Chapter 5: Daughter-in-law

(Alex’s POV)

I couldn't help a small smile seeing Anna's face turn red in embarrassment.

I was about to try ease her anxiety when Richard's cold voice cut in sharply.

“You are grounded,” he said plainly. 

“For now, you are not allowed to leave this house without my permission. You will not go anywhere or see anyone. Do you understand?”

Anna looked at him, her face pale. 

“Richard—” she tried to speak.

“Do. You. Understand?”

The silence that followed felt heavy and tense.

“Yes,” Anna said softly. Her voice barely audible.

Richard nodded shortly and walked toward the door, as he passed me, he stopped, slightly bowing his head. 

“Thank you for bringing her home, Dad,” he said stiffly. “I'm sorry for the trouble, and I promise this type of incident will never repeat itself.”

"It's alright Richard, I'm sure there's a reason she had to go to the club last night. Let's just be glad she's safe." 

He looked like he had something to say but quickly held back and simply nodded, then he left.

The door closed softly, but it somehow felt louder than a slam.

I stood there in Anna’s room, unsure of what to do next.

Part of me wanted to follow my son and tell him exactly what I thought about how he just spoke to his wife. 

But I knew it wasn’t my place. 

I looked back at Anna.

She was staring at the spilled tea on her bed, her face red with embarrassment. 

Her dark hair was loose and a bit messy, and without makeup or styling, she looked younger and fragile. 

Nothing like the perfect wife Richard showed off at events.

She still hadn’t looked at me.

I could feel how embarrassed she was, and I wanted to help her feel better, though I didn’t know how.

This situation was very delicate.

I moved slowly so I wouldn’t startle her and gently took the tea cup from her hands. 

She let go easily, and I noticed her fingers were trembling.

The cup was almost empty, and the tea had spread into the expensive bed cover. 

I placed the cup on the bedside table and looked around for something to clean it.

There was a box of tissues on the dresser. Not the best option, but good enough.

I took some and went back to the bed, kneeling to clean the stain. 

It felt strangely normal, even a little personal, but not in the same way as last night. 

“You don’t have to—” Anna said, her voice rough. She still didn’t look at me. “Margaret can—”

“It’s just tea,” I said quietly. “And I’m already here.”

I could feel her watching me, confused.

When I finished cleaning as much as I could, I stood up and went to the bedside table. 

The tea Margaret left was still warm. 

I poured more into the cup, added a little honey, and turned back to her.

She was looking at her hands, twisting her fingers together.

“Here,” I said gently, handing the cup to her. “Drink some more. It will help you feel better.”

She finally looked at me.

And I noticed her eyes were red, maybe from the hangover or had she been crying?

I couldn't tell.

She took the cup, carefully avoiding touching my fingers.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

I watched her take a small sip. Her hands were still shaking. 

Then I sat on a chair near her dresser, giving her space but staying close enough to talk.

For a while, we said nothing.

She kept sipping her tea, and not daring to look towards me.

I looked around the room.

This was supposed to be the room she shared with Richard but it seemed to be filled with much of her belongings.

They were just very scanty male clothing showing that Richard barely used the room most of the time.

Do they have separate bedrooms?

“I’m sorry,” Anna said suddenly. Her voice shook a little.

I looked at her.

“For last night,” she said. “For… throwing up on you. For being drunk. For—” She stopped, her face turning red again. 

“For everything. I’m sorry. I didn’t know what came over me. I would never have—”

“Anna,” I said gently. “Stop.”

She looked at me, surprised.

“How are you feeling?” I asked. “Your head must hurt a lot.”

She blinked, and I guessed she was not expecting that.

“Yes… it does,” she said quietly. "Bangs like crazy."

“I’m not surprised. You drank quite a lot.”

Her face flushed again, and she looked away. 

"I know. I'm not usually... I don't normally drink like that. Last night was..." She trailed off, clearly not wanting to finish that sentence.

I thought about what I saw last night. The way she drank like she was desperately trying to escape something.

Now I know what she wanted to escape.

“You don’t have to feel nervous around me,” I said softly. “You didn’t know who I was as at last night.”

“That doesn’t make it less embarrassing,” she said. “I kissed you. I… I kissed my father-in-law. I acted desperate—”

“You were in pain,” I said gently. “And drunk. People make impulsive decisions when they’re hurting.”

She paused and looked at me.

“But I still shouldn’t have done it,” she said. “I should have controlled myself. I know my position. I know I could have damaged Richard’s image. His reputation. Everything. If someone saw us it could have ruined everything…” 

I stared at her in surprise.

She wasn't even worried about her own safety or what those men would have done to her if I hadn't intervened.

Only worried about Richard's social reputation.

“Anna, I know you made a mistake but that’s not a reason for him to talk to you like that,” I said calmly.

Her eyes widened.

“He’s stressed,” she said quickly. “The event yesterday was a huge one, very important. And I—”

“Anna,” I said, leaning forward. “I don’t care how stressed he is. The way he spoke to you was wrong. You are his wife, not his employee.”

She stared at me, something changing in her expression.

“You don’t understand,” she said softly, looking away. “Our marriage is… complicated.”

“I can see that,” I said.

She said nothing and we fell into an uncomfortable silence.

I watched her sip her tea, the sunlight touching her hair. 

I tried not to think about last night.

“The... kiss. I'm sorry about that." She suddenly said. "I know it must have been uncomfortable and unwanted.”

That word hit me harder than it should.

Unwanted.

If only she knew.

I looked at her beautiful, sad eyes and felt something strange stir inside me. 

“It wasn’t unwanted,” I said quietly before I could stop myself.

She looked at me in surprise.

"I mean you were in pain and needed comfort and I...you..we didn't know each other, so..." I found myself stuttering.

She smiled warmly. "Thank you very much for your understanding sir." She said.

Sir.

I've heard it so many times, infact that's what most people address me by. 

But hearing her call me that felt really awkward.

"You can call me Dad." I said. 

She looked rather surprised. 

"I mean you're my daughter-in-law, so you're like a daughter to me." I quickly explained.

"I understand...Dad." She whispered, a little color spreading on her cheeks.

That felt even more awkward.

Then she asked the question I had been dreading.

“At the club. How did you know who I was? My purse was with Robert so I had nothing on me. no ID. How did you know where to bring me?”

My heart pounded hard against my chest as I contemplated if I should lie to her or tell her the truth.

The truth would make things even complicated.

How could I tell her that back at the club I already knew who she was and still allowed her to kiss me.

And worse...

I had actually enjoyed every bit of it.