Chapter 55

Zach's POV

"Mom! Dad!" I stood there shocked, and I bet everyone else as well.

"We wanted to surprise you and Chase but, I think the joke is on us, right dear?" Mom narrowed her eyes at Anna and me. Their stares still give me chills, and I gulped the thick lump that stuck in my throat.

They walked and stood in front of us, "This is Sophia Knight and my husband William Knight, Zach's parents." Mom extended her hand to Anna's mom.

"Pleasure meeting you, Mrs Knight, I'm Jennifer and my husband Michael. We are Anna's parents." She passed a lovely smile, and our fathers shook their hands as well.

"Anna! what happened to your arms?" Mom asked, her voice full of concern when her attention diverted towards Anna.

"Hello, Sophia, William, nice to see you back," Anna let out a nervous chuckle, greeting them.

"Don't hello us, young lady, you both have a bigger explanation to do," Dad said in a strict tone but, his voice soon softens when his eyes fall on the little munchkin, standing beside Chase, who was staring at us with her curious eyes all along.

Mom followed his sight and gasped, "Oh my god!"

Damn! did she find out already? I question myself. They exchange looks and bend to their knees, and stood to Hazel's height.

"What's your name, little pumpkin?" Mom asked in her sweetest voice.

"Hazel." She answered, looking at both of them.

"Do you know us?" Dad asked this time, and Hazel nodded her head with a smile. "Tell us then." He encouraged her.

"You are Daddy's mummy and daddy." She pointed with her tiny finger and bend closer between their heads, "And my grandpa and grandma." We chuckled at her dramatic way of introduction, but our laughter soon died when mom and dad threw a disappointed look at Anna and me.

Now I feel horrible about hiding Hazel's truth from my parents, and it is clear that they are hurt more than disappoint.

"Excuse me," mom rushed upstairs, and dad followed, calling her name.

"You didn't tell them about their granddaughter," Jennifer accused, showing disappointment.

"Mom, we thought.." "No, Anna. This time no excuses can cover your mistake." Jennifer cut Anna's explanation short.

With tear-filled eyes, Anna turned to leave but, I held her hand. "It's not your fault," I stated as a matter of fact. "I was the one that decides to hold the news for some moment, and I will be the one apologizing to them. Let's get you to bed. You need rest," I picked her up bridal style, careful to her injuries.

Opening the door of my bedroom, I placed her on the bed, "But it's your room." Anna questioned, staring at me.

"I have lost three years without you, and I want to make it up for it. Which means spending every second together." I stated, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"You know it's impossible right," she chewed her bottom lip, sucking the breath out of my lungs.

"One could try, though," I answered, freeing her lip from the assault of her teeth. "As much as I want to be with you right now. I have to go and clear things out with my mom and dad,"

"I should come with you," she said, trying to get up from the bed.

"That won't be necessary," I said, laying her back on the bed. "I'll be back soon," I said and left a lingering kiss on her lips.

"Okay," she smiled, blushing. God! she will be the death of me. I signed and closed the door behind me.

Rushing to the other wing of the mansion, I knocked on the guest room mom and dad usually picked whenever they stay here.

Dad turned his back on me as soon he opened the door. "Dad." It came out as a whisper. "Please, let me explain."

"How could you, Zach? How could you hide such a huge thing from us? Don't you feel any shame asking for a chance to explain yourself?" Mom yelled, storming my way.

"Honey! Calm yourself. You will get sick." Dad held her shoulder, rubbing them to ease her anger.

"I know, and I'm sorry for that. You guys have no idea how much I missed you here this past month. It was hectic and full of chaos." I grabbed her hand and dragged her to sit on the bed beside me.

"You wanted to know why I broke up with Anna, right?" I turned to dad, and he nodded his head so does mom.

"I broke up with her and lived a horrible life all because of Emily."

"What! Son, what are you talking about?" Dad questioned.

"It's true, dad. My friendship with Mason and my relationship with Anna were ruined by Emily, who I thought was my best friend all these years. And To top it all," A lone tear fell from my eyes, and mom whipped it, her eyes filled with crystal tears as well. "She was the one behind Maria's death."

Mom gasped, covering her open mouth. "Are you sure about that, son?" dad asked again. It was difficult for them to process this information.

And then I told them everything, "Oh, my poor children." Mom sobbed, hugging me.

"That little one has cancer, and you didn't feel like informing us, you idiot," Dad shouted, making mom flinch.

"I know it won't cover my mistake no matter how many times I apologize, but I'm sorry. Please don't stay mad at us. We need you right now, Anna needs you guys. With all the kidnapping and almost losing her life, it's been hard on her." I pleaded, joining my palms.

"Where is she?"Mom asked, wiping her tears with the back of her hands.

"In my bedroom." She nodded before leaving, and dad followed right behind her. I released a sign and followed them.

Anna's POV

"May we come in?" A small knock followed by the question jerk me up from my thoughts. I tried to fall asleep but, it never came.

"Sophia, William. Please don't embarrass me. You guys don't have to ask." I said, trying to sit up.

"It's okay dear lay down. You have grown into a beautiful woman, I must say." She sat on the edge while William stood beside her.

"I should be the one saying that. You guys look the same. Actually, more charming." she let out a chuckle, and Zach soon came inside as well. He sat on the couch and stared at us.

"Zach told us everything," my gaze shifted towards Zach, and he nodded.

"I'm sorry, Sophia. William, I never wanted to hide about Hazel but, the way things ended between us just made me scared." Salty tears rolled down my cheeks. I tried lifting my hand to wipe them buy Sophia beat me to it.

"You have suffered a lot already. No more tears now. I want my family to be happy and together. Did I make myself clear?" Sophia asked in a strict tone, making me chuckle. But I nodded eagerly. She hugged me carefully, and I signed in relief.

"We missed you, Anna," William said, caressing my hair.

"I missed you guys too."

"We shall leave you to take a rest. We are heading to officially meet our precious granddaughter," Sophia said and took William's hand, and they left after kissing me goodbye.

"I'm sorry. You had to do the explanation thing all alone," I pouted.

"You can make it up with some reward," Zach said, walking towards me, acting all innocent.

"And What might that be?" I questioned, acting innocent as well.

"A kiss perhaps." I narrowed my eyes, pretending to think about it. "Oh! Come here, my cupcake," he pulled my neck, caught me off guard. His lips found mine into a delicious kiss. No matter how many times we kiss, it just felt like the first time. When Zach deepened the kiss, taking my lower lip, and sucking the life out of it, I felt a cold metal-like thingy on my finger, and I broke the kiss to see what it was.

"Oh! my god." A quick gasped left my lips when my eyes landed on the most beautiful diamond-studded engagement ring ever. My moistured vision went back and forth from Zach to the Ring. I was speechless would be an understatement.

"I... You..." my words stumbled, and a layer of worries fall on his face.

"I'm sorry. I should have asked you first. Fuck! I'm such an idiot." his head bent down in disappointment and was going to pull the Ring from my finger, "Things just got normal between us, and I rushed it." He said, avoiding my gaze.

"Stop!" I grabbed his wrist, and he finally lifts his head to face me. "It's beautiful. I was just too shocked to react." I chuckled, and that encourage a smile to form on his lips. "And to answer your unasked question, Mr Knight, It's a YES." A full grin came across his face, and he crashed his lips on mine, taking me off guard again.

He finally broke the kiss and, rest his forehead on mine, and whispered, "You have no idea how happy I am right now. I was waiting for this day to come since forever."

"When did you get the time to buy me a ring?" I asked, admiring the Ring on my finger.

He rubbed the back of his neck, giving me a boyish grin, "I wanted to propose to you after our trip from the Island, but..." he trailed off.

My mouth hangs open, "You kept this Ring with you all these years."

"Honestly, I hated you for three years and wanted to throw this Ring away, but there was this voice deep down that stopped me from doing it. And now I know why?" I blinked the tears away and pecked his lips.

"With this, I have sealed our fate together, and nobody in the world can keep us apart." He held my hand, placing a kiss on my knuckles. My lips stretch in a huge grin, and a ping sound broke our moment. Zach pulled out his phone to see the message, "It's from the hospital. I have to take Hazel for her routine." A pang of guilt hit my heart, and it was hard to breathe. "Hey! you alright?"

"I'm a selfish mother. How could I be happy when my daughter is suffering."

"Hey! look at me," He gripped my face with both of his hands, staring straight through my soul. "For one. You are the best mother a kid could wish for. And second, you deserve to be happy no matter what. We are trying our level best for her, and she is making improvements, and that's what we need right now. You understand."

I nodded my head, "Words, Anna. Do you understand?"

"I do." His piercing gaze made me found my voice.

"Good girl," he kissed my forehead and helped me lay down on the bed. "Have a good rest. I'll be back soon." He pecked my lips once again and closed the door after.

My gaze once again fell on the Ring, and I smiled before falling into a deep slumber.