5. He's my Husband

***

"Oh my God! You... have you eaten?" Anastasia asked, staring at the stranger for a moment. Without waiting for an answer, she hurried to the kitchen.

Maximilian was stunned by her panicked reaction. Did he look so pale as to alarm her? After all, he had eaten earlier and even stepped out with Bryan for a moment.

Moments later, Anastasia returned and placed an omelette and a glass of orange juice on the table.

"Here, eat! I'm sorry I wasn't here all day. There were some things I had to take care of," Anastasia said with a smile that carried a hint of exhaustion.

Maximilian wasn't hungry, but he didn't want to arouse her suspicions. He sat down and began to eat the food she had prepared.

"Have you contacted your family?" Anastasia asked.

Maximilian shook his head.

"Why not? Won't they come and get you?" she asked, clearly surprised.

"I don't have a family," Maximilian replied, his tone cold.

Anastasia froze for a moment before giving him a gentle smile. "Were those thugs from yesterday your enemies?"

"Perhaps. I refused to pay the interest on my loan to them," Maximilian said bluntly.

There was a brief silence before Anastasia slapped her forehead. "I completely forgot to ask you your name. What's your name? I'm... Anastasia Noire. I'll introduce myself again in case you've forgotten."

"Max... Max Stone," Maximilian lied softly.

"Nice to meet you, Max. As soon as you're feeling better, I'll give you some travel money."

"Travel money? For what?"

"You're not planning on staying here forever, are you? You really don't know who I am?" Anastasia asked, looking at him curiously.

"Anastasia Noire."

"So you do know who I am! Then you should understand that it's dangerous if someone finds out that you're in my apartment. It could ruin my reputation."

"And who exactly are you?"

"Wait, didn't you just say you knew who I was? Why are you asking now?" Anastasia looked at him confused.

"Well, you told me your name, so now I know."

"Oh, for heaven's sake! Don't you know I'm a singer?" she exclaimed.

Maximilian shook his head. "I live on the streets. How could I know any public figures?"

Anastasia let out a short sigh and muttered, "I guess I'm not that famous after all." Then she got up from her chair. "I'm going to my room. Finish your dinner. I'll take you somewhere in the morning."

Maximilian stared at her and shook his head slightly. Why is she so trusting of a stranger? he thought.

***

Anastasia woke with a start as the loud commotion in the living room jolted her from her slumber. Her heart pounded in her chest and her first instinct was that something terrible was happening. Hearing raised voices, she quickly got out of bed, feeling uneasy and worried.

Quickly pulling on her robe, Anastasia stepped out of her room. She froze at the top of the stairs as her eyes fell on the shocking scene in the living room. The room was crowded with people, most of them members of her family. They were all staring at a single point in the centre of the room, and as Anastasia followed their gaze, her blood boiled at what she saw.

Maximilian, the man she had saved and who now lived with her, stood in the centre of the crowd, his face bruised and battered. The cuts and scrapes on his face were obvious, and blood trickled from the corner of his lips. Without a second thought, she ran down the stairs, pushing past the judgmental looks of those around her.

"Max!" Anastasia cried in panic, reaching to his side and grabbing his arm. "What happened? Who did this to you?"

Maximilian looked at her calmly, though the pain was obvious on his face. He swallowed hard and tried to speak, but before he could answer, a cold voice cut through the tension.

"Well, look who finally decided to show up," sneered Elara Viviana, her stepsister. Elara stepped forward, her face twisted with icy contempt. "Anastasia Noire, the so-called starlet, who turns out to be nothing more than a cheap woman, shacking up with a stranger behind her family's back."

The words pierced Anastasia's heart like a dagger. She turned sharply to face Elara, but before she could respond, Elara continued in an even colder tone. "I've done my research on this man," she said, gesturing dismissively at Maximilian. "And guess what? He's a nobody. Just a poor vagrant who doesn't even deserve to be standing in this room, let alone living in your luxury apartment."

Anger burned within Anastasia, but before she could find the words to defend herself, another voice joined the verbal assault.

Leon Hale, her ex-fiancé, stepped forward with a smug grin. "Anastasia," he sneered, "I consider myself lucky to have parted with someone as disgraceful as you. I never thought you'd sink so low, even after all this time."

Every word from Leon felt like another weight pressing down on Anastasia's chest. Desperately, she turned to her father, Rhett Noire, looking for even a shred of support, or at least an explanation. But all she found was a cold, disappointed look. With a trembling voice she asked, "Father... do you believe what they're saying?"

Before Rhett could answer, Aria, her stepmother, spoke first, her voice dripping with feigned concern. "Anastasia," she began, her tone laden with mock sympathy, "how could you do this? Your father has worked so hard all his life and now you're tarnishing his reputation with your shameful behaviour - especially when he's about to secure a seat in Parliament."

Anastasia rolled her eyes, her disgust at Aria's falsehoods bubbling over. She had always known that Aria didn't really care about her, and now her hypocrisy only fuelled Anastasia's anger. "Aria, don't pretend to care about me," she snapped. "You never cared about me or Father. All you've ever cared about is your status and how others perceive you."

Rhett, who had been silent, suddenly stepped forward, his face red with anger. "Enough, Anastasia!" he roared, his voice echoing through the room. "Don't you dare speak to Aria like that! She is also your mother and my lawful wife! You have no right to accuse her."

Anastasia stared at her father, eyes wide with disbelief. The man she had always hoped would be on her side had now so publicly turned against her. Before she could utter a word, Rhett raised his hand and struck her hard across the face. The sound of the blow echoed through the room, silencing everyone in stunned disbelief.

Anastasia clutched her stinging cheek, tears involuntarily streaming down her face. She had never imagined her father would hurt her like this. Through her blurred vision, she saw Maximilian standing beside her. Then, in a sudden, impulsive decision, she declared something that shocked everyone in the room.

"Max and I are husband and wife!" she said firmly, her voice trembling but determined.

A heavy silence fell over the room. Everyone stared at Anastasia in utter disbelief. Even Maximilian looked stunned, his wide eyes fixed on her. No one had expected her to make such a bold claim, let alone with such conviction.

"Anastasia, what are you talking about?" Rhett's voice trembled, clearly shaken by his daughter's revelation.

Anastasia met her father's gaze with determined eyes. "We were secretly married yesterday," she lied, her heart pounding. "We got married because we love each other and I didn't tell you because I knew you wouldn't understand."

Elara broke into a mocking laugh, shattering the silence. "Desperate, Anastasia? Lying like this just to save your reputation? Pathetic. You broke up with Leon and suddenly got married? Do you really think anyone will believe that?"

"I'll prove it," Anastasia shot back. "Tomorrow I'll show you all the proof that we are legally married."

***