Page 198 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

“Anna,” he said, cupping her chin and bringing her face up to look into her eyes. She looked at him with calm, expectant eyes. “Anna, I’m going to call Devin and tell him you aren’t available this weekend, including the Gathering tomorrow night. I want you to stay home and rest.” He paused. “Or you could come over to my house.”

“Whatever would please you, Alex.”

He winced at her appeasement and glanced at Sebastian. He nodded and then walked out of the room, nodding to Seth to follow.

Alex glanced back at Anna, staring at her hands in her lap. She looked exhausted. He needed to let her sleep. “Lie down and go to sleep. I’ll stay with you tonight.”

She obeyed without a word and was asleep within seconds. Alex sighed and his shoulders slumped. Would she ever trust him again?

Chapter 88

As soon as Anna woke, all the memories of what Alex had done the previous evening rushed to the forefront of her mind. Then she remembered the anguish she had sensed in his heart when he entered the room, pale and defeated. It had been so overpowering it was unbearable. But if he regretted what he’d done, why was he leaving? Why was he abandoning her? She was supposed to belong to his family, but no one ever stayed with her. How could a slave not be with her owner?

“Anna?” Alex whispered from behind her. His arms had been wrapped around her waist and he released her.

She stiffened at his voice. “Yes, Alex?” She didn’t want to turn and look at him. As much as she wanted to deny it, her heart was still tied to his. She loved him and he was leaving her. On the other hand, just because she loved him didn’t mean he loved her. Just because he felt bad for what he’d done to her didn’t mean he cared for her like she did for him. She still didn’t trust what she’d felt from him before... it happened.

“How are you feeling?” he asked in a soft voice.

She winced. Did he want to have sex with her? My purpose in life is to provide sexual pleasure to men. She blew out a breath and squeezed her eyes shut. “I’m healed,” she whispered. Not that it mattered if she were healed or not.

“Anna, please look at me.” She turned over and stared at his t-shirt-covered chest. He blew out a shaky breath. “Please believe me, leaving you is the last thing on earth that I want to do.”

Then why are you doing it? “You must do what you need to do.”

“If there were any other way, I promise you I would do it.”

“You don’t need to justify yourself, Alex. I’m just a slave.” Her nerves tingled at her words. But they’re true.

His jaw clenched. “You’re not—‍” He swallowed. “I don’t think of you that way. I was so excited to get home to see you, to pick up where we left off. I was going to push off the move for a month...” He sighed. “But I can’t.”

Anna didn’t say anything. He had to do what he had to do. Wishing things were different didn’t do any good. She’d learned that long ago, but somehow had forgotten after leaving Jack’s house.

“Do you want to stay the weekend with me? At my house?”

“If you want me to.”

He lifted her chin with his finger. “Tell me honestly.”

She searched his eyes. “No,” she whispered, almost changing her mind when she saw the intense pain in his eyes. But he was leaving. She needed to get over him as quickly as possible so she could be attentive to what Devin wanted from her. Staying the weekend with him would only prolong the hurt. Still, she was his slave and she needed to do what he wanted, not what she wanted. “I will come if you want me to.”

He shook his head. “Nein. I only want you there if you want to be there. I will not force you to do things you don’t want to do.”

Except be apart from you! She bit her lip.

He sat up and swung his feet over the side of the bed, turning away from her. “I will call Devin this morning and tell him you are unable to attend tonight’s Gathering.” He stood and dressed. “Maybe you could go out with Jenna or something.”

Anna shook her head. She didn’t know what she wanted to do. She just wanted to stop hurting. “I’ll be fine. You don’t need to call Devin.” At least there would be sex at the Gathering to distract her.

Anna’s head hung low as she walked into the studio an hour later. It had been awkward saying goodbye to Alex. She hated and loved him at the same time. She wanted to fall to her knees and beg him not to leave her, and she wanted to yell and scream at him to leave and never come back. In the end, she stayed silent—as a good slave would—accepted his kiss on the cheek and closed the door gently after he left.

Dancing helped lift her mood, though, and by lunchtime, she was feeling better. She was quiet as she ate with the other dancers in her class, including Nate.

As she finished her salad, her phone rang. “Hello, Alex,” she said quietly. The deli was busy and there wasn’t really anywhere to go for privacy.

“Hello, Schatzi. How are classes going?”

Anna flinched at his use of the nickname. “Fine. How is your day going?” She glanced up to see Nate watching her, but he looked away when he saw her look at him.

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