Chapter 4 Waking Up in His Arms
Anna shifted softly in her sleep. Her naughty hand roamed instinctively, seeking a comfortable spot, tracing the surface of a bolster pillow that felt strangely different this morning.
Her fingers unconsciously squeezed gently, feeling the texture of solid muscle beneath fine silk fabric. Even the scent wasn't her usual laundry detergent; instead, it was an intoxicating blend of masculine musk and expensive tobacco.
"Are you quite done groping me?"
The deep, husky baritone voice, rough with sleep, vibrated right above the crown of her head.
Anna’s eyelids flew open instantly. The first thing that greeted her vision wasn't the ceiling, but a pair of ice-cold grey eyes staring flatly at her.
There was almost no distance between their faces. The man's warm breath fanned against Anna's forehead, sending shivers down her spine. Anna suddenly realized her legs were wrapped tightly around his waist, clinging to him as if she were terrified of losing her pillow.
Damon Lexton. The man she was hugging like a koala was her ex-fiancé's biological uncle.
"How long do you plan to cling to me like this? Until the brat is born?" Damon mocked sharply, the corner of his lip twitching into a sneer.
"Hah!"
A stifled shriek escaped Anna’s lips. She scrambled backward in shock, retreating so fast that her back slammed hard against the headboard.
"Ow!" Anna winced, frantically pulling the duvet up to her chin. Her heart hammered wildly against her ribs, her face flushing crimson like a boiled crab. "Sir! Si... since when have you been awake?"
Damon sat up slowly, tossing the duvet aside with an elegant motion. His black shirt was slightly rumpled, and the top two buttons were undone, revealing a glimpse of the broad chest that had served as Anna’s pillow just moments ago.
"Long enough to watch you sleep with your mouth open and drool all over my shirt," Damon replied flatly, without a hint of amusement.
Reflexively, Anna wiped the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand. It was dry. No drool.
"You tricked me!" Anna protested, annoyed.
Damon didn't care. He slid off the bed, standing to his full height, his dominant aura instantly filling the entire room.
"Get ready. Breakfast in fifteen minutes. If you are even one second late, you don't eat."
The man walked toward the door, but his steps paused for a moment without looking back.
BLAM!
The door closed. Anna slumped weakly onto the mattress, cupping her burning face with both hands.
"Stupid! How could I sleep so comfortably with him?" Anna cursed herself.
She took a deep breath to steady her racing heart, then climbed out of bed. Her feet sank into a thick, soft fur rug. As she walked past the large mirror in the corner, she froze.
The reflection in the mirror stopped her dead in her tracks. The torn, muddy, bloodstained wedding dress from yesterday was gone. Her body was now draped in luxurious champagne-colored silk pajamas that fit her perfectly.
"Wait." Anna gripped the collar of her pajamas. Her face paled again. "Who changed my clothes?"
The image of Damon stripping off her wedding dress while she was unconscious instantly flooded her mind. Anna shook her head vigorously, chasing the thought away. "No, impossible. It must have been the maids."
Knock! Knock!
The bedroom door opened. A row of maids in crisp black and white uniforms entered neatly, carrying trays filled with toiletries and a change of clothes.
"Good morning, Madam," the head maid greeted with a polite but stiff tone. "The Master ordered us to help you prepare. Please do not waste time; Mr. Lexton hates waiting."
Fifteen minutes later, Anna was seated at a long dining table made of black marble. Damon sat at the head of the table, reading news on his tablet while sipping black coffee.
A suffocating silence blanketed the dining room. The only sound was the clinking of silver spoons against porcelain plates.
"Eat more," Damon ordered without looking up from his tablet. "Finish the meat. You’re skinny as a board; it’s unpleasant to hug."
"Cough!"
Anna choked on her bread. She hurriedly grabbed her water glass and downed it in one go. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Damon, whose face remained emotionless.
"This man really has no filter!" Anna grumbled internally.
"Sir," Anna called out after managing to swallow her food. She had to escape this awkward situation. "I would like to ask for permission to go out for a while."
Damon’s hand paused. He slowly lowered the tablet, then looked at Anna with a sharp, intimidating gaze.
"Where to?" Damon asked coldly.
"I have to go back to my rented apartment. My belongings are still there," Anna explained, her voice trembling slightly.
"Buy new ones. Your credit card is on the table," Damon replied indifferently, reaching for his tablet again.
"Not everything can be bought with money, Sir!" Anna's voice rose in frustration. "That necklace is the only clue to my origins before I was adopted by the Vane family. It’s my life!"
The room temperature dropped drastically. Damon looked at her again. This time, there was a dangerous glint in his grey eyes.
"You dare shout at me?" Damon hissed softly, but his tone was sharper than a scalpel.
Anna’s courage instantly shrank. She lowered her head, gripping the hem of her dress until her knuckles turned white. "I’m sorry, but please. Just for a moment. I promise I’ll come straight back."
Damon fell silent for a moment. His index finger tapped against the marble table in a slow rhythm that made Anna’s heart race as she awaited his verdict.
"One hour," Damon decided finally. "Leo will drive you. If you try to run, remember what happened to that orphanage."
"Thank you, Sir!" Anna smiled in relief, her eyes sparkling for a second before she hurried away.
The shiny black sedan stopped in front of an old apartment building with moss-covered walls. This place was a stark contrast to the luxury of the Lexton mansion.
"I will wait here, Madam," Leo said politely but firmly from behind the wheel.
Anna nodded and rushed up to the second floor. However, her steps faltered in the quiet corridor. A bad feeling settled in her stomach as she saw the door to her unit wide open.
Crash!
A large suitcase was thrown out from inside, landing hard on the floor and bursting open. Anna's clothes scattered across the dirty, dusty corridor floor.
"What is this?" Anna muttered in panic.
She ran inside. The sight that greeted her made her blood boil.
Reymond Vane was lounging comfortably on her shabby sofa with his feet up on the table, while Sienna stood holding Anna's valuables with a cunning smile.
