Chapter 12

Two more days passed. At the entrance of the construction site, only Owen and Yvonne accompanied Abigail today. Having learned from earlier experience, Abigail had even prepared number tags to prevent people from cutting in line and ruining the dining experience for others. "Mr. Dawson, you're here again today." Abigail was setting out the stools when she saw Matthew. Ever since learning he was the site's owner, her attitude toward him had turned much better. Matthew's gaze stayed fixed on Abigail's arm, as if wishing her sleeve would magically tear open right then and there. "What do you want to eat today? I'll give you half off!" Her attitude was totally different from before. Just yesterday, she charged him a hundred dollars. Today, it was down to ten dollars, which was practically a rock-bottom discount. Matthew replied, "It's fine. Just charge me a hundred dollars as usual. I'll eat whatever's available." He pulled out a bill and placed it on the table. Abigail didn't hesitate. She just slipped the money into her pocket. She shouted at Owen, "Dad! Give Mr. Dawson an extra drumstick, and make sure it's the biggest one!" "Mr. Dawson, make sure to come by often." Abigail leaned closer with a smile, one hand propped on the table. Matthew looked up just in time to catch her grin. He was dazed for a split second. It felt like he had traveled through time and seen his sweetheart, who always wore a cold expression. Perhaps her smile would look just like this. His heart inexplicably raced for a few seconds. He cleared his throat and asked seriously, "Why do you want me to come more often?" "Because you're too generous." Abigail pulled out the bill and flicked it with her finger. Matthew was speechless. "But seriously, with how much land you own and how rich you are, I'm guessing your family probably has a full-on nutritionist team." Abigail recalled their first meeting. He had shown up in a luxury car with a driver. Matthew lifted his head slightly. "I'm tired of all the fancy food. Sometimes, I just want a change of taste. And Ms. Parker, your cooking is good. Chatting with you helps kill time too. I find it interesting." Rich people always liked finding entertainment in the lives of the poor. Still, Abigail didn't mind. He was their biggest spender. As long as he didn't drive them away, she didn't mind and would let him say whatever he pleased. "Alright then. Come often and I'll give you 20% off. I'll only charge you 80 dollars next time." Matthew chuckled. Abigail's way of offering discounts was extraordinary. However, this quirky, unruly way of doing things reminded him so much of his sweetheart. "Dad, Samuel's boss is kinda weird. He always comes here to eat street food, and he always seems idle. Doesn't he have any work to do?" Owen gave a dry chuckle. He didn't know what Matthew was up to either. He had shown up at the site several days in a row now. "Here is his boxed meal." Owen handed it to Abigail. "Take it to him. But he's a bit odd, so just deliver it and come straight back. Don't have too much contact with him." Abigail nodded. A long line had already formed, so she didn't have the time for idle chatter anyway. Making money was more important. Meanwhile, Gianna had just arrived in her car. The moment she spotted Matthew, she gripped the steering wheel tightly. "I knew it. He's already suspicious of Abigail! I absolutely can't let Matt become suspicious. Only I can be the Dawson family's daughter-in-law!" Abigail carried the boxed lunch over to Matthew, her mind racing with business plans. Matthew stared intently at her arm. Suddenly, Abigail let out a startled yelp. She missed a step and stumbled forward. Matthew sprang into action, catching her before she could fall. Abigail clutched the meal tightly, leaning against him in momentary fright. Taking the chance, Matthew lifted her right sleeve without hesitation. In a flustered panic, Gianna yanked the door open and staggered toward them, her face deathly pale. For both Matthew and Gianna, time seemed to freeze. Matthew stared at the inside of Abigail's right arm, completely stunned. In the next instant, Owen yanked Abigail toward him and pushed Matthew away. He snapped, "What do you think you're doing?" Matthew staggered back, his mind reeling. He kept muttering, "It's not her? How can it not be her? Then who is it?" Gianna caught a glimpse of Abigail's smooth, unmarked arm and let out a huge sigh of relief. She immediately rolled up her own sleeve, exposing the scar she had deliberately inflicted. She made sure to walk right past Matthew, lifting her arm high for him to see. "Abigail, are you okay? I just happened to be passing by. I didn't explain things clearly last time and caused a misunderstanding. I saw you almost fall just now. Thank goodness, Matthew was around. Otherwise, if you had hit the edge of that table, it would've left a huge scar!" Gianna spoke with feigned concern, every word sounding particularly deliberate. Hearing the keyword, Matthew's expression darkened as he grabbed Gianna's wrist. His tone was almost interrogative. "Where did this scar come from?" Gianna put on an innocent look. Because Matthew was gripping her too tightly, she let out a muffled whimper of pain and said in a delicate voice, "Matt, you're hurting me." "Answer me." Matthew's brows furrowed as he kept pressing on. "I accidentally got it when I was a kid. Why?" Gianna looked at him. Matthew kept hold of her wrist and shook his head slightly. Could it really have been Gianna who saved him? Yet Abigail was the one who resembled his sweetheart more. Gianna watched him fall into thought, inwardly gloating. This risky move had paid off. "Matt?" she called out softly. "It's nothing." He snapped out of it and regained his composure. He then released her wrist, acting as if nothing had happened. "Are you alright?" Matthew asked Abigail, ignoring Owen's probing stare. She nodded. "I'm fine, Mr. Dawson. Thanks for catching me. If it weren't for you, I probably would've fallen, just like Gianna said, and ended up with a nasty scar." "Abby? Abby, are you alright?" Yvonne couldn't see anything. She groped her way toward Abigail's voice in a panic. Her voice cracked with worry as she said, "It's all my fault. I didn't look after you properly." Abigail's heart ached. She grabbed Yvonne's hand and guided it to her cheek. Her tone was light and cheerful. "It's okay. Feel me. Aren't I perfectly fine? I'm still as pretty as you, Mom." Only then did Yvonne relax, her brows smoothing out. "You have to be very careful." "What are you doing here?" Everyone turned to look in the direction of the voice, and a flash of panic crossed Gianna's face.