Chapter 51: Chapter 51

Annabelle's POV

Mr. Campbell took me to his office to discuss my decision. I repeated my decision to him since I knew it was my final one. I wanted to do it for my newfound family. I wasn't an orphan anymore. I had siblings of my own.

"You are not forced to make this decision Annabelle. You do not have to transfer the property to her name," He informed me. I knew that he was just looking out for me. He had no idea that I was doing it from my heart and not out of any compulsion.

"I know Mr. Campbell but I'm doing it of my own will. No one's forcing me to do it. They are my family and I want to take care of them. That mansion has too many memories. I won't live there ever. I will buy a smaller house for myself later. So please complete the formalities. Can I sign the transfer papers tomorrow and leave by evening?" I said eagerly. I had too many worries in my head right now and then the faster I dealt with this the better. The most important issue right now for me is to find a place of my own where I could live.

"Alright Annabelle, as you please," Mr. Campbell said, nodding. "I'll have all the transfer papers ready by tomorrow, " he added making me feel a little relieved. I would book my flight and leave for New Jersey tomorrow evening.

"Also I want a financial advisor to help me manage my inheritance," I pointed out.

"I can give you the number of a trustworthy finance company who manages my finances too," Mr. Campbell said as he gave me a visiting card.

"Thanks. Now I'll go back to the hotel. Will tomorrow morning, 9 o'clock be fine for the signing?" I asked, getting up.

"Yes, good enough. I'll leave by 10, so don't be late, " he told me. I nodded, ready to leave. "Wait, Richard will drop you," He said, looking concerned.

"It's okay. It's within walking distance. I'll manage. See you, Mr. Campbell," I said and left his office.

I walked down to my hotel deep in thought about what to do. Do I answer gran's call or should I just continue to live my life anonymously? After everything she did for me, after all the love that she showered upon me, it was a difficult decision to take.

Sighing, I decided to give myself a little time to settle down. I would definitely call her but not right now. So I just decided to go to New Jersey and look for a dance studio to rent. Then I could shift there. I could then rent a place for myself to live. My head down, deep in thought, I went into the hotel and to the reception desk for the keys.

"Ma'am, someone's been waiting for you for the past four hours," the receptionist informed me, making me just gape at her with surprise. Who would wait for me that long? I didn't know anyone here. Who could be waiting for me for four hours here? Then it dawned on me. It would surely be Margaret. She was the only one I knew here but what did she want?

"Who?" I asked confusedly.

She indicated toward the lounge area where visitors waited. The moment I looked I froze and my eyes widened at the sight of a tired and haggard-looking Stefan sitting on the sofa, looking at me angrily. His eyes were red, his hair disheveled, his clothes looked soiled as if he hadn't changed in a while, and his stubble looked like a jungle. I felt guilty just by looking at him. Was I the reason for the state he was in?

"Um, w -what are y-you doing here?" I stammered taking the keys from the receptionist and rushing towards the elevators. From the crazy look in his eyes, I knew there would be a scene and I could feel interesting looks being thrown our way. That's the last thing I needed, a drama in front of the public!

He might have sensed my feelings since he got up and quietly followed me to the elevator. We silently went up to my room. He refused to meet my eyes as he quietly stood in a corner. He looked so tired that my heart went out to him despite everything. I was touched that he had come all this way for me. I felt guilty that I left him without informing him. I couldn't fathom his mood. Was he angry with me or was he upset? Maybe he was both. He avoided any sort of interaction with me, ignoring me all the way to my room. We reached the floor where I was staying. Walking out of the elevator, I unlocked the door to my room.

I couldn't recognize Stefan at all. It was just two days before that I had seen him. He now looked as if he had gone through hell with unshaven stubble, dark circles under his eyes, hair uncombed, clothes a little crumpled. He didn't look like my Stefan at all. I felt like pulling him into my arms after seeing him. He was exceptionally quiet and avoided looking at me even.

As we entered, he closed the door and turned towards me, his face had a tortured expression on it, and his eyes held a mixture of pain and longing.

"Why did you disappear Annabelle? You didn't think once how I would live without you? You didn't once think about me? I have loved you unconditionally for the last four years. You promised you would be mine. What happened this time, huh? Got bored with me? You could have told me that at least before leaving so abruptly, " he said, coming closer and gripping me by the shoulders while looking at me with anger and hurt reflected in his eyes. I noticed that he called me by my full name for the first time. It didn't sound like an endearment at all and I longed to hear him call me Rosie again. I knew that he might be really upset with me for calling me by my full name.

When I finally realized what he had just said I gasped with shock. Did he love me? These were the very words that I had been dying to hear for the last four years. I had died a million deaths thinking that he didn't feel a thing for me.

"Do you really love me?" I asked, confused whether I heard him correctly or not.

"Yes, I do. I have been in love with you since I met you four years ago. I couldn't do anything then. You were just seventeen and I was unavailable. Otherwise, believe me, I wouldn't have waited for so long to make you mine," he said as he pulled me into his arms, his arms wrapped around me and I was crushed to his hard chest.

I closed my eyes as his words filled my senses and I felt bliss. I placed my hands around his neck and hugged him to myself, tenderly caressing his soft hair with my fingers. He closed his eyes at my tender touch.

"Oh Stefan, I love you too. I have loved you since I met you for the first time four years ago. I was deeply hurt by your words, so I avoided you till gran got sick and I had to call you," I confessed with my eyes closed as I lay my head on his chest, hearing his heart beating rapidly, only for me.

"I know darling," he said, his fingers holding my chin and forcing me to meet his hot gaze. I knew that I was lost, I knew at that moment what I wanted, whom I belonged to for life. Stefan! There was no escape from this truth. I could never be happy anywhere else without him. We loved each other and we were destined to be together, forever. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

Stefan's POV

I was exhausted by the time I reached the hotel in Chicago where Rosy was staying. For the last two days, my whole family and I have been searching for her day and night. I didn't have a wink of sleep for the last two days. My whole life had turned into a nightmare. A nightmare that I had been dreading for so long had actually come true.

I searched for her everywhere, in New Jersey, at her dance school, at every possible place that we could think of. It was then that gran thought of calling Henry Campbell, her lawyer.

I was more upset and disappointed in myself than I was with her. I might have failed her with my prejudices. I should have come out clean in front of her. I should have had the courage to tell her about my true feelings for her. Maybe then she would have talked to me instead of running away from home. I loved her, cared for her, cherished her so much yet I couldn't make her trust me enough. I was angry when I couldn't find her. Did I lose her again for the second time? I couldn't face the answer to that question. After being so close to her and getting used to her, I couldn't live if I lost her again.

I couldn't face her since I would explode with the intensity of my feelings which might frighten her and make her escape again. So I quietly waited for her to return. I silently went up to her room with her, my heart thundering in my chest, wanting to just pull her right into my arms and never let her leave. I knew she was surprised to see me. But she should have known before running away that I wasn't giving up this time. I would pursue her to hell and back and I did. Seeing her a strange determination filled my whole heart and mind. It's better late than never. Now that I have finally found her, I would tell her the way I feel about her. I would tell her everything about my past. I would confess and make her mine forever, just like we were destined to be.