Chapter 1. Getting to Know One Another

Anabelle's POV

"Stefan dear, come and join us for breakfast," said Gran as they both sauntered towards us.

I could feel his piercing stare pinned on me all the while, but I preferred to ignore him.

"Anna, meet my oldest grandson, Stefan." I looked at him, trying to be as nonchalant as possible, but I could feel the warm flush creep up my cheeks. His intense blue eyes seemed to read my soul.

"Stefan, meet Annabelle. I told you about her, remember?"

"We collide again!" I didn't miss the sexual innuendo in his statement. As if he needed to remind me about our encounter! He leaned towards me, stretching his hand for a shake over the table.

"Yeah, sadly, we do." I placed my hand in his with a poker expression on my face, but a jolt of electric tingle shot through my body at the touch. It caused goosebumps to erupt all over me. He might have felt it too, since his eyes dilated and a frown marred his features. I snatched my hand away immediately, as if electrocuted. I could feel his eyes on me, checking me out, shamelessly, in front of Gran. Asshole! I glared at him instead, but he seemed unaffected while the knowing smirk on his face made my blood boil.

Gran seemed oblivious to our little interaction as she enjoyed her delicious pancakes, adding more fruit toppings to each bite. Throughout breakfast, I could feel his intense stare burning my skin, taking in my every move. Duke was no different. His wide-eyed gaze upon me also had me nearly rolling my eyes. Martha thankfully took him away from the room with her to feed and clean him. Although I felt like a worm under a microscope, Gran's continuous chatter taking updates of all the Henderson siblings made the time pass by quickly.

After breakfast, Gran went to her room when her physiotherapist arrived, and I went back to gardening. Stefan disappeared upstairs to his room along with his beast, and I was thankful. The soft summer breeze kept me cool, and I successfully planted the geranium seeds. I was done, so with a wave at John, I left the garden and went up to my room for a shower.

Afterward, feeling fresh, I wore a pink tank top and a pair of denim shorts and went to the terrace. I sat on the swing, which was my favorite place in the entire world. I had with me the murder mystery novel I had started last night.

I was so engrossed in reading the book that I didn't feel the swing dip.

"Breathe! It's only fiction," said a hoarse voice in my ears, startling me completely.

I fell off the swing along with my book and landed on my butt. My eyes went wide, seeing none other than a grinning Stefan sitting beside me. The amusement in his eyes again made me mad with anger. When did he arrive here to disrupt my peace of mind?

"God! You're impossible, you scared me," I scolded him, getting up to leave. He caught my wrist, stopped me, and brought me back to the swing, making me sit down with him. But I still refused to look at him.

He leaned in closer while I held my breath. "Hey! Guilty as charged! I shouldn't have done that." I looked into his eyes and saw the sincerity of his apology. Was it one?

He didn't move away and kept on watching me. I forgot to breathe in his nearness. He had the most stunning eyes, electric blue, sparkling from the reflection of the sun. He held my gaze in a hypnotic trance and I couldn't look away.

After our staring contest, he abruptly looked away and moved out of my personal space. "So you love reading these, right? What else do you like?"

"Yeah, I like romance and philosophical books as well. How about you?”

"Romance? Do you believe in that shit?" he asked incredulously, his tone laced with sarcasm. It made me go on the defensive. The entire universe depended on love. Who was he to criticize?

"Yeah, I believe in love, true love. It’s an all-consuming, unconditional feeling that happens to those who believe in the power of true love. I feel we all are destined for someone and true love happens once in everyone's lifetime. The heart gives you subtle signals and if you ignore them, you end up without your soulmate, lonely and unhappy."

"You are very naïve, but eventually, you will learn the harsh reality. There's nothing called true love. Man makes his own destiny. Everyone is after something, some gain, or just for some personal benefit out of a relationship. It may sound cynical to you, but it is the bitter truth."

I looked at him and pondered over what he said. Maybe he was hurt by someone. What other plausible reasons could be there to make him so cynical?

"How old are you?" His question made me come out of my reverie.

"Seventeen, and you?"

"I'll turn twenty-four in three months." I realized he was still holding my hand. It suddenly made me conscious, and I tried to extricate my hand from his hold. He took the hint and released me.

"You are quite attached to Gran, right?"

"Yeah, she's all I have," I answered in a small voice. He again picked up my hand and stroked it absent-mindedly. It caused strange sensations in the pit of my stomach, confusing me all the while.

"Gran loves you a lot and talks to us about you all the time whenever we call. Thanks for being there for her. She needs company. We are all so busy and far away, she misses all her grandchildren."

I looked up into his blue eyes and felt warm and grateful. Apart from Gran, someone else appreciated me for the first time. My dad had always proved how worthless I was. I knew Stefan had a twin sister and three half-brothers, as Gran had told me, and they were all busy with their studies. They hardly came over to spend time with Gran. She was lonely when I arrived here, but ever since I started living here, she has been happier. So, his appreciation made me even more confident that I could take care of Gran, the way she took care of me.