<h4>Chapter 63: Back in Skyview</h4>


    Anna’s POV


    I stood my ground despite the way his body had me pinned against the wall.


    The dim lighting of the hallway cast half his face in shadow, making him look like a stranger rather than the man I’d once promised to love forever.


    "Jack, you’re drunk," I said tly. "Step back."


    His brows furrowed into a deep V-shape as he studied my face. "What happened to you? You used to be this sensitive, vulnerable girl. Always carefully watching everything around you like a little mouse. You’re so much like Lucy, actually. Why are you being so cruel to her?"


    I inwardly scoffed. *You’re the mouse, your whole family are mice.* He was clearly parroting Lucy’s performance.


    Right on cue, Jackunched into a description of her pitiful circumstances.


    "There’s nothing there, Anna. The house is practically falling apart. The weeds in the yard are taller than a person. They had to buy new bedding when they arrived because there was nothing left. Do you know how—"


    The anger inside me ignited instantly.


    I cut him off coldly: "You can buy her a house there. A mansion. Hire a bunch of maids to wait on her.


    Whatever you want."


    Jack froze, clearly stunned by my response.


    I shoved him away and straightened my wrinkled clothes, a sardonic smile ying on my lips. "If you’re so heartbroken about her situation, why don’t you just marry her? Once she bes Mrs. Simpson, I’m sure she’ll have no reason to hold a grudge against me anymore."


    Jack panicked, rushing to exin:


    "Annie, that’s not what I meant. I’m not going to marry Lucy."


    "Really? Well, that’s your business, not mine." I smiled, but inside I was thinking: *Is this strange man really the one I was so desperate to marry back then?* My heart ached with disappointment. The man I once loved so deeply now felt like aplete Stranger.


    I turned and walked away, rounding a corner only to encounter another confrontation. Nora Price, her face deathly pale, was pinned against the wall with Sawyer Walker’s hand around her throat. I hesitated, caught in an awkward position-I’d have to pass directly by them to return to the party.


    The atmosphere between them was suffocating, with Sawyer clearly the aggressor. Tears rolled down Nora’s cheeks one after another. I hadn’t paid her much attention before, only noting that she was beautiful with an inherent elegance about her. Despite knowing her history, I didn’t dislike her.


    Sawyer spoke through gritted teeth: "How dare you? Parading your new lover right in front of me. How dare you?"


    Nora, barely able to breathe in his grip, rasped: "Not a lover... a sponsor."


    "Nora!" Sawyer’s grip visibly tightened, clearly triggered by her response.


    She started coughing painfully but didn’t beg for mercy.


    I couldn’t stand by any longer. "You’re going to choke her to death," I said firmly.


    Sawyer turned to look at me, his eyes cold as a winterke. The intensity of his re made me shiver internally. If I weren’t naturally brave, I might have fled immediately.


    With cold detachment, Sawyer released his grip and strode away as if nothing had happened.


    Nora clutched her throat, coughing violently. I moved to her side, patting her back as she struggled to catch her breath. "Are you okay?" I asked with genuine concern.


    She nodded, her voice barely audible: "I’m... fine." As she nodded, several crystalline tears were flung from hershes.


    After a long moment, her coughing subsided. She offered an embarrassed smile. "Thank you, Ms. Shaw. I’m better now."


    I examined her neck, noticing the red marks forming, and removed my wrap. "Put this on. It will cover the marks."


    Nora touched her throat gingerly, still in pain. She looked at me with disbelief in her eyes. I understood her confusion—we weren’t friends, barely even acquaintances.


    "No need, I’ll be fine," she declined.


    Not bothering to argue, I simply draped the wrap around her shoulders. My white cape-style wrap had a high cor and matched well enough with her mermaid gown.


    Nora’s eyes glistened with unshed tears and gratitude. I knew how other women viewed her, mocking and insulting her behind her back. While people might gossip about me too, every woman in Skyview City secretly admired and envied me. Nora and I couldn’t be more different in social standing.


    She fastened the top button, the cor perfectly concealing the red marks on her neck.


    "Not bad. It actually looks good," I remarked, checking my watch. "If you’re not up to it, you should leave. I can exin to Samuel for you."


    Nora took a deep breath, fighting back tears as she smiled. "Thank you, Ms. Shaw. I’ll wash the wrap and return it to youter."


    "Don’t mention it." Just then, Rachel appeared, havinge looking for me.


    I asked her to escort Nora out.


    Turning around, I discovered Samuel leaning against the wall, watching me.


    From his stance, he’d been observing for some time.


    "Samuel certainly enjoys watching drama unfold," I said with a cold smile. "Even when his date is being mistreated."


    Samuel shrugged. "I was about to intervene, but someone beat me to it. I didn’t want to interfere with your show of solidarity."


    I didn’t bother responding. Since he’d witnessed everything, there was no need to exin Nora’s departure.


    Joseph arrived fashionablyte intentionally, I suspected, to avoid stealing Sawyer’s spotlight and to dodge the inevitable marriage questions from family members.


    When he was finally alone, I approached to thank him.


    "Oh? You’re saying I reported Tranquil Hospital?" Joseph feigned surprise.


    "What a coincidence! I just couldn’t stand those people making money through dishonest means. Pure generosity on my part, not for your benefit at all."


    I smiled knowingly. "Is that so?


    Actually, I wasn’t going to thank you— I wanted to thank Marcus."


    Joseph rolled his eyes dramatically.


    "You never miss a trick, do you? What does Marcus even see in you?"


    I was momentarily speechless-that was a question I genuinely couldn’t answer.


    After the g ended, my phone buzzed with a message. It was from the mysterious man from Sapphire Sky Hotel Room 3303 at Sapphire Sky Hotel. The message contained just two words.


    (Come over.)


    Marcus’s POV


    The jetg hit me harder than expected. Fourteen hours of flying across the Antic, and all I could think about was her. I’d barely allowed myself enough time to drop my luggage at the private suite I kept in Skyview City before jumping into the shower.


    Water cascaded down my back, washing away the travel fatigue but doing nothing for the tension that had been building in me for days. The thought of seeing Anna again made my heart race in a way that felt foreign.


    Steam filled the bathroom as I stepped out, wrapping a towel around my waist. Droplets of water still clung to my skin as I reached for my phone, typing out a message with uncharacteristic hesitation.


    [Come over.]


    Simple, direct-my usual style. I set the phone down and dressed quickly, choosingfort over formality. No need for the suits I typically wore as armor. Not tonight.


    The phone vibrated against the ss tabletop. I picked it up, expecting to see her agreement, perhaps with some sarcasticment attached.


    [Tired. Can’t make it.]


    Five words. Just five simple words, yet they felt like a bucket of ice water. I stared at the screen, my jaw tightening involuntarily. Was she genuinely exhausted? Or making excuses?


    I exhaled slowly, setting the phone down with more force than necessary.


    A knock at the door interrupted my spiraling thoughts.


    "Sir, is everything alright?" Peter’s voice carried through the door, concern evident in his tone.


    "Fine," I answered, the word clipped. A pause. "We’re going to Joseph’s."


    I opened the door to find Peter standing at attention, his expression careful and controlled. "Now, sir?"


    "Yes, now." I grabbed my jacket, slipping it on with practiced ease. "I need to discuss something with him."


    Peter nodded once, already reaching for his phone to arrange the car.


    The drive continued in silence, the purr of the luxury engine a calming backdrop to my thoughts. By the time we pulled up to Joseph’s mansion on the outskirts of the city, I’dposed myself.


    Joseph’s house was dark, which didn’t surprise me. He was likely still out— probably at some club, surrounded by beautiful women and expensive alcohol. The security system recognized me, automatically disabling itself as I approached the front door.


    The spare key Joseph had given me fit perfectly, turning with a soft click.


    I stepped into the darkness, not bothering with the lights. I knew this house well enough to navigate it blindly. Making my way to the living room, I settled into one of the oversized armchairs and waited.


    The front door swung open, and the lights flicked on, flooding the room with sudden brightness.


    "HOLY SHIT!" Joseph nearly jumped out of his skin, his hand clutching his chest dramatically. "What the actual fuck, Marcus? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"


    I remained seated, watching as Joseph’s initial shock gave way to irritation. He was clearly intoxicated, his movements slightly uncoordinated as he kicked the door shut behind him.


    "You have a private jet, congrattions. You own half the flight paths to Europe, impressive. But must you appear in my house like some kind of ghost every other week?" He staggered to the bar cart, pouring himself another drink despite clearly having had enough already. "Seriously, is this the power of love or just your dick taking over your brain?"


    "Keep this visit between us," I said, ignoring his crude remarks. "I’m flying back tomorrow."


    Joseph rolled his eyes so dramatically I was concerned they might get stuck. "Oh, sure, because I was definitely nning to announce it to the entire Murphy n. ’Guess what, everyone?


    Marcus is back again, pining like a lovesick teenager!’" He flopped onto the sofa across from me, drink sloshing dangerously. "Who am I going to tell? And more importantly, who would believe the great Marcus Murphy is secretly flying back and forth across the Antic for a woman?"


    He had a point, though I’d never admit it aloud.


    "By the way," Joseph continued, a smirk ying at his lips, "your little girlfriend is quite impressive. Putting George Simpson in his ce like that?


    Brilliant."


    A surge of pride swelled in my chest at his words. Anna had indeed handled the Simpson family masterfully. "She’s smarter than you," I replied, allowing myself a small, satisfied smile.


    ...You perverted man," Joseph muttered I, clearly offended by theparison.


    I wasn’t in the mood for his antics.


    "What about the matter I asked you to handle?"


    Joseph’s expression sobered slightly, a hint of his business acumen showing through the alcoholic haze. "With enough money, anything is possible.


    You can rest assured..."


    I nodded, satisfied. "I’ll be staying here tonight."


    Joseph’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.


    "What? Why? You have your own ce."


    I didn’t borate. My suite in Skyview City was maintained by staff who reported to my father. If I stayed there, word would inevitably reach the Murphy household that I was back.


    "We’ll visit the construction site tomorrow," I stated, rising from the chair and heading toward the guest room I’d used on previous visits. "You should get some sleep."


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