Novel Square
Chap 24
Abigail POV
Hi, I’m Abigail. Full name is Abigail Hampton. I’m a friend and also a cousin of Flavia and the niece of the man she loves, Gladwin Hampton.
I’m not the busiest person in the world, and I’m not the most laid-back either. But one thing’s for sure, I’m someone who likes to bother myself with other people’s lives, especially when it comes to their love affairs.All rights © NôvelDrama.Org.
Ten years ago, I played a role in the love story of Flavia’s dad and my aunt. And now, I want to play a role again. Not just want, but I have to take part in the love story of my best friend and also my uncle. Even though I’m still figuring out how to make my intentions work.
I just got back from a photo shoot. Honestly, even though I’m a model and get paid quite fantastically, I still don’t have my own house. Unlike Flavia, who already has her dream home, I prefer to wait for my future husband to provide me with one. Considering I haven’t planned on getting married yet, and the man I love won’t get approval due to religious differences. So, yeah… My vision of a happy ending story is getting farther away.
Okay, let’s skip the marriage issue. Back to the living situation. I live in four places at once. If not at Uncle’s apartment, I stay at the Cafe shop, or at Flavia’s house. But the only place I can acknowledge as my home is where my dad, mom, grandma, and my sibling are. Yes, my dad’s house, which is also neighbors with Flavia’s dad’s house.
I’m about to park my car. But when I see a sedan parked in the side yard, I abandon my plan and choose to leave my car outside the gate without blocking the entrance. If it’s not my mom’s guest, it must be Grandma’s guest. Because I don’t have friends visiting me. And my dad’s colleagues won’t visit in the daytime like this.
I choose to enter through the garage door that leads straight to the kitchen. No one is in the kitchen. My sibling hasn’t come back from school. There’s only the housemaid preparing lunch there.
“Who’s the guest?” I ask my grandma’s housemaid who has been working since I was a child. The woman’s age might be the same as my grandma’s. Or maybe even older. But because she’s always active, her old body still looks lively.
“Grandma’s guest,” the middle-aged woman replies with her soft voice. Usually, I’m not too curious about my grandma’s guests. But for some reason, this time, I feel like peeking.
There’s a large oval mirror intentionally installed by my dad on the living room wall. If guests think the mirror is placed there so they can check themselves, then they are wrong. Because the mirror is there to monitor the guests themselves.
I look at the reflection in the mirror and am quite surprised to see a woman the same age as my grandma, with embroidered eyebrows and chili-red lips, talking seriously to my grandma. I know that woman. She’s my tough competitor. I mean, she’s my rival as a matchmaker.
I decide to sit leaning against the large cabinet that separates the living room and the family room, intending to eavesdrop. If only I had the ‘extendable ears’ like the Weasley twins. That would make it easier.
Yes, if only Harry Potter existed in the real world. I might willingly go to England, head to Platform 9¾, and go to Hogwarts. Hahaha, yeah. I’m one of the fans of that legendary novel and film.
Okay, back to eavesdropping. I try to sharpen my ears to listen in on their conversation again.
“Yes, now it’s easier because they both work at the same hospital,” I hear the voice of Mrs. Lipstick, aka Penelope Madsen, Phoebe Madsen’s mother, sounding happy. “Well, destiny won’t run away, right?
“Gladwin went all the way to Germany. Phoebe has had a failed marriage before. And look, now they both meet again in this city and work at the same place.” She continues, still with a cheerful tone.
Honestly, I snort. Irritated? Disgusted? Yeah, that’s what I feel right now. The old woman shamelessly promotes her daughter. Surely, she’ll soon list all the other compatibilities between her daughter and my uncle.
“Yes. I’m also trying to persuade Gladwin to get close to Dr. Phoebe,” I hear my grandma’s voice.
“It’s not too difficult to bring them together. They were in the same campus before. They’ve known each other for quite a long time. Well, at least they know each other well enough. So it shouldn’t be too difficult to sow the seeds of love between them.” Again, Mrs. Lipstick expresses her opinion.
‘Like my uncle is some kind of guy. If he really had something going on with that flirt, he would’ve swept her off her feet since college.’ I whisper to myself.
“But, I’m a bit confused, actually. Are you sure that Dr. Gladwin is really not close to anyone? Because I’ve tried to invite him for a meal together, but he always refuses.” I hear Mrs. Lipstick sigh sadly.
“I’m sure he doesn’t have a girlfriend. Gladwin has yet to get close to anyone. On the contrary. I want to know, will Dr. Phoebe’s ex-husband cause any problems in the future?” My grandma seems a bit hesitant. Now I’m curious about the real reason behind Phoebe’s divorce from her ex-husband.
“I assure you that your fears will never come true. Gisel’s father won’t dare do anything funny again. If he does, we’ll report him to the police. You know yourself the reason Phoebe divorced him was because of the violence she experienced. That man also never fulfilled his duties as a husband. Even now, he doesn’t fulfill his duties as a father to cover the child support.” Once again, Mrs. Lipstick sighs. I don’t know why, but I feel skeptical.
“How about this? Let’s arrange a dinner at one place. I’ll take Gladwin, and you’ll bring Phoebe. We’ll adjust the place and time according to the kids’ work schedules,” suggests my grandma, immediately met with enthusiastic approval from her friend.
Whatever. It seems like I have to come up with a plan now. Okay, let’s get things moving. I choose to exit the house through the same door I entered earlier and head towards my car. I put on my headset and call someone on my phone. “Where are you?”
“….”
“I’m on my way. Let’s have lunch together.” I press the gas pedal harder. I don’t want to get stuck in traffic because lunchtime is approaching.
The last patient leaves. I enter my uncle’s office. Actually, I wanted to use the restroom first, and fortunately, each doctor’s practice room at the hospital where my uncle works has a private toilet. In the room, there’s Jonas, Flavia’s friend who has become my spy, and, of course, my uncle. They are working on something, and I don’t want to disturb them.
When I’m about to leave the restroom, I hear a woman’s voice. “Let’s have lunch together, shall we?” An inviting tone with a hint of sulking. It seems like I’m starting to recognize that spoiled style. Who else but the daughter of Mrs. Lipstick, the flirty widow doctor, Phoebe Madsen.