May 22 2023

It was the next day, and Jonathan took Anne out to a restaurant for lunch today, Even if his working hours were still going, He wanted to spend some time with Anne and even check up on her. Both of them had a lot of fun having lunch together, and now he was dropping Anne back to her house.

Anne: Are you heading back to work now?

Jonathan: Not yet.

Anne: You should go back to work, There is probably something important going on.

Jonathan: *Smiles* How can I go to work when I have a gorgeous wife right here?

Anne blushed a little and rolled her eyes, She loved how he would call her his wife even if they weren't married yet.

Anne: You might have a meeting to attend.

Jonathan: They can wait. I'd rather spend time with you. Besides, I have a surprise for you once we get home.

She continued smiling at him and already felt the rush of excitement.

Anne: First a surprise lunch date and now another surprise?

Jonathan: I love giving surprises to you, You're going to love it.

Anne smiled at him again as Jonathan was driving closer to her house, Anne looked at her house and took a deep breath, and spoke to him.

Anne: When can I move in with you?

He slowly stopped the car and looked at Anne, giving a genuine smile on his face. Even he couldn't wait for her to move in with him.

Jonathan: Sooner then later, Darling. I promise it won't take too long.

He kissed her cheek and got out of the car as Anne was smiling at him, Just before Jonathan closed the car door, He said something to her.

Jonathan: Close your eyes.

She smiled and nodded as Winters closed her eyes and even looked away, Anne could hear Jonathan opening the back of the car as she was really curious to know what the surprise was.

About five minutes has passed, She noticed that Jonathan wasn't outside anymore. She also felt like she was about to sleep in the car until someone opened the car door from her side as Jonathan smiled and reached for her hand.

Jonathan: Sorry if it took too long.

Anne: I was about to sleep, Not gonna lie.

He chuckled and grabbed her hand, helping her to get out of the car as both of them walked towards the house, Anne entered the living room but didn't see anything as she spoke to him.

Anne: Where's my surprise?

Jonathan: Upstairs.

He spoke while taking a drag of his cigarette, Anne made her way upstairs as Jonathan was following her. She goes to her room as her eyes widen by seeing the surprise.

Jonathan entered the room and noticed the shock in her face, He loved her reaction, She lay on her bed and looked at the huge rose bouquet as Anne looked at him.

Anne: Did you seriously get this for me!?

Jonathan: Who would it be for then?

He chuckled while sitting in the bed as Anne was still in shock. She always imagined having a huge bouquet of flowers, and it was huge like Jonathan fulfilled her wish without knowing it.

Anne: It's literally beautiful. . . I always dreamed of having a gift like this.

Jonathan: *Smiles* Then I'm glad I fulfilled it.

Anne: Thank you so much, but I think it was really expensive?

Jonathan: Expensive? No, it wasn't.

Anne: *Raises an eyebrow* What do you mean?

Jonathan: It was about twenty-two thousand.

Anne: *Gasps* That is expensive!

Jonathan: Did you forget about my position? . . . Or were you thinking about the position you were in with me?

Anne: What does that- *Eyes widen* Jonathan!

He smiled and laughed as Anne started laughing and crawled towards him, Jonathan pulled her close while taking the cigarette off his mouth as he pecked her lips.

Jonathan: I'm just kidding, Just remember that I have no limits when it comes to someone I love.

Anne felt her heart racing as she rested her forehead on his forehead. Jonathan slowly caressed her cheek as she smiled at him.

He got closer to her face and kissed her cheek as Anne spoke to him.

Anne: And I have no limits when it comes to loving you back.

They both smiled at each other as they were about to share a kiss until Anne heard her phone ringing as she sighed and looked annoyed, Jonathan looked at her phone which was in the bedside table as Anne was about to crawl to grab it but instead he got up and grabbed the phone for her as Anne was resting in the bed.

Anne: Who is it?

Jonathan: It says Mister Jackson.

Anne's eyes widen when she hears that name.

Anne: Wait, that's Carriette's school's principal.

Now she was really concerned and confused, Jonathan looked at her as he was also a little concern, He gave Anne the phone as she answered and began talking to the principal.

Anne: *On Call* Hello, Mister Jackson?

Mister Jackson: *On Call* Hello Anne, I'm sorry to call you so suddenly but there is something important I need to tell you. . . Your daughter Carriette got in a fight with another student named Catherine.

Anne's eyes were widen, Usually Carriette would never start fights at school, but this was the first time it happened, It really shocked her. Jonathan noticed her reaction as he was confused.

Anne: *On Call* What?. . .

Mister Jackson: Yes, and Catherine's parents are here, and they are really angry with your daughter. . . Can you please come and sort the issue?

Anne: I don't get it, What even happened?

Mister Jackson: I'll tell you more once you arrive. Please come as soon as possible.

Anne: But I don't feel-

The principal hanged up the call as Anne sighed to herself and felt overwhelmed by this, She wasn't feeling well and was starting to feel nauseous again. But she really needed to find out what happened between Carriette and Catherine, Jonathan noticed how tense she was as he spoke to her.

Jonathan: What happened? Is Carriette okay?

Anne: She got into a fight with someone. . . And the student's parents are there and they are really angry. They want me to come to the school. . . I don't have the energy to do that.

Jonathan was shocked by what she said as Anne sighed and began holding her head, He pulled her close as Anne laid her head on his shoulder as Winters looked at her phone.

Anne: Do you think Alex is free right now?

Jonathan: As a boss, I did give some tasks for him, so I'm not sure right now.

Anne: *Sighs* I can't bother Emma, She's already dealing with her kids. . .

Jonathan: How about I go to the school?

Anne's eyes widen as she looks at him, She is a bit scared since Carriette already hates Jonathan and doesn't want to face him.

Anne: Jonathan, I'm sorry, but Carriette doesn't want to face you.

Before Anne told him about everything and how Carriette was angry at her and Jonathan, He nodded and looked at her while holding her hand.

Jonathan: Anne, I know what's the problem. But Carrie can't keep avoiding me forever, We will have to face each other one way or another.

He squeezed her hand as Anne knew he was right but she was also worried about this.

Jonathan: And if I want us to be a happy family, then I'll do anything to make you and my two kids happy.

Anne had a huge smile on his face when he considered Carriette as his child, Jonathan got up from the bed as Anne continued looking at him.

Jonathan: I will go to the school now, Just rest up, and I'll call you when everything sorts out.

Anne: Okay, take care.

He leaned down and kissed her, which only lasted for a few seconds as Anne smiled at him before he walked away. Anne lay on the bed, taking a deep breath while thinking about the situation, She looked at the bouquet in front of her as she had a smile on her face.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Carriette was seen arguing with the principal along with Catherine, But the bully's parents were taking their daughters side and argued back with Carriette. Suddenly the door opened as everyone turned around to see Jonathan entering the office.

Carriette's eyes widen in shock, She wasn't expecting to see him. Jonathan looked at everyone in the office while smoking as Carriette seemed a bit annoyed as Jonathan stared at her.

Catherine's Mother: Do you have any respect? Entering the office while smoking a cigarette?

Principal: Who are you?

Jonathan stared at Catherine's mother before looking at the principal.

Jonathan: I'm Anne's husband, She's not really feeling good, so I came to see what was going on.

Carriette looked at him in shock as the principal was even more confused and shocked as he looked at Carriette.

Mister Jackson: Your mom remarried? I didn't know you had a stepfather.

Carriette didn't know what to say as she was silent, Jonathan looked at Carrie before the argument started.

Catherine's father: You need to teach your daughter some manners!

Carriette: Catherine provoked me! She was getting into my personal problems between me and my mother!

Catherine's Mother: See, Your daughter is lying! She attacked my girl, Cathy.

Catherine: I didn't do anything! Carriette just needs some anger management.

She crossed her arms as Carriette gritted her teeth and looked angry as everyone continued arguing and placed blame on each other until Jonathan looked at Catherine's parents and said something.

Jonathan: Enough, Tell your daughter to apologise.

Mother: What!? No way!

Father: We are not apologising! This isn't her fault!

Jonathan: Do you want to see your daughter uneducated?

The parents were silent as Catherine was shocked, Carriette was silent while the principal watched what was happening.

Jonathan: I can do something that she will be expelled from this school, and even if you try to enrol her in a different high school, She won't be there due to her lying behaviour.

Father: Who do you think you are!?

Jonathan: I own a company called Blacklight.

Using his name and company, Catherine's parents were shocked and silent. They knew that was one of the biggest financial companies. They didn't even know Carriette's dad was the owner of that company.

Even the principal was shocked, Jonathan glared at Catherine's parents as there was a moment of silence.

Jonathan: Now tell her to apologise.

Mother: Cathy. . . . Apologise to Carriette.

Catherine was silent for a few seconds before she said something.

Catherine: I'm sorry.

Carriette looked shocked and was silent as she looked at Jonathan, Winters just shook her head as Jonathan walked towards Carriette and gently grabbed her hand as she was confused.

Jonathan: My daughter will leave school early today. If there is any important homework or test, Just message Anne.

The principal was silent before he nodded, Catherine and her parents immediately left the office as Carriette stared at Jonathan.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The drive towards the house was silent so far, Carriette was looking around the mercerdes car as she couldn't believe she was sitting in this. However, she didn't like the person that was driving the car, Jonathan stopped when he noticed the traffic as he looked at Carriette and spoke to her.

Jonathan: Are you okay?

She narrowed her eyes and just nodded.

Jonathan: That Catherine seemed like a spoiled brat.

Carriette nodded in agreement and looked over to the window, Jonathan noticed Carriette didn't even want to look or speak to him. Soon, he got a message on his phone and it was from Anne.

Anne: [Hey, Is everything okay? It's been sometime now]

Jonathan: [The issue is sorted, I'm driving Carriette back to the house]

Anne: [Oh, okay. Come back safely]

[I already miss both of you]

He couldn't help but smile at her message as he texted her back before closing the phone, Jonathan looked at Carriette again while driving the car.

Jonathan: Carriette, Can you speak to me?

Carriette: No.

Jonathan: *Sighs* How long are you gonna stay angry?

Carriette was silent and narrowed her eyes again before she looked at him.

Carriette: I don't even like you anyway, Jonathan. And I can't believe my mother lied to me

Jonathan: Why do you not like me?

Carriette: I just find you odd since Benjamin and the others came for dinner a few weeks ago. You gave me some bad vibes for some reason

Jonathan couldn't help but chuckle which annoyed her.

Jonathan: Even your mother was unsettled by me when she first met me, That's what everyone says.

Carriette: I don't want you in my life, Jonathan.

He was silent when she said that, She spoke very coldly and bluntly. Jonathan looked at her as his gaze softened.

Jonathan: Carriette. . . Do you love your mother?

Carriette: Don't talk to me-

Jonathan: Just answer the question.

Carriette: *Sighs* . . . . . Of course I do.

Jonathan: Do you want to see her happy?

Carriette: . . . . . Yeah.

Jonathan: Don't you ever think how lonely she was in her life? She met Alex and Emma about eight years ago.

Carriette was surprised that he knew so much about Anne's life already.

Carriette: That's right. . .

Jonathan: All she had was you in her life, Think about how many sacrifices she made just for you.

Carriette was silent and began thinking about it until she spoke to him.

Carriette: It's not about that. . . . She lied to me! Especially for something disgusting-

Jonathan: So your telling me falling in love is disgusting?

Carriette: She doesn't love you-

Jonathan: She does and I love her as well.

Her gaze softened as Carriette was shocked to hear those words, Jonathan continued staring at her as he spoke to her.

Jonathan: I also had no one in my life, Not even a parent was there for me. . . For the first time in forty years, I finally felt love from someone and that is your mother.

Carriette was shocked but for some reason she felt a bit bad for him, imagining how lonely he was in his life as well.

Jonathan: I know lying is a mistake especially when you trust someone to your heart, But try to understand that she wants to fix this and I want to fix everything as well.

She was silent as Jonathan continued driving while talking to her.

Jonathan: And I want us all to be a happy family, Your mother accepts me, Now I just want your acceptance to be your father, Carriette.

She was lost in words as Jonathan stared at her, Carriette realised that she also wants to see her mother happy. And the anger she had for both of them slowly faded away, Carriette finally understood that they do love each other.

Carriette looked at Jonathan as He glanced a few times, Carriette took a deep breath and continued thinking before she spoke to him.

Carriette: Let me tell you something. . .

Jonathan; I'm listening.

He stopped by the traffic and rested his hand on the gear, Carriette looked at him before she grabbed his hand as Jonathan looked at her.

Carriette: Just please. . . . Promise me that you will never leave or hurt my mother. . . I realised that she truly has gone through a lot and I'm a bad daughter for not realising this earlier

He felt his heart drop as Carriette's throat began to feel tight, He held her hand as Carriette had a small smile on her face, feeling fatherly love for the first time in her life.

Carriette: And promise me that you're not gonna leave me. . .

Jonathan: I promise I won't. I will love both of you dearly.

Carriette felt like she could trust his words as she slowly let go of his hands as Jonathan continued driving the car, Both of them were silent for sometime as they finally reached the house.

Both of them got out of the car as Carriette was still staring at Jonathan, They didn't speak to each other for sometime as they got inside the house.

Jonathan and Carriette made it upstairs as they saw Anne laying in the bed until she noticed both if them as she got up, There was a moment of awkward silence as Carriette walked towards her mother.

Anne: Carriette, Are you-

Carriette just hugged her mother as Jonathan had a smile on his face, Anne immediately hugged her back and was starting to feel emotional as Carriette broke the hug and looked at her.

Carriette: I'm really sorry, Mom.

Carriette looked at Jonathan as they stared at each other, Anne started to feel teary and hugged her daughter again.

A/N: Thank you so much for reading and stay strong!!!! :)