"Ian will only be in the United States for a month. After that, he wants to be close to his family here." Anna said firmly, interrupting their obvious connection. Anna had no doubt that they could communicate through their minds and had fun with it. What she didn't know was that Adam produced images of the fantasies in Ian's mind, such as him punching his brothers, and that Ian liked it. She turned to Maxwell, who was staring at her happily.
"Is that really what you want, Ian?" Adam asked calmly, when everyone expected him to be disappointed, and with a new idea springing to mind.
"Yes, Uncle. Actually, I didn't even want to go..."
"I agree to let you stay with me for a month. If you change your mind, you can stay with me. If you don't, I'll let you go back to Scotland, on the condition that you talk to me every day on the computer or on your cell phone. I'll give you both."
"Dad won't let me have those things yet."
Adam looked at Maxwell, who was smiling proudly at Ian.
"Your father changed his mind, Ian. Now, he thinks you should have access to our technologies, and he understands that a child who is going to have a lot of responsibilities needs to grow up keeping up with the evolution of the world."
Ian looked at Maxwell and then turned resolutely to Adam.
"I don't want to. I'll use his computer to talk to you."
"If that's how you decide... Fine, then." Adam grudgingly agreed.
"I'll put the calendar in the suitcase, then. I don't want you to spend a day longer than agreed." Ian said, and jumped out of Maxwell's arms onto the floor, and ran out of the room, towards his bedroom.
"What a bold move, Anna. I didn't expect you to be so manipulative, convincing my son to stay with me for a few weeks, but... I have one condition, that I agree to him coming back." Adam said as soon as Ian could no longer hear him.
"It wasn't me. I think you know enough about your son to realize that he's... too smart for his age. I knew you wouldn't let him go without a price. Say what you want." Anna said with a defiant look.
"I won't be without a son, Anna. You'll give me another son. One that I can look after from birth."
"Ask Bonnie. I'm sure she won't refuse."
"I chose you to be the mother of my children a long time ago. That hasn't changed. If you don't accept, I won't allow Ian to return to Scotland."
"We agreed that you wouldn't touch me."
"You don't have to have sex with me for us to have a child. We can do artificial insemination."
The ease with which Adam found resources for his desires was irritating Anna.
"I accept." She said, thinking quickly, too. She was going to keep going as long as possible. But she would never have a child that way. She would never have a child with that monster again. Once Ian was safe, she would do something to avoid having any more children. "But not immediately. Let it be in a year's time, at least."
"A year?" Adam looked at her, frowning. "I'm impressed. If you're asking me for a year, it's because you think you won't be with me by then... But I accept your proposal. I'll prove to you that you'll still be by my side long after that. And I warn you, I'll put this son inside you with or without your consent within a year of today.
Anna felt her resolve freeze. Adam was no fool. He thought in seconds, every move he would make. She had to escape him in some very subtle way, so that her family wouldn't pay the price for her freedom.
Ian returned to the living room, pulling out the suitcase on wheels in which Anna had put her few clothes. He opened the suitcase and took the calendar out of it and brought it to Adam.
"I'm only staying there for these few days." He said, showing Adam the thirty days in small circles.
"Yes. I'll allow it."
Anna's father came back into the room too, with his suitcase, and had a tired look on his face.
"Everyone ready?"
"Jenna's at the mansion." Maxwell warned, and Henry stared at him, shaking his head.
"Poor, Jenna... She came thinking we'd finally be together..."
"It will only be for a month, my father." Anna consoled him. Anna consoled him. "You'll get Ian back after that.
Anna's father turned to her, and didn't bother to feign surprise. But he stared at her with a determination she knew well, as she sometimes saw the same look in the reflection of the mirror.
"As I've already said, my child, you won't do anything you don't want to." He said, and Anna had the feeling that he had something planned. Her father really wasn't going to submit to Adam's blackmail so easily. He wasn't clever enough to pretend to be invisible.
Anna looked at Maxwell and his calmness made her realize that he knew something that she and her father were unaware of. Her husband was strong. She didn't know what creature he was, but she was sure he was powerful enough to fight Adam, and if he didn't, it was because he could be two things. Bad, like Adam, or a good monster, like Genevieve.
"I'll get my bags from the bedroom." Anna said, after a while, and left.
Maxwell thought about leaving too, but he was so confused about whether or not to trust his father-in-law that he let himself stay there.
He had the impression, when he spoke in that nonchalant way about Jenna, that he believed he had everything under control. Something he still didn't know. It was hard for Maxwell to admit that not even Adam could be as indifferent as Henry. His father-in-law was one of the worst people he had ever met, and the truth was that he never liked his constant presence, either in his home or with his children, but he allowed it, out of love for Anna.