Chapter Nine

The Approval 2…..

Ann’s Pov……

I was so glad when Williams held my laps underneath the dinning to signal I don’t need to answer, perhaps he knew this was gonna happen

We hadn’t spoken much about how the meeting would turn out , I mean it was not that deep or serious between the both of us

I avoided talking about it, I didn’t want to have mixed emotions for something I would end soon, but even from the drive to his place had already shown me I should have prepared, now seated in their presence I was dumbstruck somehow.

William's father, a kind-faced man with a twinkle in his eye, smiled warmly at me. "My dear, would you mind making me a cup of tea? I hear you have a special touch."

Turning to Williams realizing he had been the one running down my early morning teas each time I came for a refill, I couldn’t do anything but smile with surprise

“Of course sir, I’ll be right back” turning to Williams “come show me to the kitchen please” I signaled at him.

I felt a warmth spread through me. William's father's acceptance was a balm to my

anxieties.

I served him my tea and watched how he drank it, and he didn’t hide his enthusiasm for it and I myself was very happy with his satisfaction.

The next day, William took me to his birth mother's place. She had an art deco setting in her home with a mushy rug covering almost the entire living room, by the wall of her huge flat screen was a wooden sculpture of a beautiful woman carrying a child and I instantly realized it was her and Williams' art work and I was wowed

As she made her way down the stairs I stood to receive her presence and was instantly impressed at her beauty glowing from a distance and she screamed femininity and softness, Williams sure did take after her traits.

“Hello my dear, welcome to my home” she said hugging and air kissing my both cheeks, she smelled heavenly.

“Thank you ma’am and your home is beautiful and unique”

“ oh dear thank you it was all Williams doing here, he did the decor” she said smiling at her son, couldn’t hide the fact of how much she loved her don even with one look on her face.

“ mother this is Ann, my wife to be she is the daughter of Mr Forbes and her birth mom is late so, her stepmother is Levine Forbes”

“Oh my gosh, The Ann?! Welcome my dear, welcome” she said with abit of uncertain confusion and covering it up with ever-white bright smile.

“So Ann dear, I hear you are the main designer in your father’s industry, that much be a big role and keeping everything up and running till now is just impressive”

“Thank you ma’am, though I’ve got help too from my partners in the design department and we all have been keeping up with the trend”

“When is the wedding” she said turning to Williams

“It has been extended to next week due to some things that need extra attention to it”

“And how about your sister An, is she going to attend?” Knowing it was coming from an innocent place, the thought of belle at my wedding hadn’t crossed my mind in a while, even though all these were my revenge to her.

“Yes ma’am, she most certainly will”

“Call me miss becky” she cut me off immediately and it really wasn’t a big deal. It just made me admire how unique and genuine her life was without any baggage making me wish my life had turned out differently.

Picking up my glass of champagne I held it wrong and had almost the entire content of it spilled on me “urrggghhh” I let out a moan

“Oh my goodness, so sorry the restroom is the third door by your right” she said to me as I made to locate the restroom

“Do you need me there?” After not talking for almost the entire time we were there, hearing him speak felt foreign.

“No, no it’s okay I can find my way , I’ll be right back” I said turning down his offer for an escort to the restroom

**************

Williams Pov……

Mother then looked my way after watching her leave for the rest room “ she’s a sweet one” she said smiling and reaching for her glass, her face grim. "Belle wants to see you," she said,I didn’t expect she’d ever come to my mother even after rejecting her infront of her parents . "She has something important to tell you about your wife."

“My wife? You mean Ann?” Already aware of what Belle had to say about her stepsister, she was going to have the shock of her life.

William sighed. "Mother, I've told you, Belle is a spoiled, irresponsible child. I don't want her."

“We’ll soon I can’t advocate for her and I will always support your decision” mother said smiling softly at me

“Thank you mother and I’m sorry for any inconvenience or trouble she must have caused you”

“It’s fine my love, it’s nothing really. I was even heading out when we met up at the office” she came to the office ? Her pick me attitude was already getting on my nerves and I knew there and then I needed to do something about it.

Almost immediately Ann made her way back to her seat, watching her walk up to her seat with a big patch of wet spot on her chest, was a funny sight with her trying to fake a smile to me and mother, it was impossible to look at her without no awkwardness following with the position and location of the wet patch.

Our drive home was quiet, thankful for the car's boombox playing music, we both vibed to quietly too

Mother said belle wants to meet up” immediately realizing the context of what I just said, hoping I didn't hit a wrong spot, there was a little silence, about 2mins

“He is my father”

“What”

“My adopted father is my father” she repeated

“Wow” was all I could utter, that was the least I expected to hear that night, a wave of compassion rushed over me, almost pushing me to put a hand on her shoulders and also the fact I was driving.

“Grandfather told me when I went to visit, he said my stepmother is aware,

“She's always known, and I was treated like shit and slaved, and he never said a word and he kne….” and it came, a burst of tears and the vigor at which her body shook made me park the car, turn on the aircon a little more and step down the car, this cry felt like it needed privacy and I didn't mind

God!! These people were evil, I thought about how they must have been living with torturing her while still aware of her legitimacy, she had gone through enough and left for me, and should have no business with any of them.

She horned the car signaling the end of her crying session, I got in to a stern face and the cool of the car’s aircon wasn't strong enough to send the chills I felt down my spine just looking at her after-cry look

Her nose bridge light pink from the crying and her plumped lips gave her innocence a fragility that struck me.

She turned to meet my gaze, and her expression softened and a soft tentative smile broke through the melancholy, like a strong female warrior who knew she couldn't break down.

In that moment I saw a different Ann even in sadness she radiated a haunting beauty, a reminder of the strength that lay beneath the tears.