CHAPTER 4

ANN

I couldn’t believe my eyes. Louis, standing right in front of me.

“Rapunzel,” he said.

I smiled instantly.

That name, he was the only one who ever called me that. Because of how long my hair used to fall my back, something he used to play with when we were younger.

Louis was my first.

My first boyfriend, first love, and the last.

I met him when I had just turned eighteen. He was nineteen, full of dreams, full of life. Everything about him felt easy.

When he asked me to be his girlfriend, I didn’t hesitate.

But he left. The moment he got the opportunity to become a hockey player, he chose it and left me behind.

I remembered how broken I felt back then. How I cried for days, how I waited for him to come back, to explain, to say something that would make it hurt less.

He never did.

That was the moment I started hating hockey.

Because to me, it took my love away.

I almost forgot Duke was standing there until I felt his presence shift slightly beside me.

He must have been confused.

“Louis and I knew each other back in Dallas,” I said, keeping my voice simple, cutting out everything else.

“Oh,” Duke said. “He’s my uncle and my coach. My mom’s younger brother.”

“Oh.”

That was all I could say.

My eyes went back to Louis. He was still looking at me.

Like he was trying to make sure I was real.

“We need to catch up, Ann,” he said quickly. “Let me have your number. I’ll call you.”

My lips parted slightly, but no words came out.

A phone. I didn’t have one.

Every phone I had used in the past years belonged to Judge. Every line was registered under his name. Every call I made, every message, I knew he could see it.

I didn’t even know what it felt like to have something that was truly mine.

“She lost her phone,” Duke said smoothly, stepping in before I could struggle through it. “You can come by later at the house if you want to see her. We need to go now.”

I exhaled quietly.

“See you later,” Duke added.

And just like that, we were walking away.

“Thank you,” I said the moment we got into the car.

“It’s nothing,” Duke replied. “We’ll get you a new phone. And a line.”

I nodded, a small smile forming on my lips.

I tapped my foot lightly, unable to stop the quiet excitement building inside me.

This is what freedom feels like. Even the air felt different.

The next stop was the shopping mall.

I stood quietly as Duke picked out dresses and shoes, moving from one rack to another. He seems to know what he was doing.

“You’re not picking anything, Ann,” he said after a while. “You don’t like the dresses?”

“Huh?” I blinked. “Was I supposed to pick something?”

He frowned slightly.

“Yes. Pick anything you like. As many as you want. We’ll be going out more often for work.”

Anything I like.

The words echoed in my head. For a second, I just stood there.

My chest tightened, and before I could stop it, tears gathered in my eyes.

I quickly wiped them away before anyone noticed.

Finally, I get to choose.

I moved slowly at first, my fingers brushing against fabrics; I was afraid someone would stop me.

Then I started picking. Not the long dresses. Anything but that.

I reached for shorter ones, lighter ones. I picked heels. Judge used to hate when I wore them.

He said they made my legs too noticeable. That some men would look, and it would attract attention.

I almost smiled at the thought.

I don’t even know if I still remember how to walk in them.

But this life? I’m owning it.

Duke paid for everything without saying a word, and we left while someone loaded the bags into the car.

The next stop was the salon.

The stylist worked quietly. I watched through the mirror as she slowly let my hair loose.

It fell down my back; the way it used to be before I got married.

The room went quiet for a second.

I could see the look of admiration and surprise on their faces.

Duke smiled at me, and that was all the reassurance I needed.t.

“Your hair is beautiful,” he said. “Now I understand why my uncle called you Rapunzel.”

I smiled softly.

“Thank you.”

Later that night, Duke and I sat on a bench, facing the water.

The city lights reflected across it.

I scooped another spoonful of ice cream into my mouth, enjoying its simple sweetness.

Everything felt peaceful.

“You know,” I said lightly, “if I ever had a younger brother, I would want it to be you.”

He turned to me immediately.

“What?” he said. “What happened to ‘if I had to choose a husband, it would be you’?”

I laughed.

“That was funny,” I said, shaking my head. “Thank you for everything. You’ve given my life a whole new meaning in such a short time.”

We both went quiet after that. Just watching the water.

Then he cleared his throat.

“Ann, can I ask you something? It’s personal. You don’t have to answer.”

I turned to him.

“You can ask. I don’t mind.”

He hesitated. I could see it.

The way he was trying to find the right words.

“Duke,” I said gently, “I won’t mind. Just say it.”

He exhaled.

“You haven’t mentioned anything about a child with your husband.”

My expression dropped instantly.

“We didn’t have one,” I said.

I paused for a second. Then added, quietly.

“That’s because I’m barren. My womb is damaged. I can’t carry a child.”