"It's true. Your mother and father had separated before you were born. But then, one day, he came and took you away from your mother, from us," Jessy added solemnly.
"Why would my father do that? And my mother... my mother..."
Anna felt her heart sink. This was the first time she had heard this story.
"Your mother passed away when you were born. Your father came shortly afterwards and demanded we hand you over to him. He threatened to harm you if we didn't surrender you. I was there when it happened," the nanny continued, her voice heavy with the memory of that painful event.
"You... were there?" Anna looked at Jessy, perplexed.
