Neither of them moved. They just stared.

And the moment was broken by the blaring of car horns from some of the arriving guests.

"Belle?" He said lowly but it was loud enough to reach her ears.

A variety of emotions crossed her chest. Of love, pain, excitement, hurt and anger all at once and caused by this one man. A man who had haunted her dreams for the last six years and featured in almost all of her sleeping and waking thoughts.

He hadn't changed much except that he had grown much more handsome and slightly bigger, though with no ounce of flesh.

The father of her children and a man she had loved.

A man she had done her best to forget.

"Baby!" That voice that had once been her enemy's, spoke as she came to meet him. "Aren't you done with your call yet?"

She didn't notice Annabelle.

Chanel placed her hand on his chest in a possessive manner but David didn't tear his eyes off the woman slightly hidden by the darkness but never to him.

It was as if she would disappear if he so much as looked away for a second.

Seeing that Chanel had come to meet him, she turned and left the pool.

"Belle!"

Anger and hurt had beclouded her heart when she saw them looking good together. And the memories of the way everyone including him, had treated her six years ago came flooding her mind, increasing her anger.

He caught up with her just beside the garden and grabbed her arm, halting her escape.

"Annabelle!"

She glared at him. "Let go of me."

"It's really you." He whispered.

"I'm not a ghost if that's what you were thinking." She said curtly.

"Lord, Where on earth have you been?"

"Somewhere on earth." She snapped. "And why do you care?"

"Because I have been searc-" He sharply halted. "Because I haven't been seeing you around." He said instead. "Where have you been Annabelle?"

She pulled her arm away. "None of your business."

He decided to let it drop for the meantime.

"What are you doing here?"

"I should be asking you that."

Her eyes flashed.

He didn't respond as his eyes pierced hers. That look that always melted her and she looked away.

Then he slowly brought his hand up to her face and she looked back up at him like they were in a trance.

His thumb traced her lips slowly and caressingly as she saw his eyes darken with that emotion she was already familiar with.

"Belle, I..."

"Dave where are you?" Chanel's voice rang close by and he took his hands off her, missing the look of hurt that had briefly crossed her face.

Without another word, she left before Chanel could see her.

She took deep breaths before entering the house again.

"Ann, where did you go?" Ingrid came over to her as she came back into the vast party room. "Come on, we're starting now."

She took another deep breath and nodded.

Ingrid placed her hands on her cheeks. "Are you okay? You look flushed."

Annabelle smiled. "I'm fine. Just nervous."

Ingrid smiled back. "It will be over soon."

*

"I am very happy to have you all here with me tonight to celebrate this special day." Ingrid started, a glass of wine in her hand and Annabelle standing beside her. "Today is my birthday and I'm thankful for the gift of life, but I'm also celebrating something or rather someone much more important."

She smiled at Annabelle then continued. "A few of you know about my past life and the fact that I've been looking for the daughter I had lost so many years ago. The years I've spent with the knowledge of knowing that I have a daughter somewhere on earth but not having her with me have been the most dreadful years. I smiled often, but usually, behind that smile was pain, sorrow of whom I felt I had lost and not even known." She dabbed her eyes as tears glistened at the corners. Annabelle placed her hand on her back and gently rubbed it.

"But today," Ingrid continued. "I am the most happiest woman and mother ever because God had finally answered my prayers and reunited me with my daughter again." She held Annabelle's hand and brought her forward.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you my biological daughter, Annabelle Ingrid Rowland."

The crowd that had been quiet throughout the speech erupted into a loud applause. The surprise was evident on some of their faces, while some others looked genuinely happy for Ingrid.

"The resemblance between you both is striking!" Someone shouted and the others agreed.

"Congratulations Lady Ingrid..."

"You will make a wonderful mother..."

"Your daughter is stunning...!"

And so on.

*

Annabelle breathed a sigh of relief when the introductions came to an end.

It had gone better than she had thought.

She winked at her kids who were watching from upstairs with huge grins on their cute faces where they were with the other children.

A gathering that involved entertainment, refreshments and games had been arranged for the kids in the living room upstairs.

Her mother introduced her in person to some of the guests and Annabelle could feel many eyes on her especially the unmarried men.

Her breath got caught in her throat when Ingrid brought her to where his parents were standing.

"I could hardly believe it!" Aaron Maxwell exclaimed after exchanged pleasantries. "Annabelle is your biological daughter?"

"Yes, very much so." Ingrid grinned.

Aaron and his wife exchanged a look with each other. Helen Maxwell had been quiet since the conversation began.

She looked ashamed of herself.

"But what about Monalisa?" Aaron asked carefully.

Ingrid scowled slightly. "Oh you even know her! Well, she would have to confess sooner or later. Monalisa and I have some scores to settle. I can't wait to meet her again after so many years."

"Well I won't pretend I do not know about this because Matthew once mentioned to me that Annabelle was not his real daughter." Aaron sighed.

"He did?" Annabelle asked, sadness hovering over her.

Aaron nodded. "Yes he did. But asked me not to tell anyone."

She never really knew her foster father because he had died when she was still a little child but she had the feeling that he was a very good man.

Someone who had taken a bullet for someone else. A man who had secured a child's future, a child that was not biologically his, by getting a high profile individual to promise marriage between his son and that female child.

He would always be her father.

"Anna I know I'm not suppose to be asking this here and now but I can't help it." He said. "Where have you been all these years my dear? No one has seen you for a very long time. It came as a shock to my wife and I when we saw you standing beside Ingrid."

"It's a long story." She said simply.

Aaron nodded. "I guess we all can talk about it someday."

"Sure." She smiled. "I'm really happy about your complete recovery, da- I mean Mr Maxwell."

"Please my dear," he chided gently. "I'd appreciate it if you still referred to me as dad."

"Okay hold on everyone." Ingrid cut in. "I'm trying to get something here. Aaron, you seem to know my daughter. Really well, if I may add."

Aaron looked to Annabelle for help.

"Mr Ma - dad here used to be my dad's boss before he died. He is the one that has been taking very good care of us since after dad passed away." She took a deep breath. "He used to be my father in-law."

*

"Anna!" Dominic's voice rang out as he came towards her with a wide grin. "I can't believe this. You are Lady Ingrid's daughter?"

Annabelle smiled. "I could hardly believe it myself."

"Lord!" He exclaimed. "Congratulations Ann, I'm so happy you finally met your real mother."

"Thank you." Annabelle said slowly. "But hold on, had you also known that Monalisa was not my real mother?"

Annabelle saw him stiffen for a second then he shook his head.

"Not at all, I'm just hearing this for the first time." He replied, rather suspiciously but Annabelle decided to just let it drop.

"Are you enjoying the party?" She asked and he nodded with a smile.

"Yes, very much so." He said. "A lot was obviously spent on this."

Annabelle laughed. "Well I've discovered that my mum loves to do things in a big way."

He laughed too then looked deep into her eyes. "I'm truly happy for you Annabelle. This is like a blessing after everything you've been through, I mean do you know how rich and influential your mother is?"

"I'm just happy that we had found each other." Annabelle replied.

*

She didn't see David again till the party ended.

She had unobtrusively eavesdropped when Helen Maxwell was telling her husband that Chanel wasn't feeling well so their son had to take her home.

They were engaged to be married. Chanel was his fiancée. And she had to accept that.

*

"Why didn't you mention to me that David Maxwell is your ex husband?" Ingrid calmly asked from the door and Annabelle turned on her huge bed to face her.

"It wasn't important." She said drily and turned her face away.

"But it is my dear." Ingrid said gently as she came into the room. "I am close to the family."

"It doesn't make any difference mum." She said. "I no longer want him. Besides he is engaged to be married soon."

"If you say so sweetie." Ingrid said. "I had known of David's marriage many years ago, but never met his wife. Small world." She sighed. "Things might have been different by now if I had met you then."

"It's all in the past now, mother." Annabelle gently said, taking her hand. "Let's just let go of the past."

Ingrid smiled and squeezed her hand. "Yes my darling. From now on, there shall be no more talk about the past and what might have been."

"Exactly." Annabelle grinned. "So let us make an invisible toast to a new life."

They laughed.

"On Monday, I will be making an announcement in the office." Ingrid said.

"About what?" Annabelle asked.

"You taking over."

"I don't understand mum," Annabelle said slowly. "What are you saying?"

"I have seen your hard work and dedication to work, Ann." Ingrid said. "You would make a good Head."

Annabelle frowned in confusion.

"I am making you the CEO of House Of Ingrid."