Anna took a deep breath.
"We don't need to and shouldn't talk about it, Adonis. I solved everything without your help. I won't have to... pay for your help."
"You had already made up your mind, even before you solved this problem, that you wouldn't accept my help, right?"
"Yes. I can't betray my husband like that."
"Which one? Does staying with Alfa, your legitimate husband, mean betraying Maxwell? Or the other way around? I don't understand your way of thinking, Anna. You want me. I can see it shining in your eyes, but you reject me anyway, why?"
"Because you're my friend, Adonis. We both feel affinity, but I don't love you. Desiring someone doesn't mean you actually want to be with them. Desires are fantasies. And I can fulfill any fantasy with one of my two husbands." She finished smiling and Adonis smiled too.
"Friends don't hide things from each other. Which brings me to another question: why did you keep it from me that my girlfriend was pregnant?"
"Because she wanted to tell you herself." Anna answered so quickly that Adonis was sure she was telling the truth.
"I think so."
"What did you think of the news?"
"I thought this child came earlier than expected, but I'm very happy. Alfa thought for a long time when I told him. I thought he was going to kill my girlfriend, but he's going to give me the wedding party as a present, and his father is going to pay for all the other expenses, like flowers and my now wife-to-be's wedding dress."
"I'm happy for you, Adonis, but I thought her family was rich..."
"They are, Anna. But now she won't be able to live with them anymore. Everyone who knows our secret... You know the motto. She doesn't want to put her family in danger. And Alpha would never allow the secret to be spread like this. She'll say she's on a trip around the world to justify her absence. Her parents will never know that they are grandparents. Emanuelle now has only me as her family."
"I'm sorry about that... you can count on me for whatever you need. I hope to be invited to your wedding."
"You're Emanuelle's godmother and Adam is my best man, and I won't take no for an answer."
Anna thought for a moment.
"When will your wedding be?"
"We managed to arrange for the elder of the nearby hands pack to come and celebrate our union at the end of the month. My fiancée didn't want to wait too long, because she doesn't want to walk across the bridal bridge with her belly protruding too much, but to change the subject... I heard that you're the heir to a real fortune, is that true?"
And the two continued talking until they reached the mansion.
In that short time, Anna told him all about what had happened that day.
...
Anna arrived at the mansion and was once again greeted by her children. Tayme was in what seemed to be a very serious conversation with Adam, who was listening with a raised eyebrow and concentrating. Max was talking to Anna's father, and Adam and Max's mothers were staring at Adam from across the room, but Anna didn't know if they were looking at their son with fear or love. Perhaps both feelings together. Anna now looked at Maz's mother with more interest. She was a close friend of his mother and must have known a lot of secrets, and one day they would talk about it. But what bothered Anna most was Tayme. She only approached someone, the way she was confident in talking down to Adam, when she trusted and liked the person. And she feared that Adam would become the lure for her to follow his lead.
"Anna... We've been expecting you for coffee." Her mother-in-law said happily, and came over to hug her, joining her children who wrapped their arms around her legs.
As soon as they had done this, the room fell silent. It was as if, just at that moment, they noticed her entrance. Tayme approached her and wrapped his arms around her legs, pushing Donald aside to find a seat.
"Yes. Coffee would be great now. Where's Jenna?"
"Still asleep." Anna's father said, getting up, and everyone else did the same.
...
Everyone went into the kitchen, where the coffee was already served, and the children sat down with the adults.
"Mom, are you leaving again?" Donald asked.
"Yes, my son." Anna felt sad at not being able to say that she would soon be there again.
"Why, Mom? I don't want you to leave again." David said with watery eyes.
"We'll see each other every day on the computer." Anna tried to calm him, who was bravely holding back his tears with trembling lips.
"It's not the same." Tayme said with an adult air and looked very thoughtful. "I want to go with you this time."
"Tayme, you're very welcome at my house, whenever you want." Adam said and looked at Maxwell wryly. "I don't think your father will object."
Maxwell tried to look serious, but ended up smiling.
"I didn't think this situation would arise. I need to think about it, but not today. Without planning, I can't allow it. I don't think we have any reason to be hasty, right brother?" He said, looking at Adam amused.
"You know that all actions have consequences, and it's beyond my power to guarantee safety against the laws of the universe." Adam said amusedly.
"Maybe I'll marry Uncle Adam when I grow up." Tayme said suddenly.
A tense silence fell over everyone. No one dared to breathe, so as not to make a sound.
Anna didn't know what to say, and her father thought faster, calling the nannies to take the children to play in the garden. As soon as they were taken away, Anna glared at Adam angrily.
"What were you and my daughter talking about? I don't want you inducing Tayme to be like you. It's enough, Ian, being enthralled by your life of crime!"