“What did I do?” Anna asked immediately, feigning innocence.
“Don’t act like you don’t know what you have done!” Mr. Blackwood said in between gritted teeth. “Why did you bring him here?”
“Who? Jimmy?” Anna asked, still playing dumb.
“Today is supposed to be my one special day, and yet you bring him here. Why Anna?” he queried, trying to contain the anger within him.
“Okay chill,” she said with wide eyes, clearly surprised by his reaction and low-key scared as well. “First of all, the invitation says plus one…”
Not letting her complete the statement, he cut in immediately. “True. However I expected that you will come with your best friend.”
“If you wanted Jenny here, maybe you should have just sent her an invite.” Anna blurted.
“Don’t change the narrative, this isn’t about Jennifer, I am only trying to make a point. If I knew you would bring Jimmy here, I would have warned you against it. But it didn’t cross my mind for one second that you could do something so silly. Tell me Anna, did you do this to spite me on my birthday? Do you hate me that much?”
Anna was shocked to hear that. “Woooh… slow down,” she quickly signaled to him. “Jennifer is not in town or like you said, I would have come with her, I don’t have any other friends so I asked Jimmy if he would like to come with me and he agreed, it was nothing intentional”
She flipped her hair to the side for a better view and then she continued. “Let me also remind you that you invited me here as a regular friend and in that case cannot dictate to me how I act or who I hang out with, I don’t necessarily owe you obedience or submission to your opinions. But to think of it, why would you think bringing Jimmy here was a deliberate act to spite you? I mean, why would his presence here be a problem for you?”
“Are you really asking me that? You know I don’t like him and yet you brought him along! So what does that say, Anna?” Mr. Blackwood growled at her.
“Hol-up! You don’t like him? Wow! I didn’t know you had a personal vendetta against him, I thought you just didn’t want him dating me because he cheated on me, or isn’t that the case, Max?” she asked and crumpled her face.
“Don’t play this game with me, Anna.” He shot at her
“Why not? I want answers Max. Jimmy cheated on me, quite alright. He apologized for it and I forgave him, which was clearly my decision to make because no one controls my personal life.” she stated out and pushed back the stubborn strand of hair once again to the back of her ears.
“So since I have forgiven Jimmy and I have moved past it and we are both happy now, why is it still a problem for you? Why do you care so much who I associate with and what it could result for me? Why are you so con…”
She couldn’t finish the statement when he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to his body, making her gasp and swallow the rest of her words. “Don’t piss me off on my birthday, Miss Owl.” He warned her.
With her hands pressing against his chest to create a little distance between them, she responded. “Then Answer my question Maxwell Blackwood. Since the issue of cheating is long resolved and I am happy with Jimmy, why do you not want him with me? Tell me!”
Maxwell went silent, staring at her in the eyes. It was like he couldn’t answer that question, or maybe he didn’t know the answer to it. There was silence between them as Anna tried hard to keep her gaze steady, but those burning eyes were tormenting her.
“Alright then, Mr. Blackwood, your silence says it all. You don’t have a reason to hate Jimmy, which means you also don’t have a reason to not want him here with me. I think you should probably let go of me, it is no way to treat your guest, we don’t want my boyfriend walking in to us in this incredibly awkward position now, do we?”
Mr. Blackwood made a low growling sound on hearing that, a frown on his face. “Your boyfriend cannot walk in on us, I don’t remember this being his house, it is mine.” He quickly reminded her.
Anna immediately pushed him away to regain her freedom from his grasp. “You should show some respect to your guests, your words stink of pride and disrespect.” She said with a frown.
“Well, I wouldn’t have to disrespect him if you didn’t bring him here. You know too well that I do not like to see you with him!” he retorted.
“And why exactly is that? Why can't you bear to see me with him?” Anna asked speedily.
“Because I lo…”
Mr. Blackwood didn’t get a chance to complete his words when the door was pushed open and an elderly woman walked in. “Sorry, I am looking for the bathroom.” Her voice echoed in the large room.
Maxwell turned around with a red face, he was about to yell at her if this looked like a fucking bathroom but as he turned to face her, he froze and instantly lost his voice.
The lady’s expression also changed and they both stood there staring at each other like they had seen ghosts. Anna was confused, she looked from one to the other, something was not right here, she felt it immediately.
“Okay… what is going on?” she asked softly, turning slowly from the lady back to Mr. Blackwood.
“Mom…” his voice trailed off in a whisper.
“Mom?” Anna muttered with wide eyes. She must have heard wrong, did he just say mom? She immediately turned back to the woman and that’s when the recognition hit her.
She had seen this woman before, not a clear view but enough to remember her. Maria Forbes!! This woman was Maria Forbes!! She was his mother?
!