Hearing what Victoria just said, Abigail raised a brow, silently urging her to continue.
Victoria nodded, almost theatrically. "According to what I heard, our father gave him a very serious talking-to. A full-on lecture. Like, a proper sit-down. He didn’t even spare him. He warned him rcilessly. Told him that he should never try to disobey him, never do anything stupid, especially when it cos to you. He was so serious, Abigail."
However Abigail’s face remained still, but inside her heart was thudding just a little louder.
Victoria continued, "And they finally ca to a conclusion. They agreed. The wedding is going to be." she paused for effect, "A week from now."
At that mont, upon hearing what Victoria just said, Abigail’s eyebrow lifted slightly. It wasn’t dramatic, but it was enough to show that her mind had paused, even if just for a second. She was caught off guard genuinely surprised, but as quickly as the reaction appeared, it vanished. She smoothed her expression like a well-trained diplomat, wearing a faint, thoughtful smile that masked the swirl inside her.
"Well," Abigail began, her voice even and steady, "I haven’t heard anything from my own parents yet either, so I honestly don’t know what to say. But if what you’re saying is really true, then I guess that’s that." She paused for a mont before adding with a small shrug, "To be honest, I don’t want to force Robert to do anything he doesn’t want to do. If he feels like I’m not the one, or he’s unsure about this... then he’s free to go. I won’t tie him down. I won’t force anything."
At that mont there was a mont of silence between them. The kind of pause that lingered longer than expected.
But Victoria, who had clearly co prepared for this kind of reply, imdiately waved her hand dismissively like she was brushing away an invisible fly. "No, no, no," she said, leaning in slightly and lowering her voice. "Abigail, this is not about force. This is sothing that was agreed upon between both families. Way back. Not yesterday. Not recently. I’m talking about sothing that has been rooted for years. Sothing binding. This isn’t sothing Robert can just back away from like it’s a random decision. No. He has no right to change anything now."
Victoria’s eyes narrowed slightly with a knowing edge as she continued, "In fact, do you know what I heard? I was told my father actually confronted Robert about it. He told him point-blank that this wasn’t just about him or about feelings. That it was about honor. About family. About keeping a promise. And when Robert hesitated... my father slapped him. Not lightly either. A proper slap that shook the walls. That’s how serious this is."
Abigail blinked slowly at the intensity of the statent, but she didn’t say anything. Her mind was running.
"So," Victoria went on, "you don’t need to worry your pretty little head about whether or not this wedding will happen. It will. What you should be thinking about now," she added, leaning closer with a cheeky grin, "is wedding gowns. Dresses. Shoes. Accessories. Shopping! You should already be searching for the perfect look because, let remind you, ti is no longer on your side."
She clasped her hands together in a clap of excitent. "And not just any wedding this is going to be the wedding of the season. The golden guests are already watching. You know how this society works. They will want to attend. They will want to talk about it. So we have to make this wedding the talk of the town. A wedding that sweeps everybody off their feet!"
Abigail let out a soft exhale. Her head tilted a little to the side, and her arms folded, as though hugging herself with a decision she hadn’t fully digested. Her voice was quiet, but it carried weight.
"Well," she said slowly, "it seems... it seems it is going to happen." She looked at Victoria now, her eyes a mix of reluctant acceptance and quiet resolution. "So, Victoria, don’t worry. I’ll stick to it. I’ll make the necessary plans, and when I’m ready, I’ll get back to you so we can figure out what the next steps are for the wedding and the whole preparation."
And just like that, Victoria smiled. With a confident, satisfied, slightly smug smile that told Abigail everything she needed to know.
"Perfect," she said.
At that mont, Victoria glance around with her usual playful yet curious look, scanning the room with those sharp eyes of hers that missed absolutely nothing. The room was buzzing with low music, laughter, and the soft clinking of glasses, yet she could tell sothing or soone was missing. She tilted her head slightly, her perfectly shaped brows rising with interest.
"Wait," she said suddenly, her tone light but edged with confusion, "Is it just or... is everyone already here? Like seriously, who are we waiting for now? Shouldn’t this party be starting already?"
Abigail, who had been seated elegantly, gently tapping her fingers on a champagne flute, heard the question. Her jaw tensed for a split second. That small movent didn’t escape Victoria’s attention. Abigail slowly turned to face her, offering a composed smile, but there was a flicker in her eyes, a mix of anticipation and calculation.
"We’re waiting for soone," Abigail said, her voice cool and controlled. "The Diamond Card holder. She hasn’t arrived yet."
"Diamond?" Victoria repeated, blinking as if she didn’t quite hear that right. "Wait, you an the Diamond card? The one above all the other invitations?"
Abigail nodded once, her expression unreadable.
"She has exactly five minutes left to arrive," she added. "And I think if she doesn’t show up by then, we’ll move on. But trust , everyone here wants to see her. Or at least... know who she is."
Victoria’s mouth parted slightly in awe. Her playful deanor gave way to intrigue.
"Wow. So they actually gave out a Diamond invitation card?" she said, eyes scanning the lavishly decorated hall again, as if expecting this mystery guest to just appear from thin air. "I an... that person must be sothing else. She must be extrely special. Like, extrely popular or powerful or sothing."
She turned back to Abigail with a knowing smile, the kind that only soone like Victoria could pull off half teasing, half genuinely impressed.
"And just so we’re clear... you Abigail you got the Gold card. The Gold. That’s like second to the biggest, and we all know how deep your connections go. You have access to almost everyone in the city. So for soone to get a Diamond card above yours?" Her tone dropped slightly into a whisper.
"Who is this Diamond card mber?"
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