Page 113 of Love on the Run

“You left!” Catherine exclaimed, pointing a stiff finger at Anna. “You left. We did not kick you out. You made a poor decision.”

“I made a decision for me. There’s a difference.”

Catherine scoffed. “It was a ridiculous decision!”

“I understand that you believe that, and I can’t change your mind. Still, I didn’t make a ridiculous decision. I made a choice for myself, and I don’t regret moving out.”

The last word cracked. Could she get another adrenaline boost to finish this conversation without breaking? She wanted her family—craved them—but nothing she did would truly make them happy. Even when she’d been meek and compliant, they weren’t satisfied.

The frowning lines on her mother’s face smoothed. Catherine stood tall, glaring at Anna. “You can’t make it on your own. You can’t make it withoutme.”

The old fear rose up inside her, hot and firm as it tightened in her throat. “I don’t want to do this.” Great. Her voice was shaking now. She wasn’t bold enough to break all ties with her parents without shedding tears.

“Then don’t. Get rid of that creep and right the wrongs you’ve made recently. You’ve been throwing your life away ever since the wedding.”

“I don’t believe that,” Anna said quickly. “I’ve never been happier.”

“That’s a lie,” her mother spat. “That stupid boy is feeding you lies. Life without structure and success is lazy and useless. He can’t give you the life we have. You’ll be knocked up, broke, abused, and homeless before you know what hit you.”

Anna jerked back. None of those things would come from a life with Beau. He’d done nothing but nurture and support her—things her parents had done only with money and social standing.

“I’m sorry.” Anna sniffed and wiped the moisture from her eye. “Your love costs more than I can afford. I’m my own person, and I need to live my own life.”

Her mother’s hand slapped onto her father’s sleek, mahogany desk with a bang that reverberated through the room. “How can you say that? We’ve given you everything!”

Despite her initial bravery, Anna’s shoulders shook as she gasped for breath. “Except the abilityto choose. I’ve chosen my faith, where I’ll live, and now, I’m choosing my job. I love it here, but I want to do things my way. I’m choosing God and myself.”

Catherine lifted her chin, looking Anna up and down the way someone would assess a threat before battle. “What are you going to do?”

Anna shook her head. “I’m not ready to tell you that yet. I might never be, and I’d like to settle into my new job without complications.”

“You won’t be getting a letter of recommendation from me,” her father said.

Any hope she’d held onto that her dad might support her vaporized like steam above boiling water. The rolling in her empty stomach begged her to double over. Did it have to be this way?

Yes. She’d tried to comply. She’d bent over backward to please them, but even her best efforts hadn’t done any good.

They didn’t love her. They controlled her. All the years of showing only her best and smiling through the hurt were for nothing.

Maybe one day she could have a relationship with her parents, but it wasn’t today. If they wouldn’t listen, she couldn’t change their minds.

Her mother crossed her arms over her chest, bunching her pristine blouse. “And don’t bother showing up for the next two weeks. You’ll need to file a notice of withdrawal in every lawsuit you’reassociated with and turn in your keys by the end of the day.”

The tears did come, but they were mercifully silent. After years of loving her job, she was leaving everything behind with one decision.

Was she being selfish by leaving the clients she’d promised to represent? Of course. Was she willing to continue being her mother’s punching bag? Not at all.

She turned to leave, desperate to escape before her parents saw the weakness streaming down her face, but her mother’s sharp voice called her back.

“Oh, and Anna.”

Turning, Anna let the woman who’d raised her see the hurt in her eyes. Would she even care?

“That man is not allowed here. Understood?”

“Yes.” It was all she could muster before the floodgates opened. She rushed down the hall, clamping her hand over her mouth to muffle the sobs that ripped from her chest. Tears rolled over her fingers until she slid into her office and closed the door.

It wasn’t even her office anymore. She wouldn’t come here anymore. It would become a strange place to her soon. Would she even miss it?

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