<h4>Chapter 79: Threads of Betrayal</h4>


    Anna’s POV


    "Uncle Marcus, aren’t you being a bit dramatic?" I locked eyes with him, silently pleading for him to read between the lines._Don’t say these terrifying things in front of my family._ My heart raced as sweat formed on my palms. I was caught between fearing the truth and protecting my family from it.


    But Marcus seemed determined to make me ufortable. Ignoring my warning nce, he continued, "Anna’s fall wasn’t an ident. I can’t leave her in America with a clear conscience.


    I’m sure you’re both equally concerned about her safety."


    Anger bubbled in my chest, but I couldn’t express it. He knew that only if my grandmother and mother insisted would I agree to leave.


    "What? Not an ident?"


    Grandmother’s face drained of color, her hands trembling visibly. My heart ached watching her fragility surface so suddenly.


    Mother’s voice was nearly unrecognizable. "Annie, what’s going on?" Her eyes filled with terror-exactly what I’d hoped to prevent.


    shot Marcus a murderous re, my rage nearly consuming my rationality.


    Still, I forced a smile and tried to downy everything. "The police mentioned it might have been deliberate, but there’s no concrete evidence yet. Grandma, Mom, don’t worry. Even it someone is after our historical building, I’ll just be more careful." I struggled to keep my voice steady despite my internal chaos.


    "No! Absolutely not!" Mother jumped to her feet, her panic palpable.


    Watching her pace anxiously before the sofa, my heart constricted painfully.


    Then she grabbed Marcus’s hand with unexpected desperation. "Marcus, take Annie with you. Take her immediately."


    Grandmother and I froze in shock. My jaw literally dropped. "Mom?"


    Even more surprising, Mother called for Lily and ordered her to pack my bags right away.


    "It’s not that serious. Uncle Marcus is just... exaggerating." I attempted a smile.


    Tears streamed down Mother’s face, breaking my heart. "Nothing’s an exaggeration. If anything happens to you, I couldn’t bear to live."


    "We’ll sell the historical building if we must. Your grandfather would understand," she continued.


    "Skke District-whoever wants it can have it."


    "Annie, listen to your mother. Either sell the building or go to Europe with Marcus." Her voice held unmistakable pleading.


    Grandmother sighed, "Annie, your mother is right."


    I inwardly groaned. This was exactly what I’d feared would happen.


    ---


    After finally calming both women down, my throat was parched. I turned to Marcus, unable to hide my displeasure anymore. "Happy now?"


    I lowered my voice, tone icy. "Uncle Marcus, you overstepped." His raised eyebrow only irritated me further.


    "My grandmother and mother are emotionally vulnerable. They scare easily." Despite my fury, I controlled my voice. He’d helped me too many times to deserve my full wrath.


    "I’m not trying to frighten them," Marcus calmly poured two cups of tea.


    "I’m stating facts."


    "I’ll be more careful in the future," I said, wanting to change the subject.


    "The puppetmaster is difficult to guard against," he replied evenly.


    My interest piqued. "You also think it wasn’t the Simpson family?"


    "Not this time. The future is uncertain."


    I was momentarily speechless.


    "I won’t force you, but I can only stay in America for three days. I’ll help find who’s behind this attempt, but after that?" His concern was unmistakable.


    Understanding warmed me slightly. He genuinely worried about my safety.


    "Uncle Marcus, I’ll be careful. Thank you for repeatedly flying back to America for me." My gratitude was sincere.


    ーーー


    After lunch, I asked Rachel to help me dress for an outing-Mother’s tears had be unbearable. Rachel’s makeup skills were basic, just defining my eyebrows and applying lipstick, but the natural look suited me fine.


    Heading downstairs, I noticed Lily sorting through the shoe cab.


    Several pairs of shoes and boots, some brand new,y on the floor.


    "What’s happening here?" I asked curiously.


    Lily smiled. "Mrs. Shaw asked me to remove all non-slip-resistant shoes.


    With your arms injured, she’s worried about you falling again."


    Her words touched me deeply. "My mom always worries too much," I said softly, feeling the emotion rise in my throat.


    Then I noticed Lily cing the white chunky-heeled leather shoes Logan had given me into a box. "Those shoes have thick heels and are quitefortable," I protested.


    Lily turned the shoe over, showing me the sole. "Ms. Shaw, these aren’t slip-resistant. This type of sole is extremely dangerous on hardwood or marble floors."


    "Is that so?" I froze, a thought suddenly forming in my mind... The next morning, Shaw Corp’s top-floor officeonce my domain of effortlessmand-had transformed into an obstacle course of challenges.


    Every movement required calction.


    Every shift of my body sent pain radiating through my shoulders. The doctor had been clear: minimal movement, or risk permanent damage.


    Sean Smith sat at myputer, his fingers hovering hesitantly over the keyboard.


    "Ms. Shaw, this email from the European investors needs your personal attention." Scan said, ncing up with a questioning look.


    I shifted carefully in my seat, wincing as pain shot through my right shoulder. "Sean, I’ve given you the passwords and authorization. You can handle the routine correspondence directly."


    Sean looked up, surprise and gratitude flickering across his face. "Thank you for trusting me with this, Ms. Shaw."


    "It’s just a practical arrangement." I shifted the conversation away from the ufortable acknowledgment of vulnerability. "How is your father doing?"


    "The surgery went well. His condition is stable for now." Sean paused, seeming to gather his thoughts. "He said when he’s released, he wants to thank you personally. He calls you his savior."


    "That’s an exaggeration." I waved away the sentiment.


    Sean stood, automatically moving toward the coffee machine in the corner of my office. "Would you like some coffee?"


    "No coffee," I said quickly. "Just water is fine."


    I couldn’t tell him the real reason— that I suspected I might be pregnant, and had been obsessively researching what medications and substances to avoid. The painkillers and antibiotics I’d been given in the hospital haunted me. What if they had already damaged the baby I’d so deliberately tried to conceive?


    The thought sent a spike of anxiety through me, tightening my chest.


    Sean ced a ss of water on my desk, careful to position it within easy reach of my limited mobility.


    The office door swung open. Logan Porter strode in, his assistant trailing behind with a leather portfolio. Even with one arm still in a sling, Logan moved with confident purpose, his eyes immediately finding mine.


    "Anna," he greeted, his expression softening. "How are you feeling?"


    "Better than yesterday," I lied, forcing a smile. "What brings you here, Logan?"


    Logan gestured for his assistant to ce the portfolio on my desk. "This is more important."


    "What is this supposed to mean?" I asked, confusion rising as I studied his determined expression.


    Logan moved closer, opening the portfolio himself when he realized I couldn’t easily reach for it. "Samuel Griffin isn’t trustworthy, Anna. I want to partner with you on the Skke District development." His voice dropped slightly. "If Catherine joins us too, the three-way partnership should be solid enough."


    I stared at him in disbelief, then nced down at the documents he’d presented. They outlined a substantial investment proposal—far more capital than I’d expected the Porter family tomit to a single project.


    After skimming the figures, I couldn’t help but ask, "Where did you get this kind of funding?"