Chapter 61 The Unexpected
Anna’s POV
I didn’t trust that smile.
Not even for a second.
But I followed him anyway.
I always did.
—
The car waiting outside was different this time.
Not the usual one.
And not the usual driver either.
I noticed that immediately.
Xavier opened the door for me like a gentleman—which only made it worse—and I slid in, my eyes quietly scanning everything.
New driver.
New route.
New plan.
Always a new plan with him.
He got in beside me, calm as ever, and the car pulled off.
Neither of us spoke at first.
I kept my gaze out the window, watching the world blur past, my thoughts racing ahead of me.
“Relax,” Xavier said suddenly.
I didn’t look at him.
“I am relaxed.”
“You’re tense.”
“And you’re observant.”
That earned me a faint smirk.
But he didn’t push further.
Good.
Because even I didn’t fully understand what I was feeling.
—
We stopped at a mall.
A big one.
Not just big—luxurious.
The kind of place that screamed money from every corner.
I stepped out slowly, turning to look at him.
“Why are we here?”
He didn’t answer.
Instead, he gestured forward.
“Come.”
Of course.
I followed.
Shop after shop.
Dress after dress.
Shoes. Jewelry. Accessories.
It didn’t stop.
He picked most of them himself.
Black. Red. Gold.
Things that fit me too well.
Things that made me look like I belonged in his world.
“This is unnecessary,” I muttered at some point.
“It’s not,” he replied simply.
“What is it then?”
He glanced at me.
“Pre-wedding shopping.”
My steps faltered.
I shot him a look.
“You’re joking.”
“I don’t joke about important things.”
My chest tightened slightly.
But I said nothing.
What was the point?
—
The next stop surprised me even more.
A shooting range.
Private.
Quiet.
Controlled.
Xavier stood beside me, arms crossed, watching as I held the gun. “Show me,” he said.
I didn’t hesitate.
I aimed.
Fired.
Hit.
Again.
Hit.
Again.
Perfect.
When I was done, I lowered the gun slowly and turned to him.
He was watching me differently now.
Not amused.
Not playful.
Something sharper.
“You’re good,” he said.
I shrugged lightly.
“I told you.”
He didn’t respond immediately.
Instead, his gaze lingered on me a moment longer than necessary. “You remind me of someone,” he said suddenly.
That caught my attention.
“Who?”
His jaw tightened slightly.
“Someone I’d rather forget.”
I waited.
He said nothing else.
Of course he didn’t.
With Xavier, answers always came in pieces.
If they came at all.
—
We left shortly after.
This time, he switched things up again.
He ordered a new car.
The driver from before was sent off—with almost all the things he bought for me.
“Take these back to the mansion,” Xavier instructed. “Leave a few.”
I watched silently as bags were transferred.
Then— We got into a different car.
And this time—
Xavier drove.
That alone told me something.
This part mattered.
The road stretched ahead of us, quiet and empty.
For a while, neither of us spoke.
Then—
I decided to test something.
“I know Lucas is your brother,” I said casually.
Xavier didn’t react the way I expected.
He simply corrected me.
“Stepbrother.”
I turned slightly toward him.
“That matters?”
“It does.”
I studied him for a moment.
Then I pushed further.
“He’s in love with me.”
This time, Xavier glanced at me.
Brief.
Sharp.
“I know,” he said.
My brows pulled together.
“And you’re not,” he added.
That made me blink.
“You seem very sure.”
“I am.”
I let out a small breath.
“Lucas thinks you’d kill me if you found out.”
A pause.
Then—
“Under normal circumstances, I would.”
My heart skipped. “But these aren’t normal circumstances,” he continued calmly.
I swallowed.
“What does that mean?”
He didn’t answer.
He just kept driving.
And somehow—
That was worse.
—
We eventually pulled into a quiet, almost deserted area.
No crowds.
No noise.
Just… stillness.
In front of us was a small restaurant.
Nothing fancy.
Nothing loud.
I frowned slightly.
“I’m not hungry.”
“We’re not here to eat,” Xavier said.
Of course we weren’t.
“Then why are we here?”
No answer.
He stepped out of the car.
I hesitated for half a second… then followed.
The air felt different here.
Too quiet.
Too intentional.
Xavier walked ahead, then stopped.
And pointed.
I followed his gaze—
And froze.
A church.
Old.
Simple.
Standing quietly across from the restaurant like it had been there forever.
I blinked.
Then looked at him.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
He wasn’t smiling.
“We’re here to pray,” he said.
I let out a short laugh.
Disbelief.
Confusion.
Suspicion.
Everything at once.
But I didn’t argue.
Because with Xavier—
Resistance only made things worse.
So I followed him inside.
—
The church was empty.
Silent.
Almost… peaceful.
Which felt ironic.
Considering who I walked in with.
Xavier gestured toward a pew.
“Sit.”
I did.
Watching him as he walked toward the priest.
They spoke quietly.
Too quietly for me to hear.
I tried to read their body language.
Nothing.
Xavier was unreadable.
As always.
After a few minutes—
He turned and looked at me.
“Come.”
My heart started beating faster.
I stood slowly and walked toward him.
Every step felt heavier.
Closer.
Closer.
Then I stopped in front of him.
And the priest.
Xavier looked at me.
Straight into my eyes.
Calm.
Certain.
Decided.
“We’ll be getting married here,” he said.
My breath caught.
“What?”
“And we’re not waiting,” he added.
My heart slammed violently against my chest.
“What are you talking about?”
His expression didn’t change.
“We’re doing it now.”
The words hit like a gunshot.
Now?
Here?
No preparation.
No warning.
No choice.
I stared at him.
Completely stunned.
This man…
He wasn’t just unpredictable.
He was insane.