<h4>Chapter 100: Double Blessing</h4>


    Anna’s POV


    William Murphy had insisted I sit beside him at the head table rather than join my mother at her assigned seating. This special treatment wasn’t lost on anyone present.


    "This child needs proper nutrition. She must eat more," William announced, gesturing to a server. "Don’t make her feel embarrassed-our Anna is quite modest." His affectionate tone made my cheeks burn as a server immediately appeared with another serving of roasted vegetables.


    I sipped water to hide my difort.


    Being singled out in a room full of Skyview City’s elite wasn’t exactly my idea of a rxing evening.


    "Indeed, no wonder you value her so highly. Such a capable young woman," remarked a silver-haired business magnate seated across from us, his eyes crinkling with appreciation.


    Another chimed in, "Young people must keep up their strength. Eat well, my dear."


    William beamed proudly, as if I were his own granddaughter. When the seafood course arrived, his smile widened even further. "The lobster and king crab arrived fresh this morning.


    Make sure Anna’s is properly shelled."


    Before I could even respond, William’s protective instincts kicked in. "Anna should only taste a small portion."


    Someone at the tableughed good-naturedly. "William, Catherine will be jealous."


    I lowered my gaze, my emotions aplex tangle of gratitude and unease. William’s genuine concern touched me deeply, yet being the center of such attention made me feel oddly exposed. Throughout the evening, I couldn’t help but notice how he strategically blocked any attempt by Mary Simpson, Jack, or even Logan to approach me. He had transformed into my personal bodyguard, all while introducing me to key industry contacts with casual precision.


    ---


    "Annie, does William know something?" Mom asked pointedly as our car pulled away from Murphy Estate, heading back to Shaw Estate.


    Iughed, not expecting this line of questioning. "Mom, what are you implying? This baby isn’t Marcus’s.


    Even if William knows I’m pregnant, why would he act this way?"


    "You think I’m overthinking this?" She fixed me with that maternal stare that seemed capable of extracting secrets from stone.


    I rolled my eyes. "He was mainly introducing me to potential business partners. Severalpanies might coborate with us soon."


    Her skeptical expression remained, and I suddenly realized she’d been harboring this assumption all along— that Marcus Murphy was my child’s father.


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    "Stop looking at me like that. It really isn’t Uncle Marcus’s." I sighed, choosing my words carefully. "I just... found someone to help with this. He doesn’t even know."


    "Really?" Her voice carried unmistakable doubt.


    "Absolutely," I answered firmly, though something twisted ufortably in my chest.


    -- -


    Two dayster, Mom apanied me to what I thought was just a routine prenatal check-up. The exam room wasfortably warm, with soft lighting that somehow made the medical equipment seem less intimidating.


    "The babies are doing wonderfully, developing normally," the female doctor said, smiling as she moved the ultrasound wand across my still-t abdomen. "With Anna’s beauty, these babies will certainly be adorable."


    I froze, my heartbeat suddenly thundering in my ears.


    "Babies.plural?"


    Mom immediately stood up, her voice rising with excitement. "More than one?"


    The doctor nodded, confirming with a warm smile. "Yes, congrattions!


    You’re having twins. Didn’t your previous scan show two gestational sacs?"


    "It only showed one," Mom quickly replied. "Another doctor performed the exam two weeks ago, and she never mentioned twins."


    My mind was still caught on that single word-*twins*


    Disbelief rapidly transformed into overwhelming joy.


    *Two babies in one pregnancy!* I’d only nned to go through pregnancy once in my life, and now I was getting two children. This felt like hitting the jackpot.


    "Doctor, is the smaller twin developing normally? Should I take additional supplements? With twins, does my nutritional intake need to double?" I asked eagerly, already mentally rearranging nursery ns to amodate two cribs instead of one.


    - - -


    "Mom, isn’t this wonderful?" I leaned against her shoulder in the car, unable to contain my happiness. "You always regretted not giving me siblings. Now I’m giving you two grandchildren at once. Shaw Estate will finally be filled withughter."


    Mom’s brow furrowed with concern.


    "Pregnancy is difficult enough with one baby, especially with multiples. I worry about your health.I’ll help you find a dietitian who specializes in pregnant women."


    I dismissed her concern with a wave.


    "I’m young and healthy. Besides, I have so many people looking after me now. And these babies are being perfect angels-not giving me any trouble at all."


    ---


    At Shaw Estate, Grandma Margaret couldn’t contain her excitement upon hearing the news. She immediately began reciting prayers, then hurried off to the family prayer room without even touching her lunch. I settled into the living room sofa, one hand gently caressing my stomach as I imagined the two tiny lives growing inside me.


    Marcus’s POV


    When that ultrasound photonded in my hands, something inside me shattered. My heart seized in my chest, a vise grip of emotion I hadn’t experienced since I was a child. 1 stared at those two unmistakable shapes-tiny, blurry, yet undeniably real-my fingers trembling against the glossy paper.


    I passed the photo to Peter, struggling to keep my voice steady. "I’m not seeing things, am I? Twins?"


    The question hung in the air, fragile as blown ss. A part of me feared this happiness might dissolve if acknowledged too boldly.


    "Yes, sir," Peter confirmed, his normally impassive face softening slightly. "Ms. Shaw is carrying twins.


    The report suggests possibly a boy and a girl. Congrattions, Mr. Murphy."


    My lips curved upward involuntarily.


    Augh escaped me genuine, unguarded—a sound foreign even to my own ears.


    "Peter, you probably don’t know this, but the Murphy family carries twin genes," I said, hearing the unmistakable pride in my own voice.


    The significance of this moment washed over me in waves. My children. *Our* children. Anna carrying not one but two lives we had created together.


    Peter cleared his throat, his expression regretful. "Sir, I understand your excitement and concern for Ms. Shaw, but I must remind you-you can’t return to Skyview City yet. "


    My smile froze, joy evaporating like morning mist. The brutal reality of my situation crashed back, leaving a hollow ache in its wake. How desperately I wanted to be at Anna’s side, to ce my hand on her belly and feel our children growing. Instead, I remained trapped across an ocean, unable to im even my rightful ce as their father.


    The silence in my office felt suffocating.


    Outside, rain began to patter against the windows, echoing the storm of emotions inside me. After what felt like hours, I finally spoke, my voice barely audible.


    "I’ll call my father."


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