CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY TWO: LONELY

Jonathan's words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of their shared pain. Anna took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before responding. She knew that this conversation was crucial, that she needed to be completely honest with him if they had any hope of moving forward. "Jonathan, I understand," she said softly, her voice trembling with emotion. "I can’t imagine how hurt you must be. I want to explain why I did what I did, not to excuse my actions, but to help you understand where I was coming from." Jonathan nodded, his expression guarded but open to hearing her out. Anna took another deep breath, searching for the right words to convey the depth of her loneliness. "When you started traveling more frequently for work, I felt like a part of me was missing," she began. "We had always been such a strong team, facing everything together. But suddenly, I was alone, trying to manage the boutique and take care of Oliver without you. It was overwhelming, and I felt like I was drown