Chapter 3


    Chapter 3


    “Anastasia, did you cook up these fake documents to fool me?” Salma was still skeptical, repeatedly


    questioning the authenticity of the matter.


    “Mom, these are all legally binding, they must be real. If you don’t believe me, you can check it


    yourself, Anastasia replied –


    “And what about your husband? Why didn’t you bring him to meet me?” Salma nced at the door and


    continued, “I just asked you to go on a blind date and get to know the guy first. Why did you rush into


    marriage? You didn’t even fully understand his background”


    “You know everything already, don’t you? He works at Elysian Technologies, 30 years old, stable job,


    not bad looking…Anastasia mentioned her interactions with Herman, saying, “He seems gentle, and


    his parents are both deceased, no siblings, and a simple family background. He won’t give us much


    headache.”


    The thought of not having to deal with future mother–inw issues made Anastasia feel relieved.


    It took quite some time for Salma to process this news Holding the marriage certificate, she was torn


    about whether she was right to push her daughter into marriage. She knew clearly that she had


    pressured Anastasia, only marrying in haste to keep her happy.


    Salma had a sickness, cancer, and she hadn’t told Anastasia yet. Since herst failed romance,


    Anastasia had been hesitant to date again She worried that when she passed away Anastasia would


    be alone with no one to care for her, no one to help her out, no one to feel for her. So, she pressured


    Anastasia into blind dates, hoping she would find a reliable man and start a family.


    Now that things were set in stone, there was no use in saying anything else.


    “Ana, have your husbande over and meet me. Salma sat down and said, “Even though you’re


    legally married now, I still need to see what kind of man he is.”


    “Alright, I’ll ask himter. We can all have dinner together tomorrow, Anastasia said. “Mom, I have to go


    to work now. It’s too hot outside, and you’re not in good health. Just rest at home and don’t go out.”


    After repeatedly reminding her, Anastasia packed up and left for work. She ran a stall at the Night


    Market on Alder Drive, selling handmade crafts she made herself.


    To operate the stall, she bought a used car. She set up shop every day at 5 o’clock sharp and didn’t


    pack up until 11.


    When business was good, she could make about ten grand a month. It was more than enough to get


    by in Riverdale.


    She studied jewelry design and started her own little shop when no jewelrypany would hire her


    because of an incident a few years back.


    Once everything was set up, the Night Market started getting busy. Anastasia took the opportunity to


    text Herman, “My mom wants to meet you. Are you free to have dinner with us tomorrow?”


    After sending the message, she didn’t receive a reply. A customer approached, and Anastasia got


    busy, not giving it a second thought.


    Business was good tonight, Anastasia made over four hundred dors. She packed up at 11 on the dot.


    Sitting in the van counting her earnings, her phone rang.


    It was a text from Herman. [Sorry, I’m on a business trip in Crescent Bay. I’ll arrange the dinner when I


    get back in a few days.]


    Being away on business was amon urrence for corporate employees. Anastasia understood


    and simply replied, [Okay]


    Anastasia wrapped up her day’s work. Apart from being a married woman now, her life was no different


    from before. In the following days, she was always out the door early and backte, she even forgot


    she had a husband.


    One night, she worked until midnight. It started raining, and her car broke down right in front of her


    house.


    Anastasia got out of the car with an umbre to check on it. This used car had given her trouble a few


    times before. While it never had any major issues, minor ones kept popping up.


    She didn’t want to buy a new car because the price of a used car was equivalent to half of her annual


    ie. She could only afford to fix it and continue


    using it


    After a quick check, she knew she would have to go to the mechanic again. This would cost her


    hundreds of dors, which she was reluctant to spend.


    Her house was about a hundred meters away. The rain was getting heavier, and it waste into the


    night. Anastasia had to leave the car on the roadside and head to the back of the car to retrieve her


    things under the umbre.


    She had to bring back all the unsold jewelry. Some needed to be processed, and some were brought


    by customers for her to fix. She had to get them done tonight.


    The wind was strong. Anastasia struggled with a big box in her arms, her clothes half–soaked. She


    looked rather disheveled.


    Unbeknownst to her, not too far away, Herman, who had just returned from Crescent Bay, was


    watching the whole scene from his Rolls–Royce.


    Anastasia’s figure looked weak as if she could be blown over by a gust of wind, but she seemed very


    determined, undeterred by the storm. When her umbre was blown away, she waspletely


    soaked, bowed her head, holding the box, and headed home. She was one of themon folks at the


    bottom of the city, bearing all the difficulties on her own.


    Herman was moved by what he saw. He picked up an umbre, instructed his driver to return to


    Salstrom Manor, and got out of the car to approach AnastasiaThis content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.