Page 222 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 2

When she flitted offstage for the last time, Hugo crushed her in an embrace. “You were amazing!”

She looked up at him. “Really?”

“Absolutely.” He stroked her upper arm and looked out at the stage as the applause began. He grinned. “I bet that’s for you.”

Anna shook her head and held his hand until it was time for her to take her bow.

Dave held out his hand to Anna. “Ready?”

Anna was nervous for the two seconds it took for her to get from Hugo’s embrace to the side of the stage. But when she and Dave walked on stage, the applause became louder and even included some shouts. She blushed and made a low, humble curtsy. She glanced back at Hugo in the wings, who had been joined by Vincent, and they both beamed at her. The audience jumped to their feet and Anna grinned at Dave.

Several minutes later, when the applause had finally died down, the curtain closed for the last time and Vincent rushed over to her and hugged her hard. “Fantastic job!”

There were hugs and kisses and congratulations all around, and then Anna was finally able to head back to her dressing room to change and wash her face. She tried not to think about what she needed to tell Hugo. But now that the performance was over, her stomach was doing violent somersaults.

Hugo knocked a few minutes later. “You ready?”

Anna smiled. “Yeah.” She picked up her bag and took his outstretched hand.

They were quiet as they walked the block to Hugo’s condo. She’d been here just a couple of times. A little one-bedroom with a balcony and a beautiful view of Lincoln Center.

“Do you want something to drink?” he asked as he locked the door behind them.

Anna shook her head and looked around. She had been looking forward to tonight. Even now, her body warmed at the idea of being with Hugo. But her heart ached and for once, she would listen to her head and heart instead of her body.

He walked by her and took her hand, leading her to the couch. Always the gentleman. Of course he wouldn’t take her straight to the bedroom. They would talk for a while, getting comfortable with one another, then he would kiss her...

“You’ve been quiet tonight. Is everything okay?”

She chewed her lip, trying to figure out where to begin. Oh, how she wished things were different! “Before we... progress with... stuff, there are some things I need to tell you.”

He squeezed her hand and gave a gentle smile. “Okay. I’m listening.”

She looked down at their hands, fingers intertwined. Dark, light, dark, light, dark, light. How could she have let it go this far? She should have stopped it from the beginning so he wouldn’t get hurt.

“Katrina?”

She glanced up at him and swallowed. “I... I’m not who you think I am. Or rather, what you think I am.”

His brow twitched, but his gentle expression remained unchanged.

“I don’t know how to say it...” She looked down at their hands again. “There is a man who decided he wanted me when I was born. I’m... different from most girls, and I have something he wants. He... killed my parents and arranged for my guardian to raise me as he did. When I was twenty, he took me from my guardian and made me his—‍” She hesitated. “... his slave.” She looked away. “His sex slave,” she added softly.

She glanced at Hugo to see his eyes were wide and his mouth dropped opened in surprise. When they made eye contact, he nodded and gave her an encouraging smile.

“Alex... he... saved me from being totally taken by him and as a result, I became both of theirs. Alex did it to keep the other man from gaining complete control over me. He married me so that he would have an advantage over the other man.” She bit her lip. “Alex loved me and I loved him. So much.” She shook her head. “Alex would have married me even if he hadn’t loved me, but his—‍” She swallowed. “He knew everything about me and still loved me. He could have had any woman in the world, and he chose me...”

Hugo gently squeezed her hand, encouraging her to go on.

“When we married... Well, De—I mean, the first man had taken me by force. When Alex married me, I was given to him as... it should be done. It’s kinda complicated.” She gave Hugo an apologetic look.

“It’s alright. You don’t have to tell me more than you want to.”

“Thanks,” she whispered. Why did he have to be such a good guy? “So, I was given to Alex in marriage by his father, who is the one who actually legitimately ‘owns’ me, I suppose is the easiest way to explain it. When Alex died, I returned to Wilhelm’s care.” She stopped, not knowing what to say next. After a long pause, she continued. “By me being here, it... weakens the other man, and eventually I will be freed from his ownership. But not Wilhelm’s. I will belong to him for the rest of my life.”

“And you’re expected to marry Alex’s brother.”

Anna’s head snapped up. “How did you know?”

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