Page 339 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

“You what?” Alex clenched his jaw. “Why would you ask something like that?”

“Your family always has lots of kids. I figured you’d want to start sooner rather than later.”

Alex sucked in a long, deep breath to keep from exploding at Gretchen. She had no idea that it would be a sensitive area for Anna. Maybe Gretchen was just trying to have a nice conversation. Doubtful. “Anna has been told her whole life she can’t have children, Gretchen. It’s a bit of a touchy subject with her.”

Gretchen laughed. “Her whole life? God, Alex, she’s only twenty.” Her brow raised and she looked at him closely. “How much fucking could she possibly have done?”

She was baiting him. “What do you know about her?”

“How would I know anything about her? I just met her yesterday.”

Alex glared at her. “Then why are you so hostile?”

It was Gretchen’s turn to glare. “Maybe because it’s obvious that my husband is completely in love with her. And your father too. Every man she comes in contact with looks at her that way. She’s a fucking whore.”

“That’s my wife you’re talking about. It’s not her fault that men look at her like that. And your jealousy is very unbecoming.”

“So you don’t mind that your wife has fucked both your brother and your father?”

“The only reason you never fucked my father is because he rejected you. I know you tried.”

Gretchen gasped. “How dare you!”

“Do you deny it? Kurt isn’t good enough for you. You want me or my father for our titles. You think by sleeping with us somehow you’ll gain some sort of privilege of rank? It doesn’t work like that.”

“Better the mistress of an heir than the wife of a second son,” she spat.

Anger flooded through Alex’s veins. “You better consider where you are and who you are talking to.” He shook his head. “Kurt married you because he loved you. Did you marry him in order to get to me? Or my father? If Mina hadn’t died, nothing would have ever happened between us.”

“But it did, Alex. A lot happened between us.” She lifted her eyebrows provocatively.

Alex didn’t like the look on her face. “It was sex, Gretchen. I’ve never had feelings for you.”

“Perhaps not. But I’m quite certain you would have feelings for your son.” A triumphant smile spread across her face. “Especially since you married a barren woman.”

Dread spread through Alex’s chest. “What are you talking about? I have no son.”

“You do, Alex. Otto is your son.”

Alex felt like he’d been doused with ice water and then hit in the face. “You’re lying.”

Gretchen shook her head. “I lied about the due date. Otto wasn’t early. He was right on time. Kurt and I hadn’t had sex in months when I got pregnant. I’d only been with you. Of course, after I found out, I made sure Kurt and I were together again.” She stepped close and softened her voice. “Maybe I’m not such a bad thing. After all, I gave you a son.”

Alex was about to explode when a movement caught his eye at the far end of the hallway. He turned to look and saw a flash of white. Anna!

Without another word to Gretchen, Alex ran down the hallway. “Anna!”

When he reached the end, she was nowhere in sight. He held his breath and listened. Hearing footsteps on the stairs, he hurried around the corner to the top of the staircase. He looked down and saw another flash of white. “Anna!”

Chapter 157

Anna hurried down to the library, her shoes clacking down the wooden stairs. She’d seen the intimate moment between Gretchen and Alex and didn’t need to see anymore. Alex has the right to do whatever he wants. She just didn’t want to see it. But what if Alex wanted her to see it?

She paused at the bottom of the staircase. Alex was her husband. She shouldn’t run away from him. Devin would be furious if she’d run away. Surely Alex wouldn’t like it either.

A moment later, Alex came up behind her and, with gentle hands, turned her to face him. “Anna—‍” He pressed his lips together. “I was looking for you.”

Anna searched his eyes. He wasn’t telling her the truth. “I was in the garden and then went through the library to go upstairs. I—‍” She swallowed. “I’m sorry. I saw you and Gretchen and I... I ran away. I shouldn’t have done that.” She looked down at her hands.

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