Chapter 433

Anna Ross stood frozen in place, her gaze fixed on her mother's face.

Vivian Lowell withdrew her hand, her eyes dropping to the floor. "Anna, I know you've suffered so much because of me. But everything I do is for your own good!"

"Every time I see other mothers and daughters sharing such warmth, my heart aches. Their daughters can stay by their sides, but my daughter has to work so hard out in the world. It breaks my heart."

Anna's fingers trembled slightly. She never thought it was hard. As long as she could protect her mother, everything was worth it.

Even working late into the night, even scrimping and saving. As long as she could save enough money, she could take her mother far away from all this.

But she could never bring herself to hurt someone else. Especially not him, the one she had already hurt once.

"Mom, I'm willing to do anything else, but this..."

She swallowed her words of refusal. She couldn't bear to see the disappointment in her mother's eyes.

Vivian suddenly grabbed her hands, a burning intensity in her eyes. "Anna, your father said you just need to keep an eye on Adrian Sinclair. That's all! No harm will come to anyone!"

Seeing the desperate hope in her mother's eyes, Anna finally relented. "Alright, I'll do it." But she silently vowed to herself that she would never betray her conscience.

She needed to raise the money quickly and get her mother out of this mess.

Vivian wept with joy, pulling her daughter into a tight embrace. Outside the door, Howard Lowell smirked coldly.

The Lowell empire would soon be in his grasp.

......

The night was deep as Anna returned to work at the bar. After two days away, she found herself strangely missing the stage.

"Anna, you're finally back! The customers have been driving me crazy these past two days!" Pamela gestured dramatically, pulling up surveillance footage as proof.

On the screen, customers were clamoring for her to perform. Anna sighed, rubbing her temples. She hadn't realized she was this popular.

"Pamela, I'll sing a few extra songs tonight to make up for it." She set her things down and quickly made her way to the stage.

Pamela beamed, feeling like her prayers had been answered this year. She had truly found a treasure.

The customers erupted into cheers as Anna took the stage, whistles filling the air like at a concert.

The regular singer reluctantly stepped aside. As she passed Anna, she suddenly stopped. "Hello, Miss Ross. I'm Niki."

Anna paused, not recalling this person at the bar before. Still, she smiled politely. "Hello, Niki. Do I know you?"