Billionaire want me back

Chapter Three

Edward's POV:

The house was the same as he had left it. The walls were still the lilac they had been painted, every artwork and decorational object remained in their rightful positions. The furniture was the same, not even a vase out of place. The entire place was spotless and free of dust, but the house was cold and felt empty.

Edward walked through the halls slowly and leisurely. And as he did, he could see the time he'd spent in the house clear as day like someone was playing a video of his memories and he was walking through it. The house was one of his many houses, but it didn't feel like that to him, it felt nostalgic like a place he longed to return to.

He walked to the kitchen, looking for a drink of water. He'd informed the housekeeper that he would be visiting so she had left some things in the fridge. He took a bottle of water and drank half of it. As he did he looked around the kitchen. The walls were white, pictures of sunflowers and butterflies painted over it. Edward found himself smiling as he remembered how Anna had spent so many hours preparing to paint the kitchen. She did so much research about how she wanted it to look, and the exact feeling she wanted to convey, in her words she needed her most favorite room of the house to welcome her each time she stepped into it. Edward remembered that after she said that he pulled her into a hug and reminded her that her favorite room was their bedroom. She kicked him.

In the end she went for sunflowers, because they made her feel happy.

Edward stared at the walls, and he could clearly see her, yellow paint covering her arms, in her hair and smeared across her face. She had spent four days painting the walls and when she was done, the kitchen gave a feeling of a hug.

Edward reached out and touched the walls, tracing the vibrant yellow petals with his fingertips. As he did, he could see Anna's smile more radiant that the sunflowers. Then he saw her broken face, her tears as she begged him not to leave her. Like electric shock had just been zapped through his body, he pulled his hand back from the wall and cleared his throat. He drank the rest of his water and left the kitchen.

Their bedroom was the same, except for the pink sheets in the bed instead of the white they were. His mind was flooded with images and memories of the nights he'd spent on this room with Anna. He remembered their first night together, after they'd just finished the wedding ceremony. She was so shy back then, barely meeting his eyes for more than three seconds. Back then it amused him, but it didn't anymore. She was so young, small and vulnerable. He didn't touch her that night, they'd talked a bit and then went to sleep. The next morning she made him breakfast and that was when he suspected he began to fall in love with her.

The first time they had s*x he was surprised to find that she was virgin. He remembers how he decided there and then to make their contract marriage permanent. But he didn't. And he regretted it now.

He sat on the bed, and he could almost feel her drape her arms over his shoulders, he could hear her soft sweet voice asking how his day went and if he was hungry. He turned and her presence vanished. A sigh left his lips and he ran his hand through his hair.

He was slowly losing his mind.

He missed her. He missed her more than he cared to admit to even himself. He could never forget he'd tears, her cries and how they tore through his heart like the sharpest of blades. He could never forget how she clung unto him, confessing her love and begging that he take her back. He could never forget her face as she walked into their bedroom and saw him with another woman.

He didn't even know why he was so stupid.

He had always been in love with her. Even though he never admitted it to himself. He couldn't count the number of times he got so close to making their marriage permanent only to chicken out and push her away. He couldn't count the number of times he'd stayed awake long after she'd slept off and just watched her, his heart blooming with pride and joy at the sight of the love of his life snuggled up close to him. Or the number of times he'd told her he loved her, but only said it when she couldn't hear.

He took his phone out and dialed her contact. He paused before putting a call through.

It had been more than a year. What could she be doing? Was she married, or was she seeing someone? Did she leave town? What is she doing now? Questions and questions filled his head, questions he had no answer to. He wanted to hear her voice. He wanted to see her, to make sure that she was okay. And if she left him, he wanted to touch her, feel her skin and breathe in her scent. He missed her. So much it made his heart hurt.

He threw his doubts out of the window and called her number. He waited with bated breath for her to pick up, for her voice to fill his ear and say 'hello, darling?' and then he would say....what would he even say? I miss you? How are you? Is this Anna? He was losing his mind.

He waited and waited for her to pick up, but she didn't. He called again. No response. He called again, still no response. He sighed and put the phone back into his pocket. Did he even expect that she would want to speak to him again? After all that he did to her? After all that he said to her? It had been a year and he had completely cut her off with no contact whatsoever. And then, out of the blue he decided to call her and he expected her to pick up?

He felt like a fool.

He got up from the bed and walked out of the bedroom. This was all his fault. He had caused this for himself and now he must bear the consequences. His mind filled with regret at all the things he should've done better. He should've loved her openly. He should've appreciated her. He should've told her that she beautiful and that he wanted her to be his wife forever. He should've scraped the contract, declared it null and void. He should've been better....but no. He took a woman two days later and brought her to their bedroom.

Edward walked out of the house without looking back. He walked straight to his car where his body guard was waiting for him.

"I need you to do something for me." He said. His voice was firm and his face emotionless. Any sign of the emotional pain he'd gone through in the past thirty minutes was gone, completely erased from his face.

"What is it sir?"

"Find the whereabouts of Annabel Hudson. I want to know where she is and what she has been up to."

"Yes sir."

Edward drove off. As he did, he wondered if he should sell the house. He pushed the idea aside, hanging onto the hope that if he found Anna, he would propose to her and get married to her again like he should've all these months. And when that happened, he was sure she'd love her sunflower kitchen.

Some hours later, the bodyguard returned with his findings. And Edward felt heartbreak for the first time in his entire life.

Anna was doing fine, she had a bakery that had grown massively in just months. She was frequently visited by various powerful figures who shared a love for her one of a kind pastries. She lived in a small quiet town and had a close circle of friends.

And she had a child, a son.

There was a man she was often seen on dates with, the bodyguard said, I could pull up more information if you need.

Edward declined the offer. He had seen enough, known enough. Anna was fine, she was doing well, that was all that mattered. He stared at the pictures that had been included. She was radiant, more beautiful than he ever remembered. Her long hair was now in short waves, giving her the youthful appearance of a schoolgirl. She looked happier, and for that he felt glad.

She had moved on from him. He didn't know if that made him feel better or worse.

He put the papers and photographs in his paper shredder and destroyed them. He wouldn't do this, wallow in pity like a love struck school boy who had been rejected by his crush. He would go over to her in person and make his intentions known.

He wouldn't lose the love of his life again.

***

Anna sneezed twice, nearly knocking over a tray of freshly baked cookies.

"Someone is thinking about you mama." The voice of a child said.

"Is that so?" Anna said with a laugh. She crouched down to the child's height and pinched his nose. "And would that be you?"

The boy laughed heartily. "Of course, who else would it be?"

Anna beamed with pride as she stared at her son, Jake. It was like looking at a smaller version of herself, except as a boy. She couldn't believe it, her very own son, her flesh and blood. He had her bright green eyes and dark hair. He was a beautiful boy, smarter than his age with a mind for business and she was so glad she had him. And she had been so worried about having a mini Edward.

"What are you thinking?" Anna asked. Jake smiled, and she was reminded of Edward. They had the same smile.

"About how wonderful you are, and how proud I am that you are my mother."

Anna's hand flew to her chest, her heart warmed with his kind words. "Thank you, my darling. Now, we must finish the cookies before your friends start to arrive."

Jake pouted and turned back to the cookies he was icing. "Why can't I just spend my birthday with you mama?"

"That's not ideal. Birthdays are a fun affair, and they involve celebrating with loved ones, not just family but friends." She filled a piping bag with more icing.

"Okay," Jake said with a sigh.

Anna ruffled his hair. "Cheer up my darling. You're five now. Soon you'll be an adult."

Jake grinned. "Really?! But I have like...thirteen more years till I'm an adult."

Anna laughed. "One step at a time my dear, and you'll be there before you know it."

"Alright!"

The rest of the work was carried out in comfortable silence. Anna was grateful for the life she had. Ever since she had Jake, it was like the missing piece in her life had been found and the jigsaw of her life complete. She did everything she could to give her son the life he deserved, a life full of love and care and all good things.

It felt just like yesterday Edward cast her aside with no second thoughts and threw a big cheque in her hand. It felt like just yesterday she was lost and confused as to what to do with her life.

But now here she was, baking sweets for her son's fifth birthday.

Five years and going strong. She felt proud of herself. She felt proud of all she had gone through and all she had accomplished.

She was happy, fulfilled now. Her joy was complete. Now she had to do her best to throw the most memorable fifth birthday party ever.