Anna’s POV
I allowed Elizabeth to guide into her private tea room, her fingers gripping my wrist with surprising strength. The door clicked shut behind us, and she imdiately whirled to face , her eyes wide with concern.
"Tell the truth, Annie. Why is Marcus Murphy here? What’s going on between you two?" Her voice was hushed but intense, as if she feared the walls might be listening.
I took a deep breath, suddenly finding it difficult to et her gaze. "It’s exactly what you think, Mom."
Elizabeth’s hand flew to her mouth, her already wide eyes growing impossibly wider. "Oh my God. Does this an I’ll beco in-laws with William Murphy?"
A startled laugh escaped . "Mom, is that seriously your main concern right now? Nothing else bothers you?"
She straightened her shoulders, her expression growing serious. "I’ve had my suspicions from the very beginning. The way he looked at you that first night he drove you ho, calling you ’Annie’ in front of us all-I knew then that man had ulterior motives." Her eyes drifted down to my rounded belly. "But I am curious.
You’re already pregnant. He doesn’t mind?"
I shook my head, warmth spreading through my chest even as uncertainty lingered. "He doesn’t. He even brought gifts for the babies. Said he wants and the children."
"And you? What do you want?"
My mind flashed back to those endless six hours waiting for him in Europe, the hope gradually crumbling into disappointnt. "I want to try, Mom.
Despite everything."
To my surprise, Elizabeth’s face softened. "Then go for it, if that’s what your heart wants."
"Rember how devastated you were when you realized Jack didn’t love you?" she continued, her voice gentle.
"Looking back now, does it still hurt the sa way?"
I shook my head.
"Exactly. With Margaret and by your side, you have nothing to fear." She squeezed my hand. "Life and death-those are the things that truly matter. Everything else, including relationships and n, will co and go as they should. Don’t force what isn’t ant to be."
My throat tightened with emotion. "I thought you’d be against this."
Elizabeth smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling. "My daughter’s happiness is what matters most.
Besides, he’s accepting your children as his own. What more could I ask for?"
I pulled her into a tight embrace, breathing in her familiar scent. "How did I get so lucky to have such a beautiful, loving, and wise mother? I’m truly blessed."
As we walked back toward the main living area, voices drifted from the sitting room. Marcus’s deep tones mixed with Grandma Margaret’s more asured cadence. We slowed our pace, listening.
"As long as Annie is willing, neither Elizabeth nor I object," Margaret was saying, her voice firm. "But one thing, Marcus-you cannot hurt Annie again."
His response made my heart nearly stop beating. "Earlier this year, Annie ca to Europe looking for . She waited six hours. What she doesn’t know is that I’ve been waiting for her for at least six years. If I have sixty more years to live, I’d give them all to her."
My hand instinctively rose to my throat. If anyone else had spoken those words, I would have dismissed them as exaggerated, ridiculous, completely unbelievable. But coming from Marcus Murphy, a man who never made promises lightly...
*Was I really the one he’d been waiting for all this ti? What happened between us years ago that would make soone like Marcus Murphy wait so long?*
I decided not to ntion the enemies Marcus had alluded to. No need to worry them unnecessarily, especially when I didn’t have all the details myself.
The next morning at breakfast, Marcus and I exchanged a knowing glance, silently agreeing to keep his potential danger private.
"I think we should keep our relationship private for now," I suggested, spreading jam on my toast.
"At least until things stabilize."
Marcus nodded, understanding imdiately what I ant. "I’d prefer to wait until my current business matters are settled before telling my family anyway. William has always supported us, and Phillip and Layla are quite fond of Annie. They won’t object."
His voice suddenly dropped, taking on a dangerous edge. "As for the others... they wouldn’t dare object."
Sothing in his tone sent simultaneous shivers of comfort and concern through .
Later, as we prepared to leave- to my prenatal appointnt, Marcus to his mysterious business-I instructed Clayton to accompany him, ignoring the protest in his eyes.
In the car with Elizabeth, her worried expression returned. "This Marcus... if he’s been waiting for you all this ti, why didn’t he speak up sooner? And while he says he doesn’t mind about the babies, this is a lifelong commitnt. Who knows what might happen years down the road?"
I stroked my belly, feeling the twins shifting inside . "If he ever holds them against , I’ll walk away."
I wasn’t the sa naive girl who once lost herself in a marriage with Jack.
My children and my life ca first now. While I was giving Marcus a chance, I would never again make a man my entire world.
At the hospital, just after finishing my checkup, we encountered a pregnant woman whose water had suddenly broken. She was alone and terrified.
"She’s in labor!" Elizabeth rushed to the information desk. "She needs to lie down imdiately!"
"Go help her," I told Rachel. "I’ll wait in the seating area."
I had barely settled into a chair when two n in dark suits appeared before .
"Ms. Shaw, you need to co with us," one said, his tone leaving no room for argunt.
Anna’s POV
I stared at the two n in identical dark suits standing before in the hospital waiting area. The fluorescent lights glinted off their perfectly polished shoes, making them look even more ominous.
"Excuse ?" I rested my hand on my swollen belly protectively. "I’m waiting for my mother and assistant to return."
The taller one stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "We already have your mother, Ms. Shaw. Now you need to co with us quietly."
My blood turned to ice. "We’re in a public place filled with pregnant won and dical staff. You can’t possibly think—"
"We can and we will," the second man interrupted, moving behind my chair.
"And if you cause a scene, we can’t guarantee the safety of those babies you’re carrying."
The casual threat made my skin crawl.
I scanned the waiting room desperately. Rachel and Mom should have returned by now. Where were they?
"My phone," I demanded, holding out my hand. "Let call my mother first."
The shorter man snatched my purse instead. "All in good ti, Ms. Shaw.
Now, shall we?"
With one on each side, they escorted through the hospital exit. My mind raced through possible scenarios. If I scread now, would they hurt ?
Would they hurt Mom? I couldn’t risk it.
They guided into a black sedan parked illegally at the curb. As the car pulled away from the hospital, panic clawed at my throat.
"Where’s my mother? I want proof she’s safe," I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady despite the fear pulsing through .
The passenger turned slightly. "You’ll see her soon enough."
After a tense mont, he nodded to the driver, who pulled out a phone.
Not mine they were keeping that.
Smart.
"Put Mrs. Shaw on speakerphone," the passenger instructed whoever answered.
Mom’s voice filled the car, fierce despite an undercurrent of fear. "What have you done with my daughter? You criminals, this is illegal, I’m going to press charges!"
Relief flooded through . "Mom, I’m fine," I said quickly.
"Annie?" Her voice broke. "They got you too? Are you okay? Are the babies alright?"
"We’re fine," I assured her, fighting to keep my voice calm. "I’m with them now."
She launched into a stream of curses aid at George Simpson that would have made a sailor blush. "What does that bastard want? Don’t worry, Annie, Mom’s here."
_There_. That confird my suspicion about who was behind this. George Simpson had finally made his move.
"I’m fine, they won’t dare hurt ," I said with more confidence than I felt.
"We’ll see each other soon."
"Alright," Mom steadied her voice.
"I’m not afraid, just worried about you."
"No matter how crazy George Simpson is, he wouldn’t risk taking human lives." I stared directly at the man beside as I spoke. "Don’t cry, don’t be afraid."
"Okay," she whispered. "I won’t cry."
The call ended abruptly, and silence filled the car once more. I watched the cityscape slide by outside my window, trying to orient myself. We were heading west, toward the outskirts of Skyview City.
The Simpson family owned property out there, purchased years ago as an investnt. I’d only heard about it in passing during my marriage to Jack.
Elizabeth’s POV
"What do you think you’re doing, kidnapping us like this? George Simpson, have you completely lost your mind? This is illegal!" My voice shook with fury I hadn’t felt in years.
"If anything happens to my daughter, I swear to God I’ll destroy you."
I glared at the man I despised most in this world. Once upon a ti, I never would have imagined being coerced like this, held against my will. The feeling of powerlessness sent waves of nausea through —not just anger, but deep humiliation and disgust.
George feigned innocence, his practiced smile making my skin crawl.
"Elizabeth, please calm down. I simply invited you for tea—no need for such dramatics."
His sanctimonious tone pushed over the edge. When a housekeeper arrived with a silver tea service, I grabbed the nearest cup and hurled it directly at him. Scalding tea splashed back onto my hand, and I cried out involuntarily from the pain. But the physical burning was nothing compared to the white-hot rage and sha consuming .
"Elizabeth! Are you hurt? Soone bring ice water, quickly!" George stepped toward , his eyes filled with counterfeit concern.
I backed away, cradling my injured hand. "Stay away from ! Don’t you dare co any closer!" The combination of fear and revulsion made bile rise in my throat.
"Elizabeth, why fight this?" His voice dropped to what he clearly thought was an intimate tone. "From the mont I first saw you at your father’s investnt function, I was completely captivated. But I had nothing then — Gregory Brown wouldn’t even consider as a suitor. Otherwise, you might not have spent all these years alone after losing your husband so tragically young."
His words cut deeper than any physical pain could. The room seed to tilt around as fury clouded my vision. "Shut your mouth! Don’t you dare speak such vile things." My teeth were clenched so tightly my jaw ached.
Defending Garrett’s mory beca my only anchor in this nightmare. "I have never been alone. My husband may be gone, but he lives on in my heart. You aren’t worthy to speak his na!"
Each word tore from the depths of my soul. I wouldn’t allow this contemptible man to tarnish what Garrett and I had shared, especially not with his repulsive insinuations.
George continued advancing, his face a mask of false solicitude. "Elizabeth, let see your hand. You might need dical attention."
My revulsion peaked, and I instinctively grabbed a crystal fruit bowl from the coffee table, ready to strike this opportunistic predator. Just then, the most welco sound in the world reached my ears.
"Mom?"
At the sound of Anna’s voice, wild relief surged through like a tidal wave. I imdiately rushed toward my daughter, still clutching the fruit bowl as both weapon and lifeline.
Seeing her unhard montarily cald my racing heart, though concern for her safety imdiately followed.
The housekeeper returned with a bowl of ice water just as Anna noticed my inflad hand.
"What happened? How did you burn yourself?" Her eyes widened with concern.
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