Pre Birthday Celebration

Abigail gulped down severally and tried to conjure any romantic scene from most of the books she had read. She didn't know what games Valentino was up to and she was terrified of pissing him off.

The only young man that had ever dared to kiss her in the past had been missing for ages. Abby didn't need a soothsayer to tell her that Valentino had killed that man.

Thinking about her first and last kiss now, she closed her eyes and leaned closer to her stepfather's lips.

When her soft lips touch Valentino's lips, he lost the will to hold back from her softness and innocence.

Abigail allowed Valentino to torture her lips as much as he liked until he was satisfied.

"I have a special surprise for you, Abby. But you have to wait till tomorrow night before you can see it." Valentino whispered seductively into her ears. 

He was tempted to undress her and taste a little bit of her sweetness. However, the phone vibrating in his pocket reminded him that he had people downstairs waiting for them. 

"Sit down, baby," Valentino said softly like someone incapable of hurting a fly.

When Abby sat down as instructed, Valentino helped reapply her lipsticks and powdered her face a little.

"I will leave you to enjoy your last day of sleeping alone in this bedroom. As of tomorrow night, you will be moving over to my bedroom and your mother will be sent to the guest room."

Valentino straightened up and offered his hand to Abigail. "Shall we, my love?"

Abigail plastered a smile on her face and replied, "Yes, boo!"

When Valentino and Abigail came down the stairs, walking hand-in-hand like two newly wedded couples, the cheerful laughter and merriment in the living room seized. 

Aside from the gentle music playing in the background, there was complete silence. Every pair of eyes were fixated on the young pretty lady beside Valentino.

There was so much bitterness and coldness as some family member who knew of Valentino's immorality with Abigail scrunched their faces in disgust.

The silence in the room would have been prolonged awkwardly if Valerie hadn't expressed her displeasure outwardly.

"Daddy, how come Abby gets to wear Van de Lui for her pre birthday celebration while I'm made to dress in these rags." Valerie snarled at her stepsister.

Valerie and the rest of the Felan family, - excluding Matilda and Lucas -were under the impression that Abigail had somehow charmed Valentino with the use of dark magic.

"Come on baby girl, you don't have to be jealous of your sister. You have a lot of beautiful and expensive clothes in your wardrobe. If you feel you don't like what you're wearing, then go to your room and change it. I will not have you whining or causing trouble for your sister." Valentino's tone was laced with both irritation and anger.

"Today is my princess pre birthday celebration and I want everyone present to honour her. I hope I have made myself clear." 

Valerie grumbled an apology to her father and walked away in a rage. 

One by one, every member of the Felan family came to wish Abigail a happy birthday in advance, under Valentino fierce scrutiny.

Afterwards, the laughter and merriment returned to the room.

"Brother, is it true that you'll be taking only Abigail to Hinter Island tomorrow for her twenty-first birthday celebration?" Alberto asked while averting his brother's lethal gaze.

Valerie, being the gossip monger quickly excused herself to go use the convenience.

"I will not have anyone indulge in any form of idle gossiping about my business." Valentino threatened, causing his brother to cower in fear.

Even Valentino's aunt that thought of commenting on these devilish plans of her nephew was forced to hold back her tongue.

Just then, Valentino received a very brief call that required him to leave the mansion immediately.

"Sweetheart, I have to leave now but I'll be back on time to tuck you to bed." Valentino kissed Abigail on the forehead. "Go on and have some fun but don't stay up too late." 

"Thank you, Dad." Abigail released her breath which we have been holding intermittently for quite a while as Valentino let go of her arms.

Before Valentino left the mansion, he gave strict instructions to his bodyguards to ensure that no one bullied Abigail or flirted around her.

Immediately Valentino left the house, Valerie saw this as an opportunity to taunt her step-sister. She moved closer to where Abigail was standing and talking to her mother.

"Happy deathday in advance, tramp!" Valerie sneered. 

"I wish you the same... kiddo." Abigail sneered as Valerie gaped at her remark. 

It was a known fact that Valerie was three months older but Abigail had a way of dealing with her like a child.

"How come you haven't changed your rags? Don't you feel itchy in them? Or do you need me to come help you." Abigail's ruthless remark made Valerie almost lose her senses.

Valerie was at the point of replying to Stella when one of Valentino's bodyguards came over to her and escorted her out of the room.

"Mum, I do not have the energy to party. I have a headache and I need to go to bed now." Abigail pretentiously massaged her temple to justify her claims. "Please send one of the maids, preferably Sara, to my bedroom with a glass of water and a painkiller in the next five minutes."

"Can I take you to..."

Abigail didn't give her mother any chance to render any form of help. 

"That won't be necessary mum. I need to rest before your husband comes back and continues from where he stopped." Abigail snarled at her mother and left her side without sparing her one last glance.

Immediately Abigail entered her bedroom, she quickly took off her clothes and ran into the bathroom to shower.

When she was done showering, she hurriedly dried her body and change into her innerwear. Then she picked up a club stick that she had stolen from her mother's bedroom and hide it under her gown lying on her bed.

A gentle tap on the door lightened Abigail's mood and brought a hopeful smile to her face. She took in a deep breath to hide her excitement as she strolled over to the door and opened it to grant the maid assess.

"Ma'am, your water and aspirin." The maid announced.

"Drop it over at my bedside," Abigail instructed, as she carefully shut her door while assessing the maid's uniform size.