Chapter 118: Must keep up the lie 

Hazel blinked, momentarily stunned. “My… sister? You mean Anya? But I’ve never even met her, and you know it is because she is not my…” 

“Shut it! If I say she is, then she is.” Shaina replied, her attention focused on the safe’s contents 

“Someone has paid a lot of money for the to show.. same face as me, 

but her daughter is married Into the Shaw family. If anyone can help us with a Mafia problem, it’s them.” 

I can’t believe she has the 

Hazel’s mind reeled with this new information. She’d always known there was no sister. Her 

mother had made it up. Some paid her? Well, she did not care as long as they could use her. 

“Are you sure they’re that powerful? I mean, how do you know they can help?” 

Shaina didn’t answer immediately. She was staring into the safe, her face a mask of shock and disbelief. “No,” she whispered. “No, no, no!” 

“Mom? What’s wrong?” Hazel asked, alarmed by her mother’s sudden panic. 

Shaina began tearing through the bedroom, yanking open drawers and upending boxes. “It’s gone,” she muttered, more to herself than to Hazel. “It can’t be gone. Where is it?” 

Hazel watched in bewilderment as her usually composed mother descended into frantic searching. “What’s gone? Mom, you’re scaring me. What are you looking for?” 

Shaina whirled to face her daughter, her eyes wide with fear and frustration. “The leverage,” she said, her voice cracking. “I’ve lost our leverage.” 

“Leverage? What leverage?” Hazel asked, struggling to keep up with the rapid turn of events. 

Shaina sank onto the bed; her energy 

uddenly depleted. She looked up at Hazel, tears glistening in her eyes. “I abandoned Anya when she was a child,” she confessed, the words 

heavy with long–buried guilt. “I wasn’t sure she’d be willing to help us, so II took something from her father’s safe. Something to bargain with if she refused.” 

Hazel stared at her mother, shocked by this revelation. “You stole Mafia family?” 

from Anya’s father? From a 

Shaina nodded miserably. “It was insurance. A last resort. But now it’s gone, and without it… She trailed off, the implications clear. 

Hazel sat down next to her mother, trying to process everything she’d learned in the last few minutes. Her own problems suddenly seemed to pale in comparison to the web of secrets and danger she’d unknowingly been part of her entire life. 

“So what do we do now?” Hazel asked softly. 

But as though fate was on their side, Shaina’s phone started ringing. It was her mother–in- law. 

“I don’t care what you are doing. I sent you to Appletown to inspect the orchard. Why have you not gone yet?” The old woman screamed, and Shaina winced. 

She had been defiant these past few days because she felt she would soon meet Anya as long as she could find out her location. But with her leverage gone… 

“I was just going over,” Shaina answered quickly. 

Back in the Rose Mansion, Daniel glanced at Anya. 

“Anya,” Daniel said, his voice gentle as he approached her. “I need to go on a trip to inspect a factory in Appletown.” 

Chapter 118 Must keep up the le 

Anya glanced up at Daniel, her eyes filled with curiosity as she listened to his words. 

“Why are you telling me this?” Anya asked, her tone wary. 

Daniel smiled softly at Anya’s skepticism, understanding her reluctance to trust him after the earlier disappointment. 

“I was wondering if you’d like to come with me.” Daniel said, his voice hopeful. 

Anya’s eyes widened in surprise at Daniel’s invitation, her heart fluttering with uncertainty. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Daniel was up to something. 

“Are you going to bring the trip here? Is this another trick?” she asked, and he chuckled. 

“No.” 

Despite her reservations, Anya nodded her head in agreement, her curiosity getting the better of her as she wondered what Daniel had planned, 

“Alright,” Anya said, her voice tinged with uncertainty. “I’ll come with you.” 

Daniel’s smile widened at Anya’s acceptance, his heart swelling with gratitude as he realized that he had a chance to spend some quality time with her. He knew that he had a long way to go before he could win her heart, but he was determined to make the most of this opportunity. 

“Great,” Daniel said, his voice filled with excitement. “Let’s pack up. We’ll be gone for three 

days.” 

As Anya gathered her belongings and prepared for the trip ahead, Daniel couldn’t help but feel 

Chepan 116 Most keeps 

a sense of anticipation building within him. 

Soon, Daniel led Anya out of the mansion. 

As Anya and Daniel embarked on their journey to Appletown for the factory inspection, Anya couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement coursing through her veins. It was her first time traveling by helicopter, and she was in awe of the sleek aircraft as it soared through the sky effortlessly. 

As they touched down in Appletown, Anya’s eyes widened in wonder at the bustling city below. She had never seen a city from this angle, the towering buildings and bustling streets a stark contrast to the quiet solitude of the Shaw family estate or Rose mansion. 

But as they made their way to the hotel, Anya’s excitement quickly gave way to confusion as Daniel led her towards the receptionist. 

“Let’s settle into our room first,” he said, and she shot him a look. 

She had expected that she would have her own room, but he had only booked one room. 

“We’re staying together?” Anya asked, her voice filled with disbelief. Even at home, they still slept separately. 

Daniel nodded, a smile playing at the corners of his lips as he let Anya inside the hotel. 

“Are you afraid? What can I do to you?” Daniel asked, his voice casual as he led Anya towards the reception desk 

Anya wasn’t convinced. What can’t he do to her? A lot! 

As they checked in, she couldn’t help but feel slightly uneasy. A bit of discomfort settled over 

her. She did not believe he would really only book one room. 

When they were handed the key and led to their room, Anya’s eyes widened in shock as she realized he was really serious. 

“We can’t stay in the same room, Daniel,” Anya protested, her voice almost screaming at him. 

But Daniel just shrugged; his expression remained nonchalant as he brushed off her concerns, and they entered the room. 

“We’ve been sleeping in the separately for a while now, so you forget we are married,” Daniel pointed out, his tone matter–of–fact. 

Before Anya could respond, her phone suddenly rang, interrupting their conversation. 

With a frown, Anya glanced down at the caller ID and saw that it was an unknown number calling. 

“Who is this?” Anya asked. 

“Where are you?” Daniel’s voice came through the phone, her tone filled with curiosity. 

Anya hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to respond. She was confused and annoyed by this question. 

“And who 

is this?” Anya asked even though she knew who it was. 

The person went silent a bit, “Vincent. Mary’s brother,” he answered. Anya could hear the familiar irritation in Daniel’s voice. 

“Let’s talk,” he said, and she frowned. 

“Why?” 

“You’re at home?” He repeated, his voice filled with frustration. She knew Vincent liked her, but so what? She had always been married. But now she was even more defensive knowing he too, like Mary was an agent. 

“Funny, a random person calls to ask if I am home. Have you lost your mind? If you have nothing to say to me, I will end this call.” 

“I hear you have something in your possession. You took it from a safe in Angelo City,” he 

said. 

Anya’s heart sank as she realized that the agencies must have caught wind that the safe was emptied. But they do not yet know who did it. They think she did. 

“So what?” Anya asked. She did not think it was necessary to answer him. 

“You should give it to me,” Vincent said, and her face darkened. 

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