Annabel's POV
Daniel carried me to his car and gently placed me in the seat. He brushed my hair back, his eyes searching mine. "Annabel, why didn't you stand up against her?"
A dry lump slid down my throat, but I still didn't say anything.
He clenched his teeth and ordered Leo to take off.
But I caught his hand in mine, holding on as if letting go would shatter everything between us. "Dan, we can't leave now."
"Why?" he asked.
"Um…" I searched for the best way to put my words. "I thought you had a visitor. Stephanie told me your mum visited."
His body eased. "Annie, she had something urgent to attend to, so she left" He held my palm. "Now, I'm taking you for lunch." Arching his brow, he added, "And no more excuses."
My muscles loosened, tension melting away.
Thank goodness.
I wondered how I could have handled everything if Fiona had followed him to the scene.
We arrived at the five-star hotel, just like the last time I was here with Lucian. The hostess approached us.
But it was different this time.
From the way they welcomed us, I could tell that Daniel's profile was very high here.
We went to the table that was specially reserved for Daniel. The card placed on it was boldly written, Daniel Stroke. Underneath, CEO of Stroke's Development Company.
He noticed how astonished I was and held my shoulders. "Annabel, I'm a shareholder in this company."
I turned to meet his gaze and gave him a faint smile.
From my look, he could tell I was exhausted. He carefully pulled out the chair and gestured for me to sit.
We made an order.
The waiter returned with a porcelain plate, the creamy paste swirled into delicate peaks, its pale gold sheen catching the chandelier's light. The aroma. soft, sweet, and buttery—rose to meet me, promising indulgence in every spoonful.
We were halfway through our food when I heard a voice from a distance approaching from behind.
"Daniel."
The lady leaned on Daniel and planted a kiss on his forehead.
It was her. The same girl from that night at Daniel's place, when I stood there trembling to tell him the truth about our parents' marriage.
"Jess," Daniel called out, turning his head from her to me and back to the lady. "What are you doing here?"
Jess slitted her eyes at Daniel. "I should be asking you that." She leveled me with a razor-thin glare. "What are you doing here with someone like this?"
My chest tightened into a knot.
What does she mean by someone like this?
I looked at Daniel, who sat looking confused. He wasn't even making an attempt to defend me or explain to the lady who I was to him.
Jess brushed her breath on Daniel's face, then with her fingers, she traced his jawline and was about to kiss him when he gripped her wrist firmly. "Stop."
Jess pulled away quickly as if burned. "Dan, what's wrong? Don't tell me you're trying to resist me because of this nonentity."
My knuckles drew together. I almost stood up to punch her when Daniel held me back. "Annie, please don't."
I calmed down and sank into my seat.
Daniel gave Jess a hard glare. "Jess, I will not have you disrespect my employee in that manner."
He stood up, his hands in his pockets. "Now, I want you to leave this place peacefully, or I will get you thrown out forcefully."
Jess turned to me, her lips pushed into a pout. "Whatever you have with him, trust me, it will not end well."
She began to walk away, her heels scraping noisily against the floor.
After she had left, Daniel sat back, exhaled deeply, ran his hand along his chin, then placed his hand on mine, brushing it tenderly. "Annie, Jess was one of my flings."
He took my hands, and a little laugh spilled from my lips at how his hand swallowed my tiny one.
He noticed it too and chuckled a bit. "But not anymore." He went silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on mine. "Not after you came into my life. Since the first dinner we had at my place, I have found it difficult to be with another woman."
My pulse quickened in eager delight, just what I had been praying to hear from him one day.
Is this him trying to profess his love?
Does he feel the same way I do?
"Daniel, don't say things that you will regret later."
Not that I didn't want to hear such words from him, but I just wanted to be sure he meant them.
I didn't want to raise my hopes only to have them shattered.
His eyes locked on me, a smile tugging at his lips. "Annie, I know what I'm saying. And I can never regret them."
A flush crept up my neck, my feelings tangled.
I was happy that he was losing a part of himself for me.
But I was also scared that it might not end well when he found out the truth.
Maybe I should just tell him everything. He might still feel something for me.
"Daniel, I…" My heartbeat drummed in my ears.
His gaze lingered on me. "Annie, are you okay?"
I cleared my throat, trying to steady my voice. "Daniel, I want to tell you something."
He angled his head slightly, waiting to hear from me.
The words trembled at the edge of my tongue, begging to be spoken. If I was going to be with Daniel, this was the only way, to tell him the truth… if he would truly choose me to fill the vacuum in his heart. He deserved to hear it from me and decide whether to go on this journey with me or not.
We would have to make a decision right now. Whether to sacrifice our happiness for our parents, or to fight to see them break and live in our dreams.
The truth was, I didn't want either. I couldn't see my dad go back to his lonely days, nor did I want to lose Daniel.
Daniel could be cold and nonchalant sometimes, but above all, I could see the warmth buried in him. He deserved to be loved too.
I was close to revealing every hidden detail I had kept from him when his phone's vibration jolted me from my thoughts.
He stared at the phone, took a long breath, then looked at me again. "I'm sorry, I have to take this—please."
My head moved in a slow nod, heavy with unspoken words.
He gradually pulled his hand from mine and stepped out to answer the call.
When he got back, he held my hands again. "I need a date for today's banquet."
His eyes searched mine. "And I was wondering if you could please come with me?"