Chapter 3 - I Owe You My Life

Abigail didn't know how long she had been venting her anger to make herself feel slightly better. However, when she thought she was done cursing the cheating couple, she tripped over her feet while trying to step down.

"Rghh…"

She tried to hold onto something but grasped nothing.

Briefly, Abigail thought she might be dead, but then a hand gripped hers, pulling her hard and causing her body to fall backward. Her balance was entirely lost, but she didn't care about falling hard as long as she was still alive.

It all happened so fast.

When Abigail opened her eyes, she found herself in someone's embrace, her head resting on the broad chest of a man.

Her heart was racing, and her breath was short. The thought of almost falling from a fifteen-story building made her feel as if her whole soul had left her.

'God, thank you for sending this man to help me. I owe him my life,' Abigail thought to herself as she tried to look up to see her savior.

However, the man's deep, gentle voice could be heard before she could pull her head away to look up.

"Young lady, if you want to commit suicide, do it when no one is around."

Abigail was stunned when she heard his words.

"Who the hell wants to commit suicide? I tripped over my own feet, alright!" she wanted to say, but she immediately dismissed that thought. She had to be gentle with him.

Whoever this man was, he was her savior. If he hadn't held her hand and pulled her, she might have become dead meat and gone straight to the afterlife.

"Thank you so much, good sir," Abigail said softly as she finally looked up to see him.

Abigail was stunned to see his light blue eyes looking back at her. When she saw his lips curl into a thin smile, she immediately turned her gaze elsewhere, feeling nervous.

"But I'm not planning to commit suicide. I tripped over my feet," she continued, avoiding eye contact. She stared at his chest—her line of sight only reaching his sturdy chest.

"It sounds better to hear that, Miss. Because I don't want to go to the police station to become a witness, or they might wrongly accuse me as a suspect," he said with a sarcastic tone that caused Abigail to stifle a laugh.

"Sir, I'm so grateful you helped me. You are my savior. I owe you my life—" Abigail paused, taken aback by her own words.

How could she make such a deep vow to this man!? This man might take advantage of her if he was a bad person. Right?

"Alright, young miss, you're supposed to release your tight embrace on me. You're safe now."

Abigail was utterly shocked to hear his words. She only realized she was still in his arms, her hands tightly wrapped around his waist, and her entire body pressed against him. They were so close—close enough to hear his loud heartbeat. She quickly took a few steps back.

Only then could Abigail see how tall he was; her head only reached his shoulders.

His eyes were light blue and clean, like deep water with a shiny reflection. His cheekbones were high, making his face appear clean-cut. 

She clenched thightly when she saw his lips closed as if he were reluctant to speak. Overall, he looked godly handsome. Compared to her cheating ex-fiancé, they were like ground and sky. This man was the sky.

He had a strong and unique presence—how can she describe it? Strength, defiance, and aloofness. Even if he did nothing, others couldn't ignore his existence.

'Damn! What am I thinking? Why did I analyze this man? Focus, Abby! Focus!!' She shook her head, trying to dismiss him from her mind.

"Do you want a cold beer?"

The man's voice seemed to bring her back to reality. She silently swallowed, hearing his question.

"Drink beer?" she asked him suspiciously.

"Yes. I have plenty of cold beer back there. I think you need it now to make you feel better," he said, walking toward the patio umbrella without waiting for her to answer.

Abigail looked towards the corner. Instantly, a faint smile adorned her lips when she saw a small garden she was usually sitting in when she was in this place. 

Without realizing it, her feet had followed the man's footsteps, joining him.

"Thank you," Abigail said as she accepted the beer bottle from him and sat on the chair beside him, with a garden table between them. 

She took a few sips, feeling the cold beer slide down her dry, hot throat, refreshing her.

This man was right; she needed a cold beer to lessen her annoyance about what had happened to her.

After a few moments of silence, they enjoyed their beer. Abigail finally turned to look at him.

She saw him holding his beer bottle, his gaze straight ahead toward the mountains in the distance. He seemed like he didn't want to talk to her—or maybe he didn't even want to know she was there.

Now, Abigail felt guilty for disturbing his peace. She knew very well that this man had been there before her.

"Good sir..." Abigail called him. When she noticed the man finally turned to her with a slight frown on his forehead, she continued, "Sorry if I disturbed you, and thank you for the beer. I will take my—"

Abigail's words paused when the cell phone in her pocket rang and distracted her.

Seeing it was Ryland calling, her blood boiled. She took a deep breath and turned to the man, "Sir, I'm sorry, I must take this."

"Sure—" he replied.

Abigail smiled gently at him and answered the phone.

"What do you want?" She greeted Ryland icily.

"Abigail, I know our engagement ended, but I still need you to work for me—"

"Ryland Wood, if you want to talk about it, I will hang up!" Abigail interrupted. She couldn't believe this shameless man still wanted her to work for him. Had he lost his mind?

"Please hear me out, Abigail," Ryland immediately stopped her. "Listen, I will let you stay at my apartment if you return to work for me. I know you don't have the money to look for a new place."

Abigail was rendered speechless.

Ryland continues, "Don't worry. I will not stay there. I will move to Vanessa's place today so you can have that apartment yourself."

Abigail couldn't help but curse Ryland in her mind.