Amelia started to breathe easier as she exited her room, her slipper clattering softly as she walked down the quiet corridor, climbed down the steps, out of the main door and into the sunlight.

She let out a sigh of relief. Had it not been because of the dream, then she still had been sleeping. She woke up dreaming about Jacob and Zach fighting over her and she was restless. She couldn't sleep back. She was feeling like caged in her room, so she decided to come out and go for a walk in the fresh morning air.

It was 6 am in the morning. The garden was looking beautiful. She took a few minutes to breathe in the enchantment of a sea full of multi-colored flowers, listening to the soothing sound of the birds. Her mind felt clear and relaxed.

Amelia sat for an hour almost admiring the nature and reflecting upon her life. December snow falling on Heathrow, making every thing foggy and beautiful. Like her life, the concern and interest Zach is showing to help her through her pregnancy, keeping his words that he made while trying to convince her to come with him. She never expected life would bestow such gladness in her heart as she feels here with the Hammilton's and all her worries about how she will manage with everything being pregnant, taken care of.

Her mind went back to the dream she had... Or it was a nightmare, she thought.

Nah, It certainly wasn't a nightmare because Zach had been protecting her from Jacob like a Knight. Jacob was angry and he was attacking her... Their child... And she was in panic... Crying for help... And, Zach appeared for her rescue.

Sometimes she wondered how her life had been if she had not realized that escape from Jacob's house that night when he had tortured her after Zach denied to buy her shares. Wonder what he might have acted after she had given? The question was always running on the backrest of her judgement but she never got much interest in because she didn't want to imagine about him at all, back then. Hurt and hatred were at its prime inside her, where he was concerned. Now, when she feels settled and in peace with herself and life here this dream evokes those thoughts and brought this dream to her, making her think of her life before and now.

This Time Last Year Everything Was So Different, she recalled. She passed two winters with Jacob, but he never was there for her. Not even at Christmas. The inaugural year was somewhat more beneficial because during that time he still was attempting to prick her interest in him, trying to seduce her and thrusting himself on her. He never once recognized that she was his wife not a commodity that he could buy from her what he wants by doing all that. A tidings of love, some compassion would have played for them, but all Jacob was after was lost. Their regular fights were rather awkward because he used to say the most hurtful things like ice-maiden, ice factory etc. in front of the servant. And, when she refused to sleep with him and engaged herself in her room, he cracked the door and stuck her.

Jacob never bothered to have a talk with her about everything that has been going wrong in their marriage. She could have done so, but neither did she because she feared him since she felt a psychotic side to him after that episode. And, then it and became like a ritual whenever he felt the need to hold her and torment her.

Last year, she had survived countless emotional and physical blows sent across her by him. Until that night when she realized she was pregnant...

A sob hit her throat and she felt a shiver as memories refilled her mind and put out her senses. She wiped off the teardrop that fell from her eyes and Thanked God for her present. For her, it was actually a present from God because she had thrown up on all hopes of being a mother, to live again, to find her peace.

Amelia knew in her tenderness that it is all because of Zach that her spirit took this tour. If it wasn't him denying that deal and then speaking to her about Jacob, perhaps she would have never had this courage to conceive of her child's future and would have still been suffering living with Jacob. Being pregnant was the gift of hope and a cause to exist and pursue the courage of giving up on the toxic relationship she had been living with Jacob and moving on to a better spirit.

Now, It was no longer just about letting him overcome his guilt by helping her or her being grateful about the things he has been doing. She has come far from it and has begun to value what he is doing for her.

Her eyes began to feel tired and a cold wave of air made she stood up and wrap her shawl more firmly as she turned around to walk back in the house. She was about to enter the house when she collapsed with Zach, who was coming out of the house.

Zach and Amelia stood in shock as their eyes met, their face so near to each other and their bodies almost touching. Amelia's risen womb acted as a block between them. However, they could feel each other's breath and the wave of feeling that passed through their physical structures at the collision of their bodies made her gasp and Zach was left amazed.

Instantly, his hands raised to keep her shoulder preventing her from passing from the seismic disturbance, which he feared that time, but soon everything else was forgotten as eyes looked into eyes and breath came in touch with the other. They both stood still as silence delivered their feelings to each other in its own quiet way.

Amelia was the first one to break the contact as his hands had a firmer hold of her shoulder, making her more shiver then the cold wind outside, her knees wobble and her gaze lowered as she apologized and took a step back, awkwardly.

Were they to meet with her falling all over him, always? It was suppose to be funny, but neither of them were laughing. The intensity of the situation was anything but funny. Zach's probing eyes were staring at her for some response, but she stood quietly. Her face gave away a lot though.

'Yet, again Hmmm,?' Zach drawled, his voice heavily veiled with sarcasm now referring to the epic manner of their meeting each other.

Amelia looked at him, considering he must be joking, but he wasn't. If anything, he seemed angry.

She wondered why he is angry with her? What is her mistake for him to be so sarcastic towards her? She felt a tinge of pain at the way he pronounced it. 'I'm Sorry... Yet again...,' She said in a depressed voice. 'I don't know why always our ways collides...,' She finished innocently.

'Maybe, there is some reason behind,"His voice husky now, almost regretful that he made her feel ill at ease with her satire. She lifted her lashes to look at him when he added,'... Or, perhaps we are merely careless and clumsy peoples.' He said that in a kind of comical manner.

'For me, I think the latter is the reason," She answered.

Zach wanted to say something, but then he switched his mind not wanting to make her feel more uneasy. Giving her space to enter inside, he inquired,'What were you doing outside so early in the morning'?

'People usually for a walk at this hour, Zach', she said simply but there was an edge of the teasing element in it.

He noticed her sarcasm and controlled the urge to smile at her for the way she dished out her revenge on him for making her feel more awkward with his words, bring already feeling uncomfortable after the close bump they had.

'I'm Sorry, I didn't realize so because I never caught you passing away for early morning walks. I was starting to believe you have sleepwalking issues.' He said teasing her as he shove his hands in his pocket, catching her as she went into the household.

Amelia felt that he is being hard on her purpose. Whatever is wrong with him for speaking to her this way, she considered as she explored his expression. Where is the kind and polite Zach gone?

Her face revealed her thoughts to Zach. Zach, who was still fighting his feelings over what happened just now. Two days that passed without talking to her had been very hard for him. He usually kept himself busy with work - both at the office and at home, always working in his study or observing her taking a walk on the lawn from his study room window,

Whenever she had been present in the same way as him, he would keep a hard face abiding talking to her. He had witnessed how she would look at him over and over again expecting him to speak. And, he will behave like him and not noticed. Though it used to kill him inside for being rude to her, but he just wanted to keep this distance between them.

Later on that incident in her room, he had been very cautious, calling for his grand advises very strictly because he does not desire to stress herself with his spirits so soon and moreover he needed to recognize what she exactly think of him. He experienced that her first opinion of him was not that serious.

'Are you going somewhere?,' She asked out of politeness, trying to kill the sudden quiet that fell between them.

Zach's thoughts were cut low at her words. He shrugged, saying,"I'm going to Edinburgh.'

'Edinburgh?,' Excitement rose in her voice at the mention of the place where she once lived. She felt a bit nauseated as the reminder of her cottage took charge.

'Yes, Edinburgh,' He confirmed, adding 'You miss your cottage, don't you.'

She nodded, giving a vague grin, 'How wouldn't I? Me and Samantha had started life again there, popping out from scratch....' Her voice emotional as she called in her struggles and adversities.

Zach felt the spirit of longing in her representative and suggested,'If you can bear spending two days with me and so I can bring you with me.'

'Really Zach, Why did you said that?,' Her eyes narrowed in complain. 'I like your company, there is nothing to bear...' Words came out innocently from her mouth.

She bit her lip, realizing what she said, but it was too late, he was already watching her intently now. 'Ehmm... And, I thought someone does not like my company,' he pushed that conversation a little further to help clear his doubts.

For a moment, she looked perplexed, then she sighed and said in a serious tone,'I think you have that wrong way around, Zach. It's not me but you who behave not like my company.' For past 2 days he had been avoiding her and she was worried why his position had shifted towards her.

'If I had disliked your company, I would not have suggested you to come with me.' He corrected her.

'Maybe, but you gave me that impression Zach,'

'Never live on maybe's, Amelia. If you felt that way, you could have asked me,'

'I tried to.. But you had been busy and at dinner, you hardly spoke. I truly had this feeling, I have offended you some way.' She said in a low voice.

'You didn't, It's me... After that day, I didn't know how to talk to you...' He said taking small pauses in-between. And, then added intensity, And, moreover, I thought you had an idea if I liked your company of not.'

Her eyes widened. Her throat felt dry. The implication of his word was loud and clear. She hesitated to talk further.

'I think I have made you feel awkward again, Isn't it, Amelia?' His voice as hard as before now. Not able to express his true feeling was a tough battle for him but he was trying... A bad try though!

'Nevermind, take care,' she said as she tried to turn away and walk with him. But, in two strides he had caught up with her, his hands holding her left wrist. 'Stop pushing me and running away from me, Amelia,' He said in a deep voice. 'And, then you blame me for avoiding you.'

'Zach... Leave my hand, please'

Zach made his control more firmer and bringing her towards him said with a lot of emotion in his eyes and words, 'Why? Why you are having this effect on me, Amelia?'

'Zach please... I don't know what you're talking.'

'Stop pretending, Amelia. You do know what I'm speaking about.'

'I'm another man's wife, Zach.' She said angrily, drawing her hand from him.

He allow her hand go, not wanting to stress her and afraid of her getting hurt in the process, 'You will be divorcing him so it does not make any difference to me."

"I did said that but I'm still married and belong to...." She couldn't even say that she belongs to him, because she does not. She has made up her mind on that.

Zach felt her hesitation and said,'Don't fool me, Amelia. You yourself had said that you do not belong to him anymore, remember.'

She gulped at the reminder of her own words. Yes, she had said it when they were once discussing her past and he was asking her if she wants to go back to hi ever, letting him know about the child. But, she had furiously denied wanting it and said if she is here with him, then it's only because he had blackmailed her saying he will reveal the fact that she is carrying his baby to Jacob. She does not want that, then how he anticipates that she will want to share this with Jacob today. Supposing that, she had stated that she does not go to him anymore and nor does her child.

'I know what I said, Zach and I still mean it', She said in a brash manner, almost loudly, irritated with his questioning look.

'Then why do you still think of him? Why are you not moving on completely? Why not divorce him and be free? Why still let that unwanted relationship hang over you like a sword?' He demanded fiercely.

'I told you my reasons that, but if you cannot understand them then I cannot facilitate that.' She flung back in defeat.

'Amelia... I really do not see them at all. I see no grounds to stay under fear and torture when you can simply end ties with him, you have grounds to do so'

'Zach... Why are you so keen on me divorcing him?,' She said with annoyance. All this time she recalled that he understand her, but he does not. And today he is up with the one topic, thus he does not care to talk about. 'Let me tell you Zach, I divorce Jacob or not, but I'm not returning your feelings ever. It never will happen.' She flunged back insultingly, disgusted by his actions.

Zach was stunned as she said that last part in a loud voice and hurriedly took the air towards her room, leaving him standing there, gazing at her in alarm.

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