After Marrying My Boss

Dad, who had been silent the entire time, came to my side and knelt beside Mom.

The last perseverance in my heart crumbled at that moment. I felt as though I had fallen into a dark abyss, forever trapped in the dark, never able to see the bright sun again.

“Dad, do you want me to take the blame too for something that I did not do, just like Mom?”

My face was as white as a sheet. My entire body was trembling. Even though I already knew the answer to my question, I refused to believe it. Am I not important to them at all?

“Anna, we're begging you. We've raised you to be who you are today. It wasn't easy for us. Consider this the last thing you're doing for us. I promise you that this will be the last time.” Mom squeezed my hand tightly.

My entire body was shivering from the coldness surrounding my heart. I felt as though I was drowning in icy waters.

I inhaled deeply to stop the tears from falling. I didn't want to take the blame, but my heart gave in to their pleas. Their actions that day had disappointed me greatly.

“All right. I'll promise you, but you will no longer be my parents after this incident. I don't have heartless parents like both of you,” I screamed at them, then spun around and left.

Unable to hold it back any longer, I let the tears of despair flow down my face once I turned around.

I had never expected my family to be so cruel. I never thought they would sacrifice me to protect Steven regardless of how I felt.

Why? Why are they doing this to me?

I was unwilling to accept the truth. I wanted to turn back and scream at them and let them know that I was their daughter. How could they be so unsympathetic toward me? Wouldn't their conscience hurt when they treated me like this?

No matter how furious I was, I suppressed all of them down. I had known from the beginning that the outcome would have been the same no matter how much I struggle or what I ask them. Their intention to protect Steven would never change.

I walked mindlessly on the sidewalk, feeling so helpless, feeling as though I was forsaken by the entire world. Why didn't anyone think about my feelings? About how I would feel? I wanted to know if they had ever loved me even a little.

The minutes ticked by. My phone had been ringing the entire time, but I didn't pick it up. I pretended to be deaf, not wanting to talk to anyone. All I wanted was to be alone.

The phone rang and stopped, then rang again in an endless cycle. It went on for a long while. I finally reached for my phone and saw Michael's name on the screen.

My heart clenched when I saw that familiar name. Perhaps Michael was the only person who truly cared about and loved me.

However, his love for me would be gone soon. I wasn't sure how he would react after hearing me admit to hurting his mother. Would he hate me?

I didn't even dare to think about what would happen to my relationship with Michael. The happiness that I had tried so hard to attain... Would it disappear like smoke?

I clicked on a button to take the call, trembling. I didn't want to face it, but I knew the problem wouldn't go away with me running away. There was no escaping the inevitable.

“Hello,” I said once the call connected, my voice choking with sobs, but I tried to endure it. I didn't want Michael to hear that there was something wrong with me.

“Where are you? Why didn't you pick up my calls? I called you so many times?”

Michael's worried voice came from the other end. His tone was full of concern for me.

I was in a dejected state, having faced the relentlessness of my family. Hearing his concern for me, I couldn't stop the tears from rolling down my cheeks.

I covered my mouth, trying to hide my sobs. I didn't want him to hear my cries, but he was smart and knew me so well. I couldn't hide my emotion from him.

“You're crying? Where are you? I'll come and pick you up,” Michael asked anxiously. I could hear the panic in his voice.

“I-I'm near Steven's house.”

I had intended to tell him that his mother got hurt because of me when I picked up his call, but I had cold feet and chickened out at the last minute. I didn't want to spoil my relationship with him.

It was not easy for us to be together. I was the only one who knew that. I couldn't bear to watch the happiness I strived so hard for slip away from my grasp.

“Wait for me. I'll come and pick you up right away.”

Michael hung up, shortening a thirty-minute drive to fifteen minutes.

I was squatting down on the sidewalk with tears streaming down my face.

Michael got out of the car and rushed to my side, wrapping his arms around me and looking worried.

“What's wrong? Tell me what happened.”

Michael's voice was gentle. I could feel the warmth from his body and breath as he held me.