Chapter 63: You are her only hope
Anna stepped out of the bathroom, steam curling around her like the remnants of her fury. But the fire inside her wasn’t cooling down anytime soon.
From Kira accusing her of stealing the file, to Daniel caging her with that shameless "challenge"—everything had happened so fast, it felt as though she’d lived half a lifetime in a single morning.
"I really need to keep an eye on that girl," she muttered, tossing the damp towel aside. "She’s nowhere near as innocent as she pretends to be."
Her reflection in the long dressing mirror stared back at her, lips pressed in a thin line, eyes sharp with frustration. Yet her thoughts refused to stay still. They drifted back to the file she had found hidden under her side table.
She hadn’t read it fully—only a fleeting glimpse. But that one word was enough to make her pulse hitch.
Contract.
And the way Daniel had interrogated her, asking whether she had read it or not... it had to be something significant. Something confidential.
"Then why would he trust anyone else with it?" she sneered at her reflection, her fingers curling into fists. "That mere file nearly painted me as a thief."
Ping!
Her phone vibrated against the wooden surface of the vanity. Snatching it up, she read the message flashing across the screen.
"I looked into your father’s bank account details. Nothing suspicious. He seems to be clean." – Shawn.
Anna’s eyes lingered on the words, her heart sinking.
Last night, after tossing in bed unable to sleep, she had finally caved to her growing doubts. Her father’s indifference over Kathrine’s disappearance... her mother’s refusal to even speak of her... something about it all felt wrong. With hesitation, she had asked Shawn to quietly investigate the last transactions Kathrine made before she vanished.
Now, staring at his reply, her unease only grew.
"If not Dad," Anna whispered, her throat tight, "then who gave Kathrine the money?"
Her chest tightened at the thought.
She had never interfered in her father’s business affairs before, nor had she dared to dig deeper into his dealings. But if there was one thing she knew about Hugo Bennett, it was that greed ruled his every decision. Power came first—above morality, above family. He hadn’t hesitated to push Kathrine into marriage for his own gain, and when she resisted, he had shifted the burden to Anna without blinking.
Anna’s hand trembled as she read the message again...and again. For all she knew, Hugo wasn’t just greedy. He was capable of far worse.
The air around her grew heavy, pressing down like a weight. Slowly, almost unwillingly, she lifted her top and stared at the scar stretching faintly across her abdomen.
"You are her only hope, Anna."
Her father’s words echoed in her mind like a binding oath, one she had never agreed to, yet one he had forced upon her. Her throat tightened, but she quickly yanked the fabric back down, shoving the memory where it belonged—buried.
"No," she muttered firmly. She refused to linger on the past. What mattered now was finding Kathrine. For that, she needed to keep her eyes wide open—especially on her parents.
Unlocking her phone, Anna typed out a quick reply to Shawn, her thumbs hesitating only for a heartbeat before she hit send.
Her chest rose and fell as she exhaled, whispering to herself, "I’m sure this will help."
Deep down, though, a cold certainty coiled in her gut. Hugo Bennett wasn’t just a father. He was a fox in human disguise, hiding behind that mask of anger and control. And she was going to uncover the truth—no matter what.
Setting the phone aside, she tried to steady her thoughts when a soft knock came from the door. Looking up, she found Mariam stepping in with a breakfast tray balanced carefully in her hands.
"Madam, your breakfast," Mariam said quietly, her head bowed, guilt tugging her shoulders low as if she couldn’t bring herself to meet Anna’s gaze.
Anna noticed instantly. Before the woman could retreat, Anna’s voice cut through the silence.
"Stop, Mariam."
The firmness in her tone halted the older woman mid-step. Mariam froze, clutching the tray tighter.
"Why won’t you look at me?" Anna asked gently, though her words carried weight.
Mariam’s head hung lower. Anna sighed, already piecing it together. After what happened earlier in Daniel’s room, Mariam was blaming herself. That very thought made Anna trust her even more—because guilt like that didn’t come from the guilty.
Oh, this old woman... why does she have to be this obvious?
Finally, Mariam looked up, her eyes shimmering with guilt, her lips pressed tightly together. "Madam, I..." The words broke in her throat.
Anna stepped closer. "I know what you’re trying to say, Mariam. But before you do, let me make something clear."
The older woman blinked, confused.
"I know you feel sorry for what Kira did back there," Anna continued evenly, "but it’s not your place to apologize. I know you’re innocent."
And as for your niece... I’ll deal with her myself soon enough.
Mariam’s eyes filled with tears, and before she could stop herself, she broke down.
"Madam, please forgive me. I didn’t know Kira would dare to say such things." Her voice cracked as tears slipped down her face. She knew she didn’t need to justify her niece’s actions, but what shattered her heart was Anna’s kindness—the blind trust she placed in her.
’I will always be loyal to you, Madam,’ she promised silently, her fists trembling as she tried to contain her sobs.
"But I promise," Mariam added fiercely, "I will teach her a lesson she won’t forget."
Anna’s chest grew heavy, watching the woman who could have been her mother’s age cry so bitterly. Her throat tightened, but she forced herself to stay composed. Before Mariam could fall deeper into guilt, Anna stepped forward and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Mariam, I said stop crying," she ordered softly, her own voice trembling at the edges. Then she straightened, forcing a smile onto her face.
Mariam instantly stifled her sobs, though her eyes still shimmered.
"Now smile," Anna said warmly. "Because I refuse to eat food made with tears in it."
The gentle jest broke through Mariam’s sorrow. A small chuckle escaped her as she quickly wiped her cheeks dry.
"See? That smile suits you far better," Anna said, her lips curving into a genuine smile of her own as she turned toward the tray on the table.
"Now come and join me for breakfast. I’m sure you’ve stressed yourself too much to the point of ignoring your health," Anna suggested as she moved to the couch, patting the seat across from her.
Mariam shook her head quickly. "No, Madam, I am fine."
Anna arched a brow, her tone firm. "That wasn’t a request, Mariam."
And so, after a moment’s hesitation, Mariam obeyed, sitting opposite her. The two of them began to eat together, and soon the atmosphere eased into a quiet, almost mother-daughter kind of comfort, their conversation flowing more freely than either expected.
"By the way, Mariam," Anna said casually, cutting into her scrambled eggs, "how long has Kira been staying with you?"
Mariam stilled before answering. "Not too long. In fact, just a month before she joined us here."
Anna hummed, thoughtful, tapping her fork against the plate. "So you must not know her that well yet." The words slipped out, more to herself than to Mariam, but the old woman caught them.
Before Mariam could respond, Anna pressed, "What caused you to bring her here? I imagine she must’ve been comfortable where she was."
A shadow crossed Mariam’s face. She pursed her lips and hesitated, guilt flickering in her eyes. "I wouldn’t lie to you, Madam... but something happened with her old family. Her paternal uncle didn’t want her to stay with them, so..." Her voice trailed, the weight of unfinished words hanging heavy between them.
Anna tilted her head, studying her. The reluctance was obvious.
"It’s okay if you’d rather not say," Anna offered with a small smile, though deep down curiosity gnawed at her. She wanted to know more about Kira—her past, her family, and what exactly made her the way she was.
Mariam, however, seemed determined to end the matter. She straightened, her voice firm despite the guilt. "But I promise you, Madam, she won’t cause any problems here."
Anna almost choked on her bite. ’Won’t cause problems? She already had—by daring to accuse her of stealing a file in front of Daniel, no less.’
Anna forced a smile and nodded, but her lips twitched at the irony.
Once breakfast was done, Mariam excused herself and carried the tray away, leaving Anna alone with her thoughts.
Her eyes narrowed. There was more to Kira than the innocent façade she wore. A girl who could boldly throw accusations at her wasn’t just foolish—she was shameless.
And Anna couldn’t shake the feeling that Kira wasn’t just trying to defame her. No, there was something else behind those eyes.
"She’s trying to impress Daniel."
The thought made Anna’s jaw clench. If Kira thought she could stir trouble in her marriage, she was in for a very rude awakening.