Chapter 109: Threats

Chapter 109: Threats Long after the conversation with Genevieve, Abigail sat on the edge of her bed, wondering why Genevieve had told her that. Did Genevieve know that Ryan had visited her room that night? How did she know? Why did she tell her to shut her door? Was she not in support of Ryan’s actions? What exactly was going on between Ryan and Genevieve? Why did it seem like Genevieve was no longer as hostile as she was before? Even though she still did not trust Genevieve and would not forgive her for all she has done to her, could she count on Genevieve a little and rely on this subtle show of support? Abigail sighed softly as she got off the bed, wondering what was delaying her breakfast and why she was yet to hear from Josh’s nanny, whom she had instructed to let her know when Josh was up. Just as she opened the door so she could go check on Josh, she saw one of the maids standing at the door. "Your father said you should come down for breakfast," she said, and Abigail’s heart skipped a beat. She frowned as she typed on her phone, [I told the cook that I wanted to have my oat in my room.] "The cook was going to bring it to you, but he asked that she leave it at the table. He says he wants the family to eat together. Josh is at the dining and they’re waiting for you," she said, and Abigail took a deep breath. She had no doubt that he had asked the nanny not to tell her anything. It was obvious that Ryan wanted to get on her nerves. First he had the audacity to walk into her bedroom in the middle of the night while she was sleeping, and now he still wanted her to have breakfast with him? Shouldn’t he be the one avoiding her? What kind of a shameless man was he? She mused as she watched the maid walk down the hall to Genevieve’s bedroom. Not wanting to go down there and have any alone time with Ryan, Abigail stood there, waiting for Genevieve to come out so that she would follow behind her. She was going to make sure to leave the table before Genevieve so that she wouldn’t have any alone moment with Ryan. The thought of looking at him made her skin crawl. Abigail stopped the maid as she walked past her after talking to Genevieve, and she raised a brow and pointed in Genevieve’s direction, asking what Genevieve said. "She said she is not hungry," the maid said, and Abigail frowned, displeased with the response since she was hungry and needed Genevieve there. "But I told her Mr Ryan said she should come down whether or not she wanted to eat," the maid said, and Abigail nodded, relieved. After the maid walked away, Abigail remained standing there until Genevieve stepped out of her room and saw her. "Are you not going down for breakfast?" Genevieve asked Abigail as she approached. Abigail nodded and walked behind Genevieve "Good morning, Genny!" Josh greeted with a wide smile. "Good morning, Josh. No need to ask if you slept well. I can see you did," Genevieve said with a soft smile as she took her seat. "Good morning, Abi," Josh greeted, his eyes bright as he rose from his seat to meet Abigail. Abigail smiled as she looked down at her son and patted his hair. She longed for the day when he wouldn’t call her Abigail but Mama. "I was told you wanted to have breakfast in your bedroom," Ryan said, watching her as she took her seat beside Josh. Abigail signed. [I’m not feeling too well. I wanted to rest in my room.] "What is wrong? Do you need to go to the hospital?" Ryan asked with concern. [No. I just need to get some rest.] "Don’t be sick, Abi," Josh said, reaching for Abigail’s hand, and she smiled at him. [Don’t worry. I’ll be strong for you.] she promised. Genevieve listened to the conversation but said nothing. She glanced at her phone when she received a message notification, and she froze for a second when she saw the sender. She turned the screen down and ignored the message. Why did it still startle her when she received the message on a monthly basis? "Genny, Pete informed me you sent him on an errand. What happened to your date? Was it canceled?" Ryan asked, breaking into her thoughts. Genevieve shrugged. "It wasn’t. I’ll step out much later." While they ate, Josh chattered on, keeping the table lively while Genevieve played around with the food in her plate. Even though Abigail would have preferred to spend some time listening to Josh’s chatter, she ate very quickly wanting to leave before Genevieve would want to leave. Genevieve watched with curiosity as Abigail ate her meal uncharacteristic fastness and she didn’t miss the occasional glances Abigail sent her way like she was watching to see if she was done eating. The moment Abigail finished her oat she pushed back from the table. [I need to get some rest.] she signed. "Before you do that, let’s talk in my study," Ryan suggested, pushing away from the table. Genevieve watched as Abigail froze momentarily, and she caught the hint of alarm in Abigail’s eyes as she glanced at her briefly. Did Abigail know that he had been in her bedroom at night? Genevieve mused, trying to understand the reason for Abigail’s behavior. "Abigail, I told you to hurry up with breakfast. I don’t have all day. It’s bad enough that I pushed my date back because of you. Go and dress up let’s go out now," Genevieve snapped in her usual harsh tone. Abigail glanced at her, taken aback. They had not made any plans to go anywhere, but she was smart enough to know Genevieve was doing that for her. "Where are you both going?" Ryan asked with a slight frown. "Why are you still standing here?" Genevieve snapped, ignoring Ryan. Abigail immediately glanced at Ryan, and gave him a polite nod before hurrying away, while Josh looked at them all wondering what was going on. "Let’s talk in my study," Ryan said to Genevieve after Abigail had left. "I’m going out with Abigail. I need to hurry," Genevieve said, not wanting to talk to him. "You heard me tell her I wanted to talk to her in my study. Why did you dismiss her that way?" Ryan asked harshly, startling Josh. "Josh, go upstairs," Genevieve said softly, and Josh got out of his seat immediately and did as he was told. "Didn’t you ask me to treat her as my sister and be friends with her? Now I’m trying to do that and you’re mad?" Genevieve asked dryly as Josh ran up the stairs. "Follow me," Ryan growled as he walked away to his study. Angry, Genevieve followed him. "What do you want to say to her in your study that you couldn’t say in front of me? The same thing you wanted to say in the middle of the night while she was sleeping, I suppose?" Genevieve asked angrily the moment she walked into the study and shut the door behind her. Ryan glared at her. "What is wrong with you?" "What is wrong with me? You are wrong with me. I’ve had it up to here with you. The fact that you think it is okay to sneak into her room while she was sleeping like some pervert is what is wrong with me. The fact that you can harbor disgusting thoughts about a girl you’ve raised for the past twenty years claiming to be her father is what is wrong with me. Shouldn’t there be a line to your disgusting and shameless acts?" Genevieve spat angrily. "You misunderstood me. I didn’t go into her room to do anything..." "I may not be very smart like you always say, but I’m not a complete fool," she cut in. "Are you acting up because I said I am giving everything to Josh?" He couldn’t understand what had come over her. Genevieve drew a deep breath. "I’ve tried to rationalize your greed and everything else until now, but you see this? I can’t stand it. I won’t. My behavior has nothing to do with whom you are giving what. I’m going out with Abigail. She will be back much later. I hope you do not try to embarrass yourself by making any sort of sexual advances at her. If you touch her, I will damn the consequences and forget that you’re my father. You don’t want to know what a dunce like me is capable of doing. I’m Dawn after all..." "Is that a threat? Are you threatening me?" Ryan cut in before she could finish. "Why? Can I not threaten you? Are you going to kill me like you killed everyone else if I do? Would you get rid of me and then manufacture a new Dawn to continue from where I stopped? Or would you just ask Abigail to be the Dawn?" She retorted, recklessly throwing caution to the wind. "Were you bitten by a mad dog?" Ryan asked with a frown, not understanding this new boldness. He preferred when she was acting stupid and dumb over this new behavior she was exhibiting— challenging him without fear. Genevieve laughed humorlessly when she sensed his confusion. At least now he was no longer calling her names or looking down at her. "Maybe I was," she said with a smirk before walking away and banging the door behind her.