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Charles glanced at Gina at intervals as they drove back to his apartment. She had been quiet the whole time and was staring out the window... she turned to look at Charles and smiled at him assuringly when she felt his gaze on her. they arrived at his apartment and he tucked Gina in... "Do you want to talk about it?" He asked as they both lay in bed, and she shook her head. She didn't want to talk about her father anymore and just wanted to go to sleep. Charles nodded and she snuggled closer to him as she fell asleep...
The days went by quickly and a week passed since the events at her father's house. Charles and Gina picked out a date for their wedding and continued with the preparations, and soon they got their wedding invitation cards ready... "Wow, I love them so much" Gina said excitedly as she stared at the wedding invitations. Charles had not asked her anything about her father so she wouldn't get upset and Gina hadn't said a word about him too. It made him wonder if she still wanted her father at their wedding. "Yes, they are,", he said, and she smiled warmly at him...
"Gina", he called her name softly, and the smile on her face immediately dwindled like she knew what he was going to ask her. "if you are going to ask me about my father, then don't. I don't want him at our wedding." Gina said firmly... she stood up and left to go prepare for work while Charles sat there in silence thinking or what he could do about the matter... for the days that had passed, he could tell that she was trying her best to be happy even though sometimes at night he could hear her cry silently... she wasn't okay and he wished she would just talk to him about it...
Gina let out a deep breath as she stared at herself in the mirror.. she was ready for work and kept taking deep breaths and then smiling at her reflections to make sure she didn't look sad and her eyes weren't red or swollen... Charles was standing by the entrance of the room when she came out of the closet... "You look stunning", he said, and she beamed. "Thank you" Gina said and picked up her bag... "I should get going; it's getting pretty late" " she said and walked up to him for a kiss... Charles planted a sweet kiss on her lips and walked her to the front door of his apartment...he sighed deeply as she waved at him as she left.
. He wanted her to be happy...
"Good morning everyone!" Gina said excitedly when she arrived at work. She had a few invitations for her employees and handed them to Clara to distribute among everyone. "Congratulations, ma'am", Clara had said to her, and a few other employees did the same...
She sighed exasperatedly as she sat in her office. A few more cards on her table and a few also in her bag... a knock on her door soon got her attention and the door was slowly pushed open when Gina asked whoever it was to come in... Clara stood at the entrance of her office... "Someone is here to see you, ma'am", Clara said and made way for the person to enter, and as soon as the person did, her eyes immediately grew wide in surprise. It was the last person she was expecting to see at her office... why was she here?
"Anna!" Gina said when her stepmother stepped into her office. Clara closed the door behind them and left... this was the first time Anna was at her boutique. It made her wonder what she wanted to talk to her about. Something about her seemed different, and Gina was trying to place her hand on it. Anna took a seat even before Gina could ask her to. "I moved out of the house", Anna said,d and Gina's eyes grew wide in shock. "What!" he exclaimed, unsure if she was hearing right. "I asked your father for a divorce, it was about time" Gina's jaw almost dropped to the ground as she listened to Anna... a smile appeared on Anna's face when she saw Gina's reaction. She must have been pathetic then, clinging on to a man who didn't visibly Want her... it made her heart ache that it took her so long to realise it. He hadn't even stopped her as she moved her things out and simply just watched in silence. She had hoped that he would say something to her, but she realised that he wasn't going to as the car drove out of the house she had lived in for years... it was a sad moment for her. "You gave me a reality check, Gina... I think I would still be there living in denial if you hadn't said those words that night, so in a way, I'm thankful to you" Anna stood up, ready to leave. She and Gina were never close, and she wasn't sure if she would be considered an evil stepmother, but she wished Gina all the best because the both of them had to deal with Charles Graham. "I wish you all the best, dear, and maybe one day. We could grab some dinner together and definitely without your father," Anna said, but Gina was too shocked to say anything to her. She was still trying to process the information...
Anna turned to leave, but Gina immediately stopped her. "wait!" Gina said, causing Anna to turn and look at her stepdaughter, who walked over to her desk and picked up something... "here," Gina said and handed it to Anna... Anna's eyes travelled from Gina to the card in her hand, and she immediately recognised what it was. It was a wedding invitation. She was inviting her to her wedding. "I'm not sure if it is a great idea to have someone like me at your wedding,", Anna said, trying to decline the invitation, but Gina didn't relent. She took Anna's hand and placed the invitation in it. "You don't have to worry my dad isn't invited... and I would like to have someone Like you at my wedding" Gina said with a warm smile on her face... "and I want you to know that I support you and I'm sorry for all the hurtful words I've ever said to you" Gina apologised, guilt in her heart... Anna's eyes watered up, and she nodded... she was glad that Gina wasn't going to end up like her father... she was going to turn out differently... "Thanks for your support; it means a lot to me,", Anna said, and Gina smiled and widened. Anna might not have been the mother she wanted, but at least she was there when her mother wasn't. She attended all her graduations when she didn't need to, and even the ones her father didn't show up for, Anna did. Back then, she must have acted angry to see her, but a part of Gina had been glad that at least someone showed up for her.... that sums up the kind of person Anna was...