Chapter 66: Chapter 66

Annabelle's POV

We immediately dozed off to sleep, cuddling together. It was the only way we were used to. I was touched to see that Stefan didn't want to make love tonight. All he wanted was a cuddle and he was asleep in no time at all. I gazed at his peaceful and handsome face, dreaming about a life together with him forever. Finally, I will be his wife tomorrow. It was such a heavenly feeling! I closed my eyes with that blissful feeling and immediately fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning Stefan awoke me to the sound of a soft tap on our door. It was five in the morning only. Who wanted to disturb us so early? Stefan opened the door and to our surprise, there stood nurse Ellie.

"Gran wants Anna to go back to her room before the others wake up," she whispered. I nodded and got up, kissed Stefan on his cheek, and followed nurse Ellie out of his room. I climbed back into the bed in gran's room and again fell asleep.

It was seven when gran awoke me with breakfast in bed. "Your mom wants you to have your breakfast in your room before the attendant starts to give you a bath," said gran.

"Attendants? Please, gran, I don't need anyone to give me a bath," I pleaded, attacking the food hungrily.

"You can tell your mom that. I'm out of the scene," said gran. I dreaded the bath now. Why would I get naked in front of others and have them give me a bath? I was aghast at the thought. Gran went out to take a walk and I sat eating all on my own and dreading that awful bath. The door opened and Stefan peered inside. He grinned seeing me all alone.

"Stefan! What are you doing here? Mom will scold you if she sees you here," I told him but the stubborn creature just came and sat beside me, stealing my food.

"I wish I had just eloped with you. Life would have been so much simpler. Why do people complicate matters?" asked Stefan, grumbling away.

"Why? What happened?" I asked him.

"I wanted the first look but aunt Emily said we cannot have it now at the last minute. I should have informed them a day before. Now they would have to reschedule everything!" complained Stefan.

"Oh, I don't like Aunt Emily!" I admitted truthfully.

"I don't like any of our relatives," said Stefan.

"My life's become wretched. Mom has appointed a few attendants who would give me a bath!" I gasped out. Stefan gave me a horrified look.

"Male attendants?" he asked to my utmost surprise. How could he think of that?

"No, of course not. Don't be silly. I don't want even female attendants to give me a bath. I can do that on my own," I protested. Stefan strangely gave me a skew little smile as if something was cooking in his head.

"Stop smiling like a creep!" I said, smacking his arm.

"I wish I could give you a bath. I have an idea. I'll dress up as an attendant and sneak into your room to give you a bath. Done?" he offered, wiggling his brows. I gave him a look of horror.

"No Stefan. Absolutely not. You could never look like a female attendant with your muscles and hairy hands and legs!" I exclaimed as a giggle escaped me imagining the look on Stefan.

"Don't challenge me, my love. I might prove to you that I'm more than you can handle," he said, his eyes glittering with mischief.

"I beg of you, Stefan. Please don't do it," I pleaded with puppy dog eyes.

Stefan chuckled. "I was just kidding. C'mon, give me a cuddle. I'll listen to everything you say," he promised. So I gave him a cuddle and he held me that way for a minute or two. He planted a kiss on my forehead.

"See you at the altar, beautiful!" he said softly, making my heart skip a beat or two.

"See you, Stefan," I whispered back.

He went away and I was contemplating sneaking into the en-suite to take a bath when Claire walked inside with an attendant. My eyes went wide with horror when more attendants walked in carrying some concoction or the other.

"Please, Claire. What is all this? I don't need anything. Just water, body wash, and shampoo will do," I told her.

Claire grinned. "This is torture, my dear. You'll be coated in scented oils that will be enough to seduce your groom if you're unable to do it yourself," teased Claire with a laugh. I rolled my eyes at her.

"Please, I don't need those. Stefan doesn't need any seducing. What if I have an allergic reaction to them?" I said, looking apprehensive.

"Don't worry so much. They'll just add a drop of organic aromatherapy oil and leave you to it. Just take a bath and call me when you're done. We'll get you ready, " said Claire, making me sigh with relief. Soon they all left and I walked into the washroom.

After half an hour, I was fresh and feeling pampered. I dabbed moisturizer all over my body and then called Claire on her mobile phone. There was a knock on the door and I rushed over to open it. However, my eyes popped out seeing Stefan there instead of Claire. I pulled him inside quickly.

"Why are you here?" I whispered, eyeing the door nervously.

"I need a cuddle, Rosy," he said, pulling me into his arms. I wrapped my arms around his torso and held him close.

"What's wrong, Stefan? Is something bothering you?" I asked, feeling a little concerned.

"It's nothing important," he said, embedding his face into my hair.

"Please tell me," I pleaded.

"The thought of getting married is making me remember my wedding with Claudia! It's disturbing me," he admitted at last.

"It's okay, Stefan. Our wedding won't be like that at all. We cannot change what has happened but we can dream of a better future, right? Every time you think of claida5and your previous wedding day, say in your head ten times, 'Rosy loves me. I am marrying her.' See, how you calm down," I told him. Stefan nodded and looked into my eyes.

"I'll do that. By the way, you smell delicious. I can't wait to get married to you," he said with a wink, releasing me and disappearing outside. I stared at the door with a happy and silly grin pasted on my lips. The door opened and Claire and Cassandra walked inside. They gave me a look.

"Who are you smiling at?" asked Cassandra with a giggle.

"No one," I said, as they got busy arranging the wedding dress and accessories. Mom too came in to instruct them. I sat patiently while they discussed my look, wondering what Stefan would be doing right now.