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Lahat ng Kabanata ng The CEO'S SECRET BRIDE : Kabanata 61 - Kabanata 70

200 Kabanata

Chapter 61 : Anchor

Fred turned the ignition key. With a steady low purr that filled the night's silence the engine roared to life. He shifted into reverse and backed out of the long immaculate driveway slowly. In his rearview mirror, the mansion, a symbol of riches and authority, grew smaller. With the streetlights fading into specks of light, he turned left onto the main road.Even though the city was asleep, his mind was racing with ideas and feelings. He made an effort to concentrate on the road, the well-known curves and the deserted streets. However, his mind kept returning to her. He remembered her standing in front of the car, her face lit by the porch light, a look of resolve replacing the tears. He remembered her in Carson's arms, her head resting on his chest and her hands encircling his waist. There was a tiny unwanted stab of jealousy that he felt. Deep inside, he pushed it down and stored everything he didn't want to feel. He had to be her friend. Just that. The silence in the car was d

Chapter 62 : An Alternative Route

Holding Annabell’s hand Carson's touch was firm and comforting. They made their way to the mansion door by walking up the cobblestone path. His hand exuded warmth despite the cool air. Without a sound, the enormous doors opened. He moved aside to let her in first. The marble floors in the grand foyer shone in the soft light from the chandeliers which were dimly lit. Their footsteps were the only sound to break the dense silence. Without letting go of her hand, he guided her through the foyer. She gave him a quick glance following the lines of weariness on his face. She had never seen him appear older, different and somehow more genuine before. An unguarded vulnerability had taken the place of the carefree exterior. They stopped in the center of the foyer. His intense gaze turned to her. In a low whisper he said “I'm so sorry Ana. For everything… I sincerely apologize. For not defending you, for allowing my mom to rule me and then to cause you pain.”Annabel's throat constricted.

CHAPTER 63 : An Alternate Path

“I… want to go with you.” Annabel said, her voice piercing the quiet tension with a gentle confident murmur. Carson's face lit up with relief. With a firm comforting squeeze he assured her of his support. “Are you sure?We can do this tomorrow.” She straightened her back and said “No.This is what we'll do now. We'll work together on it.”He didn't dispute. For the first time in a long time he just smiled, a sincere appreciative smile. They turned away from the opulent entrance hall and started to walk after exchanging glances and making a silent pledge of support. Their slow, rhythmic footsteps reverberated on the marble as they got closer to the library. The woman who had caused so much of their past suffering was getting closer to them with every step. The library was a large quiet room. The double doors were open allowing a small amount of warm buttery light to enter the foyer. They pushed them open.The smell of old paper and polished wood filled the air making it feel heavy.

Chapter 64 : Unanswered Calls

Annabel felt the physical weight of her promise to Victoria. In the wing of the mansion that was now hers, she sat on the edge of the big strange bed. As he guided her to the room Carson's touch had served as a silent source of solace. Despite its beauty, the room felt chilly like a gilded cage that was about to close. The tiny screen of her phone, a lighthouse of the world beyond these walls, was what Annabel reached for. She hovered her thumb over the call button as she saw Fred's contact name. She needed to hear his voice, she knew he was a friend she could rely on. She put the phone to her ear and pressed the button. The call went straight to his voicemail even though it had connected. “This is Fred.”He spoke in an overly upbeat tone “Leave a message and I'll get back to you.” It sounded like a betrayal. She didn't leave a message before hanging up. She gave it another go. No response. A third attempt was made. The outcome was the same.She felt a knot of anxiety tighten.“W

Chapter 65 : Legacy's burden

The car arrived at a tall glass monolith that cut through the skyline of the city. It was chilly and gray, a stronghold of business and a tribute to the family name Carson’s lungs were sharply shocked by the crisp autumn air as he stepped outside. He felt his shoulders tighten beneath the fitted suit Victoria had insisted he wear as the sun reflected off the polished asphalt. Although it was a second skin and fit perfectly it felt confining. Victoria moved smoothly out of the back seat, her motions precise and well-honed. There was a grin already there as smooth as the structure. Her eyes glowed with an almost predatory delight as she turned to face him. “Welcome to your future, son.” She said in a low purr. He forced a feeble smile. “Make sure your tie is straight. Some very significant people are going to meet you soon.” She told him.The lobby was a steel and marble cathedral inside. The silent productive energy of hundreds of people moving with purpose filled the air. With

Chapter 66 : Separate

There was a soft, final click as the front door closed. The car's engine began to hum a steady low drone that eventually faded away. Standing in the grand foyer, Annabel felt the stillness of the enormous house descend upon her like a dense fog. Its emptiness was palpable as the air felt heavy and the room appeared to grow. Carson and Victoria had left her behind and headed to the city where Carson would be introduced to a world of shareholders and boardrooms that he had no prior knowledge of. She was by herself. Her footsteps on the marble floor were the only sound to break the silence. Every step was like a single beat in a song she didn't know the words to. Returning to the wing that was now hers, she had to admit it was lovely. High ceilings and a large window overlooking a well-kept lawn made up the enormous space. All of the furniture was antique and the bed was a four-poster covered in a heavy thick quilt. Although the room was fit for a queen, Annabel felt as though she w

Chapter 67 : The Test Legacy

With a sigh of hope, Annabel grabbed the doorknob. Her thoughts had been filled with the image of Carson possibly home early, his smile a warm counterbalance to the chill of the day because the knock had been so subtle and purposeful. A glimmer of happiness ignited in her chest as her fingers encircled the chilly brass. With a gentle click that reverberated throughout the quiet hallway she yanked the heavy door open. Her heart sank. It wasn't Carson. Standing in the doorway was a woman whose presence was as stiff and uncompromising as the tall oak trees that bordered the drive. Her uniform, a plain black dress with a white apron tied at the waist exuded authority and a lack of individuality. Her eyes were a cool steady gray that was neither warm nor welcoming and her face was a mask of courteous indifference. She wasn't smiling . She was not required to. Her chin level and shoulders back stance spoke for her. She had a silver tray in her hands and one folded napkin on it. The c

Chapter 68 : The House's Weight

The kitchen was a sleek marble-and-stainless-steel space. It was not a place for clumsy happy cooking rather it was a clean professional setting. With an uncomfortably tied white apron around her waist, Annabel stood in the middle. It had a costume-like feel. A sink full of soiled pots was indicated by the chef a strong man with a permanently stern face. “Start there.”he ordered in a deep rumbling voice. “It must all be immaculate. Next are the blades. They should be polished as opposed to merely cleaned. I’ll be watching.” He turned away without waiting for a response, disappearing into a walk-in pantry. Annabel inhaled deeply. She dipped her hands into the hot soapy water. The first pot was heavy and had a stubborn residue coating on it. Her hands were not used to the weight and size of the professional-grade cookware and her movements were awkward. A tiny drop of water fell onto the spotless floor and she flinched reaching for a cloth to quickly wipe it off. Her shoulders sta

Chapter 69 : The dreadful silence

A final stop to the day's tiring drama was the bedroom door clicking shut. Annabel was lying under the silk comforter like a still figure. Her body tensed with a quiet simmering tension and she continued to squeeze her eyes tightly. On the dresser she heard a jacket being peeled off and the gentle clink of keys striking a wooden dish. As he approached, the air in the room changed still heavy with the smell of Carson's day—old leather paper and a hint of cologne. On the bed's edge a warm weight fell. She sensed the mattress dip and the slight temperature change. As he leaned over his soft recognizable breath drifted across her face. His voice was a low murmur, more of a question than an order “Annabel?” She didn't move. Like a statue, her breathing stayed steady and practiced. Behind her closed eyelids hot treacherous tears poured. She felt their prickle and the pain of containing them but one of them managed to get away and followed a silent blazing trail down her temple and int

Chapter 70 : A chilly morning

Pale and uncertain, the first rays of morning light cut through the thick curtains.Instead of the soft rustle of the man next to her, Annabel's eyes opened to reveal a blank room. The sheets were pulled smooth as though they had never been used and the pillow beside hers was new. She felt a sudden coldness in her stomach, a physical weight that reflected the bed's emptiness. The silk comforter slipped off her shoulders as she slowly sat up. The area where he had been just an hour earlier was now cold after she ran her hand over the cool sheet. She had sobbed herself to sleep, her silent sobs a last-ditch effort to erase the guilt and fatigue of the previous day. He had disappeared now. She was alone in the large, quiet house, a lone dejected figure in a sea of luxury while he had gone to work. She felt a new wave of sadness. There was a profound, subdued sadness that was unrelated to the actual location. It was the sadness of being abandoned misinterpreted and bearing the burden

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