Chapter 1710 An Engagement Ring (Part One)

"Annie, come on. Please don't be so hard on yourself. You're beautiful, unique, really one of a kind." Fred looked at Annie straight in the eye. He held her hands in between his own. His hands even trembled a bit from all the emotion he was feeling. Without a doubt, Fred loved Annie with all his heart. He had also grown to love the twins. He'd treat them as if they were his own children -- if only Annie could find it in her heart to let him inside her life.

"Fred, please stop. I'm already in love with somebody else. I'm so sorry." Annie lowered her eyes, feeling embarrassed. She couldn't bare to look at Fred as he confessed.

"Is it because of Mr. Xia?" Fred asked, his voice sad and low. 'If only I had met Annie before that bastard Rain did, ' Fred thought to himself.

Annie flushed, her face got hotter. "I'm so sorry. I should have told you," Annie looked up at Fred through her lashes. She gave him a weak smile as some comfort at the very least. But right after she had finally told him the truth, she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. The weight of the burden she carried was finally lifted from her entirely.

"But how can you even be sure that he'll love you back! What if he becomes unfaithful to you, Annie? Have you ever thought of that? That maybe he doesn't love you as much as you love him?" he cried. He let go of Annie's hands, and ruffled his hair in his frustration. 'Come on, Annie. Think! If he really loved you, he wouldn't have left you and the kids!'

"I-I..." Annie stammered. Fred's questions had her stumped. She herself did not know why she was still so drawn towards Rain.

"See! You can't even back him up. But you can count on me." Fred held on to her hands once again. "I can assure you that you will be the only woman I will ever need and want in my life. Please..." Fred was not about to give up. This was the first time he had been so vocal about his feelings; this, to him, was his chance to take the next

y putting on his coat and had grabbed his car keys in one swift movement. In just seconds, he was already running out his apartment.

"We're at home. We don't know what to do," Huey explained. Just like Justin, Huey was ahead of his years, a lot more mature than he should be for his age.

"I'll be right there soon. Wait for me." Rain hung up and got in his car. He started the engine, and in no time, was on his way to Annie's house. He drove as fast as the traffic would allow him, intent on getting there as soon as possible.

'Daddy said he'll be right here soon. Does it mean he's in S City now?' Huey thought as he ran towards his mother.

"Mommy, Mommy! Daddy said he'll be right here soon and asked us to wait for him," Huey exclaimed in a cheerful voice.

"Really? He's back?" Annie said, surprised. She let out a long sigh of relief. Although she wasn't so sure why, she trusted Rain. She was confident that he would know what to do.

"Yeah. I told him Joyce has a fever, and he said he is on his way." Huey was elated. From their short phone conversation, Huey could tell that Rain loved him and Joyce very much.

Annie said nothing more, and continued to give Joyce the cool sponge bath. Although she didn't want to bother Rain, she felt happy that he seemed to still care for them.