The sharp, pungent smell of antiseptic assaulted Anna’s senses as her eyes slowly opened. A throbbing pain in her left cheek and back brought her back to reality. Beside the bed, a middle-aged man in a white coat was just closing his medical bag.
“You’re awake, ma’am,” the family doctor said coldly, without a hint of sympathy. “The bandages on your back and face have been changed. I’ve given you pain medication and antibiotics.”
“Thank you…” Anna said hoarsely. Her throat felt dry.
The doctor merely nodded before turning toward the door, where Lexi was already standing and waiting with a serious expression.
“How is she?” Lexi asked firmly.
“She’s physically weak from the severe impact, but her vital organs are fine. She can engage in light activities,” the doctor replied formally.
“Good. Mr. Maxwell doesn’t like delays,” Lexi said coldly.
The doctor stepped outside. Lexi stared at Anna from the doorway with an expressionless face.
“Listen carefully, Mrs. Anna. Mr. Finley is enforcing new rules in this mansion starting today,” Lexi said quickly, leaving no room for objection. “Curfew begins precisely at 8:00 p.m. All exits through the main door are automatically locked. Four armed guards patrol the grounds twenty-four hours a day. You are not permitted to leave the second floor without written permission from Mr. Finley.”
Anna tried to sit up, stifling a wince as the stitches in her bruised back pulled. “Am I not even allowed to go out into the courtyard?”
“No,” Lexi cut in immediately. “Your cell phone has been confiscated. The mansion’s landline has been disconnected from the outside. Your every move is being monitored. Don’t even think about provoking Mr. Finley’s anger again if you still care about Mr. Alden’s life.”
The mention of Alden’s name made Anna’s chest tighten. She clenched her fingers into fists on top of the blanket. “Where is Finley now?”
“He’s in his study. You only have an hour left before dinner,” Lexi said, glancing at her watch.
Lexi turned and locked the door from the outside. Anna heard the key turn on the other side and knew she was now officially an invisible prisoner in this grand mansion.
Half an hour later, Anna stood in the mansion’s main kitchen. Her legs trembled under her weight, and every movement of her hands tugged painfully at the thick bandages wrapped around her back. Still, she forced herself to chop vegetables and prepare the steak according to Finley’s favorite menu, which she had asked the kitchen staff about.
Anna knew that openly defying Finley would only destroy Alden. If violence couldn’t soften the heart of that vengeful man, then total obedience and service were her only shields. She had to hold on. She had to buy time to keep Alden safe.
At exactly seven o’clock that evening, heavy footsteps echoed through the grand dining room. Finley strode in, still wearing a black shirt with rolled-up sleeves and dark slacks. His face was hard, his eyes piercing as he spotted Anna standing beside the dining table, filling a glass.
Finley sat down at the head of the table without saying a word. He glanced at the plate in front of him, then stared at the bluish bruise still clearly visible on Anna’s left cheek.
“Who told you to cook?” Finley asked coldly, his flat tone laced with menace.
Anna slowly stepped closer, pouring water into the crystal glass beside Finley’s plate as she tried her best to keep her hands from shaking.
“I’m the one who wants to do this, Finley,” Anna replied softly, looking the man straight in the eye without a trace of feigned fear. “I’m your wife now. It’s my duty to prepare your dinner.”
Finley smirked cynically and leaned back in his chair. “Wife? You still have the nerve to use that word after what you did this morning?”
“I’m sorry about what happened this morning,” Anna cut in quickly, keeping her tone calm and submissive. “I’m aware of my place. I won’t contact Alden again or try to break your rules. I just want us to move forward without any more hard feelings.”
Finley stared at her intently, as if searching the pale face before him for any trace of deception. Whether by coincidence or not, Anna’s calm gaze reminded him of something familiar—a resolve he had once seen in Feya. But that memory immediately reignited his anger.
“Don’t act all high and mighty in front of me, Anna,” Finley hissed hoarsely. He grabbed the meat knife beside his plate and twirled it between his fingers. “The Wesley family’s blood is tainted by lies. Do you think acting like a dutiful wife will make me forget what Alden did to Feya?”
“Alden didn’t kill Feya, Finley,” Anna said softly. “One day, you’ll learn the truth.”
Finley suddenly stood up and slammed the knife down on the table with a loud clang. He roughly grabbed Anna’s chin, closing the distance between their faces.
“If you mention Feya’s name one more time or defend that bastard, I’ll personally send Alden’s ear to your dinner plate tomorrow morning!” Finley threatened, his voice filled with emotion as he loomed over Anna.
Anna held her breath, feeling his tight grip on her jaw, but she didn’t pull away. She looked into Finley’s red eyes with pure sincerity. “If hating me can ease the pain of losing Feya, then do it, Finley. But let me serve you as a wife. That’s all.”
Finley froze instantly. His grip on Anna’s chin slowly loosened. Her eyes were so clear—without a trace of hatred in return, only resignation and a warmth he couldn’t understand. Something inside Finley’s chest jolted, a strange feeling he quickly brushed aside.
Finley released her with a slight jerk and turned his back on Anna. Then he slammed all the plates containing their dinner onto the floor, scattering them everywhere.
“Clean up this mess. I’m not hungry,” Finley said coldly before striding out of the dining room.
Anna stood alone in the spacious room. She held her throbbing chin and breathed a sigh of relief. For the first time, Finley hadn’t used physical violence against her that night. There was a small crack in the man’s defenses, and Anna knew she had to keep walking this fine line in order to survive.