Chapter 6: A daughter in law

“Aunt Solana, what have you decided?” his cousin Helen, Jared’s younger sister, asked. Because of this question, all eyes rested on Daniel’s mother, Solana, the head of the Angel foundation. “I already have plans to hire a new director. I already have someone in mind, but if Miley wants to try out for the position, she can apply. I will consider it fairly,” Daniel’s mother answered. “New director? Why would we need a new director?” Aunt Natalia asked. “You are firing my mother?” Miley asked in confusion. “So you know it is a position someone can be fired from. You finally use the right words.” Helen snorted at her reaction. “Why would you remove me from my position?” Aunt Natalia asked in agitation. She shot to her feet, no longer calm enough to sit. Natalia was just an art curator when she married into the Shaw family. Except for Anya, compared to the other wives married in, her background was very ordinary. But she was well educated and her parents had even taken their life savings to send her abroad to become a curator when she got a partial scholarship years back. It was there that Natalia met her husband. Natalia had always been sensitive about her background. But her mother-in-law started the art gallery as a subsidiary of the Angel foundation, and she, the daughter-in-law with a degree and experience in this field, became the director. This position had lifted Natalia’s social standing. She was not only a daughter-in-law of the Shaws; she was also an art director. How could she be removed from the position? Many people who do not know the ins of the hierarchy really think the art gallery is her own, especially her friends. How would she hold her head high if she was fired? “You should know why,” Daniel’s mother said, her eyes hardening on Natalia’s form, and she froze. Her eyes widened as she spoke, but words could not leave her mouth. The rest of the family, seeing her reaction, knew there must be an inside story. “Well, Mother is in charge of this. Father, is there any other thing to discuss?,” Daniel said. His decision was final. “Who is the new director you have in mind?” Aunt Natalia asked. “I can give this position to anyone. You forget that this position is mainly for the eldest daughter in law of my branch of the family,” she said, and Anya froze. Anya wished she could disappear at this moment. She steadied her breath for what was coming next and stared out the window. The mention of this daughter-in-law, the house still. Even Solana who had mentioned her could not help but frown. This daughter in law’s identity in the family was awkward. Many of them disliked her for her low birth, even her son, Anya’s own husband. “She? Aunty, please don’t joke. The position of the head of the gallery is the face of the family, how can you let that thing run the gallery?” Miley said. “If people start looking at her, won’t they uncover her past? Can the daughter of an escort be the face of our family?” Natalia scoffed. This daughter in law with a low background, even lower than hers disgusted her. Anya acted as though she had not heard anything. It was not as though the jeers were new. She took a deep breath and continued staring out the window. She was determined to ride this through. No matter what they said, she would stare out the window. They had already found Anya by the window at this time. Wendy had a headache dealing with this. She had not actually meant to train Anya, she was just putting Natalia in her place. Now Anya had been mentioned, Wendy could not just ignore it. This position really belonged to her. “Anya, If you insist on being trained for the position, I will consider it,” Wendy said. “Trained? She is just a college drop out, can she be trained?” “Can you get over her history? No matter what, with a mother like hers, who knows what disgusting she has been involved in?” Hearing the discussion, Daniel could not help but frown. No matter what, she was his wife. He did not even want such talk to continue. “Mother, She can’t be in the public eye. Just hire a professional,” Daniel ended the conversation. Anya who remained quiet by the window felt his words stab her heart. Sure enough, he looked down on her. She felt that marrying a man because of love was the most stupid thing she had ever done. Anya felt that she was the one who put herself in this situation for a flogging. Now Daniel had spoken, no one brought up the topic again. A lot more was discussed and his grandfather’s trust was brought up. Old Master Shaw had left everything in a trust for his children and grandchildren. When the lawyer came, he read grandpa’s will. Everything inside was predictable until Anya’s name was mentioned. “I leave to Anya Shaw, Five million dollars, the little spring estate in the south and ten percent shares in Shaw Group,” the lawyer said to a still house. The silence only lasted for a second, before there was anger. “How can father do this?” Natalia said. She asked if a wife of the Shaw family did not have any shares in the family company, but Anya was given? Many could understand why Old Master Shaw did that. No matter what, the wives of the family head always had shares. Even Wendy was given when she got married. Anya was not. It is only expected that he would give her shares in the family company. They understood this, but it did not mean they liked it. Anya was no one IN their eyes, but a gold digger and a slut like her mother. A lot of them felt they should be forcing her out of the family instead of giving her roots. “This property should not be in your hands, Anya. You know that right?” Wendy spoke directly to Anya. “Yes, grandfather mistook you for Selene, his old military buddy’s granddaughter. You also pretended to have saved him, so he had you and Daniel marry. Those properties belong to his actual granddaughter in law,” Jared said what everyone was thinking. “Selene is Daniel’s first love. She has finally returned to the country. You should not sit in that position shamelessly,” Miley spoke. Daniel also frowned. From what he knew about this woman, having this much money and family property would make it harder for him to get rid of her. Anya took deep breaths and compared herself, before she faced this family. “Do not worry Wendy. Your son can make all the arrangements. I will comply,” Anya said to Wendy, then she walked out of the house. She did not care what was happening inside. She stood outside the mansion taking in the fresh air. She was waiting for Daniel, but was not sure if he would be leaving soon. Just as she was about to give up and leave, Daniel stepped out of the house. Daniel looked at her lonely back and for a second he felt sympathy. But he quickly suppressed this feeling and approached her. “You will not go back on your words, will you?” Daniel asked. Anya turned and faced him. “Selene is your lover?” Anya asked and Daniel frowned. “Don’t accuse her blindly,” Daniel frowned. “I did not accuse her blindly. I accused you, but you are angry because she is insulted,” Anya answered with a light chuckle. She felt bitter inside, but what could she do? She had shed enough tears for Daniel and refused to do it again. “Me and Selene are innocent. We have done nothing we should not do,” Daniel said. He did not like her assuming things about Selene’s character. “Alright,” Anya chuckled, but she did not believe a word he said. “I will not go back on my words. You can have everything arranged. I only have one condition,” Anya said. “What?” Daniel frowned. “I will give it to you in our divorce,” she said and he frowned.