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“It is late.” Annabelle stood, stretched, and then followed him inside. She placed her glass in the sink and fell into step beside him as they walked the hallway. “Are you still enjoying being retired?”
“I’ve had my moments when I feel bored, but for the most part, I’m enjoying the time off.”
“Hmm, I think I could find a spot for you at the company, part time, if you’re interested,” Annabelle said.
Clifton laughed and placed an arm around her shoulders. “Is that right?”
“I don’t know if you know, but I’m the CEO now. I can make it happen. Submit your resume to my assistant, and I’ll see what I can do.”
They both chuckled as they climbed the stairs.
Halfway up, the doorbell rang, and Annabelle paused. Her father was a few steps below her.
“Are you expecting company?” she asked.
“Definitely not.”
All the in-home staff had retired to bed, and the ones who lived off the property had left hours ago, so Clifton descended the staircase and went to the door. He peered out the beveled glass to the left and then cast a glance over his shoulder at Annabelle.
Her chest tightened. “Who is it?” she asked in a quiet voice, though she had already guessed.
Her father opened the door, and Dante stood outside in the same clothes he had on when he arrived at home hours before. The only difference was the determined expression on his face. He locked eyes with Annabelle.
“Good evening, Clifton,” he said, continuing to hold her gaze. “I’ve come for my wife.”
* * *
The car ridehome was held in complete silence. Dante was obviously angry, and Annabelle didn’t want to say a word for fear of setting him off. She barely wanted to breathe. She sat close to the door, her fingers clenched together in her lap. She regretted leaving him at home, but there was nothing she could do about that now.
Dante pulled into the four-car garage and led the way into the house. He didn’t say a word all the way up the stairs to their bedroom, where she finally couldn’t stand the silent treatment anymore and spoke.
“I know you’re angry with me, but I need to explain my side?—”
He pointed a finger at her. “No. You do not talk now. I talk and you listen.”
Annabelle fell silent and watched him pace the room.
“You are an entitled, spoiled brat.”
“Wait a minute, that’s not?—”
He stopped. “You can talk after I’m finished,” he said, voice hard and brooking no argument.
Fuming, Annabelle crossed her arms over her chest and clamped her lips shut but made sure to glare at him so he’d know how upset she was.
“I know I was late,” Dante began, “and I should have called, but close to the end of the day, I found out that Nolson was moving forward with the sale, with someone else. Then I come home, and you attack me. I wanted to explain myself, but instead of being patient and understanding, you ran off to Daddy again instead of staying and working things out. And we should be working things out. At least that’s what I think. I’ve done everything I can think of to show you how much I care about you, but it doesn’t seem to be enough. I thought we were doing better, but maybe this marriage isn’t what you want. The ring, the house, the dating, trips. Anything you want, I can give you, but you ran home again. Tell me, Anna. Do you want this life with me or not? Because maybe I’ve been a fool all along, and I’m not the man you want.”
Annabelle opened her mouth to speak and then quickly closed it, waiting for him to say everything he needed to say.
“I’m finished,” he said.
“I do want this—all of it, with you. I-I got upset. I didn’t leave you, but I needed space. When you didn’t come home and we fought, it seemed like we were making the same mistakes again. We were having the same problems, and maybe it’s because… I’m not sure whatyouwant, Dante.”
“What do you mean you don’t know what I want? I want you! I want us to be together. I don’t want a divorce in eight months. I want our marriage to work because I love you!”
Annabelle drew in a sharp breath. “You… you do?”
“Isn’t it obvious? How could you doubt that I love you?”
