Chapter 6

Anna's POV

"Well, not exactly..."

"Then what gives you the right to claim Anna as yours?"

Patricia maintained her composed smile, but I caught a brief flash of something sharp in her eyes.

I let out the breath I'd been holding. Edward's mother could cut a man down without raising her voice. For the first time I could picture getting through a conversation with Julian without giving him something just to make him go away.

"Everyone in Manhattan knows we're together..." Julian sounded as though he were trying to defend himself. But neither of us believed he would dare challenge Patricia directly.

"Funny. I don't remember an engagement announcement. If you'd like to see the marriage record, our attorney can show it to yours."

He stepped aside and called someone. Whoever answered had him gripping his phone by the edges before the call was over.

"Any other questions, Mr. Vance?" Patricia asked.

Julian stared at me. The tenderness he'd been pretending to show was finally gone, replaced by a cold, calculating look.

"Anna, are you really going to climb the social ladder and leave me behind?"

"Wouldn't Isabelle be glad to hear that? She's carrying your child."

Julian's expression changed instantly. His eyes widened, and his face went rigid.

Judging by his reaction, he was trying to figure out how I'd found out.

"Anna." Patricia turned toward me. "Let's go."

"All right."

The Sterling bodyguards moved ahead of us, and I walked out of the hospital without anyone trying to stop me.

The afternoon sunlight hit my face. I tilted my head toward the bright blue sky and let out a long breath.

Julian, Isabelle, you'll both pay for what you've done.

---

Just like that, I found myself with an unconscious husband.

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at Edward's profile. The whole situation still felt surreal.

Patricia sat down beside me, her voice gentle.

"I had your things put in here with Edward's."

"I'm supposed to share a bed with him?"

I snapped out of my thoughts and instinctively leaned away, every nerve in my body resisting the idea.

"You're legally married. Sharing a bed is perfectly natural."

I looked at the bed. It was wide enough. That was hardly the point.

"You'd rather not?" She tilted her head and studied my face.

Of course I wouldn't!

But then I thought about the Sterling name and everything I still needed its protection for. I managed to force a dry smile.

"Of course not."

"Then I'll leave Edward in your care."

My throat tightened. I managed to get out two words.

"Of course."

I tried to smile. I'd have to wash him, dress him, and figure out how to turn him without rolling him right off the bed. Sharing it with him was the last thing on my mind.

I hadn't even considered what else Patricia might mean by leaving him in my care.

"Get him out of that hospital gown and give him a sponge bath. His pajamas are right here."

I froze for two full seconds before answering.

"...All right."

Patricia rose with a faint smile and headed for the door. I watched her leave, vaguely sensing there was something behind her expression that I couldn't quite figure out.

The room fell silent.

Just the two of us.

I looked at Edward lying motionless on the bed and sighed.

"You can talk to me inside my head. So why don't you just wake up?"

You think I haven't been trying?

His voice came through, dry and sharp, with barely concealed frustration.

"Then hurry up and do it."

I frowned, my thoughts in turmoil.

Julian had spent three years finding reasons to stay out of our bed. I'd never even undressed a man.

Across both lifetimes, I'd never truly been intimate with a man. And now I was expected to bathe one and change his clothes.

If Edward would just open his eyes, I could be spared the whole ordeal.

After a brief silence, his voice returned, edged with mockery.

Go on. Wash me.

He hadn't moved an inch, yet his commanding tone seemed to fill the room.

I let him wait. He could order me around all he liked. As long as I was the only one who could hear him, he had to wait and see if I'd do it.

I leaned back in my chair, crossed my legs, and gave him a defiant look.

"No."

Anna Hartwell. You're going to ignore a direct order?

There was a warning in his voice now.

I swung my foot casually and played dumb.

"Can't hear a thing. Not a single word."

When my mother finds out you've been ignoring her instructions, she'll have you thrown out of this house before the day is over.

His voice suddenly fell silent.

My smile faded.

I still had no plan for dealing with the Hartwells or Julian. I couldn't afford to lose the Sterling family's protection. Not now.

Three soft knocks sounded at the door.

The housekeeper's voice came from the hallway.

"Your mother-in-law would like to see you downstairs when you're done."

I stiffened, then quickly pulled myself together.

"Yes. I'll be right down."

There was no getting out of it. I set my jaw and got to work.

I brought a basin of warm water to the bed and reached for the ties on his gown.

He showed no reaction. His expression remained unchanged as I reached for his clothes.

I loosened the ties and folded the gown back.

His shoulders were broader than I'd expected. I had to reach halfway across him to get the cloth under his far arm.

I'd never undressed a man before. I stared until I remembered the washcloth was still in the basin.

I wrung it out and drew it across his chest. I could feel the muscles move a little under the cloth when he breathed.

My face grew hotter by the second.

At his ribs my hand shook so badly I nearly dropped it.

Edward remained completely still throughout the process.

That was the only reason I managed to get through it.

At least the top half was done. I managed to get his pajama pants on while I still had the nerve.