Claimed.

Sean explained that he wanted to help her, revealing that he had already spoken with Soquing Boutique and planned to meet with them the next day. He wanted to assure her that his intentions were genuine, so she wouldn't misunderstand his motives.

"I just want to help," Sean said, his eyes sincere.

Abigail smiled politely. "Thank you, Sean, but I don't need your help. I appreciate the offer, though."

With that, Abigail stepped out of the car and began walking away. Sean watched her from inside the car, feeling a sudden urge to follow her. He got out of the car and caught up to Abigail, making her turn to face him.

"Abigail, why do you always ignore my feelings?" Sean asked, his voice low and urgent.

Abigail's expression turned guarded. "This isn't the place to talk about this, Sean. And I've already made it clear how I feel."

But Sean didn't care. He took a step closer to Abigail, his eyes locked on hers. "Is it because of my mom?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Abigail's eyes flashed with panic as she glanced around nervously, noticing that some passersby were starting to recognize Sean. "It's not because of your mom," she said quickly, her voice laced with a hint of desperation.

Sean's eyes pleaded for understanding. "Abigail, I apologize that my mom spoke badly to you. But my feelings are sincere."

Abigail was about to respond when a familiar voice called out from behind her.

"Abigail!" Caleb's voice rang out, and Abigail turned to see him standing a short distance away.

Her eyes widened as she remembered that she was late for their appointment. She had completely forgotten, caught up in the unexpected encounter with Sean.

Abigail's heart sank as she realized the awkwardness of the situation. Sean, Caleb, and the paparazzi closing in – it was a perfect storm of complications.

Caleb moved closer, his eyes fixed intently on Abigail, and stood beside her. Abigail forced a bright smile, trying to diffuse the awkwardness.

"MD, I'm so sorry. I ran into my friend Sean and lost track of time," Abigail explained, her voice light and apologetic.

Caleb's expression remained sharp and expressionless, his eyes narrowing slightly as he glanced at Sean. Sean, sensing the tension, gazed at Abigail with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

"The one you have an appointment with, Caleb?" Sean asked, his voice low and even.

Abigail nodded quickly, her eyes darting between Sean and Caleb. "Yes."

As they stood there, surrounded by the bustling crowd of the big market, Abigail felt like she was on display. All eyes seemed to be on them, drawn in by the awkward triangle of Abigail, Sean, and Caleb.

"Caleb, I still need to talk with Abigail. Why don't I take her for a minute?" Sean boldly announced, making Abigail slightly surprised.

She was about to chime in, to protest or clarify, when Caleb's response cut her off.

"I'm sorry, but I have a date with my girlfriend," Caleb said, his eyes locked on Abigail's, a hint of possessiveness in his tone.

Abigail's eyes widened, her face flushing with surprise. She hadn't expected Caleb to declare her as his girlfriend, especially not in front of Sean. The air seemed to vibrate with tension as Sean's eyes narrowed, his gaze flicking between Abigail and Caleb.

"Girlfriend?" Sean asked, his voice tinged with a hint of surprise and questioning, his eyes locked on Abigail's.

Abigail's mind racing, she wondered if Sean's inquiry was a sign that he was finally giving up on her. The thought sent a pang through her chest, but she quickly pushed it aside.

With a deep breath, Abigail calmed herself down and forced a thin smile onto her face. "Yes," she replied, her voice steady and deliberate.

In a swift, deliberate motion, Abigail reached out and took Caleb's hand, her fingers intertwining with his in a clear display of affection. The gesture was meant to convey a message, to leave no doubt about her relationship status.

Caleb's eyes flicked to Abigail's, a fleeting glance that betrayed a hint of surprise. But his expression quickly smoothed out, and he turned straight, his gaze fixed ahead, his hand remaining in Abigail's grasp.

Sean's eyes filled with disappointment, a flicker of sadness that he couldn't quite conceal. He took one last, lingering look at Abigail, his gaze sweeping over her face, as if memorizing every detail.

Then, with a forced smile, Sean turned and walked back to his car. He slipped into the driver's seat, started the engine, and drove away, disappearing into the crowded streets of the market, leaving Abigail and Caleb standing there, alone.

Abigail let out a soft sigh as she freed her hand from Caleb's grasp. Then, in an instant, she was met with Caleb's sharp, piercing gaze.

"I'm sorry," Abigail began, her voice measured. "I was a little taken aback and..."

But before she could finish, Caleb snapped, his tone low and even, but with a hint of irritation. "What were you doing with Sean in the middle of the market?"

Abigail's eyes widened, and she took a step back, her hands raised in a placating gesture. "I... I was just running into him, and... I'm sorry. Should we go?" she asked, her voice laced with a hint of unease, as she gestured towards their original destination.

"We'll go another time," Caleb said curtly, his back already turned to Abigail as he began to walk away.

Abigail stood there, feeling stunned and uncertain, as she watched Caleb's retreating figure. She didn't chase after him, sensing that it wasn't the right moment to explain things. She knew Caleb's temperament well enough to realize that he valued punctuality and hated broken promises. Abigail felt that if she tried to explain herself now, she would only end up angering him further.

So she stood there, frozen in indecision, as Caleb disappeared into the crowd, leaving her feeling frustrated, anxious, and unsure of what to do next.

The next day, Abigail visited her brother, Julian, in the hospital for a checkup. After spending some time with him, she headed to a meeting at DdB. As she arrived at the meeting room, she collided with Olivia, but the encounter was far from warm. Olivia didn't even acknowledge Abigail with a greeting, instead choosing to ignore her and continue on her way.

Abigail didn't take Olivia's cold behavior personally and stepped into the meeting room, where she was greeted by Caleb. They exchanged brief, professional smiles before diving into the discussion.

Their conversation centered around the concept of the show and the plans for the end-of-season finale. Both Abigail and Caleb were fully engaged, their focus solely on the task at hand.

The atmosphere was productive and efficient, with both parties acting in a thoroughly professional manner. They reviewed ideas, shared feedback, and worked collaboratively to refine their concept, their mutual goal of creating a successful show driving their discussion.