The Billionaire's Mistake

MISTAKE 118

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

insurance. A last resort. But now it's gone, and without

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

side, Shaina's phone started ringing.

sent you to Appletown to inspect the orchard. Why have you not gone yet?" The old woman

been defiant these past few days because she felt she would soon meet Anya

was just going

Rose Mansion, Daniel glanced at

Daniel said, his voice gentle as he approached her. "I need to go on a trip to inspect a

118 Must keep up

Daniel, her eyes filled with curiosity

this?"

at Anya's skepticism, understanding her reluctance to trust

come with me." Daniel

surprise at Daniel's invitation, her heart fluttering with uncertainty. She couldn't shake the feeling that Daniel was up to

"No."

of her as she wondered what Daniel

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

his voice filled with excitement. "Let's pack

days."

for the trip ahead, Daniel couldn't help but feel

anticipation

Daniel led Anya out of

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

city from this angle, the towering buildings and bustling streets a stark contrast to the quiet

excitement quickly gave way to confusion as Daniel led her

he said, and she shot him a

own room, but he had only

Anya asked, her voice filled with disbelief.

at the corners of his lips as he let Anya inside the

do to you?" Daniel asked, his voice casual as he led Anya towards the reception

convinced. What can't he do to her? A

checked in, she couldn't help but feel slightly uneasy. A

did not believe he would