Chapter 82: Unannounced
Everything feels like it’s spiraling out of control, Anna sighed to herself as she lazily combed her soft blonde hair. First Gabriel, now William... I don’t even know what’s happening anymore. Maybe it’s better if I just stay away from men altogether. Smile at Will when I see him, play my part when I have to. That was the original agreement, wasn’t it?
She looked at her reflection in the mirror, frowning at the dark shadows under her eyes.
I’m slipping back into the old me—exhausted, drained. I didn’t sleep a wink last night, haunted by William’s outburst. Somewhere along the line, we must have blurred the lines between us. I leaned too much on his warmth, let myself take comfort in his promises to help me forget. Maybe... maybe it’s time to stop all that.
A knock echoed on her bedroom door, followed by the butler’s polite voice."Miss Dumas?"
"Yes, come in," Anna called back, clearing her throat as she set the brush down on her vanity.
The butler stepped in with a hesitant expression, his fingers fidgeting with the sleeves of his neatly pressed jacket.
"My apologies for the interruption," he said, "but there’s a young woman waiting downstairs. She claims to be a friend of yours and said you invited her for brunch. Her name is Marienne Rochester."
Marienne?
Anna froze, her grip tightening around the edge of her vanity. Her breath caught for a moment.What the hell is she doing here? I definitely didn’t invite her—especially not today.