Just empty words

 Maxwell pondered those words. There was even a chance that what Adam had said about Ian could happen if he let him take his son. He could resist. It would start a war, the secret of his kind would be revealed, but he wouldn't care about any of that if it served to protect his family. He needed to risk everything, so as not to be left with nothing. Anna really needed to know the meaning of her origin, the alliance and everything it could do and he always knew that day would come, even if he denied it to himself. Anna needed to turn into the mist. But there was something Adam wasn't remembering. And he smiled internally. The day the mist inside Anna revealed itself, Luna, destined for the Alpha, would also manifest, and they would be drawn together like magnets. Everything Adam felt for Anna would pale into insignificance next to what he felt for his Luna. Maxwell decided that he would let them sort it out, but he would never give up his right to hear Ian call him father. Even if Anna never wanted to return to his side.

 Anna's father took advantage of the silence and looked at Adam calmly.

 "Anna will only be the man I want her to be. You both forget that she's my daughter and that I have authority over her life. I know it sounds arrogant, but you both know that I know how to manipulate a mist. I've already handed over the power to decide for her to the two of you once, and it didn't work. I won't let her forget Maxwell or you, Adam. Because it would be as if she forgot her children, and the years she spent being happy, without worries. She's right. I should have told her you were on your way. But I didn't. Because I believed that you were a man like me, and that you would protect your family with your life. I'm going to give it to another man. Dester, maybe you'll stop chasing me if you keep her. He'll be satisfied with a poor double of my wife. I won't discuss it any further, but I saw today that you have no love for anyone. Not even for yourself. You're in the world just taking up other people's space. You're no use at all. I'm not going to stop you from taking Anna and my grandson, and although I'm going with you, I'm not staying at your house. And I give you my word that if anything bad happens to my daughter, or any of my grandchildren, you'll be a dead man. I know you don't care about your own life, but I know how to bring you to tears because you're leaving."

 Adam looked sharply at Henry.

 "Who did you protect? Your wife is dead, your wife's family is all decimated. Your son, who was in your wife's womb, is dead and Anna... you sold her to get rid of your debts. Yes. I'm not a man like you, Henry. And I'm proud of it."

 "I'm not as harmless as you think, Adam." Anna's father said, and left.

 In the room, only two security guards remained, Adam and Maxwell. Suddenly, Adam's cell phone rang and he answered it. At first, he frowned, and after talking to the person on the other end for a few minutes, he put the phone away, went over to the table and poured himself a brandy, then sat down quietly on the sofa.

 "You should take a shower, Max." He said sarcastically. "You look awful."

 Maxwell didn't reply. It seemed he was still in shock at his brother's coldness. He crossed his arms and watched Adam, to see if he could find in that face that had once been so dear to him, traces of the Adam who had always said he would never hurt a child. He was curious to know what Anna had written in the note she had given him, but he couldn't leave Adam there alone with the security guards and then trust them again. His brother had proved that he had the power to persuade men, too. Otherwise, he would never have been able to break into the mansion.

 "Adam... All this... There's something wrong... Is it theater?"

 Adam smiled and took on a conspiratorial tone from when they were just boys and sat down next to Maxwell, extending a glass of cognac to him. Maxwell accepted it suspiciously.

 "As long as you're staying here, drink with me."

 "I know the look on your face, Adam. You're really going to kill someone, I can feel your euphoria. But I can't believe you've changed your own rules..."

 "I want to tell you about a new hostage, Max. I'm willing to let her live, but there's an animal inside me that cries out to give her a severe punishment."

 "Who are you talking about?"

 "Jenna arrived at the mansion where her family is, and joined the others. I believe that Genevieve must also be involved in all this, I see blurred images through her eyes, but... I'm going to concentrate on Jenna first."

 "Leave her alone."

 "I'm still thinking..."

 "It's another couple you break up, Adam. She's been away from her husband long enough. And now she'll have to put up with more... I don't know how long you'll be able to hold Anna captive."

 "Forever, my brother. I will never let her go alive."

 "You are worthy of pity. If you were to stand trial here, I would sentence you to death."

 "There is no death sentence here."

 "But I could sentence you to life imprisonment, and once inside, you'd be killed. It's almost the same thing. I even think you wish you could have been executed. I know exactly what prison I'd send you to."

 "Maxwell, I know you very well. You would never have the courage to send me to my death. That's our biggest difference. If you were of any use to me, I wouldn't think twice about taking your life. But you're too insignificant for me to waste energy killing you."

 It was a lie and they both laughed and clinked their glasses in a toast.

 Adam told Maxwell about his plans and listened to Maxwell's plans. They talked about Ian's manifestation of power and how they should solve this problem. Thirty minutes later, they understood each other's motives.

 Maxwell smiled amusedly after hearing everything his brother had just revealed to him.

 "So, the devil isn't as bad as everyone says?"

 "I don't know, Max. You tell me. If I were to offer you the choice between Ian's life and that of your other three children, which would you choose?"