A/N: I just want to tell everyone that I am an avid reader of Mills and Boons....the writing style is different from the contemporary one, the paragraphs are going to be long....its a style. Characters are introduced in a  random priority order. Plz, don't comment saying the chapters are long and characters don't seem relevant.  I AM the writer and I know how I WANT to write my story.  Thanks, enjoy!

Enjoy! Above is Abigail's pendant!

-Aish

||Chapter III: Dear Mother-in-law||

|Sawyer Mansion|

"Our Raymond doesn't really like sweets."

Too bad, I like sweets a lot.

Abigail stared at Lady Sawyer blatantly and flabbergasted.

"Oh," was her genius response.

"Raymond is diabetic. Type 1 to be more precise." His mother added after a while. She didn't know her future husband was diabetic. Of f.ucking course, I don't, I don't even know his middle name. Lady Sawyer and Abigail sat in the living room talking about Raymond's likes, dislikes which she 'ought to know after all she was his bride to be.

"Oh," was again her genius response. She couldn't think clearly, instead of having a one to one interaction with Raymond creating the basics of emotional intimacy- which she'd prefer any day, even after his inappropriate behavior previously- she was having the interaction with the mother. Just like a to-do-list with the slightest change for her, it was to-learn-list.

"You'll need to know Raymond well, in order to support him like his shadow. This is the list of his friends, make sure you memorize it." It was three pages long!! The dread sets in.

"You, not only have to know about his eating habits, but also the cologne he wears, products he uses and everything down to the smallest detail is listed in this. It will be helpful. " Lady Sawyer said, handing her more papers, still with a distinct air. Her voice stern, her sitting posture straight and the way she spoke!

Ugh! No wonder Raymond grew to be aloof, cold hearted, rude....and the unfathomable list went on.

"Okay." Abigail faked a sweet smile.

"This is the schedule of all the family gatherings and events." Abigail was handed a thick file. An f.ucking file! "Let me make it short, Raymond is made to do great things and his woman must do well in order for the things to go smoothly in and out of the house. You can't act out-" Abigail had a déjà vu. "Watch what you say and how you act wherever you go because you never know who is watching. You'll be his reflection. That embarrassing ringtone has to change you are not a kid. At least not anymore. Do you understand me?" The feeling was intensified.

Kid! They were the one who forced me to mature before time, and had the guts to call me a kid!

"Yes, I understand. I'll try my best so as not to disappoint you." She smiled even though her heart shattered. She suddenly felt the harshness bashing of reality.

"Mother, I was asked for?" Came the fake sweet voice of Simon.

"Ah, yes, Simon. I was wondering if you could show Abigail around till lunch is served." Lady Sawyer asked Simon. Just like her first son Lady Sawyer made her supposed question sound like an order. And Abigail blamed the stubborn genetics.

"Have lunch with us, Raymond said he'll be home soon, he wanted to talk to you." She finally turned to order Abigail. I wondered why.

"Okay."

_~*~_

The house was silent, but you could hear the silence screaming, brimmed with suffocation. From the main gate a road wound around a patch of garden to the mansion, surrounded by trees on both the sides adding to the overall beauty of the Sawyer mansion. When Abigail arrived, she would've stood gaping at the majestic mansion in awe for hours, if it weren't for the butler. (Whose name she couldn't remember.) It was a spacious mansion spreading across an acre. The back side is fenced by forests and other three sides surrounded by beautiful gardens. It was architecture at its best. In the drive stood a very magnificent fountain with an angel statue in the middle. In simple words, Abigail couldn't stop drooling at the house which was soon going to be hers too. But before she could drool more she was pulled out of her thoughts.

"Ignore mother, sometimes she's....she is strained, like strict and very demanding when it comes to big bro." Abigail sensed some jealousy behind Simon's words. She uncomfortably tucked her hair and confusingly asked.

"What?"

"She is pretty paranoid; you'll take away her baby from her." He scoffed. "Before I forget, Vivian will soon join us regarding your well-deserved house tour. She must be getting ready in her room." Abigail frowned.

"Can I ask you something?" Abigail whispered anyways Simon heard it.

"Sure can."

"No offence, but do you all live together here? I mean Raymond doesn't own his own place?" Abigail had a tough time being in front of Lady Sawyer it will be simply unnerving to spend the rest of her life with her under the same roof. She and her brother had moved in with their parents as the other properties had to be sold, it was slightly difficult but not impossible. But the thought of living with so many people six to be exact- after marriage daunted her.

Simon laughed. "Of course not, silly! Vivian lives with her husband, but came today because it was rumoured you'll be coming today and she wanted some sister-in-law bonding time. I live here, obviously. But Ray, sure he has a room here, but he practically lives in his office." Abigail's eyes widen at the last piece of information. And she was practically drooling over the piece of information as a hungry fox.

"What do you mean, he rarely comes home?" she barely contained her glee. She didn't know whether to cry in happiness or dance. But chose to be happy and not to show. All this only meant she could still be hinged to her sanity if they kept their distance.

"Yes, sometimes he comes back in weeks, and today just happens to be one fortunate day when his handsomeness graces us with his presence." Simon mocked Raymond. "Mother was worried when he started disappearing for weeks in the beginning. So, according to father, here's where you come in."

"Me?" Flabbergasted Abigail asked.

"You know making him come back every night. Ugh, just put the dots together." NO! I would do no such thing that'll 'make him come back every night' Not a chance! Nah! Nuh!

Simon's eyes held guilt as he spoke of his father's intention of marrying his son. This was so messed up; no one genuinely wanted this marriage, but had their twisted desire that to be fulfilled. He wanted this marriage so his mother could once look at him and treat him like a small son should be treated, praised and spoilt. Instead of being left to grow like a cactus with the scanty amount of attention

"No!" Abigail replied and Simon laughed.

"Believe it or not, but I think this is how things will turn out to be."

"Oh, suddup! So you said rumoured? What does it mean?" she swiftly changed the subject before she could be rudely reminded of their first kiss or rather her stolen kiss. Her face turned bright red and she secretly prayed Simon didn't see it.

"Mum said she'll be inviting you over, but Ray kind of said no so we weren't sure, hence 'Rumoured' but it looked like he was angry at you."

"Oh... okay, so where are we going?"

"What did you do?" they both asked at the same time, and again Abigail didn't want to talk about this with her future brother-in-law. Not now, not ever. She deliberately asked again.

"Are we going in the garden?"

"Yass, but more like towards the forest."

"Why?"

"Just for fun, plus it is Vivian's job to show you around all the boring places and since I'm too cool to do that I'll show you an awesome place."

"In the forest?"

"Did I stutter? Now walk fast, lunch will be served soon." It was silent again as they made their way towards the 'cool-place'.

"Hey, you!" a voice stopped them and they turned around. A girl was walking towards them, with disgust written clear in her eyes, solely directed towards Abigail. Her glossy, dirty blond hair bounced over her chest as she confidently strolled towards Abigail. Her snake like eyes zeroed on Abigail as if ready to pounce. Her heels making her tower over Abigail.

"You must really be really desperate to make things work. Are you going to use your body, since you can't use your brains?"

Who's this woman? Is she another relative? What do I do now? I don't remember.... Damn you Raymond! Just how many relatives are there? I swear if she turns out to be another member I'll kill myself, become a ghost and haunt you for the rest of your life!

An uncomfortable smile plastered Abigail's lips as she tried to speak something. Literally anything at this moment! Abigail thought as she registered the implication of the stranger's words.

"Yeah, throw yourself at him and see what happens. I didn't think you'd back off so easily, it wouldn't have been fun. Don't you think?" A sly smile spread on the woman's face as Abigail's faded. She blinked repeatedly as she gathered and recognized her female rival.

"Mai? When did you get here?" Simon broke the obvious tension.

"Simon!" Mai- the sly woman just squealed capturing Simon in a sisterly hug. "I just came in the morning from Italy. And I had to meet my favourite person, so I came here as soon as my plane landed!"

"Aww, you shouldn't have. I'm sure you must be tired."

"Are you not happy?" she pouted.

"Of course, I am! The more the merrier in this madhouse."

"You so mean!" Mai slapped Simon's arm playfully.

"Ow! That hurts! But I hope you know how much I love you! I'm so grateful you are back, one more person to keep me sane in this madhouse. But first, meet the person of the hour. Abigail Dunhill, she's..."

"I know. I know who she really is." Mai's words sounded innocent to Simon, he was oblivious to her previous words too so he kindly smiled. But it didn't go unnoticed by Abigail. Her insults were sharp like a knife. It hurt Abigail.

"Hey, did Ray give you the necklace already?" Simon said suddenly touching the beautiful pendant delicately, that rested elegantly on Abigail's chest. "Don't you think it's very romantic! Huh, Mai?" Abigail uncomfortably looked down, striving too hard not to reminisce the night.

"It was last worn by Ray's great grandmother. It was a gift from an Indian ruler to Late Lord Bishop Sawyer, for defeating the French. It ought to be beautiful. But you can't say much about its current owner, now can you?" there, another insult thrown at Abigail, restlessly. Abigail's eyes slightly stung.

"I didn't know Great grandma gave this to Ray, I thought she took it to her grave, considering how much she adored it."

"Yeah, but if it was me, I would have thrown it away a long time ago. I'm not sure, but Abigail, your perseverance is unbelievable. I suppose... there is not much you can do; you just have to take it all in time, after time, after time."

"What do you mean?" Simon asked finally catching on the tension.

"Nothing. Let's go in, lunch is being served." Simon frowned, but started walking home. He certainly didn't want to be a part of a cat-fight, definitely didn't want to become a victim of Mai's or Abigail's talons.

After a few steps, Abigail couldn't have it anymore. She ended up grabbing Mai's elbow and pulled her aside. This fueled Mai's irritation.

"How dare the like of your kind touch me!" she shouted, pulling away from Abigail's grip. Now Mai's words had thousands of implications, just enough to humiliate Abigail again. Abigail raised a brow at the attitude. She was not used to being hurled insults, right, left and centre by anybody, let alone a stranger in the first meeting.

"Why do you think it was me and not you, Mai? Family background, education and skills... you are not worse off than me. So tell me why wasn't it you?" Abigail asked with the same attitude.

"Unfortunately, I'm the Attorney General's daughter, and you are a business man's daughter... I'll let you do the math. Not to forget why your parents want this marriage."

"So are you trying to say that you have no chance with Sawyers, and then why can't you completely give up the hope?"

"Raymond and I grew up together, we shared a lot of firsts, first touch, first kiss, hell I was his first and he was mine. He is such a special person in my life that I learned to say his name before I learned the word mum. I turned down all the job opportunities after college and started working for Merck Group. Why there of all the places you'd asked me. Because I belong where my Ray is. So don't talk about chances, you never know when I strike, and it'll only take seconds for me to win it all. "

"You can't stop the wedding. Never."

"We'll see... But you see, there is one thing common between beggars and your family; no self-respect at all." with that Mai parted her ways with the doomed bride. Leaving a fuming and humiliated Abigail to the core.

But what could she do? After all, she had a bankrupted company to save.

|~*~*~*~*~*~*~|