ANMELDENAnna's POV I was drifting into sleep when my phone's shrill ring cut through the darkness. An unknown number flashed across the screen. Frowning, I declined the call and set the phone down. Moments later, it rang again— same number. With an irritated sigh, I answered. "Hello, are you Mrs. Simpson? Your husband is very intoxicated, and we need someone to pick him up," a polite male voice spoke. "Jack Simpson?" I asked, propping myself up on my elbow, a wave of annoyance washing over me. Before the man could respond, Jack's voice boomed through the speaker: "ANNA SHAW, YOU HEARTLESS WOMAN!" I jerked the phone away from my ear, his drunken bellowing so loud I could picture him swaying on his feet. In the background, Calvin or Luke-l couldn't tell which—was trying to calm him down. "Don't bother asking me to pick him up," I told the server coolly. "I'll text you the Simpson family address. Call some drivers to take all three drunk men there." After hanging up, I shook my h
Sierra's POV Too late, I realized I'd handed her ammunition. Jack's brow had furrowed, his expression darkening. "Jack, Anna must have her reasons," Lucy continued, her voice dripping with manufactured compassion. "We shouldn't judge her." The hypocrisy was too much. "Stop pretending, Lucy," I snapped. "Anna got you sent back to your parents' house. I don't believe for a second that you don't hate her. Why act so virtuous and understanding?" Lucy's friend instantly leapt to her defense. "Our Lucy is beautiful inside and out. She doesn't hold grudges like that." "Beautiful inside?" I laughed incredulously. "Are we all supposed to have amnesia? When Jack married Anna, who was it crying and manipulating Jack out of their wedding night? Beautiful inside? Please!" The words hung in the air like smoke. Jack stood without a word and walked away, leaving his half-eaten meal and all three of us staring after him. With Jack gone, I felt oddly liberated. "Your precious Jack has
Anna's POV "You didn't notice yesterday?" I countered, amused by his theatrics. He shrugged dramatically. "Why would I be staring at your stomach? Are you really pregnant or just putting on weight?" His hand reached out toward my belly. I slapped it away immediately. "Don't touch." Despite my stern tone, I felt a rush of affection for Oscar. At least he still treated me like a friend, not a fragile porcelain doll. He grinned, giving me a thumbs up. "You're incredible. No wonder my brother came home yesterday acting like he'd lost his mind." Once we were seated in the living room, I turned to Doris with genuine concern. "Mrs. Porter, please talk some sense into Logan. He says he doesn't mind being the father of my children." Shock flashed across Doris's face. Though she'd always been fond of me, I knew accepting me as the mother of her supposed grandchildren was completely different. "Don't worry, Anna. I'll beat some sense into that foolish son of mine when I get h
Anna's POV "Mine." The word left my lips with more confidence than I felt. I met Logan's gaze directly, desperately trying to appear unfazed while my heart pounded a thunderous rhythm against my ribcage. His expression shifted from shock to suspicion, eyes narrowing behind his frames. "Marcus Murphy? Or Samuel Griffin?" His voice carried an edge that sent an involuntary chill crawling up my spine. 'That's none of your business." I kept my tone even, but a flicker of unease sparked in my chest. Logan had always been unpredictable when it came to me. I caught Clayton's eye across the room, subtly signaling him to approach. Logan stepped closer, his cologne suddenly overwhelming. "I'm willing to be the children's father." "What?" The question escaped before I could compose myself. Had I heard him correctly? "Your children need a father. I'm willing to take that responsibility." His voice was steady, confident, as if he'd just offered to pick up coffee rather than commit to a
Anna's POV On the ride home, Marcus's warnings echoed in my head. That man-why was he fussing so much when he wouldn't even be around? Who did he think he was to me? Yet in that moment, 1 could have sworn he wanted to kiss me. That familiar yet foreign feeling had my heart racing in a way I wasn't prepared for. I woke the next morning to Catherine's text-Marcus had left. Sitting up in bed, I found myself glancing out the window, an inexplicable emptiness settling in my chest. From the Phoenix project onward, he'd been my unexpected ally. Without him, I wouldn't have secured Skylake District, and this project wouldn't be launching so quickly. It hit me suddenly that Id grown dependent on him. Now that he was gone, I felt unsettled, almost lost. _This isn't good. Get it together._ I ran fingers through my hair, irritated at my own weakness. _I'm Anna Shaw. I don't need Marcus Murphy to thrive in Skyview City._ I'd barely made it downstairs when Elizabeth waved me over to liste
Anna's POV Marcus's arms felt like steel bands around me as he carried me toward the elevator. My heart beat so hard I was certain he could feel it through my blouse. The warmth radiating from his chest made it difficult to maintain my composure, and I hated that my body betrayed me this way. "Put me down," I said, my voice edged with irritation. Marcus acted as if he hadn't heard me, striding directly into the elevator without breaking his pace. From the corner of my eye, I caught Joseph deliberately blocking Rachel and Clayton from following us. Rachel's expression hardened, her protective instincts clearly kicking into overdrive. She'd be furious about this—my safety was her top priority, after all. The moment the elevator doors closed, I tried again. "Uncle Marcus, please put me down. I'm perfectly fine now." After that bland rice porridge, strength had returned to my limbs. There was absolutely no reason for him to continue carrying me like this. "I'm not tired," he
Anna's POVWilliam’s voice was the first to cut through. Gruff, unimpressed. “Marcus makes his own decisions. That property belonged to him, not Simpson Group.”“But the timing!” Mary snapped, indignation lacing every word. “Just as we’re about to announce the Skylake development? Don’t tell me tha
Marcus’ POVJust as the elevator doors were about to close, I caught sight of a familiar figure slipping through the hotel’s revolving entrance.Anna Shaw.Our eyes met for the briefest moment then she turned away as if she hadn't seen me.Joseph chuckled beside me, rocking slightly on his heels. “
Anna's POV I couldn’t forget the look on Jack’s face at Murphy Estate that toxic blend of accusation and jealousy when he warned me to stay away from his uncle. His words still burned in my ears: “A man like him isn’t someone you should be setting your sights on.” As if I was some desperate socia
Anna's POVI watched Marcus's car disappear down the driveway, a curious warmth blooming in my chest. The truckload of supplies he’d delivered for my grandmother’s birthday was more than generous it was overwhelming. I stood there for a moment, letting the quiet hum of gratitude settle over me befo







