A/N:Ladies and gentlemen, buckle up and brace yourselves. From here onwards it's going to be a very bumpy and rough ride.

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Annie held her breath as she opened the box. She could hardly concentrate on the gift, wanting instead to know what he was going to ask her.

Would it be to marry him?

After brunch yesterday with his family, she suspected he had something permanent in mind for the two if them. And she wanted that. She'd already made up her mind to ask him if about her moving in with him when they returned to West Mercer.

"Annie, open the box." He said.

She did, and found a pair of teardrops earrings, diamond and sapphire, nestled in it. Jovon was at his most romantic tonight. And she couldn't help falling more deeply in love with him.

He was everything she'd ever wanted in a man. Caring, attentive, supportive, and the kind of lover every woman dreamed if having. She glanced up to find him watching her. She removed the silver hoop earrings she had on and put on the ones that matched her necklace and bracelet.

Was a matching ring soon to follow?

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, sweetheart."

She didn't want to rush him but he didn't say anything else, and finally she couldn't stand it any longer. "You said you had a question."

"I do. I'm not just sure how to ask it."

"Whatever it is, just ask."

He leaned forward. "Do you remember when we met?"

How could she forget? His driver almost had her killed. . . okay, maybe it was her fault for switching to the wrong lane, but the fact still stood. "Yes."

"From that moment, you've been like an obsession for me. The last three weeks I've been obsessed with thoughts of you."

"Oh, Jovon." She said, unable to keep her emotions from her voice. It was like he had glimpsed inside her heart and knew what she felt for him. "Me, too."

He smiled at her then. It was a sweet expression and not one she'd ever seen before on his fierce face.

"Obsessions aren't healthy because they are all or nothing. Our relationship was nothing at first, just words spoken between us. But then it became. . . well, I think you'll agree it became more than either of us ever anticipated."

She'd never been a man's obsession before and was flattered he'd thought about her so much. It made her feel a lot less vulnerable. It reminded her that Jovon was invested in this relationship, too.

"I'd definitely agree to that," she said. She'd never expected to fall so completely in love with Jovon. In the beginning she might have even intended to use him to discover his secret and plan the anniversary, but that quickly faded. She wanted him, and it didn't matter if he was rich or not.

"I was hoping that you'd feel this way, Jovon. For the last few days I've been dreading this day. Knowing it would mean an end of our agreement."

He reached across the space between them and took her hands in his. She liked the way his big hands enfolded hers.

"Me, too. I've been thinking our situation over. Trying to come up with a new relationship that would suit us both."

"Anything where we can be together will work with me. I don't think I can take living apart now. You really have become so much a part of my life."

"I hoped you would say that."

He tugged her to her feet, drawing her to him. He led her upstairs. He hit a button and low-leveled light illuminated the deck. She saw that there were a bunch of pillows on the bench where they'd made love earlier.

"What are we doing up here?

"I wanted to hold you in my arms," he said. He pushed a button and music came from the speakers. Not pop music, but Adele, her evocative voice singing about love in the way that made Annie think the woman have experienced it before. One and Only. Annie sighed as she rested her head on Jovon's shoulders as he danced them around the deck.

In this moment everything felt perfect. The anticipation of his question hung between them, sweetening the moment. For the last few days she'd been aware of the expiration date of their agreement, and now she felt some-thing so magical she could scarcely comprehend that this moment was here.

This must be how Cassie and Ella felt when they met their soul mates. Love was indeed magical. Love comes so softly that one wouldn't know what hit them until it was almost too late.

When the song ended he pushed a button and the music stopped. He led her toward the railing of the boat and turned her in his arms so they both faced the distant horizon. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back into the cradle of his body. He surrounded her completely.

She took it all in- the moonlight on the water, the softly blowing salt-scented breeze. The rocking motion of the boat and the heat of the man standing behind her.

He took a deep breath. "This is so much harder than I thought it would be."

Suddenly she was afraid. But she took a deep breath and turned in his arms. "Whatever it is, Jovon, if it involves the two of us staying together, then my answer is going to be yes."

He crushed her to him in a hug that made her feel like he'd never let her go. "I'm so glad to hear that. I've had a contract drawn up and it is more generous than our last agreement."

She pulled back to look at him. "What kind of contract? I thought we moved beyond needing any paperwork between us."

"Baby, I want to make sure that that you're protected. That you have everything you're ever wanted."

That sounded so nice that she cautioned herself from letting her temper get the better of her. Maybe it was some kind if prenuptial agreement. The kind that Lukas had been talking about these last few months.

"Do you have the contract with you?"

"Yes, I do."

"Let me see it."

Annie heard Jovon talking and knew he was saying something important, but for the life of her she couldn't understand what the fuck it was. She followed him down the gangplank back to the dining room where the remains of their dessert still sat on the table.

The last five minutes had been so bizarre she was was sure she'd entered some kind of twilight zone. He seemed normal, but maybe there'd been some kind of break in the time-space continuum that had put a chance. But then she remembered that life was prec-arious and changed on a dime. And this might really be her only chance at love.

"I don't want you for your contacts or the amount of money you have. I want you for you."

He frowned at her and rubbed the back of his neck. Crossing to the bar he poured himself a shit of whiskey and downed it in one gulp.

"Jovon do you feel anything for me?"

"Obsession." He said, the one word bit out between drinks as he refilled his glass again.

His earlier words circled in her mind. She'd thought he was joking, but saw now that he viewed her as something unhealthy for him and his life. Less than worthy, she thought. Still not worthy of him.

"You're an obsession for me, Annie. This is the only way I know how to control our relationship."

"Why would you want that? We could have a really great relationship. The kind that most people dream of. Why can't you see that?"

"These last three weeks haven't been realistic." He said. "We have the illusion of a relationship. Because we both know that it can't end until the agreement runs out."

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Do you really think what I feel for you is some by-product of the agreement? The sex?"

He shrugged. "I don't want to analyze it too closely. Whatever you feel for me. . . whatever you tell yourself, that's all immaterial to the agreement. I think we've both proven that we're trustworthy."

She felt the tears stinging her eyes and this time had no anger to assuage them. She tried to say something else, but her mouth trembled and she couldn't make herself talk.

She'd thought she'd been hurt in all the way a person could be. That her heart had been thoroughly broke. But until this minute, when she stood in front of the man she'd given her heart to and heard him describe her as contractually trustworthy, she realized she hadn't known how deeply love could hurt.

"I can't believe I fell in love with you."

"You aren't really in love with me," he said. "It's obsession, sweetheart. Besides, I still love Americus and no one can ever take her place in my life. Not you or anyone."

"I think I know the difference between love and obsession, Jovon." She choked out a sound between a cry and laughter. "I am not saying you have to love me completely. Just a bit of your love,Jovon. Just a bit?"

He didn't say anything else and finally she couldn't stand the silence between them for another second.

"Please take me back to the shore. I want to go home."

Annie remained below the deck while he piloted the boat. She held her tears back, even as they docked at the marina and all the way to the car. The silence was stifling all the way back home, and a small part of her wished he would stop the car and tell her it was all a prank. That he wanted to test her love for him or something. But he didn't utter a word, nor did he do as much as glance in her direction.

When he finally pulled up in front of the house, Annie opened the car and rushed in without waiting for him. She went straight to her room, ignoring his family's questions and concerned glances. Still pumping on adrenaline, she flung the closet door open and began to snatching her clothes from the hangers; she tossed them on the bed, dragged her box out and began to shove the clothes in them.

Someone knocked on the door and she zipped the box, setting it beside the bed before going to answer the door. She opened the door and found Lukas frowning at her and then he cursed under his breath.

"You look like hell."

"Uh, thanks." She crossed her arms over her chest. "If you've come here to stop me, then my answer is no."

"Damn, this is a mess. I thought I had everything figured out but I think I'm missing something here," Lukas said, running his hand through his thick hair.

"What are you talking about? It's really too late in the night for you to be drunk. And I don't have e-"

"I don't drink. Listen, can I come in?" He asked, taking a step toward her before she could even move.

"Sure."

She wanted to pretend he was the last person she wanted to talk to but the truth was she was happy that he came after her. Something she expected Alix, Susan or even Megan to do.

She led the way into the room, stopping beside the bed. "What's up?"

He paced around the room like a caged tiger. There was a grim set to his mouth. "That's what I want to know."

"What did Jovon tell you?" She asked, knowing that no one was going to be able to help them. She had made up her mind about returning to Philadelphia, and paying Jovon all the money he used for the wedding preparations after she apologize to her father and bend to his will. She knew she couldn't force Jovon to love her, and she didn't want to be with him without love.

"Nothing. He hasn't said a word since he disappeared into uncle's study."

She shook her head. "It has nothing to do with me. I'm going back home tonight."

"It has everything to do with you. It's clear that you two had a fight. Whatever it was about, you need to go to him to fix it."

"It's not that easy."

"Yes, it is. No problems are that insurmountable."

"Some of them are,Lukas. This isn't just a fight or a difference in opinion. We want different things from life."

Lukas sighed. "I pushed him to offer you a prenup. Don't hold that against him."

"It wasn't that. I would sign one if he asked me to."

"Then what is it? He's so into you."

"He's not into me. At least not the way you mean. I'm an obsession that he's trying to exorcise from his soul."

"He said that?"

"Yes, he did. He also mentioned the fact that he still loved Americus, and I'm not sure what you want from me, but I can't just go back to him and pretend to be whatever he wants until he gets tired of me."

Lukas stared at her for a long time. "Because you love him."

She nodded.

Then the waterworks started, because the night began to rehash in her head. All the things he said, and Annie couldn't stop the sob that burst out if her. It felt like her heart was in fire, and there was nothing she could do to put out the fire.

Lukas paced over to her and pulled her into his arms. "Oh, dear. It's alright."

Annie clung to him for all she was worth hoping the burning in her chest would ease up just a little bit but it didn't. If anything, it increased.

"It's okay, my love." Lukas turned them around until her back was facing the door. "Everything would be alright."

Annie cried at his words, knowing nothing in her life would ever be 'alright' again. She clutched Lukas shirt in her fists and let him walk the both of them over to the bed. Then he sat on the bed, pulling her down until they were laying side by side, her back facing the doorway.

"Shhh!" Lukas said as he pressed his lips to her sweaty forehead. "Don't cry now honey."

Annie's tears died gradually until it was reduced to hiccups. "I-i'm pregnant."

Lukas' face lit up with joy. "You are?"

"Yes." She sniffed. "But he doesn't want to marry me. And he says he doesn't love me."

Lukas kissed her forehead again. "Don't worry, Annie. I would take care of you,baby. How far along are you?"

"Three weeks. I had the doctor lie to Jovon about it. I didn't want him to know until tonight."

"And then you can give my cousin's baby to me,right?" Came the unmistakable voice from the doorway.

Annie shot up from the bed as if she had been burned. There she saw Jovon and the rest of the family behind him wearing shocked expressions on their faces. But what had her heart stuttering was the look of hatred on Jovon's face.

"My family just told me to come and apologize to you for what I said. They accompanied me, so they could appeal to you on my behalf and I was ready to agree to whatever terms you want our relationship to be." He barked out a short, but bitter laughter. "And what do I see? You getting cozy in bed with my cousin, while plotting how you wanted to pass off his baby as my own."

Annie's fears renewed, and they fell down her cheeks unbidden. "That's not true."

Jovon paced over to her. He grabbed her shoulders in his grip and began to shake her. "You're a cheap slut! A cheap slut who would do anything for money. Spread her filthy legs for anyone who's willing to pay."

"You're hurting me!" She cried as she tried to get out of his iron grasps. "I didn't sleep with anyone except you!"

"Stop lying!"

"Son, please-" Marcello started to say, but he was cut off by Megan who glared at him to shut up and not say anything.

"Who else did you sleep with? The driver? The doctor? Huh? Or was it that table decoration service guy?" He gripped her shoulders hard, ignoring her whimpers of pain. "I know you telling me you loved me was too good to be true."

"It's true! I love you!" She sobbed. "Please, Jovon. Stop saying those awful things to me. I didn't do-"

He pushed her away from him, ignoring her cry of alarm as she slammed into the nightstand. "Lies! You lied to me. Whatever did I do to deserve this from you? And yet you said your father hated you, why won't he? Who would want a liar and a slut as their daughter?

"You manipulated me into thinking you cared. You must have had a good laugh at my scars and my pains."

Annie crawled forward on her knees and grabbed him at the ankles with both hands. "No,please Jovon. I care for you. I am telling the truth."

Jovon snorted through his tears. Then in a fit of anger, he kicked her in the chest with his other leg, only realizing what he did when he heard her cry of pain as she scooted backwards, away from him.

Lukas was beside her in the blink of an eye. "What the fuck is wrong with you?!" He roared as he pulled a wailing Annie into his arms. "Get out!"

Jovon cursed under his breath. "Shit! Annie, I'm sorry. I didn't-"

"L-lea-ave me alo-lone." She wheezed out,clutching the area he kicked her. Then she buried her face in Lukas' chest.

"I don't want to see you again." He said with a finality. "And you too Lukas. Stay away from me." He combed his fingers through his hair in exasperation. "Fuck this!"

From somewhere far away, Annie heard Jovon storm out of the room and his family ran after him shouting his name as they went.

Funny how life was. The person she once hated stood by her even though they were both accused wrongly. And the man she loved broke not only her heart, but he hurt he physically and accused her wrongly.

Her life finally fell apart and she couldn't do anything to prevent it from happening.