Filed to story: Revenge After Prison: Never Forgiven (Abigail Gibson) Book PDF Free
Could it be… Abigail actually could play the zither?
“Thank you,” Abigail said, accepting the instrument and setting it atop the table.
She turned her head slightly and asked Daniella, “You want to stay here and watch me play?”
In ancient times, only maids stood by to attend a lady playing the zither.
Abigail’s meaning was obvious. She was treating Daniella like a servant.
Daniella’s face turned cold. She turned and stomped off the stage, returning to stand stiffly by Helen.
Helen lowered her voice and scolded, “Dani, this is outrageous. If Abigail embarrasses herself, she’s dragging down the whole Gibson family!”
Abigail placed her slender hands gently on the zither, her fingertips gliding across the strings, testing the sound with a few clear, bright notes.
Then her expression sharpened, and she began to play in earnest.
At first, the music was soft and flowing, like the murmuring of a stream, spreading tranquility through the hall.
Gradually, the melody intensified, gaining momentum, like the thunderous charge of a thousand horses, every note filled with a shocking force that struck straight into the soul.
It was as if war drums were pounding right beside their ears.
Upstairs, the instant the melody shifted, Lucas’s expression changed. He immediately covered his ears and shouted to Benjamin and the others, “Don’t listen to the music!”
But it was too late.
The guests had already been ensnared by the powerful, seductive music, their souls seeming to drift away, making them unable to hear Lucas’s cries.
Their eyes grew glazed, their faces twisted into expressions of terror or ecstasy, as if they truly stood upon a battlefield of life and death.
Some guests swung their arms wildly, fighting unseen enemies; others clutched their heads and tried to flee, mouths screaming incoherently, yet their bodies moved in strange, jerky spasms.
The banquet hall descended into utter chaos. The once-elegant atmosphere was completely destroyed.
The Gibson family was no exception.
Marshall stared, wide-eyed and disbelieving, his body swaying helplessly to the phantom rhythms. Helen and Daniella clung tightly to each other, trembling uncontrollably, their eyes filled with horror, yet they could not break free from the illusion.
Mason’s eyes were bloodshot with madness.
He roared, “Lucas, go to hell!”
At that instant, the music stopped abruptly. And in the blink of an eye, Lucas vanished from right before Mason’s eyes.
The guests staggered out of the hallucination, staring around at the wreckage in shock and terror.
Mason was still frozen in mid-lunge, the dagger in his hand poised to strike. Realizing what he had just shouted, cold sweat poured down his back.
“You demon!” Shane’s voice trembled with fear as he pointed at Abigail, “What did you do to us?”
The others glared at Abigail with a mixture of fear and hatred.
Abigail only shrugged innocently. “I just played a song. What else could I possibly have done?”
Then she tilted her head slightly, her tone growing sly and mischievous, “My master once said, ordinary people who hear this piece will feel as if they’re transported into another world. But those with wicked hearts, they’ll have their darkest desires exposed and fall into madness.”
She turned her gaze onto Shane, her smile sweet yet sinister. “So, tell me… What exactly did you see?”
Of course Shane would never admit he was someone with ill intent. Forcing a stiff smile, he said, “I didn’t see anything, just felt as if the music brought me into the scene.”
“Exactly! Ms. Gibson’ playing was so vivid, it felt like we were right there!” The guests immediately began praising Abigail’s skills.
Abigail smiled faintly at the crowd but did not expose them. She only said lightly, “I’m flattered. It’s just a small thing I picked up during my leisure time.”
Standing in the crowd, Daniella listened to everyone fawning over Abigail. Her nails dug deep into her palms as jealousy consumed her. She had wanted to humiliate Abigail, but instead, she had helped her steal all the limelight.
Forcing down her rage, Daniella put on a sincere-looking smile and walked forward. “Abigail, I had no idea you were so talented at music! Were you afraid I’d compete with you, so you hid it from me?”
She was implying that Abigail had deliberately kept her skills hidden to guard against her.
Abigail shrugged innocently. “You should ask yourself that. We live under the same roof, yet you never noticed. It seems you didn’t care much about me as a sister.”
“I…” Daniella had not expected Abigail, who once had the sharpness of a paper doll, to become so cutting-tongued. She was momentarily at a loss for words.
“Enough!” Marshall roared, turning to scold Abigail. “Abigail, you are utterly lacking in decorum! Today is your and Daniella’s birthday banquet, a joyous occasion. How could you play such a disruptive piece and cause this mess? Look what you’ve done to the hall!”
Abigail raised her chin slightly, her gaze cool. “I never intended to perform. It was your precious daughter who insisted.”
“You wretched child!” Furious at being contradicted, Marshall raised his hand, ready to slap her.
“Mr. Marshall!” A cold voice interrupted him mid-swing.
Everyone turned to look. It was Lucas, standing at the second-floor railing with two companions, staring icily at Marshall’s raised hand.
Marshall felt a chill spread across his skin. He hastily lowered his hand and plastered a flattering smile on his face. “Mr. Hawthorne, when did you arrive? If only you’d sent word ahead, I would’ve welcomed you personally.”
The speed of his change in attitude was shocking.
But Lucas ignored Marshall’s fawning. He descended the stairs slowly, every step heavy with a stifling pressure.
He walked straight to Abigail, glanced down at her hand, and said in a low voice, “You were so focused you didn’t even notice you hurt your hand.”
Abigail looked at her fingertips and realized faint red marks had appeared where the strings had dug into her skin. She smiled casually. “It’s been a while since I played. I’m a bit out of practice.”
Without a word, Lucas gently took her wrist. “Come upstairs and apply some medicine.”
He led her away, not sparing Marshall a single glance.
Abigail was half-pulled along by Lucas. She looked down at their joined hands, blinking. It was a strange feeling.
They entered a guest room on the second floor, prepared specifically for today’s banquet.
As soon as Abigail entered the room, she spotted two other people inside. Samson was eyeing her curiously and greeted her enthusiastically, “Hi, Ms. Gibson, nice to meet you!”
Abigail gave a slight nod, but before she could say anything, Lucas tugged her to sit down beside him.
