Maggie feigned a phone call, Lifting her cellphone with pretense.

Remy's sneer cut through the charade.

"Overconfident, Maggie, thinking Sanford is your shield. But what if there's a bigger fish?"

At his words, Maggie halted her pretense, a chill of apprehension taking hold.

“Remy, what do you mean?" she inquired, a note of alarm in her voice.

Remy ceased his taunts and dialed swiftly. Upon connection, his voice dripped with flattery.

“Mrs. Robles, she's here, resistant and defiant. She even dares to suggest Mr. Robles should discipline us.”

Maggie's expression shifted at the mention of "Mrs. Robles".

Was it she who orchestrated this trap, urging her to her son?

“Very well, she'll speak to you," Remy announced, then approached Maggie, offering the phone.

“Speak, Maggie."

Lips pressed tight, Maggie reached for the phone with a hesitant grasp.

Janiya's voice, laced with revulsion, came from the other end.

“Maggie Shear, you were to take the money and vanish. Your refusal to bow down prompts me to darker methods. Today is but a warning.

Cross me, and your brother may well spend his life behind bars. Stay away from my son, or else my resources to coerce you are plenty!"

Maggie's grip on the phone tightened, her complexion draining of color.

"Mrs. Robles, why resort to this? What of your promise to me, to Sanford? You vowed, should we stay united for two years, you'd set the date for our wedding yourself."

Upon hearing Maggie's words, Janiya's expression turned into one of disdain.

"Maggie, perhaps you're just too innocent, or maybe I've given you too much credit. Don't you realize I've been stalling on purpose? My whole ploy was to give Jaelyn a chance to stir trouble in your relationship. Yet, it seems I aimed too high. Jaelyn fell short. She couldn't even manage one simple task," she declared.

Janiya's revelation sent a wave of emotion through Maggie.