Chapter 12

Chapter 12
Fernandez's departure left Anna shattered. She broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. "Why am I so lonely?" she whispered, her body wracked with grief. "I don't want this life."
Regret washed over her. "I should have known something was wrong when the pasta tasted off." A chilling thought crept in - "Fernandez knew my allergies, he must have told Olivia to add the mushrooms."
Anna's eyes welled up again. "Why didn't death take me away?" she whispered, despairing.
But as she cleaned her tears, a spark of determination ignited within her. "Since death hasn't taken me, I'll stay strong. I'll uncover the reason behind Fernandez's cruelty."
The next day, Anna was discharged. The doctor explained, "Anna, you need to avoid mushrooms and any foods that may trigger allergies. Stick to bland foods for now - rice, bananas, applesauce. Avoid spicy or heavy meals."
Anna nodded, her eyes sunken, her skin pale. Fernandez arrived to pick her up, his expression unreadable. They drove back to the mansion in silence, the tension between them palpable.
As they entered the mansion, Anna's gaze met Fernandez's, but he looked away, leaving her to wonder what lay ahead.
As they entered the mansion, Anna expected to see Olivia's smug face, but instead, she was met with an eerie silence. She turned to Fernandez, who was settling into his routine, and asked, "Where's Olivia?"
Fernandez wanted to reply, but before he could, a warm voice cut in, "Olivia's gone, child. Fernandez drove her away after what she did to you."
Anna turned to face the speaker, and her eyes widened in surprise. It was an old lady, around her mother's age, with kind eyes and a gentle smile.
Fernandez approached the old lady, his demeanor changing to one of respect and affection. "Nanny," he said, his voice softening.
Anna's subconscious mind mocked her - did she really know this man? She had never seen him show such warmth and respect to anyone before.
The old lady's eyes twinkled as she patted Fernandez's hand. "I'm glad you're home safe, Anna. I've been worried sick about you."
Anna's surprise turned to confusion. Who was this woman, and why did Fernandez treat her with such reverence?
The old woman's words hung in the air, leaving Anna stunned. "What do you mean Olivia was hired by Fernandez?" Anna asked, her mind racing with questions.
The old woman smiled knowingly. "Let me show you," she said, pulling out her laptop from her bag. "I have videos that will clear up everything."
Anna's eyes widened as the old woman played the footage. She saw Olivia sleeping in a separate room next to Fernandez's, and another video showed the supposed kiss between them. But Anna's eyes narrowed as she realized their lips never touched. Immediately after she left for her room, Fernandez pushed Olivia away.
The old woman continued, "If Olivia was truly Fernandez's lover, wouldn't his business partners know her? Wouldn't she have some influence over him? But no, Fernandez chastised her for her actions. He was using her to get to you, Anna."
Anna's gaze drifted to Fernandez, who stood silently, his expression unreadable. She couldn't understand why he would torture her life so much. Why would he make her believe he didn't care for her?
The old woman's voice brought her back to reality. "Anna, you are his wife, and he was never like this before He as just trying to prove what can't be prove."
Anna's mind reeled as she tried to process everything. She felt like she'd been living a lie, and the truth was too much to bear.
The old lady's words hung in the air, leaving Anna perplexed. "What do you mean, every woman is bad?" Anna asked, her voice laced with confusion.
But before the old lady could respond, Anna's emotions boiled over. "I'm the one suffering for others' mistakes!" she exclaimed, her voice loud and indignant. "I won't forgive Fernandez for putting me through this. His stupid claims endangered my life!"
The old lady opened her mouth to speak, but Fernandez cut in, his voice firm. "Nanny, I think you've said enough. You've come a long way; please rest."
The old lady shook her head, her eyes twinkling with a knowing glint. "I'll leave you two to your business. Anna, I'll be staying here for a while. Move into Fernandez's room tonight." She touched Anna's shoulder, her gesture gentle.
Anna understood the old lady's intention - she wanted them to make peace. But Anna needed time to process everything. "I need time to think," she told the old lady.
The old lady nodded and left, leaving Anna and Fernandez alone. Fernandez's gaze met Anna's, his eyes reluctant, but Anna didn't care. She turned to leave, her voice cold. "I'm going to rest in my room."
Fernandez sighed, his shoulders sagging in defeat. "Okay, Anna."
Anna's legs carried her to the guest room, her mind numb and her heart heavy. She collapsed onto the bed, her body exhausted from the emotional turmoil. As she lay there, her thoughts raced back to the beginning, replaying every moment she'd shared with Fernandez.
She remembered even after intoxication the way he'd looked at her, his eyes filled with warmth when they had a one night stand She recalled the way he'd touched her, his fingers gentle and loving. But most of all, she remembered the way he'd hurt her, his words cutting deep into her soul.
As she drifted off to sleep, Anna's mind whirled with questions. What had driven Fernandez to believe that all women were evil? What had happened to him in the past to make him so cynical and bitter? She longed to know the truth, to understand the complexities of his mind.
In her dreams, Anna saw Fernandez standing alone, his eyes haunted by shadows. She saw him as a young boy, his heart full of hope and love. But as the years went by, the hope faded, replaced by a deep-seated pain.
Anna's sleep was fitful, her mind tossing and turning as she tried to make sense of it all. She knew she had to confront Fernandez, to demand answers for the pain he'd caused her. But as she lay there, she couldn't shake off the feeling that she was missing something, that there was more to Fernandez's story than met the eye.