"Goodness, Ms. Dumas, that was almost a disaster!" Violet huffed as she helped Anna into her chair before taking a seat across from her at the restaurant table.
After that unsettling encounter with Susanne, Violet had practically dragged Anna away from the Art Corner, leading her to the nearest restaurant as a safe haven.
She had seen the way Anna’s face had drained of color, how her posture had stiffened under the weight of old wounds being ripped open. When Violet suggested returning to the hospital, Anna refused, asking instead for a mont to breathe.
Now, as the waiter approached with nus and filled their glasses with water, Anna finally let out a heavy exhale—as if she had been holding her breath this entire ti.
"This is a test," Violet said, nudging the cool glass into Anna’s hand. "No matter where you are or who you’re with, you are Chloe Dumas. You don’t know anyone connected to Anna Hyde. They an nothing to you."
Anna nodded slowly, then tipped the glass back, nearly draining its contents in a single gulp. "I know. I’m sorry. I just... wasn’t ready to face my sister-in-law so soon."
"She is no longer your sister-in-law," Violet corrected, her tone firm yet not unkind. She lifted a hand to signal the waiter, then continued, "I don’t an to sound harsh, but it’s my job to make sure you stay in character. Mr. Stark entrusted with this, and I can’t afford to let him down. I follow his orders."
Anna sighed, pressing her lips together before forcing a small, grateful smile. "I understand. I’ll do better, I promise."
Even after Violet placed their food orders, Anna remained quiet, the weight of her mistake settling heavily on her shoulders. She had barely stepped into her new identity, and already, she had slipped up. A single mont of hesitation—one crack in her armor—and now, she couldn’t stop wondering what William would do once he found out.
"Ms. Dumas." Violet’s voice pulled Anna back from her thoughts, grounding her in the present. "The food is here."
Anna blinked, taking a steady breath to compose herself. The rich, tantalizing aroma of the freshly served dishes filled the air, making her stomach twist with an embarrassing sense of hunger. She hadn’t realized just how starved she was until now.
Noticing the slight flush creeping up Anna’s cheeks, Violet’s expression softened into a small smile. "You must be exhausted from all that bland hospital food. Please, dig in. I ordered all the specials, so you can have as much as you like. Just looking at the dishes, I can tell they’ll be amazing."
Anna forced a polite smile, though she kept her hands neatly folded in her lap. "Is there a salad among them? I’ll just have sothing light, thank you."
Violet’s brows knitted together at her subdued response.
"Forgive if I’m overstepping, but I really think you should eat more. You’ve been through an imnse amount of stress, and I can only imagine how much that’s affected your health. I know it’s not my place to comnt on soone’s physique, but..." She hesitated for a mont before sighing. "You look too thin. Please, eat as much as you want. It’s on Mr. Stark anyway."
Sothing about that last remark made Anna pause, then unexpectedly smile—this ti, a real one. A faint blush dusted her cheeks as she tilted her head slightly. "Is feeding also one of Mr. Stark’s orders?"
Caught off guard, Violet’s composure wavered. She blinked, then quickly shook her head, her flustered reaction betraying her usual professionalism. "N-no... but anyone who sees you would think you’re starving yourself. Honestly, I’m a little worried."
Her quiet sincerity stirred sothing in Anna, lting a fraction of the heaviness she had been carrying. For the first ti in a while, she felt... cared for.
Anna couldn’t help but smile again. It must have been difficult for Violet to say sothing so blunt to her face, yet she appreciated the honesty nonetheless. "Thank you, Ms. Voss. I’ll dig in, then."
With that, she pulled the first plate closer, carefully selecting a small slice of baguette generously sared with cream cheese and topped with a dley of finely chopped vegetables.
The mont the flavors hit her tongue, her body nearly lted in bliss. The crispness of the bread, the richness of the cream cheese, and the freshness of the vegetables blended so perfectly that for a brief mont, she forgot everything else.
Before she even realized it, the plate was empty. But for the first ti in years, she didn’t feel guilty about finishing her al.
Violet was right. She was too thin for her age—too fragile, too depleted. And the reason for that was none other than Colette Hyde, her ex-mother-in-law.
Living under the Hyde family’s roof had been suffocating in more ways than one, but nothing had affected Anna as much as Colette’s control over her food.
She had been forced to diet constantly. Every bite she took was recorded by the maids and reported back to Colette, who would then adjust her al plan accordingly—often cutting portions or eliminating certain foods entirely.
Twice a month, Anna was subjected to bi-weekly weigh-ins, standing on a cold scale while Colette scrutinized the numbers. If she gained even a fraction of weight, she was forced into grueling exercise routines and made to skip als as punishnt.
Anna had never understood the need for such relentless scrutiny. She had never been overweight—not even close. And even if she had gained a little, it was hardly noticeable.
But it was never about weight. It was about control. Colette had relished that power over her, treating Anna like a doll, a fragile puppet she could mold to her liking.
And Anna had let her.
And that was one of the reasons Anna had often sought solace in the bottom of a liquor bottle. When she was forced to skip als, the gnawing hunger made it impossible to sleep, her stomach aching as if it were clinging to her spine.
A large glass of warm red wine would usually do the trick, dulling both the hunger and the loneliness that crept in during the long, silent nights. But more often than not, one glass wasn’t enough. She needed another—and sotis more—to fill the hollow space inside her chest.
"You’re having quite a healthy appetite!" Violet observed kindly, watching as Anna ate with quiet satisfaction. "I’m glad."
Anna paused, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks. She hadn’t realized just how much she was eating until Violet pointed it out. "Am I hoarding all the dishes? Are you not eating?"
"Oh, don’t worry about . I’m not very hungry today," Violet said with a small sigh, rubbing her temple. "My period just started, and I always lose my appetite during those days."
"Oh, I get that," Anna murmured, her lips curling downward in sympathy.
"Speaking of which..." Violet patted the right pocket of her black blazer, checking for sothing before giving Anna an apologetic smile. "Would you excuse for a mont? I need to use the bathroom real quick. I’ll be back soon."
"Of course! Take your ti."
"Thanks," Violet said, rising to her feet and making her way toward the restrooms, leaving Anna alone to finish her al.
Anna absentmindedly speared a piece of cooked sweet potato with her fork, lifting it toward her lips—but her hand froze midair. A sudden, involuntary tremor ran down her arm, her fingers tightening around the utensil.
A scent drifted past her. Sharp. Poignant. Suffocating.
Her blood turned to ice.
She knew that cologne all too well.
Robert Hyde.
Reviews
All reviews (0)