You are the most handsome man.....

Drake who was right after Regan saw what he did and immediately pacified the bafflement that arised in the people sitting over there. When Nathan cocked his brow with his questioning gaze, he came up with a lie of an urgent business issue which was needed to be discussed right away. His reason convinced everyone as they knew that Regan was a workaholic and never took any chances when it came to his business.

Meanwhile, Regan took Anna away from everyone. His mind was a mess which was clouded with Drake's words. Unlike every time, she wasn't surprised with his actions as she was used to his behavior when he had earlier dragged her in the same way for one or the other reason. On the whole way, she noticed the anxiety and weariness that radiated from his stiff body language. She didn't know what he was up to but she trusted him enough and knew that there must be a reason behind his action. However, when they reached the living hall in the mansion, he abruptly halted in his steps. It was then when she noticed his intent gaze on her that held various emotions. She didn't know how to interpret the unsaid words that he was trying to implicate through his eyes. They stood there without uttering a single word for a few good seconds. She felt hard to bear the intensity of his eyes and decided to break the silence.

"Regan…..Are you alright? I saw you talking to Drake and..."

Before she could speak further, he engulfed her in his embrace with his head in the crook of her neck. She stood there motionless with her hands on her side, not understanding for a while what happened to him all of a sudden and why. She stiffened with their proximity and her heart started palpitating, ready to burst at any moment due to his abrupt action. She was shocked would be an understatement. After a while, when she came back to her senses, she hardly managed to call him out in a whisper.

"Regan? What…..What are you doing?"

He didn't speak for a few more seconds but then his words appalled her once again.

"Let me hold you for a while. Please."

He tightened his hold while she stood there clueless not understanding the reason behind his pleading. She could feel that something was wrong with him that disturbed him too much to make him so rationale at that moment. She left her inhibitions and gradually brought her hands to his back rubbing it soothingly to calm his nerves.

"Are you alright? I thought you sorted out everything with Drake. Has something gone wrong? Don't worry too much. It's going to be fine, okay."

"I am sorry Anna. I am extremely sorry. I am sorry heart."

She was bemused not understanding the reason behind his apology but then stiffened again as she her mind registered the endearment that he muttered unknowingly.

"Re…..Regan? What happened? What are you sorry for?" When he didn't answer her, she spoke again. "You know what? You are scaring me now. And what did you call me? Heart?"

Her words brought him out of the daze and he realized what he did and said in the moment. He immediately pulled himself back which startled them both. Her eyes manifested the inquisitiveness to know the cause of his undertaking while he was tongue-tied not knowing to explain the whirling emotions in him.

Earlier, when Drake told him about her past, he was taken aback of the things she went through. He was still unaware of the reason behind Ashton's death but knowing about how her life changed due to his absence, he couldn't take it well. The moment when he had held her unconscious frame in his arms was heartwrenching and the mere thought of losing her forever had made him berserk and numb. He didn't want to know or feel the pain that she had went through by losing her love because he knew that he wouldn't have been able to bear it if he was at her place. By then, he had realized the reason behind the emptiness in her eyes. He wanted to lessen the pain that she was going through hiding behind her smiles that indeed bewitched everyone but he could see through her soul which he realized was shattered and understood that he had to bear a ton of patience and love to collect its every broken piece which was meant to take a lot of time. He realized that he had to wait for the day when she would probably accept him wholeheartedly and he was ready to give her his lifetime and commitment. He wanted to divulge his heart out to her, wanted to hold her again to never let her go and wanted to assure her that from now on he was there to hold her in her highs and lows but knowing that she was not yet ready, he stopped himself from screwing up the situation more.

"Thanks." He finally answered her.

"For what?"

"For coming into my life."

She looked at him dumbfounded still processing his words while he continued.

"I sorted out everything with Drake just as you said. I was just inundated with all the things going around for so long and.....but you made me realize that we should really not let go off the people who are important in our lives. I am sorry for the way I behaved earlier and.....if I crossed the line.

She didn't know if he had really crossed the line as he said. She didn't feel uncomfortable for once either with his actions or closeness. She couldn't understand why she was not bothered by his close presence. It was all natural and made her feel warm and cozy around him. She was about to answer him when a wave of dizziness passed through her head and she staggered a step back while holding her head making Regan instantly alert and anxious at the same time.

"Anna... Be careful."

He made her sit on the couch, immediately brought a glass of water and carefully made her drink the whole of it.

"Let me call the doctor."

"I am alright now."

"I'm not taking no for an answer Anastasia. Just look at you...You look so pale."

"There's nothing to worry about. Really. I am exhausted. That's it."

Regan closed his eyes in exasperation. "How can I be so carefree about your health? I should have taken care that you don't exert yourself too much. Fine. But it's time to rest now."

She smiled on hearing him. "I know I am weak but I am not that frail or vulnerable who couldn't handle a little bit of exhaustion. I think its my fault to give you enough reasons to think of me like that."

"What do you mean?"

She bit her lip and said reluctantly. "I am scared of darkness. I am sensitive towards wounds and injuries and I.....I don't feel comfortable at huddled places. These many reasons are enough for anyone to think that I am too weak to handle any kind of stress or.....I know your work ethics. You never deal with weak people. I..... I really don't know how you are coping up with me."

Regan sat there in mortification. He couldn't understand how she was degrading herself and pointing out her so called weaknesses that were prevalent only in her eyes. He felt outrageous on her words and yelled at her which cause her to flinch.

"Are you insane?"

Watching her terrified with his temper, his eyes softened. He closed his eyes to calm himself and said gently.

"I can't understand why you underestimate yourself so much. You are the strongest person I have ever known Anastasia. And... I won't allow anyone to think so low of you.....even if it's you. Do you understand?"

She frantically nodded her head.

"It's quite late. You should rest now. Come."

He stood up from the couch waiting for her to do the same but she sat there motionless with her head hung down.

"Anastasia?"

"I wanted to ask you something."

He sighed. "I am all ears."

She looked into his eyes this time, without wavering them for a second as she desperately wanted the answers and the reason behind his coldness in the past.

"That day when I got drunk.....Did I misbehaved too much? Is that the reason that you left without a word? I got to know from your parents that you returned from China right after a week. I kept on calling you but you never answered. Why? That day when I got a call from your office, I wanted to call you but couldn't because I thought you would avoid me again. What did I do to offend so much?"

He freezed on hearing her questions. He wanted to tell her that it wasn't her fault. It was his to run away like a coward because he failed to protect her from his own people and himself. He knew that she would have called and confirmed him about the meeting that day if he wasn't ignorant or cold towards her. However, listening the same words from her stabbed his heart and he felt more guilty than he already was. He didn't have any idea about how to answer her as he didn't want to lose her again.

"It's okay if you don't want to answer."

"How much do you remember?"

"Not much, except some tits and bits which is quite embarrassing." He gazed her and she continued while looking down. "I remember how I pulled your... your cheeks and acted like a brat. I was quite handful, wasn't I? You even had to carry me while I kept complaining about something, though I don't exactly remember what it was. You even.....massaged my feet."

Inspite of the heaviness, a small smile tugged on his face on recalling that night. The way she was narrating all those things, he knew how embarrased she was and what a big fuss she would have made of all those things in her little head. Her cheeks were coated with a tint of red pointing her embarrassment and he couldn't help but chuckled in his head on her innocuousness.

'If I say how adorable you were that night... Would you run away?' He shook his head on his own thoughts in such a situation. He wasn't surprised on how she unknowingly managed to bring out a smile on his face and eased the heaviness in his heart. He wanted the same smile on her face too so he came up with something else instead of answering her honestly.

He folded his arms over his chest and said, "You were."

She looked at him when he finally answered and tilted her head.

"Certainly you were handful. You kept on complaining that you would lose your legs if you would walk so I had to carry you." Her eyes widened and he shrugged his shoulders. "Then you said something that hurt me the most." He said and turned around as he couldn't stop himself from laughing on watching her expressions.

She stood on her feet and asked worriedly. "What did I say?"

"You said that I annoy you, so you don't like me. If that wasn't enough, you told me how unattractive and hideous I am and it really broke my heart and confidence. I am known as the most handsome and eligible bachelor of Seattle and your words really intrigued me Anastasia."

Her eyes were as big as saucers and were ready to pop out at any moment. She was clearly shocked, not able to believe that she was actually so crude to him. She shook her head and almost instantly said, "How can I say such things? It's not true Regan. Believe me I like you... very much."

Now, it was his turn to be appalled as he didn't expect to hear it from her. He immediately turned around and found her standing behind him and asked her incredulously, "What?"

"I like you and you know what... you are the most good looking guy I have ever seen. In fact, Emily says you are an Adonis and very hot."

He was about to explode in laughter. He was indeed amused on hearing her thoughts about him but the way she was speaking so seriously to coax him, he didn't know whether to laugh or tease her more.

"Can you repeat?"

"You are the most handsome man and..."

Before she could continue, he started laughing crazily while holding his stomach. Anna was puzzled on the sudden change but when she realized that he was once again pulling her leg, her nostrils flared up in anger. She even once thought to bang his head that always gave him the ideas to mess with her.

"Anna... just look at your face. But thank you so much for the compliments. Adonis and hot huh? I like that." He said cockily and winked.

She turned crimson on grasping the words that slipped from her mouth to pacify him but her anger overpowered her and she hit his head with the cushion that was laid on the couch taking him off-guard.

"Ouch Anna! Are we going to do a pillow fight now? You know you have a kink for violence inside you? But come up with something hard that can really hit me." He took a jibe on her again.

"Thanks for stating that. Now I'll show how violent I can be."

He moved a few steps backwards while she moved her eyes to find something to really hit his head this time. Her gaze landed on the flower vase on the table between them. She immediately emptied it and smirked.

"Got it."

Regan moved a few steps back while she kept moving towards him.

"Anna come on. You aren't serious about this. It can really hit me hard."

Seeing that she wasn't going to stop, he turned and started running around the couch with her right after him.

"I am really going to hit you this time to mess with me so bad. You are gross Regan." She yelled while chasing him.

"Really? I thought I was hot and handsome."

She was about to hit him when he dodged her and ran outside.

"No... you are an idiot who teases me everytime. A bumpkin.... a.....a daft who is imbecile."

"Ouch! You hurt me here Anastasia." He faked hurt while putting a hand on his chest.

Their little chase ended when they heard a few gasps. It was then when they realized that they were standing in the middle of the garden where the others were sitting. The commotion created by them caught all of their attention and no one could believe what they were watching.

On one hand, Nathan and Grace were stunned to see their son in such a light mood where he was graced by a girl with such words while on the other hand, Richard, Emily and Jack were shocked to see Anna in such a sour mood, screaming on Regan with a flower vase in her hand. Stella and Drake couldn't believe it too but somehow seemed to be controlling their laughter.

A few seconds later, Stella cleared her throat drawing Anna's attention and signalling her that she was still holding the vase in her hand in the mid air. She moved her eyes and saw everyone gawking at her with their mouths open. She smiled sheepishly and instantly tried to hide it behind her back.

"Well baby girl... that's too big to hide behind your small back." Emily commented and shrugged.

Anna's face heated up and she didn't know where to hide her face. She glared at Regan who was standing right beside her feeling as awkward as her. She looked down, drilling holes in the ground for it to open and swallow her whole to avoid the embarrassment when she heard everyone laughing uncontrollably at her and Regan.

"We thought you were discussing business." Richard stated in amusement.

"But you both can continue. That was a good show for someone being dominant on Reg." Drake chided in and earned a glare from Regan.

Nathan came to Anna's side and patted her shoulder. "Well dear. If you need any help to give him a piece of mind.... tell me cause I would like to help you too."

"Dad!" Regan groaned.

"We..... we were discussing about some business...business issues but then we had a ummm... misunderstanding and we just... I am sorry." Anna said apologetically which made all of them to laugh again.

After a few more awkward seconds, they both too joined them laughing whole heatedly at their childish act that amused everyone including them.

"If this is how you are going to do business together, I am worried someone from us has to keep an eye on you both so you won't kill each other because I love both of you to let you do that." Grace stated smiling at both of them.

"I take it on me aunt Grace. I promise I'll save my dear friend from Anna's wrath and Anna don't worry... I'll take care that he don't piss you with his antics."

They all laughed again and talked for a while before bidding goodbye as it was quiet late by then.

Regan went to Anna and affectionately kissed her cheek taking her off guard and surprising the others. He leaned down and whispered in her ear.

"Thanks for such a lovely day and thanks for the compliment. I don't know about me but you..." He pulled away from her to look into her eyes. "are indeed the most gorgeous woman I have ever met. Rest well and have a good night." He flashed a smile and left her bemused at his actions once again.