Jack’s POV
"Anna Shaw is completely unsuitable for you, Jack!" Mother spat, her perfectly manicured fingers clenching the armrest of her chair. "A divorced woman with a tarnished reputation.
Her private life is a ss! How could soone like that possibly re-enter respectable society as your wife?" I watched her face contort with disgust at the re ntion of Anna’s na.
This wasn’t new-Mother had always viewed Anna as beneath us, unworthy of the Simpson na.
"She’s nothing but trouble, always has been," she continued, her voice dropping to a venomous hiss. "That girl has been a plague on this family since the mont you brought her ho. Everything was perfect before she ca along."
"That’s enough, Mary," my father said, his voice quiet but leaving no room for argunt. "Your opinion on this matter is irrelevant. If Jack wants Anna back, that’s his business."
Mother’s head snapped toward him, her eyes widening with betrayal. "How can you say that? After everything that’s happened? After what she’s done to our family na?"
Father set his glass down with deliberate calm and fixed Mother with a stare that made even uncomfortable.
"What Anna Shaw has done," he said, "is demonstrate remarkable business acun and resilience. She single- handedly saved Shaw Corp from collapsing after her father’s death.
She’s navigated corporate politics that would crush most seasoned executives, let alone soone her age."
I couldn’t hide my surprise. Father had never openly praised Anna before, certainly not in front of Mother.
He turned to , his expression softening slightly. "Your mother doesn’t understand what’s at stake here."
The implication hung heavy in the air between us. Skylake District. The unspoken center of every business conversation in our family for months now.
"This is about Skylake District," Father finally said, turning back to Mother.
"And you’d better get your priorities straight. Anna Shaw might be our best chance at salvaging this situation."
Mother fell silent, her lips pressed into a thin line of disapproval.
"I’m going to the police station," I announced, rising from my seat.
---
Twenty minutes later, I was navigating my car through Skyview City’s nearly empty streets. The late-night traffic lights changed from red to green, casting alternating glows across the dashboard.
If soone in the Simpson family wasn’t behind Anna’s near-fatal fall, then who? The most obvious alternative was Samuel Griffin-the man she was supposedly partnering with on the Skylake project. But that made no sense. Samuel stood to gain far more with Anna alive than dead.
The city seems calm, but underneath it is turbulent. It is clear that there is also a pair of black hands behind the situation in the entire Skylake District is constantly changing.
Then who?
Marcus’s POV
I stood at the floor-to-ceiling windows of my office in Murphy Estate, watching the dawn break over Skyview City. The early morning light painted the skyline in shades of gold and amber, but I couldn’t appreciate the beauty. My mind was consud with thoughts of Anna Shaw dangling from that broken railing, her life hanging by a thread.
The mory made my jaw clench involuntarily. I’d seen the surveillance footage. The near-perfect execution of the attempt suggested a professional hand. This wasn’t an accident or a spur-of-the-mont attack-soone had carefully planned to kill her. The realization sent ice through my veins.
"Sir, we’ve just received intel that Jack had a major fight with George. Based on our investigation, Anna’s fall likely wasn’t the Simpsons’ doing," Peter Reed reported, standing rigidly before my desk, his expression grave.
I nodded, unsurprised. "I already know it wasn’t George Simpson."
Peter blinked, montarily thrown off balance. "You do?"
"George Simpson is many things-ruthless, calculating, manipulative-but he’s not stupid," I explained, turning away from the window. "Anna Shaw is still valuable to him alive. He wouldn’t risk everything he’s built on a murder that would inevitably lead back to his family."
My fingers drumd against the polished wood of my desk as I considered the implications. If not the Simpsons, then who? The list of people who might benefit from Anna’s death was uncomfortably long, and the thought made my stomach twist into a cold knot.
"Sir, then who could it be?" Peter asked, voicing the question that had kept awake all night.
I locked eyes with him, feeling a rare sensation of uncertainty creep through . "I don’t know."
Those three words tasted bitter on my tongue. I, who prided myself on always being two steps ahead, was stumbling in the dark. The realization made my blood simr with quiet rage. Whoever was behind this had managed to stay completely in the shadows, and that made them infinitely more dangerous.
Peter studied my face carefully before asking, "Sir, when do you plan to return to Europe?"
"Not until I find out who’s behind this," I replied without hesitation.
Peter nodded, seeming to read my thoughts. "Since you’re worried about Ms. Shaw, why not take her with you?
Everyone here is after what she has— her company, the properties. If she leaves, they won’t know who to target."
His suggestion hit like a bolt of lightning. So simple, yet so perfect.
Remove Anna from the equation entirely, and the predators would be left directionless. My mind raced, calculating possibilities and potential obstacles with machine-like precision.
---
Three hours later, I stood on the doorstep of Shaw Estate, a carefully selected gift box tucked under my arm.
Margaret Shaw welcod with surprising warmth, her wise eyes studying with undisguised curiosity. Elizabeth’s reception was considerably cooler, her smile not quite reaching her eyes as she led to the sitting room where Anna was already waiting.
"Uncle Marcus," she greeted , surprise evident in her voice. "I wasn’t expecting you."
"I wanted to see how you were recovering," I replied, placing the gift box on the table beside her. "And to speak with all of you about sothing important."
Margaret poured tea, her movents graceful and deliberate. When she handed a cup, our eyes t briefly, and I saw understanding dawn in hers. She knew this wasn’t a casual visit.
"What’s on your mind, Marcus?" she asked directly, settling into her chair.
I took a asured breath, arranging my thoughts carefully. Directness would serve best here.
"I’d like Anna to co to Europe with ," I stated, watching their expressions closely.
The statent landed like a bomb in the quiet room. Anna’s teacup froze halfway to her lips, her eyes widening.
Elizabeth gasped audibly, color draining from her face.
"You want Annie to go to Europe with you?" Margaret repeated, her voice carefully neutral.
Before Anna could speak, Elizabeth cut in sharply. "That’s out of the question! People would talk!" Her hands twisted in her lap, knuckles white with tension. "Anna’s reputation has already suffered enough. A trip to Europe with an unmarried man? The gossip would be unbearable."
"I’m not concerned with gossip," I replied evenly. "I’m concerned with Anna’s safety."
Reviews
All reviews (0)