As soon as he arrived in the dining room, his father and Maxwell stood up like gentlemen. All of them, with looks of admiration. Nanny and Beth remained seated, but they were also in awe. Anna felt triumphant at that moment and walked confidently to her seat next to Maxwell. “You look beautiful, my child.” Her father said, but he didn't seem satisfied with her choice of clothes, so he sat down and Maxwell followed him. “I almost didn't recognize you... That's not really your style...” He said and Anna noticed a slight tone of reproach in her father's voice, which revealed that the impression she had gotten of his displeasure was real. “I thought you'd be pleased to see me looking more... Sophisticated.” “Sophisticated? That's not quite how I define your choice... You're still very young.” His father replied and watched the food being placed on the table with a frown. “You seem to have prepared yourself like these dishes. To be devoured. You're not old enough to wear tha
Anna's eyes widened, and she stopped the drink that was on its way to her mouth. She had forgotten that detail. Helen didn't know that Ian wasn't Maxwell's son. How could she have known? The two of them looked too much alike. She put the cup down on the table and looked the nanny in the eye. “We got married after Ian was born. And until then, we hadn't slept together again.” It wasn't entirely a lie. He couldn't tell her the truth, because he couldn't trust anyone like that. That woman loved her husband and could report their relationship and Anna would be deported. “But then, why did you get married? It doesn't make sense...” “Maxwell and I wanted Ian to grow up thinking that we were a happy couple... That we got married and only then had him...” “He'll be able to see the lie in the date on your marriage certificate!” “Don't be naive. Have you ever asked your parents to check their wedding date? Nobody does that.” Anna said impatiently. “You... Did you
Maxwell was taken by surprise for the second time that evening. “With all my soul.” He found himself confessing. “Then you shouldn't have lain with her.” Anna's father said and crossed his arms. “I don't understand your reasoning...” “Do you think I'm blind? I know everything. I know how much she drank yesterday.” Anna's father said as if it were an accusation. “Yes. She drank, and she could have chosen today to pretend that nothing had happened. But even without drinking, she made a point of celebrating this day and talking about us.” “She loves Adam. She's his wife! And you will be a stone in her shoe in the future.” “She doesn't love him anymore. She loves me, and she's my wife now.” “I don't doubt that she believes that. I don't doubt that you fervently wish to believe that, but I'm experienced, Maxwell. She loves your brother and wants to be with you because you're too much like him. You're both young and it's natural to be attracted, but the day
Anna didn't know that she could be happy with a simple smile of thanks dedicated to her. Everyone who took the food was surprised, and she explained that she had made it herself, and that they were typical dishes from that country, but with her own special touch. And when they tried it, they kept complimenting her, the cuisine, and thanking her. They stopped at just one place, and after one of them had tried her cooking, others came along and enjoyed it too. She decided that she would do it at least once a week. Anna didn't know it yet, but after that night, Maxwell's men and her father's men would look at her the way Adam's men looked at her. And she knew she was gaining their sympathy. She didn't like remembering Adam, because when she thought of him, she also remembered everything she had lived through with him. Without meaning to, the words of declaration he had said to her in front of Kate echoed in her head. But she knew now that they were lies, to keep her captive
Maxwell came a few steps closer, but stopped in his tracks. She had just declared herself to him, and she felt exactly the same feelings for him as he did for her, but her father had put a doubt in his mind. Was she really projecting her brother onto him? He needed to know. Earlier, he'd had the idea of calling Adam over so that she could choose between the brothers. But now he felt a great urgency to know. And he would never give her back to Adam, even if he had to... Do something horrible to her. “Anna... You've described exactly everything I feel for you... But I think it's even stronger for me. That's why we must leave no doubt between us if we want our relationship to work.” Anna felt her heart fill with hope as she listened to him. She just walked in, closed the door, sat down and looked at him questioningly. “Do you have any doubts about the sincerity of my feelings?” Maxwell sat down next to her, took her hands in his, breathing deeply to prepare himself for her
Anna didn't quite understand what he was talking about. “Maxwell, your mother... didn't your father know she was alive?” Maxwell's eyes turned dark. “Allister always knew she was alive, and only stopped meeting her when he bought you.” “Your father killed my family, and turned me into his family's slave. I hate him.” “I think Mom hates him too...” Maxwell said thoughtfully. “You don't hate him?” “No. What good would it do me to hate a dead old werewolf?” Anna didn't want to see Maxwell's eyes darken and decided she should get back to the original subject. “Wasn't he a good father to you and your brother?” “Yes, Anna. He was the best father he could have been. He was a troubled, flawed and confused man, but he loved his children without a doubt.” “He left the whole inheritance to Adam. Don't you think that was a bad thing?” Maxwell laughed. “Is that what Adam believes?” He asked and gave an amused laugh. “Allister gave me an empire while he was alive,
“What did that person do to make him punish her like that?” She asked, looking very interested in the answer and at the same time thoughtful. “Do you believe that anything this person has done would justify such cruelty?” Anna looked at the drizzling screen. She couldn't tell Maxwell that that was exactly what she would do to Sarah. For killing her mother, and for trying to kill her, and her son. I couldn't. Maxwell was too good, and he would stop loving her. But neither would he show any displeasure at what had been done. “But the man did something, didn't he?” she insisted, because she was so inspired. Maxwell stared at her as if seeing her for the first time. She seemed to agree. He didn't want to think that she was like that. He loved her, and even if she had the same psychosis as her brother inside her, he would never abandon her. But something in his chest told him that her father had taken too long to come and get her, and that leaving her with Adam had de
Anna looked at him. Had he heard the mess he'd just talked about? She felt afraid. “Do you regret staying with me yesterday? You know you have to tell me that now, don't you?” Anna asked, interrupting his thoughts as he turned back to her with a smile on his lips. “I'll never regret it. You brought me back to life. I was dead, and I didn't know it until you arrived with my son in your arms. But I have to ask you for just two things.” “Other than giving up my revenge. The rest, I will do as you wish.” “Don't kill these people on American soil. Do it in another country.” “I agree. And what's the other thing?” “That you keep your word and never kill again. Promise that when someone harms you, you will bring them to justice. I'm a judge and I can make sure that person is punished.” “I promise.” Anna said relieved. She really had no intention of killing other people. “Now, we have to talk about the nanny.” Maxwell said, looking at her seriously. “W