Chapter 58: A Puppy

Anna paused at the entrance to the estate garden, drawing in a deep breath of the crisp morning air. The scent of blooming flowers and freshly trimmed hedges filled her lungs, carrying with it a sense of quiet serenity.

Walking through the Stark estate had become a part of her morning routine. After spending so much time confined indoors, she welcomed the chance to stretch her legs and clear her mind.

The structured, almost relentless rhythm of life with Mrs. Garrel had kept her senses constantly engaged, and now, without it, she found herself craving movement, stimulation—something to keep her from growing restless.

As she strolled deeper into the garden, a burst of laughter reached her ears. Curious, she followed the sound, rounding a hedge only to find Gabriel sitting in the grass, surrounded by vibrant flower bushes. A playful puppy clambered over him, its tiny paws pressing eagerly against his back.

Anna’s brows lifted in surprise. A Dalmatian?

"Gabriel!" she called out, her gaze fixed on the energetic pup. "What’s going on?"

"Oh! Good morning, Chloe!" Gabriel greeted her between chuckles, his bright, boyish grin widening as the puppy jumped onto his back again, tail wagging furiously. "I got a puppy!"

His excitement was infectious, and despite her confusion, Anna couldn’t help but smile. Still, she struggled to piece together how this had come about.

"I can see that," she said, crossing her arms with amusement. "But where did you get it?"

"I adopted him," Gabriel answered proudly, setting the puppy down so it could sniff at Anna’s shoes. "I’ve always wanted a dog, but Madame Garrel never let me have one. She said it would be too distracting."

Anna settled onto the grass beside Gabriel, and the puppy wasted no time clambering onto her lap, its tiny paws pressing eagerly against her. It wiggled excitedly, clearly demanding her attention.

"What about William? Does he know about this?" she asked, arching a brow as her fingers instinctively reached out to stroke the Dalmatian’s soft fur.

The puppy responded instantly, rolling onto its back and wriggling with delight as if her touch tickled.

Gabriel grinned, watching the playful interaction. "He doesn’t care," he said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "This mansion is so huge, I bet I could keep him a secret, and William would never even notice."

Anna laughed at the thought—it actually seemed quite plausible. When she paused her petting, the puppy let out a small, impatient whine, making her chuckle again. With a gentle smile, she scooped him up into her arms, cradling him against her chest. The Dalmatian nuzzled closer, clearly enjoying the affection.

"He’s adorable," she murmured, "I hope you give him all the love he deserves."

Gabriel’s smile faltered as he caught the flicker of sadness in her eyes. He hesitated before asking carefully, "Is something wrong?"

Anna inhaled deeply, as if trying to steady herself, then exhaled slowly. "I always wanted a dog too," she admitted. "But I couldn’t have one when I lived with my father—he’s allergic. And when I moved in with the Hydes... well, Colette hates animals, so getting a puppy was never an option."

She hesitated, gathering her thoughts before continuing. "When I finally accepted that I might never have a child, I suddenly felt so... alone. The house was always quiet, empty. A little companion like this one," she murmured, stroking the puppy’s velvety ears, "might have made it easier. But of course, convincing Colette was impossible."

Gabriel scoffed, his expression darkening. "She sounds like a real bitch," he said bluntly.

Anna blinked, momentarily caught off guard.

She hadn’t expected such a sharp remark from him. He simply waved off her surprised look with a casual shake of his head. "I mean it. People who don’t like animals have no soul. And honestly, given everything I’ve heard about her... well, let’s just say my assumption isn’t far off."

Anna let out a soft chuckle—one that held more bitterness than amusement. Her gaze drifted back to the puppy nestled in her arms, its tiny body rising and falling with each sleepy breath. She swept the back of her hand gently over its head, careful to make her touch as soothing as possible.

Gabriel watched her in silence, a flicker of regret settling in his chest.

"It’s a shame, really..."

She glanced at him, brow arching. "What is?"

"You’d be a great mother, Chloe. I can see it just by the way you hold him. When I look at you... I don’t know. It’s like everything about you is filled with love."

Anna’s breath hitched, her eyes widening slightly. The words, so unexpected, settled over her with a quiet weight. Strange—how something spoken so simply could carry such melancholy, as if each syllable was wrapped in the ghost of something lost.

Her eyes lingered on the sleeping puppy, its tiny chest rising and falling with each peaceful breath. She let out a quiet sigh, as if forcing herself to remain calm. "Well... some things just can’t be helped. It’s alright. I haven’t been doing well in that... area since I was fifteen."

The words hung in the air, heavier than she intended. Realizing it, Anna quickly lifted her eyes to Gabriel and forced a light laugh, waving a hand dismissively. "Goodness, I’m sorry. As a man, you probably don’t want to hear about these things."

Gabriel frowned, his expression hardening with frustration. "So what if I’m a man? That doesn’t mean I don’t care. I don’t mind you sharing things like this with me at all. No—if anything, I encourage it."

His voice then softened, his sharp eyes searching hers. "Your eyes are always so full of pain... but if you don’t want to talk about it, I understand. I won’t pressure you."

Anna bit her lower lip, her gaze flickering over his face, searching—expecting to find pity lurking beneath his concern. But to her relief, there was none.

He was right. Her heart was full of pain, a burden she had carried for far too long. And maybe, just maybe... she was tired of carrying it alone now.

Gabriel was her friend. Someone she trusted. And perhaps... it was finally time to talk about the past again.

Exhaling slowly, Anna finally said, "I’ve never told anyone this before, but... both my ex-husband and his fiancée are responsible for my infertility."

Gabriel’s eyes widened in shock. "What?"

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