The Millionaire Chef

21 | s t o r m

Abigail woke up to find her side of the bed empty, she went through her morning routine with a hint of irritation, neglecting to check her phone despite the constant influx of messages.

 Someone might have died! why the hell was her phone blasting with messages?

 After a leisure shower and a change into a casual top and shorts, Abigail finally glanced at her phone. The sight that greeted her was astonishing—over fifty unread messages cluttered her inbox, mostly from her office

"What on earth could be the reason for all these messages?" she muttered to herself, her brow furrowed in puzzlement.

She opened Dara's message with a mix of nervousness and curiosity. Dara explained that she and her husband won't be able to celebrate Thanksgiving with her as her husband has come up with a sudden surprise. Another message from Dr. Moon Byeol said her to moved up her appointment as there were few new reports she wanted to discuss. Even Peter shared a shocking piece of information in his text: Abigail's father intended to travel back home early for Christmas with the intention of staying longer.

Abigail replied to each one of them finding relief and normalcy between everyone's conversation. However, her relief was short-lived as she delved into her office messages. The words that appeared on her screen sent shockwaves through her, leaving her speechless. She bolted outside her room with her heart racing to the main drawing room and saw everyone- Aaron, Harriet, Jayden, Martha and his complete office staff including Shane were watching the news. 

Every individual in the room seemed to be holding their breath, as if suspended in time. Abigail's eyes darted from person to person, her mind racing to make sense of what she was witnessing. She spotted Aaron, his expression a mixture of surprise and concern, as he glanced in her direction. Hurting him was the last thing she ever wanted to do, she didn't realise how much her feelings have developed over time until she found him looking at her with betrayal in his eyes. 

"What's going on?" she managed to ask, her voice laced with a hint of urgency and confusion.

Harriet turned toward her, a sly smile playing at the corners of her lips, a glint of malice in her eyes. "Oh Abigail, you're just in time for the big reveal."

Abigail's heart sank as she watched the news headline mocking her: "Abigail Haydon to face Aaron Silverton in the upcoming battle between Jayden Silverton and Aaron Silverton." 

As Abigail's gaze settled on the screen, the headline seemed to mock her— "Abigail Haydon to face Aaron Silverton in the upcoming battle between Jayden Silverton and Aaron Silverton." The words felt like a surreal twist of fate, a nightmare she couldn't shake off. It seemed like a cruel twist of fate, and she struggled to comprehend the gravity of the situation.

Turning her gaze to Aaron, she saw confusion and hurt etched across his features. The room seemed to close in around her as the weight of the truth settled in. The atmosphere remained heavy with unspoken questions and tension. And in that tense silence, Abigail realized that their love was being put to the test in the most public and unexpected manner. 

"Abigail Haydon to fight against Aaron Silverton in the upcoming battle between Jayden Silverton and Aaron Silverton" the news reported kept on repeating the sentence - it was confirmed by her organization. The shock that spread throughout the room was only heightened by the repetition. She felt betrayed and confused after hearing the confirmation from her own organization and caught in an uncertain circumstance.

Abigail's mind raced, desperately trying to find clarity amidst the confusion amid the voices of disbelief. She knew she needed to proceed cautiously as the news report looped. This wasn't just about her reputation but also about the fragile trust she shared with Aaron, a trust that was now on the line.