Page 345 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

Vati’s brow raised. “Oh?”

Alex motioned to the sitting area near the fireplace and sat down on the couch with Anna next to him. Vati sat in a leather chair next to them.

“What do you need to tell me?”

Alex recounted the conversation he’d had with Gretchen in the hallway. Anna sat silently and listened.

When he finished, Vati sat quietly with his fingers tented in front of his mouth. Alex could tell he was contemplating what he had learned. “How do you feel about it, Alex? About Otto?”

Alex sighed. “Honestly, I don’t know. I can’t hold it against Otto. It’s not his fault. I’m furious at Gretchen—for so many reasons.”

Vati nodded. “Her attitude needs to be dealt with. Does Kurt know?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know if she told him or not.”

Vati glanced at Anna. “How do you feel about it, Anna?”

Anna’s eyes widened. Alex suspected she didn’t think she would be part of the conversation. “I-I don’t know either. I don’t understand why she doesn’t like me.”

“She is jealous, Liebling. That is likely the reason she decided your wedding day was the appropriate day to confess to Alex. I honestly do not know what she thought she would gain by doing so.” Vati sighed. “I do not understand that woman. But she is Kurt’s wife. He must deal with her.” He turned to Alex. “Alex, regardless of what you decide with Otto, he will never be your legitimate heir. For one, I wouldn’t want to give Gretchen that triumph. And you are married now and will have children of your own.” He glanced at Anna and smiled when she blushed. “You do not need to acknowledge him as yours, Alex. There is little chance that anyone would suspect he is not Kurt’s son, and socially, I do not believe it needs to be dealt with.”

Alex ran his fingers through his hair. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to acknowledge Otto as his son, but it would be easier for everyone if he didn’t. Otto would grow up thinking Kurt was his father and things would be much simpler on the little boy. He knew that even if Kurt divorced Gretchen, Vati would make sure that all the children were well taken care of.

“I suppose the next thing to do would be—‍” A knock on the door interrupted Vati’s words. “Come in,” he called in German.

The door opened and Seth poked his head in. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but we got some new intel on the source of the information leaked to Devin.”

Alex glanced at Anna and then at his father. He was reluctant to make Anna leave, but would the information frighten her? She stared at Seth with wide eyes.

“Come in, Seth,” Vati said.

Seth walked in and closed the door behind him. He glanced at Anna, then Alex. “Your mom said you two were up. We found out a little bit ago, but I didn’t want to bother you...” He shrugged sheepishly.

“It’s alright,” Alex said. “I appreciate it. As long as the source doesn’t know that you know.”

Seth shook his head. “I don’t even think she’s aware of what she did.”

“She?” Alex repeated. He couldn’t even begin to guess who he was talking about.

Seth drew his brows together. “I’m sorry. But all the intel points to Gretchen being the informant.”

“What!” Alex and Vati both shouted at the same time.

Alex counted to ten to keep his anger from blazing out of control. And then to twenty. And then thirty. The last thing Anna needed was for him and his father to lose control. But his pulse was rising and he clenched his fist. Everything in his body screamed to go find Gretchen and beat the shit out of her. And he never hit women. But she had betrayed his family—no, her own family—and almost gotten Anna hurt. Or worse.

He thought back to the previous day. He thought he’d seen a look of surprise on Gretchen’s face when he and Anna had walked in the previous afternoon, but hadn’t given it much thought. God, did she really want to get rid of Anna that badly?

Vati stood and walked to the window behind his desk, fists clasped behind his back. “What do you mean you don’t think she knew what she was doing?” He was sucking in low, slow breaths, which Alex recognized as his way of getting his temper under control. Gretchen would be lucky if he provided a car to get back to her family’s home.

Anna was trembling and Alex pulled her close, sucking in deep breaths along with his father.

“We think she was approached by someone who just asked to be kept informed of Anna’s actions. I don’t think she was trying to be especially malicious.”

“No more than normal,” Alex muttered.

Seth chuckled. “True.”

Wilhelm didn’t turn from the window, though his hands relaxed a moment later. “Seth, would you please bring both Kurt and Gretchen here?”

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