CHAPTER 35: AN INVITATION LACED WITH MOTIVES

Jack’s POV

The news that Anna Shaw had spent several hours at Murphy Estate spread through Skyview City’s business circles with astonishing speed. umors in this city grew wings, particularly when they involved the Shaws and the Murphys.

I sat in the grand living room of the Simpson mansion, watching my mother’s face settle into that familiar expression of contempt that seemed permanently etched there whenever Anna’s name was mentioned.

"Phillip told me himself he has no interest in Skylake District," my mother declared, her voice dripping with schadenfreude as she delicately stirred her tea. "Can you believe the audacity of that woman? Going to the Murphy family for help? Who does she think she is?"

Her laugh was brittle, lacking any genuine humor. I remained silent, watching the steam rise from my untouched coffee on the table between us.

"Jack." My father’s authoritative voice yanked me back to reality. "Your uncle Phillip might not care about Skylake, but don’t forget, there’s still your younger uncle Marcus."

He leaned forward, "As for Anna, you need to figure something out. That historic mansion is in her hands now.

Even if we secure the Skylake project, it’ll be nothing but trouble without her cooperation."

I kept my silence, *Fix things with Anna?* We were practically strangers now, the bitter remnants of our marriage like a wall between us that grew taller with each passing day.

"Perhaps I should have a talk with Elizabeth," my mother suggested suddenly, her thin lips curving into a smile that made my stomach tighten.

"That woman has always been spineless. Easy to persuade."

I was about to object when my father’s expression turned glacial as he regarded my mother. "Keep your meddling to yourself," he snapped. "If it weren’t for your constant criticism of Anna, driving them to divorce..." He paused, gathering himself. "We wouldn’t be in this position with Phoenix Project or Skylake District if you hadn’t pushed the Simpson family into this corner."

The color drained from my mother’s face, her shock at being openly rebuked in front of me evident in her widened eyes and parted lips. Clearly, she hadn’t expected my father to cast blame so directly.

"George, how *dare* you blame me?" she hissed, her voice trembling with indignation. "When have you ever involved yourself in family matters?

When have you *ever* taken responsibility for anything beyond those spreadsheets and contracts of yours?"

"Then focus on family matters and leave company business alone," my father countered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I watched as understanding dawned across my mother’s rigid features. Her eyes darted between us, suddenly comprehending that my father’s anger stemmed from something deeper than just the Skylake complications. This was about the Murphy family-about Marcus specifically and the growing threat he represented to our business interests.

"Jack," my father said abruptly, rising to his feet. "Come to my study. We need to talk."

I silently stood and followed him.

"Shaw Corp has no chance of securing Skylake District on their own," my father began without preamble, settling into his chair. "Now that Phillip has rejected her, Anna will be looking for other allies."

He pulled out a cigar but didn’t light it, rolling it between his fingers thoughtfully. "Arrange a business dinner. There are certain people who need to be reminded where their loyalties should lie."

I nodded slightly, my voice deliberately neutral. "Of course. I’ll set it up immediately."

My father fell silent for a moment, studying me with the same penetrating gaze he used to evaluate potential acquisitions. "Without allies, Anna has only one viable option for Skylake partnership with Simpson Group."

The implication hung heavy in the air as he gave me a meaningful look.

"Don’t worry," he continued, apparently reading my discomfort.

"She won’t partner with Marcus."

He leaned back in his chair, suddenly looking more like the shrewd businessman who had expanded Simpson Group into what it was today.

"She understands what cooperation with Marcus would mean. Anna’s greatest vulnerabilities are Elizabeth, Margaret, and Shaw Corp. She won’t abandon her family to follow Marcus to Europe."

My father’s assessment was coldly accurate. Anna would never leave her grandmother and mother behind, nor would she relinquish control of the company her father had entrusted to her.

"Women," my father concluded with a dismissive wave, "can be easily persuaded with the right approach.

Surely you haven’t forgotten how to charm her?"

I felt my brow furrow deeply, a complex mixture of emotions churning inside me.

Anna’s POV

I first noticed it three days after my visit to the Murphy Estate. The usual flood of invitations had slowed to a trickle. My phone, which typically buzzed with social requests, remained suspiciously silent.

Something was off.

"Rachel," I called, setting down my cup. "Has there been a decrease in our social invitations this week?"

Rachel looked up from her tablet, her expression carefully neutral. "I was wondering when you’d notice. Yes, there’s been a significant drop since Tuesday."

"The day after we visited William." I frowned, connecting the dots. "That’s not a coincidence."

"Probably not," Rachel agreed. "And there’s something else. Simpson Group is hosting a gala next weekend.

They ve invited practically everyone who matters in Skyview City."

*My mother’s neighborhood.* The realization hit like ice water. Jack knew exactly how much that property meant to my family. This wasn’t just social maneuvering it was a direct attack.

That evening, I’d arranged to meet Oscar Porter at signature restaurant. I was looking forward to catching up with my old friend. What I hadn’t expected was the tall figure standing beside him in the private dining room.

Logan Porter.

\n(o)v.e\l.com

Oscar’s older brother looked annoyingly impeccable in a tailored suit that highlighted his broad shoulders. I felt a flutter of that old nervousness seeing him again-the same feeling I’d had years ago when he’d tutored me in calculus with that stern, unforgiving demeanor.

)

"Porter sir." I shot Oscar a death glare, silently cursing him out. He could have at least warned me Logan would be here.

"It’s been a while," Logan said, his gaze lingering on me with an expression I couldn’t quite decipher.

"I’m ’Porter sir’ now?"

There was a hint of disapproval in his tone that made me even more uncomfortable. Thankfully, Oscar jumped in to diffuse the tension.

"You’re dressed like you’re going to a wedding, of course she’s going to be formal. You really needed to dress like this just to see Annie? Who are you trying to intimidate?" Oscar’s teasing helped ease the tension.

Logan shot Oscar a cold look before turning back to me. "Are you going to sit down? Or just stand there?"

"Oh, right, Logan." I responded quickly, nervously choosing the seat next to Oscar, as if seeking some sort of protection.

As the waiter presented the dishes we’d pre-ordered, I realized we needed to add something for Logan’s unexpected appearance. "Could we add a mushroom soup and the baked cod, please? Thank you," I told the server, remembering years of family dinners together. I knew the brothers’ tastes too well.

When Rachel came by to pour our tea, Oscar and I were already deep in animated conversation. He always had endless stories, sparing no one from his biting commentary-from the head of the medical department to his assistants. I nodded along, trying to ignore Logan’s scrutinizing gaze.

"Ahem." Logan’s sudden cough interrupted our conversation, his expression unusually serious. "Anna, did you receive an invitation from the Simpson family?"

Anna’s POV

"No, I haven’t," I shook my head in response to Logan’s question about the Simpson invitation, then thought for a moment before asking, "Have you received one, Logan?"

Logan nodded, his expression as measured as ever. "Yes, just today.

From what I understand, not only have families close to the Simpsons like the Turners and Hills received invitations, but also the Watsons, Harrisons, and even the Fosters." His gaze settled on my face, studying my reaction. "What do you think, will Jack send you an invitation?"

A complex mix of emotions churned inside me. Jack and I had just argued over Skylake District, so logically he shouldn’t invite me. But with the historic building now in my possession, Simpson Group would need to go through me if they wanted to develop Skylake. Whether through acquisition or force, Jack would inevitably approach me again. Before I could sort through my thoughts, Logan had already drawn his conclusion.

"I suspect you’ll receive an invitation very soon," he said, his tone matter-of-fact.

Oscar slapped the table, his voice filled with undisguised contempt for Jack.

"He has the nerve to invite Anna?

Don’t go. I won’t be going either."

Logan gave Oscar a dismissive glance before turning back to me. "Right, I won’t attend either. I have little interest in Skylake."

I looked at him with confusion.

"Doesn’t the Porter family have real estate operations?"

"Not large enough, and frankly, I don’t care to compete with them," Logan replied with a self-deprecating smile.

"Besides, Simpson Group clearly views Skylake as already theirs. Anyone else who wants a piece will have to partner with them..."

"Don’t worry, Anna. We Porters would never work with that bastard Jack," Oscar jumped in, finishing his brother’s thought.

I looked at Logan, feeling a wave of warmth as he continued: "However, if you’re interested in Skylake, I might consider helping you raise some capital."

Faced with the Porters’ sincerity, I decided to be honest in return. "I do have some ideas for Skylake, but if even the Porter family can’t handle this project alone, Shaw Corp certainly can’t manage it independently. But if I want to protect my mother’s ancestral home, I have no choice but to get involved in the Skylake project."

As we approached Goldenleaf Manor after dinner, I spotted Jack leaning against his sedan, smoking. Irritation immediately rose within me.

"Don’t stop. Drive straight in," I instructed Rachel.

"Ms. Shaw, Mr. Simpson is probably here to invite you to the gala," Rachel reminded me.

Only then did I remember the invitation matter and hesitated. "Fine, stop outside." I certainly didn’t want to invite Jack inside.

As I stepped out of the car, Logan happened to call. The conversation was brief but warm. When I hung up, I turned to find Jack staring at me, his brows furrowed.

"Were you just with Logan Porter?" he asked, his tone rigid.

"Is there something you need?" I didn’t bother answering his question.

Seeing my impatience, his irritation visibly flared. "I’m asking if you were just with Logan Porter?"

"What if I was? How is that any of your business?" I felt talking to him was a complete waste of time. "If there’s nothing else, you should go." I turned to walk toward the gate.

"I’m hosting a dinner tomorrow evening, and I hope you’ll attend," Jack said, restraining his temper, his voice deep.

Surprised that he was indeed here to invite me, I quickly considered my options and decided to investigate further. "Fine, I’ll be there."

"Could you open the gate? I’d like to talk inside," he said, clearly agitated.

I looked at him, puzzled. "Wasn’t that all you needed to say? It’s getting late, and I won’t be inviting you in. It wouldn’t be appropriate for us to be alone together."

Jack stared at me in disbelief, evidently unable to process my current attitude.

"Anna, my thoughts have been... confused lately. I think we need to talk properly," his tone carried a complexity I couldn’t immediately decipher.

"What could we possibly have to discuss?" I asked, genuinely perplexed.

"I’ve realized my feelings for you have changed," he said, his expression conflicted. "Could we sit down and talk calmly? I admit I wasn’t good to you before, that I hurt you, but I was suffering too. You need to give me time to sort through my feelings. You can’t just turn my life upside down and then walk away."

I couldn’t make sense of what he was saying. "What are you implying? That everything is somehow my fault?

Falling in love with you was my fault, marrying you was my fault, and now the divorce is my fault too? Jack Simpson, you can’t just be unreasonable because your family has money."

"I’m not saying you’re at fault. I’m asking for another chance," he explained urgently. "Anna, I’ve been thinking a lot lately, struggling with this for a while, and I’ve realized... I think I might be falling for you."

I stood there dumbfounded, hardly believing my ears.

Though I’d heard from Mary Simpson that Jack might have feelings for me, I never expected him to confess at a moment like this.

"What?" Once I recovered, I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. "Mr. Simpson, surely you understand how impure your motives seem right now?"

"I know. Not just you, even my father would probably think I’m trying to manipulate you for that old mansion," Jack said, clearly frustrated. "But that’s not the case. The mansion is one thing, my feelings for you are completely separate."

I nodded, my eyes filled with sarcasm.

"Is that so? Then why don’t you hand over the Skylake District project to me?

Can you do that?"