Chapter 5


    The next morning. Anastasia prepared breakfast and headed to stor’spany.


    Aware of Anastasia’s impending arrival, stor arrived at the office early, appearing quite weary.


    While he was indeed tired, it wasn’t due to work.


    “Did you have a rough night’s sleep?” Anastasia asked, her toneced with concern. She approached


    stor and offered assistance with adjusting his tie. “Why are you pushing yourself so hard?”


    stor was dressed in the same outfit as yesterday, likely out of concern that Anastasia might discern


    something amiss.


    ? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    Anastasia’s lips curved into a gentle smile.


    If stor was willing to great lengths to deceive her, it would only indicate that he had no intention of


    pursuing a divorce.


    “I’m busy making money to support the family,” stor quipped, a faint smile gracing his face as if he


    were jesting.


    Anastasia’s hands, in the process of adjusting stor’s tie, momentarily froze. “Family? Which family?”


    she wondered.


    “stor, this is the quarterly report. Felicia entered the office just in time, her deliberate attempt to


    provoke Anastasia evident in her demeanor.


    “You may leave.” stor furrowed his eyebrows as he sternly ordered Felicia to leave.


    Felicia shot a pointed nce at Anastasia, her gaze filled with provocation.


    Anastasia observed the unfolding exchange between the two with a calm demeanor, her mind upied


    by her own thoughts, “stor, I’ll be heading to Atharia on a business trip. There’s a museum exhibition


    happening there.”


    stor set down the documents that were in his hand, a hint of displeasure palpable in his reaction.


    “Didn’t we agree that you would avoid going on business trips whenever possible? Am I not capable of


    supporting you financially?” he voiced his discontent.


    The idea of Anastasia making a public appearance bothered stor.


    “Mr. Lexington approached me in person. It didn’t seem appropriate to decline, Anastasia exined as


    she walked toward stor, attempting to soothe his disgruntlement. She continued, “Darling, I’ll be


    away for three months. Can’t you take a day off and spend some time with me today? You’ve already


    worked overtimest night. Thepany should at least be a little considerate, right?”


    Anastasia wrapped her arms around stor from behind, her fingers subtly venturing beneath the


    fabric of his shirt. The intimacy of her touch carried a tant message.


    Anastasia found out that stor had suffered from mysophobia after their marriage. Despite having


    high requirements for a woman, he seemed to make an exception when it came to Felicia.


    stor took a deep breath and held Anastasia’s hand, which had been moving restlessly. “The year is


    coming to an end, and ourpany will be extremely busy.”


    Anastasia smiled wryly, well aware of stor’sck of interest in her.


    “I see…” Anastasia knew that stor would never take a day off to be at home. In a feigned tone of


    aggrievement, she asked, “Have you heard about Mabel Cook and her husband going through a


    divorce?”


    “Hmm?” stor was surprised. He wasn’t well–acquainted with Anastasia’s friends.


    “You remember, she’s the wife of Mr. Cook from Quaid Group. We met them during a business meeting


    before. They’re quite affable. They have quite an age gap between them. I evenmented at that


    time how it seemed a shame for a lovely woman to be paired with an older man,” Anastasia said,


    jogging his memory.


    stor appeared somewhat indifferent and asked nonchntly, “Why did they get divorced?”


    “She said that her husband couldn’t satisfy her anymore. Eventually, she found a young hunk but was


    caught by her husband. It’s surprising, considering I thought they were genuinely in love,” Anastasia


    exined, letting out a sigh.


    stor’s pen paused briefly in his hand. A shadow passed over his face as he pulled Anastasia into his


    embrace. “I’ll be home with you tonight,” he whispered.


    Anastasia chuckled and said, “Don’t get me wrong. You’re nothing like Mabel’s husband. He’s old and


    useless. Now, let’s have breakfast before it gets cold. I purposely woke up at six in the morning and


    prepared it for you to rejuvenate your energy.” She opened the lunch box and took out the steaming


    soup,


    Anastasia had indeed mastered the art of seduction.


    The sacrifice she made for the family was significant.


    “I’ve prepared chicken soup that will provide a significant energy boost,” Anastasia stated with


    emphasis, her words held a subtle implication.


    Unfortunately, stor seemed to have missed the implication behind her words. He held Anastasia


    with one arm and took the bowl of soup with another.


    At that very moment, an assistant rushed in through the door with a sense of urgency. “Mr. Lopez,


    Felicia skipped breakfast this morning and copsed due to low blood sugar!”