Chapter 54: Chapter 54

Annabelle's POV

After lunch, we cuddled together on the queen-sized bed. There was so much more to catch up on that we just didn't want to do anything else. He was like an addiction and I could stay in his arms forever.

"I'm so full. The last two days, I hardly had the appetite to eat anything," I admitted. He nodded too.

"I know what you mean. If Tristan wasn't there, I too wouldn't have eaten anything," he admitted.

"I'm so sorry Stefan," I repeated knowing that this was all my doing. Stefan kissed my forehead

"It's okay, babe. It's now in the past. Let's now look ahead and think of our future together. I want to clear all your doubts about me. I want you to know everything about me so that we never have such misunderstandings again. Tell me, what do you want to know about me?" He asked with a solemn expression on his face.

"I want to know everything about your past, your relationship with Claudia. How did you marry her? Tell me everything," I said, holding onto his cheek and staring deeply into his eyes.

"Hmm, you know this isn't easy for me, love. I've always shut that side of my life for the last few years. I've never opened up to anyone. But with you, I'll try. I don't want this topic to affect our relationship in any way," He said, closing his eyes.

"Believe me, Stefan, it won't ever affect my relationship with you. I'll always love you despite everything. It's just that I'm curious but if it hurts you that much, I really don't want to know," I told him truthfully. He leaned into my touch with his eyes closed as if rethinking my words deeply.

"No, Rosy, I know that you'll always love me even if I don't tell you anything but I want to. I want to share with you what I went through. I want you to know everything that I felt. You are a part of me now. You're my soulmate, my better half," he said with a dazzling smile and it took my breath away. His words touched my heart, melting me to the core. I nodded, waiting for him to continue.

After a few minutes, he took a deep breath and continued. "On my 23rd birthday, my brothers and I went to a bar with our close friends to celebrate. We were all excessively drunk. I met Claudia that day at the bar. She constantly threw herself at me throughout the evening. I blocked her advances when I was in my senses. I don't know what happened that night, but I woke up without clothes with her on my bed in a strange room above the bar. I didn't know her name or what happened. I just left her there and after wearing my clothes, I went home," he said as he got up to get a drink from the refrigerator. He got two bottles of beer and sat down with me, handing one to me.

"I didn't give the incident much thought and completely forgot about it. I had freshly graduated from Harvard, ready to take over from dad. One month passed by after my birthday and I nicely settled into the business, getting trained by dad to handle everything on my own. He accompanied me daily to train me well. So one such day, when dad and I were at the office, Claudia suddenly appeared out of the blue claiming that she was pregnant with my child. She produced a non-invasive prenatal paternity test report proving that I was indeed the father. She threatened us that since she was unwell, she would abort the baby. If I wanted the baby, I had to marry her, and take care of her. She promised us that she would disappear from our lives after giving birth provided we paid her 1 million dollars. And if we didn't take her seriously, she threatened to malign our family's name as well," I gasped at the information. Stefan smiled sadly. I was too shocked to react.

"My dad was so worried about the goodwill of the family that he did not even consider investigating her background and the genuineness of the paternity test report. He agreed to her terms and conditions before I could say a word. Our lawyer prepared the prenuptial agreement and also an agreement which clearly stated that she would never ask for the child's custody, and after the divorce, after receiving the money she would never interfere in our family matters," said Stefan with a sigh.

"We had a court marriage a month later and Claudia stayed with my parents at their house. I never visited her. I hated the sight of her and the feeling was mutual since she was only after the money. I met you when she was in her last month of pregnancy. I was bitter and you were like a breath of fresh air in my bitter life. The times we spent together were the best moments of my life. I knew that I was falling for you. I was so lost under your spell that I forgot about everything Claudia, the baby, my responsibilities, everything. It was when dad called me that I was brought out of my dream world. Claudia gave birth and left with the money. Later Tristan found out that she had married an old diamond merchant and lived in South America. When Arielle was 2 years of age we had a paternity test was done which showed that I was not her father. I never told her. For me, she is my child. I don't have any repentance. I'm thankful to God that I have her."

"I'm so sorry Stefan, I didn't know that you went through so much," I said, hugging him.

"Then who's Arielle's real father?" I asked curiously.

"After her husband's death, Claudia was penniless. His children from a previous marriage threw Claudia out. So she plotted. She thought if she could get hold of Arielle and take her to her real father, she could earn some money. Arielle's real father is a married family man. He didn't want his family to break up, so he didn't accept Arielle. For him, Claudia was just a one-night stand. He refused Claudia. I too refused her. Arielle also didn't want to go. She didn't even acknowledge Claudia as her mother. She's crying terribly for you Rosy. She really considers you to be her mother," said Stefan I gasped at the news. I had completely forgotten about her. I should have thought about her first before taking the extreme step. I felt guilty.

"I know, I'm sorry I have been selfish. I shouldn't have left her," I said feeling bad that I didn't think about that sweet child whom I had promised that I would be her mother.

"Even gran was terribly upset. Tristan and I went to New Jersey to search for you. Julian went to your dance institute to gather any information that you might have left. Adrian was with gran when she asked him to call Mr. Campbell. He informed us of your whereabouts. Adrian passed me the information and I flew down here," He told me. I was overwhelmed by how much they loved me but mostly I felt guilty that I put them in so much trouble.

"Oh, you all took so much trouble for me?" I couldn't help the tears from falling fast from my eyes. I remembered the messages and missed calls on my phone that I hadn't answered.

"You're worth it Rosy." He said, kissing my forehead. "Okay, enough talking now. Let's have some fun," he said, tackling me below him on the bed and kissing my neck with passion. I knew I would get hickeys tomorrow.

"Stop, you caveman! At this rate, you'll give me a million love bites and I won't be able to face anyone tomorrow, " I giggled, trying to ward him off.

"Caveman, huh? Wait, I'll show you what a caveman really can do," he threatened, his mouth trailing downwards. A hot flash of molten heat escaped me making me dripping wet already for him. It was as if my body knew what was to come, preparing itself already.

"Oh, Stefan, I want you so much," I whispered huskies like a needy woman. I myself couldn't recognize my own l*st-filled voice.

After two rounds of intense and passionate lovemaking, we dozed off exhausted in each other's arms.

When we woke up after sunset, we were both feeling fresh and rejuvenated. Stefan had a serene, contented look on his face. He wrapped his arms around my waist holding me tight and I felt bliss. Happy that we made up, happy that we loved each other.

We had a light dinner and I packed up, ready to leave after meeting Mr. Campbell for the signing of the property papers. Stefan had already booked us the 12-noon flight.