Stitched Up.

Abigail stood outside the washroom, a medicine tool kit in hand, waiting for Caleb to emerge. When he finally did, his expression was annoyance personified.

"Are you okay?" Abigail asked gently, trying to gauge the extent of his injury.

Caleb nodded curtly, his eyes avoiding hers.

Abigail's hand reached out, her fingers lightly grasping the cuff of Caleb's shirt. "Why don't you sit down on the couch?" she suggested, her tone soft and soothing. But Caleb's expression only darkened, his eyes flashing with a mixture of irritation and warning.

As soon as Caleb sat down, Abigail opened the medicine box and began to rummage through its contents. "Your hand is still red," she observed, concern etched on her face. "Let me apply some antiseptic cream."

But Caleb was quick to refuse. "No need," he said gruffly.

Abigail's lips pursed in determination as she swiftly placed a cushion on her thigh. "Please," she said, her voice firm but gentle, as she guided Caleb's hand onto the cushion.

Caleb's eyes narrowed slightly, caught off guard by Abigail's persistence.

"You'll be fine," Abigail reassured him, her voice soft and calming, as she gently applied the cream to his hand.

Caleb's face slowly relaxed, his eyes fixed on Abigail's hands as she tenderly ministered to his injury. As she worked, Abigail blew a gentle stream of air across his skin, easing the sting of the antiseptic and sending a soothing shiver through his body. But his relaxation was short-lived. Abigail's movements stopped abruptly as he suddenly asked, "Do you like Sean?" Abigail replied quickly, "No." Caleb's eyes snapped open, and he continued, "Do you like Ethan?"

Abigail's pause was palpable. She looked up at Caleb, her eyes searching, and stuttered, "W-whoever I like, what's it to you?" Her cheeks flushed with a soft pink hue as she quickly placed his hand back.

With that, Abigail stood up and walked out to the backyard, followed closely by Caleb. The backyard had been transformed into a lively gathering. Mason's rich voice filled the air as he sang, accompanied by Harper and Dimple's energetic dancing. Ethan and Barron clapped along, grinning from ear to ear.

Gini, who was enjoying the impromptu performance, quickly diverted her attention to Caleb and apologized to him, her expression contrite. "I'm so sorry, Caleb," she said, her voice sincere. Caleb dismissed her concern with a wave of his hand. "It's not a big deal, Gini."

Gini smiled and returned to the gathering, clapping along to the music. Caleb turned to Abigail and said, "Come and prepare for tomorrow's meeting. The other MDs, hosts, and producers will be joining us." Abigail nodded, her expression professional.

As Caleb turned to leave, he paused and gazed at Abigail, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What's going on, Abigail?" he asked, his tone annoyed. "Why did you blush when I mentioned Ethan?"

Abigail's confusion was evident. "What?" she asked, her brow furrowed. Caleb's expression turned stern. "Just make sure you're prepared for the meeting tomorrow. Exactly as I outlined in the email."

With that, Caleb turned and strode away, calling out to Barron as he went. Abigail watched him go, a mixture of confusion and concern etched on her face. Barron was about to come over and say goodbye, but Caleb had already dragged him away.

Abigail's whisper was barely audible. "Is my affection for Ethan too obvious?" She looked worried, her eyes scanning the gathering as if searching for answers.

As Caleb departed the dinner party, Abigail felt a subtle yet palpable sense of relief wash over her. Her breathing slowed, and her shoulders relaxed, as if she'd been holding her breath in anticipation of his exit.

Abigail scanned, but Sean was nowhere to be found. She turned to Mason, who was sipping his drink nearby.

"Hey, have you seen Sean?" Abigail asked.

Mason shook his head. "He left a little while ago. He had an appointment he needed to get to."

Abigail's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh, okay. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye."

Mason smiled. "He asked me to pass along his congratulations to you. He's really happy for you."

Abigail then joined the lively singing and dancing for a while, letting loose and having fun. But as the evening drew to a close, she bid the others goodnight and retired to her apartment, exhausted. She slept like a log, but her rest was short-lived.

The next morning, Abigail's alarm blared to life, jolting her awake. She felt a surge of nervousness as she threw off the covers and got out of bed. Today was the big day – the live talk show where she would showcase her designs alongside other talented designers of clothes and cosmetics.

Abigail chose a simple yet elegant formal outfit, carefully styling her hair and makeup to ensure she looked polished and professional. She then sat down at her kitchen table, sipping a cup of coffee as she once again studied the email Caleb had sent. She wanted to make sure she was fully prepared for the meeting.

As she arrived at the meeting venue, Abigail greeted the other MDs and designers with a confident smile. But her eyes scanned the room, searching for Caleb – only to realize he was nowhere to be found.

Olivia, the meeting leader, took center stage, her expression stern and unyielding. Abigail expected her to acknowledge her presence, but Olivia didn't spare her a single glance. The meeting began, and Abigail listened intently, expecting Olivia to discuss Shine Apparel's feature on the live talk show.

But as the meeting progressed, Abigail's confusion grew. Olivia didn't mention Shine Apparel or Abigail's designs once. What was going on? Hadn't Caleb assured her that her brand would be featured on the show? Abigail's mind whirled with questions, her nerves beginning to fray.

As the meeting adjourned and the attendees began to file out, Abigail quickly caught up with Olivia, her heart racing with anticipation. "Excuse me, Olivia," Abigail said, trying to sound calm. "I didn't get a chance to ask during the meeting, but what's the update on my show?"

Olivia's thin smile seemed to hide a deeper animosity. "Don't you get emails, Abigail? We discussed this with the MDs. Your designs will be broadcast a month from now, so we've decided to feature you in next year's annual show instead."

Abigail's confusion turned to alarm. "But Olivia, I received an email from Caleb confirming that my designs would be featured on the show, and it was approved by the director."

Olivia's face darkened, her eyes flashing with disdain. "Miss Abigail, don't you have any shame? Do you think you can just waltz in here and get special treatment with Caleb's help?"

Abigail's eyes narrowed, her voice firm. "Olivia, you're taking this the wrong way. Up until this point, it's been my hard work that's gotten me here. If my show wasn't going to be featured, that's one thing, but you can't imply that I'm only here because of Caleb."

Olivia's laughter was cold and mirthless. "What a joke!" She turned to leave, casting a disdainful glance over her shoulder before disappearing into the crowd.

Abigail's face burned with frustration and anger. She quickly pulled out her phone and dialed Caleb's number, but it went straight to voicemail.