Chapter 6
"Luke's gone to get you some water. Don't even think about leaving," Flora said.
Abby turned her head toward Flora, scoffing. "Just because he brings it doesn't mean I have to drink it. Get out of my way."
But instead of budging, Flora only came closer.
"You heard everything, didn't you? Luke's already acknowledged me as the official partner. Abby, what do you have that could compete with me?" Flora shot back.
"If you know what's good for you, stay away from Luke, or you'll seriously regret it," Flora threatened.
Abby glanced at the mix of jealousy and bitterness in Flora's eyes and, for a second, actually pitied her.
She'd spent over twenty years as nothing more than an attachment to the Scott family, and then she thought of it as some privilege.
Abby's sympathetic look made Flora's face turn dark in a flash. Embarrassed and furious, she stuck her chin out defiantly.
"You don't believe me? Just wait and see. Don't come begging for mercy," Flora snapped.
Abby shot Flora an impatient look, completely unfazed by her threat.
"Get out of my way," Abby said coldly.
Seeing Flora still blocking the door, Abby turned and headed for the back door.
But she'd barely taken a few steps when she felt a sharp tug on her hand.
Before she could even turn around, she heard Flora let out a piercing scream.
Abby jolted to a halt, spinning around as Luke's anxious voice rang out, "Flora!"
When Abby saw what was happening behind her, her eyes went wide in shock.
Just four steps away from her, Flora was writhing in pain by the lectern, blood pooling beneath her.
She was lying in Luke's arms, shooting Abby a defiant glare.
Abby glanced at her own hand and immediately realized what Flora was up to.
Her face turned icy, and a wave of anger surged inside her.
How could Flora use her own unborn child as a tool? That was a real human life!
Even though Abby despised what Flora was doing, she was a doctor. She couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
She took a few quick steps toward Flora but got shoved aside by Luke before she could check on Flora.
"Abby, are you even aware Flora is pregnant?" Luke snapped.
"So all that 'I don't care' stuff today was just for show? I know you don't like her, but that doesn't mean you can touch her. Even if she's only the Scott family's adopted daughter, she's not someone you can mess with!" Luke spat.
His words stung Abby. She never realized Luke saw her as so insignificant.
With that, Luke swept Flora up into his arms, giving Abby a look so cold that it felt like his eyes could slice right through her.
Abby clutched her bag tightly in confusion and trailed after them.
"Luke, I swear I didn't push her. Do you believe me?" Abby called out.
Luke didn't even look at her, his pace quick and his tone icy. "And why should I believe you?" he replied coldly.
Abby jogged after him, anxiety in her voice. "We can check the security footage. I swear, I never even touched Flora."
Luke held Flora in one arm and yanked open the car door with the other, giving Abby a look like she was nothing but trash.
"You know there aren't any cameras in the classroom. What's the point of putting on this act?" he sneered.
"You really are just like your mother, all fake on the outside and poison on the inside. I should've listened to Grandma and taken you straight to court, instead of letting trash like you stick around the Scott family for two whole years," Luke snapped.
Luke's words stunned Abby, her mind reeling.
"What are you talking about? You know my mom?" Abby choked out, voice filled with disbelief.
Luke didn't even look at her. He slammed the car door and sped off.
Desperate, Abby chased after him, banging on the car window and screaming.
"Luke! Tell me right now. How can you say that about my mom?" Abby yelled, voice breaking.
But she couldn't outrun the car. As Luke floored the accelerator, Abby stumbled and fell, rolling twice across the harsh pavement.
She lay there for ages, and when she finally struggled to get on her feet, pain was burning all over her body.
Abby didn't even stop and catch her breath. She flagged down a cab and rushed to the hospital.
The moment she arrived, instead of getting her wounds looked at, she headed straight for the operating room where Flora was.
When Abby spotted Luke on the bench, she didn't care about the burning pain and dashed straight over.
"Luke, what the hell did you mean earlier?" Abby pressed, her voice almost breaking with urgency.
Luke gave her a cold, lingering stare, then suddenly gripped her chin with a sneer.
"You seriously don't get it? I mean, you're every bit as shameless as your mother," he spat.
Abby froze, actually frightened by this side of Luke.
In her memory, Luke had always been gentle. He'd never even said a single harsh word to her.
Whether he loved her or not, at least he'd always treated her with respect.
But then, every word out of his mouth cut deeper than the last.
Luke snapped, "She was married, but still went after my dad. She wormed her way into his life and even managed to snatch my mom's bridal inheritance for herself.
"She's stolen from others for so long that she actually believes those things are hers. My grandma begged her again and again, but she never cared. She just shamelessly insisted it all belonged to her!
"And now there's you. Bet it feels pretty awesome having that one billion dollars, right? I've been nice enough not to chase you down for it, so what's your problem with Flora?"
Abby was so stunned by Luke's words that her mind went totally blank.
She didn't buy any of it. She didn't believe her mom was the other woman.
Her eyes were rimmed with red, but she glared at Luke, refusing to back down.
"Luke, so this was your reason for getting close to me from the very beginning, wasn't it?" Abby demanded, voice shaking with hurt.
"Let me tell you right now. There's no way my mom was some homewrecker! And as for that one billion dollars? I'll never give it to you. This is it, Luke. I'm divorcing you," Abby snapped, voice shaking with rage.