Breaking Mr. Cold (Giselle and Donovan) novel Chapter 658

Renee eased into the passenger seat and shut the door. Anne started the car without a word.

Morning light filtered through the trees as they made their way down the mountain road. Renee was still in a daze, her gaze glued to Anne as if afraid she would disappear the moment she blinked.

They drove through the soft morning light filtering between the trees. Renee stared at Anne in a daze, afraid she would vanish the moment her eyes flickered away.

"When did you come back? And where have you been staying?" Renee couldn't help but ask.

"I came back in April," Anne said.

Sitting next to her mother, she no longer felt the need to keep anything from her. "I've been living in a villa in Riverstone. I was planning to come home in October for your birthday and surprise you."

Renee felt her throat close up. "You were back this whole time, so why didn't you come home? Do you know how much I've suffered? I was barely holding on."

Anne let out a faint, cold snort. "I just wasn't ready."

"What did you need to be ready for? I'm already grateful you're alive," Renee said, failing to catch the meaning behind her words. "Please tell me where you've been this whole year."

Anne drove on in silence, offering no answer. Her face had gone pale and stiff.

Just then, Renee caught sight of her bare forearm and froze.

"What happened to your arm?" Renee asked, gently pulling up Anne's sleeve. Her breath caught when she saw burn marks, cuts, and a dense cluster of old wounds covering Anne's skin.

A wave of sorrow swept across Anne's face.

"It's over," she murmured. "Everything is over. I made it back, didn't I?"

His mouth hung open, and tears filled his eyes. "You really came back. As long as you're safe, that is all that matters. Come inside."

With Renee safely home from the kidnapping and Anne returning after more than a year, Tony's mind was in a whirl. He didn't even know where to begin.

"Anne, go upstairs and take a shower and change," Renee said gently. "You're finally home. I'll have the housekeeper prepare a big lunch to welcome you back. Go rest in your room first."

"Okay."

For the first time, Anne stepped into her familiar home, longing for nothing more than to lie down.

She went upstairs and entered her bedroom. Everything was spotless and perfectly arranged, and the sight brought tears to her eyes. During the endless days trapped in hell, she had dreamed countless times of this soft, warm bed. Coming home had been her one desperate wish, and now it was real.

Exhausted, she walked into the bathroom and slowly began to undress.