After the tense, surprised minutes, Maxwell took a few determined steps closer.
"What are you doing standing outside? Come in, my brother." He said and went to greet him with a hug.
It was only then that Anna realized that he was accompanied. A very pretty young woman with green eyes and the same features as him, although they didn't look alike. She stared at the child with evil, furious eyes. Anna began to feel goose bumps all over her body, as if it were a warning that she and her son were in danger.
Adam embraced her and gave her an effusive hug. He looked at his companion.
"This is Bonnie. A friend." He said to Maxwell, but continued to stare at Anna with the child in no doubt of what she had done. Her eyes were a reflection of guilt, but it pleased him to see the uncertainty in her eyes.
"Mom! Can I go out for ice cream?"
Anna felt her heart squeeze. She knew that Adam would soon understand everything. He would realize that Ian was... His."
"No, Ian. It's very late, it's dark and you've eaten too much today! Go to your room and I'll send someone to give you a bath."
"But Mom... It's my birthday today!"
Anna closed her eyes. Now only Adam had to do the math... Ian was a carpetbagger! What an urge she felt at that moment to gag him!
"Mary!" she shouted and the maid came running.
"Yes?"
"Take Ian to his room and give him a bath. And stay with him there."
Mary took Ian's hand, who stared at his mother in fury, but didn't make the fuss he used to make when he was denied something.
"Nice to meet you, Bonnie." Maxwell said, shaking the woman's hand after the family drama between mother and son. "Come in and make yourselves at home." Maxwell felt obliged to invite her in after the family drama. He was also worried about his brother's deductions. He had no doubt that Adam had come there knowing and as he pretended not to know, Maxwell felt like the liver pretending he didn't know.
Adam came in with Bonnie and they both sat down. Maxwell took Anna's hand and also guided her so that they were sitting facing the newcomers. He didn't notice that at that moment, Adam's eyes became dark, threatening and dangerous.
"You didn't tell me you were coming, Adam... I could have met you at the airport..." Maxwell said, trying to snap Adam out of his meditative state. He was afraid of where his thoughts were going, and he kept looking at his wife, and it was getting embarrassing.
"If I'd warned you, it wouldn't have surprised you, and now I realize it would have been tragic. I wouldn't want to miss the scene I've just witnessed, and you wouldn't act so... Vacillating." Adam said and then turned to Anna. "It didn't take you long to jump into my brother's bed... Was he the one who helped you escape?"
"We didn't know each other before she came to live here, in this country. Now she's my wife. I ask that you treat her with due respect." Maxwell answered for her.
"I see... How could you get married without inviting your brother? That wasn't very brotherly of you, brother."
"We... We only got married at the registry office, and it was very discreet. No guests."
Adam cocked his head to one side and stared at Maxwell.
"I'm surprised."
"Really?"
"You told me you'd never get married, and when you did, it was only at the registry office. An unprecedented event like that should have been a memorable one."
Maxwell smiled.
"It seems that Anna has that effect on the Lensmen." Maxwell said, and Adam remembered that he had done exactly the same thing.
"Did she agree to marry you?" Adam asked, looking at the ring on Anna's finger.
"I was very persuasive." Maxwell said, afraid that Adam would say what the ring meant.
"I can imagine."
"And when did she marry you? Tell me about it." Maxwell wanted to draw Adam's attention away from the ring. It was already becoming obvious and Anna would notice.
It worked, because Adam turned to him and nothing in his gaze revealed what he knew.
"I was very persuasive." He said, repeating his brother's words. "Tell me, Maxwell. When you married her, did you already know that you were turning her into a criminal?"
Maxwell turned red and Anna gave Adam a cutting look.
"Yes, I knew. But for me, it meant nothing to be a bigamist. As long as I never have to look at you again, I don't mind being thrown into a filthy cell for the rest of my life!"
"I'm glad you've spoken up about this, Anna." Adam said sarcastically and turned to Maxwell.
"I lost track of Mom after I ordered her to come to you... Strange, me being an Alpha, don't you think? Do you happen to know where she's hiding?"
"She's traveling. She's come to see Scotland and its history."
"Scotland! She's come to learn about the history of Anna's mother and to meet some witch who took my eyes away from her, but... The land of Anna's mother? Quite understandable. Anyway, she could have told me about this wedding. We're family. But let's put that aside. Can you put me up in your apartment while I stay here for a while?"
Maxwell knew there was something wrong with Adam's plan and looked at Anna. She was distressed by the request, but he couldn't deny it without arousing suspicion and even giving Adam another reason to take revenge.
"Of course, Adam. You're welcome."
"I need something to drink." Bonnie said as if she owned the house.
"Me too." Adam reiterated.
Maxwell got some vodka and poured two glasses and handed them over.
"So, Anna... Tell me about your adventure after the escape. I'm very curious."
"I don't owe you any satisfaction, Adam, and I'm not going to be your joke." She said, feeling her confidence return.
"Oh, you do owe me some satisfaction. I've spent a lot of money on you, Anna, not to mention the debt you incurred for using my hospital and keeping Sarah for yourself, as a guarantee that she wouldn't run away.
"I can give you back every penny you've spent on me." Anna said calmly. "But don't be greedy. After all, I left with only the clothes on my back..."
"Well, you deserved to leave without them, too... I should have done with you what I did with Kate, or what Ryan always told me to do..." He said calmly, but Anna recognized the fury in his eyes.