Chapter 2005
Shirley leaned back, gazing dreamily at the lush greenery in the distance, a soft smile playing on her lips.
"Abner, someday I want a house with a garden, you know? I want to plant lots of flowers, maybe the kind that bloom all year round." Abner's palm itched with anticipation, and he couldn't resist asking, "So, Shirley, does that mean you'll be living there with me?"
"Of course," she chuckled, her eyes twinkling with a hint of tipsiness. "I'm making good money with these projects I'm doing with my professor. It's hard work, but the bonuses are pretty sweet. Give it a couple of years, and I'll be able to afford that house, even before you graduate from college."
Abner felt a burst of happiness. It seemed he had a place in Shirley's future plans. And he still had five more years until graduation.
He took a sip of his juice, relaxing a bit. But then Shirley leaned towards him, her head resting on his shoulder. Abner's hand trembled, nearly dropping the glass.
He turned to look at her and noticed a bit of fruit stuck at the corner of her mouth. Leaning in, he gently wiped it away with his finger.
However, to Mark, who was watching from afar, it looked like Abner was stealing a kiss.
Unable to hold back, Mark stormed over. Before Abner could react, he found himself drenched in a drink.
Shirley woke up startled, looking up at Mark. Mark, trembling with rage, grabbed Abner by the collar, ready to throw a punch.
With a swift move, Abner flipped Mark onto the coffee table. Mark, groaning in pain, tried to get up for another round, but Shirley suddenly stepped in front of Abner. "Enough!"
Mark, fuming, spat out, "You two are unbelievable!"
Shirley was taken aback, half amused, half infuriated. "What did you just say?"
Mark, wiping the blood from his lip, glared at them, especially at Abner, as if wishing he could tear him apart. "I said you're unbelievable, Shirley! This is illegal, you know. I'm going to report you!"
Shirley couldn't believe her ears, a mix of anger and laughter bubbling inside her. "Report me for what?"
"For seducing a minor! Being in a relationship with one!"
Shirley's anger peaked, while Abner, standing behind her, raised an eyebrow, a smirk crossing his face. He knew Mark had misunderstood the situation. Abner quickly took Shirley's hand, his voice laced with caution. "Shirley, don't be mad."
Shirley's frustration grew with Abner's timidness, outraged by Mark's baseless accusations. "Mark, I've had enough of you smearing Abner and me!" "Do I even need to smear you? It's clear as day! What do you think this kid feels for you? Ha, it's written all over his face."
Abner protested, "I didn't."
Mark, enraged and clenching his teeth, looked like he was about to throw another punch. But before he could, Shirley's slap hit him square in the face.Exclusive © content by N(ô)ve/l/Drama.Org.
For the first time, Shirley showed
pure disgust. Even when she had seen him flirting with Jessica, she
hadn't felt this repulsed. Now, she
realized she had been blind to ever
consider someone like Mark.
It wasn't the first time Mark had been slapped, but this time, it stung differently. "Are you blind? You don't believe me? Fine, I'll pull up the security footage!"
Fuming, he demanded the staff retrieve the video. Shirley, now calm, sat down. "Go ahead, I want to see you do it."
Abner sat beside her, offering his drink. "Shirley, don't be upset. Maybe he saw you leaning on me because you were a bit tipsy and got the wrong idea. I'm sorry, I should've moved away."
Inside, Abner was overjoyed. Mark was never right for Shirley. The bigger the fight, the better.