Chapter 179: Thanksgiving
Mary’s POV
My throat constricted under Marcus’s iron grip, panic flooding my system as I clawed at his hand. This wasn’t the reserved younger brother I remembered-this was a stranger with murder in his eyes.
"If I ever hear those words from your mouth again, you won’t have a voice to speak with," he whispered, each syllable dripping with venom.
Humiliation burned through me like acid. Despite our distant relationship, we shared blood. Yet here he was, choosing some outsider over family.
"You’re threatening me? Marcus Murphy, you’d treat your own sister this way for some second-hand_" The rest of my sentence died as his fingers tightened, cutting off my airflow.
"Who’s the outsider here?" His voice dropped even lower. "Anna is the woman I’m going to spend my life with. She’s my wife, my family."
With a disgusted shove, he released me. I collapsed onto the imported Persian rug, gasping for air. My lungs burned with each desperate breath, but my pride ached worse than my bruised throat. As a daughter of the Murphy family, I’d never been treated with such disrespect.
"Marcus Murphy, I dare you to say that in front of your father," I spat, certain William would take my side.
Several staff members moved to help me, but I pushed them away viciously.
"Get off me. Don’t touch me." The last thing I needed was these servants witnessing my humiliation.
Marcus’s expression remained glacial.
"I would say the same in front of our mother’s grave. Would you?"
His words froze the blood in my veins.
Mother had been gone for over fifteen years, yet he wielded her memory like a weapon. The chill that ran through me had nothing to do with the November wind howling outside.
Heavy footsteps interrupted our standoff as William emerged from his study, leaning on his walking cane. His face flushed with anger at the commotion.
"Both of you are disgraceful," he growled, coughing from agitation.
"Can’t even let your mother rest in peace."
I saw my opportunity and seized it.
"Dad, you’re just in time. Look at what Marcus is doing he’s completely out of line. He’s not even married to Anna Shaw yet, but he’s already calling her his family while treating us like strangers."
I waited for my father to defend me as his eldest daughter. Instead, he delivered another blow to my already wounded pride.
"You are an outsider to his life. He has his family, you have yours." William’s voice was sharp with disappointment.
"You have enough problems in your own household—why are you meddling in his affairs?"
"Why have you come back anyway?" he continued. "Didn’t I make myself clear last time? Until you and George bring Jack home, neither of you is welcome in the Murphy house."
At the mention of my son, my heart twisted with both pain and indignation. "How is that my fault? It’s all George’s doing. He’s even suspicious of his own son, afraid Jack might take over Simpson Group. He thinks he’s some ancient king afraid of being overthrown by his prince. It’s ridiculous."
William waved dismissively. "Get out. I don’t want to hear about your family drama. I have no interest in it. If you’re fine, then leave. I need to speak with Marcus alone."
Being dismissed by my own father cut deeper than Marcus’s assault.
---
I stormed into Simpson mansion hours later, my anger still simmering beneath the surface. George and Lucy looked up from their conversation. faces tense with expectation.
"Is Marcus Murphy really alive?"
George demanded.
As the maid helped remove my coat, I let out a bitter laugh. "Of course he is.
I nearly died by his hand." I rubbed my sore neck, the memory of those crushing fingers still fresh.
Lucy’s eyes fixed on the reddening marks around my throat. "Mrs. Simpson, what happened to your neck?"
"What do you think? That brute Marcus did this." I sank into the nearest chair, nursing both my injured neck and wounded pride.
Anna’s POV
"Annie! They’re here!" Mom’s voice carried from the foyer, tinged with both excitement and nervousness.
I took a steadying breath before making my way toward the entrance.
William Murphy entered first, his imposing presence softened by the smile that lit up his weathered face at the sight of me. Marcus followed, our eyes connecting briefly with an intensity that sent warmth rushing through my body. Catherine’s animated chatter and a lanky young man - Simon - completed the Murphy family procession.
"Shaw Estate looks beautiful as always," William complimented, his eyes already scanning the hallway toward the nursery.
I laughed softly. "Thank you. The nursery is the second door on the left, as I’m sure you remember."
William didn’t need to be told twice, already making his way with surprising speed for a man of his age.
"Osha...Annie..." Simon’s voice faltered as Catherine immediately jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow.
I watched as Simon rubbed his arm, shooting a wounded look at Catherine before correcting himself with exaggerated formality: "Little Auntie."
The title sounded strange in English, but the Murphy family maintained these traditional forms of address despite being thoroughly American for generations.
"When did you get back? Special trip for Thanksgiving?" I asked with a welcoming smile, gesturing toward the living room where Lily had prepared an elaborate tea service.
"Got in day before yesterday," Simon replied, his eyes scanning me from head to toe. "Annie, didn’t you just have twins? How are you skinnier than Catherine already?"
This comment earned him another threatening glare from his sister.
"You little shit, are you trying to die?" Catherine hissed, raising her hand again.
Though Simon was only a few months younger than me - making us essentially the same age - our new family dynamic had him comfortably calling me "Little Auntie" without a trace of awkwardness. The complexity of it all swirled inside me, but outwardly I maintained the polished smile that had been drilled into me as a Shaw heiress.
While William was occupied with the twins in the nursery, Marcus caught my eye and subtly tilted his head toward my study. Assuming he had something important to discuss, I excused myself and followed him.
The moment we were inside, he swept me into his arms and pressed me against the door, his lips finding mine in a deep, hungry kiss. Heat bloomed in my chest as I yielded to my own desire, cupping his face and pulling him closer.
When we finally broke apart, I gently touched my swollen lips. "Look what you did," I accused softly.
Marcus’s gaze darkened, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. "I’m in the same condition."
I didn’t understand his meaning until I noticed the intensity in his eyes, and warmth rushed to my cheeks as I realized exactly what "condition" he was referring to.
"Grandpa William wants us to get married soon," he said after taking a steadying breath, his tone casual but careful. "You don’t have to worry about his opinion though. I’m more interested in what you think."
My chest tightened as I hesitated, then decided on honesty. "I think it’s too soon. Shaw Corp is demanding so much attention, and the babies are too young to be away from me..." The pressure of financial elite and my new responsibilities as a mother left me feeling overwhelmed.