Chapter 3 - Shattered
"Long after I've given up, my heart still searches for you without your permission." - Rudy Francisco
Stefan's POV
Gran was very happy with us and I could see it in her eyes that she wanted me and Rosy to always be together. I know it was impossible, but I just didn't have the courage to face it. It was strange that I had never been so happy in all my twenty-four years of life as I was now with Rosy. She didn't need to make any effort at all. A little smile or a moment with her was enough to have me in an eternal state of bliss. She was strangely oblivious to the effect he had on me, and that endeared her more to me. It seemed strange that a mere teenage girl had won my heart more than anyone else I knew. I just wished that I had met her before! I just wished that my life wasn't such a complicated mess as it was now! What I would do to be with her forever! I could die to just see a smile on her face.
After a fortnight of happiness with Rosy, reality struck, and I came out of my dreamland, with a phone call from my dad, asking me to return immediately as Claudia had gone into labor and had been admitted to the hospital, and would deliver the baby soon. I felt guilty for having completely forgotten about Claudia and my messy, sh*tty life. I immediately packed up my stuff and paid Gran a visit before leaving for New York.
Gran was alone in her room, lying down and reading a magazine. She sat up when she saw me and smiled. It was a sad smile, as if she knew I was leaving. Maybe dad had informed her before calling me up.
"Stefan, are you leaving?" She asked, keeping the magazine down and giving me all her attention.
"Yes Gran, dad called. Claudia is admitted. She's gone into labor," I answered with a poker face. I knew gran hated Claudia as did everyone else, but she was the bitter truth of my life. My mistake!
"What about Anna, Stefan? Won't you talk to her before leaving?" Gran asked with concern. Gran knew everything about me, but that question was something I didn't have any answer to.
"Please gran, don't get your hopes up for something which is impossible," I said, frustrated that gran took up the topic which I wanted to avoid the most. However, my scowl didn't deter gran, and she prodded further.
"She likes you, Stefan. I saw the way you look at each other. Please speak to her before you leave," gran persisted. I knew that gran was very attached to Rosy, even more than she was to me, but I couldn't give her any false hopes. I didn't have the courage to face her and talk about us if there was any possibility of an 'us'.
"Gran, please understand that Annabelle is not my type. I am married to Claudia, and she is expecting a child. There is nothing between me and Annabelle and there never could be. Please let us drop the topic here," I said earnestly. I could not look at gran after uttering the harsh, absolute truth. It was the harsh reality and seeing gran's pale face made me feel like a devil. She nodded gravely and sighed and thankfully didn't prod any further.
A gasp made me look toward the door. My heart broke when I saw Annabelle's pale face, as she stood there frozen and shocked. She must have overheard every word I had said. I stood like a statue, transfixed on the spot, not knowing how to comfort her. I knew I had hurt her and maybe broken her heart as well. Would she hate me for it? It was better that she hated me. She ran out of the room and I didn't have the courage to follow her and explain myself. My life was a mess, and I knew no one could understand what I was going through. Annabelle was just a teenager and beyond my league. She was a distant dream for me, a dream which I should forget. I quietly left the mansion with Duke. That was the last time I saw Annabelle.
Annabelle's POV
My heart shattered into a million pieces when I overheard Stefan. I hadn't in my worst nightmares expected this. I felt unwanted and a burden on the Hendersons for the first time after my grandfather's death. The news devastated me since I never knew he was married, having not seen a ring on his finger. I couldn't believe it. My seventeen-year-old heart had woven dreams of a happily ever after with him, only to be painfully reminded of the reality. His words rang in my ears. I wasn't his type. It hurt me to even think about how foolish I had been to have fallen in love with him in such a brief span of time. He was the first man I ever spoke to about myself. The first to whom I had opened up. I could feel that he was equally attracted to me, just as I was to him. Was it all casual flirting? I really was too inexperienced to know. I knew I had to forget him and move on. This was the hardest reality of my life because I loved and lost the one I loved.
I flung myself onto my bed and cried my heart out till there were no tears left. I couldn't face gran and therefore stayed locked up in my room for the rest of the day, only coming down only for food. Gran left me at peace and allowed me my space. So it was a relief when my school reopened and I could keep myself busy with my studies to block out all thoughts and feelings about Stefan.