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, without having to watch her every move. If he really loved her, he would have chosen her at the hospital. But he preferred Kate.
Maxwell was so different. He didn't have to say anything to prove that he loved her. He did it with his attitude. What's more, she was raising Ian and loved him, whereas she was sure that Adam would force her to have an abortion. Just remembering her son's face made her heart ache, remembering that she had once thought of killing him for his love, for Adam. She didn't regret running away. Everything she had been through had made her stronger. More mature. Now she knew what she wanted. She wanted to spend the rest of her life by Maxwell's side and her desire to leave had faded, she could, but she didn't want to live away from him. And who knows, maybe she could have more children? She'd like to have a little girl. But now, she didn't even know if Maxwell would welcome her back to the apartment. However, she no longer needed to stay in some dirty hotel. With the money she received from Maxwell for her work, and with a generous allowance that her father deposited in her account every month, she bought an apartment. It wasn't as big as Maxwell's, but it was very comfortable. And she could easily get another job. So she didn't have to worry anymore.
After a few hours chatting with the walkers, while they feasted on their food, she decided it was time to find out how she would be received in her husband's apartment, and called the two men who had accompanied her to leave. And it was with a heavy heart that she entered the silent apartment.
...
Maxwell heard the door to the living room open and had to stop himself from running in. He was in the hallway talking to the nanny about Anna's promise to pay for his studies.
"Why would she promise you something like that?" Maxwell asked, frowning. Anna was grateful to the nanny for taking good care of Ian, but she had already given her a salary that no other nanny received.
Helen turned red. She answered shyly.
"Because I told her I'd decided to take her advice and stop looking after Ian to concentrate on my studies... She said she'd stay with him during my lessons, because she didn't trust anyone else to look after him."
"Did you tell her it was me who gave you that advice?" He was indignant.
"I didn't... But she guessed. She's very perceptive."
They heard the door to the room open slowly. Maxwell looked at Helen, irritated.
"We'll talk about it later." He said and left in the direction of the living room.
Anna was standing in the doorway, trying to decide whether to go in or not, when he entered the room. She stared at him and he recognized the hurt in those beautiful green eyes.
"Are you going to stand in the doorway now? Personally, I don't want to hit her, but caress her..." Maxwell said jokingly.
Anna stared at him with a feeling of suspicion. She didn't know what he was up to with her father. She also didn't know if she would be welcome to continue living there. She didn't even know if she wanted to continue living there.
"Well... You didn't seem very pleased with me the last time I saw you tonight..."
"You got it wrong." He said without coming any closer. He wasn't going to force her into anything. Just yet. "I was surprised by your revelation, in front of everyone. And I was still trying to absorb that this seductive, charming woman was my Anna. I was speechless. I never expected that attitude from you..."
"You asked Dad for forgiveness, as if I had committed a crime without your permission." She accused, crossing her arms.
"As I told him, it wasn't just his surprise. I should have told him. But I didn't know it meant something more to you, the night we spent together... and I thought I'd have more time to explain it to Henry, he still thinks your first marriage was the right one for you."
Anna was surprised.
"What are you telling me? Dad thinks I had a happy marriage with Adam?"
"It doesn't matter, Anna. He'll always think that my brother is the best choice for you."
"Yes, it does, Maxwell. All I ever wanted from Adam was... a family. And he denied me that. If he suspected I was pregnant, he'd kill me. He said he would kill my baby! How, in what way, could that be better for me? He... " She stopped and wiped away her tears. "He didn't even have the decency to ask me to get married, he just forced me."
"E... Even if you find out that I'm... Something worse than Adam, worse than a werewolf, would you still want to have a family with me? Children?"
"I... I thought you felt the same way about me, Maxwell. That we should stay together, because we were happy next to each other. Even at work... Knowing that you were just a door away from me made my day brighter. Even when it's rainy, I feel the warmth of the sun, just by being close to you... All I want is to be the mother of your children and wake up every morning, reach out and find you sleeping next to me. I don't care what you are. I've already understood that you're not human, but I love you."