Chapter 5

　　Ann in her room couldn't contain her excitement.

　　In just few days she was going to be Mrs Richard, the greatest Richard group.

　　There was nothing her mother would not do for her.

　　Going as far as bringing her crush close to her, she could never love her less.

　　She got out of her room to stumble upon sulking parents.

　　She halted in her steps as well when the news presented itself to her.

　　Williams Kingston's group had withdrawn its 40% shares from the company, making them almost rock bottom.

　　Henry paced up and down while Sarah fumed with so much anger.

　　If only she could lay her hand on Bella, she would really strangle her to death. Her blood boiled in rage.

　　Then Henry's phone beeped which he picked up almost immediately.

　　He snarled at the ID, his face held anger.

　　"Why then are you calling? You've done your worst."

　　Ethan laughed hysterically from the other end.

　　"This can't be my worst, for disgracing me in front of my family like that, my worst is yet to come,"

　　Henry remained glued to the spot.

　　"Except,"

　　He flared up.

　　"Except what?"

　　"That I finally married her to clear off my name in front of my family,"

　　"Your daughter made me seem like a loser y'know? The Only solution is to clear it, else your family is doomed."

　　Then the phone hung up, leaving Henry in distress.

　　His breath sprang off and he suddenly slumped into the chair.

　　"Father!" Ann screamed, both rushing to his side.

　　"Ann, you're the only hope now, you must be with that man your mum suggested."

　　The panic on her face was replaced with a smile immediately.

　　"Yes Father, he's the one I want, Austin Richard." She smiled brightly.

　　"Can't you see Ethan would not stop until he ruined us? This is a must now, Bella has to marry Ethan."

　　"Mum, Austin is very powerful too, he would sort this out, you can leave the bitch to her lowlife now."

　　"Yes she is a loser, as always, but Williams Kingston's group would not back down easily, hence she would have to marry him by any means."

　　"Such a stupid girl!"

　　She snapped and walked out in anger.

　　Just like every other time, Austin stayed hunched over his laptop, and his eyes darted to Bella now and then.

　　Then his phone suddenly beeped with a message,

　　"You'd better get yourself here, else I would never see that doctor of yours again."

　　His forehead creased, his jaw clenched together and a vein almost popped out of his neck.

　　Why was everybody threatening him with their health?

　　He dialed the number.

　　"I'll be there in some seconds, take your medications." He muttered and hung up.

　　He never wanted to leave Bella till she recovered but now,

　　His eyes held guilt, his finger folded into a tight fist as he walked slowly to Bella's bed.

　　He delicately tucked her hair to one side of her ears.

　　"I'll be right back." He muttered and called Dave to take over.

　　But then Dave already knew he was going out and couldn't wait to stay close to Bella.

　　He swiftly scrambled to her side.

　　"You just hang in there, I'll take you away soon." He whispered as he held her hand.

　　"Just wake up already, please?" He muttered delicately.

　　As though Bella had been listening to him,

　　Her hand flickered.

　　Her legs shook vigorously and slowly, her eyes opened, giving her a blurry vision.

　　"Father.." She muttered almost in whispers.

　　Since she slipped into a coma after her encounter with her stepmother, her father had never visited.

　　Dave shook vigorously with his eyes almost popping out.

　　He sprang on the telephone immediately dialing the numbers.

　　"Get in now! She's awake." He yelled while calling the doctors

　　Her body aches so badly, she winces in pain.

　　"Why.. why.." She tried to speak, but her voice was husky and strained from not talking for so many days.

　　"Yes.. please speak." Dave urged her.

　　"Why am I still here? Where is he? Your boss?"

　　His eyes became darker.

　　"He has a name." He muttered, his hot breath laced with his voice.

　　"He's gone for some business."

　　"You see ..."

　　He tried to talk but the nurses with the doctor trooped in and interrupted him.

　　__

　　With her eyes darting everywhere, a smile plastered on her lips.

　　Inside her stomach was in turmoil, she couldn't figure out this man.

　　Someone she had crushed on for a very long time.

　　His face was dangerously cold and deadly, far from what she used to see on TV.

　　His cold Aura made her palms drip sweat.

　　His eyes held nothing but darkness.

　　"How.. how about we introduce ourselves? I'm Ann.. and I know you're Austin, the famous Austin." She mustered up her courage, but all she got was a sarcastic look from Austin.

　　He scoffed and cleared his throat.

　　"Look here, I have a wife and I don't want to see you here ever again,"

　　He flinched when his mother barged in on them.

　　She snarled at him.

　　"Is that how you treat your guest? Your wife to be?"

　　His eyes darted everywhere and he suddenly stood up.

　　"I'm tired of your threats!"

　　He breathed in.

　　"Mother, I'm married now, you don't need all this set up anymore."

　　"I heard about it son, from your grandfather, I know it's a fake."

　　His brows flared up.

　　"Mum!"

　　"Don't you want a real marriage? You're labelled a g!y among the business tycoons, don't you want to clear it off? Of course, you can't show the media a fake wife to clear such a rumor."

　　He folded his fist so tight, his jaw clenched together, and he left the house at once.

　　"You're my daughter-in-law and that's final." Mrs Beth smiled brightly at Ann.

　　__

　　When Austin got to the hospital, he was only met with angry Dave and an empty bed.

　　His frown deepened.

　　"Where's she!"

　　Dave breathed heavily.

　　"Some lady claiming to be her parents, had her discharged."

　　"Sh!t And you let that happen!"

　　"Because I figured she is not even who we thought."

　　"How could you say that, can't you see it?"

　　"Austin, you know Isa used to have only one parent, her mum! How come some people are here today claiming to be her parents, and the lady looks nothing like her mother!" Dave explained.

　　Even though he was yet to completely find out why she had two parents now, he was still sure it was Isa, but he was never going to let Austin have her.

　　"Dad, I said I'm not going with you! I'm married now!" Austin running to the elevator suddenly halted.

　　"I'm also here, how can you say that, my disappeared bride?" Ethan emerged from a corner.

　　"It's time to go home now."

　　"Get your hands off her!" Austin yelled, his hot breath spreading chaos.

　　When Bella saw him, her eyes glittered in appreciation, and she immediately ran up to his side.

　　"Let's go." He swiftly held her hand.

　　"Haha, Young bastard, you're trespassing," Ethan muttered with a stilled voice that could send shivers down anyone's spine but Austin.

　　"You heard him, right? You've seen him and I'm sure you wouldn't want to mess around with him, now leave my daughter alone and get lost." Sarah stamped.