Page 293 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

Anna looked away. How could Jack deceive so many people? Obviously Ben hadn’t told his mother everything.

Katherine glanced at Greg, who watched Jack like a hawk. “Greg, I’m so glad you could come as well. Thank you for bringing everyone.”

“My pleasure, Katherine.” Greg leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek.

Katherine led Anna around the foyer, introducing her as Ben’s fiancée each time, and a knife twisted in her heart with every utterance. When Aaron and Travis arrived, she introduced Katherine to them.

When the service was about to begin, Anna took her seat next to Katherine and Dave in the front row of the church, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. Her gaze remained fixed on the large picture of Ben displayed at the front of the room, his handsome smile and bright eyes intensifying the agony in her heart.

Anna preferred anger to sorrow. Sadness was impossible to control and hurt terribly. Anger gave her a semblance of control and kept the despair at bay, but no matter how hard she tried to stay angry, the tears always found their way back.

Many people stepped forward to share their memories and stories about Ben. Aunts and uncles fondly recalled his childhood, while colleagues spoke highly of his integrity and work ethic. When it came time for his father to speak, he broke down and couldn’t finish, and more than one person cried along with him.

The whole time they were speaking, the voice in Anna’s head repeated the awful truth: It’s all my fault. It’s all my fault. All these people are miserable because of me. It’s all my fault.

The only time she didn’t have tears rolling down her cheeks was when Jack got up to speak. She stared at him with all the hatred she could muster. Surely he’d had something to do with Ben’s death.

When the service was finally over, she walked with the family out to the foyer.

“Anna,” Katherine said in a quiet voice. “Do you know Jack? You looked like you were going to be sick while he was talking.”

Anna looked at Katherine, debating whether she should tell her the truth. She slowly nodded. “He’s my—was my—guardian.”

Katherine’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

Anna looked away. “We don’t... get along very well.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” She gave Anna a sympathetic look. “Ben always spoke highly of him. Did he know?”

Anna shook her head. “Not until... the night we fought. I didn’t know they knew each other.”

Katherine looked thoughtful. “Didn’t he raise you after your parents died?”

“Yes.”

Katherine looked across the room at Jack, standing amongst a group of men. She narrowed her eyes. “He abused you, didn’t he?”

“How—‍”

“Ben said you’d been abused as a child. It could only be him.”

Anna took both of Katherine’s hands. “Katherine, please. Don’t let him know you know.”

“Why? A child abuser should go to jail.”

“He won’t. Trust me. Don’t confront him. Just... let it go. Otherwise...” Anna swallowed. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.” She stared intently into Katherine’s eyes, willing her to understand.

Slowly, Katherine nodded. “Okay.”

Anna sighed in relief.

Chapter 138

Anna went directly into her dressing room when she got to the theater later that day. She lay down on the couch in the dark and cried. She couldn’t stop.

Someone knocked on the door and it opened when she didn’t respond. Anna squinted as the light from the hallway spilled inside and she recognized Aaron’s silhouette in the doorway. He looked around for a moment, then hurried to her side, kneeling down and hugging her. “Why are you crying?”

She shrugged.

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