Chapter Four
1228 Words
Anna’s POV
The hall went silent, too silent and everyone was staring at us.
At Lucas Reed and at me.
Emily’s breath sounded uneven beside me and I didn’t turn to look, I just could feel it, her fear, sharp and sudden.
Margaret recovered first.
She then stepped forward with a smile. “Mr. Reed, what a surprise, this is our charity banquet….”
But Lucas didn’t look at her, he looked at me.
“You okay?” he asked, it was a simple question that no one has asked me in a long time.
“Yes,” I answered gently and he nodded, like that was all he needed and then he turned to the crowd.
“Anna Hayes is here with me tonight,” he said and his voice was calm and clear. “She’s my guest.”
The words fell heavy, like stones and people whispered and Richard’s face stiffened. “Mr. Reed, Anna is my daughter, if there’s been a misunderstanding…..”
Lucas cut him off. “There isn’t.”
Daniel Brooks stepped forward, since returning to the Hayes family, my engagement to Daniel Brooks had already been announced, it was decided before I even stepped into this house. In this life, he had not betrayed me yet, but he was already standing closer to Emily than to me.
His smile was polite, but his eyes were tense. “Mr. Reed, Anna is my fiancee, I don’t think…..,”
Lucas finally looked at him, just one glance and Daniel stopped talking.
The room was smaller and Emily’s voice shook. “Mr. Reed… My sister is shy, she might not understand what this means.”
Lucas looked at her, slowly and his eyes were cold.
“She understands,” he said and then Emily swallowed.
I watched all of this gently.
In my past life, I would have panicked, I would have explained and I would have begged them to stop misunderstanding.
Now, I just stood there and Lucas lifted his hand and a waiter immediately came closer.
“Take care of my guest,” Lucas said.
The waiter nodded quickly. “Of course, Mr. Reed.”
Lucas turned back to me. “Stay here.”
I nodded, he didn't ask, he didn’t doubt, he just chose me.
As he walked away, I felt eyes on my back, it was sharp, curious and afraid.
Emily then forced a smile. “Sister, why didn’t you tell us you knew Mr. Reed?”
“I didn’t know,” I said and Daniel stepped closer. “Anna, let’s talk later.”
“About what?” I asked and he opened his mouth and then closed it.
Across the room, Lucas stood with a few executives and he listened more than he spoke.
But I noticed something, every time someone glanced my way…
His eyes followed and every time someone whispered…, he saw it.
Every insult I have swallowed and every look I pretended not to notice and he saw them all.
……
That night, the banquet ended late and I walked out alone, the cool air hit my face and a black car waited at the side.
The door opened and Lucas stepped out.
“Get in,” he said and I hesitated for half a second.
Then I did and the car moved and neither of us spoke for a while.
Streetlights passed by gently and finally, he asked,
“Why didn’t you fight back?”
I looked at my hands and they rested calmly on my lap.
“I tried before,” I said. “It didn’t change anything.”
He waited.
“So I stopped,” I continued. “I was tired of losing.”
The car slowed and he turned to me.
“Then stand still,” he said and his voice was low and steady.
“I will handle the rest.”
The car stopped and Lucas opened the door for me.
“Go inside,” he said. “Rest.”
I nodded. “Thank you.”
He looked at me for a moment longer, then closed the door, as the car drove away, my heart felt strange, it was warm, heavy and dangerous.
…..
The next day, the house was noisy, it was too noisy, servants whispered, phones rang, doors opened and closed fast and then I saw him.
Daniel Brooks.
He stood in the living room like he belonged there, he had a clean suit, gentle eyes, and the same careful smile.
When he saw me, his face changed.
“Anna,” he said, stepping forward. “You look thinner.”
I stopped walking and everyone was watching us.
In this life, Daniel and I had only met a few times after my return, our engagement existed more on paper than in the heart, but the distance between us…everyone could already see it.
Anna,” he said, stepping forward. “I owe you an apology.”
His voice was careful and polished.
“After you came back, I should have taken better care of you, I was… too busy with the company.”
Mother sighed and father nodded and then Emily stood behind them, she was mute.
Daniel then looked at me again. “I care about you.”
My heart moved before my mind, just a little, old habits were hard to kill.
“When you disappeared,” he continued, “I was worried sick, especially after hearing about… him.”
I then looked up. “Him?”
“Lucas Reed,” he said gently. “He’s dangerous, Anna, people like him don’t help for free.”
There it was and I smiled faintly. “You seem very interested in him.”
He then laughed gently. “I’m worried about you, how did you meet him? Why would he help you?”
There were too many questions and they were too smooth and his concern sounded practiced, it was like lines he had said before.
“I’m tired,” I said. “Excuse me.”
He then reached out but stopped himself. “We can talk later.”
I walked away.
—
That night, I couldn't sleep, I then went to the garden to breathe and that was when I heard voices and I froze
Emily’s voice was gentle and sweet.
“You spoke to her already?” she asked and Daniel answered, low. “Yes, she is calmer than before.”
Emily then laughed quietly. “Good.”
There was a pause and then she said, clearly:
“We do it my way.”
Daniel didn’t answer and Emily continued, “Publicly, you return to me and privately, you make sure she has no place left to stand.”
Daniel exhaled. “And Lucas Reed?”
Emily’s voice hardened. “I will take care of him.”
My heart dropped and I stepped back slowly, they didn't see me and then I returned to my room like nothing happened.
—
The next morning, the family gathered and Emily stood beside Daniel and she smiled shyly and father cleared his throat.
“We have an announcement.”
My fingers tightened and Emily looked at me and her eyes shone.
“Daniel and I are re-engaged,” she said gently. “For the family.”
The room applauded and no one looked at me and then I felt the trap close.
- Writer
