Chapter 2. Shattered

Peter sat in his study with a glass of brandy with cubes of ice. He stared at the photograph on his desk. " My beautiful Annie, why did you leave me?" a tear slipped his eye. He wiped it away with his silk handkerchief. The emptiness he felt made him cold and angry. How could he feel happy when he lost the love of his life. He had a girl instead of a boy. He felt his world was crumbling before his eyes. He longed to feel her touch and hear her voice. His heart ached for her. 

He was already ridiculed by his two brothers for having married poor little Annie. His eldest brother, Andrew, married, Lady Francesca,a beautiful and rich woman.Her father is the chief of security for the president and her mother, a business tycoon in the import and export industry.With this alliance, business was good. His smaller brother Jefferson, married a famous actress, Sierra Mills. Sierra was basically born on a television set. Her parents where famous in the entertainment industry and she started her acting career from the age of one. She was elegant and brought public attention to their business. They both had a son each which were a year apart. Andrew's son Micheal was three years old and Jefferson's son Bradley was two years old. This won great favour from their father Patrick Walters. Their marriages were for money and not for love.  Their father had raised them to be business tycoons, and they would do the same to their sons. 

Peter gulped down his Brandy and threw the glass against the wall. It shattered, the noise echoed through the passage. All the servants knew  the fury of their master and dared not to go close to his study.

"Peter you unlucky b******, you married for love. Poor little Annie. The orphan girl. You loved her endlessly from the day you saw her. But fate has played a nasty trick. Your wife is dead and she left behind a worthless daughter for you" he chuckled under his breath, a cold and mocking laugh. He knew although he would be grieving his siblings would soon rub it in his face. A daughter, like she will ever be capable of running a multi millionaire business. 

He couldn't sleep, he couldn't eat, he picked up another glass and filled it with the finest Brandy. This would be his pain killer, his therapy to sooth his wounds. He sat gulping glass after glass thinking about his beloved Annie, regretting deeply, how he could have held her in his arms and said goodbye. He wished he told her how much he loved her. He wished alot of things, things that he could have done and said but he knew it is now too late. It made him bitter and cold. He closed himself off from the world emotionally. 

The maid brought Adrianna home. Hearing the glass shatter moments ago she decided to take the infant to her room. She admired the baby. Her soft features were like her mothers. A perfect little nose and plump cheeks. Rosy red lips and delicate fingers. Her hair so golden against her fair skin. Her bright blue eyes watched the maid intently as she fed her milk.  After her feed the maid burped her, wrapped her in the pink wooly blanket and rocked her gently. She softly sang a lullaby soothing Adrianna and kissed the top of her head,"You are so precious."  Martha cuddled her and held her so tight. Feeling her small body in her arms and hearing her soft breaths, warmed her heart. It was a feeling she could not explain. 

Soon Adrianna was asleep and the maid carefully layed her on her soft bed surrounded by pillows. She lay next to Adrianna,closed her eyes  praying for her master to open his heart to this precious gem. She deeply wished all the best for Adrianna and promised Annie she will always be there for her little girl.