Chapter 57: Chapter 57

Annabelle's POV

We finally reached home. Before we rang the doorbell, the main door flew open and the whole family was there to greet us. It was really embarrassing since I didn't answer their calls or messages. Their eager, worried expressions made me feel a tug at my heartstrings. None of them looked angry at all. Soon my embarrassment turned into gratefulness.

Tristan came forward with a grin on his face and Stefan glared daggers at him. He however ignored his brother completely.

"Finally, he's able to woo you, huh?" he asked with a grin. "Bro, you took ages," he added, making Stefan smack his arm. He wiggled his eyebrows, "So, how was the makeup se*?" He whispered to me. Stefan glared at him while I blushed.

"Shut up," I said pointedly.

"Let them come inside, Tris," scolded mom. He moved away and we could enter our home. Gran looked at me, her eyes swollen as if she had cried a lot. My heart broke seeing her red, tear-stained face. I knew I was the cause of it. I walked straight towards her. She looked the other way as if angry with me. I knelt down in front of her and caught her hands in mine. Thankfully she didn't remove them from my hold.

"I'm sorry, gran. I was upset and undecided," I whispered, my voice trembling with suppressed emotions.

"You know that you could have always come to me. You don't suddenly disappear from home. We were worried sick. Don't ever do that again. What if I had a heart attack from the news? I'm not so strong anymore," She scolded me. I didn't mind her scolding. She had every right to feel the way she was feeling.

"I'm sorry, gran. It won't happen again," I told her sincerely.

"We've been through so much together, Anna. You know that I'd never let you down. For that matter, even your mom and dad would have stood by you," said gran. I nodded.

"Yes, I realize it now. I promise that I'll never hurt you again, gran. Please forgive me," I said, my voice breaking. Gran pulled me up and hugged me to her bosom.

"I'm glad that you're back, dear. I'm glad that you're safely back to your gran. Of course, I have forgiven you," she said, stroking my hair lovingly. I wiped my tears away.

Mom came towards me.

"It's okay, Anna, we understand. You might have felt threatened by Claudia. We're glad that Stefan brought you back," said mom, giving me a hug. I was overwhelmed that she understood me so well. We might not be related by blood but I was indebted to this family for loving me so unconditionally. I hugged her back.

"I'm sorry, mom," I apologized to her.

"It's okay, sweetie but next time think of your mom before running away," she told me. I nodded.

"I want more grandchildren, don't run away again," she said with a grin to lighten the atmosphere. I blushed, my eyes meeting Stefan's amused ones from across the room. He seemed to be waiting patiently for something. But what?

Then it dawned upon me. The challenge! Mom finally released me and I was contemplating making a dash for the bedroom when dad gave me a pat on the arm.

"Good to see you back safe and sound," he said. I smiled at him looking embarrassed.

"It's alright, your mom had done the same thing, twenty years back," he said with a smile making my eyes widen with disbelief. Mom rolled her eyes at him.

"You had to say that!" she scolded dad while he chuckled. Everyone chuckled and I felt a little relieved that things were back to normal. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Stefan inching towards the staircase to go to his bedroom. Could I ditch everyone and follow him?

Martha also came and hugged me along with Jenny and Beth. I was so happy to have such a family. It felt divine to be home to my loved ones but my concentration was actually upon a smirking Stefan who was three steps up the staircase. I was about to follow him when Adrian and Julian too came to hug me but Stefan marched down the stairs and snatched me away. "Boys, she's mine. Go find yourselves, people, to hug," he said, meaning every word. I rolled my eyes at him. Why did he always overreact this way? They were like my brothers after all!

"Hey, hey don't go caveman style, big bro," said Adrian grinning, "A small hug won't do any harm, right Anna?" he asked and I nodded.

"Absolutely," I said with a smile.

"Don't you dare," said Stefan, smiling too.

"It's okay, Stefan, it's just a brotherly hug," I said, hugging them both. Stefan rolled his eyes and walked up the staircase.

"Excuse me, boys. I need to freshen up," I told them. They wiggled their eyebrows at me but released me nevertheless. I went towards the stairs to follow Stefan up to his room when suddenly Arielle came flying down the stairs. I froze at the sight of her. Her tear-stained face, her frail little body, and her grief all broke my heart and I wrapped her in my arms.

"My baby. I'm so sorry," I said as tears spilled from my eyes.

"Mommy, mommy, why did you leave me?" She sobbed. I racked my brains for an answer. I was actually dumbfounded. What could I say?

"I cried so much for you. You pwomised me, mommy. You said you would never leave me. I looked everywhere for you," she said, clinging to me more. Stefan had stopped dead in his tracks as he stared at us with pain etched on his face.

"I am so sorry, honey. A sudden work came up and I went to meet my lawyer. I am back. I will never leave now. Okay?" I said hugging, and kissing her.

"Pwomise?" She asked, wiping her tears away.

"Pinky promise," I said and this time I meant it. I led her with me up the stairs following Stefan. He understood my need to be with Arielle and didn't even object to it. After freshening up, we lay on Stefan's bed and read stories to Arielle till she was drowsy. Beth finally took her away for a nap and we locked the door after her.

"Finally, babe. I would get old waiting for you," he said with a grin.

"As if! I was fulfilling the challenge when Arielle caught me. You can't blame me now," I protested.

"No excuses. You lost the challenge," he said with a shake of his head.

"That's not fair," I pouted.

"Fine, there's another way to prove your point," he said with dark glittering eyes. I instantly knew what exactly he would come up with.

"Shoot!" I asked.

"Please me and I might reconsider," he said. I took it up.

"Easy peasy, mister. Strip and I'll start right away," I said with a grin. Stefan gaped at me, taken aback by my sass. Then his grin broadened and he started a strip show for me. When he was done, he came to the bed. But I stopped him.

"My turn," I told him, making his eyes widen with disbelief. I was in a desperately happy mood having returned to my home, to Stefan. Pleasing him was all I could think of, not for some silly challenge but because he deserved it. He had pursued me when I had completely given up on him. He had taken the pains of convincing me and bringing me home. He deserved to feel happy.

I stripped for him, all my shyness and inhibitions were gone. The desire to please him was utmost on my mind. He pulled me into his arms and just embedded his face into my hair.

"Rosy, you drive me crazy, do you know that?" he whispered.

"So do you, Stefan," I whispered back.

He made love to me just like he had wanted to the whole day. It wasn't a quickie like he had mentioned. It was lingering, passionate, and gentle lovemaking that had me enthralled. I didn't want anything more from life at all. We lay in each other's arms, trying to catch our breaths when he received a phone call. It looked like it was from Tristan. I got up to go to the washroom to freshen up and wear my clothes while he lay on the bed and spoke to Tristan. When I returned, Stefan wasn't there in the room. Maybe he had some work come up and left. I walked to Arielle's room and found that she was fast asleep.

"She hadn't been sleeping well since you left, Anna," said Beth, and I felt a little more guilty.

"Let her sleep a little," I said. When I went downstairs, I saw Martha, gran, and mom, sitting in gran's room, discussing something. The moment I walked inside, they stopped their discussions, looked at me, and smiled. What was going on?