"They didn't mention what the offense was?" Anna asked, wondering if they were all Ryan's lovers, too.
"I've heard little. But... Ryan was never a very sensitive young man. Perhaps his more skillful and kinder talk only hides his true personality, and he may even be worse than the Alpha. Even Genevieve, who usually condescends to him, was hurt."
"Do you think Ryan is bad?"
"Maybe he is. But who cares...?" She said and looked at Anna with regretful eyes. "But... Maybe I'm wrong. I hope so, because very soon you'll find out..."
"Have they ever given up on the women they choose to..."
"I'm sorry, miss, but no. Once you've been chosen, there's no going back."
"Why are they so cruel? They're rich and Adam told me that they're part of a pack, which must be some club of rich, arrogant young men, where, of course, Adam is the leader, because I've heard you call him Alpha... They don't look like they need to subjugate women to... They can afford it!"
The cook laughed.
"Miss... Haven't you noticed? Exactly, because they're not fully human, they don't think it's necessary to have compassion for those who are human. Things have to be done their way. And women... A chicken is more valuable to them."
"Has any woman ever been happy in the green house?"
The smile died on the face of the cook who approached, and picked up the tray with the soup.
"They weren't women. They were 'products'. And nobody treats them like humans. That's forbidden." The cook said and headed for the door.
"Help me die, then!" Anna asked in a desperate voice, and the cook stopped and turned to her.
"I wanted to help you, miss..."
"... But she can't!"
They both turned in fright to Adam, who was standing in front of the cook with his arms crossed and a merciless look on his face. Anna hated him for always showing up at moments like that.
"Chef? Excuse me! I just came to bring the girl a bowl of soup..."
The look he threw at the cook was so glacial that she interrupted herself and stammered out an apology.
"You won't hurt her."
"You make me."
"She didn't do anything!"
"I know. But you did. You planted the seed of pity in her heart."
"Just because you're a monster incapable of feeling emotions doesn't mean that other people don't feel anything. They can pretend they don't, for fear of your reaction, but..."
"Not being sentimental is a requirement for working in my family." He said and left.
Anna threw the covers aside and followed him, running, managing to stop him before he entered the room she was staying in.
"I agree to stay with you." She said, thinking of escape. She would put clothes on in the bathroom herself.
Adam opened the bedroom door.
"Tell me something, please?"
He thought for a few seconds.
"What do you want? For me to say thank you?"
"I want you to tell me that everything is fine."
"Ryan is going to spend the day with you today."
"I'll accept his offer if you don't tell me it's okay."
Adam stared at her with the murderous gleam back in his eyes and closed his hand, squeezing it so tightly that Anna watched in amazement as the blood gushed out and after almost a minute, he relaxed his hand and walked into the room, closing the door with Anna standing outside.
Anna felt like punching the door, she imagined herself with an axe chopping the door violently and when she was sweaty and exhausted, she would see his surprised and frightened face, and maybe she would use the axe on him too, but he would kill her, so she just raised her hand and showed her middle finger to the door and cursed, moving her lips without making a sound, and then went to her room to change.
After changing, Anna went straight to the kitchen. She was determined to make dinner. This time, she would invite the men to dine inside the house. She knew that there shouldn't be room at the dining room table for everyone, but while she was still there, she would make sure that the veranda outside the kitchen was planned to be bigger, and with more seating. That day, she would distribute them on the kitchen and veranda tables.
The older cook was alone in the kitchen. Sitting with her apron on, wiping her eyes as she sniffled non-stop.
"What happened here?" Anna asked, approaching slowly.
The woman looked at her with red eyes.
"Ah, child! You'd better find something else you like doing. Staying here in the kitchen isn't a good idea."
She didn't speak with contempt, but Anna felt rejected.
"I don't understand..."
"Leave her alone, Anna." Kate said, coming into the kitchen and pouring herself some water.
"I have some plans... And I need to cook in order to achieve that goal before..."
"Until when?" Kate asked, slamming her empty glass on the table. "Is your goal to see everyone dead? Out of spite, or because you believe that by doing so you'll be freeing them?" Anger and contempt were in Kate's every word.
"Quite the opposite! What I have in mind will bring a new perspective, both for the people who work here and for the boss!"
Kate raised her eyebrows.
"Tell that to Greta, when you're eating grass by the roots, just like her."
"Who's Greta?"
Kate looked with even more contempt, if that was possible.
"You don't even know the name of the woman you sentenced to death?"
Anna looked at the cook. Tears were streaming down her face, but she was no longer sobbing.
"Be clearer, please."
Kate looked at the cook.
"I won't say." The cook said and turned back to the stove, her back to them.
Kate stared at Anna.
"Greta, the one who brought you lunch, has been sentenced to death."
"I just came out of Adam's bedroom door, he didn't come out... He couldn't have given that order."
Kate looked at the cook, who had her back turned.
"You're not bad, Anna. You're just stupid." Kate said and left.