Chapter 0456


    Abby


    The sun is just beginning to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange, as the first day of the library


    projectes to an end.


    My team and | are packing up our tent, the aroma of our day’s cooking still lingering in the air. We''re all tired, but there’s a sense


    of aplishment that hangs around us, a satisfaction in a day''s hard work.


    | know it’s going to be a long week since we''ll being back every day for the rest of the week, but it''ll be worth it. It’s nice to


    be with them again, and I’m also d to give them some actual paid work—even if the money ising from none other than


    Karl.ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    As we''re closing up the tent, the event organizers approach us. Their smiles are wide, their gratitude genuine. “Thank you so


    much for all of your hard work today,” one of them, a woman with bright, enthusiastic eyes, says. “The food was amazing, and


    your team’s energy really helped lift everyone''s spirits.”


    Karl, who''s been helping with the final touches of packing up even though I’m sure he’s utterly exhausted from lifting heavy


    beams all day, nods and thanks them. “Abby and her team are the best,” he says.


    The other organizer, an older man with wire-rimmed sses and a jovial air about him, chuckles. “Well,” he says, “too bad you


    don’t have a restaurant here, Abby. I’d certainly be dining under your roof every day.”


    His words make me blush. “Thank you, both of you,” | say.


    Once the organizers leave, my team starts discussing ns to go out for drinks. | can see the excitement in their eyes—they


    deserve a night of rxation after all of their hard work today. But I’m just too drained, both physically and emotionally. The


    comfort of a hot bath and my soft bed is calling to me.


    “You guys go on without me,” | tell them, smiling to soften the blow. “I’m just beat. Have a drink for me, okay?”


    They protest at first, but | insist, and eventually, they give in. Waving goodbye, | watch them head off, chatting andughing, their


    spirits high. Karl trails along behind him, shooting me a nce over his shoulder.


    I can tell he’s torn, but Anton and John are insistent on dragging him along, and | think he secretly wants to chat with them. |


    think they kind of turned into his friends when he was in the city, aside from Chloe.


    | start walking back to the mansion alone, the quiet of the evening a wee reprieve after the busy day. It’s peaceful, but my


    mind is anything but. | keep reying the day in my head, especially the moment with the food poisoning joke.


    | have to admit that I’m proud of how | handled it, but it’s just one of many challenges | know I''ll face until the truth about the


    Alpha party is officially proven.


    In fact, I’m so lost in thought that | almost don’t hear the footsteps behind me. Turning with a start, | see Karl jogging to catch up


    with me. I''m surprised, to say the least.


    “| thought you were going out with the team,” | say as he slows to a walk beside me.


    He shakes his head, a small smile ying on his lips. “I changed my mind. Didn’t want you walking home alone in the dark,” he


    replies.


    I can’t help but smile a little at that. Despite everything, he’s always been a gentleman. “Thanks, Karl,” | say, feeling a flutter in


    my stomach that | try to ignore.


    As we walk, the silence between us isfortable, but it doesn’tst long. Karl is curious about earlier today. “What made you


    take thatment about the food poisoning so well?” he asks, his tone genuinely inquisitive.


    I sigh, looking up at the sky, now a deepening blue. | know it was out of character for me to stand up for myself like that. “I''ve


    been thinking a lottely,” | admit. “Taking these things so seriously won''t help me in the long run, and it won''t create a good


    image for me and my staff. | have to be stronger, you know?”


    Karl nods, listening intently. “Makes sense. Well, I’m impressed; you handled it really well.”


    We continue walking, the gravel crunching under our feet. Then, out of the blue, Karl asks, “Could you see yourself opening a


    restaurant here instead of the city? Like what the organizers mentioned?”


    I stop in my tracks, turning to face him. “Karl, | haven''t lost the bet, and | never will,” | say with a slight chuckle, although my heart


    is pounding a little at the mere thought.


    For a split second, | see a flicker of something in his eyes—sadness, maybe? But it’s gone as quickly as it appeared. He


    punches my arm lightly, a yful grin on his face.