Not One, But Two!
Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Abigail was upset. She knew what Hugh's work was, so she could only blame herself for all this mess.She thought her girls would be fine if they were with Hugh, but now that she thought about it, sherealized that being with him was also a risky endeavor as well. She had been careless, so she couldn'tblame anyone for that.

Just when Abigail was losing the grip on the little conversation, Valerie came out.

She heard what Arianna said, and she felt sad as well. "Come here, Aria." She looked at her lovingly.

Arianna hesitated. She looked at Abigail, and once her mother nodded, she went over to Valerie.

"This is an accident, girl. Nobody wanted this, so don't blame yourself for it. You're a good girl, just likeyour sister is. Your father, mother, and I love you. Don't talk yourself down anymore, alright? We'll beworried sick no matter which of you is in trouble. Come, I'll take you to your sister."

"Okay." Arianna nodded.

Abigail was touched to see this. She quickly went into the kitchen and made something for Alissa.

Arianna was fidgeting when she came into the room. She hid behind Valerie and stared at Alissatimidly, who was in their father's arms. She didn't envy her for having Greg's attention, and in fact, sheeven felt guilty.

"Look who's here, Allie?" Valerie dragged Arianna out from behind her.

Arianna felt nervous, and she didn't know how she should face her sister.

Alissa was surprised to see Arianna, but then she waved at her with a smile. "Come here, Aria. I needhugs and kisses. I almost bade farewell, you know. Hug me!" She extended her arms toward her sister.

All of Arianna's guilt and worry broke apart, and she ran over to hug her sister. "I'm sorry, Allie. It's allmy fault. If I hadn't asked you to take my place, none of this would have happened."

"What are you talking about? If I hadn't done that, you might have been in an even worse situation.Besides, I wanted to go with Papa myself. This has nothing to do with you. What on earth were youthinking?" She poked at Arianna's forehead, looking a little angry.

Arianna cried, but she didn't look away. Instead, she held her sister's arm and said while sobbing, "Iwon't do that ever again. I'll give you whatever you want, and I'll do whatever you want me to do.Please don't hate me, Allie." She cried loudly.

Alissa looked speechless. "I won't hate you. I need you to cover my back when I get into a fight nexttime. Stop crying. You look ugly."

Instead of doing as Alissa asked, Arianna's cries became even louder, and she wiped her snot onAlissa's clothes.

Huh? Never thought she's a crybaby. She looked to Greg for help.

Greg smiled. "You girls talk. Arianna had a great scare."

"Daddy!" Alissa thought it was not nice of her father to leave her just like that.

Greg smiled. "I'll help your mother with your lunch." Then he left the room.

Valerie came out as well, and she held her son's arm. "I'm warning you, spend some time with Allie.She's been through a lot, and it's nightmare fuel. It's not easy for Abbie to raise the kids alone. Youcan't just stay out of it," she said softly.

"I'm not that kind of person, Mom. They're my kids too. Of course I love them. Don't worry, I'll delegatemy work and take some time off to be with the kids."

"That's more like it." Valerie nodded happily, then she pointed at the kitchen. "She's been in there for awhile now. Go help her."

Greg cocked his eyebrow. "Mom, I'm your son."

"And I wouldn't have said anything if you weren't. I want you to marry her, and I also want the kids. Idon't care what it takes."

"Again with that, Mom?" Worried that Valerie might say something more embarrassing, he quickly wentto the kitchen.

Abigail didn't expect to see him here, so she was surprised. "I'll handle it. You go out."

"Let me do it. You've been overworking yourself, and you're hurt. Besides, Allie wants me to do it. Youget some rest." He pushed her out of the kitchen and closed the door.

She stood outside, flabbergasted. Abigail watched as Greg made lunch in the kitchen. The sun shonethrough the window, covering him in a sheen of golden light. He looked divine, and yet soapproachable. She felt something pricking her heart, and it was filled with something warm. He's hotwhen he makes a meal.

Valerie saw her staring at Greg dumbly, and she smiled before going back to her room in silence.

Since she couldn't help out, Abigail went to Alissa'a room, but the girl was still assuaging Arianna.She's like a big sister. She thought she should give the girls some space, so she retreated and came tothe living room to watch some TV.

She didn't know what the show was about, for her attention was on the man in the kitchen. It wouldhave been normal if a man like Greg didn't know how to cook, since she had never seen Philip cookover the twenty years in the Kain household. However, Greg seemed to know how to cook very well. Itwas obvious that wasn't his first time cooking, and Abigail had always liked men who knew how tocook. Not even Hugh knew how to cook.

She looked at Greg, her gaze gentle and tinged with love, though she didn't realize the latter.

Greg noticed her gaze, of course, but he didn't know how to respond to that. He felt a little confused,but he didn't hate it. In fact, he liked it, though he felt a little guilty, and he couldn't shake that feeling offno matter what.

Just when he was trying to come up with a response, his phone rang, and the ringtone made him stop.All the thoughts he had earlier were pushed aside. Genevieve?

Usually, Greg would be ecstatic if he received Genevieve's call, and he would even go to her rightaway, but now with Abigail sitting outside and his daughters in the room, he felt like he was having anaffair when he saw Genevieve's call.

Greg thought it was laughable. He wasn't married to Abigail, so he wasn't cheating. Besides, he wasGenevieve's boyfriend. He pushed his guilt down and looked at Abigail.

When Abigail met his gaze, she turned her head away, but her heart kept thumping. Sh*t. I was caught.This is the first time I looked at a man so blatantly, and I was caught. This is so embarrassing. Shequickly went to the restroom.

Greg heaved a sigh of relief after she left.

He took the call, and Genevieve said, "Greg, there's this academic event I want to join, but I'm notexperienced enough. Can you get me in?"

Genevieve's request doused Greg's passion. He remembered her status update on Twitter, and herecalled how obsessed she was with Cody. He asked, "What kind of academic event? A medical one?"

"What else? I'm a doctor, so of course it's a medical one." Genevieve sounded unhappy.

Greg had always been the one taking the initiative in this relationship. Whatever she wanted, he wouldgive her, but he felt tired all of a sudden. "There's a quota, isn't there?"

Genevieve was surprised that he would ask, and she answered impatiently, "Of course. Why elsewould I want your help? I would have signed up by myself otherwise. Are you helping me or not?"

She left for a long time and didn't even call to ask how I am doing. She doesn't care about me, and nowshe's calling me just to get her a spot in this event. He smiled bitterly. "If I'm right, the hospital gave thatspot to Gillian, didn't they? You want to take her place, don't you?"

Greg was no idiot. He knew Genevieve had been trying to get her hands on Cody all these years. Hedid try to give up, but every time he did, she would come and tell him that was the last time. Throughtears, she would say she would stay with him forever.

She did like Cody, but she gave her virginity to Greg, and because of that, Greg couldn't seem to let hergo. He kept believing her, but she kept letting him down. After Cody and Gillian secretly got married,Genevieve kept trying to trip Gillian up, and she used Greg for that.

Cody was Greg's best friend. Greg would never betray Cody, and besides, Cody loved Gillian, notGenevieve. Greg would never help Genevieve if she wanted to bring Gillian down, and finally, Gregwas angry.

Genevieve was stunned. "What happened, Greg?"

Greg massaged his temples, and he was overwhelmed by fatigue. He leaned over the counter,whispering, "Do you really love me, Genevieve? Or are you just trying to use me to take Gillian downso you can marry Cody? If you can't let him go, why don't we—"

Before he could say 'break up', Genevieve quickly said, "Oh, sorry, Greg. I have something to do, sotalk to you later. Ta."