All Chapters of The CEO'S SECRET BRIDE : Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Annabel stared confusedly as she pushed the heavy oak door open and a loud protest reverberated through the silent house. The laughter abruptly stopped. It died with the sound of silverware on porcelain, leaving a silence that was much thicker and more oppressive than the one that had come before. Annabel's throat tightened with a hot breath. As she stood motionless in the doorway, her mind attempted to understand the scene that was being presented to her. A cup of what appeared to be herbal tea was set down in front of Victoria who was seated at the head of the polished mahogany table. Her attention was diverted by Carson though. His head was lowered as though in silent reflection and he sat opposite his mother with his shoulders slightly bent. On the tabletop, his left hand was held loosely. He was holding a woman's hand. Her nails were the ideal shade of nude and her fingers were long and thin. Annabel looked up after the arm and she saw a beautiful face surrounded by a casca

The name "Fred" flashed on the screen of her phone, and Annabel's heart skipped a beat. She snatched the device from the bed, a desperate, childish hope blooming in her chest. His voice, that steady, familiar sound, cut through the suffocating silence of the room."Hello? Annabel?""Fred!" The word burst from her, a mixture of relief, excitement, and pent-up misery. "Oh, Fred, thank God."A short pause followed, a hesitation that felt like an eternity."Annabel, is everything okay?" His voice was guarded, a stark contrast to her frantic relief."I’ve been calling you," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I've been calling for an hour. Why weren’t you answering?"Another moment of silence stretched between them, thick with an unspoken weight. Annabel could hear a faint shuffling sound on his end of the line, as if he were shifting uncomfortably."I was at work," he finally said, the words coming out a little too quickly. "I... I had my ringer off."His explanation felt hollow, b

Annabel blinked against the stark white intrusion of the room's light. The grit from her dried tears was still there as she rubbed her eyes. A thick dull ache throbbed behind her temples making her head feel heavy. The bed spread was a tangled knot at the foot of the mattress, the room was a complete mess and on the nightstand, a single crumpled piece of tissue was lying like a tiny white ghost. With the phone still firmly grasped in her hand, she had fallen asleep sometime in the evening. Once more she was roused from the daze of her sleep by the soft tentative tap of the knock. With a moan, her muscles protested as she slowly forced herself off the bed. Her heart fell when she saw herself in the full-length mirror. Her eyes were red-rimmed and swollen her silk pajama top was wrinkled and her hair was a wild tangle around her shoulders. She looked like a ghost, a pale replica of the girl she once was. In a fruitless attempt to restore some dignity, she smoothed her dress before

The air was bathed in a golden glow as the morning sun slanted through the tall windows. A profound silence descended upon the mansion, a stillness that felt different from the typical serene quiet. It was as quiet as the prelude to a storm heavy and expectant. The events of the previous night and the tense conversation with Carson had been replayed in Annabel's mind as she slept fitfully. The idea of eating still made her stomach churn. The tray of toast and eggs on the table by the window was unattended by her. The stifling silence became unbearable after some time. With the crumpled tissues and the ghosts of her tears, Annabel needed to get up, breathe and be somewhere else. After smoothing her wrinkled silk pajamas and running her fingers through her tangled hair she left her room on tiptoe, her bare feet silent on the soft hallway carpet. She did not know her destination. Perhaps the gardens. All she needed was a place to get away. There was a low murmur of voices coming fr

The delicate peace that Annabel and Troy had found was abruptly broken when the door of her room slowly opened in a silent ominous act. With a snap of their heads, Annabel and Troy released their embrace. The bright light of the hallway framed a figure standing in the doorway. Carson. His jaw was tight his eyes were dark pools of rage and his face was a mask of icy rage. Bridget stood next to him with a broad smile on her face. Annabel felt her heart sink. She wanted to disappear into the ground and escape this oppressive reality. From her to Troy and back again Carson's eyes shifted. The warmth and affection she had grown accustomed to were absent from his eyes. They were acerbic and hostile. In sharp contrast to the melodic tone he typically employed with her his voice was low and menacing as he asked “What is this Annabel?”Annabel felt a surge of confusion. What did he mean? She opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out. With mock sympathy in her voice Bridget t