Proof of love.

Abigail got home after sundown, only to find Christopher in the hall with a glum face. She swallowed a gasp and stalled on the track.

'He came early again!'

Under his stern gaze, she was tense. She was certain he would explode right away. The target of his rage was her, and there was no protective shield around her. The stormy, hot air of his fury would blow her away. The consequences could be disastrous.

He may decide to leave and never return to her.

She was only trying to save this marriage, but everything seemed to have gone wrong. She wanted to cry.

"I can explain," she said, deciding to inform him of her training.

"Explain?" His eyes narrowed. "I came home early with the intention of taking you out to dinner. But you were not at home!"

Abigail felt bad and regretted not coming back right away. She shouldn't have gone with Britney.

Christopher had made plans for a date, but she ruined it... the same way she had ruined his mood in the morning.

He had only taken her out once when they were newlyweds, but Abigail had become ill and had to be hospitalized. He hadn't taken her out since, fearing she would again fall sick.

Her recovery was fraught with complications. She had frequently become ill and had to be rushed to the hospital. It was because of the doctor's prompt attention and Christopher's care that she recovered well.

Abigail became depressed after recalling everything. She could have had a pleasant evening with him, but she ended up angering him.

"Please, listen to me first," she said, approaching him.

"You want to explain! What are you going to say? A lie?" He frowned even harder. "I used to believe that my wife waited for me at home docilely. I was so wrong. I never knew that you went out to meet your friends when I was at work."

He held up his hand and added, "I wouldn't have minded if you told me. What is there to hide? You can go shopping, to the movies, on a picnic, to the spa, or wherever you want. I just want you to inform me. Why are you not willing to tell me? Who is this FRIEND you are meeting with sneakily?"

He again stretched the word "friend."

Abigail could see suspicion in his eyes, and it broke her heart. Her sadness had been transformed into rage.

She had been trying to find a way to reach his heart, and he suspected her of cheating on him. She had always expressed her feelings for him. He was the one who never admitted to loving her. But he didn't think twice about doubting her.

It was a humiliation of her undying love for him.

"I did nothing wrong," she retaliated. "You have no reason to suspect me. I never question your whereabouts or the people you meet. You stayed most of the time outside. I have never suspected you."

Christopher was stunned and at a loss for words.

Abigail didn't want to stretch the conversation. She walked up to the bedroom.

It added to his fury. Christopher thought she was avoiding her. He pursued her and locked the door behind him.

Abigail turned around and faced him, then glanced at the closed door in surprise.

In a blink, he came closer to her.

She took a step back, only to be drawn closer to him.

"Who is this friend? Your neighbor?"

This was not the Christopher she remembered. Even though he didn't love her, the Christopher she knew never doubted her loyalty. He would never hurt her, but the current Christopher didn't realize that he was hurting her.

Abigail pressed her lips together tightly to deal with the pain in her arm. She had the sensation that he would crush her bones. She refused to make a sound, let alone respond to him.

Christopher, on the other hand, was becoming more and more enraged. He didn't know that Abigail was this stubborn.

Her true self was slowly revealing itself in front of him.

"Are you not going to respond to me? Is he your boyfriend? Your lover?"

"Enough, Christopher." Abigail pushed him away with all her might. She hurriedly moved back. "Just stop it. I won't be able to hear anything."

Christopher was taken aback. This moment only lasted for a few seconds. His rage reached the boiling point.

He pushed her against the wall in an instant. He leaned over and slammed his hands against the wall.

Abigail shuddered and squeezed her eyes shut, terrified. She thought he would kill her in a fit of rage.

"You said you wanted to explain... now explain it to me..." He hissed. "I'm curious about your relationship with that man… You kept saying that you loved me and that you were keeping a relationship with your old friend… your neighbor?"

Abigail cocked her head as she looked at him with disbelief. Christopher was not only insulting her, but he was slandering Jasper as well.

She clenched her fists.

"Still silent? Is he really that important to you?"

"Christopher, please… stop it."

"I won't… until I get the answers."

"I have never cheated on you," she snapped. "You are assuming things."

"Is that so? Prove it."

"What?" Her eyebrows creased.

"Prove that you have no relation to that man," he demanded vehemently. "Prove that you are still loyal to me."

Abigail looked straight into his eyes. She never anticipated that she would be asked to demonstrate her devotion to him. At this point, she became desperate.

She pulled him in closer by his collar and kissed his lips. She was not very good at kissing, but she kissed him harshly… This kiss embodied her frustration, rage, and pain.

Christopher was dumbfounded. He was too shocked to react. He gaped at her with great surprise, the nerves in his brain sparking.

This was yet another side of Abigail that he was not aware of.

"I proved my loyalty and love for you," she said, leveling her gaze at him. "I love you, Christopher. I have no hesitation in declaring my love for you. I fell in love with you the moment you proposed to me. I still love you. But do you love me?"

Tears began to collect in her eyes.

"Kiss me if you love me."

Christopher didn't move. He was still staring at her, shocked and surprised.

Abigail shook her head, a bitter smile on her lips.

"I got the answer."

She pushed him away and stormed out of the room.