Chapter 15
C onrad whistled a complex tune as he parked his truck behind the house. After switching off the engine, he waltzed toward the main entrance. Even the noncommittal behaviour of the two venture capitalists he had met earlier hadn’t dimmed the spark in his eyes. If anything, the closer he got to home, the brighter it shone.
Why had he even bothered with that meeting? He didn’t want to sell his business. It had never been his preferred option—more of a desperate, last-resort kind of solution. The meeting had been arranged weeks ago, so Conrad had gone out of courtesy, but he had a growing feeling it wouldn’t be necessary.
Not only would he get the agreed money—he was now certain Louise would keep her side of the deal—but his fake marriage might even become a real one. Who would have thought? Chuckling, he turned the key in the front door lock.
With a hand on the handle, he paused, recalling last night’s events. Maybe he should have tried harder. He could tell she’d wanted it, but her soft “I can’t” after the kiss had held him back from knocking on her door.
Well, tonight would be different. The visit to the country club, paired with its delicious food, would clear any doubts from her mind. And if he’d read the situation correctly, the attraction between them was mutual. A wide grin spread across his face as he opened the front door, but before he could announce his arrival, his phone buzzed.
“Lovely to hear your voice, Maureen. Again.” He couldn’t resist the jab, though he knew it wouldn’t faze his mother-in-law.
“Well.” He wasn’t wrong. That ice wouldn’t melt even under the direct sun.
“Well, what?”
“Can I speak to my daughter now?”
Conrad scratched the back of his neck, tempted to suggest she call Louise directly if it was so urgent—Maureen had already interrupted his meeting twice. But there was no point antagonising her further.
“I just got back to the house. Let me check if she’s available, and she can call you back.”
“No, no. I’ll wait on the line.”
Of course she would. Conrad strode toward Louise’s bedroom and knocked on the closed door.
***
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A nnie woke up, the memory of last night’s passionate kiss lingering on her lips. She lay in bed for a moment, recalling the warmth of Conrad’s body against hers as they had sat on the sofa, the fire they’d ignited in each other. Her gaze shifted to her phone on the nightstand, noticing several missed calls and texts from her parents. Choosing to ignore them for now, she slipped out of bed and headed for the shower.
Half an hour later, as she was towelling her hair, a knock sounded at her bedroom door.
Pulling her bathrobe tighter around her body, she called out, “Come in.”
The door creaked open, and Conrad stepped inside. Annie’s cheeks flushed as his gaze lingered on her, taking in her damp hair and the way the bathrobe clung to her curves.
In a deep voice that sent a shiver down her spine, he said, “Your mother thinks I keep you locked in the basement. The funny thing is, she doesn’t even disapprove.” A mischievous grin played on his lips as he held out his phone. “She wants to talk to you about something.”
Annie rolled her eyes and accepted the phone. Conrad mouthed the word “coffee,” and her eyes widened, making him chuckle as he left the room.
She pressed the phone to her ear, bracing herself for the conversation.
“Why aren’t you picking up your phone?” her mother demanded sharply. “I’ve called you several times. So has your father.”
“I was busy,” Annie replied, a coy smile playing on her lips.
“Busy with what?” her mother snapped.
“I just got married, Mother. What do you think?” Annie grinned at her reflection in the mirror, enjoying the momentary silence that followed.
“You should be ashamed of yourself!” her mother finally spat.
Annie smirked. “I thought that’s what a dutiful wife is supposed to do.”
“A lady doesn’t talk about that. You’d know if you were one.” The ice in her mother’s tone could have frozen a volcano.
“Well, you asked,” Annie retorted, tracing her finger along the edge of a picture frame that held a photo of her grandmother. “So, what’s so important? We’re just about to head out.”
“Head out? Where?” her mother demanded with interest in her voice.
“Hiking. Out and about. Conrad—” Annie’s lips curled into a half-smile. “—my husband wants to show me the countryside.”
“But what about the paperwork and the will signing?” her mother pressed. “It’s booked for tomorrow.”
“I guess you’ll have to reschedule.”
“Stop playing games. This is your future at stake as well! And I thought you wanted to be done with Conrad, not play house with him. Have you forgotten he thinks you’re Louise?”
No, she hadn’t forgotten. “I remember. Stop panicking. There’s still time. In fact, we’re stopping for lunch at the country club Conrad will be buying with my marriage fund money.”
“Today?”
“Yes. And now, if you’ll excuse me, my husband is waiting.”
Annie ended the call and inhaled deeply, steadying herself. She gazed out the window, where the morning sun bathed the orchard and fields in golden light. Birds sang in the trees, their melodies blending with the distant rumble of the coffee machine and the enticing aroma of freshly brewed beans wafting through the house.
She rummaged through her suitcase, pulling out a pair of trainers and a clean T-shirt. The leggings and sweater she’d bought the day before completed the outfit. As she got dressed, her heart pounded—a mix of excitement and fear for what the day might bring.
Her eyes lingered on the photo of her smiling grandmother one last time, and she whispered, “Will anyone ever love me the way George loved you, Grandma?”
***
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T he narrow trail buzzed with life. Nettles and thorny wild roses surrounded them. When the path became too narrow for even one person, Louise cocked her head, casting a sceptical glance at Conrad.
“Really? Is this your idea of fun?” She gestured at the dense foliage ahead.
“Well, it wasn’t like this last time I was here.” Conrad rubbed the back of his neck.
“And when was that?” Her eyebrow arched.
“Good question.”
Conrad still remembered that gloomy day in early March, all those years ago. He shook his head, clearing the memory of the despair that had consumed him on that day. “Let’s go around.”
He turned on his heel and retraced his steps until they reached an opening with a path leading into the field.
“So, when was it?” His wife persisted.
“When was what?” Conrad narrowed his eyes, unsure of what she was asking about. He pointed toward the edge of the farmer’s land. “Here—be careful where you put your feet, but this should take us right to the country club’s side gate.”
“When was the last time you walked that bushy path?” She waved vaguely in the direction they had just come from.
“Ah, that. Well, it’s been a while. Twenty-nine years.”
“Almost thirty years?” Louise chuckled. “And you didn’t think it might have changed?”
“I didn’t realise it had been that long. Also, it was winter.” Conrad picked up a tall blade of grass and rolled it between his fingers, watching a squirrel scurry up the trunk of a tree.
“Winter? Really? I thought you liked this club. I’d imagine you must have been here more recently than twenty-nine years ago.”
“Of course, I’ve been to the club recently. I eat there at least once a month. I just don’t take this path.”
“So, why did you bring me this way? As punishment?” She cocked her head, leaving Conrad unsure whether she was joking or serious. Women and their faces—so hard to read.
“Of course not. In fact, this used to be my favourite route. It was our thing.”
“Our thing? Whose thing?” Louise shaded her eyes with her hand, looking out at the field ahead.
“My family. My parents and I used to stroll from the cottage to the club, have lunch, and walk back. Sometimes Grandpa would join us, but not often. It was quite a hike for him.”
She turned her face toward him. “Twenty-nine years ago was when they died, wasn’t it?” Louise’s expression softened as she touched his shoulder.
“Yes. That day. After the police told me what happened, I had to escape. I needed to get away from all the fuss, all the people telling me how sorry they were. I wanted to be alone, so I walked.”
He paused, his gaze fixed in the distance as memories flooded back. The steel-grey clouds had hung low in the sky that day, in stark contrast to the light, fluffy clouds now overhead. The overgrown, colourful bushes and trees teeming with bees and birds were a far cry from the frozen ground and bare, lifeless branches of his past.
“And then, when it hit me that I’d never hike with them again, I sat down in one of those ridges on the frozen ground, and the sky fell on my head.”
The horses’ neighs near the country club fence seemed to resemble a wailing cry, echoing across the rural landscape.
Louise stood quietly, listening, her green eyes shimmering with empathy. Conrad exhaled and met her gaze. The furrowed lines on her forehead smoothed out, and she stepped closer, wrapping her arms around him in a comforting embrace.
Conrad welcomed her touch, the gesture filling the cracks in his heart. She was warm and soft, and the scent of her enveloped him like a balm. Although it was meant to be a supportive hug, Conrad couldn’t help but be affected by it—the warmth of her body against his made him ache for her, emotionally and physically.
He stroked her hair, letting his fingers trace the curve of her cheek. She looked up at him, her eyes like bottomless emerald pools pulling him in.
“You are beautiful,” he murmured.
A half-smile brightened her face. She licked her lips and parted them as if to speak, but Conrad couldn’t resist any longer. He crashed his lips onto hers with a force that drew them together, his hands slipping under her clothes, exploring her warm, soft skin.
The taste of her, the press of her body against his—it consumed him, filling him with a desire he hadn’t felt in years. At that moment, nothing else mattered. He wanted her more than anything.
She wriggled away, breathless. “I’m hungry,” she said, her dilated pupils locked on his face as she grinned. “For food.”
***
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A nnie crunched into a sweet potato fry, savouring its taste as she took in the breathtaking view from their secluded table at the countryside club. The smell of a charcoal grill wafted up, drawing her gaze to her plate, piled with a juicy, medium-rare sirloin steak smothered in thick, smooth peppercorn sauce.
“If only the countryside pub I worked in had such a stunning view.” Annie inhaled deeply, letting the scent of the garden linger.
“I had no idea you worked in a pub like that. I thought you said it was some grimy place?” Conrad raised his glass of red wine, his eyes curious.
She gasped and gulped from her water glass to cover her reaction.
How would she wriggle out of this one? How, indeed, could Louise have worked in two different pubs while studying art? From what Annie knew, her sister had always been knee-deep in one assignment or another, barely having time to sleep, let alone hold a part-time job.
As she chewed on a juicy bite of steak, she reached for her linen napkin and dabbed the corner of her mouth.
“Oh, it was another one—just for the summer. The pub was on the outskirts of town, like this one.” She gestured around, pointing at the rustic wooden tables covered with crisp white tablecloths. “But not as posh as this, and there were no outdoor tables. It was more of a local spot, with the same jolly crowd every day, coming for a pint and company.”
A light breeze rustled the hedge fence, blowing a strand of hair into her misty eyes as she recalled the friendly faces.
“I still can’t believe I had no idea about your grandfather, George.” She quickly changed the topic, hoping Conrad hadn’t heard about Louise’s summers in Italy. But how else could she explain working at a countryside pub while supposedly studying in Bournemouth? “We spent countless evenings talking about the past, but Grandma Ann never mentioned him.”
Conrad leaned in closer, his wicker chair creaking under his weight. “Some things aren’t easy to share in casual conversation.”
Annie waved her fork, agreeing with his point. “True, but I remember asking her once how she knew Grandpa was the love of her life.”
She held her fork in mid-air, dripping peppercorn sauce on the pristine tablecloth.
“It was after I got a proposal.” Her voice softened, growing distant. “I came home, confused about whether I wanted to get married or not, and I asked her how she knew.”
“A proposal?” Conrad’s eyebrows shot up. “You’ve been engaged before? I didn’t know that.” His tone was light, but curiosity glinted in his eyes. “When did that happen?”
Annie’s eyes widened as she realised her slip. She’d shared a part of her own past, not Louise’s. Again.
“Oh, it was a long time ago.” Annie forced a fake laugh and waved her hand dismissively. “Nothing to write home about.”
“Couldn’t have been that long ago.” Conrad chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “Unless he proposed in college. Was it that dude we met at the shopping mall?”
Louise had barely started college when Annie had got married and had still been at uni when Annie had got divorced.
“Well, yes, it was him, but it feels like ancient history now.” She glanced down at her plate, focusing intently on cutting another piece of steak.
“Are you still in love with him?” His inquisitive eyes searched her face.
“God, no. I haven’t seen the man in years. I mean, before the shopping mall encounter.” At least she hadn’t lied about that. “He turned out to be someone very different from what I thought.”
Before Conrad could press further, Annie quickly shifted gears.
“The country club seems to be thriving. I’m surprised they want to sell.”
Conrad wriggled in his seat, licking his lips before taking a long sip from his glass. He looked like someone trying to find words for a tough conversation, not answering a simple question. Annie scratched her chin. Now he’d piqued her interest. It seemed she wasn’t the only one keeping secrets.
It was time. She took a deep breath, mentally rehearsing the sentences she’d been crafting for days.
“So.” She swallowed hard and opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, a familiar voice cut in.
“What a delightful surprise! Who would have thought we’d stumble upon you lovebirds here?”
Annie’s heart sank as her parents approached their table. Conrad’s eyes bore into her, cold and accusing as if she’d betrayed him.
“Maureen, Richard, what a surprise!” Conrad rose from his seat, his smile strained as he shook hands with her father.
With her arms crossed, Annie gave her parents a stiff nod, avoiding her mother’s hug. “What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice brimming with hostility.
“We came for lunch, of course.” Maureen beamed. “After all, this is the place you’ll own very soon. We wanted to check on our investment.”
“Your investment?” Annie’s eyes narrowed.
Her mother patted her hand. “I meant family , dear. We simply care about you and Conrad and want the best for both of you. We’re in the catering business, after all, so of course, we have to offer our expertise.”
Annie stared at her mother, her lips pressed into a thin line.
“Do you mind if we join you? It looks busy here.” Maureen planted herself in the nearest chair without waiting for permission.
Conrad’s icy gaze rested on Annie’s face. She shook her head slightly, pleading silently for him to understand she’d had nothing to do with this.
But it was her fault, wasn’t it? Annie’s stomach twisted as she remembered telling her mother where they were going. If only I had kept my mouth shut. She bit her lip, guilt clawing at her chest.
“Conrad, darling, could you get the waitress for us? I’m starving.”
Conrad nodded stiffly, turning on his heel, his movements rigid and tense.
“You had no right,” Annie hissed through clenched teeth once he disappeared. “He’ll think it was my idea—that I betrayed him.”
Her mother smirked, tilting her head. “Oh, and now you’re so concerned about him? Only a few days ago, you thought he was a ruthless, egotistical bastard, going after a trophy wife and her money.”
Annie shook her head, her voice firm. “I didn’t know him back then.”
“And you do now?”
***
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A s Conrad strode toward the bar, his mind buzzed with conflicting thoughts. On one hand, he was annoyed that Louise’s parents had crashed their date, but on the other, he couldn’t help but feel relieved. Their intrusion might help speed up the paperwork for the cottage and bring them closer to the finish line.
With a determined spring in his step, he entertained the thought of escaping early and continuing their otherwise perfect day. If he committed to sorting out the paperwork by the end of the week, it should buy him enough time to reassure Louise that he was on her side.
He drummed his fingers on the wooden bar, waiting for a staff member to hand him the menus. The club buzzed with lively conversation, and the afternoon sun poured through the tall windows, casting a golden hue over the room. A server finally approached, smiling as they handed Conrad the menus and advised him to return to the bar to place their order after deciding.
The hedges separating the main dining area from the garden, where they were seated, obscured his view of their table, but Conrad knew the spot well. This place had been a family favourite for years, filled with memories of fresh countryside air and laughter against the stunning landscape. But the truth was, the club wasn’t for sale—he’d asked more than once in the past.
Still, once they got back on their feet, Louise could have her pick of any pub or club she wanted, and he would find the money to make it exclusively hers.
As he neared the table, he heard his wife’s voice—the soft, teasing tone he had grown used to was now replaced with hard steel.
“So, why are you here?” she demanded.
Conrad stopped, stepping behind a leafy plant where he could hear but remain unseen. He wanted to give her the chance to deal with her parents on her own terms. Her pursed lips and arched brows would have made even him think twice before crossing her.
Richard leaned back in his chair, his face tight with irritation. “Because you can’t do a simple job, like getting Conrad to sign the paperwork. As unreliable as always.”
Louise’s eyes flashed with defiance. “Maybe because I don’t want to do your bidding. It’s his cottage and his right to decide what to do with it—and when.”
My kind of girl. Conrad grinned. He could kiss her right now. The same fiery stubbornness he’d experienced earlier was now aimed at her parents.
“Well, the deal was clear, and he knows it.” The finality in Maureen’s modulated voice left no room for argument.
“Then I’m sure he’ll honour it.” Louise crossed her arms over her chest.
Richard’s hand slammed against the table, rattling the silverware. “But when? Time is ticking!”
“I don’t know. When he’s ready,” his wife snapped back. “Maybe if you treated him better and didn’t pressure him, he would have done it by now.”
Conrad took a deep breath. The conversation was getting heated, and he was ready to step in and back her up.
“Maybe if you treated him better, he would,” Maureen scoffed. “You can’t even play the role of a proper wife.”
“What? Do you want me to sleep with him just so you can get your precious cottage?” Louise’s face flushed crimson with anger.
“Don’t be vulgar, dear.” Richard clicked his tongue. “You know this isn’t just about us. Your poor sister is counting on you.”
Her sister? Conrad’s ears perked up. There had been no sister at the wedding, and Louise had never mentioned one.
“Leave Lou out of it. This was your idea, not hers.” His wife waved her finger at her father. “You know she’d happily give up her share if you’d just leave her alone.”
Lou? Conrad’s brow furrowed, his mind reeling with confusion. What was going on here?
“Be reasonable, Annie. There’s money in this for you, too.” Richard touched her shoulder, but she shrugged it off.
Annie? Conrad’s heart pounded in his chest, and his eyes widened, his mind racing to catch up with what he’d just heard.
“I know that,” she snapped. “But I’m not going to push him into doing something he’s not comfortable with. And you can’t force me like you forced me into this marriage.”
Maureen leaned back in her chair, a sly smirk spreading across her lips.
“Well, that’s on you, Missy. We had no idea you’d take your sister’s place.”
Sister’s place? Conrad’s heart slammed against his ribs. His jaw tightened, and a whirlwind of emotions churned in his gut—confusion, anger, betrayal. His fists clenched as the truth hit him like a freight train.
***
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“Y ou forced her, so I had no choice. And you ... ”
The words died on Annie’s lips as she spotted Conrad approaching the table. She sprang to her feet, her napkin fluttering onto the table.
“We’re leaving. Enjoy your meal.” Her tone was as frosty as the ice cubes clinking in her glass.
Annie snatched the menus from Conrad’s hand and slapped them down on the table. Her fingers closed around his wrist in a firm grip as she tugged him toward the exit, her heart pounding.
“What about the bill?” Conrad pulled on her hand, slowing her down.
She smirked, her lips forming a hard line. “They can pay for their daughter and her husband’s meal. It’s the least they can do.”
“Remember what we talked about!” Her father’s voice echoed after them.
Annie’s footsteps faltered outside the club. Conrad, still clutching her hand, spun her around. His voice cut through the air between them like a blade.
“What were you talking about?”
She held his icy blue gaze, bright and unyielding, though her insides churned.
“They want me to force you to sign that paperwork on the cottage. I told them to shove it.”
His chuckle was short-lived, replaced by a deep frown.
Annie studied his expression, trying to read him, to find a flicker of trust, but his features were stone. “I know why you’re so angry.”
“Do you, now?” His voice dripped with irony, as cold as a winter storm.
“You need to believe me. It wasn’t my idea.” Annie’s voice shook, her free hand twisting her wedding ring nervously.
He shrugged, letting go of her hand, and pulled out his phone.
She furrowed her brows. “Who’re you calling?”
“A cab company. I’m not in the mood to walk back.” His fingers flew over the screen, the rapid tapping a harsh contrast to his chilled demeanour.
“I’m sorry, but it really wasn’t my idea.” A note of desperation crept into her voice.
“I’m not sure about that.” His eyes remained glued to his phone.
“So, you don’t believe me?” The words slipped out before she could stop them. “I thought you’d got to know me enough to realise I would never do that.” She touched his arm, his muscles hard as steel.
“I don’t think I know you at all.” His words landed like a physical blow, and Annie took a step back.
Shielding her eyes from the blazing sun, she watched Conrad’s hunched shoulders as he kicked at pebbles down the scorched road, raising a haze of dust.
What else could she say to break through the wall he’d built between them?
A rotten smell from a side alley mixed with the pungent odour of horse manure from nearby fields—a reminder of the reality she now faced. How could she make him believe that it wasn’t her idea?
The taxi pulled up, and Conrad opened the door with a stiff, controlled movement.
“For what it’s worth, I’m really sorry they destroyed our lunch,” Annie murmured, her gaze fixed on the worn leather of the taxi seat.
“Me too.” His words were soft but distant. She reached for his hand, but he pulled it away, the move starkly contrasting the passionate kiss they’d shared only an hour earlier.
As the taxi pulled away, Annie stared out at the vibrant countryside, her heart as heavy as the hot, still air around them. She rubbed her thumb over a small splinter she’d picked up from the table, the sting a welcome distraction from the harsh reality of her situation.
How could she ever teach her child to be happy if she couldn’t find it for herself??