“It could be here, it could be somewhere else. I don’t know. But I won’t be returning to your house where I feel like a prisoner.”
Kim recoiled as if she’d been slapped. “A prisoner? We gave you a wonderful life! We gave you everything! We kept you safe!”
“I never got to do anything! Ballet, sleepovers, hanging out with friends, going to the mall–those are the things I wanted, and you never let me.”
She continued, “And if I ever did get to do it, you had to be there the entire time! I was never given the freedom to make mistakes, to learn about social norms, to learn about life!” Anelise replied.
“But you were safe! That’s a parent’s job! To keep their child safe!” Kim yelled.
“That’s not their only job, though, Mom,” Anelise sighed. “Look, I know about the baby you lost before
me.”
UNLIMITED
Neil and Kim gasped. “How?!”
“I overheard you and Aunt Peg at her wedding. I heard her telling you that you both were smothering me and stunting my social development. I had no idea how to interact with my own cousins! I haven’t seen them since!! I understand that you were scared-”
“You have no idea what it’s like, Anelise! None! To hold your dead baby in your arms, praying for it to wake up, for God to give them back,” Neil spat.
He continued, “Then to be gifted another child and the fear swallowing you whole every day that they won’t wake up and you won’t get another day with them! Your mom and I agreed we were to do whatever it took to keep you safe!”
“And that’s what we did! Until you got around these people that filled your head with delusions about how you were sheltered! And look what happens, you started sleeping around and got pregnant!”
“I didn’t sleep around! I fell in love!! I found friends and people who love me and trust me to make decisions that work for me!” Anelise said, tears of frustration welling up in her eyes.
“Look at you, Anelise! You’ve lost weight, and I can tell you had makeup on. You’ve gotten double ear piercings, and I’m sure you dress immodestly!” Kim yelled. “That screams you are out sleeping
around!”
“No, Mom! I got healthy! You kept me sheltered and oblivious! Every me I wanted to do something, you handed me another book and told me to go read. So I gained weight from a lack of exercise.”
“Once I heard you and Peggy fighting, I was determined to get into a college where I could make my own life! To make my own choices! Once I got here, I started eating healthy and took up walking, I started getting involved.”
Chapter 24 of 54: Chapter 24
32%
“Under Leslie’s watchful eye, I started interacting with people, learning how to be an eighteen–year–old, not a twelve–year–old!”
“Once I saw how real people acted in life, I couldn’t stand the thought of going back to your house to be stifled again! I had developed a personality and people liked me!”
“So I made up excuses on why I couldn’t come back on vacations and breaks. I took jobs that would let me work and earn money even if I didn’t need it with my scholarship.”
“I went on vacations with the Rothschilds. I went shopping, and I developed into my own person! And if you had ever given the Rothschilds any sort of chance, you would see what amazing people they are,
all of them!”
“They treat me like family!” Anelise shot back, tears welling up in her eyes. “When they found out I was pregnant, they didn’t shame me or call me names, like you did. They loved me and helped me plan!”
“They gave me the space to make my own choices, something you’ve never done!”
Neil and Kim stood there, their faces hardened and their eyes filled with judgment.
“Who’s the father?” Neil demanded.
“That’s not your concern,” Anelise replied. She wouldn’t drag Michael into this mess.
“I think we’ve said all there is to say,” Kim declared. “You’ve made your stance clear. If you won’t come back with us, then this is where we part ways.”
“We won’t tolerate a child who disrespects us this way.”
Anelise was stunned into silence by her mother’s harsh words. She turned to her father, who began to speak.
“Starting next month, you’re off our insurance. We won’t be supporting you in any way. No money, nothing. If you change your mind by tomorrow night when we leave, you can call us.”
“But understand this, if you do call us, you’ll be returning to Chicago this weekend and living by our rules. If you choose not to, then we won’t be contacting you again.”
“You can come back to us when you’re ready to apologize. We’ll discuss the rules then.”
UNLIMITED Anelise was shocked by their ultimatum. Their demands were ridiculous. She wasn’t a child! They
hadn’t listened to a word she’d said and showed no remorse for their actions.
She wiped her tears and made her decision. “I’ll send you a graduation announcement when I get it. I love you, but I’m staying here.”
Chapter 24 of 54: Chapter 24
59%
UNLIMITED
Neil and Kim nodded, grabbed their coats, and left. Neil added, “We’ll be at our hotel until tomorrow afternoon if you change your mind and want to apologize.”
Anelise watched them leave, the door closing behind them. She sank back onto the pillows and closed her eyes, praying for sleep to come.
Leslie and Naomi had been in the hallway, hearing every word. They were proud of Anelise for standing her ground and appalled at Kim and Neil’s ultimatum.
The Morgans paused when they saw the Rothchilds standing there, and Kim sneered at them.
“I hope you’re happy. You’ve ruined my child and stolen her from me!”
“Kim, I haven’t done anything of the sort. Let’s not fight. I want to work together to help Ani.”
“I want to continue watching her grow into the amazing young woman she is. If you could just see past your anger and truly see her, you’d be so proud of her!” Naomi tried to reason.
“Don’t lecture us about our child! You filled her head with nonsense and brainwashed her with your
craziness!” Neil retorted,
Naomi knew it was a lost cause. “I just hope you know what you’re doing and don’t regret this
moment…”
Neil took Kim’s hand, and they stormed off to the elevators and left. Naomi could only watch in
disbelief.
“Mom? What do we do now?” Leslie asked.
“We do what we’ve been doing for the last three and a half years; we love Ani,” Naomi replied, hugging her daughter. “Now, go check on her. I need to call your dad back and get us something to eat. Ashley is on her way up too.”
Anelise had been pretending to sleep for the last hour while Leslie and Ashley sat in her room. They finally left to get something to eat with Naomi, and she was alone for the first time.
Leslie and Ashley were sitting with their mother in a waiting room across from Anelise’s room. They had a clear view of the elevators and the nurse’s station.
They were eating and drinking when the doors opened and a handsome man rushed out, asked a question at the nurse’s station, and sprinted down the hallway to Aneli’s room.
“Wow… He really does shatter the ‘Matt Douglas Scale‘!” Ashley said in awe, and her mother and sister nodded in agreement.
Chapter 24 of 54: Chapter 24
87%
It was 7:30, and Michael’s legs were jittery during the taxi ride to the medical center. He tossed some bills at the driver and dashed into the building. He remembered the floor Leslie had mentioned and stopped at the nurse’s station.
“Anelise Morgan? I forgot the room number!” he asked, panting.
“Room 527, just to the right,” the nurse pointed. He thanked her and hurried down the hall and into the room. He saw Anelise lying on the bed, her face stained with tears.
Her eyes widened at the sight of him and she sat up. “Michael!” she whispered.
He rushed over and wrapped her in his arms, holding her tightly. “I’m here, love,” and she began to sob.
NLIMITED
凹
Next Chapter
UNLIMITED
Michael could feel her desperation in the way she clung to him, sobbing. His own resolve crumbled, and he let his tears fall. Kicking off his shoes, he moved to sit beside her on the bed, holding her close.
“I’m here, Ani. It’s okay,” he whispered, his voice a soothing balm. “I’m here.”
His comforting words and familiar scent enveloped her, making her feel whole for the first time since she’d left him at the airport.
Fear gripped her, the fear that he might vanish, or worse, that he was just a figment of her imagination. She clutched at his shirt, pulling him closer.
“Don’t leave me!” she begged.
“I’m right here, Ani. I’m right here,” he reassured her.
A few minutes later, her sobs subsided. He gently turned her to face him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was scared you’d think I was trying to trap you. I didn’t know how you felt about me. I thought you might think I was like Kara,” she confessed, her gaze locked with his.
He saw the fear and sadness in her eyes. “Oh, Ani. I could never think those things about you. I’ve been such a fool for not telling you how I felt when I had the chance.”
“I’ve been miserable without you. Ollie’s been miserable without you. I thought I’d lost you forever. But now that I have a second chance, I’m not going to mess it up.”
“Anelise Morgan, I am so in love with you it’s making me dizzy. You’re the most intelligent, beautiful, compassionate, and loving woman I’ve ever known. I’m so lucky to have you in my life.”
Tears welled up in her eyes again. “I love you too, Michael. I’ve felt so lost without you and Ollie. When I found out I was pregnant, I felt hopeful because I still had a part of you with me. But I was scared to tell you.”
“Don’t be scared. I’m here now,” he said, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. “Are you okay? Leslie called and said you had to have a D and C…”
“I’m okay, just a bit groggy and sore… I’m sorry I lost the baby, Michael,” she said, her voice heavy with sorrow.
“Oh, my love, that’s not your fault. Am I sad that we’ll never know our baby? Yes, but I still love you. And who knows what the future holds, okay?”
He intertwined his fingers with hers and kissed her forehead. “Now rest, okay? I promise I’m not going. anywhere.”
She snuggled against him and closed her eyes, quickly lulled to sleep by the comfort of his presence. He settled in beside her, feeling complete with her molded to his side.
Chapter 25 of 54: Chapter 25
3%
He was so content he didn’t notice the door crack open slightly, revealing three smiling faces.
Naomi turned to her daughters. “I think she’s in good hands. Let’s go home for the night and come back in the morning to see when she gets discharged.”
The three Rothchild women left arm in arm, their hearts lighter than they had been when the day began.
୩
UNLIMITED
Sometime during the night, a nurse brought an extra blanket for Michael, who refused to leave Anelise’s side. When she woke up, they shared their grief over their lost baby and their feelings for each other.
She told him about the confrontation with her parents. Michael was shocked at their reaction and couldn’t believe they could be so inflexible.
“I’m so sorry, love. I can’t imagine how that must have felt. What can I do?” he asked, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
“Just don’t say anything when you go back, okay? I don’t want them to take this out on you. I’ll find another way to bring up our relationship to them. Wait, we are in a relationship, right?” Anelise asked suddenly.
“Yes, we are in a relationship. I’m not letting you go now that I have you back,” Michael replied with certainty.
“But what about after I graduate? You live next door to them! I can’t see them every day and have them micromanaging our life!” Anelise said.
“First, let’s get you graduated. Then, we can figure out the rest. I can always sell the house if we need to. I don’t care,” Michael reassured her.
“Right now, all that matters is that you heal, gain back some of the weight you lost–I miss your curves -and get your degree. We’ll talk every day and video chat with Ollie. Fair warning, though, he’s going to lose his mind when he sees you!”
She smiled sleepily. “Okay, one thing at a time.”
She drifted back to sleep, and he joined her, worn out from the emotional roller coaster of the past twelve hours.
Michael woke to the nurse helping Anelise out of bed to go to the bathroom. The nurse was pleased that she was hydrated enough to finally go,
Michael splashed some cold water on his face, realizing he needed to buy some clothes and toiletries when she got discharged.
He didn’t want to leave until she was home. He was helping her order breakfast when there was a knock at the door. He felt her stiffen beside him and rubbed her arm soothingly. She called out for them to
Chapter 25 of 54: Chapter 25
