Abigail’s Second Life (Abigail and Sean)

As the sun rose, a firm rap echoed on Abigail's door, disturbing Sean's peaceful slumber.

Grumbling softly, he dragged himself out of bed to answer it.

Standing in the doorway was Josh, his demeanor urgent. "Can you get in touch with Irene? Madam Wright has been searching for her all morning. She's checked out of the hotel without notifying anyone from the office!" Josh whispered urgently.

Abigail, still half-asleep, stirred from the bed, her curiosity piqued. "What's going on?" she mumbled groggily.

"It's nothing to worry about, Abigail. Just a work matter. Go back to sleep," Josh reassured her before turning back to Sean.

"Oh." Abigail nestled back under the covers and closed her eyes.

Sean closed the door behind him.

"I suspect Irene is missing. Madam Wright hasn't been able to locate her, and Luna is growing increasingly anxious," Josh confided in a low voice.

"I recall Abby mentioning that Leon's family disapproves of his relationship with Irene. Could it be connected to Leon's father?" Sean's tone inadvertently softened.

"I'll look into it. You stay here and rest," Josh instructed before hurrying off.

As Sean returned to the room, he noticed Abigail stirring awake once more just as he was about to change clothes.

"Are you getting up?" she inquired, lifting her head from the blankets.

"Yeah, you go back to sleep. I'll wake you when breakfast is ready," Sean responded. Despite his limited acquaintance with Irene, the circumstances urged him to delve deeper into the situation. "Okay," Abigail replied casually, settling back under the covers and drifting into a drowsy sleep.

Sean proceeded downstairs and promptly instructed Xavien to look into the matter.

He had barely settled in the living room when Kevin's call came in.

Answering the call, Sean's tone was less than pleasant. "What's the matter?"

"What's the matter? Irene is missing, isn't she? Why didn't you inform me?" Kevin's voice conveyed a sense of urgency, as if his significant other had vanished.

Sean remained silent, feeling that Kevin was overstepping their agreement not to interfere in Irene's affairs any longer.

"I'll handle the situation here-" he began before his words were abruptly cut off.

"Sean, I understand you'll investigate. But as they say, strength lies in numbers," Kevin interjected with reasoning.

After a brief pause, Sean responded, "Then, take charge of the investigation. Begin with Leon, the male designer at L.Moon."

He preferred to keep Kevin out of the loop on this matter.

If Leon and Irene's relationship ended due to this situation, Kevin would slyly believe he still had a chance.

"Understood." Kevin quickly ended the call.

Upon awakening, Irene found herself bound in an unfamiliar location.

Despite the darkness, distant car horns could be heard, hinting at movement.

Am I being transported out of Capitalis like merchandise?

She attempted to resist but found it futile.

Her body felt feeble and devoid of strength. Irene experienced a sense of disheartenment and helplessness.

Believing it to be a society governed

by law, she couldn't have fathomed

that even someone as audacious as Zeke could operate without

J.n

hindrance. She underestimated the sheer audacity of these individuals empowered by their authority.

Uncertain of the duration elapsed, the container door swung open.

Dragged out of the car by someone grabbing her collar, she was then transferred into another vehicle.

Several men in the car appraised her slowly.

"An exceptionally talented fashion designer like her would ensure that her children inherit her beauty and intelligence, making them stand out in your village." The man outside the car smiled with subtle significance as he observed her.

Irene comprehended that Zeke intended to sell her to a remote village.

Then, her plea for help would be futile.

"I demand to speak with Zeke!" Irene struggled to shout.

The man outside the car lit a cigarette, placing it between his lips. "Miss, nobody said you could meet anyone. You had your chance earlier, but you didn't seize it." With that, he forcefully shut the car door.

Irene attempted to reach the door, only to be pulled back by someone clutching her collar.

"Let go of me!" she screamed, wrestling against the grip.

The man beside her silenced her by covering her mouth with a handkerchief.

Irene inadvertently inhaled and promptly held her breath.

The man appeared to catch on to her strategy, smirking as he spoke in a menacing.tone, "You can hold your breath as long as you like. Before

you're shipped off as a bree

nov

machine, you might as well suffocate yourself into

unconsciousness."

Terror seized Irene, prompting her to take another breath.

Dizziness gradually crept into her consciousness.

When she came to, Irene found herself in a dilapidated room, furnished with only a hard bed and a filthy blanket.

Fear threatened to engulf her, causing uncontrollable tremors.

She had seen numerous instances where girls were kidnapped and taken to rural areas, exploited not just for breeding but also subjected to unwelcome advances, resulting in the erosion of their mental stability.

Falling from the bed, tears streamed down her face as she struggled to free herself from the ropes just as the door of the room clicked shut.

Irene shuddered violently, her eyes reflecting deep-seated fear.

Kevin paced anxiously while Abigail, equally unsettled, intermittently peered outside, her fingers clasped tightly together.

As October approached, the temperature in Capitalis plummeted, accompanied by a gentle drizzle.

When Sean arrived, he was still adorned with raindrops.

"How is the situation?" Kevin inquired urgently.

Sean's face turned grave as he delivered the news. "There are reports indicating that she's been transported to a rural area, but the precise whereabouts are still elusive."

Irene had vanished for almost a week by now, and given the advancements in transportation, myriad possibilities loomed.