Chapter 3 - The Grand Return and the Shocked Ex-Lover
Three weeks had passed since Abigail walked out of Redwood Valley Medical Center. Her life had undergone a tectonic, almost surreal transformation that felt less like reality and more like a fairy tale scripted by someone with a wild imagination.
Dr. Harrison Pierce hadn't just made empty promises. True to his word, he had stepped in as a fierce patriarch and protector. He relocated Abigail and her newborn son—whom she named Leo—from the damp room above the laundromat into a stunning, fully furnished luxury townhome overlooking the scenic river valley. He hired a private night nurse to ensure Abigail could finally get the uninterrupted sleep she so desperately needed after months of back-breaking labor and diner shifts. He established a secure trust fund for Leo’s future education, ensuring the boy would never have to worry about financial survival.
Yet, despite the luxury, Abigail remained fiercely independent. She refused to let Harrison spoil her completely; she insisted on cooking her own meals, setting up Leo’s nursery with her own hands, and keeping her feet firmly planted on the ground. She knew wealth could be a cage, and she refused to let anyone clip her wings again.
One afternoon, while little Leo was napping peacefully in his crib upstairs, Harrison arrived at the townhome carrying a thick leather briefcase and a grim, resolute expression.
He sat down across from Abigail at the kitchen island, accepting a cup of black coffee.
“Abigail,” Harrison began, clearing his throat. “I have some news regarding Julian.”
Abigail froze, her coffee mug hovering halfway to her lips. Even though weeks had passed, the mere mention of his name still sent a cold shiver down her spine. “Where is he?” she asked quietly.
“He’s back in town,” Harrison said, his jaw tightening. “Or rather, he never truly left Texas. He’s been living in a high-end bachelor pad downtown, financed by a wealthy older woman he managed to charm and manipulate six months ago. My investigators tracked his spending habits. He’s been hosting parties, playing golf, and pretending to be a successful venture capitalist.”
Anger flared hot and bright in Abigail’s chest. While she was scrubbing greasy tables at three in the morning with a swollen belly, living on instant ramen and prayers, Julian had been living the high life on someone else's dime, completely devoid of conscience.
“Does he know about Leo?” Abigail asked, her voice dropping into a dangerous, protective register.
“Not yet,” Harrison replied grimly. “I wanted to consult you first. But I also arranged a small… reunion. Julian’s sugar-mummy recently dumped him when his financial deceptions came to light. He is currently desperate, broke, and looking for his next easy target. My investigators lured him here under the false pretense of a lucrative real estate investment meeting at a private office downtown tomorrow morning.”
Harrison slid a set of sleek metal keys and a black folder across the marble counter.
“Tomorrow at ten o’clock,” Harrison continued, his dark eyes flashing with righteous fury. “Julian will walk into the executive boardroom of the Pierce Medical Tower, expecting to meet a wealthy investor. Instead, he will find you, me, and his newborn son waiting for him.”
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Abigail stared at the keys and the folder. A nervous flutter danced in her stomach, quickly swallowed up by a powerful wave of closure. For seven months, she had carried the humiliation of being discarded like trash. Tomorrow, the bill was coming due.
“I’ll be there,” Abigail said firmly.
