Jeanette Warren paused for a moment and glanced at Anna Ainsworth before she continued, "In those days, a woman's reputation was more important than anything. Once tainted with a sullied reputation, her fate would be miserable. So even though I was violated, I dared not tell anyone, especially not Xander Ainsworth. I feared he would reject me because of it, but I never expected..."
Anna's eyes widened instantly. She had come to terms with not being Xander Ainsworth's daughter, but to find out she was the daughter of a sexual predator was nauseating at the mere thought.
"So, Anna, if you're not Xander's daughter, then I don't know whose daughter you are. The light was so poor that night, and I didn't call the police... I... I'm sorry..."
Sorry? As Anna looked at Jeanette Warren's face, about to cry with desolation, she couldn't quite find the words to say. At that moment, she realized just how difficult things must have been for Jeanette back then.
