A/N: Thank you all so much for your faves, follows and reviews :D

And I totally forgot to credit my Twin Beef, a-lady-to-me, for all the help and patience. Thank you love!

Disclaimer: Same as chapter 1.


Anna woke up with Daisy's morning call. She grimaced, huffed, and stretched lazily before sitting up in bed. Last night had been wonderful, despite everything, and they had even made love one more time before she left. Her body was sore, but there was not a bit of regret in her soul. It had felt so right, as right as breathing, as right as loving him. She barely slept two hours and she was feeling awfully tired, but suddenly she remembered. Vera was coming to take Mr Bates away from her. She stood up from bed, and dressed as fast as she could in the midst of Ethel's curious eyes and silly questions. That bad feeling she has last night was back.

XXXXXX

'I'm not going!'

'You don't understand, do you, John?'

'No! You don't understand!' He pointed towards her. 'As much as you hate it, I love Anna and I'll marry her. You have two options...'

John was furious. Vera was striking with her poisoned tongue once again.

'I'm not a woman of options, John. You should know that by now.' She smiled cynically.

'You have two options!' He shouted 'Take the money and leave, or I'll go to the court and we'll settle this there. You'll end up with no money whatsoever!'

'John, John, John. My dear John.' She teased, rolling her eyes. 'You, have two options. You come with me and do as I say, or you stay with your floozy and I'll go to the press. I'll tell them about the holy Lady Mary, who's not so holy anymore. I'll also tell them about her little maid, Anna Smith, who helped her with everything, and on top of all of it runs after all of the county's married men!'

Vera walked a few steps away from him looking around and enjoying the view of the house's gardens. 'It's a beautiful place, indeed.' She smiled.

'You are sick!'

'She'll never get a job anywhere,' her eyes were on him again, 'in her whole life, and she'll be known as the harlot she is, everywhere she goes.' She laughed.

John looked at her from head to toe frowning. How could he have married such a vile woman all those years ago? He was a fool and she'd fooled him good.

'Don't try me, John Bates. You know what I'm capable of. I'll destroy both of your lives. So you go in there right now, and tell her you are leaving with me.'

Never in John's life had he felt so disgusted towards a human being. Vera wouldn't quit that easily, he should have known that. He shouldn't have let last night happen. How selfish and utterly despicable he was. He fooled himself and together he fooled Anna as well.

As he went inside to tell Anna that he was leaving he thought that maybe, he could still fight for them, somehow. Maybe there was still a chance?

With all the strength he had in him he promised that he wouldn't give up. His love for Anna was worth anything; worth dying for, and if he had to he would die for her.

John stopped at the door. He looked around. All the air in his lungs was gone. He would break her heart, but he would make it right after. He would make it right. Vera's hatred would not be stronger than their love.

XXXXXX

A moment later John walked into the servants hall. His steps were heavy, his head was hanging down, his limp was more pronounced, and his eyes were red. As he heard steps approaching him, he looked up and saw her. His Anna. He felt like falling and dying then and there. He was breaking her heart, again.

'We need to talk.' He whispered.

'Did you tell her?'

He nodded, and gestured towards a lonely corridor. Taking a deep breath he spoke.

'Anna...I am so sorry...'

'Mr Bates, you said...'

'We shouldn't… Last night, shouldn't have happened.'

'Don't you say you regret it.' Anna eyes were already burning with tears, and John had to look away. He couldn't bear to see her hopes crushing and dying because of him. All her misery was because of him.

His head was pounding, and his thoughts were running away from him.

Should I tell her I'll keep fighting for us? What if I fail? What if I can't find anything against Vera? I can't promise her the world again only to have it shattered in front of our very own eyes.

He was going to have to lie to her. He would have to say the unthinkable for her own good. He promised himself he would write to Anna as soon as he found something to make the divorce possible, but first, first he would have to lie.

'I do...I do regret it immensely.' His heart dried at his own words. What a lie, what a filthy lie. 'But you see...You are a beautiful woman, and I'm only a man. I'm afraid I let my needs overpower my sense. I have to go now. Ve...my wife...' he felt sick at the sound of that word escaping his lips, '...is waiting for me.'

For a glimpse of a second he saw it. The moment her heart stopped. The moment she went pale as a sheet. The moment her soul died; and then he felt his left cheek turn terribly hot. He brought his hand to his face, and realised that Anna had slapped him with all the strength she had in her. It hurt, but it didn't hurt enough. Not as much as her heart did.

'I told you I was going to dishonour you, but you didn't listen! I said it was wrong, I warned you...' He said nervously still massaging his cheek, his tears threatening to roll down his cheeks.

'I'm not slapping you because of last night! I'm not sorry one bit!' She cried. 'I'm slapping you because you are not telling me the truth! I know you! You are being gallant, but it's not working! I know you didn't mean a word you said, and I'll love you forever but...you are right...you were right...', A small cynical laugh escaped her before she continued, 'I should dream of a better man. A more honest one.'

With that she ran from him, and he could hear her sobbing in the distance. He sighed and left the house.

Outside he looked one more time to the big castle. How dare he dream of such a bright future between those walls? To cause such pain to the person he most loved in all his life? How dare he? His eyes burned with tears, and shattered dreams. Dreams that would always live inside of him but would never come true.

'Come on, John. I'll be good to you...I promise me.' Vera smiled wickedly. She was indeed proud of herself.

As the wagon rolled down the road John's head was ticking.

If you think I'm going to quit, you are very wrong.

Somehow he knew that he would be able to find something against Vera. Perhaps adultery. She was never the most faithful of women. Perhaps something else...but he would. He would write to Anna soon, and he would tell her why he did what he did. He would beg for her forgiveness, and he would make things right. This time, he was going to be victorious.

XXXXXX

From one of the many windows of the big house, Anna saw them leaving as the tears rolled down her cheeks; a stream that surely would never dry.

She had seen the pain in his expression. The heartbreak in the depths of his eyes.

So why was he leaving? He was hurting as much as she was. She saw it. The way he spoke, the way he acted...a pain that mirrored her own. So why was he lying?

Vera was blackmailing him again, she was sure, but why was he allowing her to do so? Something wasn't right. There had to be more to it.

Bringing her hands to her face she dried her swollen eyes before raising her chin towards the distance. She couldn't see the wagon anymore, but the trees and the fields were still there, and the path that led to the village... they would always be there, just like their love would. She couldn't see him but he would always be there, with her, in her heart.

I won't let hate win over love. I won't give up. We'll be together whether she wants it or not. We will be victorious.


A/N;

You didn't think it would be that easy, right? Sorry xD

Thank you for reading and please review! :)

xxxx