<h4>Chapter 52: The Lie Between Us</h4>


    Jack’s POV


    I stood in the living room of Rosa Vi, the door still vibrating from the force with which it had closed behind Anna. The message couldn’t have been clearer if she’d painted it on the wall— she didn’t care enough to even offer an exnation. The utter dismissal left me feeling hollow, like I’d be nothing more than a nuisance to be brushed aside.


    "Jack...


    I turned to see Lucy standing behind me, her eyes filled with unmistakable sympathy. I hadn’t even noticed her following me here.


    "Anna’s already gone, Jack," she said softly. "She doesn’t care about you anymore."


    Her words pierced through me like shards of ss. My ears rang with denial, my mind refusing to process what she was saying. This can’t be happening. Not Anna. Not like this.


    How could the woman who once pledged herself to me at the altar change sopletely? The Anna I knew would have at least offered an exnation, would have cared enough to clear up a misunderstanding. We had built a life together, shared dreams, made promises-how could all of that evaporate so quickly?


    I shook my head, my throat constricting painfully. "She wouldn’t..."


    Lucy’s eyes reddened as she stepped closer. "Jack, I wasn’t lying to you. You saw the photos online, didn’t you?


    Anna really did leave with Samuelst night."


    The evidence crashed down on me like a physical weight. The pictures didn’t lie-Anna and Samuel, leaving together, his hand possessively ced on her lower back. All those whispers at the g suddenly made sense. My chest tightened with each breath, reality finally breaking through my desperate denial.


    "Jack, I might envy Anna," Lucy continued, her voice catching. "But I would never lie to you about this. You used me unfairly."


    Tears began streaming down her face, silent but impossible to ignore.


    Watching her, I felt a stab of guilt pierce through my pain. I had taken my frustration out on her, ming the messenger for a message I didn’t want to hear.


    I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to keep my own emotions in check. The mixture of hurt, jealousy, and regret was overwhelming, threatening to pull me under. With a heavy sigh, I awkwardly ced my hand on her shoulder.


    "I’m sorry," I managed, my voice rough. "I was wrong to use you.


    What do you want? I’ll get it for you."


    The words came out t and mechanical, but it was the best I could offer in my state. A peace offering, a way to make amends for misdirecting my anger.


    Like flipping a switch, Lucy’s expression transformed. The tears still glistened on her cheeks, but a smile now brightened her face. "I don’t want anything," she assured me. "I just want you to be happy. Please don’t be sad anymore."


    I attempted a smile in return, but it felt like a grimace,sting only a fraction of a second before my face fell back into its natural state of misery.


    "Come on," I said, already moving toward the door. "I’ll take you home before heading to Simpson Group."


    Anna’s POV


    At the Murphy Estate, I had just finished telling Catherine about what happenedst night.


    Catherine’s eyes were wide open.


    "Annie, you’re absolutely insane! If that bastard had really gotten hurt, you’d bepletely screwed." She shook her head in disbelief.


    I shrugged with practiced nonchnce, hoping she couldn’t detect the nervousness fluttering beneath myposed exterior. "I didn’t have time to think it through. He was drugged, aggressive, and I was trapped in a room with him. What was I supposed to do? Let him use me as his remedy?"


    I took another sip of tea, avoiding her gaze. "Besides, he crossed paths with me at exactly the wrong moment.


    That’s his bad luck, not mine."


    Catherine leaned forward, even though we were alone, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper: "Samuel isn’t someone who forgets slights. You basically incapacitated him, then abandoned him at a hospital. He’s definitely going to seek revenge." Her manicured nails tapped anxiously against the armrest. "I’m serious, Annie. That man is dangerous."


    "I’ve already made an enemy of him," I replied, setting my cup down with more force than necessary. "What’s one more offense at this point? I’m not afraid of him." The words came out strong and confident, but internally, I knew the situation was far from resolved. Samuel wasn’t the type to let things go, especially when his pride had been wounded so publicly.


    I had specificallye to have lunch with William today, and after chatting with Catherine for a while, I got up to find William.


    Ever since sending Marcus back to Europe, I had been afraid to face William. After all, Marcus left because of my rejection.


    The rain outside had stopped, and William wasn’t in the living room but in the garden outside.


    "Annie!" His face lit up with genuine warmth as he waved me over. "Perfect timing. Come,e. I have something fascinating to show you."


    Relief washed over me at his weing tone. I noticed an elegant birdcage on the stone table. Inside perched a sleek gray bird with a vibrant red tail, watching me with an intelligence that was almost unsettling.


    "William, what kind of bird is this?" I asked, leaning closer to examine the creature. Its dark eyes followed my movement with eerie focus. "It looks remarkably... aware."


    William’sughter filled the room, a deep, genuine sound that had always made me feel at home. "This is an African Grey parrot. His name is Einstein, and he’s quite the genius." He beamed with the pride of a new parent. "Watch this."


    Just as I was wondering what was so special about this particr bird, it suddenly opened its beak and spoke in a clear, oddly British ent: "All style, no substance!"


    I jerked back in shock, nearly toppling the nearby side table. "William! Did that bird just insult me?" My voice rose in both outrage and amazement.


    "It—it’s actually talking!"


    William’s shoulders shook with mirth.


    "What do you think, Annie?


    Impressive, isn’t he? I traded him from Joseph’s grandfather for a bottle of my best Scotch and quite a bit of begging." He reached out to gently stroke the bird’s head with one finger. "Joseph’s grandfather trained him personally."


    "That exins the attitude," I said, eyeing the bird with newfound respect.


    "These insults are definitely Joseph’s grandfather’s style." I wiggled my fingers at the cage yfully. "Hey there, Einstein. Got anypliments in that repertoire of yours, or is it all criticism?"


    The parrot tilted its head, seeming to consider me for a moment before squawking: "Faker, faker!"


    I gasped in mock offense, cing a hand over my heart. "Excuse me? You mouthy little bird!" But I couldn’t suppress my smile.


    "Troublemaker, troublemaker!"


    Einstein continued, bobbing his head up and down with obvious delight at having captured my full attention.


    "Featherbrain, featherbrain!" I retorted, leaning toward the cage with hands on my hips.


    To my satisfaction, the parrot appeared genuinely affronted. It fluffed its feathers and hopped to the other side of its perch, finally turning its back to me with what could only be described as avian disgust.


    I looked up at William with sudden concern. "Oh no, I didn’t actually hurt his feelings, did I?"


    William was practically wiping tears from his eyes. "Einstein has never been bested in a battle of wits before.


    He usually has thest word with everyone. He met his match today!" His eyes crinkled with genuine affection as he regarded me.


    Something in his gaze-that same warmth, that same eptance I’d always found in the Murphy homemade my throat tighten with emotion.


    William wasn’t just being polite; he was deliberately showing me that nothing had changed between us, that Marcus’s departure hadn’t altered my standing in his eyes.


    "William," I said softly, unable to keep the emotion from my voice, "you’re too good to me."


    He waved away my words with a gentle dismissal. "Nonsense. You’re family, Annie. That doesn’t change with theings and goings of anyone, not even my son."


    I swallowed hard, unexpectedly moved by his simple deration. Before I could respond, the door opened, and the butler entered carrying a tablet.


    "Mr. Murphy, I apologize for the interruption," he said with a slight bow. "There’s a video call. Mr. Marcus Murphy is on the line."


    Anna’s POV


    William’s face lit up instantly. "Perfect timing! Bring it here, please."


    The butler handed him the tablet and discreetly withdrew. William adjusted his position on the bench, patting the seat beside him. "Come sit, Annie.


    Let’s see what my wayward son is up to."


    I hesitated, suddenly feeling like an intruder. "Maybe I should give you some privacy? I can wait inside_"


    "Nonsense," William interrupted, already tapping the screen to ept the call. "Marcus would want to see you too."


    Before I could protest further, the screen fickered to life, revealing Marcus sitting in what appeared to be a luxurious hotel room. His hair was damp, and he wore only a ck silk robe loosely tied at the waist. He’d clearly just stepped out of the shower.


    "Marcus!" William’s voice boomed with delight. "Finally remembering your poor old father, are you?"


    Marcus’s expression remained impassive, though I detected a subtle softening around his eyes. "Father.


    You look well."


    "And you look like you’re working yourself to death again," William replied, his tone half-joking, half-concerned. "When was thest time you had a proper sleep?"


    Marcus nced down, adjusting something off-screen. "Just signed a major contract. The negotiations took longer than expected."


    I tried to shrink back out of the camera’s view, but William suddenly angled the tablet to include me. "Look who’s here with me, Marcus! Annie came to visit."


    "Hello, Uncle Marcus," I finally said, actually inquiring about his injury.


    "How are you?"


    Marcus’s gaze locked onto mine through the screen, his dark eyes unreadable. The silence stretched, bing ufortably taut.


    "Marcus," William prompted, a hint of reprimand in his voice. "Annie asked how you are."


    "Fine," Marcus replied curtly, understanding the true meaning behind my words, his gaze still fixed on me. "And you?"


    "I’m well too, thank you," I answered.


    Marcus nodded once, his expression unchanged. Then, without warning, he asked: "What about that trending topic? The one with you and Griffin."


    I felt my cheeks flush with heat.


    "You. know about that?"


    William seemed to sense the tension, rising abruptly to his feet. "You know what? I think Einstein needs some fresh air. I’ll take him for a little walk around the garden." He picked up the birdcage, already moving toward the path. "Annie, you and Marcus catch up. I’ll be back in a bit."


    "Scoundrel! Scoundrel!" Einstein squawked indignantly, pping his wings in protest at being moved.


    Marcus’s brow furrowed as he leaned closer to the screen. "What is that?"


    "A parrot," I exined quickly.


    "Hmm," was all Marcus said in response.


    Once William was out of earshot, Marcus’s full attention returned to me, his gaze intensifying. "Tell me about the news report. What happened?"


    I shifted ufortably, deciding to give him a simplified version.


    "It’s nothing serious,’ " I said with a dismissive wave. "Lucy Taylor took some photos of me helping Samuel to the hospital when he’d had too much to drink. The angles were deliberately misleading-made it look like something romantic was happening." I forced augh. "You know how these things go. It’ll blow over in a day or two."


    Marcus’s eyes narrowed slightly. "And Griffin? He’s no longer causing trouble for you?"


    I nodded quickly-too quickly.


    "Actually, he owes me a favor now. I helped him out of a... difficult situation. He won’t be a problem anymore."


    *Please don’t ask for details*


    I silently begged.


    "Thank you for your concern, Uncle Marcus," I added softly. "I really am fine. You don’t need to worry about me."


    "I’m worried about you?" he asked, his tone so cold it made me flinch.


    I stared at him,pletely caught off guard by the abrupt shift.


    "I-I should go," I stammered, desperate to end this increasingly ufortable conversation. "It’s gettingte, and you must be tired after your negotiations. You should rest."


    I barely waited for his response before reaching over to end the call. The screen went ck, and I slumped back against the bench, exhaling a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.


    My heart was still racing, my palms slightly damp with nervous sweat.


    *Dating someone like that would require nerves of steel*, I thought wryly. *It would be more stressful than outwitting Samuel Griffin.* Catherine was always joking about me bing her aunt by marrying Marcus, but the very thought made me shudder.


    Marcus’s POV


    I rubbed my tired eyes as the screen before me went dark. Recent events had left me restless, especially everything concerning Anna Shaw.


    A knock interrupted my thoughts.


    Peter Reed entered with a grave expression.


    "Sir, we’ve obtained the security footage. Lucy Taylor did indeed take those photos," he paused l, carefully choosing his words, "but I found something else. Samuel Griffin’s behaviorst night was very strange."


    My hand froze on the desk, rm bells ringing in my mind. Anna’s words from ourst conversation suddenly echoed-she had lied to me.


    "What exactly happened?" My voice was noticeably deeper than usual, tension evident even to my own ears.


    Peter quickly operated theputer, bringing up the surveince footage for me to view.


    "Look, sir. Griffin doesn’t appear to be merely intoxicated," Peter pointed out.


    In the footage, Samuel behaved erratically, tugging at his shirt while stumbling into a private lounge.


    Minutester, Anna passed by the door and was suddenly pulled inside.


    My heart sank instantly, my hands unconsciously clenching into fists, nails digging deep into my palms. I felt no pain—only a burning rage mixed with profound concern as horrific scenarios shed through my mind.


    Peter, noticing my change in demeanor, quickly added: "Don’t worry, sir. Miss Shaw appears unharmed. They emerged shortly after."


    The video fast-forwarded to show Anna cautiously peering out, checking for onlookers before helping Samuel leave.


    "The final footage shows Griffin entering Miss Shaw’s car-likely heading to a hospital. I’m certain Griffin was drugged," Peter exined.


    "Drugged?" My frown deepened, expression darker than before. This girl was truly bold, risking herself to take Samuel to a hospital? Didn’t she realize how dangerous it could be if Samuel acted on his drug-induced impulses? I couldn’t bear to follow that train of thought.


    I took a deep breath, struggling to control my emotions. "Can we determine who administered the drug?"


    "Investigation overseas presents challenges, but knowing Griffin’s character, he won’t let such humiliation slide. Ive arranged surveince on his movements," Peter replied.


    I nodded. "Good."


    Seeing I had no further instructions, Peter exited the office.


    Alone in my office, my thoughts churned. Why had Anna lied to me?


    Was she worried I’d be concerned, or was there another reason? If Samuel was indeed drugged, the situation might be moreplex than I imagined. I needed to verify certain things personally.


    Night had deepened, but my thoughts only grew clearer. I had made my decision.


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