The two left the house, and Anna realized that it was small, despite having large rooms, it only had two bedrooms, a bathroom and a kitchen. From the outside, Anna realized that it was also isolated. The house had a kind of synthetic grass on its walls, very green, covering the whole house. There was a large wall surrounding the house and an electric fence on top. It was a well-guarded place. She passed several men and women in black suits until she reached the gate, along with the woman who let her out, and when she opened the gate, there were more men watching outside. They got into a green car, a jeep, and while the woman was driving, she explained.
"There's not usually this much movement around this house, not even when it's occupied..."
Anna realized that there was something bad in that story, and that the woman was hesitant to tell her, but she didn't ask. She wasn't interested. She leaned back in the armchair, feeling pain. She kept her eyes closed for just a few seconds.
She felt, even without looking at the woman, that she was smiling and she opened her eyes.
"Do you have a joke to share with me, or am I the joke?" She spoke aggressively, but the smile widened on the woman's face.
"You broke the lampshade on Caricatura's head. I've always wanted to do something like that... How did that feel?"
Anna laughed too.
"Liberating."
The two of them laughed and although Anna didn't know the woman's name, she felt that they had an affinity.
Soon, she opened her eyes wide and saw the most beautiful mansion of her life. Surrounded by manicured gardens, a park, a swimming pool, a golf course and manicured bushes, as well as lots of men in black suits, was the house of her dreams. She had always thought of a place like this to live with All. With their children and grandchildren. As much as she knew it was now impossible, she enjoyed seeing her dream materialize before her eyes.
"What a wonderful house!" She said, looking upstairs and noticing that there was a large window that took up the entire front of the house on that floor.
"It's the boss's favorite mansion. He's the reason it's so busy."
"And he put me in a house next to his? That doesn't make much sense."
"Ah, Anna. You have no idea how much sense that makes..."
"Tell me."
The woman stopped the car in front of the mansion, fiddled with the radio and then looked at Anna.
"Do what you have to do, but don't come back. Believe me when I say that death is less cruel... Stay with the boss as long as he has the strength, and is conscious, but after he's gone.... Just don't come back here."
"Why?"
The door on Anna's side opened violently, and a tall man appeared.
"Is she ready, Jenna?"
"Yes." The woman answered and turned her gaze to Anna. "Good luck. You should go down with him now." She said and shook Anna's hand, and left something in her hand that Anna understood she shouldn't show anyone.
"Thank you."
Anna got out of the jeep and was led to another car. She thought she would see the house of her dreams from the inside, but it seemed that they had other plans.
She noticed that the car drove for a long time along an unpaved road. She knew she was somewhere very isolated, hard to reach and difficult to escape from. Why would a billionaire buy a house in such a place?
They arrived in front of the building that Anna recognized immediately and entered. She was taken without hesitation to the elevator and then to the apartment where All was. She had to admit that Sarah hadn't lied. When she passed other people in the building, no one dared to look at her. Everyone knew what was going on and kept quiet, like cowards. Like people who would sell themselves for a few bucks. At that moment, she still didn't know that they didn't need to look at her, because they knew that soon, she would never be seen again. After all, she was destined to occupy the green house of the Lensmen.
Allister was asleep when she arrived, and Anna sat down next to him and held his hand lovingly. The nurses and doctors wouldn't leave them alone. Anna didn't mind. She was looking at the bedside table full of medicine, and remembered that she was holding something. She looked at her closed hand. It was a small bag with a white powder. She squeezed it in her hands. Anna understood. She remembered the woman's words. "It's worse than death." The woman said more, and so, out of pity, she gave her a fatal dose of White Hand.
Anna noticed a small movement on All's bed and a small squeeze on the hand holding his, and she stood up to look. He was staring at her.
"Can you forgive me? I think I was cruel to you at a time when I needed to be charitable..."
"There's nothing to forgive. You love me. It's normal to be angry." All said and smiled.
Anna withdrew her hand from his.
"You... All, you're a man of unlimited financial resources, why don't you seek the opinion of other doctors?"
"They're meeting to discuss the possibility."
"They? Your son and his wife? I'm sorry to say this, All, but I think their biggest concern right now is their inheritance." She said bitterly, not knowing whether to reveal that she was officially married to his son.
"Their concern is their right, Anna. Do you want something?"
"I want you to get out of that bed with your health intact."
Allister laughed.
"Don't you want something that money can buy?"
Anna thought. Studies flashed through her mind, but it wasn't something Allister would allow. She had asked before, and he had ignored it. The truth was that she had never stopped being a prisoner.
"All, there's nothing money can buy that I want."
He laughed.
"Everyone has a price, Anna."
"No, All. Everyone has value."
"Your father sold you to me!" He said indignantly and Anna realized that he was in his usual witty mood.