Page 292 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 2

But she did. She desperately did.

Chapter 145

Anna was lying on the couch in the living room staring blankly at the TV when Aaron came home, around lunchtime. She sat up, half-expecting Alex to be behind him, and wasn’t sure if she was relieved or disappointed that he’d walked in alone.

“You okay?” Aaron sat on the couch next to her.

Anna shrugged. She wasn’t sure how she was feeling, aside from some resentment for Alex spending time with Aaron instead of her.

“I have his number, if you want to call him. Or you can go see him. He said you could come by anytime.”

Anna snorted. “I’m supposed to chase after him? He’s the one who disappeared for years.”

“Anna, he’s trying to respect your feelings. If he thought you would accept him, he would have chased you home, but he doesn’t want you to resent him. If he forces himself on you, your relationship won’t work.”

She laughed bitterly. “What relationship? We barely knew each other when we got married, and it only lasted for three months.” She paused. “Not even three months.”

“That wasn’t your fault or his. And you know you two are supposed to be together. You’re soulmates. Literally.”

“What if I don’t want to be with him?” She lifts her chin. “What if I’d rather be with Hugo?”

Aaron’s eyes widened. “Hugo? I mean, yeah, he’s a good guy. A really good guy, but—‍” He grimaced. “Anna, Devin would kill him without a thought. Alex is the only one who can protect you. Tom’s protections are growing weak. He’s not sure he’ll be able to keep Devin from sensing you if he comes again.”

“So I’m stuck with Alex?”

“You don’t mean that?—‍”

“I don’t?” Her anger flared for a moment before she closed her eyes and hung her head. “I’m not my own person. Freedom is an illusion.” She shook her head. “I wish I’d known all this when I arrived. Then I could have been prepared.”

“The only ones who knew Alex was alive when you got here were Vlad and Peter. Wilhelm didn’t know until Alex showed up at their house one morning.” Aaron shook his head. “That’s when Kurt came and you two got engaged. They were trying to keep you from getting involved with anyone until Alex could show himself.”

“Peter really did know Alex was alive?” She’d suspected as much last night, but knowing for sure made her heart twist in her chest even more. She’d trusted Peter. Loved him. And he’d never told her the truth. “Why didn’t he tell me?” she whispered.

Aaron shook his head. “I don’t think he could.”

Anna frowned.

“What good would it have done? Devin would have found out you knew and probably killed Peter for telling you. Without Peter...” He shrugged. “Peter’s the reason you got away from Devin.”

Anna drew her brows together. “What? How?”

“After Vlad met you that Thanksgiving weekend, Peter convinced him that what Devin had told them about you and Alex was the complete opposite of the truth. They began working to undo what Vitaly had done. Anna.” Aaron looked at her with serious eyes. “They killed Vitaly so Alex could get free.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Vitaly had captured Alex and his men because Devin asked him to.”

All the oxygen in the room vaporized at Aaron’s words and Anna grabbed her chest, unable to breathe. Devin? Devin had arranged for Alex’s “death”? How could he?—

No. Why did it surprise her? She knew Devin. Devin would do anything to get what he wanted. He despised Alex. Alex had been the only one who could keep Devin from achieving his goals. Of course Devin had to get rid of him. And he couldn’t kill Alex, because killing Alex would have killed her, and Devin needed her.

She fell forward off the couch and curled over her bent legs, forehead pressed to the floor.

Anna winced at her foolishness. She had loved Devin. She’d believed Devin. She’d fallen for his deceptions. Over and over again. Because she was desperate to be loved. She’d believed that he’d loved her because she wanted to. What a fool she was. And how much evil had happened because of her foolishness?

If only she’d believed Alex in her dreams when he’d told her he was alive. No wonder he was furious at her.

“Why—‍” She cleared her throat and sat up, head hung low. “Why didn’t he escape sooner? He’s... he can do anything.”

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