Chapter 3 Come back home

*GIANNA*

Marry him? Did I hear it wrong?

"What…what are you saying,Griffin?"

"Please, Anna. I know this is sudden for you, but I'm running out of time. I need to find someone to marry me."

I immediately brought him to my villa. Griffin didn't seem like a casual guy, so I had to know his reasons for this. I got him a cup of coffee, then sat down looking at him. "Listen, Griffin, I want to know why you're doing this."

Griffin took a sip of coffee, then took a deep breath and began telling his story.

Griffin told me that he had just returned to our small town as well. He had married the daughter of a wealthy family overseas. Unfortunately, Griffin's wife passed away about a year ago. After that, his in-laws had been fighting him for custody of the child. His in-laws insisted that their daughter's death was related to Griffin, but the truth was, his wife was willing to marry him because she wanted to escape her overly controlling parents. She had no freedom and felt like a corpse.

In their first year of marriage, his wife told him she had never been happier, but soon illness struck her.

He loved his wife dearly, and before she passed, she made him promise to be involved in the child's life. She didn't want their child to become another version of herself.

But his in-laws refused to believe Griffin's account. They even filed a restraining order against him in court, and Griffin was expelled.

The court told Griffin that he had to prove he was married, otherwise they would never allow him to take the child, because his in-laws never supported his marriage to their daughter.

I frowned. Married? I had only ever thought of marrying Maxim.

"Anna! Please. This is my only hope. I feel like if it's you, the court will believe we're actually married. We've known each other since we were little, so they probably won't have any doubts about the legitimacy of our marriage."

"Griffin, marriage is..."

Griffin cut me off. "It's just a marriage of convenience, Anna. I just need to get Emmett back, and once everything is resolved, we'll get divorced.”

I ran my hand through my hair as I sat on the couch.

“Still,I…I don't think this is right."

Griffin bent in front of the couch and held my hand.

“Please,Anna.I'm desperate.My in-laws are filing for full custody.If they succeed,Emmett might think I abandoned him.He's barely coming around to never seeing his mother again.I can't leave him with the thought of never seeing me again too.I don't even know if they would take good care of him.And that is why I need to take care of him myself.Please,Anna.Lily always talked about how toxic her family was,I'm sure she would want Emmett to be with me."Oh God.

Recalling how sweet Lily was made me tear up.

But this isn't going to hurt,right?

I just needed to pretend to be married to him for a short while.

He gets his son back and everything will be fine.

“Okay,then.Let's get married."

And that was how Griffin and I got a marriage certificate the following day.

We didn't do much.We only went to court and took some pictures to show as our wedding pictures and he was sure that would help with his case.

*****************

*MAXIMUS*

Three days passed.I stared at the jewelry boxes beside me on the back seat as we headed for my mansion.

I had just landed from my business trip and I was sure that Anna was waiting for me at home.

She must be over that canceled engagement party now.

I instructed Jacob,my secretary.

“Give Grace a call and ask her if Anna has gotten glammed up.The stylist must be done by now so I can take her to the seafood restaurant she loves a lot."

“Yes sir."

After a few minutes,he said to me."Grace isn't answering."

I rolled my eyes.

I had no idea why Grace was so mad about this canceled engagement.

She literally isn't Anna.Just my old housekeeper.

It practically can be done anytime.

Women just love throwing tantrums.

Fine.I fucked up with the engagement party and I was making an effort to apologize tonight so this should be over with already.

**********

Jacob opened the door for me when we got to my Manor.I got down from the car and walked into the house.

There was an odd vibe around the house like the last time I was home.

There was still no Anna running up to the door to hug me.

I tugged off my jacket and called.

"Grace!"

Grace hurried in.

"Welcome home,sir."

"Where's Anna?"

"Miss Weston hasn't been home since that night,sir.I've called her so many times but she didn't pick up."

I frowned.

"I'm so worried about her.She looked so hurt that night and I'm scared something bad might have happened to her."

My teeth clenched.

Anna was always so bright and sunny,I'm sure nothing would have happened to her.

I can't believe she's still mad about the engagement cancellation.

I had thought she might've come back home by now.

Why was she suddenly being so difficult?

I brought out my cellphone and shot her a text.

“I'm sorry.Come back home and I'll throw as many engagement parties as you want."

She should be glad that I'm apologizing to her.

I rarely apologize to anyone!

I was stunned to see that my message didn't deliver.

Did she…

She blocked me?!

What has come over her?

She has always been docile and rarely gets angry with me, but this time she rejected my text messages?

My brows furrowed again, and I felt angry inwardly.

What was she playing at?

I found this very funny for a woman who literally worshiped the ground I walked on.

I need to know what's going on in that head of hers.

"Jacob,find her now!"I ordered.

*******

Almost thirty minutes later,Jacob Brought back news of Anna.

"Miss Weston traveled back to her hometown,sir.She's at her family house now."

My teeth clenched.

This woman could barely stay days without me and now she travelled back to her hometown cutting off communication with me?!

What a joke!

I grabbed the iPad from him,wanting to confirm how she looked.

To my surprise,she seemed to be taking a walk and she looked so relaxed.

Relaxed without me?!

How could she?!

“Jacob, go bring her home!"I ordered.