Chapter 51: Suspicions 

“I know it is sad what happened, and Daniel is wrong to takesthis decision without us. But if you think about it, from the very beginning, it was clear they were in a contract relationship Daniel only ended the contract. You cannot say he has gone too far and have him go over to apologize to her,” Mr. Shaw countered his wife. 

“Why not? Do you think that is all he did? He threw divorce papers at her a day after her mother died,” Wendy said heatedly. 

“What?” Daniel’s father frowned. He was not the only one inspired by her words. 

“It gets worse. I caught James talking with his friends and pressed some answers out of him. It seems that when her mother died, she called Daniel in distress, asking him to come to her side, but Daniel would not pick up her call. He thought she had broken their agreement by insisting to see him and sending her divorce papers!” Wendy elaborated. As she did, her anger rose even further. 

“What a good son you have raised, James,” Old Master Rhodes accused Daniel’s father, thumping his walking stick on the marble floor. 

“That is why I asked him to go over. Besides, he is the one who rolled around drunk, calling her name. He clearly regrets it. He should obviously be there. I just didn’t think he would have such little courage. She only scolded him once, and he gave up? He should have kneeled and begged,” she insisted. 

“He was busy,” Old Master Rhodes suddenly recalled what Daniel had told him. 

“Father, what kind of work could he be doing at a time like this?” Wendy asked. She did not believe that her son, 

who cried for his wife at night, would suddenly be busy when he got the 

chance to see her. 

Chapter 51: Superconc 

“Someone set their eyes on Anya because of his incompetence. Now she seems to be embroiled in someone’s plot,” Old Master Rhodes elaborated. 

“A plot?” Mr. Shaw frowned. 

“He said a book seemed to have been commissioned with Anya as the muse; they have roped her to a contract about to be signed; even the lawyer Anya is using to manage this contract seems to have been compromised. He said that the plot gets worse the more he looks into it. His negligence has encouraged someone to target Anya,” Old Master Rhodes said. The living room fell into silence after that. 

‘James, use some of your contacts. Find out what is going on,” Old Master Rhodes ordered, and James nodded in reply. 

The next day in Lincoln City, Daniel slowly dressed for the auction. His nerves collided with the cold air leaking off him–a burning ice. His phone rang as he was putting on his tie, so he walked over to answer it. 

“Neil, what have you found?” Daniel asked. 

“That lawyer is the uncle to the author. It is, as you suspected. Do you know who introduced him to her? Because until we know, we cannot find out how they got him close to her.” 

“She can’t sign any contract with them. Have you found out when she is supposed to sign?” 

Daniel asked. 

“There is talk that it will be on Thursday,” he said. 

“This week?” Daniel asked. 

“Yes. But Daniel, a lot of funds for the HERACLE project come from Germany. I have event found documents about scheduled productions. The HERACLE project does not seem to need 

Chapter 51 Suspicions 

your funds or your production line.” 

15 

“If so, why is he acting as though they need investment?” Daniel asked, confusion gathered on his face like clouds before a storm. 

“Could it be this entire plot is set for your wife? You need to talk to her directly to find out.” 

“She does not trust me anymore. I might as well be an enemy.” 

“That is true.” 

“I just want to inform you that all the sales and acquisition of your wife’s art was handled by her attorney, Matthias‘ law firm.” 

“So there are probably more contracts she has already signed.” Daniel said. 

“Do you want her signing a few more? Should I draft something?” Neil asked solemnly 

“Can you find out about most of these contracts? Daniel asked. 

“Sure, but should there be something wrong with them?” Neil asked. 

“If possible.” 

“It is always possible. But as for the others, will her lawyer cooperate?” Neil asked. 

“He will,” Daniel answered. 

“She is to sign the document on Thursday. Thursday is only two days away,” Neil reminded 

him. 

“I know. I might have to offend her to get her back.” Daniel pressed his phone to his ear with his shoulder so that his hands could be free to be used to put on his watch. 

“Offend her? You are already her worst enemy. If you do anything worse, you will lose her.” Neil could not help but warn Daniel. One could hear the concern in his voice. 

“I should get going; the auction is today,” Daniel answered and ended the call. As he left his room and walked down to the lobby, he thought of Neil’s words. Of course, he understood his point. He, too, was worried. But he had been thinking a lot these days since he had not seen her. She may never forgive him. His crimes were too heavy for an apology to bear. The presence of Stanley had alerted him to one thing: even if there is no Stanley, there will be Damien, Danny, and Dante. His Anya could attract different kinds of flies from different works of life. He was not stupid; he would not be able to accept it. He did not want to apologize leave; he wanted her back. He knew to get back his Anya, he would have to play dirty. 

The auction hall exuded an aura of sophistication, the air filled with murmurs of excitement and the occasional clink of champagne glasses. Anya, clad in a sleek, black gown, navigated through the crowd with practiced ease, her expression composed and detached. She took her seat, scanning the room with cool detachment, until her 

gaze fell upon Daniel. 

A flicker of annoyance passed through Anya as she noticed him, Daniel, walking in clad in black. Was he a ghost? Why did she have to see him everywhere? She had spent the better part of a month trying to forget him, burying their shared history beneath a façade of indifference. But now, suddenly, he was everywhere. 

Daniel’s eyes met hers; a soft smile made its way up his face and his lips as he made his way towards her. Anya stiffened, her posture rigid as he approached, a knot forming in the pit of her stomach. Why couldn’t he just leave her alone? Hadn’t he gone back to New York City? 

“Anya,” Daniel greeted, his soft tone sauntering into her ears. “It’s been a while.” 

Chapter 51 SuspRTIONS 

Anya forced a tight–lipped smile, her tone curt as she replied, “Daniel. Yes, it has.” 

Daniel took the seat in front of her; he fought the urge to turn around and talk to her, as he knew she did not want to see him. His heart itched at how close she was. He had not seen her for a few days. He missed her greatly. 

As the auction began, Anya found herself growing increasingly agitated. She tried her best to ignore his presence, but his cologne made its way into her nose. She had always loved the way he smelled, so sitting this close enough to smell the scent coming off him really distracted her. She tried to watch with detached interest as various treasures were presented a rare sculpture, a vintage wine collection, a set of antique furniture–but none of these were what brought her here. She wanted the painting, Anya in the wind.