Chapter 182: Losing Ground
Anna’s POV
The crisp lines of the Skyview City map sprawled across Marcus’s desk, color-coded sections indicating prime development zones. My fingers traced the irregular outline of Nestling Crest Bay, a sliver of property that every developer in Skyview City had been eyeing for years.
"These sections here," Marcus indicated several parcels with his pen, the casual gesture belying the millions each would command at auction. " I’ll ake them."
A tiny muscle twitched in my jaw. Six weeks ago, I’d have been impressed by his confidence. Now, having witnessed him face down international criminals to rescue my son, his casual approach to multi-million dollar investments seemed almost mundane by comparison.
Phillip nodded, marking his selections on a separate notepad. "If possible, I’Il take these four." His choices were strategic-less prestigious than Marcus’s picks, but positioned perfectly for commercial development.
Their expectant gazes turned to me. I laughed awkwardly, shaking my head.
"You’re giving Shaw Corp too much credit. Do you have any idea how much we owe the banks right now?"
Phillip smiled, the expression softening his usually stern features. "Every business carries debt. If you didn’t owe the banks money, they’d start getting nervous."
My thoughts raced through Shaw Corp’s current financial obligations.
The Phoenix Project had demanded massive investments, leaving our liquid assets severely depleted. Yet watching the others stake their claims stirred something primal within mea hunger to not be left behind in what was clearly going to be Skyview City’s most significant land grab in decades.
Especially now that I knew Marcus was relocating Ascend Group’s headquarters here. The revelation had struck me like lightning earlier in our meeting.
"You’re moving your entire European operation to Skyview?" Id asked, unable to mask my shock.
The implications were staggering.
Ascend Group’s arrival would transform our mid-sized city into a genuine business hub. Property values would skyrocket overnight.
I tapped my finger on a modest lakefront parcel. "I’ll take this one."
Marcus studied my selection, then pointed to two adjacent lots. "These connect to Skylake. You should claim them too."
My lips twisted in frustration. "So you’re buying the land for me?"
"Yes," he replied without hesitation.
I sputtered, caught off-guard by his directness. This wasn’t how I’d meant it at all.
He continued, oblivious to my discomfort. "There’s limited buildable land around Skylake. Once your Paradise Valley Estates project is complete, you’ll have few options left.
These parcels have lakefront access— perfect for high-end condominiums or luxury apartments."
His business acumen was impeccable, but my pride stung. "Fine. But I’m borrowing the money from you-standard bank interest rates. Rachel will send over a formal agreement."
After Phillip excused himself to check on William’s chess game with Peter Reed, I finally had Marcus to myself.
The question that had been burning inside me all evening could no longer be contained.
"Is it for me?" I asked, my heartbeat quickening. "The real reason you’re moving back?"
"No," he answered immediately, shaking his head.
I didn’t believe him. William had complained countless times about his youngest son’s refusal to return to Skyview permanently. I’d never understood the old man’s stubbornness, but now I recognized it for what it was—fear for his son’s safety.
With Doyle dead and the threat eliminated, why relocate his business empire now? If not for me, then for what?
Seeing my skepticism, Marcus sighed.
"It’s not that I didn’t want to return before. I couldn’t. Think of it this way —if someone made a fortune in your territory and then tried to leave, would you let them?’
"Of course," I replied. "As long as they didn’t steal it from me directly."
"And if they had?" His eyes held mine, challenging.
I fell silent, suddenly remembering the bullet scars marking his shoulder, the fresh injuries he’d sustained this year, possibly others I knew nothing about.
My heart swelled with understanding and warmth. Why was I fighting this?
His return meant we no longer needed to live on opposite sides of the world.
"Now that Doyle’s gone, the biggest threat is eliminated," he continued softly. "I can finally come home. And you’ve seen my father—he’s not getting any younger."
Without thinking, I threw myself into his arms, holding him tight.
Everything I felt-relief, gratitude, hope—condensed into a simple promise: "I’ll help you take care of him. We’ll do it together."
Later, as the three of us reconvened over the maps, I watched Marcus circle his selections with absolute certainty.
The man approached buying multimillion dollar properties with the same casual confidence most people reserved for grocery shopping.
When he insisted I take the additional properties, I protested out of habit. But deep down, I knew he was right. The opportunity was too good to pass up, especially with Ascend Group coming to Nestling Crest Bay. Only a fool would walk away.
Money not earned is money lost, I reminded myself. And I was no fool.
Anna’s POV
Though the auction had been hastily arranged, the packed ballroom of Sapphire Sky Hotel told a different story. News traveled at light speed in Skyview City’s elite circles—not a single power player was missing.
I felt the weight of every gaze as Marcus and I entered the room, my hand resting on his forearm. The sudden hush followed by renewed murmurs confirmed what I already knew—we made a statement together.
My heart quickened despite my experience with such scrutiny. This was precisely the effect I’d wanted.
"Marcus, good to see you!" "Mr. Murphy, it’s been a while." "Marcus, Ms. Shaw."
Greetings erupted from all directions. I maintained my practiced smile-lips curved just enough, eyes warmly distant. I leaned closer to Marcus, whispering, "You seem to know everyone here."
His arm tensed slightly beneath my fingers. "I don’t know most of them," he replied flatly.
I bit back a smile. Classic Marcus Murphy—dismissing an entire room of influential people with a single sentence. His indifference to social currency was strangely comforting.
I’d selected a deep emerald dress for tonight, paired with platinum accessories. Elizabeth had frowned when she saw it, claiming it was too formal, too mature. But I knew exactly what I needed. This was my armor for battle.
Being with Marcus meant public appearances together, but 1 refused to be diminished by his commanding presence. Already younger than him and blessed with a youthful face, I couldn’t afford to surrender in the power dynamic. I’d be reduced to "Marcus Murphy’s woman" rather than "Marcus Murphy and his equal."
My fingers traced the luxurious fabric, drawing strength from its elegant structure. The dress was a statement that I belonged in these rooms on my own merits.
I spotted familiar faces throughout the crowd-the Walker brothers near the bar, Oscar and Logan Porter by the windows, representatives from the Davis and Turner families mingling with city officials. Their presence confirmed this auction’s significance extended far beyond land acquisition.
Jasmine Butler approached with several investors I didn’t recognize.
"Ms. Shaw, Mr. Murphy," she smiled, "let me introduce you to some friends."
I shook hands graciously while mentally cataloging each interaction.
These were potential partners, resources we needed to secure. With only Peter Reed at his side, Marcus was understaffed, so I had Rachel collect business cards.
Phillip arrived with Catherine and Simon in tow. Catherine immediately sought me out, frustration evident in her pinched expression.
"Simon is driving me crazy. He didn’t even want to come today until I gave him a piece of my mind."
I understood immediately. Simon had never shown interest in the family business. Still, I asked, "Your parents don’t seem worried, why are you?"
Anger flashed across Catherine’s features. "How can I not worry?" she hissed. "If he doesn’t learn from Dad, how will he ever manage Murphy Global?"
"But you’re there too, right?" I probed.
Catherine rolled her eyes. "I don’t want to clean up his messes."
Simon stood nearby, radiating boredom. "It’s just buying land. How hard can it be?’
George’s POV
I surveyed the crowded ballroom of Sapphire Sky Hotel, nursing my scotch while keeping a careful eye on the shifting alliances playing out before me. Beside me, Keith Dunn fidgeted with his tie, still sporting the remnants of bruises across his face. His gaze kept drifting toward the center of the room where Anna Shaw stood, resplendent in emerald silk, her hand resting possessively on Marcus Murphy’s arm.
"Anna Shaw certainly has Marcus Murphy backing her now," I remarked, following Keith’s line of sight. "She’ll definitely be bidding on prime lots today."
Keith, however, wasn’t looking at Anna. "Who’s that woman talking to Anna Shaw?" he asked abruptly.
I squinted slightly. "That’s Catherine Murphy, the Murphy family’s eldest daughter. Her father Phillip is my wife Mary’s older brother." I offered the information with a practiced smile, assuming Keith’s interest was merely romantic. The Murphy family name still carried weight, even when attached to Catherine’s frivolous reputation.
Keith’s reaction caught me off guard.
His eyes widened, body tensing visibly.
"She’s a Murphy? *That* Murphy family? Her father is Phillip Murphy?"
"What other Murphy family would there be in Skyview City?" I replied, irritation seeping into my voice. His tone suggested an elevation of the Murphy name that grated on my already frayed nerves.
"Do you know Catherine?" I probed, suddenly alert to his strange behavior.
Keith shook his head, but his eyes remained fixed on her. "Not sure if it’s the same person... no, it couldn’t be.
But the name matches..." He paused, collecting himself. "Murphy’s daughter just resembles someone I met with the same name."
Before I could press further, Luke Hill and his father approached, Luke’s father leaning in conspiratorially.
"Everyone’s saying Nestling Crest Bay belongs to Marcus Murphy. Is that true?"
My blood ran cold. "Where did you hear that?" I demanded, struggling to maintain my composure. My mind reeled —if this was true, why hadn’t I, a Murphy in-law, been informed?
Luke father’s expression shifted, eyebrows drawing together. "It’s all anyone’s talking about. You... didn’t know?"
My throat constricted, anger burning in my chest. "What else have you heard?" I managed, knuckles white around my glass. "The Murphys are keeping me in the dark now. I’m being deliberately excluded."
Luke’s father shook his head sympathetically. "Nothing else. We tried getting closer to their circle, but conversations stopped the moment we approached. The entire financial district is aligning with the Murphys.
The Simpson name doesn’t carry the weight it once did."
I watched as investors flocked around Marcus and Phillip like moths to flame. Even from across the room, l could see Marcus’s cool indifference, that signature Murphy arrogance that made my skin crawl. Yet people gravitated toward him, eager for a moment of his attention-attention I’d never needed to beg for in my prime.
Keith drained his champagne, seemingly unconcerned by our growing isolation. "Who cares about social politics? Auctions recognize money, not faces." He signaled a waiter for another glass. "In America, cash is the only language that matters."