Chapter 71 The Beach
Anna's POV
I left Eve’s room feeling unsettled and headed toward my own. Halfway down the hallway, I spotted Lucas talking with a group of men.
I almost walked past him, but something made me stop. “Lucas,” I called out.
He turned, dismissing the men with a nod. His expression was guarded as he walked over to me.
“Eve and I are going out,” I said. “I thought you could come with us… for security.”
Lucas didn’t speak for several seconds. He simply stared at me, then exhaled slowly. “That’s fine. I’ll come with you.”
I nodded. “Thank you.” Without waiting for anything more, I continued to my room.
I showered quickly, changed into something comfortable, and made my way straight to the compound where the cars were parked.
Eve was already waiting beside one of the black SUVs. When she saw me, her face lit up with a bright smile.
“I told Lucas,” she said as I approached. “He said we can go on our own.”
I raised an eyebrow. “He said that?”
Eve nodded confidently and opened the back door for me. “Yes. Get in.”
I slid into the car, but unease settled in my stomach. Why would Lucas tell me he was coming and then tell Eve something completely different?
Eve got in beside me. “Are you alright?” she asked, studying my face.
Before I could answer, I spotted Lucas walking toward the car with steady, purposeful strides.
“It seems Lucas changed his mind,” I said. “He’s joining us after all.”
Eve turned quickly to look. Her expression flickered for a split second before she composed herself.
Lucas reached the car and asked, “Ready?”
We both nodded. He got into the driver’s seat while Eve remained in the back beside me.
“Where to?” Lucas asked, starting the engine.
“The beach,” Eve replied.
“Nice choice,” I murmured.
Lucas pulled out of the compound and we were soon on the road. The silence in the car was thick until Lucas spoke again.
“You never really talked about Sam or your foster dad,” he said, glancing at me through the rearview mirror.
“There’s nothing to talk about,” I replied quietly. “I’ve moved on.”
“So fast,” Eve commented. “You sound like you hated them.”
I shrugged. “I don’t hate them. But that family never accepted me as one of their own. They treated me like a slave most of the time. I feel bad about their deaths… but I don’t miss them the way I probably should.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through all that,” Eve said softly. “We’re your family now.”
I forced a small smile. “Thank you.”
Lucas’s voice cut in, serious. “Be on the lookout when we get there. Stay close to the shore and avoid strangers.”
I leaned forward slightly. “Will you be swimming with us?”
“No,” he answered. “I’d rather watch from the shore.”
We arrived at the beach and decided to buy beachwear from a small shop opposite the entrance.
We changed quickly in the car before heading down to the sand.
The moment my feet touched the warm beach, some of the tension in my body began to melt away. The sound of waves, the laughter of people around us — it was surprisingly relaxing. Almost therapeutic.
Eve and I immediately ran into the water, swimming and laughing like normal girls for the first time in what felt like forever.
We played in the waves with others, splashing and enjoying the cool water under the sun.
After a while, I left the water and walked over to where Lucas sat on the sand, watching everything.
“You should be having fun with the others,” he said as I dropped down beside him, “not sitting here with me.”
“I’ll go back,” I replied, “but I wanted to ask you something first.”
“Go on.”
“Did Eve tell you earlier that we were going out?” I asked, watching his face carefully.
Lucas shook his head. “No, she didn't tell me anything. Why do you ask?”
“Nothing,” I said quickly. “I was just curious.”
I stood up and headed back toward the water, my mind spinning. Why had Eve lied about informing Lucas? Why had she wanted us to go out without him?
The questions kept circling in my head even as I rejoined Eve in the waves.
She was laughing and waving me over, but something about her smile now felt slightly off.
I smiled back anyway, but inside, suspicion was growing.
Eve had been acting strange ever since I mentioned bringing Lucas along. First the lie about what Lucas said, and now this. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.
As the sun began to dip lower, casting golden light over the water, I wondered how many more secrets were hiding in this so-called “family” I had been forced into.