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She was his for life.
Or at least that was what she thought was true – until she received a call from Fredericka.
****
EVERY DAY HAD BECOMEa battle of fear for Marcus, a fight to keep terror from strangling him. Every morning he would wake up from a nightmare he couldn’t remember the details of. All he knew it had to do with losing her, and it would cause him to search for her—-
And every day, she would be there, by his side, her eyes, her lips, her hands – even the way her heart beat–telling Marcus that she loved him, and she would never leave him.
He wanted to believe her.
He wished he could believe her.
But something was stopping him, and he just wished he could figure out what it was.
Whenever Marcus had to leave the house, the trip back home was hell, and today wasn’t any different. His hands were clammy as he tightened his grip on the flowers he had made a quick run to town for. It was a rare variety of tulips, notoriously hard to grow, and the instant Marcus learned about a local garden having grown it successfully, he knew he had to get some for his wife.
The billionaire’s chest tightened at the thought.
His wife.
Could he really think of Anneke as his wife now?
Fear continued to threaten to choke him from within. It made him feel foolish, but he couldn’t help it. When he opened the door to her bedroom, it was completely dark – like it always was.
She had taken to playing a game of hide-and-seek with him whenever he came back from a trip to town. Sometimes, she would be hiding behind the couch. Other times, she would be hiding under the writing desk, the balcony, behind the door.
But she would always be there, waiting to surprise him and welcome him with the loveliest smile and the loveliest words.
Welcome home, my love.
And today would be the same. He had to believe that.
Taking a deep breath, he said out loud, “Anneke?”
Silence answered him back, but this, too, was just like before.
For the first few minutes, Marcus tried looking for her in the dark, going through her usual hiding spots, one by one. But he still couldn’t find her, and he was finally forced to switch the lights open.
Her bedroom was completely empty, and a ball of icy fear began to grow inside of him.
“Anneke.” His voice was tight. “Come out.”
But there was still nothing.
He ran back down the stairs, and this time the butler was waiting for him below, a stoic look on the older man’s face.
“A letter for you, sir.”
Marcus’ fingers shook as he took the letter from the butler. He unfolded the paper, and there were only two words written on it.
I know.
Two words. Two simple words. Two painful words.
And just like that Marcus realized that thing he had felt was missing, what he had forgotten all along – until now. It was stupidity biting him in the ass, and it almost felt like the past mocking him for daring to want something he shouldn’t even have dared to dream of.
Was this all he deserved – a mere taste of love – before fate was to steal it away again, in punishment for all his sins?
