Chapter Twelve

Ann’s Pov……..

Williams called me hours later, with panic in his voice and all I could think was that nothing had happened to him, suddenly I was feeling concerned with the man I was meant to marry for just a year

I heard a frantic though he still his best to conceal it, panic in his voice “Hello Ann, I’m at the hospital” he said

“What? How? What happened?” I asked multiple questions at a time

“I’m fine, it’s belle” he paused “I’m waiting on the doctors to come out, can you come here” he finally asked.

“Okay, I am on my way” I said, not needing to question him further.

Walking into the hospital’s front desk briskly “ please I'm here to see Belle forbes” I asked the nurse typing in front of a computer.

“Ahead, the last bed at the end of the hall” she said pointing to the direction and my feet were already walking ahead of her voice.

Belle was still family to me regardless, of everything they've ever done to me I still would wish anything harmful to her, my eyes scanning the hall towards the direction the nurse gave and it fell on Williams first, seated on an armchair close to Belle's bed which was covered with a curtain demarcating her bed space from another patient.

Sighting me approaching him, he jolts to his feet “ Ann, thank goodness you are here” he said

What happened? Is she okay? What are the doctors saying?” me with my triple questions would just overwhelm an already tensed person.

“She's overdosed sleeping pills” he said and paused “the doctor said its from the last substance content she had”

“What does it mean?” I asked because I still couldn’t put together what he was saying.

“We had a glass of champagne together and that was the last thing we had, no one can possibly drug themselves like that except by mistake” he said handing me his phone with a paused footage on it, I play it.

My mind races, as I watch belle try to lure Williams, how she prepares the drink herself and hands it to the waiter to seem like he brought it in himself , how she hands him an envelope I assume would be his pay for what he was about to do, how she mistakenly picks up the spiked drink from herself instead, my palms to my mouth, I’m in shock at how far belle could go, to have Williams back and was glad I was making sure she didn’t.

"That’s insane! Did anyone else see this?" I’m pressed with emotions, feeling the weight of the situation grow heavier.

"Yeah, a few people who should have seen it like the police who were here earlier” he said and I was seeing the stress wrinkles on his forehead.

"It’s not your fault, Williams, at least you tried to help her. You did the best you could," I said reassuring him, my heart aching for him.

"But what if something happens to her? What if she… this was reckless” he whispered his voice steady, the weight of his fear palpable.

"Let’s not jump to conclusions. We need to wait for the doctors to tell us what’s going on. Right now, you need to focus on yourself too. You’re in shock," I replied, my voice steady but filled with concern.

"I just can’t believe she would go that far. It’s like I don’t even know her anymore. She’s always been... different. I have never pictured her being capable of doing this, she has her flaws but this is something else," he said, his voice low and disappointed .

“Ann, I want us to get married as soon as possible, the day after tomorrow is perfect, maybe that would stop her from doing something more drastic than this” he said, looking back at my eyes like it was his mirror.

The heat I felt in my stomach, I couldn’t describe, yes I knew we were to be married,it’s a contract between which I initiated, my heart racing as she considered the implications of the step we were about to take. The thought of Belle's relentless pursuit of chaos loomed large in my mind. Finally I nodded, a sense of determination washing over me once a again. "Okay, let's do it. Let's get married."

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William’s Pov

It didn’t just come from a place of getting done with the contract, after what belle had displayed it pushed me hard enough to want to get married to Ann right there and then but, I needed to give her time to prepare.

The look on her face when I announced my intention confused me but he understood that the present situation was taking a toll on her, she was soft and kind hearted no matter what you did to her and it even hurt me more that she went through everything with no one by her side.

“Are you sure you are ready for this? Belle and her mother can be quite persistent when it comes to something they want” she said, her voice slightly softer than usual, like though she too was terrified with what her step sister had done, but I was sure she wasn’t backing down and I was glad she agreed with me.

"I've never been more sure of anything," I insisted, stepping closer, my eyes searching hers for understanding. "I want to protect you, and I want to protect us. I can't let Belle interfere with your plans anymore."

“It’s the least I can do for you, this is mean working on fulfilling my promise to you Ann”

“I know and I’m glad you are helping me with this”she finally settled and smiled

The doctor came out and told us how Ann had put too much sleeping pills to knock one out and she was going to be in an induced coma to let the pill flush out her body completely, and said to inform the police once it was done.

I and Ann left for home and the drive home was solace and calm, she sat still on the passenger seat and I couldn't stop myself from stealing glances at her form beside me, she still held on to our one year contract and I began to feel pain in my chest just thinking about it, a month in already and I didn't want this to end, I haven't told her about my feelings scared it my make her run, she seemed desperate to have me wed her for the contract like though I'm part of her story.

On getting home we found our front door wide ajar like someone had just burglarized the house, turning to Ann. I saw the panic in her eyes “I made sure I locked it before heading out”

“Wait here let me go find out what's going on”I said to her as I immediately jumped out the car heading towards the open door which I wide open.

Nothing was stolen, nothing was moved everywhere was clean as though no one entered and left the doors unlocked,

“Everything is fine there's no one there and nothing was stolen” I said as I got to the car to let her know to get down and come in.

“ Sure you checked? valuables? Your safe? Nothing is missing?” She threw every question at me.

“ yes Ann I checked, everything is fine, maybe some stray pets or the wind might have pushed it open” I said, hoping it would assure her.

“Okay oooff, I was worried there for a minute, thank you Williams you've really been helping me with this, I couldn't do it without I hope when we are done you can finally find a woman perfect for you” she said breaking me down to my feet she has never thought of us working out? I was the only one fantasizing us?

I was going to open up to her at our wedding. I was going to make her know this could work. For a minute I realized I had fallen in love with Ann, this time deeper than the last time.