly sat down on her.
Abigail didn’t have the chance to react yet, when his big hands grabbed her shirt, and pulled it into pieces. Joshua saw all of the wounds that were covering her, and they were more than he thought.
This woman, was hurt so badly, but didn’t say anything!
“Who was that!” He stared at the injuries caused by his sister, and yelled at her.
“I… myself…” Joshua was sitting on her, giving her no space to move anywhere, and her whole back was exposed to him.
She tried to lie to him, turning her body, and trying to get away.
“You yourself?” Joshua thought she would tell him the truth, but he never expected her to say something like that. He was getting even more mad.
Abigail’s trust towards him was making him furious. “Do you think I am stupid? Or are you just too confident about yourself? Which person would actually hurt themself like this?” He bit his teeth, if she wasn’t so badly injured, he would definitely take her now.