Love Struck (The Taylor Brothers Book 4)

"You aren't going anywhere, Anna. It's an order. I don't want everyone pointing a finger at me for throwing my brother's family out," said uncle Edward. "Emily apologize immediately and take back your words. If you don't, the doors of this house will close for you, forever," said her uncle sternly making her aunt sob.

"I'm sorry Annalise. I take back my words, " she said with tears in her eyes.

"Fine, I won't leave now but once I'm married to Colton, my siblings and I will break all contacts with you," said Annalise.

"Please don't speak like that Anna. Mom has apologized, hasn't she?" said Erik.

"You might have forgiven her but I haven't. I know that she'd been forced to take back her words but this will happen again. It's better that we leave," said Annalise.

"No one's forcing you to marry Colton if you don't want to," said her uncle.

"I will marry Colton. That's the only way I'll get out of here. I'm tired of all this. I'm tired of all of you. For one month, aunt Emily has been misbehaving with me yet none of you came forward and stopped her. She left home and everyone started ignoring us like we were at fault. Where were you then uncle Edward? If you had put your foot down before, she'd never have got a chance to blackmail me in the first place. I'm done with you all. You're welcome to enjoy my grandfather's money. We want nothing of it. No wonder my parents never kept any relationship with you," said Annalise, calmly. She was at her wits end and really wanted to be alone.

"And one more thing. Till the wedding happens, I don't want any of you to come into my room, except Alexis and Aries of course. No fake concerns please, " Annalise said harshly and then turned her back towards everyone and lay down on her side. She had no idea from where she found so much strength from but for the sake of her siblings, she had to be strong. Alexis closed the door after everyone left and came around to sit beside Annalise, laying her head on her chest. Aries climbed onto the bed and lay down beside her, hugging her. They cuddled in that position for a long time. No one spoke a word, they were all too choked with emotions to be able to say a word.

"Let me get you something to eat, Anna. You haven't eaten since last night," said Alexis. Annalise shook her head.

"I'm already full. I can't eat anything," she said quietly.

"You didn't tell us what Nelson said last night?" Asked Aries, a little worried by now.

"I didn't get to talk to him," said Annalise, as a tear fell from her eye, then another and another. She had no control over her tears now.

"Anna, don't cry. You don't really have to marry Colton, " said Alexis, wiping her tears away. "You can marry Nelson and we'll all live happily together." Annalise sobbed and covered her face with her hands.

"That can never happen, Alex, " she said brokenly.

"Why can't it happen? Just don't marry Colton, marry Nelson," said Aries.

"It's not that simple. Nelson hasn't asked me to marry him. Neither has he asked me to be his girlfriend. He already likes someone else who's expecting his baby," she told them. They were children and she couldn't elaborate further. Alexis and Aries gaped at her, obviously shocked by what she told them.

"I'm sure there is some misunderstanding. Nelson loves you Anna," argued Alexis.

"No, I saw him with another girl and she was telling him that she was expecting his baby. They kissed too," Annalise was compelled to tell them. They were too shocked to answer. They cuddled her to comfort her but the tears wouldn't stop. Last night she had lost consciousness and then with the high fever, her mind had been to numb with shock to feel a thing. She had just gained consciousness when her aunt dashed in and she was forced to react to her so-called family. Now that realization struck, Annalise felt deceived and hurt. Her heart couldn't take in the pain anymore. How can everything they shared together be fake? Didn't Nelson feel anything for her? How could he have a physical relationship with another girl behind her back? Wasn't she good enough for him?

"I'm okay, " she told her siblings. "You'll go and eat breakfast. "

"Are you sure, Anna? I'll get you your breakfast, " said Aries, unsure of how to comfort his sister.

"Yes," said Annalise. She needed to be alone for sometime.

After the children left, Annalise sat down with her mobile phone and emailed her resignation to Henry sir for the final time. She would never return to the restaurant any more. She realized why Nelson never committed himself to her.

It was nearly 10 o'clock when Nelson woke up. His fever had returned last night after returning from Carter's disastrous party. He wasn't going in the first place but Carter himself arrived to whisk him away for the cake cutting.

Beginning of flashback

After the cake cutting, he had just gone to Carter's en-suite to wash the cake smear from his tee shirt when to his utter horror, he was attacked by Alanis. He was too stunned to react and it was only when she told him she was pregnant with his child did he come to his senses.

"How dare you lie? I have seen you for the last two years. Then how the f*ck are you pregnant with my child?" He yelled, his hands clenched into fists as he punched the wall near him. He opened the door and stormed out of the room with Alanis following him, begging him to listen to her. "Carter? How can you invite this bitch here?" Yelled Nelson, wild with fury. The music stopped and everyone stared at him with shock. Carter strode towards him with a worried look on his face. He glared at Alanis. Levi too joined them hearing the commotion.

"How did you get in, Alanis? I don't remember having invited you or your brother?" Demanded Carter.

"I knew I would find Nelson here. I heard Adam say that it was your birthday today. So I came to talk to him," she said, looking at the crowd watching the drama.

"Get out just now before I insult you," said Carter. Alanis ran out of the house but at the door, she looked straight at Nelson.

"I have proof of this. I won't let this go so easily, " she said and left. Nelson, Levi and Carter stared at one another. What proof could she possibly have?

"Okzy everyone, back to partying, " said Levi with a clap. Everyone went back to what they were doing as if nothing happened.

"Told you that she wouldn't let this go so easily, " said Levi as they stood together, discussing what happened. Nelson returned home as he wasn't feeling very well. He took his medication and went to bed.

Flashback

Nelson went downstairs and sat at the breakfast table with his ma. Nick and his dad hadnt joined them yet. "Good morning, sweetie. How are you feeling now?" She asked with concern.

"Better ma. Last night the fever came back real bad," he told her.

"Did you take your medicine?" Asked his ma. Nelson nodded. "I think you need to show a doctor now, " advised his ma.

"No need ma. Fever stays for at least three days. It should go away today," said Nelson with a shrug. "I need to report to work too," he said, eating his milk and cereal which his ma gave him.

"No you're not going to work today," said his ma sternly.

"I'm going crazy ma. I haven't met Alise for days," wailed Nelson. His ma looked at him with surprise.

"Of course you did. Last night she went to Carter's house to see you?" Said his ma. Nelson gaped at his ma. He couldn't understand what she was saying.

"No, she didn't. I didn't see her," said Nelson with confusion evident on his face.

"She came here looking for you and when I informed her that you were at Carter's house, she drove over to meet you there. She said she needed to see you," said his ma. Nelson was horrified hearing his ma's words.

"When did she come over, ma?" He asked in a small voice.

"Twenty minutes after you left, " said his ma. The spoon fell from his hand in shock. That was the time when Alanis had come over too. He got up from his chair in a daze.

"Where are you going, Nel? Finish your food first, " said his ma looking at him with worry.

"Later ma, " he said and walked out of the front door. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him. He reached Carter's door and rang his doorbell. Carter's cousin sister, Ciara opened the door. "Where's Carter?" He asked her, barging into the house.

"Still asleep, dude. So what's the most popular guy doing here so early in the morning?" She asked with a grin.

"Popular? Who's popular?" Asked Nelson irritated by her remark. She was too sarcastic and Nelson hardly spoke to her.

"You, who else," said Ciara.

"Stop it Ciara. I'm the least popular guy around, " he said, dashing off to the staircase.

"C'mon, a guy who had two hot girls looking for him last night couldn't be that bad, huh?" Asked Ciara with a taunting smile. Nelson's face fell. Two girls? One was Alanis and the other?