94. The next day was finally the day they were to go for the picnic. Annabel took Olivia outside the house and Roland drove them to the amusement park. When they got there, Olivia couldn't help but run around Roland happily. “Mr. Roland, I'm happy you finally fulfilled your promise of playing with me.” She smiled and he winked at her. “I'm happy to spend some time with you too. Where's the picnic blanket?” He asked and Olivia pointed at Annabel, who stood at one end lost in thoughts. She was wondering how Roland's reaction would be when she finally told him that Olivia was his daughter. She knew he was going to be beyond shocked but what else can she do? She had to tell him. She felt someone tap her and gasped. “Are you alright?” Roland asked and she nodded. “Yes, I was just admiring the scenery. I haven't been to the amusement park before. I went as a kid but I think it was only once.” “Jeez! Why?” Roland asked and she gave him a small smile. “We couldn't afford it.” “Oops
95. Annabel returned home, looking gloomy. She made sure Olivia took her bath and sent her to take a nap, since she had been playing all day. She sat down and switched on the television, in an attempt to take her mind away from what's bothering her but that didn't work out for her. She switched it off and walked to the kitchen where she took a bottle of water from the fridge and gulped the content down. She wondered what might have happened that had to disrupt her confession. Was it that serious? She heard the doorbell, and knowing it was Sasha, she quickly rushed to open the door. Sasha came in with a bag of groceries in her hand and hugged Annabel. “You look exhausted. What's up?” She asked as she took the stuff to the kitchen with Annabel tagging behind her. “I'm sad.” Annabel answered as she helped Sasha bring down the foodstuff she bought from the grocery store. “It didn't go well with Roland?” Sasha asked. “It was actually going well. I was about to tell him when a call
96.That night, Roland couldn't sleep. Carson's threats kept echoing in his head. He didn't want things to go too far between them, and he couldn't let go of Annabel either.He wondered if he should report to the police, but he needed to know what Carson had up his sleeves first.He stood from the bed, picked up a bottle of wine and poured in a glass. He sat and took a sip as he thought of what to do.He suddenly remembered that Annabel was about to tell him something before he got that urgent call and tried calling her, but her number didn't go through. After several failed attempts, he dropped the phone and made a mental note to see her the next day.The next day, Roland walked into the company and was greeted by the employees. To their surprise, he didn't respond to their greetings and just walked into his elevator. They exchanged looks and shrugged before taking their seats.They knew him to be cold and domineering, but at least, he answers their greetings. Why was today different
97.“I think we should stop bringing in fabrics for now, Roland. Carson might still be lurking around.” Ashton told Roland after bringing Roland to his office. He didn't want to talk about it in front of Annabel, since Carson was Annabel's friend.“Carson doesn't have a problem with my company or anything pertaining to it. He might be jealous that I'm more successful than him, but I doubt that's his main focus for now.” Roland ran his hands through his hair.“Then why is he doing all these? Why is he causing trouble?” Ashton couldn't comprehend why Carson wouldn't just mind his business and focus on his company instead. If he wasn't callous, then why was he trying to run them down by burning down the fabrics they ordered?“He's doing all these because of Annabel. He wants me to leave Annabel and is using my company against me.” Roland scoffed.“That's low.” Ashton frowned.“I know, right? When I went to meet him, he told me I had two days to leave Annabel, else he would cause more tro
98.The time for Roland to have a meeting with the employees came, and he asked Ashton to pass an announcement, giving them 30 minutes to round up whatever they were doing and report to the meeting room immediately.After the announcement, Annabel turned to him. “Is there any emergency? Why is there a meeting suddenly?” She was worried about him.“No, it's nothing serious. I just want to pass a few announcements to them.” He smiled at her.Annabel heaved a sigh of relief. She wished there was something she could do to lighten up his mood before the meeting. He looked gloomy, and she wouldn't want the employees to see him that way.Something clicked in her head. She smiled and hurriedly finished what she was typing. She took a clean sheet and with all seriousness started writing some things down. Roland wondered what she was doing that made her look so serious. He thought she looked funny in that position, and he smiled.When Annabel was done, it was already 5 minutes to the meeting ti
99.“Why did you make me leader of the committee?” Annabel asked Roland immediately she returned to the office.Roland looked up at her from his computer and rested his jaw on his palm. “Why? Aren't you happy with it?” He asked.Annabel sighed, running her hands through her hair. “It's going to make me feel pressured and all eyes are going to be on me.” She answered.“Isn't that a good thing? Everyone would expect the best from you because they look up to you, and they know you wouldn't fail them. At the end of the day, you'll succeed, and they'll realize they were right to have trusted you all along.” He smiled at her.Annabel sighed. “It seems you still don't understand what I'm talking about. Look, I don't like getting people's attention at all. You're right when you say people will look up to me, but I don't want that. I don't want people to look up to me, and then I end up disappointing them.” Roland smiled at her. “What if I say I believe in you and I know you can do it?” Anna
100.Two days later…Roland sat in his father's office, going through the files the man had called him to come take a look at. He couldn't understand why his father didn't just handle it by himself and had to call him to look at it.It was a business proposal sent to the main company by Mr. Sinclair, Carson's father. He was working on a project and wanted to collaborate with the D. Ville's.Roland wasn't quite pleased, but he kept it hidden and looked up at his father, who was waiting for what he had to say about the proposal.“I've checked the files, dad, and I still don't know why you have called me to check them.” He ran his hands through his hair.“I called you to check them because I'm not going to be the president of this company forever. You're going to take over soon, and I need your opinion on that because it will be a long-term project.” Mr. D. Ville stood from where he sat and went to the wine stand in his office. He took a wine glass and pured himself a glass before return
101.BACK AT THE COMPANYAnnabel was busy with the committee. They had supervised some employees and saw that they were doing an impressive job.Lucinda wasn't happy that Annabel got to give orders and tell them what to do, but she couldn't do anything to stop it, and she decided to give herself a rest. And by doing that, she realized that Annabel was really a nice person and she started to enjoy working with her... at least for now.They had finished the day's work and went to the cafeteria to have a drink. “Anna, you have to look away from those papers for a while. You aren't a robot, you know?” Brian collected the papers from her and gave her a drink.“Just let me finish checking the last person's—”“Hey!” Lucinda snapped at her, and she turned to look at the girl. “I'll pour you a glass, so bury the thought of checking those papers today.” She took a bottle, much to the surprise of everyone, and poured Annabel a glass.“Huh?” Annabel was stunned.When Lucinda was done and looked
158. AT SCHOOL… Olivia was on a seat, trying to get a class work they had given to them done. Sebastian hadn't been to school for a while, and she was darn worried about him. She didn't know his place and had even asked Mrs. Genevieve about him several times, but she would tell him Sebastian would come soon. “Are you still pouting because of that boy?” Winter scoffed. “His name is not “that boy” Winter. His name is Sebastian and yes, I'm pouting because of him because I'm angry that he hasn't resumed school for days now.“ She folded her hands with a huff. “You care about me that much?” She gasped when she heard the voice she had been wanting to hear for a few days now. She turned and was shocked to see him. “Sebastian,” She called, and he smiled at her. “Where have you been?” She rushed to meet him. “Come with me,” He held her hand and led her outside to the car. When they got there, he smiled at her and Olivia wondered why he had brought there. “Olivia,” He called, and she loo
157.6 MONTHS LATER…“Congratulations, Mrs. D. Ville, you're four months pregnant!” Doctor Preston told Annabel, and she shrieked in surprise.. “Are you for real?” She asked because it looked like a dream to her. She was pregnant for her darling husband; pregnant with his second child.Doctor Preston nodded and she beamed. He handed over the test results to her, and she took them with excitement laced in every of her movements. She stood up and picked up her bag.“Thank you so much, doctor Preston,” She walked out of the office. “Roland is gonna scream!” She twirled happily as she headed for her car.When she got there, she was surprised to see Jacinthe leaning on her car. It's been months, but she still recognized the lady.Jacinthe smiled and waited for Annabel to get to where she was.“Hi,” She waved at Annabel with a friendly smile on her face.“Hey,” Annabel smiled back. “Jacinthe.” She called.“Wow, I'm glad you still remember me.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ears.“
156.Annabel's eyes widened as Nadia fell to the floor in pain.Roland sighed, happy that the policemen were not dull doing their jobs. They rushed to where Nadia dropped the gun and picked it.Nadia looked at her bleeding leg, where she got shot, and screamed in tears. “All I wanted was for someone to love me! Is that too much to ask for? It isn't fair that people don't get what they want!”Annabel sighed in relief. For a moment there, she thought she was going to die on her wedding day. Roland held her hand as they walked to where Nadia sat on the floor in pain.She looked at Roland and covered her face in shame. “I'm sorry, I apologize for trying to hurt you.”Roland just looked at her. “I'll see you in court.” He said, and left with Annabel.She glanced her parents' way, and they just stared at her with tears in their eyes. There was nothing they could do anymore. She has to face the law. She was taken away by the police, and Roland turned to the people.“Let's not allow what happ
155.THE WEDDING DAY…“Gosh, Annabel, I can't believe this is actually happening!” Sasha screamed in delight as she watched Annabel get into her wedding gown. The feeling was out of this world. She was so excited and she wasn't even the bride.Annabel couldn't believe it was happening either. Her dream was finally coming true. She was getting married to the man of her dreams; the father of her child and the person who proved to be more than a friend and boss to her. She loved him so much and just the thought that she was going to spend the rest of her life with him sent tingles down her belly.Tears rolled down her cheeks as she turned to look at Sasha, who was bubbling with excitement. Sasha rushed to her and hugged her tight.“Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!” Sasha exclaimed.Annabel chuckled. “You seem more excited than I am.” “You do not know the half of it. After everything you passed through, you deserve a happy ending my love. You deserve the joy that comes with this day and I'm really
154.Annabel tears rolled down in relief the minute Roland stormed through that door. She removed her veil and was about to run to him but Carson held her hand.“You are going nowhere, Annabel!” He snapped.“Let go of her right now, Carson. You do not want to see the other side of me.” Roland was vexed at how he held Annabel.Carson smiled. “I can't let go of her, Roland,” He pulled Annabel to himself and took a gun, startling everyone in the church.Roland was about to rush to them.“Don't you dare take another step else I'll shoot!” Annabel screamed.“Carson, don't try anything stupid, you'll regret it.” Roland lowered his voice, scared that Carson might shoot Annabel.Carson wasn't ready to let her go. This was his opportunity to finally get what he wanted right now that Roland was here.“I hate you, do you know that? Why do you keep ruining my plans and acting like a hero all the time?” He snarled. “I've tried my best to be ahead of you in all ramifications. I tried to surpass you
153.“What the heck did you just spit out of that ass you call a mouth?” Roland balled his fists. Carson had definitely grown wings to have the courage to talk to him like that. How dare the scumbag say he wanted to get married to Annabel? His Annabel? For what?Carson was happy that he had been able to get a reaction out of Roland. He knew the dude didn't like joking with anything that involves Annabel. “You heard me well. I would have invited you to our wedding but I'm worried that you'd turn everything upside down, so you're not going to be invited. But, I'll be lenient and give you a video of the whole wedding procession.” He laughed.Roland tightened his fists. “Shut up.” “Why should I?” Carson chuckled. “I'm just sharing my happiness with you and you're silencing me. I'm just happy that I'd be getting married to the woman of my dreams tomorrow—”“Shut up, Carson!” Roland snapped. He couldn't take it anymore. He wished he was with Carson now to reset his brain with a punch or sla
152.“I can't marry you now, let me out of here!” Annabel snapped at him but he chuckled and sped up.She couldn't believe Carson was behaving this way. Olivia was scared and held Annabel.“Mummy!” She called, her voice shaking.Annabel held her close to herself and quickly took her phone. She sent a text message to the number Sasha used to text her but it didn't deliver. With a frustrated sigh, she texted Roland, asking him for help. “If you think texting them the location of where I'm taking you will make them find you then you're mistaken. I suspected something like this might happen, so I already had my plans implemented and waiting for execution. Where I told you isn't actually where I'm taking you now, Annabel. Where I'm taking you is where our wedding will take place.”“Over my dead body will I agree to marry a monster like you. I saw you as a helper but you betrayed me. You have no conscience!”Carson laughed. “Hear who's talking about conscience? Where was your conscience whe
151.Roland sprung up from his seat and rushed to meet Sasha.“You said what?” He asked to be sure he heard her well the first time.Sasha tried to catch her breath. When her breathing was stable enough, she looked up at Roland. “Annabel is leaving the city with Carson and I have no idea when she'd be coming back.”Roland blinked. “What! Why?” He asked.“She said she wanted to go somewhere far away, rest for awhile and heal. She wants to forget about you and everything you two had.”“No!” Roland shook his head. “I can't let that happen, Sasha. Where is she now?” He asked, picking up his car keys immediately.“She should be at Carson's now. You have to stop her from leaving, Roland. I don't trust Carson one bit.” Sasha was scared for Annabel's safety.“Neither do I,” Roland said and rushed out.Sasha sat in the office with her palms on her forehead. She was already getting a headache from all these issues on ground.“Where is Roland?” Ashton asked the moment he walked in.Sasha sighed.
150.TWO DAYS LATER…“Nadia, how could you do something like that?” Mrs. Durand asked after the news about what Nadia did, got to her ears.It's been two days, Annabel didn't want to see Roland or anyone. Roland had been devastated over everything that happened and had refused to eat or drink. He was getting worse daily and no matter how much evidence they gathered, they'd always lose it.Nadia on the other hand was bent on making things worse for them. Roland's parents tried to talk to her but she refused to hear them out. She was indeed showing them the other side of her and it made them relieved that they didn't give her to their son in the First place.Nadia blew a bubble from the gum she was chewing and glanced at her mother. “I've done a lot of things, mum. Which one are you talking about?” She asked.Mrs. Durand couldn't believe how her daughter changed suddenly. Nadia wasn't always like this.“You framed Roland and you know exactly what I'm talking about. Meet Annabel and expla