Mr. and Mrs. Knight

A week later…..

Anna's car was heading towards a deserted location. She was seated at the backseat in a daze. Her mind was blank unlike other times. She stared outside the window but her heart was in a pit. The serene view outside didn't provide the tranquility that her heart was looking for. Her life was never easy with the loses that she suffered in the past but she never thought to be it like that where she found difficult to breathe anymore. Unlike other times, her eyes were empty with no traces of tears. Her heart was beating as a mere organ to keep her alive but she felt nothing inside it. Every single day of the past week gave her an immense heart ache that she was unable to bear anymore. So, she shut herself from everyone and everything around her. She decided to stay numb against the pain in her heart that seemed to be never ending. She knew that she couldn't move like that as there were still many things that she wanted to do. She wanted to cry to ease her pain and numbness but it seemed as if her tears were too stubborn. They just wouldn't come.

She didn't realize that the car stopped. She came out of her reverie when the chauffeur opened her door and informed that they had reached their destination. Without uttering a word, she got out of the car and trailed on the soils that supported the beginning of new lives – new spring growth, white bells and green wands of grasses. The place which seemed to be spooky to others always amused her as it could give the feel of death and life simultaneously.

She kept moving until her eyes rested on his name. She could hear his voice as if he was right there with her. Their memories together were the bridge to the sense of love that led her to the key to open the doors of the world beyond. She was at the graveyard. She sat on the ground and gently moved her fingers over the name engraved on the tombstone. ASHTON WATSON. She whispered his name and reflected on the moments of their everlasting bond. A bond that connected their souls but also teared her apart with the agony of separation.

He had left her alone three years back but still she couldn't disparate herself from him. There was always a connection that kept them together which she could feel even in his absence. But now, things were changed. Everything changed and for the first time in those three years, she could feel herself disconnected from him. The feeling of losing him again distressed her and a tear dripped from the corner of her eye falling over his name. Gradually, the tears burst forth like a flood that occurs in a river, spilling down her face. The muscles of her chin trembled and she looked at his name glowing under the faint warmth of the setting sun as it would soothe her pain. There was a catastrophe in her head that created a constant fear and stress of losing him and it took something out of her that she didn't know she had left to give. She felt as if she lost a part of herself again. But this time forever and it battered her soul once more, with an injury that no other person could see.

She pressed her head against his grave and said in a broken voice. "I am sorry Ashton. I am extremely sorry for not keeping up my promises. You know how the things were, right? I couldn't do anything for you. You loved me enough to give up your life and I am so despicable that I couldn't even... I am sorry love. I don't even know if I would ever get to come here again. If I would have enough courage to see you again Ashton. I am not worthy of your love. I wish instead of you I would have died that day. I don't know how long I would be able to cope up with this guilt. I am sorry….. I needed to assure myself that you are still with me. You aren't going away from me like others Ashton. I…..I need you. Even though you are far from me, you won't leave me, right? Please don't leave me like them..."

She hicupped and sobbed more. She didn't know for how long she sat there bawling miserably over everything that happened during the past week but it was too much for her to endure. She sat there unmovingly not wanting to leave him as if holding on him for her dear life. Meanwhile, it started drizzling but she sat there soaking under the rain. Her tears mixed with the rain water but her red puffy eyes were enough to describe her condition. Soon, her delicate frame drenched under the heavy rain which poured down with a roar. The cold water pierced her wet and pale skin. Her posture weakened as she let darkness consume her while she laid her head on his name as if consoling herself that he was still with her like always. The sky too had drifted into darkness with the rain still pouring down.

She didn't realize how but suddenly the rain stopped and she felt someone caressing her head. She felt herself lifted from the ground. She uttered a few words before drifting into complete darkness. "Don't leave me please."

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The next day....

Emily was standing in front of the dresser looking at the photo frame in her hand. When Jack entered the room, he saw her looking blankly at something. He went to her and kept a hand on her shoulder to bring her out of the daze she was in. She was startled but quickly managed to give him a small smile.

"Are you ready?"

"I don't know Jack."

Jack was already dressed in a classic blue tuxedo. He had hoped that he would get to see Emily ready by the time he would go to her but she wasn't at all prepared.

"Em…..The party will be starting in an hour. You are not even dressed. You have to be quick baby."

She sighed an looked down before walking towards the bed. She carefully sat on the bed still looking at the picture of her and Anna with Richard between them. The picture was clicked by Ashton. They were grinning from ear to ear while pecking Richard's cheeks from both the sides. Her eyes pooled with tears with the memory of their happy times. Jack could see how disturbed she was with the events of the past few days. He knew that no words were enough to console her at the moment but he couldn't ignore his baby's health that could deteriorate with the stress that she was going through. Besides, there were other things too which needed their attention. He went to her and sat beside.

"Em….."

She shook her head while tears streamed down her eyes.

"How would I face her Jack? She must be hating me right now. I had been so terrible to her that ….. I don't know what to do. How can I go there if I wouldn't be able to look into her eyes?"

"You have to face her some day or the other. I know things have been difficult between you two. But it's the most important day of her life and you know how much our presence matters to her. You have to there for your baby girl. She needs us."

"I'll always be with her Jack, no matter what because I need her as much as she needs me. I'll apologize for all my mistakes and I am sure she would understand, wouldn't she?"

Jack smile encouragingly. "Certainly. Now get up. You have to look extra beautiful to stand by her side today." He kissed her forehead and helped her to stand to get dressed.

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The night was extravagant with all the glory and grandeur spread amidst the dazzling lights and music across the most prestigious hotel of New York. The room was buzzing with excited chatter inside whereas there was a huge crowd of paparazzi outside, swarming to hurl the biggest news of the year. The party hall was decorated with in pristine white theme with a hint of rich pink lilies hanging in the air giving a dreamy look to the place. It was soothing and provided a tranquility to the onlookers. Although, the event was meant to be kept low key, it was exquisite and classy with the serene ambience. Everyone gathered there were profoundly waiting for the moment which they had come to witness with their own eyes. The event was uplifted with the presence of the maestros of the biggest entrepreneurs and Corporate network of New York and Seattle.

Grace and Nathan were swamped with different greetings from all the guests. They were ecstatic with the new developments around them. They knew all that happened could have been possible in better circumstances but they were still glowing in happiness as they were optimistic about things getting better with the passage of time.

Soon the buzz died down abruptly when they felt the upcoming of the most awaited thing of the night. Regan and Anna were descending down the stairs making their way to the crowd. Everyone and everything stopped around them to have a glimpse of them together.

On one side, Regan looked dapper in his sophisticated light grey tux that featured a satin edged notch lapel with a matching vest. He was poised and screamed an unapproachable aura around him that made his gorgeous features more delectable. On the other side, Anna looked dreamy like a flower fairy in her blush pink off-shoulder gown with a princess sweetheart neckline and puffy short sleeves along with a flower court train in ruffles. Her delicate features with the flowers embellished on her gown made her look like an angel with her exquisite personality and innocence. She had her hand locked around Regan's arm and it seemed as if they were a perfect match for each other. However daunting Regan was, he seemed to be tamed in Anna's presence which made him less intimidating. His body language and softened gaze were enough to state her effect on him and it didn't go unnoticed by the people swarmed around to welcome them.

As soon as they reached the last stair, they were congratulated wholeheartedly for the most unanticipated move from both of them. Regan was already renowned as the debonair businessman of his time but it was Anna's grace and elegance that amused everyone who talked to her as she was never into such limelight before that. Her nerves were at the edge all the time, ready to freak out anytime but she managed to keep her composure with the firm hold of a hand that was intertwined with hers since the moment they came down. She never intended to become the prime focus of anyone's attention but with Regan everything was different. She had unintentionally became the talk of the town in a few days with a continuous buzz of media around her. They were in the middle of a conversation wherein Regan had introduced her to a few of his business friends of Seattle when someone called her name causing both of them to turn around.

"Miss Prescott? Long time no see!"

"Mr. Robinson." Anna greeted him in amusement with a light smile on her face. He was a young businessman in his early thirties who had worked over a project with her earlier, almost an year back.

"You look extremely gorgeous Miss Prescott...like always." He complimented her wholeheartedly forgetting the reason about his presence over there. He took a step towards her completely ignoring Regan's presence. He took her hand and kissed her knuckles shocking her in the process and enraging Regan beyond words.

Regan clenched his jaw on seeing the admiration for her in his eyes. He involuntarily pulled her close to himself encircling her tiny. waist to show him his place.

"Its Mrs. Knight now Mr. Robinson. Don't mind me to remind you the purpose of your presence." He said coldly. Still not satisfied, he introduced her again.

"Meet my wife Mrs. Anastasia Regan Knight."