"Trust me, pictures don't describe your beauty." Susan praised me again and like a teen girl, I could feel my cheeks getting red. I could never get used to these compliments. No one ever complimented me... This is new to me.

"Norma and you did the magic." I tried to be as polite as possible. She is the one who looked for various haircuts for me online and sent them to Norma, despite her pregnancy. "Thank you for inviting us."

Dismissing my words, she continued to ask me about dos and don'ts during pregnancy. I am happy that she is enjoying her pregnancy. Every woman deserves this. These moments are special and blissful, which I wasn't blessed with.

"Do you have his address?" I asked David again but as always, he tried to ignore the important question and focused on lunch. He has been trying to avoid all my questions about my husband. Everything is becoming frustrating and I am losing patience. He knows my intention of being here.

"Let us enjoy our holiday." Susan interrupted us, but I knew, she was diverting us from the subject. My husband.

"No...." I successfully managed to deliver my protest politely. "I changed my appearance - this makeover; It's not for the holiday. I am here to see my husband and will show him his son." I smiled. "Jamie hasn't met his father yet."

"But Mr Carter is...." Susan didn't complete her statement and halted. Ignoring me, she bends her head with shame. What is so shameful about taking your stance?

The aura of power has spread across the hall and I could feel the presence of a powerful person in the room. All the people were focused on something behind me.

I turned and looked at him... My husband. He was walking with a group of men, discussing something and entered another hall of this hotel. He had one black tulip in his hand which resembles Power, Strength, and Supreme elegance.

James Carter looked different from last time. Our previous meeting was my nightmare, but I am ready to let it go... I am eager for a fresh start for my children. They deserve a home... With parents. A family.

"Anna..." Susan called me. "We are done." She was uncomfortable. Her behaviour has changed now. Her eyes plead departure. She wants to leave this place.

"We should leave now. I have planned a picnic for our Jamie." David took Jamie and walked out of the hotel.

"But I wanted to meet him." I didn't hide my disappointment.

"Not here...." Susan held her pregnant belly.

I didn't fight her. She is pregnant and needs to be stress-free. I have already disturbed her peaceful time with my presence along with Jamie and my baby is a ball of energy... Most of the time.

***

I sat on the grass and watched my 1-year-old son playing with David and Susan. They look so happy; like a family. How will Sir react when he sees his younger version in my arms? Our first meeting was not ideal at all..... regardless, I am praying for his infinite happiness.

He was drunk to death, yes I could call it death. Drinking is not ideal at all. But he was so drunk that he didn't know the difference between real and hallucinations. He was my misery. But, everything is a WAS now.

"Anna..... Look." Susan dragged me to swings. She is a child today. I am surprised to see this pregnant lady is as energetic as Jamie.

I watched my son playing with another child. He is good at making friends unlike me. I guess, he got this from his father. From what I have learned about my husband is that he has always been the most friendly person the media has ever known. He was a smooth talker and charmer before the incident. I could call that day his D-Day.

Things changed that afternoon.

Right now, My husband is not an unresponsive, stone-faced businessman. It is nothing but a surprise that a retired basketball player successfully managed to understand business and attain prosperity in such a short time.

I read in the magazine that he went to college again to learn business after his unwanted retirement. That was a bold move. He was already 24 with paralysed legs on wheels. It must have depressed him to watch his mates, junior ascending the steps of fame and watching them settling into HIS dream life. But I am proud of him, he did a great job. He managed to restart his life. Now, he walks, he controls the flow of money.

They call him the moneymaker.

"He is so much like his father." My heart swelled with pride, seeing my little boy helping his new friend.

"But I don't want him to be like him." Susan was serious. Her concerned voice expressed her opinion.

I was offended by this. She knows my opinion, yet she said these words. I looked at her to confront her, but she was busy looking at Jamie and David.

"He is yours more than him." She was still looking at the duo.

"I know...."

"He is nothing like him." She added.

Suddenly, I find myself smiling. "Genes are unbeatable."

"Upbringing is above all." Finally looking at me, "He hasn't tried to contact you for 2 years. He doesn't take your call, neither does he try to talk to you... You chase the magazines to know about him. You are not allowed to meet your daughter. Your life is not what any woman wants. Stop chasing something that is ruining you." She lectured again.

Despite our good first meeting 6 years back, Susan always tries to persuade me to DIVORCE my husband, just like Norma. Even when she calls me... Sometimes, she tries to talk to Norma about persuading me to divorce... For Cherish and Jamie.

Susan knows my answer. She knows my beliefs, and my thought procedure, yet she never gives up. Everybody thinks James is ruining me... But I can't give up. That's not what I saw. My parents had a great marriage. The couples vowed to belong to each till the last breath.

We have two children to think of. So, I simply gave her a blank look because for me marriage is a sacred institution, once you take a vow... There is no going back. It's the "till death do us apart" vow for a reason.

Susan gave up and accompanied me till Jamie and David were back with us. We again had dinner in the restaurant and surprisingly, Jamie was quiet. My boy is always easy to manage in public. I love him for this.

We were eating when a voice caught my attention. It's my husband and... A woman. I looked around and found him, on the little screen... On T. V, engaged in the interview.

"So... This is your success, but we want to know the involvement of another person. Like the special one?" The lady asked my husband. "Stop hiding, we saw you last week."

He was quiet before answering. "Of course, it's a team effort, but I would like to thank a special woman.... she was my support system. Without her, this is impossible. She's special." He forced a chuckle. I know this. He forced this to keep the situation normal.

"So, Rumours weereeee turuuuuu. The mystery woman is the one for you." The lady annoyingly giggled. I don't like this woman... Trying to frame my husband for infidelity.

Some people don't have morality.

"Rumours are rumours... But I want thanks to Anna For tolerating me." He said, humbly.

"So she has the name... It's officially James Carter is Off the market...annnnnd, we would be witnessing the marriage of James Carter ... Anna."

Those words stuck in my mind. I couldn't hear anything but my name in my husband's voice.

He knows about me. James Carter acknowledged me... Maybe things could be better.

All these 16 years are not wasted. We can be together..... Happier.