Bound

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

Eleanor's POV

A gasp flew out of my mouth at hearing his final words. "Parker..."

"What? You're sorry? Don't pity me, ma cheríe," Parker whispered against the side of my head. "It was all in the past."

"What happened after that?"

"Well... my heart was filled with hatred for my dad. If it wasn't for him hitting my mother, or if he could have just forgiven her for whatever she was sorry about, then she wouldn't have died. We would still have been a family."

"You mean you never found out why they got the divorce?"

I felt Parker brush his head against mine as he shook his head. "I never did. All I know is that my father was the one who ruined my family," his voice intensified whilst talking about Thomas. His grip tightened around my waist; his anger getting the best of him. "The only right thing he did was to marry Agatha. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be on speaking terms with my father. Somehow, she brought our family together again. Ellie was herself again and so was my father." Thankfully, his grip loosened and sighed softly in the end.

"What about you?" I asked tracing circles on his chest. "Were you okay as well?"

After a short pause, Parker leaned down and kissed me briefly on the lips. "Now I am."

I took my head out of the comfort between his neck and chest. Smiling at him, I sat right in front him to see the emotions he has on his face. "I've noticed you keep on calling me ma cheríe... Was your mother French?"

Parker laughed and shook his head. "No. Agatha's roots are from France. She would take Ellie and I when we were little to where she grew up every time we get holidays from school. It's where I learned French fluently, also with the help of the French classes I had been taking during school."

"Thank you for telling me Parker," I told him genuinely looking at him right in the eyes. I grabbed both of his hands in mine and squeezed it. "I know it must be hard for you to include me in. I appreciate it."

"What about you?" He asked taking his hands from mine only to trail his fingers up and down my bare arm. 

Looking at him perplexedly, I stopped his fingers which were giving me the chills. "What do you mean?"

Parker looked at me with an amused expression on his face. "What's my wife's deepest, darkest secret?"

I choked on my spit, stupefied by his question. "I don't have any secrets. You know everything about me due to the files you had on me," I spat out bitterly in which Parker gave me a sly smile. "I met a guy in college that my parents disapproved of, got pregnant not only once but twice, and last but not least... That same guy leaving me to raise our two children alone."

"You've never talked about your family much," Parker stated. "Do you have any brothers or sisters? Pets? Imaginary friends?" He smirked at the last one.

"My mom was allergic to fur," I frowned remembering how I would always want a puppy but she wouldn't acquiesce. "Anyways, I guess it's only fair to tell you my side, huh?" He nodded, and I continued on.  "My parents are doctors. Surgeons to be exact. They're very well known in Norfolk, and because of that fact, there was a heavy pressure on me. My parents wanted me to be the perfect daughter. There was never any room for mistakes growing up.

"As a toddler, they already had tutors teaching me studies that a first grader should learn! I've been taught many languages, but as you can see, it never stuck." I sat in front of Parker reminiscing all those countless times I'd try to get away from the tutors making up excuses. "During my teenage years, well... I have done many debutante balls to count. My parents put this picture-perfect image of me, but it wasn't the true me. The one who loves to draw every chance they get.