Chapter 29: The stage is set. 

With a swift movement, Anya lashed out, her fist connecting with Lena’s stomach with a satisfying thud. Lena doubled over in pain again, gasping for breath as she crumpled to the ground. 

“You 

“You should not be worried about me, Lena,” Anya spat, her voice cold and cutting. should be worried about yourself. After tonight, am going to make sure your world crumbles to ash and that child of yours sleeps on the street 

As Lena struggled on the ground to regain her composure, Anya words were like poisoned arrows aimed at her heart. With each insult, she delivered another blow, her anger fueling her actions until Lena lay on the floor, a broken and defeated figure in her black dress. 

Finally, after her outburst, Anya turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, leaving Lenal crumpled on the floor behind her. As she made her way back to the party, a sense of liberation washed over her, but she was not done. If she knew the spider well, she would be back in her corner of the ceiling very quickly. But this time, she would be too angry to think. 

The grand ballroom hummed with excitement as the Shaw family took their places on stage, bathed in the soft glow of the spotlight. Anya strode over and stood her place by Daniel’s side, her hand clasped tightly in his as they waited for the momentous announcement to begin. 

“How did it go?” Daniel asked. 

“I rattled her out of her nest. She will definitely make mistakes,” Anya said with a sly smile and Daniel could not keep his eyes from her. He liked her calculating and mischievous side. 

Daniel’s father, Mr. Shaw, stepped forward, his commanding presence filling the room as he addressed the gathered guests. “Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, friends and colleagues, thank you for joining us tonight for this special occasion.” 

The crowd hushed in anticipation as Micheal continued, his voice resonating with pride and authority. “Tonight, we are proud to unveil to you a revolutionary new technology; the culmination of years of hard work and dedication from our family and our partners in the Middle East.” He nodded to the staff behind and the screen behind them came alive. A video played introducing the new train engine. 

“This engine will revolutionize the building of fighter jets,” Micheal said and the room exploded in shock and applause. 

“We have been tinkering with this technology with help of the scientist in the Middle East who first built it. Shaw Group is proud to tell you that we are entering the next phase. We will be showing you soon what this engine is capable of.” Micheal said. 

Applause erupted throughout the ballroom as Mr. Shaw revealed the groundbreaking features. of their latest invention, the excitement palpable in the air. Anya’s heart could not help but 

Choppé 20 The stage is not 

swell with pride despite knowing what was coming as she watched her husband’s family bask 

in the adulation of the crowd, their faces alight with joy and satisfact husband’s family bask 

But before the applause could die down, a sudden interruption shattered the celebratory atmosphere. Mary, no longer needing to wait, stepped forward, not as a friend, but a federal agent, her expression grave as she addressed Mr. Shaw directly. “Mr. Shaw, I’m sorry to interrupt, but you and your family are under arrest. You’re suspected of funding and aiding terrorists in the Middle East.” 

Shock rippled through the crowd as Mary’s words hung in the air, disbelief and confusion washing over the faces of the guests. Anya’s heart pounded in her chest as she watched the scene unfold, a sense of calm washing over her. The movie had begun. 

“What do you mean?” Mr Shaw asked with a frown. 

“We have a warrant to search this ship, please cooperate,” Mary said and nodded to agents beside her who immediately started a search, “No one is to leave the grounds till the search is done.” 

“On what grounds?” Mr. Shaw asked. 

“Mary, what is going on?” Anya asked with a confused look on her face. Mary felt her heart shake when she saw the confusion in Anya’s eyes. She had spent so long pretending to be her friend, there is no way she did not feel anything. 

Mary looked uncomfortable, “All will be made clear soon.” 

“What is going on?” Anya asked again. This time, one could see the slight anger in her eyes. 

“She has obviously done something 

wrong. 

“Uncle, Aunt, the agent just appeared, there is no need for you to throw blame, almost as though you know who is guilty,” Daniel said, grabbing on to Anya’s hand. 

“There is no need to think too much. Is this girl not her friend? It is sure shad done something disgraceful” Lena’s mother insisted. 

“Aunt, stop talking. Someone who doesn’t know may think that you were part of the investigation,” Lily said, “The agents have not finished speaking,” 

“You, Mary, talk. What are you talking about?” Anya asked. 

“We have evidence of money used to trade with terrorists from you and Mr Daniel Shaw’s joint account,” Mary said. 

“What joint account? The one I asked you to help me close today?” Anya asked. 

“Yes,” Mary answered. 

“But you know that there is no joint account. This morning I even told you how the account came to be…” Anya started to say. 

The 

“For over a year, that account has been used to carry out trade with a religious radical group. You and Mr Daniel Shaw are a signatory to that account,” Mary said. 

11 

“So, I had you look into it for me this morning because I wanted to close it and you we were sending money to terrorists?” Anya asked. 

concluded 

“We have been watching this account for a while now,” Mary answered and looked away to respond to one of their agents. 

“See? What did I say? She had done something and even implicated Daniel!” Lena’s mother scolded Anya to come to their side. 

“Shut up!” Anya shouted out of nowhere. 

“Mary, or is your name really Mary?” Anya asked in a low voice and Mary’s heart stilled as she struggled to rein in her expression of guilt. 

“It is Mary,” Mary answered. 

“But you know Daniel and I don’t have a joint account. You are my best friend, you know how that account came to be,” Anya insisted. 

“Yes. I know,” Mary answered with a nod. 

“Then, why? Why are you still saying we used the account for terrorism?” Anya asked in confusion, she looked so vulnerable at this point, Ryan and Jason had to suppress the admiration in their eyes. If they did not know that their sister–in–law was planning something, they would have thought she was really heart broken. 

“Lena’s family had long cooperated with the investigation for over a year now. They had expressed concerns about that account and your involvement in something sinister.” Mary said and The entire Shaw family set eyes on Lena’s parents, these distant cousins. 

Anya suddenly realized something, so did Daniel. Mary already quite beled that they were not the culprit. 

They had already seen the holes in the ship and wanted to use this opportunity to sink it completely. When Anya realized this, how could she let down her good friend? Tears welled up in her eyes as she turned to her parents in confusion. 

“But you were the ones that…” Before Anya’s words could descend on the room in completeness, a figure hurried over. Sure enough there is no movie without a star performer. 

“Anya, have you forgotten how scared you were when you found out about this?” The person who had spoken was Lena. She looked completely composed, but Anya could see the mad look in her eyes. 

“What are you…” Anya started to say. 

“You don’t have to worry anymore, just hand the agent your bank statem