CHAPTER 160: CHAPTER 160

At that moment, Cora’s tone shifted from lighthearted to serious, her eyes narrowing with determination. "Jokes aside," she began, her voice steady, "I’m definitely going to thank Oliver for what he did. He saved my life, Melissa. That’s not something I can just wave off. I’ll make sure to show him how grateful I am, no matter what it takes. Even if it’s the last thing I do, I’ll make it happen."

Then Malisa studied her for a moment, noticing the conviction in her voice, then gave a small nod.

Cora sighed softly and continued, "Now, I need you to do me a favor. Can you go and talk to the doctor for me? Ask if I can be discharged today. I really need to get out of here, Melissa. I need to go home, clear my head, and... just breathe."

Melglanced toward the door as if already planning her steps. "Alright, I’ll ask," she replied, adjusting her bag on her shoulder. She took a few steps toward the exit when Cora suddenly raised a hand.

"Wait," Cora said quickly, her expression shifting as though a thought had just struck her. "This actually reminds me, there’s something I really need you to check on for me."

Immediately Malisa turned back, eyebrows knitting in curiosity. "Check on what?" she asked, stepping closer again.

"It’s extremely important," Cora insisted, her voice dropping slightly, as though the matter carried weight. "I want you to help me check on it personally."

Again Malisa tilted her head, intrigued but cautious. "Alright... but what is it? What is that thing you really want me to check about?"

" It’s all about ZXZ"

Cora said with a calm look on her face.

" Something had happened recently that caught my attention, and i couldn’t shake it off. Somebody, an unknown person had just acquired 30% of ZXZ’s shares. It wasn’t James, and it wasn’t anyone I know either."

Her voice carried a mix of curiosity and unease as she explained to Melissa that she really wanted to know who this person was. The identity mattered to her, but more than that, she wanted to understand the purpose behind such a significant move.

"I want to know his aim?" she questioned aloud. "Why would someone suddenly invest that much in ZXZ? There’s always a reason. And if possible," she continued, looking at Malisa intently, "I want you to set up a meeting between us. That would be the best way for me to hear their true intentions directly."

Malisa listened carefully, nodding in understanding. "No problem," she replied after a moment. "I’ll look into it. I’ll make a few calls, dig around, and see what I can find out. When I do, you’ll be the first to know."

**

At that moment, the room was thick with silence. The sound of the ticking clock above the window felt louder than ever. Abigail sat stiffly in the chair across from Robert’s desk, her back straight but her eyes low, glued to the floor as if it held the answers she was still searching for.

Robert studied her carefully. He leaned forward just a bit, fingers laced together on top of his desk. He wasn’t used to seeing Abigail like this. The Abigail he knew never hesitated to speak her mind, never struggled to break silence. But today, she looked like someone else entirely, drained, distant, and lost in her thoughts.

Twenty minutes had passed. Twenty whole minutes since she walked into his office, sat down, and hadn’t uttered a single word. That was more than enough to trigger his curiosity, now, it was raising deep concern.

"Abigail," Robert finally said, breaking the silence. His voice was calm but firm, "You’ve been sitting here for a while now. You’ve not said anything. Not even a simple ’hello.’ That’s not like you."

Still, Abigail didn’t respond.

He continued, more softly now, "You and I both know you didn’t come here just to sit in silence. So talk to me. What’s going on?" He tilted his head slightly. "Why are you here, Abigail? Why now? Why like this?"

Abigail didn’t lift her head, but her fingers tightened into a fist on her lap. Her breathing had changed slower, deeper. Robert noticed that. Every little sign was speaking for her even if her mouth didn’t. He could tell that something was pressing hard on her chest.

"You’re cold," Robert added quietly. "And I don’t mean the temperature. I mean this silence. This wall you’ve put up. This... distance. It’s not you. So what is it? What are you carrying that you’re so afraid to let out?"

That was when Abigail slowly raised her eyes. And the moment their eyes met, Robert saw it, grief, fear, and something else. Guilt.

She parted her lips as if to speak, but then hesitated. Her throat bobbed. Her lips trembled, but no sound came.

At that moment Robert leaned back slightly, letting her have space but not letting her go. "You’re not here by accident," he said again. "You didn’t walk in here for no reason. And whatever it is, whatever you’ve done or whatever has happened, just say it."

At that moment, hearing what Robert was saying, Abigail slowly lifted her head. Her eyes were distant, yet sharp, carrying a quiet storm beneath their calm surface. She looked directly at Robert and asked in a quiet but clear voice, "So, you’re really telling me that you have no idea why I’m here?"

Abigail words made Robert furrowed his brow, clearly confused. "Abigail, if I knew why you were here, do you think I’d be asking you all these questions? You’ve been sitting in my office for over twenty minutes without a word Just staring at the floor. That’s not like you. You don’t waste time, and you don’t walk in here for no reason."

Again he leaned slightly forward, his tone softening just a little. "So, what’s going on? You’re cold. Distant. And that’s not the Abigail I know. Talk to me."

Then Abigail’s lips pressed into a tight line. She slowly opened her purse with an almost mechanical motion. Her fingers moved methodically, as if rehearsed. She pulled out her phone, unlocked it, and scrolled through her gallery in silence. Then, with a calmness that belied the tension in the air, she slid the phone across the desk to Robert.

"Then explain this," she said.

Robert took the phone and glanced at the screen. His face remained unreadable for a few seconds as his eyes took in the photo. It was a sharp, clear image of him standing beside Cora, with Samuel off to the side, all three of them captured in what looked like a candid moment at some formal business gathering.

His first reaction wasn’t guilt or nervousness, it was confusion.

He looked back at Abigail and raised an eyebrow. "What is this supposed to mean?" he asked.