Chapter 59 Time to Decide
Anna’s POV
I woke up to silence.
Not the tense, watchful silence of the mansion… but something softer. Calmer. Almost unfamiliar.
For a moment, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to piece together where I was and why my body didn’t feel like it was bracing for danger.
Then it hit me.
Xavier.
The drive.
The forest.
This place.
I sat up slowly, the sheets slipping down my body as I glanced around the room again. It was large, tastefully furnished, with a quiet kind of luxury that didn’t scream for attention. No guards standing by the door. No distant voices. No tension hanging in the air.
Just… peace.
Which was strange.
Very strange.
My brows furrowed slightly.
Xavier brought me here… and did nothing.
No threats.
No interrogation.
No games.
Just—“This is where you’ll sleep.”
I exhaled slowly, swinging my legs off the bed.
“What are you up to…” I muttered under my breath.
A knock came at the door, cutting through my thoughts. I straightened instinctively. “Come in.”
The door opened, and a maid stepped in, her posture respectful but distant.
“Miss Anna,” she said politely. “Mr. Xavier requests your presence in the dining room in twenty minutes.”
I blinked.
“Dining room?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Before I could ask anything else, she turned and left.
I stared at the door for a second longer, my mind already racing. Breakfast? With Xavier?
That alone felt like a trap.
Another knock followed almost immediately.
The same maid returned—this time holding a gown.
“Mr. Xavier asked that you wear this,” she said, placing it carefully on the bed.
My eyes dropped to it.
Black.
Elegant.
And definitely not subtle.
“Of course he did,” I muttered.
The maid said nothing and quietly exited the room again.
I walked over, picking up the gown and holding it up slightly.
It was beautiful. Dangerously so. Fitting in all the right places… revealing just enough to make a statement without saying a word.
Control. That’s what this was. He was dressing me the way he wanted to present me.
I scoffed softly, dropping it back on the bed.
“Control freak.”
Still… I took a shower. Dressed. And twenty minutes later— I was walking into the dining room.
He was already there. Of course he was.
Seated at the head of the table like he owned not just the room—but the air inside it.
His gaze lifted the moment I stepped in. “You’re two minutes late,” he said calmly.
I paused. Then raised a brow slightly. “You’re timing me now?”
He didn’t respond to that. Instead, his eyes moved over me slowly, deliberately, taking in every detail of the gown.
A faint smile touched his lips. “I knew you’d look good in it,” he said. “I picked it myself.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “Lucky me.”
He gestured toward the seat across from him.
“Sit.”
I hesitated for half a second… then obeyed.
No point pushing unnecessarily.
Not yet.
A plate was already set. Food neatly arranged. Too neat. Too perfect.
I looked up at him. “What’s all this?”
He tilted his head slightly. “All what?”
I leaned back a little, crossing my arms.
“This. The gown. The breakfast. The sudden relocation. What’s going on, Xavier?”
For a moment, he just watched me.
Then he leaned back in his chair. “Someone told Zack I was coming,” he said casually.
My expression didn’t change—but inside, something tightened. Of course.
“That same person,” he continued, “would also tell him about my plans to marry you.”
There it was. My jaw clenched slightly. “And you don’t like your secrets leaking,” I said. His lips curved faintly.
“I don’t like being predictable.”
I nodded slowly. “So you brought me here to hide me.”
“To keep you alive,” he corrected.
I let out a soft scoff.
“I liked it better at the mansion.”
“Then I’ll take you back,” he said immediately.
I blinked.
That… I didn’t expect.
My eyes narrowed slightly.
There it is.
The catch.
I leaned forward slightly. “I’m not marrying you.”
The words came out firm.
Clear.
Final.
For a second—
There was silence.
Then— Xavier laughed.
Not loudly.
Not mockingly.
Just… amused.
Like I had said something entertaining.
“That’s not your decision to make,” he said calmly.
My eyes hardened.
“Last I checked, marriage involves two people.”
He leaned forward slightly, his gaze locking onto mine.
“And last I checked,” he said quietly, “no one tells me no.”
The air shifted.
Heavy. Dangerous. I held his gaze anyway.
“I just did.”
Something flickered in his eyes.
Not anger.
Not exactly.
Something darker.
But it was gone as quickly as it appeared.
He leaned back again like nothing happened.
“Eat,” he said.
I didn’t move. “I’m not hungry.”
“That wasn’t a suggestion.”
I stared at him for a moment longer… then picked up the fork.
Not because I wanted to.
But because I wasn’t stupid.
Silence settled between us again.
Then— “There’s someone here to see you,” he said suddenly.
My hand paused mid-air.
“What?”
He took a sip of his drink like it wasn’t important.
“Someone who claims to know you very well.”
My stomach tightened.
“Who?”
“Eat first,” he said. “Business later.”
I set the fork down slowly.
“You’re unbelievable.”
He didn’t react.
So I leaned back, folding my arms again.
“You know you can’t run from Zack forever, right?”
That got his attention.
His eyes lifted to mine again.
Cold.
Sharp. “He’s the one who can’t hide from me,” Xavier replied.
I studied him for a moment.
He believed that.
Completely.
Dangerous.
“Does Lucas know we’re here?” I asked.
“Not yet.” Of course not.
Control.
Always control.
Xavier stood up then, adjusting his sleeves slightly.
“I have something to attend to,” he said. “Make yourself comfortable.”
I frowned slightly.
“And my visitor?”
His lips curved faintly.
“They’ll be here shortly.”
And just like that— He left.
The door closed behind him with a soft click.
Silence returned.
I stood slowly, my mind racing.
Who could possibly—
The door opened again. I turned and froze.
My breath caught instantly. “No way…”
She stepped in, closing the door behind her.
Calm. Composed. Like she belonged here.
Like this wasn’t insane. “Miss me?” she said lightly.
My eyes widened. “Serena?”