Ann’s POV
Burying my face in between my knees, the rampant emotions shatter through me again as I let my tears flow freely.
I am tearing up because I know this was what I wanted, yet I can’t figure out the reason for the sadness gnawing in my heart.
I’m tearing up because no matter what, my mother’s name will always appear in his family register as his wife.
I’m tearing up because things would have been different between us; between me, Mark, Carter mother and Isaac Rossi.
I hate him. But I can’t tell why I feel this much sadness after knowing Vicente was the one who killed Carter.
If there was anyone else I feared so much aside from Isaac, it was Carter. He harassed and traumatized me. It almost affected my relationship with men, but Ryan came along, and everything was okay until he left.
Ryan was my first boyfriend, the reason why I loved him so much and why I was deeply hurt when he broke up with me.
However, Vicente is the second man I have felt this deep emotion for, which scares me.
I feel I am not fortunate enough to keep a man I love.
The cold water of the sea splashes across my bare feet, and I look up.
The water slashes further as a wave hits the storm, making me wipe my tears.
If Vicente hadn’t received that call, I would have pretended to be OK with it. I am okay with Carter being gone, but I just didn’t expect Vicente to be responsible.
I wonder why I didn’t think that when I know he is a man who has killed thousands.
I should have figured it out when he told me he went back to the hotel.
I decide I am done mourning all I have lost. Now is the time to forge ahead in life and put behind me all the fears and trauma of my past.
But I can’t deny how hurt I am to be leaving Vicente without telling him how I feel for him. We have no future together, so there is no point.
I am about to stand up and grab my sandals and bag when a strong pair of arms wrap around me from behind, pinning me to the sandy ground.
His familiar cologne fills my nostrils as recognition sets in.
Vicente.
How did he know I was here?
I left in a hurry because I wanted to grieve alone. I wanted to be alone to gather my thoughts and decide on the next line of action.
He turns me around slowly to meet his intense gaze.
His forehead is sweaty, and I stare down at his feet.
Bare.
“What…what happened?” I stammer, wondering why he looks lost and all sweaty.
Relief washes through his face as he settles on the ground beside me. “I was so worried. How could you leave just like that without a word?”
“I…I…” I don’t think I have ever been so speechless in front of Vicente. I have much to say to him, yet I can’t bring myself to do that.
I want to thank him.
I want to embrace him.
And I want to tell him I like him more than he likes me.
I know he doesn’t feel the way I think, but I was ready to confess my feelings, even if it meant leaving afterward.
Suddenly, he grabs my shoulder and pulls me into his arms.
“Please, don’t do this ever again. I was damn worried. I was scared something happened to you.” He warns softly but with a stern tone that would have made me smile if I wasn’t so sad.
My hands hang in the air, and I am unsure how to react to the sudden hug.
Am I supposed to hold him? Hug him back?
He pulls away almost immediately and frames my face in between his hands. “Are you okay, though?”
I almost burst out laughing and crying at the same time.
I have gotten used to him asking me that each time, but I still can’t comprehend why he always asks me that.
It makes me want to think he cares so deeply for me-more than he should.
He lifts my head, nudging our eyes to meet.
“Ann,” he calls softly, his hands caressing my face and his breath fanning mine. I shut my eyes to shut out the silly thoughts racing through my head, prompting me to kiss him. To shut him up from doing what he is about to do
“I am sorry for what happened. I killed him because…”
I move away quickly from his hold, interrupting him from going further.
“Ann.”
“Can we forget about that? I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Are you sure?” He stares at me with doubt, so I nod intermittently.
“You seems upset,” he points out, moving closer to me.
“That was because you didn’t tell me and you had every chance to do that before now. But never mind, it’s all gone. It’s all in the past.”
We remain silent, and I contemplate telling him about my decision to leave now. I will be staying with Tessa for the main time till I have everything figured out.
Perhaps I will search for a part-time job and save up to return to a culinary academy.
“Vince,” I force myself to say his name.
His finger touches my lips. “Shhh.”
I raise my brow.
When his finger drops from my lips, he hugs me again, this time more firmly.
“I don’t want to lose you, Ann but I won’t force you to stay,” he utters with courage.
“Why?” I ask, almost throwing a tantrum and hitting him.
He confuses me. One minute, he makes me want to believe what we have is real, but then his words always ring in my head as a reminder of who he is.
I expect him to answer my question, but silence stretches between us.
Say something, Vince! I plead within me.
I’m losing it.
After counting to 30 seconds without a word from him, I pull away angrily and shoot to my feet.
Grabbing my sandals and my bag, I begin to make my way to the car I stole from his garage.
My feet sink into the sand, but I can’t care less as I hurry over, anger burning through me.
“Annette!” He calls behind me as I increase my pace. Suddenly, he blocks my way, spreading his arms out.
I dart sideways and begin to run to the car. I fish out the car keys from my bag, in a hurry to leave this place, but my trembling hands make me drop the keys in the sand.
I curse beneath my breath and bend to grab the key. By the time I am done, Vicente is already standing in front of the car, blocking me again.
“There is something I need to tell you, Ann,” he says breathlessly.
I want to tell you something too, but I can’t. I don’t even know why I am angry.
“Can you please move?”
“I’m serious, there is something I have been meaning to tell you. That was why I came to the club…”
My heart starts to thump wildly.
He came to the club to tell me something.
“You can leave afterwards if that is what you want but you have to listen to me first,” he completes, adding to my frustration and rage.
I stand waiting for him to speak, but he isn’t saying a word.
I stamp my feet deep into the sand in desperation.
Whatever it is, why can’t he just blurt it out and get it done with?
When I see how tightly closed his lips are, and how he is just staring lazily at me, I decide he isn’t ready yet.
Perhaps he wants to beg me to wait for a while before we finally get an annulment.
That should be it.
That is what this is about. I know Vince. That is the only thing he has always cared about in this marriage.
Keeping me in it. For God knows what.
I push him away and open the car door. I want to close the car door when he stops me, holding it back with his hands.
I raise a confused brow. “Vince? Let go!”
“I want to tell you something, Ann. You have to listen to me…”
“I don’t f***ING care what you want to tell me. Let me go already.”
I want to tell him how silly he is behaving. Telling me he has something to say and using forever to do that. I am too impatient for that.
“I love you!” He suddenly blurts out, looking like someone who just dropped a bombshell of secrets.
Emotions crash over me as my mouth drops open slowly.
Vicente loves me. He loves me? How? When? Was that what he meant when he told me he liked me?
Everything that has happened in the past week has become too much for me to bear, and I let out a whimper.
Vicente climbs in beside me and holds my body to his chest. I can’t bring myself to pull away as another whimper escapes me.
His hands wrap around me so tightly that I don’t want him ever to let go. He presses a kiss to my forehead, and he whispers again with assurance. “I love you, Ann. I have always loved you.”
And I lose it as I break down completely in tears.