A STRAY CAT?

••ABIGAIL POV••

"Babe," Virin spoke slowly while driving through the rainy road, "did you leave your home for real?"

I turned my head towards him and nodded once. "Yes, I did."

"And your family?"

"Family? Do I even have one to call as a family?"

He didn't show any signs of shock, or panic, he just smiled as if he already expected my answer.

I frowned slightly at his reaction. "How come you're here at a time like this? And how did you even know that I left my family?"

Virin let out a small chuckle, while tapping his fingers on the steering wheel.

"Who else will tell me about you apart from your headmaid babe, she called me the moment you left, and told me everything, thankfully I was nearby and

rushed for you since I felt you needed me by your side."

My chest tightened a little.

This is why I always considered Virin more than a friend... almost like a family.

The only person who always stayed on my side without judging me, without comparing me to Selene... without asking 'why'.

But in my previous life, he died before me, and it's a mysterious death I could never understand.

Since I got a chance to change everything, this time.... Not just myself, I'll protect him too and bring him a happy ending.

"Where do you want to go?" Virin asked with a curious look on his face.

"Anywhere," I whispered with a tired voice. "But I have no intention of going back to that hellish place."

Virin hummed lightly. "Hmm... fine then, I know the perfect place for you and you can stay there as long as you want."

With that, we wrapped up our tiny chattering, the car passed through many roads and streets, while I was just staring out through the windows, neither of us uttered a word and preferred silence over unnecessary conversations.

By the time we reached his apartment, the rain had softened to a drizzle.

Edmund, Virin's boyfriend, was sitting on the couch scrolling his phone.

The moment he saw me dripping from head to toe, he raised his eyebrows.

"A stray cat?" He raised an eyebrow with a grin, and Virin just rolled his eyes. "She's staying with us for a bit."

Edmund sat up straight as soon as Virin was done with his words. "What? You didn't even ask me..."

"Pack your stuff, darling," Virin said immediately, throwing his car keys on the table. "You can stay with your friends or anywhere you want for a few days."

Edmund blinked in confusion not understanding why he was getting chased out from his own home all of a sudden. "What? Why?"

"Because she is a woman, so being a man you're not allowed to stay here," Virin gave a clear response only to earn a sigh in return, as Edmund looked offended. "Baby... I'm into men, she's not even my type."

"Tch, that's not the point," Virin clicked his tongue. "Moreover, no excuses allowed, just move out tomorrow."

"Come on, babe!"

Only then, I decided to intervene, "Virin, stop chasing him out from here for me, just tonight is enough, tomorrow I'll move out after finding a place to stay."

Virin crossed his arms dramatically.

"Babe, women should be pampered, not men, women are delicate, but men?" He shrugged as if he is totally unbothered about his man. "Men are thick skinned, he can even sleep at the bus stop if needed."

I couldn't help but laugh softly at those words.

"Baby, are you really doing this to me?"

"Wanna leave now?"

Edmund raised his hands in a mock surrender, "no thanks!"

Virin turned to me, his tone immediately soft. "You don't have to worry anymore, you'll stay here peacefully, and Edmund will be fine."

Edmund sighed loudly. "Best friend over boyfriend, what a great bonding! I'm envious!"

Virin smirked. "Try sulking in a corner, not here...."

I silently walked into the guest room Virin showed as it's never ending chaos in between that lovers.

Later, after a hot shower and in one of Virin's oversized T-shirts, I sat alone in the room.

The room smelled like lavender and a warm coffee, however, the rain still tapping at the window.

I looked at my own reflection.

It's no longer the broken woman lying on hospital sheets, not an abandoned daughter from the Massimo house.

Not even the weak Abigail who always cried and begged for love.

This version of me... was something else.

A new me, who has already died once and now no longer cares about anything apart from my own happiness.

I opened the drawer and found a notebook, taking a pen into my hands, I flipped the first page, and wrote quietly to remember important things to change.

1. Stopping Selene from getting credit through stealing my talent

2. Avoid that forced marriage trap

3. Don't let Selene ruin my future again

4. Build money and the future for myself

5. Find out why Virin died in my last life, and protect Virin, no matter what

6. Cut ties with Massimos completely and let them taste their own medicine.

7. Don't let Leonardo die

8. Solve the curse

9. Destroy Selene's golden life and inherit everything originally that belongs to me.

10. Divorce Leonardo

I looked at the list for a long time, my chest felt both heavy and light as I knew the future I'm going to have is brighter and beautiful.

"Babe?" Virin knocked on the door softly, his hair still wrapped in a towel as if he was in the middle of drying his hair.

"Yes?" I turned towards him with a calm look.

"Are you okay? Do you need anything?" He asked, and I can see that he is still worrying about me.

"Actually, yes." I looked at him with a serious face, "I need you to arrange an appointment with your uncle tomorrow, can you do it for me?"

Virin's uncle is none other than Leonardo, the man Selene always wanted, and the man I'm going to use for my revenge.

He blinked his eyes with a clueless face, "My uncle? Leonardo? Babe, why? If you want to sue your family, I can get you the most efficient lawyer, no need to meet my ruthless uncle for that."

I let out a small laugh. "I'm not suing anyone."

He slightly scratched his head still being clueless, "Then why meet him?"

I turned back to the mirror, staring at myself. My eyes looked calmer than ever.

"I want to take back something... something that originally belonged to me."

His lips parted to question more, but I waved a hand. "Just do it for me, can you?"

He nodded slowly without asking anything further. "Alright, tomorrow, 10 a.m, I'll take you to meet him, be ready."

When he left the room, I looked back at the mirror again, and my reflection stared back, calm, confident, and ready.

The old Abigail was gone, and the new one was done playing nice.

I tilted my head slightly, a smirk forming on my lips as I whispered to the empty room, "Selene... are you ready to learn the pain of losing?"