Chapter 42

I momentarily froze after hearing Abigail's name. I never expected her to be here visiting my sister's friend. Didn't she refuse to cover my sister's hospital expenses previously? My sister had died from her illness, and now Abigail was here, putting on a show. Why was she doing this? Who was she trying to fool? I wanted to avoid any further involvement with Abigail, so I handed the gifts I had bought for Madeline to Paul and asked him to pass them on. Paul looked at me in confusion. "Aren't you going to see Madeline?" I smiled apologetically and shook my head. "I have something to take care of, so I'll come back and visit her another day." But as I turned to leave, I heard Abigail's anxious voice call out my name. "Samuel!" I didn't look back and quickened my pace, desperate to escape this place. The more I tried to hurry, the more my uncooperative body trembled. It was impossible to walk away quickly in my state, and I stumbled and nearly fell to the ground. When Abigail saw