Chapter 4

Anna’s POV

And from the way he said it, I knew he meant more than just kissing me or hugging me.

He thrust into me slowly, and we both let out quiet moans.

"Anna? Are you in there?" Silas’s voice broke through from beyond the bathroom door.

My legs instinctively tightened around Eric’s waist as I shook him, signaling him to stay silent and still.

Yet, Eric acted as if I was invisible. He pushed himself deeper into me.

I bit down hard on my lips, a moan barely got out. “I’m going to take a shower. What’s wrong?”

Eric leaned closer, his lips brushing against my neck, all while he continued his rhythm.

Damn... Eric knew every sensitive spot, and my neck was the most explosive zone.

I gripped his arms with a warning to cease.

But he only lifted me higher, showering my neck with kisses, even biting down as if marking me, establishing his claim.

“Nothing,” Silas said from outside. “I just wanted to let you know I won’t be staying home tonight. If you need anything, call my assistant.”

I swallowed hard. “Alright.”

As Silas's footsteps faded away, Eric quickened his pace.

Soon, a wave of extreme pleasure mixed with guilt enveloped me.

…

I took a quick shower, then lay down.

Eric didn’t leave.

I could hear the water running in the bathroom while I stared at the ceiling, my mind still a tangled mess.

I couldn’t deny that I had feelings for Eric. I loved him.

But everything between us was a mistake.

I was supposed to be Silas’s wife, his equal and Donna.

I couldn’t afford to have a relationship with Eric. If he had been some random man, maybe things would have been different. But he was Silas’s twin brother.

If Silas ever found out, he would divorce me first, then take revenge on my family.

Just as I was lost in thought, trying to figure out what to do, the mattress dipped behind me.

Eric was back in bed. He slid an arm around my waist and took my hand, threading his fingers through mine.

“What are we now?” I asked, my voice shaking beyond my control.

“What do you mean?”

I swallowed hard. “I don’t care what your reason was before. From now on, don’t come looking for me again. We’ll pretend we never knew each other.”

I tried to pry his fingers from mine.

I had to cut my losses. This relationship had been wrong from the very beginning. I could not let it go any further.

Eric gave a soft scoff, his grip tightening around my hand. “Pretend we never knew each other?” he murmured. “Babe, how can you still be this naive?”

I said nothing.

“I told you,” he said. “There are things I cannot explain right now. But I love you. I am the only one who can protect you and make you happy.”

I turned and met his brown eyes. Something sharp and painful twisted in my chest.

“Make me happy? I would be happy if you leave—”

Before I could finish, Eric kissed me, cutting off the rest of my words.

“Say one more word, and I’ll make sure everyone knows about us right now.”

The soft, pleading man from the bathroom was gone.

Now his voice was like a devil’s whisper in the dark.

That obsessive look in his eyes flickered like a flame.

I pushed at him, but he caught my arm.

“Stop fighting your own feelings,” he said. “You want me just as much as I want you. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have let me stay here with you.”

He leaned in to kiss me again, but I turned my head away and gave him my back.

For a long minute, neither of us spoke.

Then Eric sighed and pulled me into his arms. “One day, I’ll tell you everything. Everything about us.”

His hold tightened around me. “We were always meant to be together, Anna. You’ll see.”

…

I spent the next week trapped in constant debate.

Should I tell Silas the truth about what had happened? Or should I bury it and pretend nothing was wrong?

Before I could come up with an answer, the weekend arrived. It was Mrs. Monroe’s birthday, and Silas and I had to attend together as husband and wife.

The moment we walked into the grand Monroe mansion, Silas placed his hand on my waist.

Now that I knew he was not the man I had been close to, my body instinctively rejected his touch.

I tried to move away.

Silas tightened his grip and lowered his voice by my ear. “Don’t move. Mother is watching.”

Not far away, my mother-in-law, Mary Monroe, glanced in our direction.

Silas leaned closer, his usual cold expression softening into a gentle smile. He looked indulgent, affectionate, as if we truly were a loving couple.

I knew I should play along. But all I could think about was Eric.

A soft laugh pulled me back to reality.

I turned and saw Eric walking up to Mary’s side. His burning gaze landed on me, and strangely, I felt a little calmer.

He was here. I was not completely alone among all these unfamiliar people.

But then his face darkened. His gaze dropped to Silas’s hand on my waist, and something almost murderous flashed in his eyes.

I forced myself to ignore the frantic beat of my heart and turned my attention back to Mary.

I handed her the gift I had prepared, an elegant diamond necklace.

Mary accepted it happily and smiled. “How have things been recently, Anna? You’ve only just become the Donna of the Monroe family. If there’s anything you’re not familiar with, you can always ask me.”

Then she looked from Silas to me. “But do you know what would make you an even better Donna?”

She paused for a second before continuing. “A baby, Anna. When are you and Silas going to give me that good news? You two have been married for a year now.”

I froze.

From where I stood, I could see Mary, and I could see Eric too.

Yes, I had been married to Silas for a year. But for that entire year, the man in my bed had been Eric. Silas and I had never slept together.

That strange, forbidden feeling twisted through me again.

At Mary’s words, Eric’s expression darkened. His eyes narrowed on me, and before I could answer, he spoke first.

For one terrifying second, my heart leapt into my throat.

Surely he wouldn’t expose us here.