ANAPOV

We are here and I feel so nervous what was I thinking when I allowed Eva and Cary to convince me to come with them to the horns nest

"Baby girl, are you ready to go in?" Cary asks

"As ready as I'll ever be" I respond smiling at him

"Well, beautiful lady, please allow us to escort you," Steve says bowing dramatically, making me giggle and allowing him and his husband Mark to escort me inside, letting them go just before we reach the photographers.

Eva and Gideon go first, followed by Arnoldo, and Shawna, then it's my turn, followed by Cary, I don't linger too long after my picture is taken.

"Ana, remember what we talked about? you have nothing to feel ashamed of, doesn't matter whom you encounter here, they gave up on you and it's time you show them what an amazing person they lost, and how accomplished and happy you are now" Eva reminds me

"Besides, we all have your back" Gideon confirms

"Thank you so much, not only for giving me the strength to come tonight but for all you have done for me and my kids".

"I already told you, I didn't do anything special but hire the perfect person for my publishing house and in a short amount of time you've made me even more money than I anticipated, so whatever you got you more than earned it".

I just nod while flushing. Thankfully Cary saves me by leading us to our designated table where I find myself in front of an irritated Mia Grey

"Anastasia, what are you doing here?" she hatefully says

"Well, nice to see you too Mia. I'm here with my boss and friends to support this event"

"I see, so you leave taking my niece and nephew without even attempting to inform your children's father where they will be going, and just come into my family's home years later without a care in the world?"

"I apologize if you disapprove of my presence here, but we all confirmed our attendance tonight directly to Grace. As for my personal life, this isn't the appropriate place to discuss, nor do I have any obligation to do so with you."

"Anastasia, forgive me but what other reaction did you expect when 4 years ago you just picked up and left without a simple goodbye? We have not seen our niece and nephew because you were too selfish to think of someone other than yourself"

Before I can reply Gideon approaches us

"Is there any problem Ms. Grey? because as soon as I provided the list of attendees Mrs. Grey enthusiastically contacted me for confirmation that Ana was indeed one of them"

"Not at all Mr. Cross, please excuse me"

looking at her walk away annoyed at my presence is very uncomfortable

"Perhaps I should leave" I dejectedly asked

"Absolutely not, we will be leaving just as we arrived"

"Ok, just give me a minute I need a little bit of fresh air"

He nods and I find myself walking towards the boat house remembering all the times Christian and I went in there in the middle of a family dinner or during Sunday brunch because we couldn't get enough of each other. I can see now when everything started to change. Shaking my head I decide I need to get out of here. This was a terrible idea, I'll order a taxi and then I'll text Eva And Gideon and apologize. I walk towards the entrance when I stumble into Christian and Grace, shit!

"Ana, how have you been?" Grace salutes me as polite as ever Christian quickly turns to face me with a longing expression that confounds me, shouldn't he be indifferent like he's been all this time since I left

"Mrs. Grey, I am good thank you for asking" I see Christian flinch at my response, and Grace's smile fade

"That is wonderful dear, I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable, but would it be possible to discuss the possibility of us seeing the kids? We all miss them so much"

"Grace, I apologize but I offered all of you the opportunity to be part of their lives when I sent all of you my new address and contact information with Kate expecting at least their father to contact me at some point, but nobody did. So, I'm sure you can understand that after all these years, the last thing I want is to have them hurt again should you guys decide it's not convenient to see them once more" I say all this with my head held high looking between the astonished faces of Grace and Christian

"Anastasia, please forgive me if I'm wrong but we did not receive the information you're stating"

No, there must've been a miscommunication because Kate would not betray me.

"I don't understand what you mean but a few days after I left to escape the media storm that disturbed our lives, Kate visited me, and I asked her to give you guys my contact information along with the letter I sent to Christian"

I look at him expectantly hoping she didn't keep that as well

"I think we need to talk to Katherine and clarify this issue right away"

Christian responds. I know that is his way to soften the blow that my best friend lied to me all these years, that it was her that caused me so much misery when I thought they had all written us off. We looked at each other not knowing what to say until Grace brakes the silence by pointing out Elliot and Kate's arrival.

I turn around and come face to face with a pale and nervous Kate, confirming that this is not a nightmare I'll soon wake up from but the ugly truth, but why?

"Hello Kate, Elliot I'm so glad to see you. Grace salutes them.

"Ana, what are you doing here? Don't you think you have hurt this family enough? Now you want to ruin an event so special for us with your presence?" Elliot spits at me

"Do not talk to her like that, better yet why don't you ask Kate whose selfishness kept Anastasia and my children away?"

"Really Bro, are you really trying to cover her mistakes by blaming my wife? Well, I'll be damned if I continue to be fooled by her manipulations you are free to do what you want brother just do not call me when she leaves you alone and broken again because I won't be there to support you"

I stare at Kate waiting for her to tell Elliot what happened. But she won't even look at me, she not only cut me off from Christian and his family but now is allowing Elliot to tear me apart for something I am not responsible for. Hurt and disappointed I ask what I have been trying to understand since I first learned I had been deceived.

"Why Kate? I trusted you. You were my best friend in the world, I asked you to let them know where I was and how to contact me. You are the one that convince me to move away to escape the scandal Christian created, and you visited me to "make sure we were fine" I wanted to call Grace but you offer to talk to everyone in person and explain why I left. I know you never gave Christian the letter I sent him, it is safe to assume you read it and got a good laugh out of it. I also, know you never gave the rest of the family my information for them to contact me as I asked you"

By this time there are a few spectators watching our confrontation. After Carrick and Mia join us, we walk to the house and continue talking.

Once in the privacy of the living room, Christian is the first to talk

"Katherine, I've always known you don't like me, just as I don't like you, but this time you went too far. Not only did you not give me Ana's letter but you treated me at Anastasia's request. Stating she was disgusted with me and she never wanted to see me again and wanted me to stay away from our children as well. And should I refuse to comply with her demands she was going to ruin my reputation by showing the world the monster I am, and how my parents not only allowed a pedophile to abuse me as a teen but continue associating with this pedophile for more than 20 years allowing her access to young boys through their coping together charity"

Everyone including Elliot seems horrified at what Christian just revealed. I didn't notice I had started to cry until I feel Christian's hands on my cheeks trying to dry my eyes with his handkerchief.

"Kate, please tell me what they are saying is not true. You cannot be so evil as to cause so much pain to anyone especially your best friend and my brother"

"Best friend? She stopped being my best friend when she met Christian. suddenly she forgot all I did for her; she went from nothing to billionaire in a day. making her a real Cinderella only her prince charming was an arrogant self-centered monster that enjoyed beating little brown-haired girls to submission. I knew from the first day I met him he was no good for her, but she never listened and all I wanted was for her to be happy and whether you guys acknowledge it or not, she's better without him. She was not born to be with a selfish, egotistical asshole no matter how wealthy he is. She doesn't appreciate or know how to handle being married with megabucks over here. So, all I did was pushed them a little bit to help them move along and stop annoying us with either all their drama"

"I must admit I never would've imagined she would catch the billionaire's attention. After all, she had no real charm or exceptional looks. I expected he would be attracted to me as soon as we met at the interview. And depending on his charming abilities I was open to going out with him at least once. I was smart enough to recognize Grey was a good partner prospect for me. But unexpectedly I got sick that day and I had no other choice than to send someone in my place, so I chose the one I believed had no possibilities to capture the CEO's interest" she says with a sarcastic laugh.

Before anyone can speak Taylor apologizes for interrupting and asks to speak with Christian, I see him walk away but I failed to register anything going on because my head is a whirlpool of emotions that are making me feel dizzy. Christian comes close to me and informs me that Gideon is demanding to speak to me immediately. With one last look at Katherine I turn and walk out the door.