CHAPTER 120: PROMISES

Anna’s POV

I allowed Elizabeth to guide me into her private tea room, her fingers gripping my wrist with surprising strength. The door clicked shut behind us, and she immediately whirled to face me, her eyes wide with concern.

"Tell me the truth, Annie. Why is Marcus Murphy here? What’s going on between you two?" Her voice was hushed but intense, as if she feared the walls might be listening.

I took a deep breath, suddenly finding it difficult to meet her gaze. "It’s exactly what you think, Mom."

Elizabeth’s hand flew to her mouth, her already wide eyes growing impossibly wider. "Oh my God. Does this mean I’ll become in-laws with William Murphy?"

A startled laugh escaped me. "Mom, is that seriously your main concern right now? Nothing else bothers you?"

She straightened her shoulders, her expression growing serious. "I’ve had my suspicions from the very beginning. The way he looked at you that first night he drove you home, calling you ’Annie’ in front of us all-I knew then that man had ulterior motives." Her eyes drifted down to my rounded belly. "But I am curious.

You’re already pregnant. He doesn’t mind?"

I shook my head, warmth spreading through my chest even as uncertainty lingered. "He doesn’t. He even brought gifts for the babies. Said he wants me and the children."

"And you? What do you want?"

My mind flashed back to those endless six hours waiting for him in Europe, the hope gradually crumbling into disappointment. "I want to try, Mom.

Despite everything."

To my surprise, Elizabeth’s face softened. "Then go for it, if that’s what your heart wants."

"Remember how devastated you were when you realized Jack didn’t love you?" she continued, her voice gentle.

"Looking back now, does it still hurt the same way?"

I shook my head.

"Exactly. With Margaret and me by your side, you have nothing to fear." She squeezed my hand. "Life and death-those are the things that truly matter. Everything else, including relationships and men, will come and go as they should. Don’t force what isn’t meant to be."

My throat tightened with emotion. "I thought you’d be against this."

Elizabeth smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling. "My daughter’s happiness is what matters most.

Besides, he’s accepting your children as his own. What more could I ask for?"

I pulled her into a tight embrace, breathing in her familiar scent. "How did I get so lucky to have such a beautiful, loving, and wise mother? I’m truly blessed."

As we walked back toward the main living area, voices drifted from the sitting room. Marcus’s deep tones mixed with Grandma Margaret’s more measured cadence. We slowed our pace, listening.

"As long as Annie is willing, neither Elizabeth nor I object," Margaret was saying, her voice firm. "But one thing, Marcus-you cannot hurt Annie again."

His response made my heart nearly stop beating. "Earlier this year, Annie came to Europe looking for me. She waited six hours. What she doesn’t know is that I’ve been waiting for her for at least six years. If I have sixty more years to live, I’d give them all to her."

My hand instinctively rose to my throat. If anyone else had spoken those words, I would have dismissed them as exaggerated, ridiculous, completely unbelievable. But coming from Marcus Murphy, a man who never made promises lightly...

*Was I really the one he’d been waiting for all this time? What happened between us years ago that would make someone like Marcus Murphy wait so long?*

I decided not to mention the enemies Marcus had alluded to. No need to worry them unnecessarily, especially when I didn’t have all the details myself.

The next morning at breakfast, Marcus and I exchanged a knowing glance, silently agreeing to keep his potential danger private.

"I think we should keep our relationship private for now," I suggested, spreading jam on my toast.

"At least until things stabilize."

Marcus nodded, understanding immediately what I meant. "I’d prefer to wait until my current business matters are settled before telling my family anyway. William has always supported us, and Phillip and Layla are quite fond of Annie. They won’t object."

His voice suddenly dropped, taking on a dangerous edge. "As for the others... they wouldn’t dare object."

Something in his tone sent simultaneous shivers of comfort and concern through me.

Later, as we prepared to leave-me to my prenatal appointment, Marcus to his mysterious business-I instructed Clayton to accompany him, ignoring the protest in his eyes.

In the car with Elizabeth, her worried expression returned. "This Marcus... if he’s been waiting for you all this time, why didn’t he speak up sooner? And while he says he doesn’t mind about the babies, this is a lifelong commitment. Who knows what might happen years down the road?"

I stroked my belly, feeling the twins shifting inside me. "If he ever holds them against me, I’ll walk away."

I wasn’t the same naive girl who once lost herself in a marriage with Jack.

My children and my life came first now. While I was giving Marcus a chance, I would never again make a man my entire world.

At the hospital, just after finishing my checkup, we encountered a pregnant woman whose water had suddenly broken. She was alone and terrified.

"She’s in labor!" Elizabeth rushed to the information desk. "She needs to lie down immediately!"

"Go help her," I told Rachel. "I’ll wait in the seating area."

I had barely settled into a chair when two men in dark suits appeared before me.

"Ms. Shaw, you need to come with us," one said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Anna’s POV

I stared at the two men in identical dark suits standing before me in the hospital waiting area. The fluorescent lights glinted off their perfectly polished shoes, making them look even more ominous.

"Excuse me?" I rested my hand on my swollen belly protectively. "I’m waiting for my mother and assistant to return."

The taller one stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "We already have your mother, Ms. Shaw. Now you need to come with us quietly."

My blood turned to ice. "We’re in a public place filled with pregnant women and medical staff. You can’t possibly think—"

"We can and we will," the second man interrupted, moving behind my chair.

"And if you cause a scene, we can’t guarantee the safety of those babies you’re carrying."

The casual threat made my skin crawl.

I scanned the waiting room desperately. Rachel and Mom should have returned by now. Where were they?

"My phone," I demanded, holding out my hand. "Let me call my mother first."

The shorter man snatched my purse instead. "All in good time, Ms. Shaw.

Now, shall we?"

With one on each side, they escorted me through the hospital exit. My mind raced through possible scenarios. If I screamed now, would they hurt me?

Would they hurt Mom? I couldn’t risk it.

They guided me into a black sedan parked illegally at the curb. As the car pulled away from the hospital, panic clawed at my throat.

"Where’s my mother? I want proof she’s safe," I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady despite the fear pulsing through me.

The passenger turned slightly. "You’ll see her soon enough."

After a tense moment, he nodded to the driver, who pulled out a phone.

Not mine they were keeping that.

Smart.

"Put Mrs. Shaw on speakerphone," the passenger instructed whoever answered.

Mom’s voice filled the car, fierce despite an undercurrent of fear. "What have you done with my daughter? You criminals, this is illegal, I’m going to press charges!"

Relief flooded through me. "Mom, I’m fine," I said quickly.

"Annie?" Her voice broke. "They got you too? Are you okay? Are the babies alright?"

"We’re fine," I assured her, fighting to keep my voice calm. "I’m with them now."

She launched into a stream of curses aimed at George Simpson that would have made a sailor blush. "What does that bastard want? Don’t worry, Annie, Mom’s here."

_There_. That confirmed my suspicion about who was behind this. George Simpson had finally made his move.

"I’m fine, they won’t dare hurt me," I said with more confidence than I felt.

"We’ll see each other soon."

"Alright," Mom steadied her voice.

"I’m not afraid, just worried about you."

"No matter how crazy George Simpson is, he wouldn’t risk taking human lives." I stared directly at the man beside me as I spoke. "Don’t cry, don’t be afraid."

"Okay," she whispered. "I won’t cry."

The call ended abruptly, and silence filled the car once more. I watched the cityscape slide by outside my window, trying to orient myself. We were heading west, toward the outskirts of Skyview City.

The Simpson family owned property out there, purchased years ago as an investment. I’d only heard about it in passing during my marriage to Jack.

Elizabeth’s POV

"What do you think you’re doing, kidnapping us like this? George Simpson, have you completely lost your mind? This is illegal!" My voice shook with fury I hadn’t felt in years.

"If anything happens to my daughter, I swear to God I’ll destroy you."

I glared at the man I despised most in this world. Once upon a time, I never would have imagined being coerced like this, held against my will. The feeling of powerlessness sent waves of nausea through me—not just anger, but deep humiliation and disgust.

George feigned innocence, his practiced smile making my skin crawl.

"Elizabeth, please calm down. I simply invited you for tea—no need for such dramatics."

His sanctimonious tone pushed me over the edge. When a housekeeper arrived with a silver tea service, I grabbed the nearest cup and hurled it directly at him. Scalding tea splashed back onto my hand, and I cried out involuntarily from the pain. But the physical burning was nothing compared to the white-hot rage and shame consuming me.

"Elizabeth! Are you hurt? Someone bring ice water, quickly!" George stepped toward me, his eyes filled with counterfeit concern.

I backed away, cradling my injured hand. "Stay away from me! Don’t you dare come any closer!" The combination of fear and revulsion made bile rise in my throat.

"Elizabeth, why fight this?" His voice dropped to what he clearly thought was an intimate tone. "From the moment I first saw you at your father’s investment function, I was completely captivated. But I had nothing then — Gregory Brown wouldn’t even consider me as a suitor. Otherwise, you might not have spent all these years alone after losing your husband so tragically young."

His words cut deeper than any physical pain could. The room seemed to tilt around me as fury clouded my vision. "Shut your mouth! Don’t you dare speak such vile things." My teeth were clenched so tightly my jaw ached.

Defending Garrett’s memory became my only anchor in this nightmare. "I have never been alone. My husband may be gone, but he lives on in my heart. You aren’t worthy to speak his name!"

Each word tore from the depths of my soul. I wouldn’t allow this contemptible man to tarnish what Garrett and I had shared, especially not with his repulsive insinuations.

George continued advancing, his face a mask of false solicitude. "Elizabeth, let me see your hand. You might need medical attention."

My revulsion peaked, and I instinctively grabbed a crystal fruit bowl from the coffee table, ready to strike this opportunistic predator. Just then, the most welcome sound in the world reached my ears.

"Mom?"

At the sound of Anna’s voice, wild relief surged through me like a tidal wave. I immediately rushed toward my daughter, still clutching the fruit bowl as both weapon and lifeline.

Seeing her unharmed momentarily calmed my racing heart, though concern for her safety immediately followed.

The housekeeper returned with a bowl of ice water just as Anna noticed my inflamed hand.

"What happened? How did you burn yourself?" Her eyes widened with concern.