Author's note: Sorry for the long wait, hope you're all doing well wherever you are in these times of uncertainty. I understand this story is not everyone's cup of tea but perhaps it's time to clarify a few things. When you read, keep in mind Ana DOESN'T want her baby, it was unplanned and unwanted. This was shown in the very first chapter. She doesn't just suddenly agree with Christian on this to make him happy. She didn't want this baby from the start.

This point is a major premise of the story, as well as Ana's regrets about her past. Some decisions in life can't be undone. If you don't like any of that, I strongly suggest you stop reading.

This chapter is dedicated to FSOGFanFictionAddiction

Chapter Fifteen

Ana POV

The reading of Carrick's will had taken the better part of the afternoon. The tension in the air could be cut with a knife and I couldn't wait to get out of there. At last, it was over. Before I knew what was happening, Elena and her lawyer had scurried away like roaches in the night, and Christian was grilling Steinberg with the same questions over and over again.

At last, we left the lawyer's office. Christian was shell-shocked but determined to make the best of the situation. To take his mind off what had just transpired, he decided to take me out to dinner at a fine restaurant. He thought he was doing something nice for me, but this was my first experience at a place like this. I was embarrassed, mortified of making a big mistake, as I didn't know which fork to use or how to address the waiter. But Christian was very patient, not at all troubled about having to provide the most basic explanations that I assumed everyone he knew took for granted.

For our first course, I ordered a soup and Christian ordered a salad. It wasn't until the waiter brought our food that our conversation turned to Carrick's last will and testament.

"It'll be alright," he said suddenly. "We will contest this."

"I...was just wondering about something."

"Tell me."

I nodded and he looked at me curiously. "You look worried," he said. "Don't be, we'll get through this."

"There's one thing...what about your sister?"

"What about her?"

"Everything I heard today...I don't know but it sounded like you didn't want to find her, Christian...did you even look for her?"

"I did," Christian replied a bit on the defensive. "Okay, fine, I didn't really want to find her. But it wasn't because I didn't want to deny her her share of my father's inheritance. No, no. I didn't want to find her because finding her would have been like literally opening a Pandora's box. Who was to say this sister of mine wanted to be found? And even if she did, there were no guarantees that this girl, this stranger would have loved my father back," he shook his head with a defeated expression. "Don't you see? Most likely, she would have harbored anger and resentment over having been given up for adoption. And the worst part is that my father would have been heartbroken to learn that his long-lost daughter hated him. In the best-case scenario, she might have tolerated him but only because of his money. I couldn't in good conscience put him through this."

"So you really believe this?"

"I do."

"With all your heart?"

"Yes, with all my heart."

His words reassured me some. Perhaps, I had misjudged him? Still, he must have seen the hesitation in my face.

"Still you're not convinced?" He reached for my hand across the table but I didn't fully reciprocate his affection. In response, Christian took a deep breath and let it out in a huff.

"I love you, Ana," he suddenly said to me. And I looked away, I still had my doubts. "Talk to me, please...what else is bothering you?"

"One of the first things you said to me after we got married was that you'd married me because you wanted to fulfill your dad's final wish...," I told him, "but you didn't mention that...that there was a marriage clause." While it was true that I didn't fully understand the legal ramifications of Carrick's last testament, I wanted to make sure that money wasn't the main motivation behind Christian's decision to marry me.

"This marriage clause doesn't change a thing. I was smitten from the moment I saw your video, Ana...don't you see? Nothing could possibly change that...ever."

My eyes instantly connected with his and my heart melted at his words and his expression. I knew he had to be speaking the truth; I felt it every time he looked at me, every time we had sex. Still, I had to know. Why didn't he try to find a bride locally?

"But...why, Christian? Wouldn't it have been easier to find a bride here in this country?"

"Ana," he said with emotion, ignoring my question. "I love you so much...I only wish you'd feel the same about me," he said reaching for my hand again and giving it a little squeeze. This time, I didn't pull away.

I looked at him in confusion.

"You have never said you love me," he said with a glint of vulnerability that pulled at my heartstrings, " I, on the other hand, have openly shared my feelings for you every chance I get."

"But I do..." I protested, my heart pounding. "I do love you, Christian."

"But you never said so," he replied accusingly. "Why didn't you?"

I didn't know what to say to that. I didn't have a good explanation; except that in the past, I'd learned to be guarded of my feelings. I had shown Jose my love and devotion, again and again, hoping he would finally marry me, but it seemed to have had the opposite effect. He became cocky and arrogant; he took advantage of my innocence and took me to bed instead of the altar.

I sighed deeply, if only I had waited for Christian to show up I wouldn't be in the predicament I am today. For the umpteenth time, I wondered if' Id ever be free from my mistake.

"I don't know...all I know is that I love you, very much, Christian," I said with unshed tears in my eyes. It felt good to finally say the words.

In response, Christian raised my hands to his lips and kissed it. "Let's go home, my love," he said his voice low with a sexy promise. It wasn't until later that I realized that he'd never really answered my question. I still didn't know why he'd chosen to look for a mail-order-bride.

"Why me?" I asked him later that night in the afterglow of our lovemaking. He turned to look at me curiously. "You could have had any woman in the world, Christian. Why did you look for a bride from a foreign country?"

Christian thought about my question for a moment before answering. "There are many reasons," he began, tracing a finger alongside my arm. The gentle caress sent delicious shivers down my spine. "For one, I wanted to marry a woman with traditional old-fashioned values. The American dating scene was not for me. It would have taken me years to find the right woman, and I didn't exactly have a lot of time on my hands," he paused meaningfully.

"But..you didn't try dating?"

"Not really. Why bother? My experience with women is that they'd only ever wanted one thing only from me...my father's money."

"That sounds quite cynical."

Christian shrugged. "It's the truth," he stated looking at me curiously. "Now it's my turn to ask the hard questions," he cocked his head. I nodded after a moment, encouraging him to continue. "So...how come you decided to become a mail-order bride? Aside from the obvious, that is. Weren't you concerned about the type of man you married? I could have been an ogre for all you knew."

"It was Jose's idea. Hmm...after he got arrested, I-" I trailed off. I was finding it hard to explain this convincingly. At the time, I'd rationalized Jose's intentions but now I realized just how ridiculous it sounded. How could I possibly believe that Jose loved me after insisting I marry another man, even if it was supposedly for my own good?

"Jose was worried I would not be able to make it without his income," I stated simply. Yes, it sounded awful. But Jose had been right in a way. Where I came from there was no escaping poverty, it's a matter of luck... back home, there is no welfare system to help women like me."

I was worried that the mention of Jose's name might send Christian off again into a jealous rage. Much to my surprise, Christian nodded, prompted me to continue. I swallowed before continuing.

"I almost turned around and left when I got to the agency...but then one of the women there told me about several success stories. She said most of the women that used their agency found their happily ever afters. She told me that most American men are kinder to the women that sign up than the local men."

I was about to say more about this but then changed my mind as it was a touchy subject. The woman at the agency had also talked about what I could expect in terms of marital faithfulness. She'd said that American men were less likely to stray and that they valued women and treated them as equals. It all sounded so good. Hearing her speak, I couldn't help but want that kind of relationship for myself. I thought about Jose and how he thought it was okay to flirt with other women, and how I believed he'd been unfaithful at least once in the last three years. But I'd been too afraid to rock the boat, and turned a blind eye to all of this. I'm not proud of it, but I had done what I had to do to survive. Jose's financial support had allowed me to take care of my mother and my sister too.

"I hope you realize that bastard didn't care about you. He was only trying to assuage his guilty conscience."

I nodded. "I know. I thought I loved him but I now realize it wasn't true love," I said looking into his eyes. "I love you, Christian...I don't know when or how I fell in love with you," I said, my eyes starting to feel heavy with sleep. "falling in love with you was like falling asleep slowly and then all at once you realize you're sleeping."

Christian POV

That night, I had trouble going to sleep. Ana, on the other hand, had fallen asleep in my arms with a contented sigh. Our talk had really shed some light on Ana's motivations. Even though I hated the thought of Ana with that bastard, in the end, I felt far superior to him. What kind of a man sends his woman off into the arms of another man? I was confident that there was no way on earth Ana would ever consider going back to him; he obviously didn't love her.

I fluffed my pillow and tossed and turned, trying to get comfortable. Even though I felt my relationship with Anastasia was stronger than ever, and I was able to erase her doubts and insecurities, I was apprehensive about our future.

I still couldn't believe Carrick had disowned me and left everything to Elena. I had been a good son to him, there was no reason in the world for him to do this; the only possible explanation that made sense was that Elena had tricked him both into marrying him and in the signing of that final document.

The next day, I went back to work as usual but I didn't make it past the lobby. I made the way to my subordinates who were waiting out with the security guards. This didn't make sense. I was the CEO and son of the founder of this company. I was convinced nothing could possibly change that, especially because of the contested will. But I was dead wrong. I called Steinberg in a rage.

But Steinberg had more bad news. He told me that I needed to vacate the house as soon as possible as there was a court order in place now. I started shouted obscenities and the security guards forced me out of the building. This couldn't possibly be happening, Christian Trevelyan Grey getting cast out into the street like a worthless dog!

Later that morning, I found Ana relaxing in our breakfast nook reading a book. I was too upset to break the news to her gently. Seeing the crazed look on my face, she gazed at me with growing apprehension.

"Everything is gone!" I cried out in despair. "The world has turned against me. I have nothing left, absolutely nothing, except maybe the clothes on my back!" I plopped into the seat beside her and bowed my head in my hands.

A moment later, I felt my wife's soft hand creep around my neck. "Oh, Christian," she murmured with a sigh. "You still have me, your wife. You will always have me."

Author's note: If you're in the mood for a lighter read, check out my other story She Just Gets Me. Thanks