Chapter 3: I have my limits

Inside the opulent Parker mansion, Anna stood by her bedroom window, her gaze fixed on the manicured gardens outside. The flowers in full bloom swayed in the gentle breeze, so full of life, unaware of the turmoil in her heart. Her eyes traveled to her favorite spot in the garden: the fountain. The water still flowed as usual, and she could almost hear the gurgling of water as it meandered through the intricate man-made stream before rejoining the fountain spout to start the cycle again. 

On any other day, this never-ending cycle of water would amuse her, and the gurgle sounds would soothe her soul. But not today. That therapeutic sound flooded her heart with unimaginable sorrow. Her eyes watered, too, but unlike the fountain, her tears streamed down her face and formed a droplet on her chin before dropping on her chest. She tore her gaze out the window and drew the curtains, unable to bear looking at things that wouldn’t be part of her life anymore. 

She looked around the massive master bedroom she slept in alone most nights. That gigantic bed without her husband felt like sleeping on a football pitch, and the sheets were colder without him. All she ever wanted was a life with him, but all she got was a huge house without him. It might look like a win-win situation, but having a massive house away from the city with barely any inhabitants isolated her from the world, and it got colder every year as her hopes and dreams of having a happy family dwindled. After three years, any hope of ever having a happy family in this cold mansion had completely died. 

Anna wiped her tears with the back of her hands and took a deep breath to calm down. She had no more tears left to cry. She yanked her dresser open and neatly packed her clothes and other necessities into her suitcase. She took out her husband’s t-shirt from under the pillow and inhaled the scent of him that clung to the fabric. This was the closest she could get to her husband, and she had specifically asked the maids not to clean this t-shirt. She folded the cloth into a neat square and kissed it before placing it on the bed with her hands trembling, resisting the overwhelming urge to shove the fabric into her luggage.

Half an hour later, Anna opened her bedroom door, wheeling out two medium-sized suitcases. Their head housekeeper, Mrs. Dorothy, was the first to notice her and made her way upstairs with her face full of concern. Mrs. Dorothy was a lovely elderly woman who had spent almost all her life in the Parker Family. She used to be Liam’s father’s nanny and later became Liam’s nanny as well. Now that Liam had grown up and her age had advanced, Mrs. Dorothy became the head housekeeper, supervising all the other servants working in the Parker mansion. 

“Mrs. Parker, are you going on a trip?” Mrs. Dorothy asked as she hurried through the stairs, “Why didn’t you tell me? I would have had someone help you out with all the packing.”

Anna paused, contemplating whether to tell them the truth or not. These people had been so good to her during her stay, and it broke her heart to leave them like this, but some things had to be done. She decided to tell her the truth. They will find out sooner or later, and she would rather they learn it from her first. “No, Mrs. Dorothy. I am not going on a trip. I’m moving out.”

Mrs. Dorothy tripped on the staircase as she gasped. Anna pushed aside her luggage and lunged forward to catch her in time before she crashed onto the floor. 

Crash!

A sudden shattering of porcelain alerted them, and they whipped their heads towards the noise. Mr. Simon, the butler, dropped an antique vase and stared at Anna in disbelief. From his reaction, he must have heard about her moving out. Although she had expected a reaction, she hadn’t expected it to be this extreme. It warmed her heart knowing that her presence had meant something to someone. 

“Why?” the two elderly servants asked in unison, their voices carrying unmistakable concern. 

“It is finally time I admitted that my marriage has failed. I have decided to move on and focus on myself. Maybe, just maybe, I might meet someone who will love me the right way.” 

“Mrs. Parker, you are making a mistake,” Mrs. Dorothy said softly, shaking her head, “my little boy loves you. I am sure of it. He just has his own difficulties.” 

“Then he could have talked it out with me. That is what couples do. We could have found solutions to his problems together. God knows there’s nothing under the sun I wouldn’t do for him. But he had to treat me like a stranger. How do you think that makes me feel?”

 Mrs. Dorothy clasped Anna’s hands in hers and gave them a gentle kiss. “I am begging you, my child, please reconsider your decision. Give him one last chance.”

“I understand your concerns, Mrs. Dorothy, but I also have my limits.” Anna blinked away the tears pooling in her eyes as she spoke. Although she understood their concerns, this wasn’t the life she wanted. She wanted him, his love, and all of him—not just an empty title and all the ridicule hurled at her because of her background. She didn’t choose to grow up in an orphanage. “I’m afraid I have run out of chances. I have given him all of me, and now I have no more to give. It is time I choose myself too.” Anna pried her hands away from Mrs. Dorothy’s and continued her way downstairs while keeping her eyes away from their sad faces.

“Ma’am, wait…” Simon blocked her path. “Why don’t we wait for Mr. Parker to return? Maybe we can find a solution to this,” he said, with his head bowed out of respect. 

“Yes, Anna,” Mrs. Dorothy chimed in, “please give dialogue a chance.”

Anna smiled. “Thank you very much for your advice, but that won’t be necessary. I have already filed for a divorce.” Her heart broke as their faces contorted into the saddest faces she’d ever seen. Her bottom lip quivered as a hard lump formed in her throat. She turned around, rushed to Mrs. Dorothy, and dove into her arms, almost knocking the poor woman off her feet. “Thank you very much for taking good care of me for the last three years. Thank you for guiding and standing up for me whenever I faced injustices. Thank you for being the mother I never had.”

“But where are you going? At least tell me so I know you are safe,” Mr. Dorothy pleaded. 

Anna sniffled. “I don't know yet. I plan to stay in a hotel until my divorce is finalized.” She paused, glancing at her lone photo hanging on the wall. Her husband should have been with her that day she had the portrait taken, but he never showed up. “After that, I might change cities or move back to my hometown.”

Mrs. Dorothy hugged her back with the same intensity. “You are like a daughter to me, and I love you very much. It saddens me that you are leaving, but I choose to respect your decision.” She pulled out of the hug and brushed the hair off Anna’s face, tracing her trembling fingers over her smooth face. “Wherever you go, remember you can always reach out to me whenever you need me. I’ll be there for you.”

Anna nodded and turned to Simon. “Thanks to you as well. Pass my regards to everyone in this mansion. They mean the world to me.”

Anna stood in the middle of the living room, holding her bags in both hands. She swept her eyes around the luxurious mansion one more time before turning around and wheeling her suitcases under the watchful, sad eyes of the two elders. The sound of wheels against the marble floors echoed in the silence, alongside silent sniffles, shredding her heart to pieces. As the distance between her and the elders widened, her chest tightened painfully with every step she took. 

As soon as she stepped outside, a black, sleek Mercedes pulled over in front of the mansion. Even before the car came to a complete halt, the passenger door flew open, and Liam scrambled out of the car. His usual calm and poise were nowhere to be seen.