Love in a spotlight

Abigail swiftly reached for the card in Caleb's hand, attempting to divert attention from the awkward conversation. "Here!" she said, handing the card to the cashier with a bright smile.

As the cashier processed the payment, Abigail discreetly linked her arm through Caleb's, trying to diffuse the tension. Caleb's dark expression didn't falter, but he didn't pull away either.

Once the transaction was complete, Caleb grabbed the bag from the cashier and nodded curtly. As they exited the store, Abigail could sense the cashier's intimidation, but her own friendly demeanor seemed to have put the woman at ease.

"Are you alright?" Abigail asked, her brows furrowed in concern. "You almost lost your cool back there."

Caleb's dark expression remained unchanged, his eyes fixed on her with an unnerving intensity.

"MD?" Abigail arched a brow, using the nickname she had coined for him. "What's wrong?"

Without responding, Caleb thrust the bag into Abigail's arms, causing her to gasp in surprise.

"Why are you giving this to me?" Abigail asked, but Caleb didn't bother to reply. Instead, he turned and strode back to the car.

Abigail followed, her confusion growing. As they reached the vehicle, Caleb started the engine, and Abigail demanded, "Caleb, wait! Why are you leaving? What about me?"

Caleb's response was curt and dismissive. "Manage yourself!" he barked, before speeding away, leaving Abigail standing alone, her eyes wide with shock and confusion.

As Abigail rode the bus home, her anger simmered just below the surface, fueled by Caleb's abrupt and dismissive behavior.

Once she reached her room, she glared at the bag of groceries, her eyes blazing with indignation. "What a stupid man!" she fumed inwardly, her mind racing with frustration and annoyance.

Abigail's mind continued to whirl with questions. "Who was that previous girl? Why did Caleb get so angry when she was mentioned?" she wondered, her curiosity piqued.

Meanwhile, Caleb was drowning his frustrations in wine, pouring himself a generous shot. Gabriel, sensing his friend's unusual demeanor, asked, "Did something happen?"

Caleb raised the glass to his lips, ready to take another swig, but Gabriel intervened, gently prying the glass from his hand. "You can't handle that much," he cautioned, his expression concerned.

Barron's eyes narrowed. "Is it your mother again?" he asked, his tone laced with a hint of knowing.

Gabriel chimed in, a sly smile spreading across his face. "Or is it your new girlfriend?" he teased, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

Without uttering a word, Caleb abruptly stood up and took his leave, disappearing into the night. Gabriel, aware of his friend's precarious alcohol level, was about to follow him when their senior prosecutor, Thompson, suddenly appeared, blocking his path.

"Gabriel, I need a word with you," Thompson said, his expression serious.

Olivia was chatting with her friend when she spotted Caleb standing alone in the distance. She excused herself and approached him, only to find that he was visibly intoxicated.

Despite Caleb's refusal, Olivia insisted on helping him to his car, supporting him as he stumbled along. Once they reached the vehicle, she carefully settled him into the passenger seat.

"Caleb, should I drop you home?" Olivia asked, getting into the driver's seat.

Just then, Caleb's phone rang. Olivia picked up, speaking with Barron on the other end. "Don't worry, I ran into him," she reassured him.

After the call, Olivia turned to Caleb, admiring him for a moment. A sly idea crossed her mind, and she reached for her phone, snapping a selfie with Caleb's unsuspecting face beside hers, a smile spreading across her own face.

Abigail's eyes narrowed as she gazed at the photo Olivia had sent her, a mock smile twisting her lips. The image of Caleb, drunk and unaware, alongside Olivia's beaming face, sparked a mix of emotions within her.

She couldn't help but think about how Caleb had callously abandoned her, leaving her to find her own way home from a distant location, far from her apartment. Yet, here he was, seemingly having a great time with Olivia.

Abigail's mind whispered a bitter truth: she should have never gotten involved with him in the first place. The drama and stress he brought into her life were simply not worth it.

Caleb woke up to a throbbing headache, the morning light piercing through his eyes like a sharp knife. As he slowly sat up, memories of the previous night came flooding back, and he couldn't help but think that he had been stupid to let his emotions get the better of him.

He recalled Olivia dropping him off, and a mix of gratitude and embarrassment washed over him. Shaking off the lingering fogginess, Caleb got out of bed and began his morning routine, taking a refreshing shower and dressing in comfortable clothes.

Just as he was about to head downstairs, his phone rang, displaying his mother's name on the screen. Caleb's heart sank, wondering what his mother wanted to discuss this time.

"Mom!" Caleb greeted, trying to sound cheerful.

"Son, your grandfather has asked for a dinner with him. Why don't you come and join us?" Amelia suggested, her voice warm and inviting.

"Okay, mom, I have to go," Caleb replied hastily, not wanting to prolong the conversation. He was worried that his mother might bring up the topic of his love life, and he wasn't in the mood to discuss it.

With a quick goodbye, Caleb hung up the phone, relieved to have ended the conversation before it could take an uncomfortable turn.

Finally, the day of the fashion week opening had arrived, and Abigail's energetic mood was back in full swing. However, her excitement was dampened by Harper's subdued demeanor.

"Harper, did something happen?" Abigail asked, concern etched on her face.

Harper hesitated, taking a seat before responding. "No, I'm just..." She trailed off, struggling to find the right words.

Abigail's eyes narrowed, sensing that something was amiss. "What?" she pressed, her tone gentle but insistent.

Forced to conceal her true emotions, Harper mustered a weak smile. "Nothing!" she insisted, but the façade was transparent to Abigail's discerning eyes.