Chapter 16: Abigail, Where Are You?

"Brother Ryland, where are you going?"

Ryland stopped as he saw her approaching him.

"Vanes, I will return to my apartment tonight. You can go home alone, right?"

"Why are you going back there?" Vanessa’s expression turned gloomy. "Do you want to meet with my sister?" she asked softly, but disappointment flashed through her eyes.

Ryland took her hand and pulled her close. His anger about the company matter slowly faded when he saw Vanessa’s teary eyes.

"I need to see Abigail. It’s about company matters. Please understand. Stay at your apartment tonight. I promise we will return together tomorrow, okay?" he gently said, smiling at her.

The thought of Abigail and Ryland in the same apartment was enough to make Vanessa worried.

"Can I go with you? I’ll wait outside. I won’t appear before her and make her angry, Brother Ryland...please." She pleaded, placing her head on his chest and wrapping her hand around him. She couldn’t let him go alone.

She was afraid Abigail would seduce Ryland, and he would change his mind again. She couldn’t allow that to happen after her efforts yesterday to separate them.

Ryland closed his eyes, almost canceling his plan to return to his apartment. But the company matter, the one-million-dollar project, has now hit him hard. If they lose this project, substantial financial damage will result. He can’t risk his company over anything, especially women.

He released her embrace and stepped back to create a distance between them. When he saw her about to cry, he gritted his teeth.

"Listen, I won’t ask you nicely again, Vanessa. Please, just leave without me today. I might be angry with you if you still cling to me like now. Don’t act like a child!"

Vanessa was stunned, seeing how serious Ryland was now. "But I’m afraid she will snatch you from me—"

"Why do you not believe me?" he said, slightly annoyed. "I already hurt her so much yesterday. She won’t forgive me and ask me back, Vanes."

"I know. I’m just jealous of her!"

Ryland couldn’t help but chuckle. "You know exactly why I must meet her, right?"

"Yes."

"So, you don’t have to worry. I just need to plead with her so she will consider returning to meet our client, or the company will be in jeopardy."

"Sorry, Brother Ryland. I don’t want to lose you. Because I—"frёewebnoѵēl.com

"Because what?"

"Because if you return to her, I might end my life with my baby."

"Y-You what? What baby?" Ryland was utterly shocked hearing her words. "What the hell are you trying to say, Vanes?"

"I’m pregnant, Ryland," Vanessa said, smiling happily, finally able to tell him. "I’m pregnant with your child."

It took a while for Ryland to digest Vanessa’s words. Pregnant? How could she be pregnant? Didn’t he always use a condom?

"Wait... wait, Vanessa," Ryland said, staring into her eyes. "You said you are pregnant? Are you sure?"

"What do you mean? Of course, I am..." Vanessa replied, sounding upset.

Ryland was speechless.

He looked up at the ceiling and pinched his forehead, feeling overwhelmed. How could another problem arise now? He had been dealing with issues at work. He wasn’t ready to tell his family about his failed relationship with Abigail. And now, Vanessa claims to be pregnant!?

"You don’t believe me?" Her voice sounded weak and shaky, holding her sadness.

"Vanes, I use a condom every time we have sex. And you said you always take birth control pills. How could you be pregnant?" Ryland asked, trying to make sense of the situation.

Instead of answering, Vanessa burst into tears, leaving Ryland confused.

"How could you ask me that?" Vanessa sobbed. "I don’t know the answer either. But I’m pregnant. And I only have sex with you. You know that, Brother Ryland!"

"Alright, stop crying!" Ryland said, feeling helpless as he placed his hand on her shoulder. "Listen, Vanes, we’ll talk about this tomorrow. Right now, I need to go. I’m afraid Abigail will leave, and we won’t have a chance to ask her to return."

Vanessa nodded slightly in response, tears still streaming down her cheeks.

"Thank you for understanding, baby..." Ryland hugged her briefly. "I will call you later."

He kissed her forehead before leaving the room.

As Ryland’s figure disappeared from her sight, Vanessa’s expression changed from sadness to anger.

"You won’t be able to return to her, Ryland! I won’t let you do that—"

***

Ryland took a deep breath before he opened the door.

The apartment looked dark. No light was on; the only light coming in was from the street lamps.

"Is she not here?" Ryland muttered while walking toward Abigail’s room. He could see there was no light inside.

"Abigail? Are you inside? Can we talk...?" Ryland called while knocking on the door.

After waiting a few moments, there was still no sound from inside, making him scared that Abigail had left.

"I’ll come in if you don’t answer me, Abigail!"

After waiting another second, Ryland finally opened the door and turned on the light. He was shocked to see the room empty. There was no trace of Abigail there. Their picture on the wall and the nightstand was nowhere to be seen.

Ryland walked quickly to the closet. His heart sank when he opened it and saw her clothes were gone. Only a few pieces of clothing remained; he remembered they were what he had bought for her.

His hands clenched. He felt something missing inside him, knowing she really left.

Dragging his feet to the bed, Ryland’s eyes fixed on the study table at the end of the room.

He rushed to check it and was taken aback when he saw a few things there: the diamond ring he gave her when he proposed, a savings card she gave him when the company won its first project, and other valuables he had given her.

"What are you doing, Abigail? Why did you leave all this? This is all yours..."

Ryland took out his cell phone and tried calling Abigail again, but there was no ringing tone.

For the first time since yesterday, he felt like thousands of nails were stabbing his mind, knowing Abigail had left him for real.

He clutched the diamond ring tightly.

"Damn it, Abigail! Where are you...?"