Chapter 6: Ignorance is bliss

ABIGAIL

Abigail stood under the pouring rain, holding a black umbrella over her head. The bottom of her pants felt wet and cold from water splashing, and her blouse was not enough to protect her from the cold. Yet, she stared at her grandmother’s grave, unmoving.

It was right beside that of her grandfather’s, a man she did not have the opportunity to meet. But she knew that her grandmother loved him.

Abigail had long made peace with the fact that the woman who raised her, protected her when Caroline wanted to throw her into the asylum after she accused her husband of molesting her, brought her up to be the successful woman she was, now laid six feet below.

“Miss Rivera?” 

Abigail recognized the person as Maria, Felicia’s housekeeper without turning around. 

“The lawyer has arrived”. 

She nodded and said, “I will be inside”. 

“Don’t stay out long. It is cold”. 

Abigail heard Maria’s receding footsteps. She waited for a moment, before following the middle aged woman inside.

Abigail remained still as different emotions coursed through her. Shock, confusion and then disbelief. But all she did was blink once, like the lawyer did not just announce that she would be inheriting all Felicia’s shares. On the condition that she marries within a month. And the icing on the cake was that Felicia wanted her to take over as the new chairwoman of Rivera Group. 

The sitting room was silent, the tension in the air so thick it could be cut through with a knife. Mr. Ramirez was Felicia’s trusted lawyer. There was no way he could have read to them something that was not true. He had no reason to.

But what was Felicia’s reason for handing over to her such a huge responsibility? Apart from the fact that she did not think she was the most capable person, it would only make matters worse. Her family already despised her existence. What would happen now?

Abigail tapped her finger on the couch once, twice, and then the silence was broken.

“What the fuck!”

Sebastian was the first to exclaim. His face contorted into anger and disbelief. For someone who did not a get a penny, Abigail could say that his anger was justified. 

“Are you sure you are not mistaken, Mr. Ramirez? Is that what is really there?” Diego asked, looking as confused as everyone else.

Mr. Ramirez smiled kindly and said, “I may be getting old, but I assure you that I can read just fine”.

“Well fuck that! How could she do something like this?” Selena questioned, breathing hard. The pleasant look on her face after she got the jewelry store was long gone. 

“The shares…” Abigail looked at Caroline when she finally spoke. She was just as still as her, the look on her face unreadable. But Abigail knew that beneath her unruffled composure was a storm brewing. A  chillingly calm Caroline was never a good thing. 

“You mean to say that my own mother transferred all her shares to Abigail? Not just that, she wants her to take over as the new chairwoman”. 

“That is what is here, Mrs. Rivera. Her words, not mine”, Mr. Ramirez replied.

Felicia had a significant amount of shares in the company, including Caroline’s company. Handing over everything to Abigail meant giving her power. And then the position of chairwoman. But she had to marry first. Abigail wondered what Felicia could have been thinking to make that decision.

“That is ridiculous, Mum! No one else deserves that position except you”. 

“Grandmother knew how much sacrifices you made and how hard you worked for the company. You are the only one who has the right to take that position. Everyone knows this!” Sebastian was nearly trembling from anger. 

“I know that she never loved or cared about us, but I never knew she despised her own family this much! How could she do this to her own daughter?” Selena questioned, her eyes brimming with tears. 

For the first time in her life, Abigail wanted to agree with them. As much as she was capable and successful, she knew that Caroline deserved to get whatever Felicia was throwing at her.

Even though she had passed on her money, houses, and most of her assets to Caroline, Abigail knew it was not enough. She knew it was unfair.

“And you!” 

Finally, someone recognized that she was in the room. Selena was glaring at her with blood shot eyes, but Abigail looked unbothered. 

“You must be on cloud nine. To have gotten something you do not deserve”, Selena spat. 

“She always knew. That old woman and her planned everything together after all”, Sebastian added.

If they ever took the time to know their grandmother, they would have known that Felicia was a secretive person. One who never shared her plans with anyone, not even her whom they deemed her favorite.

“Is that all?” Diego asked the lawyer. 

The fact that Sebastian had gotten nothing so far, took Abigail by surprise, but she was sure that Diego would not be getting a penny from Felicia. She never approved of him as a son in law, never bothered to hide it.

“The rest of my properties are to be donated to charity”. 

“She can burn them to ashes for all I fucking care!” Sebastian swore. 

The lawyer seemed like he could not care less, as his job was done. Abigail watched him, as he put away the documents and file in a calm and precise manner like he had not caused turmoil with what he just read. 

“My work here is done, so I would like to take my leave. If any of you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me”. 

Abigail had a lot of questions, but she doubted he could answer any of them. The only person who could answer those questions was dead and buried. Leaving them to hang over her head, unanswered. 

Why? Why did Felicia think she could simply throw responsibilities at her? Did she not think of the consequences of Caroline and the rest of the family despising her more than they already do? And why did she have to marry within a month?

She knew the answer to the last one. Felicia did not want her to be lonely. She must have thought that things with her and Caleb would work out. 

Abigail wanted to kick the table in frustration, but she willed her body to remain still. No one said she had to accept whatever Felicia was giving her.

The lawyer had left, leaving her alone with her family. They were all quiet, probably thinking of what to do next, what step to take that would favor them. But Abigail could barely think of what to do. Other than the fact that she wanted to leave. And finally open that letter. 

“Where do you think you are going? You don’t get to just walk out like that!” Sebastian snapped once Abigail stood up, his eyes burning. 

She looked down at him expressionlessly. “My house. And you don’t get to tell me what to do. The will has been read, I no longer have anything to do here”. 

“We still have things to discuss, Abigail”, Diego said, looking like the concerned family man he wasn’t.

“If she wants to leave, then do not stop her”. Caroline looked at Abigail, with an unreadable look on her face. At that moment, Abigail knew she would pay anything to know what was going through her head. 

Nevertheless, she walked out of her grandmother’s house without a word. 

One would think that Felicia favored her, but Abigail wanted to question whether her grandmother truly loved her. Because if she did, she would not try to deliberately make her life more difficult after her death. 

Her face contorted into a small frown, as she walked towards her car. 

A yelp escaped her lips when someone harshly grabbed her shoulders and slammed her against her car. She let out a wince at the pain radiating from her back, as she looked at her attacker. 

Sebastian glared down at her, breathing harshly. She recognized the look on his face. It was the same as when he would physically hurt her and taunt her. Back then, she would let him bully and torment her without as much as a fight. 

“Let go of me”. She remained still against his hold, not fighting him. 

“Why should I? It’s been a while since I got to hurt you like this, you know. Did you miss me?” His lips pulled into a wide, manic grin. His eyes glinted with sadistic intent.

“No. I’m just thinking that you are still the same sore, pathetic loser”, she replied coolly. The grin on his face fell, turning into a scowl. 

“You haven’t grown up have you? Still the same little boy who hits people and throws tantrums just to feel validated”. 

Abigail barely flinched when she felt his grip on her arms tighten painfully. With everything Sebastian did to her, she could not find it in herself to despise him. Even with his sister, Selena. But she was aware of their hatred for her, and knew they did not wish her well.

Perhaps it was because she knew that had Caroline and Diego done their job as parents, they would not turn out that way. 

“Grandmother gave you wings to allow you fly. That is why you think you can run your mouth isn’t it? But I can assure you that mother will clip those wings very soon. And you will be left bleeding”. 

Abigail had always wondered but never asked why Sebastian despised her so much. Was it the same reason Selena could not stand her? Jealousy?

But then again, some people could be so bitter and terrible that they did not need a reason to hate someone. 

Abigail’s lips pulled into a cold smile and she said, “It is too late for that, Sebastian. I have flown so high that she cannot reach me even if she tried”. 

Abigail swiftly kicked Sebastian, the tip of her heels digging into his leg. He let out a loud groan as he retracted his leg, his grip on her arms loosening enough for her to push him with enough force that he staggered on his feet. 

“You bitch!” He growled, stalking towards her.

“I know you are not that smart, but there are surveillance cameras around here. Be careful, Sebastian”, Abigail warned, before turning around to open the door of her car. She did not mind ruining the image of a perfect family by using the footages against him. 

“You must be on cloud nine thinking your loving granny has handed over power to you on a silver platter. But it won’t last long that I can promise you!”

Abigail ignored his words and got into her car. Frustration cursed through her, her grip on the steering wheel tightening as the car started. 

Sebastian was screaming words and expletives that Abigail had no interest in listening to. She wanted to shut his mouth. And for once, she listened to her intrusive thoughts. 

Abigail reversed the car, before pressing her feet against the pedal, deliberately to trying to run Sebastian over. Unfortunately, he was quick enough to get away, yelling something in the lines of ‘crazy bitch’.

“Dear Abigail

How are you doing? 

I hope you are no longer crying and mourning my death. If you are, then cease the pointless act. I know you followed my wishes, which means you are reading this after my will has been read. And I know that you have questions about why I want you to be Chairwoman and not Caroline. I made that decision after a lot of thought. I watched you grow up to be the successful woman you are now, so I believe that you are capable of it. 

However, it is totally up to you to choose that path. Nevertheless, the part about you getting married is non debatable. I know that you are doing well, but it is nice to have a partner. Someone you can rely on. Even if things don’t work out with Caleb, I want you to find someone else.

Caroline is more despicable than you think she is. She will go to any length to satisfy her selfish desires. This is me warning you to be careful of her. But I know you will be fine. You’ve grown up to be strong despite everything. 

And lastly, I want you to know that I’m sorry. There is no amount of apologies that can make up for the things I have done. Things I am ashamed to admit to you and I hope that you never find out. And if by chance you do, you do not have to forgive me. 

Good bye Abigail. I wish you well, and I love you. 

Abigail sank on the bed, her knees weak as she stared at the letter in her hand. Her heart clenched with every word she read, eyes prickling with unshed tears. How could she tell her not to cry? Felicia believed in her. And she wanted her to get married. 

Abigail did not believe it was necessary, as she was fine just the way she was. And as for Caroline, she had never trusted the woman from the beginning. After the will was read, Abigail knew that she saw something malicious lurking within those eyes. 

Was that why Felicia picked her? Because she knew that Caroline was not trustworthy? 

As she read the last part of the letter, Abigail grew confused. She knew that Felicia was not the perfect woman. She had done both good and morally questionable things but they were not terrible, at least to her. And she could not think of one thing that Felicia did to her that would require an apology. 

Something she was ashamed of and did not want her to find out. What could it possibly be? What could Felicia have done that would make her unwilling to forgive her? 

Abigail did not want to find out. Ignorance is bliss. For once, she wanted to go with that saying.