Vincent doesn't move, he's like a statue. I look at him for a moment, my body glued in place as my brain registers. I walk slowly over to him and place my hand on his chest, noticing his chest hasn't risen ever since his Father spoke. I feel like I'm watching a movie...like I shouldn't even be here. My heart pangs in my chest hearing those words come out of that mans mouth...I can't even imagine what Vincent thinking.

"What-...who?"

His Father looks up at him, he looks mentally exhausted, he just stares at Vincent for a long minute and finally looks at the ground with a deep and heavy sigh, saying the name we least expected

"Annie"

We both gasp and my hand slaps over my mouth again

Oh my god

No that can't be, Annie's golden brown orbs pop into my head and I can't help my eyes widening. But what about Jo? She said they were married for many many years...he just died seven or eight months ago from what Vincent told me. What was Vincents father even doing with Annie? She's not rich and at the time she had to have been married. By saying that Vincent was making a mistake this whole time that he's been with me, did his Father mean he didn't want Vincent to get involved with a married woman like he had?...this doesn't make since.

"How? When?" Vincent asks his voice winded like he just got punched in the stomach "no, you know what?... Don't, get out now" he demands and I look up at him

His father looks a little hurt "just let me explain-"

"No get out!" Vincent demands his voice frantic and eyes dark with rage

His father remains leaned against the counter unmoving "fine" Vincent snaps through clenched teeth grabbing ahold of my hand, rather roughly

He pulls me to his room and drops my hand, walking over to his bed. He grabs something from a drawer as I stand in the doorway, trying to wrap my head around this. He walks back over to me and I look in his hand to see a white slip or ticket of some sort. Before I can think on it he grabs my free, and might I mentioned still slightly bruised, hand. I wince but he doesn't notice as he's still dragging me behind him.

We walk out into the living room and he picks up something else, it's 'The Great Gatsby' I look at him questionably but he shoves it under his suit covered arm, not looking back as we pass his father and over to the door. He opens it and slips his hand from mine, allowing me to breath in relief. He puts his hand on my lower back and leads me out. I look back at his Father, who still stands in the same place as before, his feature calmer and body still. He leans against the counter like if he didn't hold on he'd fall from the amount of shock he put on himself by delivering the information. The mans green eyes on his som but are glazed over with guilt. I look up at Vincent and his face shows anger but at the same time blankness...his eyes so different than I've ever seen.

From the blank stare at the ground he looks at me, eyes scanning my face momentarily "If I don't fund her father's company you won't tell Theo...promise" he says, his back turned from his father as we stand in the doorway

"Yes- but"

"Good, show yourself out" he says

"Vince-" before he can finish Vincent lightly pushes me out into the hallway and slams the door behind us

So pretty much one problem is solved, the whole risk of his father telling Theo about me and Vincent, and two more problems arise; needing to find a new funder and...the fact Annie is Vincent's-....real mother.

I'm dragged along to the elevators, Vincent thankfully holding my good hand, his stance is hard and guarded, his fists balled and the paper he's holding now crumbled, the burnt edged book still tucked under his arm.

The second the doors open he pulls us in and hits the lobby button. The ride down is quiet. What do I say? What do I do? When I look up at him he's hardly recognisable, he looks frightening... scary even. I sigh trying to rest my heart and return my breathing to normal.

The doors ding and we climb out, he grips my hand and yanks me out to the car, not taking a single second to look for people who may know us. He opens my door and I sit down and watch him shut the door in on me. I almost feel like crying, I don't now what's going on, Vincent won't look at me or even talk to me...I need to know what's going on in his head, I know he's not alright.

He climbs in next to me and throws the white slip onto the dash and the book in his lap. He speeds out before either of us buckle up, he drives wildly down the road earning our fair share of honks "Vincent" I say holding onto the dash as he moves in and out of traffic "where are we going?" I ask, hoping my hand, that now rests on his strong arm, will calm him down enough to stop breathing so hard and actually look at me

He doesn't answer and a stupid tear does slip from my eye, I turn my head away form him and pull my hand back. I look out the window at the passing cars and down at the double yellow lines, avoiding eye contact or really any contact with him. I just hate feeling like this. I know I shouldn't be the one crying but my god I'm scared for him and about how confused I am. I sit back and figure we are going to Annie's shop...I'm sure he has questions, I even have questions.

When we never leave this side of the city I start to get confused. I recognise this route, it's a way to my house. Oh no, what if he's taking me back to Theo? He's just going to drop me off and leave me without a word...how will I know if he'll be ok? Was this too much for him? Does he not want me anymore? He wouldn't do that...we're in this together, right?

"Vincent where are we going?" I say a little harsher as we come up closer and closer to the road of my dreaded house

"Just-" he cuts himself off as we pass the street and I sigh in relief "I need to show you something" he says, his eyes focused on the road

My leg shakes with anxiety as we drive, for what feels like hours. I've never even been on this side of the city, it's so green...I'm not even sure where we are when I look up again. A million questions seep into my over acting brain. He slows down as we come up to a roundabout with a large off white almost yellow building to the side of it. It almost looks like a hospital buts it's shorter, probably not above five or six stories and very symmetrical.

He pulls in too quick before I can read the sign and stops at a gate where a man in uniform comes out. Vincent points at the dash, at the white slip of paper, and the man nods tipping his hat to us as he presses a button and the gate opens. Vincent speeds in "Vincent what's going on?" I beg looking around the parking lot

Lots of plants and trees are scattered around, it's actually beautiful but where are we? At this point I'm worried and still, if not more, confused.

Again no answer but before I force him to look and talk to me he parks and shuts the car off, climbing out with the book before I can draw a breath. I frown and get out myself when I see him already making his way to the automatic doors. I see an elderly lady being wheeled out by a dark skinned man in green scrubs...what is this place?

I hurriedly walk up to the automatic doors, almost tripping on the step-up from the car port to the sidewalk. When I walk in, the air conditioning runs over my body making my hot anxious body shiver.

I look around, not bothering to take in my surrounding, my only purpose is to find Vincent. I spot him talking to a woman at a desk, he's leaned over and she's smiling at him. I walk over to them, pushing my blonde hair out of my face trying to read there lips, but the only part of the conversation I catch is "it's a good day for her, go on back" the woman says

Vincent nods looking a little less angry "thank you" he says and turns to me "Come on" he takes my hand before I can pull away

We scurry down the hall to a set of elevators that are already opened as two people walk out. He pulls me in and hits the third floor button as the doors shut us in "Vincent what's going on" I demand "I know what just happened-" I cut myself off taking a deep breath "was shocking but please I'm begging you, talk to me" I beg, his eyes on the doors

He turns to me with a thin mouth, his brown eyes look over me, debating something. He shakes his head "just-" the doors open and he doesn't finish

He steps out and I almost don't follow him...almost, but my curiosity is outweighing my stubbornness. He walks down a couple of hallways, turning left and right, like he's been here a million times. It's hard keeping up but I do and eventually he stops at a closed door. I stand next to him, panting slightly and look up at his chiseled jaw and golden eyes that are directioned at the red door. He takes a deep breath and walks in without a single glance or word my way.

I stand there for a moment alone in the hallway, what's in there? What is this place? Why did he bring me here? Why did he want to go here after what we just found out?

I look around the doorway to see a bedroom of some sort. There's a woman sitting by a large window, she's sitting in a white wooden chair, next to her is a wheelchair. She's over looking the back of the building which has green grass, different blooming trees and a garden below, unlike the usual scenery of buildings and apartments. I step in just as Vincent makes his way over to the woman, her back is turned to me but I see her medium brown hair resting on her shoulders, grey streaks the chestnut color throughout and lines the roots. Vincent makes light and slow steps over to her as he couches down next to her on the red and brown designed rug, holding onto the chair for support as he looks up at the woman. He sets the book on the table next to her and holds her hand.

She shifts her eyes down at him for a moment, then looks away "Mom?" He says quietly just as I walk in, my body freeze, mid-step and I hold onto the freshly made bed as my wide eyes move to Vincent in shock "Mom it's me, Vincent" his voice pleas with her and my heart stops as it breaks seeing him look like this

No this is impossible, she can't be- I just assumed. Vincent's father's words repeat in my head 'she can't even remember you!'. Vincent's Mother, the one he made me presume was dead...is alive?...How could he not tell me?

Before I can freak out my phone buzzes in my pocket and I quickly walk out into the hallway and pull it out before I'm heard. I answer, shutting the door and hear my father's voice "Adeline" he says

"Dad?" I ask surprised at his call "what is it?" I look back at the door hoping this call is a quick one because my mind is elsewhere at this point

"It's my company, your mother told me what you wanted to do, with finding someone to buy me out of Theo's company and all, well I got an offer" he says and I smile

"Great" I say hoping it isn't Vincent's offer, even though I have a very strong feeling it is

"Yes it would be, it may not seem like it but we do care about your happiness and if we can find a way to get you unmarried to Theo and still be able to get funding for my company-"

Once a selfish man always a selfish man

"Without using me as a trading tool" I insist brushing a strand of blonde hair behind my ear

"Right- then we would but..." He trials off and my heart sinks, my brains still moving and trying to figure out what just happened in the room I'm standing outside of....what now "Theo found out" he sighs "the investor pulled out anyways-" Vincent father's doing "but Theo said I could never leave his company...in the document I signed, when I became CEO said I had to stay for ten years...or longer" he sighs "Theo practically owns me"

Join the club

"You didn't tell him it was my idea right?" I beg frantically

"No, all he knows is that someone wanted to pay me just as much- actually more money than he was, he put two and two together and figured I would leave him since the investor could buy me out of his company. Why?" He asks

I sigh in relief "nothing" I say without having anything else to say "it's ok" we'll just have to figure out another way...but should we? This all seems like too much, what will Vincent do? How is he going to take this?...so far not good.

I sigh and say goodbye, we hang up and I lean my head against the door. We can't catch a break can we? One more thing onto another. Again I feel my eyes water but I shake them away. I don't want to say 'is this even worth it?' but at the same time before Vincent I was miserable but life was simple now life's exploded with twists and turns I never expected.

But I have to see this through

I love him and if after this blow about his mother he doesn't want to have this drama anymore...then I don't know but I can't leave this now. I'm getting away from Theo one way or another.

I just don't understand this. Vincent would have told me if his Mother were alive, I mean he never said she had passed but the way he talked about her made it seem like she had. Does he not trust me? Does he still have a guarded heart from me after I've shared my entire being with him? Should I be mad at him for never telling me?

Too many thoughts work there way through my mind and not enough have answers. For the time being I have to live for right now and do what I think is best...answers are sure to follow. I take a deep breath and place my hand on the metal handle forcing myself to calm down and go in there and help Vincent, if he'll let me. I slowly open the door to see Vincent and, I guess I call her his mother, in the same place. He's crouched next to her, his lips drawn down in a frown. The sunlight from the window cascading bright white light around them and casts a shadow of the two forms on the rug. His face illuminated by the glowing sun and hair looking a lighter shade than its usual, almost, black. His sad golden eyes turn to me and I slowly make my way over to him.

I refuse to let him do this alone...even if he doesn't want to talk to me.

A/N
Hey readers!! So...plot twist! Well kinda a double plot twist! Explanations will be in next chapter, hope you all are enjoying! :)
VOTE AND COMMENT! Please???!!
-Madi