Abigail forced a bright smile onto her face even though her stomach felt tight with frustration.

"Coming here was really unexpected for me," she said politely to the family. "I’m truly sorry I didn’t prepare any gifts. I didn’t know I would be joining such a lovely dinner tonight." She clenched her fists under the table where no one could see.

Henry sat there quietly, not saying a single word in her defence, even though he was the whole reason she had been dragged into this situation in the first place. The silence from him stung more than she wanted to admit.

The old master waved his hand gently and brushed the matter aside with a kind smile. "No need to worry about that at all, dear. Let us keep enjoying the meal. The food is getting cold."

Everyone turned back to their plates, but Abigail could not shake off the discomfort growing inside her.

Selena kept acting so close to Henry, touching his arm and laughing softly at everything he said. The whole scene made Abigail feel out of place and restless.

She wanted nothing more than to go home and escape this awkward family dinner. She rushed through the rest of her food, barely tasting it anymore, then stood up from her chair.

"I’m really sorry for leaving early," Abigail said with an apologetic tone. "But I have to go now."

Her words caught Henry’s attention immediately. He looked up from his plate and frowned. "We are going back tomorrow," he reminded her, his voice calm but firm.

Abigail chuckled lightly and shook her head. "I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to stay. Something urgent suddenly came up at my company."

The announcement came as a surprise to everyone at the table. Heads turned toward her with wide eyes and raised eyebrows.

Alan, one of the family members, leaned forward in disbelief. "You have a company?" she asked, clearly shocked. "It’s quite rare for a woman to handle a company on her own these days."

Selena jumped in quickly, her tone sweet but full of doubt. "Which family company is that?" she asked. She clearly did not believe that Abigail could have built anything from scratch.

Abigail smiled proudly and looked around the table. "I have no parents," she said. "I’m an orphan, and I built the company myself through hard work." The words came out strong and confident, showing everyone that she was not ashamed of her story.

The old master froze for a moment, his spoon stopping halfway to his mouth. "You have no parents?" he repeated, sounding genuinely surprised.

Abigail gave a faint smile and nodded. She did not want to think too much about her so-called parents right now. The memories of their betrayal still felt fresh and painful.

Selena saw a chance to make things uncomfortable and tried to twist the situation. "That must have been difficult," she said with fake sympathy. "Especially not being raised with a mother’s love and guidance. It shapes a person in so many ways." Her words carried a hidden sting, trying to make Abigail’s background sound like a weakness.

Abigail’s smile only widened, turning the moment into something sharper and more interesting.

"Are you telling me now that I’m not well-trained because I don’t have a mother?" she asked directly. "Is that how you see everyone who grows up without one?"

The question landed heavily on the table. Selena suddenly remembered that Henry had also lost his mother young. She glanced nervously at the masked handsome man beside her and let out a small sigh.

Using her quick intelligence, she tried to clear herself. "Oh no, I didn’t mean it like that at all," she added smoothly, trying to backtrack without losing face.

Abigail chuckled softly, satisfied with how the exchange had turned. She walked around the table to Henry’s side and bent down gracefully.

In a bold, seductive move, she placed her hand on his chest like she truly owned him. She kissed his cheek first, surprising him completely.

Then she leaned in closer and kissed the corner of his lips, tasting the sweet garlic flavour from the meal still lingering there. "Don’t miss me too much, okay?" she whispered with a playful smile that looked more like a smirk only he could understand. "I will be expecting you at home." She even added in a soft voice, "Hmmm, I love garlic," before straightening up again.

The rest of the family smiled and politely looked away, giving the couple what they thought was a private romantic moment. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

For the first time that moment, many of them finally believed that Henry and Abigail were a real couple. The little show had worked perfectly.

Selena studied Henry’s expression carefully. He did not react much on the surface, staying as calm and composed as ever. It was very different from the way he had suddenly come to her yesterday with strong warnings. The contrast left her feeling unsettled.

Abigail bowed gracefully to the family. "Thank you again for having me," she said politely before hurrying out of the room.

Alan watched her leave with clear displeasure on her face. She had not even gotten the chance to ask her how she and Henry had met.

Selena stared at Abigail’s back in a daze as she disappeared through the doorway. The words "at home" kept echoing in her mind.

Which home? The question bothered her more than she wanted to admit, planting new seeds of doubt and curiosity about what was really happening between Henry and this unexpected girl.

The dinner table felt different after Abigail’s departure. The mix of warmth, tension, and surprising boldness from the new arrival had turned a simple family meal into something much more memorable and entertaining.

Everyone continued eating, but the atmosphere now carried an extra layer of questions and hidden thoughts that would likely follow Selena long after the awkward tension had ended.

[Author note: I want to use this moment to thank you... for your support]