A surprise visit

Chapter 9

I experienced profound depression throughout this period. We refrained from pursuing legal action as she was expecting my child, leaving me uncertain about how to proceed. I confided in my mother, who shared in my sorrow. I find it difficult to forgive her for the pain she caused me.

To avoid the stigma of an illegitimate child, both families agreed that we should enter into a marriage contract for four years. I was aware that I was taking on responsibilities I had not anticipated, yet I accepted that this child was mine.

Kenzie appeared to be elated by the situation, seemingly pleased to disrupt my life. Perhaps she believed that I would eventually develop feelings for her, but my resentment only intensified. We married and began living together, and I often found her presence repulsive.

She later gave birth to a son, and from the moment I laid eyes on him, I felt an overwhelming love. However, his mother frequently behaved as a wife, which irritated me greatly. I longed for the conclusion of those four arduous years.

I dedicated myself to caring for my son and managing the business I had established. I had borrowed a substantial sum from my father to launch this venture, which I repaid within the first year, and it has since flourished. Despite everything that transpired, I still held onto the hope of encountering Annette again. The last time I spoke with my mother, she was not married but involved in a relationship. I resorted to hiring a private investigator to monitor her activities, akin to a stalker. I discovered that she was dating a doctor at the local clinic, which filled me with resentment, and I found myself wishing for their separation.

Before she even realized her boyfriend was cheating on her with Diane, I had already found out six months earlier. When I heard about her breakup, I was thrilled! This Christmas was going to be the perfect time to visit her, and honestly, I couldn't be happier that my arranged marriage was finally coming to an end this year.

I spent three months planning my surprise visit. I knew she’d be shocked to see me, but I was nervous about how to approach her. What if she rejected me when I confessed my feelings? Would she be put off if she found out I had a son? Would she even like me? If it weren't for the delays, I would have come to see her much sooner.

When I returned to that small town, I felt lost on how to reach out to her. I visited all her favorite spots, hoping to run into her by chance, but instead, I bumped into her brother Edward. He was surprised to hear I had a child and shared that he had a son too, which I already knew from the private investigator. Then I ran into her mom, and I thought about just going to her house, but what would I even say? Would she be angry for not hearing from me all this time?

So, on that day, I decided to check out the library since she loves to read. I got caught up in a crowd and had to greet a bunch of people, some familiar and some not. Then I spotted Annette’s back, and my heart raced. I couldn’t help but shout her name, but she didn’t hear me and kept walking. I called out again, louder this time, but she still didn’t turn around. I noticed a woman signaling to her, and when Annette finally turned, I almost choked at the sight of my beautiful Annette.

She’s always been stunning to me, and even now that I can finally see her, I politely slipped away from the crowd to approach her. It felt super awkward; neither of us knew what to say. She had mentioned she was busy before, but seeing her again made it impossible for me to hold back. I missed her so much, and I didn’t want to just be friends anymore.

So, I decided to swing by her house. I knocked, and I heard her tell her mom she’d get the door. My palms were sweaty as she opened it, and wow, she looked absolutely amazing. I held my breath, my heart racing. When she frowned, I asked, "What’s with the frown?" I didn’t like it at all, but then she said something that made me smile: "Well, because you beat me to it." I joked that I could leave so she could come see me instead.

Her mom came in and told her to let me in, so I stepped inside. It had been ages since I was in this house, and not much had changed except for a few new pictures on the wall. I heard them talking about how they’d wanted to go to Mrs Rachel’s place who wanted to visit me. Since I was planning to see her anyway, I suggested we all go to her house instead. Suddenly, I remembered the kiss Annette and I shared in her backyard. I turned to look at Annette, and she shyly looked away, clearly recalling that moment too.

I really enjoy how she gets all shy around me, and how she struggles to find the right words when we’re together. We visited Miss Rachel's house, and I got to taste her amazing apple pie. It had been ages since I had it, and it brought back some sweet memories of sharing it with Annette. Annette always tried to get the recipe from Mrs. Rachel, but she never budged.

I still remember the day we shared that kiss. We had just eaten the pie at Mrs. Rachel's place, and Annette was in her backyard. I was searching for her everywhere, but Diane was busy chatting with me about some stuff her dad bought her. Once she finished, I told her I had to go do something, but that was just a cover. I headed over to Annette, and she lit up when she saw me. "Are you done with Diane?" she asked. I nodded and smiled. "What, you don’t like me hanging out with her?" she pouted. "I never said that," I chuckled. I cupped her face in my hands, feeling the urge to kiss her. Would she push me away? There was only one way to find out.

I had been crushing on her for over a year, but I was too scared to say anything because of the fear of rejection. Finally, I leaned in and kissed her. It was a soft kiss, but it was my first, and I loved it. Her cheeks turned bright red, just like mine. I was about to tell her how I felt and that she was the only one for me, but then Mrs. Rachel called us. We both turned around, hoping she hadn’t seen anything. Luckily, she didn’t ask any questions, but I had planned to tell Annette the next day, and that didn’t happen.

She stepped away from the dinner table, and I finished up the apple pie before heading to the living room. There she was, curled up with her head resting on her knees. I felt this strong urge to reach out to her—I've been feeling it for a while now. She didn’t notice me at first, so I gently ran my fingers through her hair; it was so soft. When she lifted her head and smiled at me, I couldn’t help but sit closer. Her scent was absolutely captivating. We chatted for a bit, and I mentioned Collins, asking if she could come visit him. I really wanted her to meet my son. Just then, her mom and Mrs. Rachel joined us, and we all shared some laughs.

Annette was eager to take the pie to my son, and I happily agreed. We headed to my place, where she played with Collins and gave him the pie. He seemed to really like her, especially when he showed off his action figure. I couldn’t shake the thought of what it would be like if she were Collins' mom. She would be perfect for that role, and honestly, that’s what I’ve always wanted.

On the drive back to her place, I couldn’t help but feel angry about what Kenzie had done to me. What a messed-up marriage that was. Our conversation drifted to the topic of marriage, a word I despised because of Kenzie. I only want to marry you, Annette.

I opened up to her about my past—how I was raped and forced into a marriage I never bargained for. I explained what that kiss meant to me, how I came here for her, and how I’ve become the man I am today because of her. I shared how I’ve been thinking about her for so long, how I’ve longed for her, and how I love her now and will always love her.