《The Bound Between Us》 Chapter 1 Chapter1 Sitting in a cafe, Anastasia scrutinized the man she was set up with. She was quite taken aback. His looks were a sight for sore eyes. His features were damn handsome, wless, radiating an innate sense of nobility This was her tenth blind date in less than three months. She was between a rock and a hard ce if she didn¡¯te, her mom would threaten her with fasting or suicide The guy in front of her was definitely a cut above the other dudes she¡¯d been set up with before. After so many blind dates, Anastasia wasn¡¯t shy anymore so she blurted out, ¡°When are you nning to get hitched?¡± Beforeing. Anastasia had decided that as long as the guy wasn¡¯t a total bum, she¡¯d consider marrying him right away, maybe even skip the whole dating process. Wasn¡¯t the point of blind dates to find someone to marry? If she got married, her mom wouldn¡¯t be threatening her with suicide anymore. The man seemed surprised, then chuckled, ¡°We just met. Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re jumping the gun?¡± When the dudeughed, he was a real looker, like sunshine in spring. Anastasia had a thing for handsome guys and was almost mesmerized. Anastasiaposed herself and said, ¡°Oh night, I almost forgot to introduce myself. I¡¯m Anastasia. The matchmaker should have filled you in about me. I¡¯m 25, a frencer, and I sell some jewelry, earning around 10 thousand dors. Only got my mom at home. I¡¯ve been in a rtionship before, now I¡¯m single, healthy, no bad habits.¡± Then, Anastasia added, ¡°I¡¯m ready to get hitched anytime.¡± Anastasia was here today because her mom had pushed her into it, and the guy she was set up with was found by her mom on a dating website. She thought this would be another average¨Clooking, older guy with a beer belly and messed up values. People on dating websites were just too unreliable. Anastasia had seen it all, and very few were decent looking. Hearing Anastasia¡¯s introduction, the guy got the gist. He smiled warmly, his voice gentle. ¡°How did the matchmaker introduce me to you? Aren¡¯t you afraid of getting conned?¡± ¡°Marriage is a gamble.¡± Anastasia sipped her drink and said, ¡°This is my tenth blind date. They told me you work for a listedpany, Elysian Technologies You¡¯re a local, and your parents are gone. You¡¯re a solid guy, hardworking, and eager to get hitched. You¡¯re¡­ Mr. Alstrom¡­¡± Anastasia forgot the guy¡¯s name. When she left home, her mom had told her about the guy she was meeting, but she hadn¡¯t really paid attention. ¡®My name¡¯s Herman Salstrom,¡± the man said with a warm smile. ¡°I¡¯m a local, don¡¯t own a house, but I have a car. I rent my ce, drive a Chevrolet, have a stable ie, am currently single, have no bad habits, and I am healthy.¡± Anastasia pulled out a bunch of marital registration papers and looked at Herman. ¡°Mr. Salstrom, would you marry me right here and now? I can support myself, and won¡¯t spend your money. We can go dutch. You don¡¯t have to give me any gifts, or have a wedding. Just a simple affair, we just need to be legally married.¡± Regardless, she was getting into this rtionship just to fulfill her mom¡¯s wishes. The rest, they would y it by ear. If they were reallypatible, they¡¯d stick together. Many of Anastasia¡¯s friends got married through blind dates, and most of them were doing great. A simple life was real happiness. Herman unconsciously tapped his hand with his forefinger, pondering her words. This woman hade to the blind date with all the paperwork ready for marriage registration. Was she a bit too eager to tie the knot? He was going to be 30 this year, and the pressure from home to get married was mounting. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Herman asked, ¡°You don¡¯t mind that I don¡¯t own a house? Being with me might be tough.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t own a house either, Anastasia said. ¡°Without parental support, not many people can afford a house before 30. I understand, as long as you¡¯re decent and ambitious, we¡¯ll be fine. Anastasia knew the house prices in this city. She herself was an ordinary person, no background, or special skills, How could she demand the guy to own a house Anastasia stared at Herman, and after about ten seconds, Herman took out his phone and made a call, ¡°Prepare all the necessary paperwork for a marriage registration An hourter. Anastasia and Herman walked out of the registration office, looking at the marriage certificates in her hand, Anastasia btedly realized how impulsive she¡¯d been. She¡¯d actually married a guy she¡¯d only met once. Herman saw her expression and smirked, ¡°If you¡¯re having second thoughts, there¡¯s still time.¡± Anastasia put away the documents, looked up at him, shook her head, and said firmly. ¡°I won¡¯t back out, Mr. Salstrom. You probably have work to do, and I need to sell stuff. I¡¯m heading home¡± They¡¯d just gotten married and were already going their separate ways? Was this woman really just looking for any guy to marry? Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Seeing that Anastasia was really leaving, Herman reminded her, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we exchange contact info? How am I gonna catch youter?¡± Anastasia was a bit embarrassed as this had totally slipped her mind. She quickly pulled out her mobile, and they added each other on WhatsApp. Herman also gave Anastasia his phone number, saying, ¡°Call me if anythinges up. This was his personal line. ¡°Mm.¡± Anastasia nced at Herman¡¯s phone from the corner of her eye, he had saved her name as ¡®my wife¡®. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Seeing this nickname, Anastasia felt a strange sensation. Was she a married woman now? She was going to simply save his contact as his name, but seeing how Herman saved hers as ¡®wife, she hesitated for a moment, then saved him as ¡®my Mr. Salstrom. As Herman was about to offer her a lift, his phone rang. Changing what he was about to say, he said, ¡°Be careful on the road¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t want to disturb him any further, so she hailed a cab and left. Herman watched as Anastasia drove away. After a while, a Rolls Royce pulled up beside him, and a man in the car rolled down the window. ¡°Herman, weren¡¯t you supposed to meet me at the cafe? Why did youe here? You¡¯ve been ignoring my calls. You have a contract signing at Crescent Bay at 6. The flight¡¯s booked for 4 this afternoon. We¡¯ll miss it if we don¡¯t get moving.¡± The man talking was Herman¡¯s younger brother, Flynn. ¡°I had some business to take care of.¡± Herman got in the car, his voice a bit deep. ¡°Let¡¯s head to the airport now.¡± Flynn started the car, casually asking, ¡°What business were you taking care of?¡± 0 ¡°I got married¡± Herman¡¯s casual remark nearly caused an ident. mFlynn, startled, mistakenly stepped on the elerator, hastily hit the brakes, and finally steadied the car. ¡°Are you joking? You don¡¯t even have a girlfriend. Mom introduced you to so many women, but you showed no interest. She even started suspecting that you might be into men and was about to introduce you to some. Anyway, our family is open¨Cminded, and besides, I can inherit the family business¡­ ¡°If you keep rambling, I¡¯m cutting your allowance in half for the rest of the year.¡± Flynn immediately cried out, ¡°Bro,e on!¡± ¡°After you drop me off at the airport, help me buy an apartment. Nothing too fancy, a regr t will do.¡± ¡°Why do you want such a small ce? You have several vis in your name, aren¡¯t they enough for you?¡± Herman shot him a nce, and Flynn immediately fell silent. He didn¡¯t take Herman¡¯s marriage seriously, thinking he was just joking. Because he knew Herman¡¯s love life well. Herman wouldn¡¯t just marry a random woman he met on the street. Anastasia returned home, and as soon as she walked through the door, her mother started scolding her, ¡°Anastasia, you¡¯ve started lying now. I told you to go on a date, why didn¡¯t you¡­¡± Salma hadn¡¯t finished when she saw Anastasia pull out the marriage certificate. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m married now.¡± Anastasia showed the marriage documents to Salma. ¡°You can rest easy now.¡± Salma was very surprised when she saw the marriage documents. She put down the cleaning tools in her hand and took the documents with trembling hands. On closer examination, Salma found that the man was very handsome. Then she saw the name, Herman? She remembered that the man introduced on the dating site didn¡¯t have this name. Did she hear it wrong? Chapter 3 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 ¨C ¡°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¨Cinw 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¨Csoaked. 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¨CRoyce. 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. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Anastasia could no longer move the huge box, her hands were losing strength. Just when the box was about to hit the ground, a pair of hands suddenly held it up, and a deep voice sounded from above. ¡°Let me help you¡°. Anastasia looked up, and the man before her handed her his umbre, took therge box from her hands, and started moving toward the residential area. She was stunned for a couple of seconds, then quickly snapped back to reality, hurriedly catching up to the man to hold the umbre for him. Herman had done his homework on Anastasia, so he knew exactly where she lived and skillfully managed to haul the box to her apartment building, leaving it by the elevator. ¡°Thank you so much, Anastasia expressed her gratitude. ¡°I really don¡¯t know how to thank you. If it wasn¡¯t for you, my stuff would¡¯ve gotten soaked. I can give you some money, or maybe treat you to a meal.¡± Anastasia had face blindness and was also myopic. She forgot to wear her contact lenses that day, and her sses were left in the car, so she didn¡¯t recognize the man in front of her. The man who had been her husband for a few days. If you counted carefully, they only met for an hour that day. They hadn¡¯tmunicated at all in the past few days. She was truly grateful for the man¡¯s help. If the stuff had fallen and gotten wet, the loss would¡¯ve been significant. Herman gazed deeply at Anastasia, saying, ¡°You don¡¯t have to give me money, or treat me to a meal. Just invite me up for a ss of water.¡± In the middle of the night, a strange man was asking to enter her home, Anastasia understood what that meant. She immediately eyed the man suspiciously, any goodwill she had for him evaporating, ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m married¡± Herman smirked, ¡°Seems like you haven¡¯tpletely forgotten. You¡¯re aware you¡¯re married.¡± He moved closer to her, saying, ¡°Well then, have a good look. Am I not your husband?¡± When his handsome face was up close, Anastasia¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, ¡°You¡­ you are¡­¡± She forgot his name. He sighed. ¡°Herman.¡± She blushed, asking, ¡°When did you get back?¡± ¡°I just returned from a business trip in another city Herman exined, standing tall. I¡¯ve been busy these past few days, so I couldn¡¯t contact you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s It¡¯s alright.¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. He nodded. I can see that.¡± Whether he was there or not, it didn¡¯t matter to her. Anastasia probably hadn¡¯t adjusted to the fact that she had a husband and had even forgotten about him Anastasia awkwardly exined, ¡°I have face blindness, and I¡¯m a bit myopic. I forgot to wear my sses, and it was dark, so I didn¡¯t recognize you. I didn¡¯t do it on purpose.¡± Anastasia¡¯s clothes were soaked by the rain, sticking to her skin, and perfectly outlining her figure. Her features were delicate, her eyes bright, and she was incredibly beautiful. Particrly her chest, which was very eye¨Ccatching Herman slightly furrowed his brows, taking off his coat to drape it over her. ¡°Go change your clothes quickly. Don¡¯t catch a cold¡± Anastasia looked down and immediately blushed. ¡°Thanks!¡± She was embarrassed, wishing she could hide somewhere, then asked, ¡°Your clothes are wet too. Do you want toe up and change into something dry?¡± As soon as she asked, Anastasia regretted it. Would Herman misunderstand her intentions? Herman looked at her with a smile, noting every subtle change in her expression. This woman was easily embarrassed. She waspletely different from the socialites he usually interacted with. She was like a wildflower growing on a cliff, unassuming, but resilient Her shyness didn¡¯t diminish her femininity. She wasn¡¯t a flower nurtured in a greenhouse, she had a strong personality. Seeing that he didn¡¯t respond immediately, Anastasia was about to say something, but he said, ¡°No.¡± She was rejected, and Anastasia felt a bit awkward. He saw through her thoughts and continued, ¡°It¡¯s toote now. It wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for me to meet your parents for the first time like this. I¡¯ll prepare some gifts and visit formally another day.¡± Anastasia replized that her previous suggestion was indeed inappropriate. The elevator doors opened, and Herman helped move therge box inside, ¡°You should get some rest, and make some preparations.¡± Anastasia instinctively asked, ¡°Prepare for what?¡± Seeing her puzzled look, heughed, ¡°We¡¯re legally married now. Shouldn¡¯t you be moving in with me?¡± Anastasia suddenly realized she¡¯dpletely forgotten about this. Legally married couples should live together. When she registered their marriage, she hadn¡¯t thought about this. She was just satisfied with being a legal couple. If they lived together, would they have to share a bed? Seeing the change in Anastasia¡¯s expression, Herman knew she didn¡¯t seem to be rejecting the idea. Shed been so decisive when they got married, that she couldn¡¯t hesitate now. ¡°¡­Alright.¡± Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Chapter 5 When Anastasia got back home, Salma was already in snoozeville, so Anastasia tiptoed around, not wanting to wake her up. That night, Anastasia had a nasty case of insomnia. She couldn¡¯t catch a wink of sleep until the crack of dawn Despite hitting the sack superte, her body clock was as reliable as an rm clock, always waking her up at 7 am sharp. She got up early, whipped up breakfast for her mom, and hit the road because she had to drop her car off at the repair shop. She needed it for her stall in the evening. After dropping off the car, Anastasia remembered she needed to stock up goods from the market, but with her car in the shop, she had to call her bestie for a ride. Once the call was done, Anastasia hung out on the side of the road, waiting. About half an hourter, a shy red BMW pulled up next to Anastasia. It was her bestie Monica waving at her, ¡°Anastasia, hop in.¡± Anastasia hopped in, buckled up, and Monica, knowing where Anastasia had to go, drove straight to the market. In the car, Monica went, Your old bucket of bolts needed recing ages ago. Why are you still fixing it? Listen to me, get a new one.¡± Anastasiaughed and replied, ¡°A new car needs a wad of cash¡± She added, ¡°No biggie, it¡¯ll still do after a little fix¨Cup.¡± They¡¯d been besties since high school, a friendship that had been going strong for more than a decade. Monica ran a beauty shop, business was booming, and she was living the good life. Over the years, Anastasia had relied on Monica quite a bit and was immensely grateful for it. Monica said, ¡°Anastasia, why are you busting your ass off? It¡¯s a waste of your talents to be running a stall at the Night Market. You used to be the top dog in our ss. If it wasn¡¯t for that incident, you could have¡­¡± Monica suddenly realized she was about to speak carelessly, she quickly nced at Anastasia¡¯s reaction andughed to change the topic. ¡°You¡¯re still young, and you¡¯re turning down guys I introduce to you. Are you nning on staying single forever? It¡¯s been years, haven¡¯t you moved on from Cason?! heard he¡¯s back in town, running aw firm, and he¡¯s still single. If you can¡¯t let go of him, I can help you win him over.¡± Hearing Cason¡¯s name gave Anastasia mixed feelings; old memories instantly flooded her mind, but they quickly faded into a blur. Seemed like time really did make you forget some things. Anastasia shook her head and replied, ¡°Monica, I appreciate you looking out for me, but it¡¯s fine. I¡¯ve moved on.¡± Monica continued, ¡°If you¡¯ve moved on, why haven¡¯t you got a boyfriend? I heard from your mom that she¡¯s introduced you to quite a few boys, and you¡¯ve turned them all down¡­¡± Monica was on a roll, and Anastasia had to gently cut her off. ¡°Monica, I¡¯m married.¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Monica came to a halt and looked at Anastasia in surprise. ¡°What did you just say? You¡¯re married? You don¡¯t even have a boyfriend. Who did you marry? Is it one of those guys your mom found for you on a dating site?¡± Anastasia couldn¡¯t help butugh at Monica¡¯s reaction, and then she said, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m married. Not to a random guy, but to a man my mother found for me on a dating site. We¡¯re legally wed.¡± ¡°Are you kidding me?¡± Monica mmed on the brakes and pulled over. This was big news, and she needed all the details. Monica took Anastasia to a nearby drink shop, looking like she was ready to interrogate her. ¡°Spill the beans, and don¡¯t keep anything from me. Tell me what¡¯s going on. Who¡¯s the guy?¡± Anastasia gave a helplessugh and said, ¡°His name is Herman. He works for Elysian Technologies. He¡¯s a local, 30 this year, an orphan¡­¡± She gave a brief rundown of what she knew about him. Seeing Anastasia speaking with such certainty and detail, Monica had no choice but to believe her. ¡°Herman?¡± Monica felt like she¡¯d heard that name somewhere, it seemed familiar. Monica¡¯s family was just an average one, with no contact with people in high society. They weren¡¯t in the same circle as Herman, who was the CEO of Elysian Technologies, and kept a low profile, never giving interviews or appearing on TV. Monica felt the name was familiar but didn¡¯t give it much thought. Anastasia said, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll introduce him to you when we have a chance.¡± ¡°I definitely want to meet him. He married my best friend. I have to meet him,¡± Monica said. Monica then asked, ¡°Now, the most important thing, does he have a house? How much is his ie? Will he give his sry to you after marriage? When will you guys have a wedding?¡± Monica fired off a bunch of questions, all very practical and realistic ones. Anastasia shook her head. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask about his ie. He doesn¡¯t have a house, but he has a car. I have my own ie, so I can fend for myself, don¡¯t need him to give me money. As for the wedding, it¡¯s just a ceremony, no need for that, we¡¯ll just be living together. Besides, we¡¯ve agreed that we¡¯ll split our living expenses, go dutch.¡± Monica was shocked. ¡°Anastasia, are you out of your mind? You¡¯re asking for nothing, you just up and got married, without even a house. You¡¯ll be even more hard¨Cpressed in the future. Have you thought about your kids education? How can you not have a house? How much can a car be worth? And you¡¯re even going dutch. Even if you are able split the bills now, what will happen when you have kids? Can you really draw a line between your interests that clearly?¡± Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Anastasia hadn¡¯t really thought that far ahead. Worried that Monica might get the wrong idea, she rified, ¡®I made the decision, I didn¡¯t want to mooch off anyone. We got hitched in a hurry, and whether we can go the distance is still up in the air, but that¡¯s not the point¡± As for the kids¡® education, that¡¯s something that would need even more long¨Cterm thinking. Monica looked a little lost for words. She stared at Anastasia for a while, clearly surprised by her current actions, given what she knew about her. ¡°Anastasia, are you still nning to go to the ss reunion next Friday? I heard Cason will be there too. They¡¯ve even booked Le Manoir Prestige. Cason¡¯s doing pretty well for himself these days, even has his ownw firm.¡± Monica added, ¡°I also heard he bought a mansion in Southridge Estates, that fancy neighborhood where houses cost a fortune. If you patch things up with Cason, you won¡¯t have to work your fingers to the bone anymore.¡± Monica had her doubts about blind dates and thought maybe she could y matchmaker for the two of them. Anastasia got the hint andughed, shaking her head, I¡¯m skipping the reunion.¡± She was a married woman now, and even though she and Herman weren¡¯t exactly head over heels for each other, they were legally husband and wife, and she owed him loyalty. Herman had been good to her, and she would do her best to make their life together work. She wasn¡¯t going to stray. How Cason was doing, whether he was rolling in dough or t broke, was none of her business anymore. Monica looked like she had more to say, but just then, Anastasia¡¯s phone rang, and she tensed up at the caller ID. It was Herman. Anastasia picked up, and Herman¡¯s gentle voice came through, ¡°Where are you? I¡¯lle find you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m out with a friend.¡± Anastasia asked, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± He wasn¡¯t rushing her to move in, was he? ¡°I need to talk¡± Herman was cryptic. Text me your location when you¡¯re done, and I¡¯lle get you.¡± Anastasia nced at Monica, who whispered, ¡°Is that your new hubby?¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Anastasia nodded at Monica, then told Herman on the phone, Tm free now, I¡¯ll text you the address.¡± She hadn¡¯t gone to pick up the supplies yet, and she was worried that if she said she was busy, Herman might think she was making excuses to avoid him. Now that they were married. Anastasia was ready to make it work with Herman. Regardless of whether they had a romantic foundation, she needed to take this marriage seriously. Since she was the one who proposed the marriage, she also had to show hermitment. After hanging up, Anastasia told Monica, ¡°I¡¯m taking the day off, I¡¯m not going to work. He¡¯sing to get me soon.¡± ¡°Anastasia, you¡¯re really a married woman now¡± Monica resigned herself to the reality and sighed, ¡°Well, as your best friend, all I can do now is wish you the best. But if this guy ever messes with you, you have to let me know. Don¡¯t let yourself suffer Anastasia was touched. ¡°He¡¯s actually really gentle, you know¡± Soon, Herman showed up in a in sedan, texting Anastasia. [I¡¯m here, parked by the curb.] Anastasia saw the text and left the cafe. Herman spotted Anastasia right away from his car and got out to greet her. ¡°Anastasia¡± Herman was dressed casually but his innate charm was impossible to hide. Even the most ordinary clothes looked like high fashion on him as if he was a model on a runway He was like a born model. Seeing Herman, Monica was instantly smitten, practically drooling. She lightly patted Anastasia¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Ana, I finally get why you got hitched out of the blue. It¡¯s all because of this hunk!¡± Facing such a hottie, Monica could understand why Anastasia might¡¯ve gotten a little impulsive about getting married. Anastasia knew Manica well and couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°When I decided to marry him, his good looks definitely had a lot to do with it.¡± By the time Herman reached them, Anastasia introduced him to Monica. ¡°This is my good friend, Monica. We¡¯ve known each other since high school. Monica, this is my husband, Herman. The word ¡°husband¡± felt so strange to say, and Anastasia blushed, her ears turning red Herman nced at Anastasia, noticing her shyness, then greeted Monica warmly. ¡°Nice to meet you Monica snapped back to reality andughed. ¡°Mr. Salstrom, nice to meet you. You¡¯re really good¨C looking, Anastasia has great taste.¡± As she spoke, Monica eyed Herman¡¯s car, which was pretty average for Riverdale. Anastasia knew Monica was just being polite. Monica always wanted her to marry rich and often told her she was smart and pretty enough to snag a good catch Anastasia never saw it that way Rich guys weren¡¯t dummies, looks faded, and savvy businessmen weren¡¯t known for making bad deals. She just hoped for a simple life. As long as she was happy, she was content. Monica was still quite taken with Herman¡¯s looks, though. Men like him were hard toe by Herman smiled and said, ¡°Anastasia and I have something to take care of, so we should get going. We should all get dinner together sometime.¡± He saw right through Monica¡¯s thoughts, but as Anastasia¡¯s good friend, he would naturally respect her. ¡°No need for formalities, you guys carry on, we can always catch a meal together some other time.¡± Anastasia hopped into Herman¡¯s ride, and they scooted off together. Only after they had sailed through a few traffic lights did Anastasia remember to ask, ¡°Where are we headed?¡± 1 took the day off today, I¡¯m gonna take you car shopping first and then show you around my ce, Herman said with a yful smirk. ¡°We¡¯ve been hitched for a week now, you ought to know where your hubby hangs his hat, let me show you the ropes.¡± Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Anastasia was taken aback when she heard they were going to buy a car. Her car had broken down, and he hadn¡¯t said anythingst night. She didn¡¯t expect this hasty husband of hers to do anything, but today, he showed with his actions that he cared about their marriage. Anastasia had always relied on her mother since she was a child. There were no men in the family, and everything was up to her and her mom. She was independent at a young age. When the faucet, toilet, or light bulb at home broke, it was always her who fixed them. This was the first time she felt someone shielding her from difficulties. Just likest night, he handed her an umbre, took the heavy stuff from her hands, and stood in front of her, blocking the difficulties for her. Anastasia looked at him. She didn¡¯t know him well and didn¡¯t know his personality or financial situation, but she didn¡¯t want to take advantage of him. ¡°No need,¡± she said ¡°My car can still run after a fix. Don¡¯t waste money¡± Herman knew she would refuse, so he said. You married the, but you don¡¯t want to ept anything from me. It wouldn¡¯t look good if your family knew. I don¡¯t earn much, but it¡¯s enough for living expenses. I¡¯ve saved some money over the years, and buying a car is no problem at all.¡± If Flynn heard this, he would be very impressed. Herman¡¯s wealth was not just enough to buy a car, but even to buy a building without batting an eye. Since Herman had said so, Anastasia couldn¡¯t refuse him anymore. They came to the car dealership. Anastasia didn¡¯t dare to look at the expensive cars. The car Herman drove was just a regr sedan, so it would be appropriate for her to buy one at a simr priceContent is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Finally, Anastasia chose a cost¨Ceffective car. When it came time to pay, she insisted on paying half the cost herself. This half of the cost was what she had saved up over a year, and that was only possible by cutting back on spending. Although Anastasia seemed gentle, she was firm and had her principles. Herman had no choice but to agree to this arrangement. Anastasia¡¯s behavior made Herman appreciate her even more. Among the women he knew, besides his mother, only Anastasia didn¡¯t take advantage of his money. Even when buying a car, she haggled and got the dealership to throw in a bunch of freebies. This amount of money was nothing to Herman, not even worth the shoes on his feet, but this was the life of ordinary people. Anastasia was a thrifty person Anastasia felt a bit of heartache when paying, but when she got in her new car, that feeling vanished. ¡°New cars really are different. Both the horsepower and eleration are much better than my previous car. Anastasia was a bit excited. The car was also red, her favorite color. In Herman¡¯s eyes, Anastasia was a woman who was easily satisfied. Seeing her happy, Herman¡¯s mouth also lifted into a smile. ¡°How about you take me for a spin in your new car?¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Anastasiaughed. ¡°Get in and buckle up.¡± Herman got in the car and buckled up. Herman wondered about Anastasia¡¯s driving skills, so he asked, ¡°How¡¯s your driving?¡± Anastasia immediately understood what he meant and asked with augh, ¡°Did you buy insurance?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go buy it right away with your name as the beneficiary.¡± Their interaction was very rxed. Anastasia didn¡¯t expect Herman to be such a humorous person. Anastasia drove around the area with Herman. She drove very steadily and could react quickly in emergencies. She was calm andposed. Herman said, ¡°Navigate to Harmony Meadows.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Anastasia instinctively asked, ¡°What are we doing there?¡± ¡°That¡¯s your new home.¡± Anastasia was speechless for a moment. Harmony Meadows wasn¡¯t far away or a luxurious area, but in Riverdale, considering its location, the rent wasn¡¯t cheap To save on rent, she and her mother could only rent a ce in a rtively remote area. With her ie, it would be difficult to afford a house. This was Herman¡¯s second timeing to Harmony Meadows. Before going to Crescent Bay, he had Flynn help buy a second¨Chand house in full. The house was fully furnished and ready to be moved into. He hade once in the morning. Worried about being discovered, he had someone change everything in the house and brought over some clothes he often wore. When Anastasia entered the house, she felt it was both warm and tidy. This was a bit surprising to her. How could a single man¡¯s house be so clean? There were cooking utensils in the kitchen, and the range hood showed signs of use. Anastasia asked, ¡°Do you cook for yourself?¡± Herman nced at the kitchen as well. Other than the cooking utensils being new, the range hood and other things were old and obviously used. ¡°Uh¨Chuh,¡± Herman replied without guilt. ¡°asionally. Usually, I¡¯m too busy with work to cook.¡± Herman was a man who could cook, and Anastasia¡¯s fondness for him increased a bit more. Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Herman showed her around the bedrooms. ¡°We got three bedrooms here, feel free to pick one. We just got hitched, and we ain¡¯t exactly got that solid emotional bond yet, so I figured you might not wanna share a room with me.¡± Anastasia felt a bit awkward because he managed to hit the nail on the head. Herman was indeed being thoughtful Anastasia fixed her hair a bit and said, ¡°Tll do my best to make our marriage work.¡± She meant it. Life was about going through the dally grind, choosing the right partner, weathering life¡¯s ups and downs, and ending up growing old together. She hadn¡¯t known Herman for too long, but so far, she was pretty chuffed with him. Herman just smiled, didn¡¯t respond to her words, but instead said, ¡°There¡¯s another room where your mom can stay. If there¡¯s stuff we need to buy for the house, it¡¯s your call. I¡¯ll try to get us a ce of our own, so we don¡¯t have to be renting all the time.¡± The house was actually the joint property they had bought after getting hitched, but she didn¡¯t know that. Herman said this to see Anastasia¡¯s reaction, to see if she was a gold digger. Anastasia said. ¡°The surroundings here are pretty nice, and it¡¯s convenient formuting. As long as we¡¯ve got a roof over our heads, it doesn¡¯t matter if It¡¯s rented or bought. You don¡¯t need to be under too much pressure.¡± If they were to buy a house, considering Anastasia¡¯s ie, she would not be able to chip in much. Even for Herman, buying a house wouldn¡¯t be a walk in the park. A mortgage could break a person. In fact, as long as there was a ce to live, rent was cheaper than house prices. Herman suggesting her mom could live with them was a surprise and touched Anastasia. Few men were willing to live with their mother¨Cinw. It was the same principle as most daughters¨Cinw not wanting to live with their inws Anastasia¡¯s understanding nature made Herman feel at ease. ¡°Alright, Herman said. ¡°We¡¯ll do it your way.¡± Having a husband who was so agreeable was something Anastasia wasn¡¯t quite used to. ¡°Herman, you¡¯re a good catch, good¨Clooking, a local, got a car and a steady job, why did the matchmaking website say you¡¯ve been on many blind dates but haven¡¯t found the right one?¡± Herman continued where Anastasia left off, ¡°It¡¯s all about fate, maybe my time just hasn¡¯te yet. I make about 15k a month, plus bonuses and year¨Cend benefits, annual ie is about 200k. But girls these days prefer guys with houses, and house prices in Riverdale are steep, so with my ie, buying a house in Riverdale is tough. In Riverdale, I¡¯m not considered high ss.¡± That was the truth. For a guy in a big city like Riverdale making 200k a year, with a car loan and a mortgage, maintaining a family life would indeed be tight. If they had a child, that meant the child¡¯s milk powder and education costs¡­ It was unthinkable. The cost of living in Riverdale was very high, she made just over 10 thousand a month, and could barely make ends meet. ¡°Oh.¡± Anastasia nodded slightly, worried that Herman might¡¯ve had some hidden illness, but it didn¡¯t seem appropriate to ask, so she asked delicately, ¡°So why did you agree to marry me?¡± ¡°You said it yourself that the purpose of matchmaking is to get married. Marriage is a big decision, if you dare to do it, what do I have to be afraid of?¡±Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. His answer was spot on.. Herman nced at the house and said, ¡°Think about when you want to move in, I¡¯ll help you move your stuff.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll discuss it with my mom when I get home, I can move anytime¡­ Before Anastasia could finish, her phone rang. ¡°Sorry, I need to take this call.¡± Herman nodded, indicating for her to answer the call. Anastasia answered the call, and a woman¡¯s anxious voice came through, ¡°Ana, it¡¯s L, your mom just fainted and was taken to Hope Hospital by ambnce¡± Hearing this, Anastasia¡¯s face furned pale right away. ¡°L, how did my mom just faint all of a sudden?¡± To increase the family¡¯s ie, Salma worked as a cleaner at a hotel. The call was from her mom¡¯s colleague. ¡°I don¡¯t know either. Your mom and I were changing bed sheets, and she just fainted, you better get to the hospital.¡± ¡°Okay, thanks, L¡± After hanging up, Anastasia said to Herman, ¡°Something happened to my mom, she was sent to the hospital, I need to go.¡± Herman also heard the phone conversation and said, I¡¯ll go with you¡± Anastasia nodded, her mind was a mess at the moment. She and her mother had always been each other¡¯s rock, if something happened to her mother, what would she do? Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Considering the recent ordeal where her mother threatened to take her own life because she was forcing her to go on blind dates, Anastasia was scared out of her wits. Upon reaching the hospital, Anastasia found out from the nurse station that her mom was on the third floor Without wasting any time, she dashed upstairs with Herman hot on her heels. From N?velDrama.Org. In the ward, her mom, Salma, just woke up. The doctor walked over with the medical report in hand. ¡°Nothing serious, just low blood sugar. She needs to rest and eat on time. It¡¯d be best to carry some candies on you¡± Salma couldn¡¯t believe what she was hearing. ¡°I only have low blood sugar?¡± A few months ago, she was diagnosed with cancer in this very hospital. After fainting, she thought she was done for. The doctor confidently reassured her, ¡°You indeed only have low blood sugar. A bit of rest and you can be discharged.¡± ¡°But doc, could you double¨Ccheck to see if I have any other illnesses¡­¡± ¡°Mum,¡± Anastasia walked over, her eyes red and teary. ¡°Mum, are you okay? Why did you faint all of a sudden? Doc, what¡¯s wrong with my mom?¡± The doctor replied, ¡°You must be a family member. The patient just has low blood sugar due to overexertion. As long as she rests and eats on time, it¡¯s nothing serious.¡± Anastasia breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. On her way here, she had feared for the worst. Salma was somewhat confused, ¡°Doctor, don¡¯t I have any other diseases? Three months ago, I was diagnosed with cancer in your hospital.¡± Hearing the word ¡®cancer, Anastasia turned pale and looked at the doctor. 10 The doctor said, ¡°ording to the test results, no other diseases were found. If you¡¯re still worried, we can do aprehensive check.¡± Anastasia immediately agreed, ¡°Yes, let¡¯s do that. Only a thorough check could put her mind at ease. The doctor said, ¡°Alright then, go make the payment.¡± Shortly thereafter, the second test results came out, confirming that Salma only had low blood sugar and was cancer¨Cfree. The hospital found out that there had been a mix¨Cup earlier. Salma had picked up the wrong report and mistakenly thought she had cancer. Upon hearing that she didn¡¯t have cancer, she was stunned for a few seconds before breaking down in tears in Anastasia¡¯s arms. ¡°Ana, I wronged you. I thought I was dying, so I forced you to go on those blind dates. You even rushed into a marriage. If you aren¡¯t happy in the future, I¡¯ll feel guilty¡± Salma sobbed and said, ¡°Ana, how about you divorce him now? We can take our time to find someone you like, someone suitable.¡± Anastasia awkwardly nced at Herman standing nearby. She had only been married for a week, and her mom was already suggesting she divorce Herman? Wouldn¡¯t that make Herman a divorcee? Anastasia helplessly reminded her, ¡°Mom, calm down. There is someone else here!¡± Salma then noticed that there was indeed another person in the room. ¡°Ana, who¡¯s this handsome young man?¡± Anastasia forced a smile and introduced him, ¡°Mom, this is your son¨Cinw, Herman.¡± Salma stopped crying, and her eyes widened. Herman greeted her warmly. ¡°Hello, Ms. Jewell.¡± Salma was a bit flustered and stuttered, ¡°So, you¡¯re Herman? You¡¯re really handsome. Good job, the matchmaking website¡¯s rmendation was spot on. You¡¯re very handsome.¡± Anastasia felt the awkwardness, and so did Salma. The atmosphere was a bit weird. But there was a hint of amusement in Herman¡¯s eyes. This was the first time he¡¯d met such an interesting mother¨Cdaughter duo. Herman said, ¡°Anastasia, you help your mom pack up. I¡¯ll go bring the car around. Now that everything¡¯s okay, let¡¯s go home. It¡¯s morefortable than the hospital. There was no need for Salma to stay in the hospital. Salma didn¡¯t like staying in the hospital, and she watched everything Herman did. She had been worried that Anastasia had chosen the wrong man, but now, it seemed that this man was not bad at all. Through his actions, it was clear that Herman was a good man. He took the initiative to pay the bills andmunicated carefully with the doctor before the results were out. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Herman parked the car at the hospital entrance, waiting as Anastasia helped Salma out. He hopped out of the car too, lending a hand to open the door. As Anastasia climbed in, he shielded her head with his hand to prevent her from bumping it Salma saw all this, and her face broke into a satisfied smile. Back in the driver¡¯s seat, Herman said, ¡°Anastasia, it¡¯s one in the afternoon now. Your mom might be hungry. The doctor told us to feed her regrly. How about we grab a bite now? Herman was really thoughtful, Anastasia hadn¡¯t even thought about this. ¡°Sounds good, you decide.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Herman started the car, and half an hourter, they pulled up at a swanky restaurant. Anastasia eyed the plush interior and whispered, ¡°Isn¡¯t this ce gonna cost an arm and a leg?¡± She had just bought a car, and money was tight. Besides, she usually ate at home to save money. When she did eat out, she¡¯d eye the ce first. If it looked fancy, she¡¯d chicken out Not only was this ce fancy, but it was also in a prime Riverdale real estate, a chain restaurant, which meant it wouldn¡¯t be cheap. Herman chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s okay to splurge once in a while. It¡¯s our first formal meeting, our first date, so we can eat a bit fancy. You¡¯ve already saved me wedding expenses, so don¡¯t worry about the cost of this meal.¡± They were already there, and Herman had said his piece, so Anastasia didn¡¯t protest. She helped Salma inside. Herman had a private room booked. The three of them headed upstairs. Anastasia was oblivious to the fact that this restaurant was owned by the Salstrom family. Once seated, Herman said, ¡°Order whatever you like.¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Each private room usually came with a couple of waiters, but Herman had them leave, fearing Anastasia would feel ufortable. Salma looked around the posh room, tugged at Anastasia, and said, ¡°Just order a few dishes. We can¡¯t finish too much.¡± She was worried about the cost and hated to waste money. Even if her son¨Cinw was treating them, Salma was still concerned. Anastasia nodded, ¡°Yeah, Mom, I know.¡± Keeping the doctor¡¯s advice in mind, Anastasia wanted Salma to eat well. But when she saw the prices on the menu, she felt the urge to grab Herman and bolt. This ce was ridiculously pricey. Herman noticed Anastasia¡¯s reaction and guessed what she was thinking. ¡°Let me order.¡± Anastasia quickly said, ¡°How about we go somewhere else? This ce is too expensive. Hermanughed it off, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I have a discount coupon, a gift from a client. We can get half off, and the restaurant will give us an invoice for thepany to reimburse¡± ¡°What?¡± Anastasia whispered in surprise, ¡°Isn¡¯t that like using thepany¡¯s money for free? Won¡¯t that cause trouble if we get caught?¡± She had worked in apany where colleagues had gotten fired for usingpany money for personal expenses. She was surprised because she hadn¡¯t expected the seeminglypetent Herman to do something like this. Herman was amused by Anastasia¡¯s reaction. ¡°I was just joking with you, no need to get worked up. So, what do you guys feel like eating?¡± ¡°Anything¡¯s fine,¡± Anastasia said. ¡°My mom always says to just order a couple of dishes. If we can¡¯t finish, it¡¯s a waste.¡± Salma agreed, ¡°Exactly, Herman. Don¡¯t order too much.¡± Herman chuckled, ¡°Alright then¡± To ease their worries, Herman ordered four dishes and a soup, all signature dishes of the restaurant. Anastasia nced at the prices and felt a pang. even though she wasn¡¯t footing the bill. Soon, all the dishes were cerved Herman got up, personally pouring water for Anastasia and Salma, the epitome of a gentleman. Then he handed a bank card to Anastasia. This is my sry card. I¡¯m giving it to you in front of your mom. From now on, you¡¯ll be in charge of this family¡± He turned to Salma, I¡¯ll take good care of Anastasia, and I won¡¯t let her suffer any grievances.¡± Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Salma had been holding her breath for this moment. Herman¡¯s promise gave her a sense of tranquility ¡°Herman, now that you two are hitched, as a mother, I just want you to live happily, work together, and make every day count. That would ease my mind.¡± With affection in her voice, Salma said, ¡°Ana¡¯s been without a father since she was a child. It was me who raised her alone. I want her happiness more than anyone else If Anastasia steps out of line, send her back, I¡¯ll set her straight¡± Even if there was a mistake, her daughter should be disciplined by her, not by others. No one should lay a finger on her. Touched, Anastasia managed to whisper, ¡°Mom¡± Herman nced at Anastasia, then solemnly promised Salma, Tll give Anastasia the good life she deserves. The men of the Salstrom family took their marriage vows seriously. As long as Anastasia was willing to spend the rest of her life with him, he wouldn¡¯t let her down. Anastasia looked at Herman, and despite only having met three times, and not really having any emotional connection, his every word and deed gave her a sense of security. Herman said, ¡°Dig in before the food gets cold. Give this restaurant¡¯s food a try and see if it suits your taste¡± Anastasia took a bite and was pleasantly surprised. ¡°This is so delicious! I¡¯ve never been to such a fancy ce before or had a meal this expensive. It¡¯s definitely worth every penny.¡± Hermanughed and said, ¡°I¡¯ll make more money and bring you here once a month.¡± Anastasia quickly waved her hands, smiling. That won¡¯t be necessary. You work hard for your money. Eating here once is more than enough.¡± Was his wife trying to save him money? Herman¡¯s eyes softened. Anastasia was such an easily contented woman. Her smile was lovely, like a warm spring breeze. Seeing the two of them showing mutual respect, Salma¡¯s smile deepened. As the three of them dined in the private booth, Flynn, who was also dining at the restaurant, was taken aback when he spotted Herman through a crack in the door. Did his eyes deceive him? Was his brother having a meal with a woman? Flynn rubbed his eyes, confirming it was indeed his brother. But who was the woman next to him? Curiosity piqued, and Flynn peeked through the door crack. He was stunned by what he saw. The woman was quite old. From Flynn¡¯s angle, he saw Herman and Salma sitting and dining together while Anastasia was in the restroom. Herman was serving Salma, pouring her a ss of water. Outside, he was the man in charge of Elysian Technologies. But here, he was simply Salma¡¯s son¨Cin¨C law. He was simply following the Salstrom family¡¯s teachings of etiquette and propriety. Flynn was excited. Aside from his mother, he had never seen his brother be so considerate of a woman. So, his brother had rejected those girls from their social circle because he preferred older women? Was this some kind of Oedipusplex? Flynn, excited, identally pushed the door open and almost tripped. The sudden appearance of Flynn made both Herman and Salma involuntarily turn their heads. Herman frowned, while Salma curiously asked, ¡°Who might you be?¡± Scratching his head, Flynn chuckled awkwardly and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to intrude. I was just passing by, that¡¯s all Salma looked at Herman, who nced at Flynn dismissively and said, ¡°He¡¯s a distant rtive¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. A distant rtive? Flynn was confused. Weren¡¯t he and Herman brothers? How did he suddenly be a distant rtive? Salma¡¯s face lit up with understanding, and she smiled kindly, ¡°You¡¯re quite handsome.¡± Herman was speechless. Just a few hours ago, his mother¨Cinw had alsoplimented him in the same way Confused, Flynn sat down, not daring to say anything. He simply looked at Herman, silently asking what was going on. He thought to himself, if Herman actually liked older women, that would be such a pity. Even being gay would be better than this. Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Herman shot Flynn a look, basically telling him to keep his trap shut. Right then, Anastasia walked out of the restroom and froze at the sight of the new face in the booth, her eyesnding on Herman. Salma jumped in to introduce him, ¡°This is Herman¡¯s distant rtive. His name is¡­¡± Salma didn¡¯t know his name, so Flynn chimed in, ¡°Im Flynn¡± Seeing Anastasia, Flynn was a little baffled. He began to wonder, was his older brother meeting not the old woman he¡¯d imagined, but this young woman? Hearing his name, Anastasia stopped questioning and took a seat. Salma said. ¡°Herman, your parents passed away early, you have no siblings, and you¡¯re a lonely kid who had to fend for himself in Riverdale. I can tell that you¡¯re a hardworking and down¨Cto¨Cearth good boy. I feelfortable leaving Ana in your care, and I hope you two will have a good life together¡± This was a loaded statement that left Flynn a little stunned. Parents passed away early? No siblings? Flynn¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. His parents were alive and kicking at home, and here he was, his own flesh and blood, sitting right here. When did his older brother be so pitiful? Flynn turned to Herman, baffled, ¡°Herman, you¡­¡± But before Flynn could finish his sentence, Herman stomped on his foot under the table, signaling him to shut up. It wasn¡¯t a light stomp either, Flynn yelped in pain. Salma asked with concern, ¡°Are you okay?¡± Anastasia also turned to look at Flynn, finding him a bit odd. Receiving Herman¡¯s warning, Flynn gritted his teeth and said, ¡°I¡¯m, I¡¯m fine.¡± Herman nonchntly said, ¡°He probably just had a re¨Cup of his inmed foot¡± Anastasia looked curious ¡°Can your foot get inmed too?¡± D Flynn gave Herman a helpless look, while Herman took a sip of his tea and said. There are all sorts of illnesses, nothing strange about that.¡± Flynn forced a smile. ¡°Right, it¡¯s just foot inmmation. I¡¯ve had this issue before.¡± If it meant finding out more about Herman¡¯s situation, he¡¯d pretend to have a more serious illness if need be. His brother was dining with a beauty, and judging by the looks of it, seemed to be genuinely falling for her. Anastasia seemed to buy it, and the trio finished their meal. Herman went to pay the bill while instructing Anastasia to take Salma to the car. Hopping on one foot, Flynn went to find Herman. ¡°Hey bro, what¡¯s the deal with the hot chick? You got a girlfriend?¡± If he could get the scoop on Herman¡¯s love life, wouldn¡¯t that raise his status in the Salstrom family? With this inside info, he would even be able to squeeze out more pocket money. Herman paid the bill and said, ¡°She¡¯s your sister¨Cinw.¡± Flynn stood there, stunned. He didn¡¯t mishear, did he? After paying, Herman added, ¡°Watch your mouth. Your sister¨Cinw doesn¡¯t know who I really am yet.¡± His sister¨Cinw, his parents supposedly dead, registering for marriage, buying a second¨Chand house¡­ These key points hit Flynn like a ton of bricks, he eximed in shock, ¡°You really got married?¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Herman replied calmly. Flynn was beyond thrilled. He thought he was just getting some juicy gossip about his brother¡¯s girlfriend, but she turned out to be his sister¨Cinw. Flynn tried to digest the shocking news. ¡°If Mom and Dad knew you¡¯re married, they¡¯d be over the moon. Even if you told them they were dead, they¡¯d probably be okay with it.¡± It just showed how much the Salstrom parents cared about Herman¡¯s marital status. Herman nced at him. ¡°It¡¯s a misunderstanding¡­ He briefly exined how he was mistaken for someone else at the coffee shop by Anastasia. Flynn asked, ¡°Bro, are you nning to keep your wife in the dark forever?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see. Herman said. The Salstroms don¡¯t need marriage to solidify social standing, but we also won¡¯t marry anyone with ulterior motives.¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Flynn got it. Anastasia mistaking Herman for her blind date could¡¯ve also been a trap. It was too much of a coincidence. Given Herman¡¯s background, it was smart to stay alert Anastasia and her mother were still waiting in the car. Herman told Flynn to do what he was supposed to, while he himself returned to the car. In passing, Anastasia asked, ¡°Where¡¯s that distant rtive of yours?¡± Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Chapter 13 ¡°He had some stuff to deal with, so he left early,¡± Herman said, starting the car. I¡¯ll drop you guys off¡± Herman drove Anastasia and her mom back to their apartment, which was his first¨Ctime visiting Anastasia¡¯s ce. The apartment was tiny with only one bedroom. The living room had a bed separated by curtains. Despite its small size, it was very tidy Clearly, Anastasia was sleeping on the bed in the living room, leaving the room to her mother. Rent was pretty steep in Riverdale, and the mother and daughter¡¯s ie were just enough to scrape by Herman thought about the 50 grand Anastasia had given him for the car. That must have taken her quite a while to save up. To Herman, 50 grand wasn¡¯t a big deal, but for Anastasia, it was a result of scrimping and saving for a long time. Seeing Herman inspecting their apartment, Anastasia felt a bit embarrassed. ¡°We only have water at home. Care for a drink?¡± They didn¡¯t even have coffee at home, and she didn¡¯t usually drink coffee either. The apartment was so small that there was no dining room. Anastasia usually ate at the coffee table in the living room. Compared to Herman¡¯s three bedroom apartment, the difference was huge, and Anastasia naturally felt a bit awkward. Herman didn¡¯t show any sign of dissatisfaction and sat down on the sofa. ¡°Sure.¡± After Anastasia poured him a ss of water, Salma suddenly said, ¡°Ana, Herman¡¯s off today. Why don¡¯t you move in with him? You¡¯re already married. You can¡¯t keep living here.¡± Anastasia looked at Salma in surprise. ¡°Mom, what about you?¡± It was clear from Salma¡¯s words that she didn¡¯t intend to move with them. I¡¯ve already paid a year¡¯s rent in advance, it would be such a waste if I move out now. I¡¯ll just stay here I¡¯m an olddy. I won¡¯t bother you two,¡± Salma said, looking at Herman with a smile. ¡°Herman, take Ana with you.¡± Salma was a sensible person. While Herman was paying the bill, Anastasia told her that Herman wanted her to move in with them too. His intention was enough. Anastasia and Herman had just gotten married and didn¡¯t have an emotional foundation yet. It wouldn¡¯t be appropriate if she moved in with them. As an elder, she needed to respect the young couple¡¯s space. Anastasia quickly said, ¡°Mom, that¡¯s not right. Your health is not good. What if there¡¯s no one to take care of you?¡± Herman understood what Salma meant. ¡°Salma, why don¡¯t you move in with us? The environment there is better and it would save some rent. As for the rent you¡¯ve already paid, I¡¯ll talk to thendlord to see if we can get a refund. We are worried about your health.¡± Herman knew that the mother and daughter were very thrifty. The only way to convince Salma to move was to bring up the rent issue. Salma shook her head firmly. I¡¯m used to living here, and it¡¯s not far from your ce. If anything happens, I can just call you. Ana,e on. Pack your things and go with Herman.¡± Neither Anastasia nor Herman were able to persuade Salma who insisted that Anastasia move out that very day. Feeling helpless, Anastasia gave in considering that the new ce was only a 20¨Cminute drive away. So she packed her clothes and moved into Harmony Meadows with Herman.From N?velDrama.Org. Moving was a physically demanding and tedious task. After moving and organizing everything, it was already evening. She chose the bedroom on the left side of the living room, while Herman took the master bedroom on the right. After finishing, Anastasia sat on the sofa, took a sip of water, and suggested, ¡°I¡¯ll go buy some groceries and cook dinner.¡± Herman stopped her, ¡°You¡¯ve been busy all afternoon. Let¡¯s go out for dinner tonight, don¡¯t tire yourself out.¡± Anastasia smiled and replied, ¡°We already had lunch outside. I don¡¯t think we need to go out again tonight. Let¡¯s not waste money. Besides, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s really been busy. I¡¯m not tired at all. I saw a grocery store downstairs. I¡¯ll be back soon. It¡¯s our first meal in our new home, and I want to have it here¡± First meal in our new home¡­ Something in Herman¡¯s heart seemed to stir, and he didn¡¯t say anything else. Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Anastasia headed down to the local grocery store, while Herman had been bumming around the whole day. His assistant had called him several times, there were documents waiting for his review and approval. Herman hit the study to get down to business and called a video meeting with some of the top dogs. An hour flew by before Herman knew it. He walked out of his study, two dishes were already on the table, and Anastasia was bustling around the kitchen. Seeing Anastasia¡¯s busy figure and the piping hot food on the table, Herman felt a hint of homey warmth. That was life for the average couple. The wife took care of the house chores, cooked, kept everything shipshape at home, while the hubby brought home the bacon, each fulfilling their roles. ¡°You¡¯re finally done ¡°Anastasia came out with soup, smiling. ¡°Everything is ready now. You must be starving.¡± Anastasia had just gotten back from grocery shopping when she heard Herman holding an online video meeting in his study. She didn¡¯t want to bother him. Working at apany like that must have had him swamped. He had spent the whole day with her, thinking of this, she felt a bit quilty. Anastasia served the food, and they sat down to have dinner. Herman looked at the meat dish, veggie dish, and soup on the table, andplimented, ¡°Not bad.¡± ¡°You must be busy with work, I¡¯ll take care of the meals at home. Do you need a packed lunch for tomorrow? I¡¯ll make it in the morning, then you can take it to work,¡± Anastasia said. 7 see many people bring their own lunch. It¡¯s clean and saves money¡± Herman didn¡¯t want Anastasia to work so hard. He said, ¡°No need, we have a cafeteria at work, we don¡¯t pay for meals.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Anastasia nodded, took out the bank card Herman gave her earlier and said, ¡°Here, you should keep this. It¡¯s your money¡± Anastasia had epted the card in front of Salma to avoid hurting Herman¡¯s feelings. This was the money Herman had earned through hard work. They had only known each other for a short time, and she felt a bit embarrassed to ept it. Herman didn¡¯t expect Anastasia to give it back, he said, ¡°This is the family fund, there are many expenses in the future. You just bought a car, you probably don¡¯t have much money left. A husband providing for his family is a given. Keep it, you need money to buy groceries and daily necessities. I¡¯ll have my sry deposited into this ount every month.¡± Anastasia was indeed running low on cash, but she wasn¡¯t used to spending the money of others. ¡°Then I¡¯ll keep a record of our expenditures every day. I have a budgeting app, so we can see what every penny is spent on. We agreed on splitting costs 50/50 before, whatever we spend each month, I¡¯ll pay half, and I¡¯ll deduct the other half from this card.¡± Anastasia was principled, she insisted on sticking to the 50/50 cost¨Csplitting agreement they had set before. Herman sighed helplessly. ¡°Whatever you say.¡± Only by splitting costs could Anastasia alleviate some of the pressure she felt. Anastasia felt relieved. ¡°Then it¡¯s settled. By the way, how much is the rent here each month?¡± Herman wasn¡¯t quite sure, he estimated. ¡°About 8500 a month.¡± A three¨Cbedroom apartment in Riverdale for a little over 8500 a month, that¡¯s not too bad. Anastasia nodded. ¡°Then I¡¯ll pay 3000 for the rent in the future.¡± If she paid half, she probably wouldn¡¯t have money for food. Looked like, she needed to increase her ie Herman frowned, looking at Anastasia he said, ¡°Anastasia, when I married you, it wasn¡¯t so you could share the burden. I also don¡¯t want you to feel financial pressure after marrying me. I earn more, I can afford the rent, you don¡¯t need to worry.¡± This time, Herman decided not to back down. This girl cared too much about small things, always wanting to share everything. If she paid the rent and the living expenses, what would be left? Herman said, ¡°Anastasia, marriage needs nurturing, not nitpicking. There¡¯s no fair line when ites to responsibilities. For example, when we have a baby in the future, I can¡¯t help you bear the hardship of pregnancy¡± Hearing the words ¡°having a baby¡± Anastasia was at a loss. ¡°Alright.¡± Anastasia felt Herman was getting annoyed, so she didn¡¯t say anything more. ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± Although Anastasia wasn¡¯t a professional chef, her cooking was pretty good. The two of them finished both dishes. Seeing the empty tes, Anastasia quietly said, should cook more next time.¡± Herman stood up to collect the dishes. Anastasia said, ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± ¡°I got it.¡± Herman took the dishes, saying. ¡°You said we should share everything. You cook, and I wash dishes. That¡¯s fair¡± Since they were splitting the costs, they should also split the chores. Anastasia felt guilty thinking about how she didn¡¯t contribute to buying the house, so she wanted to do more. She was also worried that being too nitpicky would hurt Herman¡¯s pride. In the end, it was still Herman who washed the dishes. Anastasia sneakily peeked at Herman washing dishes. Seeing a man do housework was quite charming. She realized living with Herman wasn¡¯t too bad. If the employees and executives at Elysian Technologies saw Herman, such a big shot, living in a small house with his newlywed wife, washing dishes, they would probably be taken aback. Anastasia looked away, her phone rang, and it was Monica Anastasia answered the phone. ¡°Monica, what¡¯s up?¡± This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°There¡¯s a ss reunion on Friday, Ms. Sherry will be there too. She just called me and asked about you. I think she wants to see you.¡± Hearing this, Anastasia hesitated Ms. Sherry was Anastasia¡¯s high school teacher, who was very kind to her and was her mentor. If her mentor wanted to see her, she had to go to the reunion. But if she went, she would run into Cason. Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Chapter 15 After many years, the school reunion brought everyone back together. They¡¯d all been hustling in the real world, and now that they were all back together, it was inevitable thatparisons would be made. She used to be top of the ss but look at her now. This was one of the reasons she was reluctant about attending the reunion. Monica asked on the other end of the line, ¡°Anastasia, you there?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Anastasia snapped back to reality. ¡°I heard you, about the reunion on Friday. We¡¯ll see, if I have time, I¡¯ll show up¡± Monica heard Anastasia¡¯s hesitation, so she didn¡¯t push further and just ryed the message. After hanging up, Anastasia was lost in thought on the balcony, not even noticing when Herman had snuck up behind her. He handed her a ss of water. ¡°Thanks¡± Anastasia took the ss, clearly preupied. Herman, hand in pocket, looked at her, ¡°What¡¯s eating you?¡± Anastasia hesitated before revealing, ¡°Monica just called, there¡¯s a reunion next week, she asked me to attend. A teacher who was quite nice to me will also be there¡± Herman got it. ¡°You don¡¯t want to go, but feel like you should, so you¡¯re torn.¡± Anastasia nodded. Herman advised, ¡°Just follow your heart. It¡¯s gettingte, get some rest.¡± Herman didn¡¯t feel like it was his ce toment. He didn¡¯t know Anastasia¡¯s past. Anastasia couldn¡¯t exactly tell him that her ex¨Cboyfriend would be at the reunion either. It was something she had to keep bottled up. ¡°Right, you too, get some sleep.¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. They said goodnight and went their separate ways to their rooms. Anastasia locked her door. Everything was calm that night, and all her previous worries seemed overblown. She had been over¨C thinking. The next morning. Anastasia got up to make breakfast. After Herman had eaten, he left for work. She stayed home to clean and do housework. Since she didn¡¯t run her stall the previous night, she lost a few hundred bucks, so she had to make more jewelry today, set up her stall earlier, and make up for the loss. Herman was swamped. He had meetings as soon as he got to thepany and business dinners in the evening. He couldn¡¯t alwayse home for dinner. If he had to attend a business dinner, he would text Anastasia to eat without him, no need to wait. Anastasia was busy too, making crafts during the day and setting up her stall at the Night Market at 5 p.m. in the evening. But most of the time, Herman wasn¡¯t home when she got back. He often came backte at night, reeking of alcohol. Anastasia would make him a breakfast to cure his hangover the next day. Seeing Herman stagger home drunk, Anastasia realized how tough it was for him to hustle in the big city. Women could find a good partner if they couldn¡¯t support the family, but men had to provide for the family, and hold up the home. In the midst of all the hustle, the day of the reunion finally arrived. Monica called first thing in the morning to remind Anastasia. The party started at 6 p.m. Anastasia was anxious all day. At 5 p.m., she put on a simple dress and light makeup. She couldn¡¯t just roll up to the reunion looking like a hot mess. At 5:30, Monica picked up Anastasia from Harmony Meadows. That was when Monica found out Anastasia had moved and was living with Herman. ¡°Harmony Meadows isn¡¯t cheap, I looked it up, it¡¯s at least a million,¡± Monica said. ¡°Considering your guy¡¯s ie, it would take forty to fifty years of not eating or drinking to afford it¡± Anastasia strapped in and said, ¡°Yeah, Riverdale real estate is crazy expensive, a lot of people can¡¯t afford it. Renting is a pretty good option. He works tillte every night. Monica, don¡¯t talk about this stuff in front of him.¡± ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t. Ana, you be careful. He¡¯s handsome, and he works at a bigpany, there are bound to be girls interested, Monica warned. ¡°If he¡¯s alwayste, you need to be on your guard.¡± Anastasiaughed. ¡°Should be fine, he gives me his whole sry, and he really is just busy¡± ¡°Sounds like a good guy, even knows to hand over the paycheck.¡± Before long, they had arrived at Le Manoir Prestige, where the reunion dinner was being held. After getting out of the car, Anastasia eyed the fancy decor of Le Manoir Prestige, swallowed hard, and asked, ¡°Monica, are we going Dutch tonight?¡± Eating here would definitely cost a pretty penny. She had just made a little money these past few days, guess that was going towards dinner. Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Chapter 16 ¡°What do you mean ¡®split the bill? This reunion was organized by Cason, and he said it¡¯s on him,¡± Monica realized she may have said the wrong thing and quickly nced at Anastasia¡¯s expression Anastasia frowned Monica then came clean. ¡°Actually, everyone knows that Cason organized this reunion just to invite you. He even asked Ms. Sherry toe. I know you¡¯re married, and I really didn¡¯t want to be the middleman, but when Ms. Sherry called, I couldn¡¯t say no. If you don¡¯t want to go, you can still back out.¡± Anastasia respected Ms. Sherry a lot. After a silence of about ten seconds, she said, ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡± From N?velDrama.Org. Monica linked arms with Anastasia andughed. ¡°We¡¯re going for Ms. Sherry, not because of Cason, Anastasia. Don¡¯t tell your husband, I¡¯m afraid he¡¯ll misunderstand and think I¡¯m trying to stir up trouble between you two.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not that petty Anastasia was already defending Herman. The two walked in and were guided by the waiter to their booth. When the booth door opened, everyone inside looked at Anastasia, the smartest and most beautiful woman in school. Seeing her again after five or six years, naturally aroused people¡¯s expectations. The room was filled with over twenty men and women, and it was lively, but the moment Anastasia walked in, it suddenly fell silent. After not seeing them for six years, Anastasia found these old ssmates somewhat unfamiliar. Everyone had changed, losing their youthful vigor, and gaining maturity. Some were getting a beer belly. Most were married and had made some achievements in their fields. Basically, everyone wanted to show off how good their lives were. Menpared careers; womenpared marriages or career paths. Anastasia¡¯s gazended on a man in a white shirt. Apart from bing more mature and handsome, he hadn¡¯t changed much. He was Cason, the most sessful among these ssmates. Cason came from a fairly well¨Coff family, studied abroad for a few years, and lived well overseas. Now he was back in the country to develop his career. He was not only handsome but also talented with a bright future Some female ssmates even regretted getting married too early. Cason stood up, unable to hide his excitement. ¡°Anastasia, you¡¯re here.¡± Anastasia nodded, avoiding Cason¡¯s gaze, and went to an elder woman, respectfully saying, ¡°Ms. Sherry¡± Ms. Sherry had retired, and Anastasia was her outstanding student. Seeing Anastasia, she showed a kind smile. ¡°Ana, sit down.¡± As soon as Anastasia sat down, one of the male ssmates recovered and said, ¡°Anastasia, it¡¯s been almost six years since west saw you. How can you still look so beautiful? You¡¯ve maintained yourself so well. The moment you walked in, we were all stunned.¡± Before Anastasia¡¯s arrival, everyone was specting whether Anastasia had transformed into a sloppy housewife or whether the years had taken a toll on her beauty After all, since graduating, Anastasia had lost contact with everyone. Only Monica had more contact with her, nobody knew her current situation. Anastasia just smiled politely, then one of the girls deliberately asked, ¡°Anastasia, we were just discussing, you were our ss¡® top student, also the second one in our school to get into Riverdale College. What high¨Clevel position are you holding and whichpany are you at now? After all, you graduated from Riverdale College, you should be earning a high sry¡± ¡°Do we even need to say, Cason has already set up his ownw firm, I heard he even bought a vi.¡± ¡°I just saw Cason¡¯s car, it¡¯s a Maybach worth over a million¡± Anastasia had indeed gotten into Riverdale College, but she dropped out after one semester. Almost no one knew about this. Seeing Anastasia¡¯s difficulty. Monica helped her out. ¡°You guys are talking too much. Everyone¡¯s here, let¡¯s start eating, I¡¯m starving.¡± Monica changed the topic, and this question was temporarily shelved. Cason kept ncing at Anastasia from time to time During the reunion, everyone got together and naturally started reminiscing about their school life and their current situation. The guys would exaggerate their achievements, the girls, apart fromparing whose marriage was better, would discuss the skincare products they use, be it La Mer or La Prairie. Anastasia didn¡¯t even know what La Mer was. She usually just used some affordable skincare products to wash her face, she wasn¡¯t that fussy Of course, the main reason was she couldn¡¯t afford it. One of the ssmates asked, ¡°Anastasia, what skincare products do you use? Your skin looks so good¡± Knowing that Anastasia was the school beauty and still so stunning, they were all interested in what brand of skincare products she used, and her personal life. They all knew about Anastasia and Cason¡¯s past, it was just an unspoken understanding at this reunion. Anastasia just smiled and said, ¡°I use Neutrogena.¡± Hearing Neutrogena, the girls exchanged nces, their eyes looking at Anastasia changed, filled with a sense of superiority. Monica couldn¡¯t stand people looking down on Anastasia and said, ¡°Anastasia is a natural beauty, unlike some people. Even after using skincare products worth thousands, their skin is still rough and spotty. You guys can¡¯t just focus on external care, you need some inner nourishment too. How about getting a membership card at my ce? Since we¡¯re all ssmates, I¡¯ll give you a discount¡± Monica owned a beauty salon. Wasn¡¯t this just her way to pitch and gain customers on the spot? Anastasia chuckled to herself. Monica sure didn¡¯t mince her words. Everyone¡¯s faces turned sour and they politely mentioned they already had personal beauty consultants Anastasia didn¡¯t say much. She spent most of the time quietly eating, chatting a bit with Ms. Sherry, and avoiding Cason¡¯s gaze Then, a stunningdy approached Anastasia and said with a smile. ¡°Anastasia, it¡¯s been a while. You¡¯re getting more and more beautiful. You must have a boyfriend now, right? Why didn¡¯t you bring him today? We could all bring our partners to the party¡± Thedy, Demi, oncepeted with Anastasia for the title of the campus beauty queen. Demi had always had a thing for Cason and was now a partner at Kirkwood & Associates. After Anastasia and Cason broke up. Demi started chasing him, even overseas, but hadn¡¯t seeded yet. Seeing Anastasia now, she immediately wanted to stir up some trouble. Everyone turned to Anastasia curiously when Demi asked about her personal life. Cason was also waiting for Anastasia¡¯s response Anastasia smiled and shook her head I don¡¯t have a boyfriend¡± Hearing her answer, a smile appeared in Casons eyes. Anastasia being single meant he still had a chance. Demi felt a pang of difort, thinking Anastasia might¡¯ve been trying to keep Cason¡¯s hopes up Just as Demi was about to probe further, Anastasia said, ¡°I¡¯m already married.¡± The room fell into stunned silence upon hearing this. Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Anastasia didn¡¯t beat around the bush She understood Demi¡¯s intentions, went along with it, and also used it as a chance to nip Cason¡¯s ideas in the bud Her frankness left Monica with no room to salvage the situation Cason shot Monica a look, his eyes asking what was going on. Monica hadn¡¯t spilled the beans about Anastasia¡¯s marriage before. Monica was at her wits end Anastasia¡¯s wedding was news to her too. As an onlooker, it wasn¡¯t her ce toment. The folks at the table shared awkward nces, waiting for Cason¡¯s reaction. Cason held onto his drink tightly, feeling quite bummed, and took a big gulp. A ssmate joked, trying to break the ice, ¡°Anastasia, howe you didn¡¯t tell us all about your wedding? That¡¯s pretty low, don¡¯t you think? You think we¡¯re beneath you or something? We¡¯re all friends here, you just had to say the word and we would have been there.¡± It was all just small talk The old ssmates that hadn¡¯t kept in touch since high school. If they suddenly received a wedding invitation, it would likely stir up some gossip. That was life. It was all human rtions. Anastasia pretended and said, ¡°We¡¯ve already got our marriage license, but we haven¡¯t had time to hold the wedding yet. Once we¡¯ve picked a date, we¡¯ll definitely invite you all to the ceremony.¡± From N?velDrama.Org. Anastasia wasn¡¯t nning on throwing a party in the first ce; she just wanted to shut everyone up. And just like she expected, the ssmate¡¯s smile froze onto his face, he awkwardlyughed it off and promised toe, before keeping quiet. Monica silentlyughed to herself. This was the Anastasia she knew, using words to silence others. Another female ssmate piped up with a sour tone, ¡°Anastasia, why didn¡¯t you bring your husband afong? We¡¯d love to meet him, see what kind of man managed to sweep you off her feet¡± Demi hadn¡¯t expected Anastasia to be married, hearing the news, her defensive attitude towards Anastasia melted away, and she looked at Anastasia with a friendlier gaze. ¡°Yeah, Anastasia, give him a call, let¡¯s all get together, we¡¯re all here anyway.¡± Demi egged her on, ¡°Don¡¯t you all want to see what Anastasia¡¯s husband looks like?¡± ¡°Of course, we do.¡± ¡°Anastasia, what does your husband do? My husband owns a fireworks factory. We could hang out more often.¡± Anastasia originally thought that bringing up her marriage would shut everyone up, but it only led to more questions. Anastasia politely said, ¡°He works at Elysian Technologies, he¡¯s really busy recently. I¡¯ll bring him along next time we meet.¡± Who would keep in touch after a ss reunion? Who knew when the next meeting would be? Anastasia was just making excuses Hearing that he worked at Elysian Technologies, Demi nced at a visibly upset Cason, and smiled at Anastasia. That¡¯s a bigpany, which department does your husband work in?¡± ¡°Some of us tried applying to Elysian Technologies after graduation, but none of us made it past the first round, we were all eliminated.¡± ¡°Elysian Technologies has high hiring standards, with great benefits. It¡¯s an industry leader, countless graduates hope to join.¡± ¡°Anastasia, your husband must be really impressive, to be able to get into Elysian Technologies. What degree did he get?¡± Anastasia wasn¡¯t entirely sure, she only knew that Herman worked at Elysian Technologies, she didn¡¯t know his exact position or department. Anastasia said, ¡°I never asked¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re husband and wife, how could you not know? Anastasia, that¡¯s not right. Are you afraid we¡¯ll ask your husband for favors?¡± A ssmate mocked, ¡®Elysian Technologies is impressive, but it¡¯s not like Anastasia¡¯s husband is the CEO of Elysian Technologies. He¡¯s just an average employee. You¡¯re all overthinking this.¡± ¡°One can only earn so much as an employee, and besides, he¡¯s still just a wage earner. Cason runs his ownw firm.¡± Thatment was a lightbulb moment for many Indeed, Anastasia merely mentioned that he worked at Elysian Technologies, and he could just be an average employee. Anastasia¡¯s outfit didn¡¯t cost more than 200 in total, her skincare products were just Neutrogena, clearly showing her living conditions weren¡¯t great, so her husband probably wasn¡¯t anything special either Everyone else there was either their own boss or married well. The guys casually showed off their BMW car keys, and the gals were all carrying LV bags. Seeing the once envied Anastasia not living so well and not marrying well, a sense of superiority painted their faces. Anastasia caught onto their meaning and calmly said, ¡®Happiness isn¡¯t decided by wealth, as long as two people are in love, nothing else matters ¡°She didn¡¯t want to see them looking down on Herman, belittling him. Seeing Anastasia get mad, someone scoffed, and others pretended not to hear and took a sip of their drinks. Surely, a poor couple wouldn¡¯t have afortable life How could the quality of a marriage with and without money be the same? ¡°Anastasia, don¡¯t be mad, we¡¯re just joking around.¡± Demi tried to y peacemaker, resting her hand on Anastasia¡¯s shoulder. Just then, Anastasia¡¯s phone rang. It was Herman Anastasia took a nce at the caller ID, before she could react, Demi blurted out, ¡°That¡¯s your husband calling, isn¡¯t it? Invite him to join the gathering¡± Anastasia, ¡°He¡­¡± Demi grabbed Anastasia¡¯s phone and answered with a smirk, ¡°Are you Anastasia¡¯s hubby? I¡¯m her ssmate. We¡¯re at Le Manoir Prestige. Anastasia said you shoulde over too. Everyone¡¯s dying to meet the lucky duck who bagged the stunner Anastasia.¡° Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Anastasia was looking anything but thrilled, and she was beginning to regret attending this little reunion of her ssmates N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Demi hung up the call and handed Anastasia¡¯s phone back to her with a teasing smirk. ¡°You don¡¯t mind me using your phone, right, Anastasia?¡± She turned to the others and announced. ¡°The man of the hour is on his way. We¡¯re all ssmates here, so what if he¡¯s just a regr employee? Anyone whonds a job at Elysian Technologies must have something going for them. Don¡¯t you dare be tacky when he shows up¡± Everyone had their own thoughts. In today¡¯s society, academic qualifications didn¡¯t say everything. Even if you made it into a bigpany, you were still working for someone else, weren¡¯t you? Cason had been quiet all along. He was curious about the man whoid taken Anastasia from him. Having his love snatched away by a regr employee left a bitter taste in his mouth. Anastasia was in a tough spot. With Ms. Sherry present, she couldn¡¯t just up and leave. Seeing her dilemma, Ms. Sherry gently advised with a smile, ¡°Anastasia, when ites to choosing a partner, character is what matters most, along withpatibility. The best choice is someone who suits you¡± ¡°Uh¨Chuh,¡± Anastasia responded. She didn¡¯t care whether Herman was wealthy or not, but she couldn¡¯t help feeling anxious about what would happen when he arrived. Cason¡¯s presence aside, her ssmates had a knack for snide remarks, and she didn¡¯t want Herman to be the butt of their jokes. Monica leaned over and whispered to Anastasia, ¡°Let¡¯s make up an excuse and get out of here, shall we?¡± The reunion was like a mirror, reflecting various aspects of society. People fawned over those who were doing well, while those who weren¡¯t were shunned and ridiculed. That¡¯s just how it went. Anastasia shook her head. Now that Ms. Sherry had spoken, all she could do was tough it out. She made a small excuse: ¡°I need to use the restroom.¡± Someone joked. ¡°There¡¯s a restroom right in this suite, Anastasia. Don¡¯t you dare make a run for it.¡± With a frown, Anastasia headed for the restroom and immediately rang Herman back. He answered promptly. ¡°Anastasia, what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Where are you now?¡± she asked. ¡°On my way to Le Manoir Prestige, Herman¡¯s voice drifted from the other end of the call. ¡°I should be there in about ten minutes.¡± Anastasia quickly said, ¡°We¡¯re about to wrap things up here. You don¡¯t need toe. Monica will give me a lift hometer. It was just a prank by the others, don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± ¡°No worries, I¡¯ll swing by and pick you up on my way¡± Herman reassured her with a chuckle, ¡°Don¡¯t stress about it.¡± He could guess what might have been happening at the reunion, even without being there. If he didn¡¯t show up, Anastasia might have felt awkward. Hearing his gentle voice, his reassurance truly put Anastasia at ease. ¡°Drive carefully,¡± she said. ¡°Will do.¡± After hanging up, Anastasia breathed a sigh of relief and returned to her seat. Demi immediately asked, ¡°So Anastasia, when¡¯s your hubby showing up? He¡¯s not standing us up, is he?¡± ¡°He¡¯ll be here in a few minutes.¡± Anastasia knew what they were thinking. They worried that she would keep Herman away, not letting him meet everyone. Anastasia was a straightforward person. She didn¡¯t care about phony honor. She and Herman were legally wed, they had nothing to hide. Realizing this. Anastasia felt a sense of calm return. Everyone was eagerly anticipating something, their eyes darting towards the door every now and then. This made Cason even more irritated. About ten minutester, the suites door suddenly swung open. Everyone perked up and turned towards the door, only to find a waitering in to change the serving dishes Just as their attention drifted away, a gentle voice echoed from the door. ¡°Anastasia.¡± They all looked back to find Herman standing in the doorway. Dressed in a tailored suit straight from work, Herman looked striking. His suit fit him perfectly, entuating his charismatic aura. With his handsome features and impable charm, he outshone everyone else in the room. A female ssmate gasped, ¡®Wow, he¡¯s really handsome.¡± ¡°No wonder Anastasia has been shielding him from us. If I had a husband this good¨Clooking, I¡¯d keep him at home too.¡± The moment Casonid eyes on Herman, his sense of superiority vanished. His gut told him that Herman was a formidable opponent. Cason was a top¨Ctier professional overseas and had turned down high¨Cpaying offers to be a legal consultant, choosing to return home instead. This was his first encounter with someone who exuded such a strong presence. Anastasia stood up, smiling ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± Herman walked over to Anastasia¡¯s side. Together, they looked like a match made in heaven. Anastasia introduced him to everyone ¡°This is my husband, Herman.¡± Herman greeted everyone politely. ¡°Nice to meet you all¡± When everyone came to their senses, a ssmatemented enviously. ¡°Anastasia, your husband is so handsome. He could be a movie star¡± Even without money, his looks alone were enough to make him admirable. It was just human nature to appreciate beauty. Anastasia smiled, and Cason suddenly challenged Herman ¡°Mr. Salstrom, I heard you work at Elysian Technologies. Which department are you in? It¡¯s notoriously hard to get into thatpany. Two years ago, when I was overseas, I met the CEO of Elysian Technologies, and we¡¯re somewhat acquainted. I¡¯m also pretty familiar with many of the leaders at Elysian Technologies, but I can¡¯t seem to recall anything about you¡± His words had an undertone, suggesting that Herman wasn¡¯t exactly big cheese at Elysian Technologies. Cason hadn¡¯t really met the boss of Elysian Technologies, to be precise, he¡¯d only ever caught a glimpse of his back. They weren¡¯t chummy or anything. He was just trying to show off a bit in front of Anastasia Herman had scanned the room as soon as he walked in, and he caught the hostilitying from Cason. In this crowd, Cason stuck out like a sore thumb. Being a guy, Herman could sense there might¡¯ve been something brewing between Cason and Anastasia Herman cracked a small smile and said, Tm in the R&D department.¡± Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Chapter 19 R&D was thepany¡¯s key department, and the staff weren¡¯t usually out and about. Herman didn¡¯t call out Cason¡¯s bull when Cason fibbed to protect his dignity because he was not even fit to be Herman¡¯s rival Cason fell like he was punching cotton, his efforts fruitless. Seeing the couple standing together in perfect harmony made him feel all sorts of unease. ¡°I don¡¯t really know about the R&D department, Cason said, forcing a smile, then continued to probe, ¡®Are you the head of the department?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± Herman replied coolly, making Cason seem petty inparison If he was not the boss, then he must¡¯ve been a grunt Everyone exchanged looks, their suspicions confirmed Anastasia¡¯s hubby didn¡¯t seem too hot. Just a regr Joe, not on their level at all, just a pretty face The round table was full, with twenty people in the seats. There was no room for one more. Cason, the party nner, didn¡¯t ask for an extra chair when Herman arrived. It was clear Cason was trying to make Herman feel awkward, the old me meeting the new. No one was going to risk upsetting the sessful, up¨Candingwyer Cason for a regrpany worker. Seeing Herman being sidelined, Anastasia was upset and angry. She grabbed his hand and said nkly to everyone, ¡°My husband¡¯s here to pick me up. so we¡¯re heading out. We don¡¯t share the same values, so there¡¯s no need for us to mingle. Maybe we won¡¯t see each other again.¡± The room fell silent. They disrespected Anastasia, and she returned the favor She had already been ufortable when Demi snatched her phone, and now she exploded Herman felt her protection, a hint of warmth in his eyes. This girl was always taking his side. Anastasia said, and then she said to her teacher, ¡°Ms. Sherry, I¡¯m sorry today. I will find another time to visit you¡± Ms. Sherry noticed something was wrong and smiled, saying, ¡°Take care on the way.¡± Seeing Anastasia about to leave, Cason quickly said, ¡°I have a car, I¡¯ll give you a ride¡± Herman declined, ¡°No need, I drove here¡± He didn¡¯t care about the attitudes of these people, but Anastasia clearly didn¡¯t like them either, so there was no need to argue with them. ¡°Then I¡¯ll drop you off at the entrance, Cason insisted, ¡°I also have something to do, so I can go along with you¡± Cason¡¯s reaction displeased Anastasia. After not seeing each other for many years, she felt that the Cason in front of her had be somewhat unfamiliar and forceful Demi smiled and said. ¡°T¡¯ll walk with you too, Cason, give me a ride¡± Cason called the waiter, paid the bill, and then reluctantly walked with Anastasia and the others. Herman parked the car in the open parking lot and walked towards it with Anastasia. The headlights of a Maybach turned on nearby Cason approached from behind, opened the door of the Maybach, seemingly showing off, and looked at Anastasia, saying, ¡°Anastasia, let me drive you.¡± Anastasia fully understood Cason¡¯s intentions who deliberately unted the million¨Cdor luxury car he owned. ¡°No need,¡± Anastasia said while looking at Herman, ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡°We¡¯re going home, Anastasia said, looking at Herman, Herman cracked a smile, choosing to ignore Cason¡¯s existence, and opened the car door. ¡°Let¡¯s head home.¡± Watching Anastasia get into a regr Chevy, Cason¡¯s face turned sour Herman drove off, leaving Cason with a dark expression. Unable to control his emotions, he kicked the tire. Demi, who followed him out, saw this andughed. ¡°Anastasia¡¯s husband seems like a good guy, he treats her well, they¡¯re a good match.¡± Cason sneered, ¡°A poor guy driving a Chevy, how can he make Anastasia happy?¡± Hearing this tone, Demi knew Cason wouldn¡¯t let it go, he hadn¡¯t given up. Demi said, ¡°You and Anastasia have been apart for years, you¡¯re not getting back to where you left off. Maybe she likes a peaceful life.¡± Cason looked in the direction Anastasia had gone and said unwillingly, ¡°Everything depends on the person.¡± Demi said in shock, ¡°Cason, Anastasia is already married¡­ N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. ¡°That guy, he¡¯s not good enough for her.¡± On the way horpe, Anastasia kept stealing nces at Herman. Herman¡¯s face was expressionless, not showing any emotion Anastasia hesitated and said, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, are you mad?¡± ¡°No,¡± Herman¡¯shook his head with a smile. ¡°Really?¡± Anastasia said. ¡°My ssmates tried to embarrass you earlier, I thought you¡¯d be mad. I¡¯m really sorry, please don¡¯t take it to heart. If you¡¯re angry, you can vent at me¡± Herman was amused by her carefulness. ¡°I really am not, and I didn¡¯t take it to heart. I was actually quite happy¡± Cason and the others were not worth Hermans attention. Anastasia asked in surprise, ¡°Happy?¡± Herman smiled and said, ¡°The way you defended me, you were quite fierce. I didn¡¯t expect you to have such a temper Anastasia was a little embarrassed andughed awkwardly. ¡°I¡¯m usually very peaceful, I never argue with people¡± She wondered, would Herman think she was a shrew? Herman nced at her and suddenly asked. That guy from before, was he your ex¨Cboyfriend?¡± Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Anastasia¡¯s heart raced as she quickly turned to look at Herman, trying to gauge his reaction 1 didn¡¯t mean to hide anything from you,¡± she exined anxiously. ¡°I didn¡¯te to the reunion because of my ex Don¡¯t get the wrong idea¡± When they first met, Anastasia had mentioned a previous rtionship. Judging by Cason¡¯s reaction, Herman had quickly picked up on their history. Even if Anastasia didn¡¯t have any lingering feelings, it seemed clear that Cason did. At a stoplight, Herman parked the car steadily looking over at her Anastasia, don¡¯t worry. I trust you¡± Her eyes widened in surprise at his words. Any other man would have been a tad upset, even if they didn¡¯t show it. Herman was calm, though He wasn¡¯t angry or jealous. But when she remembered they were a newly married couple in name only, without an emotional foundation, it made sense. Unaware of her thoughts, Herman wasn¡¯t angry or jealous because Cason wasn¡¯t a threat. Even though Herman wasn¡¯t bothered, Anastasia still felt the need to exin, ¡°We dated for half a year in high school, then both of us got into Riverdale College. His family sent him abroad, so we lost contact. We weren¡¯t very serious.¡± Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. The light turned green, and Herman started the car ¡°You were a student at Riverdale College. Why did you choose to sell stuff at a night market?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Anastasia was surprised. The thing Herman was curious about was pretty strange. He wasn¡¯t interested in her past with Cason? After gathering her thoughts, she answered. ¡°My family had some issues, su I dropped out after my first year. I didn¡¯t graduate.¡± Seeing her difort, Herman didn¡¯t press further Anastasia expected him to continue asking, but his silence made her uneasy When they got back to Harmony Meadows, she couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°I was a design major. I loved jewelry design. But a controversy happened and caused a big fuss. I was heartbroken and couldn¡¯t handle the pressure, so I dropped out.¡± Salma and Monica had actually told her all of this. Her memories of that year at Riverdale College were hazy There were random fragments in her memory. She seemed to have gone through so much but had also forgotten a lot. She had suffered from severe depression and gradually recovered after long¨Cterm treatment Her memory of the controversy was also blurry. Monica said she was misunderstood. The truth wasn¡¯t clear to Anastasia After her depression healed, she didn¡¯t dwell on the past. She started selling things at the market, making her own living. The past didn¡¯t matter anymore. What mattered was taking the right steps in the present. Herman didn¡¯t ask any more questions because he didn¡¯t want to make her ufortable. She had gotten into Riverdale College but dropped out. There was surely a story there. He didn¡¯t expect Anastasia to exin voluntarily. He looked at her, his eyes filled with unspeakable tenderness. ¡°Do you regret it?¡± If Anastasia had graduated from Riverdale College, her life would definitely have been better now. Anastasia shook her head I chose this path. I don¡¯t regret anything. I believe there¡¯s more than one way to sess.¡± Herman nodded approvingly. ¡°I believe you can do it.¡± Her eyes were determined, just like the first time he met her when she asked him if he was willing to marry her. ¡°Didn¡¯t you drink tonight?¡± Anastasia noticed for the first time that Herman didn¡¯t smell like alcohol. Normally, he woulde home drunk, and they rarely had normal conversations. ¡°I didn¡¯t have any social obligations tonight, so I thought I¡¯de home early and help you sell stuff at the Night Market.¡± Herman didn¡¯t actually have any social obligations, he just had Flynn go in his ce. Flynn was still at the bar, drinking heavily ¡°Oh. Anastasia asked, ¡°Have you eaten? If not, I can make something¡± I¡¯ve eaten.¡± Herman smiled, noticing her low spirits, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll go work in the study for a bit. You should rest. She needed some space right now ¡°Okay¡± Anastasia did want to be alone for a bit. The reunion had definitely affected her mood. * After Herman went to the study, she went to her room to wash up, change into her pajamas, and get ready for bed. Then, her WhatsApp chimed with a message When Anastasia saw it, her feelings becameplicated. It was Cason. He had added her contact, and messaged. [Let¡¯s start over] Anastasia felt both odd and angry Cason knew she was married, yet he had sent such a message in the middle of the night. What was he up to? Anastasia deleted the message without responding to his message, then put her phone on silent and went to sleep In the middle of the night, Anastasia woke up thirsty She got up groggily and went to get a drink but bumped into Herman in the dark. ¡°Ah!¡± Startled, she yelled and lost her bnce She instinctively grabbed onto Herman and they both fell onto the couch Herman¡¯s lips just happened tond on Anastasia¡¯s. The softness of their lips left them both stunned, like a bolt of electricity zapping through their bodies. In the dim setting, with their intimate pose, a few fragmented memories suddenly shed through Anastasia¡¯s mind. These were parts of her forgotten memories, and just as she tried to piece them together, her mind drew a nk again. Meanwhile, Herman¡¯s mind was filled with some not¨Cso¨Ckid¨Cfriendly scenes Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Chapter 21 The sound of breaking branches from outside the window startled both Anastasia and Herman Herman shot up, and Anastasia quickly sat up as well. A distance formed between them, making the atmosphere kind of awkward. Herman put a hand to his lips and cleared his throat, asking somewhat awkwardly, ¡°Why are you up?¡± Breaking the silence, Anastasia looked down, fixing her hair at her ear, and said, I was thirsty, came out for water.¡± Her heart was racing, cheeks slightly flushed from embarrassment. She didn¡¯t dare to look at Herman, keeping her head down ¡°Oh, let me get you some water¡± Herman got up, turned on the light, poured Anastasia a ss of water, and handed it to her. Anastasia took the ss. ¡°Thank you She quickly took a drink, trying to calm herself down. Before she knew it, she had finished all the water in the ss. ¡°Do you want another ss?¡± Herman¡¯s deep voice rang out above her. Anastasia instinctively looked up, meeting his deep eyes. Her heart seemed to skip a beat. Facing such a handsome guy in the dead of night, it was hard to resist. Herman was wearing loose pajamas, radiating an aura of nobility. He had tenned skin, and you could just make out his chestN?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. muscles from the neckline of his pajamas¡­ Everything about him was so attractive Anastasia realized her thoughts were starting to get out of control, so she quicklyposed herself, stood up and said. ¡°I¡¯m not thirsty anymore, thank you. I¡¯m going back to my room to sleep¡± Anastasia pointed towards her bedroom door and hurried back to her room, closing the door behind her. Watching her rushed departure, Herman smiled slightly. The sweet taste she left on his lips was¡­ soft¡­. He was indeed a bit parched. Herman licked his lips, took the ss Anastasia had drunk from, got up, and went to the water dispenser to pour himself a ss of water. In her room, Anastasia pped her hot face, her mind filled with images of their kiss. Her emotions were far from calm; it was her first kiss after all. After their marriage license was signed, Herman was always out early and homete. She was busy too, and they treated each other with respect, never having had such intimate contact before Anastasia was suffering from insomnia, tossing and turning. Every time she closed her eyes, Herman¡¯s face appeared in her mind. ¡°What a pain.¡± Anastasia stared at the ceiling and muttered to herself, pulling the nket over her head and starting to count from 1, trying to hypnotize herself to sleep That night, she had a passionate dream, so real it felt like it actually happened. The sound of Herman¡¯s ragged breathing in her ear was so clear. The next day. Anastasia got upte. By the time she woke up, it was already past nine She nced at the time, quickly washed up and changed clothes, and walked out of her room to find Herman sitting on the couch in the living room. Anastasia asked in confusion, ¡°Don¡¯t you have to work today?¡± Usually, by this time, Herman would have already left. Seeing Herman, she subconsciously thought of the kiss fromst night, the passionate dream she had, and couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit embarrassed. ¡°It¡¯s Saturday.¡± Herman had aptop on hisp. I made breakfast. Come eat.¡± Anastasia nced at the dining table. There were fried eggs, sausages, toast with blueberry jam and butter, and two sses of orange juice. ¡°Have you eaten already?¡± ¡°Yes, I have, Herman said. ¡°I¡¯m free today, I¡¯ll apany you to the Night Market tonight. He wanted to get to know Anastasia better. ¡°What?¡± Anastasia deemed a bit surprised. Herman asked, ¡°Don¡¯t want to? It¡¯s okay, you can tell me.¡± ¡°No, no.¡± Anastasia nodded slightly, a bit taken aback. ¡°No problem, we can go to the Night Market tonight¡± She just never thought that Herman, apany employee, would be willing to go to the Night Market with her. ¡°Let¡¯s eat¡± After Herman finished speaking, he lowered his head to continue with his work. Anastasia nced at Herman, thinking that working in argepany must¡¯ve been tough, even during days off, there was still a ton of work to do. Anastasia sat down to eat breakfast while Herman worked on the side. The house was very quiet, neither of them disturbed the other, yet it wasn¡¯t awkward Then, the doorbell rang Anastasia curiously nced at the door, about to get up to answer it, but Herman stood up, saying, ¡°Continue eating. I¡¯ll get the door.¡± Herman put down hisptop, stood up to answer the door, and Anastasia continued eating at the dining table This house was new, Herman had just moved in not too long ago, so not many people knew the address. So when he heard the doorbell, he had a pretty good guess who it might¡¯ve been. Sure enough, when Herman opened the door, a well¨Cdresseddy stood there, smiling. She opened her arms and said, ¡°I¡¯m here to see my daughter¨Cinw, where is she?¡± Thisdy was Herman¡¯s mom, Katelyn. Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Chapter 22 She¡¯d been busting her chops over Herman¡¯s marriage, practically hunting for a perfect spouse for him. From N?velDrama.Org. Herman went and tied the knot without telling the family. If it wasn¡¯t for Flynn spilling the beans, Katelyn would still be in the dark Katelyn craned her neck, itching to see what her daughter¨Cinw looked like Herman quickly grabbed Katelyn¡¯s arm, stopping her from going in, and whispered, ¡°Mom, why didn¡¯t you give me a heads up?¡± He now regretted involving Flynn in finding a house because the guy had a mouth like a sieve. Katelyn shot Herman a look and said. ¡°You got hitched without telling us. I¡¯m here to see my daughter¨C inw, not you¡± Herman, Don¡¯t frighten her¡­¡± ¡°I know, I¡¯m not some sort of ogre. You look like a cat on a hot tin roof. It¡¯s hrious,¡± Katelyn chuckled, growing more excited to see why her usually cool¨Cas¨Ca¨Ccucumber son was all rattled up. Inside, Anastasia, who was having breakfast, could hear Herman gabbing away outside the door but couldn¡¯t make out what he was saying or to whom. Anastasia curiously walked over. ¡°Herman¡± The sight of Herman in conversation with a stylishly dressed matron puzzled her even more. On seeing Anastasia, Katelyn¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°She¡¯s a locker, like a delicate youngdy,¡± she gushed. From the get¨Cgo, Katelyn was smitten with Anastasia. She was over the moon with her new daughter¨C inw. Anastasia looked at Herman in confusion. Herman said, ¡°Anastasia, this is my ¡°Distant rtive. You should call me ¡®aunt,¡± Katelyn chimed in, not letting her son be put on the spot. She found out from her younger son Flynn that her elder son had lied about his parents being dead to win his wife. If that cat got out of the bag, he would lose his wife, and it would be a disaster. Herman gave his mother a faint smile and said, ¡°Anastasia, you can call her ¡®Aunt Aunt, this is my wife, Anastasia¡± In Anastasia¡¯s mind she thought, ¡°Another distant rtive?¡± Upon hearing that she was a distant rtive, Anastasia warmly said, ¡°Aunt, pleasee in and sit down.¡± Anastasia really had no clue about all these rtives of Herman¡¯s. Last time, he mentioned a distant brother, now there was an aunt. Katelyn¡¯s heart swelled with joy. She had been worried that her two sons were pulling a fast one on her, so she hade to see for herself. Now that she had met her daughter¨Cinw, she was reassured. Anastasia poured Katelyn a ss of juice. ¡°Aunt, here¡¯s some orange juice for you¡± Then she washed some fruits for Katelyn. ¡°Aunt, would you like some fruit? Let me get you some.¡± Katelyn was grinning from ear to ear. ¡°Ana, don¡¯t fuss, take a load off. Let Herman do the work, you can¡¯t spoil him. I¡¯m thrilled about your marriage¡± Katelyn took off her diamond bracelet and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t bring anything else with me, so consider this your wedding gift, please ept it.¡± Anastasia, a jewelry designer, knew her stuff. Even though she couldn¡¯t afford expensive materials, she could tell at a nce that the bracelet was pricey. ¡°Aunt, this gift is too extravagant, I can¡¯t ept it.¡± Anastasia was taken aback. ¡°It¡¯s not at all I have many like this at home.¡± Katelyn insisted on slipping the bracelet onto Anastasia¡¯s wrist, and said, ¡°See, it suits you perfectly,plements your skin tone.¡± Anastasia was at a loss, and Herman said, ¡°Just take it, it¡¯s her thought that counts.¡± Anastasia felt awkward. If it were something ordinary, she could ept it, but this was too expensive. And the giver was a distant rtive of hers; she couldn¡¯t be this clueless. Anastasia took off the bracelet and returned it to Katelyn. ¡°Aunt, I really can¡¯t ept such an expensive gift. I have received your well¨Cwishes, please take this bracelet back¡± Katelyn was even more pleased with Anastasia¡¯s refusal to ept the gift, which was worth hundreds of thousands of dors. It proved that she wasn¡¯t a gold¨Cdigger Katelyn chuckled and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll keep the bracelet for you for now, but I¡¯ll still give it to you in the future¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t understand why Katelyn wanted to give such an expensive bracelet to a distant rtive instead of someone closer She didn¡¯t know the ropes and was too shy to ask. Herman was also worried that Katelyn¡¯s enthusiasm would raise suspicions. After a while, he found an excuse to see Katelyn out Katelyn was reluctant to leave As she got into the car, she repeatedly told Herman not to mistreat her daughter¨Cinw and to bring her home soon. Herman only said, ¡°No rush¡± Katelyn said, ¡°Son, you can¡¯t let past deceptions_¡± Herman cut her off, his brow furrowed ¡°Mom, you should get going¡± Realizing she had touched a nerve, Katelyn fell silent and left Herman headed out to drop Katelyn off, while Anastasia stayed home to clean up. By the time Herman got back, she had finished her chores. I¡¯m off to the market to sell some stuff at five. But first, I gotta swing by my mom¡¯s ce, and then I be back in the afternoon. Anastasia hadn¡¯t seen her mother in a few days, and she had a few things she wanted to ask her Herman also had stuff to do, so Anastasia drove home by herself. Salma, who had the day off, was at home. Seeing Anastasia return, she was delighted ¡°Ana, why are you back on your own? Where¡¯s my son¨Cinw?¡± ¡°He¡¯s got stuff to do Anastasia walked into the house, switched her shoes, and said, ¡°I remembered some things from yesterday, but it¡¯s all a bit foggy During the time I was depressed, what exactly did I forget? Mom, did I forget something really important?¡± I¡¯m not sure¡­ Hearing this, Salma¡¯s face paled noticeably. She stuttered, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking again Haven¡¯t I told you before? You were wrongfully used of giarism, and then that guy Cason moved overseas. You got upset over this and fell ill. You haven¡¯t brought this up in ages, why are you asking about it now?¡± Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Anastasia reminisced about her dreamst night, saying. Im not exactly sure why just suddenly remembered some stuff from the past¡± Salma looked at Anastasia, worry etched on her face. ¡°Anastasia, have you been under a lot of stress lately? Is that why you¡¯re randomly digging up the past? Don¡¯t overthink it, it¡¯s all water under the bridge How are things between you and my son¨Cinw?¡± To distract Anastasia and avoid further questions, Salma deliberately threw in thatst query ¡°We re doing alright. Anastasia sat down, saying, ¡°He¡¯s always swamped with work, up at the crack of dawn and home after dark. Oh, and a distant rtive of his dropped by today, imed to be his aunt. She was super rice and insisted on giving me a diamond bracelet I didn¡¯t dare ept it, it was just too pricey ¡°Despite his parents passing away early, his rtives are quite decent,¡± Salma said. ¡°Anastasia, I think he is a real catch Cherish this marriage. Love can be cultivated with time¡± ¡°Mom, I understand Anastasia didn¡¯t want Salma to worry, so she quickly changed the subject. ¡°What are we having for lunch?¡± Salma replied, ¡°We¡¯re going over to your aunt¡¯s ce for lunch I heard she sprained her ankle yesterday. We should pay her a visit.¡± Anastasia frowned. ¡°Mom, she always thinks she¡¯s the bee¡¯s knees. When you were sick and in the hospital, she didn¡¯t even bother to visit. Why should we go see her?¡± Salma had two older sisters and a younger brother at home. Being the youngest daughter in the family, Sahma was both pretty and studious. She was the apple of everyone¡¯s eye, and they all hoped she would marry well and lead a sessful life However, when Salma unexpectedly fell pregnant, her family was mortified. Salma insisted on having the baby and eventually cut ties with her family. Ever since Anastasia¡¯s grandparents passed away, Salma had been filled with regret and started reaching out to her siblings in an attempt to mend bridges ¡°Anastasia, we¡¯re all family Let¡¯s not nitpick and be more forgiving. Since we¡¯re family, we should stick together and tolerate each other¡¯s mistakes. Come with me,¡± Salma said earnestly Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Despite not wanting to visit her aunt, Anastasia apanied her mother out of concern. About half an hourter, Anastasia drove Salma to a slightly upscale neighborhood in another area of Riverdale. As they exited the car in the parking lot, they bumped into a familiar face. ¡°Salma, Anastasia, what brings you here?¡± Anastasia turned around to see Gianna, her cousin, standing next to a BMW Gianna, already in her early thirties, married a doctor. Her husband was recently promoted to director. Although she¡¯d been married for eight years, she still didn¡¯t have children despite trying everything nna was dressed to the nines, holding a Louis Vuitton handbag that cost thousands of dors. Her gaze towards Anastasia and Salma was rather indifferent Salma smiled and said, ¡°nna, I heard your mom sprained her ankle, so we came to check on her¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Gianna¡¯s response was just cold. She didn¡¯t invite Anastasia and Salma upstairs. Instead, she locked her car and headed for the elevator alone. Gianna always came off as snobbish. Anastasia couldn¡¯t stand her, but Salma didn¡¯t seem to mind and led Anastasia to follow her. Shortly after her marriage, Anastasia¡¯s aunt Cynthia owned three houses, which greatly elevated her status in Riverdale. When she saw Anastasia and her mother, her demeanor was cold Salma handed the gifts she brought to Cynthia and asked with concern, ¡°Cynthia, is your foot feeling better?¡± Cynthia replied, ¡°It¡¯s alright ¡°Instead of taking the gifts, she said. ¡°You guys aren¡¯t exactly rolling in dough. You shouldn¡¯t be spending so much on gifts. Take these back with you, no need to bring anything next time.¡± Her words weren¡¯t out of concern, but rather a disy of her looking down on Salma¡¯s gifts. The gifts were items that Salma had spent over 40 dors on at the supermarket, an amount she wouldn¡¯t usually splurge on herself. Salma¡¯s face fell a bit, but she managed to say, ¡°Since I¡¯ve already brought them, why don¡¯t you just ept them?¡± Cynthia asked Salpa to put the gifts on the floor. Watching her mother suffer such humiliation made Anastasia¡¯s heart ache with both pain and anger. She had urged her mother not toe several times, but Salma insisted oning. Just as Anastasia was about to speak up, her mother signaled her to stay quiet. Anastasia swallowed her words. Cynthia motioned for Anastasia and her mother to take a seat. Back in the day, everyone in the Jewell family adored Salma. Whether it was good food or clothes, her parents always put her first. Cynthia was always green with envy Now that she was living a better life than Salma, she couldn¡¯t help but feel superior. Pulling Anastasia to sit beside her, Salma listened as Cynthia chuckled and said, ¡°Ana, it¡¯s been a long time since youst visited You¡¯ve grown more beautiful But a womans happiness still depends on marriage Look at your cousin, she married well and livesfortably¡± Her words were a clear jab at Salma Salma was a beauty in her youth but didn¡¯t end up with a good man. Feeling a bit awkward, Salma fell silent Anastasia, however, couldn¡¯t hold back and said, ¡°Indeed, my cousin is very lucky. I heard her husband was recently promoted to director But she¡¯s been married for eight years now, howe they don¡¯t have children yet?* Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Anastasia¡¯s words had the room wound up tighter than a drum. Gianna, who had been flicking through her phone, looked as if she¡¯d just swallowed a bug. The fact that she couldn¡¯t conceive was a thorn in her side. Both her mother¨Cinw and husband were forever trying to cook up schemes for her to get pregnant. Her mother¨Cinw, in particr, often insinuated that she was a barren woman in a tone tinged with criticism After her husband got promoted to director, her mother¨Cinw¡¯s attitude towards her went from bad to worse, even whispering in her husband¡¯s ear about divorce Scared of a divorce, nna had hidden away at her mom¡¯s ce for a few days. Looking at Granna, Cynthia said awkwardly. ¡°The baby thing can¡¯t be rushed Your cousin is still young, and she wants a few more years of just the two of them Besides, her husband is really busy Speaking of, Anastasia, you don¡¯t have a boyfriend yet, right? Want me to introduce you to someone?¡± Salmaughing, answered for Anastasia, ¡°No need, big sis, Anastasia is already taken¡± ¡°Really? Howe I never heard about this, is he a local?¡± Cynthia asked. ¡°Anastasia, you can¡¯t go for an outsider. They might not share our goals, and they might be just after what they can get from you. You wouldn¡¯t want to get conned like your mom did Anastasia didn¡¯t want to answer, but seeing Cynthia repeatedly taking jabs at Salma, she couldn¡¯t resist and said, ¡°Aunt Gianna, no need to fuss, he¡¯s a local¡± Salma could only respond with a few awkwardughs. Gianna put down her phone, and asked, ¡°Anastasia, what does your boyfriend do? Since he¡¯s a local, he should have his own house, right?¡± Anastasia replied honestly, ¡°No, he rents a ce. He¡¯s just an ordinary worker. He can¡¯tpare to your husband.¡± She knew exactly what nna was getting at, she just wanted topare who had the better husband Hearing that Anastasia¡¯s boyfriend didn¡¯t even own a house and was just an ordinary worker, Gianna lost interest in asking further questions. This satisfied Cynthia as well, she wouldn¡¯t want Anastasia to marry someone better than her daughter¡¯s husband Cynthia said with false sincerity. ¡°As long as he¡¯s decent, it¡¯s fine. Not everyone is as lucky as Gianna, getting to marry such a wonderful husband.* Anastasia didn¡¯t respond. In our society today, your friends and rtives would wish you well, but they¡¯d never want you to do better than them. Cynthia had Salma stay for lunch and after, asked her to help push her wheelchair to the mall for a stroll. Salma was more than willing. She wasn¡¯t one to fuss over these little things. Anastasia didnt want to stick around Once Salma and Cynthia left for the mall, she got a call from Monica and left. As she headed to the underground parking lot to get her car, Gianna, clutching her Louis Vuitton bag, followed her out ¡°Anastasia,¡± Gianna called out, ncing at Anastasia¡¯s car with a snide smile. ¡°Got a new car? Did you get this from the second¨Chand market?¡± Gianna drove an $80,000 BMW, which, parked next to Anastasia¡¯s ordinary Chevy, made the difference in their worth quite obvious. Anastasia didnt care to join thisparison game, but she was no pushover, so she retorted. ¡°nna, you should worry less about my business and more about yours. You¡¯ve been childless for eight years now, who knows, your husband might already be out there knocking up some other woman¡± Gianna¡¯s rm bells were ringing, but she kept her cool and said, ¡°He wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± Anastasia justughed, didn¡¯t reply, and drove off. But Anastasia¡¯s words had hit home for Gianna. She knew all too well how desperate her inws were for a grandchild. If her husband really did find another woman to have a child with, she would be done for. With that thought, Gianna immediately returned to her inws. Blissful Beat Following Monica¡¯s instructions, Anastasia drove to the entrance of the club. It was a members¨Conly club, in simple terms, a ce catering to the upper crust. Of course, there were those who got their memberships through various means, fust to suck up to the rich. Anastasia wasn¡¯t sure why Monica had asked to meet her here. She waited outside for a bit before Monica came to fetch her. ¡°Monica, why are you here?¡± ¡°ying golf Monica, dressed in sports attire, said. ¡°A friend dragged me here. I was bored out of my skull at home, so I thought I¡¯d invite you along I heard the CEO of Elysian Technologies ising today. That¡¯s actually why my friend is here.¡± Anastasia asked casually, ¡°Waiting for the CEO of Elysian Technologies for what?¡± ¡°Obviously, for an opportunity The CEO of Elysian Technologies is still single. There¡¯s a bunch of societydies here today, do you think they¡¯re here to y golf?¡± With Monica¡¯s exnation, Anastasia noticed that, indeed, there were quite a few women around, dressed to the nines. Text ? owned by N?velDrama.Org. Anastasia chuckled, ¡°Isn¡¯t marriage supposed to be about love?¡± ¡°For these high societydies, it¡¯s different from usmon folk. They have family interests to consider. Rumor has it, that the CEO of Elysian Technologies is young, handsome, and rich. He¡¯s like a big juicy steak, of course people want a piece.¡± Monica suddenly remembered, ¡°Oh right, your husband works at Elysian Technologies, he must¡¯ve met the CEO. Is he as handsome as they say?¡± Anastasia chuckled, ¡°I have no clue, but I¡¯ll ask himter¡± Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Monica joked, ¡°Ana, you really don¡¯t give a damn about your hubby huh? By the way, he wasn¡¯t ticked off about the thing at the reunion, was he?¡± After Anastasia left the reunion, Monica also bounced right away ¡°Nah¡± Anastasia answered. It¡¯s rare for something to ruffle his leathers¡± As they spent more time together, Anastasia gradually got the hang of this. Monica said. ¡°Cason is pretty tough, too, but let s move past that* She initially wanted to y Cupid with them, but now that Anastasia was already hitched. It didn¡¯t seem quite right. ¡°Monica, why don¡¯t you go hang with your friends. Il find somewhere to chill¡± Anastasia wasn¡¯t really a fan of these scenes. ¡°Alright then, you find a spot to sit, I¡¯ll go mingle with rny friends. If you¡¯re not feeling it, we can take off together¡± ¡°Cool¡± Anastasia found a quiet corner to sit. Yhe service was top¨Cnotch, as soon as she sat down, a waiter came over with a selection of drinks. Anastasia opted for a bottle of water, uncertain whether the drinks were on the house. If they weren¡¯t, in such a swanky ce, even a bottle of water could cost an arm and a leg. Anastasia took a seat by the window. The view opened up to a golf course outside, thewn was green, and a bunch of high-rollers were gathered there.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. This lifestyle was just too over¨Cthe¨Ctop for her.. Anastasia pulled her gaze back, took out her phone, and texted Herman. [Have you eaten yet?) She was worried Herman had been too engrossed in work at home and had forgotten to eat. Herman was a programmer in the R&D department, under constant high pressure. Anastasia imagined Herman going bald from being a programmer for so long, the image was rather odd While Anastasia was worried about Herman not having lunch, she had no idea that Herman was only a few hundred meters away from her. At that moment, Herman was at the club¡¯s second floor, invited by a friend for a round of golf. He identally let slip that he was there, and now the club was swarming with socialites, giving him a headache. Herman¡¯s phone chimed with a new message He took out his phone, his expression softened upon seeing the message His friend, Collin Witt, strolled over, joking, ¡°Who¡¯s the hottie that¡¯s got you beaming?¡± Collin was the heir to the Witt family of Riverdale, having known Herman for several years. Herman quickly replied. [Already ate.], then pocketed his phone, telling Collin, ¡°Let¡¯s y just one more round of golf, I¡¯ve got stuff to do in the afternoon, gotta dash¡± Anastasia had work at 5 p.m., so he¡¯d have to head back soon. ¡°It took me a lot toe back from abroad, and you¡¯re already itching to leave, what a bummer. Drinks tonight? Whatever you¡¯ve got on, you can blow it off¡± Collin said. ¡°I¡¯ve already made reservations for tonight, let¡¯s go have a drink,¡± ¡°Can¡¯t blow it off Herman gave Collin a pat on the shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s catch up another day¡± Collin was a bit taken aback, as far as he knew, if Herman wanted to dodge something, there was nothing he couldn¡¯t get out of This made him all the more curious, recalling the expression on Herman¡¯s face when he was checking his phone, he asked, ¡°The one who asked you out, is she a babe?¡± Herman nodded ¡°Well, this is something you don¡¯t see every day¡± Collin said excitedly ¡°Is it some nobledy? Do I know her?¡± Herman¡¯s voice was deep. ¡°You don¡¯t know her, I¡¯ll introduce her to you when the timees.¡± Collin looked at him for a bit, then sighed, ¡°You only care about babes, not friends.¡± Herman only yed onest round of pool, then he split. Girls were waiting for him at every exit, hoping for a chance encounter with Herman. Feeling helpless, Herman had to ask his bodyguard to clear the way so he could make a quick exit. Monica said hi to her friends, just as she was about to leave, there was amotion up front. ¡°The CEO of Elysian Technologies is here¡± Girls started to scream Many girls moved up front, and Monica¡¯s friends also hurriedly followed. Out of curiosity. Monica joined them. They were about ten meters away from Herman, who was stepping out of the elevator under the protection of his bodyguard Monica stood on her tiptoes, and instantly spotted Herman up front, she was gobsmacked. She thought of Herman working for Elysian Technologies, so if the CEO of Elysian Technologies was here, Herman might be too. At first, she didn¡¯t think of Herman as the CEO of Elysian Technologies, and she asked her friend, ¡°Where¡¯s the CEO of Elysian Technologies?¡± Her friend said, ¡°The one in the white t¨Cshirt is the CEO of Elysian Technologies, Herman¡± ¡°What? Herman?¡± Monica was thunderstruck. Suddenly, she remembered why the name Herman sounded familiar. She heard it from her friends. Even though Monica came from a humble background, since she was sociable and owned a beauty salon, she had some well¨Cconnected friends. Was Herman the CEO of Elysian Technologies? Monica couldn¡¯t believe it, so she asked her friend again to confirm, by the time she looked again, Herman had already left under the escort of his bodyguard. The ce was crowded, so Herman left in a hurry, not noticing Monica in the crowd. When the crowd dispersed, Monica snapped back to reality, quickly said goodbye to her friend, and then hurried off to find Anastasia. Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Chapter 26 From N?velDrama.Org. Anastasia was casually flipping through a fashion magazine when Monica came running up, all flustered. ¡°Anastasia, Anastasia! I just saw the CEO of Elysian Technologies!¡± Monica was all jazzed up, practically buzzing with excitement Anastasia, having married the CEO of Elysian Technologies, had essentially hit the jackpot. She was now part of the high society, the wife of a filthy rich family Anastasia chuckled, ¡°Monica, you¡¯re going bonkers over this! You didn¡¯t even freak out this much when you first saw Herman Is the CEO even more handsome than Herman?¡± Monica took a seat, catching her breath with a sip of water. ¡°Wait a sec, I need to chill out.¡± She was bursting with things to share but was too worried about saying something wrong. It was driving her nuts. Seeing Anastasia¡¯s nonchnt reaction, it seemed like she was clueless about Herman¡¯s real identity. Why would Herman keep this from Anastasia? Why did he marry Anastasia, a girl from an ordinary background, instead of someone from a big¨Cshot family? Monica was full of questions, and fearing Anastasia couldn¡¯t handle the truth, she decided not to spill the beans just yet.. Seeing Monica¡¯s weird expression, Anastasia became curious, ¡°Spill it, what does the CEO of Elysian Technologies look like?¡± ¡°¡­I didn¡¯t get a good look, just saw his back.¡± Monica decided to keep quiet for now, she needed to figure out why Herman married Anastasia before telling her the truth. She didn¡¯t want to hurt Anastasia. Anastasia had once suffered from depression. What if the shock triggered a rpse? Anastasiaughed it off. ¡°Then why were you so thrilled?¡± ¡°The CEO of Elysian Technologies is a top dog. Just catching a glimpse of his back is enough to get anyone excited.¡± Monica tentatively asked, ¡°By the way, Anastasia, how did you and Herman get hitched? Did you really meet on a dating website? Got married after just one date?¡± Anastasia nodded. ¡°Yes, my mom signed me up on the dating site. He was in a hurry to get married too. The matchmaker said Herman had gone on many dates and was happy with my profile. I thought he was pretty okay, so we got our marriage license.¡± Monica was puzzled. How could the CEO of Elysian Technologies be on a dating site? But judging from Anastasia¡¯s response, she seemed blissfully unaware of Herman¡¯s real identity. Monica probed further, ¡°He told you his parents had passed away? That he didn¡¯t own a house and was single?¡± Anastasia nodded again, ¡°Yes, that information was on the dating site. Monica, what¡¯s with you? Why are you suddenly asking me all this?¡± ¡°Nothing, just curious. It¡¯s amazing how you two had such an incredible fate¡± Monicaughed it off, pretending it was nothing. ¡°Anastasia, have you ever fantasized about marrying into a billionaire family and bing a tycoon¡¯s wife?¡± Anastasia thought Monica was belittling Herman for being poor. She firmly said, ¡°I never had such fantasies. After registering our marriage, I was prepared to live my life with Herman. As long as he treats me well, I don¡¯t care whether he¡¯s poor or rich. Besides, it¡¯s not easy being the wife of a billionaire. I don¡¯t want to live under constant pressure.¡± There were frequent stories online of daughters¨Cinw from wealthy families being oppressed. It was no cakewalk. Just the other day, Anastasia read news of a popr actress who married into a wealthy family. She was forced to wake up at six every morning, had to follow her mother¨Cinw¡¯s countless rules, do all the housework, and her husband was hardly ever home. Such a marriage was truly heartbreaking. Monica awkwardlyughed, not daring to probe further. She said, ¡°Ana, you¡¯re right. You¡¯ve snagged a real catch with such a handsome husband, haven¡¯t you?¡± Monica¡¯s main concern now was whether Herman was just toying with Anastasia, nning to dump her after having his fun. Why else would he keep Anastasia in the dark, saying he lived in a rented house? But until she got to the bottom of this, Monica didn¡¯t dare say anything. Anastasia checked the time. ¡°Monica, it¡¯s gettingte. I need to go back. I have a stall to run at five.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll walk you out I¡¯ve already told my friend. I need to check on my beauty salon too.¡± The two left the club. When Anastasia got home, Herman was already there. Herman said, ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Anastasia changed her shoes. ¡°My mom took me to my aunt¡¯s today. Later, I went to Blissful Beat with Monica. Oh, your boss was there too. Lots of girls were waiting to bump into him, Monica went to see him as well.¡± Upon hearing this, Herman suddenly tensed up. Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Herman hadn¡¯t seen iting. Anastasia showing up at the Blissful Beat. He had a lump in his throat, and he asked, ¡°Have you guys seen the big boss of Elysian Technologies?¡± Anastasia shrugged. ¡°Nope, Monica said, she only caught a glimpse of a figure. The ce was packed, and she didn¡¯t get a good look. But that glimpse seemed to excite her. Is your boss really that hot?¡± Herman breathed a sigh of relief ¡°Compared to me, he falls a bit short.¡± Anastasia chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re pretty cocky. If your boss heard that, he might not be too pleased¡± Herman replied Tm a programmer. If thispany doesn¡¯t want me, there are plenty others that will. But I don¡¯t think our boss is that petty¡± Anastasia asked curiously, ¡°Herman, your boss is loaded and handsome, why is he still single? Do you think he has some unique preferences?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a clue That¡¯s his private life, not something we employees should discuss Herman quickly changed the subject. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were heading out to set up your stall at five? Are your goods all ready?¡± ¡°Oh, I almost forgot, I need to go and move the goods.¡± Anastasia thought to herself, ¡°The CEO of Elysian Technologies, was way out of her league. They were from two different worlds. She should be focusing on hard work and making money.¡± Only with money could she support herself. This time, with Herman¡¯s help, he took care of all the heavy lifting. Once everything was ready, they headed to Alder Night Market together. Anastasia rented a stall there When she first started this business, Anastasia was clueless about the industry. She got caught by the city management, fined, and her goods were confiscated At that time, Anastasia was terrified and heartbroken over her goods. She cried miserably and didn¡¯t dare to tell her mother what had happened. She bore all the hardships alone. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. It was Herman¡¯s first time setting up a stall. He didn¡¯t know a thing, but Anastasia was an old hand and quickly set up the stall and lit a small tablemp 1 Herman looked at the small table covered with trinkets made by Anastasia. He was deeply moved because Anastasia had survived in Riverdale by hawking. Herman looked around the Night Market. There were many vendors selling trinkets, and most of them were young girls. Thepetition was fierce There were also stalls selling clothes, daily necessities, and snacks. It was bustling The Night Market was surrounded by several universities, so it got very lively when school was over. The local residents also liked to stroll around, and the foot traffic was huge. Anastasia took two stools from the trunk and handed one to Herman. ¡°Sit on this.¡± Herman didnt say anything and sat down after taking the stool. As the weather was a bit stuffy, Anastasia also prepared a small electric fan for Herman ¡°Here,n yourself so you won¡¯t feel too hot.¡± It was Herman¡¯s first time in such a ce. Anastasia was worried he would not befortable, so she prepared a lot for him. Besides the fan, there was also water and snacks. To keep him from getting bored, she also carried a tablet for him. Herman felt pampered and smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not ufortable, this ce is quite nice¡± Anastasia was very polite and cautious, afraid that Herman might feel ufortable. Anastasiaughed Tm afraid you¡¯ll get bored¡± She sat next to Herman. The owner of the stall next to them also arrived. He was a clothes seller and said with a smile, ¡°Anastasia, is this your boyfriend? He¡¯s handsome¡± Anastasia was about to speak, Herman corrected, ¡®I¡¯m Anastasia¡¯s husband¡± The clothes seller, Duncan, was nearing forty, and he looked mature as a result of the hard life Was Herman jealous? Was he in such a hurry to im his status? Anastasia smiled. Duncan, this is my husband.¡± Duncan was surprised. ¡°Anastasia, when did you get married? You never mentioned it before.¡± ¡°We just got married Anastasia changed the subject ¡°Duncan, it¡¯s just you today? Where¡¯s Poppy?¡± Duncan sighed, ¡°She took our kid to the hospital Our child had another episode, and someone had to run the stall and earn money. If we miss a day, the rent for the stall goes to waste, and we won¡¯t make any money Our kid¡¯s medical bills need to be paid¡± With a resigned tone and simple words, he told the story of living life at the bottom of society After a sigh, life went on. Anastasia exined quietly to Herman, ¡°Duncan¡¯s son has leukemia, they haven¡¯t found a suitable bone marrow transnt. He and his wife have spent all their money and are heavily in debt Now, their rtives and friends are avoiding them¡± Herman, as the CEO of a bigpany, had nevere into contact with the poor at the bottom of society. In his world, they talked about investments and projects, which were all projects worth tens of millions of dors, far from these people¡¯s quality of life However, he saw an unyielding spirit in these people. No matter how hard their lives were, they were still trying to live. Anastasia sighed, ¡°Duncan¡¯s health is not great either. He¡¯s the rock of their family If he falls ill, their family is screwed. Back when I started this stall thing, I didn¡¯t know the ropes. It was Duncan and his wife who took me under their wing¡± Despite their own life being a mess, they still found time to care for others Herman cast a nce at Duncan¡¯s stall and said, ¡°You know what they say, ¡®After every storm, there¡¯s a rainbow. They¡¯ll pull through¡± He then looked at Anastasia¡¯s stall, asking, ¡°Is there anything I can do?¡± Anastasia gave him a look, saying. ¡°Just sit here and wait for customers, that¡¯s all¡± Herman wasn¡¯t cut out for selling trinkets, so they sat around shooting the breeze. ¡°How much do you make on average per day?¡± ¡°Probably around 40 or 50 bucks. Now that you¡¯re here to lend a hand, with your good looks and all, it might draw in more buyers. It¡¯s a joy just looking at you¡± Herman smiled, he liked that. Night fell quickly, and the crowd swelled. After more than an hour, Anastasia hadn¡¯t sold a single piece of jewelry. Normally, she would have started making sales by now Anastasia found it odd. Every passerby would take a look at Herman; some even turned around for a second nce, but no one approached. Soon, Anastasia figured out the problem. Her main clientele were girls. And Herman was simply too handsome. Just sitting there expressionless, he seemed like a high and mighty figure, to be admired from afar but not to be touched. Naturally, the girls felt shy and didn¡¯t have the guts to make a purchase Anastasia handed him a mask. ¡°Herman, you might wanna put this on, or we might not make a dime tonight.¡± Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Chapter 28 At first, Herman didn¡¯t get it. He was holding a mask, looking at Anastasia with a puzzled expression. Anastasia helplessly said, ¡°You¡¯re too good¨Clooking. Those girls don¡¯t even dare to approach you, how am I supposed to do business?¡± Realizing her words could be misconstrued, she quickly added, ¡°Honey, I¡¯m notining about you. In fact, the more wonderful something is, the more people tend to respect it and not dare to be disrespectful If your handsome face attracts other girls¡® attention, then I¡¯m the one at a loss!¡± This was the first time Anastasia had voluntarily called Herman ¡°honey¡± except when necessary. Feeling delighted, Herman put on his mask and said, ¡°Alright then¡± Anastasia smiled contentedly and then turned to the passersby saying, ¡°Ladies, take a look. These essories are one¨Cof¨Ca¨Ckind, made by my own hands.¡± ¡°Miss, I also take custom orders. Whatever you want, just tell me. All these essories are handmade..¡± Anastasia was very enthusiastic when attracting customers. Her sweet talk quickly drew the attention of some girls. Every piece of jewelry Anastasia made was very delicate, unique, and interesting, with various styles. Whether it was earrings, hair clips, or rings, they were all very beautiful To showcase her jewelry, Anastasia also wore some of her own creations on her head and hands. She was very beautiful, with lovely brown hair and smooth skin. The jewelry on her only added to her beauty, attracting a lot of customers. Girls loved these unique essories, and Anastasia¡¯s prices were quite reasonable, 30 dors for one, and 50 dors for a moreplex design. Even the simplest piece took Anastasia an hour to make, while moreplex pieces required half a day. Her selling point was handmade crafts, and coupled with the good designs, these female students who were not short of money were willing to buy Herman watched from the side, calcting the cost of Anastasia selling jewelry. The materials for these pieces were not expensive, but they took a lot of time to make If Anastasia wanted to earn a few hundred dors a day, she would have to sell more than a dozen pieces of jewelry, which would probably take her a whole day, or even two, to make. Calcted this way, the profit was quite small. After a group of customers left, Herman suggested, ¡°Anastasia, your design skills are great. You could totally be a jewelry designer. You like designing, but if you rely solely on your own handmade production, the efficiency will be very low.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve thought about it, but those bigpanies all require degrees,¡± Anastasia said. ¡°Degrees are the threshold for entering bigpanies. I don¡¯t even have a bachelor¡¯s degree. I only know how to design, have no work experience, haven¡¯t won any awards, and don¡¯t have a good portfolio. They won¡¯t want me¡± Anastasia looked at the billboard on the side of the road and said wistfully, ¡°My biggest dream is to be an outstanding jewelry designer like her.¡± Following her gaze, Herman saw the woman on the billboard who was the lead designer for the jewelry brand under Elysian Technologies, Selena. Herman said, ¡°You¡¯re better than her¡± Anastasiaughed and said, ¡°She¡¯s unparalleled in the jewelry design industry. She¡¯s been to France for further studies and won several awards there. She¡¯s the lead designer for the jewelry brand under Elysian Technologies. You both work at the samepany, have you met her in person?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t Herman answered honestly. As the CEO of thepany, he didn¡¯t have time to meet a designer. The jewelry brand was just one of the industries under Elysian Technologies, a side business that Herman had developed. Anastasia said regretfully. That¡¯s true. You¡¯re a programmer, and she¡¯s a jewelry designer, you guys probably wouldn¡¯t cross paths.¡± Herman said, ¡°The jewelrypany under Elysian Technologies is hiring new designers, you should give it a shot¡± Anastasia was about to speak, but Herman interrupted her, ¡°How will you know if you don¡¯t try? Elysian Technologies needs real talents, not just people with degrees With Herman¡¯s encouragement, Anastasia felt more confident. ¡°Elysian Technologies is really hiring new designers? I thought they didn¡¯t hire externally¡± Herman dodged a bit, ¡°I got some inside info. Thepany says they¡¯ll hire externally this year¡± This wasn¡¯t a lie. Whether or not to hire externally entirely depended on Herman¡¯s will. Anastasia was very trusting ¡°Right, you work at Elysian Technologies. Knowing some inside info is normal¡± In her mind, she wondered if Herman encouraging her to apply was because he wanted her to work at the samepany and struggle together? She was now making a living by setting up a stall, but she couldn¡¯t keep doing this forever. Working alone had very low efficiency, she preferred designing and hoped that more people could wear her jewelry. She and Herman were already married, he was a sessful white¨Ccor worker, and they should progress together and work hard together. She couldn¡¯t drag him down. If the economic power between two people was not synchronized and the gap widened, problems would inevitably arise sooner orter. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll give it a shot, Anastasia said. ¡°Are you hungry? I¡¯ll go get something to eat¡± Neither of them had had dinner yet, and Herman was indeed hungry. ¡°Sounds good,¡± Herman said I go get it! What do you want to eat?¡± He felt bad for her because money wasn¡¯t easy toe by, so he didn¡¯t want her to spend it. From N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯ll go, you don¡¯t know the area, Anastasia said, getting up. ¡°There are some good restaurants on this street. There¡¯s a Mexican ce that¡¯s really good, I bet you¡¯ve never had it. You watch the stall, I¡¯ll be back soon¡± Herman was left watching the stall, while Anastasia headed off After she left, Duncan from the next stall came over, pulling out a pack of cigarettes Bro, want a smoke?¡± Herman had never smoked this brand before. He took one, expressing his gratitude ¡°Thanks¡± Duncan sat on the bench, saying. ¡°Dude, you¡¯re so lucky Anastasia is amazing, she¡¯s talented and frugal, not to mention pretty, and has a heart of gold. You¡¯re super lucky to have scored such a great wife!¡± Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Herman watched as Anastasia disappeared into the hustle and bustle of the Night Market. The crowd was so thick he couldn¡¯t see her at all. Even though he hadn¡¯t known Anastasia for long. Herman could feel her sincerity. Nodding in agreement, Herman said, ¡°Duncan, you¡¯re spot on. A good wife can bring prosperity to a family¡± Duncan chuckled. ¡°Mate, cherish her. I think you guys are a match made in heaven. Oh, by the way, Anastasia didn¡¯t mention you got married. Here¡¯s a little something from me¡± ?? ? ? ?? ?? ?? Duncan pulled out a small gift box, inside was a present he had bought for just 20 bucks. Although it was only worth 20 bucks, it was a week¡¯s worth of his meals and his kid¡¯s medical bills. The gift wasn¡¯t heavy, but the sentiment was. Herman tried to refuse. ¡°Duncan, you¡¯re too kind. Keep it. We appreciate your gesture, but you need that money for your kid¡¯s treatment.¡± ¡°Come on, take it.¡± Duncan stood up, took a drag from his cigarette, and said, ¡°Anastasia has helped us out before. I can¡¯t afford much, but I insist you take this. Otherwise, it would sit wrong with me.¡± It was a man¡¯s pride. Herman held the wrapped gift, it felt unusually heavy for such a small box.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Thanks.¡± Herman didn¡¯t refuse any further. He epted the gift, lit the cigarette Duncan had offered him, took a puff, and coughed a few times. The smoke was pungent and fiery. Laughing, Duncan said, ¡°Hey, you¡¯re not a regr smoker, are you?¡± ¡°Not really,¡± Herman admitted ¡°I guess, I made a fool of myself¡± Duncan was a straightforward guy, and they started chatting about this and that. Soon, Anastasia came back with two cups oftte and two cups of Peruvian frog juice. Before Anastasia could even get close, Herman smelled something foul. ¡°Anastasia, what did you buy?¡± ¡°Frog juice¡± Anastasia excitedly put the cups on the small table. ¡°You¡¯ve never tried it, right? It might look scary, but it¡¯s really tasty. Give it a try! Also, I got a vanitte from the street cafe, I wasn¡¯t sure which vor you¡¯d prefer.¡± Herman never dranktte from street vendors, he always preferred freshly ground coffee and tea. Herman sniffed the frog juice, his face twisted in difort. ¡°Are you sure this is edible?¡± Anastasia encouraged him, ¡°Just give it a try. Trust me, it¡¯s delicious. You¡¯ll love it after one sip.¡± Anastasia held the frog juice close to his face, almost spoon¨Cfeeding him. Herman held his breath, nced at the stuff in the cup, and then back at Anastasia. Anastasia looked at him with expectation, so it was hard to say no. Holding his breath, Herman took a tiny sip, his face contorted. Anastasiaughed. ¡°Isn¡¯t it tasty?¡± Herman swallowed hard, choking down the disgust, quickly took a sip of the vanitte, and said, ¡°The latte¡¯s pretty good.¡± He really didn¡¯t fancy the frog juice. Anastasia didn¡¯t push him. ¡°You have yourtte first, then I¡¯ll get you another drink.¡± Duncan chuckled on the side. ¡°Mate, I¡¯m not a fan of frog juice either.¡± Herman didn¡¯t like the frog juice, but he quickly fell in love with the street vanitte. He usually drank bitter coffee and tea without any sugar, but this sweet vani vor was really good. By the time Anastasia came back, Herman had almost finished his drink. Anastasia was busy all night, taking care of the business and Herman. Herman felt like he was getting in the way. He offered to help multiple times, but Anastasia insisted he just rx. Just as Herman was thinking of helping Anastasia sell all the trinkets so they could pack up earlier and she wouldn¡¯t have to work so hard, a familiar voice called from ahead. ¡°Herman, is that really you? What are you doing here¡­ selling stuff on the street?¡± Flynn was in disbelief. His new girlfriend had dragged him to the Night Market and, to his surprise, he saw Herman selling stuff on the side of the street. A billionaire CEO selling stuff on the street? That was just bizarre. Pursuing a girlfriend didn¡¯t mean he had to go that far, right? Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Chapter 30 When Herman saw Flynn, it was like spotting a treasure trove. Without any hesitation, Herman jumped right into his sales pitch. These are handmade jewelry pieces by your sister¨Cinw. Fancy buying a few for your girlfriend?¡± Though the tone was more of a question, those who knew Herman understood it was more of a command. Flynn had no choice but to buy It was made by Anastasia, and of course. Flynn would support her He said, ¡°Absolutely, these pieces are stunning Angie, pick out a few¡± At the mention of the word ¡°gulfriend, Angie felt a wave of joy wash over her She happily picked out a few pieces. They¡¯re all so beautiful, I love them all.¡± Seizing the opportunity, Herman said. ¡°If you like them, buy them all. They¡¯re unique, like these cherry earrings, symbolizing good thingse in pairs, perfect for you lovebirds And this sunflower hair clip symbolizes passionate love Even Anastasia had to give him props for his sales tactics. These were all made¨Cup meanings by Herman on the spot. The more Angie listened, the more she wanted to buy them all. ¡°Flynn, can we buy them all?¡± Angie wasn¡¯t part of Flynns circle and didn¡¯t know Herman. She had no idea how rich Flynn was or the real rtionship between Herman and Flynn. With a wave of his hand, Flynn generously said, ¡°We¡¯ll have all of them.¡± Anastasia knew Flynn was a distant rtive of Herman¡¯s. How could she take his money? She said with a smile. I¡¯ll wrap them up for you as a gift¡± In her heart, Anastasia felt a little bad These pieces of jewelry took her two days to make. But she didn¡¯t show it. She would simply work harder these few days and make more pieces Herman said, ¡°You worked overnight to make these. We can¡¯t just give them for free. Even though we¡¯re distant rtives, we shouldn¡¯t be so polite. We need to save for a house. Every penny counts.¡± Flynn was speechless. Did his own brother forget about him now that he had a wife? Herman owned several vis and recently bought a three¨Cbedroom house in Harmony Meadows. And he still needed to buy a house? Flynn suddenly really wanted to see the day when Herman¡¯s true identity was revealed. Flynn said with a smile, ¡°Anastasia, your husband is right. I should pay. I can¡¯t just take them. How much is it in total?¡± Anastasia waved her hand and said, ¡°No need, it¡¯s not worth much¡­ Even though they needed to save for a house, they couldn¡¯t take money from rtives. Herman picked up Anastasia¡¯s card reader and handed it to Flynn. ¡°Swipe your card, it¡¯s four thousand in total.¡± Anastasia was shocked by the price. Wasn¡¯t this extortion? The price had been increased tenfold. If they were reported, they would be detained. ¡°Flynn, we¡¯re closing shop. You can take your girlfriend to visit other ces.¡± This was his way of telling them to leave. Flynn wanted to build a rtionship with Anastasia. His brother Herman had personally set up a stall. This showed how serious he was about her. If he could get Anastasia to like him and protect him, he wouldn¡¯t have to be afraid of his brother in the future. Flynn took out his phone and said with a grin, ¡°Anastasia, let¡¯s add each other¡¯s WhatsApp.¡± Anastasia felt guilty for tricking Flynn and couldn¡¯t refuse his request. At this point, Flynn seemed like a fool who was happily scammed. But Flynn felt like he hit the jackpot. All it took was four hundred bucks to be friends with Anastasia on WhatsApp. Anastasia took out her phone, and they added each other as friends. As Flynn left, he warmly greeted Anastasia. She felt a bit awkward. All the jewelry was sold, and Herman said, ¡°We can close up shop now.¡± Anastasia asked, ¡°Herman, why did you randomly give such a high price earlier? If he finds out, wouldn¡¯t he be upset?¡± ¡°Your handmade items are worth even a hundred times more,¡± Herman said seriously. ¡°He owed me three thousand and fifty bucks years ago and never paid me back. I just got it back.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Anastasia was skeptical. ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem tock money. Why would he owe you money and not pay it back?¡± Herman said seriously Maybe he forgot. I didn¡¯t want to bring it up.¡± Anastasia looked at Herman, feeling like something was off. To change the subject, Herman said, ¡°We won¡¯t have a stall tomorrow. Your mom hasn¡¯t visited our house since we got married. Let¡¯s invite her over for dinner tomorrow. Invite your best friend as well.¡± ¡°I was thinking the same thing. You¡¯ve been busy with work. You don¡¯t have to work tomorrow, right? Then I¡¯ll call Monica and my momter.¡± Anastasia said, ¡°Why don¡¯t we invite Flynn and Ms. Katelyn. I wonder if they¡¯re up for it.¡± Herman replied, ¡°If you ask them, they¡¯d be over the moon.¡± ¡°Deal, remember to call Ms. Katelyn for me, I don¡¯t have her contact info.¡± ¡°Sure¡± After they closed for the day, they went home. While Anastasia was freshening up. Herman made a call to Katelyn from his room. ¡°Your daughter¨Cinw is inviting you over for dinner tomorrow¡­¡± After informing Katelyn, he just shot a text to Flynn. Chapter 30 Once he finished all that, he gave a ring to thepany secretary to notify the HR department of Elysian Technologies¡® jewelrypany to put out a job ad for a designer, lowering the requirements to a high school diploma. The secretary was puzzled by the job requirements when she picked up the call, thinking she heard it wrong. The jewelrypany mainly catered to high society, and they usually required their designers to have at least a bachelor¡¯s degree. And they had to be top notch graduates with substantial work experience or notable achievements in the field, preferably award winning. More importantly, they hardly hired externally. The secretary asked tentatively, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, are you saying, for the external designer position, a high school diploma would suffice?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Herman¡¯s answer was short and sweet. ¡°I want to see the ad by tomorrow.¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Salstrom The secretary didn¡¯t pry further, simply following the instructions. Anastasia, freshening up in the bathroom, was oblivious to all this. After her bath, she hand washed her lingerie. She and Herman had separate rooms, but there was only one ce to dry clothes in the whole house, which was the balcony outside the kitchen. Anastasia went to the balcony to hang her lingerie, just as Herman was about to whip something up in the kitchen. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Hearing some noise from the balcony, he took a peek and saw Anastasia in her loose PJs, her hair half wet, hanging her lingerie on the clothesline Anastasia had gorgeous legs, beautifully sculpted. As she reached up, her PJs rode up to her thighs. Lifting his gaze further, the sight was quite a feast for the eyes. A piece of lingerie slipped from her hand and fell. As she bent down to pick it up, she noticed Herman behind her. Catching sight of the lingerie in her hand, she blushed and quickly hid it behind her. Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Anastasia felt a level of embarrassment she¡¯d never experienced before. She noticed Herman¡¯s gaze falling on her ckce panties and quickly picked them up and hid them behind her back. She looked down, her face as red as a ripe apple. Herman was amused by Anastasia¡¯s reaction. Just as he was about to say something, he unexpectedly looked at Anastasia¡¯s chest. Only then did he realize that she was not wearing a bra. Herman also felt incredibly awkward. He turned to the side and said, ¡°I was about to whip up something to eat.¡± ¡°Um, I¡¯ll go clean up a bit. I¡¯m a bit messy.¡± With her head down and her panties hidden behind her back, Anastasia quickly retreated to her bedroom. The smile on Herman¡¯s face deepened. This girl was always so shy. Back in her room, Anastasia washed her panties again. This time, she didn¡¯t dare hang them out on the balcony, so she hung them by the window using a hanger. After taking care of this, she suddenly remembered that she hadn¡¯t put on her panties yet. Thinking back on Herman¡¯s actions, she suddenly understood and felt extremely embarrassed. Did he think that she was trying to seduce him? Anastasia felt like she wanted the ground to swallow her up. She had identally pulled him down with her when she fellst night, and they both ended up on the couch. And now he saw her drying panties¡­ Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Anastasia pped her hot face. Suddenly, Herman knocked on the door from outside. ¡°Anastasia, I made spaghetti Wanna join me?¡± She had only had a drink that night and was actually a little hungry now. ¡°Coming!¡± Anastasia answered loudly. She quickly changed into a conservative set of pajamas before heading out. Herman had cooked two servings of basil pesto spaghetti. It smelled delicious and was sprinkled with cheese on top. It looked extremely appetizing. ¡°It smells amazing.¡± Anastasia sat down and couldn¡¯t help but pick up her fork. ¡°You¡¯re really good at cooking.¡± This was the first time he showed off his cooking skills since they had started living together. ¡°I can do a few simple dishes.¡± As soon as Herman finished speaking, the house suddenly went dark. Anastasia was already nearsighted. Now, without electricity, her vision was as bad as a blind person¡¯s. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Anastasia asked. Herman turned on the shlight on his phone and said seriously. ¡°I¡¯ll go check it out. You stay put.¡± Herman went to check the corridor and saw that there was light there, so it wasn¡¯t a power outage. He came back in and said, ¡°We might be overdue on our electricity bill.¡± When Flynn bought the house for him, they were in a rush and didn¡¯t have time to check the bnce for utilities. He didn¡¯t even know how to pay for them. Anastasia had experience with overdue bills. She asked, ¡°Where¡¯s the electricity card?¡± Herman didn¡¯t know where the electricity card was. As the CEO of Elysian Technologies, he never needed to worry about these things. Herman responded quickly, ¡°I can¡¯t find it.¡± ¡°We could ask thendlord to pay for it. You can pay for it on your phone,¡± Anastasia suggested. ¡°That¡¯s what I used to do. You could give thendlord a call.¡± If Herman called thendlord, he¡¯d give himself away. He was thendlord. Herman said seriously, ¡°It¡¯ste now. I don¡¯t want to bother anyone. We have candles. We can use those.¡± Anastasia thought Herman was just being shy about calling thendlord, so she didn¡¯t think much of it. Herman found some candles in a drawer, lit them, and ced them in the middle of the dining table. The orange glow lit up the whole room, and they sat across from each other. With the candlelight, Anastasiaughed and said, ¡°It feels like we¡¯re celebrating a birthday. Having a candlelit dinner.¡± ¡°Anastasia Herman suddenly called her name. ¡°Hmm?¡± Anastasia responded. ¡°I have a gift for you¡± Herman took a jewelry box out of the drawer and handed it to her. Anastasia asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s this? Is there a special asion today? Why are you suddenly giving me a gift?¡± Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Anastasia popped open the box, revealing a pair of rings. She looked at Herman and instantly got the gist He said, ¡°These are our wedding rings. We didn¡¯t have time to buy them when we registered for our marriage, now I want to make up for that¡± ¡°When did you buy these?¡± Anastasia asked, touched. Though she didn¡¯t really care much about having a wedding ring, his thoughtfulness made her heart flutter. bought them yesterday¡± Herman grabbed her hand, picked up the female ring from the box, and put it on her Under the soft glow of the candle, his present, along with the bowl of pasta, created a romantic atmosphere. He said, ¡°Anastasia, I hope our marriage canst forever¡± He didn¡¯t make any passionate derations or sweet talk, but this sincere expression was enough to move anyone Their marriage was a hasty decision, but they both wished for it tost. ¡°Mhm ¡°Anastasia nodded. He chuckled and put on his own ring Let¡¯s eat, the food¡¯s getting cold.¡± Maybe because of the gift, or maybe because of the romantic atmosphere, Anastasia felt like this was the best pasta she¡¯d ever had. In that moment, she felt so happy to be with Herman, Herman was gentle and refined, making her feelfortable when she was with him. The next morning. Anastasia woke up early, she was going to the market to buy groceries for lunch As she was about to change her shoes to go out, Herman woke up. ¡°Where are you off to this early?¡± I¡¯m going to the market to buy groceries for lunch. Did you forget my mom ising over for lunch today? Oh, did you invite your rtives?¡± I¡¯ve already called them, Herman said. ¡°Wait for me, I¡¯ll change and go with you.¡± Anastasia certainly wouldn¡¯t refuse his help, so they went to the market together. On the way, they grabbed a wrap from a stand near their apartmentplex. Anastasia was very familiar with the local market, she knew exactly what to buy, while Herman helped carry the bags. It was Herman¡¯s first time in such a bustling ce, he was a bit overwhelmed. After buying everything, they quickly returned home to start cooking. This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. As for the previous electricity issue, Herman had called Flynn to sort it out. Anastasia was busy cooking in the kitchen, while Herman helped out. Just because Herman was rich and didn¡¯t need to do these chores, didn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t Around 10:30, the doorbell rang. Anastasia was stewing pork knuckles so Herman went to open the door. It was Katelyn and Flynn, they were both taken aback to see Herman in an apron. ¡°Son, you¡¯re cooking? Katelyn asked, surprised. Flynn was even more shocked, he gave Herman a once¨Cover and then gave him a thumbs up, ¡°Herman, you¡¯re a model husband.¡± Herman red at Flynn. ¡°If you want to stay for lunch, be careful of what you said.¡± Flynnughed. ¡°Got it.¡± Anastasia called from the kitchen, ¡°Herman, who¡¯s at the door?¡± Flynn shouted back. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Flynn entered the room, followed by Katelyn. ¡°Anastasia, let me help you.¡± Today, Katelyn was dressed casually, not as elegant as usual. ¡°Ms Katelyn, please have a seat in the living room, I can handle this,¡± Anastasia said, smiling. ¡°Herman, go keep Ms. Katelynpany.¡± The kitchen wasn¡¯t big, with a look from Herman, Katelyn went to rest in the living room. Flynn, however, made himself at home, munching on chips in the living room. Not long after, Salma and Monica arrived. It was their first time, and they weren¡¯t familiar with the route, so Herman went downstairs to pick them up. Monica, knowing that Herman was the CEO of Elysian Technologies, was no longer as casual as before, she seemed a bit reserved The CEO of a billion¨Cdorpany, with such a high social status, was living in a three¨Cbedroom apartment and even helping out in the kitchen. If it wasn¡¯t for Monica double¨Cchecking and seeing Katelyn, Herman¡¯s mother, she would¡¯ve thought she was mistaken. Monica was secretly observing Katelyn¡¯s attitude towards Anastasia. Katelyn seemed friendly towards Anastasia and was very warm towards Salma, which made her even more suspicious, what was the Salstrom family after? Suddenly, Monica needed to use the bathroom. ¡°Ana, I need to use the restroom, where¡¯s your room?¡± Since the guest bathroom was upied by Flynn, Monica, in a hurry, had to use the one in the master bedroom. ¡°My room doesn¡¯t have a restroom.¡± Anastasia turned to Herman. ¡°Can we use your restroom?¡± Herman nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± Their brief conversation surprised everyone. My room? Your room? Didn¡¯t they share a room? Didn¡¯t this mean they slept in separate rooms? Flynn and Katelyn exchanged nces, and so did Salma and Monica. Anastasia didn¡¯t realize there was an issue and took Monica to the restroom in the master bedroom. After Monica finished her business, she asked Anastasia in a low voice, ¡°You and Herman don¡¯t share a room? You guys sleep separately?¡± Monica also noticed that there weren¡¯t any female products in the master bathroom. Anastasia didn¡¯t think it was a big deal andughed. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re still not familiar with each other, so, of course, we sleep separately.¡± Not familiar? Monica reminded her, ¡°Ana, you guys are already married, haven¡¯t you guys¡­ you know?¡± Anastasia shook her head bashfully just as Salma walked in. Salma whispered, ¡°Ana, have you and Herman been sleeping separately all this time?¡± Anastasia was being grilled in the bedroom while Herman was getting the third degree from Katelyn in the living room. Katelyn was hoping for grandkids and was shocked to find out her son and daughter¨C inw were sleeping separately. Anastasia nodded. ¡°Yeah, we both think we should spend some time together first, see if we¡¯re right for each other.¡± Monica probed, ¡°And if you¡¯re not, what then? Divorce?¡± She thought it was a gift from heaven that Anastasia could marry into such a good family. She was determined to make them a couple, no matter what. A man like Herman was a rare catch. Anastasia looked at Salma and Monica. ¡°I guess so. If we¡¯re not a good fit, there¡¯s no point forcing it.¡± Life was too long for a bad marriage. Salma thought for a moment. ¡°Anastasia, you¡¯re making the right choice. Take some time to get to know him, you guys rushed into marriage. Take it slow now.¡± ¡°Okay, Mom¡± Anastasia remembered the food in the kitchen. ¡°Oops, the pork I¡¯m stewing is still on the stove, gotta go check on it.¡± Once Anastasia left, Salma grabbed Monica. ¡°Monica, has Anastasia been acting strangetely, or has she said anything to you?¡± ¡°No, Salma, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Yesterday, Anastasia came home and said she remembered some things,¡± Salma said worriedly. ¡°I¡¯m afraid if she remembered that incident, it could ruin her life.¡± Monica¡¯s heart sank, if Anastasia really remembered or if Herman found out her secret, they could be in hot water. That incident was years ago, and now Monica had almost forgotten about it. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, as long as I¡¯m here, I promise to take care of Anastasia and make sure she and Herman have a happy marriage.¡± ¡°Anastasia is lucky to have a friend like you,¡± Salma said. ¡°Monica, I¡¯ve been having dreamstely, about that child, my great¨Cgranddaughter. I just¡­ I just¡­¡± Thinking about it, Salma was filled with regret. Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Monica consoled Salma. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t beat yourself up, Salma You were just looking out for Anastasia* Looking towards the living room, she muttered, ¡®Maybe destiny thought Anastasia got the short end of the stick these past years, so it threw her this marriage as a way to make up for the bad luck.¡± Salma replied, ¡°Herman seems like a pretty good catch¡± Monica hadn¡¯t filled Salma in on Herman¡¯s real identity. Since Anastasia and Herman were still sleeping in separate beds, spilling the beans would backfire. Knowing Anastasia, she would march straight to city hall and file for divorce. However, they fell in love, the tides could turn. Lunch was a feast, all hand¨Cmade by Anastasia with a little help from Herman. Everyone gathered around the table, and Anastasia cheerfully greeted everyone, ¡°Hope you¡¯re all starving. Dig in! Ms. Katelyn, Herman mentioned you¡¯re into light dishes. These are pretty mild and should be up your alley.¡± ¡°Absolutely perfect. Katelyn chuckled, her eyes sweeping over Anastasia and Herman. Her words carried a double meaning. Not only was the food just right, but her daughter¨Cinw was also just what she hoped for. Anastasia didn¡¯t catch the subtext, but Monica did. It seemed Katelyn was quite pleased with her new daughter¨Cinw. With the mother¨Cinw hurdle cleared, the rest should be smooth sailing. Monica felt a bit relieved then presented a gift with a smile. ¡°Ana, here¡¯s a little something for your wedding. May you grow old together and have kids N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. you grow soon.¡± ¡°Monica, you¡¯re too kind¡± Anastasia took the gift, smiling faintly. ¡°Thank you.¡± Katelyn added, ¡°Well, you¡¯re married now. Time to start thinking about kids. You bounce back quicker when you¡¯re young, right Salma?¡± Salma, considering the asion, agreed, ¡°It¡¯s a good time to start nning.¡± When she heard the blessing to have children soon, Anastasia blushed. Seeing both elders pressuring her, she stole a nce at Herman. Herman stated, ¡°As for having kids, let¡¯s just go with the flow.¡± With Herman¡¯sment, the topic was dropped. If a man didn¡¯t want kids, it could mean he was not ready to take on a family, or he wasn¡¯t prepared to spend his life with his wife and build aplete family. Monica tentatively asked, ¡°Herman, you¡¯re 30 now. Most guys your age are itching to have kids. You say you¡¯re not in a rush, but you must have some sort of n, right?¡± Seeing everyone pushing her to have kids, Anastasia felt a bit awkward. Herman nced at Anastasia, then answered honestly, ¡°No ns. We¡¯ll let fate decide.¡± He figured she wasn¡¯t ready to have kids either, so he wasn¡¯t in a hurry. But Monica found his response a little too casual. She worried Herman was just toying with Anastasia but couldn¡¯t say much more. *Come on, let¡¯s eat,¡± Anastasia said, changing the subject with a smile. ¡°Mom, try some of this. Ms. Katelyn, Flynn, dig in. Don¡¯t be shy, make yourselves at home.¡± In this setting, Flynn could only stay silent, but he replied with a smile, ¡°Thanks, Ana.¡± The lunch went on without a hitch. Katelyn was very warm towards Salma, striking up a casual conversation, mostly about Anastasia¡¯s childhood. Katelyn, of course, wanted to know more about their family. Learning Salma worked in a hotel, she didn¡¯t look down on her at all. Instead, she felt sorry for Salma¡¯s hardship. Raising a child alone was no easy task. Katelyn was very impressed with Salma. They got along so well, they dropped formalities and started calling each other ¡®dear¡®. After lunch, Herman took the initiative to clean up, letting Anastasia rest and dragging Flynn into the kitchen. Looking at the pile of dishes in the sink, Flynn didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry. ¡°Herman, I don¡¯t do dishes.¡± Leaning against the fridge, Herman replied nonchntly, ¡°Anyone with half a brain can do it.¡± Flynn, Flynn reluctantly epted the task, donning gloves and getting to work. ¡°Herman, why don¡¯t you hire a maid, or have someone sent from home?¡± Herman grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and began to supervise. ¡°A wage earner can¡¯t afford a maid.¡± Flynn murmured, ¡°Herman, you have a wife. Do you really have to pretend to be poor? You two running a stall at the Night Market, living in this tiny house¡­. This house isn¡¯t even as big as our swimming pool.¡± Herman nced at Anastasia in the living room. ¡°She¡¯s different from other girls. She wants someone on the same level, living in the same world.¡± Flynn, ¡°The world of the poor?¡± Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Anastasia and Herman came from totally different backgrounds, different world¡¯s even. But now, in Anastasia¡¯s eyes, Herman had finally be an equal. Only those from the same world could be considered equals, right? She insisted on splitting all living costs, which said a lot about her values. She didn¡¯t want to mooch off others, she was her own person. Herman had checked on a dating site, and there was indeed a Mr. Alstrom who had a date with Anastasia that day. He believed that Anastasia must have mistaken him for someone else. So, he wanted to continue to understand her world through his current role. ¡°Mind your own business.¡± Flynn did the dishes under Herman¡¯s order and was then kicked out. Salma and Monica didn¡¯t hang around long after lunch, they left shortly after Katelyn wanted to stay a bit longer, but when she saw she was the only guest left, she took the hint from her son¡¯s look and found an excuse to leave. After everyone left, Anastasia finally had the time to open the wedding gift Monica had given her. When she opened the gift, she was d Herman wasn¡¯t there with her because it was a set of sexy lingerie from Monica. Anastasia lifted the thinyer of fabric, and thought, ¡°What can this cover, really?¡± This was totally Monica¡¯s style. ¡°Anastasia.¡± Herman¡¯s voice came from outside, and Anastasia quickly hid the lingerie. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Anastasia answered while walking out. Herman hesitated and said, ¡°Could you order me another one of thosettes you got mest time? I want a double milk and sugar one¡± He looked so serious that she thought he wanted to speak about something major. Anastasiaughed. ¡°No problem, it¡¯s a vanitte from Sam¡¯s food truck. I like it a lot, too.¡± She took out her phone and started to order. ¡°Can you finish arge cup?¡± ¡°Yes, I want arge one.¡± Anastasia ced the order with a smile and looked up to see Herman take out hisptop. ¡°Check this out.¡± Herman opened a webpage. It was a job posting for a jewelry designer at Elysian Technologies. ¡°They really are hiring designers, Anastasia eximed in surprise, then she looked at the requirements. They only need a high school diploma and a love for design. Even without experience, they provide in¨C house training. And there are opportunities to study abroad for the outstanding candidates. Herman, what is your boss thinking, hiring people with no experience?¡± These conditions felt like they were tailor¨Cmade for her. ¡°Design is about creativity and fresh ideas. Rigid thinking can¡¯t create good designs.¡± Herman began to exin. Those who can think out of the box, or those with no experience, might design something unique.¡± Anastasia nodded. ¡°Makes sense.¡± ¡°Here¡¯s the application portal, you can click here to fill out your information and apply for the interview.¡± Herman pointed to the screen. The interview is divided into a first and second round, they¡¯re only hiring three people this time.¡± ¡°There are only three spots, thepetition is going to be fierce.¡± Anastasia started to get nervous, ¡°Can I make it?¡± Herman smiled at her. ¡°Get rid of that question mark, you can do it.¡± His encouragement felt like a warm spring breeze. Anastasia clenched her fists, pumping herself up. ¡°I can do it.¡± Theyughed, and Herman said, ¡°Start filling out the application.¡± Anastasia started to fill it out, feeling nervous but also excited and hopeful. Taking this step could just make her dreamse true. Anastasiapleted the application, and the vanitte she ordered was delivered. Herman drank half of it and then went out to take a call. There was some urgent business at the company. Anastasia was home alone, preparing for her interview, when her phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number. Anastasia didn¡¯t think much of it and answered, ¡°Hello, who¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Anastasia, I¡¯m outside your apartmentplex, I want to see you¡± It was Cason Anastasia tensed up, holding her phone for a while before she managed to say calmly, ¡°Cason, I¡¯m married now.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯te, I¡¯ll wait here for you¡± Cason¡¯s words wereced with determination and threat. Anastasia felt incredibly ufortable.N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Chapter 35 If she knew it woulde to this, why did she do what she did back then? Once upon a time, Cason made the firm decision to study abroad, throwing their rtionship to the wind. After he left, she sent him a breakup message. When she didn¡¯t get a response after a day, she blocked all his contacts. From then on, they hadn¡¯t been in touch for five or six years. She¡¯s married now, and yet, he¡¯s back. Anastasia pondered for a moment before saying on the phone, ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡± She agreed to meet Cason, not with any ulterior motive, but just to formally say goodbye and clear the air. Anastasia put on her shoes and walked out. At the entrance to herplex, Cason¡¯s Maybach was parked at the curb. Luxury cars have a natural allure for men. A Maybach parked at the curb had the security guard at the gate stealing a few nces. From N?velDrama.Org. When Anastasia passed by, the security guard¡¯s eyes fell on her. Seeing her approach the Maybach, his look became somewhat contemptuous. In his eyes, all women loved money, and all beauties belonged to the rich. On seeing Anastasia, Cason immediately got out of the car, smiling. ¡°Anastasia, you¡¯re here. Let¡¯s grab some afternoon tea, yeah?¡± ¡°No need, I just had atte.¡± Anastasia¡¯s expression was cold, she didn¡¯t get in the car. She said icily, ¡°Cason, please don¡¯t contact me again, I don¡¯t want my husband to get the wrong idea.¡± ¡°Anastasia, I know you¡¯re still mad about me studying abroad. I¡¯d do anything to make it right.¡± Cason said, still smiling. ¡°I can provide a better life for you now.¡± Right, back then, Cason¡¯s mother disliked her because she came from a single-parent family and strongly opposed their rtionship. Maybe it was for this reason that Cason¡¯s mother sent him overseas. Anastasia didn¡¯t want to bring up the past. She said calmly, ¡°Cason, nobody waits forever. We¡¯re done. I¡¯ll say it again, please don¡¯t interfere with my husband and my life, thanks.¡± Anastasia knew she had to set clear boundaries with Cason. Having said that, Anastasia turned to leave. Cason grabbed her arm, emotional, ¡°Anastasia, he¡¯s a poor man. What can he give you? He¡¯s just a junior employee, driving a cheap car worth a few tens of thousands, even the house he lives in is rented. He can¡¯t give you happiness.¡± Anastasia scoffed, ¡°So in your eyes, happiness is measured by money, huh? Cason, does this make you feel good?¡± ¡°Anastasia Cason furrowed his brows. ¡°You guys don¡¯t have a house, with your husband¡¯s meager sry, you¡¯ll never afford a house in Riverdale. You once said you wanted a home. I bought a house in Southridge Estates. I¡¯m doing all this for you¡­ ¡°Stop. Anastasia looked him in the eyes, ¡°You can say it¡¯s for your parents, for your ambition, but don¡¯t say it¡¯s for me. And don¡¯t evere looking for me again.¡± Anastasia pushed Cason¡¯s hand away. If she had any lingering feelings before, Cason¡¯s actions now completely ruined any remaining fond memories. She had waited for Cason, waited for many years, but as her heart gradually cooled, she started to let go. ¡°I heard about you dropping out of college Cason said, ¡°It was only when I visited your college professor yesterday that I truly understood why you quit school. It was for a man.¡± The mention of dropping out of college made Anastasia¡¯s face turn sour, ¡°Cason, what¡¯s the point of bringing that up? My leaving school wasn¡¯t because of you, it was¡­ She thought Cason was talking about himself. Even though part of the reason for dropping out was indeed Cason, she wasn¡¯t willing to admit it now. ¡°I know, it was for another man.¡± After Cason said this, Anastasia stared at him in surprise, ¡°Another man?¡± Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Anastasia¡¯s seemingly confused reaction, in Cason¡¯s eyes, was all an act Cason smirked, mocking, ¡°Did you really forget what you did, Anastasia? You dated two guys at the same time when we were together You could do it again now, right? Why pretend to be so noble? You can be with your bubby, and I can turn a blind eye Anastasia was Casen¡¯s dream girl, and the fact that he never fully had her body always left him with a lingering sense of regret The real reason Cason sought out Anastasia was because he never truly had her Part of it was also that he wanted to show off now that he¡¯s sessful, basking in his own glory ¡°Cason, what the hell are you talking about?¡± Anastasia was pissed off. I never thought you could stoop so low after all these years. I want you to leave now.¡± She didn¡¯t want to engage in any more conversation with Cason She was disappointed heartbroken. She had waited for him all these years, and she was always loyal to him. Now, just because she didn¡¯t want him anymore, he was biting back. Without saying anything more, Anastasia turned around and walked into herplex Cason looked gloomy as he got into his car and mmed the door. He wasn¡¯t nning to let Anastasia go that easily. He pulled out his phone and made a call. ¡°Keep digging. I want to know who that guy is¡± Fuming, Cason called his private investigator and then drove off. At the intersection ahead, he spotted a limited edition Rolls Royce parked by the roadside There were only three of these cars worldwide. The license te was a limited edition lucky number, which caught his attention. He couldn¡¯t help but take a few more nces. The windows were tinted, so he couldn¡¯t see who was inside. Whoever could afford such an eye¨Ccatching car must not only be wealthy but also have some power. Cason felt a pang of jealousy. All guys love fancy cars, and his ride wasn¡¯t even worth one wheel of that Rolls Royce. Plus, it was a rental He had spent all his savings on hisw firm. His family used to be well¨Coff, but now they were just middle ss, and they had spent a lot over the years For the sake of his business and to maintain his dignity, he could only afford to rent a Maybach. And about the house in Southridge Estates was also a lie. in the Rolls Royce, Herman had witnessed the altercation between Anastasia and Cason, his face expressionless. After dealing with hispany¡¯s affairs, he rushed back home, only to see Anastasia and her ex at his front door. The driver asked, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, are we heading back to Harmony Meadows or Salstrom Manor?¡± ¡°Salstrom Manor, Herman replied coldly. The driver didn¡¯t dare to say anything else and started the car towards Salstrom Manor. Back home, Anastasia couldn¡¯t shake off Cason¡¯s words. How could she date two guys at the same time? When she was with Cason, she definitely had nothing to do with any other man. Why would Cason say that? When she had calmed down, Anastasia began to think about it more deeply. From N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Did you really forget what you did?¡± Those were Cason¡¯s words. Apastasia frowned, realizing that she had indeed forgotten some things. She started to feel anxious. Had she really forgotten? But very soon, she dismissed this possibility. It was impossible for her to be involved with two guys at the same time. Anastasia couldnt make sense of it, but she didn¡¯t dwell on it. Maybe Cason was just making wild guesses, trying to nder her because he couldn¡¯t have her Before long was getting dark. Anastasia had been waiting for Herman for a long time. She sent him a text: ¡°When are youing back? Are you done with work?¡± In Riverdale, Southridge Estates, in a luxurious mansion. Herman was sitting in the sky garden, sipping on fresh infusion when he saw Anastasia¡¯s text. The jealousy and anger in his heart slowly began to fade He was a bit stubborn and didn¡¯t reply As he savored his infusion, he thought of the vanitte that Anastasia had made for him and suddenly found the drink in his hand tasteless. ¡°Herman.¡± Katelyn, dressed in a light¨Ccolored, slim¨Cfit dress, elegantly walked over, ¡°Herman, it¡¯s sote. Why are you still here? Why haven¡¯t you gone back?¡± Herman asked, ¡°Go back where?¡± Of course back to your home with your wife. If you¡¯re not bringing her here, then why are you here alone?¡± Katelyn scolded, ¡°Go back. Don¡¯t let your wife worry. Don¡¯t be Immature. You¡¯re a mariled man now.¡± Herman was speechless. Anastasia didn¡¯t know about Herman¡¯s situation. She thought he was just busy and sent him another text: ¡°I¡¯ve warmed up the food. Remember to eat when you get back. I¡¯m going to bed now.¡± Herman nced at the text, and his heart warmed up. Anastasia had saved him some food. Katelyn craned her neck to take a look. Seeing that Anastasia was so considerate, she immediately urged Herman, ¡°Go back quickly Don¡¯t make her wart too long. If you¡¯re not bringing Ana here in the future, don¡¯te back alone. Seeing you alone just irritates me.¡± Only a real mother could say something like that. In the end, Herman was kicked out by Katelyn. Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Herman hopped in the car with a sigh, even the driver couldn¡¯t help but chuckle ¡°Mr. Salstrom, you¡¯re still out and about thiste, your wife must be worried sick ¡± ¡°Stop talking¡± Herman ordered sternly, ¡°Back to Harmony Meadows.¡± The driver set the car in motion, heading once again to Harmony Meadows. On the ride, the driver got a call from his wife, asking when he¡¯d be home. Herman overheard the woman on the phone mentioning that she had saved dinner and was chatting about the kids¡® school updates. ¡°I got it, you love to nag, gotta hang up now,¡± the driver replied to his wife. Despite his words, there was a satisfied smile on his face. Herman curiously asked, ¡°Does your wife always rush you toe horne for dinner?¡± The driverughed. ¡°Yep, she says it doesn¡¯t feel like home if we don¡¯t eat together. We¡¯ve been married for over a decade, she always keeps the house tidy, and the kids are such angels Coming home to them is always a joy, no matter how tired I am.¡± Having been Herman¡¯s driver for nearly eight years, he was quite casual in his conversation. Herman couldn¡¯t help but think about his home with Anastasia. He often came homete due to work, so Anastasia was always responsible for keeping the house clean. In his memory, the house was always tidy and filled with the scent of fresh flowers. When he arrived home and opened the door, Anastasia had left amp on for him. Walking into the neat and cozy little home, Herman felt the same warm sensation the driver had spoken of Anastasia had already gone to bed. He went to the kitchen and saw the food kept warm in the oven. A small smile tugged at Herman¡¯s lips. Although he had already eaten at Salstrom Manor, he made himself a te. The next day. It was Monday, and Herman had to go to the office early Anastasia got up half an hour earlier to make him breakfast. When Herman finished getting ready, Anastasia had already prepared a te of roasted vegetables with a sandwich and atte. ¡°Eat first before heading to the office, Anastasia suggested. ¡°Alright.¡± Herman sat down and exined aboutst night, ¡°My phone diedst night, you were asleep when I got back.¡± ¡°That¡¯s okay¡± Anastasia said with a smile, ¡°Eat up now, or you¡¯ll bete. Doesn¡¯t your office have an early clock in time?¡± Herman didn¡¯t actually need to clock in, he could go to the office whenever he wanted. ¡°No rush.¡± They finished breakfast together before Herman left for work. As for the matter of Cason visiting Anastasia yesterday, Herman didn¡¯t ask much, pretending to know nothing. After Herman left, Anastasia started cleaning the house, and then began making handmade jewelry. Around eleven oclock, Anastasia received a call from the HR department of a jewelrypany under Elysian Technologies, inviting her for an interview the next day Anastasia was over the moon and promptly epted, ¡°Sure, what time tomorrow?¡± ¡°Two in the afternoon, at the A¨Cblock office building on Blossom Lane¡­¡± ¡°Great, no problem. Thank you¡± After hanging up, Anastasia Couldn¡¯t wait to share the good news with Herman. She texted him: [I got an interview tomorrow!] Elysian Technologies Office Building. In a spacious conference room, dozens of senior leaders were gathered. It was thepany¡¯s weekly meeting. Herman sat there with a poker face, looking rather unapproachable. Everyone in the room kept quiet, even their breathing was controlled. Just a few seconds ago, Herman had criticized a regional manager harshly Herman¡¯s phone beeped with a message, saving the manager. Herman nced at his phone, his icy demeanor slightly thawing. Herman picked up his phone and replied to Anastasia: [Congrattions, prepare well] Receiving the message, Anastasia was in high spirits. She thought Herman was such a gentleman. She put away her phone and started preparing for the interview. She had no idea that the man she saw as gentle was viewed as a cold individual by the senior leaders at Elysian Technologies. ¡°Meeting adjourned.¡± Herman stood up, his cold gaze sweeping over the crowd, ¡°Elysian Technologies doesn¡¯t need freeloaders. I hope you all understand what you¡¯re here for. Thepany can run without any of you.¡± He was implying that those whocked ability didn¡¯t deserve their positions, thepany was not lacking in talent. With that, Herman got up and walked out, his secretary, Nelson, followed. In the CEO office, Nelson reported, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, the interview you ordered has been arranged. So far, over 400 people have signed up¡­¡± ¡°Also, we found a suitable marrow donor for Duncan¡¯s son. The transnt surgery is scheduled for next week. We¡¯ve applied for the Angel Fund for them. All of Duncan¡¯s son¡¯s surgery fees are covered.¡± Herman replied indifferently, ¡®Nice work¡± Nelson couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, why go to such lengths to find a marrow donor for Duncan¡¯s son?¡± He had been with Herman for many years and knew that Duncan was just an ordinary person with no apparent connection to Herman Herman responded with a faint smile, ¡°He gave me a gift. It¡¯s only fair to return the favor.¡± Nelson was more confused. He remembered something and pulled out a stack of documents, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, here are the details of Kirkwood & Associates. It¡¯s a newly registeredpany Interestingly, Casori¡¯s car and house are all rented. He has some fame abroad, and this guy is arrogant because of his abilities. He returned to our country to develop his career.¡± Naturally, Herman was gonna check out the guy pestering his wife. Hearing about Cason¡¯s situation, Herman frowned, idly flipping through the documents with his knobby fingers. N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Nelson added, ¡°The biggest shareholder of thew firm is actually Demi, I checked it out. They were ssmates. Thepetition amongw firms in our country is fierce. A newly established firm like this couldn¡¯t get much business. Even if they do, it¡¯s just petty cases, like neighborhood disputes or legal aids.¡± After scanning the documents, Herman scoffed at such opponents. ¡°Let¡¯s give them some troubles, don¡¯t let them idle around too much.¡± If Cason had too much free time, he would bother Anastasia. Nelson replied, ¡°got it.¡± At five in the afternoon, Anastasia went to her stall and learned from Duncan that his son¡¯s surgery had been arranged. Duncan excitedly said, ¡°Anastasia, we found a suitable bone marrow donor for my son, and the surgery is free. I heard a world¨Crenowned expert will do the operation personally¡± ¡°Duncan, really?¡± Anastasia was also thrilled. ¡°That¡¯s fantastic!¡± Duncan¡¯s furrowed brow finally rxed, his eyes full of hope for the future. ¡°Yes, these hard times are finallying to an end.¡± Anastasia remembered something Herman had said before sweetnesses after hardship. Herman seemed like a prophet; everything he said was bing reality. Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Anastasia¡¯s business tonight was quite good, she managed to sell several pieces of jewelry in a short amount of time. Seeing her designs being so popr, she was pumped for her interview tomorrow. Anastasia took a break to video chat with her mom, Salma. In the middle of their chit¨Cchat, Salma dropped a bomb, ¡°Ana, it seems like your cousin¡¯s husband has another woman.¡± ¡°Gianna¡¯s husband?¡± Anastasia was gobsmacked, it was totally out of the blue. ¡°Mom, who told you this?¡± 1 saw it with my own two eyes, Salma added from the other side of the video call, I can¡¯t be 100% sure though. A man and a woman walked into the hotel today. The guy looked a lot like your cousin¡¯s husband. I went over to say hi. He was arm in arm with this woman. They looked awkward when they saw me.¡± Seeing a man and woman walk into a hotel together could get tongues wagging. Anastasia quickly asked, ¡®Mom, did you let Auntie know?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t yet. I mean, if I got the wrong guy, it could mess up Gianna¡¯s marriage, and that¡¯d be a total chaos, Salma said, worried, ¡°Gianna¡¯s been married for eight years without a kid and I¡¯m worried he¡¯s getting cold feet. Your auntie always brags about her son¨Cinw. If anything happens, she¡¯d be devastated¡± ¡°Mom, don¡¯t spill the beans unless you¡¯re sure, Anastasia suggested, ¡°Whether it¡¯s true or not, it will not end well if you tell her.¡± In today¡¯s world, it seems like every guy has a side chick and the wife is usually thest to know. Even if people around them know, it¡¯s not their ce to spill the beans. Once certain things are made public, they can be awkward. The person giving the reminder might even be med for it. Anastasia¡¯s Aunt Cynthia has been bragging about how her daughter married into a good family. If Salma told her about this, she could be seen as she was jealous and try to stir the pot. Salma said, ¡°I get your drift. I hope I¡¯m just overthinking. Ana, don¡¯t stay out toote. The weather forecast says it might rain tonight.¡± Anastasia nced at the night sky and said, ¡°Mom, it doesn¡¯t look like it¡¯s gonna rain. My business is booming today, I¡¯ll pack up a bitte.¡± ¡°Then get your husband to pick you up. It¡¯s not safe for a girl to be out there alone.¡± Salma was always worried about Anastasia setting up shop. Whenever Anastasia was out selling, Salma would tag along if she was free. Even if she couldn¡¯t, she wouldn¡¯t rest easy until Anastasia returned home. Salma was scared the past would repeat itself, with Anastasia getting hurt again. To put Salma¡¯s mind at ease, Anastasia fibbed, ¡°Alright, he said he¡¯de pick me upter. Mom, you need to rest early since you¡¯re not feeling well. I have customers now, gotta go¡± ¡°Alright, you go ahead, Salma hung up the video call. The house was empty and she felt lonely. As Salma was about to go to bed, she heard a child being scolded in the neighborhood. The child¡¯s cries echoed in the neighborhood. Salma couldn¡¯t help but look out the window. It was someone from the building across giving their kid a hard time again. Hearing this, Salma felt a pang in her heart and was reminded of the child she lost years ago. She didn¡¯t want her daughter to walk down the same path she did, because she knew how tough it was. At Night Market. Anastasia was busy until 10 PM and finally packed up and went home. It didn¡¯t rain. She tidied up her stall and drove home. On her way, she passed a milk coffee shop and remembered Herman likedtte, so she bought two cups before the shop closed. When Anastasia got home, Herman wasn¡¯t back yet. The house was silent. She turned on the light, put thettes on the table, and went to the bedroom to take a bath. After her bath, Anastasia wrapped herself in a towel. Before she could change into her clothes, she heard her phone ringing in the living room. Since Herman wasn¡¯t home, she went to the living room in her towel to answer the phone. It was Monica calling. She put the phone on speaker and sat on the sofa toweling her hair. While they were chatting, there was noise at the door. Herman was back. Herman walked in and saw Anastasia sitting on the sofa in a towel, legs crossed, looking quite alluring. Anastasia turned around to look at him. Before she could say anything, Monica¡¯s voice came from the phone, ¡°Ana, put on the thong I gave you. I bet Herman will fall head over heels for you¡±From N?velDrama.Org. Anastasia¡¯s face turned beet red. Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Herman was also taken aback. The phone was on speaker, so he heard everything Monica said crystal clear. His timing couldn¡¯t have been worse. ¡°Ana, are you listening? If you don¡¯t know how to do it, I have some video links you can check out¡­¡± Scared out of her wits, Anastasia hung up the phone in a hurry and even dropped her cell phone on the floor in the process. She was totally freaked out. This was the phone she just bought. If it broke, she¡¯d have to shell out more cash for a new one. She quickly reached out to catch the phone, saving it from hitting the floor. Herman stood at the door, his face expressionless. He was bbergasted too. Because during the phone¨Ccatching process, Anastasia had half knelt on the ground, and her towel had loosened a bit. From his angle, he could see pretty much everything¡­. She tightened her towel in embarrassment. ¡°I made you atte.¡± Despite the embarrassment, Anastasia managed a smile and exined, ¡°Monica loves pulling pranks Don¡¯t take her seriously.¡± Herman chuckled and teased, ¡°I¡¯m suddenly looking forward to it. Was it the thong that Monica gave you as a wedding giftst time?¡± Hermans straightforward words made Anastasia blush even deeper. She had just taken a shower, her skin delicate and cheeks flushed. When she blushed, she looked even more charming. Her charm was natural, and Herman found his heart racing. Anastasia was the only one who could make him feel the aroused just by looking at her. ¡°Monica just loves pranks.¡± Anastasia¡¯s words came out stuttering. ¡°Anastasia.¡± Herman suddenly called her name very seriously and walked over to her. Anastasia¡¯s heart pounded instantly, and she felt like she was rooted to the spot, unable to move. Blushing, she looked at him, her heart beating wildly. She wondered, what if Herman wanted her to perform her duties as a wife? What should she do? They were legally married, and it would be only natural if he had such a request. Just when Anastasia was torn, Herman reached out to her. His touch made Anastasia hold her towel tighter. She thought he was going to do something, but he merely brushed a stray hair from her forehead. ¡°If you wash your hair at night, remember to dry it, or you might get a headache.¡± ¡°Ah? Okay!¡± Anastasia nodded, which made himugh. He leaned down and teased in her ear, ¡°Are you scared I¡¯ll do something to you?¡± Shy and nervous, Anastasia closed her eyes and blurted out, ¡°No¡­no.¡± Her reaction put him in a good mood. He reached out to pet her head, ¡°You have an interview tomorrow, right? Better get some sleep.¡± At that, Anastasia opened her eyes. He was already turning around, heading to the dining table, and grabbing the coffee on it. She thought he was going to¡­. If he wanted to, she wouldn¡¯t exactly say no¡­ Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. His turning away left her a little disappointed. Could it be like Monica said, she was too uptight and Herman wasn¡¯t interested in her? Or maybe he has performance issues? Back in her room, Anastasia couldn¡¯t help but touch her head. His gentle touch was still there. Her phone kept receiving new messages. They were from Monica. Monica [What happened? Why did you suddenly hang up?] Anastasia [He came back and heard what you were saying] After the message was sent, Monica replied immediately: [And then? Did you feel anything special?] Anastasia [No, we¡¯re in our own rooms now] Monica [Ana, do you think Herman has a problem? If he can resist sleeping with such a beautiful woman, something¡¯s definitely off] Anastasia had her doubts too, but questioning a man¡¯s ability was risky Anastasia [Probably not, maybe it¡¯s because of feelings. I need to rest, I have an interview tomorrow] As a wife, even if Anastasia had doubts, she would defend Herman¡¯s image in front of others. Back in his room, Herman received a call from Flynn. Flynn conveyed Katelyn¡¯s wishes on the phone, hoping that Herman would have a child soon. Herman frowned, ¡°So annoying¡± ¡°Bro, it¡¯s mom¡¯s request. You¡¯re already thirty, isn¡¯t it strange for a man of your age to never have sex with a woman? And now, even after getting married, you¡¯re still sleeping in separate rooms. Bro, do you have a problem?¡± Flynn risked asking thest question. ¡°No pocket money for you this year.¡± Herman¡¯s words scared Flynn. Before Flynn could plead, Herman hung up the phone. He knew very well he didn¡¯t have a problem. If he hadn¡¯t tried to control himself just now, he would have let his desires get the best of him. But he was indeed inexperienced in this department. He had never been with a woman before, except for a dream he had a few years ago, a dream so real that it was unforgettable. The woman in the dream, like Anastasia, had captivating eyes. Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Chapter 40 As Herman was lost in the memory of that dream, Flynn shot him another message: ¡°Dude, you¡¯ve been sleeping in the other room. You think my sis¨Cinw might get the wrong idea?¡± Would Anastasia really misunderstand? Herman recalled her reaction earlier. A few minutester. For some reason, he found himself standing outside Anastasia¡¯s room. He wanted to knock a few times but ultimately held back. The next day Herman heard Anastasia getting up in her room, so he got up too. ¡°Good morning¡± Herman greeted her warmly. ¡°Good morning¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t seem to care. She just smiled and walked straight to the kitchen to make breakfast, business as usual. Herman wanted to say more, but he didn¡¯t get the chance. He picked up his cup and purposely went to the water cooler to fill it up. The water cooler was right at the kitchen door. As Herman filled his cup, he sneaked a nce at Anastasia. She was cutting tomatoes with toast on the side, apparently getting ready to make sandwiches. Anastasia didn¡¯t notice Herman¡¯s actions. He took his cup to the living room, and after a while, he went back to the water cooler to fill it up again. He did this three times, but Anastasia didn¡¯t notice. Herman gave up. He went to the kitchen door and asked, ¡°Did you get everything ready for your interview today?¡± Anastasia, who was making the te, was startled by Herman¡¯s voice. She steadied herself and asked, ¡°Uh, yes, everything¡¯s ready. Is something up?¡± ¡°No, just asking ¡°Herman seemed a bit ufortable. He pretended to drink water and then went back to the living room. From N?velDrama.Org. The house was small, with an open kitchen and living room. As long as Herman didn¡¯t go back to his room, Anastasia could see him from the kitchen. Feeling a bit puzzled, Anastasia finished making the sandwiches and brought them out. ¡°Herman, the breakfast is ready. Let¡¯s have sandwiches today. Try it and see if it¡¯s as good as the one you madest time.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Herman took a bite. ¡°Not bad.¡± Anastasiaughed and started eating happily. ¡°Duncan told mest night that his child found a suitable bone marrow donor and the operation is free. Everything you said came true. They are really going to get out of their predicament. Your predictions are indeed urate.¡± Herman just smiled, ¡°Since my predictions are so urate, I wish you sess in your interview today.¡± Anastasiaughed, ¡°With your words, I am more confident.¡± ¡°I believe you can do it.¡± Herman said. As Anastasia ate her breakfast, she asked, ¡°If I pass the interview, can wemute together?¡± ¡°My department is different from yours, and our offices are not at the same ce. Herman exined, ¡°I spend most of my time in the park, not in the office building Thepany¡¯s divisions are very clear, with each floor of the office building having a clear division ofbor. Jewelry is only a part of Elysian Technologies¡® business. The location of your interview today is the Elysian Tower, but your workspace will not be in this building, it will be in a different location.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t ponder too much, she trusted him no matter what he said. The Elysian Tower had over fifty floors, with each floor¡¯s employees working in different fields. Unless permission was granted, it was not allowed to cross floors. Each elevator also had designated floors it could reach. Only the president¡¯s elevator could freely reach every floor, the others could not. The interview was scheduled for two in the afternoon. Herman didn¡¯t go to thepany in the morning, but at one o¡¯clock he drove Anastasia to Elysian Tower A for her interview. As Anastasia got out of the car, Herman told her, ¡°Good luck with your interview.¡± Anastasia clenched her fist, ¡°I can do it.¡± They shared a smile, and Anastasia turned to enter the building while Herman drove into the underground parking lot. From there, he took the president¡¯s elevator straight to the president¡¯s office on the top floor. When Nelson, the president¡¯s secretary, saw Herman, he respectfully greeted him, ¡°Mr. Salstrom.¡± Herman¡¯s voice was clear, ¡°Today the Jewelry Design Department is recruiting. You go supervise the interview¡± ¡°I understand, Mr. Salstrom As Herman¡¯s right¨Chand man, Nelson, of course, knew what to do. The president¡¯s wife of Elysian Technologies was participating in an interview. She couldn¡¯t be eliminated by some ignorant person, nor could Herman¡¯s identity be exposed, so it was up to Nelson to handle it. Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Anastasia walked into the interview waiting area with her resume, but got a rude shock by what was in front of her. The waiting area was packed with people, all holding resumes, all there for interviews. Thepetition was fierce. It took Anastasia some time to find a seat. The girl next to her struck up a conversation. ¡°You¡¯re here for the jewelry designer interview too?¡± Anastasia smiled and nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± The girl continued, ¡°My name is Lauren Mill. I just came back from studying in France. I love jewelry design and have won many awards. What about you?¡± Upon hearing such credentials, Anastasia felt a little bashful and subconsciously covered her resume, ¡°I¡¯m Anastasia.¡± As for the resume, she felt too embarrassed to borate. Lauren was very outgoing and asked, ¡°I heard they¡¯re only hiring three people. Are you confident?¡± Anastasia replied with a smile, ¡°I was quite confident before I saw the crowd. Now, not so much.¡± Laurenughed, ¡°I asked around. There are a lot of talents here today. It¡¯s not going to be easy to stand out. Oh, do you have a boyfriend? Are you married?¡± Lauren asked such personal questions directly. Anastasia was taken aback, but answered, ¡°I¡¯m married.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good, Lauren seemed relieved, ¡°You are so pretty. If you get hired, that¡¯s one morepetitor for me.¡± Anastasia was speechless. What kind of logic was that? They were here for a designer interview, not a beauty pageant. From N?velDrama.Org. Anastasia asked, ¡°Ms. Lauren, just to make sure, this is the interview for Elysian Technologies¡® jewelry designer, right?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lauren corrected. To be precise, it¡¯s for an assistant designer.¡± Anastasia breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Then, there¡¯s no problem.¡± She thought she might havee to the wrong ce. Then, Anastasia asked, ¡°Ms. Lauren, with your high qualifications and many awards, why are you applying for an assistant designer position?¡± With Lauren¡¯s credentials, many bigpanies would want her. ¡°I¡¯m not after the position, I want to get into Elysian Technologies, Lauren said bluntly. ¡°As long as I get in the design department, one day, I can make it to the CEO¡¯s office and see the man of my dreams.¡± Anastasia said, ¡°My husband told me that even if you get hired, you¡¯d work in a subsidiarypany, not in the Elysian Tower.¡± Upon hearing this, Lauren¡¯s face changed, but she quickly recovered, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. As long as we¡¯re in the samepany, I¡¯ll have a chance to see him.¡± Elysian Technologies has thousands of employees. For designers in subsidiaries like them, the chance of seeing the CEO is almost zero. Anastasia didn¡¯t want to burst Lauren¡¯s bubble anymore. Lauren asked, ¡°Anastasia, how does your husband know so much? Is he with Elysian Technologies?* It¡¯s generally discouraged for office employees to date each other. Thinking of Herman¡¯s future, Anastasia denied it, ¡°No.¡± She just met Lauren and didn¡¯t want to reveal too much. Anastasia also worried that Lauren was testing her. The workce is like a battlefield. It¡¯s always good to stay vignt. ¡°I need to go to the restroom,¡± Anastasia excused herself. ¡°Go ahead,¡± Lauren said, ¡°I¡¯ll save your seat.¡± In the restroom, Anastasia stayed for a while, nervous about the uing interview. As she was about to leave, she heard someonee in, followed by a woman¡¯s voice, ¡°Why should I be nervous? I¡¯ve already fixed things on the interviewer¡¯s side, I definitely get hired. Who can resist money these days? Once I get into Elysian Technologies, I¡¯ll find ways to attract the CEO¡± Anastasia was shocked in the bathroom. Even in such argepany as Elysian Technologies, people were getting in through personal connections? There were only three spots, and one was already taken. Only two left. Anastasia had to admit, the CEO of Elysian Technologies was such hot stock. These women were here for the position of the CEO¡¯s wife, not the designer position. Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Anastasia waited for thedy outside to leave before she came out of the toilet stall. As she washed her hands, sell¨Cdoubt crept in She wondered, if others could get a shot by bribing, did she still stand a chance? Just then, Monica called to ask about the interview. Anastasia told Monica about what had happened, ¡°Monica, do you think I¡¯m overconfident? Everyone who came for the interview was incredibly brilliant, some even got a chance through bribery, do I still have a shot?¡± Monica didn¡¯t think it was a problem, ¡°Ana, chill, you¡¯re gonna be just fine.¡± Who couldpete with Anastasia¡¯s background? After all, she had the backing of the CEO of Elysian Technologies. Monica was stoked when she learned that Anastasia was going to interview at Elysian Technologies. Even though she couldn¡¯t figure out what Herman was up to, at least he hadn¡¯t let Anastasia down so far. Getting Anastasia into Elysian Technologies was an endorsement in itself. Anastasia took it as afort, ¡°By the way, I guess most of the women here today are here for the CEO of Elysian Technologies, not the interview¡± Those women are chasing rainbows, the CEO of Elysian Technologies is out of their league.¡± Monica teased, ¡°Maybe the CEO already has someone special, the world just doesn¡¯t know yet.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t care about the CEO of Elysian Technologies¡® private life. Even if she passed the interview, it was unlikely she would ever meet the CEO. Anastasia checked the time, ¡°I gotta go, no matter the oue, I¡¯m gonna give it a shot. I¡¯ll catch up with youter.¡± After hanging up, Anastasia headed to the waiting area. She hadn¡¯t gotten a good look at the woman who had bribed the interviewer in the stall. In front of Anastasia was Lauren Mill. Lauren emerged from her interview in just a few minutes. Anastasia asked, ¡°That was quick! How¡¯d it go?¡± Lauren shrugged, ¡°Not sure.¡± ¡°Darn it, if you with your amazing credentials are not sure, then I¡¯m screwed.¡± Anastasia immediately became nervous as a voice came from the room. ¡°Next!¡± It was Anastasia¡¯s turn. Lauren said, ¡°Anastasia, good luck.¡± Anastasia grabbed her resume and hurried in. She wasn¡¯t very confident outside the door, but once she stepped in, she hadpletely adjusted her attitude and appeared very confident. Sess or not, the key was to have the guts. Anastasia greeted the four interviewers modestly, ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Anastasia, here¡¯s my resume.¡± Anastasia handed over her resume. The interviewers had already interviewed many people and were a bit worn out, but when they saw Anastasia¡¯s resume, they perked up The HR¡¯s requirement was at least a high school degree, but all the candidates were top¨Cnotch graduates. A high school graduate applying for the job, was she asking for trouble? Anastasia was the only one with just a high school degree among the candidates. One of the female interviewers asked uncertainly, ¡°Anastasia? 25 years old, with only a high school degree? Is there a printing mistake?¡± That was a polite way of putting it. Anastasia nodded seriously, ¡°No, there¡¯s no mistake. I only have a high school degree¡± The interviewers were a bit puzzled. A high school graduate applying for the job, was she wasting their time? One of the male interviewers didn¡¯t even look at Anastasia, he crumpled her resume and threw it in the trash, scolding. What the hell is HR department doing, even inviting high school graduates to interview! Next!¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. This act was a p in the face to Anastasia¡¯s self esteem. Anastasia¡¯s face turned sour, she lifted her head and said firmly but respectfully. ¡°Based on your company¡¯s hiring requirements, a high school degree is enough for the interview. I understand that a degree is important, but it¡¯s not everything You haven¡¯t seen my design sketches, how do you know I¡¯m not capable?¡± That was Anastasia¡¯s character. She could back down normally, but if someone doubted her abilities, she would be driven to prove them wrong. The male interviewer scoffed, ¡°You, a high school graduate, what do you know about jewelry design? I bet you can¡¯t even tell the difference between a gem and ss¡± Anastasia was furious and was about to retort when the door behind her was suddenly pushed open. All four interviewers stood up, their faces showing respect. Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Anastasia turned to look at the neer. It was none other than Herman¡¯s secretary, Nelson. She didn¡¯t know him, but he knew her This was Nelson¡¯s first time meeting Anastasia, the wife of his boss. The male interviewer who had just insulted Anastasia was all smiles. ¡°Nelson, what brings you here? Any directives from Mr. Salstrom?¡± ¡°Just checking things out.¡± Nelson replied, without mentioning that this was an order from his boss. He deliberately walked up to the interview table and nced at Anastasia¡¯s designs. Despite being a man and not particrly interested in jewelry, Nelson found himself intrigued by Anastasia¡¯s designs. He felt a sudden urge to see the finished prece Seeing Nelson looking at Anastasia¡¯s designs, the male interviewerughed. ¡°Nelson, there¡¯s been a mistake from HR. I was about to ask this candidate to leave There¡¯s no way Elysian Technologies would hire a high school graduate.¡± Hearing this, Nelson was d he had arrived just in time, or else the wife of the CEO of Elysian Technologies would have been driven away by these fools. Anastasia wouldn¡¯t stand for the insult. ¡°If yourpany doesn¡¯t hire high school graduates, then you should have put it in your requirements. Please return my designs¡± Seeing her crumpled resume in the trash, Nelson immediately understood that Anastasia had been wronged. ¡°Ms Jewell, I apologize for the inappropriate behavior of our staff. If Elysian Technologies posted this job ad, no one is allowed to disregard that. I¡¯ve seen your designs and they¡¯re excellent. Ourpany values not only education, but also ability Nelson handed back her designs and asked, ¡°What was your initial intention in designing jewelry?¡± The secretary to the CEO of Elysian Technologies was apologizing to a candidate? Everyone was shocked and started specting about Anastasia¡¯s background. Nelson¡¯s sincerity left a good impression on Anastasia. ¡°I want everyone to wear the jewelry I design. Emotions that can¡¯t be expressed in words can be conveyed through designs. It¡¯s about sharing love, capturing precious moments and making sure lovers end up together.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Nelson nodded ¡®Ms. Jewell, please wait for our call¡± Anastasia was a bit confused. Was she being turned down? In her past interviews, she was also asked to wait for a call, but the call never came. Being asked to wait for a call was the most polite way of rejection. Anastasia didn¡¯t argue further. She picked up her designs and resume and walked out. As soon as she left, Nelson turned to the male interviewer ¡°Go to HR and quit your job. Don¡¯t bother coming in tomorrow.¡± The male interviewer turned pale. ¡°Nelson, why?¡± Was it because of Anastasia, a high school graduate? Could it be that Anastasia has some powerful connections? ¡°You¡¯re in charge of recruiting talent for thepany. If you judge candidates based on your personal bias, how can you find the right people?¡± Nelson said. ¡°If you¡¯re unfit for this role, you should step aside.¡± Nelson didn¡¯t have the authority to fire employees, but he knew Herman¡¯s temperament well. Could someone who insulted the wife of the CEO of Elysian Technologies stay in thepany? The male interviewer didn¡¯t figure out Anastasia¡¯s background until he was fired. He had offended a woman of importance. But Anastasia had left after the interview and had no idea about what happened next. She didn¡¯t have high hopes for getting the job.. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. When she got home around four in the afternoon, Anastasia went to the market to buy groceries. As she got out of the elevator, she saw Katelyn leading a moving crew into the next¨Cdoor apartment Curious, Anastasia asked, ¡°Ms Katelyn, what are you doing?¡± ¡°Ana, you¡¯re back¡± Katelyn smiled at Anastasia. ¡°I bought the apartment next door. From now on, I¡¯ll be your neighbor. Are you happy about that, Ana?¡± A condo here would cost at least a million dors, yet she bought one so easily? Did she do it just to be her neighbor? ¡°Ms. Katelyn, are you serious?¡± Anastasia was taken aback. ¡°You really bought the condo next door?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Katelyn chuckled. ¡°Now I cane chat with you when I¡¯m bored. Also, I can cook. Let me know if there¡¯s anything you want to eat and I¡¯ll prepare it for you. You won¡¯t have to work so hard¡± Katelyn¡¯s main goal in moving here was to facilitate the rtionship between Anastasia and Herman. As the future mother¨Cinw, she wanted to make sure they would have a baby soon. Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Ms. Katelyn, howe you know so much about Herman¡¯s childhood?¡± Anastasia asked with a puzzled expression. Katelyn suddenly felt a surge of nervousness, realizing she had bbered too much. With an awkwardugh, Katelyn exined, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s all from chats I had with Herman¡¯s mom. You know how it is when women get together, we just can¡¯t stop yapping about our kids. That¡¯s how I know so much¡± ¡°Ah, gotcha ¡°Anastasia found the exnation reasonable. Seizing the opportunity, Katelyn nudged, ¡°Ana, you and Herman should think about having a kid of your own. Everything changes once you have a child, men tend to be more tied to the family, and feel more responsible.¡± Considering she and Herman were still sleeping in separate rooms, Anastasia didn¡¯t feel the rush to have a baby. ¡°Ms. Katelyn, I know you mean well, but we don¡¯t want to rush things,¡± Anastasia replied. Katelyn bluntly asked, ¡°Are you two still sleeping in separate rooms?¡± The question made Anastasia a bit awkward. Holding Anastasia¡¯s hand, Katelyn said with seriousness, Ana, Herman¡¯s a good catch, you should hold onto him tight. Men of the Salstrom family are super loyal in marriage. As long as you and Herman are solid, you¡¯ll have a good life ahead. I only see you as Herman¡¯s wife.¡± Anastasia felt moved by Katelyn¡¯s approval ¡°Ms. Katelyn, I¡­¡± Anastasia was about to speak when her phone suddenly rang. She quickly washed her hands and answered the call. It was from Elysian Technologies HR department, ¡°Is this Ms. Anastasia? This is HR from Elysian Technologies. Congrattions, you¡¯ve passed the interview. Please bring your medical report and come for the onboarding process as soon as possible.¡± The news left Anastasia somewhat dazed. After verifying the caller¡¯s identity, she kept thanking them on the phone. After hanging up, she was still in a bit of a daze. ¡°Ana, what happened?¡± Katelyn asked curiously. ¡°Ms. Katelyn, I passed the interview. Elysian Technologies just called me toplete the hiring process.¡± Anastasia pped her face and said, ¡°I really made it. I thought I had no chance.¡± She had been humiliated by the interviewer during the interview and had lost hope. This call was definitely a pleasant surprise for her. ¡°Really?¡± Katelyn was delighted to hear that Anastasia was joining their family business. It seemed Anastasia still held a significant ce in her sons heart, otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have been arranged to join the family¡¯spany Anastasia quickly shared this good news with Herman and also texted Monica. Everyone but Anastasia knew this was a sure thing and hence weren¡¯t surprised. Upon hearing Anastasia had to get a medical check¨Cup the next day, Monica got a bit nervous and offered to apany Anastasia to the hospital. Meanwhile, Herman had dinner n that evening. He texted Anastasia to have dinner alone without waiting for him. Anastasia and Katelyn made a lot of dishes. Hearing Herman wasn¡¯ting home for dinner, she felt a bit down, But Anastasia didn¡¯t show it. Knowing Herman was busy, she and Katelyn had dinner and watched TV together until 10 pm when Katelyn went back to her ce Herman didn¡¯te home until 11 pm. By the time he got back, Anastasia was already asleep. There was a piece of watermelon on the table with a sticky note that read, ¡°Remember to eat the watermelon, or it won¡¯t be fresh tomorrow.¡± Herman picked up the note, a small smile ying on his lips. He had already eaten dinner and wasn¡¯t really hungry. But seeing the note and the smiley face on it, he obediently sat down and ate the watermelon. After eating the watermelon, Herman felt a bit bloated and soon started feeling ufortable. His stomach was upset. That night, Herman didn¡¯t know how many times he ran to the bathroom. He became a bit weak and found some medicine in the early morning before falling asleep on the living room couch The next morning, when Anastasia came out of her room and saw Herman sleeping on the couch, she was surprised.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Seeing that Herman was still sleeping, she tiptoed over. This was the first time she saw this man sleeping. His handsome face exuded a cold aura, thick eyebrows, tall nose, slightly closed thin lips, every detail was striking. Anastasia couldn¡¯t resist the urge to touch his nose. Suddenly, Herman¡¯s eyes shot open, and their eyes met. Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Anastasia felt a bit guilty, startled by Herman, who was suddenly awakened. 1.I didn¡¯t mean to spy on you¡± Anastasia withdrew her extended hand, hiding it behind her, like a child caught doing something wrong Herman stayed lying on the sofa, his deep gaze fixed on her, ¡°We¡¯re legally married, it¡¯s perfectly fine for you to watch me sleep. If you enjoy it, feel free to do it every day.¡± Every day.. Did that mean sharing a bed? Was Herman hinting that they no longer needed to sleep in separate rooms? Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Anastasia chuckled awkwardly sidestepping the topic, and asked him. ¡°Why are you sleeping here?¡± 1 was too tired and passed out before I knew it. Herman sat up, casually replying. Upon hearing that Herman was so exhausted that he fell asleep in the living room, Anastasia felt a pang of sympathy, though she was yet to realize it herself. ¡°Sorry, I woke you up.¡± Anastasia asked, ¡°Did you eat the watermelon I left for you? Was it good? Was it sweet?¡± Herman recalled the watermelon that had him running to the tuilet all night, his butt was still sore to think about it. ¡°¡­It was delicious, very sweet.¡± Just as Herman finished speaking, his stomach started acting up again, ¡°I need to go to the restroom¡± Once again, Herman spent twenty minutes in the restroom. By the time he came out, Anastasia had already prepared breakfast. ¡°I made sandwiches. Come eat after freshening up. I¡¯m gonna check with your aunt next door to see if she wants breakfast.¡± Herman, unaware that Katelyn had moved next door, was puzzled at Anastasia¡¯s words, ¡°My aunt is next door?¡± He wanted to say ¡°my mom, but quickly corrected himself. ¡°Yep, didn¡¯t you know? Your aunt bought the ce next door and moved in yesterday¡± Herman was familiar with his mother¡¯s character. The fact that she moved next door meant she was keeping an eye on him and Anastasia. ¡°No need to go over. My aunt never eats breakfast, probably still in bed.¡± Katelyn always liked to sleep in. She wouldn¡¯t get up before ten. ¡°Oh, I see¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t bother to call her. She told him, ¡°You should start on breakfast. I¡¯ll get started with cleaning.¡± Herman asked, ¡°You¡¯re not eating?¡± ¡°I have a medical check¨Cup at the hospital today, need to be on an empty stomach. Go ahead and eat.¡± Anastasia said, ¡°By the way, why do you think Elysian Technologies hired me? Of all the talented people, I was chosen.¡± ¡°They have good taste.¡± Herman knew exactly what Anastasia had encountered during the interview. But since Anastasia didn¡¯t bring it up, he kept it to himself. The interviewer, on the other hand, had already been fired. Anastasia chuckled, ¡®Anyway, it feels a bit strange Herman changed the subject. What time is your check¨Cup?¡± ¡°I booked it for 9:30 on my phone¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go with you Anastasia was about to say that Monica would apany her, but upon hearing Herman¡¯s offer, she didn¡¯t say much. She texted Monica, saying she didn¡¯t need herpany for the hospital visit. Anastasia found it strange. Monica was ate riser, but knowing that she had a medical check¨Cup at 9:30, she insisted on going together. It was just a check¨Cup, not a sickness. Monica being so anxious seemed weird. Monica had set on rm. As soon as she woke up, she saw the message from Anastasia and instantly became alert. If Herman apanied Anastasia for the medical check¨Cup and her secret was discovered, then what? Without bothering to freshen up, Monica rushed to Harmony Meadows and waited for Anastasia and Herman. Luckily, she made it in time and bumped into Anastasia, who was heading to the hospital. ¡°Ana¡± Monica pulled over and called out to her. Herman also halted his car Seeing Monica, Anastasia was surprised, ¡°Didn¡¯t I mention you don¡¯t have to apany me to the hospital?¡± Not only did Monica show up, she didn¡¯t even put on makeup, which was very unusual. In all the years that Anastasia had known Monica, she had hardly ever seen her without makeup. ording to Monica, going out without makeup was like going out naked. Monica always put on makeup when she went out. have something urgent to deal with. I¡¯ll exinter.¡± Monica then looked at Herman, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, may I borrow Anastasia for a while? IV apany her to the hospital for the check¨Cup.¡± With no good excuse to get out of the situation, Monica could only say she had an emergency and needed to take Anastasia away first. Herman casually asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Can I help?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t help. Monica tly denied, looking quite flustered, ¡°It¡¯s a women¡¯s thing. Mr. Salstrom. Please let me borrow Anastasia. I¡¯ll return herter.¡± Seeing Monica so anxious, Anastasia told Herman, ¡°Why don¡¯t you go to work? I¡¯ll go with Monica¡± Herman stared at Monica for a few seconds. That brief moment nearly made Monica nervous. Herman¡¯s gaze was too sharp. If he became suspicious, it would be troublesome. ¡°Mr. Salstrom, are you afraid I¡¯ll take your wife away?¡± Monica said, ¡°There¡¯s really an emergency¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Herman agreed, telling Anastasia, ¡°Call me if anythinges up ¡°Okay.¡± Anastasia got out of the car. After watching Herman drive off, she got into Monica¡¯s car and asked, ¡°Monica, what¡¯s the matter? Why are you in such a hurry?¡± Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Chapter 47 Monica sessfully convinced Anastasia to get in her car, and then she started talking nonsense. ¡°Ana, I had a nightmarest night, scared the bejesus out of me, so I came to find you¡± Anastasia just looked at her, not saying a word, with a ¡®you¡¯ve got to be kidding me expression. Monica continued her rambling, hugging Anastasia tightly, sobbing and saying, ¡°Ana, seriously, I dreamt that my boyfriend betrayed me and took all my money. Can you imagine how terrifying that is?¡± Monica was dating a guy three years younger than her. She never takes men over twenty¨Cfive seriously Her dating criteria were under twenty¨Cfive, over eighteen, handsome, sweet¨Ctalker, and obedient. ¡°Well, that¡¯s indeed scary How¡¯s your boyfriend doingtely? Any signs of him nning to take all your money?¡± In reality, Anastasia didn¡¯t believe Monica, she wasn¡¯t born yesterday, but she was willing to listen to Monica¡¯s nonsense, knowing that she meant no harm ¡°He¡¯s a good boy, Monica said. ¡°By the way, where did you get your medical checkup?¡± ¡°Hope Hospital¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. An hourter. They arrived at Hope Hospital. Anastasia had booked an appointment on her phone, and it was just her turn when they got to the hospital. The doctor gave Anastasia a checkup form, asked her to have a blood test, and examined her liver, galldder, spleen, and kidneys. Monica stayed with Anastasia throughout. Anastasia joked, ¡°Look at you, all worried. People might think we¡¯re a couple,¡± Monica replied, ¡°If I were a guy, I¡¯d definitely marry you. I wouldn¡¯t let Herman get the chance.¡± Anastasia teased back. ¡°Then be a man in your next life, I would marry you. I¡¯ll go show the test result to the doctor.¡± ¡°I¡¯lle too, Monica was worried inside. Ever since the incident a few years ago, whenever Anastasia fell ill, Monica and Salma would get all tensed up, fearing what the hospital checkup might reveal The doctor took a look at the test report and asked routinely. ¡°Are you married?¡± Anastasia replied, ¡°¡­I am married.¡± The doctor asked again, ¡°Do you have children?¡± Hearing this question, Monica got nervous and quickly answered for Anastasia, ¡°No, my friend The doctor looked at Anastasia and asked again, ¡°Have you ever given birth?¡± Anastasia shook her head, ¡°No.¡± 1 have any children. Monica, worried that the doctor might say something inappropriate, deliberately changed the subject, ¡°Doctor, is my friend¡¯s checkup okay?¡± ¡°She¡¯s fine,¡± the doctor was just asking routinely. The checkup included an examination of the uterus and appendages, and the results seemed like she had given birth. But seeing Anastasia¡¯s firm denial, and considering she was just here for a checkup, the doctor didn¡¯t say anything more. Anastasia didn¡¯t think much of it; some doctors would routinely ask married women if they had given birth. She hadn¡¯t, so she just answered truthfully. The doctor signed on Anastasia¡¯s checkup book and said, ¡°You¡¯re good to go.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Anastasia took the checkup form, and Monica breathed a sigh of relief. They were walking in the corridor when Monica said, ¡°It¡¯s nearly lunchtime, Ana, you should treat me. I¡¯ve been with you since early morning, haven¡¯t even had breakfast¡± ¡°Sure, what do you want to eat? My treat, Anastasia generously offered. ¡°Let¡¯s consider it a celebration of me getting a job at Elysian Technologies.¡± *Sound good!¡± ¡°Monica, that guy looks like my cousin¡¯s husband,¡± Anastasia interrupted Monica, looking at a man walking towards them from a distance. The man was supporting a woman who was proudly saying. ¡°You saw it just now, I¡¯m carrying a boy. When are you going to divorce and marry me? If you don¡¯t marry me, I won¡¯t give birth, leaving your family without a kid. Gianna married you for eight years and hasn¡¯t given birth. I¡¯ve given you a daughter and now carrying a son, it¡¯s time I join your family¡± The man, trying to appease the woman, reassured, ¡°I¡¯ll divorce soon, there¡¯s no love left between me and her. Don¡¯t get upset, it¡¯s not good for the baby. This is the heir of the Edmunds family, you need to be careful.¡± Before he could finish, he looked up and saw Anastasia in the corridor. His expression changed dramatically as he was taken aback, ¡°Anastasia¡­¡± ¡°Joey Edmunds¡± Anastasia was equally shocked. The words she had spoken had actuallye true. Gianna¡¯s husband Joey had really found another woman to have children with, and she was even pregnant with her second child. His ability to keep secrets was really something Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Anastasia stood there, speechless, while Joey was clearly freaked out. His secret, hidden for so many years, was now discovered by Anastasia If Gianna found out, he would be in deep shit. Joey quickly ushered the woman to the car and she grumbled as she asked, ¡°Who is she? You look like you¡¯ve seen a ghost. What¡¯s there to be afraid of?¡± Joey tried to exin calmly, ¡°She¡¯s Gianna¡¯s cousin¡± Upon hearing this, the woman found it amusing. ¡°So she¡¯s your wife¡¯s cousin. No big deal if they find out. I¡¯m not nning to keep the secret forever. I¡¯m pregnant now, I can¡¯t hide it.¡± Anastasia, after hearing this and looking at the woman again, found her familiar. Then she remembered, wasn¡¯t this woman a nurse who worked with Joey in the same hospital? Anastasia had seen her a couple of times when she went to Joey¡¯s hospital with her mother, Salma, who was sick. She vaguely remembered her. Joey didn¡¯t actually work at Hope Hospital. He brought the woman here for her prenatal checkup because he didn¡¯t want anyone to know. ¡°Go back to the car, I¡¯ll talk to her, Joey insisted, sending the woman off first. The woman reluctantly left with a roll of her eyes. Awkwardly, Joey asked Anastasia, ¡°Anastasia, are you here for a check¨Cup? Are you feeling unwell?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here for a check¨Cup¡± Joey didn¡¯t mention the woman, and Anastasia didn¡¯t pick up the conversation. Joey got a bit nervous, hesitantly said, ¡°Anastasia, about what just happened, don¡¯t tell Gianna. You know her temper, she¡¯ll blow up if she finds out.¡± The woman was named Dora. She used to work with Joey in the same hospital and was his assistant Their rtionship developed and they ended up together. Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Monica sneered, ¡°She¡¯s pregnant with the second child and you still want your wife to be peaceful at home?¡± Anastasia, who also despised those who were unfaithful, said, ¡°Joey, you¡¯d better tell Gianna soon. There¡¯s no secret that can be hidden forever. Lies will only grow bigger and eventually, you won¡¯t be able to handle it.¡± Joey quickly agreed, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve been looking for the right time to tell her. It¡¯s just that Dora is pregnant now. Anastasia, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll handle this. I was impulsive and had a few too many drinks and things happened. Dora kept on clinging to me, I didn¡¯t have a choice.¡± Of course, Anastasia didn¡¯t believe Joey¡¯s words, but she couldn¡¯t interfere in this matter. Monica mocked, ¡°That¡¯s what every cheating man says.¡± Joey was embarrassed by her words and forced a smile, ¡°Anastasia, about Gianna, you¡­¡± He was hoping for a positive response from Anastasia. He needed to keep Anastasia calm first. However, before Joey could finish his sentence, there was amotion from the elevator area and Dora¡¯s screams were heard. Joey immediately ran towards the elevator, with Anastasia and Monica following behind to check out what was happening. At the hospital elevator, Dora was being beaten, her hair pulled by none other than Gianna. Gianna gave Dora a few ps, yelling angrily, ¡°Shameless! Look at her, she seduced my husband, ruined my family. She¡¯s a shameless homewrecker!¡± Dora was utterly confused, her face red and swollen. Seeing Joey, she cried out for help. ¡°Joey, help me, save me.¡± ¡°Gianna, let go,¡± Joey rushed over to pull Gianna away, then turned to Dora, ¡°Are you okay? Is the baby okay?¡± All Joey cared about was the baby, after all, it was the heir to the Edmunds family. Plus, he was nearing 40 and finally had a son, of course he was worried Dora clutched her stomach and cried out, ¡°Joey, my stomach hurts. You need to punish that bitch, she¡¯s trying to hurt your son.¡± Hearing their conversation, Gianina was devastated. She knew her husband had betrayed her, but she didn¡¯t know the other woman was pregnant. Only then did she notice Dora¡¯s slightly bulging belly. The baby must¡¯ve been at least four months old. Gianna broke down on the spot, and without caring about her image, she grabbed Joey and demanded, ¡°Joey, tell me, is the baby in her belly yours? How long have you two been together?¡± Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Joey¡¯s full attention was on the baby in Dora¡¯s belly, he didn¡¯t have the time to argue with Gianna ¡°Gianna, you better leave now, don¡¯t make a fool of yourself here¡± Those words only stoked Gianna¡¯s rage. ¡°You cheated on me, knocked up another woman, and I¡¯m the one who should be embarrassed? Eight years of marriage, Joey, did you do me right? Are you even human?¡± In the public sphere, Gianna and Dora started arguing, immediately drawing a crowd People started pointing fingers at Dora, while others criticized Gianna for being too domineering, considering Dora was carrying a baby Hearing some support, Dora smugly retorted, ¡°Gianna, you¡¯ve been with Joey for eight years and haven¡¯t popped out a single baby You can¡¯t have kids and now you¡¯re trying to deprive Joey of having any? Joey¡¯s been over you for a while now You better divorce him now and stop wasting time Even Anastasia was taken aback by Dora¡¯s audacity In this day and age, a homewrecker dared to be so arrogant? Being unable to have kids was Gianna¡¯s pain. Seeing Dora pregnant, she lost her cool once again. Joey kept silent at this point. Gianna grabbed her bag and flung it at Dora ¡°I¡¯ll make you pay for being a homewrecker!¡± Joey stepped in front of Dora, grabbed Gianna, and scolded, ¡°Are you trying to make a scene here and embarrass me?¡± I¡¯ve gone mad, and it¡¯s all because of you two!¡± Gianna continued to attack Dora and argue with Joey. Joey became angry and pped Gianna, causing her to lose bnce and fall to the ground ¡°Look at yourself, you¡¯re acting like a shrew.¡± Gianna fell silent, unable to believe her husband would treat her this way. ¡°You hit me for her? Joey, you¡¯ll regret this.¡± Seeing Gianna get pped, Dora felt a tinge of satisfaction, but she put on a pained expression, hugging Joey and crying, ¡°Joey, my stomach hurts.¡± Joey immediately grew anxious, disregarding Gianna and rushing Dora to find a doctor. ¡°You bastard, Joey.¡± Gianna cursed at Joey, but she couldn¡¯t stop him from leaving. Gianna couldn¡¯t control her emotions and started crying. Anastasia stood aside, unsure whether to step in. She knew Gianna¡¯s temper, if she stepped in, she¡¯d definitely get dragged into the fight. As expected, Gianna turned her usations towards Anastasia. ¡°Are you here tough at me? You knew Joey was seeing someone else. You¡¯re jealous of me, so you helped them gang up on me, right?¡± Anastasia had no response, ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous, your problems are not my business¡± Even if she knew about Joey¡¯s affairs and told Gianna in advance, would Gianna be grateful? Monica also added, ¡°If you have a problem, go confront her, confront your husband. Why are you yelling at us? It¡¯s not like we made your husband cheat or got the other woman pregnant.¡± N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content. Gianna turned pale with anger. Monica grabbed Anastasia, ¡°Ana, let¡¯s go Anastasia knew Gianna was angry, and since they weren¡¯t on good terms to begin with, there was no point in staying tofort her. As Anastasia and Monica were leaving, Gianna yelled after them, ¡°Anastasia, if you won¡¯t let me be, I won¡¯t make things easy for you either¡± Anastasia thought today was a total disaster. What did Joey¡¯s betrayal have to do with her? Gianna was taking it all out on her. Anastasia didn¡¯t take it to heart, thinking as long as she stayed clear of Gianna, everything would be fine. Anastasia and Monica left the hospital, had a normal lunch, carried on with their normal lives. After lunch, Monica had to attend to her beauty salon, so Anastasia took the bus home alone As soon as Anastasia got home, Salma called, ¡°Ana, Gianna¡¯s in trouble. Your aunt just called me, Joey really did betray her. Gianna¡¯s making a fuss about getting a divorce I¡¯m on my way to your aunt¡¯s house to try and¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, Mom, + know Anastasia sat down on the couch, ¡°I ran into her at the hospital earlier. Mom, you better stay out of this. It won¡¯t end well and it¡¯ll just cause unnecessary trouble¡± Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Chapter 50 I¡¯m really worried, your aunt can¡¯t take it anymore and her blood pressure is through the roof,¡± Salma replied,¡± Joey is such a jerk. If he and Gianna can¡¯t make peace, they should just get a divorce. Why does he have to lie like this? I heard that Joey¡¯s the other woman even has a five¨Cyear¨Cold daughter with him. That means they¡¯ve been together for years. And now she¡¯s pregnant with their second child, a son. The Edmunds family really wants this kid, but they¡¯re not willing to divorce.¡± Thinking of Joey ying the innocent victim in the hospital, iming that his mistress was the one clinging to him, Anastasia couldn¡¯t help but think what a great actor he was Their daughter is five years old, so they¡¯ve been together for at least six years now That means Joey started having an affair not long after he got married to Gianna. He was really good at keeping his secret activities hidden all these years. Joey¡¯s career has been getting better, and he¡¯s always been incredibly sweet and caring towards Gianna. He was the perfect husband, except for the fact that they didn¡¯t have any kids. They were the model couple. Because of Joey¡¯s affair, Anastasia started to lose faith in marriage. If even the perfect man can cheat, what else is impossible? On the phone, Anastasia reminded Salma not to interfere too much. Even if she goes, she should just be there tofort Gianna. As for how Gianna handles her marriage, she shouldn¡¯t intervene too much. After hanging up the phone, Anastasia sat in the living room, lost in thought, wondering how far her marriage with Herman could go. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. If Herman ever betrayed her, what would she do? Anastasia was too distracted to work all afternoon and ended up watching TV shows on the couch. Around five o¡¯clock, she heard a noise at the door and turned to see Hermaning home. She nced at the time and thought, oh crap, she haven¡¯t even started cooking dinner yet. She didn¡¯t expect Herman toe home so early today Anastasia immediately stood up and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go make dinner. ¡°Anastasia, let¡¯s go out for dinner tonight.¡± Herman said as he changed into his slippers, ¡°Let¡¯s celebrate your new job tomorrow. I¡¯ll go take a shower and change clothes.¡± Anastasia was a bit surprised. Herman came home early today to celebrate for her? ¡°Alright,¡± she said, I¡¯ll go change clothes too.¡± After Herman went back to the bedroom to shower and change clothes, they left the house around six. Herman was driving and Anastasia was in the passenger seat. He noticed that she seemed to be preupied with something and asked, ¡°How was your medical check¨Cup today?¡± Anastasia replied, ¡°No issues, everything¡¯s normal.¡± ¡°So, something¡¯s bothering you?¡± When Herman asked that, Anastasia who was full of worries, couldn¡¯t help but blurt out, ¡°My cousin Gianna¡¯s husband Joey cheated. They¡¯ve been married for eight years and now that Gianna can¡¯t have kids, Joey had a child with someone else. The whole thing was exposed and now Gianna is arguing with him about a divorce¡± Hearing this, Herman understood, ¡°You¡¯re worried about our marriage.¡± Anastasia was a bit taken aback by how straightforward he was. She gave a weak smile and said, ¡°Not really¡± ¡°Anastasia¡± Herman suddenly called her name very seriously. ¡°As long as we¡¯re married, I will never betray you.¡± His words meant that as long as they were husband and wife, he would be absolutely loyal to the marriage. Anastasia awkwardly responded with augh, ¡°I trust youpletely¡± Whether she really believed him or not was another matter, but she had to say this out loud. Herman smiled and didn¡¯t call out her lie. As Anastasia thought about Gianna¡¯s situation, she sighed and said, ¡°Even though Gianna and I aren¡¯t close, I feel bad for her. She was deceived for so many years, and her husband¡¯s mistress is even pregnant with their second child. The thing I hate most in life is deception.¡± Hearing this, Herman¡¯s heart tightened. ¡°Your cousin and her husband won¡¯t get a divorce, Herman said, ¡°At least, not in the short term.¡± ¡°¡°Why?¡± She asked, looking at him, ¡°Gianna is very strong¨Cwilled. Now that she¡¯s found out about her husband¡¯s affair, she¡¯ll definitely get a divorce¡± ¡°You just said they¡¯ve been married for eight years. They must have feelings for each other. Right now, Gianna is just furious. Once she calms down, she won¡¯t want to divorce either, Herman analyzed, ¡°Her husband probably doesn¡¯t want to divorce either¡± Anastasia still didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t they want to divorce? His mistress is pregnant with their second child, and he¡¯s made it clear at home that he wants the child.¡± Hermanughed and said, ¡°Anastasia, you¡¯re oversimplifying things. If her husband really wanted a divorce, he would¡¯ve done it a long time ago, not hide it until now. He probably just wanted children. But in a man¡¯s eyes, his wife is always irrecable¡± Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Anastasia was eyeing Herman, who as a man, totally got the way guys think Did Herman think the same way? Being stared at by Anastasia like this, Herman knew what was on her mind. While waiting for the traffic light, Herman patted Anastasia¡¯s head gently, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink, not all guys are like that.¡± Caught in the act, Anastasia was a bit embarrassed, but she got straight to the point, I can¡¯t stand you lying to me, Herman. If you ever want to call it quits, just tell me straight up, Fll understand. Just don¡¯t keep me in the dark like some fool¡± She could handle Herman falling for someone else, but she couldn¡¯t handle being deceived. She hoped their marriage would only involve two people, without any third wheel showing up If that day ever came, she hoped Herman would be upfront about it, so they could split peacefully and move on to their next rtionships or marriages. Herman stared at her for a moment with his deep eyes, saying ¡°Alright.¡± His response left Anastasia with a weird feeling. Aren¡¯t people supposed to promise that day will nevere? Herman was just too straightforward, guess people prefer sweet talk after all. Anastasia didnt say anything and turned to look out of the window, feeling a bit emotional Herman noticed her reaction, reached out and held Anastasia¡¯s hand, pressing it against his palm. This intimate gesture made Anastasia¡¯s heart race and she turned to look at him abruptly He was looking straight ahead, a smile ying on his lips, but he didn¡¯t say anything. He just held her hand tighter. Anastasia found that Herman was quite good at making her heart flutter. Her uneasiness from earlier was gone and her mood improved a bit. Soon, the car stopped in front of a restaurant. Herman went to park the car while Anastasia waited for him at the entrance. Then Salma called, just as Herman had predicted, Gianna and Joey hadn¡¯t split just yet The mistress was using the baby in her belly as leverage. Plus, the mistress daughter also had inheritance rights. If Gianna and Joey divorced, there would be problems splitting the assets Salma was yammering on the phone. Anastasia didn¡¯t say anything, she just listened quietly. The fact that an illegitimate child had inheritance rights was quite ironic, it indirectly fueled the mistress¡¯s arrogance. While on the phone, Herman came back from parking the car. Anastasia told Salma, ¡°Mum, Herman and I are out for dinner, we¡¯ll talk when we get home.¡± Hearing that her daughter and son-inw were together, Salma didn¡¯t want to bother them anymore. ¡°Alright, you two enjoy yourselves. Ana, you and your husband better keep things good between you¡± Salma was worried about Anastasia¡¯s marriage due to Gianna¡¯s situation. Anastasia had married impulsively and they were sleeping in separate rooms. Wouldn¡¯t that make things easier to go wrong? ¡°Alright, mum, I got it.¡± Anastasia hung up the phone just as Herman came over, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± The restaurant Herman chose today wasn¡¯t very fancy, because he knew Anastasia didn¡¯t like to waste money. As they entered the lobby of the restaurant, a middle-aged man in a suit suddenly approached Herman. ¡°Mr. Salstrom.¡± The man seemed very enthusiastic, ¡°What a coincidence. I didn¡¯t expect to see you here. Hearing someone call Herman Mr. Salstrom, Anastasia gave Herman a look. She had always thought he was just a regr employee at thepany, why would someone call him so respectfully? Herman remained expressionless, telling Anastasia, ¡°You go wait for me in the Maple Chamber.¡± ¡°Okay¡± Anastasia agreed and followed the waiter to the Maple Chamber. The Maple Chamber was upstairs. As Anastasia was going up, she nced over at Herman. She couldn¡¯t hear what Herman and the middle-aged man were saying, but she could see that the man was very respectful of Herman. The man looked like a sessful businessman, she noticed the expensive watch on his wrist. Why would someone like him show such respect to Herman? Anastasia arrived at the Maple Chamber and sat for a while before Herman came back ¡°That was a client from thepany. I once helped them with a program.¡± Anastasia asked, ¡°Why did he call you Mr. Salstrom so respectfully?¡± N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Hermanughed and said, ¡°In the workce, regardless of your position, people will address you like that out of courtesy. It¡¯s just a polite thing to do Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Chapter 52 Anastasia didn¡¯t want to drg too deep. She had been around the block at work and seen colleagues pretend they were big shots during negotiations because they didn¡¯t have the clout N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Most clients would politely refer to them in such a way when meeting for the first time, partly to show respect and partly to get closer to them. Anastasia and Herman had been living together for quite some time, but she always saw him as a regr Joe, a guy who didn¡¯t even own a house and didn¡¯t have much in his bank ount. She never in a million years thought that her hubby would turn out to be the CEO of Elysian Technologies, who¡¯s worth a whopping hundred billion ¡°Got it,¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t ask further, just said, ¡°Take a look and see what you want to order I¡¯ve already ordered a couple of dishes.¡± Let me see Herman took a look at the menu and ordered two more dishes, one of which was an extravagant dessert. She had never tasted such luxury before Anastasia wanted to object but didn¡¯t want to let him down, so she held her tongue Herman told the waiter. That¡¯s all, thank you,¡± ¡°Sure, just a moment please, the waiter left. Herman poured Anastasia a ss of lemon water and said, ¡°I bought two movie tickets, we can go after dinner¡± ¡°Uh? Sure¡± Anastasia was a bit thrown off by Herman¡¯s sudden kindness. First dinner, then a movie. This felt like a date Was Herman taking her on a date? ¡°Anastasia,¡± Herman said calmly. This is my first marriage and my first rtionship. There might be things I don¡¯t understand, or things that make you ufortable. You can tell me and we can work it out.¡± Anastasiaughed, ¡°It¡¯s not like writing code for a program. She thought Herman was quite funny sometimes. Herman looked at her coolly. Anastasia was beautiful when sheughed, like spring sunshine, warm andforting. Feeling a little awkward under his gaze, she looked away and asked, ¡°What kind of movie is it?¡± ¡°A romance.¡± Herman wasn¡¯t much of a movie buff, the tickets were actually bought by Flynn. The movie idea was Flynn¡¯s too. Flynn had given him a lot of suggestions, like giving flowers, going to a movie, having a candlelit dinner, giving gifts, sweet talking. He said these tricks would win her over easily. No girl could resist romance, and ¡°I love you¡± was the ultimate weapon. Any girl who fell for it would be smitten. Anastasia picked up her ss and took a sip. I haven¡¯t seen a movie in years.¡± Thest time was when Monica dragged her to one, years ago Herman confessed, ¡°I havent either¡± Anastasiaughed, ¡°If you said you had, I would¡¯ve been shocked.¡± If a guy who never had an ex-girlfriend said he had been to a romance movie before, wouldn¡¯t that be a shocker? Not having an ex-girlfriend wasn¡¯t scary What was scary was if he had an ex-boyfriend. If Herman had gone to a movie with a guy, that would be even more shocking! Herman looked at her intently, his voice deep and serious, ¡°Anastasia, this is my first time seeing a movie. The first person to see a movie with me will be responsible for me, so you need to think it over.¡± Anastasia burst intoughter, she even spat out the water in her mouth Such a cheesy lineing from Herman was a real surprise. Just going to a movie and she¡¯d be responsible? ¡°Sorry, I couldn¡¯t help it.¡± Anastasia asked whileughing, ¡°So if someone takes your first time, she would be responsible for you forever?¡± Herman said with a straight face, ¡°Yes, she¡¯ll have to take responsibility for me forever¡± What a romantic line. Anastasia thought about how Herman hadn¡¯t had a girlfriend even at thirty, so his expectations might be a bit different. For Herman, going to a movie was something he could only do with someone he wanted to spend his life with. Suddenly, Anastasia felt like she had struck gold. Such pure-hearted men were rare to find these days. Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Anastasia felt a sudden urge to pinch Herman¡¯s adorable cheeks And she did just that She was taken aback when her fingers actually made contact with his cheek.. Herman was equally surprised when Anastasia suddenly pinched his face. They locked eyes for a moment, as if time had stopped. Admiring his handsome face and sexy thin lips, she felt her mouth go dry, a sign that she might want to kiss him. ¡°The food¡¯s here.¡± The server¡¯s arrival with their food stopped Anastasia from acting on her impulse That was a close call. She pulled her hand back, acting as if nothing had happened, sitting like a well-behaved child. They remained silent as the dishes were brought to the table. Once the server left, Herman touched his pinched cheek and managed to calm down, ¡°Let¡¯s eat, or we¡¯ll miss the movie.¡± ¡°Mhm Anastasia focused on her food,pletely engrossed. Herman was considerate, asionally serving Anastasia. By the end of the meal, she was so full she burped. She even finished the dessert and had to rub her belly due to how full she was As they descended the stairs, Herman supported Anastasia. Seeing her rub her belly while walking, Herman gently warned her, ¡°Don¡¯t overeat like this next time. It¡¯s okay if you can¡¯t finish. Don¡¯t hurt yourself.¡± The food was so delicious that Anastasia didnt want to waste a single bite, so she ended up eating too much Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Laughing, Anastasia said. ¡°No worries. I once had a buffet with Monica for three hours. We were so full we had to lean on the wall to get out. My digestion is good, it pass soon.¡± ¡°We have 20 minutes before the movie. Let¡¯s walk around the za to help you digest¡± The cinema was just next to the restaurant, so there was no need to drive ¡°Sounds good.¡± Anastasia rubbed her belly, still feeling a bit ufortable. She hung her bag around Herman¡¯s neck and leisurely strolled around. Herman, a billionaire CEO had be a bag carrier for his wife With a smile, Herman went to pay the bill. Anastasia left the restaurant first, wanting to get some fresh air. As she stepped down the stairs, she spotted someone she didn¡¯t want to see A few meters away, Cason was lively chatting with some middle-aged men. Cason was also dining at the same restaurant and was preparing to bid farewell to his clients. Hisw firm was newly established and didn¡¯t have any big cases yet. For some reason, there had been several troubles recently, causing him headaches. Standing on the stairs, Anastasia caught Casons attention. His expression froze for a second before he said something to his clients. After the clients left one by one, Cason approached Anastasia. ¡°What a coincidence, bumping into you in Riverdale of all ces. You told me to stop bothering you, but it seems like you¡¯re deliberately trying to run into me¡± Cason arrogantly assumed Anastasia was there because of him, which filled him with confidence Ever since he found out the real reason why Anastasia dropped out of college, his image of her had crumbled. In his eyes, Anastasia was a frivolous woman who was unfaithful He had foolishly thought of Anastasia for so many years, and his anger at being deceived made him unable to resist mocking her whenever he saw her. Anastasia retorted emotionlessly, ¡°This street doesnt belong to you. Don¡¯t assume I¡¯m here for you¡± Cason¡¯s sudden change in attitude naturally made Anastasia unfriendly towards him ¡°Anastasia, you still won¡¯t admit your mistakes¡± Cason sneered, ¡°Your overconfidence will backfire. I still have some old feelings for you¡± ¡°Cason, every word you say makes me sick ¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t want to talk to Cason and tried to walk away Cason rushed to grab Anastasia, but before he could touch her, he was pulled away by a force Herman, looking serious, stood protectively in front of Anastasia, warning Cason, ¡°Stay away from my wife¡± Only then did Cason realize Anastasia was with Herman. Feeling humiliated and ridiculed by a mere worker, Cason scoffed, ¡°How much do you know about your so-called wife? Do you know that she dropped out of college and had two boyfriends at the same time? Who knows how many men have had their way with her, and yet you¡¯re so protective of her. How laughable¡­¡± ¡°Bang!¡± Herman threw a punch, knocking Cason to the ground, his mouth bleeding and a tooth knocked out Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Chapter 54 In Anastasia¡¯s memory, Herman had always been a humble and polite guy. She had never seen him this mad, let alone throwing punches. The second Herman threw a punch, Anastasia¡¯s heart was about to jump out of her chest. The feeling of being protected felt really good. At this moment, Herman radiated a manly power and charm. Cason staggered to his feet, touched the blood at the corner of his mouth, and spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with teeth. Getting punched in public, especially in front of Anastasio, was a massive blow to Cason¡¯s ego. He was livid. Cason gritted his teeth and sneered at Herman, ¡°You hit me, and there¡¯s proof. Wait for your court summons. I¡¯ll make sure you can¡¯t stay in Riverdale.¡± Cason was awyer if he really wanted to sue Herman, it would definitely be a real pain in the ass. Anastasia couldnt help but worry for Herman. For ordinary folks like them, getting tangled up in legal disputes was their worst nightmare Considering that Cason himself was awyer, they might end up on the losing end. Anastasia got mad too. ¡°Cason, how could you be such a low-life?¡± Herman chuckled, his presence dominating, his eyes filled with deadly intent. He stepped closer to Cason, who instinctively stepped back, but Herman still grabbed him by the cor. ¡°You¡¯re such a disgrace to men Herman grabbed Cason¡¯s cor, pushed him hard and pinned him against Cason¡¯s parked luxury car. Herman looked coldly at the expensive car Cason struggled but Herman had him pinned down on the car. He couldn¡¯t move at all. ¡°Is this your idea of being a real man? Rented cars and mansions? I didn¡¯t want to get physical, but you¡¯re just so pathetic. People like you belong in the trash¡± Herman exposed Cason¡¯s hypocrisy Cason felt exposed and publicly humiliated. He felt ashamed, mad, and hatred started to grow inside him. Being the proud person he was, how could Cason endure such humiliation? How did Herman know about his rented car and mansion? Cason¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, his hands tried to pull Herman off, ¡°You¡¯re just a working-ss Joe who will never move up. Cross me and you¡¯ll end up behind bars. But if you beg for mercy now, you might still have a chance¡­ Herman punched Cason again, harder than before ¡°Herman¡± Anastasia was anxious. She wasn¡¯t worried about Cason, but scared that Herman would face retaliation. Herman nced at Anastasia, dragged Cason and threw him into the nearby trash can, ¡°This is where you belong. Bring whatever revenge you got. No matter what Anastasia was before, she¡¯s my wife now. Anyone who dares nder her. I won¡¯t let it slideBelongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. After saying this, Herman walked towards Anastasia, took her hand, and walked past Cason towards the cinema. After being thrown into the trash, Cason was boiling with rage. He crawled out of the trash can, noticed the surveince camera at the entrance of the bar, and a cruel light shed in his eyes. He decided to get Herman arrested, to make him pay, even to make him unable to live in Riverdale anymore, to make Herman regret his actions today. Cason wasn¡¯t part of the upper ss society. The last time he saw Herman, he was driving a cheap old car, and Cason had no idea that Herman was someone he shouldn¡¯t mess with. Herman didn¡¯t give a damn about him. He took Anastasia to the cinema and bought popcorn and drinks. ¡°We made it just in time, didn¡¯t miss anything.¡± Herman handed Anastasia the popcorn, ¡°Do you like popcorn?¡± Seeing Herman¡¯s nonchnt attitude, Anastasia was really anxious, ¡°You hit Cason. He¡¯s awyer. If he sues you, will you go to jail? It¡¯s all my fault¡± Seeing her so worried, Hermanughed, tousled her hair, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, every country has its laws. Cason was harassing you first, and I, as your husband, stepped in to protect you. That¡¯s called self-defence¡± ¡°But it¡¯s not that simple, we dont understand thew, Cason is awyer. If he gets a medical examination and sues us, we¡¯ll definitely lose. If you get involved in awsuit, it will affect your future Responded Salma with a worried look. Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Chapter 55 Anastasia¡¯s obvious worry for Herman gave him a warmth feeling He held her hand, saying, ¡°Dont worry, it¡¯s all good. If it reallyes to awsuit, I know somewyer. Today¡¯s our first movie date, let¡¯s not let some random dude spoil the mood¡± What¡¯s done is done, worrying about it won¡¯t change anything It¡¯s Herman¡¯s first time inviting her to a movie, no way he¡¯s letting anything spoil the mood. Anastasia nodded, and they went into the cinema. She thought to herself, once the movie¡¯s over, if Cason really sues Herman, she¡¯ll have a talk with Cason She was the one who started it all, she can¡¯t let Herman catch the k If an employee from a big shotpany like Elysian Technologies gets tangled up in awsuit, if it¡¯s serious, it¡¯ll definitely put a dent in Herman¡¯s career. Herman led Anastasia to their seats. Anastasia realized that their rtionship had deepened without her noticing, holding hands had be second nature. Herman picked a romance film, the majority of the audience were couples. The cinema was dimly lit, any minor movements between couples wouldn¡¯t easily be noticed. Things like holding hands, kissing, all pretty standard stuff. In this atmosphere, Anastasia started to feel the dating vibe, her heart was all sweet and hopeful for the future. Just like any other boyfriend, Herman was holding the popcorn for Anastasia, and also holding her hand. He liked holding Anastasia¡¯s hand, soft and tender. The movie started, the scenes were pretty straightforward. A couple was making out in a room, this shotsted for a good ten seconds, making Anastasia blush. She sneaked a nce at Herman, he was watching intently, no reaction on his face, just gripping her hand a bit tighter. Anastasia quickly averted her gaze. The scene switched, she wasn¡¯t sure if the cinema was too warm or what, but her palms were sweaty. She was too shy to let go of Herman¡¯s hand, so they kept holding hands. As a romance movie, there were quite a few intimate scenes. After the movie, Anastasia¡¯s face was burning, her heart was racing. Anastasia could only munch on popcorn and sip on her drink to cool down Watching this movie was kind of torturous. For Herman, it was also a torture He didnt expect the movie to be so suggestive. He shouldn¡¯t have brought Anastasia to the cinema, they should¡¯ve watched at home. While they were watching the movie, Cason had already gone to the hospital for a checkup and called the cops. He was pissed as hell Just as Herman and Anastasia finished the movie and stepped out, two cops found Herman ¡°Sir, you¡¯re used of assault, you need toe with us. Seeing the cops, Anastasia was in a panic. She didn¡¯t expect Cason to be such a low-life Clearly, Cason started it, but he called the cops ¡°Sir, this is a misunderstanding Anastasia quickly said, ¡°He started it, my husband was just defending me¡± The police officer stated, ¡°Assaulting someone is a wrongful act. The victim has undergone a medical examination, which ssifies their injuries as second degree harm, Additionally, there is surveince footage as evidence. Anyone should be ountable for the consequences of their actions¡± ¡°Sir¡­¡± Before Anastasia could plead again, Herman said, ¡®Anastasia, go home first, it¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll go with them, I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± Anastasia was very worried, but she could only watch as Herman got into the cop car. After the cop car left, Anastasia immediately called Monica. The only person she could think of for help was Monica When Monica heard that Herman was taken away by the cops, she thought it was a joke. ¡°Ana, there¡¯s no way Herman was taken away by the cops, this can¡¯t be true* It¡¯s true, Cason, that low-life, sued Herman Herman only knocked out his teeth, but the hospital ssified it as serious injury Will Herman be sentenced, Monica, do you know anywyers?¡± She needed a top-notchwyer to defend Herman. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. After hearing the whole story. Monica was also pissed at Cason¡¯s actions. ¡°Ana, go home now, dont do anything, Herman will be back soon.¡± Cason is just one person. He can¡¯t threaten the Salstrom family. They don¡¯t be worried about Herman now. Cason was the one who should worry about himself. Out of all people to mess with. Cason chose Herman. Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Chapter 56 The moment Anastasia got home, she was antsy. She asked frantically on the phone, ¡°Monica, do you know anyone at the police station?¡± ¡°Not really, Ana, don¡¯t worry¡­ Monica realized that Anastasia didn¡¯t know about Herman¡¯s situation. She knew that he¡¯d been taken away by the police, which must have been making Anastasia pretty freaked out. ¡°Here¡¯s the n, Ana, head home and I¡¯ll make a few calls to see if I know anyone at the station.¡± Monica was just trying to soothe Anastasia¡¯s nerves and hoped she wouldn¡¯t worry too much. ¡°Alright, Ill be waiting for your call.¡± Anastasia hung up, full of worry, and drove off to the police station. Even though she might not be able to do much, she still wanted to check things out at the station. As soon as Anastasia arrived and got out of the car, she saw Cason stepping out of another car. ¡°Cason, you¡¯re such a jerk, she used loudly the moment she saw him. ¡°You should drop the charges.¡± ¡°Anastasia, I warned your husband. He refused to apologize. It¡¯s a world ofw now, I¡¯m just protecting my rights. It¡¯s only fair, Cason sneered. ¡°Everyone. has to face the consequences for their actions.¡± ¡°How can you be so nasty?¡± Anastasia lost her cool. ¡°Drop the charges and I¡¯ll cover your losses, no matter the cost.¡± ¡°Anastasia, you should know, I¡¯m not afterpensation.¡± Cason smirked with his hands in his pockets. ¡°You know what I really want.¡± Anastasia was shaking with rage. Was this vile, shameless man really the Cason she knew? With gritted teeth, Anastasia said, ¡°You¡¯re dreaming.¡± Cason gave a coldugh, stepping in front of Anastasia. ¡°There¡¯s another way to drop the charges your husband could kneel down and apologize, admit his mistake¡± ¡°Cason, you jerk, Anastasia pped Cason hard across his face in anger. Cason was instantly furious. He licked his pped cheek and smirked, ¡°Looks like I need another hospital visit. I¡¯ll put this p on your husband¡¯s tab. He should be doing time for a year or more, no problem.¡± Hearing that Herman might be jailed, Anastasia panicked. As much as she hated Cason, she had to keep her temper in check. ¡°How much do you want to drop the charges?¡± Anastasia tried to control her anger. ¡°Cason, don¡¯t think you¡¯re above us just because you¡¯ve read a feww books. If you don¡¯t drop the charges, I¡¯ll hire a betterwyer and fight you to the end.¡± She wouldn¡¯t cave to Cason¡¯s demands.. Cason scoffed, ¡°Anastasia, do you really have the money and time to fight me? All I need to do is drag this out and your husband would be in jail for a few more years. For every day the case isn¡¯t closed, he stays another day. I¡¯ve got all the time in the world to drag this out. This is what you get for deceiving me.¡± Cason¡¯s level of nastiness shattered Anastasia¡¯s perception of him. To protect Herman, Anastasia struggled to control herself. She exined, ¡°I never lied to you. I never dated two people at the same time. You left first, Cason. Why take your anger out on an innocent person? Why drag Herman into our problems? If you have any grudges,e after me. Leave him out of this.¡± Cason looked at Anastasia coldly, the more she defended Herman, the angrier he got. ¡°Anastasia, you¡¯re really shameless, still denying your wrongs. Do you want me to spill what you did back in college?¡± Cason mocked ¡°Don¡¯t y innocent in front of me You¡¯re a slut.¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Anastasia was truly puzzled. What had she done in college that made Cason so angry? Had she really forgotten something important? Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Anastasio was seriously struggling to recall what she¡¯d done. With a determined stride, Cason entered the police station. He was both the victim and the informant, so he got in without a hitch On the other hand, Anastasia was barred outside, being told that Herman couldn¡¯t be bailed out. Looking at the police station¡¯s entrance, a sense of helplessness washed over her She was just a small fry with no clout. If trouble came knocking, she was utterly defenseless. She had no money, no power. Like Cason said, even if awsuit, she may not be able to afford it. Then Anastasia thought of Katelyn Katelyn could afford a house in Harmony Meadows and was a distant rtive of Herman¡¯s. Maybe she could help Herman out With that in mind, Anastasia immediately headed back to Harmony Meadows to find Katelyn. Just after she left, several luxury cars drove in from the opposite direction, neatly parking in front of the police station. The man stepping out of the car was none other than Flynn. Upon hearing that Herman had been taken away by the police, he rushed over with his crew. This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. It¡¯s a joke that the CEO of Elysian Technologies was taken to the police station for assaulting someone. Flynn, escorted by a dozen bodyguards andwyers, marched right into the police station The sight was so intimidating that even the cops were taken aback. Cason, done with his statement, emerged from the interrogation room. Seeing the scene in the lobby, he had a bad feeling. Flynn noticed Cason, and gave him a side nce. Cason¡¯s heart started racing Then a cop told Cason, ¡°You¡¯re free to go¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± Cason adjusted his sses, took onest look at Flynn and his crew, then turned and left. He didn¡¯t even dare to ask who these people were or what they were here for. Cason left the police station with a smug look on his face. He was dead set on getting Herman behind bars, make Anastasia regret it, and have her begging him again. While Flynn rushed to the police station, Anastasia was desperately looking for help. Meanwhile, Herman, the person used of assault, was having coffee with the police chief in the police office. The chief, hearing that the head honcho of the Salstrom family had been brought to his precinct, rushed over right away. After learning about the situation, the chief immediately apologized to Herman, saying, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, this is a misunderstanding. My men didn¡¯t get the full picture. I¡¯ll make sure they reflect on this ¡± ¡°They were just doing their job impartially.¡± Herman replied calmly, ¡°Chief, I¡¯m sorry to bother you so late.¡± ¡°No worries, no worries.¡± The chief hurriedly responded. Then a cop came in and said, I¡¯ve let Cason go.¡± The chief turned to Herman, waiting for his instructions. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. Thanks for the coffee, Chief.¡± Herman got up, with no intention of using his power to keep Cason at the station. He had a nastier n in mind, to destroy what Cason cherished most. That¡¯d be the best lesson. The chief also stood up and said, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, you are very kind.¡± He personally walked Herman out, and when he saw Flynn, he approached and said, ¡°Bro.¡± The bodyguards also chimed in, ¡°Mr. Salstrom.¡± Seeing Flynn bringing so many people, Herman frowned and said, ¡°Everybody go home.¡± With that, Herman walked ahead, followed closely by his bodyguards, creating quite a spectacle. The chief apanied Herman all the way to the entrance, and Herman said, ¡°No need to see me out, Chief.¡± The chief stopped and respectfully watched Herman get into his car, wiping the cold sweat off his forehead. A subordinate nervously said. Thank God the Salstrom family didn¡¯t me us.¡± The chief said, ¡°Next time, think before you act. Don¡¯t ask me to solve your problems every time.¡± The subordinate quickly said, ¡°Yes, sir. What about this case?¡± ¡°What case? That Cason guy, he¡¯s got some nerve to file a report. Just a lost tooth and he¡¯s iming grievous bodily harm.¡± The chief said. ¡°Drop the case¡± ¡°Alright¡± Herman sat in his limited edition Rolls¨CRoyce, looking ice cold. ¡°Bro, who brought you to the police station?¡± Flynn suddenly recalled seeing Cason at the station and asked, ¡°Was that the one who just came out of the police station?¡± call, ¡®Make Kirkwood & Associates vanish from Riverdale before dawn. .. Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Chapter 58 The most straightforward revenge is often the nastiest. This was the first time Flynn had seen Herman pull off such a stunt. In the past, Herman would never resort to this. ¡°Herman, what¡¯s this guy¡¯s deal? Is he awyer?¡± Flynn asked. Herman simply replied, ¡°He¡¯s your sister¨Cinw¡¯s ex.¡± Flynn instantly got it. No wonder he felt a murderous vibe. The ex¨Cboyfriend sure was unlucky to run into a love¨Crival like his brother. All Flynn could do was offer him a silent prayer. Herman dug up all the info on Cason through hisputer. Flynn nced at it and asked, ¡®Bro, he¡¯s just awyer. Do you really need to step in?¡± Herman, busy typing on the keyboard, said, ¡°His shamelessness is beyond measure.¡± He wouldn¡¯t have bothered with Cason, but since Cason was asking for trouble, he would happily oblige. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. ¡°Bro, if you get hauled off to the police station, what about my sister¨Cinw?¡± Thinking that Anastasia must be worried sick, Herman replied, Tll head home first. The rest is on you.¡± Cason owned aw firm, the Kirkwood family ran a factory that was barely breaking even and had been hemorrhaging money over the years. Cason¡¯s father had reced the materials with toxic substances way beyond the limit for the sake of profit. Once this scandal breaks out, the Kirkwood family would be devastated. Herman¡¯s goal was to bring down Cason and his familypletely. Cason¡¯s father clearly hadn¡¯t raised him well. To deal with the Kirkwood family was easy Herman didn¡¯t even have to lift a finger, Cason had a shady record abroad, he had taken money from both parties during awsuit and had bribedw enforcement officers. Cason¡¯s reputation abroad was not good, which was the real reason he returned home. Life overseas hadn¡¯t been smooth, so he wanted to make a fresh start back home. A selfish, hypocritical man who would stop at nothing for his own gain, Herman thought, Anastasia really had bad judgement when she chose him. Eager tofort Anastasia, Herman rushed home. An hourter, his Rolls¨CRoyce pulled up in their neighborhood. Flynn asked, ¡°Bro, how long are you nning to keep this from my sister¨Cinw?¡± Herman didn¡¯t know how to answer. Because once a lie is told, more lies are needed to cover it up. ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing¡± Herman said, getting out of the car and heading into the neighborhood. Anastasia had just returned home. She went looking for Katelyn, but she wasn¡¯t home and didn¡¯t answer her calls. At this moment, Katelyn was hanging out with friends, oblivious to what was happening. Anastasia was extremely anxious and was about to call Monica when she heard the sound of keys in the door. Anastasia jumped. The only people who had keys were her and Herman, and Herman should be at the police station. So who was opening the door? As she wondered, the door opened and she saw Herman. At that moment, her tense nerves suddenly rxed. Unable to control her emotions, she rushed into Herman¡¯s arms. ¡°You¡¯re back! I thought you¡¯d be thrown in jail. I¡¯ve made so many calls. I didn¡¯t know what to do or how to help you. Herman, I¡¯m so sorry. I got you into this mess.¡± Anastasia couldn¡¯t control her emotions and tears ran down her face. She was very scared. She had been living for more than twenty years and this was the first time she had encountered such a difficult situation. She didn¡¯t know where to turn to or what to do. During the time when Herman was taken away by the police, she had thought a lot. If Herman was really sentenced, she would wait for him, no matter how long it took. Seeing Anastasia sobbing in his arms, Herman felt both heartbroken and happy. He was pained to see her crying, but happy that she was crying for him. Holding her, he gently stroked her back andforted her softly, ¡°Don¡¯t cry, it¡¯s okay. I will be back soon.¡± Anastasia was unable to calm down, her tears and snot were all over Herman¡¯s clothes. ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay Herman¡¯s voice was very gentle. Anastasia sniffled, slowly calming down. Only then did she realize she was still in Herman¡¯s arms and had gotten her tears and snot all over his clothes She immediately felt embarrassed. She quickly pulled away from his embrace, but Herman suddenly held her tightly. Their bodies pressed close together, she looked up at him in confusion. His deep eyes stared intently at her, his voice hoarse, ¡°Anastasia¡­¡± Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Anastasia stared into his deep eyes, her heart racing. It was a feeling that screamed ¡®I¡¯m into you¡°. His arms wrapped around her waist and it felt like an electric current was coursing through her body. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. His deep and maic voice was filled with fatal attraction Her rosy lips made Herman¡¯s heart race. He leaned in and gently sealed her lips with a kiss. That lingering, suffocating kiss made Anastasia feel like her brain was starved of oxygen. Herman had no intention of letting go. He kissed her all the way to the living room sofa, passionately kissing her lips, her face, her neck¡­ As his actions intensified, Herman started to lose control. The smell of Anastasia reminded him of a dream, a woman in the dream also made him lose control. He couldn¡¯t tell if the dream was real or not. Anastasia¡¯s brain also stopped working, she was so dizzy from the kissing, she just instinctively followed Herman¡¯s rhythm, instinctively responding Just as the tension was about to escte, Anastasia¡¯s phone rang. It was a call from Katelyn. She had finished her mahjong game and found a few missed calls from Anastasia, so she hurriedly called back. The sudden ringtone woke Anastasia from her trance. She instinctively ced her hand on Herman¡¯s chest and gasped, ¡°Hold on¡­¡± It was as if a bucket of cold water had been dumped on her just as she was about to climax. The fire inside her was extinguished. Herman also realized that he had lost control. In front of Anastasia, he felt a little out of control, which was simply unbelievable. Herman let go of her, Anastasia avoided Herman¡¯s gaze and quickly answered the phone, ¡°Auntie!¡± ¡°Ana, what happened? I saw several missed calls and hurriedly called back.¡± ¡°Auntie, it¡¯s okay.¡± Anastasia nced at Herman, he had alreadye back, she didn¡¯t want to worry others, so she made up an excuse, ¡°I wanted to bring you some fruit, but you weren¡¯t home, so I called¡± ¡°That¡¯s good¡± Katelyn was relieved andughed over the phone, ¡°I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± ¡°Okay, drive safe¡± After a brief chat, Anastasia hung up the phone and saw Herman standing up to leave. ¡°Herman.¡± She called out to him, ¡°Where are you going?¡± Herman smirked, ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower.¡± Anastasia had lit the fire, but failed to put it out, naturally, he needed to cool down with a shower. Anastasia got the hint, her face instantly turned red. Herman went to take a shower, Anastasia pped her cheeks, Herman had been a bit too wild just now, she was almostpletely conquered by him. She also decided to wash her face to cool down. About ten minutester, Herman came out of the shower, dressed in casual home clothes. Anastasia was nestled on the sofa, seeing hime in, her face turned red and her heart raced again. Herman¡¯s figure was simply too good, any clothes looked great on him, his whole body exuded an attractive aura. Anastasia asked, ¡°Herman, how did you get released? I went to the police station to bail you out, they said they couldn¡¯t release you, how did they let you go?¡± Herman vaguely said, ¡°I have a distant cousin who has some influence, he helped me solve this problem.¡± In this way, Flynn became the scapegoat, and Anastasia wouldn¡¯t be suspicious. ¡°We should really thank your cousin.¡± Anastasia thought of Cason¡¯s threat in the police station and started to worry again, ¡°Is this issue really resolved? Did Cason withdraw the charges?¡± Herman nodded, ¡°He withdrew¡± ¡°Why would he suddenly withdraw the charges, did he cause you any trouble? Did he ask for compensation?¡± Anastasia was worried that Herman was treated unfairly ¡°No.¡± Hermansmiled and stroked her head, ¡°This matter was solved by my cousin, I don¡¯t know the specifics. It¡¯s alreadyte, do you want to go to bed, or continue what we were doing In order to prevent Anastasia from asking further, Herman deliberately teased her. He slowly moved closer to her¡­. ¡°I¡¯m going to bed¡± Anastasia said quietly, ¡°I have to report to thepany tomorrow. It¡¯s good that this is resolved. When we have time, let¡¯s invite your cousin for a meal to thank him properly.¡± ¡°Okay¡± Herman didn¡¯t continue to tease her, he knew Anastasia was shy Now that Herman¡¯s issue was resolved, Anastasia felt relieved. She returned to her room and called Monica to inform her of the situation. Monica was never worried, she knew Herman would be fine, but Cason, he was in big trouble. Cason, who was still unaware of the trouble looming overhead, was still thinking about how to get back at Herman and let him stay in detention for a while longer. If Herman didn¡¯t apologize to him, he would never let it go. Cason, who had just returned home, was in high spirits. Ray saw his face covered in bruises and asked, ¡°Cason, what happened to your face?¡± Amanda came out of the room when she heard the noise and saw Cason¡¯s injuries. She asked worriedly. ¡°Who did this? Son, how did you get hurt so badly? Who would dare to hit you?¡± Before Cason had a chance to answer, he received a call from Demi ¡°Cason, your bribery overseas has been exposed. The entirewyermunity is talking about it. You have been cklisted by thewyermunity and yourwyer qualification may be revoked. Plus, our law firm is also in trouble, the source of the registered capital is being investigated¡± Demi anxiously informed Cason of the current situation over the phone. Before Cason could recover from Demi¡¯s words, Ray also received a call from the factory, ¡°Mr. Kirkwood, the discipline inspection department is here, our factory has been sealed, the issue of the raw materials exceeding the toxic substance standard has been exposed, now customers are canceling orders one after another, requiring triplepensation for losses, and the tax bureau is here to check the ounts.¡± Hearing the news, Ray¡¯s face went ashen, his heart aching intensely. He clutched his chest, gritting his teeth to ask, ¡°How on earth did the disciplinary department find out? Howe they¡¯re only telling me about such a big deal now?¡± Everything came too fast and furious. Ray could sense things were going south. The factory was already not doing well, he took a gamble to cut costs, but instead of making profits, he ended up losing more. ¡°What should we do now, boss?¡± The employee on the other end of the line was obviously at a loss. ¡°I¡¯ming over now¡± Ray hung up the phone, took a few steps and suddenly felt dizzy. His vision blurred and fainted on the ground. ¡°Dad.¡± Cason immediately rushed to his side. Amanda was also taken aback by the sudden turn of events, her face pale. ¡°Ray, don¡¯t scare me like this.¡± Cason revived Ray quickly with some acupressure. ¡°Dad, what¡¯s going on?¡± Cason asked anxiously. ¡°Cason, our factory is under investigation. The clients are demanding returns and asking for triple compensation. This is a crisis for the Kirkwood family. Cason, do you have any connections that can help? You¡¯re awyer, you know thew, what should we do now?¡± Ray saw Cason as hisst straw. Cason was also struggling with his own problems and he was barely hanging on. ¡°Dad, myw firm is also under investigation.¡± Cason copsed onto the couch. Ray was fuming. ¡°We can¡¯t afford to pay a penny of thispensation. Who the hell is trying to screw over the Kirkwood family?¡± Cason had a sudden realization. It was no coincidence that both the Kirkwood factory and hisw firm were in trouble at the same time. Who was attacking them from behind the scenes? Cason¡¯s first thought was Herman, but he quickly dismissed the idea. Herman was still in the police station, just a regr employee, he couldn¡¯t possibly have such power. Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Cason couldn¡¯t figure out a solution. He had just returned home and had been handling things super carefully. He hadn¡¯t pissed off anyone, as far as he knew. Then, Demi called again, sounding even more desperate than before. ¡°Cason, did you piss off anyone? Is someone out to get you? Do you realize how serious this is? Your future could be ruined.¡± Demi wouldn¡¯t stop nagging and it was really getting on Cason¡¯s nerves. 1 don¡¯t need you to remind me,¡± Cason snapped into the phone before hanging up. Ray was freaking out. ¡°Cason, what on earth did you do? There are always people with bad intentions in Riverdale. We should¡¯ve kept a low profile. It¡¯s clear someone¡¯s got it in for us, the Kirkwood family.¡± Amanda chimed in anxiously, ¡°Cason, say something.¡± Cason thought hard. Besides Anastasia and Herman, he hadn¡¯t crossed anyone recently. Just then, there was a knock on the door. The sudden knock startled everyone. Cason collected himself and went to open the door. Seeingw enforcement officers, his face changed slightly, but he tried to keep his cool. ¡°Can I help you?¡± The officer showed his badge. ¡°Is Ray home? He¡¯s suspected of illegal activities. He needs toe with us.¡± When Ray heard they were there for him, he went pale. Cason looked at his father helplessly, watching as he was taken away by thew enforcement officers. As Ray was being led away, he shouted at Cason, ¡°Cason, you have to save me, Cason.¡± ¡°Ray!¡± Amanda ran out after them, feeling extremely anxious. The Kirkwood family was suddenly in a crisis and Cason was totally lost. That night, Cason was restless. He made countless phone calls, pleading for help. But all his pals and close associates found excuses to dodge him. Cason was so pissed off he threw his phone. Amanda could only cry in the living room, urging Cason to figure it out and save Ray. The problem with the Kirkwood factory was real. The Kirkwoods were in the food business. If their products were found to exceed harmful substance limits, it would spell disaster for them. Once they lost their credibility, there was no getting it back. Not long after Ray was taken away, the news leaked. Business partners of the Kirkwood factory started showing up demandingpensation. Cason hid at home, not daring to go out. He only dared to peek through the peephole. There were lots of people outside, all there to collect debts. Amanda was in tears and too scared to make a sound. That night, mother and son were on edge, jumping at the slightest noise. People kept calling the house to collect debts, so Cason had no choice but to unplug the phone. By dawn, the debt collectors finally left. Amanda couldn¡¯t take it anymore and fell asleep. Cason sat on the living room couch, his mind a blur. After a while, there was another knock on the door. The sleepy Cason was instantly alert. His heart was pounding as he went to the door. When he looked through the peephole, he saw Demi. Relieved, he opened the door, pulled Demi inside, and quickly closed the door. Demi was stunned by this cautious behavior. Cason asked, ¡°What¡¯s the situation with thew firm?¡± Demi snapped back to reality. ¡°Thendlord came this morning to terminate our lease. He wants us out immediately. The families of the harassment and divorce cases you took on are protesting outside our office.¡± The harassment case was a suicide where Cason had helped the perpetrator for money. The victim couldn¡¯t bear the humiliation and had jumped off a building. The divorce case was domestic abuse where the husband had custody of the child due to Cason¡¯s false ims about the wife¡¯s mental health. The husband, only wanting revenge on the wife, dumped the child on his elderly parents who couldn¡¯t take care of him properly. The child died in a car ident. The child¡¯s mother couldn¡¯t bear it andmitted suicide by taking sleeping pills. Cason wasplicit in these tragedies. Now with the victims¡® families protesting, his reputation was ruined and he might face legal consequences Hearing this, Cason turned as white as a sheet. He slumped onto the couch. Suddenly, Cason exploded, ¡°Who organized the families to protest? Who leaked my overseas issues? Demi, besides you, nobody else in¨Ccountry knew. Did you betray me?¡±C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Cason was paranoid right now, feeling like everyone was working against him. ¡°Cason, are you crazy?¡± Demi eximed disappointingly. Tve been with you for so many years, you should know my feelings for you better than anyone else. Why would I work against you? We¡¯ve invested in ourw firm together, I emptied my savings, even sold my parents¡® house for it, what would I gain by screwing you over?¡± Then who? Who is sabotaging me?¡± Cason seemed delirious, ¡°My dad¡¯s factory is also in trouble, someone must be stabbing me in the back. It must be Anastasia, that homewrecker.¡± Cason couldn¡¯t figure out who else it could be. Herman knew about his shy lifestyle being all smoke and mirrors, perhaps he was green with envy and wanted to drag his name through the mud. ¡°Do you mean Herman?¡± Demi asked. ¡°I had a run¨Cin with Herman yesterday, I sued him, and then both the firm and the factory ran into trouble. If not him, then who?¡± Demi was doubtful, ¡°He¡¯s just a worker, does he really have that much power?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as a secret forever, he must have dug up dirt on me and aired my dirtyundry.¡± Cason thought about this and hurriedly called the police station to inquire if Herman was still there. But what Cason got in response was that there was no such person, not even a record of the case from the previous night. Hearing this, Cason immediately realized that he had underestimated Herman. Apart from Herman¡¯s name and workce, he knew nothing about him. He had underestimated him. ¡°Demi, do me a favor, go to Elysian Technologies¡® R&D department and investigate his background.¡± ¡°Cason, you¡¯re still green¨Ceyed over Anastasia, what you should be thinking about now is how to bail the firm out. Yourwyer¡¯s license might get revoked, the firm might have to close shop, we¡¯ve invested millions, all of it could be down the drain.¡± That was the real reason Demi came to see Cason. To please him and start aw firm, she invested millions. She can¡¯t afford to lose it all like that. Cason¡¯s eyes zed with anger, he sternly said, ¡°None of that matters now, if we don¡¯t figure out who¡¯s got it in for me, everything else would be a wild goose chase. Go check out that guy¡¯s background, pronto.¡± Demi was taken aback by his outburst, but eventually decided to do as Cason asked. Just as Demi left, more creditors barged into the Kirkwood family, demanding Cason to pay his debts, leaving the house in shambles. During the argument, Cason was given a thorough beating by the creditors, causing Amanda to call the cops in fright. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Anastasia had a good night¡¯s sleep, she had to report to thepany today, so she woke up early. It was her first day at work, she didn¡¯t know what to wear and felt torn. She picked out a few outfits and asked Herman to help her choose. Three dresses, a pair of jeans and a shirt. Herman nced at them, picked up the jeans and shirt: ¡°Go with this one.¡± Anastasia held it up against her body, ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit in?¡± Herman said earnestly, ¡°Not at all, it goes well with your skin tone.¡± Anastasiaughed, ¡°I¡¯m covered head to toe, only my face is visible. Do I really need to consider my skin tone when choosing clothes?¡± Herman was clearly talking nonsense, but Anastasia knew what he meant, he didn¡¯t want her to reveal too much. Herman cleared his throat, ¡°Wear this for today, I¡¯ll buy you more clothes in a few days.¡± Anastasia asked with a smile, ¡°Herman, do all men like to see other men¡¯s wives dressed up pretty, other men¡¯s wives can wear less, but their own wives need to be more covered up?¡± Herman smiled, ¡°I don¡¯t know about other men, I only care about my own wife, what do I care about other men¡¯s wives?¡± His words filled Anastasia with warmth. Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Anastasia chuckled, their bond growing stronger since they¡¯ve seen a movie together. ¡°Let¡¯s take this one.¡± Anastasia went into the room to change into the jeans and shirt she had chosen, while Herman waited in the living room. He also sent Anastasia¡¯s measurements to an international fashion designer, asking her to custom¨Cmake some new clothes for Anastasia. All of Herman¡¯s clothes were custom¨Cmade, with no particr brand logo, so a clueless person wouldn¡¯t know how much they were worth After sending the message, Herman added some requirements the clothes needed to be trendy and attractive, but not too revealing. Once the requirements were stated. Herman ordered a pair of matching pajamas, hoping they could be completed within the week. The international fashion designer, who¡¯d been serving Herman for years and designed all his clothes, was a bit curious when she saw his request message This was the first time she was asked to design women¡¯s clothing. Had thepany¡¯s boss finally got a girlfriend? Not wanting to keep him waiting, she replied promptly, ¡°Received¡± Anastasia, oblivious to all this, came out after changing. Herman had already put away his phone. Anastasia asked, ¡°Do I look good in these clothes?¡± Looking up at Anastasia, Herman started to regret choosing that outfit. The tight jeans highlighted her slender legs perfectly. Anastasia had long, thin legs with a muscr tone, and her figure was outstanding. The jeans did nothing to hide her beauty, instead, they made her look even more attractive The white shirt, despite being buttoned up, was irresistibly attractive. Her delicate, fair face, with light makeup, looked stunning ¡°Beautiful,¡± said Herman, wishing he could keep Anastasia at home so he could have her beauty all to himself. ¡°Let¡¯s get going. It¡¯s our first day at work, we can¡¯t bete, Anastasia urged. Anastasia went to the entrance to change shoes. She chose high heels today, which made her look even more elegant They went to the underground parking lot and drove to the office of the jewelrypany under Elysian Technologies. Halfway there, Herman suggested, ¡°Once I make a little more money, you won¡¯t have to work so hard. I¡¯ll let you be a full¨Ctime housewife, shopping and hanging out with friends. The money I make will be enough for the household: Anastasia shook her head. ¡°No way, a woman must be financially independent. Even if there¡¯s a man to rely on, she can¡¯t give up her ability to support herself and lose her self¨Cworth. That¡¯s my bottom line¡± Anastasia had always been independent, so there was no way she¡¯d give up that independence to be a full¨Ctime housewife just because Herman said so. And men¡¯s promises always have an expiration date; they¡¯re only valid during the honeymoon period. Anastasia was clear¨Cheaded. No matter how far her marriage with Herman could go, she would never give up on herself. Herman realized his words may have been a bit hurtful. He reached out and held Anastasia¡¯s hand, ¡°Whatever you want to do, I¡¯ll support you.¡± If his woman didn¡¯t want to be a man¡¯s shadow, he¡¯d be her shield and let her fly freely. He would always be her backup. Anastasia smiled and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just say that we n to buy a house? it would be too hard for you to take on everything by yourself. Monica also mentioned that if we have a child in the future, the expenses will be even greater.¡± Anastasia suddenly stopped. She brought up having a child before Herman had made his intentions clear. Was she being too eager? However, Anastasia¡¯s ns for their future made Herman very happy. From their initial polite interactions, where she asked for nothing, to now including him in her future ns, it showed that Anastasia had him in her heart. He smiled faintly and picked up where she left off, ¡°Anastasia, do you prefer a boy or a girl?¡± Anastasia realized that once she answered this question, their rtionship would change. The n to have a baby might be put into action. She had just found a new job, would she face discrimination from thepany if she started trying for a baby? C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Who would want to hire a pregnant woman in today¡¯spanies? After thinking for a while, Anastasia finally replied, ¡°I like girls. I can braid her hair, dress her in pink princess dresses, and design unique jewelry for her to make her look very beautiful¡± Herman nodded, ¡°I also like girls.¡± They quickly arrived at thepany building, which was not Elysian Tower, so Herman could only drop her off at the entrance. ¡°Anastasia, I¡¯ll pick you up after work¡± ¡°Okay¡± Anastasia smiled and said, ¡°Drive safely¡± When she saw Herman leave, Anastasia turned and entered thepany. As soon as she stepped into thepany, she received a call from a stranger. Anastasia, you¡¯ve ruined everything for me, and I¡¯ll ruin you.¡± The cold voice on the phone was Cason¡¯s Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Before Anastasia had a chance to utter a word, Cason had already hung up the phone. He called first thing in the morning just to blow up at her? Anastasia frowned, puzzled as to why Cason was so angry It was Cason who messed up, got Hermanken away by the police, yet somehow Cason was the one who was more pissed off? Just as Anastasia was feeling confused, Monica called and said over the phone, ¡°Ana, Casonsw firm is being investigated, their family factory has also gone bust, owing a ton of money. Everyone is talking about it in our alumni group chat¡± ¡°What? How did that happen?¡± Anastasia was taken aback. Overnight, it felt like her whole world had changed. ¡°It¡¯s all his own doing Monica said angrily. ¡°Cason is a total hypocrite. Even I was almost fooled by him. Thank God you¡¯re married now. Otherwise, I would have made a big mistake trying to set you two up. That would have been like throwing you to the wolves. Cason would do anything for money. even drive people to jump off buildings or overdose on pills. Now, all the families of his victims are protesting at his law firm.¡± Upon hearing all this, Anastasia felt a sensation that was hard to describe. It was a sense of relief. Cason, for the sake of fame and fortune, disregarded the truth and drove victims to suicide. Now this kind of person has be her enemy, and he would definitely not let it go. Thinking back to Casons threatening call just now, she felt a wave of panic. Anastasia asked, ¡°Who revealed those things?¡± Just after she had be enemies with Cason, his dirtyundry was aired. She would definitely be targeted by him. What if Cason went to trouble Herman again? ¡°Bad deeds will alwayse back to bite you. Somebody must have had enough and decided to expose him. The reason why Cason returned home is probably because he couldn¡¯t stay abroad any longer.¡± Monica knew who was behind it, but she couldn¡¯t say. Some things she had to keep secret for Herman¡¯s sake. This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Considering how protective Herman was of Anastasia, she didn¡¯t have to worry. She just needed to prevent Anastasia¡¯s secret from being exposed and ruining Anastasia and Herman¡¯s rtionship. While Anastasia was still trying to get her bearings, she needed to do her best to protect that secret and help Anastasia and Herman. Cason got what he deserved, but Anastasia felt uneasy instead. After chatting with Monica for a bit, Anastasia went to check in at her new job and ran into Lauren, who she had interviewed with previously. Lauren, upon seeing Anastasia, was also surprised, ¡°Anastasia, you got hired too? That¡¯s great, we¡¯re going to be colleagues.¡± Meeting a familiar face in a strange environment, Anastasia felt more rxed and less constrained. Anastasia asked, ¡°Have you checked in already?¡± ¡°Yeah, I have.¡± Lauren was still as cheerful as ever, ¡°It¡¯s a shame though, you were rightst time. We can¡¯t work at the headquarters, only at this subsidiary There¡¯s a huge hurdle between me and the person I like.¡± Anastasiaughed, ¡°Take it slow. There¡¯s a chance for a girl to win a guy over. You¡¯re so beautiful, you¡¯ll definitely get him.¡± Upon hearing this, Lauren was very happy She grabbed Anastasia¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Once I win over Mr. Salstrom and be the bossdy of Elysian Technologies, I¡¯ll make sure you be the chief designer.¡± Anastasiaughed and responded, ¡°Alright, I hold you to that¡± The two chatted happily and quickly became friends. Lauren suddenly remembered their previous interview, she said, ¡°By the way, that Mr. Maxwell got fired. I¡¯m not sure why I heard he was fired right after your interview. Do you know what happened?¡± ¡°I have no idea¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t know about the interviewer getting fired. ¡°Oh Lauren didn¡¯t probe further, she said, ¡°You better go check in. Today the chief designer Selena will be here. If everything goes smoothly, we might be assigned to her ream as assistants.¡± Many people dreamed of bing the assistant to the chief designer. That position was just a step away from bing a designer. Anastasia first went to the HR department to check in. The HR staff nced at Anastasia¡¯s information and immediately became very respectful, quicklypleting Anastasia¡¯s onboarding process. ¡°Ms. Jewell, wee to the team We¡¯re colleagues now.¡± ¡°Thank you¡± Anastasia was confused as to why the HR staff was so polite to her. It seemed the quality of staff in a bigpany truly was high. They didn¡¯t discriminate against her because of her educational background. Thepany offered a very high sry, far beyond Anastasia¡¯s expectations. Bigpanies really did throw their money around Even the probationary sry was so high. Lauren had been waiting outside. When she saw Anastasiae out, the two of them went to check in at the design department together. Meanwhile, in the president¡¯s office of Elysian Technologies. Herman was working on some documents when Flynn came in and said, ¡°Brother, you only arranged an assistant position for your wife and also transferred her to a subsidiary Isn¡¯t that a bit unfair to her?¡± Herman calmly replied, ¡°Rome wasn¡¯t built in a day. Let her work her way up so she can better understand thepany¡¯s jewelry business. That way, when she takes over in the future, it will be smoother.¡± Flynn suddenly understood, ¡°Ah, so you¡¯re paving the way for her.¡± Herman put down the documents in his hand and said. ¡°She will be the future hostess of the Salstrom family¡± Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Flynn felt like his ttery strategy was working. If he could get on his sister¨Cinw¡¯s good side, wouldn¡¯t that mean he had someone to fall back on? Flynn chuckled, leaning his hands on his office desk. ¡°So, brother, how was the movie with your wife last night? Did it bring you two closer? Did you hold hands, share a kiss?¡± When the movie was mentioned, Herman stared at Flynn with a serious gaze. ¡°There goes your allowance for the first half of next year¡± ¡°What, why?!¡± Flynn yelped, grabbing Herman¡¯s arm. ¡°Brother, I¡¯m broke. If you don¡¯t give me my allowance, I¡¯ll have to beg on the streets. We¡¯re brothers, how could you do this to me?¡± Flynn wasying it on thick, just short of actual tears. As the vice president of Elysian Technologies, Flynn¡¯s sry came from Herman Of course, his ie wasn¡¯t the main thing to him. He was quite the actor Herman stared at Flynn gripping his hand and said tly. Take your hand off¡± Flynn immediately let go and gave Herman a pathetic look, as if he was wronged. ¡°Bro, was it the movie choice? That can¡¯t be, it¡¯s a touching movie. Watching it together in a dim setting, it¡¯s bound to spark something.¡± ¡°Too direct¡± Herman replied. ¡°Inappropriate setting¡± Flynn got it immediately,ughing, ¡°Bro, my bad for not thinking it through. Next time you can watch it at home or a private cinema. Just the two of you, do whatever you want, such a thrilling atmosphere.¡± Flynn¡¯s words were getting out of line. Herman pretended to hit Flynn, who quickly dodged and laughed, ¡°Bro, I got it. I¡¯ll go check on my sister¨Cinw at the branch. It¡¯s her first day, she might need help. She¡¯s so pretty, you must not want other men to set their sights on her¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already told Victor at the branch, you don¡¯t need to stir things up.¡± Herman handed Flynn a stack of documents. ¡°Don¡¯t use this as an excuse to ck off. Look over these projects and deal with them.¡± Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. Flynn was speechless. ¡°Bro, you¡¯ve been bullying me since we were kids, now you¡¯re still doing it and even docking my pay. I regret not running faster when we were kids, I wish I was the eldest.¡± In wealthy families, brothers often fight over inheritance. But in the Salstrom family, the two brothers were trying to pass the workload to each other. Herman picked up his coat and patted Flynn¡¯s shoulder, Think about it. If you do your work, I¡¯ll have more time for dates and you can handle morepany matters.¡± Flynn mumbled, ¡°I wish mom had another child, I could just ck off and enjoy a carefree rich kid life. Or dad had an illegitimate child topete for the inheritance. Our family is an anomaly among the rich, there¡¯s no challenge.¡± With the Salstrom family¡¯s wealth and status, even doing nothing for generations would be enough. Flynn didn¡¯t want to work hard, there was no point. The Salstroms were not short of money. Herman warned Flynn with a look, ¡°Don¡¯t let mom hear that. She¡¯ll make dad sleep on the couch and then don¡¯t me him if he cuts off your credit card¡± Flynn smirked, ¡°Just kidding, just kidding. Bro, you go ahead, I¡¯ll review the projects. Have a nice date with my sister¨Cinw, hopefully bring a new member to the Salstrom family soon.¡± Little did Flynn know, his casual remark would soon be Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Chapter 65 Herman had other businesses to attend to, so he left thepany affairs to Flynn and took off from the office. His secretary, Nelson, quickly tagged along ¡°How¡¯s the situation with Cason?¡± asked Herman. ¡°Mr. Salstrom, it¡¯s all taken care of The Kirkwood family¡¯s factory is totally kaput. Kirkwood & Associates had to shut down. Cason¡¯s reputation is mud in the circle, hiswyer¡¯s license was revoked, he¡¯s no longer a threat to us reported Nelson. Herman said, Keeping an eye on him, I¡¯m worried that someone like Cason might do something extreme¡± Herman only cared if Anastasia got hurt, and he didn¡¯t care what happened to Cason. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. ¡°Got it,¡± responded Nelson. Herman left Elysian Tower, with a Rolls Royce waiting for him at the door. As Herman got in, Nelson followed, and the driver hit the road. Herman had a business dinner to attend, a meeting with a bank manager. At the hospital. Cason was beaten to a pulp, multiple soft tissue injuries and broken ribs, now he wasid up in a hospital bed. Amanda¡¯s eyes were swollen from crying. Her husband was arrested, their son was in the hospital, their factory andw firm had been shut down. The Kirkwood family was drowning in debt, with creditors beating down their door, they had no clue how they would make ends meet. Casonid in the hospital bed, filled with anger. Then, Demi arrived. She was taken aback by Cason¡¯s injuries and was totally shocked when she saw him. ¡°Cason,¡± Demi said with a heavy heart, ¡°how could they do this? Just because you owe them money, they beat you up? They¡¯re practically trying to kill you?¡± Seeing Demi, Cason suddenly perked up, struggling to sit up. ¡°Demi, did you find out what I asked you to look into?¡± ¡°I found out,¡± replied Demi. She sat down, looked at Cason and said seriously, ¡°Cason, once you¡¯re healed, let¡¯s skip town, go abroad. You can¡¯t fight that guy.¡± Cason had a sinking feeling. ¡°Who? Who is he?¡± ¡°Herman Salstrom, the CEO of Elysian Technologies,¡± said Demi seriously. This name shocked Cason. He had spected that Herman might have some connections, but he never thought Herman himself would be a big shot, a persona non grata in Riverdale, the head honcho of the Salstrom family. ¡°No way,¡± Cason was still in denial. ¡°The car he was driving that day was cheap, his outfit didn¡¯t scream money, his clothes weren¡¯t branded, he looked like a poor man. How could he be the bigwig of the Salstrom family? Didn¡¯t Anastasia say he was just a worker?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t believe it at first either,¡± said Demi ¡°But I bumped into an old acquaintance, he¡¯s now an executive at Elysian Technologies. He confirmed it, Anastasia¡¯s husband is Herman, the CEO of Elysian Technologies.¡± ¡®No, no, no, it must be someone else with the same name. I¡¯ve been to their neighborhood, Harmony Meadows, it¡¯s just an average residential area. How could the head of the Salstrom family live there?¡± Cason was in disbelief. If true, his previous sense of superiority was a total joke. He had boasted at the ss reunion about his contact with the CEO of Elysian Technologies. Was he just a clown in Herman¡¯s eyes at that time? Cason couldn¡¯t bear this blow. It was a mental kick in the gut. Just an hour ago, he was threatening Anastasia on the phone, thinking about how to turn the tables. If Herman is the CEO of Elysian Technologies, he would never be able to make amends.. ¡°Cason, let¡¯s go back abroad. You can¡¯t fight the Salstrom family. Yourw firm and factory have closed down overnight, that¡¯s proof enough,¡± Demi advised. You¡¯ll only bring shame on yourself if you stick to your guns.¡± Cason shook his head, a bit dazed, muttering to himself, ¡°How could the CEO of Elysian Technologies be interested in a woman like Anastasia?¡± Demi was surprised to hear Cason¡¯s remark about Anastasia. Last time, Cason was ardently pursuing Anastasia, wearing his heart on his sleeve. Why would he badmouth Anastasia now, saying such ugly things? Just then, Casons cell phone rang, and he got excited when he looked at the caller ID, which was the phone number of the private investigator he hired to investigate Anastasia. Cason answered the call, his voice was filled with impatience. ¡°Did you find out?¡± Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Tm halfway through¡± The private detective mumbled on the phone. Cason, perplexed, said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you juste to the hospital? Bring everything you¡¯ve dug up.¡± Phone call exnations wouldn¡¯t cut it. Cason needed to see this guy face¨Cto¨Cface Around half an hourter, a guy in a baseball cap and carrying a briefcase showed up. Cason¡¯s mom and Demi were shooed out. The hospital room was left with just Cason and the private detective. Cason asked, ¡°Where¡¯s the info you found?¡± The detective pulled out a stack of documents from his hag and said, ¡°Everything I found is here. I had to work my way through this. Take a look. This Anastasia chick had a kid and suffered from depression for a while¡± At this, Cason snatched the documents, his eyes scanning over the details about the hospital where Anastasia had her baby and the doctor who treated her depression ¡°What a nasty woman.¡± Cason was fuming Judging by the dates, Anastasia had been messing around with another man and even had his kid right when he went abroad. He dated Anastasia for a year, and all they did was hold hands. Not even a kiss. He hinted at spending the night together more than once, but she always declined, saying she wanted to wait till their wedding night. Cason couldn¡¯t help but curse, ¡®ying the innocent in front of me, then sleeping with another man behind my back. What a piece of work.¡± At this moment, Cason¡¯s true nature wasid bare. There was no need for him to keep up his cultured act any longer. ording to the documents, Anastasia had a child when she was twenty and then suffered from depression for about a year. Anastasia also dropped out of school when she got pregnant. ¡°What about the kid? And the man¡¯s info? Why isn¡¯t there anything?¡± The detective said, ¡°That¡¯s all I could find.¡± Cason gripped the documents tightly, his eyes cold, ¡°This is enough.¡± Enough to ruin Anastasia. With that, Cason let out a chillingugh, ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see Herman¡¯s face when he finds out he married such a nasty woman. His wife has a child, and she¡¯s a woman of loose morals. She¡¯ll be a stain on his life.¡± How could a woman like that marry into the Salstrom family? If Anastasia was ruthless, he wouldn¡¯t hold back either. Cason was sure Herman didn¡¯t know about Anastasia¡¯s past. This was his trump card. With this in mind, Cason wasn¡¯t afraid of Herman anymore. High society values reputation. Once Anastasia¡¯s scandal was exposed, Herman would be humiliated Cason thought about Anastasia¡¯s ruthlessness in cutting ties with him. He now understood why. She had hooked up with a powerful man from the Salstrom family and was eager to be a part of it. Anastasia had no idea how Cason would retaliate. She and Lauren reported to their chief designer, Selena. Meeting her idol, Anastasia was a bit excited.. Selena wasn¡¯t pleased that thepany arranged for a fresh high school graduate like Anastasia to be her assistant. However, as an experienced professional, Selena didn¡¯t show her displeasure. She just assigned Anastasia some basic tasks. Selena was confident Anastasia wouldn¡¯t pass the three¨Cmonth probation, so she didn¡¯t waste any energy on her. On her first day at her newpany, Anastasia did basic work, like running errands, and she didn¡¯t see anything wrong with it. In anypany, neers always have to take a hit. Who in the design department hadn¡¯t started as a newbie? Anastasia remembered her mother¡¯s words, ¡°What doesn¡¯t kill you makes you stronger. She had a low education level, was new, and had no connections. She needed to be humble and learn. Lauren knew a lot about Interpersonalmunication. She brought gifts for Selena, bought Starbucks coffee for her colleagues, and immediately won their favor Compared to Anastasia, Lauren was treated much better. She didn¡¯t have to do basic tasks and could chat about luxury brands at her own Belongs ? to N?velDrama.Org. desk. Lauren waspetent and had a good track record overseas. She didn¡¯t intend topete with these seasoned employees. Her goal was to be thedy boss of Elysian Technologies, so getting along with her colleagues was a must. But Anastasia was different. Her pretty face and curvy body were enough to stir any woman¡¯s jealousy So, anyone who needed a small favor would go to Anastasia. For example: ¡°Anastasia, could you get me a ss of water?¡± ¡°The new girl, sweep this up.¡± ¡°The ink¡¯s out, girl, go downstairs and buy some.¡± Anastasia, print this out and put it on my desk.¡± So, Anastasia was kept on her toes. Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Chapter 67 Anastasia always took on tasks handed to her by others, bringing documents to the printer. Lauren, holding a cup of coffee, walked over to the printer after witnessing this. ¡°Anastasia, what is wrong with you, how you always ept tasks from others. They are obviously using you¡± Lauren and Anastasia arrived at thepany together, they¡¯re close. Seeing Anastasia being taken advantage of made her somewhat angry. Anastasia smiled, ¡°So what? If I don¡¯t sweat it out in school, I¡¯ll have to sweat it out in the real world¡± Anastasia was cheerful and only had a high school diploma. Being a newbie with no experience, she naturally had to be humble and learn. Everyone in the design department graduated from prestigious schools, and they all had some fame in the jewelry design industry Lauren was left speechless, seemingly understanding the logic. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. You¡¯re a designer¡¯s assistant, these errands shouldn¡¯t be your duty¡± Lauren said, ¡°How about you go buy something, treat everyone to a coffee, and then buy some afternoon tea forter?¡± While printing the materials, Anastasia smiled and said, ¡°There¡¯s a time and ce for everything. They won¡¯t stop giving me work just because I treat them to afternoon tea¡± Lauren had tried this before, it might not work if she did it again. Plus, Anastasia didn¡¯t want to waste money. Treating the design department to afternoon tea might strain her financially. Of course, Anastasia wasn¡¯t oblivious to social norms. She knew they targeted her because of her education and ability She wasn¡¯t on their level yet, they felt superior to her. To change this, she needed to prove her capabilities and shatter their superiorityplex. She had just arrived and hadn¡¯t found the right opportunity yet, but she was determined to change the status quo when the opportunity arises. Lauren asked, ¡°So you n on doing these tasks forever?¡± Anastasiaughed, ¡°When I don¡¯t have the ability to refuse, I have to lie low. Don¡¯t worry about me, these little tasks aren¡¯t tiring. I do more at home.¡± Refusing now might alienate her from everyone else, making her situation even more difficult Lauren seemed to understand, ¡°I think they¡¯re just jealous because you¡¯re pretty. Your husband lets you work despite your beauty, isn¡¯t he worried about the attention you¡¯ll get?¡± Anastasia thought back to what Herman said in the morning and suddenly understood something. She murmured, ¡°I see¡± Lauren asked, ¡°What?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Anastasia smiled, ¡°T¡¯ll go deliver these documents first.¡± Lauren didn¡¯t disturb Anastasia¡¯s work, she went back to her seat, sipping her coffee and flipping through a fashion magazine. After delivering the documents, Anastasia headed to the restroom. As she approached, she heard a woman crying from inside. Anastasia moved closer and was stunned at the sight. A pregnant woman was sitting on the floor, her water had broken, she was about to give birth. The pregnant woman was probably scared by the sudden physical reaction, she sounded panicked, ¡°Help me, call an ambnce quickly, my baby is Anastasia quicklyposed herself and called an ambnce. She reassured the woman, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, breathe deeply, everything will be fine.¡± After the call, Anastasia saw the woman¡¯s water kept flowing, she felt somewhat helpless. The pregnant woman clung to Anastasia¡¯s clothes, asking fearfully, ¡°Will my baby be okay? I¡¯m not due yet, I still have a month to go¡± ¡°Everything will be fine, trust me. Although Anastasia wasn¡¯t sure, she knew she had to be the woman¡¯s emotional support. She couldn¡¯t let the woman. panic, she had to calm her down. Anastasia looked at the woman¡¯s ID badge and saw that she was also apany employee, she was Alessia, the manager of the sales department next door. Alessia was breathing heavily, her fear was palpable. She held onto Anastasia¡¯s hand, her body weak, her voice quivering, ¡°I¡¯ve waited ten years for this child, I wouldn¡¯t be able to handle it if something goes wrong¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay¡± Anastasiaforted her, ¡°Breathe with me, rx, lie on my legs and don¡¯t move, this will reduce the loss of water¡± Themotion in the restroom quickly attracted others, several colleagues came to check. Seeing a woman about to give birth, everyone offered help. Soon, the ambnce arrived, people worked together to get Alessia onto the ambnce. Alessia held onto Anastasia¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°Come with me, I¡¯m scared.¡± At this point, Anastasia had be Alessia¡¯s emotional pir. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go with you.¡± Anastasia then apanied Alessia to the hospital, running around to help. Alessia¡¯s husband quickly arrived and stayed by her side Alessia held her husband¡¯s hand tight, ¡°If something goes wrong, save the baby.¡± Watching this scene, Anastasia felt a strong sense of familiarity, as if she had been in Alessia¡¯s shoes, helpless and confused, clutching onto her mother¡¯s hand and saying something simr. Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Anastasia¡¯s face suddenly turned pale, her feet softened, and she sat down on the chair beside her. ¡°Kid, my kid..¡± Anastasia mumbled to herself, at a loss as to why she had that kind of memory. What was this familiar feeling in her noggin? Was it her own memory, or a scene she¡¯d seen somewhere before? Anastasia was bewildered, fear engulfing her. Before she knew it, a tear slid down her cheek. ¡°What¡¯s up with you? You didn¡¯t get a fright, did you?¡± Alessia¡¯s husband came over and asked with a two¨Chanded prayer gesture, ¡°Thanks so much for your help, hope you didn¡¯t get a scare?¡± Anastasia seemed a little spaced out, I¡¯m fine.¡± She brushed away the tear at the corner of her eye, then realized that Alessia had been whisked away to the delivery room. ¡°Thank you so much, Alessia¡¯s husband said, all politeness. ¡°You saved both my wife and child.¡± ¡°No, no, you¡¯re too kind. I didn¡¯t do much, just made a phone call¡± Just then, a doctor walked over, ¡°Alessia¡¯s family needs to go pay.¡± ¡°Till go.¡± Alessia¡¯s husband told Anastasia, ¡°Could you keep an eye on things here while I go pay?¡± Anastasia nodded awkwardly. And like that, she ended up helping out at the hospital. Lauren called her, ¡°Anastasia, where have you gone off to? Why haven¡¯t youe back? Selena¡¯s upset, she¡¯s looking for you.¡± Anastasia hurriedly replied, ¡°A coworker from the sales department gave birth, I¡¯m at the hospital. I¡¯ll be back soon, could you cover for me?¡± ¡°Hurry up then,¡± Lauren exaggerated, ¡°Selena¡¯s like an iceberg and I¡¯m freezing here.¡± Anastasia chuckled, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± After about an hour of hustle and bustle, Alessia gave birth to a healthy baby boy who was a bit early. Alessia was in good spirits and was wheeled back to her room with her child. Anastasia followed them to the room. Seeing the tiny baby asleep on the little bed, her heart melted. This was the first time she¡¯d seen such a tiny newborn. She had an indescribable feeling in her heart, a mixture of heartache and bitterness. For some reason, she felt like bursting into tears. Alessia saw Anastasia¡¯s work badge and smiled, ¡°Anastasia? From the design department?¡± N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Anastasia shifted her gaze from the baby, ¡°Yes, from the Design Department. It¡¯s my first day¡± ¡°Thank you for today. When my kid grows up a bit, I¡¯ll have him make you his godmother. You saved his life¡± Anastasia felt ttered, ¡°Ms. Alessia, you¡¯re too kind.¡± Alessia asked, ¡°So, you don¡¯t want to be his godmother?¡± ¡°No,¡± Anastasia actually loved kids. This baby is adorable. I¡¯d be honored to be his godmother.¡± Alessia smiled, ¡°Then it¡¯s settled¡± ¡°Okay, Ms. Alessia.¡± Just call me Alessia We don¡¯t need to be so formal, just call me Alessia.¡± Anastasiaughed, ¡°Okay, Alessia¡± Alessia was warm and generous, and Anastasia didn¡¯t refuse. Alessia looked at the baby sleeping peacefully beside her, ¡°This kid¡¯s such a rusher, couldn¡¯t wait a bit longer, had to be born early I¡¯ve lost my shot at bing the Sales Department head again.¡± Although she wasining, her tone and gaze were full of love for her child. Alessia had been working at thepany for ten years, finally had the chance to be promoted to head, but because of her child¡¯s early birth, she might lose the opportunity to otherpetitors. Alessia¡¯s husband walked in, ¡°As long as you and the baby are safe, that¡¯s all that matters. If you¡¯re tired, quit ande home. I¡¯ll take care of you both.¡± Anastasia found these words familiar. Herman had said something simr in the morning. A husband providing for his family was seen as a matter of course and a source of pride for men Alessia¡¯s husband came from a well¨Coff family, they didn¡¯t need her paycheck. Alessia was a workaholic and an independent woman, so she¡¯d kept working even during her pregnancy She¡¯d nned to take maternity leave next month, but the baby decided toe early Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Chapter 69 Anastasia didn¡¯t stick around Alessia and her husband for too long as she needed to get back to work. She simply gave a gift for the baby, and then took off. Anastasia was quite generous this time, however, she was willing to prepare a more expensive gift for the baby. Because she was the baby¡¯s godmother, it was necessary for her to prepare a gift for the child. Anastasia hailed a cab to go back to the office. On the way, she couldn¡¯t help but call her mother. She wanted to clear up some fuzzy images that were floating around in her head. Salma, who wasforting Cynthia, immediately picked up the call when she saw it was from Anastasia Salma asked with concern, ¡°Ana, it¡¯s your first day back at work, how¡¯s it going?¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯m good, Anastasia replied cautiously, ¡°I just apanied a colleague to the hospital for her delivery, and now I¡¯m on my way back to the office. As a token of gratitude, she asked me to be the baby¡¯s godmother.¡± Salma chuckled, ¡°That¡¯s a good thing, getting along with coworkers helps you¡± ¡°Uh¨Chuh.¡± Anastasia held her phone and looked out the car window, ¡®Mom, when my colleague went into the delivery room, I suddenly remembered something.¡± This startled Salma on the other end of the phone. Salma¡¯s face changed instantly, and she asked anxiously, ¡°What did you remember?¡± Salma¡¯s question made Anastasia even more uneasy. ¡°Mom, did I have a serious illness before? I remember being pushed into the operation room, and I was holding your hand¡± Salma casually replied, ¡°Yes, you were ill, you had an appendectomy a few years back. You were so scared of the pain, you held my hand and cried just like when you were a child¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Anastasia was skeptical, ¡°Was it an appendectomy?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Salma confirmed, ¡°Monica was with us too, don¡¯t you remember? Ana, are you under a lot of stress at work, why are you having all these crazy thoughts?¡± Anastasia wasn¡¯t sure whether to believe her mother, because there were so many things she couldn¡¯t remember. When she was depressed, the doctor said her brain was stimted, which may cause selective amnesia. Sometimes she felt that she remembered everything, but often felt that she had forgotten something. When Anastasia thought of Alessia going into the delivery room and the newly born baby, her heart began to ache and she felt very ufortable. Her mood also became very bad, somewhat out of control. ¡°Mom, I want to ask, Anastasia clutched her chest, barely able to speak, ¡°Did I ever have a child?¡± It took all the courage she had to ask this question. Because she couldn¡¯t believe it herself, she had no memory of it and she never had more than a friendly rtionship with Cason, how could she possibly have a child? But she just couldn¡¯t understand why she would ask such a question, This question scared both her and Salma. ¡°Anastasia, stop imagining things, you¡¯ve just got married, of course you don¡¯t have a child.¡± Salma tried to remain calm, ¡°Have you been watching too many TV dramastely, or did something upset you, don¡¯t scare me, is it your husband¡¯s family pressuring you to have a baby?¡± Anastasia also thought this was too incredible, was it really because she had been pressured to have a childtely that she was feeling stressed? Herman asked her in the morning whether she preferred a boy or a girl, and she personally witnessed Alessia giving birth, maybe she was really under too much mental pressure and confused reality with TV dramas. If she really had a child, she would never forget such a big event. And where would the child be? Anastasia rubbed her temples and said, ¡°Mom, I was just joking with you, I¡¯m at the office now, I gotta hang up.¡± Anastasia figured things out, but Salma was scared out of her wits, she was worried that Anastasia had really remembered that event, so she hurriedly called Monica If Anastasia asked about it, they should say she had an appendectomy before, they shouldn¡¯t slip up. Salma realized she might not be able to keep this secret from Anastasia for long, but for now, she had no choice but to keep it from her. Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Chapter 70 Just one phone call from Salma and Monica was already on pins and needles. Anastasia could remember that incident anytirne she wanted, but definitely not now. She had to think fast and find a way to further develop Anastasia¡¯s rtionship with Herman. Ideally, Anastasia would get pregnant and give birth to the eldest grandson of the Salstrom family. That way, Anastasia¡¯s position would be solidified and she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about anything for the rest of her life Not long after Monica received Salma¡¯s call, she got a message from Anastasia. Anastasia contacted Monica to confirm details about her appendix surgery. Monica had already nned with Salma, so her response was perfect. Salma was also very anxious and had no patience tofort Cynthia. Due to the sudden changes in Gianna¡¯s marriage, Cynthia was in low spirits and spent the day lying down. When Anastasia returned to thepany, she was called to Selena¡¯s office Selena sat in her office chair with a serious face, ¡°Anastasia, what are you doing here? You bunked off on your first day of work. If you don¡¯t want to work, then go home early and stop wastingpany resources.¡± ¡°Selena, I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to leave my post. Ms. Alessia from the sales department was having a baby.¡± ¡°What does her having a baby have to do with you? You¡¯re my assistant, you should be serving me Selena coldly said, ¡°I don¡¯t care how you got here, but if you¡¯re not up to par, you¡¯re out as soon as your probation period is up. We don¡¯t need ckers and people with ulterior motives¡± Selena had heard from others that one of the three people who interviewed got in by giving gifts. Anastasia, who only graduated high school, was assumed by Selena to be the one who had gotten in through connections. That¡¯s why she was particrly cold and snappy towards Anastasia. Anastasia didn¡¯t back down from Selena¡¯s aggressive tone. She looked unyieldingly at Selena, a hint of dissatisfaction on her face. ¡°If I can¡¯t handle this job, I don¡¯t need you to tell me. I¡¯ll leave on my own ord, Anastasia countered. ¡°But what job do you expect me to handle? Competing with the janitor, or handling paperwork?¡± Selena scoffed when Anastasia dared to talk back. ¡°Do you even know what jewelry design is?¡± Anastasia replied, ¡°Everyone has a different understanding of jewelry design, and my answer might not satisfy you. But if I were you, I¡¯d put my efforts into pushing me away from jewelry design, not having me do odd jobs. Although, I¡¯m more than happy to do odd jobs here. Just remember, you¡¯re the one wastingpany resources, not me.¡± Despite Anastasia¡¯s sharp words, she never disrespected Selena. After all, Selena was her senior and she maintained the necessary respect. Selena was infuriated by Anastasia¡¯s words. No one in the entire design department had ever dared to challenge her like this. The argument between the two became heated, attracting the attention of their co¨Cworkers. Lauren was eavesdropping at the door. She¡¯d always thought Anastasia was easy to push around, but seeing Anastasia boldly stand up to Selena, she realized that Anastasia was not a pushover, but a brave little kitty with a bite.. Infuriated, Selena grabbed a client¡¯s file from her desk. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll give you a chance. Win over this client and you won¡¯t have to do menial work anymore. But if you fail, don¡¯t embarrass yourself here and disgrace the profession¡± Selena¡¯s sarcastic words didn¡¯t piss off Anastasia. She leaned on the table and bargained with Selena, ¡°If I fail, I¡¯ll leave on my own. But if I seed, you¡¯ll have to apologize for your words just now.¡± Selena found thisughable. ¡°Fine, if you seed, I¡¯ll apologize for what I said.¡± Selena firmly believed Anastasia would fail. This client had been pursued by her for half a year, and none of the designs satisfied them. And this client was not someone they could afford to offend. Selena had taken quite a bit of k from this client over the past six months, and it was perfect to now use Anastasia as a scapegoat. ¡°It¡¯s a deal.¡± With that, Anastasia picked up the client¡¯s file and left the office. The moment Anastasia left the office, it was as if she had be a different person. The way her colleagues looked at her hadpletely changed. Anastasia was definitely the first one to stand up to Selena so boldly. The colleague who had nned to have Anastasia do odd jobs silently walked away with a stack of files.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Chapter 71 Anastasia gave a quick nce at her colleagues in the design department and then headed back to her desk with the client¡¯s files. After her stern warning, the office had quieted down considerably and no one was bothering her for the time being. ¡°Anastasia, have some water,¡± Lauren said, passing her a ss and giving her a thumbs up. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you could take down Selena so easily.¡± Anastasia had lost control of her emotions due to the excitement and Selena¡¯s constant provocation. Now that she was calm, Anastasia started to regret it a bit. She had crossed her boss, could that bring trouble? Anastasia grimaced and said with a bitter smile, ¡°I was pushed to the wall¡± She wished for a peaceful life, but reality wouldn¡¯t allow it. She could handle the mundane tasks, but verbal abuse was out of line. Everyone should have their bottom line. Lauren chuckled, ¡°I believe in you. You didn¡¯t lose face at all. If you do get canned, I¡¯ll hire you back once I be the big boss of Elysian Technologies.¡± Anastasia couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Then I¡¯ll really have to rely on you.¡± ¡°No problem, I promise,¡± Lauren said, patting her chest. Anastasia smiled and opened the client file. Her face fell. 4 Lauren nced at it and was also surprised, ¡°The heiress of Crown Entertainment, Everlee Lunsford! Selena really wants to kick you out. Everlee is notoriously difficult and capricious in the entertainment industry.¡± ¡°Oh? The entertainment industry?¡± Anastasia nced at Lauren, realizing that she mighte from an interesting background. Lauren just gave a small smile, ¡°I just heard about it, just heard.¡± Lauren seemed to be hiding something, but Anastasia didn¡¯t press. Everyone has their secrets. She and Lauren hadn¡¯t known each other long enough to get to the point where they could talk about everything. Anastasia continued to examine the client file. She didn¡¯t know this Everlee, but it was clear that she was the heiress of Crown Entertainment. With such a high status and notorious reputation, she must be a challenging client. Even Selena had trouble handling her, which gave Anastasia a headache just thinking about it. Lauren gave Anastasia some advice, ¡°Anastasia, this Everlee, she¡¯s a huge fan of Hermes bags. She¡¯s a super VIP customer. Every time Herm¨¨s releases a new collection, she has the right to buy first, even customizing her own styles. Herm¨¨s even opened a store near her home. Several Herm¨¨s designers were fired because of her¡± Anastasia forced a smile, ¡°I might be the next one to be fired because of her¡± If even Herm¨¨s designers could be fired, she, a humble employee, might be dismissed at any time. Just as Anastasia was worrying, she heard a shout from outside. ¡°Anastasia, who¡¯s Anastasia, your delivery is here¡± Anastasia looked up to see a colleague at the door with a delivery, looking for someone. Anastasia raised her hand, ¡°I¡¯m over here.¡± Lauren asked, ¡°You ordered delivery?¡± Anastasia shook her head. ¡°No.¡± She had been so busy that she had forgotten about lunch and hadn¡¯t had time to order anything. Anastasia walked over and asked. ¡°This is my takeout?¡± ¡°Yes, someone just delivered it and specifically said it was for you,¡± the receptionist told Anastasia, handing over the meal, ¡°I need to get back to work¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. ¡°Thank you¡± Anastasia looked somewhat confused as she epted the delivery. Lauren came over, ¡°It smells so good. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s just ordinary takeout.¡± Just then, Anastasia¡¯s phone rang. It was Herman. Anastasia put down the delivery and answered the call. Herman¡¯s deep voice came through, ¡°Have you eaten? My aunt cooked, so I had someone deliver a portion to you/Did you get it?¡± ¡°So, it was your aunt¡¯s cooking¡± Anastasiaughed, ¡°I just got it, thank you. I¡¯m really hungry. Have you eaten?¡± ¡°Yes¡± Herman had returned to the office and just sat down in his chair ¡°How¡¯s your first day at work?¡± ¡°Not bad,¡± Anastasia answered optimistically, ¡°My colleagues are nice, nothing¡¯s wrong¡± Lauren, who was listening in, looked surprised Despite all the trouble, she said everything was fine? Herman said, ¡°That¡¯s good. You finish at five thirty. I¡¯ll pick you up then.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Alright, go eat. Don¡¯t starve yourself.¡± Despite his brevity, Herman¡¯s words were filled with concern. Anastasia felt better immediately. After hanging up, she went to eat the meal. Lauren asked curiously, ¡°Was that your husband on the phone? How thoughtful, I¡¯m jealous.¡± ¡°He may seem cold, but he¡¯s actually very warm-hearted,¡± Anastasia praised without holding back when Herman was mentioned. Lauren asked curiously, ¡°How did you two meet?¡± ¡°Through a blind date, Anastasia answered without hesitation, ¡°We met on a dating website.¡± Lauren was surprised, ¡°A beauty like you needed to go on a blind date? I¡¯m shocked. Didn¡¯t any guys around you try to snatch up a beauty like you?¡± Anastasia was cracking up, always finding it rxing and humorous to chat with Lauren. After dinner, Anastasia resumed her work. She needed to rack her brain to figure out what kind of design would make Everlee tick When it was time to clock off, coworkers started to take off one by one. Anastasia also began to pack up and hit the road. Lauren said, ¡°Let¡¯s split together, I¡¯ll give you a lift¡± ¡°No need, thanks though, Lauren. My hubby is waiting for me at thepany¡¯s entrance: Anastasia had already received a text from Herman, he was already downstairs waiting for her ¡°Jealous much.¡± The two of them headed downstairs together. Lauren went to the parking lot to get her car, while Anastasia walked towards the Chevrolet parked by the curb. Seeing Anastasiaing, Herman got out of the car to open the door for her. At the same time, Lauren drove out of the parking lot and yelled, ¡°Anastasia.¡± Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Anastasia turned around when she heard a sound, greeting Lauren in the car across from her in a friendly manner, ¡°Drive safe, I¡¯m heading off first¡± Lauren also popped her head out of the window to wave at Anastasia, but due to the angle, she could only see the side of Herman¡¯s face. ¡°See you tomorrow¡± Lauren said as she drove off ¡°Let¡¯s hit the road too,¡± Anastasia said to Herman. Herman opened the car door, carefully shielding Anastasia¡¯s head to prevent her from bumping into anything. Once Anastasia had settled in the car, he returned to the drivers seat. Herman asked, ¡°What¡¯s on your mind for dinner tonight?¡± ¡°I need to swing by the hospital first, Anastasia replied, ¡°One of my colleagues had a baby today, she asked me to be the godmother. I gotta get some gifts for the baby and pay her a visit.¡± She briefly exined her n to visit Alessia in the hospital, then mused, ¡°Fresh out of the oven babies are so tiny. Their little hands and feet are just so darn cute.¡± Seeing Anastasias love for babies, a subtle smile appeared on Herman¡¯s face, ¡°When we have a kid, they¡¯ll definitely be the cutest little thing on the.¡± Anastasia felt a bit awkward, not knowing how to respond. She didn¡¯t mean it that way. But Herman¡¯s words gave her a glimmer of anticipation too. Herman¡¯s genes are top-notch, their kid would definitely be adorable. Women are always like this, a bundle of contradictions, always wanting the most affirmative answer. Otherwise, all ambiguities remain just that, ambiguities. They paid a visit to a baby store where Anastasia wanted to buy a couple of outfits for the baby. But since this was her first time buying newborn clothes, she wasn¡¯t quite sure about the sizes. Anastasia asked the store owner for rmendations. Seeing the attractive couple shopping together, the owner mistakenly thought that Anastasia was expecting. The store owner nced at Anastasia¡¯s stomach and asked with a smile, ¡°How far along are you? When¡¯s your due date? I can suggest some suitable clothes based on the season. Newborn skin is very delicate, they need to wear good quality clothes.¡± Anastasia nced at Herman awkwardly and said to the store owner, They¡¯re for a friend.¡± Realizing her mistake, the ownerughed and asked, ¡°Boy or girl?¡± ¡°Boy.¡± Anastasia replied. ¡°Could you help me rmend something?¡± N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. While Anastasia was chatting with the store owner, Herman wandered over to the newborn clothes section and touched a piece of clothing. It¡¯s a pink, very cute little dress. Seeing this, the store owner tried to make a sale, ¡°Kids¡¯ clothes aren¡¯t gender-specific now, pink looks great too. This outfites in several sizes. How about getting one? It¡¯s made of pure cotton and it¡¯s not expensive, $25 a piece, and there¡¯s a discount if you buy more¡± Anastasia nced at the outfit and found it indeed very cute. She asked Herman, ¡°What do you think? Should we get this one?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just browsing, Herman replied. ¡®Ms. Alessia had a boy, we should probably stick with blue or yellow.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a blue version of this one, the store owner quickly added. The store owner immediately brought out several color options for them to choose from. Herman was as serious as if he was picking out clothes for his own child Watching this scene, a smile crept onto Anastasia¡¯s face. It was clear to her that Herman had a soft spot for kids. Anastasia was a bit lost when it came to picking out baby stuff, in the end, all the items were chosen by Herman. They bought two outfits, a rattle drum, and a set of squeaky rubber duck toys. When it was time to pay, Anastasia look out her phone and said, ¡°ill cover it.¡± Herman did not insist on paying and just stood aside. The store owner chuckled and said, ¡°Only those who have been married would understand, reliable ¡ªmarried menusually don¡¯t carry cash as their wives hold the purse strings.¡± After they left the baby store and were about to get in the car, Herman felt something was off. He stood by the car door and looked around. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Anastasia asked from inside the car ¡°Nothing.¡± Herman replied, not noticing anything suspicious, he got in the car and started it. As soon as they left, a man holding a camera emerged from behind a car. This man was the private investigator hired by Cason The Pi immediately sent the photos he had just taken to Cason Seeing their pictures shopping in the baby store, Cason Instinctively thought that Anastasia might be pregnant. Chapter 73 Chapter 73 Chapter 73 Cason was clutching his phone, his eyes full of rage His bright future had been runed by Anastasia and Herman He swore he wouldn¡¯t let them off easy Demi, who came to deliver food, felt a chill run down her spine when she saw Cason¡¯s gloomy face Ever since the Kirkwood family drama, Cason¡¯s mood had taken a dark turn. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Taking a deep breath, Demi entered the room. ¡®Cason, you gotta eat something¡± Cason put down his phone and asked, ¡°How¡¯s my dad doing?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t see him right now, but I¡¯ll find a way¡± Demi assured him. Im hiswyer now. I¡¯ll do my best to get him out on bail¡± Truth was, with the Salstrom family¡¯s influence and his father¡¯s grave charges, getting bail was next to impossible. But saying this was just Demi¡¯s way of calming Casons nerves. Cason, gripping his phone, said firmly, ¡°I¡¯ll make Herman fetch my dad personally Demi didn¡¯t argue, even though she thought it was a long shot Anastasia and Herman arrived at the hospital Herman didn¡¯t go in with her but made up an excuse to wait in the car Alessia had been working for Elysian Technologies for ten years, first at the headquarters then at a branch Herman was worried Alessia might recognize him and blow his cover With gifts for the baby Anastasia entered the hospital. Alessia and her newborn were in the room, while Alessias mother-inw, Dana, was cuddling the baby and refusing to let go Anastasia knocked lightly on the door. Alessia turned to see her and immediately smiled. ¡°Anastasia, you came¡± ¡°Hey, Alessia Anastasia walked in smiling. Just got off work, bought some clothes and toys for the baby Haw¡¯re you doing? Feeling better? Alessia pointed her husband Evan to the gifts and said, ¡°A bit sore, can¡¯t really move around much.¡± Alessia had a natural birth, but she was a real scaredy cat when it came to pain. She was too afraid to move or walk ¡°You¡¯ll be up and about after a few days of rest,¡± Anastasia nced at the baby who suddenly started crying Alessia, the new mom, panicked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the baby?¡± Alessia¡¯s mother-inw Dana said. The baby¡¯s probably hungry. You don¡¯t have any breast milk, and the little form you fed isn¡¯t enough. Form doesnt have all the nutrients. You should start breastfeeding as soon as possible, it¡¯s best for the baby¡± Anastasia looked at them arguing and felt a little awkward. Although it might not be appropriate, she was relieved that she didn¡¯t have to deal with these mother inw issues. Alessia, noticing Anastasia, said awkwardly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry you had to see this.¡± No worries, Alessia. I understand. You get some rest. I¡¯lle visit another time.¡± Understanding that the atmosphere was a bit awkward, Anastasia didn¡¯t stay any longer Upon leaving the hospital, she noticed Herman waiting for her in the parking lot. As Anastasia walked up, she noticed Herman was on a call. From a distance, she vaguely heard something like ¡°Mom, we¡¯ll be home soon.¡± Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Anastasia was a little puzzled, wondering if Hermans parents were already dead. While she was deep in thought, Herman noticed her from inside the car. He spoke into his phone, ¡°Auntie, let¡¯s leave it at that. Anastasia and I are heading home now.¡± After he hung up, Herman asked. ¡°Howe you¡¯re out so soon?¡± ¡°My colleague and her baby need their rest. I didnt want to be a bother, Anastasia said as she got into the car. She asked, ¡°Was that Ms. Katelyn on the phone just now?¡± ¡°Yeah, she cooked up a storm at home and wanted to know when we ll be back for dinner, Herman responded as he started the car and headed for Harmony Meadows. Did I hear that right? Anastasia was a little confused. She said, ¡°Herman, I think Ms. Katelyn is really too good to us. Even a real mother might not go to these lengths¡± Herman replied, ¡°She likespany. She gets bored when she¡¯s home alone, so she keeps herself busy.¡± ¡°Does she only have your cousin as a son?¡± Anastasia asked. ¡°If so, why doesn¡¯t she live with him instead of buying a house next door to us? Isn¡¯t that a bit extravagant?¡± ¡°She¡¯s not short of cash, Herman said in a low voice ¡°When you get old, loneliness is the real fear. Ms. Katelyn likes you, and that¡¯s fate. Having her around the house will be a great help to us, especially when we have kids. She can help take care of them.¡± Today, it seemed impossible to avoid the topic.. Herman had mentioned having kids more than once recently. Previously, when Monica and Katelyn urged him to have children, he appeared nonchnt. But now he hadpletely changed his tune Thinking about Alessia¡¯s mother-inw¡¯s attitude, Anastasia said. ¡®My colleague and her mother-inw just had a fight over whether the baby should be breastfed or bottle fed. I think it¡¯s hard for modern women. We have to take care of the family and be financially independent. Herman, if we have a baby. will we face the same problems?¡± Society promotes breastfeeding while expecting women to be financially independent Herman immediately noticed Anastasia¡¯s concerns. He said, ¡°Dont worry Having children is natural, Even male animals know to take on family responsibilities when their mates are pregnant. Let alone men. Both career and family are our shared responsibility. I married you, so I will take care of you and our baby. I will hold up my end of the responsibility¡± Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Anastasia looked at him. At that moment, she found Herman incredibly attractive. He also looked back at her and said with a warm smile. ¡°Let¡¯s take things one step at a time. Don¡¯t put too much pressure on yourself. The best marriage is one where I understand your sacrifices and you understand my struggles. Only by understanding and amodating each other can we go further. Anastasia joked, ¡°Herman, you¡¯d be wasted if you weren¡¯t a philosopher.¡± Hermanughed, ¡°In life, anyone can be a philosopher. Anastasia, we¡¯ve been together for quite some time now What do you think of me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re great,¡± Anastasia said sincerely, unable to find any ws in Herman. ¡°You¡¯re just a bit of a dork! Herman nodded in reflection, ¡°So, you¡¯re saying Ick a bit of romance and fun?¡± Anastasia blushed and chuckled, ¡°You could say that.¡± After pondering for a moment, Herman said seriously. ¡°I¡¯ll make a change.¡± The time flew by as they chatted and before they knew it, they were at the parking lot under their apartment building After getting out of the car, Herman took Anastasia¡¯s hand and they went upstairs together. This routine of going home together after work made Anastasia feel very secure. She didn¡¯t seek a life of luxury, but a simple one with someone who cared about her, filling her life with warmth. Anastasia sneaked a nce at Herman¡¯s side profile, recalling how he had taught Cason a harsh lesson for her and the things he¡¯d said to Cason. He would not allow anyorie to belittle his wife. As Herman unlocked the door, they were both taken aback by the sight that greeted them, Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Chapter 75 They just had a conversation in the car about romance and atmosphere, and when they got back home, the romantic setting was all set up. The room was strewn with rose petals, the table wasid with steak, wine, and fresh flowers, romantic music was ying, and the air was filled with fragrance The whole environment was so romantic and full of atmosphere. Anastasia turned to Herman, ¡°Did you set this up?¡± No woman could resist such a romantic atmosphere. Herman quickly got the gist of it. Turns out Katelyn had been pushing them to get home quickly to set this all up. This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Herman admitted frankly. This was all set up by Ms. Katelyn¡± Anastasia felt a little disappointed, ¡°And here I thought it was you.¡± She had imagined that after expressing her desires, Herman would have picked up on her romantic cues. The steak was still hot, obviously just cooked. Herman asked, ¡®Are you hungry? Want to eat something?¡± Anastasia was indeed hungry, salivating at the sight of the steak and foie gras. Afraid of stepping on the numerous rose petals, Anastasia swapped her shoes for slippers and carefully walked to the dining table.. Next door, Katelyn had been peeking through the crack in the door, and seeing the pair return and enter the room, she couldn¡¯t help but smirk. She felt that Herman and Anastasia¡¯s wedding was just around the corner. Katelyn was even starting to n their wedding. The heir of the Salstrom family was getting married, it had to be a big deal. Thinking this, Katelyn excitedly dialed Flynn, telling him about her ns for Herman¡¯s wedding Flynn said, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t you think you¡¯re jumping the gun a little?¡± ¡°Not at all, weddings need early preparation. Im not going to wait until thest minute ¡°You should at least discuss it with Herman Flynn said, ¡®I think he¡¯s pretty content right now.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no conflict here. I¡¯ll prepare in advance, and it will surelye in handy. It¡¯s always better to be prepared.¡± Unable to convince Katelyn, Flynn just let her be Anastasia was not a frequent steak-eater and Herman noticed her struggle to cut it, so he offered, ¡°Let me do it.¡± He took her te and began to cut the steak for her There was something elegant and noble about Herman¡¯s manners. Watching him cut steak was a visual treat. Anastasia casually asked, ¡°Herman, did you ever take a course on table manners?¡± ¡°Been to a lot of social events. You pick it up naturally over time: Herman replied, handing her the cut steak. While eating, Anastasia suddenly remembered something, ¡°By the way, I¡¯ve sorted out this month¡¯s expenses. Besides the car purchase, our living expenses amounted to four hundred dors, and then there¡¯s also She opened an ounting app on her phone to show Herman. Herman nced at it and said. The money is with you. Feel free to spend it as you see fit. I trust you.¡± Being newlyweds, Anastasia had never asked Herman for money outright. Even when they were running low, she was too shy to use the bank card Herman had given her. In the end, she was still a bit formal and polite around Herman, notpletely opening up yet. Anastasia nodded. ¡°Okay¡± ¡°Want some wine?¡± Herman picked up the bottle of red wine on the table and asked, ¡°Fancy a bit?¡± He immediately recognized this red wine as one of Katelyn¡¯s from her personal wine cer at home. This red wine has a good taste, but it is strong. Anastasia was going to say that she couldn¡¯t hold her liquor well and would easily lose control, but in the romantic atmosphere, she nodded, ¡°Just half a ss¡± Half a ss wouldn¡¯t get her drunk. Herman didnt want to get Anastasia drunk either, he just thought that fole gras paired with red wine would taste better. He poured her half a ss of wine and proposed a toast, ¡°To our one-month wedding anniversary¡± Only then did Anastasia realize that they had been married for a month. ¡°Cheers.¡± Anastasia raised her ss, the clinking of the sses sounding crisp. The candlelight reflected on their faces through the orange softening the atmosphere even more Anastasia took a sip and eximed, This wine is really good, totally different from what I¡¯ve had before, it¡¯s smooth, not bitter at all The wine shed had before were the cheap ones from the supermarket. The one Katelyn brought from her home was a pricey vintage. Anastasia couldn¡¯t help but have a few more sips Herman smiled and said, ¡°d you like it. I¡¯ll ask Ms. Katelyn to bring more¡± ¡°No need.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Her family owns a winery. A few bottles of wine are nothing¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Anastasia believed him and took another sip. The wine in her ss was almost gone, she smiled, ¡°Can I have another ss?¡± ¡°Sure¡± Herman smiled and poured her another ss, ¡°Now try a piece of foie gras. The taste will be completely different.¡± The foie gras, air flown fresh, paired with the red wine, tasted heavenly. Anastasia quickly tasted a piece and her face lit up. ¡°So delicious¡± ¡°d you like it¡± Herman smiled In the flickering candlelight, the wine made Anastasias lips even more enticing, giving one the urge to kiss them He also noticed that Anastasia indeed didn¡¯t have a high tolerance for alcohol. After half a ss of wine, her cheeks were already flushed. Herman swallowed and said. You¡¯re really beautiful.¡± ¡°What?¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t catch what he said, looking at him dreamily Her eyes were seductive, enough to steal one s soul in a single nce Herman grabbed Anastasias hand. No more drinking If she drank more, things could get out of hand Chapter 76 Chapter 76 Chapter 76 Anastasia, on the other hand, seemed to be getting a taste for the sweet wine. She clung to the bottle, shaking her head as if she was scared that Herman would snatch it away ¡°No, I still want to drink. Just a little bit more, okay?¡± She was just too cute. Herman watched her, feeling a mix of adoration and amusement. This was the first time Anastasia had acted cute around him. Herman pretended to be a bit annoyed as he sat down, Fine, just a little bit more Anastasia was overjoyed, and she started smiling at Herman, ¡°Honey, you¡¯re the best.¡± Herman felt like cupid had just punched him in the gut. Herman felt all warm and fuzzy inside, and his lips curled into a small smile, ¡°Say it again¡± Anastasia clung to Hermans hand, cooing. ¡°Honey, honey you¡¯re the best husband ever. Pour me another ss Women who acted cute were just too adorable Anastasia was now drunk. She had Herman practically swooning with her cute and sultry act, not to mention the way she kept calling him honey¡± In that moment, Herman felt like everything he did for Anastasia was worth it Having a cute and beautiful wife at home was like having a treasure. This couldnt be truer Normally, Anastasia was quite reserved, and they both treated each other with respect. Even holding hands would make her nervous and sweaty Herman picked up the wine bottle and poured Anastasia another ss Anastasia held the ss it was a precious jewel as she took a sip. If she knew that one ss of this wine cost hundreds of dors, she would probably be heartbroken Herman asked, Anastasia do you usually drink?¡± ¡°My mom says I cant hold my liquor so I¡¯m not allowed to drink I¡¯ve only ever drank with Monica¡± Last time, at a party with friends, Anastasia didn¡¯t dare touch the alcohol and only drank juice. Herman nodded, ¡°Your mom is right, when I¡¯m not around, you absolutely cannot drink¡± Drunk Anastasia was just too attractive to men Anastasia propped her head up with one hand, giggling at Herman, ¡°Okay, okay¡± Anastasia was so adorable that Herman couldn¡¯t resist reaching out to pinch her cheeks, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it, so he just gently stroked her face instead Anastasia¡¯s cheek rested in his palm. She looked like azy cat, her eyes were closed, and she was completely drunk Before long, Anastasia had finished the wine in her ss After seeing her like this, Herman decided not to let her drink anymore. He knelt down next to her, gently saying, ¡°Anastasia, I¡¯ll take you to your room to rest¡¯ Anastasia nodded instinctively and draped her hands over Herman¡¯s shoulders. Her eyes were open, and she was giggling like a schoolgirl, ¡°Honey, you¡¯re so handsome, I want to kiss you¡± Herman was at a loss for words. A wife who acted cute when she was drunk couldn¡¯t be allowed to drink outside in the future. Before Herman could say anything, he felt something soft on his lips Anastasia took the initiative and pressed her soft, intoxicating lips that tasted of wine onto Herman¡¯s. Anastasia¡¯s whole body slid off the chair, and all her weight pressed onto Herman. He was afraid she would fall, so he held her waist. He lost his bnce and fell backward,nding with Anastasia on top of him on the floor N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Rose petals were scattered all over the floor, the room was lit with dim candlelight, and passionate kisses filled the air with an ambiguous atmosphere. Anastasia¡¯s kiss wasn¡¯t skilled, it was quite clumsy, in fact. But it was her clumsiness that made him even happier. Having a dude and soft woman by your side made it hard for any normal man to stay calm. Herman held her and spoke in a low voice, ¡°Anastasia, do you know what happens when you tease a man?¡± Anastasia looked confused. She was staring at him with heavy, drunken eyes, giggling, ¡°What happens?¡± Hermanughed, coaxing her, ¡°You¡¯ll find out when we get to the room¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Anastasia leaned on him as the alcohol kicked in, making her even drowsier. Herman picked her up and took her back to the room. His suppressed emotions rushed to the surface. This woman¡¯s leasing was too tempting: even with his strong self control, he was about to lose it. Heid her on the bed and leaned over to kiss her. Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Herman was kissing Anastasia when he suddenly realized that she had fallen asleep. ¡°Look at this silly girl, falling asleep just like that¡± Feeling both amused and helpless, Herman nted a kiss on her forehead. ¡°You¡¯re such an easy target. Lucky it¡¯s me you ran into.¡± To Herman, Anastasia was an innocent soul who saw the world through rose-tinted sses. With Anastasia fast asleep, Herman halted his advances. His rationality returned because he wanted their first time to be a conscious and mutual decision He tucked Anastasia in and went off to take a shower Anastasia was sleeping like a log, totally oblivious to what had happened or where she was. After his shower, Herman changed into his pajamas. He was initially thinking of vacating the room for Anastasia and crashing on the living room couch, but he couldn¡¯t resist her beautiful face and decided to stay He slid under the covers and spooned her to sleep. It was his first time sleeping with Anastasia like this, yet it felt oddly familiar, as if they¡¯d been living this way for years. Anastasia was always a restless sleeper, tossing and turning in his arms. Her face was pressed against his chest, and her legs were entwined with his She clung to Herman like an octopus, a sleep position that made her feel secure andfortable Herman felt a warm feeling wash over him as he watched her sleep peacefully For Herman, this night was a test of self-control. It wasn¡¯t easy having a beauty in his arms and not sumbing to desire The next day Sunlight streamed in through the window Anastasia woke up, stretchedzily, and was about to get ready for work when she noticed something was off. This wasn¡¯t her room. This was Hermans room and this was Herman¡¯s bed Anastasia was taken aback She turned to her side and found Herman still in deep sleep. Covering her face, she quickly checked herself. Her clothes were intact, and she felt no difort. It seemed like nothing had happened. Anastasia heaved a sigh of relief She really shouldn¡¯t drink too much, considering her poor alcohol tolerance She wasn¡¯t drunk enough to ckout and started recalling the events ofst night. She remembered acting cute, asking for kisses, and chasing Herman around. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I embarrassed myself like that¡± Would Herman think she had crossed the line? Anastasia was extremely embarrassed. So much for her reserved,dylike image With her face burning Anastasia was tugging at her hair in frustration. She decided to make a swift exit before Herman woke up. As she was tiptoeing out, Herman opened his eyes. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. He had been awake for a while and already had a smile twinkling in his eyes. To spare Anastasia any embarrassment, Herman waited a bit before pretending to just wake up. Anastasia was about to leave for work. She was runningte, so she didn¡¯t have time to make breakfast. Anastasia blushed after seeing Herman awake, ¡°You¡¯re awake. I¡¯m going to work now and didn¡¯t have time to make breakfast Fend for yourself.¡± Herman nced at the clock, I¡¯m heading to the office too. I can give you a ride¡± ¡°Okay¡¯ They had already shared a bed, so what was the big deal about sharing a ride? Herman went back to change while Anastasia waited for him at the entrance. During that short wait, she was racking her brain for possible reasons why Herman didnt make a move on her Was the not attractive enough? Or was there something wrong with Herman? As a man, did Herman really have no ulterior motives when sharing a bed with a drunk woman? ¡°Let¡¯s go ¡± Herman reappeared with his car keys, snapping Anastasia out of her thoughts. ¡°Okay¡± Anastasia traded behind him with her head down. She deliberatelygged a step behind, lost in her thoughts. Herman abruptly stopped walking, and Anastasia, who was looking down, bumped intown. I¡¯m sorry¡± Anastasia immediately apologized. However, Herman took her hand and led her forward, ¡°What were you thinking about just now? Why are you so distracted?¡± ¡°Uh? Nothing.¡± Anastasia responded awkwardly with augh. He asked, ¡®Do you feel any regret aboutst night?¡± Anastasia was speechless. How did he manage to ask that so bluntly? Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Anastasia kept her mouth shut, then forced herself to keep calm. ¡°I got so hammeredst night that I cant remember a thing. What happened?¡± Anastasia feigned confusion. Herman chuckled lightly squeezed her hand, and said regretfully, ¡°What a pity¡± Anastasia struggled to find a response As they reached the car, Herman opened the door for her, ¡°We¡¯re runningte.¡± Anastasia started to panic ¡°Let¡¯s hurry then, my boss is a real dragondy if I¡¯mte, she¡¯s gonna chew me out.¡± Herman started the car and asked casually following herint. ¡°Does Selena treat you badly?¡± Realizing she had misspoken, Anastasia quickly denied it, ¡°No, not at all. I¡¯m just a newbie, and there¡¯s a lot I don¡¯t understand. She¡¯s just guiding me, everyone at thepany is super nice¡± She always chose to share the good news and keep the bad news to herself How could Herman not know what was going on with Anastasia at work? N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Victor, the branch manager who was nted at her side to keep an eye on things for him, had also informed him about the argument between Anastasia and Selena yesterday Herman didnt intervene because the timing wasn¡¯t right and overprotecting Anastasia might do more harm than good. Besides, Anastasias performance didn¡¯t disappoint him. ¡°That¡¯s good Herman said. ¡°If you ever feel wronged or need any help,e and tell me. I¡¯ll sort it out for you? Anastasia blushed as she remembered how she was acting all cute and clingy to Hermanst night, ¡°Okay¡± With Hermans reassurance, Anastasia felt very secure. As the car moved on, Anastasiamented. We really only need one car. Thest car we bought was a bit of a waste. Parking fees, insurance, it all adds Up.¡± Since Herman had been driving her to and from work, the new car had just been sitting there, wasted. ¡°I might have to go on a business trip soon. You can drive to work by yoursell then I have a dinner appointment tonight as well, so I might not be able to pick you up You might have to catch a cab home.¡± ¡°How many days will you be gone? Where are you going? When will you be back?¡± Anastasia asked without thinking. It sounded like a wife questioning her husband¡¯s whereabouts. Hermanughed, ¡°I just said maybe. If I need to go, let you know in advance and keep you in the loop.¡± 1 was just asking¡± Anastasia looked away. She felt a bit embarrassed and fell silent. They arrived at her office just in time; Anastasia didn¡¯t bother to say goodbye to Herman and hurried into the office building She managed to clock in at thest few seconds Herman¡¯s car stayed parked below, he was not in a rush to leave. He ordered breakfast for Anastasia before finally leaving Elysian Technologies. Flynn, driving his newly bought Ferrari, bumped into Herman at the parking lot entrance. At first, Flynn didn¡¯t recognize him until he saw the license te. It was his brother who always yed poor. The two brothers drove their cars into the underground garage. After parking. Flynn got out of the car and jokingly asked, ¡°Bro, how does it feel to drive a Chevy?¡± Herman tossed his car keys to Flynn, ¡°Why don¡¯t you give it a try?¡± Flynn caught the keys reflexively,ughing. If I drive this car, I won¡¯t be able to pick up any girls. Not every girl is like your wife, who doesn¡¯t care about wealth.¡± Herman didn¡¯t respond and headed to the private elevator. Flynn cheerfully followed, ¡°Now that you drive a Chevy every day, the Rolls Royce at home is sitting idle. How about lending it to me for a few days?¡± Herman tly refused. ¡°Neither my car nor my wife are for lending.¡± ¡°Herman, you have so many cars in your garage, you wouldn¡¯t miss one.¡± Herman stood his ground Flynn changed his strategy saying mysteriously. ¡°Mam called mest night; there¡¯s news. Wanna know?¡± ¡°No¡¯peed¡± Herman said, ¡°She¡¯s nning my wedding with Anastasia¡¯ Flynn apked at Herman in surprise, ¡°How did you know? She said it was a secret.¡± Chapter 78 Herman nced at Flynn. His look seemed to say, what secrets could there be in a family? Flynn sighed in disappointment, ¡°You¡¯re so dull, Herman. No wonder you haven¡¯t conquered your wife yet¡± Herman raised an eyebrow, ¡°How do you know I havent?¡± After hearing this, Flynn looked at him in surprise, ¡°Could it be¡­ you ve already seeded?¡± Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Flynn had already started daydreaming about bing an uncle. He was imagining that by the end of the year, there might be a new addition to the Salstrom family. They rode the elevator all the way up to the top, and when the doors opened, Herman was the first to step out, looking as cool as a cucumber, ¡°Almost there.¡± ¡°Almost there?¡± Flynn echoed, finally catching on and feeling a bit bummed out ¡°So you¡¯re saying you haven¡¯t seeded yet? i thought I was about to be an uncle, with a little niece on the way!¡± Herman walked into the CEO¡¯s office and Nelson handed him the day¡¯s schedule. As Herman looked at the busy agenda, his gaze shifted to Flynn, who was standing outside the office, chatting away with the female employees. He figured he needed to whip Flynns work ethic into shape so he could have more free time to spend with Anastasia. C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. His dull job couldn¡¯t hold a candle to the time he spent with his wife Herman was a bit distracted at work today, and he even seemed to space out during meetings. Of course, no one below him dared to say anything they all thought they had messed up and became more anxious. One nervous employee made a mistake while reporting, and quickly apologized, I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Salstrom, L. Everyone in thepany knew Herman was a strict boss, messing up in front of him could mean getting the boot Just as the employee was almost about to burst into tears, Herman waved his hand and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, carry on All the executives looked at Herman in surprise, this was the first time someone had messed up in front of him and not been fired. It seemed their boss was in a good mood today. Meanwhile, Anastasia was busy as soon as she stepped into thepany Herman had ordered her breakfast and she was eating while working. Yesterday she was just doing odds and ends, but today Selena really had it in for her, assigning her difficult tasks and demanding a design proposal that would satisfy Crown Entertainment¡¯s heiress, Everlee, by the end of the month. The news of Selena giving Anastasia a hard time reached branch manager Victor¡¯s ears. Worried about potential problems, he made a personal visit to Selena¡¯s office to remind her to watch her step ¡°Selena, you¡¯re thepany¡¯s chief designer, why are you picking on a newbie?¡± Selena was quite surprised. ¡°Victor, you rarelye here, but today you¡¯re here for a new employee What¡¯s so special about Anastasia?¡± Selena and Victor had known each other for many years. Victor was her boss, and they also had a personal rtionship. While sipping his coffee, Victor formally said. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. I¡¯m not here to speak for her, I¡¯m here for your own good.¡± Selena nced at Anastasia working outside, then looked back at Victor ¡°Just spit it out. Who is she? What kind of incredible background does she have? She¡¯s a person with only a high school diploma, so she must have bribed the interviewer to get into thepany, right? What¡¯s her game?¡± Bribe the interviewer? That¡¯s unlikely, ourpany is very cautious when ites to hiring I¡¯m not defending Anastasia, I don¡¯t know what her background is. I just heard you two had a fight in the office yesterday. That¡¯s not good, it hurts your image¡± Victor thought to himself, the big boss behind Anastasia wouldn¡¯t need to bribe the interviewer would he? Selena said coldly, 1 see She just got in through bribery, without any talent. I don¡¯t need useless people here. If she really has talent, I will ept her without reservation Otherwise, she¡¯s not even worthy of polishing my shoes¡± ¡°Selena, watch yournguage ¡°Victor immediately retorted. ¡°You weren¡¯t this sharp and harsh before. She¡¯s just a newbie, do you need to be this tough? If you don¡¯t like her, I can transfer her to Amy.¡± ¡°No need; I¡¯ve already made a bet with her. If she can win over Everlee, I¡¯ll let her stay. Otherwise, she¡¯ll have to quit on her own.¡± Victor wanted to say something else, ¡°Selena, you¡¯re ¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to say anything else,¡± Selena said arrogantly ¡°If we let her in, it means anyone can join thepany! What about us, the graduates from prestigious universities? That¡¯s totally unfair to us Knowing that Selena was dissatisfied, Victor said, ¡°I¡¯ve said what I wanted to say, consider it yourself.¡± He couldn¡¯t reveal the big shot backing Anastasia, he could only hope that Selena had good luck After Victor left, Selena sat in her office chair, growing increasingly resentful She picked up the internal phone, calling Anastasia into her office. Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Chapter 80 Anastasia got a call from Selena, knowing that trouble was most likely brewing again. But she didn¡¯t have a choice; she had to go Anastasia knocked on the office door, ¡°Selena¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Selena¡¯s face was expressionless and rigidly serious Anastasia walked in, and Selena handed over a membership card to her, ¡®Everlee will be at the Eclipse Lounge today. Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t give you a chance, or even if I win this bet, you might not be convinced¡± Victor¡¯s advice had a bit of an effect on Selena, so instead of dealing with Anastasia directly, she decided to let the privileged princess, Everlee, take a crack at her Everlee was a handful. Selena had suffered under her before, so today she was going to give Anastasia a taste of the struggle, showing her that the working world wasn¡¯t a walk in the park. Thanks.¡± Anastasia took the card. I won¡¯t let you down¡± Selena smirked. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to hearing good news Anastasia left the office with the membership card, and Lauren Mill came over, ¡°Did Selena give you trouble again? Why can¡¯t she just leave you alone?¡± ¡°Sometimes, you don¡¯t need a reason to dislike someorie, and sometimes, one reason is enough.¡± Anastasia understood, in the design department, I am an oddball.¡± Among a group of college grads, she, a high school graduate, was an oddball All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Lauren asked, ¡°What does she want you to do?¡± Anastasia waved the membership card, ¡°I need to meet with Everlee.¡± ¡°What a clever strategy Lauren cautioned, ¡°Anustasin, don¡¯t go. Everlee is a tough one to handle. She¡¯s very picky and loves causing trouble You¡¯ll definitely get the short end of the stick.¡± Anastasiaughed, ¡°With the way you put it, I¡¯m a bit nervous now. Don¡¯t worry; I was nning to meet Everlee anyway Selenas information is too vague. If I want to design satisfactory jewelly, I should meet and discuss it with the client. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go with you Lauren genuinely feared that Anastasia would be at a disadvantage. ¡°Thank you¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t refuse. ¡°I don¡¯t have a car, so I can ride with you¡± Laurenughed. ¡°No problem¡± Eclipse Lounge. Lauren was familiar with this ce, having been here before. They both had membership cards, so it was easy to get in Anastasia didnt have much money, and she didnt know if this trip could be reimbursed. She couldn¡¯t let Lauren pay, so they waited in the lounge. She had Everlees number and had called her a few times to exin the reason they came. Everlee seemed very impatient and told them to wait. They waited from morning till afternoon, then till night Lauren said. ¡°We can¡¯t keep waiting like this¡± Anastasia nodded, ¡°True, we can keep waiting I¡¯ll ask where her private room is. Lauren casually said, ¡°They usually y on the rool, not in the private rooms¡± Anastasia nced at Lauren She seemed very familiar with Everlee¡¯s preferences; she obviously knew her well. It seemed Lauren and Everlee ran in the same circles Anastasia didn¡¯t ask anymore and headed for the roof. When they reached the entrance, the club staff stopped them, Please show your invitation.¡± Lauren whispered to Anastasia, ¡°They booked this ce. They host private parties several times a month. You cant get in without an invitation.¡± ¡°You must have an invitation, right?¡± ¡°How do you know? Lauren was surprised by her certainty. She did have one, but she didn¡¯t care for such parties and hadn¡¯t gone. Anastasia smiled, ¡°First, take me in to meet Everlee. I treat you to dinnerter¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got a deal ¡°Laurenughed and showed the electronic invitation, so they were let in. As soon as they entered. Anastasia understood what rich peoples parties looked like The party was incredibly luxurious. The extravagant scenes from movies were just the Lip of the iceberg. Lauren pointed to a girl in a yellow dress ying darts, That¡¯s Everlen¡± Anastasia looked over, and indeed. Everlee was very beautiful. She was in the prime of her youth. Anastasia was about to go over when suddenly a handsome man ran over and grabbed her Scared out of her wits, Anastasia couldn¡¯t break free, so she headbutted him. THUMPI The man fell to the armed Someone shouted, ¡°ke, ke, are you okay? Someone call an ambnce.¡± Chapter 81 Chapter 81 Chapter 81 The sudden incident put a halt to the lively atmosphere of the party, and everyone gathered around the guy who Anastasia had knocked over. Anastasia was pretty shocked herself. Lauren snapped back to reality and quickly asked, ¡°Anastasia, are you okay?¡± Anastasia shook her head, a bit bewildered. A young guy then angrily pointed at Anastasia, ¡°You¡¯re screwed! You dare hurt ke?!¡± ¡°It¡¯s an honor for you to be held by ke in your lifetime.¡± ¡°Is she a new waitress? She¡¯s so ignorant. You made ke get hurt; just wait for it.¡± ¡°Call an ambnce, quick¡± ¡°ke is bleeding; he¡¯s done for¡­¡± Anastasia was terrified by their words. After seeing the guy unconscious on the floor, she turned even paler. If someone died because of her, she would be totally screwed. The people here were mostly rich kids. She knew he must have been someone big after seeing how much they cared about the guy on the floor. Anastasia quickly said, I¡¯m sorry, I, 1¡­ ¡°What¡¯s all the fuss? It¡¯s just a nosebleed; I¡¯m not gonna die.¡± The guy on the floor suddenly sat up. pushed people away, and walked towards Anastasia. Someone handed him a tissue. He cleaned his nose and looked seriously at Anastasia. His eyes deepened as he looked at her. ¡°You knocked me over? This is the first time a woman has hurt me.¡± Lauren knew this guy and his temper. She stepped in to defend Anastasia, ¡°ke Ledford, Anastasia didn¡¯t do it on purpose. It¡¯s just a nosebleed, there¡¯s no need to freak out. Besides, you¡¯re the one who scared her by suddenly hugging her.¡± All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ke scoffed, ¡°No one has ever been brave enough to say I was wrong.¡± As soon as Lauren spoke, someone recognized her, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re the heiress of the Mill family. You brought her?¡± Lauren said, ¡°Yes, I brought her. Anastasia is my friend¡¯ ¡°Anastasia?¡± Everlee came over, sizing up Anastasia. ¡°You¡¯re the one who called me earlier. The designer from Elysian Technologies¡¯ jewelrypany. Anastasia?¡± Everlee hadn¡¯t met Anastasia before, but she remembered their phone calls. Anastasia quickly said, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m the Anastasia who called you earlier. Here¡¯s my business card. I came here to confirm the jewelry design details with you Then she turned to ke and said, ¡°I apologize for bumping into you earlier. It was my fault that you got hurt.¡± Just when everyone thought Anastasia was going to back down, she changed her tone, ¡°You startled me by suddenly hugging me. My reaction was instinctive, a legitimate defense.¡± ke smirked, ¡°You¡¯re quite a smooth talker.¡± ke reached out to touch Anastasia¡¯s face, but she leaned back and avoided him. ke became even more interested, ¡°A woman who doesn¡¯t know how to appreciate kindness, how rare. You work at Elysian Technologies, right? How much do they pay you? I¡¯ll offer you ten times that to be my woman. Working is so exhausting, especially for a pretty woman like you, I can¡¯t bear to see you tired.* ke¡¯s flippant behavior diminished Anastasia¡¯s fear, leaving only anger and disgust. Others started to tease, ¡°You should be thankful to ke. You¡¯re lucky that he¡¯s interested in you.¡± ¡°Working can¡¯tpare to being with ke.¡± ¡°Exactly, her figure, her face, she¡¯s just perfect. ke has good taste.¡± ¡°I bet she came here to seduce rich guys. Stop pretending¡± Everyone burst intoughter. Their eyes were full of contempt and discrimination towards Anastasia. Everlee stood quietly, looking very ufortable. She nced at ke several times. Anastasia was really pissed off by their harsh words, but she couldn¡¯t afford to offend these rich kids. So she cleverly said, ¡°ke, I¡¯m sorry to disappoint you, but I¡¯m already married¡± Chapter 82 Chapter 82 Chapter 82 Anastasia thought mentioning that she was married would dispel his interest in her. But ke just laughed harder, This is hrious! I¡¯ve toyed around with a lot of dames, but never a married one. Frels fresh, quite the thrill¡± He was beyond creepy Anastasia¡¯s anger was like a simmering pot she had to keep a lid on since she couldn¡¯t afford the repercussions of letting it boil over. That was the rule of the jungle Forcing a smile, she said, ¡°You¡¯re a real joker¡± She then turned to Everlee. ¡°We¡¯ll chat about the jewelry design details some other day. I won¡¯t bug you guys any longer. If she couldn¡¯t fight back, she¡¯d evade. But, as it turned out, she couldn¡¯t do that either. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ¡°My beauty, you think you can just waltz out of here? That¡¯s adorable.¡± ke blocked her path, tapping his nose. ¡°You¡¯ve gotta pay the piper. You can leave, but y a game with me. If you win, you¡¯re free. If you lose, you leave with me¡± Anastasia knew she was stuck. If she agreed, win or lose, she wouldn¡¯t get away Lauren was furious, ¡°ke, dont push it. She¡¯s my friend, and she¡¯s married. She¡¯s not one of us; she won¡¯t have any ulterior motives. We¡¯re just here for Everlee.¡± ke signaled someone, and then two men escorted Lauren away ¡°Ms. Lauren, let¡¯s move the party elsewhere.¡± ¡°Sure, let¡¯s go.¡± Lauren was taken away. Of course, given Lauren¡¯s background, they wouldn¡¯t harm her. Anastasia didn¡¯t need to worry about her. She needed to worry about herself Anastasia¡¯s heart was pounding as she watched the onlookers, but she tried her best to stay composed. ¡°You want to y a game? Then I¡¯ll set the stakes and rules.¡± keughed, not phased at all, ¡°No problem.¡± Anastasia nced at the nearby dartboard and said, ¡°Let¡¯s y that.¡± ke grinned at the mention of darts, Are you sure? Someone chimed in, ¡°ke¡¯s an ace at darts. No one here can beat him. ¡°She¡¯s practically delivering herself into ke¡¯s bed ¡°I bet thats her goal. Women, always ying hard to get Anastasia ignored the chatter, looking straight at ke, I¡¯m sure. But I raise the stakes. If I win, not only can I leave, but I also want you to put in a good word for me with Everlee. Give me a chance to discuss the jewelry design details¡± ke nced at Everlee, who despite seeming displeased, agreed, ¡°No problem.¡± Anastasia had detected something between Everlee and ke, which was why she used ke to influence Everlee. Anastasia walked up to the dartboard, picked up a dart, and approached ke. ¡°ke, you go first. Everyone knows you¡¯re a hotshot at darts, so a bit of a challenge shouldn¡¯t be a problem. If you can hit the dartboard from that spot, I¡¯ll admit defeat, and you can punish me.¡± ke looked over and noticed that Anastasia pointed to a spot two meters away. For ke, this distance was a joke. He usually threw darts from five meters away. This wasn¡¯t a challenge; it was making it easier. ke wasn¡¯t pleased, ¡°As a man, I can¡¯t bully you too much. I¡¯ll ke stood on the throwing line five meters away. Anastasia responded with a poker face, ¡°No problem.¡± and here. If I hit it, you¡¯re mine tonight Though Anastasia seemed indifferent, she was actually quite nervous. She was gambling. A group of rich kids gathered around, all thinking ke would undoubtedly win this game Before ke threw, he raised an eyebrow at Anastasia, oozing confidence as he threw the dart. The moment the dart left his hand, Anastasia¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Chapter 83 Chapter 83 Chapter 83 Anastasia held her breath, her eyes glued to the dart flying through the air Everyone else was watching too. Everlee unconsciously clenched her hands and was quite nervous. She worried that the dart might hit the target. ke was full of confidence. However, his thrown dart didn¡¯t even touch the dartboard and fell to the ground. This scene surprised ke and everyone else present Only Anastasia and Everlee secretly breathed a sigh of relief. ke couldn¡¯t believe it, ¡°How is this possible? I¡¯ve always had good aim.¡± When ke looked at the others, none of the rich kids dared to meet his gaze Anastasia said, ¡°ke, you lost. ept the consequences. I can go now. Everlee, let me know when you¡¯re free. I¡¯ll wait for your message.¡± Everlee was sturned and couldn¡¯t speak for a moment. ke felt embarrassed in front of the rich kids. Suddenly, he became angry. This round doesn¡¯t count. Let¡¯s go again. ¡°ke, you should ept the consequences of losing. Anastasia said. ¡°Youre an influential person in this circle.¡± Even if he yed again, Anastasia was sure ke couldn¡¯t hit the target because she had secretly removed the ma behind the dartboard when she picked up the dart. ke always hit the target because he had the help of the ma. When Everlee was ying darts, she noticed someone put it up when everyone else was not paying attention. This was just to keep these rich kids happy. ke was the leader among them, so everyone naturally let him have his way ke was speechless. He had never been this defeated before if he let Anastasia leave, his reputation would be ruined. Thinking about this, ke grabbed Anastasia¡¯s hand, ¡°I¡¯ve never met a woman I couldn¡¯t have. Today, I want to see what a married woman feels like.¡± With that, ke started to drag Anastasia into a room, intending to rape her. The others were egging him on. ¡°ke is so awesome¡± ¡°ke is such a man¡± Their praises only boosted ke¡¯s confidence, and he dragged Anastasia along without regard. ¡°ke, this is wrong. Let me go. I¡¯m going to call the police.¡± Anastasia panicked. She was too naive to think that she could reason with these rich kids. Everlee also stepped forward, ¡®ke, let her go. She¡¯s a lowly woman. Are you willing to go to jail for her?¡± Tll make whoever dares to put me in jail or dares to talk about what happened today pay¡± ke threatened everyone viciously as he pushed Anastasia into a nearby room and closed the door. Anastasia was terrified andpletely at the mercy of others. ¡°Bastard, let me go.¡± Anastasia cursed as she kicked and struggled. ke just wanted to scare Anastasia and show off in front of these people. Anastasia stepped on his foot, and the pain made him jump ¡°If you don¡¯t want to die, behave. Do you believe I¡¯ll really rape you?¡± ke pushed Anastasia onto the couch and threatened her. The louder you scream, the more excited I get.¡± Anastasia was terrified to the extreme. Her hand grabbed something, and she immediately smashed it on ke¡¯s head. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. It was an ashtray With that hit, a wound appeared on ke¡¯s head, and blood kept flowing out. The pain made him cover his head, and the blood seeped through his fingers Anastasia, scared out of her wits, dropped the ashtray and ran out. ke staggered to his feet and shouted, ¡°Catch her. I want her dead.¡± This time, ke was really angry. He had been injured twice by Anastasia today. When people saw ke¡¯s bleeding head, they knew it was more serious than when he had a nosebleed. This was his head. It could be life-threatening With ke¡¯s shout, everyone immediately surrounded Anastasia. At that moment, Anastasia felt hopeless. In these people¡¯s eyes, she was just a lowly toy they could y with at will. With nowhere to run, Anastasia trembled with fear as ke approached. I¡¯ve never been defeated twice by a woman. Today, if I don¡¯t kill you, I¡¯m not ke¡­¡± With that, ke gestured to the people nearby to grab Anastasia. Anastasia was feeling desperate, and she stepped back, shaking in fear. Suddenly, a figure rushed up from behind her. He moved so fast that she couldn¡¯t see who it was or how he moved. All she saw was ke being kicked and flying off Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Chapter 84 ke was sent flying, and when Anastasia snapped back to reality, she saw a towering figure grabbing ke andying into him. It was Herman Salstrom Even though she only saw his back and he was wearing a mask, Anastasia recognized him, This time, Herman was hitting ke even harder than he had hit Cason Kirkwood before. The bystanders didn¡¯t dare to intervene. Herman grabbed kes cor, warning him sternly. The Ledford family is toast today; not even Kenny Ledford can save you.¡± Kenny was the president of Ledford Corporation and ke¡¯s father. Kenny¡¯s social status was high; Anastasia had heard his name and seen him in various financial reports. Not many people dared to call him by his full nate. ke had been acting tough just now, but now facing Herman, he didn¡¯t even have the strength to fight back. Herman was even more arrogant and vicious. When a badass met another badass, all hell would break loose. ke felt a wave of panic as he looked into Herman¡¯s cold eyes. He was scared out of his wits but still managed to say, ¡°I was just joking before¡­ He saw a strong murderous intent in Herman¡¯s eyes and believed that Herman might actually kill him ¡°Well, let¡¯s y then.¡± Herman sneered, dragged ke into the room, and closed the door. Soon after, horrifying screams could be heard from the room. The screamssted for a few minutes, then the room fell silent, and the people outside finally recovered Everlee knocked on the door, ¡°Open up, if you hurt ke, I swear I won¡¯t let you live peacefully ever again. Open the door¡­¡± The door opened, and Herman stood at the doorway exuding a chilling aura Everlee saw Herman¡¯s eyes and swallowed the rest of her words. Instinctively, Everlee stepped back and cleared the way Herman walked past Everlee, gave the crowd a cold nce then walked towards Anastasia picked her up, and walked out. No one dared to stop him. Anastasia had been terrified, but now there was someone she could rely on. She let down her guard and clung lightly to his clothes as her entire body trembled ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯mte ¡®Herman held her even tighter, his heart aching. Anastasia¡¯s tough exterior crumbled after he spoke She wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her head in his chest. Herman left. He was here for a social engagement today, but when Victor called him and told him about Anastasia, he found out that Anastasia was also at Eclipse Lounge, looking for Everlee. Whether it was Everlee or ke, Herman knew their characters well. He didn¡¯t trust Anastasia with them, so he immediately ditched his business partners to go find Anastasia. But he was still a step toote, and Anastasia had been hurt. A row of luxury cars were parked outside of Eclipse Lounge, with a dozen bodyguards lined up neatly next to the cars, waiting. The scene was quite Impressive. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Nelson was standing in front of the luxury cars, waiting for Herman The lineup of luxury cars attracted many onlookers Eclipse Lounge was a high-end club, but such a luxurious fleet was rare, not to mention the leading luxury car¡¯s license te number was 88888, which was very eye-catching. At that moment, Herman walked out, carrying Anastasia Seeing Herman appear, Nelson was about to approach, but he noticed Anastasia in his arms, making him stop in his tracks. Herman made a hand gesture to Nelson, telling them to wait Herman was here for a social event and didn¡¯t drive his Chevrolet, but it wasn¡¯t the time to let Anastasia know about his identity. He could only take Anastasia to hail a cab Herman carried Anastasia and continued to walk. When her emotions had stabilized, he asked gently. ¡°Are you hungry?¡± Chapter 85 Chapter 85 Chapter 85 Anastasia shook her head. She was hungry, but she couldn¡¯t stomach anything right now This time, she pissed off the Ledford family. It was a whole different ball game. Herman punched ke, who was a big shot from the Ledford family, the kind of guy who could make her and Herman disappear from Riverdale without breaking a sweat ¡°Herman, are we screwed?¡± Anastasia asked anxiously ¡°What did you do to ke?¡± 1 cut off one of his fingers. That¡¯s a p on the wrist, really¡± Herman replied nonchntly ¡°We¡¯re screwed.¡± Anastasia got down from Herman¡¯sp and held his hand tightly. ¡°You shouldy low for a while outside of Riverdale. If the Ledford familyes knocking, we¡¯re in deep shit.¡± They were just average Joes. How could they stand against the mighty Ledford family? If the Ledford family called the cops, Herman might end up rotting in jail given ke¡¯s injury Anastasia couldn¡¯t hold back her tears as she thought about this. She med herself for bringing this onto Herman Noticing that Anastasia was worried, Herman smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry I¡¯ve got my cousin¡± He tried to reassure Anastasia by mentioning Flynn Salstrom. Anastasia shook her head. ¡°This is different from before. Herman. You should leave Riverdale now. It might be toote soon.¡± ¡°Anastasia, I¡¯ll get you home safe. Don¡¯t worry about me Herman patted Anastasias head. He wanted to get Anastasia home safely before dealing with the Ledford family But Anastasia was still worried Trust me. Just go home Herman said with a smile. Herman was as calm as a cucumber, making Anastasia even more worried. Whats done is done. She could only brace hersell for what came next Herman hailed a cab and let Anastasia get in It was then that Anastasia realized Herman didn¡¯t dive ¡°Where¡¯s your car? And how did you know I was at Eclipse Lounge? Anastasia asked, If Herman hadn¡¯t shown up, she didn¡¯t know what those rich kids would have done to her The consequences could have been dire ¡°My car was at the office | came to Eclipse Lounge with a colleague for a client meeting.¡± Herman didn¡¯t lie. His car was indeed at his office, and he dide to Eclipse Lounge for a client. Theard some staff at Eclipse Lounge gossiping about some incident on the top floor Out of curiosity, I went up, and there you were.¡± He made up a story. Anastasia¡¯s mind was a whirlwind. She was only concerned about the Ledford familying after them. She didn¡¯t think too much about what Herman said Soon, they arrived at Harmony Meadows. Herman got Anastasia home and called Katelyn Salstrom to keep herpany so that she wouldn¡¯t overthink things. ¡°Anastasia, you should take a shower first¡± Herman suggested The thought of ke touching her made her feel sick. She nodded and went to the bathroom. Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Katelyn took the chance to ask Herman, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡®ke harassed Anastasia Luckily, I got there in time Herman exined briefly ¡°What? That bastard¡± Katelyn was seething. He¡¯s got some nerve for messing with the Salstrom family¡± Herman gave a pained look at Anastasia¡¯s room and told Katelyn, ¡°Mom, please stay with Anastasia. I need to handle something¡± ¡°Okay, go ahead ¡°Katelyn said angrily. ¡°We need an exnation from the Ledford family. If they don¡¯t give us a satisfactory answer, we won¡¯t let them off the hook. Do they think they can push the Salstrom family around?>¡± Katelyn was always a hothead. Herman¡¯s eyes turned icy. This time, the Ledford family will pay a much bigger price.¡± Chapter 86 Chapter 86 Chapter 86 After a few words with Katelyn, Herman took off. Parked at the gates were several fancy cars Nelson and his bodyguards were waiting solemnly by the cars. He¡¯d gotten Hermans orders to follow the cab he took back to Harmony Meadows and wait for him at the gate When he saw Hermaning out of theplex Nelson immediately got out of the car and respectfully opened the car door for him, ¡°Mr. Salstrom¡± Herman looked indifferent and got in the car, ¡°What¡¯s the Ledford family up to now?¡± Nelson reported. ke¡¯s been sent to the hospital and Kenny rushed there once he got the news. The manager of Eclipse Lounge also went to the hospital to visit. Now they¡¯re all looking for whoever beat up ke Herman gave a coldugh. ¡°Let¡¯s head to the hospital then ke¡¯s seriously injured, so we should pay him a visit.¡± His words seemed to carry a threatening undertone At the hospital. ke was still in the operating room. Everlee was the one who brought him to the hospital. Everlee was anxiously waiting outside the operating room, and Kenny and Ava Ledford hurried over as soon as they could. Seeing Everlee, Kenny asked urgently. How¡¯s ke? What happened? Who beat him up? Ava was furious waving her cane around and demanding. ¡°Who the hell beat up my grandson?¡± Everlee was worried, remembering how ke looked barely alive when he was brought in 7 don¡¯t know who did it, the guy was wearing a mask so I couldn¡¯t see his face But he was terrifying, his eyes were really scary¡± Everlee said, 1 think he may be connected to Selena¡¯s assistant, Anastasia¡± Who¡¯s Selena? Who¡¯s Anastasia? Kenny didn¡¯t know these people, and he sternly said. ¡°Get to the point, what happened?¡± ¡°Selena is a jewelry designer at Elysian Technologies. I went to her to have some jewelry custom made, so her assistant came to Eclipse Lounge to find me. Then she had a conflict with ke, and a man suddenly came out and started beating ke without warning ke¡¯s got two broken ribs, and his left pinky was cut off.¡± Everlee didn¡¯t mention what ke did to Anastasia, she just used the word ¡®confict to lightly cover up ke¡¯s insult to Anastasia ¡°What?¡± After hearing about ke¡¯s injuries, Ava was both angry and heartbroken, ¡°My grandson! Who dared to hurt him like this. Kenny, your son had his -finger cut off and ribs broken, you have to avenge ke¡± Kenny was shocked. The Ledford family had such a high social status, and the people who frequented Eclipse Lounge were all wealthy. They all know better than to mess with the Ledford family, so who would dare hurt his son? He knew about his son¡¯s character. Usually it was ke who bulled others. Even if he killed someone, the Ledford family had the ability to cover it up and protect ke This was the first time someone dared to hurt a member of the Ledford family Kenny¡¯s face was pale he said, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry. I make whoever hurt ke pay tenfold¡± Just then the operating room door opened ke was being wheeled out by the doctors All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Ava, leaning on her cane, walked over to look at ke, who was bandaged up like a mummy She was so heartbroken that she could hardly speak, ¡°ke, my grandson, why do you have to suffer like this?¡± ¡°ke¡± Kenny was also shocked by his son¡¯s condition The effects of the anesthesia hadn¡¯t worn off yet, so ke was still unconscious The doctor began to describe ke¡¯s injuries, ¡°The patient had eight stitches in his head and has a mild concussion, his left pinky couldn¡¯t be stitched back on due to the amount of time that passed. He has two broken nbs, multiple soft tissue contusions and internal bleeding in the abdomen.¡± With each sentence from the doctor, Ava and Kenny¡¯s faces turned even paler, and their anger and heartache deepened. Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Ava, with tears in her eyes, held ke¡¯s hand and said. ¡°ke, my sweel grandson.¡± Everlee couldn¡¯t hold back her tears ether, feeling a pang in her heart. She had always liked ke, but unfortunately, ke was a well known yboy ke was always chasing pretty girls, but with Ever lee, he was just friends, never crossing the line. That was why Everlee, who was usually assertive, would be gentle in front of ke She just wanted to please ke and couldn¡¯t control him, which could be seen by her behavior at Eclipse Lounge. When ke took a fancy to Anastasia, she was jealous but could only watch ke was first pushed into the ward, at this time the manager of Eclipse Lounge walked towards Kenny ¡°Mr. Ledford, I¡¯m Walter, the manager of Eclipse Lounge Walter handed over his business card and bowed respectfully. ¡°On behalf of Eclipse Lounge, I apologize for the incident that urred today How is ke¡¯s condition?¡± Kenny didn¡¯t take the card in his position, he didn¡¯t care for a mere manager Kenny sternly questioned, ¡°My son was beaten at Eclipse Lounge: you should take some responsibility for this. I give you one hour to find out who brat my son, or else i will hold Eclipse Lounge responsible¡± Waller was very humble and said, ¡°Yes, this is the responsibility of Eclipse Lounge. Don¡¯t worry, we will find out who beat ke as soon as possible.¡± At that time, Hermari went upstairs wearing a mask, no one recognized him, and Walter hadn¡¯t checked the surveince yet. As long as he checked the surveince and the list of people who entered Eclipse Lounge today, he would know who it was. Eclipse Lounge was a membership-based establishment with real name registration, so those who entered and exited Eclipse Lounge were always wealthy. However, this did not guarantee that no one would sneak in with a membership card or be brought in by someone else ¡°Not as soon as possible. I¡¯m giving you an hour. If you can¡¯t find the person Eclipse Lounge will bear the consequences. Kenny said this powerfully and went to the ward with Ava. Kenny¡¯s face turned very ugly as he watched ke lying on the hospital bed Ava was teary-eyed and sat beside ke in distress Just then, Kenny¡¯s assistant rushed in from outside, ¡°Mr. Ledford, it¡¯s bad news. The Ledford Corporation has run into problems and may go bankrupt Kenny was shocked to hear the word ¡°bankrupt¡± Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Kenny almost lost his bnce, causing his body to sway as he said. ¡°Lel¡¯s talk outside¡± Kenny walked out to a secluded ce, and has assistant said seriously, Mr Ledford, just twenty minutes ago, the Ledford Corporation showed signs of bankruptcy Someone leaked the news, so investors have been withdrawing their investments, and Ledford Corporation¡¯s stock has plummeted. I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t make it till tomorrow, and we won¡¯t be able to repay the bank debt we had nned to this year¡± Although the Ledford Corporation was known as a corporate giant, it had actually been declining. The Ledford Corporation started from real estate, and although it had many assets, it also had many liabilities Companies need cash flow, they need investors to maintain the stability of the capdal chain. The Ledford Corporation was already in a very dangerous position, all maintained by the illusion created by Kenny. Once investors withdrew, it would be the start of a disaster ¡°Give me theptop Kenny¡¯s voice was starting to tremble. Even the biggestpanies could go barkrupt overnight. The assistant handed theptop to Kenny, who took one look at the stocks of several industries under the Ledford Corporation. The stock prices had plummeted, but his blood pressure was skyrocketing Meanwhile outside the hospital, in a Rolls-Royce, Herman¡¯s hands were typing a series of codes on the keyboard. He made several calls in session, deciding to make the Ledford family pay a heavy price Nelson also had aptop in his hand, all full of stocks from the Ledford Corporation¡¯s subsidiary industries. ¡°Mr. Salstrom, it has begun. As soon as the early market opens, Ledford Corporation¡¯s assets will decrease by at least 4 billion dors¡± Herman was calm andposed, ¡°Still riot enough.¡± Chapter 88 Chapter 88 Chapter 88 Herman peered out the car window and thought that the hospital looked somewhat deste in the night. He was here, waiting for Kenny As soon as Kenny caught sight of the nows about Ledford Corporation, hed definitely show up Sure enough, in less than ten minutes, Kenny burned out of the hospital with his assistant Herman gestured to Nelson, who got out of the car and headed towards Kenny with two bodyguards. ¡°Mr. Ledford.¡± Nelson looked at Kenny his eyes holding a hint of sympathy. Kenny had raised an ipetent and shameless son, ke. Hence, as a father, he had to face the music because ke had pissed off the Salstrom family Anastasia was Hermanis wife, if word got out that ke had tried to insult her, what would be of the Salstrom family¡¯s reputation and Anastasia¡¯s good name? Kenny looked surprised when he saw Nelson ¡°Nelson, what are you doing here?¡± Nelson grinned. Mr. Salstrom has been waiting for you for a while now¡± Nelson motioned towards Hermans car. Kenny was even more baffled after hearing that Herman was waiting for him. Kenny followed Nelson¡¯s gaze to Herman¡¯s car, a Rolls Royce that was well-known around Riverdale as it belonged to the big cheese of Elysian Technologies, Herman, Ledford Corporation was facing a crisis, and Kenny was super keen to work with the Salstrom family. He had repeatedly sought out Herman and made promises, but Herman was still reluctant to invest in Ledford Corporation. Elysian Technologies could be the feline of Ledford Corporation Kenny wondered why Herman would be waiting for him right at the hospital entrance and at such ate hour too. Did he suddenly want to coborate with Ledlord Corporation? This was so unlike Herman This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Kenny asked Nelson, ¡°Can you tell me why Mr. Salstrom wants to see me?¡± Nelson replied, ¡°He heard that ke got a beating at the Eclipse Lounge, so Mr. Salstrom came to visit him.¡± This left Kenny even more puzzled. Why would Hermane to visit ke, who was in the hospital with severe injuries? Did his son have some kind of bromance with Herman Hut he didn¡¯t know about? When he heard thal Herman came to visit ke, Kenny tried to test the waters with augh, ¡°Mr. Salstrom is so thoughtful. I didnt know ke and Mr. Salstrom knew each other¡± ¡°Of course, Mr. Salstrom knows ke, and they have a deep connection¡± The connection was indeed deep ke had gotten a beating from Mr. Salstrom and ended up in the hospital It was rare for Herman to get his hands dirty. Not many had the ¡®privilege of receiving a beating from him ke was one of the lucky¡¯ few Kenny felt relieved to hear this. He was even happy about the rtionship between his son and Herman. With this connection, asking for help would be easier. There was hope for the crisis at Ledford Corporation. But what Kenny didn¡¯t know was that the crisis at Ledford Corporation was actually cooked up by Herman himself Kenny chuckled, ¡°Lead the way please¡± ¡°Mr. Ledford, after you¡± Nelson made a gesture of invitation Feeling great Kenny headed towards the Rolls Royce. Nelson opened the car door, and Herman sat inside, looking expressionless at Kenny ¡°Mr. Ledford, let¡¯s chut in the car¡± Kenny got into the car while Nelson and the bodyguards waited outside. The car was spacious, and they sat face to face. Herman personally poured a cup of coffee for Kenny Kenny asked with a smile, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, I had no idea that you knew my son. When did you guys meet?¡± Herman replied calmly while sipping his coffee. ¡°Just tonight.¡± Kenny was full of questions. They just met tonight? How could they have a friendship then? Why would Mr. Salstrom personallye to the hospital to visi ke? Keeping his cool on the outside, Kenny said, ¡°ke hasn¡¯t mentioned anything* Hermien asked casually, ¡°Mr. Ledford, how¡¯s your son¡¯s condition?¡± Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Chapter 89 Herman was really concerned about ke¡¯s condition, and Kenny was sure they had a tight bond Furious, Kenny said. They messed up his head, chopped off his pinky, and broke a couple of ribs. It¡¯s pretty bad, and I¡¯m not letting whoever did this to my boy off the hook¡± The injures are indeed severe¡± Herman was as cool as a cucumber, taking his sweet time. ¡°Mr. Ledford, do you know who beat up your son? Any idea why he got beaten up?¡± ¡°I¡¯m still in the dark about who did this to my boy¡± Kenny admitted, ¡°All I know is its got something to do with an assistant to a jewelry designer at apany under Elysian Technologies I think her name was Anastasia¡± Kenny added. Mr Salstrom, Im not ming Elysian Technologies here it¡¯s obviously an issue with one of your employees. I guess you don¡¯t know this little fish¡± Herman candidly said, 1 do.¡± Kenny was bbergasted, ¡°You know this Anastasia?t heard she¡¯s just a designers assistant¡± How could Mr. Salstrom, the top dog at Elysian Technologies, know a small fry like an assistant in one of his subsidiaries? 7 do Herman replied, then returned to the previous question Mi Ledford, do you know why he got beaten up?¡± Kenny was having a hard time figuring out what Herman was gelling at, so he answered honestly 1 heard there was some sort of squabble between my son and the other party¡± Herman scoffed, ¡°Just a squabble?¡± ke had sexually harassed his wife and tried to rape her but it was being downyed as a conflict. ¡°Yes ¡°Kenny said, ¡°ke hasn¡¯te around yet, I just know what Everlee told me. She¡¯s the daughter of Mr. Lunsford from Crown Entertainment Anyway ke¡¯s in bad shape now, and I¡¯ll make whoever did this to him pay tenfold¡± Herman smirked, asking, ¡®How do you n to make them pay tenfald?¡± Kenny responded coldly. ¡°My boy¡¯s pinky got chopped off, so I¡¯ll make them pay with two hands and have two of their ribs broken. But thats not enough: I¡¯ll make sure they tot in jail for the rest of their lives, with no chance of ever seeing the light of day¡± ¡°Mr. Ledford, you really live up to your reputation of hulding grudges and being decisive Herman sneered Kenny caught the sarcasm in his voice He didn¡¯t fully understand Herman¡¯s motives, but considering the crisis Ledford Corporation was facing, he needed to seize this opportunity to discuss Cooperation with Herman ¡°Mr. Salstrom, I appreciate youing over to check on my son¡¯s condition at thiste hour Kenny started off with a word of thanks, then went on. ¡°Mr. Salstrom, about the investment proposal I mentioned before, what are your thoughts? New energy technology is the future, and I¡¯d really like to work with Elysian Technologies Let¡¯s make money together¡± Herman looked rather indifferent, ¡°Mr Ledford, you¡¯re barely keeping your own affairs in order, and you¡¯re still keen on exploring the new energy market. I¡¯m impressed.¡± Thatment ht a nerve with Kenny because Ledford Corporation was indeed in crisis and he had his hands full. The so-called investment in the new energy market was just an excuse, and Kenny¡¯s real objective was to secure investment to solve thepany¡¯s debt problem. Kenny chuckled, Mr. Salstrom, i don¡¯t know where you got these tidbits of information from of who might have told you about our issues. But it would really be a shame if you missed out on the money that could be made in the new energy market¡± C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Herman turned around hisptop, and Kenny saw the Ledford Corporation¡¯s stock disyed on the screen. He was gobsmacked Herman said with a poker face, ¡°Me Ledford, you have an exceptional son Ledford Corporation could¡¯ve hung on for a while, but your son ke¡¯s actions tonight have hastened its demise¡± Kenny was still in the dark. ¡°Mr. Salstrom, what do you mean?¡± He had a hunch that something was off. Herman gave a slight chuckle, his tone was icy cold as he spoke, ¡°Well, listen carefully then, Anastasia is my wife. Your son tried to rape her at the Eclipse Lounge tonight, and I was the one who beat him up¡± Kenny¡¯s face turned as pale as a ghost¡¯s. He looked at Herman as if he were looking at the devil himself. Chapter 90 Chapter 90 Chapter 90 Just a moment ago, Kenny was fuming and roaring about punishing the person who hurt his son. He wanted to make him pay dearly and rot in jail for the rest of his life. But now, looking at Herman, who admitted to hurting his son, Kenny wished he could turn back the clock a few minutes. He wished none of this had happened. He wished his stupid son had never crossed paths with Anastasia Kenny waspletely shocked, and he couldn¡¯t regain his senses. After connecting the dots between Ledford Corporations crisis and the files disyed on hisputer, he finally understood. The crisis at Ledford Corporation was Herman¡¯s revenge. ¡°Mr. Salstrom, maybe there¡¯s a misunderstanding? You¡¯re mamed? When did that happen?¡± Kenny asked Herman was a well known bachelor. No one knew he was married This was a bombshell Kenny thought help had arrived, but this was no help. It was a curse, elerating the demise of Ledford Corporation Herman coldly smirked. Do I need to report my marriage to you?¡± ¡°No I didn¡¯t mean that Kenny was flustered, and cold sweat began to trickle down his back. Who Herman wanted to marry and when was none of his business. ¡°Mr Salstrom, it seems we¡¯ve had a huge misunderstanding Our families don¡¯t know each other¡± Kenny quickly changed his tone. ¡°My foolish son offended your wife. It was a stupid mistake¡± Kenny finally got it Hermaniste night visit wasn¡¯t a friendly one. He came to confront him And what Kenny initially thought was a friendly gesture was actually a dispute between the offender and the victim. Herman closed hisptop, his tone icy ¡°Mr. Ledford, my wife is just an ordinary person Shes timid and can¡¯t handle stress The 4 balion dors that Ledford Corporation lost is just the interest. I can be unreasonable, and I am protective of my wife Please understand, Mr. Ledford¡± Kenny was speechless. He was on the verge of tears. Herman was punishing Ledford Corporation and had politely informed him about it But Kenny was helpless He couldn¡¯t ept this reality. He lost 4 billion dors overnight, and it was just the interest! The entire assets of Ledford Corporation could disappear ¡°Mr. Salstrom¡± Kenny panicked, hastily saying, ¡°This incident. It¡¯s our faull I¡¯m willing to take responsibility. I failed to educate my son, But Ledford Corporation is the legacy of the Ledford family that we but over many years. It wasn¡¯t easy. I hope you can be lenient and spare Ledford Corporation.¡± Kenny had been in business for decades. He knew how to judge the situation and when to be patient.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org. Elysian Technologies was thriving; its assets had already surpassed those of Ledford Corporation. Herman¡¯s reputation and tactics in the industry wee formidable Ledford Corporation was declining. If Herman really wanted to deal a blow Ledford Corporation would be wiped out instantly Herman¡¯s deep gaze met Kenny¡¯s, it depends on how the Ledford family acts. The victim is my wife She will decide the punishment.¡± Kenny quickly replied. ¡°Once my foolish son wakes up, I bring him to apologize to your wife and beg for her forgiveness Kenny knew the reality. He knew he couldnt recover the loss All he could do was make amends Getting investment from Elysian Technologies was now impossible. All he could do now was calm Hermans anger, avoid escting the dispute, and prevent the rapid copse of Ledford Corporation If Herman didnt increase the pressure. Ledford Corporation still had a chance to survive and recover Seeing that Kenny was so understanding, Hermans anger began to subside a bit Herman coldly reminded him. ¡°My wife doesn¡¯t know who I am. I don¡¯t want anyone to disturb her peaceful life. It¡¯ste. If you¡¯re sincere, apologize to my wife tomorrow. In the meantime, Elysian Technologies will continue to target Ledford Corporation.¡± Keliny was surprised. Did people still keep their spouse¡¯s identity a secret? Were they secretly married? But these things didn¡¯t matter to Kenny. He didn¡¯t care who Anastasia was or what the couple¡¯s story was. He just wanted to settle this issue. For every extra minute he dyed, the losses for Ledford Corporation would be more savire. Chapter 91 Chapter 91 Chapter 91 Kenny was itching to take ke to apologize right away. But Herman had made it clear that it was toote for that. This basically meant he wanted to keep the Ledford family on tenterhooks for the night. There was no way Kenny was getting a wink of sleep that night. All Kenny could do now was pray for the dawn to break early and for Herman to show some mercy. He hoped that the Ledford Corporation wouldn¡¯t suffer too much damage and that Anastasia would forgive ke. Herman had said his piece, and Kenny got the drift. Once he got out of the car, he stood by the roadside, respectfully watching Herman¡¯s car drive away, then wiped the cold sweat off his forehead. For the first time, Kenny had to swallow his pride in front of a youngster. What could he do when he didn¡¯t have the balls to offend the Salstrom family. When he had to yield, he had to yield. As the head honcho of Ledford Corporation, with hundreds of jobs in his hands, he couldn¡¯t let his stubbornness ruin the glory of Ledford Corporation. Staggering, Kenny headed towards the hospital. His assistant hurriedly came to support him, ¡°Mr. Ledford; aren¡¯t we going to thepany? Why is Mr. Salstrom here in the middle of the night?¡± ¡°Going to thepany now is pointless.¡± Kenny sighed, clearly disappointed. ¡°That rule-breaking rascal! It¡¯s one thing for him to be a troublemaker, but this time he¡¯s really screwed up. His injuries¡­ they¡¯re from Herman. He could¡¯ve had his pick of thedies, but he had to make a move on Herman¡¯s wife¡¯ ¡°What?¡± His assistant was equally shocked, Wasn¡¯t this just asking for trouble? Kenny looked like he d aged a decade, his expression weary. ¡°Herman is known for his ruthless coldness. He¡¯s given me a night to remember this lesson. To watch as the Ledford Corporation slowly crumbles. How far it crumbles is up to him. I can¡¯t stop it.¡± The bigger thepany, the bigger the risks. It could copse in an instant. In the hospital room. The effects of the anesthetic had worn off, and ke was awake. He was in pain all over and didn¡¯t dare move. The beating kept reying in his mind, and a deep-seated fear shed in his eyes. He was traumatized. Ava was ecstatic to see him awake and wanted tofort him. But as soon as she approached, ke instinctively raised his hand to protect his face, ¡°Don¡¯t hit me.¡± ¡°ke.¡± Ava shed tears of sympathy as her trembling hand held ke¡¯s. ¡°ke, it¡¯s me. Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m here; nobody will hit you.¡± After he noticed that it was Ava, ke immediately started whining, ¡°Grandma, I hurt all over. You¡¯ve got to get revenge for me. Punish the guy who hit 1. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll punish him harshly. Nobody messes with my grandson and gets away with it¡± Avaforted him, her heart aching. Now that ke was awake, Everlee was also overjoyed and called out excitedly. ¡°ke¡± ke just nced at Everlee, not responding At that moment, Kenny walked in. ke immediately put on his best acting performance, ¡°Dad, you have to avenge me this time. My finger was chopped off; I won¡¯t let this slide.¡± ke couldn¡¯t bear the humiliation of losing a finger. He was used to being arrogant and domineering in their social circle, but this time he had been beaten so badly that he had to be taken to the hospital. How could he maintain his dignity in the future? Kenny looked at his troublesome son and sighed deeply. ¡°You should just forget about revenge.¡± ¡°Dad, what¡¯s going on? I¡¯ve been beaten up: you can¡¯t just abandon me.¡± ke was confused. Usually, no matter how much trouble he caused, his father would always indulge him and help him out. But today was different. Ava angrily said. ¡°ke¡¯s been beaten up horribly, you need to find the person who did this. Even if it means chopping off both of that person¡¯s hands, it would serve them right.¡± -Kenny said, ¡°I¡¯ve already found the person who hit himCopyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Chapter 92 ke and Ava got super stoked when they heard that they¡¯d found the guy whoid ke out. ke was just itching to take the guy down himself. He said, seething, ¡°Dad, where¡¯s the jerk who hit me? You¡¯ve got him tied up yet? Once I¡¯m on the mend, I¡¯m gonna give him a piece of my mind.¡± Ava chimed in, ¡°The nerve of him toy a finger on my grandson, he¡¯s gonna pay¡± Kenny, seeing their fury, tried to keep his cool. He was not nearly as pissed as he was before. He turned to Everlee and said. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, you should head home. Thanks for bringing ke to the hospital.¡± Everlee knew he was trying to shoo her away, so she said, ¡°Alright then, I head out. I¡¯lle see ke tomorrow.¡± She gave ke a nce and left. After Everlee was gone, Kenny sent his assistant out and closed the door, leaving just the three of them in the room. Kenny plopped down on the sofa as Ava began questioning him, ¡°What¡¯s the deal? Spill it! Where¡¯s the jerk that hit ke?¡± ke was also puzzled by Kenny¡¯s odd behavior, wondering what the hell was going on. He asked, excited, ¡°Dad, did you off the guy who hit me already?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not that powerful. Kenny didn¡¯t spill the beans right away, instead, he turned the tables on ke, Tell me what really happened tonight.¡± Earlier, Herman came in hot, so Kenny didn¡¯t get the full story, but knowing his son, he was just hoping ke didn¡¯t do anything too stupid. ke shrugged it off, ¡°Just some pean from Elysian Technologies. She was some flunky, I think. But she was smoking hot, and she was a spitfire too. Her vibe was totally irresistible. She was ying me, so I yed back, then outta nowhere, some guy dragged me off and gave me a beating¡± Hearing this made Kenny want to p ke upside the head, but because of his injuries, he held back. Ava didn¡¯t give a damn about the woman, instead, she cooed. ¡°ke, you can have any woman you want. Listen to me; stay away from trash like that, so you don¡¯t get hurt.¡± ke cuddled up to Ava, ¡°You always know how to spoil me.¡± Kenny suddenly barked, ¡°He should stay the hell away from her, or who knows what could happen to the Ledfords¡± Kenny¡¯s outburst startled both Ava and ke. They looked nk and totally lost. ke asked, ¡°Dad, what¡¯s eating you? She¡¯s just some underling, what¡¯s the worst that could happen? I have to have her, I¡¯ve never been with a married woman before.¡± ¡°All you think about is getting with women,¡± Kenny, furious, couldn¡¯t hold back this time and smacked ke. ¡°Kenny, what the hell are you doing?¡± Ava was shocked and tried to stop Kenny ke was already busted up, this could make his concussion worse. Kenny pointed at ke, fuming, ¡°The woman he harassed tonight was Anastasia, Herman¡¯s wife! They were waiting outside the hospital to settle the score. Ledford Corp. is in hot water thanks to hisAll content is ? N0velDrama.Org. stupidity, just tonight, thepany¡¯s value has took a $4 billion hit, which was all Herman¡¯s doing. You were asking who hit you, it was Herman¡± ¡°Herman?¡± ke felt like his brain was about to explode, and his eyes widened with fear, ¡°Wait, the Herman from Elysian Technologies?¡± ¡°Who else would it be?¡± Kenny spat out, ¡°I don¡¯t have the means to take them on, we¡¯d be lucky if they didn¡¯te after us.¡± Chapter 93 Chapter 93 Chapter 93 Kenny was so pissed off that he almost hit him again. If Ava hadn¡¯t stopped him, he might have pummeled ke so badly that he¡¯d need another surgery When ke found out that Herman was the one who beat him up, he was scared shitless. They were both rich kids, but the gap between them was enormous. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ke was a party animal, while Herman was a standalone leader. He had spent three years turning Elysian Technologies into a top dog in the industry Herman¡¯s ruthlessness was legendary in their circle. So, when these rich kids saw him, they¡¯d automatically steer clear Though they seemed to be in the same circle, they werent on the same level anymore ¡°No way. I didn¡¯t hear that Herman got hitched. Who¡¯s the luckydy?¡± ke was kicking himself. He shouldn¡¯t have messed with Herman¡¯s woman. It was like poking a bear. ¡°Who knows what goes on in Herman¡¯s head? Maybe he just wants a quiet life with his wife¡± Kenny said, ¡°Shielding your wife from all the outside interference is not something just anyone can do. Tomorrow, you¡¯reing with me to apologize to Herman¡¯s wife. If she doesn¡¯t forgive us, the Ledford family is toast¡± Word spread about ke getting his ass handed to him at Eclipse Lounge. Now the whole circle was buzzing about who had the guts to send ke to the hospital. There were quite a few people in the circle who had been bullied by ke. Seeing him get a taste of his own medicine made them happy, but they also felt sorry for whoever punched him. Whoever had the balls to hit ke wouldn¡¯t get away with it. The incident was a big deal, and the news spread fast. Selena heard about it too. When Selena found out that Anastasia had caused trouble and beat up ke, she was also a bit scared. But she thought, what did this have to do with me? How could a newbie bepared to her, the chief designer? She had sent Anastasia to find Everlee, not to get into a fight with ke. Thinking about this made Selena feel much better. This time, thepany would surely fire Anastasia. She had caused such a big loss for thepany. As a mere assistant, Selena didn¡¯t believe the company would keep her around. Anastasia was also worried about losing her job. It was already 2 am, and Herman hadnte back. Anastasia was on pins and needles, no matter how Katelyn tried to soothe her. After Lauren managed to shake off those people, she heard about what happened and called Anastasia. ¡°Anastasia, are you okay?¡± Lauren asked worriedly on the phone. Those guys stole my phone, and I was locked in a room. I just got out. I heard something happened. Are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, Lauren, Thank you¡± Anastasia was really grateful. Even in such a situation, Lauren had chosen to protect her. Even though Lauren had been taken away, Anastasia remembered her kindness. ¡°I¡¯m d you¡¯re okay¡± Lauren sighed in relief. I heard ke is in the hospital with serious injuries, and the people at Eclipse Lounge are looking for the Lounge person who hit him. Do you know who it was?¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t say it was Herman. She couldn¡¯t betray Herman. She just said, ¡°Lauren, I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t tell you.¡± Lauren said, ¡°I understand. Whoever it is, you¡¯d better tell him toy low. If ke finds him, there could be serious consequences.¡± Thanks for the heads-up.¡± After hanging up, Anastasia was very worried, ¡°Will Herman be arrested?¡± Katelynughed, Ana, don¡¯t worry. Herman will be back soon, don¡¯t stress out.¡± Just as she finished speaking, the door opened, and in walked Herman Katelyn said. See, I told you he¡¯d be back shortly. Herman, now that you¡¯re back, I¡¯ll leave you two alone¡± Katelyn wisely gave them some space. Chapter 94 Chapter 94 Chapter 94 Only two people were left in the room, Anastasia looked at Herman as her eyes unconsciously welled up with tears. ¡°Herman.¡± Anastasia¡¯s voice trembled slightly She felt like she had brought a lot of trouble to Herman. In a short amount of time, Herman had already gotten into two fights for her. ¡°It¡¯s okay¡± Herman simply smiled and asked, ¡°Have you eaten dinner yet?¡± ¡°Yeah, Ms. Katelyn prepared some food for me¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t really have much of an appetite and didn¡¯t eat much. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, you should get some rest. ¡°Herman suggested, ¡°Take the day off tomorrow and just chill at home.¡± Taking a day off so soon after starting a new job wouldn¡¯t be appropriate. And how could she stay at home peacefully after causing such a bigmotion? Anastasia got up and suddenly hugged Herman, asking him, ¡°Can I move into your room?¡± Anastasias request surprised Herman, but then he understood her intentions. He said, Anastasia, protecting you is my duty as your husband.¡± He didn¡¯t need her to throw herself into his arms out of gratitude. ¡°But since we¡¯re married, we should share a bed, right?¡± She clung to him tightly. Herman looked at Anastasia, who was holding onto him tightly, and lovingly patted her on the head. ¡°Sure.¡± Anastasia was mentally prepared. She was ready to be Hermans real wife. She had set her heart on this man for life, not out of gratitude, but because she had truly fallen in love with him. When she worried about him, she clearly realized that she was deeply in love with him. But she was more than willing. She might never meet another man like Herman in her life. She didn¡¯t want to have any regrets or waste another second. However, that night, Herman just held her in his arms to sleep, not doing anything more. The two of them slept under the same rket, simply holding each other. She could clearly feel his body reacting, but he remained still and didn¡¯t take the next step Anastasia thought maybe Herman was too tired or maybe the events of the right had affected his mood, so she slowly rxed. She snuggled into his arms,ying her head on his hand as she fell asleep. -Herman was somewhat frustrated, but he was worried that Anastasia might regret her decision once the heat of the moment had passed. This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . He held back, holding her hand tightly as he closed his eyes and fell asleep. In reality, neither of them slept well that night. Anastasia was nervous; thinking about the possibility of the Ledford family showing up at their door in the morning made her anxious. And Herman couldn¡¯t sleep because Anastasia was in his arms. As dawn broke, Herman got up first to take a cold shower. Anastasia also got up. Her mind was a mess as she sat on the bed. Did Harman prefer to take a shower rather than touch her? Just then, Salma Jewell called, and Anastasia answered, ¡°Mom, it¡¯s pretty early. What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°I just wanted to check in on you and see how you¡¯re doing. When will you be able toe home for a visit? A neighbor gave us some local specialties You cane and get them, or I can bring them to you¡± ¡°Mom, we¡¯re doing well. Ille get them when I have time.¡± Anastasia didnt want Salma to know about the problems they were facing. If the Ledford family found out and let Salma know, she would worry ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll keep them for you¡± Salma said with augh, 1ll give some to your aunt. She¡¯s been in a bad moodtely: nna Edmunds is still considering the divorce ¡°Okay Mom, take care of yourself. And as for nna¡¯s issue, like I said before, don¡¯t get involved¡± Family matters were alwaysplicated. Whether Gianna and Joey Edmunds could maintain their marriage or not, whatever Salma said wrong during this time might be remembered for a lifetime. 1 know¡± After hanging up the phone, Herman came out of the bathroom just in time. Anastasia originally thought he woulde out in a towel, but he came out in neat clothes, not giving her any opportunity to seduce him. Anastasia sat on the bed, watching Herman. Herman touched his face, What¡¯s up? Did I not wash my face properly?¡± Anastasia gathered her courage and asked, ¡°Herman, why would you rather endure all night than touch me?¡± After hearing this, Hermanughed. He sat down on the bed, reached for her hand, and was about to exin when Anastasia asked again, ¡°Do you have some kind of disease?¡± Herman was speechless. Chapter 95 Chapter 95 Chapter 95 This doubt had always been nagging at Anastasia. She was a total knockout. How could Herman not be attracted to her? If he could remain so indifferent, he either had an iron will or there was something wrong with him. Seeing Herman¡¯s silence, Anastasia nervously said, I¡¯m sorry, if you have any health issues, I don¡¯t mind. Medical technology is so advanced nowadays.. As soon as she said that, he felt uneasy How could he still maintain his dignity after being questioned by his wife about that issue? Suddenly, Herman propped himself up on the bed, pulled her down, got closer, and asked in a deep voice, ¡°Are you afraid of pain?¡± ¡°What?¡± Anastasia was a little out of pace with him, I¡¯ll show you the answer right away¡± He said With that, Herman gently kissed her lips, grabbed her hands, and held them above her head as their fingers intertwined tightly His movements were so gentle that the room heated up in an instant, and Anastasia was tingling all over,pletely turned on. Herman kissed Anastasia so passionately that she started to feel dizzy and a bit oxygen-deprived. He finally let her go, but their noses were still touching and their eyes were locked on each other. Anastasia¡¯s heart raced. Her body was heating up, her breaths were bing ragged, and her chest was heaving ¡°Herman¡± Anastasias voice was the deadliest temptation. His fingers ran through her hair, and his voice was hoarse as he spoke, Ana, are you sure?¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Anastasia nodded as she looked deep into his eyes and said, ¡°I want to be your real wife¡± A thrill of joy surged in Herman¡¯s heart, and he leaned down and nibbled on her earlobe. The sunlight slowly seeped in through the window as the room filled with an ambivalent atmosphere At that moment, they officially became hushand and wife. Then, fragments of memories flooded back into her mind, stimting Anastasia¡¯s nerves. Were these memories dreams or reality? Anastasia couldn¡¯t tell. An hourter, Herman was taking a shower. Warm water was cascading down his skin. He was thinking about what had just happened. He clearly knew that Anastasia was not a virgin In this society, Herman didn¡¯t really expect Anastasia to be a virgin, but Anastasia explicitly told him before that she only had one boyfriend, Cason, and their rtionship only reached the hand holding stage. Herman wiped his face, recalling Cason¡¯s words. Herman¡¯s current mood was like he had a thorn stuck in his throat, unable able to spit it out or swallow it down. But he didn¡¯t show it. He came out of the bathroom and saw Anastasia sitting on the bed, staring nkly at the sheets. It was her first time, so why wasn¡¯t there any! She wanted to exin but didn¡¯t know how to, After hearing Hermane out of the bat looked up at Herman¡¯s eyes, feeling a bit guilty. ¡°Herman, I¡­¡± She was a virgin, she didn¡¯t want to be misunderstood. Cason had said some nasty things not long ago, so what if Herman misunderstood? ¡°You must be tired too. Just rest at home today.¡± Herman smiled slightly, walked over to her, kissed her forehead and said, ¡°Wait for me toe home from work¡± Herman was very good at controlling his emotions. In just a few minutes, he had found an answer for himself. He once said that no matter what Anastasia was in the past, she was his wife, and he would love and cherish her. This was a promise he would keep forever. Anastasia was very sensitive. She noticed that Herman seemed to have something on his mind, but he didn¡¯t say it explicitly, and she didn¡¯t feelfortable asking directly ¡°Okay¡± Anastasia nodded. Herman went to work, and she heard the door close. Then she started to stare at the sheets again. Suddenly, she remembered what Cason had said. Could it be that she had been with other men? Thinking of this, Anastasia quickly called Monica Franco Chapter 96 Chapter 96 Chapter 96 Monica¡¯s call finally went through. Anastasia heard Monica¡¯s voice from the other end of the line but didn¡¯t know how to begin ¡°Ana? Ana?¡± Monica asked through the phone, ¡°What¡¯s up with you? Why are you calling me bright and early and then not saying anything? Did something happen? Did Herman do something to you?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Anastasia responded softly Monica, on the other side of the line, immediately snapped, ¡°Ana, tell me what that jerk did to you. I¡¯m on my way to the beauty salon right now, but I¡¯ll ditch that ande to you¡± Monica was a woman of action. Twenty minutester, Anastasia¡¯s doorbell rang. Anastasia opened the door, her walk was a little strange due to some intense activity prior Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Monica noticed immediately, and fearing that Anastasia had been hurt, she anxiously asked, ¡°Ana, did Herman hit you? Does he have violent tendencies?¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t hit the ¡°Anastasia replied, worried that if Monica kept quessing, she might call the cops on Herman. She blushed as she said, ¡°Monica, I didn¡¯t bleed during you know¡± Monica didn¡¯t catch on at first and asked loudly, ¡°What do you mean you didn¡¯t bleed?¡± ¡°You know that thing Anastasia¡¯s face turned even redder. Finally understanding, Monica couldn¡¯t contain her excitement, Ana, did you and Herman finally?¡± Anastasia nodded, and Monica burst with joy. ¡°I knew it! You¡¯re too beautiful for him to resist. You¡¯ve got Herman wrapped around your finger now. You¡¯re set, and I can stop worrying¡± Monica had put in a lot of effort to get them together. She was relieved to finally hear that they were a thing If Herman really considered Anastasia his woman now, there was no way he could escape. Anastasia had basically secured her position as Herman¡¯s wife. If she had a child, her position would be unshakable Anastasia didn¡¯t quite understand Monica¡¯s implications and was a bit confused to see Monica more excited than she was. Thinking about theck of bleeding, Anastasia anxiously said. ¡°Monica, isn¡¯t a woman supposed to bleed the first time you know? I didn¡¯t. Will Herman misunderstand? Monica was brought back to reality, she had forgotten about that ¡°Did Herman react in any way when you didn¡¯t bleed?¡± Anastasia thought about Herman¡¯s reaction, ¡°He didn¡¯t react. He just took a shower, kissed me, and went to work.¡± Monica grew a bit worried when she heard that he didn¡¯t react. ¡°What¡¯s Herman trying to imply? Doesn¡¯t he care?¡± In today¡¯s society, who didn¡¯t have a past lover? Finding a virgin nowadays might require the girl to have been groomed since childhood. Didn¡¯t Herman have a past lover? This kind of thing was pretty eptable in today¡¯s society So Monica reassured her, ¡°Ana, not all women bleed their first time, that¡¯s a fact. If Herman didn¡¯t react, he probably thinks it¡¯s normal. Don¡¯t overthink it ¡± Anastasia had also looked it up online and found that such situations were possible. But she was still worried it might lead to misunderstandings. Anastasia, still somewhat puzzled, told Monica about what Cason had said before. ¡°Cason said some nonsensest time. He imed I dropped out of school for another man and said some nasty things. That¡¯s why Herman couldn¡¯t help but beat him up.¡± Monica was taken aback. How did Cason know? Anastasia did drop out of school because of another man, a man whose identity even Anastasia herself didn¡¯t know. Anastasia¡¯s first time was taken away by that unknown man. Years ago, after Cason went abroad for studies, Salma had a car ident. Money was needed for surgery and treatment. Anastasia earned money through part-time jobs and followed her ssmates to a club to work That was when Anastasia was drugged. When she woke up, she had no memory of what had happened. It wasn¡¯t unther belly started to grow that she realized she was pregnant, but by then it was toote. Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Chapter 97 At first, Anastasia just thought she had packed on a few pounds. After all, it was winter and she was wearing bulky clothes, so nobody noticed a thing By the time she realized, the kid had been hanging out in her belly for four months, fully formed and all Anastasia had to drop out of school. As for the baby, her mom wanted to take her to get an abortion, but when she felt the baby move on the operating table, she changed her mind. A mystery baby put a ton of stress on Anastasia and ruined her life. It was a girl, a really pretty girl. Monica saw her once outside the delivery room. After the baby was born, Salma decided to drop her off at an orphanage. Salma was a single mom. She didn¡¯t want her daughter, Anastasia, to end up like her. Anastasia also had postpartum depression. It was so bad that she didnt even recognize Salma and Monica. During the year Anastasia was recovering, Salma and Monica took turns looking after her, pouring their hearts into it. Luckily, after a year of treatment, Anastasia got back on her feet. But she couldn¡¯t remember a thing about the baby or the guy. Anastasia felt like she had woken up from a nightmare, and everything was back to normal. Salma and Monica had to spin a yarn about Anastasias past to protect her future, avoiding any mention of the baby. The kid must be about five years old now. Anastasia didn¡¯t remember, and her mom and Monica didn¡¯t bring it up, just hoping time would fly by and Anastasia could forget that painful chapter of her life. Monica squeezed Anastasia¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Cason¡¯s just spouting nonsense, dont pay any attention to him. That guy was no good. He just wants to see you suffer Any guy who badmouths an ex like that is seriously messed up.¡± Seeing Monica so pissed made Anastasiaugh, ¡°I won¡¯t let him get to me. Maybe I¡¯m just overthinking things. Monica, I m so lucky to have you.¡± Having Monica there to chat with made Anastasia feel a lot better. Maybe she was overthinking things. Herman didn¡¯t say anything, and just because she didn¡¯t bleed didnt mean she wasn¡¯t a virgin. All she needed to do was stay true to herself. ¡°Of course, we¡¯re BFFs Monica changed the subject, ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be at work? It¡¯s nearly ten in the morning, arent you going to head out?¡± Monica had no idea that Herman had punched ke the night before. ¡°Right, I should get going ¡°Anastasia steeled herself as she thought of the unresolved issue with the Ledford family. She had to stop by thepany first. This was her mess, and she had to own up to it Anastasia wasn¡¯t the type to run away from her problems. She would bear the responsibilities that fell on her She couldn¡¯t let thepany or Herman take the fall for her. Anastasia had a n. She would go to thepany first, give them an exnation, then go visit ke in the hospital, hoping the Ledford family would show some mercy Herman had been wearing a mask at the time. As long as she kept quiet, nobody would recognize him ke was at fault, but with her and Herman¡¯s humble backgrounds, sometimes she had to swallow her pride just to get by. As long as it didn¡¯t affect Herman, Anastasia didn¡¯t care about the rest. Anastasia drove the car Herman had bought her to thepany. Before she got out of the car, she psyched herself up. After parting with Anastasia, Monica made a beeline for Cason. She needed to figure out what he knew. It would be bad if Cason knew about Anastasia¡¯s baby When Anastasia walked into thepany, her coworkers in the design department were busy with their work, like always ¡®Anastasia¡± Lauren hade in early and was surprised to see Anastasia, ¡°Didn¡¯t you take the day off? Why are you here?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t take the day off¡± Anastasia immediately thought of Herman, He must have taken the day off for her. Lauren asked with concern, ¡°Are you alright? You didn¡¯t get into any troublest night, did you?¡±This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± said Anastasia, ¡°but I might be in hot water soon. ke¡¯s been hospitalized after getting beaten up, and they won¡¯t let me off the hook.¡± Lauren said, ¡°The Ledford family probably doesn¡¯t have the energy to deal with you right now.¡± Selena appeared at the entrance of the design department, ¡°Anastasia,e to my office¡± Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Anastasia thought Selena was looking for her aboutst nights incident. Looks like the Ledford family was here for trouble Anastasia walked nervously into the office, and sure enough, there was Selena sitting on the swivel chair with a smug look on her face. ¡°You know what you did, and I shouldn¡¯t have to remind you. You messed up big time, and you should go resign yourself in HR.¡± She was aware of the financial crisis at Ledford Corporation However, the Ledford family still had a ton of assets. Even if they were having financial issues, until they dered bankruptcy, they were still not to be messed with Any assets they sold off randomly were more than what an average person could earn in a lifetime. Of course, Selena was also using herpany power to resolve personal issues, trying to squeeze Anastasia out of thepany Anastasia wasn¡¯t mad, she knew she had brought this on herself. ¡°Selena, I¡¯m sorry I¡¯ve caused some trouble for thepany. I¡¯ll take responsibility for this.¡± Anastasia said, Tm just wondering, is this sacking order from thepany¡¯s top brass, or is it your personal idea?¡± There was a huge difference between the two Selena didn¡¯t have the power to sack her. Seeing Anastasia still so cool-headed, Selena frowned, ¡®Does it even make a difference? I¡¯m asking you to resign to save your dignity. I got a call from Everlee this morning. She¡¯s super pissed at you, demanding you get sacked. I¡¯ve passed the message to Mi. Victor You¡¯ll be getting the sack notice So it was Everlee who started the trouble. Anastasia had anticipated this oue, Tll take responsibility for my actions. I¡¯ll submit my resignation ASAP ¡°No need. I¡¯ve prepared the resignation letter for you You just need to sign it.¡± Selena passed a resignation letter to Anastasia with a triumphant smirk, ¡°Sign it.¡± Anastasia smirked, ¡°You can¡¯t wait, can you? Looks like you¡¯ve wanted me out for a long time.¡± Selena crossed her arms. ¡°You don¡¯t belong in this circle, Anastasia Here¡¯s a piece of advice, Not everyone can make it in jewelry design. It¡¯s not for you, so stop daydreaming.¡± Anastasia took a deep breath, ¡°Ill remember your advice. I¡¯ll leave, but I believe we¡¯ll meet again soon¡± Whether she could make it or not was something for the future, but she had to stay firm Selena sneered, ¡°You¡¯re really stubborn, so I¡¯ll wait and see¡± Anastasia signed the resignation letter firmly, left the office, and went back to her desk to pack up, ready to leave thepany. Lauren saw this and asked, ¡°Anastasia, what are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m quitting¡± Anastasia said nonchntly, ¡°See you around.¡± ¡°Did Selena sack you? What gives her the right? Did Mr. Victor give the order?¡± Lauren was furious. Im gonna talk to Selena¡± ¡°Lauren¡± Anastasia stopped her ¡°Thank you, this mess is my own doing Whether thepany has given the order or not, I cant stay here. We¡¯ll see each other again someday.¡± Anastasia was mentally ready to ept all this. The only thing she¡¯ll miss there was Lauren Lauren was the first friend she made here. Anastasia packed up her stuff, hugged Lauren tightly, picked up her stuff, and took onest look at her colleagues in the design-department. Everyone stopped what they were doing, they were watching Anastasia, but no one spoke up for her. They seemned to look forward to Anastasia¡¯s departure. Anastasia looked away and left the design department. Selena was standing by the window, watching Anastasia leave. Seeing Anastasia really leaving made her very happy. Not long after Anastasia left, the branch manager, Victor, came Copyright by N?v/elDrama.Org. Victor was here for Anastasia. Seeing her desk empty, he casually asked Lauren, ¡°Where s Anastasia?¡± ¡°She¡¯s gone Selena sacked her Upon hearing this, Victor said, ¡°Damn¡± Then he rushed to find Selena. Chapter 99 Chapter 99 Selena was basking in the glory of Anastasia¡¯s departure, pouring hersell a ss of red to celebrate The office door was pushed open just as she took her first sip Seeing Victor stride in with a serious expression, she asked with a puzzled smile, ¡°What¡¯s up, Victor? You look pretty rushed.¡± ¡°Did you fire Anastasia?¡± questioned Victor ¡°Sure did¡± Selena admitted, swirling her wine ss leisurely ¡°She quit on her own. She wasn¡¯t a good fit here. She pissed off ke, I emailed you about it ages ago, didn¡¯t you get it?! ¡°So what if she pissed off ke? Victor crossed his arms, standing his ground. Even if she screwed up big time, there¡¯s always someone to fix it. That¡¯s not your problem. You fired her. Are you expecting us to cover for your mistake? How long has she been gone? Call her right now and get her back here.¡± Selena was taken aback as she said. ¡°Victor, I¡¯ve never seen you this ticked off. Its just a new assistant I fired. How bad could it be? She¡¯s already gone. I¡¯m not gonna call her back¡± It was the first time Selena saw Victor lose his cool, and it was quite a sight to see him get all rough around the edges. Usually, Victor was the picture of elegance, always warm and friendly towards his subordinates They even had a sort of friendship beyond work. Victor always had a smile for her, never anything but polite. Looking defeated. Victor paced around with hands on his hips, trying to keep his chill. He pointed at Selena and said, ¡°Fine miss high and mighty Selena, I¡¯m telling you for thest time, stop messing with Anastasia. If you want to keep your job, get her back here. I¡¯m saying this for your own good, not as your boss, but as a friend¡± Selena froze,ughing sarcastically, ¡°Victor, Fm the head jewelry designer at Elysian Technologies Do you think they fire me over a newbie? She managed to piss off the Ledford family Even Everlee called me, insisting on firing Anastasia If you want me to bring her back, then tell me, who is she?¡± Victor couldn¡¯t spill the beans about Herman backing Anastasia, so he just said, if you trust me, do as I say I¡¯ve said my plece, and it¡¯s up to you. Just remember, if Anastasia gets mad, it won¡¯t just be you losing your job; even I might get transferred.¡± This made Selena¡¯s heart skip a beat. Victor had been working at the headquarters for over a decade. He was a veteran, highly valued by the top brass. Who could possibly shake his position? Victor stopped at the door, adding, ¡°You¡¯re the one who fired her. You have to be the one to get her back. Remember my words; neither the Lunsford family nor the Ledford family should concern you. Elysian Technologies doesn¡¯t need outsiders meddling¡± Victor left the office, immediately reporting the situation to Herman. Anastasia had not been working at thepany for long before she was fired, and since he was the branch manager, he might also be held ountable. Victor must have figured out what had happened last night at the Eclipse Lounge. ke had the nerve to mess with Herman¡¯s woman, he was practically begging for trouble This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Anastasia hadn¡¯t done anything wrong in this situation. Even if other employees were bullied by those rich kids, Elysian Technologies should stand by their own, not fire them without understanding the full story, just to appease those bullies Even though they were a branch of Elysian Technologies, they should still have their own dignity and couldn¡¯t bring shame to the headquarters. Back at Elysian Technologies headquarters Herman had just finished a morning meeting and returned to his office when he heard the news of Anastasias dismissal. His face darkened, and he only said one sentence over the phone, ¡°Whoever let Anastasia go, get her back.¡± After saying this, Herman hung up the phone and threw it onto the table. ¡°What happened that made you so angry? Your girlfriend not satisfying you?¡± A mocking voice came from outside the office Chapter 100 Chapter 100 Chapter 100 Herman looked a bit chilly, furrowing his brows at the sight of Collin Witt entering the room, ¡°Why are you here?¡± Herman asked, his voice deep. ¡°Just passing by and thought Id see what you¡¯re up to. Haven¡¯t seen you about recently,¡± said Collin nonchntly. He let Herman¡¯s secretary pour him a coffee, then made himselffortable on the sofa. ¡°Heard you gave ke a beating yesterday? You haven¡¯t thrown a punch in years, quite strange¡± This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. ¡°Just flexing my muscles a bit, Herman smirked. Just because i havent thrown any punches in years doesnt mean I ve forgotten how to fight¡± What could possibly make you use your fists? Heard it was over a girl?¡± Collin asked curiously Herman corrected him casually ¡°She¡¯s my wife¡± ¡°Wife?¡± Collin choked on his coffee, coughing uncontrobly. ¡°Herman, are you joking? When did you get married?¡± Herman pulled out a marriage certificate from his drawer and ced it on the table. ¡°Last month.¡± Collin put down his coffee cup and hurriedly inspected the marriage certificate. He saw a photo of Herman with a very beautiful woman. The document was definitely real, no doubt about it ¡°Herman you got mamed and didn¡¯t even invite me for a drink Collin eximed. Thats heartless¡± invite you when we have the wedding said Herman stowing away the certificate like a precious gem, locking it back in the drawer Collin pinched himself; it hurt, so he wasn¡¯t dreaming ¡°I thought at most youd be dating someone, didn¡¯t think youd go and get married,¡± said Collin. ¡°Tonight you must bring your wife to meet me You¡¯ve kept this a big secret.¡± ¡°Not tonight, Herman said ¡°We can catch upter¡± With the Ledford family matters unresolved and Anastasia now fired, he wasn¡¯t in the mood to introduce her to Collin tonight ¡°Because of the Ledford family thing?¡± Collin asked, sitting down. ¡°You¡¯ve cost Ledford Corporation billions. Kenny must be crying¡± ¡°He should be,¡± Herman replied, his voice steady, his index finger tapping against the table ¡°The crisis at Ledford Corporation is snowballing. It¡¯s only going to get worse¡± ¡°Are you going topletely destroy them?¡± Collin asked, a hint of fear in his voice. I¡¯ve given them a chance to survive, Herman smirked Kenny will probably have to sell Ledford Estate Management to keep his head above water.¡± Collin said, ¡°The market opened this morning with Ledford Corporation¡¯s stocks nosediving, Selling it now wouldn¡¯t do much good¡± -¡°He has no other choice, Herman said casually, sipping his coffee. ¡°Ledford Estate Management is the only valuable asset left. Ledford Corporations debt to the bank has to be cleared this year Collin watched Herman in thought for a moment, then voiced his suspicion, Something seems off. Did you have your eye on Ledford Estate Management from the start?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± replied Herman calmly. Collin fell silent ¡°Having lost billions to you and now with the possibility of you buying Ledford Estate Management for a song, Kenny might just faint,¡± Colith teased. ¡°You¡¯ve had a good run in both love and business. Your wife must be your lucky charm.¡± Hermanremained silent, memories of the lovely morning with Anastasia shing in his mind. He yearned to be a king with nothing to do, living a leisurely life with his queen. Collin seemed to remember something andughed, Herman, do you remember the night I left for abroad a few years ago? We all went to the club for a drink to send me off¡± ¡°I vaguely remember Herman said Collin said, ¡°That night, we nned to get you drunk and have you do something silly, but in the end, we lost you. We thought you had some sort of allness. By the time we found you, your clothes were gone. Twe held onto this memory for years, just to ask you, did you meet a hot chick that night?¡± Herman frowned, it was a few years ago, and his memory was fuzzy. He was indeed drunk that night and had almost no memory of it, only that he had been having an ambiguous dream since. ¡°I was drunk. I don¡¯t remember,¡± said Herman seriously. 1 bet you met a hot chick, Collin said provocatively. ¡°I saw the scratch marks on your neck. Definitely left by a woman.¡± Chapter 101 Chapter 101 Chapter 101 Herman frowned, and Collin added. If the girl is a stunner, I¡¯m worried she might pop up any moment like a ticking time bomb¡± ¡°I¡¯m a married man now Herman rified. ¡°I don¡¯t remember anything from that night, and even if something did happen, I only have one wife This piqued Collin¡¯s curiosity, and he asked, ¡°What¡¯s your wife like that you¡¯re so devoted?¡± Herman smiled and said, ¡°She¡¯s like a fairy¡± Collin joked, ¡°Man, love really does change people. You¡¯re all mushy and romantic, On his way to work, Herman hadprehended the matter of Anastasia¡¯s purity. Over the month, he had realized that he had grown ustomed to Anastasia¡¯s presence. He was ready to ept her past and embrace her future. At that moment, Nelson walked in with a milkshake and said, ¡®Mr. Salstrom, your takeout.¡± Herman responded softly as Nelson carefully ced the milkshake on the table. Collin was taken aback, Herman, when did you start liking these girly drinks?¡± Collin never drank milkshakes. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Herman proudly answered, ¡°My wife likes them.¡± He meant that he liked what his wife liked, a joy that those without a wife would not understand. Collin fell silent. Nelson was stifling hisughter. Herman took a sip of the milkshake and asked seriously, ¡°Nelson, how¡¯s the Ledford family doing?¡± Nelson immediately wiped his smile, ¡®Kenny has taken his son to find Anastasia. Do you want to check on them?¡± What if the Ledford family continued to cause trouble? ¡°No need.¡± Herman scoffed. ¡°Kenny knows what to do.¡± With that, Herman stood up, with milkshake in one hand, the other in his pocket, and walked out Collin was dumbstruck. Where had the usually domineering CEO gone? Did having a milkshake, no, a wife, mean he no longer cared about his image? Collin caught up to him, ¡°Herman, where are you going? Let¡¯s y some ball?¡± Herman replied. ¡°No time.¡± ¡°What¡¯s so important? Can¡¯t anyone else take care of thepany? What use are they then?¡± Tm going to buy a gift for my wife.¡± Herman had be a man obsessed with his wife, always talking about her. He had noticed Anastasia¡¯s unease in the morning and decided to buy her a gift to soothe her ¡°Herman, just because you have a wife now doesn¡¯t mean you can ditch your friends.¡± Collin felt hurt. He turned to Nelson and said, ¡°Get me a milkshake. I want to see what it tastes like.¡± Nelson chuckled and reminded, ¡®Mr. Witt, Mr. Salstrom is getting away.¡± By the time he bought the milkshake, Mr. Salstrom would be gone. Annoyed, Collin quickly went after Herman, saying, ¡°Where do you get your milkshakes? I¡¯ll get my own.¡± Meanwhile, Anastasia, clutching her personal belongings, had just walked downstairs when she ran into ke and Kenny, who hade to apologize. ke couldn¡¯t walk, so Kenny had him carried. The Ledford family¡¯s driver, assistant, and bodyguards carrying ke made for quite the entourage. Kenny seemed anxious, knowing that every minute was money and a slight dy could result in a significant stock decline. However, to Anastasia, Kenny¡¯s anxiety felt like oppression. Seeing ke being carried over, she tensed up, thinking they were there to hold her ountable. ke pointed at Anastasia and said, ¡°Dad, that¡¯s Anastasia¡± Kenny¡¯s gaze locked onto Anastasia as he ordered his bodyguards to take ke towards her, and he quickly approached Anastasia. Chapter 102 Chapter 102 Chapter 102 As they approached, Anastasia¡¯s heart started to race ¡°Oh crap,¡± Anastasia thought nervously. Clutching her personal items, she forced a smile and greeted them, ¡°Hey there.¡± Anastasia recognized Kenny from the TV. Given ke¡¯s current situation, Anastasia felt this greeting was a bit inappropriate, but she didn¡¯t know what else to say. She tried her best to stay cool and not look scared. Just as Anastasia thought they were here to give her a hard time, Kenny kindly asked, ¡°Are you Ms. Jewell?¡± Kenny didn¡¯t dare to call Anastasia Mrs. Salstrom because Herman had made it clear that he didn¡¯t want their rtionship to be public Their marriage was a secret, unknown to the outside world, suggesting they didn¡¯t want to be disturbed, so Kenny naturally didn¡¯t dare to spill the beans. Anastasia nodded, Tm Anastasia, aboutst night. I¡¯m sorry.¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Before Anastasia could finish, Kenny quickly said, ¡°Last night was all my foolish sons fault. He offended you. As a father, I didn¡¯t discipline him properly. That¡¯s my responsibility. I hope you can forgive my foolish son¡¯s mistake. ke, apologize to Ms Jewell.¡± Lying on the stretcher, ke said to Anastasia, I¡¯m sorry. Ms. Jewell, I was drunkst night. Please forgive me.¡± Anastasia was baffled. Weren¡¯t they here to give her a hard time? Why were they being so understanding and apologizing? The Ledford¡¯s grand entrance naturally drew a crowd. The spectators were colleagues from inside and outside thepany, including design department employees. Initially, they thought Anastasia was in big trouble, and the Ledfords were here to make her life difficult. But Kenny¡¯s words took them by surprise. Who was Kenny? He was the president of Ledford Corporation, and he was apologizing to Anastasia. In the business world, there weren¡¯t many people who could make Kenny apologize. What was Anastasia¡¯s background? Lauren, who had initiallye downstairs to see off Anastasia, thought they were here to cause trouble and was about to step in to help. Before Lauren could get there, she saw Kenny respectfully calling Anastasia Ms. Jewell and admitting his mistakes. ke had always been a bully in their circle. When had he ever apologized? Now, he was being carried in to apologize to Anastasia, which was hard to believe Anastasia was also stunned. ke, who was so arrogantst night threatening to kill her, was now apologizing? Was the sun rising from the west? Seeing Anastasia remain silent, Kenny thought she was reluctant to forgive, and someone immediately handed over a box of jewelry. ¡°Ms. Jewell, this is just a small token of my appreciation Please ept it to calm your nerves,¡± Kenny said earnestly. ¡°If you have any other demands, feel free to make them. If it¡¯s within my power, I won¡¯t refuse¡± Anastasia stared at the box of jewelry, regaining her focus, ¡°Mr. Ledford, you¡¯re too kind. This is too valuable, and I wouldn¡¯t dare to ept it¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a small gift, not valuable at all. You must ept it. If you¡¯re not satisfied, I can have some more sent over.¡± Kenny mistakenly thought Anastasia didn¡¯t like these and the Salstroms had all the good stuff. These jewelry pieces might not appeal to Anastasia, so he started feeling a bit anxious. Kenny¡¯s series of actions even stunned Selena, who was getting ready to leave. In disbelief, Selena turned to Lauren, ¡°Is that Kenny, the president of Ledford Corporation? What is he doing?¡± Lauren, annoyed by Selenas bullying of Anastasia, impatiently replied, ¡°Can¡¯t you see? The Ledfords are here to apologize to Anastasia.¡± Chapter 103 Chapter 103 Chapter 103 Selena got the picture loud and clear. They were here to apologize. But why would they apologize to Anastasia? One¡¯s a business bigwig, and the other¡¯s a fresh-faced assistant. No way that was happening. But here they were. Pigs really do fly Selena remembered something Victor once said, Could Anastasia be not as average as she seemed? But she¡¯d seen Anastasia¡¯s resume, a married woman with only a high school diploma. Her work experience was nothing but hawking stuff on the street. How could someone like that get an apology from the Ledford family? It was mind-boggling Even if the Ledford family had issues, it was still way out of Anastasia¡¯s league. Kenny was all smiles, with sincerity oozing from every pore, but Anastasia wasn¡¯t about to ept his apology. If she did, would the Ledford family use her of ckmail? These jewels were worth a fortune. If they were seen as ill-gotten gains, she could be looking at hard times. Anastasia carefully declined Kenny¡¯s apology, shaking her head, ¡°I really cant ept this. You should take it back.¡± Hearing that, Kenny got antsy, signaling to ke, ¡°You messed up. You need to apologize to Ms. Jewell until she forgives you Silence from Anastasia Wasn¡¯t this some kind of moral bullying? ke struggled to his feet from his gurney, wincing in pain. He apologized again, ¡°Ms Jewell, I was totally out of linest night. I¡¯m willing to make it right¡± ke didn¡¯t have a drop of boozest night, and Anastasia didn¡¯t smell a whiff of alcohol And even if he did drink, that didn¡¯t give him a free pass. Anastasia gave the Ledford family a look. Even though she didn¡¯t understand why they were begging for her forgiveness instead of ming her, she still said, ¡°ke, you¡¯re an adult. You can control yourself. I believe you knew exactly what you were doingst night. You should be thanking your father.¡± Anastasia figured Kenny was apologizing because he knew right from wrong, not just blindly protecting his son ke didn¡¯t argue. He hung his head, a stark contrast to his previous cocky demeanor Kenny seized the opportunity to ask, ¡®Ms. Jewell, so you¡¯re gonna letst night slide?¡± Anastasia hit back, ¡°Actually, I wanted to ask, are you really not going to pursue it?¡± His son was beaten to a pulp and even lost a finger, and he was willing to let her off the hook. Kenny quickly waved his hands, ¡°Who am I to pursue anything? It was all my stupid son¡¯s fault.¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Hearing the Ledford family wouldn¡¯t pursue it, Anastasia was over the moon. She confirmed, ¡°So we¡¯re just gonna let this go?¡± Kenny stated, ¡°Whatever you say goes¡± Getting a definitive answer, Anastasia breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Let¡¯s just leave it at that then. ke suffered enough. That¡¯s payback enough¡± She wouldn¡¯t pursue ke¡¯s actions, and the Ledford family wouldn¡¯t give her any trouble. In reality, Anastasia knew if she actually took the Ledford family to court, she wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. So, if the Ledford family wanted to settle, she was all for it. She was just a regr Jane. Who was she to sue them? Anastasia didn¡¯t realize her words stirred something in Kenny He gratefully said, ¡°Ms. Jewell, you¡¯re a savior for the Ledford family, thank you very much.¡± Anastasia was a bit puzzled, thinking Kenny wasplimenting her magnanimity, so she just smiled and asked, ¡°Can I go now?¡± Kenny respectfully stepped aside, ¡°Ms. Jewell, after you¡± Anastasia nodded, eager to beat it. But she couldn¡¯t let it show, so she kept her cool, leisurely walking out of the building. Once she was out of sight, she picked up the pace, scared that the Ledford family might change their minds. After running for a bit, Anastasia finally stopped. She sat down on a nearby Mower bed, calling Herman, ¡°Herman, the Ledford family found me. They¡¯re not going to pursuest night¡¯s incident. We¡¯re in the clear, I¡¯m so relieved.¡± Anastasia was actually ecstatic, which made Herman, on the other end, chuckle a bit. Chapter 104 Chapter 104 Chapter 104 Anastasia had a nerve-wracking night, but now that the Ledford family had let things go, she was naturally feeling better. So, she was quietly enjoying herself on the side of the road. Herman, even on the phone, could feel Anastasia¡¯s joy He chuckled, ¡°The folks from the Ledford family should be even more relieved than you¡± ¡°Why?¡± Anastasia asked curiously. ¡°It¡¯s weird. ke got his ass handed to him, and the Ledford family didn¡¯te after me. Instead, they apologized and gave me a bunch of jewelry¡± Herman asked over the phone, ¡°Did you ept it?¡± 1 didn¡¯t dare.¡± Anastasia said. ¡°Such valuable stuff! Who knows if the Ledford family is setting a trap. What if they use me of ckmail? Then they¡¯d be using you of assault and me of extortion. We¡¯d both be screwed.¡± Hermanughed, his tone bing a lot softer. ¡°I really don¡¯t know how your mind works. How did you think of that?¡± Anastasia said, ¡°Right? Good thing I saw iting. Otherwise, I¡¯d have been tricked by the Ledford family.¡± Herman praised her, ¡°My woman was the smartest one out there.¡± This sweet atmosphere was making Collin ufortable. He quietly rolled up his sleeves to look at his goosebumps This was too cringe. Herman gave Collin a cold stare, hinting that he should stop bothering them ¡°Naturally,¡± Anastasia said smugly ¡°ke is a jerk, but luckily, Kenny is reasonable. Otherwise, it would¡¯ve been a disaster,¡± Hearing the sound of a car on the other end of the phone, Herman asked, ¡°Where are you?¡± Tm by the road, about to head home, Anastasia wanted to tell Herman about being fired, but she didn¡¯t know how to bring it up. She decided to wait until Herman came home that night ¡°Be careful. Dont answer calls on the road¡± ¡°Okay, I got it. Anastasia asked, ¡°Will youe home for dinner?¡± ¡°I have something tonight. I will be backte. If you¡¯re bored, you can go have dinner with Ms. Katelyn Herman suggested ¡°Let Ms. Katelyn take you out.¡± ¡°Okay, I won¡¯t bother you then,¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t want to disturb Herman¡¯s work, so she didn¡¯t say much more. She sat for a while, checked her phone, and only then learned about the financial storm at Ledford Corporation. How sudden? Ledford Corporation¡¯s market value had shrunk by billions of dors. Anastasia couldn¡¯t even imagine Really, in the world of the rich, even a small loss was a lot, and she had to think twice even about buying a slightly expensive piece of clothing. After reading the news about the Ledford family Anastasia got up, went home to put her things away, and then went to find Salma. As for Katelyn, she was too shy to bother her. After hanging up the phone, Collin could finally talk. ¡°It sounds like the Ledford family asked her forgiveness and offeredpensation, but she refused. If she epted the Ledford family¡¯spensation, that would be a sign of respect for the Ledford family. It¡¯s a bit strange to me¡± Collin was a bit puzzled. There was a difference between not epting and daring not to ept Why would she, as Hermans wife, say that the Ledford family might take legal action? Herman calmly said, ¡°She doesn¡¯t know that I¡¯m the man in charge of Elysian Technologies. She thinks I¡¯m just a regr employee, so don¡¯t just bber.¡± Collin was speechless. *is pretending to be poor in fashion now? Are you experiencing the life of an ordinary person?¡± This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. ¡°It¡¯s a coincidence. It¡¯s a long story,¡± Herman said ¡°You get off first; I have something to do, so I can¡¯t apany you.¡± Sure enough, Herman had Collin get off at the next intersection. Collin mumbled and then took out his phone to call his driver to pick him up. For Anastasia, the matter with the Ledford family was over, but Herman didn¡¯t n to let the Ledford family off so easily. Since Anastasia wouldn¡¯t eptpensation, he wanted to make the Ledford family pay more. Meanwhile, Monica had alsoe to the hospital to find Cason, trying to probe for more secrets about Anastasia to see how much Cason really knew. Chapter 105 Chapter 105 Chapter 105 Cason was in a pretty bad shape, can¡¯t leave the hospital for now. When Monica arrived at the hospital, she coincidentally encountered a few individuals who hade to collect debts from Cason. Casons father¡¯s factory had been seized, and he himself had been detained, so these individuals frequently came to the hospital causing disturbances, demanding that Cason repay his father¡¯s debts. Monica stood at the ward door, heard Cason promising the debt collectors, ¡°Chill out, folks. Whatever my dad owes you, I¡¯ll square it all up. Just give me a month. Once I¡¯m back on my feet, you¡¯ll get your money¡± The debt collectors were skeptical about Cason¡¯s promise, all of them firing back, ¡°Why should we trust you, Kirkwood¡¯spany has bitten the dust, what else can you guys bring to the table?¡± Demi jumped in, ¡°Guys, cut us some ck, I¡¯m sure we can get the dough together.¡± Cason gave Demi a nod, then Demi whipped out a promissory note for everyone to see. Cason said. ¡°If you don¡¯t trust me, this note can serve as proof Amonth, and I¡¯ll have all debts paid off. I can¡¯t run away. I¡¯m broke now, if you push me or get me killed, you¡¯ll get zilch. Might as well give me a shot.¡± His words were convincing. All they wanted was the cash, no one had anything to gain from Cason¡¯s death. If Cason kicked the bucket, where would they collect their debts? With Cason¡¯s dad in the mmer, they cant exactly go to prison to demand payment. The debt collectors thought it over for a bit, exchanged nces, then the ringleader took the promissory note and said, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll give you a month. If you don¡¯t pay up, you can go join your dad in jail. Let¡¯s roll, guys.¡± The ringleader waved his hand, leading the rest out. Cason¡¯s face was grim and he lowered his head, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, but the smille didn¡¯t reach his eyes and his whole person looked somber. Monica was at the ward door, watching the debt collectors leave one by one. Just as she was about to enter the ward, she heard Demi say, ¡°Cason, where are you gonna get the money in a month? The losses from your dad¡¯s factory and from thew firm total eight million bucks. You can¡¯t possibly repay that.¡± Demi was freaking out, but Cason seemed unfazed, snorting. ¡°There¡¯s someone who¡¯d be willing to cough up the money¡± Demi asked puzzled, ¡°Who? Who can cough up that much?¡± Cason said cryptically. ¡°Eight million bucks or reputation, which do you think weighs more for the Salstrom family of Riverdale?¡± ¡°What? Whats the Salstrom family got to do with this?¡± Demi was confused. Cason mumbled to himself, ¡°Whether it¡¯s eight million or ten, hed hand it over willingly, after all, who doesn¡¯t care about his dignity?¡± ¡°Cason, what are you talking about?¡± Demi waspletely lost. ¡°You¡¯re thinking of borrowing from Herman? No way he d lend you anything, he¡¯s the one who put the Kirkwood family in this state.¡± Cason confidently said, ¡°He would.¡± Monica was taken aback at the ward door Did Cason really know that secret and nned to use it to ckmail Herman for money? Considering all this, Monica couldn¡¯t help but rush into the ward, shouting, ¡°Cason.¡± Cason and Demi were both surprised at Monica¡¯s appearance. Cason then scoffed, Here to gloat? Where¡¯s that bitch Anastasia?¡± All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. ¡°Cason, watch your mouth, who are you calling names?¡± Monica snapped back, ¡®Anastasia¡¯s been nothing but good to you, you brought this on yourself.¡± ¡°I almost forgot, you and Anastasia are birds of a feather, both of you are bitches¡± Cason was like a rabid dog, biting at anyone he saw. Monica lost it, ¡°Cason, you want me to send you to the ICU? You have no right to nder Anastasia, and you still want to get money from Herman, you¡¯re shameless¡¯ ¡°That¡¯s what they owe me Casonughed sarcastically, ¡°You and Anastasia are good friends, you must know what she¡¯s been up to. She¡¯s been sleeping around behind my back, even got knocked up.¡± Chapter 106 Chapter 106 Chapter 106 It seemed like Cason was already in on the whole shebang. Panic seized Monica. If Cason really had the full scoop, he wouldn¡¯t let Anastasia off the hook. Anastasia had just recently started to get her life back on track, and this could throw a wrench in the works. Cason¡¯s revtion left Demi bbergasted it was news to her about Anastasia having a kid and juggling two men at the same time.. Seeing Cason¡¯s fury, Monica didn¡¯t dare to add fuel to the fire. She had to figure out a way to cool his jets and buy Anastasia some time Anastasia had just gotten together with Herman. If Herman got wind of Anastasia¡¯s secret, it¡¯d be a hot mess. ¡°Demi, can you please step outside for a bit? I would like to talk to Cason alone,¡± Monica asked, requesting Demi to leave. Demi curiously asked, ¡°What could there be that I can¡¯t hear? I¡¯m curious too. Wasn¡¯t Anastasia always saying she liked Cason before? Why?¡± ¡°Please leave.¡± Monica shooed Demi out, locked the ward room door, and took a seat by the bed. In reality, Monica didn¡¯t have any ace up her sleeve either, she could only y for time. Monica calmly said, ¡®Cason, you¡¯ve got Anastasia all wrong. Remember how you wanted to know why Anastasia dropped out of school? Here it is: after you left, Salma had a car ident, Anastasia neededBelongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. money and got a part-time job, but she got thrown under the bus¡± Monica ran through the whole story, trying to get Cason to bury the hatchet. Cason had never heard this before, it was all news to him The private investigator Cason had hired earlier could only uncover surface-level information. When Cason heard the story about Anastasia¡¯s pregnancy, childbirth, and depression, it gave him a jolt It took Cason a good while to snap out of it: ¡°Does she remember nothing?¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t,¡± Monica said, ¡°Cason, Anastasia has never betrayed you. All these years, she¡¯s been waiting for you. It¡¯s just that you guys werent meant to be, you were toote. Her life has just gotten back on track, for the sake of your old me, let her be Cason fell silent. Anastasia was his goddess. He felt angry and hurt when he thought she had betrayed him. But Monica had spun a totally different yarn Anastasia had no idea what Monica was doing behind the scenes. Right now, she was waiting in the car for Salma She was there to pick up Salma, but she didn¡¯t want to step into Cynthia¡¯s house, so she waited outside Anastasia was ying with her phone in the car when she heard a familiar voice Looking up, she saw Gianna arguing with Joey in front of her car Joey seemed to be apologizing to Gianna, but Granna was having none of it. She shrugged Joey off and stormed off towards the residential area. A mosquito flew in front of Anastasia. She instinctively swatted at it but identally honked the car horn. The horn startled the quarreling pair, Granna and Joey both turned to look Anastasia instinctively ducked her head. She didn¡¯t want to be spotted by Gianna, or else she¡¯d get dragged into a kerfuffle likest time at the hospital However, Anastasia overlooked something Gianna had seen her car before. Recognizing her car, Gianna walked over and tapped on her window *Anastasia, do you enjoy watching me make a fool of myself?¡± Anastasia kept silent. ¡°I¡¯m here to pick up my mom, Anastasia said seriously, ¡°Whatever youre up to, it¡¯s none of my business.¡± Even if Gianna were to argue loudly on the street or even be involved in a public scandal, she wouldn¡¯t care. Gianna looked livid Joey walked over, ¡°Granna, we¡¯ve been married for eight years. What happened with Dora was just apse in judgment. Don¡¯t be angry, I promise II cut ties with her.¡± Anastasia was speechless. What a shameless man That wasn¡¯t what Joey saidst time. Besides, he and Dora¡¯s kid was already in her belly, how could he cut lies? ¡°Beat it,¡± nna didn¡¯t forgive Joey. She shouted In anger, then opened Anastasia¡¯s car door and got in: ¡°Drive¡± Anastasia¡¯s eyes widened. She actually had the audacity to get into her car and order her around? Considering they were cousins, Anastasia didn¡¯t argue with Gianna, and she asked, ¡°Where to?¡± ¡°Anywhere,¡± nna¡¯s face was grim, ¡°as long as I don¡¯t have to see him.¡± ¡°Then buckle up¡± Anastasia started the car and elerated away. Gianna hadn¡¯t fastened her seatbelt, and due to the sudden eleration, she leaned back, grabbing onto the car door in a startled reaction. ¡°Anastasia, you did that on purpose.¡± ¡°If you keep up with that attitude, don¡¯t me me if I step on it.¡± Gianna shut up. Chapter 107 Chapter 107 Chapter 107 A few minutester, Anastasia pulled over by the side of the road. Joey was nowhere in sight ¡°You can get out now,¡± Anastasia told Gianna Instead of getting out, Gianna dug out a pack of cigarettes from her bag, lit one up, rolled down the window, and started puffing away in her own world. It was pretty clear to Anastasia that Gianna was in a bad mood, so she opted to keep her mouth shut. After what felt like an eternity of silence, Gianna suddenly asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± Anastasia nced at her and said, ¡°I don¡¯t feel like getting screamed at Basically, anything Anastasia said at this point would have just pissed Gianna off, so she chose to remain silent. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Gianna flicked her cigarette ash and said, ¡°Theres a coffee shop over there. I¡¯ll buy you a coffee. Anastasia quickly replied, ¡°No, thanks¡± Gianna: ¡°I bet you¡¯re really enjoying this, aren¡¯t you? My life¡¯s a mess right now. I¡¯ve always had it better than you. My family could afford to buy nos worth tens of thousands of dors, while you struggled to even go to school. I always had fancy cars and luxury goods, while you had to scrape by selling everyday items on the streets. I married a great guy¡± But Giannas voice trailed off there. With Joey¡¯s infidelity, it didn¡¯t feel right to continue this line ofparison. Anastasia nced at her and said. ¡®I ve neverpared myself to you. Yes, my family isnt as well-off as yours, but why should Ipare myself to you? Why should I care about how well you¡¯re doing? Everyone has their own life. Don¡¯t think too highly of yourself! Gianna was resentful. ¡°I don¡¯t believe that you¡¯re not jealous of me.¡± Anastasia was speechless and didn¡¯t feel like arguing with Gianna. ¡°Yeah, yeah, you¡¯re right. I¡¯m jealous of your wealth, I¡¯m jealous of your husband being the director of a hospital, and I¡¯m jealous that your husband¡¯s mistress is pregnant with their second child. Happy?¡± ¡°Anastasia.¡± Gianna called her name, her face turning pale with anger Thatst statement was obviously meant to upset nna. Anastasia looked at Gianna again. ¡°Don¡¯t yell at me. I¡¯m not Joey, I¡¯m not Dora, and I¡¯m certainly not your mother. I don¡¯t have to put up with your tantrums and mood swings. If you have the guts, go divorce Joey¡± ¡°Joey, that bastard, he won¡¯t divorce me Gianna fumed. ¡°He¡¯s been stringing me along while courting his mistress Just when I was about to soften and give him another chance, he went back to his mistress. This time, I have to get a divorce.¡± -As Gianna spoke, her anger and frustration grew, and tears started to well up in her eyes. Thest sentence was somewhat impulsive in nature. Once the tears started flowing, they couldn¡¯t be stopped. Gianna was in full-on sob mode. ¡°Do you have tissues?¡± Anastasia pulled out a box from the glovepartment. ¡°Go ahead and cry. There are plenty of tissues¡± Crying it out was the only way to clear the emotional blockage in her heart. Anastasia really didn¡¯t want to get involved in Gianna¡¯s problems. They were only acquaintances, after all. Gianna was probably crying in front of her because she had been suppressing her emotions for too long and couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer. While crying, nna continued to curse: That pair of dogs, they¡¯re disgusting. I checked their hotel records. They¡¯ve been together since five years ago. Their eldest daughter is already in kindergarten, in the one right under our building. Can you believe that?¡± Anastasia agreed, ¡°Yeah, that is pretty infuriating¡± Gianna continued angrily. The tuition for that kindergarten is so expensive. He¡¯s really generous, even renting a big house for his mistress. The rent¡¯s really high too¡± As nna listed all the money Joey had spent on his mistress, Anastasia also paid attention to the cost, but her thoughts were different from Gianna¡¯s. If it cost so much to educate a child, how was she going to afford it now that she was jobless and relying on Herman¡¯s ie? After paying rent, they didn¡¯t have much left. How were they going to afford a child, let alone buying a house? Apparently, even having kids was something the poor needed to consider carefully. Out of curiosity, Anastasia asked, ¡°Where is this house located? Why is the rent so high? And what school is it? The tuition is really high. Does it include living expenses?¡± Gianna was speechless. She was originally very angry and sad, but Anastasia¡¯s questions distracted her, and she lost the train of her sad thoughts. Chapter 108 Chapter 108 Chapter 108 Anastasia¡¯s serious face caught Gianna off guard, and she actually answered her. ¡°It¡¯s a high-end private kindergarten. The ce is prime real estate and the rent is actually pretty cheap for that area.¡± ¡°1 see,¡± Anastasia nodded, ¡°It¡¯s not easy raising kids these days.¡± ¡°Living costs in Riverdale are steep, and parents take education very seriously Spending a little extra on kindergarten isn¡¯t a big deal to them. Many are willing to shell out tens, even hundreds of thousands to secure a good school¡± Suddenly, Gianna realized that Anastasia had led her off topic and gave her a stern look. But Anastasia seemed interested. Her expression seemed to say, ¡°Go on¡± ¡°Anastasia, are you making fun of me on purpose?¡± Gianna grabbed a tissue and wiped her tears. ¡°Weren¡¯t you upset just now?¡± said Anastasia. Gianna was distracted and not as upset and angry as before. Feeling frustrated, Gianna sighed and wiped her tears once again, choosing to remain silent. This time Anastasia behaved very kindly and asked, ¡°What are you going to do if Joey doesn¡¯t divorce you?¡± This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. ¡°Expose his dirtyundry, Gianna said, ¡°He just got promoted to director, he wouldn¡¯t want a scandal. If he wants to keep his position, he¡¯ll have to give me back all the money he¡¯s spent on that woman.¡± Gianna spoke through gritted teeth. Anastasia brought Gianna back to reality with a reality check, Think about it, a hospital director¡¯s position or three properties, which would you choose?¡± Gianna had a sudden realization. She was the only child in her family, and her family¡¯s properties were worth millions. There was no way Joey would give up such a big slice of the pie ¡®That¡¯s why he doesn¡¯t want to divorce me,¡± Gianna felt a chill down her spine, ¡°He¡¯s so greedy, wanting the woman, the money, and my family¡¯s properties.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just giving you a heads up, Anastasia said, ¡°How you handle your eight-year marriage is up to you. Also, don¡¯t be a full-time housewife. Even if you¡¯re financially secure, don¡¯t let your world revolve around a man¡± ¡°You mean I should find a lover too? Gianna asked. Anastasia was speechless What kind of logic was that? Before Anastasia could say anything, Gianna said, ¡°You¡¯re right. If Joey can cheat, why should I put up with it? I might be older, but I¡¯m wealthy, I can have whatever I want. He can have his younger women, and I can have my younger men. Women my age are the most attractive¡± ¡°Hold on Anastasia cut in, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant I meant you should have your own social circle, not find a bunch of lovers. The most important thing right now is to sort out your marriage.¡± ¡°I see Gianna finally got it, ¡°I know what to do now. He wants my properties, but that¡¯s not going to happen. ¡°As long as you¡¯ve made up your mind, Anastasia sighed in relief, worried that Gianna would do something impulsive, like went after some young men. She nced at Gianna¡¯s belly and casually asked, ¡°Have you been to the hospital for a check-up? It¡¯s been eight years and you¡¯re still not pregnant. Joey¡¯s mistress already has two kids¡± She was just curious, she didn¡¯t mean to touch on sensitive subjects. ¡°I¡¯ve been to the hospital, Gianna said. ¡°The doctor said I¡¯m okay.¡± Then it hit her. If she was okay, then maybe Joey was the problem. She remembered suggesting Joey get checked when his mother had her do the same, but he felt it was embarrassing and didn¡¯t go. I¡¯m fine, so Joey must be the problem, Gianna said. ¡°But Dora already has two kids,¡± Anastasia pointed out. ¡°Who¡¯s to say those kids are Joey¡¯s, Gianna suddenly got very excited. Tim going to get a paternity test on Dora¡¯s oldest daughter right now.¡± Anastasia was speechless. Was life really this dramatic? Chapter 109 Chapter 109 Chapter 109 nna wasn¡¯t crying anymore, nor was she feeling down anymore. She was all spruced up, dabbed away her tears with the mirror in Anastasia¡¯s car, fixed her makeup, and became the morous Gianna again. There was no trace of the previous destion and helplessness. ¡°Anastasia, thanks a lot for today. I¡¯ll treat you to a big meal once I¡¯ve sorted this out nna said and got out of the car, looking like she had a big fish to fry. Gianna was the kind of princess who¡¯d been pampered since childhood, and she was quite a tough cookie. How could she just swallow the bitter pill? Anastasia waved her off: Til be waiting for that meal.¡± Watching Gianna leave, Anastasia drove back to theplex to pick up Salma. She gave Salma a call, and ten minutester, Salma came out of theplex. ¡°Mom, over here¡± Anastasia waved at Salma. Seeing Anastasia, Salma walked towards the car: ¡°Ana, werent you at work? Why are you off so early?¡±. ¡°You mentioned there¡¯s something delicious this morning. I wanted to try¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t tell Salma she got fired. Salma chuckled: ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go home now, I¡¯ll cook for you. Don¡¯t rush backter, let¡¯s shop for ingredients first.¡± Anastasia started the car and asked. The old market again?¡± ¡°Yep. Salma replied, ¡°It¡¯s cheaper there.¡± It¡¯d been a while since they had eaten together. They shopped for ingredients at the market. Salma with groceries in hand, went into the kitchen and said, ¡°Ana, call my son-inw and invite him for dinner¡± ¡°He¡¯s busy. He told me earlier that he has some social gatherings and won¡¯t being home for dinner, Anastasia said as she began cooking. ¡°My son-inw is really busy, he needs to take care of his health. Salma said, Take some food back later, so my son-inw can eat something decent¡± Thinking about their wild scene earlier in the morning, Anastasia couldn¡¯t help but smile: ¡°Yes, he should eat something good to keep fit.¡± Salma didn¡¯t know what Anastasia was thinking, she started cooking They chatted while cooking, and the topic turned to Gianna. Salma said, ¡°Once people get rich, they can easily turn bad. When Gianna just married Joey, he was only an intern at the hospital. Now he¡¯s be a jerk after getting promoted Poor Gianna¡± Anastasia said, ¡°I ran into Gianna at theplex entrance earlier, she seemed pretty upbeat. Don¡¯t worry mom, Gianna won¡¯t be taken advantage of ¡± ¡°She has given eight years of her youth, it¡¯s a loss no matter what.¡± Salma said, ¡°How many eight years does a woman have?¡± Anastasia couldn¡¯t rebut that. True, Gianna had given her best years to her marriage. Anastasia looked at Salma, the sunset shone through the window, casting a golden glow on her. She noticed that her mother¡¯s hair had started to show a few strands of gray, and there were some wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. ¡°Mom, you¡¯ve also given your best years to me. Why didn¡¯t you give me to someone else? Then you wouldn¡¯t have had to work so hard, you could have found someone to rely on, and have a happy family. Have you ever thought about finding apanion?¡± Salma had been a single mother for over twenty years, and her daughter was her everything. Salma paused what she was doing, looked at Anastasia and smiled gently: ¡°Having you in my life is what I want. I brought you into this world and I am responsible for you.¡± ¡°Mom.¡± Anastasia was touched, she hugged Salma and asked hesitantly, ¡°Mom, are you still waiting for dad toe back? Why did he leave us in the first ce? Where did he go?¡± Ever since Anastasia could remember, there was one time that someone called her the child without a father, and she ran back home to ask Salma where her father had gone. But seeing Salma¡¯s teary eyes and choked voice, Anastasia never asked again. After all these years, this was her second time asking about her father. Anastasia had no memories of her father. She didn¡¯t know his name, what he looked like, and there wasn¡¯t even a picture of him at home. Salma couldn¡¯t answer. She wiped her hands nervously, forcing a smile: ¡°He didn¡¯t leave us, he had his difficulties, Ana, don¡¯t me your dad.¡± ¡°What difficulties could make him abandon his wife and daughter for over twenty years?¡± Salma didn¡¯t know how to respond, but the doorbell rang. providing an excuse to avold answering: ¡®I¡¯ll get the door, watch the food¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Salma quickly left the kitchen to get the door. I was Monica standing at the door. She came from the hospital, and anxiously told Salma: ¡°Cason knows about Anastasia, I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t hide it anymore.¡± Anastasia came out of the kitchen: ¡°What can¡¯t we hide anymore?¡± Chapter 110 Chapter 110 Chapter 110 Anastasia¡¯s sudden voice gave Monica and Salma a start, leaving them flustered and at a loss for words. Seeing their panicked expressions, Anastasia asked, ¡®Are you guys keeping something from me? I heard you guys talking about Cason just now. What does Cason know? Has something been found out?¡± Salma was at a loss for words, but Monica thought fast and said, ¡°Uh, I was talking about how Cason¡¯s bankruptcy is now known to everyone, even his old ssmates¡± It was a strained answer Looking at the two, Anastasia noticed both Salma and Monica were acting sketchy with shifty eyes. ¡°I heard you say that Cason knows something about me. What is it?¡± Anastasia asked. Monica stumbled over her words ¡°I want the truth,¡± Anastasia said, feeling uneasy, ¡°What are you hiding from me?¡± She then remembered her recent medical check-up and how Monica had acted simrly secretive then. Salma tried to deflect. Why would we keep anything from you? There¡¯s still food in the pot, go check on it.¡± Anastasia looked at Monica again, and Monica smiled reassuringly ¡°Really, there¡¯s nothing Just like I said¡± Seeing the two still not giving straight ¡°Does it have to do with my lost m At this, both Monica and Salma became even Anastasia became even more suspicious a persisted. If you won¡¯t tell me, I¡¯ll ask Cason¡± flustered ¡°Don¡¯t you dare, Salma said sternly ¡°Cason¡¯s a jeri What would you want with him? We told you, there¡¯s nothing. What else do you want to know? There¡¯s still food in the pot Ana leck on it. Monica, you¡¯re staying for dinner tonight¡± Salma rarely spoke this Anastasia frowned. omething was up, but decided not to push further, not wanting to upset her mother She knew Monica was tight-lipped and wouldn¡¯t As for Cason, she didn¡¯t trust him. Even if there was something to tell, it wouldn¡¯t be righting from him If she wanted to re her lost memories, the d have to do it herself Anastasia turned and headed into th had a way of being discovered eve During dinner, the three of them were pr After dinner, Salma packed some leftovers for Hern ash the vegetables. Salma and Monica exchanged a nce, their hearts far from being at ease. Things This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. As Anastasia and Monica left theplex together Mo own thoughts, and atmosphere became somewhat eerie thermos a seemed to want to say something several times but held back, ultimately keeping quiet. By the time Anastasia got home, it was already nine o¡¯clock at night. She only turned on a single night light and sat alone on the couch, hugging a pillow, staring nkly out the window, lost in thought What could it be that had Salma and Monica conspiring to keep things from her? And she began to question whether her prior depression was really due to Cason and the school¡¯s gossip. She considered herself pretty stress resilient, so how did she end up with depression severe enough to cause memory loss? Anastasia sank into deep thought. The night was cold, and the silence was deafening. She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn¡¯t realize when Herman came home until he called out her name Herman¡± Anastasia, what¡¯s wrong? Are you upset?¡± At the sound of his deep, mellow voice, Anastasia looked up. Seeing Herman, she suddenly threw her arms around him. She just held him, not saying a word,forted by his familiar scent Herman assumed Anastasia was upset about being fired. He patted her head, sat down next to her, and magically took out a gift box from behind him ¡°This is for you Open it¡± Looking at the gift, Anastasia asked, ¡°Why are you giving me another gift? Don¡¯t waste your money¡± 1 bought it with my bonus, Herman said, his eyes full of tenderness, You worked hard this morning¡± At his words, Anastasia blushed in an instant Chapter 111 Chapter 111 Chapter 111 Herman gifted Anastasia a swan shaped ne He put it around her neck himself and kissed her forehead, Do you like it?¡± Anastasia gently stroked the pendant and smiled, ¡°As long as it is from you, I love it They¡¯d been married for quite a while now and Herman had given her rings, nes, while she hadn¡¯t given him anything, which left her feeling a bit awkward Herman affectionately tapped her nose and seeing a thermos on the table, and asked, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Anastasia suddenly remembered, ¡°Oh, this is soup my mom made for you. She wanted me to bring some home to nourish you. I went over to her ce today and brought back some other food. Let me grab the tableware, wanna give it a try?¡± Herman wasn¡¯t hungry, but seeing Anastasia so eager, he agreed. ¡°Sure, I must try my mother-inw¡¯s cooking.¡± Anastasia happily fetched the tableware, poured the soup, handed him a spoon, and then sat down, propping her face with her hands, watching him eat. She loved watching him eat. It was a visual treat for her. Herman smiled and took a sip. ¡°Delicious¡± Anastasia pretended to be jealous, ¡°My mom¡¯s always thinking about you. She sends all the good stuff back with me for you. People might think you¡¯re her son and I¡¯m the outsider.¡± Herman chuckled, ¡°Are you jealous?¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Anastasia yed along. ¡°Yeah.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, his lips suddenly covered hers. Herman unexpectedly leaned in for a soft kiss. She was still in a daze, and he smiled, asking, ¡°What about now?¡± Anastasia covered her face with her hands, blushing. Her reaction lightened his mood. Seeing her flushed face, Hermans heart skipped a beat. He put down the spoon, leaned in to her ear and said, ¡°I think I fancy a change of taste.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Before Anastasia could react, Herman scooped her up and headed directly for the bedroom. That was when Anastasia realized what this guy wanted to do Once Herman¡¯s passion was ignited, it was unstoppable. She had just received his ne, how could she possibly deny him? In this regard, Herman seemed to have endless energy, his stamina was impressive. The night fell and the intertwined figures reflected on the window, both entering a world of passion. Anastasia was too exhausted, she had no idea when it ended and fell asleep When she woke up, Herman had changed her into fresh pajamas. She was lightly wrapped in his arms, feeling incredibly secure. She gently traced his eyebrows in the dim light, her heart filled with joy. Women were magical creatures. Once they gave their heart, they fell deeply into their mans world. Suddenly, he grabbed her hand and kissed it before opening his eyes. His voice was deep and charming as he said, ¡°Naughty girl, seems like what we had earlier wasn¡¯t enough.¡± Anastasia immediately snuggle Tinto his chest, I¡¯m tired, need to sleep.¡± A soft chuckle echoed above her head, then there was silence, his hold on her just tightened. Theyy there, tightly wound together. After a while, Anastasia said, ¡°Herman, there¡¯s something I need to tell you.¡± She hesitated for a moment but decided toe clean. With his eyes closed, Herman said, ¡°Go on, I¡¯m listening¡± ¡°I used to suffer from severe depression and because of that, I¡¯ve lost some of my memory¡± Anastasia was worried that this part of her past might affect their current life, so she decided to be honest, I didn¡¯t intentionally hide this from you,¡± Herman had some knowledge about Anastasia, but not in great detail. He truly didn¡¯t know about Anastasia¡¯s past depression. His thumb gently caressed the back of her hand, he softly asked, ¡°Why do you suddenly want to talk about this now?¡± Chapter 112 Chapter 112 Chapter 112 Anastasia clung to Hermanis waist, her face pressed against his chest, whispering, I¡¯m scared¡± What happened this morning scared Anastasia, as did Monica and Salma¡¯s strange behavior But she still didn¡¯t want to lie to him. She continued, ¡°As a couple, we should be honest with each other and trust each other. Herman, I don¡¯t remember losing any memory, nor do I know if that memory affects our current life. I just want you to know¡± He had the right to know all this. Anastasia¡¯s words made Herman feel guilty. He hadn¡¯t been entirely honest with Anastasia. Herman hesitated for a moment, about to speak, when he heard Anastasia say, ¡°Herman, I love our life now and I¡¯m really grateful for the happiness you bring me I hope we can keep living like this, simple is best¡± What he had been about to say was forced back down He tentatively asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you wish that one day I could be rich? Maybe one day I¡¯ll be very wealthy, and you can have all the pretty clothes, luxury items, big house, everything you want.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want those¡± Anastasia shook her head, looked at him and half jokingly half-seriously said, ¡°There¡¯s always a price to pay for what you get, if you be very rich and then you don¡¯t need me, or you¡¯re often not home, busy with social gatherings, then no amount of money can make me happy¡± The idea of a man turning bad once he had money scared Anastasia. She was worried, feeling insecure and uneasy Herman was good-looking, if he also became very rich then he would attract many suitors. Hermanughed at her words, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t leave you, I promise.¡± Whether Herman could love her and only her for a lifetime or not. Anastasia felt extremely happy at that moment. These sweet words made her feel like every cell in her body was soaked in candy filled with sweetness Anastasiaughed. ¡°But we better have a house, Gianna said that it¡¯s hard for kids to go to school these days, kindergarten tuition is a hundred grand a year, if you don¡¯t have a house in a good neighborhood, you can¡¯t go to a good school¡± Herman looked at her tenderly. I think you¡¯re hinting at something¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . ¡°What am I hinting at? Anastasia didn¡¯t have any other intentions, she was just being literal He smiled slightly. Are you trying to tell me you want to have a baby?¡± Anastasia¡¯s face instantly turned red, ¡°No¡± Herman pulled the nket over her, ¡°Only hard work leads to harvest.¡± Anastasia couldn¡¯t help butugh, Herman Their rtionship heated up quickly, like a rocket. Youth hormones were really something This time Anastasia was so tired she didn¡¯t want to move at all, she fell asleep right away. Herman wished he could just stay home and be with Anastasia all the time, bing a total homebody In fact, that was exactly what he did. The next day he didn¡¯t go to the office, but sent a text to Flynn, asking him to take over, he himself took three days off Flynn, who had a date with a girl, received the message from his brother and grumbled loudly Thest thing Flynn liked was managing thepany, he preferred drinking and flirting with beautiful women, enjoying life When Herman¡¯s order came down, Flynn immediately lost all the joy of life, and his date with the girl was a bust. Herman had been working all year round for the past few years, but since he got married, he¡¯d taken a lot of time off. It seemed that for a hero, a beautiful woman was hard to resist. Flynn reluctantly went to the office, while Herman was leisurely watering the flowers and trimming the nts on the balcony at home. Anastasia was so tired she was still sleeping in bed, Herman didn¡¯t wake her Around noon, Anastasia got up, and the clothes Herman had ordered were all delivered. Anastasia thought Herman had gone to work, so when she came out of the bedroom in her pajamas and slippers and saw Herman and a room full of new clothes, she was quite surprised. ¡°What¡¯s with all these clothes? What¡¯s going on?¡± Anastasia asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you at work?¡± ¡°I was too tiredst night, so I took the day off.¡± Herman said casually. These clothes are for you, try them on.¡± ¡°All these clothes are for me? Anastasia was bbergasted, ¡°That¡¯s too extravagant, how did you know my size?¡± Herman smiled, ¡°Estimated and confirmed by touch¡± Anastasia kept silent. Chapter 113 Chapter 113 Chapter 113. All the clothes had been custom made, totaling more than a dozen sets, and each one had been incredibly stylish, exuding a sense of sophistication. No price tags, and Anastasia had no clue how much they cost, but they looked he fancy and the fabric was top notch Each one suited Anastasia perfectly, conservative yet alluring Anastasia slipped into a red number with a teardrop neckline, sexy yet ssy. She casually pinned her hair up, a few loose strands framing her makeup-free face, making her look even more refined. Anastasia had a well proportioned figure with a slender waist. Wearing this dress, she exuded femininity while maintaining an independent air Herman was utterly bowled over by her beauty She was sassy without being vulgar, flirtatious but not cheesy Do look good? Anastasia asked, feeling a bit out of herfort zone in such clothes. ¡°Stunning ¡°Hermanplimented generously The dress wasn¡¯t something Herman had ordered, but a gift from the designer, tailored to Anastasia¡¯s measurements, in hopes of buttering It looked fantastic. Herman was more than pleased He approached her, lifting a hand to adjust a loose strand of her hair, Tim so lucky to have such a beautiful wife like you¡± Anastasiaughed, ¡°You sure have a sweet mouth.¡± He grinned, ¡°I mean it.¡± Anastasia asked, ¡°Why did you buy so many clothes? I can¡¯t possibly wear them all¡± ¡°Just change up every day Ill earn the money, you just focus on looking beautiful¡± ¡°So I¡¯m just a trophy wife now? I don¡¯t want that, Anastasia loved the dress she was wearing, but had no asion to wear it. him 1. ¡°This dress is lovely, but it might get in the way at the Night Market.¡± Anastasia revealed, ¡°I got fired. I¡¯ve decided to go back to my old job, selling stuff at the Night Market¡± Herman didn¡¯t say much, justmented, ¡°1 would worry about you going out in this dress¡± He was concerned that she might attract unwanted attention. Anastasiaughed. Aren¡¯t you mad that I got fired? I haven¡¯t had any ie recently, and we¡¯re relying entirely on you at home. I¡¯m feeling a bit anxious,¡± Anastasia was used to being self-reliant, so not earning her own keep made her feel uneasy ¡°You¡¯re so talented, I bet yourpany will invite you back in no time.¡± Herman said. ¡°The whole Ledford family thing wasn¡¯t your fault.¡± ¡°You knew i got fired?¡¯ Anastasia realized that since Herman worked at Elysian Technologies too, it made sense that he knew Herman gave her a half-true exnation, I have some contacts with Mr. Victor from the branch office. He told me ¡°Wow, you know Victor?¡± Anastasia was impressed, her admiration shining through as she instinctively called him ¡°Hubby¡±. Hearing this term of endearment made Herman feel rather pleased. Anastasia: ¡°I saw him at thepany¡¯s annual meeting. He was sent from the head office to our branch¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Anastasia had also heard from her coworkers that Victor was indeed sent from the head office. ¡°Herman, seeing you excel at the head office, I feel like I¡¯m dragging you down at the branch. Thankfully no one knows we¡¯re married, or I might¡¯ve embarrassed you¡± Herman smiled gently. ¡°Dont belittle yourself, you¡¯re my pride and joy. I have a friend who wants to meet you tonight, how about we go out for dinner?¡± Collin had been wanting to meet Anastasia. He¡¯d messaged Herman first thing in the morning, curious about the significant someone who had caught Herman¡¯s eye ¡°Sure¡± The idea of meeting Herman¡¯s friend made Anastasia both nervous and excited. She was worried she might embarrass Herman, but also happy that he was willing to introduce her to his social circle. ¡°I need to put away these clothes¡± Dressing so formally at home wasn¡¯t practical. Anastasia headed back to her room to change into something morefortable while Herman was in his study, getting some work done. Just then, the doorbell rang Ahastasia, now in her loungewear, went to answer the door and was taken aback by who was there. ¡°Selena? What are you doing at my door?¡± Chapter 114 Chapter 114 Chapter 114 Selena stood at the door, panting heavily with a stone cold face Shed taken the stairs because the elevator was on the fritz. Anastasia was on the 8th floor, she had to move up one step at a time in her high heels Her heels were rubbed raw She didn¡¯t want to be here at all, but Victor had given her an ultimatum: either bring Anastasia back to work, or pack her bags and leave Seeing how respected Anastasia was by the Ledford family. Selena was a little on edge. After a lot of internal struggle, she swallowed her pride and called Anastasia But Anastasia had blocked her. Her calls wouldn¡¯t go through, and she was blocked on WhatsApp too When Selena asked Lauren to call, Lauren scoffed, ¡°Whoever kicked her out can bring her back themselves¡± With the Mill family backing Lauren, Selena could only fume in silence. She finally had to go to HR department to get Anastasia¡¯s home address ande in person Standing at the door, Selena looked like she could eat someone alive. Seeing her, Anastasia was bewildered, ¡°Selena?¡± Selena took a deep breath, trying topose herself, and said, ¡®Pack up, you¡¯reing back to work with me¡± ¡°Work?¡± Anastasia was surprised, ¡°Didn¡¯t you fire me?¡± This content belongs to N?/velDra/ma.Org . Then Anastasia remembered what Herman had said earlier, that thepany would send people to invite her toe back to work. And it was Selena, the Chief Jewelry Designer, who had always locked down on her Had Herman¡¯s words reallye true? Anastasia was truly perplexed, but in Selena¡¯s eyes, it appeared as if she was deliberately being difficult Selenas face darkened, ¡°Anastasia, I¡¯ve personallye to ask you toe back, what more do you want?¡± Selena peeked inside the house. It was simple but cozy It wasn¡¯t a fancy apartment or anything, just some average sort of ce. With such living conditions, how could it have been a ce where any important person resided? Selena was puzzled It Anastasia didnt have any connections, why did the Ledford family apologize to her in person? And why did Victor give Selena an ultimatum? Anastasia frowned, what was her attitude? ¡°Selena, this job as a design assistant is not something I cant do without, please leave¡± Everyone had a temper She didn¡¯t know why Selena was here, but was this the attitude of someone asking her toe back? ¡°Your¡± Selena was so angry she could hardly speak, but she held it in: ¡°Anastasia, your resignation letter hasn¡¯t been signed by the executives yet. It hasn¡¯t taken effect. You¡¯re still an employee. I hope you¡¯lle back to work with me Making you go to the Eclipse Lounge was my mistake. I apologize for what I said before¡± This was a much better attitude than before Anastasia¡¯s eyes widened, as if the sun had suddenly risen from the west. First, the Ledford family apologized, and now Selena was here. What had happened? She was just a small fry, how did she make these big shots apologize to her? Anastasia said uncertainly. ¡°I didn¡¯t mishear, did 17 You¡¯re apologizing to me?¡± This world sure was weird. It always felt like she could do anything, no matter what difficulties she encountered. Selena gritted her teeth and said. ¡°I apologize for my impulsiveness before, I hope you cane back to work.¡± At this point, Anastasia really didn¡¯t know what to say She was a kind hearted person, who preferred to fight fire with water She can be tough when people were tough with her, but she can¡¯t be tough when people were gentle with her After a moment, Anastasia said, ¡°You¡¯re not trying to get me back just to give me a hard time again, are you?¡± Selena gritted her teeth and said, ¡°How dare 17 You¡¯ve got Mr. Victor backing you, how would I dare to give you trouble?¡± Hearing Mr. Victor¡¯s name, Anastasia finally understood what was going on. Earlier, Herman had mentioned that he and Victor were well acquainted. Apparently, Herman had spoken to Victor privately. She hadn¡¯t mentioned the dismissal before, but she hadn¡¯t expected Herman to have arranged everything for her ¡°I go change my clothes.¡± Anastasia didnt say much else. If Herman had paved the way for her, she definitely had to go to work. Chapter 115 Chapter 115 Chapter 115 Anastasia suggested that Selena should leave first, then she would go to thepany But Selena stubbornly waited at the door Anastasia had no choice but to go to the study to confirm with Herman first: ¡°Ourpany¡¯s chief designer Selena is waiting at the door. She came to pick me up for work, have you contacted our Mr Victor?¡± ¡°Yes¡± Herman calmly replied, ¡°I made a callst night. Also, about the Lunsford family, we don¡¯t need to work for them. As members of Elysian Technologies, we should have our own dignity. We shouldn¡¯t compromise ourselves because of their social status.¡± This wasnt merely a mention, it almost felt like amand. Anastasia hugged Hermans neck with gratitude: ¡°Herman, you¡¯re my lucky star, I just remembered, did you put in a good word for me during my Interview?¡± If she was sessful in the interview because of her own abilities, Anastasia would be very happy But if she seeded because of Herman¡¯s connections, she would feel very disappointed. Because that would mean, she wasn¡¯t hired because of her talent, but because of Herman What if she lost Herman one day? Herman knew what she was thinking, so he affectionately pinched her face and said, I¡¯m not that influential. I didn¡¯t discuss your interview with Mr. Victor. The reason I contacted Mr. Victor this time is because you didn¡¯t do anything wrong. Thepany shouldnt fire you. Selena is just getting personal¡± Anastasia looked at Herman for a while, then finally epted his words. 7 think I m on a roll recently, maybe I should buy a lottery ticket. By the way, the Ledford family¡¯s business suddenly went bankrupt, it¡¯s strange, such a big business, just went under like that. The bigger the business is, the greater the risk it cares. If mismanaged or investments fail, its highly possible for it to copse overnight.¡± Herman patiently exined. ¡°That is why they say business is like a battlefield.¡± Although Anastasia didn¡¯t quite understand, she still asked, ¡°Do you think apany as big as Elysian Technologies could go bankrupt one day?¡± Hermanughed and thought: this silly girl, actually hoping hispany would go bankrupt? He said ¡°For now, it shouldn¡¯t But business is unpredictable. I can¡¯t make any quarantees¡± ¡°I see.¡± Anastasia said, ¡°I go change my clothes then go back to thepany with Selena¡± ¡°Okay¡± Herman didn¡¯t tell Anastasia that he took three days off for her, ¡°Selena and you have a conflict, do you need me to talk to Victor to adjust your positions?¡± ¡°No need.¡± Anastasia said, ¡°Selena doesn¡¯t like me, that¡¯s because I¡¯m notpetent enough I can understand, she¡¯s worked hard to get to the position of chief designer, and I only have a high school diploma and became her subordinate, it¡¯s hard for her to ept. But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll make her change her mind about me.¡± ¡°Okay¡± Seeing the confidence emanating from Anastasia, Herman knew that her mental resilience wasnt as weak as he thought After Anastasia changed her clothes, she found that Selena was still waiting at the door. Anastasia walked to the elevator, and Selena said. The elevator does not work¡± Before she could finish her sentence, someone walked out of the elevator, it was working fine Anastasia looked at Selena with confusion, The elevator works¡± Selena was puzzled, when she came earlier, all four elevators were out of service, but now, after just ten minutes, they were all fixed? Anastasia walked into the elevator and greeted her, ¡°Selena?¡± Selena staggered into the elevator Herman stood on the balcony, watching Anastasia leave the building Of course, Selena didn¡¯t know that the elevators were fine all along, Herman just urately calcted her arrival time and temporarily had the property management shut down the elevators Herman¡¯s phone rang, it was a call from Victor, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, how should we deal with Selena?¡± Victor asked directly. Selena deliberately obstructed Anastasia at every turn, even though she knew the true nature of Everlee Lunsford and ke Ledford. This intentional targeting of Anastasia eventually led to the events that unfoldedter Herman remembered Anastasia¡¯s words and told Victor on the phone, ¡°No need to deal with her.¡± Victor said, ¡°But Selena, she,¡± Selena was obviously malicious towards Anastasia I believe, Anastasia can handle this herself¡± Since Herman said so, Victor naturally wouldn¡¯t say anything more. On the other hand. Anastasia returned to thepany, and the happiest person was undoubtedly Lauren. This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Lauren hugged Anastasia excitedly. ¡°Anastasia, you¡¯re back, that¡¯s great, I finally have someone to chit chat with again! By the way, after Selena kicked you out, Alessia from the sales department also called, asking Mr. Victor for help¡± Anastasia was very moved when she heard this. She had helped Alessia before, Alessia was still on maternity leave, but she still stood up for her without hesitation Just as Anastasia was about to speak, a colleague walked over ¡°Ms Jewell, Selena wants you in her office. Ms Lunsford is here, she wants you to design a ne for her¡± Chapter 116 Chapter 116 Chapter 116 From being addressed as some ¡°unknown female staff¡± to the title ¡°Ms. Jewell, such a huge change showed that people no longer looked down on Anastasia A person who managed to get the chief jewelry designer to seek advice from her, and who made the Ledford family father and son apologize personally to her, who would dare to belittle her? Who couldn¡¯t read the room in the workce? When Anastasia heard that Everfee specifically asked for her, she knew trouble was brewing. Regardless of the difficulties, Anastasia wasn¡¯t afraid, she immediately headed to the office. In the office. Everlee was elegantly dressed, sitting on a leather sofa, leisurely sipping coffee. Selena stood nearby, with thepany¡¯s recently designed best-selling products on the table, but none of them satisfied Everlee. Anastasia knocked and entered, calmly saying, ¡°Ms. Lunsford, Selena¡¯ Seeing Anastasia. Selena was full of smugness, saying, ¡°Ms. Lunsford wants us to design a ne for her, Ms. Jewell, why don¡¯t you take care of her.¡± Selena was eager to pass this tricky task to Anastasia. If she couldn¡¯t satisfy Everlee herself, then let Anastasia handle it. Selena stepped closer to Anastasia, lowered her voice, and sneered, ¡°Weren¡¯t you always wanting a chance to prove yourself? Here¡¯s your chance.¡± Anastasia realized then the previous bet was still in effect. This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Anastasia knew that Selena was forced by by her supervisor to get her back, but she still looked down on her and wanted her to leave. Selena grinned with satisfaction and left the office. Lauren was outside the office, seeing Selena leave alone, she said, ¡°Selena, aren¡¯t you being a bit too harsh? Anastasia is just an intern, you are clearly making things difficult for her.¡± ¡°Lauren, how am making things difficult for her? Everything I do is for thepany Ms Lunsford specifically asked for Anastasia, what can I do?¡± Selena fakeughed, Tsn¡¯t she the one who should be thankful for the chance given to her by her supervisor?¡± Lauren couldn¡¯t refute Selena and could only stare at her in anger Inside the office, Everiee didnt say a word, just staring straight at Anastasia. Anastasia calmly sat down and collected the best selling series design temtes from the table. Anastasia asked with a smile. ¡°Ms Lunsford, what kind of ne would you like to design?¡± Evelee arrogantly said, I¡¯m hungry, I want cake, you go buy it for me now Anastasia realized Everlee was deliberately causing trouble Anastasia replied with a smile, Tm sorry. Ms Lunsford, we don¡¯t provide food service here, and for an outside purchase, there¡¯s a strictpany policy that requires upper level approval It¡¯s a bit complicated¡± Everlee didn¡¯t expect Anastasia to reject her request, her expression fraze Everlee said angrily, ¡°Anastasia, I¡¯m your customer right now, the customer is god. I want cake now, you have to go buy it for me.¡± Anastasia still smiled, ¡®Ms. Lunsford, you haven¡¯t customized any jewelry at ourpany or purchased anything, you¡¯re not our customer yet¡± Everlee was stunned by Anastasias reply. Was there such logic? Everlee said furiously, I¡¯m your potential customer, with your service attitude, do you expect me to buy yourpany¡¯s products? Dream on!¡± Everlee intended to intimidate Anastasia with this, but she didn¡¯t expect Anastasia to get up and leave. Anastasia¡¯s actions werepletely unexpected for Everlee, she was very confused ¡°Anastasia, where are you going?¡± Everlee shouted at Anastasia. ¡°Stop! Im still here, how can you just leave?¡± Anastasia turned to look at her, feigning confusion, ¡®Didn¡¯t Miss Everlee just say she wasn¡¯t nning on ordering jewelry from ourpany? Then I naturally have to go do other things, I¡¯m really busy.¡± Everlee was annoyed Stimted by Anastasia, Everlee pulled out a card from her bag. ¡°Who says I¡¯m not ordering? This card has two hundred thousand dors in it, consider it my deposit, take it¡± Anastasia epted the card with a smile, then casually asking, ¡®So, Ms. Lunsford, any specific requests? What kind of ne do you want?¡± The change in attitude was so fast, Everlee just said she wasn¡¯t nning to order, Anastasia was ready to leave, since she wasn¡¯t nning to be a customer If Everlee didn¡¯t n to be their customer, why should Anastasia bother with her? The moment Everlee mentioned she wanted to order, Anastasia immediately put on a respectful customer service attitude, weing her with a smile. Only then did Everlee react, realizing that she had been yed by Anastasia and she was furious Chapter 117 Chapter 117 Chapter 117 Compared to Everlee¡¯s anger, Anastasia seemed quite chill and in a good mond Anastasia smiled, her tone genuinely sincere, much like a standard enthusiastic service personnel, with no hint of anything displeasing Everlee snorted, Tye seriously underestimated you¡¯ Anastasia replied humbly, ¡°You are ttering me. Serving our customers and ensuring their satisfaction is our mission.¡± Pointing at Anastasia, Eveilee questioned, ¡°Then how do you exin your attitude just now?¡± Anastasia smiled, ¡°My service extends only to ourpany¡¯s clients.¡± In other words, if she was not a client, there was no service to talk about In a war of words, Everlee didn¡¯t stand a chance against Anastasia as she couldn¡¯t match up to Anastasia¡¯s logical thinking. Everlee was furing. Whether it¡¯s LV or Hermes, big international brands like them wouldn¡¯t dare to speak to me like this, let alone show such disrespect!¡± Anastasia just smiled. ¡®Ms. Lunsford, ourpany¡¯s mission is: we care more about destiny and opportunity, not so much about social status. If we can¡¯t strike a deal with a client, we can¡¯t force them¡± Herman¡¯s words had given Anastasia courage. As an employee of Elysian Technologies, even if she worked in a branch office, she could not afford to lose dignity for herself or for thepany ¡°Howe I wasn¡¯t aware of this?¡± Anastasia replied seriously. ¡°That¡¯s because thepany hasnt announced it yet.¡± Realizing she was being yed with again, Everlee was livid. Everlee, who was always the apple of everyone¡¯s eye, was flustered for the frst time. All content is ? N0velDrama.Org. Laughing out of anger, Everlee challenged, ¡°Fine, I hope your skills match your eloquence. It¡¯s two in the afternoon now, you guys clock out at five. If you can design the ne | want before you leave today, I¡¯ll leave you alone. Otherwise. Il file aint.¡± Design a ne within three hours? It wasn¡¯t impossible. But Everlee was clearly being a pain in the ass, and no matter what Anastasia designed, Everlee could just say, ¡®I¡¯m not satisfied¡± and get her into trouble. Anastasia didn¡¯t respond right away Everlee said mockingly, ¡°What, can¡¯t handle it? Weren¡¯t you all high and mighty at Eclipse Lounge? Even ke lost to you. Now ke¡¯s sick because of you,ying in the hospital. Anastasia, I¡¯m curious to see what kind of wizard you are to make ke apologize to you,¡± Anastasia calmly met Everlee¡¯s jealous gaze, ¡°So, you came here today for ke?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Everlee didn¡¯t deny, ¡®Anastasia, who gave you the right to order someone to chop off his fingers?¡± Anastasia retorted, ¡°And who gave you the right to stand up for ke?¡± Everlee was lost for words, her feelings for ke were a secret she kept to herself. Anastasia continued. Tll ept your request. Before I clock out today, I¡¯ll give you a design you¡¯re satisfied with¡± Everlee snorted, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll stick around and see how capable you really are.¡± ¡°I¡¯m honored to have Ms. Lunsford¡¯spany¡± Anastasia said this on purpose to irritate Everlee. As expected, Everlee was pissed off again. Anastasia smiled, took a piece of A4 paper, a pen, sat down, and began mulling over it. ¡°Ms. Lunsford, do you have any specific requests? Or what kind of ne would you like?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure, you can design it as you please. But if I¡¯m not satisfied, be prepared for aint.¡± This woman was clearly trying to pick a fight. However, Anastasia didn¡¯t get angry, instead she patiently thought about the design. Outside the office, Selena was waiting for the oue. She thought, given Everlee¡¯s personality, Anastasia must be having a hard time. But as time ticked away, there was not a peep from the office. Curious, Selena approached the office window, hoping to sneak a peek inside. Just as she was about to peek through the window, Anastasia¡¯s face suddenly appeared on the ss, smiling at her Selena was startled and before Anastasia could say anything, she quickly pulled the blinds shut. Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Selena stormed off, itching to see what tricks Anastasia had up her sleeve to handle Everlee Victor got wind of Everlee¡¯s antics at thepany against Anastasia and promptly spilled the beans to Herman. Herman responded nonchntly. ¡°You don¡¯t have to stick your nose in. Let Anastasia do her thing. As long as she¡¯s happy, it¡¯s all good¡± Herman¡¯s words made him sound like a king who couldn¡¯t rule for toffee. While Victor knew that Anastasia relied on Herman, he wasn¡¯t entirely aware of the specifics of their rtionship and was now making some guesses It seemed he needed to pull out all the stops in front of the future wife of his president. Herman hung up and nned to return to Salstrom Manor. He called his driver to wait at the gate of hismunity and stepped out. As Herman emerged from the building and passed by the children¡¯s yground in themunity, a little girl suddenly tugged at his sleeve. Herman looked down at the little girl. She was around four years old, with delicate features, giving him a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. The little girl was skinny, her face was not chubby, and she looked malnourished. Her clothes were faded from washing, and her short hair was unevenly cut, indicating it wasn¡¯t the handy work of a professional hairdresser. The little girl didn¡¯t speak, just stared at Herman, and pointed to a tree Herman looked up and saw a kite stuck in the tree. Herman asked, ¡°Do you want me to get that kite for you?¡± The little girl didnt speak but nodded, expressing her wish. Herman looked at the girl. Her clear eyes, tinged with a little timidity, stirred a sense of unease and familiarity in him, Noticing Hermanis hesitation, the little girl shook his sleeve, acting coy and somewhat desperate, as if afraid Herman wouldn¡¯t lend a hand. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get the kite for you! Hearing this, the little girl beamed with joy, her eyes sparkling. She was adorable. This left Herman somewhat dazed, as the girl reminded him of Anastasia when she was little. He quickly averted his gaze and gave the girl a smile. The little girl froze for a moment, she felt warmth in this stranger, the kind of warmth that felt like a father¡¯s love. The kite was stuck high up in the tree. Herman found a stick and after much effort, he managed to dislodge it. However, the kite was torn by the branches. Seeing her damaged kite, the little girl started to cry ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Herman, inexperienced with dealing with children, didn¡¯t know how tofort her and felt at a loss. The little girl shook her head, clung tightly to the kite, gave Herman a bow, and then ran off Herman was a little confused, his gazes subconsciously tracing the little girl¡¯s figure The girl ran to a woman pushing a stroller The woman saw the girl and gave her a hard pinch on her arm, seeming to scold her. The little girl lowered her head, not crying out despite the pain, and silently followed the woman. Seeing the girl being mistreated, Herman felt a pang in his heart. That was when he heard someone gossiping next to him. ¡°That poor girl! How can her mother favor her son so much?¡± ¡°Yeah, you can tell she¡¯s malnourished. Breaks !!!? heart¡± ¡°Is that her own child? How can she treat her like that?¡± ¡°That girl I haven¡¯t heard her speak in so long, I¡¯m afraid she might be mute if this continues¡± Herman frowned, nced in the direction the girl had gone, and approached the gossiping olddies, asking, ¡°Sorry to interrupt, does that little girl live in thismunity?¡± One of the olddies said, ¡°Yes, she lives on the 18th floor of building 6. That poor child, her mother always favors her own son.¡± ¡°Yes, before their son was born, the couple was quite nice to her. But ever since their own child was born, she¡¯s been neglected. Last winter, she was even punished by standing on the balcony all night¡± Herman asked, ¡°What¡¯s the girls name?¡± The olddy said, ¡°I don¡¯t know her real name, but she¡¯s nicknamed Pattie.¡± Just then, another chatty olddy chimed in, ¡°I heard that child was adopted by the couple. They had been childless for many years and consulted a fortune teller. The fortune-teller told them that adopting a child would help them conceive, it¡¯s some kind of superstition¡± Chapter 119 Chapter 119 Chapter 119 Out in the sticks, some folks reckoned that adopting a kid can help a woman get pregnant naturally Especially those couples who had been married for years but still hadn¡¯t had a kid, they¡¯d opt to adopt one from an orphanage. They believed that kids were God sent gifts to help them settle down. Though it was just a superstition, there were actually quite a few sess stories out there However, life can get real tough for those adopted kids once their foster parents had a child of their own They can¡¯t return to the orphanage, and their foster parents fell burdened by their presence because they were not blood rted and thus, were not keen on taking care of them. Herman wasn¡¯t the type to gossip about other people¡¯s family affairs, nor was he overly sympathetic. But when he heard about Pattie¡¯s situation, he was ticked off He instinctively wanted to know more about Pattie But those olddies only knew hearsay, they didn¡¯t know the specifics. After all it was someone else¡¯s family business, and Herman didn¡¯t want to poke his nose into it At the office It was already half past four, only half an hour left till the end of the workday. Anastasia was engrossed in drafting a design, while Everlee was trying to sneak a peek but was blocked by Anastasia Anastasia smiled and said. ¡°Ms. Lunsford, no need to rush, times not up yet.¡± Everlee scoffed, ¡°Only half an hour left, let s see what you can pull out of your hat.¡± Half an hourter, Anastasia stopped painting, as if she were taking an exam. When the time was up, she put down her brush and ¡°submitted her work. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Anastasia stood up and gently blew off the dust on her design draft. Everlee couldn¡¯t wait to look over, only to see Anastasia had drawn a flower Upon seeing this, Everlee was instantly irked and said, ¡°Anastasia are you pulling my leg? What kind of design is this? Is this all the capability Elysian Technologies designers have?¡± Anastasia responded calmly, ¡°Ms. Lunsford, don¡¯t rush, do you know what flower this is?¡± Everlee nced at it disdainfully, she had clearly seen it, Isn¡¯t this a gardenia? | asked you to design a ne, why are you drawing a gardenia for me? If I want any flower, can¡¯t I simply buy it? Do I need you to design a fake flower for me?¡± Anastasia calmly replied. ¡°You can indeed buy any flower you want. But can you just pick any man you fancy¡± This left Everlee stunned, her face turning beet red in embarrassment. Anastasia held up her design draft and continued, ¡°I know what kind of ne Ms. Lunsford wants. The pendant of this ne is a sphere, inside the sphere is a gardenia. When you put the ne around your neck, the gardenia will be closest to your heart.¡± Everlee disdainfully said, ¡°I don¡¯t like it.¡± The flowernguage of gardenia is a love that silently protects.¡± Anastasia cut Everlee off, continuing, ¡°The leaves of the gardenia are evergreen throughout the four seasons, enduring storms without wilting, its blooming seems casual, but in fact, it has waited for three quarters. This is like how you silently quard and love ke¡± Everlee was taken aback. How do you,¡± ¡°How did I know you have feelings for ke? Anastasia smiled and replied, ¡°When someone falls in love with another person, the feelings can be seen in their eyes. That night at the Eclipse Lounge, I saw your affection for ke. Orly in front of the one you love would you rein in your temper. You¡¯re usually assertive, but that night you were particrly quiet, when ke ran into troubles, you looked especially worried¡± Her affection for ke was a secret Everlee had harbored for years. When Anastasia revealed this secret, Everlee feltpletely exposed in front of Anastasia. Everlee said, ¡°Even if what you said is true. I still don¡¯t like your design.¡± ¡°Everyone has their own secrets. Your secret will be kept in this crystal ball, in this gardenia, ced closest to your heart. Anastasia said, ¡°Having a crush on someone is both hard and blissful, whether you like it or not, its up to you to decide¡± Everlee asked, ¡°How did you beat ke at the Eclipse Lounge that night?¡± Everlee still couldnt figure this out Anastasia candidly replied. ¡°The dart board had a ma inside. For people like you, there¡¯s always someone trying to please you. Do you really like being puppets for others to y? Dignity is something you have to fight for yourself, it can¡¯t be given by others. I didn¡¯t mean to stand against you.¡± Everlee fell silent. ¡°Ms. Lunsford, I hope all your wishese true.¡± Anastasia handed the design draft to Everlee, then left the office. Anastasia had been working in the office for three hours. When she came out, she found her colleagues were still there, all waiting for the result. They all wanted to know if Anastasia could win Everlee¡¯s approval. Selena came over, her face expressionless as she asked, ¡°How did it go? Did Ms. Lunsford like it? Don¡¯t forget about our bet.¡± At this moment, Everlee came out from the office. Anastasia didn¡¯t answer Selena¡¯s question, instead she let Everlee announce the result. 4 All eyes were on Everlee Chapter 120 Chapter 120 Chapter 120 At this moment, Everlee determined Anastasias fate Upon seeing Everlee¡¯s displeased face, Selena was overjoyed. With a client as challenging and delicate as this, how could Anastasia possibly had convinced her within just three hours without offending her? Selena was certain that Anastasia was losing her bet and would be leaving thepany soon ¡°Ms. Lunsford, if you¡¯re not satisfied with Anastasia¡¯s design, I can make a ne that you¡¯ll like¡± Everlee nced at Selena and arrogantly responded, ¡°With your skills, I¡¯m not sure how you even became the chief designer. It¡¯s about time Elysian Technologies Jewelry Design Department got a new lead. Your designs are so outdated. How can such mediocre designs ever surt me? A child could scribble something better¡± After being publicly humiliated, Selenas face darkened in an instant. However, she couldn¡¯t refort and could only force a faint smile. ¡°Ms. Lunsford, perhaps there was some mimunication about what you wanted¡± In saying this, she was trying to shift the me onto Everlee Ignoring her, Everlee walked to Anastasia and returned the design. Tll take this one. I look forward to seeing the final product.¡± Everlee¡¯s decision surprised everyone in the room Anastasia had actually convinced the notoriously difficult Ms. Lunsford? The chief designer¡¯s sketches had been criticized by Everlee as worse than a child¡¯s drawing, but Anastasias draft was immediately approved. That was unbelievable Selena¡¯s face turned even paler as she stormed over and snatched the design. She wanted to see what kind of design Anastasia had created that satisfied Everlee Upon seeing the design. Selena incredulously questioned Anastasia. Your design is this simple?¡± Anastasias pendant design was indeed very simple,pletely different from the luxurious and intricate designs Selena had previously made Selena was unconvinced A simple ne design had satisfied Everlee? Anastasia replied, ¡°Sometimes simplicity in purity. And the purer something is, the more genuine it seems. Just like when you love someone. Love shouldn¡¯t be mixed with other interests it¡¯s about giving and sincere feelings These words were meant for Everine They revealed Everlee¡¯s true self Impatient to see the final product, Everlee asked Anastasia, ¡°How long before I can see the actual jewellery?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re willing to expedite the order, it can be ready in a month,¡± Anastasia said. Ms Lunsford, I havent mentioned the price yet¡± ¡°Is there anything I cant afford? Everlee dismissed her ¡®Just get it made Money is not an issue Deliver it to my house in a month. Also, this ne should be exclusively made for me, one of a kind in the world Anastasia smiled. No problem Ms Lunsford Take care Everlee left without causing any more trouble for Anastasia Although she was not clear about Anastasia¡¯s background, she knew that ke had warned her not to confront Anastasia directly Everlee always listened to ke, and both the Ledford family¡¯s father and son had apologized to her, so despite being capricious at times, she was reasonable Her visit to thepany was purely to vent her dissatisfaction and trouble Anastasia Content ? N?velDrama.Org. But when Anastasia designed the ne and urately guessed her thoughts, her opinion of Anastasia changed After Everlee left, Lauren eximed. ¡°Anastasia, you are amazing, even managing to convince such a difficult client! I would like to see who dares to say you are not cut out for jewellery design now! Thest sentence was meant for Selena Selena¡¯s face turned ashen, and the others didn¡¯t dare to praise Anastasia too much because of her presence Grinding her teeth, Selena warned, ¡°Anastasia, don¡¯t get too cocky. You just got lucky Convincing Everlee doesnt mean you¡¯re a qualified jewellery designer¡± Anastasia responded calmly, ¡°You¡¯re right, Chief Designer I¡¯ve still got a lot to learn, I¡¯ll need your guidance in the future¡± Anastasia¡¯s humility was genuine. This time, she had indeed urately caught Everlee¡¯s intention and seeded. But she knew her journey in jewellery design was still long Selena left with a poker face. Watching her retreating figure, Laurenmented. That witch! She¡¯s ipetent and refuses to admit others are better¡± Lauren, Selena must have some remarkable talents to be in her current position¡± Lauren disagreed. Her talent is exploiting her subordinates. She hasn¡¯t designed anything herself for a long time I heard she got her current position by stealing a college student¡¯s design¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t know about these things Just as she was about to speak, a call from Herman came in Chapter 121 Chapter 121 Chapter 121 Herman, being the thoughtful hubby he was, was already waiting downstairs to pick up Anastasia from work. Man, there was nothing like having her man pick her up from work it was like a scene straight out of a rom! Anastasia, in high spirits, told Herman on the phone, Til be right down.¡± After hanging up, Lauren joked, ¡°Your hubby¡¯s here to get you? What a catch! Girl, you lucked out.¡± Some people who were previously unaware of Anastasia¡¯s marriage now knew about it as well Anastasia¡¯s beauty had the gals green with envy. Sometimes, a woman¡¯s jealousy was just too hard to exin. But now that they knew Anastasia was off the market, the green-eyed monster had calmed down a bit. 1 gotta stop yapping and head out, Anastasia said with a smile. He¡¯s taking me to meet his pals tonight.¡± ¡°Off you go,¡± Lauren said, clearly envious. ¡°Lucky you, having someone to look out for you and watch your back.¡± Anastasia grinned, gathered her stuff and headed downstairs. Herman was waiting by his Chevy parked curbside. Seeing the car, Anastasia¡¯s heart fluttered and she quickened her pace. There was a saying that held true when loved someone, one couldn¡¯t wait to be by their side. Herman saw Anastasia approaching in the rearview mirror, gave a small smile and got out to open the door for her. ¡°Why are you running? Watch your step.¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t wait to see you said Anastasia, not holding back her affections for Herman ¡°I have good news. I¡¯ve designed a ne that Everlee loves. You should¡¯ve seen Selena¡¯s face change when she saw it¡± Ever since meeting Herman, Anastasia felt like everything was falling into ce. No matter what the obstacles were, they always managed to ovee them. Today was no different. She was content and filled with joy Herman pulled Anastasia in for a kiss. ¡°My wife, you¡¯re the best. Consider this your reward.¡± This bold move made Anastasia blush in broad daylight. She yfully smacked Herman¡¯s chest, ¡°Get in the car! It¡¯d be embarrassing if someone we know saw us.¡± Herman chuckled and made a gentlemanly gesture, ¡°Mydy, after you¡± Anastasia was amused andughed, responding. ¡°Sure. My lord,¡± and got in the car When being in love, even the wind smelled sweet. Anastasia was living proof of that Once they were on the road, Anastasia asked, ¡°Where are we going for dinner? Who¡¯s this friend of yours? is what I¡¯m wearing okay?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s an old friend, reassured Herman, holding her hand. ¡°It¡¯s just a casual dinner, Rx you look stunning.¡± Feeling relieved, Anastasia cheerfully said, ¡°Herman, I think you¡¯re my lucky charm. Since meeting you, all my problems seem to solve themselves. Herman smiled. Then III have to protect you, so your life will always be this smooth¡± Talk about a heart-warmer. Anastasia was touched. As she looked at him, she saw the love of her life Herman let Anastasia look at him. When they stopped at a traffic light, he leaned in and whispered, ¡®Tonight, when we get home, I¡¯ll let you have an even closer look.¡± Anastasia Was stunned for a while, ¡°You have a dirty mind,¡± Anastasia said, yfully smacking Herman. ¡°So, the gentleman act was a facade, huh?¡± Who would¡¯ve thought that Herman, who always seemed so upright, had a wicked sense of humor? Herman held her hand and gave it a light kiss, Im just being honest.¡± Before they knew it, they had arrived at the restaurant. was a discreet private-dish restaurant located in prime Riverdale real estate. The restaurant was tastefully decorated, oozing luxury without being ostentatious The restaurants Herman took Anastasia to were getting fancier and fancier Before, she was afraid to look at the prices on the menu. Now, she was even afraid to tread lightly. Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Because the tiles under her feet were worth thousands of bucks a pop. If she broke one, she couldn¡¯t afford to rece it Anastasia whispered to Herman, ¡°You said this is a private-dish restaurant. Do you think they use the tiles as a kind of investment? Why would they put such expensive tiles on the floor? What if someone breaks one?¡± Harman, amused by Anastasia¡¯s humor, and reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if a tile breaks, it s the owner¡¯s problem. My friend¡¯s treating us today, so order whatever you want. Don¡¯t worry about the price. He may not have much, but he¡¯s got money to burn* If Collin Witt heard that, he¡¯d be fuming. Wasn¡¯t that insulting? Comparing wealth with Herman, a billionaire, was like asking for trouble. Herman¡¯s fortune, known to the public as the Lunsford family wealth, was just the tip of the iceberg. After all, whatpany would put all its assets on disy? Wealth was best kept under wraps. Chapter 122 Chapter 122 Chapter 122 Herman, hand in hand with Anastasia, reassured her as he led her to the door of the private room. Anastasia nced at the name on the door: ¡°Drchid Pavilion¡± All the private rooms here were named after flowers Herman opened the door, and a strong ssical vor hit them, along with a table full of delicious food. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. The meal was pre arranged by Herman and Collin so that Anastasia could start enjoying it the moment she arrived, no waiting necessary. All the dishes were prepared ording to Anastasia¡¯sste Collin, surprised to see Herman bringing Anastasia, stood up: ¡°Herman, your wife is even more beautiful than in photos, Hello, I¡¯m Collin, Herman¡¯s friend, nice to meet you¡¯ Seeing Anastasia, Collin finally understood why Herman was so into her. She was so beautiful and radiant that anyone would be eager to marry her, including himself. Anastasia, in her custom-madece dress paired with a vest, looked lively and cute. With her delicate features and creamy skin, she looked like a heroine straight out of aic book Collin reached out to shake hands with Anastasia, Just when she was about to extend her hand, Herman beat her to it and shook Collin¡¯s hand. introducing: This is my wife, Anastasia! Straight to the paint. Collin pulled back his hand in mock exaggeration: ¡°Herman, you¡¯re too possessive, I was just going to shake hands with your wife, and you got all jealous We¡¯re friends, man, no big deal¡± Anastasia chuckled, noticing Hermans strong possessiveness. Herman stated seriously ¡°Only I can hold my wife¡¯s hand.¡± Nobody else was allowed to touch ¡°Preferring love over friendship, huh?¡± Collin teased and then pulled out a chair for Anastasia to sit. Herman had already pulled out the chair next to him, he wanted to take care of his wife personally. Collin Was speechless, and he had nothing to say to that Anastasia chose to sit on the chair that Herman had pulled out for her and said to Collin That¡¯s just how Herman is, he gets easily jealous Don¡¯t mind himTM ¡°Dont worry, I wouldn¡¯t dare to offend him, he¡¯s got too many tricks up his sleeve Collinughed and sat down, saying ¡°Herman, you really know how to hide a gem it¡¯s a shame that I¡¯m only meeting you now¡± Herman shot a nce at Collin: ¡°You should consider yourself lucky to be dining here.¡± Indeed, not everyone is as lucky as me to see you in person. Collin knew this all too well If someone didn¡¯t have a good rtionship with Herman, they wouldn¡¯t be qualified to meet Anastasia personally. While they were talking, the door to the private room was pushed open again, and this time a beautiful woman walked in. The woman walked in smiling, ignoring Anastasia, her eyesnded on Herman Herman, long time no see. Herman nced at the woman, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, then looked at Collin Collin felt a bit guilty and said: ¡°I ran into Julie Brown by chance. She heard we were having dinner here and insisted oning.¡± This woman was Julie, the heiress to the Riverdale Brown Corporation. The Brown family and the Salstrom family were somewhat acquainted. Before Herman and Anastasia got married, Katelyn Salstrom had shown Herman a picture of Julie, who was one of Herman¡¯s previous blind date candidates. But she was just one of many candidates chosen by Katelyn for Herman, and Herman never actually dated her. Collin assured Herman in a low voice: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve already talked to Julie, she wont cause any trouble.¡± However, it didn¡¯t take long for Collin to realize he was wrong. Anastasia looked curiously from Herman to Julie. Her intuition told her that the rtionship between Herman and this woman was definitely not simple. Sure enough, Julie confidently extended her hand to Anastasia and introduced herself: ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Julie, one of Herman¡¯s previous blind dates. I heard Herman got married, so I came to see what kind of exceptional woman could capture his heart. Indeed, seeing is believing. If I were a man, I would want to marry you too.¡± The point was, she was one of Herman¡¯s blind dates. Anastasia looked at Herman. She had heard from Katelyn and the dating site that Herman had been on many blind dates in the past. She didn¡¯t expect to run into one of Herman¡¯s previous blind date candidates here. And although Julie seemed generous on the surface, her words were somewhat unsettling. Just as Herman was about to speak, Anastasia calmly extended her hand, smiling warmly: ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Anastasia, Herman¡¯s wife.¡± Chapter 123 Chapter 123 Chapter 123 With just a simple sentence from Anastasia, Julie was feeling all knotted up inside. Anastasia had just owned her. Herman was initially worried, but after witnessing Anastasia¡¯s swift and carefuleback, he let out a sigh of relief Anastasia always had a way with words, always getting the upper hand The blind date was no biggie, as Anastasia was Hermans one and only, legally protected wife Julie was clearly flustered, she had met her match and was so rattled she couldn¡¯t even speak, she just maintained a smile Herman exined to Anastasia, ¡®My aunt had introduced me to a lot of people, showed me a lot of photos. She was worried I couldn¡¯t find a wife¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Seeing Herman so eager to exin, Anastasia didn¡¯t press further, saying. My aunt did the same to me too She also had a few blind dates, there was no need for her to argue with Herman about this. They had met through a blind date, and now that she was Herman¡¯s wife, there was no point arguing with Julie Collin, covering half his face, and winked at Julie. He was just quietly eating, knowing that if he dared to speak more, Herman would have a bone to pick with himter Julie sat down. She had lost her appetite and was silent for the whole meal, just quietly observing the interaction between Herman and Anastasia. Anastasia was eating heartily, with Herman taking care of her throughout the meal, even deboning the fish for her. Collinmented, ¡°This meal is giving me indigestion. I need to find a girlfriend tofort me Sister- inw, this is the first time I¡¯ve seen Herman so patient and caring, you¡¯ve really trained him well¡¯ Anastasia blushed andughed, ¡°Is that so?¡± Herman peeled a shrimp and ced it in Anastasia¡¯s bowl, saying: ¡°It really depends on the situation. The way I treat my wife, of course, would differ from how I treat my friends. Collin gave a thumbs up, asking, ¡°When are you guys nning the wedding?¡± Anastasia was about to say there won¡¯t be a wedding, but Herman beat her to it, ¡°We¡¯ll send out the invitations, just have your wedding gifts ready¡± Was Herman really nning a wedding? Anastasia hadn¡¯t heard about this before Maybe this was just Hermans way of chatting with his friends, so she didn¡¯t say much else. Collin said, ¡°Of course I¡¯ll have the gifts ready. Let¡¯s make a pact, I¡¯ll be your best man,¡± Herman said, ¡°If you want to be the best man, you have to give a bigger gift. Collin was dumbfounded, ¡°Isn¡¯t the best man supposed to be hired, receiving money and gifts? Why do I have to pay?¡± Herman nonchntly replied, ¡°That¡¯s the treatment for other peoples best men. My best man spot is in high demand. If you don¡¯t want to be the best man, there are others willing to be¡± Anastasiaughed at the side, and Collin gave in, ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll foot the bill.¡± Julie finally found an opportunity to chime in, ¡°Ms. Jewell, let me be your bridesmaid then.¡± Anastasia was taken aback, she wasn¡¯t close with Julie, not to mention Julie was Herman¡¯s previous blind date. It would be inappropriate for her to be the bridesmaid. But before Anastasia could refuse, Herman spoke up for her, ¡°You¡¯re not suitable to be the bridesmaid.¡± His blunt words made Julie¡¯s face turn red. Seeing this, Collin said, ¡°She already has someone in mind for her bridesmaid. Julie, you¡¯re toote.¡± This was to save Julie some dignity and ease her embarrassment Jule awkwardlyughed, ¡°What a pity¡± Herman¡¯s previous words had also surprised Anastasia He seemed too blunt But those who knew Herman knew that he never minced words when it came to people and things he didn¡¯t care about For those with ill intentions, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to reject them In order not to make Anastasia ufortable from eating too much, Herman, seeing that she had almost finished eating, said. Tve got movie tickets, we can go to the movies after dinner¡± Anastasia was a bit baffled, she didn¡¯t know there was a date nned after dinner. Hearing that they were going to the movies, Collin tactfully said, ¡°I won¡¯t interrupt your date then. Anastasia, let¡¯s exchange contact info. Come for a meal here when you¡¯re free. This restaurant is mine, you eat for free! Hearing that the restaurant was Collins, Anastasia remembered she had previously said it was a scam, and immediately leh embarrassed Anastasia took out her phone, and they added each other on WhatsApp. Herman held Anastasia¡¯s bag and her hand, then told Collin, ¡°We¡¯re leaving.¡± Herman didn¡¯t even give Julie a second look when he left. As long as Anastasia was there, his eyes were only on her. After they left, Collin said to Julie, ¡°You see that? You can call it quits now.¡± Chapter 124 Chapter 124 Chapter 124 Julie sneered, ¡°Herman¡¯s just killing time with her. That woman doesn¡¯t have a clue about who Herman really is. Obviously, Herman¡¯s keeping it a secret to give himself some cover. He¡¯s just hanging out with her to pass the time. Once the novelty wears off, she¡¯ll be tossed aside.¡± Collin shook his head,ughing. You really don¡¯t get guys, do you?¡± Julie looked sour, ¡®How can a woman like that be good enough for Herman? How can she be the lady of the Salstrom family?¡± ¡°Whether she¡¯s good enough or not isn¡¯t for you to decide, but Herman¡¯s decision, Collin stood up, smirking, ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ve alreadymitted to being the best man.¡± Collin took a few steps away, then added, ¡°By the way, a man like Herman doesn¡¯t need his partner to add any extra sparkle to his economic power. He can make any choice he wants as long as ites from the heart and it¡¯s someone he really likes. The more pure hearted the woman, the more likable she is.¡± When someone was on top and living in the cutthroat world of business, socializing can be draining. At times like these, they longed for someone simpler. Anastasia was that kind of woman. And Collin noticed during dinner that while it seemed Herman was always looking after Anastasia, she was also looking after him, worrying about him over little things. Julie snorted, ¡°Well, we ll see how long their rtionshipsts. Maybe that woman¡¯s just putting on a show. She¡¯s just a good actress.¡± Collin didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he asked, ¡°Did you notice when Anastasia was serving food to Herman, she specifically picked out thetro? Do you know why she did that?¡± Julie hadn¡¯t noticed, and she didn¡¯t know why She asked subconsciously, ¡°Why?¡± Collin just chuckled, not answering Julie had always imed to love Herman The Brown family and the Salstrom family had some connections, and this wasn¡¯t their first time dining together. But she didn¡¯t even know that Herman was allergic totro. Anastasia and Herman left Collins private-dish restaurant and went to a private cinema Learning from their previous experience, Herman made full preparations this time. He chose a private cinema room where they could lie on a big bed to watch movies This seemed to be designed specifically for couples Anastasia held a bucket of popcorn, looked at the big bed in front of her, then at the huge screen. ¡°Herman, how did you find out about this cinema?¡± This didnt seem like watching a movie, more likeying down to rest. If they were watching a movie with explicit scenes, it would be Herman said earnestly, ¡°I stumbled upon this cinema while reading reviews online. The reviews were good, so I chose it. Shall we start the movie now?¡± ¡°What movie did you choose?¡± Anastasia wanted to decide whether to watch based on the type of movie. Herman took out two movie tickets, saying, ¡°It¡¯s an action crime documentary, with elements of suspense.¡± Anastasia nodded, ¡°Sounds good, should be exciting. As long as it wasn¡¯t a romance likest time, she was worried Herman would make a move on the spot. The lights in the movie room were dim, and they started watching the movie lying on the bed, Herman had his arm around Anastasia, and Anastasia was nestled in Herman¡¯s arms. The first half of the movie was okay, but the second half started to deviate. Despite being a crime documentary, the suggestive scenes were more exciting than the movie they watchedst time. When the suggestive scenes appeared, Anastasia¡¯s heartbeat quickened. She felt someone¡¯s hand starting to wander around her waist. Anastasia pretended to be calm, not responding, but Herman¡¯s behavior became more and more excessive, even reaching inside her clothes In the end, the movie ended, but Anastasia didn¡¯t see the ending. When they left the cinema, Anastasia¡¯s cheeks were still flushed from embarrassment. She red at Herman, then said, ¡°I have to go to the bathroom,¡± Herman said contentedly. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you at the door¡± Anastasia took her bag to the washroom. Because of the excessive activity just now, her thighs were a bit sore. Now every time she saw Herman, she felt weak in the knees. Anastasia retouched her makeup, fixed her hair and clothes, then went out. Unexpectedly, she ran into a familiar face around the corner. Demi was surprised to see Anastasia and seemed a bit flustered This cinema was mainly for couples, and most of the audience were couples. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Arpstasia was surprised to see Demi here. She thought Cason should still be in the hospital, so who was Demi here with? Anastasia stared at Derni without speaking. Demi saw Anastasia alone, remembering what Cason had said, her eyes immediately filled with contempt. and disdain. ¡°I never would have guessed that our former prom queen sure knows how to have fun, huh. Chapter 125 Chapter 125 Chapter 125 ¡°Same old.¡± Anastasia replied with a smirk, her words dripping with insincerity. She¡¯d grown tired of Demi at their previous school reunion. Demi, smiling a closed lip smile, said subtly, ¡°You¡¯re too modest.¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. She walked up to Anastasia, her eyes falling on her belly, and hinted, ¡°Watch out, you might end up with blood on your hands.¡± Anastasia¡¯s face turned sour. ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about¡± What did she mean? Blood on her hands? Demi replied with a sarcastic tone, ¡°Well, I certainly can¡¯tpete with your luck. A woman like you snagging a husband like Herman, it¡¯s just not fair. Don¡¯t pretend, the truth alwayses out¡± A woman who once had a messy private life and dropped out of school due to a pregnancy bagged the most influential man in Riverdale. This kind of luck was both admirable and envy-inducing Demis ambiguous words confused Anastasia. Not wanting to argue, she bypassed Demi and headed for the exit. Deini¡¯s voice echoed from behind, ¡°The higher you climb, the harder you fall, Anastasia. I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± Anastasia had Hermans backing, so Demi didn¡¯t dare to really harm her. She could only vent through words. Anastasia truly didn¡¯t understand what Demi meant. She¡¯d never been on a high pedestal, how could she fall? Demi¡¯s words didn¡¯t bother Anastasia much. It was just a minor hup. Seeing Herman waiting for her at the door, she put Demi at the back of her mind. At the hospital. It was 10 pm, Demi visited Cason, ¡°Had client meetings today, bit hectic. Sorry I¡¯mte. How¡¯s your recovery?¡± Cason nced at Demi¡¯s clothes, ¡°You werent wearing this this morning¡± He¡¯d seen on social media that Demi was wearing a white dress in the morning, but now, she was in pants. ¡°Well, I spilled something on it, had to change. Demi attempted to change the subject, ¡°By the way, you mentioned Anastasia had a child before. What do you think would happen if Herman found out?¡± Cason said grimly. ¡°Don¡¯t meddle in this. I have my own n.¡± Despite Monica telling Cason the whole story, and Cason initially felt sorry for Anastasia, considering her past and how he was wronged by Herman, he hadn¡¯t given up his n. He was in debt of 80 million. Herman was Cason¡¯sst straw. He had to get Herman to pay off the debt. Anastasia was his bargaining chip. Demi said, ¡°Just curious, you¡¯ll be discharged in half a month, what about your creditors.¡± Cason cut her off coldly, ¡®I told you, it¡¯s none of your business.¡± Demi kept her mouth shut. In the following days, Anastasia and Herman¡¯s rtionship grew stronger Katelyn, who once helped tidy up their room, found out they¡¯d started sharing a bed and couldn¡¯t help but giggle. Looked like she might get a grandchild soon. Katelyn shared the good news with the Salstrom family at the Salstrom Manor, even Feiman was pleased. Anastasia sessfullypleted Everlee¡¯s project, her status within thepany rose, and her colleagues¡¯ attitude towards her changed significantly Selena had always been critical of Anastasia. Selena¡¯s creativity hit a dead end and she couldn¡¯t produce new designs. When she passed Anastasia¡¯s desk, she noticed a few design drafts that caught her attention. Although Anastasia didn¡¯t have a professional background, she was incredibly talented and innovative in jewelry design. The casual drafts on her desk made Selena both admire and envy. Selena was highlypetitive, as the chief designer, she wouldn¡¯t let anyone surpass her Seeing no one around during lunchtime when the design department staff was in the cafeteria, Selena carefully memorized the drafts before silently returning to her own office. Anastasia had already had lunch and was on the phone with Herman. Herman had to go on a business trip for a few days. Anastasia¡¯s mood took a turn for the worse but she didn¡¯t show it. Habits can be scary. She¡¯d gotten used to having Herman by her side every day. The thought of him being away for a few days made her feel empty. Anastasia refurned to the office with Lauren, who had overheard Anastasia¡¯s phone conversation with Herman. Seeing her upset, Lauren jokingly said, ¡°You can¡¯t bear to be apart from him, can you? You seem like you really want to be by his side all the time.¡± ¡°No.¡± Anastasia blushed. As they stepped out of the elevator, they bumped into a man carrying adder from the fire exit. A colleagueing out of the secretary¡¯s office told the man, ¡°Harmon, there¡¯s a light out in the computer room. Can you fix it?¡± Hearing the name Harmon, Anastasia momentarily thought someone was calling Herman. The names Harmon and Herman sounded very simr. Anastasia took a second look at the man. He seemed sincere, around thirty, and a bit chunky ¡®Sure.¡± Harmon replied and headed for theputer room with hisdder. Lauren curiously asked the secretary¡¯s office colleague, is he also an employee here? He seemed a bit slow! The colleague from the secretary department replied, ¡°He was originally a security guard at the company. But since he¡¯s handy with fixing appliances, we put him in charge of that. Harmon is a decent guy. His parents have passed away and he¡¯s already in his thirties, but he¡¯s still single. He even tried online dating on a matchmaking website a while ago, but got cheated out of a bunch of money.¡± Something about Harmon felt familiar to Anastasia. Not only was his name simr to Herman¡¯s, their backgrounds were pretty identical too ¨C Herman¡¯s parents had also passed away. Anastasia asked curiously. Which dating site was he on?¡± ¡°1 think it was OkCupid. That site is full of scams. He probably just ran into a scammer. If he can¡¯t find someone in real life, what are the odds of finding someone online, right? And you can¡¯t really gauge a person online. What if he gets scammed again?¡± Lauren chimed in, ¡°Anastasia, didn¡¯t you meet your husband on a dating site too? Can you tell me which one? It seems pretty reliable. Maybe we can rmend it to Harmon.¡± Anastasia smiled and said, ¡°Yes, I did meet my husband on OkCupid. Guess I was just lucky and didn¡¯t run into any scammers.¡± Lauren responded, ¡°Well, it¡¯s not always a sure thing. Everyone has their good and bad sides. You just got lucky, Anastasia¡± As they were chatting, Harmon emerged from the server room and announced, ¡®I¡¯m done fixing the lights. Off to grab some grub now¡± Harmon was a straightforward guy and spoke slowly, giving off the vibe of an easy target. A colleague from the secretary department waved at him, ¡°Alright, go have your lunch¡± Lauren grabbed Anastasia¡¯s hand and asked, ¡°Anastasia, since your husband is on a business trip, what are your ns for the weekend?¡± As Harmon was about to leave with hisdder, he couldn¡¯t help but stop in his tracks upon hearing Anastasia¡¯s name. It was a name he found familiar. His most recent match from the dating website was also named Anastasia. He waste to their date and by the time he reached the coffee shop, she had already left. He was then matched with another person who ended up scamming him out of thousands. Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Harmon stood there, watching Anastasia¡¯s back for a while Anastasia and Lauren were heading towards the design department, their voices soft, their demeanor striking, and their smiles so weing Harmon couldn¡¯t help but smile, thinking how great it would be if his date were Anastasia. The thought flickered in his mind, subtly shifting his mood. Anastasia returned to her desk and realized she hadn¡¯t had time to sort out the design drawings in her rush to the cafetena earlier As she began to organize the designs, Lauren saw and eximed, ¡°Wow, this is really beautiful. Anastasia! Did you design this?¡± Anastasia replied with a smile. Yes, I just sketched it out. I used to sell my designs at stalls¡± ¡°Anastasia, you¡¯re amazing Lauren praised, ¡°No wonder your designs are so gorgeous, I¡¯m totally in love with this bracelet¡± Anastasia smiled. But I don¡¯t have the chance to really use my skills.¡± Selena never gave Anastasia a chance to showcase her talents, always making her do menial tasks like greeting clients. And those clients looking for Selena¡¯s jewelry designs were all high society, each one a handful to handle There will be a chance one day¡± Lauren reassured. Anastasia smiled, she had already put Selena in a tight spot before, she had seen thising When it was time to finish work, Anastasia was still busy Selena had assigned her more tasks, and by the time she got home, it was already 10 p.m. She checked her phone, no messages from Herman. Anastasia figured he must be busy, so she didn¡¯t think too much of it and decided to take a bath to rx Monica had suggested she go to a beauty salon for a treatment the next day. She had a friend who owned one, which was very convenient for her. Monica used to take Anastasia there often, and it was always free for Anastasia But she felt awkward about it after going twice and didn¡¯t go again. Recently, she had been staying upte frequently, her skin wasn¡¯t in the best condition. To maintain her personal image. Anastasia started paying attention to her appearance and agreed to go to Monica¡¯s salon. The next morning. Anastasia woke up early, cooked something for herself to eat, then got a message from Herman: Are you up? She giggled at her phone: I¡¯m up and having breakfast. She took a picture of her breakfast and sent it to Herman. Herman replied: I¡¯ll be back in a couple of days. If you¡¯re bored, you can ask your aunt or mom to take you out. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Anastasiaughed and replied: I¡¯m going to Monica¡¯s beauty salon for a skincare treatmentter. -Herman replied Ok Even a few simple words made Anastasia very happy After breakfast, Anastasia was about to leave when the doorbell rang She curiously answered the door to see a strange woman standing there: ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your home? Water leaked into my ceiling and damaged my newly renovated house.¡± ¡°Leak?¡± Anastasia was baffled, she hurried to the bathroom and sure enough, water had overflowed and the whole bathroom was flooded. This room. After moving to Herman¡¯s bedroom, she seldom visited this room. She had no idea when the faucet had broken. Anastasia immediately apologized to the neighbor: T¡¯m sorry I¡¯ll deal with it right away¡± was her old She tried to turn off the tap as quickly as possible, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn¡¯t turn it off. In the end, she had to shut off the main valve She didn¡¯t have time to clean up the water in the house and went downstairs to assess the neighbor¡¯s damage. The neighbor was furious ¡°Look at this! The ceiling is leaking, it was renovated for my son¡¯s wedding I was away for just two days and now it¡¯s all flooded. The wedding ising up, this is a mess Tm really sorry, I didn¡¯t know the faucet was broken. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯llpensate you. You won¡¯t suffer any loss¡± Anastasia was really tiredst night, she had taken a bath and then gone to bed, totally unaware of this. She understood the neighbor¡¯s anger and knew she had to deal with the problem quickly The neighbor insisted that Anastasia solve the problem immediately as she couldn¡¯t dy her son¡¯s wedding. Anastasia first calmed the neighbor, then went to find the property management. A leak was a big problem and needed their help. She also needed to notify thendlord, as the broken faucet wasn¡¯t her fault, thendlord also had responsibility Anastasia didnt know how to contact thendlord and didn¡¯t want to bother Herman about it, so she went directly to the property management ¡°Could you please help me find the contact information for the owner of unit 802, building 3, floor 8. The apartment¡¯s got a leak, my husband¡¯s the only one with thendlord¡¯s contact and he¡¯s not home right now, so I need your help¡± The staff replied: ¡°Ainight, just give me a moment¡± Chapter 127 Chapter 127 Chapter 127 In no time, the property management staff found the information of the owner of room BD2 This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. ¡°Got it Jot this phone number down on your phone the staff said. ¡°Okay thanks¡± Anastasia took out her phone, inputting in her contacts each number the staff read out loud. As she entered the phone number, it started to feel eerily familiar to her When she finished inputting the whole number, the contact that popped up on her phone wasbeled my Mr. Salstrom, which took her by surprise Why on earth would the owner¡¯s phone number be the same as Hermans? She must have entered it wrong. Anastasia said with a smile, ¡°Could you read it again? I think I messed up.¡± ¡°Sure¡± The staff read the number again, but still, the same number came up: Hermans. Anastasia listened carefully this time. There was no way she could¡¯ve made a mistake. Bewildered, Anastasia asked, ¡°What¡¯s the owner¡¯s name?¡± The staff nced at theputer screen showing the owner¡¯s information and said, It¡¯s Herman. Didn¡¯t your husband tell you?¡± Hearing Herman¡¯s name. Anastasia was shocked. She couldn¡¯t believe it and rushed to see the information on theputer herself Everything was correct. The number was right, the name was right. She couldn¡¯t put into words how she felt right now. Herman had lied to her. The house wasn¡¯t rented, it was bought by Herman. She clearly remembered Herman saying the house was rented, with a monthly rent of 8500 All lies, everything was a lie. Anastasia couldn¡¯t understand why Herman would lie about renting the house. Was he afraid shed have her eyes on it? Was he trying to protect himself? Her mind was a mess, and her emotions were all over the ce. She walked out of the property management office in a daze, holding her phone but not daring to call and confront him. The house in Harmony Meadows, over a hundred square meters, also cost over ten million. They had rushed into marriage, so he was probably trying to protect himself, worried she¡¯d go after his pre- marriage assets. Anastasia sat on a bench in themunity yground, bathed in sunlight, quietly sitting alone Monica called, and Anastasia answered listlessly, ¡°Hello, Monica¡± Monica asked, ¡°Where are you? Why haven¡¯t youe over? We were supposed to do facials today¡± ¡°Monica, I¡¯m not feeling well. I¡¯ll pass today, maybe next time. Anastasia¡¯s voice was weak and spiritless.. After hanging up. Anastasia saw Herman¡¯s number in her contacts and couldn¡¯t resist calling him. Herman, hundreds of kilometers away, was in the middle of a meeting with an important client. Seeing a call from Anastasia, he excused himself and answered. ¡°Anastasia, what¡¯s up?¡± His voice was gentle, which surprised his client. The Herman they feared in the business world had a soft side? Sitting on the bench in themunity Anastasia heard Herman¡¯s voice. Her hand nervously clenching the bench as she tried to speak,¡±Are you busy right now? Herman replied in a detached tone, Not busy, Anastasia. What¡¯s up?¡± Anastasia tried to keep her emotions in check and asked, ¡°Um, isn¡¯t it time to pay the rent? Are you going to do it when you get back, or should 17¡± Tll take care of it when I get back You don¡¯t need to worry about these trivial matters¡± Disappointed with his response, Anastasia realized he was still lying to her ¡°Okay, you go back to your work Anastasia hung up. She was afraid that if she said one more word, she wouldn¡¯t be able to hide her emotions. Chapter 128 Chapter 128 Chapter 128 When Anastasia found out Herman had been ying her for a fool all the sweet memories of the past seemed like a big joke to her. She had been an open book to him, but he had been on guard against her all along The deception left her heartbroken and confused. She didn¡¯ttch onto Herman for his house, but as his wife, she deserved to know the truth. The more she thought about it the more upset she became And just as she was about to head home, something caught her dress Looking down, Anastasia discovered a little girl hiding under the bench. That little girl was Patte Pattie shyly looked at Anastasia, clutching tightly onto her dress Anastasia squatted down and asked, ¡°Why are you hiding here, kiddo? Come out, you might bump your head¡± Pattie didn¡¯t budge, shaking her head and staying mute. Unsure of what to do, Anastasia asked, ¡°Are you ying hide and seek with other kids, sweetie?¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Pattie shook her head again, and just silently stared at Anastasia Seeing Pattie¡¯s eyes, Anastasia felt a deep sense of familiarity. ¡°Could you tell me your name sweetie, and where you live? Can I walk you home?¡± At the mention of going home, Pattie reacted strongly, shaking her head and gripping Anastasia¡¯s dress even tighter Seeing Pattie¡¯s silence, Anastasia began to wonder if Pattie was mute. She looked around, but there was no one else in sight. Anastasia had no idea where this child came from. Then, Pattie crawled out from under the bench, her big eyes fixated on Anastasia, one hand tightly holding Anastasia, the other on her stomach At first, Anastasia didn¡¯t understand what she meant, until she heard Pattie¡¯s stomach grow! ¡°Are you hungry, sweetie?¡± Pattie nodded. She hadn¡¯t eaten sincest night and was running on an empty stomach Seeing Pattie¡¯s pitiful eyes. Anastasia¡¯s heart broke Suddenly, she said, ¡°How about youe home with me, and I¡¯ll cook you something yummy7¡ä¡ä Pattie nodded, tightly hugging Anastasia. Anastasia smiled, tousling Pattie¡¯s hair, and then took her home This child must¡¯ve been from the neighborhood. While Pattie wasn¡¯t looking. Anastasia snapped a photo of her and posted it in the homeowners¡¯ group chat, asking if anyone had lost their child. After sending the message, Anastasia turned on the TV for Pattie to watch as she went to make pancakes in the kitchen. Every now and then, Anastasia would nce over at the living room from the kitchen. Pattie sat quietly watching TV, without speaking orughing, far from the lively behavior of kids her age. Anastasia realized there might¡¯ve been something wrong with this child. She looked so pitiful When the pancakes were ready, Anastasia brought them to the living room. The smell made Pattie slide off the couch, crawl onto the dining table, and start eating rapidly Anastasia quickly reminded her, ¡°Slow down, kiddo, don¡¯t burn yourself.¡± Pattie seemed unaffected, eating quickly even if it was too hot. It was like she hadn¡¯t eaten for a long time. Scared that someone might take her food, Pattie ate in a rush. Anastasia quickly poured her a ss of water. ¡°What¡¯s your name, sweetie?¡± Anastasia asked, her heart aching at the sight of the poor child. Pattie had delicate features and was bound to be a beauty when she grew up. She was just too thin and looked malnourished. Having eaten her fill, Pattie rubbed her belly contentedly. She was very attached to Anastasia and climbed onto herp. Anastasia was puzzled, and just as she was trying to understand what Pattie meant, she heard a soft voice say. ¡°Mommy. I¡¯m sleepy¡± Hearing the word ¡°Mommy¡± a special feeling stirred within Anastasia. Looking down at Pattie, who was curled up in herp like a pitiful kitten, Anastasia instinctively held her tighter and whispered, ¡°Then have a good sleep. Chapter 129 Chapter 129 Chapter 129 Pattie was out like a light in Anastasia¡¯s arms in no time. Anastasia had a faint,forting scent about her that was so soothing it made you feel right at home. Pattie was clinging onto Anastasia¡¯s skirt for dear life, a clear sign of her deep-seated insecurity Watching Pattie snooze away, Anastasia felt an odd sense of peace. She cautiously ced the child on the bed. When she took off Pattie¡¯s shoes, she noticed they were old, worn out and didnt even fit properly. What kid wasnt the apple of their parents¡¯ eye these days? Even the most neglectful of parents wouldn¡¯t let their kid strut around in shoes like these. Pattie¡¯s heels were all worn out, but she¡¯d never onceined about it hurting. Seeing the wounds on Pattie¡¯s feet had already broken Anastasia¡¯s heart. But when she took off Pattie¡¯s clothes, she couldn¡¯t hold back the tears. Pattie was ck and blue all over. Clearly, someone had been beating her. There were finger marks and thin lines, as well as a bunch of small wounds like she¡¯d been pricked with a needle N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Was this child abuse? Anastasia¡¯s hand was shaking, she wanted to touch Pattie¡¯s wounds, but she didn¡¯t dare, afraid it would cause Pattie more pain. Anastasia couldn¡¯t hold back her tears Just then, the doorbell rang Anastasia wiped away her tears and went to open the door. It was Monica ¡°Ana, are you feeling okay Monica had heard Anastasia wasn¡¯t feeling well, so she came to check on her. Seeing her red, tear-streaked eyes, she quickly asked, ¡°Why are you crying? ¡°Shh!¡± Anastasia made a hushing gesture. ¡°Keep it down, the kid just fell asleep, don¡¯t wake her.¡± ¡°Kid? What kid? Monica was totally lost ¡°I found a kid in the neighborhood ¡°Anastasia quickly filled her in Intrigued, Monica peered into the bedroom Pattie was sleeping like a log Monica thought she saw a bit of Anastasia in Pattie. Monica thought of the child Anastasia¡¯s mother had given away a few years back. If Anastasia¡¯s child hadn¡¯t been given away, she¡¯d be about Pattie¡¯s age by now Monica asked, ¡°Whose kid is this? Ana, you cant just bring her home like this, her parents must be locking for her¡± Tasked around in the neighborhood group chat. No ones imed her yet¡± Anastasia nced at the peacefully sleeping Pattie. This kid She¡¯s been abused, covered in wounds¡± Monica curiously lifted the nket for a peek and, seeing the heartbreaking bruises, angrily said. ¡°Who the hell does something like this? How could anyoney a finger on such a cute little girl? Ana, we need to call the police¡± ¡°Lets wait until she wakes up and we can ask her what happened,¡± Anastasia said. ¡°The kid seems a bit quiet. She doesnt talk much, I¡¯ve been with her for a while, and she¡¯s only said one sentence Rushing to call the police before they fully understood the situation wouldn¡¯t solve Pattie¡¯s problem and could potentially cause more trouble. ¡°Poor thing¡± Monica sighed. She nced at Anastasia, wondering how the child Anastasia had given away was doing now If that child had also suffered this kind of abuse, it would have been absolutely heartbreaking. Monica was relieved that Anastasia didn¡¯t remember her past, otherwise, she would certainly be devastated. Anastasia said. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the living room, let the kid get some more sleep¡± The two of them left the bedroom, and Anastasia gently closed the door Monica remembered her original purpose for her visit and asked, ¡°Ana, what¡¯s been bothering you today?¡± When Anastasia thought about Herman¡¯s deception, she felt extremely upset. With no one else to vent to, she could only pour out her frustrations to Monica Anastasia took a deep breath and said, ¡°Monica, I found out Herman¡¯s been hiding something from me, he¡¯s lied to me, he¡¯s been lying since the beginning¡± Upon hearing this, Monica tensed up. Had Herman¡¯s real identity been discovered? Monica asked tentatively, ¡°How did he deceive you? Weren¡¯t you guys doing great? Just the other day, you texted me saying you guys went to watch a movie. Don¡¯t tell me he¡¯s seeing another woman?¡± Chapter 130 Chapter 130 Chapter 130 Anastasia let out a soft breath, took a look around her home, and said, ¡°He doesn¡¯t have a mistress, but he does have a house¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. At that, Monicaughed. ¡°I thought it was some big issue. Just a house? That¡¯s a good thing¡± Considering Herman¡¯s wealth, a house, or even several buildings, wouldn¡¯t be surprising. Anastasia shook her head, ¡°The roof of the house was leaking this morning. It was when the downstairs neighbor came knocking, and I went to the property management that I found out the house was registered under Herman¡¯s name. He initially told me he didn¡¯t have a house. What¡¯s the deal now? This is a house worth tens of millions. Is he hiding his property from me, fearing I¡¯d covet his house?¡± Anastasia was quite pissed off talking about it. Monica thought it was some big issue, not expecting Anastasia getting upset over a house. If she know Herman was a billionaire, wouldn¡¯t she just divorce him right away? ¡°Ana, don¡¯t be too extreme about this, Monica advised ¡°Think about it. The house is Herman¡¯s. You guys met through matchmaking. It¡¯s normal for him to be cautious at first. There probably weren¡¯t any other ill intentions. ¡°Even so, he can¡¯t just lie to people I called him just now, asking about the rent, and he¡¯s still lying to me.¡± Anastasia was fuming. ¡°Monica, it¡¯s a matter of trust between a husband and wife if he doesnt trust me, that means he doesn¡¯t consider me family¡± ¡°Oh,e on, Ana, don¡¯t be so sensitive¡­ Anastasia cut her off ¡°Monica, why are you always defending Herman? You just found out the house worth over ten million is his, aren¡¯t you the least bit surprised?¡± Monica, trying not to give herself away, answered with augh. ¡°You guys are already married, legally husband and wife. Do you want me to advise you to divorce him? Over a house? That¡¯s a bit much. Youre just angry he deceived you, but there¡¯s good deception and bad deception. Now that you have a house, things are much easier, aren¡¯t they?¡± Monica was a bit nervous, worried Anastasia would see through her. As Anastasia was staring at her. Monica, with shifty eyes, said, ¡°I think it¡¯s a good thing. I only want to ask you, how is Herman to you? Do you like him? Monica changed the topic. Anastasia knew very well that she liked Herman, otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be this angry. Seeing Anastasia not responding, Monica added, ¡°Your anger is because you care about him. A house got you this upset. If your husband turns out to be a hidden billionaire, would you just dump him, and give him up?¡± Monica was also testing Anastasia¡¯s attitude. Anastasia responded, ¡°Monica, you¡¯re muddling the waters. I¡¯m talking about trust here.¡± ¡°Bottom line, you guys met through matchmaking, and you didn¡¯t even know each other. What trust are you talking about?¡± Monica responded, ¡°At the beginning, did you trust him?¡± That left Anastasia speechless. Yes, she didn¡¯t trust him at first, considering Herman only as a tool to deal with her mother¡¯s pressure. Monica continued, ¡°From another perspective, this is quite normal Just because Herman didnt tell you before doesnt mean he won¡¯t tell you in the future. Maybe he just hasn¡¯t figured out how to confess to you. Just wait and see.¡± Anastasia asked skeptically. ¡°Monica, why are you constantly defending Herman today? Did he bribe you?¡± Monica replied with a sigh. He made my friend happy. Thats the biggest reward,¡± Anastasia was touched by her words and startedughing ¡°Monica, it¡¯s great to have you as a friend¡± Monica went on, Regardless of this issue, are you not quite satisfied with him? Is he not the perfect husband? He earns money, hands over his sry to you, and takes care of people. So don¡¯t be unreasonable. A husband like this is hard to find,¡± After hearing Monica¡¯s advice, Anastasia felt a lot better ¡°After finding out about this, I thought a lot. Actually, I can ept this. It¡¯s a good thing he has a house. But him hiding it makes me feel like he doesn¡¯t fully consider me his wife.¡± Monica bluntly said, ¡°What you¡¯re really mail about is that he doesn¡¯t love you as much as you thought.¡± Anastasia nodded. ¡°Right, if he had told me about it, it would¡¯ve been a surprise. But discovering it myself feels like a deception. It¡¯s all about perspective: ¡°So shall we wait and see?¡± Monica said with a grin. ¡®Maybe he¡¯ll give you an even bigger surprise.¡± Anastasiaughed. ¡°As long as it¡¯s not a shock.¡± As they were chatting, a sudden scream came from the bedroom. Anastasia immediately rushed back to check. Chapter 131 Chapter 131 Chapter 131 Pattie had a nightmare. In it, she was screaming bloody murder, writhing like a possessed being, kicking up a storm with her feet, and iling her arms to keep anyone froming close. Anastasia tried to soothe Pattie but ended up getting her face scratched up by Pattie¡¯s frantic wing. Despite the pain, Anastasia held Pattie close, whispering gently. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, I¡¯m here, sweetie¡­ Hearing this gentle voice and smelling thisforting scent, Pattie gradually calmed down and drifted back to sleep. Anastasia held Pattie tightly, saying. ¡°This kid must have been scared witless to have such nightmares.¡± Watching the situation unfold, Monica was also shocked. ¡°Poor kid,¡± she murmured, her heart aching for Pattie. Anastasia began to rock Pattie gently, humming a tune while her hand patted Pattie¡¯s shoulder. Monica was taken aback by this sight. She even mistook Anastasia for Patties mom. The resemnce between Anastasia and Pattie was uncanny. ¡°Ding-dong, ding-dong¡­¡± The doorbell rang. Anastasia looked up at Monica. ¡°Monica, could you get the door for me?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Monica said, turning to open the door. Standing at the door was a man with an honest face. He smiled and said, ¡°Is my daughter here? I heard you guys found her¡± Monica gave him a once-over and said. ¡°Hold on. The kid is sleeping.¡± After saying this, Monica went back inside to tell Anastasia. When Anastasia heard that the child¡¯s father hade, she came out with the sleeping Pattie in her arms. The man looked ordinary, dressed in work clothes, likely a construction worker. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Seeing Pattie, the man smiled and said. That¡¯s my daughter, Pattie. We¡¯ve been going out of our minds looking for her since she went missing¡± Anastasia asked, ¡°Do you live in this neighborhood?¡± ¡°I live right here in this neighborhood, in building six. My name is Leo,¡± the man introduced himself sincerely. ¡°She¡¯s asleep, huh? Let me hold her, thanks a million for finding her. We thought she¡¯d run out of the neighborhood. There are so many cars outside, it would be a disaster if anything happened.¡± Anastasia didnt mention Pattie¡¯s injuries or hand her over to Leo. Instead, she said, ¡®Ill hold her. Pattie just had a nightmare and is having a restless sleep. I¡¯ll help you take her home.¡± With that, she turned to Monica and said, ¡°Monica, could you stay here and keep an eye on things? Someone¡¯sing to fix the faucet.¡± The faucet at home was broken, and there were things to take care of, including dealing with the neighbor¡¯s leaky house. Monica understood what Anastasia meant. Anastasia wanted to get a glimpse of Pattie¡¯s living conditions while she was there and figure out how she got those injuries. Leo wanted to object, but when he saw Anastasia walking towards the elevator with Pattie, he couldn¡¯t say a word. Leo followed them into the elevator. On the way to Pattie¡¯s home, Anastasia started to ask questions. After a round of questioning, she learned that Leo worked on a construction site and was often out early and backte. He came back because there was an issue at the site, had found out Pattie was missing, and came out to look for her. Soon, they arrived at unit one of building six. Anastasia checked the room number, it was also on the eighth floor, room 802. Leo opened the door, smiling, and said, ¡°Ms. Jewell, can you hand the child over to me? I really appreciate it, sorry for the trouble.¡± Before he could finish, a shrill voice came from inside. ¡°Who told you to go find that burden? She¡¯s lost, so what. Bringing her back is just a waste of resources. Raising her isn¡¯t free¡­¡± A woman holding a baby walked out. Seeing Anastasia at the door, she paused. She thought it was just her husband, but there was a stranger. Leo was a bit embarrassed, and gave a sheepishugh, ¡°Ms. Jewell, this is my wife, Penny, Honey, this is our neighbor, Anastasia. She¡¯s the one who found our Pattie. Anastasia nodded and greeted, ¡°Hello.¡± Penny was an average-looking woman, a bit on the plump side. She had recently given birth, her physique was out of shape, her face was freckled, her hair was unkempt, and her clothes were casual. She was the epitome of a housewife. Penny¡¯s expression was stern, her attitude towards Anastasia, who had brought the child back, was cold. ¡°Hello.¡± Anastasia said, ¡°I noticed that Pattie has a lot of injuries. It doesn¡¯t look like they¡¯re new. I wanted to ask, how did she get these injuries?¡± Leo and his wife Penny became instantly tense at this question. Chapter 132 Chapter 132 Chapter 132 The reactions from Leo and his wife hinted to Anastasia that something was off about Pattie¡¯s injuries Penny stayed silent while Leo exined with a chuckle. ¡°She¡¯s a clumsy one, always getting into scrapes with the other kids in the neighborhood. She¡¯s always covered in injuries¡± Anastasia expressed her concern, 1 think Pattie¡¯s a bit quiet, seems like she¡¯s not getting enough to eat ¡°She¡¯s my own child, why would I neglect her Penny snapped back What business is it of yours, anyway?¡± With that, she mmed the door shut Anastasia stood outside, hearing Leo scolding Penny through the door Why are you so fired up? You¡¯re making a spectacle of yourself Tm not mad. I¡¯m the only one taking care of this house, and I¡¯m worn out Penny retorted. Anastasia lingered for a bit, but ultimately it wasnt her ce to intervene As she took the elevator down, she noticed the mess in Leo¡¯s apartment, with baby stuff all over the ce. But not a single pair of girl¡¯s shoes in sight. Anastasia couldn¡¯t help but think about Pattie¡¯s ill fitting shoes and her multiple injuries. She could only imagine the harsh life Pattie was living Although she couldn¡¯t intervene, themunity could help. So, Anastasia made a call to themunity center, detailing the situation and hoping that they could mediate After Anastasia left, Pattie woke up to see Penny, her eyes filled with fear Penny scolded. ¡°Why are you still here, go do theundry And mop the floor, we don¡¯t tolerate ckers here if you don¡¯t finish your chores, you can forget about lunch¡± Pattie frightened headed for theundry While other kids her age were spoiled by their parents, Pattie didn¡¯t have that luxury She was constantly busy with endless chores, hardly ever attended kindergarten, and her meals were irregr All the injuries on her body were inflicted by Penny Penny was always aggressive, and Leo could only stand by and say. You shouldnt be so harsh on her She¡¯s just a kid.¡± Penny red at Leo ¡°And you¡¯re only saying this now? I told you to get rid of her, why didn¡¯t you? We¡¯re not even her real parents. Why should we be responsible for her? Every time I see her, I get angry¡± Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°Abandoning her is too cruel.¡± Leo, being softer, said, Til try to earn more money. You just take care of the house. And don¡¯t be so hard on her, it¡¯s not good if the neighbors see. All those injuries break my heart.¡± ¡°You¡¯re heartbroken? You don¡¯t even care about your own son, but you¡¯re heartbroken for a stranger Penny wouldn¡¯t let it go ¡°Tell me the truth, is she your illegitimate daughter that you tricked me into adopting?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Leo was flustered, pulling out some money from his pocket. ¡°Here, buy Pattie some shoes and clothes. I have to go to work this afternoon Even though she¡¯s adopted, I won¡¯t treat her unfairly. We don¡¯t have a daughter, isn¡¯t it nice to have one now?¡± Being open-minded. Leo didn¡¯t care whether Pattie was his biological child. He believed that feelings would naturally develop over time. However, with his long working hours and little time at home, he couldn¡¯t always protect Pattie Bncing between his wife and son and his adopted daughter, Leo knew he couldnt upset his wife, so he yed the mediator Penny counted the money with a sudden change of mood. You go do your thing, as long as you bring home the bacon, I can handle the house.¡± As Les left, he peeked at Pattie in the restroom. ¡°Pattie, listen to Mom while I¡¯m gone, okay? Daddy has to go earn money¡± Partie squatting on the floor with an unwashed piece of clothing, watched Leo leave silently her eyes filled with reluctance. Only when Leo was around did her life seem a bit better Leo sighed at sight of Pattie. She used to be so lively, but ever since his wife gave birth to their son, they hadn¡¯t been so close to Pattie. She had be quiet and reserved After Leo left for work, Penny with the money in hand, left Pattie with chores and went shopping with their son. Ever since Aastat the medution, only to lea Pattie, she couldn¡¯t stop thinking about her even seeing her in her dreams. She called themunity center to inquire about n that Penny had driven the workers away, so she couldn¡¯t find out about Pattie¡¯s living conditions. Anastasia had her own problems to deal with Her downstairs neighbor had been bothering her about a leaking issue, so she had to contact a repairpany Just like that, her weekend was over Ever since theirst phone Herman had texted her, but her replies had been dismissive. She was still mad, going to work on time every day, without asking when Herman would be back from his trip One evening. Anastasiae home from work and was just about to turn on the lights when she was engulfed by a familiar scent and found herself cornered against the wall Did you miss me?¡± A deep, maic voice sent her heart racing ¡°Are you still mad at me?¡± Chapter 133 Chapter 133 Chapter 133 A familiar voice, aforting presence simple phrase, a hug and all of Anastasia¡¯s resentment from the past few days simply melted away Before Herman returned. Anastasia was feeling down, and was determined not to give him any attention even when he returned. But when he embraced her, her resolve crumbled instanth Anastasia didn¡¯t say a word, her emotions a whirlpool. She had so much to say but didn¡¯t know how to start ¡°Are you really mad¡± Herman asked, kissing her forehead and cheek, his fingers lightly tracing her waist, their ears and cheeks rubbing against each other 1m sorry! me backte¡± he murmured wined silent, letting him kiss her her mind already in a whirl from his affection as a low rumble 1 missed you, baby¡¯ That statement was the final straw for Anastasia. She balled up her fists and began lightly pounding his chest, a symbolic release of her emotions ¡°Herman, you¡¯re such a jerk.¡± am a jerk.¡± Herman agreed, holding her hand lightly, his kisses more passionate their emotions a tinderbox ready to explode If it weren¡¯t for problems with a project. Herman would have been back sooner. He had been yearning to return, missing her like crazy after just a few days of separation He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom to share an wild and passionate moment Afterwards. Anastasiay in his arms, listening to his strong heartbeat, feeling utterly at peace. She didn¡¯t bring up the topic of the house. Herman held her close his thumb gently stroking her arm. After resting a while, he said. T have something for you.¡± Anastasia sat up from his embrace What is it?¡± He reached over to the second drawer of the bedside table, pulling out a property deed. For you¡± Seeing the deed. Anastasia was taken aback. She took it and examined it even more surprised. ¡°Why is my name on here?¡± This was the deed for the house, and it listed the co-owners as her and Herman Herman smiled ¡°You¡¯re my wife, and what¡¯s mine is naturally yours I¡¯ve been meaning to tell you that this house is ours. I bought it after we got out marriage license. You were willing to weather hardships with me, I couldn¡¯t let you be wronged Anastasia was so shocked she couldn¡¯t speak. She had always thought that Herman was wary of her afraid that she would covet the house. But it turned but she had a share in the house all along Anasta contribute acked the information on the deed again and again, disbelief coloring her voice as she asked. ¡°Why did you put my name on it? I didn¡¯t investment, arent you afraid I¡¯ll covet your house¡± Herman looked at her adoringly 1 think you might be more interested in my body than the house¡± Hearing this Anastasia¡¯s cheeks turned red. She was both angry and amused. She yfully pped his chest, feigning indifference while saying. ¡°Who wants your body? I¡¯m not interested¡± He pulled her into his arms, yfully pinching her waist His voice was a low murmur ¡°Hmm? Not satisfied with my performance earlier?¡± ¡°Ticklish? He kissed This was passionately drawing her in deeply. He had been in control of his emotions for thirty years, but in front of Anastasia, he was defenseless time he had ever desired a woman so much. He desperately wanted to possess her,pletely Butter Anastasia was too tired. She had many questions but forgot to ask them. When she woke up again, it was already daylight. She teached over to the empty spot beside her Herman was gone. There were soundsing from the living room, and it seemed like the neighbor from, downstairs was causing trouble again Anastasia quickly got dressed and went out. She didn¡¯t know what Herman had said to the neighbor, but the neighbor left with a grin that looked like she had just the lottery This was cry from their previous nasty attitude towards Anastasia. After the neighbor left. Herman wrapped his approi around Anastas derman What did you say to her? She was grinning like she just won the lottery¡± smile ying on his lips. That¡¯s because your husband is so charming * Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. Sheughed ¡°You¡¯re so full of yourself Chapter 134 Chapter 134 Chapter 134 Herman cracked a smile, saying, ¡°If you run into these issues again, just give me a shout, alright? Don¡¯t bottle it all up. A family is a two-person job. I¡¯ve got to shoulder some of the load.¡± ¡°I just didn¡¯t want to be a bother,¡± she replied. The topic reminded Anastasia about the new house. I didn¡¯t get a chance to ask youst night. How¡¯d you manage to scrape together enough dough to buy the house?¡± This was a million-dor pad, and if it was all on Herman¡¯s sry, it would take decades to afford. Herman took her hand and led her towards the dining room, saying. This is money my folks left me. They wanted me to have enough to buy a house when I tied the knot. They thought it would give you a sense of security, even if it¡¯s joint property.¡± Herman was still holding his cards close to his chest. He knew the house alone had been enough to get Anastasia all fired up. Some things had to be handled cautiously The breakfast table was loaded with food, and Anastasia was beginning to feel peckish. Between bites, she continued, ¡°Can you handle the paperwork. for the houses we buy after we¡¯re hitched on your own without me signing off?¡± I¡¯ve got contacts who specialize in this kind of thing. Shouldn¡¯t be too tough, Herman replied nonchntly. ¡°You¡¯re thedy of the house. You can rest easy¡¯ ¡°Did Monica say something to you? Howe you¡¯re spilling all the bears now?¡± she asked. Herman gave a chuckle. The property management called.¡± It was the call from the property management that had brought the house issue to light for Herman. He figured it was time toe clean. Anastasia asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried that I¡¯ll break up with you and then take half the house since my name is on the deed?¡± Herman didnt seem to mind. Heughed and said, ¡°If that ever happens, it will mean I screwed up. If I can¡¯t even keep my wife, the house should be Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. yours.¡± Anastasiaughed. ¡°You¡¯re reallyying it on thick today You were a bit wary of me at first, weren¡¯t you?¡± If not, he wouldn¡¯t have kept it from her. Herman nodded honestly. ¡°More like observing, Id say. It¡¯s a normal mindset, Anastasia, but it doesn¡¯t affect my feelings for you. I enjoyed getting to know you better and then falling for you I hope we can grow old together¡± Anastasia felt her heart skip a beat This was the first time he had expressed his feelings for her so explicitly. His words were irrefutable, and she loved his answer. Their shotgun marriage was a risky move. Only by getting to know each other better could they minimize the risks. Marriage was a serious matter. Anastasia quietly took a sip of her soup and let the house issue slide. A house was just a shell. It was only when both parties hearts were truly connected that it became a home filled with warmth. After breakfast, Herman drove Anastasia to work. As they passed Katelyn¡¯s door, Anastasia asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Ms. Katelyn beentely? I haven¡¯t seen her for days. Herman casually replied, ¡°I think she¡¯s on a trip. Haven¡¯t been keeping tabs on her.¡± ¡°Oh, remember your cousin helped us out? We should invite him over for dinner sometime.¡± ¡°He might be tied up recently. No rush, there¡¯ll be plenty of opportunities.¡± Herman certainly didn¡¯t mention that he¡¯d assigned Flynn to work on a project in the southwest region. ¡°Okay,¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t dig any further. They reached the underground parking lot, where Herman was ready to drive Anastasia to work. As they drove out of theplex, Anastasia spotted a thin and familiar figure squatting by a trash can. She immediately called out, ¡°Herman, stop the car!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± asked Herman after he hit the brakes. Anastasia was looking at Pattie, who was squatting next to the trash can. She got out of the car and walked over, Pattie, what are you doing here?¡± There was a packet with a slice of bread on the ground in front of Pattie. It had been thrown away without being opened. Pattie was eyeing the bread greedily She wanted to eat it but didn¡¯t dare. Anastasia understood Pattie¡¯s hesitation and felt a pang of sadness. In this day and age, how could there still be kids scavenging for food in trash cans? Pattie looked up at Anastasia, her face dirty. She swallowed and said, ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± Chapter 135 Chapter 135 Chapter 135 Anastasia¡¯s eyes welled up when she heard this. Grabbing the little girl¡¯s hand, she said, ¡°Come, I¡¯ll take you to grab some grub.¡± She didn¡¯t care about the girl¡¯s grubbiness and just scooped her up, heading towards her car. Herman was taken aback when he saw the girl in Anastasia¡¯s arms. He had seen this girl in their neighborhood before. What was she up to?¡¯ Herman asked. ¡°Howe she¡¯s here all by herself?¡± Gently stroking the girl¡¯s cheek, Anastasia said, her voice heavy, ¡°She was hungry, scrounging for bread in the trash bin. How could her parents treat such a sweetheart like this?¡± Resting quietly in Anastasia¡¯s arms, the little girl seemed to enjoy the warmth. Looking at the bright eyes of the girl, her dirty clothes, messy hair, and ill-fitting shoes, Herman felt a lump in his throat. ¡°Do you know this girl?¡± He asked Anastasia. Yeah, I¡¯ve seen her in the neighborhood, Anastasia replied. Last time, she was starving, so I took her home and cooked for her. Her name is Pattie, and lives in building six. I think her parents might favor boys over girls. I tried to getmunity aid, but it was no use.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen her in the neighborhood, too¡± Herman said, trying to roll up the girl¡¯s sleeves. But the girl quickly hid her hands behind her back, scared. Anastasia said softly. ¡°Pattie, we mean no harm, Can we take a look at your arm?¡± Pattie seemed to trust Anastasia. She looked at her, then slowly rolled up her sleeve, revealing her bruised arms. She was so thin, her arms full of bruises, and her little hands were rough with many tiny wounds. It was easy to tell she had to do chores often. Anastasia and Herman both felt a pang of pain and anger at the sight, but they kept it to themselves in front of the child. ¡°Anastasia, I¡¯ll drop you off at work, then I¡¯ll take Pattie to grab some food and buy her some clothes,¡± Herman said. Anastasia wanted to stay with them, to spend more time with Pattie, but Lauren called her to a meeting. They had an important meeting that day, so Anastasia had to leave Pattie with Herman and head to work. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. After dropping Anastasia off, Herman took Pattie to eat. While eating, he made a call ¡°Nelson, I need some clothes for a little girl, like head-to-toe outfits. for a four- or five-year-old. Shoes too. Deliver them to Willow Gourmet Willow Gourmet was a restaurant Herman had taken Anastasia to before, owned by Collin. The food was great, and Pattie seemed to have a good appetite. She was truly starving. Watching her, Herman felt a twinge of pity. He poured a ss of water for Pattie. ¡®Eat slowly, don¡¯t choke.¡± Pattie gulped down the water. Most kids her age could afford to be picky eaters, but not Pattie. She often had to make do with leftovers; sometimes she didn¡¯t even have that Last night, Penny lost money ying poker and took it out on her, not allowing her to eat dinner. Now Pattie was full, but she couldn¡¯t resist the food on the table. Herman caught her little hand, warning her, ¡°Don¡¯t eat too much, or your tummy will hurt.¡± Pattie blinked at him. She remembered this man, he helped her get her kite once. ¡°Herman, thank you,¡± Pattie said politely This was the first time Herman heard Pattie speak. If she hadn¡¯t, he would have started to suspect she had a speech impairment. ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± Herman said gently. Pattie, can you tell me how you got those bruises?¡± Pattie shook her head, mping her mouth shut. She dared not tell the truth. Penny had threatened her, saying she¡¯d hit her if she bbed. Herman gently stroked her head. Just then, Nelson came in, panting, carrying a pile of clothes. Mr. Salstrom, I¡¯ve got the clothes,¡± Nelson said, out of breath Herman gave him only an hour to get the clothes and deliver them. Noticing Pattie, Nelson finally understood what the clothes were for. Herman stood up, leading Pattie upstairs to a suite prepared by Collin. When he wanted to enter, the restaurant manager opened the door immediately. Seeing Pattie¡¯s dirtiness, Herman realized she needed a bath. However, he felt it inappropriate for him to give her one, so he told Nelson, ¡®Find a female staffer to help Pattie clean up.¡± Chapter 136 Chapter 136 Chapter 136 Nelson found a waitress who was a mom and worked at a restaurant because she was experienced in taking care of kids. The waitress took Pattie to the bathroom for a bath while Herman waited in the room. Pattle was a bit scared of the unfamiliar surroundings, but the warm water made her bodyfortable. She liked the bubbles in the tub. They smelled so good. The waitress gently helped Pattie bathe, and seeing the scars on Pattie¡¯s body, she, as a mother, felt her eyes well up with tears. This child was too pitiful, covered in scars all over But she didn¡¯t pry further. Pattie sat in the bathtub, poking at the foam with her hand, her nose also covered in foam. She took a sniff. ¡°It smells so good.¡± It was the first time she knew that taking a bath could be sofortable, and the water could smell so good. The waitressughed and said, ¡°That¡¯s the scent of shower gel It s gardenia¡± Pattie didn¡¯t react, allowing the waitress to could be so soft and smell so good. her. the bath, the waitress dried her with a soft towel. Only then did Pattie realize that towels The waitress dried Pattie¡¯s hair and put her in a beautiful new pink dress. Pattie had never worn such a beautiful dress, and when the waitress led her out, she was a bit dazed. ¡°Mr. Salstrom, the little girl is bathed, the waitress said. Herman looked up and saw Pattie¡¯s hair spread over her shoulders, her bright eyes and delicate features made her look like a doll. Seeing Pattie in the new dress, Herman felt an inexplicable familiarity ¡°Okay, you can go now¡± Herman waved the waitress away. After the waitress left, estured to Pattie. ¡°Come here¡± Kids were sensitive, they could feel who was good to them or not. Pattie could feel that the gentleman in front of her was a good person, so she walked over, clutching the corner of Herman¡¯s clothes. ¡°Herman.¡± Herman looked at Pattie and gently asked, ¡°Are you tired?¡± Pattie shook her head. Herman was about to speak when Collin rushed in. ¡°Herman, why didn¡¯t you tell me you were here? I heard you brought a little girl¡­ Collin stopped mid-sentence when he saw Pattie, his eyes darting back and forth between Herman and Pattie. ¡°Herman, who is this girl? Is she your illegitimate daughter? What if your wife finds out?¡± At first nce, they did look somewhat alike Herman frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t let your imagination run wild. I have no rtion with this girl. I found her on the roadside.¡± ¡°You picked up a girl from the road? When did you be so charitable?¡± Collin walked over to Pattie, crouched down and took a closer look. Actually. they didn¡¯t look that simr. It seemed he was mistaken Ignoring Collin¡¯s question, Herman said to Nelson, ¡°Get the car ready, I¡¯m taking Pattie to the hospital for a check-up. The child seemed malnourished and needed a check-up for peace of mind. Before, Herman didn¡¯t have much fondness for children. They were too troublesome and fragile. But maybe because he got married or because of Pattie¡¯s situation, he began to pay more attention to her. ¡°Yes,¡± answered Nelson. Nelson went to get the car and Herman left with Pattie, Collin watched their backs and muttered, ¡°If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d think Pattie was his daughter¡¯ Collin had onlye because he heard Herman was here. Half an hourter, Herman took Pattle to the hospital for a check-up. The results showed she was severely malnourished and anemic. Looking at the results, Herman¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, and he felt his anger rising. Herman wasn¡¯t sure if Pattle was adopted, but her treatment didn¡¯t seem like she was her parents biological child. Birth parents wouldn¡¯t treat their child like this. In Riverdale, how could there still be children who were malnourished and severely anemic? Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Herman.¡± Pattie felt Herman¡¯s anger and fearfully reached out to hold his hand. Herman held Pattle¡¯s hand, his heart aching. Til take you home¡¯ ¨C Upon hearing she was going home, Pattie immediately shook her head, her eyes filled with fear, showing a strong resistance. When Leo wasn¡¯t at home, Pattie didn¡¯t want to go home because Penny would hit her. ¡°Herman, don¡¯t send me back. Mom will hit me, it will hurt a lot.¡± Pattie was very scared and couldn¡¯t help revealing this secret. In Pattie¡¯s understanding, Penny was her mother. She didn¡¯t understand why her mother only loved her brother and not her. She had tried her best to be a good child, but why didn¡¯t her mother love her? Chapter 137 Chapter 137 Chapter 137 Pattie¡¯s words were enough to bring a tear to your eye. Herman held Pattie close and grumbled, ¡°Alright, I wont take you home.¡± Nelson wandered over and said. ¡°Mr. Salstrom, Kenny Ledford was looking for you at the office. Seems like the Ledfords are on theirst legs, and they wanna talk about buying out Ledford Estate Management¡± ¡°Sure¡± Herman got up, took Pattie by the hand, and headed out. Nelson dashed ahead to get to the car door. Herman took Pattie to Elysian Technologies headquarters, where Kenny was already waiting in the reception room, A female secretary approached. ¡°Mi. Salstrom¡± ¡°Irene, take Pattie to the yroom.¡± After giving his instructions to Irene, Herman crouched down to Pattie and said, ¡°I¡¯ve got some stuff to take care of. You can go y with Irene for a bit, and I¡¯lle find youter.¡± Pattie obediently nodded. Herman gently tapped Pattie¡¯s nose, then got up and headed towards the reception room. ¡°Nelson, get the contract ready We might need it today¡± Herman had been stringing Kenny along. Now was the perfect time to buy out Ledford Estate Managemerit Nelson responded, ¡°Yes, Mr. Salstrom.¡± Secretary Irene took Pattie by the hand and said, ¡°Come on, Pattie. Lets go y¡± Pattie watched as Herman left, then followed Irene. Elysian Technologies had a dedicated childrens yroom for any clients with kids. Pattie nced at the slide, the carousel, and the ball pit, but didn¡¯t show any interest. She just sat on the foam mat, not talking, just sitting there nkly. No matter Irene tried to engage her, Pattie remained silent and didn¡¯tugh. She didn¡¯t show any of the usual liveliness you would see in kids. ¡°I¡¯m going to grab some fruit and snacks for you, Pattie. Just wait here for a minute, Irene said, though Pattie didn¡¯t respond. With a sigh, she went out to get the food. Irene didn¡¯t know what the rtionship between this child and Mr. Salstrom was. As a subordinate, all she needed to do was carry out her boss¡¯ orders Irene went out to get some snacks. Just then, Katelyn, who had just returned from a trip, walked in carrying a limited-edition bag. ¡°Irene, where¡¯s my son?¡± Katelyn called out Seeing Katelyn, Irene respectfully answered, ¡°Mm, Mr. Salstrom is in the reception.¡± ¡°All he does is work. When am I going to have a grandkid?¡± Katelyn grumbled. Then, noticing the snacks and candy in Irene¡¯s hand, she asked, ¡°Who are -those for?¡± ¡°Ma¡¯am, they¡¯re for Pattie, Irene answered. ¡°Who¡¯s Pattie?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a little girl Mr. Salstrom brought in. She seems a bit down, so I got some candy to cheer her up,¡± Irene replied, not mentioning her suspicion that Pattie might have autism, seeing as she was so quiet. Hearing that it was a little girl Herman had brought in, Katelyn became curious. ¡°Well, where is this Pattie? I want to see her.¡± ¡°She¡¯s in the yroom.¡± Hearing this, Katelyn hurried off to the yroom. As soon as she entered, she spotted Pattie, who was sleeping on the foam mat Pattie was sleeping peacefully, looking like a little fairy who had somehow ended up in the human world. She was serene and beautiful. ¡°What a pretty little girl, Katelyn couldnt help but exim. Despite Pattie¡¯s obvious malnourishment, her features were delicate, her skin smooth, and her cheeks had a healthy glow Not wanting to wake Pattie, Katelyn carefully approached her. Upon closer inspection, Katelyn was even more taken aback. ¡°Trene, where did my son find this little girl? She looks like a little princess. She¡¯s so beautiful. If only she were my granddaughter.¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org. 1 don¡¯t know, ma¡¯am.¡± Irene shook her head. ¡°Go get a nket. We don¡¯t want the child to catch a cold.¡± Katelyn was eagerly hoping for a grandchild. Seeing such a cute and beautiful little girl, she wished she could take her home. ¡°Of course, ma¡¯am,¡± Irene smiled. While Irene went to get a nket, Katelyn crouched beside Pattie, feeling a strange sense of familiarity. Pattle was having another nightmare, her body trembling in her sleep. Katelyn, the experienced mother, immediately picked her up and cradled her, patting her gently to reassure her. It was then that she noticed the red, circr birthmark on the back of Pattie¡¯s neck, and her expression changed slightly. Chapter 138 Chapter 138 Chapter 138 Katelyn double-checked the back of Pattie¡¯s neck, afraid she¡¯d seen wrong. Sure enough, there it was, a red, round birthmark ¡°What a coincidence, Katelyn murmured under her breath. Herman had a simr birthmark, but his was located around his waist area. ¡°Ma¡¯am, I¡¯ve brought the nket Irene came in carrying a nket. 1 guess I¡¯ll take Partie to bed Katelyn lifted Pattie, surprised by how light the little girl was. Herman¡¯s office had a rest area where he¡¯d catch some sleep when he was beat. The rest area was well equipped, and Katelyn gingerly ced the girl on the bed to sleep. About half an hourter, when Herman and Kenny had finished their contract talks, he found out Katelyn was there. ¡°Son, whose kid does that little girl belong to Katelyn asked. ¡°We found her on the street, Anastasia and I. She¡¯s from Harmony Meadows, Herman replied, ¡°Where¡¯s she?¡± ¡°She¡¯s sleeping in there, Katelyn said Shes a real looker, that one Bit skinny, though Speaking of kids, whens your wife gonna pop out a baby? I¡¯d really Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. like to stop being green with envy every time I hang out with my friends, all of them have grandkids but me. It really gets to me.¡± ¡°We should have some good news soon Herman teplied. He was pretty confident about his abilities. Maybe Anastasia was already pregnant. Hearing this, Katelyn burst intoughter That¡¯s my boy Cant wait to spoil some grandkids¡± Herman just smiled and kept his mouth shut. His eyes softened when he talked about Anastasia ¡°Son, when are you nning on bringing Ana to Salstrom Manor? You know secrets have a way of coming out. We need to make your wife¡¯s status official ¡°Anastasia¡¯s birthday ising up.¡± Herman said quietly. ¡°I have a n.¡± ¡°Son, you¡¯re going to announce this at Anas birthday party?¡± Herman nodded Katelynughed gleefully ¡°Son, you¡¯re su Ana¡¯s birthday was two months away While they were talking abo After a busy morning. Anasti a romantic if you¡¯d made up your mind earlier, I might¡¯ve already had a bunch of grandkids¡± Herman was secretly nning a surprise party for her asia a message from her popped up on his phone. How¡¯s Pattie?] had some downtime and checked in on Pattie Herman replied. Shes asleep Weiled her and taken her to the hospital. She¡¯s severely anemic and malnourished] Anastasta felt upset reading this and asked him. [Herman, what are you nning to do with Pattie? Pattie was Leo and Penny¡¯s daughter, and they couldn¡¯tpletely prevent the couple from hurting Pattie They could only help her for a while but couldn¡¯t solve the problem fundamentally. Her parents also refused mediation from the womens federation in themunity, which made things even more difficult Herman replied. I take her hometer and see how things go Anastasia felt helpless, but they had to deal with it this way for now If Pattie was away for too long and the couple reported her missing or used them of kidnapping, things would get messy At that moment, a colleague came to Anastasia looking miserable ¡°Ms Jewell, I need to go to the restroom Could you please go get a guest¡¯s bracelet for me?¡± ¡°Sure, no problem Anastasia readily agreed. She wouldn¡¯t turn down such a small favor ¡°Thank you so much. The bracelet is at the front desk. It just arrived, and the guest will be here to pick it up soon.¡± ¡°Okay, leave it to me Anastasia looked at her colleague¡¯s pained expression and said with concern. ¡°You should go to the bathroom.¡± ¡°Thank you¡± The colleague hurried off to the bathroom. Anastasia went downstairs to the front desk to get the bracelet just as the guest arrived. The guest was the wife of a bank president, who had specially ordered a custom bracelet from Selena. She was passing by thepany today and decided to pick it up in person. Anastasia led the guest to the reception room and said, ¡°Wendy, this is the bracelet you ordered Take a look.¡± Wendy couldn¡¯t wait to open the jewelry box and see the real thing. When she saw the finished product, she praised it again and again ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful This is exactly the bracelet. I¡¯ve been dreaming of ¡± Anastasia was also taken aback, not because of the bracelet¡¯s beauty, but because she was the one who designed it. She had never been asked to design jewelry for any client, and the design of this bracelet was something she had drawn casually How on earth had it been made into a real piece of jewelry? ¡°Wendy you¡¯re here¡± At that moment, Selena walked in enthusiastically Then everything clicked for Anastasia. Selena had stolen her design. Chapter 139 Chapter 139 Chapter 139 Selena spotted Anastasia in the reception area and felt a gang of guilt. But she didn¡¯t show it. Instead, she gave Anastasia a look, signaling her to leave But Anastasia pretended not to see it. She copied her work and still wanted her to leave? Instead Anastasia turned to Wendy and said. ¡°Wendy, let me get you another cup of coffee¡± ¡°¡°Okay, thanks¡¯ responded Wendy. Then she turned to Selena. You really are the top designer. I love this piece I was wondering if you could design a pair of earrings and a ne for my daughter¡¯s birthday next month I want to give them to her Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Anything to make you happy. Wendy¡± Selena said with a smile. Earrings and a ne no problem. Just tell me what you want and I¡¯ll make sure you¡¯re 1 haveplete faith in your abilities Wendy said as she packed up the jewelry box. Tve heard from friends that your designs are usuallyvish, but this one is very simple and delicate. It¡¯s quite ssic.¡± The simplest things were often the most exquisite and ssic. Wendy didn¡¯t like things that were too complicated or shy Selena nced at Anastasia, who was standing to the side, and epted Wendys praise without blinking an eye. 1 guess it¡¯s just that as I¡¯m getting older. I¡¯vee to appreciate the simpler styles¡± Wendy joked. ¡°Selena, you¡¯re such a jokester. You¡¯re so young and beautiful and you say you¡¯re old? That makes me ancient¡± Your skin is so good, Wendy. If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d say you¡¯re in your twenties Selena praised Wendyvishly, and Wendy was very pleased Selena sessfully secured another order When Wendy was gone, Selena¡¯s expression changed instantly. ¡°Anastasia, I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything for you to do here today. You can leave ¡°Selena, don¡¯t you think you owe me an exnation? You copied my design, you should at least give me an exnation¡± As a jewelry designer, Anastasia took her work very seriously and could not tolerate giarism. She didn¡¯t expose Selena earlier because she didn¡¯t want to cause a scene in front of a client. Selena said coldly, ¡°Anastasia, watch your words. That was my design. I don¡¯t owe you any exnation What can a high school graduate like you design? You¡¯re just trying to get famous. That was a bracelet I designed for Wendy How dare you use me?¡± Do you want to go with me to Mr. Victor for confirmation? Anastasia grabbed Selena¡¯s wrist 1 still have the original sketch. Let¡¯s see whose work it is¡± Anastasia used to respect Selena After all, Selena was someone she once admired But now, Selenas actions exposed her true colors. gianism was a matter of integrity Lauren had mentioned before that Selena was giarizing and taking advantage of junior designers. Anastasia thought it was just a rumor, but it turned out to be true Selena, looking a bit uneasy pushed Anastasia away and exaggeratedly said. ¡°Anastasia, I am the chief designer. I wouldn¡¯t giarize. If it¡¯s simr to your design, it¡¯s just a coincidence.¡± Anastasia scoffed, ¡°So that¡¯s how you became the chief designer. I see.¡± Selena¡¯s face turned red, and she argued, ¡°Anastasia, my character is not up for judgement by a junior assistant like you. Remember, the bracelet was my design if I hear any negativements, your career in jewelry design is over¡± Anastasiaughed sarcastically Wasnt this a threat? ¡°So our chief designer isn¡¯t new to this kind of thing, she¡¯s quite skilled at Chapter 140 Chapter 140 Chapter 140 From the outside, Selena seemed to have no fear of Anastasia, but deep down, she was still a bit spooked by her. Anastasia looked pretty average, but there was something unsettling about her. She was like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment and potentially deliver a crippling blow. If it weren¡¯t for Wendy¡¯s picky nature, Selena wouldn¡¯t have had to resort to giarizing Anastasia¡¯s work in order to create something that would please her Selena was a top student from a prestigious university and had won many awards abroad. In contrast, Anastasia was just a high school graduate with no real experience in jewelry design. So, Selena copying Anastasia¡¯s work was kind of a bitter pill to swallow. But when Wendy saw Anastasio¡¯s work, she Instantly loved it and ced an order for the finished product Anastasia quit arguing with Selena and returned to her seat, calming herself down. But she wasn¡¯t nning on letting this slide. ¡°Anastasia, I¡¯m beat. I need a break, Lauren said tiredly, having spent the morning shopping for materials. She plopped into a chair and moaned, ¡°I came here to chase a guy, but I haven¡¯t even seen him. I¡¯m working my butt off every day, and I¡¯m still broke, What am I doing this for, Anastasia?¡± Anastasia teased. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that as long as you¡¯re close, you¡¯ll eventually run into him? You¡¯re going to be the future wife of his ¡°I¡¯m just wasting my energy Lauren admitted. ¡°Mr. Salstrom is at the head office. He won¡¯te to our branch, I really messed up¡± Anastasia asked, puzzled, ¡°Lauren, as the heiress of the Mill family, meeting the CEO shouldn¡¯t be a problem. Why go through all this?¡± ¡°You just don¡¯t get him, Lauren evaded. ¡°He¡¯s out of everyone¡¯s league. No other woman can get within three meters of him, except for his secretary and mother. Let me grab a drink¡± Anastasia asked curiously ¡°Doesn¡¯t this man n to get married? Lauren, are you sure Mr. Salstrom is into women?¡± Hearing that, Lauren spewed out the water she was drinking, looking around nervously, afraid that someone might have heard Anastasia ¡°Anastasia, you¡¯re really pushing it. If your words reach the CEO, we¡¯re in deep trouble¡± Anastasia shrugged it off. ¡°It¡¯s a legitimate question. And there¡¯s no one else here, don¡¯t worry Nobody heard anything Lauren pondered the question and admitted, Tve wondered the same thing. Such a handsome man, thirty years old, and he¡¯s never been seen with a girlfriend. Not even a rumor. It¡¯s weird.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t care about Elysian Technologies CEO. She asked. ¡°Lauren, you mentioned Selena exploiting employees. Can you tell me about it?¡± Judging by Selenas attitude, Anastasia guessed this wasn¡¯t the first time she¡¯d giarized. Other colleagues in the design department must have been exploited and had their work stolen too. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Why are you suddenly asking about this, Anastasia? Did that she-devil Selena bother you again?¡± Just tell me about her exploiting the staff.¡± If Anastasia wanted to deal with Selena, it wouldn¡¯t be hard. Wendy asked Selena to design earrings and a ne, which was bait. As long as she seized this opportunity, she could find evidence of Selena¡¯s giarism. She nned to install a miniature camera on her desk, deciding she wouldn¡¯t stay quiet about this, To prevent Selena from seeing her drafts. Anastasia told no one about Selena¡¯s giarism. She kept working diligently, lulling Selena intocency. When it was time to finish work, Anastasia clocked out on time. Even when Selena tried to make her stayte, Anastasia didn¡¯t care. She had dirt on Selena and wasn¡¯t afraid of her. After leaving thepany. Anastasia remembered Lauren¡¯s story about Selena giarizing university students¡¯ work to be the Chief Designer. This raised some questions for Anastasia. The timing of Selena¡¯s giarism and when she was used of giarism at school was suspiciously coincidental As she had lost some of her memories, Anastasia wasn¡¯t very familiar with the giarism incident back then. She decided to visit Monica at the beauty salon for more information On Herman¡¯s side, Pattie slept all afternoon and went out with him for a social event in the evening. They were busy until about eleven o¡¯clock Herman¡¯s driver dropped him off at the entrance of Harmony Meadows. Herman got out of the car with Pattie and told Nelson, ¡°Park the Chevrolet in the underground garage.¡± Chapter 141 Chapter 141 Chapter 141 Due to social obligations, Herman couldn¡¯t drive an ordinary Chevy but had to take it back to not raise Anastasia¡¯s suspicion. Nelson answered, ¡°Sure thing, Mr. Salstrom,¡± After giving instructions, Herman, holding Pattie¡¯s hand, headed towards building six of theplex. Anastasia once mentioned that Pattie lived in unit. 802 of building six Upon realizing they were heading home, Pattle slowed down, reluctant to return. When they arrived at room 802. Herman knocked. After a while, the door opened Penny was the one who opened the door. Seeing a handsome man standing at her doorstep, she blushed. ¡°Hey there, handsome. What can I do for you?¡± Penny didn¡¯t notice Pattie hiding behind Herman. With a poker face, Herman said, ¡°I live here too and found this kid on the sidewalk this morning. Is she yours?¡± Pattie stepped out from behind Herman. Penny almost didn¡¯t recognize her at first. Pattie, in her new dress, looked like a little princess, far from her usual grubby self. But then Penny¡¯s face hardened. ¡°You little rascal, running off again! Go to your room now¡± Pattle shivered. She had an instinctive fear of Penny Letting go of Herman¡¯s hand, Pattie obediently walked into the house, knowing that if she disobeyed, she would be hit. Herman, watching all this, lightly asked, ¡°May Ie in for a moment? I bought Pattie some clothes.¡± In the face of such a handsome man¡¯s request, Penny couldn¡¯t refuse. ¡®Please,e in.¡± Her ce was a mess, barely walkable Herman stepped in, his brows furrowed. Penny shouted at Pattie, It¡¯ste, go to sleep!¡¯ Pattie obediently went into her room. As she closed the door, she gave Herman a longing look Once Pattie was in her room, Pennyughed. ¡°That girl, always running around. I also have another kid to tak Herman nced at the room¡¯s arrangement, asking, ¡°Is Pattie your biological daughter?¡± care of, I¡¯m so swamped.¡± The question took Penny aback. Hermans eyes were cold when he asked this Penny had never met anyone so intimidating. She didn¡¯t know how to answer However, thinking about what her husband Leo once told her, she suspected that Pattie might have told Herman about her hitting Pattie Penny, feeling guilty, said, ¡°Of course she is, she¡¯s my flesh and blood. What are you trying to ask? My daughter is mine, whatever people say outside is nonsense.¡± Herman coldly continued. ¡°What about her injuries? I heard she hasn¡¯t started kindergarten yet. It¡¯s your responsibility to send her to school.¡± ¡°Are you from some child protective services or something? So nasy Penny recalled simr words from community workers and started to y the victim. ¡°She¡¯s naughty, and some injuries are from my discipline, some from her falls. She¡¯s disobedient. Don¡¯t all parents discipline their kids? As for school, we can¡¯t afford it. We¡¯ll send her when we have money.¡± ¡°I took Pattie to the hospital. Here is the review of her injuries.¡± Herman took out the injury report, scaring Penny. ¡°ording to this, you could be charged with child abuse Serious cases can lead to imprisonment.¡± Upon hearing about potential jail time, Penny exploded, ¡°Jail? For disciplining my daughter? Is there no justice? Get out! My family¡¯s business is none of yours. If you think there¡¯s a problem, call the police¡± Penny forcefully pushed Herman out. He couldn¡¯t fight back against a woman, so he was pushed out. Penny closed the door, listening for a moment to make sure he was gone, then stormed into Pattie¡¯s room with a stick. ¡°You little troublemaker, running your mouth everywhere! Do you want me to go lo jail? I¡¯ll teach you a lesson!¡± Pattie screamed under the beating, begging for mercy. ¡°Mom, sorry, I won¡¯t do it again. Mom, stop, it hurts.. Her heart wrenching cries echoed throughout the building, but the residents were used to it. At first, some tried to intervene but were chased away by Penny. After that, no one bothered Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you! You live off my money and still want to harm mel¡± Penny was fuming, hitting Pattie mercilessly. Pattie, covered in injuries, was rolling on the ground in pain, begging for mercy. All of a sudden, a loud bang, the door was kicked open from the outside -Herman stormed in, looking furious, grabbed Penny¡¯s hand, and threw her off. ¡°Touch Pattie one more time, I dare you¡± His icy stare was deadly, frightening Penny Herman picked up Pattie, who was crying her heart out, andforted her. ¡°Dont be scared. I¡¯m here.¡± Seeing Pattie¡¯s injuries, Herman felt a pang in his heart. Penny regained her senses and shouted at him, ¡°If you care so much about this little troublemaker, take her! I¡¯m giving you my daughter! From now on, she has nothing to do with me.¡± Chapter 142 Chapter 142 Chapter 142 Penny had always wanted to get rid of Pattie. With her tight budget, an extra mouth to feed was just an added burden that sat ufortably with her. She wasn¡¯t some kind of saint, just an average woman. When she gave birth to her son, she tried to have Leo return Pattie to the orphanage, but they wouldn¡¯t take her back. It was part of the deal when they adopted her Penny and Leo were Pattie¡¯s guardians, so Pattie wasn¡¯t an orphan and couldn¡¯t just be dumped. That would be abandonment. Penny attempted several times to lose Pattie in crowded train stations, but Leo always found her. Penny was pissed. With so many child traffickers out there every year, why wouldn¡¯t anyone snatch Pattie away? Herman shot Penny a stern look, then gently asked Pattie, ¡°Would you like toe home with me?¡± Pattie said nothing, her eyes welled up with tears as she looked at Penny She didn¡¯t understand why her mom didn¡¯t love her. Penny red at Pattie angrily, muttering, ¡°Ungrateful brat! Go with this man and nevere back!¡± Pattie shivered in fear, her tear-filled eyes quickly avoiding Penny and hiding in Herman¡¯s arms. Just then, Penny¡¯s son started crying Penny ignored Pattie, sarcastically telling Herman, Take this little miss away, pronto! You do-gooders love to meddle! You better take care of her, and not just talk the talk If you actually do it, school fees and all, I¡¯ll be damned impressed¡± In Penny¡¯s eyes, those who took care of other people¡¯s kids were idiots. Back when she couldn¡¯t get pregnant, she wouldn¡¯t have adopted a girl to drag her down if it wasn¡¯t for the fortune teller saying she had to adopt first to have her own child. Penny stormed off to tend to her son, not giving a damn about Pattie Herman was shocked at the sight of such a cold-blooded woman, Holding Pattie, he said, ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± Herman didn¡¯t know if he¡¯d stick his nose in if it was another child, but seeing Pattie in front of him, he just couldn¡¯t ignore her. Back at home, he wiped Pattie¡¯s tears and checked her injuries. The marks clearly came from a beating, some areas were swelling up. Herman frowned, fetched a first aid kit, and tended to Pattie¡¯s wounds. She was a tough little girl. Even though disinfecting her wounds hurt, Pattie bit back the pain and didn¡¯t cry out. Seeing Pattie¡¯s resilience made Herman even more upset. Just as he finished tending to her wounds, Anastasia came home. Seeing Pattie still there, she asked Herman, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were taking Pattie back?¡± As Herman grabbed some fruit from the kitchen for Pattie, he replied, ¡°Pattie was beaten again, so I brought her back.¡± Hearing that, Anastasia dropped her bag in rm, checked Pattie¡¯s injuries, and turned to Herman, Did Penny do this?¡¯ This was outrageous, downright child abuse. How could anyone treat a little girl like that? ¡°Yes.¡± Herman sat down on the sofa. ¡®Anastasia, what if we let Pattie stay with us for a few days?* ¡°Sure.¡± Anastasia hugged Pattie. 7 hope Pattie can stay here from now on.¡± Anastasia was a kind-hearted person. She wouldn¡¯t think much of it if she didn¡¯t know about Pattie¡¯s situation. But knowing that Penny abused Pattie and themunity couldn¡¯t do anything, she felt sorry for the girl and wanted to help Herman nodded ¡°It¡¯ste, Anastasia. You take Pattie to bed.¡± Kids should sleep early for their growth. But since Pattie was a girl, it might not have been appropriate for Herman to tuck her in.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 143 Chapter 143 Chapter 143 Anastasia took Pattie back to the bedroom she once slept in, nning to transform it into a kid¡¯s room for Pattie. Although Pattie had been hurt, she remained silent, lying quietly in Anastasia¡¯s arms without falling asleep. Anastasia gently stroked Pattie¡¯s head, softlyforting her ¡°Pattie, it¡¯s all good now, you can have a peaceful sleep. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll take you to the yground for some slide fun. Would you like that?¡± Anastasia figured all kids would love this. However, Pattie opened her eyes wide and asked with a sob, ¡°Why does mommy not like me, but likes my brother? I¡¯ve been a good girl¡± Hearing this, Anastasia felt a lump in her throat. She gently kissed Pattie¡¯s forehead. ¡°Pattie you¡¯re a good girl, the best and cutest little friend I¡¯ve ever met. Don¡¯t worry about these things, just go to sleep.¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Pattie nodded and held on to Anastasia ¡°You smell nice. I like you¡± Anastasia smiled gently. You smell nice 100, Pattie. I like you too. Would you like me to tell you a story?¡± Pattie had never heard a bedtime story before, and she nodded confusedly. Anastasia began her story. ¡°Once upon a time, there was a big mountain and a cute little rabbit lived in it¡­¡± Under Anastasia¡¯s hypnotic voice, Pattie fell asleep quickly. Looking at the sleeping Pattie, Anastasia felt a sense of warmth in her heart, as if this girl had filled a void in her heart. ¡°Good night, Pattie Anastasia kissed Pattie¡¯s forehead, turned off the light, and carefully left the room After Herman had taken a shower, he sat in the living room in his pajamas. Anastasia asked him, ¡°What are you nning to do with Pattie?¡± They were not Pattie¡¯s legal guardians, it was fine for Pattie to stay here temporarily, but she needed to go to school, and there were a lot of issues to deal with. Herman was also considering these issues. He patted the spot next to him, indicating for Anastasia to come and sit Anastasia went over andy on his legs; she was tired. Holding Anastasia¡¯s hand, Herman said, ¡°We first need to figure out whether this girl is adopted or was birthed by Penny. I don¡¯t think Penny ns to raise her. If we send her back, she might continue to be abused. Plus, she¡¯s nearly five years old and hasn¡¯t attended kindergarten, all of these are problems.¡± Anastasia asked in surprise, ¡®Is she really not her biological child?¡± ¡°I heard some neighbors saying that Pattie was adopted, but I¡¯m not sure about the details. We need to investigate¡± Anastasia said, ¡°Anyway we can¡¯t send Pattie back. She¡¯s too miserable. Herman, I like this child. I don¡¯t know why, but she feels familiar to me.¡± Herman had the same feeling. He understood what Anastasia meant and said. If they really don¡¯t n to raise Pattie, we¡¯ll adopt her¡± Hearing this, Anastasia kissed Herman¡¯s cheek with a smile. ¡°You¡¯re wonderful, honey¡± She agreed, but adopting Pattle was an important decision that needed to be discussed together. It could only be carried out when both were in agreement. Herman gave a slight smile and said, ¡°How can one kiss satisfy me?¡± He turned his other cheek to Anastasia. Sheughed and kissed him. But just as her lips were about to touch his cheek, he suddenly turned his head and kissed her lips. It took a moment for Anastasia to react. Herman had yed her. He took the opportunity to deepen the kiss, his hands wandering on her body Now, given any opportunity, Herman would definitely have sex with Anastasia. And she couldn¡¯t resist his passion, falling for it time and time again. Chapter 145 Chapter 145 Chapter 145 It just so happened that Salma had the day off from her hotel job. After receiving a call from Anastasia, Salma quickly packed and hopped in a tax, not wanting to keep her daughter and son inw waiting. Anastasia pulled Salma aside and filled her in on some details about Pattie. ¡°Mom, Pattie is quite shy, keep an eye on her ¡°OK, you guys go to work, and don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll watch over her Salma asked, ¡°Where¡¯s the girl?¡± Anastasia pointed to Pattie, who was sitting on the living room sofa, and said, ¡°Mom, sorry for the trouble, I¡¯ll be back as soon as I can¡¯ Pattie had her head down, and Salma didnt get a good look at her face. Salmaughed and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s gettingte, you guys should head out.¡± Anastasia walked over to Pattie, reminded her to listen to Salma while at home, and then left with Herman. Anastasia was still a bit worried, Pattie being so introverted and all Nelson had parked the Chevy in the underground garage the night before Herman and Anastasia headed to the garage to take off. Once in the car, Anastasia said, ¡°Look, we both work and can¡¯t be with Pattie all the time. If we have kids, we¡¯d struggle to take care of them. Thankfully, my mom is here.¡± Anastasia hadn¡¯t wanted kids before. At first, because she and Herman werent that close, and later because of housing and financial issues. They had a house now, and their ie was enough to sustain their life in Riverdale. But if they had kids, they would struggle a bit. These were the issues most families faced. Anastasia didn¡¯t n to rely on Hermanpletely. She wanted to work and help out with the household chores. Hermanughed and said, ¡°When we have kids, Ms. Katelyn can help too. Don¡¯t worry too much¡± Katelyn was eagerly awaiting her grandkids. If Anastasia had a child, she would be overjoyed. With seven or eight nannies in the house, they could hire a dedicated nanny for the child. They¡¯d have enough hands on deck Anastasia was worried because she didn¡¯t know this. Sheughed and said, ¡°Having the elderly at home to help out would definitely ease the pressure. But it was still too early to think about all this.¡± They had been trying for a kid, but Anastasias belly showed no sign of a baby Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Herman held Anastasia¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Let nature take its course.¡± ¡°OK.¡± Anastasia said. ¡°By the way, let¡¯s talk to Penny about Pattie¡¯s situation this weekend. We need to get this sorted out so Pattie can go to school.¡± The thought of sending Pattie to school made Anastasia anxious again. ¡°By the way, my cousin Gianna told me that a good kindergarten costs tens of thousands of dors a year, and even the cheaper ones cost thousands. We could go to a public kindergarten. It should be cheaper. If we adopt Pattie, we¡¯ll have to budget carefully. It¡¯s not easy to find a good school these days¡± Hermanughed and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much about all these. Let me handle this. I know a kindergarten principal. We can have a talk with him.¡± For Herman, getting Pattie into school would be a piece of cake. The elite kindergartens of Riverdale would wee them with open arms. Meanwhile Salma was trying to reach out to Pattie. She approached Pattie with a loving smile and asked, ¡°Pattie, would you like to go out and y? I can take you to the amusement park, what do you say?¡± Pattie remembered what Anastasia had said the night before about taking her to the amusement park. She looked up and nodded obediently However, the moment Pattie looked up, Salma got a clear look at her face and waspletely taken aback. Chapter 146 Chapter 146 Chapter 146 Pattie and Anastasia looked like two peas in a pad when they were kids. This reminded Salma of years back when she handed a child over to an orphanage. She was struck dumb for a moment ¡°Ma¡¯am? Ma am? Pattie called her out twice. Content ? N?velDrama.Org. Salma snapped back to reality, giving Pattie another careful look. She really did look just like Anastasia. Anastasia, in a rush to work, didn¡¯t borate on Pattie¡¯s situation. She only told Salma that Pattie was another tenant¡¯s child in the neighborhood, and due to parental abuse, Anastasia couldn¡¯t stand by and watch, so she took the kid in. Salma shook her head. It was probably just a resemnce. Kids these days all looked alike before they grew up. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the yground: Salma said, taking Pattie by the hand. After seeing Patties face a few times, they didn¡¯t really look alike anymore. Just from certain angles, they looked strikingly simr Salma took Pattie to a nearby yground. Pattie was timid and didn¡¯t even dare to ride the merry-go- round. After much persuasion from Salma, Pattie finally hopped on. It was Pattie¡¯s first time on a merry-go-round. From the initial timidity to finally showing a smile, it was clear she was having a st. Salma stood by, watching Pattie on the merry-go-round. It reminded her of when she took Anastasia on the ride when they were kids. The resemnce was uncanny If Anastasia¡¯s child hadn¡¯t been given away, she would be about Pattie¡¯s age by now Thinking about this, Salma felt deeply guilty. That was her granddaughter. She didn¡¯t know how the child was doing now. Salma had been dreaming about the child she gave away. She went to the orphanage to ask about her, only to find out the ce had been torn down a year ago and reced with a shopping mall. The kids there had either been adopted or sent to other orphanages. Finding one specific child wouldn¡¯t be easy, and Salma didn¡¯t have the ability to do it. Besides, Salma had left the child at the doorstep of the orphanage. If she hastily went looking, it might¡¯ve brought trouble to Anastasia. Anastasia had a family now. If that child was brought back, it would definitely impact her life. Salma had given away the child so Anastasia wouldn¡¯t be held back. Now, over four yearster, it was even less appropriate to find the child and identify her ¡°Ma am, can I have one?¡± Pattie asked after getting off the merry-go-round. She saw other kids having cotton candy and was a little envious. Pattie was quite mature but was still a kid. ¡®Sure, I¡¯ll get you one Salma bought Pattie two cotton candy. Pattle beamed, saying, ¡°Thank you¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee Salma smiled, finding Pattie not as introverted as Anastasia described. Herman dropped Anastasia off at work and parked his Chevrolet at a nearby parking lot. As soon as he got out, a Rolls Royce pulled up. ¡°Mr. Salstrom ¡°Nelson got out and opened the door, waiting respectfully. Herman asked, ¡°Has the bark manager for today¡¯s meeting arrived?¡± Nelson reported, ¡°Irene messaged five minutes ago saying he has arrived at the reception office.¡± ¡°Alright, let¡¯s head to the office¡± It was rush hour, so it took Herman an hour to get to Elysian Tower. As soon as Herman got out of the car, severalpany executives and secretaries came over to join him. They were all waiting for Herman¡¯s arrival. While Herman was listening to reports from the secretaries and executives, a voice called out from the side. ¡°Mr. Salstrom, long time no see.¡± The familiar voice made Herman stop in his tracks and turn around. A few meters away. Cason sat in a wheelchair, grinning at him, Herman¡¯s eyes were cold. It seemed Cason knew his true identity Herman said coldly. ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerveing here.¡± Cason replied with a smile, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, my firm has gone under, my family¡¯s factory has been seized, and I¡¯m in debt for millions of dors, so I had no choice but toe to you for help. Herman scoffed, looking down at Cason. ¡°You must be out of your mind.¡± If he were sane, he wouldn¡¯t be asking Herman for money Cason seemed confident and unafraid. He nced at the people behind Herman and said darkly, ¡®I think, Mr. Salstrom, you must care a lot about Anastasia. So you must care about her reputation as well. You wouldn¡¯t want the public to know that Anastasia had a child out of wedlock, would you?¡± At this, Herman¡¯s expression changed slightly. He asked coldly, ¡°A child out of wedlock?¡± Chapter 147 Chapter 147 Chapter 147 Herman¡¯s reaction was just as Cason had anticipated Cason smirked slyly ¡°Mr. Salstrom, I think we should find a private ce to discuss some secrets about Anastasia i spill the beans.¡± Herman frowned, his voice cold and hard. ¡°Nelson, take him to the reception¡± Having said that, Herman left with the rest of the senior management. Cason, sitting in his wheelchair, watched Herman, still stone-faced and imposing. It seemed his words had no effect on Herman¡¯s mood, which made Cason a bit nervous. Herman was unpredictable. Most people, hearing that their wife was pregnant before marriage, would flip out, demanding the truth of the matter. But aside from a brief moment of surprise, Herman had shown no other reaction. The executives trailing behind Herman were all the cream of the crop in the business world. Each one of them was a heavy hitter in their own field. Cason was bing more and more envious and bitter. Herman always seemed to be standing at a height that every man craved, out of reach. ¡°Sir, please follow me.¡± Nelsons expression was nk, yet calm. Cason thought his explosive news would create a big ssh. But it felt like he was punching cotton, causing no reaction at all. Cason felt frustrated but could only follow Nelson to the reception. This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Nelson led Cason into the room, left him there, and assigned a secretary to keep an eye on him. In the boardroom of Elysian Technologies, dozens of top-level employees were in a meeting, with Herman sitting on the side, expressionless, listening to the reports. The meetingsted for nearly two hours, and Herman showed no signs of urgency to see Cason, After the meeting, Herman went back to his office and asked coldly. ¡°How is he?¡± Nelson pulled up the surveince footage of Cason in the room and turned theputer screen towards Herman. ¡°Cason is starting to get restless.¡± In the footage, within a minute, Cason had changed his position several times. He was indeed getting impatient. Whenever he asked the secretary when Herman woulde, the secretary would always put him off with the excuse that Mr. Salstrom was still in a meeting Hermans coldughter echoed in the room. ¡°Nelson, I asked you to keep tabs on Cason. What has he been up totely?¡± ¡°Cason has been in the hospitaltely, he hasn¡¯t been anywhere else.¡± Nelson replied. ¡°Some debtors came to the hospital to make a scene, but he managed to send them away. Im not sure how he did it.¡± Herman rubbed his brow, his dark eyes narrowing slightly. ¡°Find out exactly what Cason has been doing recently. I want results within an hour. I haven¡¯t seen anyone dare to provoke me like this¡± ¡°Understood ¡°Having been with Herman for many years, Nelson sensed that Herman was genuinely angry and immediately began the investigation Herman did nothing and left Cason waiting. His eyes coldly watched the surveince video. Cason had been waiting in the reception room from morning until well into the afternoon, still without seeing Herman. His patience had run out, and he decided to leave in his wheelchair. ¡°Sir, you can¡¯t leave the secretary stopped him. ¡°Please wait a little longer. Mr. Salstrom will be right here¡± Unable to suppress hisughter, Cason said, Tye been waiting for a full eight hours. Can you tell me when he will finally show up?¡± The secretary replied. ¡°Mr. Salstrom is very busy right now. As soon as he¡¯s free, he ile to see you¡± Cason¡¯s mood was sour, and he said, ¡°Then please tell Mr. Salstrom, he can find me when he¡¯s free. Il give him a day or else¡­¡± ¡°Or what?¡± A cold voice came from the doorway of the reception room. The voice was Herman¡¯s Cason, who was just blustering, was noticeably deted in the presence of Herman¡¯s powerful aura ¡°Mr. Salstrom, you¡¯re really busy. It¡¯s not easy to see you, Cason said sarcastically. ¡°It seems you¡¯re not interested in Anastasia¡¯s secrets. So I¡¯ll go talk to someone who is interested. I bet that person will be very interested¡± Chapter 148 Chapter 148 Chapter 148 Looking all fancy and indifferent, Herman strutted towards Cason. Each step made Cason¡¯s nerves jangle Herman smirked slightly, ordering the two behind him, ¡°You guys, scram His secretary and Nelson got the drift, murmured in acknowledgment, and left, shutting the door behind them. Herman walked past Cason, flopped down on a leather couch, lit a cigarette, and took a drag with an elegant yet slightly rogue gesture. His gaze was razor-sharp as he stared at Cason, his voice icy ¡°Spill the beans¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Cason had initially nned to y mind games with Herman but he didn¡¯t dare now. Any more tricks and Herman might just kick him out without batting an eye. Cason was here for one thing ¨C money. If he kept dodging his debts, his creditors wouldn¡¯t be so forgiving if they came knocking, at best he¡¯d get a beating, at worst, it could cost him his life Cason wheeled his chair closer, separated by a table, he said, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, I bet you didn¡¯t know that Anastasia had a kid, did you? She had one back in college, which was why she dropped out¡± Cason knew the real reason why Anastasia had a child and about her memory loss but he wasnt about to spill it all. Regardless, Anastasia having a child was a fact he wasn¡¯t lying about. Whether Anastasia was manipted or it was her own doing, it didn¡¯t matter anymore. All he wanted was to irk Herman and get his money. Herman, poker-faced, asked, ¡°Got any proof?¡± ¡°Mr. Salstrom, take a look¡± Cason presented the evidence. ¡°These are Anastasia¡¯s prenatal checkup records from the hospital. The child was born four years ago, so it should be over four years old now. Mr. Salstrom, I¡¯m just like you, a man deceived by Anastasia. I don¡¯t want you to be fooled again¡± Herman looked at the documents nonchntly. He had already found out about the private detective Cason had hired. Moreover, he had already gotten wind about Anastasia¡¯s child and even knew more about her depression Herman tossed the documents on the table. His face was expressionless as he looked at Cason ¡°How much do you want?¡± Cason was taken aback by Herman¡¯s nonchnce ¡°Mr. Salstrom, Anastasia deceived you, aren¡¯t you pissed?¡± Cason couldn¡¯t figure out Herman, he said, ¡°Such a loose woman is not fit to be the wife of the CEO of Elysian Technologies. Mr. Salstrom, now you know, Anastasia carried another man¡¯s child¡± Cason deliberately kept bringing up this issue, trying to provoke Herman. But Herman remained unruffled Flicking his cigarette ash nonchntly, he said, ¡°Anastasia sure was unlucky to cross paths with you. Okay, spit it out. How much to shut you up? You¡¯re here for the money, right? Don¡¯t waste my time¡± ¡°Mr. Salstrom, you¡¯re so generous, so forgiving, you can even tolerate this. I¡¯m quite impressed. Cason sneered and raised a finger. ¡°This price. I believe, Mr. Salstrom, you won¡¯t be stingy. After all, this is nothingpared to your reputation¡± ¡°Ten million?¡± Herman sneered Cason smiled ¡°Mr. Salstrom, ten million is chump change for you, isn¡¯t it? As long as the money is night, I promise to keep it under wraps, and won¡¯t leak a word¡± ¡°You¡¯re not cheap¡± Herman took a drag on his cigarette, appearing to mull over Cason¡¯s terms Cason, worried that Herman might refuse, added, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, ten million to protect your name and honor, I believe it¡¯s totally worth it, if Anastasia¡¯s scandal gets out, it won¡¯t do anyone any good.¡± Herman chuckled ¡°Fine, deal. Give me your bank info, Ill wire you the money right now. Ten million, Once you get the money, you must leave Riverdale. if this gets leaked, I¡¯ll find another way to ensure your silence.¡± Another way to ensure his silence that meant to silence Cason permanently. After all, it was true, only dead men tell no tales. Chapter 149 Chapter 149 Chapter 149 Herman was a big shot with a fat bank ount. Erasing someone from his life was easy as pie. Cason¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Mr. Salstrom, you gotta believe me. Once I get the dough, I¡¯m outta here¡± Seeing Herman agree to his terms without hesitation, Cason began to kick himself for not asking for more. He gave Herman his bank ount details. If he could get ten million dors, he could pay off his eight million dors in debt and have enough left to start fresh overseas. Without missing a beat, Herman transferred the money from his personal ount. Cason got the bank alert and excitedly checked his ount bnce. Ten million. His family¡¯s entire wealth didn¡¯t even add up to this much. For Herman to casually transfer ten million dors, it meant this was just pocket change to him and not his life savings. Cason suddenly realized that Herman¡¯s fortune must¡¯ve been much bigger than what was known to the public. Thanks, Mr. Salstrom With the money in his hands, Cason patted the documents on the table, laughing. ¡°These are all yours now. But I¡¯m curious, Mr. Salstrom, what are you gonna do about Anastasia?¡± ¡°That¡¯s between me and my wife. None of your business.¡± Herman nonchntly twirled his lighter and said evasively, ¡°You won¡¯t be around to see what happens between Anastasia and me.¡± ¡°What do you mean? Cason¡¯s rm bells started ringing Herman chuckled ¡°I wonder how you even got yourwyer¡¯s license. You know thew, and yet you break it. Your extortion amourt is ten million dors. You do realize that¡¯s enough to put you in jail for years, right?¡± Cason¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°Herman, are you trying to frame me? Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll expose Anastasia¡¯s dirty secrets?¡± ¡°You¡¯re such a dummy.¡± Herman locked icy cold, pulling out a recorder from his drawer. The recording was of Cason¡¯s extortion attempt. This was undeniable proof. Herman stood up, his long fingers resting on the desk, his icy gaze on Cason. ¡°No one dares to threaten me. What makes you think you¡¯re any different? Setting you free is like releasing a ticking time bomb. Do you really think fil let you go?¡± Cason started to panic. With the extortion amount being ten million dors, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars Only now did it dawn on Cason why Herman agreed to his terms so readily and transferred the money immediately. The bank transfer and recording were irrefutable evidence. ¡°Herman, you¡¯re a dirty rat You¡¯re ruthless, Casonst control and began cursing loudly But after his outburst, realizing the consequences, he changed his tune and appealed to Herman Write me a donation agreement now, stating you voluntarily gave me the money. Hurry up, or I¡¯ll leak Anastasia¡¯s dirty secrets online. I¡¯ve got plenty of backups. If I don¡¯t make it home today, someone will post them all.¡± If there was a donation agreement, it wouldn¡¯t count as extortion. Even at this point, Cason didnt Herman looked at Cason as if he was watching a clown perform, then chuckled ¡®Stupid and greedy. You¡¯re a lost cause. Did you really think I had you waiting here for hours doing nothing? Your private detective has spilled the beans He¡¯s smarter than you. As for your backups, I¡¯ve had someone hack yourputer and delete them all.¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Each word from Herman turned Cason even paler. Herman red at Cason coldly Still want to cross me?¡± Just as he finished speaking, Nelson knocked and came in ¡°Mr. Salstrom, the cops are downstairs.¡± Hearing that the police were here, Cason panicked and begged, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, I was wrong. I¡¯ll return the money.¡± Cason, shaking, tried to transfer the money back to Herman¡¯s phone, but it was toote. Herman ignored him, tossed the recorder to Nelson, and said casually. ¡°Get a couple of guys in here to take out the trash,¡± In Herman¡¯s eyes, Cason was just garbage. ¡°Got it, Mr. Salstrom.¡± Nelson signaled thepany¡¯s security to carry Cason out of the office and turn him over to the police, then went along to the police station to deal with it. Chapter 150 Chapter 150 Chapter 150 After wrapping up Cason¡¯s business, Herman sat down on the leather couch, poker-faced. The cigarette between his fingers had slowly burned down to the butt, and only when he felt the sting did he stub it out in the ashtray Herman took another look at Anastasia¡¯s prenatal medical records from a few years ago. Anastasia had seen the doctor every month, and the baby, a girl, was born four years ago in July. As for the whereabouts of the child now, Salma would likely know. Herman was in turmoil, the news of Anastasia having a child left him feeling like a train wreck He knew Anastasia wasn¡¯t a virgin, but the news that she had given birth before came as a shock. He thought back to what Anastasia had once told him, that she suffered from severe depression and had lost a chunk of her memory He figured that Anastasia¡¯s depression might¡¯ve been tied to the birth of her child. Herman didn¡¯t know much about Anastasia¡¯s past. From the cold hard words on the documents, he could only gather the surface information, However, he was dead certain about one thing. Anastasia had forgotten her experience of being pregnant and giving birth. Given her character, she wouldn¡¯t have abandoned the child. She had shown kindness to Pattie, a stranger with no blood tie to her, let alone her own flesh and blood. Even when her own life was hard, she wanted to adopt a girl she found, let alone a child she carried for ten months Herman trusted that Anastasia hadn¡¯t lied to him, but he was sure Salma and Monica knew the truth. He remembered when he apanied Anastasia for a check-up, Monica had rushed to insist on being the one to apany Anastasia, effectively leaving him out in the cold Clearly, Monica was worried he would find out about Anastasia¡¯s child. ¡°Herman, I¡¯m beat. Don¡¯t send me to that godforsaken ce rext time¡± Flynn barged into the office, had just returned from Riverdale and was already venting to Herman. ¡°That ce is a wastnd. Couldn¡¯t find a single looker Can¡¯t stand it. Do you know what kind of life I¡¯ve been living? Like a freaking monk, all austere and stuff¡­ How am I supposed to survive? And also. ¡± Flynn was on a roll, but Herman didn¡¯t respond, nor did he pay attention to what Flynn was saying. ¡°Herman, what¡¯s up? Flynn noticed Herman¡¯s mind was elsewhere, he waved his hand in front of Herman¡¯s face. ¡°You look like you¡¯ve lost your soul, did you have a fight with your wife?¡± Herman stood up. ¡°It¡¯s good you¡¯re back. I have a dinner to attend tonight, you¡¯ll go in my ce.¡± Flynn immediatelyined. ¡°No way, I just got back, let me rest¡± ¡°Consider it a traning for you. The dinner is at seven, don¡¯t screw it up,¡± Herman said, picking up the documents and his phone from the table, he left. Night fell quickly. Herman aimlessly drove around town, and then Anastasia¡¯s call came in. Seeing the caller ID, Herman frowned deeply. He could ept that Anastasia wasn¡¯t a virgin and that she had given birth before. But he couldn¡¯t stomach the idea that there might have been a very important man in Anastasia¡¯s life. What kind of man could make Anastasia drop out of school, get pregnant, and even give up her future to have a baby? Herman was terrified at the thought, he didn¡¯t even dare to uncover the secret. Anastasia had said that the missing memories could affect their marriage, and this made Herman even more hesitant. If Anastasia could remember, would she leave him to find that man? He didn¡¯t pick up Anastasia¡¯s call, he put his phone on silent and stepped on the gas, driving out of town. He needed somewhere to cool off. Meanwhile, Anastasia was at home, looking at the unanswered call, feeling uneasy ¡°Ana, did you get through? When is Hermaning back? We should eat Salma Jewell came out of the kitchen with a te of food, Anastasia had rushed home after work because she was worried about Pattie Sshe didn¡¯t wait for Herman to pick her up and took a cab home instead. Anastasia put away her phone and said. ¡°He¡¯s probably still busy Let¡¯s eat. ¡°Pattie must be hungry Come on Anastasia took Pattie¡¯s hand and walked towards the dining table. ¡°Mom, It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve had your cooking. Why don¡¯t you move in? That way, Herman and I can have your home-cooked meals every day after work.¡± This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Salmaughed. ¡°You just want me to help with housework, don¡¯t you? You might be up for it, but I¡¯m not.¡± Chapter 151 Chapter 151 Chapter 151 Salma simply didn¡¯t want to butt into Anastasia and Herman¡¯s newlywed life. Anastasia and Herman had just tied the knot, and they were not even a few months in. Understanding Salma¡¯s thoughts, Anastasia said, ¡°Mom, you see how busy Herman and I are, nobody¡¯s gonna be around to watch over Pattie. With her going to and from school, she needs someone to drop her off and pick her up. We just won¡¯t have the time. Mom, I have to lean on you.¡± Hearing this, Salma nced at Pattie and asked Anastasia, ¡°So you¡¯re saying, Pattie is gonna be living with us?¡± Anastasia and Herman were still young; they would eventually have kids of their own. Taking care of someone else¡¯s kid now would definitely put the pressure on them Anastasia didn¡¯t delve into the topic further with Pattie present. She passed her some food and said, ¡°Eat up, Pattle.¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Pattie was a sensitive kid, she¡¯d picked up on Salma¡¯s words and realized she was probably a burden. She didn¡¯t say anything, and just quietly ate her meal. After finishing her meal, she took it upon herself to clear the table and do the dishes, showing a level of maturity beyond her years. Anastasia stopped her. ¡°Pattie, you go and watch some TV in the living room, leave this to me.¡± Pattie put down the dishes and obediently went to watch TV in the living room. Salma saw all of this. Holding the leftover dishes, she quietly asked, ¡°Ana, what are you nning to do about the kid?¡± ¡°Herman and I have talked it over, if Pattie¡¯s family agrees, we¡¯ll adopt her,¡± Anastasia answered with a smile. ¡°Herman doesn¡¯t have any parents, and we¡¯re both working, so we might need your help taking her to and from school.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a problem, but the issue is, she¡¯s someone else¡¯s kid. It¡¯s one thing to have her over for a day or two, but if you really want to raise her, have you considered the costs?¡± Salma advised her, ¡°You and Herman are going to want your own kids someday, have you calcted those costs? This isn¡¯t like keeping a pet where you just provide food. This is a child who needs education. Besides, doesn¡¯t she have parents? I don¡¯t agree with you adopting her.¡± Every concern Salma had was grounded in reality and was meant for Anastasia¡¯s best interest. Looking at Pattie, who was quietly watching TV in the living room, Anastasia said, ¡°Pattie¡¯s parents probably aren¡¯t her biological ones. She was likely adopted by them. That couple had their own child and frequently abused Pattie. Look at her, she¡¯s covered in bruises. She¡¯s just over four years old and hasn¡¯t started kindergarten. If this continues, her entire life could be ruined.¡± ¡°We could contact social services or an orphanage, there are many ways to help the kid. Why do you insist on adopting her?¡± Salma persuaded, ¡°Pattie is a lovely child, and is pitiful, but we need to make decisions based on reality. What will you do when you have your own kids? Have you considered the cost of a child¡¯s annual tuition?¡± Salma had given up Anastasia¡¯s biological daughter years ago to not interfere with Anastasia¡¯s happiness. Now Anastasia wanted to adopt a stranger¡¯s child, Salma was genuinely opposed. Salma¡¯s words left Anastasia speechless ¡°Mom, things aren¡¯t as bad as you¡¯re making them out to be¡­¡± ¡°Your husband doesn¡¯t make much each month, he¡¯s working himself to the bone, anding home late. We¡¯re living in Riverdale. Life¡¯s expensive here. Once you¡¯re pregnant, you can¡¯t work and all the pressure will fall onto your husband.¡± Salma gently tapped Anastasia¡¯s forehead. ¡°You silly girl, always too soft hearted. You have to listen to me on this, we can¡¯t adopt her. You could help Pattie find a better family, wouldn¡¯t that solve the problem? Why insist on bearing the burden yourself?¡± Anastasia knew she couldn¡¯t convince her mother, so she had to say, ¡°Alright, Mom, let¡¯s not discuss this now.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t avoid this issue. Gianna has been childless for a while. I can ask if she¡¯s willing to adopt Anastasia quickly said, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t say that. Gianna is so brash, how could she possibly be suitable to raise a child?¡± Salma said, ¡°nna is in a better situation than you guys. She can¡¯t have kids. Isn¡¯t it a win-win if she adopts? You could still see Pattie regrly.¡± ¡°Mom¡­¡± Before Anastasia could finish, Pattie¡¯s voice came from behind. ¡°It¡¯s starting to rain outside.¡± Anastasia then remembered that there were clothes hanging outside. ¡°Mom, you wash the dishes, I¡¯ll bring in the clothes.¡± Anastasia gave Salma a look, signaling not to say anything inappropriate in front of Pattie. Pattie was very sensitive and got easily hurt. Chapter 152 Chapter 152 Chapter 152 Anastasia wasn¡¯t sure how much Pattie had heard. After packing up the clothes, she look Pattie for a bath. Pattie was silent, her wounds had healed somewhat, but she still looked very frail. It wasn¡¯t something that could be fixed overnight. Standing under the showerhead, Anastasia was washing Pattie¡¯s hair and face, chuckling ¡°A girl should always take good care of herself. Get cleaned up, and you¡¯ll sleep like a baby.¡± Suddenly, Pattie asked, ¡°Are you gonna dump me too?¡± As soon as she said it, tears started rolling down her cheeks, Under Anastasia¡¯s care, Pattie experienced a warmth she had never felt before. Hearing this, Anastasia felt a pang in her heart. She hugged Pattie and said, ¡°Never, I won¡¯t abandon you. Don¡¯t overthink. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll talk to your mom, and see if I can bring you to live with us. I¡¯ll take you to kindergarten, and you¡¯ll meet a lot of new friends, okay?¡± Pattie excitedly asked, ¡°Can I go to school?¡± Pattie had always wanted to go to school, but Penny was not willing to spend the money for it. Every time they passed by the kindergarten, she could only watch from outside the fence. Her peers could y together. There were teachers teaching them to dance and do morning exercises. These made Pattie very envious Anastasia pinched Pattie¡¯s little nose and said, ¡°Of course you can. You have to study hard, go to college, and make a difference in the world.¡± Pattie nodded happily, reaching out to hug Anastasia, and said, ¡°You¡¯re so good to me.¡± Pattie wished that Anastasia could be her mother. ¡°You¡¯re the sweetest, smartest little darling. I love you the most.¡± Anastasia said sincerely For some reason, Anastasia couldn¡¯t resist Pattie¡¯s dependence. She just wanted to give Pattie the best life and education. After the bath, Anastasia put Pattie to bed, gently closed the door, and left the room. Salma was watching TV in the living room, and Anastasia said, ¡°Mom, it¡¯ste, you should go to bed¡± ¡°It¡¯s already 10 p.m, where is your husband?¡± Salma asked, ¡°Is he often thiste?¡± ¡°He sometimes has to work overtime, so he might bete.¡± Anastasiaughed, ¡°He¡¯s a programmer, so sometimes he can get a bit busy. You should go to sleep¡± With only three bedrooms in the house and one being used as a study, Salma had to share a room with Pattie. Salma sighed and said, ¡°I heard what you were saying to Pattie. You really make me helpless.¡± ¡°Mom, money can be earned again, but the opportunity for growth and education onlyes once. Pattie being here makes us feel so close,¡± Anastasia said with a smile. ¡°If you think my husband and I are too tired, you could help us by picking up Pattie, and sharing the load a bit.¡± Salma retorted, I¡¯m not helping. I¡¯ll let you know how hard it is to raise a child.¡± Anastasia knew her mother was just worried about her, and not truly refusing to help. So she sat next to Salma, took her hand, and said, ¡°Mom, thank you for raising me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re such a cheeky girl.¡± Salma¡¯s eyes welled up, she got up and said, ¡®I¡¯m going to bed, call your husband and see if he has finished his work. There¡¯s still warm food in the pot.¡± Anastasia smiled and said, ¡°Okay.¡±N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. After Salma went to bed, Anastasia showered, and when shey in bed, she nced at the clock, it was almost 11 p.m. Then, Anastasia called Herman, but his phone was off. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Anastasia was a bit nervous, talking to herself. She sent Herman a message but got no response. Even when he was busy, Herman wouldn¡¯t Ignore her. Worried about Herman, Anastasia messaged Flynn. (Could you get in touch with Herman? His phone is off.] Anastasia didn¡¯t want to do this, afraid Herman might think she was keeping tabs on him. But it was late, he hadn¡¯te home, and she couldn¡¯t reach him, so she felt uneasy. Flynn, who had just finished a banquet, received Anastasia¡¯s message. Although tired, he immediately perked up. Leave it to me.] After replying to Anastasia, Flynn drove back to Salstrom Manor If Herman hadn¡¯t returned to Harmony Meadows, he would have been at Salstrom Manor When Flynn got home, he didn¡¯t see Herman. He asked Katelyn, ¡°Mom, have you seen Herman? Anastasia said he hasn¡¯te home.¡± Chapter 153 Chapter 153 Chapter 153 Katelyn seemed quite shocked. ¡°Where on earth is your brother thiste at night? I haven¡¯t seen him all day.¡± Flynn responded, puzzled, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a bit weird. His phone is off. I¡¯ll ask Nelson.¡± Flynn dialed Nelson, being Herman¡¯s assistant, he should have a clue about Herman¡¯s whereabouts. But Nelson was also clueless. Katelyn nced at the clock and eximed, ¡°It¡¯s the middle of the night now. What is he doing out there instead of being home with his wife? Anastasia needs to keep a tighter leash on him. I¡¯ll talk to her tomorrow. This is uneptable for a married man to be out thiste!¡± This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. In the Salstrom family, the house rules were strict. Unless there was a party, everyone had to be home before midnight. Flynn couldn¡¯t help but poke fun. ¡°Mom, if people didn¡¯t know any better, they would think Anastasia is your biological daughter, and my brother is some child you picked up off the street.¡± Katelyn shot Flynn a look. ¡°You better watch yourself, mister. If you stir up any scandal, don¡¯t think abouting back home.¡± ¡°Mom, why are you ming me again?¡± Flynn felt wronged and quickly changed the subject. ¡°By the way, is Dad still not home?¡± ¡°I have no idea what he¡¯s up to these days. He¡¯s been leaving early anding homete,¡± Katelyn said anxiously. ¡°Flynn, you don¡¯t think your dad is fooling around with other women at his age, do you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s highly unlikely, mom. You¡¯re charming, beautiful, and irresistible. My dad isn¡¯t blind, why would he go looking for other women when he has such a beauty at home?¡± Flynn quickly ttered his Mom, ¡®Under your reign, our family has been running smoothly. Even Dad has had no scandals. It¡¯s all because of your wise management.¡± Katelyn burst intoughter, ¡°You sure know how to sweet talk. Send a message to Anastasia, tell her Herman is working overtime, and she should go to bed. I¡¯ll find out what¡¯s going on with your brother.¡± No matter where Herman was or what he was doing, Katelyn had to reassure Anastasia first. This minor issue shouldn¡¯t affect their marriage. Anastasia sat on her bed staring at her phone, waiting for a message from Herman. She¡¯d made several calls but couldn¡¯t reach him. Then, a message came in from Flynn, ¡°I¡¯ve found my brother. He¡¯s workingte and his phone died. You should rest, he¡¯lle back as soon as he¡¯s done.¡± Anastasia felt something was off. Couldn¡¯t he have charge his phone? Flynn had already contacted Herman. Even if Herman¡¯s phone was dead, he could borrow a phone from a coworker to call her back. Anastasia was frustrated and heard a noise at the door. Thinking it might be Herman, she put on her slippers and went out, But Herman hadn¡¯te back, and she stood at the door, waiting for it to open, but it never did. After a while, she opened the door to look outside, but there was no one in the corridor. Anastasia returned to her room, disappointed. Without Herman, she couldn¡¯t sleep and kept tossing and turning in bed. When you obsessed over someone but got no response, it brought a great deal of anxiety and pain. Anastasia¡¯s eyes felt dry, but she didn¡¯t want to close them. It was already 3 am, and she started to feel sleepy. Unknowingly, she fell asleep. In a daze, she felt a cool breeze covering her. Struggling to open her eyes, she had no idea what time it was, only that the sky outside seemed to be getting lit. With the light from the window, she could barely make out Herman¡¯s face. Anastasia muttered, her eyes hazy, ¡°Why are you sote?¡± Herman seemed in a hurry. He reached out his hand but seemed to be restraining something. His voice was low and a bit hparse. ¡°Anastasia, I want you to have my baby.¡± Chapter 154 Chapter 154 Chapter 154 Anastasia could tell there was something bothering Herman, and there were some questions she didn¡¯t get the chance to ask under his warmth and affection. When faced with some questions and missed the best time to ask your questions, you never got the chance to ask again. By the time Anastasia woke up again, it was nearly noon. She nced at the time. Thankful that it was Saturday and she didn¡¯t have to work, or else she would¡¯ve beente. Recalling Herman¡¯s madness in the wee hours, Anastasia blushed. Herman was no longer in the room. She got dressed and went out, but Salma and Pattie were also gone. She heard noises from the study and went to open the door. Herman was busy at the desk. Anastasia smiled and said, ¡°I hope I¡¯m not interrupting you. By the way, where are my mom and Pattie?¡± ¡°They¡¯re downstairs hanging out,¡± Herman said. ¡°There¡¯s food in the kitchen if you¡¯re hungry.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Anastasia could feel that Herman was somewhat different from before. He was still caring for her, but it felt like there was less warmth. ¡°Aboutst night¡­¡± ¡°I workedtest night.¡± Herman seemed to see through Anastasia¡¯s thoughts and said, ¡°I still have some things to do. When I¡¯m done, I¡¯ll take you guys out for fun in the afternoon.¡±N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. ¡°Alright, you do your thing.¡± Anastasia gently closed the door. Her heart filled with an indescribable feeling. Was she overthinking? Feeling hungry. Anastasia went to the kitchen to grab some food. After eating, she went downstairs to find Salma and Pattie As she entered the elevator, she got a call from Salma ¡°Ana, Pattie¡¯s dad is here, and he wants to take her away. We¡¯re at the yground downstairs.¡± Upon receiving the call, Anastasia rushed over. Leo was about to leave with Pattie, but Salma was pulling him, saying, ¡°Wait for my daughter toe over. You can¡¯t just take the child away like this.¡± Leo was annoyed. ¡°She¡¯s my daughter. Why can¡¯t I take her away?¡± *She¡¯s your daughter, but Pattie is living at my daughter¡¯s house now. You should wait for her toe over, then exin¡­¡± ¡°Mom.¡± Anastasia ran over and said to Leo, ¡°Let¡¯s change location and talk about Pattie.¡± With the argument between Salma and Leo, Pattie was scared and pale, drawing attention from others. It wasn¡¯t the ce for such a conversation. Leo said, ¡°Ms. Jewell, I appreciate your help taking care of Pattie, but you can¡¯t treat my daughter as your own. If you want a child, have one yourself, why set your sights on my daughter?¡± Leo was much different from before. With that, he took Pattie and headed towards themunity exit. Pattle looked back at Anastasia, but she couldn¡¯t resist Leo. In her heart, Leo was her father, and compared to Penny, Leo was still good to her. Anastasia chased after them, worried that Pattie would be hit again. Leo put Pattie in the car. Seeing Anastasia chasing, he closed the car door and asked puzzledly, ¡°Ms. Jewell, what are you doing? She¡¯s my daughter. Even if you like Pattie, you can¡¯t do this.¡± ¡°Pattie is covered in bruises, all caused by your wife. Pattle is only four years old and hasn¡¯t been to kindergarten yet. As her father, if you can¡¯t fulfill your responsibilities, just let go.¡± Anastasia said, ¡°My husband and I have discussed it. We n to adopt Pattie. What would it take for you to agree¡­¡± Leo was shocked. ¡°Did I hear that right? You want to adopt Pattie?¡± ¡°Yes, I want to adopt Pattie.¡± Anastasia looked at Pattie in the car and firmly said, ¡°I feel a strong bond with this child. I want to adopt her.¡± Pattie was leaning against the car window, her big eyes nkly and helplessly looking at Anastasia. Leo looked at Pattie, then at Anastasia, and shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. Pattie is my daughter. Although her mother is somewhat strict, she¡¯s still our daughter. How could we possibly give her away?¡± Anastasia lowered her voice and asked, ¡°Is Pattie really your biological daughter? Chapter 155 Chapter 155 Chapter 155 Anastasia¡¯s words seemed to hit Leo¡¯s nerve, so he immediately retorted, ¡°Of course she¡¯s my daughter, Ms. Jewell, how could you say something like that?¡± Leo¡¯s reaction was beyond Anastasia¡¯s expectation. ¡°I mean¡­¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯m not gonna let you adopt Pattie. Keep your distance from my daughter¡± Leo rejected her bluntly, ¡°How I raise my kid is my business. You don¡¯t get to meddle. If you want a kid, have one yourself.¡± With that, Leo got in his car and drove off to the hospital. After Pattie was taken away by Herman, Penny¡¯s son fell sick and was holed up in the hospital, with a fever that was not backing down. Leo was in a state of panic. He remembered someone once said that his son¡¯s arrival to this world was all thanks to Pattie, only with Pattie around, his son would be safe. So Leo rushed to pick up Pattie, Penny initially disagreed, feeling as if she finally got rid of a headache, but considering her son, she had no choice but to let Leo take Pattie back. Sure enough, as soon as Leo brought Pattie back to the hospital, within an hour, his son¡¯s fever broke Leo asked Pattie to watch over his son in the ward, and he dragged Penny outside for a talk. ¡°How many times have I told you. Be nice to Pattie. Why did you hit her again? If this continues, she might really leave, and what will happen to our son then?¡± Leo never liked Penny hitting Pattie. Now seizing the moment, he decided to give her a piece of his mind. Penny pouted, ¡°This kid¡¯s got some luck. I feel like she¡¯s brought bad luck to our son.¡± ¡°You just don¡¯t believe what that person said. We didn¡¯t have a child for so many years, but after adopting Pattie, we had a son. That person even said, our son is a blessing from Pattie, and their fates are intertwined.¡± ¡°Fine. Penny said, annoyed, ¡°I¡¯ll try to hit her less.¡± Leo said, ¡°After our son is discharged, let¡¯s move.¡± ¡°Why? We¡¯re living fine here, moving is a hassle.¡± ¡®Ms. Jewell has taken a liking to Pattie; she even told me she wants to adopt her, Leo, ¡°I¡¯m worried if this goes on, it might lead to problems. You always hit Pattie, she¡¯s this old and hasn¡¯t gone to school yet, and the neighborhood¡¯s buzzing. saying she¡¯s not our biological child.¡± ¡°People can say whatever they want, I can¡¯t control them, but moving, that¡¯s not happening.¡± Penny was adamant and then she had a sudden idea. ¡°You mentioned Ms. Jewell wants to adopt Pattie. Since she likes Pattie so much, let her pay for Pattie¡¯s expenses, not just all talk.¡± Leo sighed, ¡°We have to send Pattie to school.¡± ¡°If she¡¯s willing to pay, I¡¯ll let Pattie go to school. As for me, I¡¯m not paying, I have to save for my son.¡± Penny pushed Leo away, ¡°Our son¡¯s fever broke. You take that little girl back. I feel annoyed just looking at her.¡± Leo had no choice but to take Pattie back. On the way back, he tentatively asked Pattie, ¡°Pattie, what do you think of Ms. Jewell?¡± ¡°She¡¯s nice,¡± Pattie replied softly. ¡°Do you want to live with her?¡± Pattie lowered her head and said nothing. Leo said, ¡°Pattie, you, Mom, and I are all family. Your mom is just tired from taking care of your brother, that¡¯s why she¡¯s cranky. Just try not to annoy her, and I¡¯ll try my best to let you go to school,¡± ¡°Dad, I understand,¡± Pattie said maturely. ¡°I¡¯ll help with housework, take care of my brother, and not make mom angry.¡± ¡°Good girl.¡± Leo smiled. He also noticed Pattie talked more after living with Anastasia for two days. ¡°You must be hungry. I¡¯ll take you for a burger. Your mom¡¯s not around, and it¡¯s our little secret. You can¡¯t tell your mom okay?¡± Pattie¡¯s eyes up, and she nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Chapter 156 Chapter 156 Chapter 156 After Pattie was taken away, Anastasia felt a gaping hole in her heart. Salmaforted her. ¡°That kid was never really ours. Don¡¯t sweat over it too much. I¡¯ve observed Pattie¡¯s dad. He does care a lot for her.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just worried that Penny might hurt Pattie,¡± Anastasia said. ¡°Pattie¡¯s already that big and hasn¡¯t started school yet. That¡¯s a problem.¡± ¡°Ana, you love kids so much, why don¡¯t you and your husband pop out one of your own? I can help take care of the baby. You guys aren¡¯t getting any younger, it¡¯s about time you had a kid.¡± Salma¡¯s words reminded Anastasia of the previous night. Herman had also mentioned wanting a child. Just then, the study door opened, Anastasia looked up and locked eyes with Herman. She felt a knot in her stomach, as a sense of nervousness washed over her. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Salma chuckled. ¡°Herman, why don¡¯t you take Ana out for a bit after you¡¯re done with your work? I need to run some errands.¡± It was clear that she was making up an excuse to give them some alone time. Herman offered. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a lift.¡± ¡°No need, I can just grab a cab. Salma said, slipping into her shoes and heading out Before Anastasia could get a word in, Salma was gone, leaving her alone with Herman. The house suddenly felt much quieter Anastasia asked, ¡°Do you have any ns for the afternoon?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have anything in particr, Herman said, sitting next to Anastasia and wrapping an arm around her waist as he usually did. ¡°Do you have any ns?¡± Anastasia shook her head. The whole thing with Pattie had left her in low spirits. ¡°Leo didn¡¯t agree to us adopting Pattie.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, let¡¯s just have our own child,¡± Herman said, nting a soft kiss on her cheek, his tone seductive. That familiar feeling of affection was back, as well as the distance Anastasia had sensed was gone. She must have been overthinking. Anastasia huffed ¡®It¡¯s still broad daylight, Herman. Don¡¯t you ever get tired?¡± As he kissed her neck, then her earlobe, he said, ¡°I don¡¯t get tired.¡± With that, Herman made his move Realizing he was serious, Anastasia quickly said, ¡°The curtains are still open¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go to the bedroom then, Herman said, picking her up and heading to their bedroom. During the day, they didn¡¯t go out. They just enjoyed each other¡¯spany at home like lovebirds. In fact, they were in their honeymoon phase, that period when you just wanted to stick together all the time. After their orgasm, before Anastasia even had time to catch her breath, Herman was at it again. Anastasia joked. ¡°Herman, don¡¯t you ever get tired? You¡¯re so full of energy.¡± ¡°I want you to bepletely mine, every inch of your skin marked by me.¡± Katelyn came rushing over to teach Anastasia how to keep her husband in check, to rein in Herman. After ringing the doorbell for what felt like forever with no one answering, Katelyn, who had a key, let herself in only to hear noisesing from the bedroom. Of course, she knew exactly what was going on in there. Katelyn, being a mature woman, blushed at the noises. Young people these days sure had stamina. She was shocked that they were going at it in broad daylight. Katelyn didn¡¯t disturb them, she carefully left the house and called her maid, ¡°Prepare a pot of nutritious soup and send it to Harmony Meadows¡­¡± She wanted to replenish Herman and Anastasia¡¯s energy and speed up Anastasia¡¯s pregnancy. Katelyn went out to buy prenatal vitamins to help Anastasia regte her body. Anastasia had no idea Katelyn hade over. If she knew, she¡¯d probably be too embarrassed to even step outside. In the afternoon, Katelyn delivered boxes of nutritional supplements, along with the nutritious soup, reminding Herman to drink it. After delivering everything. Katelyn said cheerily, ¡°You two carry on, I won¡¯t disturb you, just remember to drink the soup for nutrition. Remember to bnce work with rest, don¡¯t overdo it.¡± Anastasia and Herman were blushing. After Katelyn left, Anastasia red at Herman. ¡°This is all your fault.¡± Herman chuckled. ¡°We do need to replenish our energy.¡± That weekend, they either stayed home being lovey dovey with each other or went out to watch the sunrise and be lovey-dovey while camping. Anastasia realized that Herman was constantly all over her, wanting to have a baby 24/7. Now whenever she saw Herman, she felt weak in the knees. Chapter 157 Chapter 157 Chapter 157 When Monday rolled around, Anastasia had been kept up sote the night before that by the time she woke up, it was already past eight in the morning. She was going to bete Anastasia rushed through her morning routine and scolded Herman. ¡®What were you doing keeping me up sotest night? I¡¯m going to bete now. And you turned off my rm!¡± ¡°I thought you looked tired, so I let you sleep in a bit.¡± Herman handed Anastasia a ss of milk, ¡°You¡¯ll have to drive to work today. I have a social event tonight and probably won¡¯t be able to pick you up.¡± Anastasia grabbed the milk and downed it quickly. ¡°Driving myself is actually more convenient. Every time youe to pick me up, my colleagues tease me.¡± She couldn¡¯t always rely on Herman to pick her up after work. They had a spare car at home, and it was a waste not to use 1. Just as Anastasia was about to put on her shoes and leave, Herman grabbed her arm and leaned in. Anastasia got the hint and smiled as she pecked his cheek. ¡°I need to go to work now. Otherwise I¡¯ll be late.¡± ¡®That¡¯s not enough.¡± Herman pulled Anastasia into his arms and kissed her. It was a long, romantic kiss that left Anastasia a bit dazed. After a while, he let go of her and kindly handed her handbag. ¡°You can go to work now.¡± This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Anastasia gave Herman a disgruntled look before rushing out the door. She took the elevator down to the underground car park and drove out of their apartmentplex. At the entrance of theplex, Anastasia happened to see Penny pushing a stroller and Pattieing back from outside with tworge bags of vegetables. Pattie was clearly struggling with the heavy load, and Penny was impatiently urging her 1. Seeing Pattie¡¯s small body bearing such a heavy burden, Anastasia felt a pang of sympathy. Just as she was about to call out to Pattie, Penny spotted her and quickly pulled Pattre away I¡¯m going to make you some steak today, so don¡¯t run around. People areplicated, some who seem kind actually have bad intentions. They can deceive children like you¡­¡± Anastasia was speechless. It was clear that Penny¡¯s words were directed at her. Cars behind her started honking for her to move, so Anastasia had no choice but to drive on. About fifty meters out of theplex, she saw a Rolls Royce. How extravagant Anastasia quickly remembered seeing the same car outside the Eclipse Lounge before. Could there be some mysterious tycoon living in herplex? Anastasia shrugged it off and drove past the Rolls Royce on her way to work. ww + Nelson, in the Rolls Royce, felt a jolt of panic seeing Anastasia¡¯s fleeting figure through the car window. Feeling like he¡¯d been caught doing something wrong, he instinctively ducked his head. That was the wife of Mr. Herman. He hadn¡¯t been spotted, had he? After a while, Nelson dared to look up again, but Anastasia¡¯s car was long gone, swallowed up by the crowd. By the time Anastasia got to work, she was alreadyte. There went her perfect attendance bonus for the month. As soon as Anastasia sat down, Lauren walked over and said, ¡°Anastasia, Selena is not happy today. She promised to design a piece of jewelry for Wendy¡¯s daughter, but it¡¯s been a week and she still hasn¡¯te up with a design that Wendy likes. Wendy called to rush her this morning, I heard it outside her office.¡± Anastasia wasn¡¯t surprised and calmly replied, ¡°Our chief designer is very capable. This small issue won¡¯t stump her.¡± No sooner had Anastasia finished speaking than Selena came out of her office and called all the other staff in the design department into her office, leaving out Anastasia. As for Lauren, Selena didn¡¯t dare to call her as well. Lauren asked. ¡°Anastasia, why do you think Selena called everyone into her office?¡± Anastasia smiled, ¡°Brainstorming.¡± Lauren praised her, ¡°High EQ.¡± People with high EQ would call this brainstorming, while those with low EQ would call it stealing other people¡¯s ideas. Lauren was unhappy with Selena¡¯s actions, saying, ¡°If she can¡¯t handle it, she shouldn¡¯t have taken on the task ¡± Anastasia deliberately said, ¡®Actually, I¡¯ve already drawn up a few designs for the jewelry based on Wendy¡¯s requirements.¡± Chapter 158 Chapter 158 Chapter 158 As soon as Lauren heard that Anastasia had finished her design sketches, she excitedly eximed, ¡°Let me have a peek!! bet you¡¯ve got some mad design skills.¡± Anastasia booted up herputer, showcasing her design sketches, which spanned from earrings to nes, rings, and bracelets. Anastasia¡¯s designs primarily featured simplicity, every piece looked unique and carried a vintage ir. Anastasia dove into detailed exnations of each design. ¡°This ring, I¡¯ve used a couple of beads as the points of connection. For these earrings, I¡¯ve incorporated a flower called the ¡®Red Spider Lily¡¯, also known as the ¡®Love Flower¡¯, symbolizing unwavering love.¡± Continuing, Anastasia said, ¡°The Red Spider Lily carries a heart-wrenching story that can bring tears to your eyes. I know Wendy¡¯s daughter is a huge fan of vintage stuff and has a ton of vintage clothes at home, so I¡¯ve added elements of vintage into each design. These essories would look bomb with vintage outfits¡± Lauren started to admire Anastasia. ¡®Anastasia, how do you know so much? I¡¯m a jewelry designer too, but I don¡¯t have nearly as many ideas in my noggin.¡± Anastasia replied, ¡°Most jewelry designers design ording to their personal preference and style. Not everyone has the same taste as us. Since this is a custom piece, it should meet the needs of the clients.¡± ¡°You¡¯re spot on,¡± Lauren admitted. ¡°Many famous designers only consider their own style and preference and often overlook the needs of their clients. Anastasia, Wendy will definitely be thrilled with these designs.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Anastasia smiled and said, ¡°These are just some doodles, Wendy isn¡¯t my client. I¡¯m just a regr employee. Enough of this, let¡¯s grab some grub, I¡¯m starved.¡± ¡°But we just had breakfast¡­¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t eat breakfast¡± Anastasia craftily diverted Lauren. All that chatter was intentionally for the ears of those lurking in the corners. How else would they get their opportunity if they didn¡¯t leave? Anastasia dragged Lauren into another room for some chit-chat, effectively killing time and giving the thief ample opportunity to snatch the design sketches. Lauren, always spontaneous at work, brought up, ¡°Anastasia, are you free tonight? Fancy going to a cocktail party with me?¡± ¡°What cocktail party?¡± Anastasia had only been to high-end functions with Monica and wasn¡¯t really familiar with this sort of thing. ¡°It¡¯s a cocktail party hosted by WOW Corporation. It¡¯s aworking opportunity, and I heard the CEO of Elysian Technologies will be there too.¡± Lauren¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°He¡¯s like a Greek god to me, I must go.¡± Anastasia chuckled at Lauren¡¯s enthusiasm, reminding her of Monica. Monica was the same, always brimming with excitement when seeing the CEO of Elysian Technologies. ¡°We¡¯ll see about tonight. If I¡¯m free. I¡¯ll tag along and see what these high-society parties are like.¡± ¡®Deal. You don¡¯t have an evening gown, do you? I¡¯ll have someone prepare one for you.¡± Lauren, always efficient, immediately dialed up her assistant. Finally, feeling the timing was right, Anastasia left with Lauren. Back at her desk, Anastasia checked herputer. As suspected, someone had been nosing around. The office surveince equipment had brokenst week and hadn¡¯t been fixed yet. It was the perfect opportunity to spring a trap. Sure enough, by afternoon, Selena hade up with a design sketch that satisfied Wendy. Just as Selena instructed her assistant to send the sketch to the manufacturer, Anastasia signaled Lauren to intercept under the pretense of admiration and learning. As soon as they unrolled the sketch, Lauren was the first to gasp. ¡°Anastasia, Isn¡¯t this your design?¡± No Tool, she quickly realized why Anastasia had her intercept the sketch. Apparently, Anastasia had foreseen Selena¡¯s giarism. With that in mind, Lauren decided to y along. Her exmation quickly drew the attention of the entire department. ¡®This is Selena¡¯s design for Wendy. How could it be Anastasia¡¯s? Lauren, watch your words!¡± The assistant argued. ¡°I¡¯m not talking nonsense. Anastasia showed me her sketch this morning, and it¡¯s identical to this one.¡± Lauren shot back. ¡°This is giarism.¡± The usation immediately stirred up a buzz. To a designer, giarism was a disgrace. Feigning confusion, Anastasia chimed in, ¡°How did my design end up with Selena?¡± Hearing themotion from inside her office, Selena came out. Anastasia confronted her. ¡°Selena, can you exin why my design ended up being yours?¡± Chapter 159 Chapter 159 Chapter 159 Selena kept her cool, casting a cold nce at her assistant, scolding, ¡°May, hurry up and get the design to the production department. Can¡¯t you even handle this little task?¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯m on it,¡± May responded. Seeing Selena trying to brush it off, Anastasia grabbed May¡¯s wrist tightly and said to Selena, ¡°Looks like you¡¯re not nning on giving me an exnation. You¡¯ve gotten quitefortable with stealing, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Anastasia quit talking nonsense! I put my blood, sweat, and tears into this design, you¡¯re just trying to steal my thunder,¡± Selena retaliated. ¡°What gives you the right to im it as yours?¡± ¡°I can vouch for it. I saw the design on Anastasia¡¯sputer this morning,¡± Lauren chimed in. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Selena scoffed. ¡°Those designs are throwaways from years ago. When I made those, Anastasia probably wasn¡¯t even in the business.¡± Unfazed by Selena¡¯s boldness, Anastasia kept her cool. ¡°How can you prove those are your throwaways from years ago?¡± ¡°Why should I have to prove anything to you?¡± Selena retorted, pulling rank. ¡°Don¡¯t forget your ce, Anastasia. You¡¯re just an assistant. Don¡¯t get too big for your britches.¡± ¡°Selena, you¡¯re stealing Anastasia¡¯s designs with no shame. You¡¯re a disgrace to the jewelry design industry,¡± Lauren shot back angrily. ¡°Lauren, mind yournguage, Selena snapped. ¡°You¡¯re trying to im my designs as Anastasia¡¯s without proof, that¡¯s a joke.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s check the surveince, Anastasia suggested calmly. Selena, knowing the surveince was broken,ughed. ¡°Sure, let¡¯s do that.¡± Relying on her status in the jewelry design industry, Selena wasn¡¯t afraid of Anastasia at all. So what if she stole Anastasia¡¯s designs in in sight? At that moment, a coworker mentioned, ¡°The surveince brokest week. I saw Harmon fixing it earlier, but I don¡¯t think it¡¯s done yet # Hearing this, Lauren panicked. ¡°Anastasia, what do we do? Selena is tantly stealing your idea. I can¡¯t believe what I¡¯m seeing. This is basically daylight robbery.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Anastasia said calmly, ¡°I¡¯ve got surveince. I¡¯ve been losing things from my desk so I installed a mini camera. We just need to check if she touched myputer this morning¡± When she heard about the mini camera, a hint of panic shed in Selena¡¯s eyes. Selena nced at May, who knew she was about to be thrown under the bus. Anastasia turned to Selena. ¡°Are you willing to watch the footage?¡± ¡°Why not, let¡¯s do it, Selena responded, feigning calm. The onlooking coworkers were also curious about who stole whose designs. From the looks of it, Anastasia didn¡¯t seem to be lying Anastasia pulled out her phone and opened the surveince app. As she navigated through the app. Selena¡¯s heart began to pound. She hadn¡¯t expected Anastasia to have a backup n. Just as Anastasia was about to review the footage, Victor showed up with his team and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Seeing Victor felt like a drowning man catching a lifeline for Selena. ¡°Mr. Victor, the issue is, the jewelry I designed for Wendy¡¯s daughter is being imed by Anastasia as hers. She even Installed a mini camera at her desk without permission, Selena tattled first. ¡®It¡¯s hrious how a high-school graduate fancies herself a jewelry designer.¡± Victor nced at Anastasia and said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk in my office.¡± Victor was disappointed in Selena¡¯s behavior. It was iprehensible. He had thought Selena was smart, but now it seemed like she was not as bright as he thought. Her actions were uneptable. Chapter 160 Chapter 160 Chapter 160 Anastasia put down her phone, and judging by Victor¡¯s reaction, she got the drift of what he was up to. Victor was trying to preserve Selena¡¯s dignity. Seeing how Selena and Victor were buddies, Anastasia had a nagging worry that Victor could be biased towards Selena. They walked into the boss¡¯ office together, where Victor asked Anastasia, ¡°Spill the beans, what happened?¡± ¡°Mr. Victor, all I want is a fair chance This is evidence of Selena copying my work.¡± Anastasia opened up the surveince app, and on the screen appeared Selena¡¯s assistant, May. May was sneaking around Anastasia¡¯s desk, fiddling with herputer, then snapped a picture of the design on theputer with her phone. After Victor had seen it, he asked Selena, ¡°What¡¯s your excuse?¡± Selena, not realizing the gravity of the situation, quickly crafted a story. ¡°Victor, how was I supposed to know that May would swipe Anastasia¡¯s design? She gave me the design, wanting to brownnose, and even willingly handed over the copyright to me. Wendy was in dire need, so I had no choice. I was framed by May, and I knew she was bad news.¡± Victor gave Selena a hard look, his brow furrowed. Anastasia snorted. ¡°If you weren¡¯t a designer, you could totally have a career in acting. You should be in Hollywood, not in the jewelry design business.¡± Selena retorted. ¡°Anastasia, even if May did steal your design, it was for the good of thepany. We¡¯re all on the same tearn here. Who cares who came up with the design.¡± Anastasia let out a helplessugh, saying to Selena, ¡°I remember when I first joined thepany, you asked me what is jewelry design, and what it took to be apetent jewelry designer. It seems I overestimated you.¡± As a jewelry designer, sticking to originality was a person¡¯s professional ethical belief and principle. Selena¡¯s face fell. ¡°Anastasia, it¡¯s not your ce to lecture me¡­¡± ¡°Enough.¡± Victor cut her off ¡°Ms. Jewell, step outside for a moment. As for this matter, I¡¯ll give you a satisfactory answer. giarism is serious, and thepany won¡¯t let it slide.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait for your answer then.¡± Anastasia remained calm, willing to wait for thepany¡¯s decision, but she wouldn¡¯t let things go easily if she wasn¡¯t satisfied with the oue. After Anastasia left, Victor¡¯s face turned grim, and he said to Selena, ¡°You should quit on your own ord. That¡¯s thest bit of dignity thepany can offer you.¡± ¡°Victor, are you firing me?¡± Selena was shocked. ¡°For Anastasia, you¡¯re firing me?¡± ¡°Selena, do you still not understand the seriousness of this?¡¯ Victor said sternly. ¡°Have you forgotten that you¡¯re a jewelry designer? You copied someone else¡¯s work. You did something so disgraceful and still have no remorse. You don¡¯t deserve to be here.¡± Selena defended herself. ¡°I exined just now, it was May¡­¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°Don¡¯t think everyone else is a fool.¡± Victor shook his head, disappointed. ¡°I¡¯ve warned you several times not to mess with Anastasia, but you didn¡¯t listen. Now you even copied her work. Selena, what were you thinking? If I hadn¡¯t intervened, Anastasia would have exposed the surveince footage in front of everyone, would you still have a foothold in this industry?¡± Victor¡¯s tone was serious, every word he said carried weight. Selena was unrepentant, she had stolen others¡¯ ideas before, and she thought Anastasia was just a little assistant. Even if she found out, she wouldn¡¯t dare to expose it. But not only did Anastasia expose it, she had set a trap for Selena to fall into. ¡°Victor, I didn¡¯t think this through. I was really framed Wendy was pushing me, and I didn¡¯t have a choice. Anastasial installed surveince secretly. I think that¡¯s premeditation.¡± ¡°Selena, get a grip. You weren¡¯t like this before, but you let jealousy get the best of you. You¡¯re ruining your own future.¡± Victor had run out of patience. ¡°You might as well settle your wages with HR.¡± ¡°Victor, are you serious? Selena was panicked. ¡°Our years of friendship, are worth less than Anastasia? Is she your lover?¡± 1/2 Chapter 160 ¡°Selena, I think you¡¯ve lost it, what kind of nonsense are you talking about?¡± Victor said sternly. ¡°Let me be clear, Anastasis Mr. Salstrom¡¯s woman.¡± ¡°What?¡± Selena was taken aback. ¡°Which Mr. Salstrom?¡± ¡°You¡¯re asking which Mr. Salstrom? The big shot at Elysian Technologies.¡± Chapter 161 Chapter 161 Chapter 161 Selena slumped in her chair, unable to fathom that Anastasia was anything more than just an average Joe. She¡¯d been to Anastasia¡¯s home before, nothing but a humble abode. How could it be that the CEO of Elysian Technologies was backing her? ¡°Victor, you¡¯re pulling my leg, right? Selena¡¯s voice wavered. ¡°How¡¯s that even possible?¡± ¡°Do you think I¡¯m messing with you?¡± Victor asked. ¡°Think about it. Why did Kennye to apologize to Anastasia with his son in tow?¡± Selena¡¯s eyes widened, she couldn¡¯t not believe it. Victor continued, ¡°Even though Anastasia only has a high school diploma, her design skills are far superior to yours. Selena, you can¡¯t judge a book by its cover, or credentials for that matter. Always be humble. In this talent-packed city of Riverdale, one wrong move and you might offend someone important. That¡¯s myst piece of advice for you.¡± Selena grumbled, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me sooner?¡± ¡°Ever since you became the Chief Jewelry Designer, was there anyone else in your eyes?¡± Victor said, ¡°Besides, Mr. Salstrom doesn¡¯t want Anastasia¡¯s identity exposed, causing unnecessary trouble. You should know what to do. Be smarter next time.¡± Selena had messed up this time, underestimating Anastasia and letting jealousy cloud her judgment. Even a half-wit wouldn¡¯t tantly giarize someone else¡¯s work. The whole design department was buzzing about the giarism. Anastasia sat in her seat, waiting for Victor¡¯s decision. About half an hourter, Selena emerged from Victor¡¯s office, white as a sheet. May was the first to approach her. ¡°You okay?¡± Ignoring May, Selena headed towards Anastasia, stopping in front of her desk. All eyes in the office were on Selena. She let out a bitterugh. ¡°I really underestimated you, Anastasia. I shouldn¡¯t have judged a book by its cover. I admit defeat. I¡¯ve lost everything now. Are you satisfied?¡± The office erupted at her words. Selena was admitting to giarism. Anastasia stood up, staring steadily at Selena. ¡°You were too greedy. You brought this upon yourself. I won¡¯t show mercy, nor sympathy.¡± If she hadn¡¯t struck first, she¡¯d be the one getting fired today. This was the first time Selena¡¯s bullying tactics hadn¡¯t worked. Selena¡¯s eyes were cold. ¡°You set a trap and waited for me to fall into it¡± ¡°If you hadn¡¯t acted improperly, how could I have made you fall into a trap?¡± Anastasia admitted openly. ¡°Moreover, this isn¡¯t the first time you¡¯ve stolen my work. Remember when you giarized a college student¡¯s work five years ago?¡± She found out about Selena¡¯s giarism and heard from Lauren that Selena had stolen a college student¡¯s work five years ago to be the Chief Designer N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Anastasia cleverly found Selena¡¯s works from five years ago. Even though she barely remembered the giarism incident five years ago, she still remembered her own work. She also confirmed with Monica that the work Selena released five years ago was identical to the work she was falsely used of giarizing. During a school jewelry designpetition, she was used of giarism in the final round, sparking a school-wide debate that resulted in school punishment. At that time, Selena was already somewhat known in the industry. Anastasia, who had never met Selena, couldn¡¯t exin why their designs were the same. With Anastasia¡¯s reminder, Selena suddenly remembered an incident from five years ago. It was her first time giarizing someone else¡¯s work, an unforgettable event in her life. She was vying for the Chief Designer position at thepany but was running out of creative inspiration and unable to produce good work. She went to a beverage shop near the university where she saw a draft left on a table by a female college student. The draft caught her eye and che ¡®stole it. ¡°You were that college student¡­¡± Selena was too shocked to speak. Anastasia said firmly, ¡°You ruined my college career, Selena. The punishment you¡¯re facing now is nothingpared to what I¡¯ve been through.¡± Chapter 162 Chapter 162 Chapter 162 Anastasia could¡¯ve had the chance to further her studies in college and eam her degree. Even if she might not have been top of the ss, at least she wouldn¡¯t have been stuck with just a high school diploma, facing constant rejection at job interviews The things Selena did back then hurt Anastasia How could she possibly let her off the hook so easily? Not everyone deserved forgiveness. Sometimes, being too kind and soft hearted could turn into a weapon others could use to hurt you Selena couldn¡¯t believe it. The onginal creator she had giarized from was standing right before her eyes After she did it, she was restless for a long time and always felt guilty She was afraid of getting caught and scared that someone would find out Years went by, and Selena gradually forgot about it. But fate brought Anastasia back into her life when she started working at herpany They met again. Everyone in the design department was shocked. They used to look down on Anastasia for only having a high school diploma. Little did they know it was all Selena¡¯s fault. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. People couldn¡¯t stop talking. ¡°How could she do that? She basically ruined Anastasia¡¯s life.¡± ¡°It¡¯s so hard to get into college. giarism is a stain on a designer¡¯s career.¡± ¡°If Anastasia had been able to continue her studies, shed probably be a renowned designer by now! ¡°Ms. Jewell is really talented in jewelry design. I loved the designs she presented. Cant wait to see the actual pieces.¡± ¡°God bless, talented people like Ms. Jewell are destined for good things¡± ¡°Selena is such a menace.¡± ¡°She¡¯s finally getting what she deserves.¡± Hearing the whispers around her, Selena turned even paler. This was without a doubt her most embarrassing moment. She wished she could just crawl into a hole. Lauren, knowing that Selena was the reason Anastasia couldn¡¯t finish her studies, was furious. ¡°Selena, I cant believe you¡¯ve been giarizing since then. As a jewelry designer, aren¡¯t you ashamed?¡± Selena felt a chill run through her. She med it all on Anastasia. She red at Anastasia. ¡°We¡¯ll meet again.¡± No matter who was backing Anastasia, she swore to get back at her for the humiliation she suffered today. After saying her piece. Selena packed her things and left. Within minutes, news of Selena¡¯s resignation spread throughout thepany. Even her assistant, May, was fired due to misconduct. Anastasia finally had her revenge and didn¡¯t regret her decision. She wouldn¡¯t hurt anyone without a reason, but if someone hurt her, she could let it go once but not over and over again. After work, Lauren dragged Anastasia to a high-end boutique to pick out a dress and get her makeup done. Anastasia took one look at the dress Lauren picked out for her and quickly waved it off. ¡°It¡¯s too fancy. What if I ruin it? And it¡¯s too revealing. I¡¯d rather just wear the dress I have on.¡± Lauren had picked out a stunning deep blue starry dress, which any woman would fall for at first sight. Lauren said, ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful and have such a great figure. What are you afraid of? If I had your looks and figure, I¡¯d unt it without a second thought Anastasiaughed. To not that bold. If my husband found out, he¡¯d be jealous. I think the dress I have on is fine. I¡¯m just there to look around. It wouldn¡¯t be appropriate if I dressed too fancy.¡± ¡°Well, if the CEO of Elysian Technologies took a liking to you, that would be troublesome. You¡¯re a married woman.¡± Lauren joked. ¡°If you weren¡¯t married, I would¡¯ve introduced you to my dream guy. If I can¡¯t have him, at least you could. Then I could admire you two every day.¡± Anastasiaughed. ¡°What kind of logic is that? You¡¯d give me your man?¡± ¡°If it was a guy I was already dating, I wouldn¡¯t. But my dream guy is hard to get. He¡¯s not really my man¡¯. We all have the right to pursue love,¡± Lauren casually said. ¡°I¡¯m actually just attracted to his looks and his body. I want to see if he really has abs.¡± Hearing the word ¡°abs¡±, Anastasia couldn¡¯t help but think of Herman¡¯s physique and her ears turned red. Lauren asked curiously, ¡°Anastasia, does your husband have abs?¡± Chapter 163 Chapter 163 Chapter 163 Anastasia blushed a bit as she said, ¡°My husband has everything you just mentioned¡± Lauren was immediately excited when she heard this ¡°Wow, Anastasia, you¡¯re such a lucky duck, you got hitched to such a great guy!¡± Lauren linked arms with Anastasia ¡°You must be over the moon! Spill the beans, what¡¯s it like to touch a man¡¯s abs?¡± Anastasiaughed ¡°You¡¯re such a pers, stop drooling!¡± Lauren and Monica were two peas in a pod. ¡°Most men these days have zero muscle, their waists are thinner than a woman¡¯s, and they can¡¯t even carry heavy loads. It¡¯s rare to find a man with a sense of power,¡± Laurenined. Anastasiaughed ¡°Lauren, you¡¯re a real hoot Im just telling it like it is, I¡¯m not into wimpy guys Lauren asked again, ¡°Anastasia, is your hubby a beast in bed? This morning. I noticed you were walking a bit funny.¡± Anastasia was speechless. She couldn¡¯t believe Lauren would ask that. Anastasia coughed awkwardly. ¡°We need to change into our party dresses. Hurry up or we¡¯ll bete.¡± Time was indeed running out, Lauren quickly changed into her dress and headed to the cocktail party with Anastasia. Anastasia didn¡¯t change, wearing a little white dress which was perfect for the asion. Along the way. Lauren kept prying into Anastasia¡¯s sex life, making Anastasia feel quite ufortable Meanwhile. Herman, having finished his work, was in his Rolls Royce on his way to the cocktail party. He was due to make an appearance at the WOW Corporation¡¯s party. When Elysian Technologies faced difficulties, the person in charge at WOW Corporation had lent a hand. The car quickly reached the entrance of the hotel where the party was being held. The grand hotel entrance boasted eight enormous marble columns; it was absolutely luxurious. The musical fountain at the entrance was also incredibly beautiful, with over a dozen doormen at the entrance. As soon as Herman¡¯s car arrived, the person in charge of WOW Corporation, Jarad, personally came out to greet him, The car door opened, Herman got out, his expression slightly cold and his aura powerful. He was wearing a fitting dark suit, -entuating his muscr physique. His handsome appearance exuded a sharp coldness. Jarod extended his hand warmly, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, you¡¯ve finally arrived¡± Herman reached out his hand to shake Jarod¡¯s, ¡®Mr. Jarod, sorry to have kept you waiting. Please, come in.¡± Herman and Jarod led the way, followed by a dozen or so elites in the industry. At the party, there were plenty of hunks and hotties, everyone was clinking sses and chatting, but it wasn¡¯t noisy Even in conversation, they would control their volume; this was a high-end cocktail party, not a bustling marketce. As soon as Herman made his appearance, the hall immediately fell quiet, everyone turned their gaze towards him. Whether they were familiar or unfamiliar with him, everyone greeted Herman, trying to get on his good side. N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. Such was business socializing. Almost all the men at the party brought femalepanions, which was the norm. But Herman always flew solo. There would never be any women around him. This was also something everyone knew. Jarod from WOW Corporation joked with Herman, ¡®Mr. Salstrom, when will you have a woman you fancy by your side?¡± Jarod was over fifty, and he always had a femalepanion when he attended social events. Having a beautifulpanion was a man¡¯s highlight in business social activities. Herman, holding a ss of red wine in one hand and the other hand in his pocket, slightly smiled. ¡°It seems you also enjoy a good joke¡± Jarodughed. ¡°You¡¯re young and sessful, if I were twenty years younger, I would definitely have lots of femalepanions, enjoying my youth.¡± Herman raised his ss. ¡°You¡¯ve always been very energetic, and always in good shape¡± Hearing this, Jarodughed heartily, then lowered his voice. ¡°My eldest daughter has just returned from studying in France, and she admires you a lot. She will be attending the party today. May I introduce her to you?¡± Herman replied, ¡°Mr. Jarod, you¡¯re putting me in a tight spot. My woman might get jealous.¡± Jarod looked confused. ¡°You have a girlfriend?¡± Herman showed the wedding ring on his ring finger, correcting Jarod, ¡°Wife.¡± Everyone at the scene was shocked by the news. The CEO of Elysian Technologies was married? Julie, who was dressed in a gorgeous dress and had just walked over, heard that Herman had announced that he was married. A hint of envy and jealousy shed in her eyes. Had he truly decided to marry that woman? Chapter 164 Chapter 164 Chapter 164 Herman was known as a hot bachelor in Riverdale. All the big shot families were hoping he¡¯d marry their daughters. Tying the knot with the Salstrom family would be a win-win situation. Pooling their resources together, both family businesses would flourish even more. Jarod, the big kahuna of WOW Corporation, snapped out of shock, giving another look at the wedding ring on Herman¡¯s finger. ¡°Mr. Salstrom, are you really hitched?¡± Herman shed a smile. ¡°Yep.¡± Jarod cunously asked, ¡°When did this happen? You¡¯ve kept it on the down low so well. None of us had a clue.¡± Another CEO chimed in, ¡®Mr. Salstrom, why didn¡¯t you bring your missus to the party for us to meet?¡± ¡°Out of the blue, you¡¯re married You really caught us off guard.¡± ¡°I bet there are loads of gals feeling bummed about it.¡± ¡°You have always been a chick ma, but you¡¯ve stayed single, no rumors or anything. Which lucky gal got your heart?¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Guys loved to gossip about this stuff as much as thedies did. Two-thirds of the beauties at the party were there for Herman. Hearing he was married, they were all seriously bummed. As Herman was about to say something, Julie, with a sweet smile, walked up to him. ¡°Herman.¡± She confidently stood next to Herman. They looked perfect together, enough to cause some misunderstandings. Julie cleverly hid her ring finger. No one could see if she had a wedding ring, adding to the mystery, making others think she might be Mrs. Salstrom. Jarod nced at Herman and Julie, suddenly having an ¡®aha¡¯ moment. ¡®Mr. Salstrom, so you and Ms. Brown tied the knot. No, I should call her Mrs. Salstrom now.¡± Being called Mrs. Salstrom pleased Julie, making her feel like she really was Herman¡¯s wife. She just shyly smiled, neither denying nor exining. Herman gave Julie a nce, his voice slightly cold. ¡°My wife isn¡¯t into social events. I¡¯ll introduce her when there¡¯s a chance¡± Herman¡¯s words made Julie awkward, and she forced a smile. She thought Herman would consider their acquaintance and not make her ufortable in such a situation. Seeing his mistake, Jarod chuckled. ¡°My bad, Mr. Salstrom. You should bring your wife to my ce sometime.¡± Herman raised his ss. ¡°Sure thing.¡± No woman dared approach Herman when he was single. Now that he was taken, they avoided him even more. Herman was their dream guy, rich, handsome,mitted, and just too irresistible. Nobody had met his wife, but they were already green with envy. How amazing must she be to snag Herman? As a few guys were chatting. Kenny also walked over and greeted them. Even though Ledford Corporation was on the brink of bankruptcy, who could guarantee it wouldn¡¯t rise again? A smart businessman wouldn¡¯t make enemies, and handling rtionships at social events was basic stuff. Julie stayed by Herman¡¯s side, standing quietly. After a few words with Jarod and the others, Herman moved to the lounge area. Julie followed. ¡°Herman, are you hungry? Let me get you something to eat.¡± ¡°Ms. Brown, I hope we can keep a certain distance. I wouldn¡¯t want my wife to misunderstand.¡± Herman didn¡¯t beat around the bush because she was a girl. ¡°And I hope you won¡¯t do anything that might lead to misunderstandings in front of my wife.¡± Julie seemed a bit awkward, forcing a smile, ¡°Herman, I didn¡¯t¡­ ¡°Please call me Mr. Salstrom. We¡¯re not that close anyway.¡± Chapter 165 Chapter 165 Chapter 165 Herman dropped a few words and Julie¡¯s eyes were already welling up, her face turning red as a beet. ¡°Mr. Salstrom, I didn¡¯t mean anything by it.¡± Julie¡¯s smile was hanging by a thread, looking more like a cry than a grin. ¡°Even if our blind date didn¡¯t work out, I thought we could still be friends. After all, our dads have been buddies for years and we practically grew up together.¡± ¡°If I¡¯ve done anything to give you the wrong idea, I apologize.¡± Herman wasn¡¯t moved in the slightest. His gentle side was reserved only for Anastasia, no other woman. ¡®Mr. Salstrom, L¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got stuff to deal with. Please, enjoy your evening. With that, Herman strode off towards Jarod, they exchanged a few words, and then headed upstairs together. Julie watched Herman¡¯s retreating figure with infatuation. She had dreamt about him more times than she could count. In her dreams, Herman was tender and passionate, causing her to fall head over heels for him time and again. This only deepened her love for him. When Herman was still single, she fantasized about their wedding day every day. But now that Herman was married, her dreams felt like they¡¯d been brutally shattered How could she ept this? ¡°What¡¯s the point of embarrassing yourself over and over?¡± Collin appeared behind her out of nowhere. Julie nced up, holding back tears. ¡°It¡¯s my business. You don¡¯t need to get involved¡± ¡®Ive known Herman for years. I know his character well. The Salstroms are devoted folks, and once they¡¯ve found their partner, that¡¯s it.¡± Julie clenched her teeth. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it. No man can love only one woman all his life¡± Collin casually let slip. ¡°A few years back, Herman did have another woman.¡± Julie pressed, ¡°When? Who was she?¡± She had always thought that there was no one else in Herman¡¯s heart, aside from Anastasia. Now, she found out there was another woman in his past. Howe she didn¡¯t know a thing? Collin realized he may have said too much and quickly changed the subject ¡°Someone¡¯s looking for me. I¡¯m gonna go say hi¡­¡± ¡®Collin.¡± Julie stopped him. ¡°Tell me, what¡¯s going on? Its all water under the bridge, just spill it.¡± Seeing how persistent Julie was, Collin decided to disclose, ¡®Five years ago, on the night before I went abroad, we threw a farewell party for me. We nned to get Herman drunk and set him up with a hottie. But he disappeared somewhere that night. When we found him, his clothes were all messed up. Cearly, something had happened. But we had no idea who the woman was.¡± That skank, how low.¡± A streak of jealousy shed in Julie¡¯s eyes. Collin frowned. He had always seen Julie as a gentle woman. These sharp wordsing from her shattered his impression. Realizing she had said something wrong, Julie was about to exin when Collin interrupted, ¡°I see someone I know I¡¯m gonna go say N?velDrama.Org owns this text. hi.¡± Before Julie could respond, Collin had already left. She fell a pang of regret. But then she thought about the possibility of another woman in Herman¡¯s past. If Anastasia were to find out about this, or if this woman suddenly showed up, she wouldn¡¯t have to lift a finger, and Anastasia and Herman might break up. This thought lifted Julie¡¯s spirits. She resolved to find this mystery woman. Meanwhile, Anastasia was oblivious to the scheme to sabotage her marriage. She and Lauren had just arrived at the hotel entrance when they bumped into Everlee and ke. ke was still recovering from his injuries, but in a suit nobody could tell he was hurt. He saw Anastasia and instinctively averted his gaze, not daring to meet her eyes. Lauren whispered, ¡°Looks like he¡¯s really been shaken up.¡± Anastasia could only pretend to not notice and said to Lauren, ¡°Let¡¯s just go in.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Lauren took Anastasia¡¯s hand and they entered the hall together. As soon as they walked in, Lauren heard a group of women gossiping about the CEO of Elysian Technologies getting hitched. Chapter 166 Chapter 166 Chapter 166 Lauren was gobsmacked. Her dream guy got hitched? Lauren approached a group of women chattering away and asked, ¡°Who just got married?¡± ¡°The CEO of Elysian Technologies, Mr. Salstrom,¡± one of them replied. ¡°Mr. Salstrom himself said so. He¡¯s wearing a wedding band. It¡¯s legit.¡± Lauren froze momentarily, then reached out to Anastasia. ¡°Anastasia, hug me, I feel like the world is ending.¡± Anastasia chuckled at Lauren¡¯s dramatic reaction. ¡°Are you seriously that affected?¡± ¡°He¡¯s my dream guy, and his abs now belong to someone else,¡± Lauren said with a hand over her heart. ¡°Some other woman can touch his abs now, it hurts just thinking about it.¡± Then, Lauren turned to the other women. ¡°Did Mrs. Salstrome? What does she look like? What¡¯s her name? When did they get mamed?¡± Lauren seemed to have a million questions, The women were all stumped. One of them said, ¡°Mr. Salstrom is just wearing a wedding band, and he¡¯s just indicating that he¡¯s married. As for who his wife is, nobody knows. Mr. Salstrom keeps his wife under wraps.¡± ¡°They¡¯re right, it¡¯s so enviable. Even at work, Mr. Salstrom doesn¡¯t forget about his wife.¡± ¡°Some people really don¡¯t know when to quit. Even after Mr. Salstrom made it clear he¡¯s married, they still try to get close to him.¡± *Maybe it¡¯s because of all the clueless women that Mr. Salstrom had no choice but to use his wife as a shield.¡± ¡°Such a good man is hard toe by these days.¡± They all started specting about who Mrs. Salstrom could be. Anastasia, as an outsider, felt a pang of envy even though she¡¯d never met Mr. Salstrom or Mrs. Salstrom. In this world of the rich and famous, such love stories were truly priceless. Lauren seemed to have given up entirely, she slumped into a seat in the rest area. ¡®Anastasia, I¡¯ve lost my pir of strength. Go enjoy yourself.¡± Anastasia sat down beside her with augh, ¡°I have to stay with you. You lost this dream guy, just find another one.¡± Lauren sighed, ¡°Good men are so rare. Like Mr. Salstrom, they¡¯re one in a million. I wonder what kind of luck Mrs. Salstrom has tond such a great man.¡± Anastasia chuckled. ¡°There are plenty of good men out there, you just have to meet the right one.¡± ¡°You met the right one so easily. I wish I could do the same.¡± Lauren red at Anastasia. ¡°Why don¡¯t you get your husband to introduce me to a guy? I want a handsome one with a six-pack.¡± ¡°Sure, no problem.¡± Anastasia thought of Flynn, who was indeed handsome and a perfect match for Lauren. ¡°My husband has a cousin who¡¯s really good-looking. I¡¯m not sure if he has a six-pack because I can¡¯t just go around lifting people¡¯s shirts, but he¡¯s definitely fit. About the same as my husband.¡± ¡°There¡¯s really such a guy?¡± Lauren¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°You have to introduce him to me.¡± ¡°Ok, I¡¯ll ask him.¡± Anastasia said with a smile. ¡°Feeling better now?¡± ¡°Much better,¡± Lauren said, patting her chest with newfound energy. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll introduce you to my friends.¡± It was only then that Anastasia found out Lauren¡¯s true identity ¨C the second daughter of Mill¡¯s Seasoning, apany that produced condiments including famous brands of vinegar, ck pepper, curry powder, and so much more. Lauren introduced Anastasia to her friends. Anastasia, with her beauty, sweet voice and understanding of nature and knowledge of jewelry, quickly hit it off with these rich girls. She also managed to secure a few orders from them. This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. ke avoided Anastasia all night; wherever she was, he was not Collin and his friends also left the party for a while, and Julie, embarrassed by Herman¡¯s words, left early too. Anastasia, with her striking beauty, quickly became the center of attention at the party. Numerous business elites and noble sons seized the opportunity to get Anastasia¡¯s contact information. Chapter 167 Chapter 167 Chapter 167 Anastasia always yed it straight when it came to matters of the heart, no dilly dallying. When she brushed off one suitor, another one popped up. Anastasia just rolled out her wedding ring. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m off the market.¡± She handled these situations just like Herman did. Anastasia¡¯s ring was a match with Herman¡¯s, and when she unted it, some faces went pale. They looked at each other, because when Herman shed his ring earlier, they were standing a bit far and couldn¡¯t get a good look, only noticing Anastasias ring seemed to match Herman¡¯s, but they weren¡¯t sure. Lauren grinned. ¡°Anastasia, you¡¯re such a straight shooter. But you guys, don¡¯t get any ideas about Anastasia, she¡¯s hitched. If your girlfriends need jewelry, hit up Anastasia, she¡¯s a jewelry designer. Just like that, Lauren was drumming up business for Anastasia. ¡°Real shame,¡± a young man said. ¡°If I ever need any, I¡¯ll definitelye to you for jewelry.¡± The young men had no choice but to split, and once they were a little distance away, they started whispering among themselves. ¡®Did you guys get a good look at Mr. Salstrom¡¯s ring? Doesn¡¯t it look a lot like Ms. Jewell¡¯s?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t get a good look, but it did seem simr.¡± ¡°Rings these days all look the same, isn¡¯t Ms. Jewell friends with Lauren? Maybe we¡¯re overthinking.¡± ¡°Maybe we are. Mr. Salstrom just said his wife doesn¡¯t like social events and that¡¯s why he wouldn¡¯t come to a party without her.¡± They stopped overthinking it and started scouting for other targets. Lauren¡¯s friends started teasing Anastasia. ¡°Ms. Jewell, you¡¯re acting just like Mr. Salstrom from Elysian Technologies.¡± N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights. ¡°There are so many married folks pretending to be single, hiding their wedding rings. People like Ms. Jewell and Mr. Salstrom are a rare breed.¡± Anastasia smiled. ¡°I believe, when two people are together, they should love openly. There¡¯s nothing to hide¡± A rich girl chimed in, ¡°I totally agree with Ms. Jewell. Love openly, and if it ends, break up openly. We women are not incapable of moving on.¡± ¡°Exactly, there are plenty of fish in the sea. If the current boyfriend doesn¡¯t cut it, just find another.¡± ¡°I really look down on those who juggle several girlfriends at once¡± Lauren joked, ¡°Of course, you change boyfriends every month, and never date the same man twice.¡± ¡°Keep teasing me and I¡¯ll shut you up.¡± Everyone was having a ball, and the atmosphere was very rxed. Anastasia felt no stress. She was very rxed and carefree. Just then, her phone rang. It was her mother, saying there was trouble with Gianna, and Joey was threatening to jump into the river with Gianna. Over the phone, the wind and sirens could be heard, along with Cynthia¡¯s crying. ¡°Mom, send me the address, I¡¯m on my way.¡± Anastasia hung up and told Lauren. ¡°I have a family emergency, I need to go.¡± Lauren heard the conversation. ¡°You better get going then, be safe.¡± Anastasia rushed off, leaving the party. As soon as she left, Herman and Jarod came down from the second floor. Anastasia hailed a taxi and headed straight to where Gianna was. On Serenity River Bridge, there were several police cars and many onlookers gathered on both sides. In the middle of the bridge, Joey was standing outside the railing, very agitated, and Gianna was standing inside, staring at him expressionlessly. The police were trying to talk Joey down, while Salma was holding Cynthia back. They didn¡¯t dare get closer. Joey¡¯s parents were crying nearby, begging Joey not to do anything foolish, Initially, Joey wanted to jump into the river with Gianna, but he seemed to have changed his mind, and was now threatening Gianna with his own life. ¡°If you insist on a divorce, I¡¯ll jump. I¡¯m a failure, I¡¯m sorry to you and my parents. I¡¯m not a good husband, and I don¡¯t have the courage to face you¡± Chapter 168 Chapter 168 Chapter 168 The wind by the river was so sharp it stung her cheeks. Anastasia nced over at Gianna. No matter how emotionally charged Joey got, Gianna stayed cool as a cucumber. Gianna said, ¡°Joey, you¡¯ve just been promoted to director, and your future is so bright. You have your parents and your child. If you jump, you¡¯ll have nothing¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you call off the divorce? We can make up, just like old times,¡± Joey begged, seizing the moment. ¡°nna, I messed up. I was so stupid to hurt you. I totally screwed up.¡± Gianna shook her head. ¡°The two things are unrted. Our divorce is between us. Joey, our marriage is over, but you can¡¯t kill yourself over it. Think of your parents. They raised you. Can you bear to cause them this pain?¡± Joey looked towards his parents. Carmen was heartbroken. ¡®My son, get down from there, don¡¯t do anything foolish, I beg you.¡± Ricardo also said, ¡°Get down now, you¡¯re our only son. You want to leave us all alone in our old age?¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. The crowd gathered on both sides of the bridge was buzzing. Someone took out their phone to take pictures and videos to post online. From Gianna and Joey¡¯s conversation, the onlookers started to get the gist of what was happening. The video hit the inte and in no time, it was trending Carmen staggered over to Gianna, fell to her knees, and pleaded, ¡®Please. Giana. You¡¯ve been married for eight years; you can¡¯t just get a divorce. I¡¯m begging you.¡± Over the past eight years, Carmen had verbally abused Gianna countless times, hoping to see a grandchild. She¡¯d made snide remarks, found strange remedies, and forced Gianna to take them. Just two months ago, Carmen had encouraged Joey to divorce Gianna and find another woman to have children. The Edmunds family couldn¡¯t be left without an heir. ¡°Get up,¡± Gianna said, staring at Carmen on her knees. Carmen¡¯s kneeling was also captured and posted online. Cynthia rushed over. ¡°You can¡¯t force my daughter to forgive your bastard son. He¡¯s been cheating, so the marriage has to end. Stoping bullying my daughter¡± Cynthia was clear headed Wasn¡¯t the Edmunds family just trying to coerce Gianna? They were clearly in the wrong, but they were using this extreme method to force Gianna to back down. If nna didn¡¯t agree, she¡¯d bebeled as cold hearted. If anything happened to Joey, everyone would me Gianna, and no one would remember Joey was the one at fault in the marriage. As a bystander, Anastasia could see through the Edmunds family¡¯s game. She just wasn¡¯t sure if Gianna could. If Gianna gave in, she¡¯d be under their control forever. Carmen clung to Cynthia¡¯s arm, also on her knees, sobbing. ¡°Cynthia, I¡¯m sorry. I failed to educate my son properly, I me myself. But right now, his life is what matters. Joey and Gianna have been married for eight years, their feelings can¡¯t be discarded so easily.¡± Carmen¡¯s portrayal of the victim easily won the sympathy of the onlookers. Those who¡¯d previously med Joey for his infidelity were now ming Gianna for being cold-hearted. They thought a man¡¯s infidelity was understandable. Gianna was furious. She was an only child, and she¡¯d always been pampered by her parents. How could she endure such humiliation? She¡¯d been a full-time housewife for eight years, she¡¯d never experienced anything like this, so she didn¡¯t know how to handle these emotions. Gianna shouted, ¡°Joey had an affair. He betrayed me for six years. He and his mistress have a child that¡¯s already in kindergarten. Why should I forgive him? Even if he died, I¡¯d still divorce him.¡± ¡°That child is not Joey¡¯s, Carmen cried. ¡°Joey was deceived too. Gianna, it¡¯s always best to stick with your first marriage. You should learn to be forgiving.¡± Thatment infuriated Gianna even more. She told Joey, ¡°Jump if you want. If you do, we won¡¯t have to divide our property. I¡¯ll just be a widow.¡± Chapter 169 Chapter 169 Chapter 169 Gianna¡¯sst words packed a punch. They totally blew Joey¡¯s dreams of getting back together with her out of the water. Divorce was tricky, but if the husband kicked the bucket, things got a lot easier. She could inherit everything they owned. With that, Gianna turned on her heels and walked away. Not even the cops could stop her N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°Gianna, Gianna.¡± Joey was getting antsy. He tried to hop over the railing to chase after Gianna, but he took a fall. He tipped backwards, let out a yelp and sshed in the Serenity River. ¡°Joey¡± Carmen, not able to handle the shock, passed out. The onlookers took a sharp intake of breath and let out a gasp. Anastasia was spooked too. Gianna was still standing there like a deer caught in the headlights. A bunch of cops were hanging over the railing, looking down. Luckily, when Joey took the plunge, there were cops waiting with a life cushion under the bridge. Joey just passed out for a bit He wasn¡¯t in any mortal danger. Everyone let out a sigh of relief at this. Joey was quickly hauled out of the Serenity River by the cops and taken to the hospital. The crowd of onlookers, under the cops¡¯ direction, started to scatter However, Joey¡¯s dive into the river stirred up a lot of chatter online. Cynthia was also freaked out when Joey look the plunge. Her legs felt like jelly. Salma supported her and told Anastasia, ¡°Ana, I¡¯ll take her home. You shouldfort Gianna. You¡¯re cousins after all, gotta stick together¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Anastasia hailed a cab and sent them off, then walked towards Gianna who was still frozen in ce. Anastasia asked, ¡°You mentioned grabbing coffeest time. How about we do that now?¡± Gianna¡¯s emotions were all over the ce. She needed to go somewhere quiet, and she needed to let everything all out. Half an hourter, they ended up in a quiet bar. They didn¡¯t drink coffee though, they went for booze Anastasia wasn¡¯t really a drinker, so she ordered juice to keep Giannapany. Gianna ordered a drink and downed it one gulp after the other. She vented through alcohol gulps. ¡°Not a single good person in that Edmunds family. When they found out I couldn¡¯t have kids, Joey¡¯s parents despised me. Now that they know that woman¡¯s child isn¡¯t Joey¡¯s, they¡¯re begging me to take him back.¡± Anastasia asked, ¡®Both kids aren¡¯t Joey¡¯s?¡± Gianna had mentioned she wanted to look into it, and it turned out to be true. ¡°I don¡¯t know about the one still in her belly, but the one that¡¯s been born is not Joey¡¯s. Gianna smirked. ¡®Serves Joey right. He spent years raising another man¡¯s daughter. Bet he¡¯s regretting it big time now.¡± As Gianna talked, even she, who was always so tough, started to tear up. She had loved Joey wholeheartedly for eight years. All she got in return was betrayal, deceit, and selfishness. Gianna wiped the corner of her eye and said, ¡°A few days ago, I heard Joey went to the hospital for a check-up. He might be sterile. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t use such a drastic measure to beg for my forgiveness. He also kicked that woman out.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just revolting.¡± Anastasia took a sip of her juice. If a woman couldn¡¯t have kids, the husband¡¯s family would be chomping at the bit to get a divorce, iming they needed an heir. But if a man couldn¡¯t have kids, they¡¯d do everything in their power to keep the wife, using morality as a weapon. Gianna saw Joey for who he really was now. Anastasia raised her ss. ¡°You¡¯ve wasted eight years, but at least you¡¯ve woken up now. I hope you escape this mess soon and start a new life¡± Gianna raised her ss. ¡°Thanks¡± This was the first time she truly thanked Anastasia. The old nna looked down on Anastasia. She admitted, ¡°I used to mock you, look down on you, and saw you as nothing more than a poor rtive. What could you possibly have that¡¯s better than me, other than being smarter and prettier?¡± Anastasiaughed. ¡°I¡¯m still poor, but at least I have those two things going for me, which is one more than you. Aren¡¯t you just richer than me? I used to look down on you too, thinking you¡¯re too full of yourself because you¡¯re a little rich, and incredibly rude.¡± Chapter 170 Chapter 170 Chapter 170 They teased each other relentlessly, every word as honest as it got. Their past conflicts were real, and the gradual dissolving of their estrangement now was also real. Gianna lit a cigarette, took a skilled puff, and Anastasia asked, ¡°When did you start to smoke?¡± C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org ¡°I can¡¯t remember, probably several years ago.¡± Gianna said self-deprecatingly ¡°I¡¯ve always been unable to get pregnant, which has been really tough. I had no one to talk to, so I relied on this to unwind,¡± As Gianna began to share all her issues with Anastasia, their rtionship became even closer. Blood ties were strange like that. Even after ipatible pasts, when hardship struck, it was always family who stuck around. Gianna opened her phone to see Joey¡¯s river jumping video ranking first on trending topics. In just an hour, there were over ten thousandments and nearly a hundred thousand likes. Gianna clicked into thement section. Netizens were extremely prized, some criticizing her as a heartless woman, while others criticized Joey Those criticizing Gianna didn¡¯t mince words. Most of those bashing Joey were women, especially stay- at-home moms. They sympathized with Gianna and condemned Joey. Their marriagested for eight years, six of which Joey spent cheating. His child was already in kindergarten, only for him to find out the child wasn¡¯t his. This caused him to threaten to jump into the river to force Gianna to forgive him. What a jerk. Anastasia was also reading thements and said, ¡°Most people are swayed by public opinion because they don¡¯t know the full story. Gianna, don¡¯t worry about it Cyberbullying could ruin a person, and Gianna was emotionally fragile. These harsh words could be thest straw that broke her. Reading thements from theizens criticizing her, Gianna said, ¡°Anastasia, youre night. They don¡¯t know the full story. I¡¯ll make sure they do.¡± Anastasia realized what Gianna was about to do and asked, ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t tolerate this injustice, nor will forgive Joey. This is the only option left. I won¡¯t let this marriage tamish my reputation, the jerk deserves to be punished.¡± Gianna immediately created a new ount and began to rify the truth about her marriage with Joey online. She posted evidence of Joey¡¯s betrayal, including receipts from hotels where he met his lover, and pointed out that although the Edmunds family had previously looked down on her for her infertility, the problem nowy with Joey. When a woman decided to fight back, there was nowhere for a man to hide. Netizens quickly sided with Gianna after seeing her evidence and condemned Joey¡¯s hypocrisy. Netizens were also keen investigators, quickly finding out that Joey was a hospital director. They found the hospital¡¯s Twitter ount and left messages criticizing Joey¡¯s hical behavior. Gianna¡¯s move caught Joey, who had just woken up in the hospital, off guard. He received a call from the hospital administration, telling him to take a leave of absence and not toe to work for a while. The hospital quickly issued a statement suspending Joey¡¯s position and duties. Joey, in his hospital room, was furious and started throwing things around. Carmen heard the noise and walked in. ¡°Joey, what happened?¡± ¡°That bitch Gianna, she¡¯s gone too far. She¡¯s spreading rumors online, and the hospital has suspended me,¡± Joey said, revealing his true colors and cursing Gianna. ¡°What?!¡± Carmen was shocked. ¡®How could Gianna do this? Has she really decided not to forgive you? What about your three houses? Joey, you can¡¯t divorce Gianna. If you do, we¡¯ll lose the houses.¡± Even now, Carmen was still thinking about Gianna¡¯s three houses. Gianna was an only child. After marrying into the Edmunds family, it was assumed that Gianna¡¯s properties would belong to them. Chapter 171 Chapter 171 Chapter 171 Joey couldn¡¯t bear to part with those three houses either. Who could me him? Those three houses in Riverdale were worth millions of bucks Joey was nervously sitting on the edge of his hospital bed, with his hands ruffling his hair in frustration. Carmen suggested, ¡°I¡¯ll apologize to Gianna for you. I¡¯ll say I forced you to cheat and have a kid with another woman. It¡¯s all my fault. All you need to do is make things up with nna. Leave everything else to me. Once we get Gianna back, you guys can try IVF. Once you have a kid, your family won¡¯t fall apart.¡± Carmen¡¯s n was pretty sharp. As long as they could talk Gianna back, why would they worry about losing those three houses? Joey¡¯s reputation was already tarnished and he was infertile. Finding a wife in the future wouldn¡¯t be a walk in the park. Getting Gianna¡¯s forgiveness would be the best oue. It waste when Anastasia left Gianna¡¯s ce. Gianna had arranged for a designated driver to drop her home. When they arrived at the entrance of Harmony Meadows, Gianna warned Anastasia, ¡°Anastasia, learn from my experience. Don¡¯t trust men too easily. Even the closest ones can turn out to be the biggest jerks.¡± Gianna was now full of distrust towards men. Anastasia could understand her feelings. ¡°I get it. Go home and rest. Don¡¯t overthink. Call me if you need anything¡± ¡°Sure, when I¡¯m free, I¡¯ll meet your husband and give him a once-over.¡± Anastasia smiled and didn¡¯t say anything. She turned around and walked into the neighborhood. It was 1 AM. Anastasia hadn¡¯t heard from Herman. She wondered if he was home. As she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Herman had just got home, unlocking the door. Seeing him, Anastasia was overjoyed. ¡°You¡¯re homete.¡± Herman was surprised and asked casually. ¡°Why are you back sote?* ¡°My cousin had some trouble. I went tofort her.¡± Anastasia and Herman took off their shoes at the entrance. Anastasia briefly exined what had happened tonight. Herman didn¡¯t have much to say about it. To him, it was someone else¡¯s problem. ¡°You canfort your cousin when you have time. But make sure, their marriage doesn¡¯t affect you¡± A failed marriage could shake people¡¯s faith in it. Anastasia chuckled. ¡°How insecure are you about you or our marriage?¡± Herman hugged her, pinched her nose, and looked at her with love. ¡°I¡¯m very confident about my stamina, darling. Wanna give it a try?¡± N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Anastasia was speechless. She rolled her eyes, and broke free from his embrace. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower. I¡¯m taking a leave of absence today, no wifely duties.¡± Herman loosened his tie,ughing as he followed her. ¡°Let¡¯s shower together to save water. You know, protect the earth and everything.¡± Anastasia was helpless. ¡°Herman, you¡¯re being a pervert.¡± ¡°We¡¯re married. This is called spicing things up, not being a pervert.¡± ¡°No.¡± Anastasia quickly shut the bathroom door behind her. She was still shy about showering together, despite having been intimate before. Herman didn¡¯t continue to tease Anastasia. Instead, he went to his study to wrap up a project while she showered. When Anastasia came out after her shower, she saw Herman busy in his study, and decided not to disturb him. ¡°I¡¯m going to bed. I¡¯m really tired and have work tomorrow.¡± ¡°Alright, you go to bed. I¡¯ll join you soon.¡± Anastasia really went to bed. She was so drowsy that she didn¡¯t know when she fell asleep. Herman didn¡¯t bother her that night. He just held her and slept Refreshed and energized, Anastasia woke up on time the next day. She made breakfast, watered the nts on the balcony and cleaned the house. She felt content Anastasia loved her simple and warm life with Herman. Herman got up early too and did some exercise to keep fit. He always did some form of exercise every day. It was a habit of his. If Herman made breakfast, Anastasia would get up early to skip rope, feeling refreshed. Herman recently took a liking to smoothies. If he didn¡¯t work out, he would lose his abs. ¡°Breakfast is ready.¡± Anastasia served breakfast with a smile. Herman had just finished jogging on the treadmill in his study. He hadn¡¯t put on a shirt yet, his abs clearly visible. Anastasia¡¯s cheeks turned red, reminding her of what Lauren had said. Herman had a lean muscr body, full of strength, making it hard for one to not fantasize about his stamina in bed. ¡°Darling, why are your cheeks red?¡± His deep and charming voice suddenly rang in her ear. Whenever he called her darling, it was so flirtatious that it made her blush. Anastasia red at him, retorting, ¡°It¡¯s because I was cooking in the kitchen, it¡¯s hot.¡± Herman smiled, deliberately moving around in front of her without putting on a shirt. Anastasia said, ¡°Go take a shower.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s eat first. I¡¯m hungry.¡± Howe this sentence sounded so suggestive? Chapter 172 Chapter 172 Chapter 172 Anastasia looked over generously. ¡°Just what I need to boost my appetite.¡± Anastasia sat down, pushing the omelette and baked beans towards Herman Salstrom. Breakfast was milk, paired with an omelette and baked beans, a very typical breakfast. Anastasia was used to eating like this, and Herman was never picky, so she often cooked this. Anastasia suddenly said, ¡°Did you know that the CEO of Elysian Technologies got hitched?¡± ¡°I heard¡± Herman felt a bit nervous, ¡°How did you find out?¡± Only insiders knew he got married, and he hadn¡¯t let slip a single word about who his spouse was. Anastasia wasn¡¯t an insider, so there was no way she could know. In the current situation, Herman wouldn¡¯t let any information about Anastasia leak out, let alone allow the media to freely report on her. Any rumors about him wouldn¡¯t make it onto the inte. ¡°I heard from a friend of Lauren, who is my colleague. Who would¡¯ve thought Lauren is actually the daughter of the Mill family, she used to have a big crush on the CEO of Elysian Technologies When she heard he got married, she was heartbroken. I promised her I¡¯d introduce her to some hotties, only then did she calm down.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t mention she attended the party, to avoid trouble. There were many talented young people at the party who asked her for her contact details, if Herman pressed on, it would lead to unnecessary trouble. Anastasia said, ¡°What do you think about introducing her to your cousin? I think they would make a good match. Lauren is a rich heiress.¡± Herman almost choked on his milk. ¡°Anastasia, it¡¯s best not to go around ying matchmaker. They¡¯re not a good fit and my cousin seems to have a girlfriend already¡± Lauren from Mill¡¯s Seasoning, Herman had some impression of lier. He had heard Flynnin about her a few times. She was a person who loved romance, and they would fight whenever they met. If Lauren was introduced to Flynn, his identity would be exposed. Herman didn¡¯t know before that the Mill family¡¯s daughter had joined the jewelrypany under Elysian Technologies, and only found This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. out now. ¡°In that case, never mind,¡± Anastasia said regretfully ¡°But it¡¯s quite a surprise that the CEO of Elysian Technologies got married so young. Do you think he might regret it? There were no rumors of him dating before and then all of a sudden, he got married. The wife of his must also be a rich heiress from a prominent family, right?¡± Everyone at the partyst night was guessing along those lines. ¡°Married at such a young age?¡± Herman chuckled. ¡°He is already thirty, is that still young? His peers probably already have kids in grade school.¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right. Anastasiaughed. ¡°Anyway, we don¡¯t understand the world of the rich, but now that you mention it, I feel like we¡¯re a bitte too.¡± ¡°We could have two kids in three years, or have twins, which would instantly increase the birth rate¡± Anastasiaughed. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m a pig or something? How about you give birth instead?¡± The news of the CEO of Elysian Technologies secret marriage wasn¡¯t really a secret anymore. After Herman showed off his engagement ring, many people were wondering what kind of woman his wife was, to be able to win over Riverdale¡¯s most eligible bachelor. Selena, a woman who got fired from thepany, also heard the news from others. Selena had a wide social circle, and she was in touch with rich heiresses, so she found out about the news quickly. When she heard that the CEO of Elysian Technologies got married, Selena was shocked at first, then she broke intoughter. Since the CED already had a wife, then what was Anastasia¡¯s role? She must¡¯ve been either a mistress or a home wrecker. Victor said that Anastasia had the support of the CEO and warned her not to spread the news around to avoid trouble. This secretive behavior was obviously to hide the fact that Anastasia was the other woman. Thinking of this, Selena was in high spirits. She originally thought Anastasia was a capable woman, but it turned out she was just another beauty who yed the other woman. Mistresses of the rich like Anastasia usually had a short period of favor. Even if she had some skills, her man wouldn¡¯t truly have deep feelings for her, it was just a fling. Once Anastasia fell out of favor, dealing with someone like her would be a piece of cake. Anastasia, unaware of Selena¡¯s ns, had just driven to the office. Just as she arrived, a colleague told her that Victor was looking for her and asked her to go to his office. Anastasia wondered, could it____ be about Selena getting fired? She had heard before that Selena and Victor were on good terms, and she wasn¡¯t sure if Herman and Victor¡¯s rtionship could help her dodge this bullet. Anastasia took a sip of water, steadying her nerves, then headed to the general manager¡¯s office. Anastasia knocked and said, ¡°Mr. Victor¡± ¡°Ms. Jewell, you¡¯re here.¡± Victor rose enthusiastically, saying, ¡°Please, have a seat.¡± Victor had also heard some rumors from the party, but his view waspletely different from Selena¡¯s. Herman was so protective of Anastasia, on one hand, keeping their marriage under wraps, and on the other hand, he was taking care of her. Wasn¡¯t that him looking out for her in the shadows? In other words, Anastasia was Herman¡¯s missus. Chapter 173 Chapter 173 Chapter 173 Anastasia was the big cheese of Elysian Technologies, so naturally Victor treated her with the utmost respect and acted super friendly. Anastasia was a bit surprised, asking, ¡°Mr. Victor, what¡¯s up? Why are you looking for me?¡± ¡°Ms. Jewell, don¡¯t sweat it,¡± Victor says with a smile. ¡°Here¡¯s the deal, Wendy digs your designs and your performance in thepany is top-notch. We need someone like you on our team. So, I¡¯ve decided to cut your internship short. As of today, you¡¯re officially one of us, and we¡¯ll bump up your pay ordingly.¡± Anastasia was thrilled and said gratefully, ¡°Thanks for seeing my potential.¡± She bowed deeply to Victor, startling him a bit. He quickly said. ¡°Ms. Jewell, don¡¯t do that it made him a bit ufortable. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Anastasia, excited, immediately promised. ¡°Mr. Victor, I¡¯ll step up my game and won¡¯t let thepany down.¡± ¡°I believe in you,¡± said Victor with a smile. ¡°Even if you bankrupt thepany, as long as you¡¯re happy, it¡¯s all good.¡± ¡°What?¡± Anastasia was a bit confused. He wasn¡¯t being sarcastic at all. Victor quickly exined, ¡°I was just pulling your leg. With your talent, thepany will only get better. Actually, ourpany is just a small fish in the Elysian Technologies pond. Whether we¡¯re profitable or not doesn¡¯t matter. What¡¯s important is that everyone enjoys their work. After all, work is just a part of life.¡± Anastasia said, ¡°Mr. Victor, you¡¯re the mostid-back boss I¡¯ve ever met.¡± Victorughed and said, ¡°You tter me, Ms. Jewell. Now that Selena has left and there¡¯s no one leading the design team, do you think you could fill her shoes? If you¡¯re up to it, the job is yours.¡± ¡°The top spot?¡± Anastasia eximed in surprise. ¡°That¡¯s like a huge leap up thedder! Mr. Victor, are you pulling my leg again?¡± Victor looked serious as he said, ¡°I¡¯m not joking. The top spot is for the most talented. Besides you and Lauren, everyone else in the design team has been working for at least five years. As a jewelry designer, if they haven¡¯t made any significant achievements in five years, they¡¯re not cut out for this job.¡± Anastasia found Victor¡¯s analysis reasonable. ¡°Then why me? I only have a high school diploma, and I haven¡¯t been here very long. Lauren is also very capable. I think she¡¯d be a better fit.¡± Victor looked at Anastasia and smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t you have any confidence in yourself? Lauren is from Mill¡¯s Seasoning. She¡¯ll leave sooner orter. She¡¯s not cut out for a long-term gig here. Anastasia, think it over. I believe you can do it. If you have any concerns, just let me know.¡± Anastasia spoke her mind, ¡°I do have concerns. I¡¯ve just been made permanent and now I¡¯m being promoted to the top spot. I¡¯m afraid others might not ept me¡± Victor said, ¡°If you don¡¯t even want a chance to prove yourself, how can you expect others to ept you? Ms. Jewell, give it a shot. The pay for the chief designer is ten times that of a regr designer, plus there¡¯s a yearly bonus, all sorts of perks, and amission on each piece of jewelry¡­¡± Victor used the high sry to lure Anastasia. It had to be said, Anastasia could really use the money, so she was tempted. How much would ten times her sry be? Would it be five or six figures a month? Plus a yearly bonus, perks, andmissions, it was like money falling from the sky. Given her current sry, if she had a child in the future with no savings, relying solely on Herman¡¯s ie would be too hard. Since she had the opportunity to earn more money now, why not take it? Anastasia made up her mind and said, ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Hearing her answer, Victor grinned. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have HR send out a noticeter. I look forward to your performance.¡± Anastasia hesitated a bit, saying, ¡°Mr. Victor, I have another small concern.¡± Victor waved for her to continue. ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°I¡¯m already married, and I might have a baby at any time. If I get pregnant, will that affect the company?¡± Many bigpanies were not keen on staff taking maternity leave. If she took up the top spot and then immediately got pregnant, followed by maternity leave, thepany would definitely be displeased. Hearing this, Victor Immediately looked at Anastasia¡¯s belly, looking a bit excited. ¡°Are you pregnant?¡± Anastasia found this strange. Why would Victor be excited if she was pregnant? Chapter 174 Chapter 174 Chapter 174 Anastasia said with an awkward smile, ¡°I just said maybe.¡± It seemed that her period was indeed a weekte this month. Victorughed. ¡°If you¡¯re really pregnant, that¡¯s great. Thepany will give you leave and keep your position. Your sry won¡¯t change either. ¡°Is it really that good?¡± Anastasia thought it was too good to be true. In Victor¡¯s mind, if Anastasia was really pregnant, the boss would be thrilled. He would even send him back to headquarters. Not only would her sry remain the same, but she would even get a raise. Victor reassured Anastasia, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯re a legitpany. You can work without fear. You¡¯ll handle the design department, and I¡¯ll have someone help you.¡± Walking out of Victor¡¯s office, Anastasia felt dazed. It felt like she was stunned by an enormous surprise. Everything was too surreal. It wasn¡¯t until she received the notice of position adjustment from HR that she realized this wasn¡¯t a dream. Anastasia bing the chief designer was big news to the other employees in the design department. Anastasia, who had been at thepany for less than a month, reced Selena and became the chief designer. This kind of unconventional promotion was unheard of in thepany. Everyone in the design department was shocked. Except for Lauren, no one could ept the result. They had been working for thepany for several years. When Selena left, they thought they had a chance, but they didn¡¯t expect to be overtaken by Anastasia. They felt wronged. The workce was a battlefield. No one congratted Anastasia. They courteously called her Director Jewell when they saw her. Anastasia understood everyone¡¯s feelings, and didn¡¯t say much. Her desk was moved to Selena¡¯s previous independent office. Anastasia found it incredible herself. But no matter how tough the road ahead was, she needed to stick it out for the money. Why did she work? To make money. She could have a feud with anyone, but not with money. ¡°Anastasia, congrattions.¡± Lauren bought a bouquet of flowers to congratte Anastasia. ¡°You¡¯re really amazing¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Anastasia shrugged. ¡®You¡¯re the first to congratte me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m honored.¡± Lauren smiled. ¡°You don¡¯t need to be nervous or scared. Keep going. You bing the chief designer feels like I¡¯ve fulfilled my wish.¡± Lauren had previously promised that if she became wife of the CEO of Elysian Technologies, she would make Anastasia the chief designer. Anastasia smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m prepared. I¡¯m getting such a high sry. I need to show some ability¡¯ ¡°I have faith in you.¡± Laurenughed. ¡°You said you¡¯d introduce me to some hot guys, any news?¡± Anastasia said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my husband said his cousin already has a girlfriend. I think of you when I meet a hot guy next time.¡± Lauren sighed, ¡°It seems like I always miss out on the hot guys.¡± Anastasiaughed. Her promotion was a happy event. Naturally, she wanted to share the news with Herman. She immediately texted him and told Monica and Salma about it. Herman, who was in a meeting in the conference room of Elysian Technologies, subconsciously smiled when he saw Anastasia¡¯s message Herman replied. [You¡¯re so great] Anastasia proudly said. It¡¯s because you¡¯re my lucky star] Everything went smoothly since she had met Herman. Anastasia excitedly sent another message. [Thepany gave me a raise, ten times more. Can I consider myself as a rich woman now?] Herman could feel Anastasia¡¯s joy. Victor was indeed smart. He needed to reward himter. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. Herman replied. [Honey, you¡¯ve always been a rich woman.] Anastasia felt happy when she saw the message. Anastasia. [You don¡¯t know, I was scared when Victor asked me to be the chief designer. I thought he was joking. I¡¯m kind of worried that I can¡¯t handle it. But his offer was too generous to refuse.] Herman saw thest sentence, his smile deepened, looking like a man deeply in love, it shocked everyone else. The senior managers were all staring at him. Some were smiling. Their sweet love was well known. Did Herman really get married? 1/2 §³§á§Ñ§â§ä§Ö§Ô Everyone atst night¡¯s party knew about it. They all had the inside scoop. This must¡¯ve been Mrs. Salstrom¡¯s message You could tell by the affectionate smile on Mr. Salstrom¡¯s face. The usually cold Mr. Salstrom also had such a gentle side. Flynn coughed lightly to remind his brother ¡°Herman¡± Did he want to keep his cold CEO image? Herman came back to reality, and his smile disappeared. He said nonchntly. ¡°Let¡¯s continue the meeting¡± Chapter 175 Chapter 175 Chapter 175 Herman was in a good mood, which lightened up the meeting atmosphere, making it less stuffy and serious. Heck, the meeting even ended early. Everyone wished Mr. Salstrom could be happy-go-lucky every day so they wouldn¡¯t have to walk on eggshells around him. Of course, they also wished Mrs. Salstrom and Mr. Salstrom were lovey-dovey. If they were good, life as their subordinates would be a piece of cake. Back in his office. Herman told Nelson, ¡°Give Victor from Elysian Technologies¡¯ jewelrypany a pay bump. If he doesn¡¯t screw up. bring him back to headquarters by year-end.¡± Nelson got the hint. ¡°Gotcha, Mr. Salstrom. I know what to do.¡± Seemed like if you wanted a raise, you¡¯d have to butter up Mrs. Salstrom. Once Nelson stepped out, Flynn, lounging on the couch, said to Herman, ¡°Victor¡¯s a smart cookie. Herman, I could use some extra dough too. Maybe I can put on a better show in front of Mrs. Salstrom next time Herman replied, ¡°I don¡¯t have any spare change for you, but I can hook you up with a girlfriend. Interested? My wife mentioned this morning she wanted to introduce you to Lauren from Mill¡¯s Seasoning.¡± Flynn shook his head. ¡°Nah, she¡¯s not my type. Too fierce, zero charm. She goes gaga over any guy with a decent body. Count me out¡± Herman gave Flynn a once-over. ¡®With your scrawny figure, Lauren might not want you either.¡± Flynn stood up and lifted his shirt. ¡°I may not have a six-pack, but I¡¯ve got at least four. What¡¯s wrong with that? Want proof?¡± Herman turned away dismissively. ¡°I¡¯m not into guys. Quit grossing me out.¡± *Just a quick look,e on.¡± Flynn pulled up his shirt, standing in front of Herman. Herman was speechless. Anastasia got a promotion and a raise, which thrilled Salma, Monica, seeing the news, was also happy for her. They decided to go out for dinner to celebrate. After work, Anastasia drove to Monica¡¯s beauty salon. As she waited outside and was about to text Monica, she saw Monica and her young boyfriend emerging from the salon. He kissed Monica on the cheek, then walked over to a nearby BMW, blowing Monica a kiss goodbye. ¡°See you, babe.¡± Monica blew a kiss back Watching their PDA, Anastasia felt a bit nauseous. Once Monica¡¯s boyfriend left, Anastasia honked the horn to get Monica¡¯s attention. Monica hurried over, ¡°Il ride with you today¡± Anastasia just saw her boyfriend drive off in Monica¡¯s BMW. Anastasia asked, ¡°Where do we eat? My treat.¡± Monica replied, ¡°You got a promotion and a raise. We should go all out. I¡¯m craving BBQ.¡± Anastasiaughed. ¡°If all it takes is BBQ to make you happy, consider It done.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s your hubby?¡± Monica asked. ¡°You got a promotion and a raise. Did he do anything for you?¡± ¡°He¡¯s still at work, I texted him. His money is my money, so if he spent money to celebrate, I¡¯d feel bad.¡± Before, Anastasia was always clear about money with Herman. Even spending a penny more made her anxious. But now, she didn¡¯t see any boundaries between their belongings. ¡°You¡¯re always trying to save money for your husband. He has plenty, you don¡¯t need to save for him.¡± This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. ¡°He¡¯s given the many gifts, nes, and rings. He always brings me something when he¡¯s on a business trip,¡± Anastasia said, lost in her happy bubble. ¡°Life needs a bit of romance, but it also needs to be a bit practical.¡± While chatting, Anastasia drove to a nearby BBQ restaurant and found a table. The ce had a buffet- style BBQ with a wide variety. They grabbed a load of food and started grilling. Anastasia casually asked, ¡°Monica, when are you and your boyfriend nning to tie the knot?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t thought about it,¡± Monica replied. ¡°He¡¯s younger than me, he won¡¯t get married so soon.¡± ¡°You¡¯re already 25. You can¡¯t keep putting it off. Even if you¡¯re not getting married right away, you should have a n.¡± Monicaughed. ¡°I used to push you to get a boyfriend, and now you¡¯re pushing me to get married. How times have changed.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t joke around. I¡¯m serious,¡± Anastasia said, lightly pping Monica¡¯s hand. ¡°You really should think about it. Women age fast after ¡°You sound just like I used to.¡± Monicaughed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have a n.¡± Hearing Monica¡¯s response, Anastasia didn¡¯t press further. Anastasia then asked, ¡°Monica, do you know how Cason¡¯s been doingtely?¡± Monica was surprised. ¡°Ana, why are you suddenly asking about him?¡± ¡°I was just wondering. You mentioned hisw firm went bankrupt, and his family¡¯s factory had issues. How¡¯s he doing now?¡± Monica hesitated before saying, ¡°I heard he¡¯s in jail.¡± Anastasia was shocked, ¡°What did he do?¡± Chapter 176 Chapter 176 Chapter 176 She hadn¡¯t heard from Cason in a while, and now hearing he was banged up. Anastasia was totally floored. Monica mumbled, ¡°I¡¯m not too sure about the details myself, but word around is, he got nabbed for extortion.¡± ¡°Extortion?¡± Anastasia was taken aback. ¡°Who did he extort? He¡¯s awyer, isn¡¯t he supposed to uphold thew?¡± ¡°Ana, I really dont know. That¡¯s just what I heard.¡± Monica continued, ¡°I was gobsmacked when I first heard it. How could he do such a thing? And with him being arrested and Demi seemingly jetting off abroad, it¡¯s all happened so suddenly.¡± ¡°Definitely sudden.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t pry further. She couldn¡¯t visit Cason in jail. They were no longer involved. If she visited him, she¡¯d just be asking for trouble. But something didn¡¯t sit right with her. She remembered thest time Monica hurriedly sought out her mother, saying that Cason knew her secret. She had nned to confront Cason at some point, but now he was locked up. Monica asked with concem, ¡°Ana, how have you and Herman been doing recently?¡± Now that Cason was arrested, Monica felt a weight lifted off her chest. Cason knew Anastasia¡¯s secret, and he was a sly fox. Who knew when he would spill the beans ¡®We¡¯re doing great.¡± Anastasia¡¯s heart fluttered at the thought of Herman. ¡°That¡¯s good Monica felt a little relieved, ncing at Anastasia¡¯s stomach ¡°Are you guys using protection?¡± ¡°What?¡± Anastasia quickly caught on, lowering her voice in embarrassment. ¡°No.¡± ¡°So, are we expecting some good news soon? Just remember, I called dibs on being the godmother.¡± ¡°Of course¡± Anastasia nervously touched her neck, whispering ¡®My period is already a weekte.¡± ¡°Are you pregnant?¡± Monica was over the moon. Herman is really something, so efficient.¡± Shush! Anastasia signaled Monica to keep it down. There are so many people here. I just said my period iste. I haven¡¯t confirmed anything yet.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s finish up quickly. I¡¯ll take you to get a pregnancy test. Then we¡¯ll know for sure.¡± Monica was hoping that Anastasia was indeed pregnant. If they had a baby, her manage to Herman would be more solid. Even if Anastasio¡¯s secret was revealed someday, there would be less to worry about. Anastasia had a good appetite, and there were many signs that she might be pregnant. She was beginning to feel like she was. She also started to refrain from eating food that was not healthy for pregnant women. After they spent more than an hour at the BBQ restaurant, Monica took Anastasia to a nearby pharmacy to buy a pregnancy test. Anastasia was a bit anxious, worried that she might not be pregnant. She was also embarrassed about buying a pregnancy test. Every time they passed the shelf with the tests, she would walk by without reaching for one. Sensing Anastasia¡¯s hesitance, Monica casually picked up a box of tests and went to the counter. ¡°How much is this?¡±. Then Monica handed the purchased test to Anastasia. ¡®Take this to the mall¡¯s bathroom and check.¡± Anastasiaughed. ¡°You¡¯re so eager. If someone didn¡¯t know better, they might think we¡¯re married.¡± ¡°I wish, but Ick the necessary equipment to get you pregnant.¡± Anastasia was speechless. What a weird thing to say. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°Go on,¡± Monica urged Anastasia Anastasia also wanted to know the result. If she was really pregnant that would be two pieces of good news today. She knew Herman was also eager to have a child. If they had a baby, they would definitely be happier. Anastasia went to the mall¡¯s -restroom next door, sat down on the toilet, and followed the steps on the pregnancy test. As she dropped urine into the small groove of the test tube, Anastasia anxiously watched the urine slowly saturate the test paper, showing a red line, and then continued to soak forward. Chapter 177 Chapter 177 Chapter 177 Anastasia held her breath, her nerves kicking into overdrive, heart racing. She stared intently, afraid she would miss something. But as the urine soaked the test strip, it still only showed one line. Two lines would mean pregnancy. She wasn¡¯t pregnant. But Anastasia didn¡¯t give up, holding onto a sliver of hope, continuing to watch the pregnancy test, hoping for a miracle, for another line to appear. One minute, two minutes, five minutes went by. It still only showed one line. Disappointed, Anastasia tossed the pregnancy test into the trash can, regrouping before stepping out. ¡°Ana, how¡¯d it go?¡± Monica, waiting outside, eagerly asked as soon as she saw her Shaking her head, Anastasia forced a helpless smile. ¡°Nothing.¡± Monica seemed a bit disappointed too, quickly saying, ¡°No worries, you guys just got married. Don¡¯t rush, maybe next month. ¡°Right.¡± Even though Anastasia was disappointed, she quickly let it go. Having a baby required certain conditions. ¡°I¡¯ll take you home first, then I need to go see my mom,¡± she said. Monica replied, ¡°Why don¡¯t you just go to your mom¡¯s? I¡¯ll have my boyfriend pick me up. We have a date¡± ¡°Okay then.¡± Anastasia drove back to Salma¡¯s house, using her keys to enter. Salma wasn¡¯t in the living room: her voice came from the bedroom instead. Curious, Anastasia walked into the bedroom to find Salma on the phone, asking. ¡°Were all the kids from the orphanage that year sent away? Where did the girls end up? Some were adopted¡­ ¡°Mom, who are you on the phone with?¡± Anastasia asked, walking in curiously Caught off guard, Salma quickly hung up, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll call you back another time, thanks.¡± After hanging up, Salma asked. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you let me know you wereing back?¡± ¡°I can¡¯te back to my own house whenever I want? Anastasia joked. ¡°Theard you talking about the orphanage and adopting kids, whats up?¡± Salma tried to cover up. ¡°You know Gianna can¡¯t have kids? Cynthia thought I could help by contacting the orphanage to see if she could adopt A few days ago, Salma had visited the orphanage where she¡¯d left Anastasia¡¯s daughter Coincidentally, she ran into the old director and got his contact info. Ever since meeting Pattie, Salma had been haunted by dreams of the grand-daughter she¡¯d abandoned. She was anxious and decided to look into it. All she wanted to know was where the girl was, and if she was okay. ¡°Mom, you¡¯re always worrying about these things. Gianna can have kids, it¡¯s Joey who can¡¯t,¡± Anastasia responded. ¡°Gianna decided to divorce. She¡¯s not that old, and she¡¯ll have her own kids one day.¡± ¡°Yeah, Cynthia called this morning to say Gianna filed for divorce from Joey,¡± Salma added, ¡°The Edmunds family doesn¡¯t agree, so it won¡¯t be easy for Gianna. Anyway, why did you get back sote?¡± ¡°I got promoted today. I just had dinner with Monica and then came to see you. Here¡¯s some money. Anastasia handed over five hundred dors from her bag. ¡°Mom, when I get my next paycheck, I¡¯ll have more. I¡¯ll give you more then.¡± This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. ¡°I don¡¯t need your money. Keep it,¡± Salma declined. ¡°I have enough. You can give me money when I can¡¯t move anymore. Now, you should use it on yourself. Buy good food and nice clothes. Don¡¯t shortchange yourself¡± ¡°Mom, just take it. You raised me, can¡¯t I give you some money to pamper you?¡± Anastasia insisted, leaving the money on the table ¡°You can use it however you want. It would make me happy to give you money.¡± Salma felt proud. Her hard work raising Anastasia hadn¡¯t been in vain. Just then, Anastasia¡¯s phone rang. It was Herman Just Seeing the caller ID, Anastasia told Salma, ¡®Mom, I have to go. Take care of yourself.¡± Salma reminded her, ¡®Be careful on the road. Don¡¯t drive too fast.¡± ¡°I know apici In the elevator, Anastasia answered Herman¡¯s call. ¡°Did you get off work?¡± ¡°Yeah, are you not home?¡± Herman¡¯s deep voice came over the phone. ¡°You got promoted and got a raise today. I want to take you somewhere to celebrate. Where are you? I¡¯lle pick you up.¡± ¡°I¡¯m at my mom¡¯s house. Where are we going?¡± Chapter 178 Chapter 178 Chapter 178 Anastasia had been hanging around the neighborhood entrance for almost half an hour when Herman rolled up in his Chevy Spotting the familiar nde, Anastasia sprung up with a grin, opened the door and hopped in ¡°Where are we heading? Monica and I already had our grub, what about you?¡± ¡°Grabbed a bite Herman twisted slightly, buckling Anastasia¡¯s seatbelt for her His distinctive scent engulfed Anastasia, and his handsome face was so close it made her heart race. He always had this subtle floral scent that was just irresistible. ¡°You¡¯ll find out when we get there.¡± After fastening her seatbelt, he snuck in a quick peck on her lips before settling back into his seat Anastasia¡¯s eyes widened in surprise and he chuckled. ¡°Hold on tight¡± Her checks turned a shade of pink and a shy smile spread across her face. She muttered under her breath. ¡°Such a rogue¡± He took one hand off the wheel to hold hers and drove out towards the outskirts of the city An hourter, they arrived at the highest hill on the outskirts. Standing on the viewing tform, they could overlook half of Riverdale The wind was strong atop the hill and the night was chillier Herman hade prepared, he handed Anastasia a thick coat to keep her warm, then led her towards the viewing tform. ¡°You brought me here for the night view?¡± Anastasia nced around. ¡°I heard this hilltop¡¯s usually a hotspot for night time hikers, why¡¯s it deserted tonight?¡± ¡°That just means we got lucky, and no one will bother us.¡± Herman brought her to the edge of the viewing tform, jesting. ¡°Darling. take a good look, this is the kingdom I¡¯ve won for you¡± At this, Anastasia couldn¡¯t help but chuckle and turned her gaze elsewhere. He chipped in, ¡°I haven¡¯t won that side yet, just focus on this.¡± ¡°Herman, when did you turn into such a joker?¡± Anastasiaughed. The night view here was breathtakingly beautiful. Neon lights glittered as far as the eye could see, and the hustle and bustle of the city sprawled out before them, seemingly endless Tve always been too caught up in life, and never took the time to admire our city¡± Anastasia smiled. ¡°It¡¯s really pretty, so charming¡± He held her from behind, joining her in admiring the cityscape. ¡°But it doesn¡¯t hold a candle to you¡± She turned in his arms, back against the railing, arms encircling his waist, looking into his dark eyes. ¡°Darling, thank you for all the joy.¡± Anastasia felt an unprecedented level of happiness, every cell in her body was soaked in sweetness. With a smile tugging at his lips, he said, ¡°My pleasure.¡± The cold wind rustled her hair, and gently caressed her pretty face. With a beautiful view on the horizon and a beauty in his arms, he hugged her waist tighter, leaned in and nted a passionate yet gentle kiss on her lips. That kiss was the most beautiful scene of all. Her hands gripped his clothes as she reciprocated his kiss, yfully caressing him, teasing him. ¡°You¡¯re such a tempting little wild cat.¡± He wanted her so badly. She chuckled in his arms. ¡°You¡¯re the one who taught me all this.¡± Herman¡¯s eyes were filled with affection. With Anastasia by his side, his life was perfect. No matter what her past was, she was the one he vowed to protect for the rest of his life. She was his woman. Suddenly, a loud bang echoed through the sky, followed by a series of fireworks decorating the night sky with their vibrant colors. Anastasia was pleasantly surprised, she turned back to look. ¡°So beautiful, who¡¯s setting off the fireworks? Did you arrange this?¡± Herman lied, ¡°No, I gave all my paychecks to you. There¡¯s no money left for such romantic gestures. We must¡¯ve just stumbled upon someone else¡¯s fireworks¡± ¡°Good, otherwise it¡¯d be such a waste of money, one bang and there goes a few dozen bucks¡± Anastasia chuckled. ¡°They¡¯re really pretty¡± This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org. Someone else¡¯s fireworks, and they didn¡¯t cost them a dime. She felt so much better Herman couldn¡¯t help but smile. These fireworks didn¡¯t cost him a cent, it was Flynn who footed the bill. Halfway up the hill, Flynn and Nelson were busy setting off box after box of fireworks. There were probably a hundred boxes of fireworks on the ground, enough tost an hour. They¡¯d been preparing for a while. The mosquitoes on the hill had given them quite a hard time. As Flynn set off the fireworks, heined, ¡°Why should I pay for Herman¡¯s attempt to please his wife? My allowance hasn¡¯t 11:05 increased, yet he¡¯s expecting me to foot the bill, sigh.¡± Nelsonughed, ¡°You better hope Mr. Salstrom doesn¡¯t hear this, otherwise you¡¯ll not only be out of pocket, but your allowance might also even get docked.¡± Flynn found a spot to sit and enjoy the fireworks. ¡°I paid for this, I might as well enjoy it. Nelson,e join me.¡± Nelson remarked, ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit weird for two guys to watch fireworks together?¡± Flynn was speechless. Chapter 179 Chapter 179 Chapter 179 Nelson¡¯s words only added salt to Flynn¡¯s wound. Freezing his ass off here, Flynn could only imagine Herman on top of the mountain, cuddling with his wife. ¡°I should have brought a knockout with me,¡± Flynn sighed. ¡°With all the dough I¡¯m spending, I bet I could make some babe¡¯s day¡± ¡°Your ex-girlfriends could probably form a line stretching to another country,¡± Nelson joked. ¡°Do you really need to impress more girls?¡± ¡°All they cared about was my money, that¡¯s boring.¡± Flynn pondered, ¡°What about I pull a Herman and y poor for a while? What do you think, Nelson?¡± C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org ¡°Well, you could give it a shot,¡± Nelson suggested. ¡®But you may not be as lucky as Mr. Salstrom.¡± ¡°Yeah, he can pick up a wife just by grabbing a cup of joe Flynn looked up at the fireworks, then back at the top of the mountain. They were too far away for him to see Herman and Anastasia, but he knew they must have been on the viewing tform. ¡°He¡¯s be more considerate and knows how to be romantic ever since he met Anastasia¡± Flynn pulled out his phone and video called Katelyn. ¡°Mom, check out the fireworks, pretty cool, right?¡± Seeing the fireworks, Katelyn scolded Flynn, ¡°You¡¯re always up to some shy tricks. When will you grow up and act your age? Always trying to impress girls with all this.¡± ¡°Mom, Herman arranged this for his wife,¡± Flynn defended. Upon hearing it was Herman¡¯s doing for Anastasia, Katelyn broke into a smile and praised, ¡°He¡¯s really smart, he¡¯s finally learned how to be romantic. Where are they? Let me see.¡± Flynn was speechless ¡®They¡¯re on top of the mountain, too dark for you to see. Mom, you¡¯re so biased.¡± ¡°He¡¯s finally grown up. I have to praise him. Oh, by the way, that car you had your eye on, I got it for you.¡± Flynn immediately smiled wide, kissing the screen. ¡°Mom, you¡¯re the best. I love you the most.¡± Katelynughed. ¡°You silly boy¡± On top of the mountain. There was no one left on the viewing tform, but a car parked nearby was shaking violently, with Anastasia¡¯s moan asionally audible. The sound of the car shaking was loud, but luckily there was no one around, otherwise Anastasia would have wanted to hide out of embarrassment. She hadn¡¯t expected Herman to be so impulsive, so eager They didn¡¯t get home untilte at night. Anastasia fell asleep in the back seat and didn¡¯t know when they got home. When she woke up the next day, she was already at home. Thinking of Herman¡¯s passionst night, she couldn¡¯t help but blush.. Herman had already gone to the office. Anastasia checked the time and prepared to go to work as well Before heading to the office, she bought some food and went to unit one of building six to find Pattie. She was worned that Pattie might be hungry. Penny wouldn¡¯t change. Community workers and the police had tried to mediate, but to no avail. Penny was breastfeeding, her son was still so young, so the police wouldn¡¯t arrest her for hitting Pattie. If Penny was arrested, there would be no one to take care of Pattie and the little boy, so the police could only give Penny a verbal warming. Anastasia stood in front of room 802. She knocked on the door, after a while, someone came to open the door. It was Pattie. Pattie was barefoot, wearing old clothes. The new clothes that Herman bought for her had all been sold by Penny. Pattie¡¯s eyes were devoid of any light; she was back to her old indifferent self. The sound of ying cards came from the room, Penny had invited friends over for poker. Her son was ying with toys on the living room carpet, and Pattie had just been taking care of him. Seeing Pattie like this, Anastasia felt very distressed ¡°Pattie, has your mom hit you recently?¡± Pattie shook her head. She no longer dared to tell the truth, because it would only invite more vicious beatings from Penny. Chapter 180 Chapter 180 Chapter 180 Anastasia looked at Pattie, feeling all kinds of upset inside. ¡°Pattie, I¡¯ve got you some snacks. Take them, but make sure your mom doesn¡¯t see, okay? Anastasia handed over the snacks and added. ¡°If you get hungry, eat some. If you run into any trouble, remember you cane to my ce. Building 3, Unit 1, room 802, got it?¡± Pattie, clutching the snacks, stared wide-eyed at Anastasia and gave a little nod. Anastasia couldn¡¯t be sure if Pattie really understood her, or if she was just nodding absent-mindedly. Seeing the still healing scars on Pattie¡¯s exposed ankle, Anastasia felt a pang of sadness. She really wanted to take Pattie away. If Pattie stayed in this household, her future would definitely be ruined. Penny¡¯s voice drifted out from inside the house. ¡°Damn kid, who¡¯s at the door? Where the hell did you run off to? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be looking after your little brother?¡± Pattie quickly shut the door and went back to take care of her little brother, hiding the snacks Penny was busy ying poker, not bothering to care for Pattie and her son. She only nced casually at the living room to check that the kids were there, then went back to her game. Pattie amused the little boy with a toy, and his giggles made herugh along. Only when she was with her little brother could she get a moment¡¯s rest. But if her little brother started crying, she¡¯d get a beating Pattie remembered her dad saying they were a family and that her mom just had a bad temper. So even though she really wanted to go back to Anastasia, she didn¡¯t dare. This was her home, not Anastasia¡¯s. Plus, she overheard part of a conversation between Salma and Anastasia in the kitchenst time. If Anastasia adopted her, it would only bring her trouble and add to her burdens. Pattie, being considerate, didn¡¯t want to be a burden to her. After seeing Pattie, Anastasia was pretty down. Back at her office, she called Herman and told him about Pattie¡¯s situation. ¡°I think we need to find a way to get Pattie into school. If Pattie could go to school, Penny wouldn¡¯t have a chance to hurt her. Herman was also concerned about Pattie and said, ¡°I have someone check out the local kindergartens to see if we can sort out Pattie¡¯s schooling¡± ¡®Good, if Penny refuses to pay the tuition, we can cover it,¡± Anastasia said. ¡°I won¡¯t feel at ease until Pattie is settled¡± Herman felt the same way Pattie¡¯s situation was like a thom, pricking them from time to time, causing worry. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take care of this.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. After hanging up, Herman asked Nelson to handle Pattie¡¯s school enrollment. ¡°Go to Wondend Kindergarten across from Harmony Meadows and sort out Pattie¡¯s enrollment. Tell the principal to inform Pattie¡¯s parents that the tuition is waived,¡± ¡°Sure, Mr. Salstrom, I¡¯ll go right away.¡± Herman added, ¡°If Penny and her husband refuse to send Pattie to school, get the police involved.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Dealing with the likes of Penny, police intervention was necessary. After the call, Anastasia felt a little better. She started working. Victor sent Amy to assist her, but given her sudden promotion to chief, not everyone was happy No one took her seriously, and her subordinates just went through the motions, showing ack of enthusiasm. If her team didn¡¯t cooperate, Anastasia couldn¡¯t get anything done. Even the most outstanding leader needed cooperation and execution from their team. Anastasia knew this wasn¡¯t something she could rush or handle too harshly, or else it would just cause more resentment The following week, Anastasia was under immense pressure, having to handle almost everything in the design department as the chief designer. Even with Lauren and Amy¡¯s help, it wasn¡¯t enough. There was a limit to what one person could do. Fortunately, Anastasia¡¯s design skills wore excellent. Despite her team¡¯sckluster effort, she was still able to satisfy clients with her designs. In order to get the job done, she just had to put in some extra effort. Being able to do what she loved, Anastasia felt exhrated, as if she had boundless energy. With Herman sorting out Pattie¡¯s school situation, she felt even lighter. The difficulties posed by her team were no big deal to her Chapter Tou In fact, her colleagues were just trying to make a point, to show Anastasia that being the chief wasn¡¯t an easy ride. One day, Amy came to Anastasia saying, ¡°Director Jewell, the manufacturing technique Mrs. Manning wants for her crown¡¯ isn¡¯t something ourpany can do. It¡¯s a very traditional method used by the royal craftsmen for queens¡¯ crowns in the past. Anastasia asked, ¡°Is there anyone else who can do it?¡± Amy thought for a moment and said, ¡°There¡¯s a designer who was pushed out of ourpany by Selena. Word is she¡¯s left the industry.¡± Anastasia said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go see her myself. Do you have her address?¡± Amy replied, ¡°A friend mentioned the other day that she¡¯s been vacationing at Cloud Mountain.¡± Anastasia repeated, ¡°Cloud Mountain. Okay, I¡¯ll go see her now.¡± Anastasia headed to the underground parking garage, towards her car, and called Herman to tell him she¡¯d be homete as she needed to make a trip to Cloud Mountain. After hanging up, Anastasia looked up and thought she saw a figure moving off to the side. She didn¡¯t think twice, opened the car door, and hopped in, firing up the engine and heading towards Cloud Mountain. Just as her car pulled away, a figure emerged from behind a nearby pole, his dark eyes tracking the direction in which Anastasia¡¯s car had disappeared. Chapter 181 Chapter 181 Chapter 181 Getting from the city to Cloud Mountain took about an hour and a half by car. Anastasia made the drive, and by the time she arrived at the Cloud Mountain Resort, It was already 6 in the evening. Perfect timing to catch the stunning sunset. Standing atop Cloud Mountain and looking out at the sunset, the view was so captivating, you¡¯d never want to leave. After taking it all in, Anastasia got down to business. Amy had already sent over the info on Christine, the designer who was a whiz at traditional craftsmanship. Christine, a 35-year-old female, had been in the jewelry design game for eight years. Once upon a time, she was Selena¡¯s biggest rival. Apanying the information on Christine were some photos. As Anastasia was pondering on how to find Christine in the vast Cloud Mountain Resort, she spotted a familiar figure strolling from the direction of the hotel elevator. The woman was dressed in white sports gear, wearing a baseball cap, and radiating a sense of elegance and allure that screamed strong, independent woman. Anastasia quickly approached her, wearing a light smile. ¡®Ms. Christine, hello, I¡¯m Anastasia, the lead designer at AL Jewery under Elysian Technologies. I¡¯m here specifically for you.¡± Christine gave Anastasia a once-over ¡°Who did you say you are? A designer at AL Jewery?¡± Anastasia replied confidently with a smile, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m the lead designer at AL Jewery¡¯ Christine looked surprised and confused Ithought Selena was the lead designer at AL Jewery? Where did she go?¡± ¡°Selena resigned about a week ago. Anastasia exined. ¡°I¡¯m now the lead designer at AL Jewery. Ms. Christine, I heard you¡¯re proficient in traditional hairpin making techniques that were used in the royal courts back in the day. We have a client who specifically requested this traditional craftsmanship, so I came to seek your advice.¡± Upon hearing the news of Selena¡¯s resignation, Christine seemed both curious and excited. ¡°You¡¯re Anastasia, right? Tell me more about why Selena would resign Let¡¯s find somewhere else to chat As Selena¡¯s formerpetitor Christine was immediately interested in the news. She led Anastasia to a lounge arranged for guests in the resort. Drinks of all sorts were avable there Anastasia ordered an Americano, while Christine went for a latte. Anastasia recounted the events leading to Selena¡¯s resignation but left out the part about gianism There was no need to tarnish Selena¡¯s reputation now that she had taken her ce Plus, Christine might not even believe it. If she mentioned Selena¡¯s giarism, it might cast doubt on her own character. The purpose of her visit was to learn from Christine about making hairpins, not to badmouth others Christine looked skeptical ¡°Ms Jewell, I know Selena too well. She¡¯s not one to back down easily. The reason you gave for her resignation doesn¡¯t sit right with me You¡¯re not telling me the whole truth¡± Anastasia just smiled Ms Christine, Selena¡¯s resignation is a personal matter. As anan outsider, it¡¯s not my ce toment.¡± Christine¡¯s gaze softened ¡°You must be very talented to be the lead designer I remember when Selena set me up, I lost my job and ultimately had to leave the industry. Now that you¡¯ve toppled her, I¡¯m really pleased. Selena was never fit to be a designer,¡± are Anastasia sincerely said, ¡°Ms. Christine, I¡¯ve seen your portfolio, and I deeply admire your work. It¡¯s a shame you are so naturally gifted at design but had to leave the industry¡± Hearing the praise, Christine sighed, ¡°Designing jewelry has always been my passion. After being forced out of thepany by Selena, I chose to leave due to personal reasons¡± ¡°Ms. Christine, have you ever thought about returning to the industry?¡± Anastasia asked sincerely. ¡°I¡¯ll be honest with you, I only have a high school diploma and was promoted to lead designer as an exception. The rest of the design department is against me, and it¡¯s difficult for me to continue working alone. I hope you¡¯ll consider rejoining AL Jeweryand chase your dreams again.¡± C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org ¡°You want my help?¡± Christine asked in surprise. ¡°You only have a high school diploma, how did Victor promote you as an exception?¡± Anastasiaughed. ¡°Guess I just got lucky¡± Chapter 182 Chapter 182 Chapter 182 Christine shook her head. ¡°Victor was sent by HQ to AL Jewery, he¡¯s meticulous in his work and has a keen eye for people. You must be something special, Ms. Jewell, you¡¯ve got my attention.¡± Anastasia responded with a small smile. ¡°Ms. Christine, if you want to know more about me, you should return to AL Jewery and we can work together.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Anastasia used the word ¡°return, implying that AL Jewery was home. She was inviting Christine back home, a gesture that warmed the heart and brought them closer. In a few exchanges, Christine¡¯s admiration for Anastasia grew. Christineughed. ¡°Ms. Jewell, you¡¯ve got a way with words. I almost fell for it. Teaming up back at AL Jewery to manage the design team? Not a bad idea.¡± Anastasia smiled back. ¡°Ms. Christine, I genuinely wish for your return. Of course, there¡¯s a bit of a selfish motive as well.¡± Christine pondered, seeming to consider the proposal. Seizing the moment, Anastasia added, ¡°Ms. Christine, If you decide to return, I¡¯d willingly step down as head designer. You¡¯re better suited for the role.¡± Christine looked surprised and asked with a half-convincing smile, ¡°Are you really willing to give up the position?¡± ¡°Passing the baton to the capable, of course, I am,¡± Anastasia replied with a smile. ¡°I think we get along well, Ms. Christine. I believe we can coborate effectively in jewelry design and find amon language.¡± Christine paused for a moment, then said, ¡°I might consider it. Victor really has an eye for talent. You came to learn from me and almost persuaded me to join AL Jewery.¡± Anastasia chuckled. ¡°Ms. Christine, I¡¯ll be awaiting your return at AL Jewery.¡± ¡°You sure know how to charm people¡± Christine grinned, ¡°If you have any questions, don¡¯t hold back. I¡¯ll tell you everything.¡± Anastasia was in a good mood. ¡°Thank you.¡± People lovedpliments, and good talkers got twice the results with half the effort. Anastasia and Christine hit it off. They chatted away, and before they knew it, it was past nine in the evening. Anastasia had to get home. ¡°Ms. Christine, thank you for your guidance. I¡¯ve learned a lot today I¡¯ll head home now. I¡¯ll be waiting for you at AL Jewery.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll consider it. Drive safe,¡± Christine warned. ¡°Selena can hold a grudge. You¡¯ve crossed her; be careful.¡± Christine wasn¡¯t entirely clear on the feud between Anastasia and Selena, but if she was recing Selena, there had to be something going on. Knowing Selena, she would definitely harbor resentment. ¡°Thanks for the heads up, Ms. Christine, I better get going.¡± Anastasia smiled, got in her car, and drove off into the night. It had started to rain while she was visiting Christine, the mountain road was pitch ck and slippery from the rain. Anastasia drove very slowly, not daring to speed. About ten minutes into the drive, on a steep downhill section, the lights from an oing car shined in her direction. Anastasia tried to slow down and brake, but to her horror, the brakes didn¡¯t work. The car was picking up speed downhill, and Anastasia was terrified. She gripped the steering wheel tightly, her face turning pale with every sharp turn. Anastasia tried the brakes multiple times without sess. Her phone rang, but she couldn¡¯t answer. The car was gaining speed, the road was pitch ck and slippery from the rain, and there was a cliff to her right. One wrong move could send her over the edge. Anastasia honked the horn repeatedly, hoping to alert anyone in the valley or iing traffic. She had to steer left into the oing traffe, using the friction between the car and the rock wall to slow down and hopefully stop the car. Chapter 183 Chapter 183 Chapter 183 All of a sudden, the car spiraled out of control, and Anastasia immediately sensed that this was bad news. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Everything had been fine when she first hit the road, so howe the brakes gave out on her out of the blue? Was this really just an ident? The memory of Christine¡¯s warning, and that shady figure she spotted in the parking lot, made her blood run cold. Someone was out to get her, they wanted her dead. Anastasia¡¯s toes curled up in her shoes; she wasn¡¯t ready to kick the bucket, nor was she ready to ept that fate. What would happen to her mom if she died? And what about Herman, who loved her to the moon and back? The sound of her car smacking into the rock wall echoed through the woods, and smoke started seeping out from the back of her vehicle. Her phone was still buzzing, was Herman calling. Tears started streaming down Anastasia¡¯s face as a sinking feeling washed over her. She might not be able to go back; she might not get a chance to see Herman onest time. But the will to live didn¡¯t let Anastasia throw in the towel. She twisted and turned the steering wheel, trying to smash the car into the mountain. If she couldn¡¯t slow down, she might meet her maker right here. Sparks flew as the car collided with the mountain, bouncing and jolting, until finally, with a loud crash, it toppled over a giant rock and flipped onto its side. Being on a downhill slope, the car slid a few good meters due to inertia, before it finallynded on its side. Anastasia was a bloody mess, barely hanging on, half of her body thrown out of the car, and lying on the ground. Raindrops fell onto her face; her surroundings were pitch-ck and quiet as if the Grim Reaper had arrived. She felt bone-chilling cold, as if she was surrounded by ice. After a while, she wasn¡¯t sure if it was a hallucination or reality, but she thought she saw Herman running towards her with a shlight. Her ears were filled with noise. It sounded like Herman was crying, ¡°Anastasia, Anastasia, wake up, can you hear me, Ana?¡± His voice was filled with terror. Time seemed to slow down, and a blinding white light hit her face, so intense that she couldn¡¯t open her eyes. Her consciousness was fading, and her thoughts jumbled. She thought she heard someone say, ¡°Hang in there, it¡¯s almost out.¡± ¡°Congrattions, it¡¯s a girl, she¡¯s beautiful. I¡¯ve been working in obstetrics for years, and I¡¯ve never seen such a pretty girl.¡± ¡°The girl is as beautiful as her mother.¡± Anastasio heard a baby crying. What was going on, hadn¡¯t she been in a car crash? Why was there a baby crying? Why was someone congratting her? Who was the beautiful girl? Who was giving birth? Anastasia tried to open her eyes, but all she could see was the doctor¡¯s retreating figure holding a baby. She tried to speak, but no sound came out. She was lost in the past, reliving the moment when she gave birth in the delivery room four years ago. In reality, she¡¯d been found by Herman and rushed to the hospital, currently lying in the operating room, undergoing emergency surgery. Her consciousness was blurry, the shadowy figures of the doctors ovepped with the scene from four years ago, causing her memory to be a scrambled mess. Herman was anxiously waiting outside the operating room, his face grim. A doctor stepped out of the operating room. ¡°Family of the injured, please sign here. The patient¡¯s condition is very critical. Please prepare yourself.¡± The doctor¡¯s words made Herman¡¯s heart drop. It had only been a day, and Anastasia was now lying in a pool of blood when he saw her. ¡°We have to save her,¡± Herman said, his voice filled with desperation. ¡°No matter what it takes, we have to keep her alive.¡± The doctor replied, ¡°We¡¯ll do our best,¡± but didn¡¯t make any promises. Herman¡¯s hand trembled as he signed the papers. As soon as he finished, he immediately dialed for top-tier surgeons, arranging for a helicopter to bring them to operate on Anastasia. In an effort to add anotheryer of protection for Anastasia¡¯s life, the best surgeons in Riverdale were gathered at the hospital, going all out to save Anastasia. Herman¡¯s big fuss alerted Flynn and Katelyn, who hurriedly rushed to the hospital. Upon hearing the news of Anastasia¡¯s car ident, Katelyn¡¯s legs almost gave out on her. ¡°Son, how is Anastasia now?¡± Katelyn asked, her voice trembling. The operating room doors were tightly shut, and Herman¡¯s face was deathly pale. His clothes were stained with blood, from when he held Anastasia. The sight of the blood on Herman was enough to make one¡¯s heart pound; it was clear that Anastasia¡¯s injuries were severe. ¡°She¡¯s still in surgery,¡± Herman said, his voice already hoarse. He was terrified that Anastasia wouldn¡¯t make it. He didn¡¯t dare tell Salma the news, who was still in the dark about Anastasia¡¯s ident. Chapter 184 Chapter 184 Chapter 184 Time sliced through Herman like a razor-sharp knife, again and again. No visible wounds, but he felt the pain all over. Tick-tock, tick-tock, time was dragging by. Waiting, Herman was strung up like a tight violin string. Doctors kept rushing bags of blood into the operating room, trying their damnedest to save Anastasia. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Katelyn was watching this, all nervous and worried. Her hands pped together, praying, ¡°God, you whomand all things, please watch over my daughter-inw. Don¡¯t let anything happen to her.¡± Flynn was freaked out too. ¡°How the hell did this car ident happen?¡± Right now, there was no time to investigate the cause, and Herman couldn¡¯t care less. It was a rainy night, and the roads were slick, but he knew Anastasia¡¯s driving skills. Her reflexes were lightning fast, and it didn¡¯t make sense for the crash to be this severe. The car had tried to slow down by grinding against the mountain, a risky move. Why had she done that? One answer ¨C the brakes had failed. A chill ran down Herman¡¯s spine, and his eyes turned ice-cold. ¡°Flynn, check out the car. Were the brakes tampered with? I want to know if it was an ident or sabotage.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll look into it right away.¡± Flynn knew that waiting around was pointless. He needed to get to the bottom of this. As Flynn rushed off, Katelyn asked, ¡°Are you saying there¡¯s something fishy about Ana¡¯s ident?* A murderous glint shed in Herman¡¯s eyes. ¡°We¡¯ll know when we find out.¡± Anastasia¡¯s surgerysted nearly eight hours. When dawn broke, she was still critical and was moved to the ICU. Herman, dressed in protective gear, entered the ICU. Holding Anastasia¡¯s hand, looking at her lying there, her life hanging by a thread, he couldn¡¯t hold back his tears anymore. ¡°Anastasia, you can¡¯t do this to me, you have to pull through. You promised me we¡¯d be together till the end.¡± Herman¡¯s voice was hoarse, heavy with grief. ¡°You can¡¯t leave me alone.¡± He kissed the back of her hand, tears streaming down his face. He was a man who could cause a financial crisis, but here he was, crying his eyes out in front of Anastasia. It would probably blow people¡¯s minds if they knew. He talked to her a lot, but she didn¡¯t respond. Anastasia was all pale and wired up, the only response to Herman was the incessant beeping of the life-support machines. The doctors warned that Anastasia was still vulnerable. A blood clot in her brain could threaten her life at any moment. News of Anastasia¡¯s ident eventually reached Salma. She immediately rushed to the hospital, only able to see her daughter through a ss window. Seeing Anastasia hooked up to all those machines, Salma was heartbroken. Katelyn tried tofort her. ¡°Salma, don¡¯t worry too much. Anastasia wille back to us. We got the best doctors, they¡¯ll pull her through.¡± Katelyn had been at the hospital all night, looking utterly exhausted. ¡°My daughter, how could this happen to her?¡± Salma¡¯s vision blurred, and she felt dizzy. Katelyn quickly steadied her. ¡°Salma, pull yourself together. You have to stay strong.¡± Katelyn guided Salma to a nearby chair. To Salma, Anastasia was her world, and anything happening to Anastasia was a threat to her own life Chapter 185 Chapter 185 Chapter 185 Anastasia felt like she¡¯d been dreaming for ages. She was bone-tired, like she¡¯d fallen into a bottomless pit of total darkness. She could hear a voice weeping out of the endless void It was Herman, sobbing. Why was he crying? Was she dead? Anastasia wanted to respond, but she just couldn¡¯t get the words out. Just then, the life monitor hooked up to her started ring. Doctors rushed in from all corners of the hospital. Anastasia¡¯s condition was deteriorating. The doctors asked Herman to leave the ICU. They needed to perform immediate life-saving procedures. Watching the flurry of medical staff, Herman felt his heart in his throat. The wait was excruciatingly long, and each second felt like an eternity. Herman¡¯s eyes were bloodshot and dull, his hands were clenched into fists, and his gaze was fixed on the ICU door. Salma sat nearby. wiping away tears, her eyes puffy from crying. Herman had no idea how much time had passed when the doctors finally emerged to announce. ¡°The patient is out of immediate danger¡± He felt drained. Anastasia was stable, for now. But when she would wake up was still a mystery. Monica and Lauren Mill rushed over when they heard about Anastasia¡¯s ident. They couldn¡¯t believe how badly Anastasia was hurt when they saw her lying in the hospital bed. Christine had been trying to get a hold of Anastasia, but when she couldn¡¯t, she reached out to Victor and found out about the ident. Christine felt horribly guilty and immediately went to the hospital. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org. Anastasia remained unconscious. Herman hadn¡¯t left the hospital, and he looked like hell. His face was scruffy, his eyes red and surrounded by dark circles. He took care of Anastasia himself, without hiring a nurse, and left Elysian Technologies in Flynn¡¯s hands. At this point, only Anastasias condition could elicit any reaction from him. Herman was on edge every day, worried that Anastasia would sleep forever. Any small change in the monitor could shatter his fragile nerves. Flynn had found out the truth about Anastasia¡¯s ident. The brakes on her wrecked car had been tampered with. Someone had been out to get Anastasia. But who hated her enough to want her dead? Surveince footage showed Selena at thepany¡¯s underground parking lot. Anastasia¡¯s car had been parked out of view of the cameras, so there was no solid evidence that Selena had tampered with it. But Selena was a prime suspect based on motive and timing. Selena was taken in by the police, but she denied messing with Anastasia¡¯s car. She admitted to being at the parking lot and being jealous of Anastasia, but she denied having anything to do with the ident. Selena was a major suspect, but until Anastasia woke up. she would remain in custody. Collin and Julie also visited Anastasia after the ident. Collin was nning to go alone but ran into Julie who insisted on going with him. Julie asked, ¡°Has Herman really been at the hospital for the entire week that Anastasia¡¯s been unconscious?¡± ¡°I told you before, Anastasia is the most important person to Herman. With this happening, he¡¯s definitely not leaving her side. I heard he even put business matters aside.¡± As Collin walked towards the ward, he added, ¡°I also heard that the car crash was deliberate.¡± Hearing this, Julie suddenly felt uneasy. ¡°Deliberate? Did they find out who did it?¡± Collin asked curiously, ¡°Why are you suddenly so interested in this?¡± Julie tried to hide her difort,ughing it off. ¡°I just can¡¯t believe it. Anastasia must have pissed off a lot of people for someone to want her dead.¡± Chapter 186 Chapter 186 Chapter 186 ¡°Karma¡¯s a bitch, you know,¡± Collin said. ¡°The punk who messed with Anastasia¡¯s brakes is still rotting in jail.¡± Julie surprisingly responded, ¡°Anastasia sure is a tough cookie, surviving such a horrific crash¡± Collin frowned. ¡°Maybe you should stay away, in case you blurt out something that pisses everyone off.¡± He could sense Julie¡¯s animosity towards Anastasia Julie wasn¡¯t sincerely visiting Anastasia, she probably just wanted to see how badly injured Anastasia was. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll keep my mouth shut. I¡¯m just here to look,¡± Julie said. ¡°I¡¯m already at the door. I definitely have to go in.¡± C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Collin said, ¡°Then don¡¯t say you¡¯re with me I don¡¯t want to get chewed out by Herman.¡± Anastasia had been in aa for a week now, Salma was falling apart. Katelyn took Salma to Harmony Meadows to live with her, taking care of her around the clock. She also had to worry about Herman not holding up in the hospital, having the house servants prepare delicious meals for him every day. Herman had lost his appetite, often leaving his meals untouched. Monica saw how Herman was sticking with Anastasia through thick and thin, which gave her peace of mind for whatever would happen in the future. Lauren was stunned when she first visited Anastasia in the hospital and saw that the man beside Anastasia was the one she had been crushing on. She was in a daze for a while. Anastasia¡¯s husband turned out to be the CEO of Elysian Technologies. If it weren¡¯t for Flynn pulling Lauren aside to exin, she would have thought Anastasia had been lying to her all along. Knowing the Salstrom family was keeping this from Anastasia, Lauren had to y dumb at this critical time. A few dayster, Lauren remembered something. Early in the morning, she rushed to the hospital and pulled Flynn outside. ¡°The hunk Anastasia said she would introduce to me was you, wasn¡¯t it? You knew it was me and purposely said you had a girlfnend, right?¡± Lauren was slow to react. It took her several days to realize this. Flynnughed. ¡°Why would I need to do that? I can have any woman I want, all the way from here to France.¡± Lauren taunted, ¡°You don¡¯t seem like you¡¯re from the Salstrom family at all. Look at your big brother, he¡¯s so devoted. But you, you¡¯re a yboy. It was wise of me to not fall for you.¡± Flynn didn¡¯t care andughed. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, did I get in your way? You say you don¡¯t like me, as if I have any interest in you.¡± Furious, Lauren stomped on Flynn¡¯s foot. ¡°Scumbag.¡± She left with these words. Flynn jumped up in pain. ¡°Annoying woman, you wait and see.¡± Hearing this, Lauren was even more furious and stormed back to Flynn. Flynn was on guard. ¡°What are you doing? I¡¯m warning you, don¡¯te any closer. Be careful, I might defend myself and hurt you.¡± Lauren stomped at Flynn again, but this time Flynn was prepared and managed to dodge. However, before he could celebrate, his other foot was trampled on by Lauren. He grimaced in pain while Lauren smugly walked away. ¡°You¡¯re such a tomboy, who would dare to be with you?¡± Flynn retorted. Lauren ignored him and went straight into Anastasia¡¯s room, noticing that Julie and Collin were there too. As a fan of Herman, Lauren naturally knew that Julie also had feelings for Herman. They were in the same social circle, and she had heard at a cocktail party that Julie was following Herman. Knowing Herman was already married, yet she still trailed after him, how shameless! Seeing Julie about to enter the room, Lauren stepped forward to stop her, ¡°Julie, long time no see, let¡¯s chat outside.¡± Julie tried to break free. ¡°Lauren, what do we have to talk about? I¡¯m here to visit Anastasia.¡± They didn¡¯t have much of a rtionship, just people from the same circle. Even if they were in the same venue, they would ignore each -other. ¡°What are you doing here, Anastasia doesn¡¯t have much of a connection with you either.¡± Without hesitation, Lauren pulled Julie away. ¡°Anastasia is Herman¡¯swfully wedded wife. You should stop hanging around Herman. Have some self-respect.¡± Chapter 187 Chapter 187 Chapter 187 Lauren¡¯s straight talk hit Julie¡¯s ego hard. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. She retorted, ¡°I just heard Anastasia had a car ident and was hospitalized, so I came to see her. What¡¯s it to you?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re nning on using this as a chance to pursue Anastasia¡¯s husband, then it does involve me,¡± Lauren cautioned. ¡°Finding a good man is no walk in the park, but we women should know better than to chase after single men, let alone married ones, got it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need you to teach me,¡± Julie snapped She brushed past Lauren, heading for the hospital room. Anastasia was still unconscious, with Herman tenderly wiping her hands and neck with warm water, taking care of her meticulously Collin wanted to say something, but seeing Herman¡¯s silent devotion, he quietly left. Julie could only watch through the window in the door. Seeing Herman taking care of Anastasia so intimately, she was both envious and bitter. She even wished the ident would¡¯ve just taken Anastasia away Suppressing her jealousy, Julie asked Flynn with feigned concern, ¡°Ms. Jewell isn¡¯t going to be in a coma forever, right? She wouldn¡¯t turn into a vegetable, would she?¡± ¡°The doctors haven¡¯t said when she¡¯ll wake up. We can only pray now¡± Flynn was also worried whether Anastasia would turn into a vegetable. Herman would be a walking corpse if that happened. Staring at Anastasia on the hospital bed, Julie felt a surge of satisfaction. If Anastasia didn¡¯t wake up, she didn¡¯t believe Herman could stay by her side forever. With her ego boosted by this thought, she hoped Anastasia would never wake up. Herman wanted some quiet, and Collin and the others didn¡¯t stay for long. Anastasiay peacefully in bed, and Herman often talked to her, believing she could hear him. Night fell. Katelyn brought chicken soup to the hospital. Seeing Herman conversing with Anastasia again, she felt a pang in her heart. Her eyes welling up with tears, sheposed herself before saying, ¡°Son, eat something. Look at you, you¡¯re a mess. If Anastasia wakes up, she won¡¯t recognize you.¡± Herman, who always cared about his appearance, would never let himself look scruffy, let alone let his beard grow out, or his hair turn into a bird¡¯s nest from not washing for a week. He hadn¡¯t bathed for several days and was starting to smell. The bloodshot eyes of Herman were rather intimidating. He looked up at Katelyn. ¡°Mom, do you think Anastasia will wake up?¡± ¡°She will,¡± Katelyn answered firmly. ¡°I believe she will wake up. Now, chin up, you haven¡¯t had a good rest for a while now. Let me stay with Anastasia tonight. You go home, take a bath, change clothes, and get a decent sleep, okay? I know you¡¯re worried sick about Anastasia, but I¡¯m just as worried about you¡± Herman replied absently, ¡°She wouldn¡¯t like the way I look now. I¡¯ll go home and change.¡± He didn¡¯t want Anastasia to see him like this. With tears in her eyes, Katelyn said, ¡°Yes, go home and take a bath. Here, drink the chicken soup first.¡± This time Hermanplied. He finished the soup, said goodbye to unconscious Anastasia and headed back to Harmony Meadows Flynn drove him home. Along the way, Flynn did all the talking, while Herman remained silent. Herman was really tired; he hadn¡¯t had a good sleep in days. He dozed off at some point during the ride. Flynn let him sleep, parking the car under Harmony Meadows Herman had a long sleep this time, waking up when dawn was breaking. If not for worrying about Anastasia, he might have slept longer. He was truly exhausted Flynn suggested, ¡°Bro, why don¡¯t you go upstairs and sleep a bit more?¡± *I¡¯ll go up and take a shower, then we¡¯ll head to the hospital. Anastasia would be upset if she woke up and didn¡¯t see me.¡± Herman got out of the car and went upstairs. He showered, watered the nts on the balcony, which Anastasia liked. He hadn¡¯t taken care of them for days and they were nearly wilted He had to keep them alive. Anastasia would be happy to see them when she came home. After finishing these chores, it was already morning. As Herman was going downstairs, he noticed a small figure curled up in the stairway. He approached and saw it was Pattie Chapter 188 Chapter 188 Chapter 188 Pattie was there, huddled against the wall, fast asleep clutching her little backpack Even though the floor beneath her was cold, she was only wearing a thin dress and a pair of sandals. ¡°Pattie.¡± Herman squatted down and gently shook Pattie Waking up to see Herman, Pattie rubbed her eyes ¡°Herman* ¡°Why are you sleeping here?¡± Herman took off his jacket and draped it over Pattie. ¡°Herman, I had a dream. Ana was sick in it, I wanted to find her but I couldn¡¯t. Can you take me to see Ana?¡± Herman was taken aback by her words. How did Pattie have such an odd dream? And how did she know something had happened to Anastasia? ¡°Herman¡± Pattie tugged at Herman¡¯s sleeve, her voice innocent and pleading, ¡°Can you take me to see Ana?¡± Remembering how much Anastasia loved Pattie, he thought that maybe Pattie could help wake Anastasia up ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take you¡± C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Herman took Pattie¡¯s hand and walked towards the entrance of themunity. Flynn had been waiting in the car Seeing the child with Herman, he asked, ¡°Why did you bring a little girl?¡± ¡°She¡¯s Pattie. Your sister-inw really likes her. Pattie wants to visit.¡± Herman lifted Pattie into the car On the way to the hospital, Herman casually asked how Pattie was doing in kindergarten. Pattie happily replied, ¡°Kindergarten is fun. The teachers are nice and my ssmates are really friendly¡± Herman had already given the heads up to the kindergarten principal to take special care of Pattie. Pattie started school a littlete, sopared to the kids who started early education at two or three, she had a lot to learn and adapt to In order to persuade Penny and her husband to send Pattie to school, Herman had the principal tell them that as long as Pattie attended school without absence, they would receive a bonus of fifty thousand each term. For the sake of money, even if they were reluctant, Pattie had to go to school. Other kids¡¯ parents had to pay for school, but Pattie going to school was a money-making opportunity. Clearly, Penny was more than happy about it. ¡°Im d you¡¯re happy.¡± Herman patted Pattie¡¯s head, feeling a warmth in his heart seeing her happiness, a smile creeping onto his face. Driving the car, Flynn was quite surprised to see Herman smile for the first time since Anastasia¡¯s ident. This child was indeed captivating Soon, they arrived at the hospital. Herman took Pattie to Anastasia¡¯s room, where Salma was. She had come to the hospitaltest night, staying up all night with Katelyn. They were all looking tired and aged, weary from the sleepless night. Yawning, Katelyn heard Herman tell Flynn, ¡°Take them home to rest.¡± Without saying much, Salma and Katelyn left to rest, knowing they needed the energy to care for Anastasia. Once they left, the room had only Herman and Pattie. Seeing Anastasia unconscious in the hospital bed, Pattie felt an inexplicable sadness, and tears welled up in her eyes. She went to Anastasia¡¯s bedside, held her hand and said, ¡°Ana, it¡¯s me, Pattie. I had a dream that you were sick. Herman brought me here to see you. Can you get better soon? I¡¯m having a great time in kindergarten. My teacher even praised me yesterday¡­ Pattie held Anastasia¡¯s hand, chattering away like a little chatterbox, sharing all the fun stories from school. Herman was surprised, he had never seen Pattie talk so much. Pattie was clear and logical in her speech. After talking for a confused and asked, ¡°Herman, why isn¡¯t Ana waking up?¡± while and seeing no response from Anastasia, she looked a little ¡°She¡¯s just really tired and resting. She will wake up.¡± Herman gentlyforted Pattie. ¡®She promised to attend your kindergarten event with you. She won¡¯t go back on her word¡± ¡°Yep, she always keeps her promises. She won¡¯t lie to me.¡± Pattie carefully touched Anastasia¡¯s face and said seriously, ¡°Please wake up soon, I want to give you my next big prize.¡± ¨C ¡°Pattie, lers allow her to rest a little while longer. I¡¯ll take you to get breakfast.¡± As soon as he finished speaking. Herman noticed Anastasia¡¯s finger moved. He was overjoyed, he thought it was an illusion until Anastasia¡¯s hand moved again. He couldn¡¯t contain his excitement, gripping Anastasia¡¯s hand tightly and said, ¡°Anastasia, can you hear us talking? Anastasia, can you wake up?¡± Chapter 189 Chapter 189 Chapter 189 Herman rushed to get a doctor, exining Anastasia¡¯s twitching fingers Doctors hurried over to examine Anastasia, but it seemed she showed no signs of waking up. The doctor said, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, this could be a subconscious response of the patient. Still, it¡¯s a good sign, indicating that she can still perceive the outside world¡± Herman furrowed his brow, asking. ¡°How long until she wakes up?¡± The doctors shared a nce, looking ufortable They said. ¡°In cases like these, it could be weeks or even months, or longer. It depends on the patients willpower. But seeing this response, if you keep talking to her, it should speed up the process.¡± Despite their lengthy exnation, there was no definitive answer Pattie held Anastasia¡¯s hand, looking at her feeling heartbroken. ¡®Please wake up soon, I miss you,¡± She never used to say these words. But looking at Anastasia in hera, she couldn¡¯t help but let them out, feeling truly upset. Pattie was devastated. Ana was the best person she had ever met, always telling her stories. After Pattie started kindergarten, she realized that other kids¡¯ moms would tell stories too. Pattie loved the stories Ana told. Herman felt agitated, rubbing his face, and signaling the doctors to leave. He had hired the best doctors, but now all they could do was wait on the patient. In the following days, Herman took Pattie to see Anastasia every day. As they visited during Pattie¡¯s school hours, Penny and her husband didn¡¯t know. She never visited Pattie, and Leo was busy with work, often staying on-site for months on end, leaving him no time to care. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Anastasia showed no signs of waking, as shey in bed like a vegetable. Monica and Lauren also visited daily, and after hearing the news, nna and Cynthia would also visit the hospital. One day. After visiting Anastasia, Herman took Pattie to school. There was a parent-child event at Pattie¡¯s kindergarten that day, and Penny wouldn¡¯t attend. As Pattie reached the entrance and saw Herman about to leave, she gathered up the courage to ask, ¡°Can youe to the school event with me?¡± All the other kids¡¯ parents would be there, but hers wouldn¡¯t Herman thought for a moment, then took Pattie¡¯s hand and walked in. Pattie smiled happily. On the kindergarten yground, many kids were preparing for the parent-child event. The parents gradually arrived Herman and Pattie sat on a small stool. ¡°Pattie, do you have a performance prepared?¡± he asked, noticing other kids changing into costumes Pattie shook her head, her voice innocent. ¡°No, I don¡¯t know how.¡± Herman patted Pattie¡¯s head. ¡°That¡¯s okay. You started schoolter than them. You¡¯ll leam in time; you¡¯re the best.¡± Encouraged, Pattie happily said, ¡°Okay, I will study hard.¡± Four-year-old Pattie understood how precious her opportunity to attend school was Just then, a kid ran over. ¡°Pattie, Pattie, is this your dad? He¡¯s so handsome!¡± Hearing the kid mistake Herman for her dad, Pattie exined with a smile, ¡°No, he¡¯s Herman. Herman, this is my friend Nina.¡± Pattie liked Herman, but she also liked her own dad. In her heart, Leo was her dad. Even though he didn¡¯t spend much time with her, he was very good to her, and she could feel it. Dad would secretly take her for burgers without letting Mom know. Pattie grew up in an orphanage, but she was less than three when Leo adopted her, and she didn¡¯t remember much. The day Leo and Penny carne to adopt her, the director of the orphanage took her to meet the couple and told her, ¡°Pattie, this is your mom and dad. They¡¯re here to take you home.¡± So Pattie alway¡¯s thought that Leo and Penny were her parents, that her mom and dad hade to take her home. Hearing Pattie¡¯s introduction, Herman felt a pang of disappointment in his heart. When the kid mistook him for Pattie¡¯s dad, he¡¯d felt a strange sensation. He had spent a lot of time with Pattie these past few days, and with girls being more affectionate and approachable than boys, she would even imitate him washing Anastasia¡¯s face and hands in the hospital. Sometimes, Herman would feel as if Pattie were his own daughter. Hermanposed himself, greeting Nina warmly, ¡°Hello¡± Nina politely responded, ¡°Hello¡± Chapter 190 Chapter 190 Chapter 190 They¡¯d got a family eventing up. The first half was for the kiddos to strut their stuff. The preschool teachers wanted the kids to show their parents all the good stuff they¡¯d been up to. After all, parents had forked over a hefty chunk of change for their kids¡¯ education, so the school had to give them something in return. Next up was a parent-child game designed to strengthen the bond between parents and their little ones. It was a bit of a workout for the parents. They had to lift up their kids using a small nket, and then the kids grabbed toys. Whoever grabbed the most toys won. This was Herman¡¯s first time at something like this. At hispany, he was the big kahuna, calling the shots while the underlings scrambled to make it happen. But here at preschool, for his little Pattie, he had to roll with it and yed along with the teachers¡¯ games. After the event, Pattie was over the moon. Her infectiousughter had Herman grinning like a fool. When Pattie got her prize, she excitedly offered it to Herman. ¡®This is for you. Please give it to Ana. She¡¯ll be tickled pink.¡± Herman chuckled and pinched Pattie¡¯s chubby cheek. The food at school must¡¯ve been good. Pattie had put on a bit of weight, and her skin was smooth and glowing. Her eyes were sparkling, and she was getting prettier by the day. Herman asked, ¡°Did you have fun today?¡± ¡®Loads of fun, but¡­¡± Pattie sounded a little disappointed. ¡°It would¡¯ve been even better if Ana came.¡± Herman promised, ¡°When she wakes up, and there¡¯s an event next time, I¡¯ll bring her along.¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Pattie nodded enthusiastically ¡®Pinky promise?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Herman smiled, they make a pinky promise, then he said, ¡°I have to head to the hospital now.¡± ¡°Okay, bye!¡± Pattie waved politely. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Nelson was waiting in the car at the preschool entrance. Herman got in with the Peppa Pig toy Pattie gave him. ¡°Back to the hospital.¡± Anastasia had beenatose for nearly a month, and Herman hadn¡¯t set foot in hispany for the same amount of time. If thepany couldn¡¯t function without him, then he¡¯d been wasting his time feeding thousands of employees. He was not worried aboutpany stuff, maybe because Anastasia had beenatose for too long, or maybe because having Pattie around had calmed him down a lot. He was not as anxious as he was at first. He firmly believed that Anastasia would wake up. He was ready for everything. just waiting for her to wake up. When Herman arrived at the hospital, he ran into the doctor talking to Katelyn about Anastasia¡¯s injuries. The doctor said, ¡°The patient was injured in the waist during the car ident, and in her early years¡­¡± ¡°Dr. Schuler¡± Herman quickly interrupted; his face didn¡¯t show a hint of emotion. ¡°If there¡¯s something to discuss, let¡¯s do it in your office. Mom, you stay here with Anastasia.¡± Herman didn¡¯t want Katelyn to know that Anastasia had a child. It was better to avoid unnecessary trouble. Katelyn didn¡¯t think much of it and said, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll stay here.¡± As Anastasia¡¯s husband, it was normal for Herman to be coficemed and informed about her condition. Herman and Dr. Schuler headed to his office. Herman said, ¡°Dr. Schuler, what¡¯s up?¡± Dr. Schuler said, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, your wife was severely injured in the waist in the car ident, plus she hadplications from childbirth long ago that were not properly treated, I¡¯m afraid it would be quite difficult for her to have children in the future.¡± As a doctor, he naturally knew that Anastasia had a child. Saying ¡°quite difficult was a euphemism. The truth was, it was virtually Impossible for her to get pregnant. At the moment, with Anastasia still in aa, the issue of having children may have been moot, but as a doctor, he had to inform the family of any potentialplications. The doctor¡¯s words were like stabbing a knife into Herman¡¯s already numb heart. Herman¡¯s voice was a little heavy. ¡°So, my wife and I, we can¡¯t have our own child?¡± Chapter 191 Chapter 191 Chapter 191 ¡°You could say that.¡± ¡°Mrs. Salstrom¡¯s injuries are pretty severe,¡± Dr. Schuler said. ¡°The car wreckage practically went straight through her waist. If she were to get pregnant, it would be a heavy burden for her. At best, we might lose the baby, and at worst¡­¡± We could lose her. Although it was early to talk about this, Dr. Schuler decided to spill all the beans. ¡°Alright, I got it.¡± It only took Herman a few seconds to digest the news. He said in a deep voice, ¡°Right now, all I can hope for is my wife waking up.¡± As for the rest, he didn¡¯t dare to wish or ask for too much. Everyone at the hospital saw how devoted Herman was to Anastasia. Guys like him were as rare as hens¡¯ teeth, especially considering he was the CEO of Elysian Technologies. Deep down, Dr. Schuler admired Herman. When Herman returned to the ward, Salma had brought over some chicken soup. Even though Anastasia was still unconscious, Salma often prepared these nutritious foods, hoping that Anastasia could have a hot sip as soon as she woke up. Seeing Hermaning back, Katelyn asked, ¡°Herman, what did Dr. Schuler say?¡± When Salma was around, Katelyn would never call him son. With Anastasia still unconscious and Salma feeling down, it wasn¡¯t the right time to spill the beans. Salma also anxiously asked, ¡°Did Dr. Schuler say when Ana would wake up?¡± ¡°Soon,¡± Herman half-lied. ¡°Anastasia¡¯s injuries are recovering. She will wake up soon.¡± Hearing this, Salma felt relieved. ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± she said, handing the chicken soup to Herman. ¡°You¡¯ve been taking such good care of Ana this past month, and you¡¯ve lost weight. You should drink this soup. It¡¯s good for your body.¡± Salma was very pleased with Herman¡¯s care for Anastasia. He was always there for her, spending both time and money. She knew she made the right choice with this son-inw. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll drink itter,¡± Herman said. ¡°Salma, you guys should go home and rest. I¡¯ll stay here tonight.¡± For the past month, it was always Herman who stayed the night. He only left the hospital during the day to freshen up. ¡°You should also get some rest and take care of yourself,¡± Salma reminded him. After Salma and Katelyn left, Herman finished the soup and took the toy Pattie had sent. He stood by the bed, telling Anastasia about funny stories from Pattie¡¯s kindergarten. ¡°Anastasia, Pattie has made a lot of friends at school. That little girl is really adaptable. This is the toy she sent you, Peppa Pig¡­¡± Even though he knew Anastasia wouldn¡¯t respond, Herman patiently told her all about it. Night fell quickly. After washing Anastasia¡¯s face, wiping her hands and feet, and giving her forehead a kiss, Hermanid down next to her. ¡°Honey, I¡¯m a bit tired. I¡¯m going to take a short nap, and then I¡¯ll keep talking to you, okay?¡± Anastasia¡¯s superficial injuries had all healed, and she no longer needed a respirator. She justid quietly in bed, like she was sleeping. Herman always assumed that she was just sleeping and would wake up once she had enough rest. It started raining outside in the middle of the night. The raindrops fell on the window and leaves, making a pitter-patter sound. A cold breeze blew in from the window. Herman felt a bit cold, but then he quickly felt warm again. His face felt a bit itchy, like something was stroking his cheek. Herman opened his eyes, and his eyes welled up with tears. He was so excited that he couldn¡¯t speak. A gentle voice echoed in his ear. ¡°Honey, why are you crying?¡± Chapter 192 Chapter 192 Chapter 192 Anastasia woke up. Her delicate hand gently stroked his face, wiping away the tears at the corners of his eyes. Herman embraced Anastasia excitedly, burying his head in her bosom, his voice hoarse. ¡°Honey.¡± As Anastasia caressed his hair, her eyes too became moist. Memories of the car ident flooded her mind, and she thought she was going to die. In those few seconds when the car flipped, she dreaded the thought of death. If it weren¡¯t for Herman rushing to the scene that night, she might have missed the critical time for rescue and might have died in the ident. ¡°Anastasia, thank you for waking up.¡± Herman held Anastasia tightly. He couldn¡¯t imagine what life without Anastasia would be like. The ident made him realize that Anastasia meant more to him than he had thought. ¡°If the grim reaper dares to take you away, I¡¯ll storm hell itself to bring you back. Without my consent, no one can take you away.¡± While Anastasia was hanging by a thread in the ER, Herman indeed had this impulse. Even if it meant risking everything, he had to save Anastasia. Having survived the ordeal, the memory of the ident still gave Anastasia the chills. Tears of joy streamed down Anastasia¡¯s face. She held Herman¡¯s face in her hands, her lips trembling, ¡°When the ident happened, I was scared to death. I prayed to God, asking for another chance. I want to grow old with you and have lots and lots of children.¡± Herman¡¯s voice was hoarse. ¡°¡­Okay.¡± He couldn¡¯t bear to tell her that they might never have children. He wasn¡¯t nning on telling her. He didn¡¯t want to see Anastasia in despair and sadness. Ignorance was bliss.. It wasn¡¯t until the next morning that Herman informed Salma and Katelyn of Anastasia¡¯s recovery. They rushed to the hospital, ovee with emotion. Salma hugged Anastasia and sobbed. N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°Ana, you finally woke up. You were in aa for a month. I¡¯ve been praying every day, hoping for you to wake up soon.¡± Salma sped her hands together. ¡°Thank God, for letting you wake up.¡± Katelyn also joyfully sped her hands together and bowed to the air. ¡°Ana woke up, this is great news. Ana, do you feel ufortable anywhere?¡± Anastasia gently touched her waist and said, ¡°Just my waist.¡± The waist was where Anastasia was most severely injured. Herman remembered Dr. Schuler¡¯s words and looked at Anastasia¡¯s waist with a regretful expression. Katelyn said with a smile, ¡°You got seriously injured, just take good care of yourself. You¡¯re young and will recover soon.¡± Salma also said, ¡°Ana, during the month you were in aa, Herman stayed by your side every day, taking care of you. Herman has been the hardest working one. You¡¯re really lucky to have him as your husband.¡± Anastasia looked at Herman and smiled without saying a word. She felt that she was lucky in life, partly because she met Herman, and partly because she survived this ident. Having Herman in her life, she felt regretless. When news of Anastasia¡¯s recovery spread, Monica, Lauren, and Christine all came to the hospital to visit. Everyone was overjoyed. They all thought Anastasia wouldn¡¯t make it through this time, but unexpectedly, a miracle happened. She woke up. But where there was joy, there was also sorrow. The news of Anastasia¡¯s recovery wasn¡¯t good news for Julie. A trace of jealousy shed in her eyes. What a lucky girl, she didn¡¯t die even after being in a coma for a month. The doctors had dered that she had little chance of waking up, but she still did. It seemed she would have to resort to her second n. After Anastasia woke up, the police came to take her statement. Anastasia then learned that her car had indeed been tampered with; the brake line had been intentionally damaged. And the suspect was Selena. Anastasia described the situation when the car ident urred and also mentioned seeing a familiar figure in the parking lot. She said, ¡°But I¡¯m not sure if the person I saw in the parking lot was Selena. What did Selena say?¡± Herman said, ¡°Selena admits to being in the parking lot, but denies tampering with the brakes.¡± The police also said, ¡°We¡¯ve questioned Selena several times, but she still insists that she didn¡¯t tamper with the brakes. So we came to if you could think carefully if there were any suspicious people? When you were going uphill, what did it feel like when you stepped on the brake? What was the car¡¯s reaction?¡± Chapter 193 Chapter 193 Chapter 193 Driving up the hill, Anastasia was basically just stepping on the gas, hardly ever needing to brake. There weren¡¯t many cars on the mountain road, so she pretty much hit the gas and zoomed up the hill. Anastasia racked her brain but couldn¡¯t think of anything fishy. She had parked her car in the parking lot on top of the hill. After chatting with Christine, she started her car and drove down the hill. ¡°Everything was normal,¡± Anastasia said. ¡°I didn¡¯t notice any problems while driving up.¡± The cops looked at Anastasia. ¡°This case is a bit odd, we need to investigate it again. Have you pissed anyone offtely?¡± Anastasia shook her head. ¡°Apart from arguing with Selena, I can¡¯t think of anyone else.¡± After brainstorming, Anastasia indeed couldn¡¯t remember any enemies. After the police left, Herman saw them out, reminding them, ¡°You can check the surveince in the parking lot of the vi on top of the hill. If the car wasn¡¯t tampered with at thepany¡¯s parking lot, it might have been messed with up there.¡± Herman¡¯s clue gave the police a new direction. ¡°Mr. Salstrom, don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll get to the bottom of this.¡± ¡°Good, appreciate it.¡± Herman walked them to the elevator. Their conversation was overheard by Julie, who had just arrived. Hearing about the surveince check at the vi¡¯s parking lot, her face turned pale. She panicked, walked out another exit, and quickly dialed a number. ¡°Dad, I¡¯m in trouble, you have to help me¡­¡±C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Indeed, the one who had actually done something was Julie. She was previously relieved that Selena could be the scapegoat, but Selena steadfastly denied it. Now that the police and Herman began to question the ident. It couldn¡¯t be traced back to her, or she¡¯d be screwed. She just wanted to teach Anastasia a lesson; she hadn¡¯t expected such a serious car ident. The ident happened and Anastasia was so lucky to survive. What a pity. After the cops left, Anastasia fell into deep thought. Someone really wanted to harm her, and now she was in an inactive position, unable to prevent it. It was terrifying to think about. ¡°Anastasia.¡± Herman returned to the room. Seeing Anastasia lost in thought, he knew what she was thinking about. He walked over, sat on the bed, held her hand, and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got your back.¡± ¡°Who do you think wants me dead? I¡¯ve thought about it for a long time, but I really can¡¯t figure out who I¡¯ve pissed off or who I have a deep grudge with,¡± Anastasia said casually. ¡°Did you flirt with some other woman besides me?¡± This was just a casual remark from Anastasia, but Herman took it to heart. After all, Anastasia¡¯s ident happened after Herman publicly announced that he was married. ¡°Whoever did it, I will find out¡­ and get justice for you,¡± Herman said seriously. The topic was too heavy and could easily cause unease, so Anastasia changed the subject. ¡°How is Pattie doing in kindergarten?¡± When Anastasia was unconscious, it seemed she had heard Pattie¡¯s voice. ¡°Pattie is very adaptable and has made many friends in kindergarten. When you were unconscious, I apanied Pattie to some school activities. Let me show you the pictures¡­¡± Herman took out his phone and showed Anastasia the photos from the school group. Herman had secretly sponsored Pattie and donated a lot of new equipment to the kindergarten. The principal was very shrewd, knowing Herman was a wealthy man. They tried to maintain a good rtionship with him, and that¡¯s why he was in the school group. Pattie was treated very well in school, the principal had already told the teachers to take special care of Pattie. The photos and videos from thest parent-child activity were shared by the teachers in the group. The video of Herman and Pattie ying games made a smile appear on Anastasia¡¯s face. Pattie looked so happy in it. ¡°It¡¯s a pity that I didn¡¯t join you. I had promised Pattie before, but I didn¡¯t keep my promise.¡± Anastasia was a little regretful. Herman said, ¡°The school often has these activities, after you get discharged, we can apany Pattie together.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Anastasia was looking forward to this. She was browsing the photos and videos, and casually said, ¡°If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d think that you and Pattie are father and daughter. You see, when you smile, you both have dimples on your faces. It¡¯s like looking in a mirror.¡± Chapter 194 Chapter 194 Chapter 194 Herman and Pattie were often seen together and are frequently mistaken for father and daughter because they had simr smiles. Herman chuckled. ¡°Pattie¡¯s been eating well at school. She¡¯s got a bit of fat on her cheeks now, and she looks so adorable when she smiles. She¡¯s gonna be a real looker when she grows up.¡± Anastasia, propped up on one elbow, watched the video with anticipation and said, ¡°Such a sweet and adorable girl. Herman, we should have a daughter too someday.¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± Seeing the joy in Anastasia¡¯s face, Herman felt a pang of sadness. He could foresee the disappointment that was toe. Anastasia regretfully said, ¡°Leo won¡¯t let us adopt Pattie. Otherwise, she could live with us. I really love that kid.¡± But for now, Anastasia was rtively satisfied. At least Pattie was going to school, and Penny couldn¡¯t treat her as badly as before. ¡°Do you need a break?¡± Herman gently brushed some stray hairs from her forehead and said, ¡°Take some medicine, rest for a bit. It¡¯ll help you recover.¡± Anastasia indeed felt a little worn out. ¡°I¡¯ll have a rest.¡± She handed him back his phone, took the medicine andid down beside him. Her arms wrapped around his waist. Perhaps due to the medication, Anastasia quickly fell asleep. Herman stayed in the same position, gently patting Anastasia¡¯s shoulder. Her waking up was the best thing he could ask for. By the time Anastasia woke up, it was already dark. Her life was now all topsy-turvy, with nothing to do but sleep. When she woke up, Herman wasn¡¯t in the room, and Salma was quietly making soup. Seeing Anastasia awake, Salma asked with a smile, ¡°Did I wake you?¡± ¡°No.¡± Anastasia asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Herman?¡± ¡°He had to step out for a bit, he¡¯ll be back soon.¡± Salma handed Anastasia the soup. ¡°Herman¡¯s been taking care of you in the hospital for a month, and he hasn¡¯t been to work at all. He must have a lot of work piled up.¡± After finishing her soup, Anastasia remembered a dream she had, a dream that was both real and unreal. She looked at Salma and said, ¡°Mom, when I was in the operation room, I think I dreamed that someone had a baby girl.¡± Salma paused for a moment while packing up the thermos, thenughed. ¡°Ana, do you want to have a child with Herman? That¡¯s great. -Just wait-till-you¡¯ve fully recovered and discharged from the hospital, then you can n for it. I¡¯ll help you take care of the child.¡± Herman had told the doctors not to mention that Anastasia might be infertile. Salma and Katelyn didn¡¯t know, and neither did Anastasia. ¡°Hmm, maybe.¡± Anastasia wondered if her dream was because she wanted a child with Herman. Her memory of the dream was fading. What she couldn¡¯t forget was the baby¡¯s cry and the unbearable pain in her heart. She couldn¡¯t distinguish between the dream and reality. She was just grateful to be alive. As they were chatting, Gianna and Cynthia came to visit Anastasia with some nutritional supplements, Anastasia sat up and said, ¡°Gianna, Cynthia, you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t sit up. You need to rest.¡± Cynthia immediately said. Gianna asked, ¡°Anastasia, are you feeling better?¡± ¡°Much better,¡± Anastasia answered optimistically. ¡°I¡¯m lucky to have survived.¡± Cynthia said, ¡°What doesn¡¯t kill you makes you stronger, Ana. You¡¯ll be blessed in the future.¡± Anastasiaughed. ¡°hope your good wordse true.¡± C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Gianna said, ¡°You really scared Salma this time. Her hair turned white overnight. Now that you¡¯re awake, we¡¯re relieved.¡± Salmaughed and said, ¡°It¡¯s all in the past.¡± Anastasia had noticed the extra white in Salma¡¯s hair. She had been a source of worry for Salma. Just then, Gianna¡¯s phone rang. ¡°I¡¯ll take this call outside.¡± Once Gianna left, Cynthia began to worry. ¡°That bastard Joey has been harassing Gianna. He didn¡¯t even show up for the first court hearing and is just dragging it out.¡± Chapter 195 Chapter 195 Chapter 195 During the time Anastasia was unconscious, Gianna and Joey¡¯s divorce case had already kicked off. At the first trial, Joey deliberately didn¡¯t show up. With Joey ying hide and seek, the divorce case wasn¡¯t going to be a cakewalk. Cynthia was extremely worried about Gianna¡¯s marriage. ¡°Is Joey willing to negotiate?¡± Anastasia asked. ¡°Forget about it, that jerk¡¯s idea of negotiation is Gianna leaving with only the clothes on her back and giving him two out of our three houses after the divorce. Is he dreaming or what?¡± Cynthia ranted, getting angrier by the minute. ¡°I used to think Joey was a decent guy, but turns out he¡¯s selfish, hypocritical and greedy. All his past goodness was just a ruse to get his hands on my house.¡± Joey¡¯s demands were downright uneptable. What a scumbag. Anyone would be pissed off. Gianna quickly took a call and when she heard Cynthia bringing up Joey again, she said, ¡°Mom, why are you dredging up these headaches? Let Anastasia recover in peace. It¡¯s gettingte, let¡¯s head home.¡± With that, she turned to Anastasia and said, ¡°Rest up, we¡¯re heading home. We¡¯ll visit again some other time.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Anastasia hesitated. ¡°If you need help, just give me a holler.¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± Gianna didn¡¯t really want to air her dirtyundry; she was too proud to ept sympathy. Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. As Gianna and Cynthia left the hospital, Cynthia asked, ¡°Who was that on the phone just now?¡± ¡°Mr. Rond,¡± Gianna replied. ¡°Joey¡¯s not cooperating, so the divorce is getting tricky.¡± Joey insisted he still had feelings for Gianna and didn¡¯t want a divorce; his goal was to wear Gianna down in negotiation. Divorce proceedings were incredibly time-consuming and draining, and if one party didn¡¯t cooperate, it became even more difficult. Cynthia cursed angrily, ¡°That bastard thinks he can string you along? No way! Do you know what your family¡¯s assets are? How much money Joey¡¯s made over the years, and how much savings he has? Do you know?¡± ¡°Mom, rx, Joey can¡¯t just funnel the assets away that easily. Before filing for divorce, I had already traced any assets he moved.¡± Although Gianna had been a full-time housewife for eight years, she wasn¡¯t naive. When she found out Joey was cheating, she had already consulted awyer about these issues. ¡°That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good.¡± The always assertive Cynthia said, ¡°We¡¯re not afraid of the Edmunds family. I¡¯ve got your back. We¡¯ll make sure Joey leaves with nothing.¡± With her family¡¯s support, Gianna had the energy and resources to duke it out with Joey. ¡°Thanks, Mom.¡± Back in the hospital room. Herman arrived to relieve Salma after finishing his work and had Nelson drive Salma back home. Salma had been staying at Harmony Meadows recently, helping out with Anastasia and Herman¡¯s household. Salma had seen Nelson before but she just assumed he was a coworker of Herman¡¯s. When they arrived at Harmony Meadows, Salma got out of the car and said to Nelson, ¡°Thanks, Nelson. Sorry to bother you again.¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Nelson replied with a smile. ¡°Do you want me to walk you in?¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯ll get off here. It¡¯ste, you should get back. Your family might be worried.¡± ¡°Alright, Salma Be careful, I¡¯ll head out now.¡± After Nelson left, Salma turned to enter themunity. A car¡¯s headlights shone at her, making it impossible for her to open her eyes. After a moment, avishly dressed middle-aged woman walked up to Salma. ¡°Salma, long time no see. You seem to have aged a lot.¡± ¡°Ashley!¡± When Salma recognized the woman in front of her, she was taken aback. Although they were about the same age, Ashley was very well maintained and looked much more morouspared to Salma. Salma had been looking haggard and aged due to her concern for Anastasia over the past month. Ashley stared at Salma and sneered, ¡°If Tavon saw you like this, I¡¯m afraid he¡¯d turn around and leave immediately.¡± Hearing Tavon¡¯s name filled Salma with sorrow. Salma got a bit emotional. ¡°Why are you here? More than twenty years ago, Tavon and I ended everything. What are you looking for me Chapter 196 Chapter 196 Chapter 196 Ashley saw Salma getting worked up and chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, I didn¡¯t want toe find you either, but I had no choice, otherwise I wouldn¡¯t be here.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Salma asked, puzzled. Ashley put away her sarcasm and said, ¡°Get in the car. I don¡¯t want to freeze my butt off here.¡± With that, she turned to the Mercedes parked on the side of the road, opened the door, and climbed in. After some hesitation, Salma, perhaps still holding out hope for that man, wanted to know any information about him, so she followed Ashley into the car. Ashley closed the door, and let the driver get out, leaving just the two of them in the car. Ashley cut to the chase. ¡°My daughter Sandy is sick and needs a bone marrow transnt urgently. Neither Tavon nor I are a match. Now, we can only ask your daughter Anastasia. They¡¯re half-sisters, so the chances of a match are high. If it works out, I¡¯ll give you $50,000. I won¡¯t let Anastasia give something for nothing.¡± Hearing this, Salma trembled with anger. ¡°Ashley, you¡¯re pushing your luck. Why should my daughter Anastasia save your daughter Sandy? That¡¯s never gonna happen.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so quick to refuse, Salma. We¡¯re both mothers. You should understand how I feel. Sandy¡¯s life is hanging by a thread. If it wasn¡¯t for her, do you think I¡¯de to you?¡± Ashley looked down on Salma from the bottom of her heart. ¡°If you don¡¯t agree today, the, next person toe to you will be Tavon.¡± Salma was stunned. ¡°Tavon knows you came to me? He also agreed to use Anastasia to save Sandy?¡± ¡°Sandy is our daughter. Saving her is his responsibility. Of course, he knows. And your daughter Anastasia is also his daughter. As a father, he gave Anastasia life, and he has the right to ask her to donate bone marrow.¡± Ashley continued, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we won¡¯t treat you and Anastasia unfairly. You can name your price.¡± Salma was so angry that her chest hurt. ¡°Ana is also Tavon¡¯s daughter. He can¡¯t do this! He hasn¡¯t taken responsibility as a father for over 20 years. He has no right to ask Ana to donate bone marrow to Sandy. This is absolutely impossible.¡± Salma got out of the car in fury and left. Anastasia had just recovered from a serious illness. There was no way Salma would jeopardize her daughter¡¯s health. -Over 20 years ago, young Salma fell in love with Tavon. But Tavon, from a prestigious rich family, was taken away by his family. Soon after, news came that Tavon was marrying Ashley. At that time, Salma was already three months pregnant. Tavon and Ashley were a perfect match, and the Morton family never thought much of Salma. Salma tried to see Tavon but was insulted and driven away by the Morton family. They even demanded her to abort the baby, but she never even saw Tavon. Shortly after, she received a breakup fetter from Tavon, asking her not to find him again, that they were not meant to be in this life, and maybe in the next. Young and naive, Salma couldn¡¯t bear to give up on the baby and made the unwise decision to give birth to Anastasia. After writing the breakup letter, Tavon vanished without a trace. The Morton family also left Riverdale, and Salma never heard from Tavon again. She never spoke of these events to anyone and bore all the pain alone. She had made her mistakes and she didn¡¯t want Anastasia to repeat them. When she gave birth to Anastasia, she didn¡¯t give her Tavon¡¯s surname, nor her own, but the surname of Anastasia¡¯s grandmother, the Jewell family. On one hand, Salma wanted to ease the tension with her family, and on the other hand, she wanted Anastasia to have no connection with the Morton family. Over 20 years had passed, and Ashley was knocking on her door again. Back home, Salma couldn¡¯t sleep. wing on doing w utor su The Morton family was rich 20 years ago and seemed to be doing well now. Ashley was capable of anything. If she forced Anastasia to donate bone marrow, what would Salma do? This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Salma was worried sick. Ever since Ashley came to her, she had been out of sorts and preupied. In the following days, Salma was restless and lost in thought several times. She didn¡¯t even respond when Anastasia called her. Anastasia curiously asked, ¡°Mom, is something bothering you? You seem distant. Chapter 197 Chapter 197 Chapter 197 C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Salma chuckled. ¡°No, everything¡¯s okay. Did the doctor mention when you could be discharged?¡± Herman walked in. ¡°Just heard from Dr. Schuler that we need to stay for another half month for observation.¡± Anastasia had already been in the hospital for a month and a half; she felt like she was about to grow mold. ¡°Herman, can you talk to the doctor and let me out? I¡¯m bored to death here. I think I¡¯m fine now. Look, I¡¯m good.¡± To prove that she¡¯d healed, Anastasia deliberately moved her limbs, which caused her waist wound to ache, and she gasped. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Herman rushed over nervously. ¡°Just behave and stay in the hospital. With me here every day, you won¡¯t be bored, right?¡± As he spoke, Herman gently rubbed Anastasia¡¯s waist. Salma also said, ¡°Ana, don¡¯t be reckless. Listen to Herman and stay in the hospital. If the doctor doesn¡¯t say you can be discharged, you can¡¯t.¡± Salma was worried that Anastasia would be visited by Ashley after being discharged. At least in the hospital, she could ensure safety. ¡°Staying in the hospital costs so much every day,¡± Anastasia grumbled. She really felt a bit distressed. Hearing this, Herman helplessly flicked her forehead. ¡°This isn¡¯t what you should be worrying about. You should get better first. Money can be made again.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of money without life?¡± Salma also persuaded Anastasia, ¡°How can you be so short- sighted?¡± Anastasia helplessly touched her forehead. ¡°Mom, look, Herman hit me.¡± Of course, Herman just lightly tapped her. ¡°You asked for it.¡± Salmaughed. Anastasia red at Herman angrily. ¡°You¡¯ve been given an inch and are taking a mile.¡± Herman secretly held her hand behind his back but didn¡¯t say anything. Feeling a bit embarrassed to hold hands in front of Salma, Anastasia tried to pull her hand back, but Herman only held it tighter.. Salma saw everything clearly. Did they think they could hide these little actions from her? Salma deliberately said, ¡°I didn¡¯t sleep wellst night. I¡¯m going to go home and take a nap. Herman, thanks for taking care of Ana.¡± ¡°Sure, take care,¡± Herman responded. Salma chuckled and left. With only the two of them left in the ward, Anastasiaughed and pped Herman¡¯s hand. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault: Salma saw everything.¡± ¡°Salma¡¯s been around the block, what hasn¡¯t she seen?¡± Herman said. ¡°You rest up and heal. I¡¯ll bring Pattie to see you this weekend.¡± Anastasia really missed Pattie. ¡°Alright,¡± Anastasia said. ¡°I haven¡¯t been to thepany for so long. I feel a bit sorry for everyone. I just took the position and have been lying here for over a month. Will they dock my pay or demote me?¡± ¡°You were injured during work duty. Victor has reimbursed all the medical expenses, so just focus on recuperating. Once you¡¯re healed, then we can think about other things,¡± Herman said. ¡°Christine has returned to AL Jewery temporarily to fill your position. We¡¯ll keep your spot for you. She explicitly said she came back for you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Anastasia was thrilled. ¡°Ms. Christine is back at AL Jewery? That¡¯s great. Then my injury was worth it. Now I can rest easy.¡± Herman smiled indulgently. ¡°You¡¯re on paid leave now. Thepany will still pay you monthly. The headquarters also heard about your situation and willpensate you.¡± ¡°Thepany is really great,¡± Anastasia said moved. ¡°The CEO is really responsible. If I get a chance to see him, I must thank him properly.¡± Little did Anastasia know, the CEO she was talking about was right in front of her. Herman whispered in her ear, ¡°I¡¯ve been taking care of you for so long, what reward are you going to give me?¡± Chapter 198 Chapter 198 Chapter 198 Herman was getting all up in Anastasia¡¯s grill, could she not detect his drift? Anastasia deliberately turned her face away, nearly cracking up. ¡°Not quite there yet. I¡¯ll let you know when I¡¯ve figured it out.¡± ¡°Well, then I¡¯ll take matters into my own hands¡­¡± As Herman leaned in for a smooch, Anastasia dodged, giggling. ¡°No can do, no can do.¡± They were fooling around when someone knocked on the door. The cops were back. Upon seeing the officer, Anastasia immediately turned serious. ¡°Officer, have you figured out who¡¯s out to get me?¡± The cop nced at Herman and said, ¡°After our investigation, we¡¯ve nailed down the perp.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Anastasia pressed. The officer replied, ¡°It was Hailey from AL Jewery¡¯s design department. She confessed to the crime, mainly driven by jealousy.¡± ¡°How could it be her?¡± Anastasia was stunned. Hailey had been with the design department for five years, a seasoned employee. She was always low-key and by-the-book, not the type to draw attention to herself. Herman questioned, ¡°Okay, so we have the motive, but what about the timing? During your initial investigation, you questioned everyone in the department, none were at the scene of the crime when it happened.¡± ¡°Hailey admitted that she knew Anastasia was headed to Cloud Mountain, so she had her boyfriend Max, who works at the Cloud Mountain Resort, tamper with things. Both Max and Hailey have now been arrested and confessed to their crimes.¡± Another officer added, ¡°We¡¯ve checked their statements, and they¡¯re telling the truth. Hailey was just acting out of jealousy because Anastasia got promoted to head designer, and she couldn¡¯t stomach it.¡± With the case unfolding this way, Anastasia felt a pang of sorrow. She never expected this twist Herman looked over Hailey and Max¡¯s testimonies, which matched up perfectly with the facts of Anastasia¡¯s ident. With motives, timing, and substantial evidence, it was a wrap. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. But Herman was still frowning. Even though everything seemed to check out, something didn¡¯t sit right with him. Not wanting to worry Anastasia, Herman kept his misgivings to himself. With the culprit of Anastasia¡¯s ident was found, Selena was immediately off the hook. When she was released, she looked pale and all her usual arrogance had vanished. She had originally intended to harm Anastasia in the parking lot, but she didn¡¯t get the chance. When she heard about Anastasia¡¯s ident, she was secretly pleased. Now that the truth was out, Selena was still a bit shaken. She had asked the police and was told that due to the severity of the case, Hailey, who framed Anastasia, could face at least twenty years in prison. Thinking about it, Selena was even more shaken. Had she gone through with her n, she¡¯d be the one behind bars now. The news about Hailey orchestrating the ident quickly spread throughout AL Jewery¡¯s design department. Lauren visited Anastasia in the hospital, fuming. ¡°It¡¯s always the quiet ones. Look at Hailey, she always kept to herself at work, but harbored such malice. To stoop so low just because of your promotion.¡± Anastasia said, ¡°After Selena left thepany, Hailey was the most senior and most likely to be promoted to head designer. Maybe that didn¡¯t sit well with her.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s no excuse to hurt others. It only ends up hurting herself,¡± Lauren said. ¡°If she were really capable, she¡¯d have been promoted already. Her design skills and poprity are just so-so, she wouldn¡¯t have been next in line.¡± ¡°How¡¯s thepany doing?¡± Anastasia asked. ¡°Everything¡¯s under control with Christine there. Besides, who would dare kick up a fuss at this critical time? Victor¡¯s been in a bad moodtely, and if anyone tried to stir things up, I¡¯m afraid he¡¯d crack down hard.¡± Anastasia was curious. ¡°Why is Mr. Victor in a bad mood?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it because¡­ Lauren almost let it slip but switched gears at thest moment. ¡°Maybe his personal life isn¡¯t going so well. He¡¯s already in his thirties and still single, which might be making him a bit restless.¡± The truth was, Anastasia¡¯s ident had dragged Victor into this, and Herman had vented part of his anger on him. Victor was in a tight spot. If Anastasia didn¡¯t wake up, given Herman¡¯s cold demeanor, Victor might¡¯ve ended up being the scapegoat. Lauren¡¯s words made Anastasiaugh. She was about to respond when she noticed two people standing at the door. She immediately signaled Lauren to be quiet. Lauren didn¡¯t catch on and asked nkly, ¡°Anastasia, what¡¯s wrong with your eyes? Oh, right, while you were unconscious, Victor was really upset, and so was Herman. He had this keep out¡¯ look on his face. I think he might be having some personal issues too. Watch Anastasia¡¯s face turned beet red. Sheughed awkwardly and called out loudly, ¡°Hello, Mr. Victor.¡± Chapter 199 Chapter 199 Chapter 199 Caught red-handed talking behind their backs. As Lauren quickly turned around, there stood Herman and Victor at the door. Her mood instantly plummeted. The two people she¡¯d just been badmouthing had heard every word. If it was just Victor who heard, Lauren wouldn¡¯t mind so much. But the problem was that Herman had heard too. He was her former crush. Lauren quietly turned back around, covering her face, too embarrassed to look at anyone. Anastasia also felt the awkwardness of the situation, looking at Lauren¡¯s ¡°I wish I could disappear¡± reaction, she didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry. ¡°Lauren, could you go buy some fruit for me?¡± Understanding Lauren¡¯s embarrassment, Anastasia gave her an excuse to leave. Lauren immediately caught on. ¡°I¡¯m on it.¡± Covering her face, she lowered her head and squeezed between Victor and Herman. ¡°Excuse me!¡± After Lauren left, Victor came in with some health supplements. ¡°Anastasia, are you feeling better? I feel pretty bad about what happened to you. I bought you some supplements. Take them when you can.¡± All the things that Victor bought were expensive; he had spent a fortune. ¡°Mr. Victor, you¡¯re too kind,¡± Anastasia quickly replied. ¡°I¡¯m the one who should feel embarrassed. I¡¯ve been lying here for over a month, holding up a lot of work.¡± ¡°Work is not important. Victor nced at Herman¡¯s expression and quickly said, ¡°Just focus on recovering, don¡¯t rush back to work. Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll still get your sry. As long as you get better, everything else can wait.¡± The more he said this, the more embarrassed Anastasia felt. Herman sat next to Anastasia and said, ¡°See, I told you to focus on recovering. Victor and I go way back. With you in this state, it¡¯s already generous of me not to me him. Would he dare deduct your sry?¡± Victor quickly responded, ¡°Of course not He wouldn¡¯t dare. Herman still paid his sry. Anastasia looked suspiciously at the two of them, feeling that Victor was somewhat deferential in front of Herman, not like they were old acquaintances. Could it be because Herman was from headquarters, so Victor was so respectful? Victor was very tactful. He didn¡¯t stay long in the ward and left, not daring to disturb Herman and Anastasia¡¯s alone time. Now that he confirmed Anastasia was Herman¡¯s wife, Victor was quite excited. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. His future was tied to Anastasia, so he had nothing to worry about if he could get along well with her. In the following days, Anastasia stayed in the hospital to recover. Herman would go out for a few hours during the day to deal withpany matters and woulde back to the hospital to apany Anastasia in the evening. As for social engagements, Herman declined them all. Everyone in their circle knew that Mrs. Salstrom was in trouble, and Mr. Salstrom had to go back to apany Mrs. Salstrom every night. During the day, Katelyn, Salma, Monica, and Lauren often visited the hospital, so Anastasia didn¡¯t feel bored. She stayed in the hospital for two full months before she was finally discharged. As soon as the doctor said she could be discharged, Anastasia urged Herman to quickly handle the discharge procedures. She couldn¡¯t wait to go home. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll handle the discharge procedures. You wait for me here.¡± Herman instructed, smiling as he turned around and left. Anastasia went to the bathroom to change into her own clothes, packed her personal belongings, and prepared to be discharged. As she was packing her things, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind her. ¡°You¡¯re really lucky.¡± Anastasia immediately turned around, surprised to see Selena standing behind her. ¡°Howe you¡¯re here?* ¡°I was just passing by and thought I¡¯de to see you,¡± Selena said in her sarcastic voice. ¡°I was implicated because of you and detained for over a month. Anastasia, how do you think we should settle this?¡± Anastasia calmly replied, ¡°If you were really innocent, the police wouldn¡¯t have detained you for so long. Your appearance in the parking lot that day was no ident, and your hatred for me is even deeper than Hailey¡¯s.¡± Anastasia firmly believed, that given the opportunity, Selena would definitely do the same thing as Hailey. Selena clenched her teeth and sneered, ¡°Anastasia, how long do you think you can fly high? You¡¯re just the secret lover of the CEO of Elysian Technologies. Guess what will happen if his wife finds out about you?¡± ¡°A secret lover?¡± Anastasia looked confused. Chapter 200 Chapter 200 Chapter 200 Anastasia waspletely lost; she had no idea what Selena was rambling about. She didn¡¯t even know who the hell the CEO of Elysian Technologies was. How on earth could she be mistaken as the CEO¡¯s secret lover? It was utterly ridiculous. ¡°What you do in secret, wille out in public,¡± Selena sneered. ¡°You¡¯re a nobody, yet you¡¯re aiming for the stars? Poor Herman, I wonder how he¡¯d react if he knew he¡¯d been cuckolded.¡± *Selena, what the hell are you bbering about?¡± Anastasia was furious. ¡°Watch your mouth. Herman and I are very much in love. Don¡¯t you dare try to stir the pot with your low tactics.¡± ¡°Me? Low?¡± Selena scoffed. ¡°Anastasia, I really underestimated you. Your acting and your face are truly admirable, juggling two men with ease. Aren¡¯t your sneaky affairs despicable?¡± Anastasia took a deep breath and said sternly, ¡°Selena, please leave. I¡¯ll say it again, I have nothing to do with the CEO of Elysian Technologies. Stop using me baselessly.¡± Selena mocked, ¡°What a show. I¡¯m looking forward to seeing how far you can take this.¡± With that, Selena left. Anastasia felt a knot in her stomach. Selena¡¯s mockery was just like Demi¡¯s in the past, who also said simr things. She was equally clueless about why she was mistaken as the CEO¡¯s wife. C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org After calming down, Anastasia started to rey recent events in her mind. She felt like she was in the dark about something but couldn¡¯t put a finger on it. It was as if there was a blurred in front of her, obstructing the truth. She didn¡¯t know what was going on, but she knew something was up. She remembered something Monica said. What did Cason know? Anastasia felt a sudden urge to meet him. ¡°Anastasia, we can go now.¡± Herman returned afterpleting the formalities and saw Anastasia in a daze, he gently asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Anastasia snapped back to reality and smiled. ¡°Nothing, I¡¯m just feeling a bit peckish.¡± She didn¡¯t tell the truth. She couldn¡¯t possibly tell Herman that she was mistaken as someone else¡¯s mistress. That would only bring trouble and strain their rtionship, right? Herman, with adoring eyes, said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s grab something to eat then.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t fancy eating out, I want to eat your homemade food.¡± Anastasia looped her arm through his ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll cook for you when we get back.¡± Herman collected his stuff, and they left the hospital together. He put everything in the trunk and then opened the car door for Anastasia. Getting in the car, Anastasia thought about her car that was wrecked, and felt sorry. ¡°That car was new. It¡¯s such a pity.¡± ¡°In a while, I¡¯ll buy you another one.¡± Herman smiled. ¡°The insurance money is enough to get a new one.¡± Anastasiaughed. ¡°Herman, I think you¡¯re like a mind reader. You know exactly what I¡¯m thinking.¡± ¡°You care about money, and I care about you,¡± Herman replied. His words touched Anastasia deeply and she chuckled. lucky to have met you, Herman, I think my ancestors would be proud.¡± Hermanughed. ¡°Next year, let¡¯s visit your ancestors together. I need to Anastasia was in high spirits. ¡°Herman, you¡¯re getting better at trip to the hospital.¡± Anastasia sent a text. them for giving me such a wonderful wife.¡± Weet-talking. Wait a sec, I need to text Salma, or she¡¯ll make a fruitless Upon hearing Anastasia was discharged, Salma just replied, noted¡¯, and asked Anastasia to rest well at home. Anastasia found it odd and asked, ¡°Herman, don¡¯t you think Salma¡¯s behavior is a bit offtely? It¡¯s as if she¡¯s hiding something from me.¡± Herman replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t notice. Maybe you should have a chat with her when you get the chance.¡± That was what Anastasia nned to do. Back at Harmony Meadows, the familiar smell of home, made Anastasia rx instantly, ¡°There really is no ce like home.¡± Anastasia cheerfully walked to the balcony. Her nts were still alive and well. ¡°You rest for a bit and I¡¯ll cook for you.¡± Herman headed to the kitchen. Soon, two tes of pasta were ready. Anastasia was really hungry and finished hers quickly. Seeing Anastasia enjoying her meal, Herman felt satisfied and began to clear the table. Anastasia sat there, watching Herman bustling around, feeling truly blessed. Herman finished up in the kitchen and said, ¡°Anastasia, I need to head to the office this afternoon. You rest at home, and I¡¯ll be back as soon as I can. I¡¯ll have Ms. Katelyne over to keep youpany later.¡± ¡°You go on. Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯ll just go to sleep.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Herman left once he saw Anastasia head to bed. In the bedroom, Anastasia heard the door close and immediately went to the balcony to check. Seeing that Herman really left, she changed her shoes and went out. She had to visit Cason in prison. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be able to solve the mystery that was guing her mind. Chapter 201 Chapter 201 Chapter 201 Anastasia took a cab to Riverdale prison. Her nerves on edge the entire way. She wanted to know the truth but was also filled with fear, contemting backing out. She had a hunch that the truth might affect her current life, but she didn¡¯t want to live in confusion and illusion. After a mental tug¨Cof¨Cwar, Anastasia decided to step into the prison. She applied to visit Cason but was turned down. The prison¡¯s reason was that Cason had caused trouble in prison and could not receive visitors for a year. A glimmer of hope in Anastasia¡¯s heart was instantly doused, like cold water on a me. She left the prison feeling defeated and aimlessly wandered the streets. Then, her phone rang. It was Alessia from AL Jewery¡¯s sales department. Alessia had called to check up on her during her hospital stay. ¡°Hey, Alessia¡± Seeing the caller ID, Anastasia answered, quickly adjusting her mood. Alessia asked warmly over the phone, ¡°Anastasia, how are you feeling? Are you better?¡± ¡°Yep, I¡¯m all good. Got discharged from the hospital today¡± Remembering she missed Alessia¡¯s big event, the birth of her child, Anastasia offered, ¡®Alessia, if it¡¯s not too much trouble, I¡¯d like toe over and see your baby.¡± ¡°Of course, I¡¯d be thrilled. I¡¯ll text you the address,¡± Alessia replied joyously. ¡°Great¡± Anastasia smiled, hung up the phone, and received Alessia¡¯s text with the address. She went to a nearby mall to buy gifts for the child and Alessia and then hailed another cab. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Alessia lived in a posh neighborhood in Riverdale, in arge t over 200 square meters. Anastasia pressed the doorbell with gifts in hand. It didn¡¯t take long for the door to open, and it was Alessia¡¯s mother¨Cinw, Dana. Dana, not exactly a picture of warmth, didn¡¯t look too pleased. She called out to the house, ¡°Alessia, your friend¡¯s here.¡± Instead of taking the gifts from Anastasia, Dana let Alessia take them enthusiastically. ¡°Anastasia,e in. You¡¯re looking quite well. Are you fully recovered?¡± ¡°I¡¯m back to my old self.¡± Anastasia smiled and nced around the spacious t. The view was amazing, with arge floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window. ¡°Alessia, where¡¯s the little one?¡± ¡°The baby¡¯s taking a nap in the bedroom.¡± Alessia took Anastasia¡¯s hand and led her to the bedroom. Once they entered the bedroom, Dana appeared like a ghost, offering to take the baby for a walk. ¡°No need,¡± Alessia said coldly, shutting the bedroom door in Dana¡¯s face. Dana did not hide her displeasure. Anastasia, as an outsider, could sense the tension between Alessia and Dana. She didn¡¯t probe further, instead, she went to look at the baby. The baby was only three months old, chubby, and adorable, sleeping peacefully. ¡®What a cutie.¡± Anastasia couldn¡¯t help but gush. Alessia looked at her child with a loving gaze. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s changing every day. But sometimes, he can be a handful. Crying all night, it¡¯s driving me nuts. Look, Ir losing hair in clumps.¡± Despite her comints, Alessia¡¯s eyes were filled with tenderness when she looked at her baby. Anastasia sighed. ¡°Being a mom is really tough.¡± ¡°You¡¯re telling me.¡± Alessia continued, ¡°When I was pregnant, I was bloated and couldn¡¯t sleep well. I thought things would get better after the baby was born. Now, I wish I could put him back in my belly. I haven¡¯t been able to go back to work because of him. Dana insists that I breastfeed.¡± Unable to convince Dana, and her own heart full of maternal love, Alessia decided to breastfeed her child. Anastasia tried tofort her. ¡°It¡¯ll get better once the baby is a bit older and stops breastfeeding. Look how adorable he is.¡± Alessia cracked a slight smile. Just then, the baby woke up and started crying loudly. As soon as the baby started crying, Dana¡¯s voice came from the other room. ¡°Did the baby wet his diaper or poop? You young people really don¡¯t know how to take care of a baby, I offered to help, but you refused.¡± Alessia¡¯s face turned sour at Dana¡¯s nagging. Chapter 202 Chapter 202 Chapter 202 Alessia blurted out. ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing, no need for you to worry your pretty little head.¡± Having said that, Alessia started to change the baby¡¯s diaper and then began breastfeeding. Anastasia chose to beat it for a while; even though they were all women, it could still be awkward in such situations. No sooner had Anastasia left than Dana bolted in, standing next to Alessia, eyeballing her. She said, ¡°Be careful when you¡¯re feeding. Don¡¯t let the kid choke.¡± Alessia was already pretty cheesed off, so she shifted the direction she held the baby. Dana followed suit, noticing Alessia¡¯s clothes were about to slip and cover the nipple, she reached out and adjusted it. ¡°He¡¯s about to get poked in the eye.¡± The moment Dana reached out, Alessia was about to blow a fuse. This was a private moment, already ufortable with Dana gawking, but now she was touching. Even if it were her own mom, Alessia would find it inappropriate, let alone Dana. Alessia was barely keeping her cool. She insisted on feeding the baby. Just as Alessia was adjusting her clothes, Dana seized the opportunity to swoop in and take the baby. ¡°The baby just finished eating, and needs a little back patting, otherwise he might spit up.¡± Dana was saying as she walked out. ¡°I¡¯m going to take the baby out for a spin, you chat with your friend.¡± Alessia followed her out, saying, ¡°It¡¯s windy outside. Don¡¯t take him out.¡± Dana said, ¡°Kids need to get in touch with nature, and adapt to the environment. You young people don¡¯t understand. I¡¯ve got experience.¡± Alessia was left speechless. Usually, when she took the baby out, Dana would say the baby had a weak resistance, it was windy outside, and you can¡¯t take him out. Now when Alessia said the same, Dana found a new excuse. Anyway, whatever Dana did or said was right, and whatever Alessia did or said wrong. Because Anastasia was present, Alessia didn¡¯t argue with Dana, she just let her take the baby out. ¡°Anastasia, do you want tea or juice?¡± Alessia asked. ¡°Juice, please.¡± Anastasia noticed Alessia was in a bad mood and didn¡¯t say much. Mother¨Cinw and daughter¨Cinw rtions, it was a real pickle. Different parenting concepts of two generations were bound to cause conflicts. Alessia had the housemaid bring a ss of juice. Only the two of them were chatting in the spacious living room. Most of the conversation was about the baby. As they chatted, Alessia couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°I graduated top of my ss, and I can hold my own in thepany. But Dana is always picking on me, saying that I can¡¯t do right. Especially when ites to taking care of the baby, she¡¯s constantly belittling me. Saying my diaper changing posture is wrong. The bath water temperature is either too high or too low¡­¡± Anastasia patiently listened to Alessia¡¯s venting. She knew these negative emotions, if not vented, would definitely make Alessia more upset. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Alessia hadn¡¯t gotten her figure back, yet she had to breastfeed the baby at night and experienced a lack of sleep. She looked worn out, anxious, and full of negative emotions. Add to that her husband, Evan, didn¡¯t know how to mediate. The pressure Alessia felt naturally piled up. Alessia¡¯s eyes started to well up. ¡°If the baby goes to bedte, Dana mes me, saying my lifestyle during pregnancy was irregr. If the baby has diarrhea, she mes my chaotic eating. During the days when the baby had eczema, Dana frowned all day, insisting it was because I let the baby wear too little and caught a cold. I really can¡¯tmunicate with her effectively.¡± Living under the same roof, like upper and lower teeth, friction was inevitable. If Anastasia wasn¡¯t married, hearing Alessia say this, she might have had a fear of marriage. Alessia wiped her tears with a tissue, continuing, ¡°After the baby was born, Dana sent Evan to sleep in the guest room, saying the baby would disturb his rest. Now, except for breastfeeding the baby, I barely touch the baby. Dana is always holding the baby, and unless the baby is hungry, she won¡¯t give him back. It really makes me feel like the baby is hers.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t know if most families were like this, but hearing Alessia say this, she found it quite terrifying. ¡°Alessia, you¡¯re breastfeeding now. You probably can¡¯t work, can you?¡± ¡°I n to go back to work next month. If Dana likes to look after the baby, she can do it. I¡¯ve started to mix feed the baby with form. I have to work. If I keep staying in this house, I might go nuts.¡± Chapter 203 Chapter 203 Chapter 203 Getting back to your own circle so you wouldn¡¯t get kicked to the curb and fuss over every little thing. Anastasia agreed with Alessia¡¯s decision, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you at AL Jewery¡± ¡°Alright¡± Alessia said, her energy came back at the thought of returning to work. ¡°I finally get it, a woman can¡¯t go without having some dough.¡± C¨°ntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org Dana had told Alessia multiple times that she could quit her job and stay at home because they didn¡¯t exactly need her paycheck. That was true. They didn¡¯t need her paycheck, but every time Alessia asked Evan for money, Dana would mock her for spending recklessly. The feeling was unbearable Even though Alessia hated being away from her kid, she had to work. Anastasia agreed, saying that a woman has to be financially independent, and always has a backup n so you were not left high and dry. Why not take the confidence that money can bring? Alessia asked, ¡®Anastasia, when are you nning to have kids?¡± Anastasiaughed. ¡°I¡¯ve always had that in mind, but it¡¯s something you¡¯ve got to let nature take its course.¡± ¡°Anastasia, listen to me, when ites to having kids, do it early orte. If you do it early, you¡¯re still young, and more open to new things. Even if you take a year or two off for pregnancy and childbirth, you can get back to work. If not, do itter when you¡¯re financially stable, and it gives you more confidence.¡± These words came from experience. ¡°Thank you, Alessia, I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± Anastasia smiled. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to unload all this negative stuff on you, I let my emotions get the better of me today. Sorry you had to see that,¡± Alessia said, trying to lighten the mood. ¡°At the end of the day, the kid¡¯s your own. Watching them grow up every day warms your heart. It¡¯s worth whatever difficulty you face.¡± Anastasia smiled. ¡°Alessia, your baby¡¯s really cute, makes me want to have one right away.¡± ¡°Right? I¡¯ve got parenting experience now, if you ever have a kid and need advice, you can always ask me.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± They chatted for over an hour before Anastasia had to leave, or Herman would worry if he found her missing from home. Alessia walked Anastasia out. Theyughed and chatted on the way. Downstairs, they saw Dana hanging out with the other people in themunity, all holding kids. There were lots of kids in themunity, mostly apanied by their grandparents, taking a walk, and chatting leisurely. Alessia was about to join them when she heard Danaining to the neighbors, ¡°Alessia eats a lot, does little, has a bad temper, and spends recklessly. She doesn¡¯t care about how hard Evan works. She spoils the kid and keeps him in bed with her at night. And she doesn¡¯t watch her diet, causing the baby to have diarrhea¡­¡± With everyint from Dana, Alessia¡¯s face darkened. The neighbors signaled Dana when they saw Alessia, but Dana didn¡¯t catch on and keptining. Anastasia watched in horror, feeling a confrontation was imminent. Sure enough, the next moment, Alessia took her kid back, and Dana looked uneasy when she saw Alessia. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°How would I know how bad I am in your eyes if I didn¡¯te?¡± Alessia retorted angrily. ¡°Ever since the baby was born, I barely see him in the day. You parade him around telling people how hard you work, but at night, even if he cries his lungs out, you pretend not to hear. I didn¡¯t want to argue with you, but is this fair?¡± Dana wasn¡¯t easy to deal with either, she replied dismissively. ¡°I¡¯m here to help you guys with the baby, am I wrong to do that? You young people don¡¯t know how to take care of a baby and won¡¯t listen to advice. Would I hurt my own grandson?¡± Chapter 204 Chapter 204 Chapter 204 Alessia sternly said, ¡°Can you please stop ming everything on young people? Do you think we can¡¯t take care of ourselves without you? I think you¡¯re way too nosy. It¡¯s my kid, and how I raise it is my business. If you wanna meddle, go bother your son Evan instead.¡± ¡°How could you speak to me like that?¡± Dana replied, looking hurt. ¡°Everyone, listen to this. I work my butt off looking after the child, and now I¡¯m the bad guy.¡± With that, Dana¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. Dana¡¯s words quickly stirred up usations against Alessia from those around them. ¡°Dana¡¯s getting on in years. Cut her some ck.¡± ¡°Yeah, I often see Dana taking the kid for a walk. She¡¯s really attentive.¡± ¡°You should be thankful for having such a great mother¨Cinw.¡± ¡°You gotta put yourself in other people¡¯s shoes.¡± Alessia was pissed off and on the verge of tears. Anastasia quickly stepped in, ¡°Alessia, I can¡¯t find the exit of thismunity, could you show me the way?¡± Anastasia had to pull Alessia away, otherwise, it would only hurt Alessia more. The argument would only escte. Dana often hung out with these neighbors and had a good rtionship with them. They must have received a bad impression of Alessia from Dana¡¯s rants. Arguing further would be pointless. Alessia retorted, ¡°When you badmouth me in public, you¡¯re not just embarrassing me, but also your son Evan.¡± She then left with her child to show Anastasia the way out. But Anastasia didn¡¯t leave immediately. She comforted Alessia for a while at themunity gate. ¡°Alessia, you were too hot¨Cheaded. Do you want to turn things around? If so, listen to me and follow my advice.¡± ¡°Anastasia, do you have any good ideas?¡± Anastasia grinned. ¡°You¡¯ve been focused on your career and might not be close to the neighbors. But Dana is, which can work to your advantage. Here¡¯s what you do, show more respect to Dana and let everyone in themunity know.¡± Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Alessia was confused. ¡°Respect her? She¡¯s always causing me trouble. Even if I did respect her, she wouldn¡¯t appreciate it.¡± ¡°Whether she appreciates it or not is her business. All you need to do is let everyone know you respect her,¡± Anastasia suggested. ¡°For instance, buy Dana a massage chair and have the delivery guy walk around themunity. Whenever you see someone, tell them you bought it for Dana to rest. Or, you guys have amunity group chat, right? Get someone to take a picture of you showing respect to Dana and send it to the group. And then¡­¡± Anastasia kept giving suggestions, and Alessia got more and more excited. ¡°Wow, Anastasia, I didn¡¯t know you were so creative.¡± Anastasiaughed. ¡°Your nanny knows your family situation the best. You could make good use of her.¡± Alessia suddenly realized. ¡°I see what I should do now. I¡¯ll give my nanny a raise when I get home.¡± ¡°As long as you establish a good image, no matter how Dana nders you, people will already have the impression that you are a good girl who respects Dana. The good habit of respecting Dana must be seen by others, otherwise, how would they know?¡± Anastasia said. ¡°But make sure it doesn¡¯t look too deliberate. It¡¯s best to let people discover it inadvertently.¡± ¡°I get it.¡± Alessiaughed. ¡°Anastasia, you are really good at dealing with these messy situations. Your family must not have such conflicts.¡± ¡°Both of Herman¡¯s parents have passed away,¡± Anastasia said. ¡°So I don¡¯t have this kind of trouble.¡± Alessia said enviously, ¡°That¡¯s nice.¡± Chapter 205 Chapter 205 Anastasia couldfort others, but she couldn¡¯t solve her own worries. As she left, she yed with the child in Alessia¡¯s arms, but looking at the child¡¯s appearance, she couldn¡¯t suppress the sadness in her heart. She couldn¡¯t exin why she felt so sad. Anastasia took a taxi home, and shortly after arriving, Katelyn came over with delicious food. ¡°Anastasia, this is freshly stewed porcini mushroom soup. Eat it while it¡¯s hot. I also brought these ingredients for you, and when Hermanes back, I¡¯ll have him cook for you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Katelyn.¡± Anastasia was filled with gratitude in her heart. ¡°You¡¯re so kind to me.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Katelyn smiled and said, ¡°Hurry up and eat.¡± Looking at Katelyn and thinking about Dana, Anastasia felt that she was really much happier than Alessia. Although Katelyn was only Herman¡¯s aunt, she treated Anastasia very well. Even if Katelyn were Herman¡¯s biological mother, there would certainly be no conflicts between Anastasia and her. Katelyn was kind¨Chearted and treated Anastasia like her own daughter, and Anastasia could feel it. Anastasia ate the soup while ncing at her phone. Apart from the previous message, Salma hadn¡¯t sent any more messages. This was very unusual. Anastasia was discharged from the hospital, so why hadn¡¯t Salma reacted at all? ¡°Katelyn, have you noticed anything unusual about Salma when you¡¯ve been with her recently?¡± Katelyn thought for a moment and said, ¡°I have noticed that Salma seems to have something on her mindtely. A few days ago, I saw Salma arguing with a woman at the entrance of the neighborhood. I asked her what happened, but she didn¡¯t say anything. Anastasia, if you have time, go and ask her.¡± Anastasia felt uneasy in her heart. She looked at the time, it was already five in the afternoon. ¡°Katelyn, I¡¯ll go see Salmater.¡± Katelyn said, ¡°Okay, why don¡¯t I go with you? I don¡¯t feelfortable letting you go alone.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Anastasia smiled. ¡°That way, I¡¯ll havepany.¡± Anastasia quickly finished the soup and left with Katelyn. The driver from home was waiting in the car, and Anastasia couldn¡¯t help but marvel at Katelyn¡¯s financial strength. She had seen this car online before, and it was worth a fortune. She couldn¡¯t even imagine it. The driver took them to Salma¡¯s neighborhood, and Anastasia and Katelyn went upstairs together. Just as they stepped out of the elevator, they saw a man being pushed out of Salma¡¯s apartment by her. Salma was using a broom to drive him away. ¡°Get lost! If you dare toe again, don¡¯t me me for being impolite.¡± ¡°Salma, calm down. Let¡¯s talk.¡± The man had a good attitude, dressed neatly, and clearly wasn¡¯t an ordinary person. ¡°Mom, what¡¯s going on?¡± Anastasia asked in confusion, her gaze sweeping over the man. The man looked to be around fifty years old, dressed in a suit, wearing an expensive¨Clooking watch, and sses, and slightly overweight. When Salma saw Anastasia returning, her face changed dramatically, and she quickly pulled Anastasia into the apartment. The man noticed Anastasia, and a flicker of surprise andplicated emotions crossed his face. ¡°This is Ana, right? Ana, I am¡­¡± your father. ? ? ? ?? ? ? ? ? ? ?? ? F ?? ?? ? ? ?? ??? ??? ? ? ? ?? The man was still speaking, but Salma interrupted him. ¡°Tavon, you are being rude. Please leave now.¡± Salma threw the gift Tavon had brought outside, her emotions running high. Anastasia felt unfamiliar with Salma¡¯s furious appearance. Tavon looked at Anastasia, hesitated for a moment, sighed, and didn¡¯t say anything, turning to walk into the elevator. Although Tavon didn¡¯t speak, Anastasia read the answer from his eyes and guessed his identity. After entering the apartment, Salma¡¯s emotions still hadn¡¯t calmed down, and Katelyn was trying to comfort her. Anastasia suddenly asked, ¡°Was that person my father?¡± Even though it was their first meeting, even though they hadn¡¯t spoken, just from a single nce, Anastasia knew that the man was her father, who had been missing for over twenty years. Salma looked at Anastasia in astonishment, tears rolling down her face, and Katelyn was also shocked. Salma wiped her tears and said, ¡°Ana, that¡¯s not your father. You don¡¯t have a father, ok?¡± Anastasia felt surprised. Salma had previously told her not to me her father because he had his own difficulties. But now, Salma was emotionally driving that person away and even denying his identity. Anastasia felt conflicted. It was her first time meeting her father, she didn¡¯t expect it to happen under such circumstances. and ¡°I¡¯m no longer a child.¡± Anastasia took a deep breath and said, ¡°You¡¯ve been troubledtely, is it because of his return? Did hee back for something important? It made you so angry. Tell me, let¡¯s solve it together.¡± Salma didn¡¯t know how to respond, she simply wiped away her tears silently. Anastasia walked to Salma¡¯s side, holding her hand, and said, ¡°Mom, a person who disappeared for over twenty years hase back. There must be something important. Is this matter rted to me?¡±Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Chapter 206 Chapter 206 Chapter 206 Salma looked scared shitless, and Anastasia guessed it right on the money. Tavon was here to ask Anastasia to donate her bone marrow to his other daughter, Sandy. They hadn¡¯t seen each other in over twenty years, and his reason for visiting was to use Anastasia. How could Salma not feel a cold chill? Salma was crying buckets, and Anastasia didn¡¯t press for more. Katelyn understood that there might be things Anastasia and Salma wouldn¡¯t feelfortable discussing in front of her. So, getting up, she said, ¡°Ana, I got some stuff to handle. I¡¯ll head out now. You and Salma have a good chat. Herman will pick you upter¡± Anastasia thanked Katelyn for her understanding, saying, ¡°Ms. Katelyn, thank you.¡± ¡°We¡¯re all family here, no need for formalities.¡± Katelyn smiled and then said to Salma, ¡°If you need any help, just holler at us. We¡¯re family Don¡¯t be shy There¡¯s nothing to be embarrassed about.¡± ¡°Ah, I hate to be a bother Salma looked a bit sheepish. With a wave, Katelyn left Just Anastasia and Salma were left in the house. Anastasia poured Salma a ss of water, saying, ¡°Mom, you haven¡¯t had anything to eat right? I¡¯ll fix you something.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t trouble yourself. I¡¯m not hungry¡± Salma held Anastasia¡¯s hand, clearly wanting to say something but hesitating. ¡°Ana, that man, Tavon, he really is your father.¡± ¡°Why is he back?¡± Anastasia asked. Anastasia had noticed a ring on Tavon¡¯s finger, which meant he was married and had a family of his own. Salma knew she couldn¡¯t keep the truth hidden. Ashley and Tavon would show up sooner orter. So, she spilled the beans. ¡°Tavor¡¯s daughter, Sandy, is sick and needs a bone marrow transnt. They¡¯re here to ask you to save Sandy¡± Salma¡¯s emotions red as she said this, her fists clenched tightly in anger. ¡°Ana, you¡¯re my daughter. They shouldn¡¯t even think about hurting you. I wouldn¡¯t let you save Sandy¡± Anastasia finally got why Salma was so pissed off. Her long lost father, Tavon, had suddenly returned, not to make amends with Anastasia and Salma, but to use Anastasia¡¯s bone marrow If it wasn¡¯t for Sandy¡¯s illness, Tavon probably wouldn¡¯t even remember he had a daughter named Anastasia. Anastasia should¡¯ve been angry, but strangely, she didn¡¯t feel much of anything. Maybe it was because she never had any expectations of him as a father in the first ce. No expectations, no disappointments. All Anastasia felt was sympathy for Salma. She must have been heartbroken when Tavon made such a shameless request. Anastasia hugged Salma, saying, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t waste your tears on someone not worth it. Don¡¯t worry, even if theye asking, I won¡¯t agree. Whether Sandy is my sister or not, it¡¯s none of my business.¡± Anastasia wasn¡¯t so noble as to save a half¨Csister she had never met before. Having just recovered from a car ident, she valued her life. Selma¡¯s eyes welled up with tears, and she sighed. ¡°Ana, I owe you an apology. I misjudged him.¡± That¡¯s how they ended up with a deadbeat dad like Tavon. ¡°Mom, why don¡¯t you consider moving in with me? If Tavones knocking again, you¡¯ll be alone here.¡± Anastasia suggested, ¡°You can steer clear of him at my ce¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see Salma didn¡¯t seem keen on the idea. She added, ¡°Last time, Tavon¡¯s wife Ashley found Harmony Meadows, but she probably doesn¡¯t know the exact address. Ana, you mustn¡¯t agree to their request¡± Im not a pushover I definitely won¡¯t agree, Anastasia said. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll cook something for you. After eating, you should get some sleep and forget about this nonsense for a while¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t take the Tavon issue to heart. All she wanted now was tofort Salma and lift her spirits. As for Tavon, the ungrateful jerk, Anastasia would sort him out and give Salma justice. Having reassured Satna, Anastasia left only after Salma fell asleep. Anastasia hadn¡¯t gone to look for Tavon yet, but Tavon was waiting for her at the entrance of the community. Seeing Anastasia, Tavon got out of a luxury car parked nearby and said, ¡°Ana, I am..¡± Ariestesia coldly cut him off, saying, ¡°Mr. Tavon, let¡¯s go somewhere else to talk¡± Anastasia¡¯s tone was frosty, bordering on indifference,This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. Chapter 207 Chapter 207 Chapter 207 Tavon had been dabbling in the business world. He was not exactly loaded, but he¡¯d got a fair chunk of change, with assets totaling in the hundreds of millions. The Morton family ran a tea business, shipping their product overseas. Tavon had been around the block and met all sorts of people. But when he looked into Anastasia¡¯s sharp eyes, he felt an inexplicable fear Anastasia took the initiative to hop into the car, which took Tavon by surprise. He figured she would keep him at arm¡¯s length. Seeing Anastasia in the car, Tavon cracked a smile, hopped in after her, and gestured for the driver to get a move on. The car was roomy, and the temperature was just right. But when Anastasia sat down, Tavon felt a chill in the air. Before Tavon could even open his mouth, Anastasia jumped in with a barrage of questions. ¡°Where are you living now? What¡¯s your family business? This car must have cost a pretty penny, right? Besides a daughter, do you have any other children? What¡¯s annual your ie? How much are your assets?¡± Tavon was caught off guard by Anastasia¡¯s rapid¨Cfire questions. Tavon was a businessman, always ying his cards close to his chest. Worried Anastasia might be after his family fortune, he chuckled and said half¨Cjokingly, ¡°We¡¯re in the tea business, dabbled in tourism too. But the economy¡¯s in the gutter, business isn¡¯t exactly booming, so we¡¯ve been losing money for years. I live in Willowbrook. Got a boy and a girl at home. They¡¯re both younger than you, your little bro and sis. One¡¯s studying abroad, the other¡¯s sick in the hospital. Tavon had a knack for ying with emotions. When he mentioned his sick daughter, Sandy, he showed Anastasia photos of Sandy in the hospital. Sandy looked frail and thin with IV tubes attached, undergoing dialysis. Her head was shaved bald. It was a sorry sight to see. Tavon¡¯s eyes began to well up, ¡°It¡¯s terminal. Both her mother, Ashley, and I have been tested, but we¡¯re not a match. If we don¡¯t find a bone marrow donor soon, Sandy¡¯s going to be on borrowed time.¡± Anastasia listened aloofly. She could see through Tavon¡¯s intentions from his words. A few minutes of interaction was enough to further make Anastasia disappointed in Tavon. As far as assets went, Tavon was definitely holding back. Anastasia snorted. ¡°What a sess story you are. Got a son and a daughter, huh? I hear Willowbrook¡¯s crawling with the well¨Cto¨Cdo, especially those in the seafood business, raking in the big bucks. You¡¯re not worried I might want a piece of your fortune, are you?¡± Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Hearing this, Tavon¡¯s face turned a shade of red. ¡°Ana, you¡¯ve got it all wrong. I am your father¡­¡± Anastasia coldly cut him off, ¡°You think you can live up to being called ¡®Dad¡°?¡± Anastasia¡¯s gaze sent shivers down Tavon¡¯s spine, and he found himself speechless under her scrutiny. The car quickly arrived at a nearby caf¨¦. Anastasia got out, and Tavon finally felt like he could breathe again. Tavon absentmindedly wiped his sses. How could a daughter he¡¯d never met be so intimidating? Tavon followed Anastasia into the caf¨¦. When she ordered coffee, she only asked for one cup. Tavon awkwardly ordered a drink for himself. In the business world, he¡¯d never felt so out of his depth, After some hesitation, Tavon mustered up courage and said, ¡°Ana, Sandy is your sister. She needs help. I really don¡¯t have any other options. Look, can you help out? I¡¯ve looked into it, bone marrow donation won¡¯t affect your health, and you¡¯ll be just like anyone else. I won¡¯t let you be at a loss. I¡¯ll compensate you ordingly.¡± cafe self.urage ot even knowing what to say. Anastasia sneered inwardly but put on a pitiful face in front of Tavon, ying the victim card. ¡°Salma always praised you. I¡¯ve always admired and respected you as a father. I believe you wouldn¡¯t treat us unfairly. Salma had a hard time raising me. Now that you¡¯re back, could you, perhaps, settle the child support owed from before I turned eighteen?¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t follow up on Tavon¡¯s words, instead she brought up the hardship over the years, hoping to reim the child support first. Tavon owed her this, and she was ready to settle ounts today. Anastasia¡¯s words left Tavon dumbfounded. Anastasia gave a chuckle and waved at the waiter. ¡°Could I get a pen and paper, please? Thanks.¡± Soon, the waiter brought over the paper and pen. Anastasia started writing on the paper, putting on a friendly smile. ¡°Let¡¯s start from when Salma was pregnant with me, we¡¯ll ount for everything, I won¡¯t shortchange you. The cost of prenatal care, nutrition fees when Salma was carrying me¡­¡± Chapter 208 Chapter 208 Chapter 208 Anastasia was meticulously listing out expenses, looking super serious. From Salma¡¯s pregnancy to Anastasia¡¯s birth, the cost of baby form, diapers, vines before preschool, medical expenses when sick, clothing, shoes, toys, and so on¡­ Anastasia then asked the waiter for a calctor to add up the listed amounts. ¡°I can¡¯t remember some of the expenses, so I just gave you an estimate. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t ask for too much, I might underestimate but never overestimate. After turning three, I started preschool, then there were tuition fees, living expenses¡­¡± ¡®From primary school to high school, tuition fees, tutoring fees, living expenses, study materials¡­¡± With each item listed, Tavon¡¯s face grew paler, and he was squirming in his seat. Even million¨Cdor deals hadn¡¯t made him this ufortable. Tavon tried to y the emotion card, but Anastasia hit back in kind. ¡°I¡¯ve calcted all these expenses, take a look. Prices weren¡¯t high back then, so it¡¯s about two hundred and eighty¨Csix thousand and five hundred in total.¡± Anastasia folded her hands and said gently, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s easy to calcte money, but some emotions can¡¯t be calcted. When I was sick, Salma was always there for me. You can ignore a lot of things, but not the hardship and heartache.¡± Looking at the listed expenses, Tavon was filled with mixed feelings, and eventually even moved. ¡°Ana, I really owe you and Salma an apology.¡± ¡°You definitely owe us a lot. Let¡¯s round off the amount to two hundred and eighty thousand. You and Salma had a joint responsibility to raise me, so you only need to pay me one hundred and fortyOwned by N?velDrama.Org. thousand.¡± Anastasia calmly asked, ¡°Cash or bank transfer?¡± Though Anastasia¡¯s approach was somewhat unexpected, Tavon did owe her and Salma, and he should pay this money. Tavon immediately took out his phone, his voice trembling. ¡°I¡¯ll transfer it to you now. Give me your bank ount number.¡± Without hesitation, Anastasia handed over her phone for Tavon to make the transfer. For Tavon, a hundred and forty thousand was just a drop in the bucket. To make up for Anastasia, Tavon added an extra zero and transferred one million four hundred thousand. Upon receiving the text notification and seeing the amount, she wasn¡¯t surprised at all and quietly transferred the excess money back. Anastasia¡¯s movepletely baffled Tavon. ¡°Ana, this money is mypensation to you. Please keep it.¡± He confessed, ¡°I¡¯ve really made you and Salma suffer over the years. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°I only take what I should.¡± Anastasia took a sip of her coffee and said, ¡°Now that you¡¯ve fulfilled your parental duty to me. When you¡¯re old and can¡¯t move and need me, I won¡¯t shirk my responsibility.¡± Throughout the process, Anastasia was very restrained and calm. She ced a hundred¨Cdor bill on the table and said, ¡°This coffee¡¯s on me.¡± With that, Anastasia got up and walked away. Tavon also stood up and said, ¡°Ana, your sister Sandy is sick. Can you help her? I know you¡¯re a good kid, you won¡¯t refuse to help, right?¡± Anastasia sneered, ¡°Mr. Tavon, are you confused? I remember Salma only has one child, me. Where did I get a sister?¡± Hearing this, Tavon frowned. He thought that Anastasia epting his money meant epting him as her father and would help save Sandy. Tavon swallowed his pride. ¡°Ana, as long as you agree to save Sandy, I¡¯m willing to give you a third of my estate. You, your brother, and your sister can split it evenly. Let¡¯s live in harmony as a family and give me a chance to make up for you and Salma.¡± Anastasia looked at Tavon coldly and smiled. ¡°If your daughter Sandy wasn¡¯t sick, would you remember me and Salma? Did your son do a bone marrow match? Is he not suitable? Even if Salma didn¡¯t marry you, I¡¯m still your daughter. If ites to dividing the estate, I have the right to fight for it¡± Tavon felt very ashamed. His son and daughter¡¯s bone marrow were indeed a match and could be donated, but that was his own son, how could he agree¡­ Donating bone marrow would have certain effects on life, immunity would decrease, aging would elerate, and there would be some unknown side effects. He was even more reluctant to let his son donate. At the same time, Tavon also felt a surge of anger, feeling that Anastasia had deceived him. Tavon suppressed his anger and said, ¡°Anastasia, I¡¯ll give you time to think it over. As long as you agree, I¡¯ll give you a third of my estate. I¡¯ll keep my word.¡± Before Anastasia could reply, a deep voice came from the door. ¡°Mr. Tavon, maybe you should keep your third of the estate for your own retirement.¡± Chapter 209 Chapter 209 Chapter 209 Anastasia looked towards the entrance and saw Herman, who had somehow already arrived, strolled over to her. He naturally stood by her side as if to protect her, casually taking her hand in his. The warmth of his palm warmed Anastasia¡¯s heart. ¡°How did you get here so fast?¡± Anastasia asked. During his negotiation with Tavon, Herman had sent a text to Anastasia, who simply sent him the address. In just half an hour, he had arrived. ¡°I always rush when ites to picking you up, let¡¯s go home,¡± Herman said gently. ¡°Okay.¡± Anastasia smiled. Tavon eyed Herman, feeling a sense of familiarity but couldn¡¯t ce where he¡¯d seen him before. Seeing Anastasia about to leave, Tavon pleaded, ¡°Ana, I hope you reconsider. Sandy is your sister, you can¡¯t just ignore this, I¡¯m begging you.¡± With that, Tavon bowed to Anastasia. Anastasia showed no emotion, she just squeezed Herman¡¯s hand tightly, and the two left the cafe, ignoring Tavon. Herman¡¯s car was parked nearby. He gentlemanly opened the car door for Anastasia, carefully helping her in. Tavon stood in the cafe, watching them leave through the window. Before long, Ashley walked in and asked, ¡°Did that girl agree?¡± Tavon shook his head. ¡°She¡¯s stubborn and won¡¯t listen to any persuasion.¡± Looking at the list on the table and recalling Anastasia¡¯s words and actions from the moment she stepped into the car to the cafe, Tavon couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of pride. ¡°What a girl! Clear¨C minded, decisive, knows what to take and what not to. She¡¯s not easily bullied. Once she¡¯s pissed, she cuts off all ties. It¡¯s a shame she¡¯s a girl.¡± If she were a boy, he could have groomed her to take over the family business. ¡°You sure know how to praise. I did a background check on the girl; she just works at a jewelry company. How much can she earn?¡± Ashley scoffed. ¡°I heard she married a nobody, and that man I saw earlier, his car is pretty average. Tavon, you need to remember, we are seeking Anastasia to save Sandy.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Tavon said, ¡°We need to be gentle; we can¡¯t force her. It¡¯s best to start with Salma.¡± Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. ¡°We need to move quickly, Tavon, no matter what it takes, threats or bribes, we need to act fast. Sandy can¡¯t wait,¡± Ashley urged. ¡°Did you see Anastasia¡¯s husband earlier? Does he remind you of anyone?¡± Tavon asked. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t ce it, but I feel like I¡¯ve seen him somewhere.¡± On the ride home, Anastasia was in a foul mood. Thinking about Tavon¡¯s words, she felt a chill in her heart and felt bad for Salma. Herman broke the silence. ¡°What did your long¨Clost father, Tavon, want?¡± Leaning back into her seat, Anastasia turned to look at him. ¡°Did Ms. Katelyn tell you?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Herman replied. ¡°She mentioned it when she called me.¡± Anastasia gave a resigned smile. ¡°Tavon just wants to use me to save his daughter Sandy.¡± Hearing this, Herman frowned. ¡°He should be thankful he¡¯s your father.¡± If not, with his shameless behavior, Herman would probably have lost his temper. Anastasia shrugged and said self¨Cmockingly, ¡°As Tavon¡¯s daughter, I feel really unlucky. I used to have some fantasies, but now that I¡¯ve seen the real him, I really wish I didn¡¯t have a father.¡± Herman reached over to ruffle Anastasia¡¯s hair. ¡°As long as I¡¯m here, that¡¯s all that matters.¡± Anastasia smiled, enjoying the feeling of being pampered by Herman. 128 25 Once they got home, Anastasia freshened up andy in bed. After a while, Herman, as usual, cuddled up behind her. Anastasia couldn¡¯t sleep but didn¡¯t feel like talking. Her gut told her that Tavon woulde back and would surely go after Salma again. She was just worried about what extremes he might go to. Her fears proved to be right. Early the next morning, Anastasia received a call from the hospital. Something had happened to Salma. Chapter 210 Chapter 210 Chapter 210 After getting a call from the hospital, Anastasia rushed over there with Herman. Only then did she find out that Salma had been hit by a scooter while crossing the road after grocery shopping in the morning, breaking her leg. Looking at Salma¡¯s leg wrapped in a ster cast, Anastasia asked with worry, ¡°Mom, how did you end up like this?¡± Salma exined simply, ¡°I was hit by a delivery guy who was in a hurry. I didn¡¯t notice the red light, and mistakenly thought it was green. Ana, it¡¯s okay, I just need some rest.¡± What¡¯s done was done, and there was no point in arguing about it. The delivery guy who hit Salma was also responsible, and he willingly paid the medical fees. But Salma also held some responsibility, so the delivery guy suggested sharing the cost with Anastasia. They were all just trying to make a living, and the delivery guy also had his own bills to pay. Salma firmly refused his proposal. ¡°Young man, you can go. I¡¯ll cover the rest of the medical expenses. I¡¯m really sorry.¡± The delivery guy heaved a sigh of relief and said, ¡°Ma¡¯am, I¡¯ll leave you to rest. Take care of yourself.¡± He left quickly, afraid that Salma might change her mind. In Anastasia¡¯s memory, Salma was always very cautious when crossing the street, always making sure it was safe before she crossed. This time she didn¡¯t notice the traffic light, and it was likely because of Tavon. His appearance had thrown Salma off bnce, and she had been out of sorts ever since. Then the doctor came over and said, ¡°Family members, the patient needs to be admitted for observation. Please go handle the paperwork.¡± Herman said, ¡°I¡¯ll go do it, Anastasia, stay here with Salma.¡± Anastasia nodded, and after Herman and the doctor left, she asked, ¡°Mom, did your ident have anything to do with Tavon?¡± ¡°No,¡± Salma replied, and then added hesitantly, ¡°I just didn¡¯t see clearly.¡± ¡°Ok, I won¡¯t ask anymore. I¡¯ll go get you some clothes and toiletries. You just rest here.¡± Anastasia looked at Salma¡¯s injured leg and the scratches on her face, and said with worry, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about anything else.¡± When Herman came back after handling the paperwork, Anastasia asked him to stay with Salma while she went home to get some clothes. Salma needed someone to be with her, and since Herman wouldn¡¯t know what Salma needed or where to find it, it was best for Anastasia to stay. Anastasia took a cab back to their apartment, and when she stepped out of the building¡¯s elevator, she saw a middle¨Caged woman knocking on the door. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Anastasia walked over and asked, ¡°Hello, who are you looking for?¡± The woman looked at Anastasia and said, ¡°I¡¯m looking for the people who live here, do you know where they are?¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± Anastasia asked. The woman replied, ¡°My name is Rose. I used to be the director of Rainbow Haven, but I¡¯ve since retired. Salma asked me toe over today, but no one is answering the door.¡± Once Anastasia confirmed that she was looking for Salma, she said, ¡°Salma is in the hospital right now, she got hit by a scooter this morning. Mrs. Rose, if you have something to discuss with Salma, you can tell me. I¡¯m her daughter, Anastasia.¡± As she was speaking, Anastasia also opened the door and said, ¡°Pleasee in and sit down.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Rose entered the house and subconsciously nced around the room. She said, ¡°I talked to Salma on the phone earlier, and she asked me to help her find a child. I came here today for that matter.¡± Anastasia remembered that Salma had mentioned Cynthia asking her for help in adopting a child from an orphanage, thinking that this must be the matter Rose was referring to. ¡°Salma is currently in the hospital, so the adoption process might have to be put on hold.¡± ¡°Adopting a child?¡± Rose asked in surprise. ¡°Salma didn¡¯t mention anything about adopting a child. She just asked me to help find a child, a child who was adopted from an orphanage four years ago. I checked, and I couldn¡¯t find anyone that Salma was looking for.¡± Hearing this, Anastasia was taken aback. Could it be that Salma wasn¡¯t trying to adopt a child? Why was she specifically looking for a child from four years ago? Chapter 211 Chapter 211 Chapter 211 Anastasia started to dwell on past confusions, suddenly feeling anxious. In a rush, she asked, ¡°You¡¯re saying Salma is looking for a child from four years ago? What the heck does that mean? What else did she say?¡± ¡°You¡¯re Salma¡¯s daughter and you don¡¯t know about this?¡± Rose replied, ¡°Not long ago, I bumped into Salma. She was asking about a kid who was sent to Rainbow Haven four years ago, said she was helping a friend look for them. The friend lost a child four years ago, left it at the doorstep of an orphanage. I checked when I got home. In those months, no girls were taken in by the orphanage.¡± Anastasia knew all about Salma¡¯s friends and rtives. No one among Salma¡¯s friends had a child four years ago. Salma was getting on in years, and her friends were all in their forties or fifties; no way were they still having babies. Salma was lying. Anastasia thought back to that dream and the strange things Cason had said before, She remembered the unease she felt when Alessia was giving birth. Suddenly, a realization hit her, making her feel cold and numb all over. The child lost four years ago, could it have been¡­ her own? This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Anastasia¡¯s head throbbed with pain. She couldn¡¯t remember the lost memories, no matter how hard she tried, it was all a nk. Anastasia forced herself to calm down, asking, ¡°What else did Salma say about the child? When was the child lost?¡± Rose said, ¡°Salma said the kid was lost in the winter four years ago. But Rainbow Haven didn¡¯t have the child, the orphanage has been demolished now, andall the kids were moved to other orphanages or adopted.¡± ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll pass on your words to Salma.¡± Anastasia tried to calm herself. Rose said, ¡°Alright, you tell Salma, I won¡¯te again. I¡¯m emigrating next week to live with my kids.¡± ¡°Okay, best of luck.¡± After seeing Rose off, Anastasia sat alone on the sofa, pondering over recent events. Cason¡¯s words terrified her. She grabbed her keys and left in a hurry, forgoing packing clothes for Salma, and hailed a cab to another women¡¯s and children¡¯s hospital. Anastasia was anxious; she desperately wanted to know if the child abandoned at the orphanage was hers. She had forgotten whether she had ever given birth. Anastasia reached the hospital and signed up for a gynecological examination, wanting to confirm if she had ever had a child. An hourter, when all the checks were done, Herman called to ask if she had packed Salma¡¯s clothes and if he shoulde to pick her 1. Anastasia made an excuse to brush him off, she was waiting for the doctor to call her number, and she needed to take her examination form to the doctor. While waiting, Anastasia was so nervous she bit her nails, even when she bit one off she didn¡¯t notice. Suddenly, the system showed it was her turn, Anastasia took her examination form, and anxiously walked into the doctor¡¯s office. ¡°Hello.¡± Anastasia sat down. The doctor said, ¡°Let me see your examination results.¡± Anastasia handed over the examination report, the doctor looked at it for a while, then asked, ¡°Your health is excellent, no problems at all. The scar on your waist is new, and you should get that treated.¡± Anastasia asked nervously, ¡°Doctor, have I ever given birth?¡± The doctor was puzzled by Anastasia¡¯s question, not understanding how Anastasia herself wouldn¡¯t know if she had given birth. The doctor looked at Anastasia doubtfully and asked, ¡°Are you married?¡± Anastasia nodded, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m married.¡± The doctorughed and asked, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you know if you¡¯ve had a child?¡± Anastasia also thought her question was a bit odd. ¡°Doctor, can you tell from these examination reports if I¡¯ve given birth?¡± The doctor adjusted his sses, put down the report and said, ¡°ording to these reports, you indeed have given birth, and it seems you may not have fully recovered back then. Are you asking if you can still have children, or if there¡¯s any impact?¡± Chapter 212 Chapter 212 Chapter 212 The doctor¡¯s words hit Anastasia like a ton of bricks. She had had a child before. She thought back on the years that passed. Every time she fell ill and was hospitalized, whether it was just a cold or something more serious, Salma or Monica would always be there to keep herpany. She remembered during herst check-up, when the doctor asked if she¡¯d ever had a child, Monica had jumped in to answer. And now, it was as if everything fell into ce. Anastasia suddenly understood what important piece of her life she had forgotten Turned out, she had forgotten she had a daughter. Grief washed over Anastasia, and tears suddenly spilled down her cheeks, startling the doctor. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is there something bothering you? Do you really want a child? Although your uterus is in an unusual position, and pregnancy might be difficult, modern medicine has made great strides. We can¡¯t say for certain that you can¡¯t have children.¡± The doctor¡¯s words stung like a p in the face. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying it¡¯d be hard for me to get pregnant again?¡± she asked. The doctor hesitated a bit before saying, ¡°ording to your check-up results, your uterus isn¡¯t positioned like most women¡¯s. It was indeed a miracle that you were able to conceivest time. Plus, your back injury should be quite severe. I would advise against trying to get pregnant again, as it could be dangerous.¡± Aside from reproductive issues, Anastasia was actually quite healthy. But wanting a child could indeed present some difficulties. Anastasia couldn¡¯t remember how she had managed to leave the hospital, with the doctor¡¯s words still echoing in her ears. She had had a feeling that seeking the truth would be a brutal and difficult process. Even though she had braced herself for it, when the truth finally came, she was still unable to bear it. Anastasia copsed onto a bench, watching the bustling crowd around her. Her hand clutched the hospital¡¯s check-up results, as she silently shed tears. She didn¡¯t know how to break it to Herman; she couldn¡¯t even remember who the father of her child was, and she had no idea what to do next. Herman had always wanted children, but it seemed like she might not be able to conceive again. She had no idea what she had done wrong to deserve such punishment. When Herman called, it took her a while to pick up. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m on my way¡­¡± Anastasia tried to keep her voice steady, hiding her _emotions. After hanging up, Anastasia broke down again, letting out a good cry, before pulling herself together and heading home to pack up Salma¡¯s clothes. She threw the hospital¡¯s check-up results in the trash, trying her best not to let ?erman see her internal turmoil. As Anastasia went to pack up Salma¡¯s clothes, Monica ¨¤rrived at the hospital to take care of Salma. Looking at Monica and Salma, Anastasia thought about the years of deceit, and the daughter she had never met, who was sent away by Salma. She wanted to ask, where did Salma send her daughter? Why would Salma do such a thing? Why would she keep it a secret from her?. But she couldn¡¯t ask, at least not now. ¡°Anastasia, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Herman noticed Anastasia¡¯s distraction and asked with concern, ¡°Are you tired? If you need a break, I can hire a caregiver for Salma.¡± Salma also noticed Anastasia¡¯s pale face. ¡°Anastasia, you just left the hospital. You can¡¯t overwork yourself. You should go home and rest.¡± Normally, Anastasia would insist on staying to take care of Salma, but right now, her mind was a mess and her emotions were unstable. Afraid she wouldn¡¯t be able to control her emotions, she agreed, ¡°Alright, Mom, you rest well, I¡¯ll head home.¡± Anastasia¡¯s quick agreement surprised Salma, but considering Anastasia had just had major surgery and looked pale, she didn¡¯t think much of it. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Salma smiled at Herman. ¡°Herman, take Anastasia home and let her rest.¡± Monica added, ¡°You guys go ahead. I¡¯ll stay with Salma.¡± Herman took Anastasia¡¯s hand, only to find it was cold. ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll head home now.¡± Herman arranged for a caregiver, then took Anastasia home. Back at home, Anastasia seemed out of sorts. She went straight to the bedroom, diving under the covers and wrapping herself up tightly. Herman, naturally, could tell Anastasia was upset. He sat on the edge of the bed, gently asking, ¡°Is there something bothering you? Tell me, maybe I can help share the load. Chapter 213 Chapter 213 Chapter 213 Herman¡¯s tender care and sweet words were really making Anastasia squirm. How could she tell him and exin that she had a child? Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Their first time, she was scared Herman would get the wrong idea. But there was no misunderstanding, she had a child before, so how could it be her first time? The more Anastasia thought about it, the more ufortable and guilty she felt, and not to mention the guilt she felt for the child she never met. Herman noticed something was off with Anastasia. Frowning, he asked, ¡°Did Tavone knocking on your door again?¡± Anastasia turned around, closed her eyes, and tightly hugged Herman, trying hard to steady her voice, ¡°No, I¡¯m just tired. I need to rest for a while. I¡¯ll be fine once I wake up.¡± Herman knew it was a lie, but he didn¡¯t push it. ¡°Alright, rest well. I¡¯ll do some work in the next room.¡± He said. He was deliberately giving her some space. Right now, Anastasia really needed a quiet ce to let her feelings out. In the study room. Herman was sitting in front of hisputer, thinking about Anastasia¡¯s unusual behavior when Flynn called, ¡°I can¡¯t handle the head of Unity Bank. We need you to step in.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Herman replied in a deep voice, ¡°Let Nelson arrange it. I¡¯ll meet with the him tonight.¡± Flynn had his limits; most people only cooperated with them because of Herman. Herman was the backbone of thepany. After the call, Herman told Anastasia he had to go out. Anastasia was left alone at home. The quiet environment made her mind wander, and she even thought about divorcing Herman. She couldn¡¯t bear children anymore, so she couldn¡¯t keep dragging Herman down. She also couldn¡¯t ignore the child she brought into this world. She had to take responsibility. She didn¡¯t even know who the father of the child was. What if he showed up one day? She couldn¡¯t keep lying to Herman forever. She couldn¡¯t let him bear the consequences of her mistakes. Anastasia quickly came to a decision. She once told Herman that honesty was the foundation of a marriage. If she lied today, she would inevitably tell countless more lies to keep the secret. When the lies piled up, marriage lost its meaning. Anastasia sat up. She had made up her mind to confess to Herman when the time was right. As for the matter of Salma abandoning her child, she would ask Salma about it in detail once Salma recovered. What she needed to do now was to find Monica and learn more about the past. Now that she knew about the child, there was nothing to run from. She had to face her past bravely. Anastasia called Monica, ¡°Monica, let¡¯s have dinner tonight, the usual ce.¡± Monica felt a sense of unease when she received the call. Anastasia¡¯s tone was never like this when she invited her to dinner. Something was definitely off. Salma was still in the hospital, and Anastasia had just been discharged. Monica was uneasy about having dinner at this time. At seven in the evening, Jenny¡¯s ce. Anastasia had already ordered the food and wine, waiting for Monica. When Monica arrived in her BMW and saw the wine on the table, she felt a bit nervous. ¡°Ana, you just got out of the hospital. How can you drink?¡± ¡°Sit down.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t continue that topic but opened a bottle of wine in front of Monica, ¡°I have some things to ask you. We¡¯ve known each other for so many years. You know me best. Chapter 214 Chapter 214 Chapter 214 Monica was about to sit down when Anastasia¡¯s words made her hesitate. She looked at Anastasia, sat down nervously, and asked, ¡°Anastasia, what¡¯s up with you today?¡± Anastasia smirked, ¡°Let¡¯s eat first. The food is getting cold.¡± Monica looked at Anastasia and forced herself to eat a few bites and take a couple sips of wine. Anastasia poured the wine for Monica, saying, ¡°Monica, I¡¯m really grateful for your help all these years. It¡¯s a blessing to have a friend like you. Cheers to our friendship.¡± ¡°Anastasia¡­¡± Monica seemed a bit nervous. Anastasia raised her ss, clinked with Monica and chugged her wine. She drank a bit too quickly and started coughing. Monica frowned, seeming to realize something, and finished her wine as well. Anastasia put the empty ss on the table, staring at it in silence, ¡°I went to the hospital today.¡± Concerned, Monica asked, ¡°For a checkup? Didn¡¯t you just get discharged? Anastasia, are you feeling unwell?¡± Anastasia looked up at Monica and shook her head, ¡°I switched hospitals and had a gynecological examination. I discovered something. Monica, can you guess what I found out?¡± Monica understood immediately when she heard this, but Anastasia didn¡¯t reveal the truth directly. So Monica pretended not to know, ¡°Why did you suddenly decide to have a gynecological examination?¡± Anastasia looked at Monica, who was feigning ignorance, feeling a chill as the wind blew through the night street. It seemed to prate into her heart. ¡°The doctor told me that I have had a child.¡± Anastasia¡¯s straightforward words shocked Monica. ¡°Anastasia¡­¡± Monica said. ¡°Monica.¡± Anastasia cut her off, ¡°You¡¯re my good friend. You must know the memory that I lost. You and Salma have kept the secret very well. I didn¡¯t even know about such a big thing as having a child. If I said this out loud, no one would believe it.¡± Anastasia¡¯s words carried a hint of self-mockery. The doctor had also looked at her strangely at the time. How could a woman not know if she had given birth? Did she really need someone else to tell her? Monica-looked at Anastasia, feeling both distressed and worried. She exined, ¡°Anastasia, we kept this from you for your own good.¡± Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. ¡°I never doubted that.¡± Anastasia said seriously, ¡°Although I¡¯ve been living in a daze these years, I know I¡¯m happy. Monica, I understand your intentions, but now that I know I¡¯ve had a child, you can¡¯t keep it from me anymore. Where is my daughter? Who is the father? Can you tell me?¡± Anastasia hesitated, ¡°How did I get pregnant, why did I give birth and what really happened back then. Is that why I dropped out and got depressed?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Monica held her wine ss tightly, there was no way she could keep it from Anastasia now, ¡°Back then, after you gave birth, Salma took the baby away. You fell into a deep depression and didn¡¯t even recognize me and Salma.¡± ¡°Cason was telling the truth, I was dating two guys at the same time.¡± Anastasia asked, ¡°Who is the father?¡± ¡°No, you weren¡¯t dating two guys at the same time.¡± Monica said, ¡°When Salma was hospitalized, you took a part-time job to earn money, and that¡¯s when it happened! As for the guy, I don¡¯t know, you never told us.¡± Anastasia tried hard to remember, but she couldn¡¯t. She muttered to herself, ¡°Even you don¡¯t know who it is.¡± ¡°Anastasia, it¡¯s been so many years, let it go. You and Herman are very happy now, there¡¯s no need to add to your troubles with this.¡± Monica said. Chapter 215 Chapter 215 Chapter 215 Anastasia shook her head, pouring herself a drink and downing it in one go, ¡°Monica, the cat¡¯s out of the bag. I can¡¯t keep lying to Herman.¡± ¡°Who hasn¡¯t told a fib or two in their life? It¡¯s just a little white lie, you¡¯re taking it too seriously. You think Herman has never lied to you?¡± Monica asked. Wasn¡¯t it a lie that Herman was the CEO of Elysian Technologies? Monica never called him out on it because she was an outsider who had no right to meddle in Anastasia¡¯s marriage. Besides, Herman treated Anastasia well. This should be something Herman confessed on his own. Actually, Herman hiding his family background didn¡¯t impact their marriage. Anastasia was in a tizzy. She thought Monica was referring to Herman lying about the house, so she didn¡¯t give it much thought. ¡°I need to find my daughter.¡± Anastasia dered, ¡°Wherever she is, I¡¯m going to bring her back. I brought her into this world, so I have to take responsibility.¡± ¡°Anastasia, have you lost your marbles?¡± Monica countered strongly, ¡°Why did you give her up back then? Because you were scared it would ruin your happiness! If you find that child, you and Herman are done for.¡± How could a family like the Salstroms ept that Anastasia had a child out of wedlock, let alone bring the child back now? Anastasia shook her head, ¡°Monica, I¡¯ve made up my mind. If Herman chooses to leave, I¡¯ll ept it. I can¡¯t imagine what kind of life my daughter is living without my protection. Is she being bullied? Is she well-fed and clothed? Is she happy.and healthy? She isn¡¯t someone that anyone can treat however they want, she¡¯s my daughter, and I should be responsible.¡± Anastasia¡¯s words left Monica speechless. Anastasia had indeed thought about all these issues. Especially when she thought of Pattie¡¯s ordeal, the sight of Pattie being battered all over by Penny made Anastasia wonder if her own daughter was being abused. Anastasia would wonder, whether her child was alive or dead and where exactly she was. Seeing Anastasia¡¯s determined attitude, Monica tried to persuade her, ¡°Are you really ready to give up Herman? He¡¯s been nothing but devoted to you. Where are you going to find such a good husband? Anastasia, think it over, even if you want to confess, shouldn¡¯t you find the child first?¡± Monica thought, as long as Anastasia couldn¡¯t find the child, her marriage with Herman could still continue. At least maintaining it for a while was better than nothing. Going to find a child who was given up four years ago was undoubtedly like finding a needle in a haystack, it wasn¡¯t that easy. Maybe as time went by, Anastasia would give up. Monica¡¯s words made Anastasia hesitate. Every time she thought of Herman, she felt a pang in her heart. How could she give up Herman? Sensing Anastasia¡¯s hesitation, Monica seized the opportunity to say, ¡°Anastasia, this doesn¡¯t count as lying. You can confess after you find the child. If you rush to confess now, Herman won¡¯t believe it. Don¡¯t be impulsive, think it through.¡± Anastasia was silent for a long time; she should indeed find the child first. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org - ?. ¡°Monica, do you really have no clue about the whereabouts of the child?¡± Anastasia asked. Monica shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know the specifics. Salma took her. Salma is in the hospital because of her injury, so you better slow down.¡± Anastasia was suddenly aware of this important information, and her heart couldn¡¯t calm down for a while. If it wasn¡¯t for Salma¡¯s leg injury, she would have gone to find Salma after leaving the hospital for an exnation. That was her daughter, how could Salma just abandon her without her consent? Anastasia kept drinking. She was a lightweight, and after a few drinks, she was drunk. Anastasia wasn¡¯t the best drunk and acted quite differently than her usual self. Worried that Anastasia might spill the beans when she got home, Monica brought Anastasia back to her ce. After finishing his social obligations, Herman came home and found Anastasia wasn¡¯t there. So, he called Anastasia and Monica picked it up. Monica said, ¡°Anastasia is already asleep over here. She¡¯lle home tomorrow when she wakes up.¡± Herman bluntly said, ¡°Give me your address. I¡¯ll pick her up.¡± Chapter 216 Chapter 216 Chapter 216 Though Herman¡¯s tone was frosty, it had amanding undertone. Monica was unable to resist and had no choice but to send Herman the address. Forty minutester, the doorbell rang. Herman appeared at the door, asking, ¡°Where¡¯s Anastasia?¡± ¡°She¡¯s asleep in her room. You think I¡¯d whisk Anastasia away or somehow negatively influence her? You¡¯re wound up tight.¡± Monica was somewhat scared of Herman. Herman stepped into the room and rxed a bit when he saw that Anastasia was sound asleep. Softly exiting the room, Herman remarked, ¡°She¡¯s been a bit off today. You¡¯re her best friend. You need tofort her. Otherwise, she might get all twisted up.¡± Monica eyed Herman, his words giving her the impression that he knew something. ¡°You seem to know Anastasia quite well.¡± Monica said with augh, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Anastasia and I are tight. Her problems are my problems. She¡¯s probably just upset about Salma getting injured, nothing else.¡± Monica said this to prevent Herman from getting suspicious. Herman naturally didn¡¯t believe Monica¡¯s words, but chose not to press the matter. ¡°It¡¯ste and Anastasia¡¯s asleep. If you¡¯re worried, I can give you the master bedroom.¡± Monica said. ¡°Sure, thanks.¡± Herman epted without hesitation. Monica was just being polite, but Herman actually took her up on the offer. Monica nced at Herman¡¯s chiseled features and cautiously asked, ¡°Herman, when are you going to hold a wedding with Anastasia? Every girl dreams of wearing a wedding dress. You can¡¯t just get married on paper without a ceremony.¡± If someone else had asked this question, Herman might not have answered, but Monica was Anastasia¡¯s bestie, so it was a different story. Herman could tell that Monica genuinely cared for Anastasia. ¡°I had nned to propose to Anastasia on her birthday, but after her ident, that n got dyed.¡± Herman said, his voice tinged with regret, ¡°I¡¯ll pick another day to throw a grand wedding for Anastasia. My woman deserves a wedding, doesn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°Your words put me at ease.¡± Monica said, smiling as she watched Herman¡¯s affectionate demeanor. She decided to make a cup of coffee for him, ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to your wedding. And remember, you better not bully Anastasia. Otherwise, I won¡¯t let you off the hook, even if you are¡­¡± Realizing that she almost spilled the beans, Monica quickly corrected herself, ¡°Even if you are the most handsome man, I won¡¯t show mercy.¡± Herman smiled and said, ¡°You must¡¯ve figured out my identity after that incident at Blissful Beat. You¡¯ve been keeping it from Anastasia because you know her personality. Monica, Anastasia is really lucky to have a friend like you. Your friendship is truly enviable.¡± Monica, emboldened by Herman¡¯s honesty, no longer hid the truth, ¡°If I had known earlier that you already knew I had,discovered your secret, I wouldn¡¯t have held back. Indeed, I found out that you¡¯re the CEO of Elysian Technologies after seeing you at Blissful Beat. At first, I thought you were just fooling around with Anastasia. I was worried that Anastasia wouldn¡¯t be able to bear the pain of deception, so I¡¯ve been observing you from the shadows.¡± Herman smiled and said, ¡°It seems I¡¯ve passed your test.¡± This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Monicaughed awkwardly, quickly shifting to ttery, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, you¡¯re definitely the definition of a perfect husband. There¡¯s no other man as devoted and loving as you in this world. Anastasia is really lucky.¡± Herman simply smiled and didn¡¯tment. Curious, Monica asked, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, can you tell me why you chose Anastasia? Was it love at first sight?¡± Herman replied enigmatically, ¡°It¡¯s all about fate.¡± Though fate yed a part, Herman believed that love at first sight was also a factor. Chapter 217 Chapter 217 Chapter 217 In the evening, Herman didn¡¯t actually crash in Monica¡¯s bedroom. It was his upbringing and habit. He was also worried about Anastasia being alone here. So, he chose to hit the sack on the couch. If there was even a peep from Anastasia¡¯s bedroom, he¡¯d hear it. Monica bunked in the spare room, restless, worried Anastasia might spill some secrets in her sleep. She wasn¡¯t sure if Herman got. wind of anything. Not many people knew about Anastasia¡¯s secrets. Cason was behind bars, and Salma would surely button her lip. So, the chance of Herman knowing anything was slim. However, Monica remembered that Cason was locked up after he learned about Anastasia¡¯s secret. The only one capable of pulling that off, was Herman. If Cason made a move in desperation, would he spill the beans? Monica felt like she was getting a bad case of the jitters. She had a hunch that Herman might know something, but then again, it seemed impossible. If he truly knew something, how could he keep his cool? Anastasia held the bag and ate the food, asking, ¡°Don¡¯t you have to go to work today?¡± When Anastasia woke up, it was already daybreak. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Herman walking in with a takeout bag. She quickly realized this wasn¡¯t her bedroom and was taken aback. She soon remembered that she had gotten wasted with Monica and passed out. She was at the Franco¡¯s. ¡°Herman, what are you doing here?¡± Knowing how she could make a fool of herself when drunk, she asked nervously, ¡°When did you get here?¡± ¡°Last night.¡± Herman replied, ¡°I called you and Monica said you were here. I was worried, so I came over. I ordered some takeout for you, eat up and get some energy back.¡± Seeing Herman¡¯s kindness, Anastasia felt even more guilty. She was such a mess. How could she be good enough for Herman? Insecurity was creeping up on Anastasia, but she didn¡¯t show it. ¡°No rush.¡± Herman could tell Anastasia had something on her mind and said, ¡°Later you¡¯ll go visit your mother in the hospital, I¡¯ll drop you off, then head to work.¡± 22 3 E Salma was in the hospital, so of course she had to go. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. After finishing her meal, Anastasia found out Monica had gone to the beauty salon. She texted Monica and then left her ce. Herman dropped her off at the hospital to be with her mother. On the way, Anastasia kept her eyes glued on Herman, adoring him, not wanting to leave him, as if every additional nce at him was one less she¡¯d get. Herman knew she had something on her mind. He was waiting for her to open up, but when she didn¡¯t, as they reached the hospital, he couldn¡¯t hold back and said, ¡°Anastasia, we¡¯re married. If you¡¯re encountering any problems, we should face them together. ¡°I know.¡± Anastasia cut him off with augh, ¡°I¡¯m fine, you should get to work. You¡¯ve been taking time off and leaving early because of me; it must¡¯ve affected your work.¡± FE I Herman frowned but didn¡¯t say more, ¡°Call me if you need anything.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Anastasia said. Watching Anastasia enter the hospital, Herman finally started the car and headed towards Elysian Technologies. Once at the office, Herman had barely sat down when Flynn rushed in, looking serious, ¡°Herman, we¡¯ve got a situation. A woman came looking for you, iming to be your old me. I¡¯ve had someone show her to the meeting room.¡± Herman frowned slightly, ¡°Since when do I have an old me? Flynn, are you messing with me again?¡± Herman thought this was just one of Flynn¡¯s pranks. ¡°I¡¯m not messing with you. This is real. The woman is in the meeting room. She looks as innocent as theye, says everything started five years ago. She says you had a one-night stand with her.¡± Flynn said. Hearing ¡°five years ago¡±, Herman¡¯s expression froze, and he stood up abruptly. He also remembered what Collin had said before. He was drunk that day five years ago, and he couldn¡¯t remember what happened that night. But he had been having a erotic dream often over the years. Now a woman hade looking for him, Herman suddenly realized, something did happen that night. Chapter 218 Chapter 218 Chapter 218 Seeing Herman¡¯s reaction, Flynn asked curiously, ¡°Dude, don¡¯t tell me you actually had a one-night stand with that woman? If your wife finds out, you¡¯re toast.¡± Herman shot Flynn a cold nce and headed to the meeting room. He didn¡¯t walk in right away, but stood outside, watching the woman inside through the ss window for a bit. Just as Flynn had said, the woman looked innocent. She had neat bangs, long straight hair, and a pure-looking face. She was dressed in an orange dress and sat quietly. She gave off the vibe of the girl next door. Flynn added, ¡°Herman, she says her name is Kitty, she¡¯s 27 and works as a supermarket guide.¡± Herman furrowed his eyebrows deeply. He had no recollection of Kitty. But the woman in his dreams also had such beautiful hair. On that note, Kitty did seem to resemble the woman in his dreams. ¡°You wait here.¡± Herman said to Flynn, and then walked in alone. Flynn wanted to know more about this matter, but had no chance. Kitty had never been to such a luxuriouspany. She was nervous and a bit vain. She sat there, feeling like she owned the ce. She couldn¡¯t help but take out her phone, sneakily capturing the luxury of the meeting room, and then cautiously walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows to take a selfie, unting it on her social media ount. Everyone had a vain side, Kitty was no exception. This was a rare opportunity for her, to be in the room of a listedpany. These were all leather chairs. Those who could sit here for meetings were all high-ss people. Just after Kitty had posted the photo, the door to the room was pushed open. Herman walked in, looking handsome and cool. His presence was so powerful that it stunned her. Kitty¡¯s eyes widened. This was the first time she had seen such a handsome man. He was even more handsome than a movie star, with a strong presence, like a walking hormone. Kitty became more and more nervous. Her mind was in chaos. There weren¡¯t many women who wouldn¡¯t fall for such a handsome man. ¡°Ms. Kitty.¡± Herman said in a light tone, ¡®Please sit.¡± Kitty came back to her senses, blushing as she sat down, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, I am Kitty.¡± Herman sat in his swivel chair, looking at Kitty, and his dark eyes seemed to see right through her. Herman¡¯s fingers tapped on the table, coldly saying, ¡°Ms. Kitty, tell me why you¡¯re here.¡± Beforeing, Kitty had practiced many times how to talk to Herman. She had all her lines prepared, but now facing Herman, she was too nervous to speak. She was just a supermarket guide. How could she have ever met such a big shot? Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Because of this, Kitty¡¯s vanity was greatly satisfied. She had met the CEO of Elysian Technologies, enough to brag about for a lifetime. Herman¡¯s eyebrows furrowed unhappily, asking again, ¡°Ms. Kitty?¡± ¡°I have something to discuss with you.¡± Kitty plucked up courage, ¡°Five years ago, Mr. Salstrom got drunk in Neon Dreams, and that night, something happened between us.¡± Herman asked directly, ¡°What happened, can you tell me specifically?¡± Kitty was taken aback. She didn¡¯t expect Herman to be so direct, as most people could guess what had happened. Kitty hesitantly said, ¡°That night, we had sex.¡± Herman remained expressionless, his slender fingers stroking his chin, asking, ¡°And then?¡± Kitty felt very embarrassed, but faced with Herman¡¯s questioning, she continued, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, you were drunk that day. You were very strong and I was scared. After we were done, I left. I didn¡¯t know who you were at the time. I was young and very frightened. This happened a long time ago. Recently I heard from a friend who was at Neon Dreams that night say that the drunk man was Mr. Salstrom sol¡­¡± Herman calmly said, ¡°Came to ask forpensation?¡± ¡°No, no.¡± Kitty waved her hand, ¡°I never thought aboutpensation. I want to be your wife. You had sex with me, so you should be responsible. Mr. Salstrom, that was my first time. Other than you, I haven¡¯t been with any other men all these years. In fact, that night, I fell in love with you.¡± Hearing this, Herman sneered, ¡°Ms. Kitty, your demands are quite high.¡± Chapter 219 Chapter 219 Chapter 219 Kitty looked like she was about to burst into tears, totally upset, ¡®Mr. Salstrom, aren¡¯t you gonna take responsibility for me? I¡¯ve given myself to you. If you won¡¯t take responsibility, I might as well die.¡± Was she threatening him with her life? Well, that was interesting. Herman got up, walked over to the French windows, and opened one, ¡®Ms. Kitty, if you jump from here, you¡¯ll definitely die. It would fulfill your wish.¡± This was a skyscraper, jumping from here would definitely mean death. Kitty suddenly trembled. She didn¡¯t really want to die. She was so young, why would she want to die? Seeing Herman so cold, Kitty suddenly knelt on the ground and burst into tears, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, you can¡¯t be so cruel to me. I am your woman, and we¡¯ve been together. As a man, you should take responsibility and marry me.¡± Herman¡¯s eyes were dark. He unconsciously tapped on the window with his index finger, saying, ¡°Ms. Kitty, you have a crush on me, but If I need evidence to prove that your feelings for me are real. Jump from here. If you survive, even if you¡¯re disabled, I¡¯ll marry you. you die, I¡¯ll bury you in the Salstrom family graveyard.¡± Kitty¡¯s face turned extremely pale. She wanted to be alive as Herman¡¯s wife, not a dead woman. Thinking of that person¡¯s instructions, Kitty wiped away her tears, mustered up her courage, and said, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, I¡¯m willing to do anything for you.¡± With that, Kitty stood up, trembling, and walked towards the window. She took a look down, her legs went weak, and she instinctively. took two steps back. Herman grabbed her hand, pulled her back, and forced her to jump, ¡°Let¡¯s see how determined you are to be my wife. It¡¯s not that easy to get the position.¡± Fear filled Kitty¡¯s eyes. She hunched her shoulders and closed her eyes, not daring to look down. Herman chuckled coldly, ¡°You¡¯re so timid? And you dare to lie to me in my face? Tell me, who sent you?¡± He pushed Kitty away, and she sat on the floor, scared out of her wits. That person hadn¡¯t told her Herman was so terrifying. Kitty wouldn¡¯t stop crying. Flynn watched from outside. The soundproof ss was effective, and he couldn¡¯t hear the conversation inside. But when he saw Kitty trembling with fear, he sighed. She was asking for trouble. Why did she have to mess with Herman? ¡°Mr. Salstrom, I didn¡¯t lie to you. Five years ago, you and I were together. You have a mole on your buttocks, I remember.¡± As Kitty cried, she continued, ¡°You were so strong that night, it hurt me. I was terrified, so I didn¡¯t dare to expose what happened between us. All these years, I¡¯ve been wanting to see you again.¡± Hearing Kitty mention such intimate details, Herman¡¯s expression became serious. Such private details were only known by his mother Owned by N?velDrama.Org. and his wife. Kitty started describing that wild night. She detailed the whole process, even including what Herman said, and how he undressed step by step. Herman didn¡¯t have much memory left, he almost couldn¡¯t recall that night, so he couldn¡¯t confirm Kitty¡¯s words. Kitty cried with desperation, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, you promised to marry me. You said you¡¯d be responsible for me. But after that night, you disappeared.¡± Herman¡¯s brows furrowed, his face dark. He looked down at Kitty, his voice cold, ¡°I¡¯ll give you half a million. Leave Riverdale,and disappear from my sight. Let¡¯s call it quits for what happened five years ago.¡± Herman signed a check and threw it on the ground, ¡°Any bank will cash it, now get out of my sight.¡± Kitty stared nkly at Herman, the half-million check thrown on the ground seemed like it fell from the sky. She had never seen so much money in her life. Half a millionpared to the countless wealth Herman had, any smart person would know what to choose. Just that, even with money, life wasn¡¯t guaranteed. Chapter 220 Chapter 220 Chapter 220 Herman didn¡¯t want to get tangled up with Kitty any further. He left a check and walked out of the room with an air of indifference. Flynn called after him, ¡°Herman, wait up.¡± Keeping a poker face, Herman said, ¡°You deal with it.¡± ¡°How do I deal with it?¡± Flynn said with a bitter smile, ¡°She¡¯s a woman, I can¡¯t just kick her out harshly. Did you or did you not¡­?¡± Herman shot him a sharp look and said irritably, ¡°I can¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s not good.¡± Flynn said, ¡°If it¡¯s true, my sister-inw won¡¯t just let it slide. She¡¯ll be super pissed. She won¡¯t punish you, will she?¡± Herman nced back at the room where Kitty was and said, ¡°You better investigate this woman thoroughly. If everything she says is true, give her some more money to make her leave. If she¡¯s lying, find out who¡¯s backing her.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying Kitty is a pawn?¡± Flynn asked. ¡°A grocery store cashier wouldn¡¯t have the balls to pull off something like this.¡± Herman said coldly, ¡°This woman is greedy and vain. This is going to be a bit of a headache.¡± Flynn muttered, ¡°If I bumped into a rich guy, I¡¯d stick to him like a leech too.¡± Herman left the matter to Flynn to handle. He didn¡¯t quite trust anyone else with it, and he himself didn¡¯t want to have anything more to do with Kitty. If Anastasia found out, she¡¯d definitely be upset and give him an earful. It was only after Herman had left that Flynn went into the room. Before he could say anything, Kitty handed him the check saying, ¡°Sir, I don¡¯t want this check. Please return it to Mr. Herman.¡± Flynn was taken aback, ¡°Ms. Kitty, this money is enough for you to livefortably. You might never earn this much in your life. Are you saying you want more?¡± Kitty shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t want money, I want to be Mr. Salstrom¡¯s wife. If he doesn¡¯t believe me, I¡¯m willing to sign a prenup. I won¡¯t ask him for a penny.¡± Flynn chuckled and said, ¡°So you¡¯re not after my brother¡¯s money. Are you after his personality then?¡± Kitty felt slightly embarrassed. She lowered her head and said, ¡°I only like Mr. Salstrom. If he doesn¡¯t want to take responsibility for me, then I don¡¯t want to live.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been living just fine without my brother for all these years. Why is it that now you¡¯ve found him, you can¡¯t live without him?¡± Flynn was good at arguing. Kitty felt ashamed, ¡°I know you look down on me, I¡¯m just a grocery store cashier. But Mr. Salstrom and I had a one-night stand, and he should take responsibility.¡± Seeing that he couldn¡¯t reason with Kitty, Flynn said, ¡°Where do you live? I¡¯ll take you home. My brother is having a meeting. Now that you know where he is, you don¡¯t have to worry about him running off.¡± No matter what, he had to get Kitty out of there. If things got out of hand, it would be impossible to clean up the mess. At the hospital. Anastasia was taking care of the injured Salma,pletely unaware of what was happening with Herman. Cynthia and Gianna had left after visiting Salma in the morning. Anastasia didn¡¯t really have much to do as Herman had hired a nurse to take care of Salma. Most of the work was taken care of by the nurse. All Anastasia had to do was keep Salmapany at the hospital. When it was time for lunch, Anastasia said to Salma, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m going to get some food. Just call the nurse if you need anything.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Salma said. Salma had injured her left leg and couldn¡¯t walk. She had to rest in bed. Not long after Anastasia had left, Salma felt someone enter the room. She turned her head to see who it was and her face immediately fell. Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. The visitor was none other than Tavon. He walked in, a bouquet of flowers and some expensive gifts in hand, with a smile on his face, ¡°Salma, I heard you hurt your leg and came to see how you¡¯re doing. Are you feeling better?¡±. Upon seeing Tavon, Salma¡¯s face turned cold, ¡°Don¡¯t pretend to care, get out.¡± ¡°Salma, I genuinely care about you. These are your favorite flowers.¡± Tavon said shamelessly and sat down. He suddenly started Chapter 221 Chapter 221 Chapter 221 Tavon¡¯s emotional onught was really doing a number this time. Could anyone me Salma for being moved as she reminisced about their love affair? After all, Tavon was her one and only man, the father of Anastasia. Salma had been on standby for Tavon for over two decades, never forgetting him. As Salma fell silent, recalling the past, Tavon continued his romantic spiel, hoping Salma would feel the same. ¡°Salma, I remember our first date, we went hiking on Cloud Mountain. You twisted your ankle and I carried you up. We spent two days up there, watching the sea of clouds and the sunrise. I proposed, and you said yes.¡± Tavon said, his voice filled with emotion, ¡°Time flies, we¡¯re getting old now. Salma, I really wanted to marry you back then. If it wasn¡¯t for my family pushing me, I would never have married Ashley.¡± Two decades earlier, Tavon had no im to the family inheritance. He was genuinely in love with Salma, wanting to spend his life with her, but his family disagreed. They even cut off his credit card, a blow to Tavon who was used to afortable lifestyle. Salma remembered the shame of being kicked out by the Morton family, the most humiliating moment of her life. Salma, feeling a sharp pain in her heart, asked, ¡°Where were you when I was forced by your family to have an abortion? Tavon, it¡¯s been over two decades. If you had any pity for me, why did you wait until now to find me?¡± ¡°I thought you got married, Salma. I didn¡¯t know you were waiting for me. I refused to marry Ashley to rebel against my family. I was even locked up by them for three months. Then, my mom told me youThis belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. got married. I thought it was true, I was so disappointed that I married Ashley.¡± Tavon said. ¡°So what was that breakup letter about?¡± Salma asked, feeling a little moved by Tavon¡¯s words. ¡°I never wrote any letter.¡± Tayon seized the moment, took Salma¡¯s hand and said passionately, ¡°That was my mother, forging my handwriting. Salma, I¡¯ve never forgotten you, all these years. I still think of our time together every day.¡± Recalling the past, Salma was tearful. Any woman, regardless of age, could be moved by a man¡¯s deep love. Tavon had obviouslye prepared this time. He took out a share transfer agreement from his bag and handed it to Salma, ¡°Salma, these are shares of mypany. Ana is my daughter, and she has her share. I¡¯ve divided the shares into three parts. As my eldest daughter, Ana will get thergest portion. I¡¯ve prepared a house in Willowbrook for Ana. Once you¡¯re recovered, I¡¯ll take you both to live there.¡± This time, Tavon-was all in. Seeing the share transfer document and hearing about the house Tavon had prepared for her and her daughter, Salma was deeply moved. Tavon made no mention of asking Anastasia for a bone marrow donation, instead focusing on their past. Salma¡¯s hands trembled as she touched the share transfer document, thinking of the house Tavon had prepared for her and her daughter. Despite this, she remained clear-headed, ¡°Tavon, are you trying to exchange these for my daughter¡¯s bone marrow?¡± ¡°Salma, you¡¯ve misunderstood. I have no intention of doing that.¡± Tavon exined, ¡°I asked for Ana¡¯s help for Sandy because it was urgent. Now, Sandy¡¯s condition is under control and I¡¯ve found other suitable bone marrow donors. We don¡¯t need Ana¡¯s bone marrow anymore. This is my sincerity, please ept it.¡± Salma still felt uneasy. She didn¡¯t know whether to trust Tavon or not. Seeing that Salma hadn¡¯tpletely forgiven him, Tavon changed the subject with a smile, ¡°Salma, I met Ana¡¯s husbandst time. What does he do, what¡¯s his name?¡± Chapter 222 Chapter 222 Chapter 222 Tavon wanted to show Salma how much he cared for their daughter. Salma loved Anastasia dearly. Only when she saw his genuine care for Anastasia would she even consider forgiving him. Surprised, Salma asked, ¡°Have you seen Anastasia and her husband privately?¡± Anastasia had kept her meeting with Tavon a secret from Salma.. With a chuckle, Tavon replied, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve seen her. You¡¯ve raised Anastasia well, Salma. She even asked for child support from me, not a lot though. I gave her 280,000, but she only took 140,000. Anastasia is smart and decisive. She¡¯d do a brilliant job if she could help me run thepany.¡± Tavon¡¯s praises for Anastasia warmed Salma¡¯s heart and filled her with pride. As for the child support, Salma was clueless. However, she knew Anastasia always had a reason for her actions and she wouldn¡¯t question her. Upon hearing Tavon¡¯s intention to bring Anastasia into thepany, Salma was taken aback, ¡°Are you willing to let Anastasia join yourpany?¡± ¡°She¡¯s my daughter. She should inherit my business. Plus, she¡¯s incredibly talented. I can¡¯t let such talent go to waste. I want her to help me run the vineyard, and take over sooner.¡± Tavon said. Holding Salma¡¯s hand, Tavon said, ¡°Salma, I couldn¡¯t make decisions before, but now I can. I have to bring Anastasia back to the Morton family. I owe you that. I know you¡¯ve been waiting for me.¡± Over the years, Salma had been waiting for Tavon, hoping that Anastasia could see him as her father. Salma was a traditionalist. Once she chose someone, she would stand by him. As Tavon¡¯s daughter, it was only right for Anastasia to live with him. Tavon¡¯s sincere repentance made Salma¡¯s heart waver ¡°Salma, think about it, and please talk to Anastasia for me. She¡¯s stubborn and only listens to you.¡± Worried about Anastasia¡¯s return, Tavon didn¡¯t dare stay long. ¡°Get some rest, I¡¯lle see you tomorrow I¡¯m staying at a nearby hotel, here¡¯s my number, call me anytime.¡± Salma¡¯s heart had been quiet for over 20 years, but Tavon¡¯s return stirred up her emotions. If Tavon had been gentle to her from the start, she wouldn¡¯t be so angry. Women were naturally soft hearted. If a man sweet talked them, they could hardly resist his requests. Salma had been deceived by Tavon¡¯s sweet nothings all her life, and now she found herself falling for him again. After Tavon left, Salma hid the stock transfer documents under her pillow. She was afraid that Anastasia would see them, and she couldn¡¯t tell her about the house yet, knowing Anastasia too well. As soon as Tavon left, Anastasia came back with lunch, ¡°Mom, I got us some food. I¡¯ll eat with you. Herman¡¯s aunt heard about your injury and wanted to visit, but I think you can be discharged tomorrow, so I didn¡¯t let here.¡± Salma could recover from her injury at home. Anastasia set up a small table on the bed andid out the lunch, ¡°You have to stay with me this time. You need someone to take care of you with your leg in this state. I haven¡¯t started work yet, so I can take care of you at home.¡± Salma couldn¡¯t find a reason to refuse this time, ¡°I¡¯ll move back once my injury heals.¡± Anastasia sighed, ¡°Mom, do you feel ufortable living with me and my husband? You haven¡¯t even moved in and you¡¯re already nning to leave.¡± Salma replied, ¡°We old folks have a different lifestyle from you young folks. You two should live your lives. I¡¯d only be in the way at your ce.¡± Anastasia couldn¡¯t convince Salma, and handed her a fork, ¡°Eat first, then I¡¯ll take you for a walk downstairs.¡± Just as Salma was about to eat, she remembered what Tavon said, hesitated, and asked, ¡°Ana, do you want to return to the Morton family?¡± Hearing this, Anastasia¡¯s face turned serious, ¡°Did Tavone to see you?¡± Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Only then did Anastasia notice the gifts and flowers under the bed. ¡°Mom, did he sweet talk you again?¡±Anastasia spoke calmly, without any usation. As their child, it was not her ce toment on her parents¡¯ actions. Looking at Anastasia¡¯s expression, Salma said, ¡°Your father dide. He wants you to return to the Morton family and help manage the vineyard. Sandy¡¯s illness is under control. They have time to look for other suitable donors.¡± ¡°What if they don¡¯t find one?¡± Anastasia looked at Salma, ¡°If I go back to the Morton family, he¡¯ll cate me first, then when the timees, he¡¯ll ask me to help Sandy in the name of family. He¡¯ll say I have to do the bone marrow transnt. If I refuse, he¡¯ll use.me of not caring about family. What should I do then?¡± Chapter 223 Chapter 223 Chapter 223 When Anastasia said this, Salma felt very uneasy inside. ¡°Your dad wouldn¡¯t do that.¡± Salma said, ¡°You¡¯re his daughter. He¡¯s already said that he¡¯s got a house for you in Willowbrook. He¡¯s giving you shares in hispany and wants you toe help manage the biz. He wants to train you up.¡± To make Anastasia believe, Salma showed her the shares transfer document she had hidden under her pillow. Looking at her mother, Anastasia only felt pain in her heart but she knew she couldn¡¯t be angry. Her mother was already old, yet she was still being fooled by Tavon. So what if Tavon gave her a house? She didn¡¯t pay for it. The house Tavon gifted could be taken back on a whim. And the shares transfer document seemed like a nk check, which Tavon could also reim at any time. It was just some meaningless sweetener. Anastasia retorted, ¡°Mom, do you want me to go back to my dad?¡± Salma hesitated for a moment and said, ¡°Tavon is your father, that¡¯s a fact that can¡¯t be changed. If he sincerely repents and epts you, then my years of suffering would have been worth it.¡± Anastasia understood. Her mother had never forgotten Tavon and still held illusions about him. After more than twenty years of persistence, how could her mother easily let go? ¡°Mom, you rest first. We can watch and see if Tavon really repent¡¯s for a while.¡± Anastasia said. Anastasia didn¡¯t believe Tavon would repent. This was just his performance. She didn¡¯t want to say too much. She didn¡¯t want to make her mother sad. Anastasia¡¯sck of reaction puzzled Salma, but she didn¡¯t Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. say anything more. After Salma finished her meal, Anastasia cleared the table and wiped Salma¡¯s hands. After all this was done, Anastasia poured water for Salma. Seeing Anastasia busy, Salma felt that she seemed to have something on her mind and asked, ¡°Ana, is there something you want to say?¡± Salma knew her daughter well. Anastasia had been looking for an opportunity to ask her mother about the child. Hearing her mother ask proactively, Anastasia sat down, looked at her mother, and nervously wrung her hands, ¡°Mom, there¡¯s something I want to ask you. I was going to wait until you were discharged.¡± Salma was puzzled, ¡°What is it, just say it.¡± Anastasia looked at her mother seriously, ¡°It¡¯s about the baby.¡± Upon hearing this, Salma had a premonition. Her expression became serious and she sat upright, ¡°What baby? Pattie?¡± Salma deliberately asked this way. Seeing Salma still wanting to continue hiding, Anastasia decided to speak directly, ¡°I¡¯ve found Monica, she told me everything. Mom, thought about it all night, I don¡¯t me you for sending the baby away. I know how hard you¡¯ve had it raising me alone all these years. I understand you only did it out of love for your own daughter, but I also care for my own daughter.¡± At this point, Anastasia became emotional. Her eyes were teary and a sadness welled up from her heart, spreading, to her eyes. ¡°Mom, can you tell me where my daughter is? Where did you leave her? Do you have a picture of her? I haven¡¯t even seen her.¡± Anatasia kept asking questions. Her daughter, she hadn¡¯t even seen her once. She didn¡¯t even know what her daughter¡¯s life had been like all these years, whether she was doing well or taken care of by anyone. When Anastasia spoke, Salma was already in tears, wiping her tears and saying, ¡°Ana, I¡¯m sorry, I owe you an apology.¡± Anastasia held Salma¡¯s hand tightly, shaking her head with tears streaming down her face, ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t me you, I just want to find my daughter now. Tell me, where did you put her? The head of Rainbow Haven came to me, she said there¡¯s no record of this child, so where did my daughter go?¡± Salma finally fully understood how Anastasia knew about this. Anastasia didn¡¯t slip. regain her memory, it was Rose who inadvertently let it Salma wiped her tears guiltily, ¡°Ana, I also don¡¯t know. I left the baby at the door of the orphanage back then. But when I asked the headmaster, they hadn¡¯t taken in any girls at that time. I don¡¯t know where the child is now.¡± Salma¡¯s words left Anastasia in despair. Thest clue was gone. Salma said, ¡°Your daughter might have been found and taken away by someone passing by. It was dark, the door of the orphanage was closed. Maybe someone passing by took her. The baby was beautiful and healthy. If she met kind people, they would surely take good care of her.¡± Her daughter was taken away by someone passing by. There were so many people in the world, how could she find her daughter? Chapter 224 Chapter 224 Chapter 224 ¡°Ana, I really regret it, I¡¯m sorry. Back then, I thought you were still so young, I couldn¡¯t let a kid hold you back.¡± Salma said, beating herself up, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault.¡± Then, Salma pulled out a photo from her phone, ¡°This is the kid, take a look.¡± Hearing that it was a photo of her daughter, Anastasia immediately took the phone, and looking at the child in the photo, her sadness and guilt surged uncontrobly. The photo was the one Salma took when the child was just born, a tiny face, hands, and feet, simply too cute. ¡°This is my daughter.¡± Anastasia murmured. She was extremely emotional, her hand shaking slightly as she stroked the phone screen. Most newborns looked pretty simr, and a baby¡¯s appearance changed every day, making big changes within just a year. Looking at the photo, Anastasia couldn¡¯t imagine what her daughter looked like now. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Salma also stared at the photo, saying, ¡°The kid should be four and a half years old. I have no idea what she looks like now.¡± Anastasia covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face. Looking at her daughter¡¯s photo, she felt a strong urge to hold her. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve never held her, named her, bought her a dress, or even fed her.¡± Anastasia had so many regrets. This was her child after all. Maternal love was so strong, even after losing her memory, just seeing her daughter¡¯s photo made Anastasia emotional, Salma wiped away her tears, trying topose herself, ¡°Ana, think this through. If you go find her now, how will you exin her existence to your husband? I¡¯ve kept this from you, only hoping you could live a happy life.¡± ¡°Monica said the same thing to me, mom. No matter what Herman decides, I must find my daughter. Only when she¡¯s back with me, growing up in front of my eyes, will I be at peace.¡± Anastasia took a deep breath, ¡°I don¡¯t want to live with regret for the rest of my life.¡± Salma understood Anastasia¡¯s feelings, sighing, ¡°It¡¯s all fate. We have our own hard luck.¡± Back in the day, Salma couldn¡¯t bear to abort the child, so she became a single mother for over twenty years, all to avoid lifetime regret. Just as Tavon returned to the hotel, Ashley immediately asked, ¡°Where have you been for so long? You haven¡¯t seen your ex for over twenty years. Are you thinking of getting back with her?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who told me to go see her? Why are you getting jealous now?¡± Tavon took off his coat, seriously saying, ¡°I¡¯m doing this for Sandy.¡± Hearing it was for their daughter, Ashley didn¡¯t press any further, only reminding him, ¡°Just remember, your wife for life is me. I won¡¯t stand for my husband cheating with another woman.¡± ¡°Salma¡¯s old now. Her face is all wrinkles. She¡¯s not as pretty as you. I feel nothing when I see her. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Tavon held Ashley¡¯s shoulders, sweet-talking her, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for Sandy, I wouldn¡¯t even go see her.¡± Hearing this, Ashley was very pleased. Tavon indeed had a way with women. Compared to Salma, Ashley was full of confidence in herself. These years, she had invested a lot of money in facial care, keeping herself well maintained. Compared to Salma, who worked a regr job, there was no contest. Tavon also enjoyed this feeling of being fought over by women. Ashley¡¯s mood improved, and her attitude softened. She asked, ¡°How was Salma¡¯s attitude towards you today?¡± ¡°I put the equity transfer document in front of her, and told her I¡¯ve got a house prepared for her and Anastasia. Her attitude has improved significantly, I believe she will agree toe back to Willowbrook with us soon.¡± Tavon said, ¡°Once we¡¯re in Willowbrook, things will be much easier.¡± Ashley sneered, I knew she¡¯s a vain woman. She was attracted to your wealth back then, but pretended to love you. Now you house, and she immediately changes her tune. Once all this is over, I¡¯m taking back that house, it¡¯s for Sandy.¡± Chapter 225 Chapter 225 Chapter 225 Ashley would never let Tavon give a penny to Anastasia and her mom. All the money must be left to her own children. Tavon said, ¡°I¡¯m well aware. Anastasia doesn¡¯t have much affection for me as a father. I don¡¯t expect her to do anything for this family. I just hope she can save Sandy. I¡¯ll give her some money then, and that¡¯s the best I can do.¡± ¡°You¡¯re giving them too much no matter how much it is. She¡¯s your daughter, and you have the right to ask her to donate bone marrow to Sandy,¡± Ashley said sarcastically. ¡°You gave them moneyst time. If you give them money again, I¡¯ll be very angry. You better watch out.¡± This was a typical case of wanting to get Anastasia¡¯s bone marrow without paying the corresponding price. ¡°I won¡¯t give her any more money. I¡¯ll listen to you.¡± Tavon was a bit fed up with Ashley¡¯s nagging. He just wanted to end the topic. ¡°There¡¯s a lot to deal with in the vineyard every day. I need to call my secretary now to arrange some work.¡± Night fell. It was seven o¡¯clock when Anastasia left the hospital. She stood at the hospital gate and called Herman. Soon, the call was answered. Anastasia heard some noise on the other end of the phone, but it soon quieted down. She asked, ¡°Are you busy?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m out seeing clients today.¡± Herman walked to a quiet ce, checked the time, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll be home by ten o¡¯clock tonight.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t want to go home alone, so she asked, ¡°Where are you?¡± Herman chuckled on the phone and joked, ¡°Darling, is this your way of testing my loyalty?¡± Anastasiaughed. ¡°I miss you. Where are you? I¡¯ll take a cab over, and we can go home together.¡± She had made up her mind, and Anastasia knew her marriage with Herman would notst long, so she wanted to cherish every moment. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to have you pick me up from work.¡± Herman¡¯s mellow voice came. ¡°I¡¯ll send you the address. Let me know when you get here.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After hanging up, Anastasia received the address from Herman and took a cab there. The ce where Herman was entertaining people was Neon Dreams, next to the previous ¨¦clipse Lounge. A few years ago, Herman was drugged by Collin and others in this club, and his memory became blurred afterward. When Anastasia arrived at the entrance of Neon Dreams and saw the sign at the door, a sense of familiarity came over her. She felt as if she had been here before, although it was her first time. She stood at the entrance in a daze but couldn¡¯t remember when she had been here. She couldn¡¯t afford to spend time at such an upscale ce. Maybe she had seen simr ces on the inte or TV shows, and that¡¯s why she felt familiar. Anastasia didn¡¯t think too much about it. She walked in, and the lobby manager immediately came up to greet her enthusiastically. ¡°Ma¡¯am, do you have a reservation, or would you like me to arrange something for you?¡± Anastasia smiled and waved her hand. ¡°No need, I¡¯ll just sit in the lobby. I¡¯m waiting for someone.¡± The lobby manager nodded. ¡°Alright, this way, please.¡± Even if you didn¡¯t spend money here, as long as you walked through the door, you would be treated as a VIP guest and wouldn¡¯t face any discrimination. That was quality service. Anastasia sat in the lobby¡¯s resting area, and the lobby manager immediately had lemon water brought over. Anastasia quickly said, ¡°Thank you, you guys are really hospitable.¡± *Please enjoy.¡± Anastasia asked, ¡°How much is this lemon water? I¡¯ll pay for it.¡± ¡°This isplimentary, no need to pay.¡± Anastasia immediately sighed, the service at upscale ces really was different from ordinary ces. They truly made guests feel at home. Anastasia sent a message to Herman. [I¡¯m here. Don¡¯t worry about me waiting. Finish your stuff first.] Herman, who was in the VIP box, saw the message and smiled involuntarily. He replied. [Okay.] Then he said to the bank¡¯s president sitting across from him, ¡°My wife is here. We may need to speed things up.¡± Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. The presidentughed. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you¡¯re very devoted to your wife and spoil her a lot. I heard you recently stayed at the hospital to take care of her, which is really admirable. I¡¯ve only heard your wife¡¯s name, but I haven¡¯t seen her yet. I¡¯m really curious, Mr. Salstrom, wouldn¡¯t you introduce us?¡± Herman raised his ss. ¡°I¡¯ll invite you to my house in the future if there¡¯s a chance.¡± Anastasia had been feeling down these past few days, and Herman didn¡¯t want to put pressure on her by having her deal with these business activities. ¡°Alright, it seems you treasure your wife very much. I guess your wife must be a beauty,¡± the president said with a smile. ¡°Cheers.¡± Chapter 226 Chapter 226 Chapter 226 Anastasia parked her butt in the lounge area of Neon Dreams, waiting for Herman. She whipped out her phone and started googling recent news on Rainbow Haven, hoping to dig up any dirt on her daughter. Just then, two gals sashayed in through the entrance, chatting and giggling. One of them, a curly- haired babe, spotted Anastasia in the lounge and froze like a deer in headlights. ¡°What¡¯s up? Hurry up, if the man¡¯s kept waiting, he¡¯ll blow a gasket,¡± the other woman chirped. ¡°I think I recognize that gal over there, but I¡¯m not sure,¡± the curly-haired woman said, squinting at Anastasia. ¡°Hold your horses, I¡¯ll go check her out.¡± As she approached Anastasia, she gave her a once-over and asked tentatively, ¡°Are you¡­Anastasia?¡± Anastasia looked up at the woman, a puzzled look on her face. ¡°Do I know you?¡± She didn¡¯t have a clue who this woman was. Hearing Anastasia¡¯s response, the woman let out a chuckle and took a seat. ¡°I¡¯m Melinda, don¡¯t you remember? It¡¯s been five years since west saw each other. You¡¯re still as young and pretty as ever, not a day older. But me, I¡¯ve aged a lot, so you probably can¡¯t recognize me.¡± ¡°Melinda?¡± Anastasia couldn¡¯t recall when she¡¯d made a friend named Melinda. She took a closer look at Melinda, who appeared to be in herte twenties. Despite the chilly weather, she was wearing a sexy, skin-tight dress and reeked of strong perfume. Her makeup was heavy, making her look like a hooker from Neon Dreams. ¡°I¡¯m Melinda, seriously, you don¡¯t remember? Five years ago, right here in Neon Dreams, you helped me out of a bind. Mr. Winchester was forcing me to drink. You saved me from a spiked drink. I¡¯ve never forgotten your kindness.¡± If it weren¡¯t for Anastasia¡¯s help that day, Melinda probably wouldn¡¯t have remembered her. Mr. Winchester was known to be a lecherous and perverted man. Melinda had been abused by him and almost lost her life. She was terrified of him. She thought she was trapped, but then Anastasia stepped in and got her out of the hot water. ¡°I¡¯ve been here before?¡± Anastasia couldn¡¯t remember a thing. Seeing Anastasia¡¯s confusion, Melinda asked, ¡°Anastasia, you really don¡¯t remember?¡± Anastasia shook her head and said half-jokingly, ¡°I had a head injury a few years ago, so there are some things I can¡¯t remember. But when I walked in here, the entrance did look vaguely familiar.¡± ¡°No wonder. After you were taken away by him, I looked for you all night, but then you were gone. I thought something bad had happened to you. I¡¯ve been feeling guilty all these years. Now that I see you¡¯re ok, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief.¡± Anastasia¡¯s heart pounded. She drank a spiked drink and was taken away¡¯ by that man. That was five years ago¡­ Her blood ran cold as the pieces fell into ce. Could it be that the child was hers and Mr. Winchester¡¯s? Anastasia pressed Melinda, ¡°What happened after he took me away that night?¡± Melinda hesitated before saying, ¡°I really don¡¯t know. You were drunk at the time, I¡¯m afraid¡­ I¡¯m afraid¡­ Anastasia, really, I¡¯m so grateful to you. If it weren¡¯t for your help, I probably wouldn¡¯t be here right now.¡± Hearing this, Anastasia felt like her heart was encased in ice. ¡°Melinda, what¡¯s his name, where does he live?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either. Mr. Winchester went bankrupt the year after that incident and disappeared. We¡¯re just small fries. How would we know about such things?¡± This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Just then, Melinda¡¯s friend called out, ¡°Melinda, hurry up, your client¡¯s getting impatient.¡± ¡°I¡¯ming,¡± Melinda responded, then turned to Anastasia and said, ¡°Anastasia, let¡¯s exchange contact info. I¡¯ll treat you to a meal sometime, I really owe you one.¡± Anastasia was still lost in thought about this Mr. Winchester, her face a nk mask. They added each other¡¯s contacts, and then Melinda left with her friend. Anastasia sat on the couch, a frown creasing her forehead as she rubbed her face. Suddenly, a deep voice sounded from above her. ¡°Excuse me, miss. Can I sit here?¡± Chapter 227 Chapter 227 Chapter 227 Anastasia lifted her head and spotted Herman standing behind her, hands propped on the back of the couch, smiling at her. Quicklyposing herself, she asked, ¡°All done with your stuff?¡± Herman took a seat next to her, replying, ¡°I¡¯ve handed off the rest to my colleagues. Couldn¡¯t keep my wife waiting. She might get all sorts of ideas.¡± This swanky club offered certain¡­ special services. Melinda, who¡¯d just shown up, was one of the special service providers. Anastasia hadn¡¯t experienced it firsthand, but she knew. So Melinda¡¯s words earlier had thrown her off a bit. Knowing Melinda, being in this ce, with Mr. Winchester around¡­ all easily led to all sorts of assumptions. Had she ever been in this line of work? She found it hard to believe. No matter how poor or how starving she was, she would never choose this line of work. Forcing a smile, Anastasia asked, ¡°You guys always conduct business in ces like this?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t lie,¡± Herman answered honestly. ¡°Ie here often. But I promise you, I¡¯d never do anything to betray you. You¡¯re wee to check up on me anytime.¡± Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. This made Anastasiaugh. ¡°I trust you.¡± If she couldn¡¯t trust the man who¡¯d been with her through thick and thin, then she couldn¡¯t trust anyone. Her life was saved by Herman, plucked right out of Cloud Mountain. Otherwise, she would¡¯ve died in that car ident. Herman took Anastasia¡¯s hand, asking, ¡°Why are your hands so cold?¡± After saying this, he draped his coat over her. ¡°You just got out of the hospital, can¡¯t catch a cold now. Let¡¯s go home.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Anastasia melted in his warmth, her heart warming up too. She often thought how lucky she was to have met a guy like Herman. Herman led her out of Neon Dreams. Nelson had already gotten the message and had Herman¡¯s Chevy waiting in the Neon Dreams parking lot. Herman told Anastasia, ¡°Wait here for a sec. I¡¯ll bring the car around.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Anastasia stood still, waiting. Herman headed for the parking lot to get the car, and Nelson was waiting by the car. ¡°Mr. Salstrom.¡± Herman held out his hand. ¡°Keys.¡± Nelson handed over the keys quickly, and Herman instructed, ¡°Stay here, send the president home later, and treat him well.¡± ¡°No worries, Mr. Salstrom. It¡¯ll be taken care of,¡± Nelson assured. Herman got in the car and drove over to pick up Anastasia. Instead of taking Anastasia straight home, he drove to a small restaurant nearby. ¡°Let¡¯s have some hot soup to warm you up. You¡¯ll sleep better when we get home.¡± Anastasia hadn¡¯t really had dinner yet, so she was a bit hungry. They walked into the restaurant, and Herman ordered two servings of pasta and a bowl of thick soup. Anastasia looked around the almost empty restaurant. ¡°This ce used to be packed.¡± Herman told Anastasia, ¡°The economy¡¯s been rough these past couple of years. International turmoil has hit us at home. A lot of brick-and-mortars have gone under. Restaurants are the hardest hit.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t really know much about international economics, but she knew enough about the price changes for basic necessities. ¡°Yeah, meat prices have gone up a lot this year. Gas prices have spiked a few times too. If this keeps up, I won¡¯t dare to drive anymore. Now I¡¯m kinda g?ad my car got totaled in an ident. At least I can save some money on gas.¡± Herman chuckled, yfully flicking her forehead with his index finger, ¡°Such an innocent girl. You were in the hospital for two months, and all you thought about was saving on gas, never mind the pain your body¡¯s been through.¡± While speaking, he served Anastasia some soup. Anastasia gave a smallugh. Seeing all this, she was deeply moved. Love is shown in the smallest details of life. Herman¡¯s kindness made her feel so emotional. Anastasia took a sip of the soup, then in a light-hearted manner, said, ¡°I heard the honeymoon period onlysts a year. In the second year of marriage, couples start to get bored. If they have a kid, maybe they can hold on to the marriage¡­¡± Her hand was suddenly grasped tightly by him, his dark eyes staring intently at her, and then he said seriously, ¡°You can¡¯t be this insecure.¡± Chapter 228 Chapter 228 Chapter 228 Anastasia once had high hopes for her marriage. She¡¯d even nned to have two kids with Herman, a boy, and a girl, and they¡¯d live the perfect family life. On weekdays, the kids would be at school, and they¡¯d be at work. Then on weekends, they¡¯d go for family outings, and would take walks in the park after dinner. Anastasia liked this peaceful life, and she¡¯d leave the kids¡¯ education to Herman because she was worried her temper would affect their rtionship. She wanted their son to learn Taekwondo, and their daughter to learn dance and painting. Anastasia had nned their family life up until the kids went to college. But now, all these dreams were shattered because she was diagnosed as infertile, and an incident five years ago broke everything. ¡°Anastasia, you can tell me anything that bothers you.¡± Herman¡¯s voice pulled Anastasia back from her thoughts. She forced a smile and said, ¡°Indeed, there are some things. I just haven¡¯t figured out how to tell you. Can you give me some more time?¡± Her response was also to prepare Herman mentally, while also giving herself some time. Herman had a hunch about what Anastasia wanted to say. For some things, she needed to deal with and get over by herself. ¡°Okay,¡± Herman said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you, but I hope you can let go of some negative thoughts because I¡¯m ready to spend the rest of my life with you.¡± His words subtly suggested that she could have other thoughts, but divorce or breakup was totally out of the question. Hearing this, Anastasia almost lost control of her emotions and almost burst into tears. She quickly lowered her head, not wanting Herman to see the tears in the corners of her eyes. To respect her feelings and dignity, Herman deliberately turned his gaze elsewhere. Anastasia took the opportunity to wipe away the tears when Herman turned around. After dinner, they didn¡¯t drive home because it wasn¡¯t far. Herman held her hand as they walked home together. Along the way, they chatted casually. When they passed the sixth building, Anastasia subconsciously looked up. ¡°I wonder if Pattie has gone to bed.¡± The lights in room 802 were off. It was past nine in the evening, so Pattie should have been asleep already. Every time she thought of Pattie, Anastasia would think of the daughter she had never met. If her daughter was with her, she would be about Pattie¡¯s age now. Herman said, ¡°If you miss Pattie, you can go see her at school tomorrow.¡± Anastasia asked, ¡°Does Pattie go to school by herself every day?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Herman had anticipated that Penny wouldn¡¯t pick up and drop off Pattie every day. That¡¯s why he chose a kindergarten so close. It was just across the street from the gate of theirmunity. Pattie was grown up enough to cross the street by herself. After school, the teacher would apany Pattie across the street and watch her enter themunity before they could rest assured and go back. This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Anastasia asked, ¡°Do you think Pattie is adopted?¡± Penny and Leo both insist that Pattie was their biological child. ¡°ording to my investigation, Pattie was actually adopted by them,¡± Herman said. ¡°Pattie was adopted from Rainbow Haven two years ago. Pattie¡¯s biological parents tragically died in a car ident. No one could take care of Pattie, so she was sent to an orphanage. Later, she was adopted by the infertile Leo couple, and not long after adopting Pattie, Leo and Penny had a child of their own.¡± ¡°If Pattie¡¯s biological parents were still alive, they would be heartbroken to see the bruises on Pattie.¡± Every time Anastasia thought of the bruises on Pattie, she felt really upset. If the Leo and Penny didn¡¯t have their own child, maybe Pattie¡¯s quality of life would be better. After having their own child, how could they still treat Pattie fairly? ¡°It¡¯s gettingte, let¡¯s go home and rest.¡± Herman held Anastasia¡¯s hand, and they walked towards their home together. As they left, in room 802, Pattie, who was sleeping on the floor by the door, was awakened by the cold. She curled up into a ball, looked out into the ck night, and felt scared. Chapter 229 Chapter 229 Chapter 229 Pattie was freezing, d only in a thin tee and a pair of flimsy pants. Autumn had arrived in Riverdale, with biting cold weather and a huge temperature difference between day and night. The icy-cold floor was unbearable for her to sleep on, she longed for the warmth of a bed, but Penny wouldn¡¯t allow it. There were two bedrooms in the house. One was for Penny and her son, and the other was locked, purposely to keep Pattie out during the night. Feeling helpless and scared, Pattie didn¡¯t dare to shed a tear, for fear of waking Penny and getting a beating. She stole a nce at Penny¡¯s room, and only after hearing no sound from within, she carefully crawled onto the couch to sleep. The couch was a bit warmer. Without a nket, she could only use the couch cover to shield herself from the cold. Still, she was freezing. She curled up tightly like a poor little cat. Pattie hugged herself tightly and began to miss Ana¡¯s embrace, which was always so warm. She closed her eyes and tried hard to fall asleep, knowing that sleeping was the only way she could escape the cold. She whispered quietly, ¡°Dad, when are youing back, Dad.¡± Her life was slightly better when Leo was at home. Perhaps due to exhaustion, Pattie finally fell asleep. Her hands and feet were cold as ice. She intended to rush back to the floor before Penny woke up, but she couldn¡¯t move. She had started to run a fever after the cold night. Pattie had a dream where she was sleeping on a soft and warm bed. ¡°You naughty girl, who allowed you to sleep on the couch?¡± Penny came out of her room and was furious to see Pattie sleeping on the couch. She picked up a stick and started beating her. This stick was specifically used to punish Pattie. Pattie was woken up by the pain. Crying out loud, she clutched Penny¡¯s stick, pleading, ¡°Mum, please stop, I was wrong, I won¡¯t do it again.¡± ¡°You disobedient child, you dare to defy me. I told you to sleep on the floor, yet you sneak onto the couch. Look how dirty you made my couch. I¡¯m gonna kill you.¡± Penny kicked Pattie away in anger and resumed her merciless beating. The neighbors shook their heads at the sound of the heartbreaking cries. While Penny was beating Pattie, suddenly, Pattie fell to the floor and remained motionless. Thinking Pattie was ying dead, Penny gave her a kick. ¡°You naughty girl, stop ying dead. Get up and make form for your brother.¡± Pattie still didn¡¯t respond. Penny panicked and dropped the stick, feeling for Pattie¡¯s breath. Pattie was still alive. She touched Pattie¡¯s forehead, and it was burning hot. Pattie had a fever. Penny didn¡¯t take Pattie to the hospital as that would cost money. She left Pattie alone and went out for breakfast with her son. Pattiey on the floor with a high fever that wouldn¡¯t subside.. After breakfast, Penny was called by her friends to y poker, and shepletely forgot about Pattie who was running a fever and had passed out at home. Pattie didn¡¯t go to school. The school teacher called Penny several times, but nobody answered. Anastasia went to school to visit Pattie and learned that she didn¡¯te to school that day. Worried, she went to Penny¡¯s house to find her. Anastasia rang the doorbell for a long time, but no one answered. Just then, a neighbor came out of his house and asked, ¡°Who are you looking for?¡± ¡°Hello, I live in building three. Do you know if this family is out? Have you seen Pattie? She didn¡¯te to school today, so I came to check on her.¡± The neighbor replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t see Pattie. I did hear her crying this morning, and then it went quiet. I don¡¯t know where Penny went.¡± Hearing this, Anastasia became very anxious. She knocked on the door and called out, ¡°Pattie, Pattie, are you home? If you are, please answer me.¡± Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. But there was still no response. Anastasia was extremely worried. She tried to call Leo, but no one answered the phone. Finally, she had no choice but to call the police. Anastasia exined the situation to the police and showed her identification. The police then broke into the house. As soon as she entered, Anastasia saw Pattie lying on the floor, her body covered in bruises from being beaten with a stick and feverish. ¡°She¡¯s got a fever, she needs to be taken to the hospital.¡± Anastasia picked up Pattie and said to the police, ¡°Could you please take us to the hospital? This child has a high fever.¡± Chapter 230 Chapter 230 Chapter 230 Anastasia took Pattie to the hospital, her heart aching at the sight of Pattie¡¯s wounds, and she was pissed off. She couldn¡¯t stand Penny¡¯s abuse towards Pattie. The doctor checked Pattie¡¯s pupils and cooled her down, scolding, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you bring her in sooner? As her guardian, how could you be so irresponsible? Any longer, and she could have been in real danger.¡± High fever could really be a threat to life; it could even trigger cerebral palsy, meningitis, and all kinds of complications. Anastasia regretted not insisting on having Pattie with her in the first ce. ¡°Doctor, please save this child.¡± The doctor said, ¡°You go outside and wait, then pay the fee.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Anastasia rushed to pay the fee and left the cop to watch Pattie. She had intentionally chosen a hospital with a cop, it was the best evidence, and it would prove Penny¡¯s abuse of Pattie. If she wanted to adopt Pattie again, this would make things easier. Leo and Penny were not Pattie¡¯s biological parents. Even if they were legal guardians, if they were abusive, they could lose their guardianship rights. Pattie had been running a high fever, and Anastasia was waiting in the hospital. As for Salma Jewell, she had to ask Monica Franco to look after her mother. She didn¡¯t call Herman, worried it would interfere with his work. When Penny came home from ying poker, she found the door to her house had been kicked in, and Pattie was gone. Penny stood at the door and muttered loudly, ¡°Who the hell did this? They broke my expensive door.¡± The neighbor came out and said, ¡°Penny, you better go check on Pattie at the hospital. The cops were here this morning, and they took Pattie to the hospital.¡± Hearing that the cops had been at her house, Penny was a little panicked. ¡°Why would the copse? Pattie was taken to the hospital by the cops?¡± The neighbor said, ¡°Yes, and also a resident of ourplex, you better go check at the hospital.¡± ¡°Alright, alright,¡± Penny answered verbally, but she had no intention of going to the hospital. If she went to the hospital, she would definitely have to pay for Pattie¡¯s treatment, and she didn¡¯t want to spend the money. If someone else was willing to take care of Pattie, then let them pay for it.. Just as Penny walked into the house, Leo called, ¡°Did you beat Pattie again? The cop called me. Pattie is in the hospital. Where are you?¡± Leo seemed very angry on the phone; he felt helpless. Penny said casually, ¡°I¡¯m at home. I just hit Pattie a few times with a stick. She¡¯ll be fine. She just has a fever. It¡¯s not my fault.¡± ¡°How many times have I told you, you just don¡¯t listen. This time it¡¯s really a big problem, Ms. Jewell is suing us for abusing Pattie.¡± Leo said anxiously, ¡°I¡¯m on my way home, and I¡¯ll be home tonight. You go to the hospital now and see how Pattie is doing.¡± Upon hearing that Anastasia was nning to sue them, Penny was immediately very angry, ¡°Anastasia is such a busybody. If she loves kids so much, why doesn¡¯t she have her own? If she cares about Pattie so much, let her take Pattie away. She¡¯s interfering too much in our business.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the use ofining? We should go to the hospital to see Pattie right away.¡± Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go, it costs money to go to the hospital,¡± Penny said angrily. ¡°Leo, are you nuts? We can¡¯t afford the hospital fees. As soon as you step into the hospital, you have to pay a lot of medical fees. Anastasia is with Pattie. Let her pay, so we don¡¯t have to pay.¡± Leo was feeling very helpless. ¡°At a time like this, you¡¯re still worried about this. Forget it, I¡¯ll go see Pattie when I get home tonight.¡± Leo knew he couldn¡¯t persuade Penny, so he didn¡¯t say anything more. He got home at seven in the evening, and as soon as he got home, the police came and took them both to the police station for questioning. Chapter 231 Chapter 231 Chapter 231 At the police station, Penny was hauled into an interrogation room, and that was when the nerves really set in. Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org. Previously, the cops had given her nothing more than a verbal warning for the abuse she¡¯d inflicted on Pattie, given the fact that Penny had a son to look after. But it was pretty clear that those actions hadn¡¯t done squat. Sitting on the cold hard chair, facing two cops, Penny was scared out of her wits. ¡°Officers, did I break thew? I just hit my daughter, is that a crime now? Kids need discipline, right? Was my method of parenting wrong?¡± One of the cops grilling Penny was a woman, a mother herself, and was boiling mad over Penny¡¯s actions. She tossed a picture of Pattie¡¯s injuries in front of Penny. ¡°What kind of mother beats her kid like this?¡± she snapped. ¡°That child¡¯s in critical condition, and she¡¯s just a little girl. How could you have the heart to do this to her?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to, I just couldn¡¯t control my strength. That¡¯s just my temper.¡± Penny feigned concern. ¡°How¡¯s Pattie doing? Has her fever gone down?¡± ¡°You¡¯re only asking about her now, Penny?¡± another cop, a man, joined in. ¡°Here¡¯s the hospital¡¯s medical report. Pattie¡¯s injuries are severe. You¡¯vemitted serious child abuse. Our country¡¯sw dictates that for child abuse of this severity, you¡¯re looking at jail time.¡± ¡°What, prison?¡± Penny was terrified and started bawling her eyes out. ¡°I can¡¯t go to prison, I have a son to look after. Pattie was just being too naughty, I lost my temper and hit her, that¡¯s all. You have to believe me.¡±¡± The female cop said coldly, ¡°Pattie isn¡¯t your biological daughter. You adopted her two years ago, and you¡¯ve severely vited the adoption agreement. Penny, you abused Pattie, and you¡¯re going to have to face the music.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t abuse her.¡± Penny sobbed. ¡°You can¡¯t pin this on me. Even though Pattie isn¡¯t my own flesh and blood, I¡¯ve always treated her like my own. I sent her to school, gave her milk every day, and even bought her new clothes. I didn¡¯t abuse her.¡± The male cop rapped on the table. ¡°Calm down. This is a police station. We¡¯ve checked with your neighbors about you abusing Pattie. This isn¡¯t up for debate anymore.¡± While Penny was in full denial, Leo¡¯s case was a different story. Facing the cops¡¯ grilling, Leo was way more cooperative. He said, ¡°When Pattie first came to us, we were both thrilled. My wife was kind to Pattie, buying her new clothes and toys. But after we had our own child, my wife changed¡­¡± Leo described Pattie¡¯s ordeal but tried to y it down. ¡°My wife has a temper and would asionally hit Pattie. I work a lot, so I wasn¡¯t fully aware of what was going on. Officers, I promise, we¡¯ll make amends. We¡¯ll treat our child well, and I won¡¯t let my wife do this to her again.¡± ¡°Leo, take a look at this report on Pattie¡¯s injuries, the photos, and the testimonies we got from your neighbors.¡± The cop handed him the documents. ¡°Pattie¡¯s just a kid, and you guys were beating her with a stick. That¡¯s against thew.¡± Hearing this, Leo went pale. After reading the report and looking at the photos, he was filled with shame. He knew Penny had been beating Pattie with a stick, and yet he did nothing. His silence was just as bad. Everyone in the neighborhood knew about Penny¡¯s abuse. That was a fact. Leo was silent for a long time before he asked, ¡°Officer, is there any way we can avoid jail? My wife is just an ignorant woman, and she still has to look after our young son. I need to work. If she goes to jail, our family will fall apart. You¡¯re the police. You¡¯re supposed to help us through our hardships in life.¡±/ Chapter 232 Chapter 232 Chapter 232 The cops were in a pickle with this child abuse case, considering Leo¡¯s family situation. The only fix was to strip the Leos of their adoption rights, removing them as Pattie¡¯s legal guardians. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Leo remembered a fortune teller once saying his son¡¯s and Pattie¡¯s fates were tied. If Pattie left the family, would his son be in trouble? ¡°No way, Pattie¡¯s my girl, and we have a bond. We¡¯ll make things right, no more hurting Pattie. You gotta believe me, officer.¡± ¡°This ain¡¯t a ce for your tall tales. We¡¯re just following the book. You don¡¯t wanna go to jail but still wanna keep Pattie. What do you expect us to do?¡± Said one of the cops. ¡°Go finish the paperwork, pay the fine, and you¡¯re good to go.¡± Leo tried to argue, but the female officer who was interrogating Penny walked in. ¡°Leo, your wife¡¯s signed off. She¡¯s given up Pattie¡¯s adoption rights.¡± ¡°So what¡¯s gonna happen to Pattie?¡± ¡°That¡¯s none of your business,¡± the cop said. ¡°You sign, and you¡¯re free to go. Pattie has nothing to do with you anymore.¡± Leo knew he couldn¡¯t fight the police. He had to give up Pattie, he couldn¡¯t let Penny go to jail, and they still had a son to take care of. Their home couldn¡¯t fall apart. Leo signed the termination of the adoption agreement and paid the fine. Though Leo was good to go, Penny couldn¡¯t leave the station just yet. After Leo left, the chief, holding the agreement, walked into his office. ¡°Mr. Salstrom, everything¡¯s settled. You can start the adoption procedures for Pattie tomorrow. She¡¯s your kid now.¡± Sitting on the office couch was Herman. He found out about Pattie¡¯s situation from a call from the kindergarten. He decided to grab this chance and get custody of Pattie. His wife Anastasia was barren, and she adored Pattie. So he decided to adopt Pattie, which would surely make Anastasia happy. Anastasia had been downtely. Now with Pattie in trouble, she¡¯d be even more upset. But seeing the adoption papers could cheer her up a bit. Herman got up. ¡°Thanks for your help, chief.¡± ¡°No sweat, it¡¯s my job. That kid¡¯s had it rough. Being adopted by you is her lucky break.¡± Child abuse was a tricky thing to define. Pattie¡¯s main issue was her high fever, and the stick wounds were secondary. Though Penny did hit Pattie with a stick, she avoided vital areas and didn¡¯t endanger the child¡¯s life. Pattie spent the night in the living room. It got colder, and her resistance was low, so she caught ¨¤ fever. Considering Leo¡¯s family situation and Penny still nursing, they didn¡¯t put Penny behind bars. Back at the hospital, Pattie¡¯s fever was gone. She was still unconscious. Anastasia was taking care of her in the ward, wiping her face and hands. ¡°Anastasia, let me.¡± Herman walked over and took the towel from Anastasia. Anastasia sat down to rest. ¡°How did the Leos react?¡± ¡°They¡¯ve agreed to give up the adoption. I¡¯ll start the process tomorrow,¡± replied Herman. ¡°Pattie¡¯s our daughter from now on.¡± Hearing the news, Anastasia felt relieved. ¡°We should¡¯ve adopted Pattiest time, then we wouldn¡¯t have this mess. Looking at the unconscious Pattie, Herman felt at peace. ¡°Once Pattie¡¯s better, we¡¯ll bring her home. By the way, do you want to give Pattie a new name?¡± Since they¡¯d decided to adopt, Pattie was now Herman¡¯s daughter, a member of the Salstrom family. Chapter 233 Chapter 233 Chapter 233 Anastasia hadn¡¯t really considered the kid¡¯s name yet. Pattie used to take Leo¡¯sst name. She held Pattie¡¯s small hand, thought for a moment, and said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you pick? I really don¡¯t know what name to pick in the spur of the moment.¡± ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll think of some names, and let Pattie pick when she wakes up tomorrow. Once she¡¯s picked, we¡¯ll go handle the adoption paperwork.¡± Herman held Anastasia¡¯s shoulder and whispered, ¡°You¡¯re tired too, rest up a bit.¡± Anastasia lifted her head to look at him, feelingforted inside. She leaned into him and whispered back, ¡°Mmm.¡± No matter what happened, she never felt like she was fighting alone with Herman by her side. It felt really great. As Anastasia rested on the hospital bed, watching Herman care for Pattie, she felt a bit guilty. Herman was really patient with Pattie. He must really like kids. The only regret was that she couldn¡¯t bear children for him. She didn¡¯t know how disappointed Herman would be if he knew she was infertile. With Herman there, Anastasia could sleep easy. In the middle of the night, she heard Pattie having a nightmare. She was about to get up tofort Pattie when she saw Herman had beat her to it. He was walking around the room holding Pattie, soothing her with a soft voice, incredibly patient. Anastasia lied back down, watching Herman gentlyfort Pattie back to sleep. Pattie must¡¯ve felt safe; she fell back asleep quickly. Moonlight poured through the window, casting a gentle glow on Herman. Anastasia smiled, thinking that if Herman had his own child, he¡¯d make a great dad. The next day, Pattie woke up. After running a fever for a whole day and night, she looked pretty weak and spaced out. Anastasia held her gently and softly said, ¡°Pattie, from now on I¡¯ll protect you. You don¡¯t have to be scared. You¡¯ll live with me from now on, okay?¡± Pattie¡¯s eyes moved around. Anastasia had said this before, so Pattie didn¡¯t fully believe her. Pattie was really scared of Penny now. She still remembered the beating, her body twitching from time to time, her expression nk. ¡°Pattie.¡± Herman came back with breakfast, in his hands were a few pieces of paper with some names on them. ¡°Pattie, Ana wasn¡¯t lying to you. Once you¡¯re better and out of the hospital, you¡¯ll live with us. Let us be your new mom and dad, okay? I¡¯ve picked a few names for you. From now on, you¡¯ll take my last name and be our daughter. How about that?¡± Pattie didn¡¯t fully understand. She looked at Anastasia and Herman, only understanding that they wanted to be her new parents. Herman and her favorite Ana wanted to be her new parents? Pattie¡¯s voice was tender and with a hint of caution. She asked, ¡°Really?¡± Anastasiaughed and said, ¡°Of course it¡¯s true.¡± Herman held up the pieces of paper and said, ¡°These are the new names I picked for you. Paradise, Pamina, which one do you like? You can still go by Pattie.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Pattie couldn¡¯t read, but she understood what people said. Herman had a new name for her, were they really going to be her new parents? Then¡­ what about her old parents? ¡°Herman, where are my parents?¡± There were some things Pattie couldn¡¯t fully understand yet. Anastasia and Herman exchanged a nce and Herman exined, ¡°They won¡¯t be your parents anymore. Ana and I will be your new parents, okay?¡± Pattie¡¯s gaze moved back and forth between Herman and Anastasia. In the end, she nodded and pointed at the name Paradise. ¡°I like this one.¡± Seeing Pattie had picked a name, Anastasia excitedly kissed her. Pattie smiled, and Anastasia excitedly said, ¡°From now on, you¡¯re my daughter. Herman, go handle the paperwork.¡± Just to be safe, Anastasia would only feel reassured when Pattie was officially under Herman¡¯s custody, and she and Herman became Pattie¡¯s legal guardians. Herman smiled and kissed the mother and daughter on their foreheads. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go handle it now.¡± Even though Pattie wasn¡¯t his biological daughter, seeing Anastasia holding Pattie and how happy they were, he felt the urge to protect them both. From now on, they were a family of three. Whether they had their own child or not, he didn¡¯t actually mind. The Salstrom family still had Flynn. With Flynn to carry on the lineage, the Salstrom family wouldn¡¯t be without descendants. Chapter 234 Chapter 234 Chapter 234 Anastasia was buzzing with excitement over the decision to adopt Pattie. While Herman was off sorting out the paperwork, Anastasia was brushing Pattie¡¯s hair. Seeing Pattie sitting there quietly, Anastasia couldn¡¯t help but think of her own daughter. She had no clue where she was or if she was being treated well by others. Part of her reasons for adopting Pattie was to build up some good fortune for her own daughter, hoping she could meet kind people and be treated well. ¡°Pattie, you¡¯ll be discharged from the hospital this afternoon. Once we get home, mommy will cook you loads of yummy food and buy you pretty new clothes. How does that sound?¡± Anastasia grabbed Pattie¡¯s shoulders, making her look into her eyes, ¡°Pattie, can you call me mommy?¡± Anastasia looked at Pattie expectantly and nervously, ¡°Is that okay?¡± Pattie, with her big eyes, stared back at Anastasia and finally said, ¡°Mommy.¡± It was the first time Pattie had called Anastasia ¡®mommy¡¯. Even though it was barely above a whisper, it filled her with joy. She liked the idea of Ana being her mom. Ana¡¯s embrace felt so warm. Hearing Pattie call her ¡°mommy¡±, Anastasia¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. She pulled Pattie into a hug and peppered her with kisses, ¡°Good girl, I¡¯m your mommy.¡± Anastasia couldn¡¯t help but miss her own daughter she had yet to meet. Pattie snuggled up against Anastasia. Seeing Anastasia¡¯s tears, Pattie reached up and wiped them away, ¡°Mommy, why are you crying?¡± ¡°Mommy is just too happy,¡± Anastasia replied, holding Pattie¡¯s hand, her eyes still moist. Seeing Pattie like this, Anastasia¡¯s determination to find her own daughter strengthened. Just then, a male voice came from the door. ¡°Pattie.¡± It was Leo. Since Penny was locked up and there was no one at home to take care of the kids, Leo had to bring his son to the hospital. He brought some fruit and candy, his face full of guilt when he walked in, ¡°Pattie, look what daddy got for you.¡± Pattie was still happy to see Leo and called out, ¡°Daddy.¡± In Pattie¡¯s eyes, Leo was her father. Hearing the word ¡°Daddy¡± and seeing Pattie¡¯s innocent smile, Leo felt a pang of shame. Anastasia didn¡¯t react much to Leo¡¯s arrival. It was clear from Pattie¡¯s reaction that Leo had been taking good care of her. Leo put the fruit and candy on the table and said to Anastasia, ¡°Ms. Jewell, I just came to check on Pattie. As long as she¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll be at ease.¡± Then he turned to Pattie, ¡°Pattie, I won¡¯t be your daddy anymore, you have to listen to Ms. Jewell, okay?¡± Pattie obediently nodded. Leo then addressed Anastasia, ¡°Ms. Jewell, I know you genuinely care for this child. I hope you¡¯ll take good care of Pattie. She¡¯s really smart, and I am sure she¡¯ll excel when she grows up.¡± ¡°From now on, Pattie is part of our family. I¡¯ll do everything I can to take care of her,¡± Anastasia said, looking at Leo with pity, ¡°If you miss Pattie, you¡¯re always wee to visit.¡± They lived in the same neighborhood, so they¡¯d bump into each other often. Leo didn¡¯t n on moving. Someone had told him that his son¡¯s fate was tied to Pattie¡¯s, so they couldn¡¯t be too far apart. He¡¯d need Pattie¡¯s help at crucial moments. ¡°Okay. Okay.¡± Leo said twice. His son on his back started to fuss, and he had to leave. Herman was back in about an hour, having finished the adoption process. Pattie¡¯s name was now Paradise, and she was his daughter. Anastasia felt a sense of relief. Pattie was doing much better and didn¡¯t need to stay at the hospital any longer. Anastasia decided to take her home. Salma didn¡¯t like staying at the hospital either, so Anastasia brought her home too. With two more people to take care of at home, Anastasia couldn¡¯t work for the time being. Thinking of Herman having to be the sole breadwinner, she felt guilty and distressed. Herman brought Anastasia¡¯s mother¡¯s stuff into the room, ¡°Mom, you¡¯ll stay in this room. I got a new bed. Someone willeter to turn the study into a kid¡¯s room. That¡¯s where Pattie will be staying.¡±Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Chapter 235 Chapter 235 Chapter 235 Herman had already nned everything out and prepared in advance. He had turned the study into a children¡¯s room in their three-bedroom house, with the second bedroom just perfect for Salma. Salma was pleased with Herman¡¯s arrangements and thanked him, ¡°Herman, you¡¯ve really done a lot.¡± To be honest, Salma felt a bit sheepish because she hadn¡¯t told Herman about Anastasia¡¯s secret right from the start. Herman smiled, ¡°We¡¯re all family here.¡± Then he squatted down next to Pattie and asked, ¡°Pattie, what¡¯s your favorite color?¡± Pattie thought for a moment and said in a tender voice, ¡°Pink.¡± Herman chuckled, gave Pattie¡¯s head a little pat, and half an hourter, the workers arrived. They were super quick and turned the study into a dreamy children¡¯s room in just an hour. As per Pattie¡¯s request, the room was decked out in pink, looking just like a castle. Pink curtains and carpet, white drapes, and loads of Barbie dolls and toys that girls love. Herman took Pattie into the room, ¡°Do you like it?¡± Pattie was in disbelief. She had her own room and so many toys. Penny had never bought her any toys before, and she was always envious of others. Once, she asked Penny for a toy and got a beating for it, so she never dared to ask again. After starting school, Pattie saw other kids with toys and Barbies, and she was green with envy. ¡°Are all these mine?¡± Pattie asked. Herman replied with a smile, ¡°All yours.¡±¡± Pattie was over the moon, ¡°I love it. I really really love it. I¡¯m so happy.¡± Pattie, being a child after all, happily jumped up and hugged her Barbie doll, saying with a smile, ¡°I have a Barbie now, I¡¯m gonna dress her up.¡± Seeing Pattie happy made Herman and Anastasia happy as well None of these things were known to Anastasia before. Not only had Herman prepared gifts for Pattie, but he also bought new clothes and toiletries for Salma, even getting her afy mattress to ensure she had a good night¡¯s sleep. Herman had thought of everything. Anastasia was overwhelmed with gratitude, she stood on tiptoe, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him. She was so happy that she totally forgot Salma was in the room. ¡°Ana, that mattress is reallyfy¡­¡± Salma came out with her crutches, just in time to see the two of them kissing at the doorway of the children¡¯s room. Her face turned red, she quickly shifted her gaze and pretended to look for something, ¡°Erm, where¡¯s my phone? Can¡¯t seem to find it.¡± Salma¡¯s phone was right on the sofa. Anastasia realized Salma was trying to change the subject and felt really awkward. Her face turned red, ¡°I¡¯ll go cook. Let¡¯s celebrate tonight.¡± To celebrate Pattie bing their daughter, and to celebrate Salma and Pattie¡¯s discharge from the hospital. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Herman held her hand tight, his eyes filled with affection, ¡°Don¡¯t bother, I¡¯ve got everything covered. In half an hour, the restaurant will deliver the food. I¡¯ve already called Auntie and my cousin toe over for dinner. I¡¯ve also invited Monica.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve really thought of everything.¡± Anastasia lightly knocked on her own head andughed, ¡°I didn¡¯t even think of that. We should¡¯ve invited them for dinner. They¡¯ve helped us so much, and it¡¯s long overdue to invite them to dinner. While I was in the hospital, Monica was also running around helping. We should¡¯ve invited her along time ago.¡± Herman held her hand and joked, ¡°You¡¯re not very bright to begin with, if you knock anymore, what will you be?¡± Anastasia gave him a re, ¡°I¡¯m going to shower. You y with Pattie for a bit.¡± 3 She had spent a night in the hospital and felt a bit icky, she wanted to take a shower and change into clean clothes. They had guestsing over soon, and she couldn¡¯t be rude. ¡°Sure.¡± Herman helped her tidy her hair, ¡°Later, wear the peach-colored dress I bought youst time, it looks really good on you.¡± The seasons had changed, and while Anastasia was in the hospital, Herman had cleared out her wardrobe and reced everything with new stuff. At the time, Anastasia scolded him for wasting money, but deep down, she was pleased. What more could a woman ask for than a man who always kept her in his heart? Women, always said one thing and did another. Chapter 236 Chapter 236 Chapter 236 Herman had a sixth sense about women, always knowing just what to say and do. After taking a shower, Anastasia changed into the peach-colored dress. She put on some lipstick to give her face a pop of color, looking fresh and vibrant. By the time Anastasia was getting ready, the food had already arrived from the restaurant. Monica was the first one to arrive, bearing gifts. She came in smiling, ¡°Ana, Salma, wishing you peace, health, and a worry-free life. I brought some oranges. Hope you guys like them.¡± Herman was loaded, so he didn¡¯t need a thing. Buying oranges was practical, as they can enjoy them after dinner. Anastasia took it with a smile, ¡°Thank you, Monica. When did you be so polite? You used toe empty-handed.¡± Salma agreed, ¡°Yeah, you don¡¯t have to bring anything next time. Juste over.¡± Monica nced at Herman, jokingly said, ¡°Your husband personally invited me this time. How could I show up empty-handed? Next time, I won¡¯t bring anything. These oranges are super sweet. Try one.¡± Monica handed out some oranges to everyone and picked two best ones for Pattie, ¡°Sweetie, here are some oranges for you. Smile for me.¡± Pattie gave a sweet smile. ¡°So adorable.¡± Monica chuckled and pinched Pattie¡¯s cheek. They were chit-chatting when Katelyn and others arrived. When the doorbell rang, Herman went to answer it. He was taken aback by the three people standing at the door. The extra person was Feiman, Herman¡¯s father. Katelyn chuckled, ¡°Your dad was at home today. When he heard that we wereing over for dinner, he decided to tag along.¡± Anastasia noticed that they hadn¡¯te in yet, and she walked over with a smile, ¡°Herman, what are you staring at? Let everyone in.¡± After walking over, Anastasia noticed there was a man she didn¡¯t know. Herman introduced him, ¡°This is¡­ my uncle.¡± Today was a good day, and it was better to keep the lie going. One lie was covered by countless other lies. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Anastasia promptly greeted him, ¡°Uncle,e in and have a seat.¡± It had been a few months since his son got married, but this was Feiman¡¯s first visit. In his mind, his son should have brought his wife to see him first. It was improper for him, as an elder, to visit the younger ones. However, seeing that Herman and his wife were living the good life and noting home, as the elder, he had to make the move. Feiman entered the house like an elder should, checked out the house, and whispered to Katelyn, ¡°This ce is too small. Even our living room is bigger than this house.¡± Katelyn pinched Feiman discreetly, ¡°Watch it. If you mess up this dinner, you can sleep in the study from now on.¡± Feiman remarked, ¡°I just feel sorry for that girl, living in such a small ce. They haven¡¯t even had a wedding ceremony. It¡¯s uneptable.¡± ¡°Alright, alright. Our son has his way¡¯s. It¡¯s better for him to have a wife than be single.¡± Feiman huffed, ¡°He might as well be single. After getting married, he doesn¡¯t even have his parents anymore.¡± That made Katelynugh, ¡°You¡¯re right about that.¡± His biological parents had be an uncle and aunt. If not for fear of scaring away the daughter-inw, Katelyn would have given her son a piece of her mind. Anastasia called out, ¡°Uncle, Aunt, dinner is ready.¡± ¡°We¡¯reing.¡± Katelyn pulled Feiman into the dining room. The dining room was small, a bit cramped with seven adults and a child. There weren¡¯t enough seats, so Anastasia brought out some stools, and everyone squeezed in together. Feiman had never experienced such a crowded dinner, but for the sake of his eldest son, kept his opinions to himself and sat down. Once everyone was seated, Herman nced at Feiman, ¡°Would you like some wine?¡± I Feiman replied, ¡°Of course.¡± It was his first time having dinner at his son¡¯s ce, so wine was a must. Anastasia stood up, ¡°I¡¯ll get it.¡± Soon Anastasia brought the wine. Herman poured a ss for Fejman. Flynn chuckled, ¡°I want some too.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve gotta driveter, no wine for you. Drink this.¡± Herman put a bottle of Monster in front of Flynn. Flynn could only reluctantly drink Monster. he Those who should drink wine drank wine, and those who should drink beverages drank beverages. Herman lifted his ss, nced at Pattie, and announced to everyone, ¡°Since everyone is here today, I have something to announce. From today onwards, Pattie is Anastasia and my daughter and will be renamed Paradise.¡± Chapter 237 Chapter 237 Chapter 237 Before Herman made the announcement, not even Salma knew about him and Anastasia adopting Pattie. When Herman said this, everyone disyed various expressions, and their gaze all converged on Pattie. Katelyn was fond of the kid, but adopting Pattie and changing herst name was a big deal. She was taken aback by the news. This was Feiman¡¯s first time seeing Pattie. He hadn¡¯t paid much attention to the kid until Herman brought it up, then he took a good look at Pattie. The kid was skinny, with bright eyes and delicate features. Salma was the first to pipe up, ¡°Ana, is this for real?¡± Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. She had been against adopting Pattie, and now it happened behind her back. Considering Anastasia¡¯s personal situation, Salma felt a knot in her stomach about her daughter¡¯s future. If Herman found out Anastasia had a child before and couldn¡¯t ept it, the family would fall apart. Anastasia would be left raising a kid alone. Even if it wasn¡¯t her biological one, they would be back to square one. In the past, she gave up her grandchild for the sake of Anastasia¡¯s happiness. Now Anastasia adopted a child, wasn¡¯t it all for nothing? The atmosphere at the dining table suddenly became somewhat awkward. Flynn and Monica didn¡¯t dare to speak and were unsure how to break the silence. They sat there quietly, feeling like mere spectators. Anastasia nced at Katelyn and Feiman¡¯s faces, then at her mother. ¡°It¡¯s true. All the paperwork is done.¡± Now that it was a done deal, what could Salma say? She took a look at Pattie and sighed, that was fate. Herman patted Pattie¡¯s head, saying, ¡°I¡¯ve taken a shine to this kid. I don¡¯t have a kid, so it¡¯s perfect for me and Anastasia to adopt this child. From now on, we¡¯re Pattie¡¯s parents, and it¡¯s our responsibility to raise her.¡± Feiman couldn¡¯t hold back anymore and mmed the table. Herman shot him a stern look. Katelyn, afraid of a father-son quarrel, subtly tugged at Feiman¡¯s sleeve, indicating he should hold his tongue until they got home. Pattie was startled by Feiman¡¯s outburst and instinctively nestled into Anastasia¡¯s arms. Anastasia was puzzled by Feiman¡¯s anger. Katelyn said soothingly, ¡°Let¡¯s eat, let¡¯s eat.¡± Flynn also read the room and quickly said, ¡°Anastasia, let me pour you a drink. Come on, let¡¯s eat. This fish is really good.¡± Although Salma felt Anastasia and Herman were out of line, she couldn¡¯t say anything in front of everyone. Seeing Feiman m the table, she was taken aback. Herman put down his wine ss and said firmly, ¡°It¡¯s all done. This matter is settled.¡± Feiman kept silent, held back by Katelyn, and didn¡¯t say anything more. The rest of the dinner went smoothly, except that Feiman didn¡¯t speak at all. After dinner, Feiman gave Anastasia a pearl ne as a gift and then left. Anastasia quickly signaled Herman to see them off. Herman nodded and went to walk them out. After Katelyn and the others left, Monica took Pattie to y in the kid¡¯s room. Salma also told Anastasja, ¡°Anastasia, you should have discussed such an important matter with us beforehand. Although your husband has no parents, his aunts and uncles are good to him. They certainly treat him as their own son. You should have informed them about such a big matter.¡± Anastasia said, ¡°We didn¡¯t think it through.¡± She added, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Herman¡¯s uncle to react so strongly.¡± At the gate of the residentialplex, Feiman, who had been suppressing his emotions all night, finally let it all out, taking it on Herman, ¡°Herman, you¡¯re bing more and more disrespectful. You didn¡¯t inform me and your mother when you got married, now you¡¯re adopting a child, and you didn¡¯t tell us. You always do things first and tell us afterward. Do you really think you¡¯re grown up and don¡¯t need our opinions?¡± ¡°Dad, I¡¯m sorry. Herman knew he was wrong, ¡°Things were urgent, and I didn¡¯t mean to disrespect you.¡± Katelyn also said, ¡°Son, you and Anastasia have been married for several months now. You will certainly have your own children in the future. We don¡¯t object to you adopting children, but isn¡¯t this a bit sudden? You could wait until you have your own children and then consider adoption. Then you can adopt as many children as you want.¡± Flynn, sitting in the car, didn¡¯t interject, just hoping this wouldn¡¯t affect him. Herman frowned slightly and honestly said, ¡°Mom, Dad, Anastasia and I, we won¡¯t have our own children in the future.¡± As his parents looked shocked and puzzled, Herman added, ¡°I¡¯m infertile.¡± Chapter 238 Chapter 238 Chapter 238 Herman always flied under the radar, but when he sprung into action, it was a real jaw-dropper. Just this evening, he dropped two bombshells that had Feiman and Katelyn reeling in surprise. Feiman, upon hearing that his son couldn¡¯t father a child, shot Herman a look. Herman: ¡°Dad, I might not be able to father a child, but that doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t do anything else.¡± Feiman¡¯s face turned beet red while even Katelyn felt awkward, caught in a mixed emotions. Despite the serious issue, Herman still had the mood for a joke. Herman¡¯s sterility had his parents worried sick. Feiman asked hurriedly, ¡°Is that true? When did this happen? You seem to be in perfect health, how can you be sterile?¡± Katelyn also expressed her concern, ¡°Did you get this checked at the hospital? What did the doctor say?¡± Herman looked like he had something to say, but he was struggling to spit it out. He spun a yarn, ¡°The doctor said I can¡¯t father a child. Mom, Dad, I¡¯m sorry I can¡¯t carry on the Salstrom family line. That¡¯s now Flynn¡¯s duty.¡± Hearing this, Flynn asked anxiously, ¡°Bro, are you pulling my leg? Are you really sterile?¡± ¡°The hospital confirmed it. There¡¯s no doubt,¡± Herman replied. ¡°I¡¯ve been to several hospitals and all the results were the same. That¡¯s why I decided to adopt.¡± Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Katelyn asked, ¡°Does Anastasia know?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t figured out how to break it to her yet.¡± Herman continued his fabrication, ¡°I¡¯ll find the right moment to tell her everything. Mom, please keep helping us prepare for the wedding, we need to pick a new date.¡± Feiman started worrying, ¡°What if Anastasia doesn¡¯t want to be with you after finding out you can¡¯t father a child? We don¡¯t need to rush the wedding. You need to sort this out first. Herman, as a member of the Salstrom family, you should be honest and forting. You can¡¯t keep this a secret.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Herman replied humbly, ¡°You¡¯re right, Dad.¡± Katelyn suggested, ¡°With today¡¯s advancements in medical technology, sterility isn¡¯t the end of the world. You could consider IVF. Feiman gave Herman a stern look, ¡°How can he do IVF if he¡¯s sterile?¡± He sounded somewhat reproachful. -After that, Feiman told Flynn, ¡°From tomorrow on, you¡¯re going to quit drinking and smoking, and start taking care of your health. You¡¯re still young. Do not to end up sterile too. Start practicing a healthy lifestyle with me.¡± Flynn couldn¡¯t avoid the inevitable; the responsibility was now on him. Feiman¡¯s anger gradually dissipated and he left with Katelyn. When Herman got home, Monica was also ready to leave. Anastasia saw Monica off at the door. As Monica stepped into the elevator, she said, ¡°No need to see me off. I¡¯lle over again when I have the time. I¡¯ll head back now.¡± ¡°Okay, be careful on the road. Text me when you get home.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Monica waved as the elevator doors closed. When Herman was seeing off Feiman and Katelyn, Anastasia had already cleared the dinner table. Salma had went back to her own bedroom to rest, and a tired Pattie, who had just been discharged from the hospital, was asleep in the children¡¯s room. Finally, the house was quiet. Anastasia sat on the sofa to rest for a bit and asked softly, ¡°Herman, your uncle isn¡¯t angry anymore, right?¡± ¡°I talked it out with them, they¡¯re not mad anymore.¡± Herman massaged her shoulders, ¡°Shall we go to bed?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Anastasia got up, ¡°You¡¯ve had a long day, you must be tired. Let¡¯s go to the room, I¡¯ll give you a massage.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Herman returned to the room, took off his jacket andy down on the bed, patting his own shoulder, ¡°Honey,e on.¡± Anastasia smiled, sat on his legs, and started massaging him. Remembering Feiman¡¯s reaction at the dinner table, she asked while massaging him, ¡°Why was your uncle so angry? I¡¯ve thought about the whole adopting Pattie thing, and we really should have discussed it with both our parents beforehand.¡± ¡°He is quite traditional. Don¡¯t overthink it. Everything¡¯s exined now.¡± Herman said, closing his eyes and lying down, ¡°We¡¯ll just live our lives happily from now on.¡± Looking at his side profile, thinking of his hard work, Anastasia felt a pang of guilt, ¡°Now that my mom has a leg injury and Pattie needs to go to school, I have to stay home and take care of them. I can¡¯t work for the time being, so the burden of the household falls on you. Honey, you¡¯ve been working so hard. Once my mom¡¯s leg heals, I¡¯ll go back to work and she can help us pick up Pattie.¡± Feeling guilty and indebted for spending Herman¡¯s money, Anastasia felt that she owed him a lot. Herman sat up, looked deeply into her eyes, and tenderly stroked her face, ¡°It¡¯s only natural for the husband to provide for the family.¡± ¡°But I¡­¡± Before Anastasia could finish, Herman leaned over and kissed her, dispelling all her worries in the most gentle way. Chapter 239 Chapter 239 Chapter 239 Herman didn¡¯t fully understand. The nicer he was to Anastasia, the heavier her mood seemed to get. His kisses were always so gentle, like the soft brush of spring breeze. Her hand moved towards his belt¡­. ¡°Anastasia.¡± Herman caught her hand, stopping her immediately. ¡°Your wound at your waist¡­ it¡¯s not healed yet.¡± ¡°I want it.¡± Anastasia pushed him down onto the bed, straddling him. ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± With that, she bent down and initiated a kiss. Anastasia had never been this forward before. Her hand slipped under his shirt. That night, fearing he might hurt her, he was even gentler than usual. Afterwards, Anastasia lingered, her fingertip lightly tracing his face, outlining his features in the dim light. He held her, sensing her unusual mood, and said, ¡°Go to sleep.¡± He knew that Anastasia wasn¡¯t ready toe clean with him. She had something on her mind, and it must have something to do with that thing. He had noticed something off about Monica and Salma¡¯s expressions during dinner, too. ¡°Mm.¡± She hummed in agreement, closing her eyes to sleep. Perhaps she was too tired, and she fell asleep quickly. Herman, however, couldn¡¯t sleep. He propped his arm under her head as a pillow, gazing tenderly at her sleeping face in the dimness. Some things needed to be dealt with in advance. The next day. Anastasia was up early, preparing breakfast for everyone. Salma, also an early riser, heard the noise and got up too. She wanted to help in the kitchen, but Anastasia shooed her out, telling her to rx in the living room. Salma went to check on Pattie in her room. Pattie was still sleeping, looking so pitiful it tugged at people¡¯s heartstrings. The bruises from the beating she had taken were still visible. Herman was in their bedroom, freshening up. When he came out, dressed, Anastasia had finished making breakfast. ¡°You have to go to work, so eat first. Pattie and I will eatter.¡± She didn¡¯t have the heart to wake Pattie up, hoping to let her sleep in a bit more. With Salma and Pattie in the house, Herman didn¡¯t have to worry about Anastasia having too much free time to overthink things. ¡°The weather¡¯s nice today. When Pattie wakes up, you can take her shopping for some new clothes,¡± Herman suggested. ¡°I¡¯ve asked the school for a week¡¯s leave for her. She can rest at home for a few days before going back.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Anastasia thought the same thing, so she smiled and said, ¡°Okay, it¡¯s time to buy a few new outfits for Pattie.¡± Salma came out of Pattie¡¯s room, and Anastasia said, ¡°Mom, breakfast is ready.¡± ¡°That child is sleeping so soundly,¡± Salma chuckled, sitting down. Pattie hadn¡¯t even been allowed to sleep in a bed in Penny¡¯s house. Sleeping outside in various weather conditions had be routine. Now, in the cold of Riverdale, being able to sleep in an air- conditioned room with warm nkets was undoubtedly the best sleep Pattie had experienced in the past two years. After breakfast, Herman went to work. Anastasia waited for Pattie to wake up, then they had breakfast together and headed to a nearby mall. Salma, with her mobility issues, didn¡¯t join them. She stayed at home, doing what housework she could manage. Having both elderly and young members in the household did increase the stress, but it also made the home cozier. Elysian Technologies. In the CEO¡¯s office, Flynn came to chat with Herman first thing in the morning. ¡°Bro, were you serious about what you saidst night? You weren¡¯t just bullshitting our parents, right? It¡¯s just us here now, and you can tell me the truth.¡± Herman knew what he was asking. ¡°What truth?¡± ¡°Bro, you don¡¯t seem like someone who has fertility issues,¡± Flynn said. ¡°The moment you said thatst night, our parents started nagging me again. I have to be home by ten every night, and I have to lead a regr life.¡± Herman raised an eyebrow. ¡°That¡¯s good, take care of your health. The future of the Salstrom family is on your shoulders now.¡± Bro, I¡¯m only twenty-five.¡± Herman asked, ¡°How¡¯s the investigation into Kitty going?¡± Chapter 240 Chapter 240 Chapter 240 Getting down to business, Flynn said solemnly, ¡°Dude, you¡¯re in some deep shit this time. This Kitty chick, she¡¯s a handful. The women in her family, once they decide to be with a guy, they¡¯re like superglue.¡± Herman frowned, ¡°What about the money I gave herst time? She didn¡¯t take it?¡± ¡°Nope, she told me to give it back to you,¡± Flynn replied. ¡°She¡¯s rented a ce now. Dude, you can¡¯t let her extort you like this. Maybe we should just deny everything and then use her of defamation.¡± It had been five years since the incident, the surveince footage from Neon Dreams was long gone. Furthermore, with Kitty¡¯s testimony, it was really impossible to determine what actually happened that night. As Flynn was advising Herman, his phone rang. It was his mom, Katelyn. Herman answered the call, ¡°What¡¯s up, mom?¡± ¡°Son, you better get home now. There¡¯s a woman here iming she had a thing with you. She called my name as soon as she saw me and said she wants to be my daughter-inw. What the hell is going on?¡± Hearing this, Herman¡¯s face turned gloomy, ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡± After hanging up, Herman put on his coat. Flynn asked, ¡°What¡¯s up, dude?¡± ¡°Kitty showed up at our house.¡± ¡°This chick, she just won¡¯t quit,¡± Flynn remarked. ¡°She actually showed up at our house, ballsy.¡± The Salstrom Manor of the Salstrom family. Katelyn looked at the woman in front of her, her irritation growing. A woman showing up out of the blue and iming to be her daughter-inw, it was quite a shock. ¡°Don¡¯t get mad, let¡¯s see what Herman has to say when he gets back,¡± Julie gentlyforted Katelyn. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. The Salstroms and the Browns were good friends and lived close by. Julie often came over to keep Katelynpany and had left a good impression. Initially, drawn to Julie¡¯s kindness and gentleness, Katelyn wanted to set her up with Herman. But Herman never showed up for any of the arranged dates and was either politely distant orpletely ignored Julie when at home. Katelyn used to regret not being able to match the two of them. After Herman married Anastasia and she became Katelyn¡¯s daughter-inw, Katelyn had long put the idea of Julie being her daughter-inw out of mind. Katelyn clutched her chest, exasperatedly saying, ¡°This is such a headache.¡± ¡°I think this woman is trying to trap Herman¡­¡± Julie tried to soothe. ¡°I¡¯m not lying,¡± Kitty retorted, her eyes gleaming with determination. ¡°I did sleep with your son. I remember clearly, Mr. Salstrom has a mole on his butt.¡± Katelyn was mortified and covered her face, ¡°Ms. Kitty, I¡¯m not your mother-inw and my son is married. It¡¯s really inappropriate for you to say these things.¡± ¡°Mr. Salstrom is married?¡± Kitty looked upset upon hearing this. She said anxiously, ¡°That¡¯s not possible. He has to marry me. We slept together and he needs to take responsibility.¡± In this tense atmosphere, Julie tried to mediate, ¡°Ms. Kitty, don¡¯t get too worked up. Let¡¯s wait for Herman to get back.¡± Unable tomunicate effectively with Kitty, Katelyn also decided to wait for Herman to resolve this issue. About half an hourter, Herman returned with Flynn. Upon seeing Herman, Julie couldn¡¯t hide the joy on her face, ¡°Mr. Salstrom¡­¡± Herman didn¡¯t seem to notice her. He walked into the hall with a determined stride, his eyesnding on Kitty. Kitty¡¯s face lit up with happiness, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, you¡¯re finally back. Chapter 241 Chapter 241 Chapter 241 Herman led Kitty into the study. Coming face-to-face with this woman once again, he had zero patience left. ¡°Kitty, I¡¯m gonna tell you onest time, take the dough and scram, or else, I got a million ways to make sure you never see daylight again.¡± Kitty saw the resolve in Herman¡¯s eyes. Even if she was a blockhead, she wasn¡¯t about to throw her life away. The previous conflicts had shown her the financial might of the Salstrom family. She may have been tempted to y dirty, but she knew she was just a counterfeit, a pawn in someone else¡¯s game. If she seeded, that person would expose her, if she failed, her fate would be even more miserable. After some thought, Kitty decided that taking the money and making a run for it was the best option. She really didn¡¯t want to stir up trouble in the Salstrom family; she was pushed into it. Kitty also realized that this might be herst shot. She could give up on her dream of marrying a rich man, but it would be great if she could make some extra cash. Kitty dropped the act, and her demeanor changed to a more candid one, no more pretenses. ¡°Mr. Salstrom, if you want me to beat it, five million ain¡¯t gonna cut it.¡± Seeing Kitty smartening up, Herman¡¯s expression eased slightly. He leaned against the table and asked, ¡°How much are you looking for?¡± ¡°Ten million,¡± Kitty said, holding up a finger. ¡°I ain¡¯t gonna let you swindle me. I know I can¡¯t worm my way into your rich folks¡¯ world, but I deserve somepensation. Ten million ain¡¯t no sweat for you.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve caught on quick, huh?¡± Herman¡¯s gaze was frosty. ¡°If you spill the beans about who¡¯s pulling your strings, I¡¯ll throw in another ten million.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s pulling my strings?¡± Kitty yed dumb. ¡°Don¡¯t try to be slick with me,¡± Herman said, tapping on the desk. ¡°On the day of the Neon Dreams, it was your family gathering. I know your family. You are required to attend the gathering.¡± Herman had just thought of what Flynn had told him, so he thought of Kitty¡¯s family gathering. Hearing this, Kitty¡¯s eyes flickered, showing a touch of guilt. That day, she did go home for the gathering. Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡°I didn¡¯t go back that day because I couldn¡¯t get a flight ticket.¡± Kitty was still making excuses. ¡°Mr. Salstrom, just give me the money and I¡¯ll stop causing trouble.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want an extra ten million?¡± Herman tempted Kitty with the money. ¡°I bet your puppeteer can¡¯t offer you that much. What do they give you, tens¡­. of thousands, hundreds of thousands?¡± Kitty hesitated, which only made Herman more certain that someone was pulling Kitty¡¯s strings. Just then, Flynn walked in. ¡°Hey, the stuff you wanted just came in.¡± Flynn was holding a bank statement. Herman took out a document and ced it in front of Kitty. ¡°This is your bank statement. Half a month ago, your ount had a sudden increase of two hundred thousand. Can you exin where this money came from?¡± Kitty had deposited the money herself, but it wasn¡¯t hers. As a supermarket guide, a suddenrge deposit would definitely draw attention. ¡°That, uh¡­¡± Kitty stammered. ¡°Somebody paid you to impersonate the person from five years ago,¡± Herman answered for her. ¡°No, no,¡± Kitty continued to deny, ¡°You said you¡¯d give me ten million, right? Where¡¯s the money?¡± All she wanted now was to take the money and run before she was exposed. Flynn said, ¡°You really think my brother is an ATM, huh? Even if he was, it¡¯d be my sister-inw¡¯s ATM, not yours.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± Kitty asked. ¡°Go back to where you came from,¡± Flynn waved. ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve, asking for ten million. Even if you had the guts to take it, you wouldn¡¯t have the luck to spend it.¡± Hearing this, Kitty paled. At this moment, Herman suddenly pulled out a silenced gun from the drawer, loaded it, and aimed at the clock hanging behind Kitty. The gun made no noise, but the clock fell to the floor. Kitty had never seen anything like this before and screamed in fright, ¡°Ah! I¡¯ll tell you, I¡¯ll tell you!¡± Chapter 242 Chapter 242 Chapter 242 Kitty was clutching her head with both hands, legs gone jelly, sitting on the ground. Despite her greed, she didn¡¯t possess the courage for a situation like this. Whenever she had to deal with Herman, she would prepare meticulously, memorize her lines, and practice how to handle unexpected situations. But when the gun was pointed at her head, she was scared shitless, bbering out everything. ¡°It was Ms. Brown. It was Julie made me do it,¡± Kitty shook her head, ¡°I was forced.¡± Hearing Julie¡¯s name, Herman wasn¡¯t surprised at all, but Flynn was thunderstruck. ¡°Why would it be her? Why would she do this?¡± Flynn asked Herman in confusion, ¡°Bro, how did Julie know about your past?¡± Herman put his gun away, coldly telling Kitty, ¡°Get lost.¡± Kitty felt like she had been pardoned, but she couldn¡¯t help but drool over the money. She was kicking herself now. If only she¡¯d taken the five milst time, damn, greed really did make you stupid. At the Salstrom family mansion. Owned by N?velDrama.Org. Julie was a bit nervous. Kitty had done well thest time, but would she pull it off this time? She¡¯d heard about Herman¡¯s past from Collin and came up with this n. She couldn¡¯t find the woman from five years ago, so she had to find a substitute. Kitty was greedy and cheap, average-looking, perfect for the job. Katelyn asked a few times, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t shee down yet? My son didn¡¯t do anything to her, did he?¡± Julie replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Herman will handle it. Speaking of which, didn¡¯t Herman get married? Why haven¡¯t I seen your daughter-inw here yet? Last time at the hospital, she didn¡¯t seem to know who Herman was.¡± This was a loaded question, and Julie was testing Katelyn¡¯s reaction. ¡°Talking about it makes me mad. He finally got married, but he didn¡¯t bring her home,¡± Katelyn said, ¡°When will I get to hold my grandchild?¡± Julie forced a smile, ¡°You seem to like your daughter-inw. I heard she only graduated from high school, and she is from an average family.¡± ¡°Ana is beautiful and kind. What¡¯s important is that my son likes her. Besides, the Salstrom family doesn¡¯t need to marry into wealth, we¡¯re doing just fine,¡± Katelyn was open-minded, holding Julie¡¯s hand, ¡°Julie, I¡¯ve always liked you. I tried to match you with Herman before, but how about my younger son?¡± This caught Julie off guard. Compared to Herman, Flynn was a far cry. ¡°¡­¡± Before Julie could finish, Kitty came down, flustered. Julie was anxious, but she kept her poker face, ¡°Ms. Kitty, what happened?¡± Kitty nced at Julie, said nothing, and left in a hurry. She had to leave, or she¡¯d lose the 200k Julie gave her. Katelyn was puzzled, ¡°Why did she leave?¡± Julie knew her secret was out, and didn¡¯t dare to stay, ¡°I have some things to do, I¡¯lle visit you next time.¡± She had originallye to watch the drama, eager to witness Kitty¡¯s performance. However, things didn¡¯t go as nned, and instead, she found herself in trouble. Katelyn said, ¡°Ah, Julie, you¡¯re leaving too?¡± Julie left in a hurry, and Flynn came downstairs, ¡°If she didn¡¯t leave, my brother might¡¯ve done something to her. She¡¯s too greedy, daring to mess with the Salstrom family.¡± Katelyn was confused, ¡°Flynn, what are you talking about?¡± ¡°That woman was brought by Julie, Flynn said, ¡°I think she¡¯s up to no good, and her actions are quite despicable.¡± ¡°How could it be Julie?¡± Katelyn was shocked, couldn¡¯t believe it. Meanwhile. Anastasia was shopping for clothes with her daughter when she got a call from Melinda. Melinda was free in the afternoon and invited her for tea, wanting to formally thank her. Anastasia also wanted to learn more about the past, which might help find her daughter, so she took her daughter and caught a cab to meet Melinda. Seeing Anastasia holding her daughter¡¯s hand, Melinda said, ¡°Anastasia, you¡¯re married, and your daughter is already so big. Chapter 243 Chapter 243 Chapter 243 Anastasia didn¡¯t borate too much, she just gently caressed Pattie¡¯s forehead with a smile and let her go y at the next table, even ordering a juice for her. As they sat down, Anastasia cheerfully asked, ¡°How have you been these past years?¡± ¡°Me? Ever since I started this line of work, it¡¯s been nothing but tough.¡± Melinda looked decidedly nonchnt, then added, ¡°Give me a couple more years to make some money, then I¡¯m heading back to my hometown. My mom¡¯s getting on in years, she isn¡¯t well, and has to go to the hospital often. I need to earn more for her treatment.¡± ¡°Do you have a younger brother?¡± Anastasia couldn¡¯t quite remember. She only had a vague recollection of something like that. ¡°Yeah, I have a younger brother. He graduated from collegest year and found a girlfriend. They¡¯re already discussing about getting married.¡± Melinda¡¯s face seemed to cloud over with bitterness and helplessness as she spoke of her brother. Anastasia got back to the point, asking, ¡°Melinda, you remember the club we joined together, right? You must remember what I did there then. Was I also¡­ doing that?¡± Anastasia found it difficult to talk about and even harder to ept. Melinda understood what she meant and shook her head with a smile, ¡°No, you only agreed to work as a waitress outside the private rooms, cleaning up after guests left. You didn¡¯t do the work inside the rooms. The manager saw you were pretty and tried to get you to apany clients a few times, saying you could make more money, but you always refused.¡± Hearing this, Anastasia breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°That¡¯s good then.¡± She¡¯d been worried for days, scared that she might have had sex with clients in the past, which made her feel even more ufortable facing Herman. Melinda said, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for you helping me back then, you wouldn¡¯t have ended up in the private rooms. After that incident, I never saw you again. I have no idea how you¡¯ve been these years.¡± Melinda back then was just a naive young girl stepping into society. She always remembered Anastasia¡¯s kindness. If it weren¡¯t for difficulties, Melinda wouldn¡¯t have chosen this line of work. her family¡¯s financial Anastasia nced at Pattie who was ying with Barbie dolls at the next table, her lips curling into a slight smile, ¡°I¡¯m very happy now.¡± ¡°I can see that,¡± Melinda joked, ¡°You came in all glowing. Only a woman happily married can look like that. You¡¯re so lucky to have found a good husband.¡± To this day, Melinda hadn¡¯t dared to dream of getting married. Given her circumstances, where could she find a good man? She didn¡¯t think she deserved one. ¡°He really is great, Anastasia never held back on praising Herman, ¡°I just recovered from an illness, then my mom got hurt, and the kid needs to go to school. All the pressure is on my husband. He¡¯s having a tough time, but he neverins.¡± ¡°Exactly, where can you find such a good man? Anastasia, you¡¯re really blessed.¡± Just as they were talking, Melinda¡¯s phone rang, ¡°Anastasia, I need to take this call.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Anastasia got up and went to the next table to keep Pattiepany, not listening in on Melinda¡¯s call. She didn¡¯t know what was said on the other end, but Melinda¡¯sposure suddenly crumbled. Melinda pressed the caller, ¡°When did this happen? I didn¡¯t know my mom bought a house. Wasn¡¯t she just in an ident and needs to paypensation?¡± ¡°An ident? I didn¡¯t know that. The house was boughtst week. Your mom has been looking for a house for a while. She said she¡¯d saved some money over the years. She was short $10,000st time and asked me for a loan, which I didn¡¯t give her. Today I heard that your mom bought a house, and paid in full, as a wedding house for your brother. Your brother is getting married next month. Didn¡¯t you know about this?¡± These words hit Melinda like a heavy blow. She had no idea that her family had bought a house or that her younger brother was getting married with a set wedding date. Just a few days ago, her mother told her she¡¯d hit someone and even sent pictures, crying that she had no money, and the other party demanded $10,000 inpensation. She had scraped together the money and sent it back home. She never imagined this money was for buying a house. Over the years, she¡¯d sent almost a million back home. She paid for her brother¡¯s tuition, the family¡¯s expenses, and the renovation of their old house; everything was paid for by her. Now her family had bought a house in town, paid in full. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. How much did a house in the town cost? Maybe between 500,000 to 600,000, where did her family get the money? Apart from the renovation of their old house, her brother¡¯s living expenses and tuition, and the monthly support she had been sending to her family, the money Melinda had provided over the years was enough to buy a house outright. Seeing Melinda¡¯s pale face, Anastasia asked worriedly, ¡°Melinda, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Melinda hung up the phone, looking rather dazed. Before she could say anything, tears began to stream down her face like floodgates had been opened. Chapter 244 Chapter 244 Chapter 244 Melinda¡¯s sudden sobbing took Anastasia off guard. ¡°Melinda, what¡¯s wrong? What¡¯s going on? Please, don¡¯t cry.¡± Anastasia said. She handed Melinda a tissue and tried to wipe away her tears. Unable to hold back her emotions, the moment Melinda hung up the phone, all her grievances poured out like a burst dam. Everything she had been working and fighting for seemed like a cruel joke. It was as if a string she had been tensing for years had suddenly snapped. Melinda cried uncontrobly, drawing a few side-eyes from other customers in the shop. Pattie, the wise little girl, tried to wipe Melinda¡¯s tears away with her tiny hand, ¡°Don¡¯t cry. I¡¯ll give you a sweet.¡± She didn¡¯t really know how tofort people, but she was willing to share her candy. In Pattie¡¯s world, having sweets always cheered her up. Pattie unwrapped a sweet, and Melinda, unable to say no to the little girl, popped it in her mouth. She sobbed silently as she tasted the sweetness, which was a stark contrast to the bitterness in her heart. She was no longer a three-year-old child who could be cated with a piece of candy. The sweeter the candy, the more bitter she felt inside. ¡°My parents just bought a house in the county and didn¡¯t even tell me. They used my money to buy my brother his wedding house. They set the wedding date without telling me. What the hell am I to them?¡± Melinda exploded, ¡°Am I just an ATM to them? For years, I¡¯ve been footing the bill for everything at home. They¡¯ve squeezed me dry.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Hearing this, Anastasia felt a surge of anger for M¨¦linda. Melinda might have seemed to be living the high life, but in reality, she was beaten and bruised, drained dry by her own family. After a long while offorting her, Melinda finally calmed down. Seeing Melinda in such a state, Anastasia didn¡¯t dare to ask anything else. Melinda wasn¡¯t in the mood for tea anymore, so they ended their afternoon tea early. Anastasia hailed a cab for Melinda. Watching the cab drive away. she stood on the bustling street with Pattie, pondering that every family had its set of problems. Back in her shared t, Melinda seemed dazed. Her tmate noticed her looking down and asked, ¡°Melinda, what¡¯s wrong? Is something bothering you?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Melinda replied tly, not wanting to talk about it. Her tmate, who had often apanied her to the Neon Dreams club, suddenly remembered something, ¡°Melinda, your friend fromst time, she seemed familiar. Wasn¡¯t she the one who helped you confront that Mr. Winchester?¡± Melinda sat on the couch, absentmindedly scrolling through her phone, ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why she seemed familiar. I just remembered something. That night, I saw your friend rushing out of Mr. Winchester¡¯s private room and heading to the rooftop. I followed her, and you won¡¯t believe what I saw. She was with Mr. Salstrom from Elysian Technologies, on the rooftop suite couch. They were really going at it.¡± Her tmate said. Melinda didn¡¯t really pay attention to what her tmate was saying. Her mind was still preupied with the house her parents had purchased. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she decided to call home. She took her phone into her room, closing the door behind her. The call was picked up almost immediately, and before Melinda could even ask about the house, her mother¡¯s voice asking for money came through, ¡°Melinda, do you have any money left? Could you send me another hundred grand? The man I identally hitst time is demandingpensation for his lost wages and medical bills. He wants a hundred grand.¡± Melinda sat on the edge of her bed, clutching her bedsheets tightly, trying to hold back her emotions. She allowed her mother to finish her spiel before asking, ¡°Mom, is my brother getting married next month? Does the bride¡¯s family expect a hundred grand as a wedding gift?¡± The house had already been bought; now all that was left was to prepare the wedding gift. Her mother suddenly asking for a hundred grand must be rted to that. Maria, over the phone, didn¡¯t seem to feel guilty in the slightest. Instead, she chuckled and replied, ¡°Yes, he¡¯s getting married next month. As his sister, you should take care of your brother¡¯s wedding. The bride¡¯s family want a hundred grand as a wedding gift. Your father and I can¡¯t afford that much. Can you figure something out? The wedding day is fast approaching.¡± Melinda felt like her heart was being torn apart, yet she clung to a sliver of hope and inquired, ¡°Did our family buy a house?¡± ¡°Yes, we did.¡± Maria bragged over the phone, ¡°Paid in full, with the money you¡¯ve been sending us over the years. It¡¯s arge three-bedroom t with a big balcony. Theyout is great. After your brother gets married, your father and I n to move in there to help them look after the baby.¡± Melinda said, ¡°That¡¯s good. I¡¯ve been contemting quitting my job and returning home in a few years. Then we can all be together.¡± The moment Maria heard this, she grew agitated, ¡°What are youing back for? You can make money in Riverdale. There¡¯s no future in a small town. Moreover, there won¡¯t be any space for you at home.¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯m tired of drifting around. I want toe back and take care of you. My brother just bought a three-bedroom t.¡± Melinda said. Before she could finish, her father¡¯s voice came through the phone, ¡°We don¡¯t need you to take care of us. Your brother can handle it. Your mother and I will be taking one room in your brother¡¯s new t, your brother and his wife will take another, and we need to save one for the baby. You¡¯re doing just fine in Riverdale. There¡¯s no need for you toe back.¡± His words made Melinda burst into tears again, ¡°Dad, mum, I paid for the house, and I don¡¯t even get a room? Is that fair?¡± ¡°You contributed a bit of money, so what? It¡¯s your brother¡¯s house.¡± Her father said condescendingly over the phone, ¡°Hurry up and figure out how toe up with the hundred grand. Your brother¡¯s bride¡¯s family is waiting for their wedding gift.¡± ¡°I can¡¯te up with the money. I had to borrow from a friend to get the moneyst time.¡± Melinda sobbed. Maria said, ¡°Why don¡¯t you hit them up for more cash? He¡¯s your little bro, ain¡¯t he? If his big sis ain¡¯t gonna do anything, what are we supposed to do? Your dad and I ain¡¯t got a dime back in the sticks.¡± Her mom had already started bawling on the phone. Melinda had a soft spot for her mom¡¯s tears. They always got to her. Melinda caved in and said. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll think of something else. When is my brother getting hitched next month? I¡¯ll ask for some time off ande home early.¡± Before she could finish her sentence, her dad on the other end cut her off, ¡°You don¡¯t need toe home. You¡¯re doing that job out there. If our rtives see you, won¡¯t it be super awkward? It would be mortifying for your brother and his family. It¡¯s not right for you toe back.¡± That was the straw that broke the camel¡¯s back. Melinda was crushed. She felt a stabbing pain deep in her heart and a shock that left her reeling. She couldn¡¯t believe that in her parents¡¯ eyes, she was that shameful, a disgrace. ¡°Dad, mom, do you guys think I¡¯ve brought shame on my brother? You think the job I¡¯m doing is disgraceful, but every penny you guys use, I earned it. I put my little bro through college, bought his wedding house with my money, and now, do you guys think the money I earned is dirty?¡± Melinda was shaking all over. Her parents¡¯ words were like a sharp arrow, piercing her heart deeply. Chapter 245 Chapter 245 Chapter 245 Melinda¡¯s parents were worried that she wouldn¡¯t be able to cough up with the money due to the pressure. So, Melinda¡¯s mom started trying to guilt-trip her. ¡°Melinda, we didn¡¯t mean it that way. We all know you¡¯ve busted your hump for this family. Your brother finally got himself a girlfriend, and her parents have steady jobs. It¡¯s an improvement for our family. We can¡¯t let him feeling embarrassed.¡± Melinda¡¯s mom sobbed, ¡°Once your brother settles down, you¡¯ll have someone to lean on. We¡¯re thinking about you too.¡± Melinda wiped away tears, her head held high, trying to hold back her emotions. She didn¡¯t say anything. Her dad came back on the line, saying, ¡°You¡¯ve got three days toe up with a hundred grand. If your brother¡¯s wedding falls through, don¡¯t bothering home.¡± Melinda couldn¡¯t take it anymore and hung up the phone. She was the ck sheep of the family, the one who made her parents and brother feel embarrassed. Her sacrifices had turned into a joke. ! Meanwhile, Maria and Jay exchanged nces. Jay asked, ¡°Did she hung up?¡± Maria said, ¡°Yep, she did.¡± ¡°She¡¯s on her own now.¡± Jay said angrily, ¡°Call her back and tell her to get the money ASAP!¡± ¡°You were too harsh, Jay. No wonder Melinda¡¯s upset.¡± Maria remarked, ¡°I¡¯ll go andfort her in a bit.¡± Just then, Melinda¡¯s brother returned from outside and asked, ¡°Mom, dad, is the wedding gift money ready? Lily¡¯s family is rushing us.¡± Seeing her son return, Maria smiled and said, ¡°Hold your horses. I¡¯ve called your sister; she¡¯ll gather the money soon. Are you hungry? I can make something to eat.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t be eating at home; I have a dinner date with Lily. I came back just to let you guys know to get the wedding gift money sorted. Lily¡¯s parents are giving us a BMW as a wedding present. It¡¯ll be great for my career too.¡± Melinda¡¯s brother said. ¡°Really? Lily¡¯s family is so generous. Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll get the wedding gift money sorted. Maria was delighted, ¡°Now off you go, don¡¯t keep Lily waiting. You need to treat her well. Don¡¯t upset her.¡± ¡°She¡¯s a real diva. If she wasn¡¯t the only child and her family wasn¡¯t giving us a BMW, I wouldn¡¯t even look twice at her. Her parents. have spoiled her.¡± Melinda¡¯s brother said. Mariaughed, ¡°Just bear with it. Once Lily is part of our family, I¡¯ll teach her a few things.¡± ¡°Okay, guys, I¡¯m off. Oh, and don¡¯t mention my wedding to Melinda. If Lily¡¯s parents find out about her job, I¡¯ll die of embarrassment.¡± Melinda¡¯s brother said. Jay wore a loving expression and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we didn¡¯t invite her back. You go keep Lily company. Don¡¯t worry about us.¡± As soon as their son left, Jay urged Maria to call Melinda again to sort out the money. Melinda was listening to her phone ringing non-stop, it was driving her up the wall. The ringtone sounded like an omen, leaving her on edge. Her roommate knocked from outside the door, ¡°Melinda, why is your phone constantly ringing?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Melinda couldn¡¯t take it anymore and muted her phone, finally getting some peace and quiet. She didn¡¯t dare turn it off, in case she missed an important call from a client or her boss. In adult life, there was no such thing as total freedom. Even if she wanted to rx for a while, she had to consider the potential consequences. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Her roommate didn¡¯t think much of it, just said, ¡°I¡¯ve got to go to work.¡± As the roommate was about to leave, Melinda opened the door, ¡°Could you have dinner with me tonight, it¡¯s my birthday.¡± ¡°Melinda, happy birthday. But I can¡¯t skip my work hours. How about this? I¡¯ll return early, and we can have ate-night snack to celebrate your birthday. I¡¯ll also bring a gift. Is that okay?¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Melinda said. ¡°I¡¯ve got to go, Melinda. Remember to cheer up, it¡¯s your birthday. I¡¯ll bring you a present when Ie back.¡± Her roommate said. After watching her roommate leave, Melinda returned to her room, feeling like a soulless shell. Her phone lit up once more; it was her boss calling. She couldn¡¯t afford to ignore it. After picking up, her response was still slow, her voice monotone as if she was a robot, ¡°Hello, okay, I¡¯ll be there right away.¡± Chapter 246 Chapter 246 Chapter 246 Ever since her breakup with Melinda, Anastasia felt uneasy, with her eyelids twitching non-stop, as if something was about to happen. Anastasia and Pattie took a cab back to Harmony Meadows, where they ran into Leo at the entrance. Suddenly, Leo¡¯s little boy began to cry. Leo tried to reach for a toy in the stroller to soothe him but identally spilled all the fruits and veggies on the ground. He was attempting to calm the child and pick up the stray tomatoes simultaneously when his phone started ringing. Clearly, Leo was flustered and irritable, struggling to manage everything. Pattie left Anastasia and hurried over to help collect the tomatoes. Seeing Pattie, Leo looked surprised and relieved. Pattie¡¯s actions made him feel guilty. Anastasia also joined in, helping to retrieve the veggies and ce them back in the stroller. Leo felt embarrassed as he said, ¡°Thanks! I didn¡¯t realize how challenging kids can be. I used to think it was easy and would often me my wife.¡± Leo was rarely at home, so he didn¡¯t spend much time with the child. With Penny absent, he was left to care for his son, which exined why everything seemed so chaotic. Anastasia noticed that the child¡¯s clothes were on backward, and his socks didn¡¯t match. The little boy stopped crying when he saw Pattie, as they had bonded due to Pattie spending a lot of time with him at home. Anastasia said, ¡°Taking care of kids is indeed no easy feat.¡± Leo nced at Pattie, who was dressed beautifully like a little princess under Anastasia¡¯s care. He sighed, ¡°Pattie¡¯s better off with you than with us.¡± He felt ashamed. He told Pattie, ¡°You need to study hard and be obedient in your new home; don¡¯t be willful.¡± Pattie obediently nodded and replied, ¡°Okay.¡± Anastasia, holding Pattie¡¯s hand, said, ¡°Pattie, say goodbye to the gentleman.¡± Leo was no longer Pattie¡¯s guardian, so she didn¡¯t need to call him dad anymore. Pattie waved at Leo and said, ¡°Goodbye, sir.¡± Hearing Pattie call him sir, Leo felt a bit ufortable, but he had no right to say anything anymore. When Pattie used to call him dad, he didn¡¯t live up to the responsibilities of a father. Anastasia, holding Pattie¡¯s hand, headed towards building three, unit one. Watching Pattie¡¯s departing figure, Leo¡¯s eyes filled with helplessness and guilt. He shouted, ¡°Be a good girl.¡± Pattie looked back at Leo. Leo waved at her, indicating for her to follow Anastasia. After Pattie disappeared around the corner, Leo sat down on a nearby flower bed with his little boy, and muttered to himself, ¡°I don¡¯t deserve it. Pattie¡¯s living a better life with someone else.¡± Back home, Salma greeted them with her walking stick and said, ¡°You¡¯re back.¡± Pattie took out a piece of candy from her pocket and said, ¡°Granny, this is for you.¡± Salma was thrilled and eximed, ¡°Pattie even brought me a gift. What a good girl.¡± Anastasia changed her shoes at the door and said, ¡°Pattie¡¯s been thinking about you. Every time she sees something tasty, she says she wants to bring some back for granny.¡± Salma, still beaming, replied, ¡°Really? What a thoughtful kid.¡± Anastasia suggested, ¡°Pattie, why don¡¯t you y with granny for a bit? I¡¯ll go make dinner. Your dad will be home soon.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Pattie agreed, taking Salma¡¯s hand and retrieving her Barbie doll. She said, ¡°Granny, let¡¯s dress up the doll together. Salma had epted Pattie in her heart. The girl was indeed very lovable. Now that things hade to this, she might as well treat her like her own granddaughter. Anastasia watched Pattie interacting with Salma, feeling content. She nced out the window at the sunlight streaming in, illuminating the balcony¡¯s nts. Everything appeared beautiful. If Pattie were their biological daughter, if that incident had never urred, their marriage could have been blissful. She would have taken care of the kids and her mom at home while he worked outside. Her loved ones would have been around, and her ideal life would have been realized. She would have cherished this warm life deeply. She entered the kitchen to prepare dinner and sent him a text, asking: [What time will you be off work, and are youing home for dinner?] The better the days became, the more she realized the need to address matters with Herman sooner rather thanter. Otherwise, it would be an even greater shock for him. Chapter 247 Chapter 247 Chapter 247 The moment she sent the message, Herman replied right away: [I¡¯ll be home for dinner.] Anastasia was overjoyed when she saw this. As a woman, what she wanted was pretty simple, a little care and attention from her man. The thought of Hermaning home for dinner was all Anastasia needed to start preparing a rib stew. As Anastasia bustled around the kitchen, Pattie and Salma yed in the room, theirughter ringing out every now and then. Everything was so cozy and homey. Anastasia started to prepare two more side dishes. Just as she finished chopping the vegetables, Alessia called her. Anastasia asked, ¡°What¡¯s up, Alessia?¡± ¡°Anastasia, that tip you gave mest time really did the trick. My mother-inw is now keeping her big mouth shut.¡± Alessia sounded so cheerful, she could tell from her tone, ¡°I¡¯ve been buying her clothes, only the most expensive ones, and even giving her a massage. Next thing I know, I¡¯m the talk of the town; everyone¡¯s praising me for being a great daughter-inw. You should¡¯ve seen the sour look on my mother-inw¡¯s face. I felt so satisfied.¡± Alessia said. Seeing Alessia in such high spirits, Anastasia chuckled, ¡°Well, this is just a temporary fix, Alessia. You don¡¯t want to ice her outpletely, or the resentment between you two will only grow.¡± ¡°I get it.¡± Alessia said, ¡°I¡¯ve got to go back to work tomorrow.¡± Anastasia was taken aback, ¡°So soon?¡± ¡®Thepany¡¯s promoting me; I can¡¯t let this golden chance slip by.¡± Alessiaughed over the phone, ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m so pumped right now. I¡¯ve been waiting for this promotion for so many years. Now I¡¯ve got my career and my kid, I feel like I can take on the world.¡± Anastasia was happy for Alessia and said, ¡°Congrattions, Alessia! You¡¯re excelling at both work and home.¡± ¡°I owe it all to you.¡± Alessia said, ¡°Ever since you joined thepany, my son was born early, my mother-inw has been behaving, and I got a promotion. You¡¯re my lucky charm.¡± Anastasiaughed, ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything.¡± Alessia insisted, ¡°You¡¯re my lucky charm, Anastasia. When are youing back to work?¡± ¡°I might have to wait a bit.¡± Anastasia said, ¡°My mom hurt her leg. The kids at home also need me.¡± Alessia was confused, ¡°Kids?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a long story. I¡¯ll tell you another time.¡± Anastasia said. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be waiting for you at the office. I¡¯m throwing a promotion party this Friday night. You must come. I¡¯ll text you the location.¡± Alessia said. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll be there.¡± Anastasia answered. After hanging up, Anastasia noticed that the ribs were almost done. She lowered the heat and started mixing the sd. Herman arrived home at seven in the evening. Hearing the door open, Pattie excitedly rushed over to greet him, ¡°Dad, mom bought me lots of beautiful dresses and toys today.¡± The moment he walked in, his heart warmed at the sound of his child calling him Dad and the aroma of home-cooked food wafting from the kitchen. It was such a simple yet heartwarming moment. Herman smiled as he ced his car keys on the table, changed his shoes by the door, and affectionately ruffled Pattie¡¯s hair, ¡°Did you have fun today?¡± ¡°I did.¡± Pattie¡¯s smile resembled a crescent moon in its cuteness. Seeing Pattie¡¯s smile made Herman pensive. Pattie¡¯s smile was so much like Anastasia¡¯s. When they smiled, they both disyed those beautiful dimples. Anastasia emerged from the kitchen with the rib stew and said with a smile, ¡°You¡¯re home. Go wash your hands; we¡¯re about to have dinner.¡± She called out toward the kitchen, ¡°Mom, dinner¡¯s ready.¡± Salma was on a call in the another room but hung up immediately upon hearing Anastasia¡¯s voice. Herman took Pattie to wash their hands. Seeing Anastasia serving the dishes, he instructed Pattie to sit down and went to the kitchen to help with the dishes. Anastasia saw him serving the dishes and prepared two tes of dip. One te had coriander because she and her mother both loved coriander, and the other te didn¡¯t, as Herman was allergic to it. ¡°Dinner¡¯s ready.¡± As the family of four sat down for dinner, Pattie took a seat next to Herman. Anastasia carefully selected the best ribs for Pattie and her mother, cing them on their tes, and served herself a piece of potato. She had just taken a bite when another rib appeared on her te, ced there by Herman, He said, ¡°You should eat more meat to get more protein.¡± Anastasia felt a warm sensation in her heart. Seeing how well her daughter and son-inw were getting along, Salma was ted. ¡°Mom, I want some dip too.¡± Pattie said, eyeing the coriander dip. ¡°Sure.¡± Anastasia picked up a rib, dipped it into the coriander sauce, and cautioned, ¡°This sauce is a bit spicy, so be careful.¡± Anastasia¡¯s dip, made with chili, cream cheese, and coriander, indeed had a spicy kick. Pattie loved it and took a bite, smiling. Seeing that Pattie liked it, Anastasia dipped a few more pieces of ribs and ced them on her te. Salma said, ¡°Don¡¯t just take care of the child, you need to eat too.¡± Anastasia replied with a ¡°Mmm.¡± She served herself a piece of meat and then nced at Herman. The family enjoyed a wonderful dinner together. After dinner, Herman stood up to clear the table. Salma, who had difficulty walking, sat on the sofa and watched TV, while Anastasia took Pattie to wash up and prepare for bed. While Anastasia was preparing the bath, she noticed that Pattie was incessantly scratching her skin, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Pattie?¡± Pattie kept scratching her arms and neck, saying, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m so itchy.¡± Anastasia just noticed that Pattie had red spots all over her neck and arms. When she looked under Pattie¡¯s clothes, she found her body covered in red rashes. Anastasia panicked and shouted, ¡°Herman,e here quickly!¡± Herman rushed over from the kitchen, ¡°Anastasia, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Pattie¡¯s body is covered in red rashes. I think she¡¯s having an allergic reaction.¡± Anastasia blurted out, ¡°We need to take her to the hospital right now.¡± Before she couldplete her sentence, Pattie started vomiting and showed signs of rapid breathing. Anastasia went pale with fear. Herman¡¯s face also changed drastically. He immediately picked up Pattie, ¡°Get the car keys. We¡¯re going to the hospital.¡±¡± Herman, carrying Pattie, rushed toward the door. Salma, hearing themotion, asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± In a panicked state, Anastasia replied, ¡°Pattie¡¯s having an allergic reaction. We¡¯re taking her to the hospital, Mom. Wait for us at home.¡± Hearing the news, Salma immediately responded, ¡°Okay, go quickly. Call me with any updates.¡± She didn¡¯t want to be a burden due to her limited mobility. As Herman and Anastasia rushed Pattie to the hospital, Anastasia was overwhelmed with anxiety and worry. Pattie kept vomiting and had difficulty breathing. The red dots on her body were multiplying. In a voice full of pain, she said, ¡°Mom, Dad, I feel terrible. Am I going to die?¡± Material ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°No, don¡¯t be scared. Mom and Dad are right here with you. We¡¯re almost at the hospital.¡± Anastasia¡¯s heart was in her throat. Herman looked serious while driving and arranging a doctor over the phone. Upon their arrival, a doctor immediately met them and escorted Pattie to the emergency room. They anxiously waited outside the ER. Herman held Anastasia¡¯s hand,forting her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she¡¯ll be fine.¡± Anastasia looked pale and med herself, saying, ¡°I must have fed Pattie something she shouldn¡¯t have eaten. It¡¯s all my fault.¡± Hermanforted her, ¡°Don¡¯t jump to conclusions yet. Let¡¯s see what the doctor says. Pattie¡¯s condition isn¡¯t that critical. I¡¯ve been through something simr before, and I¡¯m fine now, aren¡¯t I?¡± Herman had a simr allergic reaction when he identally ate coriander as a child. While they were talking, a doctor came over to ask what Pattie had eaten to identify the allergen. Now it was certain; Pattie was having an allergic reaction. Recalling what Pattie had eaten today, Anastasia said, ¡°She had ribs, potatoes, things she¡¯s eaten before without any problem. Oh, and the coriander in the dip. She had coriander.¡± Remembering Herman¡¯s allergy to coriander, Anastasia suspected Pattie might also be allergic to it. Chapter 248 Chapter 248 Chapter 248 ording to Anastasia, the doctors conducted some allergy tests on Pattie. It turns out that Pattie was indeed allergic totro. After nearly an hour of medical hustle and bustle and some medication, Pattie¡¯s allergic reaction was finally under control. However, her stomach was empty, and she was weak as a kitten, looking quite pitiful. As the doctors wheeled Pattie out of the ER, Anastasia¡¯s eyes instantly welled up. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. She was scared out of her wits, thinking that Pattie was in real danger. Seeing Pattiee out of the ER safe and sound, her heart finally settled back into ce. Herman also breathed a sigh of relief. From their home to the hospital and through the nerve-wracking hour, both Hermani and Anastasia felt like they were on an emotional roller coaster. They realized they still had a lot to learn when it came to taking care of a child. Back in the ward, Anastasia gave Pattie some lemon saltwater to revive her, while Herman went to get some light food to fill her up. Seeing Pattie was okay, Anastasia finally stepped out into the corridor to call Salma and let her know everything was fine. ¡°She¡¯s okay. She¡¯s allergic totro. The doctor said it¡¯s a good thing we got her here in time, or it could¡¯ve been really bad.¡± Anastasia said. After this, Anastasia decided there would be zerotro in their house. Salma breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°d to hear she¡¯s okay. I was scared silly, who would¡¯ve thought Pattie would be allergic totro? What a curveball.¡± Anastasia thought it was quite a coincidence that Herman was also allergic totro. It was not usual she met someone allergic totro, even the doctor said it was usually hereditary. They chalked it up to coincidence, but it seemed like fate had chosen Pattie to be a part of their family. After hanging up, Anastasia sshed some cold water on her face in the restroom. She was so scared earlier that her palms were sweaty, and she had some of Pattie¡¯s vomit on her. After cleaning up, she looked at herself in the mirror, took a deep breath, dried her face, and returned to the ward. Herman had already put Pattie to bed and was sitting by her side, holding her hand and looking at her with eyes full of love. Seeing this, Anastasia felt a pang of sadness. Herman must want a child of his own too. She went over, hugged him from behind, and apologized, ¡°Herman, I¡¯m sorry I can¡¯t give you a child.¡± She really wanted to have his baby and had even prepared for it. But life loves to y tricks on people, and she was diagnosed as infertile. Herman held her hand and said softly, ¡°Having you and Pattie is more than enough for me, Anastasia. There¡¯s something I¡¯ve been meaning to tell you.¡± He turned around and looked at her tenderly, ¡°I don¡¯t n on having any more children. Pattie is enough for us. I¡¯ve also talked to my family about this, and they respect my decision.¡± Anastasia was shocked, ¡°Why? I thought you loved kids. Why?¡± She thought about her infertility and her recent hospitalization. Did Herman already know about her infertility? Anastasia was torn. She said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ve been meaning to tell you that I¡­¡± She was about to confess her infertility when he interrupted, ¡°I¡¯m sterile.¡± Anastasia stared at him in disbelief, thinking she must have heard him wrong, ¡°What?¡± He repeated, ¡°I¡¯m sterile, Anastasia. I can¡¯t give you a child, and I¡¯m sorry. I found out during a company health check that I¡¯m infertile. It¡¯s almost impossible for me to have children.¡± His words left Anastasia stunned. Rather than feeling relieved, she felt life was being unfair to her. Why was fate so cruel? Chapter 249 Chapter 249 Chapter 249 Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it.¡± Anastasia¡¯s face was full of disbelief. She had just been diagnosed as infertile, and now he was telling her he was infertile too. What on earth was going on? To convince her, Herman said, in a deep voice, ¡°Anastasia, I should¡¯ve told you this earlier. I¡¯m sorry for keeping it from you. Two months ago, during thepany¡¯s medical check-up, I wanted to tell you but I just couldn¡¯t find the right time.¡± ¡°Two months ago?¡± Anastasia asked skeptically. Had he been diagnosed before she was hospitalized? ¡°Yeah.¡± Herman¡¯s deep-set eyes stared at her, ¡°Anastasia, if you can¡¯t ept this, I¡¯ll understand any decision you make. If you want a divorce, I¡¯ll give you the house aspensation. After all, it¡¯s your right.¡± Before he could finish, she threw herself into his arms, holding onto him tightly, ¡°I¡¯m not going to divorce you. Who said anything about divorce? You promised to stick with me until we¡¯re old and grey, to take care of me for the rest of my life. How dare you go back on your word.¡± Even though she had entertained the idea of divorce countless times, and was mentally prepared for it, when he brought it up, she couldn¡¯t bear the thought. All her thoughts of divorce was defeated by her reluctance to let him go. Her reaction was just as he had anticipated it would be. Herman looked down at the girl in his arms, ¨¤ smile ying at the corner of his mouth. He knew Anastasia had been considering divorce. He could tell she had been conflicted recently, so he suggested this, hoping to help her untangle her feelings. Herman gently stroked Anastasia¡¯s back, his voice deep and soothing, ¡°Really, no divorce? You sure about this? If you want a divorce, the house you¡¯re living in now will be yours.¡± ¡°No, no divorce.¡± Anastasia held onto him tightly, ¡°Even if you give me ten houses, I won¡¯t divorce you.¡± Hearing her words, a smirk appeared on Herman¡¯s face where Anastasia couldn¡¯t see. He had a mischievous glint in his eyes. Since the topic hade this far, Anastasia decided not to hide anything from him any longer. She sat up from his embrace, looked at him and said, ¡°Herman, there¡¯s something I¡¯ve been wanting to tell you.¡± He gently smoothed her hair, his voice deep and maic, ¡°Mm, go ahead. I¡¯m listening.¡±: His voice was really nice to listen to, deep like a cello, clear, and full of texture. She had always loved his voice; ever since they met on their blind date at the caf¨¦, the thing that left the deepest impression on her was his amazing voice. His words, ¡°I¡¯m listening¡±, were filled with affection, giving Anastasia enough courage. She took a deep breath and said, ¡°Recently, I had a check-up too, and was diagnosed as infertile.¡± Hearing this, even though he knew it already, Herman feigned surprise, ¡°Anastasia, are you messing with me? You¡¯re not saying this just tofort me, are you?¡± ¡°How could I be in the mood to mess with you? I wish it were false.¡± Anastasia said, ¡°I thought you were saying all this tofort me.¡± She really thought so. If it weren¡¯t for him telling her that he was diagnosed with infertility two months ago, she wouldn¡¯t have believed it. Herman stayed silent for a while, as if digesting the news. Anastasia anxiously sneaked a peek at his reaction. After a bit; Herman seemed to understand something. He chuckled and joked, ¡°Seems like we¡¯re truly made for each other. This way, no one canin about the other.¡± Anastasia hesitated and said, ¡°There¡¯s something else, Herman. Do you remember I once told you that I lost some of my memory?¡± ¡°Yes, I remember.¡± Herman said. He already knew what she was going to say. This silly girl, her mental knot was finally untied. Anastasia said hesitantly, ¡°I remembered some stuff recently. Four years ago, I had a child.¡± When she finished saying thest word, Anastasia felt a huge weight lifted off her chest. It wasn¡¯t as hard to say it as she thought. She felt relieved now, just waiting for Herman¡¯s judgment. No need to feel guilty or anxious anymore. Chapter 250 Chapter 250 Chapter 250 Anastasia had been feeling super down and insecure for quite a while because of what happened four years ago. Actually, that issue should have been dealt with and solved pronto. Even if Herman couldn¡¯t swallow it in the end, they should have broken up amicably. If she continued to feel this way in her marriage, it would not do either of them any good. A marriage built on lies would notst long but just suck them deeper. Having said all that, Anastasia spoke up, ¡°Herman, I¡¯m really sorry. I¡¯ve been hiding something from you. The kid, my mom abandoned her a long time ago. I just remembered it recently and I decided to find her and fulfill my responsibilities. I know it¡¯s a tough pill to swallow, but I had to spit it out. I didn¡¯t want you to hear it from someone else. So I¡­¡± He chimed in before she could finish, ¡°So you.. to break up amicably again?¡± Anastasia looked at him and nodded, ¡°Whatever decision you make, I¡¯ll roll with it. If anyone else was in your shoes, they wouldn¡¯t ept it either. Finding out their wife used to be pregnant.¡± He gently cut her off, ¡°I already knew about this.¡± She was taken aback, ¡°How did you find out?¡± ¡°Cason came to me.¡± Herman confessed, ¡°He tried to ckmail me with this, but I turned the tables and got him thrown in jail.¡± He said it with such ease, as though sending someone to jail was as easy as having a meal. He already knew about the secret she had always struggled to share, and he had continued to love her deeply. Anastasia remembered what Monica had once said, that Cason was sentenced for ckmail. She never thought it had anything to do with Herman. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ever mention this to me?¡± Anastasia asked. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. He replied, ¡°It¡¯s a small matter, no need to stress you out.¡± A small matter? The thing she had been so scared of, was just a small matter to him? ¡°You don¡¯t mind?¡± Anastasia asked, somewhat in disbelief. He held her hands and said lovingly, ¡°I don¡¯t mind. It¡¯s your past. I just regret not meeting you sooner. You¡¯re the wife, pursued with all my might, and if you leave, I¡¯d have nowhere to even cry out. So, stop thinking about divorce. You¡¯re stuck with me for life.¡± Herman indeed went through a lot to win her over. However, for Anastasia, his words seemed like a joke. Anastasia was moved to tears by he was saying, ¡°Herman, why are you so good to me? I¡¯m not worthy of your kindness.¡± He smiled, saying, ¡°You¡¯re one of a kind. Stop putting yourself down.¡± He then turned serious and said, ¡°Anastasia, I won¡¯t lie to you. I was quite shocked when I first heard about this, but I know you didn¡¯t mean to deceive me. You¡¯re my chosen wife; I wouldn¡¯t make a wrong choice. I don¡¯t care about your past. I¡¯m only looking forward to our future.¡± ¡°Herman.¡± Anastasia was crying tears of joy; she was at a loss for words. ¡°You dummy.¡± Herman wiped her tears away, ¡°You¡¯ve been bottling this up for so long. You must feel better now,that it¡¯s out, right?¡± Anastasia gave a helpless smile, ¡°You knew what was on my mind all along, but you kept silent, Herman, you¡¯re such a jerk.¡± She yfully punched him a few times. He caught her hand and held it in his, his eyes twinkling with amusement, ¡°It¡¯s all because you women are too sensitive. Anyway, you¡¯re my wife now, and you just agreed, we¡¯re not getting divorced. We¡¯re in this for the long haul.¡± ¡°Herman.¡± Anastasia red at him in mock anger, ¡°You jerk.¡± He leaned down and kissed her. His kiss was so gentle, it was the sweetest taste in the world. They seemed to forget everything else,pletely oblivious to the fact that Pattie, who was in the hospital bed, had woken up. Seeing her parents kissing, Pattie covered her face with her tiny hands, but couldn¡¯t help taking a peek through her fingers and giggling. Chapter 251 Chapter 251 Chapter 251 That night, Anastasia felt a sense of ease she¡¯d never experienced before. No more pressure, no guilt, just honesty with Herman. She could finally hit the sack and sleep in peace. The cot was a one-man job, so Anastasia shared it with Pattie on the hospital bed, leaving Herman to the cot. As he watched the mother-daughter duo snoozing away peacefully, Herman couldn¡¯t help but crack a smile. The truth was, he didn¡¯t have infertility issues. The whole charade was just to help Anastasia let go of her emotional baggage. He wouldn¡¯t have believed it in the past, that he¡¯d go to such lengths for someone. Even now, he was surprised at his decision. But he had no regrets. Seeing Anastasia¡¯s rxed smile, watching her shrug off her burdens and sleep peacefully, he thought it was all worth it. It was a decision Herman had given a lot of thought to. He wasn¡¯t hell-bent on having kids. Having Anastasia as his wife was enough for him in this life. As for the Salstrom family bloodline, he had left that to Flynn. They had adopted Pattie, and having this daughter was enough. Herman propped himself up on his arm, took his eyes off Anastasia and her daughter, and shut his eyes to rest. The next day. The sun rose, and the red spots on Pattie had disappeared. The false rm had left Anastasia relieved. The family of three had breakfast in the hospital room. Herman asked Anastasia, ¡°Do you think we should let Pattie stay for another day for observation, or should we go home to rest?¡± Before Anastasia could answer, Pattie said, ¡°Mom, I want to go home.¡± She didn¡¯t like the hospital. It bored her, and she was scared of shots and pills. Kids, they all had a bit of a phobia of hospitals. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go home.¡± Anastasia said, caressing Pattie¡¯s cheeks. She told Herman, ¡°You go ask the doctor whether we can be discharged. If we can, I¡¯ll take Pattie home.¡± Salma was still at home, having trouble moving about and needed someone to look after her. ¡°Okay, you and Pattie wait here.¡± Herman said. He went to find the attending physician. Once he confirmed that Pattie¡¯s condition was stable enough for discharge, he arranged the discharge procedures and took them home. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Upon arriving home, Anastasia wasted no time in encouraging Herman to return to work. There was no need for him to stay home and look after them. An important meeting awaited him at thepany, and after offering Anastasia a few reminders, Herman headed to the office. Right after Herman left, Katelyn arrived with a stack of gifts. ¡°Salma, how¡¯s your foot injury?¡± Katelyn asked warmly, ¡°I brought you chicken soup, fruits, and tea bags.¡± Upon seeing all the goodies, Salma felt a bit embarrassed and quickly remarked, ¡°We¡¯re all family. You really didn¡¯t have to do this.¡± Katelyn chuckled and said, ¡°These are all gifts from others. We have an abundance at home and can¡¯t consume them all. Just enjoy without any concerns. It won¡¯t cost you anything.¡± This was indeed the case. All these items were gifts from others, and the Salstrom family¡¯s pantry was still well-supplied. Katelyn handed Pattie a box of Lego toys and warmly said, ¡°Pattie, these are for you. You can call me ¡®grandma.¡± Pattie joyfully eximed, ¡°Grandma.¡± ¡°What a good girl.¡± Katelyn said, fond of Pattie. She didn¡¯t know why, but she felt especially close to her. After learning that Herman couldn¡¯t have children, she felt even more affection for Pattie. Katelyn observed, ¡°Anastasia, Pattie seems a bit off.¡± Anastasia exined, ¡°Pattie had an allergic reaction totrost night. We¡¯ve only just returned from the hospital.¡± Katelyn asked in surprise, ¡°Pattie is allergic totro as well?¡± That was quite a coincidence. Anastasia smiled and replied, ¡°Yes, it seems like fate. Pattie and Herman, both allergic totro.¡± Katelynmented, ¡°That¡¯s quite a coincidence.¡± as she looked at Pattie once more. If she hadn¡¯t known that Pattie was adopted, she might have believed she was Herman and Anastasia¡¯s biological child. She bored a striking resemnce to Anastasia, and at times, her mannerisms resembled Herman¡¯s. Katelyn discreetly pulled Anastasia aside and inquired in a hushed tone, ¡°Anastasia, do you happen to know who Pattie¡¯s biological parents are?¡± Chapter 252 Chapter 252 Chapter 252 Anastasia said, ¡°Herman did some investigation. Pattie¡¯s biological parents died in a car ident. The community sent her to an orphanage before she was adopted by Leo and Penny.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Katelyn felt a twinge of disappointment, for some reason. It would have been nice if the child were theirs. Anastasia nced at the clock and noticed it was almost lunchtime. ¡°Let¡¯s have lunch at home at noon. I¡¯ll go buy some groceries.¡± Anastasia suggested. Katelyn smiled and said, ¡°Sure, I can chat with your mom to pass the time.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Anastasia picked up her keys and said to Pattie, ¡°Pattie, be a good girl and behave while I¡¯m out.¡± Pattie obediently replied, ¡°Okay.¡± Anastasia headed to the market, which was just around the corner from the residential area. It was a swift errand, and she soon returned with groceries. While entering the neighborhood, she noticed Tavon¡¯s car parked near the entrance. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Tavon was in conversation with a woman, apparently inquiring the security guard about something. Anastasia was aware that Tavon wouldn¡¯t give up so easily. She didn¡¯t avoid them but continued walking towards the entrance with her groceries. Upon seeing Anastasia, Tavon approached her with a smile, ¡°Ana, you went grocery shopping?¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t respond, thinking that it was obvious to anyone that she had been shopping. Ashley, the woman with Tavon, noticed that Anastasia wasn¡¯t responding and said with a smile, ¡°Ana, your dad and I came to take you back to Willowbrook.¡± ¡°I have no ns to go to Willowbrook.¡± Anastasia replied coldly, ¡°Please let me pass¡± Ashley hurriedly continued, ¡°You epted the house and stocks, so why won¡¯t you go now? If you don¡¯t go, what about¡­?¡±- Tavon, concerned that Ashley might say something wrong, quickly interrupted. ¡°Ana, didn¡¯t your mom tell you about returning to Willowbrook? I want to take you home. Your home is in Willowbrook. I even nned to teach you how to manage the vineyard, to take my ce.¡± ¡°Tavon, is that really what you want?¡± Anastasia scoffed, not believing a word he said. ¡°Of course.¡± Tavon said, ¡°I think you have a talent for business.¡± Anastasia deliberately inquired, ¡°How¡¯s your younger daughter?¡± ¡°Sandy¡¯s condition has stabilized. Just yesterday, we found a suitable marrow donor. She can have the transnt anytime.¡± Tavon said excitedly, ¡°Ana, you¡¯re my lucky star. Once your sister is out of the hospital, our family can be together again.¡± Anastasia couldn¡¯t discern from Tavon¡¯s expression whether he was telling the truth or not. Had Sandy really found a suitable marrow donor? If so, why was Ashley being so generous? There must be more to this. Tavon was putting on a show, and Anastasia yed along. She pretended to think, then said, ¡°My mom and I have lived here for decades. We¡¯re used to it. Willowbrook isn¡¯t far from Riverdale, just a two-hour flight. Besides, you already have a new family, Tavon. If my mom goes to Willowbrook, under what status would she be?¡± Anastasia¡¯s meaning was clear; she wanted Tavon to provide her mother with an exnation. Ashley was angry upon hearing this, but for her daughter¡¯s sake, she held back. Tavon was in a tight spot. He nced at Ashley, then said to Anastasia, ¡°I¡¯ll give your mom an exnation. I¡¯ll take care of her for the rest of her life. We¡¯ll be a family, Ana. If you can¡¯t leave your work and friends here, I understand. You cane back anytime. This time, I just hope you cane home.¡± Anastasia gave a faint smile, ¡°I¡¯ll consider it. I need to go home and cook, so I won¡¯t keep you.¡± She didn¡¯t want to maintain a fake friendly rtionship with them, but she also couldn¡¯t be overly aggressive. Tavon¡¯s social status and financial power could affect her and Herman¡¯s lives. She had no choice but to give them the cold shoulder. ¡°Alright, go ahead. Call me anytime when you¡¯ve made up your mind.¡± Tavon said with a smile. Without another word, Anastasia walked into the residential area with her groceries. As soon as she left, Ashley¡¯s expression changed, ¡°What does that girl mean? Does she want you to divorce me and marry her mother? She¡¯s really pushing her luck. If it weren¡¯t for Sandy¡¯s illness, I wouldn¡¯t put up with this. Who does she think she is?¡± Chapter 253 Chapter 253 Chapter 253 The more Ashley thought about it, the angrier she got; her face even twisted in rage. Tavon said, ¡°Look, we just need to trick her into going to Willowbrook. No matter what she asks for, we can always back outter.¡± ¡°I think that little girl is even tougher than Salma; she¡¯s not gonna be easy to deal with.¡± Ashley blurted out anxiously, ¡°If we keep dragging our feet, Sandy¡¯s condition will only get worse.¡± No sooner had she finished speaking than Ashley¡¯s phone rang. It was the hospital in Willowbrook, ¡°Sandy¡¯s condition has worsened. We need to find a suitable bone marrow for a transnt ASAP, or I¡¯m afraid it¡¯ll be toote. The doctor asked, ¡°When will the suitable person you mentionede to the hospital for matching?¡± The doctor¡¯s words cut Ashley like a knife, she said, ¡°You have to save my daughter. Just give me a few more days; I¡¯ll bring someone for Sandy¡¯s matching soon.¡± ¡°Well, you have to hurry.¡± The doctor warned, ¡°Given Sandy¡¯s condition, I¡¯m afraid she wouldn¡¯t make it past three months.¡± ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll hurry.¡± Ashley¡¯s eyes were red with urgency. Tavon, listening on the side, was also quite anxious, worrying his heart out. After hanging up the phone, Ashley cast a fierce nce in the direction Anastasia had left and said to Tavon, ¡°You have three days. If you can¡¯t handle it, I¡¯ll drag her to Willowbrook myself. Anastasia has to donate bone marrow for my daughter.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Tavon was also flustered. Anastasia¡¯s attitude was giving him a hard time. ¡°She has to. If you can¡¯t make it happen, I¡¯ll do it my way.¡± Ashley gritted her teeth, her eyes fierce, ¡°If she doesn¡¯t want to save my daughter, she can¡¯t me me for not being nice.¡± With that, Ashley got in her car. She felt thating to see Anastasia personally was already giving her enough face. Anastasia¡¯s demands were just too much. When Anastasia got home, she didn¡¯t tell Salma about Tavon seeking her out. She went to the kitchen to cook as usual, while Salma and Katelyn chatted in the living room, and Pattie yed with her toys. Everything was harmonious. Soon, Anastasia had prepared the meal and called everyone to eat. Katelyn praised, ¡°Ana¡¯s cooking skills are amazing; she can do it all. Herman is a lucky man.¡± Salmaughed, ¡°It¡¯s a blessing that Ana could marry Herman. He¡¯s hardworking, caring, and responsible.¡± Both sides started topliment each other. Anastasia tended to Pattie¡¯s meal and said, ¡°Don¡¯t just talk. The food¡¯s getting cold.¡± Katelynughed, ¡°Right, let¡¯s eat. Ana, you should eat more too.¡± Katelyn used to urge the two of them to have a child, but since finding out that Herman could not have children, she stopped. After dinner, Katelyn stayed for a while before being called away by a friend to y bridge. That was her only hobby. Salma wanted to take a nap after lunch and went to lie down in her room. Anastasia also took Pattie for a nap. Just as Anastasia was about to fall asleep, she heard Salma¡¯s phone ring. Then, she faintly heard Salma whispering on the phone. Out of curiosity, Anastasia went to the door and eavesdropped for a while. Sure enough, as she had expected, the phone call was Tavon persuading Salma to go to Willowbrook. And from Salma¡¯s tone, it seemed that she was somewhat wavering, her heart softening. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. She heard Salma say, ¡°I need to discuss with Ana and see what she thinks.¡± Anastasia returned to her room without interrupting Salma¡¯s phone call. She wouldn¡¯t allow Tavon to deceive her mother again as long as she was around. Tavon already had a family and could not provide her mother an official status. Should she let her mother be his mistress? Given these circumstances, Anastasia would never allow Salma to make the wrong decision. When she woke up from her nap, it was already past four in the afternoon. Salma had attempted to start a conversation several times but stopped. Anastasia knew what her mother wanted to say, but she simply didn¡¯t want to engage in the conversation. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m going to take Pattie down to the neighborhood to y for a while.¡± Anastasia decided to take Pattie and step out for a bit. Before she could reach the door, Anastasia received a call from the police station. Chapter 254 Chapter 254 Chapter 254 Anastasia was taken aback when she got the call from the police station. After finding out the reason, she was in total disbelief. Melinda was dead. Just yesterday, she was having tea with Melinda, and now, Melinda was gone. As thest person to have seen Melinda, Anastasia was questioned and brought to the police station. Still in shock, her first question to the police was, ¡°Is Melinda really dead?¡± The police responded, ¡°We¡¯ve confirmed the identity of the deceased. It¡¯s Melinda who worked at Neon Dreams.¡± ¡°How did she die?¡± Anastasia asked incredulously, ¡°She was fine yesterday. How could she be dead now?¡± ¡°It appears to be suicide.¡± The police exined, ¡°At one in the morning, Melinda jumped off the roof of Neon Dreams. Can you tell us why you met with her yesterday and what you two discussed? We need to know the details.¡± Neon Dreams was a towering building. Melinda jumped from it andmitted suicide? Anastasia wanted to know what drove Melinda to end her life in such a drastic way. She took some time to process the news, and then answered the police, ¡°It was Melinda who asked to meet up yesterday.¡± She recounted most of their conversation from yesterday to the police. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. While taking notes, the police asked, ¡°You¡¯re saying Melinda became very emotional after receiving a phone call?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Anastasia said, ¡°Melinda started crying. She said her family was buying a house and her brother was getting married. After she calmed down, I called her a cab and sent her home. I haven¡¯t contacted her since.¡± And the day after they parted ways, Anastasia heard the news that Melinda had jumped to her death. From the police, Anastasia learned that Melinda¡¯s fall from the high-rise building had left her unrecognizable and killed her instantly. In the prime of her life, she ended it in the most drastic way. As Anastasia was leaving the interrogation room, she was drawn to themotion in the police station lobby. The manager of Neon Dreams was being osted by a middle-aged couple who wouldn¡¯t let him leave. They were Melinda¡¯s parents, who had rushed here from their hometown after hearing the news of Melinda¡¯s suicide. Maria was crying hysterically, demandingpensation from the manager of Neon Dreams, ¡°My daughter jumped off the roof at your club. You must take responsibility.¡± Melinda¡¯s roomie Daria was also there, being held back and med by Maria and Jay. ¡°You¡¯re Melinda¡¯s roommate. Her suicide definitely has something to do with you. You have to pay us too.¡± Jay shouted. Daria tried to exin, ¡°What does Melinda¡¯s suicide have to do with me? I had no idea. Yesterday was her birthday, who would¡¯ve thought she¡¯d jump off a building?¡± The manager responded, ¡°The police have already concluded that Melindamitted suicide. It has nothing to do with our club. But out ofpassion, we¡¯ll give you fifty thousand in sympathy money.¡± Hearing the offer of fifty thousand, Maria was immediately dissatisfied and heartbroken. She said, ¡°Fifty thousand is not enough. My daughter was only in her twenties. She¡¯s so young. How could she be worth so little?¡± Jay added, ¡°When my daughter first started working at your club, she was perfectly fine. But thenter, she died there. You shouldpensate us. We demand one million, or we¡¯ll sue you.¡±¡± Seeing Melinda¡¯s parents demand a high amount ofpensation, the manager was furious. He retorted, ¡°Melinda chose to end her life. Why should we pay a million? This is also unfortunate for us.¡± Standing at the corner, Anastasia watched the scene. She noticed that Maria, though a woman from the countryside, was dressed stylishly. She had her makeup, a gold ring on her hand, and a gold ne. Even hearing the news of her daughter¡¯s suicide, she could still wear heavy makeup and jewelry. This didn¡¯t seem like excessive grief. From beginning to end, Melinda¡¯s parents never asked why Melinda wouldmit suicide, only demandingpensation. Remembering how Melinda had cried in front of her yesterday, Anastasia stepped forward and said, ¡°Yesterday was Melinda¡¯s birthday. Did you know about it? Did you call to ask how she was doing here?¡± Anastasia¡¯s questions left Melinda¡¯s parents speechless for a moment. Chapter 255 Chapter 255 Chapter 255 Melinda¡¯s parents exchanged a nce, and Maria started sobbing, saying, ¡°My sweet girl, you¡¯re my own flesh and blood. Your death has left me heartbroken. You just left us like this and it broke our hearts.¡± Maria was crying her heart out, slumped on the ground, beating her own legs helplessly. Jay was equally a wreck, sobbing, ¡°My poor Melinda, got into trouble at their club and didn¡¯t even get a dime inpensation. How are your mother and I supposed to carry on?¡± In this situation, no one could console them; even the cops were at a loss for words. Their daughter had died, and their grief was only natural. Anastasia was helpless too. She¡¯d never seen parents this cold-hearted. At this time, they were trying to take advantage of their daughter¡¯s death. The cops came over and said, ¡°Melinda¡¯s suicide has been thoroughly investigated. It was indeed suicide, not murder. Her body is at the morgue, and you¡¯re free to take it for burial.¡± At the mention of taking the body for burial, Jay had a strong reaction, ¡°No way.¡± Maria also chimed in, ¡°No.¡± Their greed, preference for their son, and cold attitude towards their daughter reveal the ugly side of human nature without any disguise. The cops continued, ¡°The case can be closed now. You have to take the body.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. In his desperation, Jay blurted out, ¡°That¡¯s not possible. My son is getting married next month. How can we bring a corpse home? That¡¯s very unlucky.¡± This statement shocked everyone present. Was this something a father would say? His daughter had died, and he didn¡¯t want to take her home for burial because she was unlucky? Jay also realized that he shouldn¡¯t have said that and hastily added, ¡°If you¡¯re saying it¡¯s a closed case, how can we believe that? My daughter wouldn¡¯t kill herself. It must be a murder. You cops have to investigate it thoroughly.¡± Maria added, ¡°Yes, look into it more. There must be something fishy about that Neon Dreams ce. You can¡¯t deceive us just because we¡¯re from the countryside, saying our daughter killed herself.¡± The cops were speechless again, ¡°It¡¯s been thoroughly investigated. Your daughter didmit suicide. The evidence is clear.¡± Maria kept pressing, ¡°Then why did she kill herself? We spoke yesterday, and she was fine. How could she suddenlymit suicide?¡± ¡°Exactly, a normal person wouldn¡¯t suddenlymit suicide.¡± Anastasia coldly stared at Maria and said, ¡°That¡¯s a question for you. What exactly did you say to Melinda on the phone? You used her money to buy a house for your son and didn¡¯t even tell her about his wedding. Were you afraid she¡¯d embarrass you if she came home? You lived off her money but still considered it dirty.¡± Anastasia hit the nail on the head. Each word was like a sharp knife, pointing at their ugliest side. Daria suddenly remembered something and said, ¡°Right, when Melinda came home yesterday afternoon, she seemed off. Later, I heard her phone ring and her crying. She had been borrowing moneytely. You must have forced her to give you more money. She couldn¡¯t take it anymore and jumped off the building. You caused her death.¡± Jay and Maria, emotionally charged, vehemently denied, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about? We¡¯re her parents, how could we harm her? You, youngdy, have no manners.¡± Maria angrily red at Daria, who got scared and took a couple of steps back. Anastasia said, ¡°Melinda¡¯s gone now, and we¡¯ll never know what she was thinking before she jumped. Anyone who isn¡¯t blind can see through you true intentions.¡± Jay and Maria, a bit guilty, didn¡¯t dare meet Anastasia¡¯s gaze. Anastasia sneered, ¡°I just feel heartbroken for Melinda. You exploited her when she was alive, used her hard work and efforts for your son¡¯s needs. Now that she¡¯s gone, you¡¯re still not letting her rest, trying to squeeze thest bit of benefit from her. Do you really have the heart for this? Melinda was born after ten months of your pregnancy too.¡±, Thisst sentence seemed to strike a chord in Maria. Chapter 256 Chapter 256 Chapter 256 Who wasn¡¯t weed into this world with great expectations? Maria remembered the time when she was first pregnant with Melinda. Melinda was her first child, and naturally she was overly happy. But it turned out to be a girl, which was a bummer. In her inws¡¯ family, the idea that men were superior to women was deeply ingrained. Having a daughter was seen as a letdown, and Maria got quite a few cold shoulders because of it. She took the unfair treatment she got from her inws out on her daughter. Maria didn¡¯t really like this daughter of hers, and when she had a sonter on, her heart was all in for him. Melinda dropped out of school early, forced to go out and make money, to support the family and pay for her brother¡¯s schooling. As Melinda made more money outside, she also sent home more, and their living conditions improved. They got used to exploiting their daughter for a better life, without caring about how she was living or how she was making the money. Maria couldn¡¯t bring herself to speak, while Jay said with all the nerve in the world, ¡°She¡¯s a girl and an older sister. She¡¯s supposed to look after her brother, it¡¯s totally normal at where wee from. We¡¯re counting on our son to take care of us when we¡¯re old, not her.¡± ¡°Yeah, and what if she died, what would you be counting on then?¡± Anastasia was furious, ¡°Can you really spend the money she worked so hard to earn without a guilty conscience?¡± The club manager also spoke up. ¡°Melinda is your daughter. What you¡¯re doing is really heartless. Oh, and Melinda had advanced thirty thousand from us previously. You¡¯re her parents, it¡¯s time for you to pay it back.¡± ¡°Why should we pay for her debts?¡± Maria felt cornered, ¡°What¡¯s it got to do with us? Anyway, we won¡¯t im her body today. If you don¡¯tpensate us, we¡¯ll stay in Riverdale and expose you to the media.¡± After saying that, Melinda¡¯s parents left. They knew they couldn¡¯t gain anything today, so they decided to leave. The club manager scratched his head, saying with a troubled tone, ¡°It¡¯s quite an eye-opener to meet these kind of people still existing in our society today.¡± Anastasia felt both angry and heartbroken for Melinda, but she was helpless. Melinda¡¯s parents had decided not to im the body until their son got married, they would also try to extort some benefits, otherwise they would have no source of ie. How would they live? The wedding gift for their son¡¯s marriage was not settled yet, so they insisted on gettingpensation from the club. As Anastasia left the police station, she was feeling down. She walked with her head down, not noticing what was in front of her, until she heard the honk of a car. Herman¡¯s car was parked by the entrance of the police station. He heard Anastasia was at the police station and was worried something might have happened, so he rushed over. He didn¡¯t even have time to change cars; he was driving a Rolls-Royce. Anastasia looked surprised at Herman sitting in the car, ¡°What are you doing here? And this car?¡± She had seen it before at the entrance of ¨¦clipse Lounge. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°It¡¯s the boss¡¯ car. I just hitched a ride.¡± Herman opened the car door, ¡°Hop in, darling.¡± Anastasia nced at the driver in the driver¡¯s seat and felt a bit awkward as she got into the car. She had heard that this car was worth millions. It was her first time riding in such a luxurious car, and the interior was simply top-notch, everything revealing its value. The driver had been with Herman for many years, he was a man who knew his ce, so he would never chatter unnecessarily. He started the car and focused on driving. Anastasia asked in a low voice, ¡°Howe you¡¯re here?¡± ¡°I heard you went to the police station, so I rushed over.¡± Herman took her hand and asked, ¡°What did the police want with you?¡± ¡°An old friend of mine, she jumped off a building and killed herself. The police called me in to ask some questions.¡± Anastasia briefly exined what had happened, angrily adding, ¡°Melinda¡¯s parents are just infuriating, exploiting their daughter to satisfy their son.¡± Chapter 257 Chapter 257 Chapter 257 Anyone would¡¯ve hit the roof hearing about something like this, let alone when it happened to someone Anastasia knew. She was absolutely livid. Her anger came in waves at the police station. If she hadn¡¯t kept a lid on it, she might¡¯ve done more than just vent a little. Herman said, ¡°That¡¯s human nature. You can¡¯t look down on it or hype it up too much.¡± Anastasia looked at him and teased, ¡°Oh, the philosopher¡¯s spouting wisdom again.¡± His wisdom never seemed to run out. He chuckled and asked, ¡°What do you feel like eating tonight?¡± ¡°Not in the mood.¡± Anastasia had no appetite. She suddenly remembered something and said, ¡°Oh yeah, Alessia from our sales department got promoted to supervisor. They¡¯re throwing a celebration dinner on Friday and invited me. They even asked me to bring my other half. Are you free that day?¡± Herman couldn¡¯t possibly show up to an event like that. It would blow his cover. With an apologetic tone, he said, ¡°I have a business trip to Crescent Bay on Friday morning. I won¡¯t be back till the weekend.¡± Anastasia was a bit disappointed, ¡°I see. Well, that¡¯s okay.¡± She hadn¡¯t taken Herman to any other gatherings except for a school reunion. Seeing her disappointment, he smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ll bring you back a present from the trip.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need any presents. You¡¯re working hard on your trips, I feel bad if you have to buy me something.¡± Anastasia said, ¡°Alessia is back to work, and my mom¡¯s foot should be okay by now. I think I¡¯ll start working next week too.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t want Herman to be the only one working hard. Victor was paying her a good sry, and she wouldn¡¯t be able to justify not working. She had it all nned out. She¡¯d get up early to make lunch for Pattie and her mom, and get back early to make dinner after work. It should work out just fine. ¡°Just do what makes you happy.¡± Herman said, ¡°You¡¯ll get bored at home. It¡¯s good to get out and work.¡± Anastasia grinned, hooking her arm through Herman¡¯s, ¡°Then it¡¯s settled.¡± She couldn¡¯t stand being idle at home any longer. She was going stir crazy. Herman looked at her fondly and said, ¡°Alright.¡± Just then, Herman¡¯s phone rang. It was Collin. ¡°Any ns tonight?¡± Collin said on the phone, ¡°If not, let¡¯s have dinner together. Flynn¡¯s with me too. Let¡¯s catch up.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Herman nced at Anastasia and said gently to Collin over the phone, ¡°We have two people here.¡± ¡°Two people?¡± Collin was taken aback, then realized, ¡°You¡¯re bringing yourdy? Great, it¡¯s settled then. I¡¯ll arrange it. Same ce as always.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Herman hung up and told Anastasia, ¡°Collin¡¯s inviting us to dinner tonight.¡± Collin had visited Anastasia in the hospital, so she would definitely show up. ¡°I¡¯ll call my mom and let her know we won¡¯t be home for dinner. I¡¯ll order takeout for her and Pattie.¡± Anastasia said. Anastasia immediately called her mom. Upon hearing that her daughter and son-inw wouldn¡¯t be home for dinner, Salma said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about us. Just have your dinner. The leftovers from lunch should be enough for Pattie and me. No need to order takeout. It¡¯s a waste of money and not hygienic.¡± Anastasia said, ¡°Okay, Mom, if we get backte, don¡¯t wait up for us. Have an early night. Give Pattie a bath and apply the allergy meds the doctor prescribed.¡± Salma reassured her, ¡°I know. Don¡¯t worry.¡± After making sure her mom understood, Anastasia hung up. It was dinner time, so Herman and Anastasia headed straight to the restaurant that Collin had booked. Once they arrived, Anastasia was careful not to soil the million-dor luxury car when she got out. The car belonged to Herman¡¯s boss. If it got dirty, Herman would be held responsible. Flynn came out to answer his phone and saw Herman and Anastasia getting out of the Rolls-Royce. He was puzzled. Did Anastasia know about Herman¡¯s real identity? He didn¡¯t dare to say anything rashly. Instead, he walked over and said to Anastasia, ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± Anastasia greeted Flynn, then said to Herman, ¡°I¡¯m going to the restroom.¡± Herman replied, ¡°The restroom is just inside on the left.¡± Anastasia acknowledged and headed to the restroom. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Flynn asked, ¡°Did you tell Anastasia everything? I saw you two getting out of your car.¡± Herman replied, ¡°No. I told her it¡¯s the boss¡¯ car, and I just hitched a ride.¡± Flynn was speechless. That worked? ¡°She believe in that weak excuse?¡± He was taken aback. Herman replied calmly, ¡°Yeah.¡± Flynn shook his head, feeling sorry for Anastasia, ¡°Anastasia, she¡¯s too easy to fool.¡± Meanwhile, Anastasia was in the restroom,pletely oblivious to this conversation. She was washing her hands, fixing her hair when a voice with a weird tone came from behind, ¡°Do you really think Herman loves you? He¡¯s been fooling you all along.¡± Chapter 258 Chapter 258 Chapter 258 Anastasia got a shock. She turned around to look at Julie, and took a deep breath, saying, ¡°Ms. Brown, do you really think this is fun?¡± Thest time she saw Julie, Anastasia figured out that this woman had the hots for her husband. Julie chuckled, but the smile didn¡¯t reach her eyes, ¡°I find it absolutely hrious, a person who¡¯s been hoodwinked from the start. It¡¯s just too interesting.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t try to mess up my marriage with these cunning games.¡± Anastasiaid it out straight, ¡°It¡¯s childish what you¡¯re doing.¡± With that, Anastasia walked past Julie and out. Behind her, Julie¡¯s voice came faintly, ¡°Anastasia, do you know who Herman really is? You don¡¯t even know, you¡¯re the real joke here.¡± At that, Anastasia turned around, frowning at Julie, ¡°If you have something to say, spit it out. Don¡¯t beat around the bush.¡± Julieughed and said, ¡°That would be so boring, I think it¡¯s much more fun this way.¡± Such cryptic words really messed with one¡¯s head. Anastasia stared at Julie and said, ¡°I don¡¯t care what you say. I only trust my own eyes and feelings. Stop wasting your time. Herman and I, we¡¯ll be happy.¡± Julie smirked andmented. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be waiting to see that.¡± Anastasia walked straight out of the restroom. As a woman, how could she not see through Julie¡¯s intentions? She daydreamed on trying to break them up, having a crush on her husband. In the private room. Collin had ordered the food, and they started to talk about Herman¡¯s identity. Collin asked, ¡°Herman, how long are you nning to keep this a secret? I invited you guys to dinner and I have to walk on eggshells, afraid of saying the wrong thing or of being seen by someone we know.¡± Flynn also chimed in, ¡°I think it¡¯s about time, you can¡¯t drag this on forever. If your wife hears it from someone else, we¡¯re screwed.¡± Herman calmly sipped his tea, saying, ¡°On the 8th of next month, it¡¯s Elysian Technologies¡¯ anniversary, I¡¯ll tell her then.¡± Herman knew he couldn¡¯t keep hiding it forever. Collin joked, ¡°More surprises?¡± Flynn said, ¡°It¡¯s a double whamm. Good thingse in pairs.¡± ¡°What if your wife can¡¯t ept it?¡± Collin asked, ¡°She thought she married a penniless man, and suddenly he turns into a billionaire CEO. This sounds like a soap opera.¡± Herman was worried about this too. Anastasia was hot-tempered and impulsive. If he didn¡¯t handle it well, it could backfire. While they were chatting, Anastasia walked in, casually asking, ¡°What are you guys talking about?¡± Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Herman handed her the menu and answered, ¡°See if there¡¯s anything else you want to add.¡± ¡°We already have so many dishes. It¡¯s enough.¡± Anastasia felt awkward. Even though Collin was treating, she didn¡¯t want to waste any food. ¡°Anastasia, let me pour you some water.¡± Collin said. ¡°No, let me.¡± Flynn said. Collin and Flynn were falling over each other to pour Anastasia some water, which surprised her. ¡°No, no need to be so polite.¡± Before Anastasia could finish her sentence, they had already poured two sses of water and handed them over. Anastasia turned to Herman for help. Herman ced a ss of juice in front of Anastasia, then gave Collin and Flynn a meaningful look, forcing them to drink the water they poured themselves. Their attempts to win favor could notpare to a ss of juice poured by her own partner. Anastasiaughed and said, ¡°You three are almost a hundred years oldbined, and you¡¯re still acting like children.¡± Flynn passed the buck, looking at Collin, ¡°She¡¯s talking about you, immature.¡± Collin retorted, ¡°You¡¯re the immature one.¡± No one dared call Herman immature. While they were arguing about who was more immature, Herman and Anastasia had already started digging in without a care in the world. Among all the things in the world, food and beauty should never be neglected. As Anastasia was eating, she remembered what had happened in the restroom, so she said to Herman, ¡°By the way, Herman, I ran into Julie earlier.¡± Hearing that, Herman felt a jolt in his heart, and Flynn also got a bit nervous. Julie was the one who nned the scam with Kitty to cheat Herman. If she ran into Anastasia, who knew what she would say. Herman asked with a straight face, ¡°What did you talk about?¡± Chapter 259 Chapter 259 Chapter 259 Anastasia didn¡¯t beat around the bush, ¡°She said some confusing stuff, seems like you¡¯re quite popr.¡± Herman eyed Anastasia¡¯s reaction, ¡°There¡¯s nothing going on between her and me.¡± He needed to make that clear ASAP, no messing around. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Flynn also chimed in, ¡°Anastasia, I can vouch for my brother. He and that Julie, they don¡¯t have any rtionship. She has no chance of bing my sister-inw.¡± Did they just dig themselves into a deeper hole? Anastasia nodded, ¡°I knew it. Saw itingst time.¡± Herman gazed at.Anastasia, ¡°What others want from me, that¡¯s their business. I only have feelings for you.¡± Their two spectators were left speechless. Expressing affection didn¡¯t have to make the single folks feel awkward, did it? Anastasia suddenly felt shy. He could save the sweet nothings for when they got home. In front of others, her cheeks went crimson. Anastasia whispered bashfully, ¡°I get it. You don¡¯t have toy it on so thick.¡± Feelings was a more real, moving word than love. Herman nced at Flynn and Collin. They were tactfully looking down at their food, trying to change the subject. Collin said, ¡°The night looks great tonight.¡± Flynn said, ¡°I think it¡¯s great too. Clear skies, bright moon, and twinkling stars.¡± Before he finished, thunder boomed in the sky. It seemed even gods couldn¡¯t stand these two talking nonsense. The room only had one small window open, so how could they see clear skies, a bright moon, and twinkling stars? Anastasia couldn¡¯t help butugh. Collin and Flynn didn¡¯t feel embarrassed. Collin raised his ss, ¡°Herman, Anastasia, here¡¯s to you. May you be forever happy, and have children soon.¡± The forever happy part was nice, but the children part was a bit off. Collin didn¡¯t know that Anastasia couldn¡¯t have children, and neither could Herman. Flynn, seeing the situation go south, subtly kicked Collin as a hint to stop talking. Collin was confused and didn¡¯t catch on, ¡°Flynn, why did you kick me?¡± Flynn facepalmed instantly, Collin was really adding fuel to the fire. He couldn¡¯t save the situation even if he tried. Flynn said, ¡°Sorry, identally kicked you.¡± Herman kept a straight face, as ignorance was bliss. Anastasia felt a bit awkward when she heard it, but she knew Collin meant well and was sincerely wishing them well. She raised her ss and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Herman also raised his ss and downed his drink. Worried Collin might say something else inappropriate, Flynn quickly said, ¡°Let¡¯s eat. I¡¯m starving. Anastasia, I heard from my brother that you¡¯re going back to work, right?¡± Sessfully changing the subject, Flynn was pretty smart. Anastasia said, ¡°Yes, I n to go back to work next week.¡± Afterwards, they chatted leisurely. Herman consistently took care of Anastasia, making others green with envy. After dinner, the four of them left their private room and bumped into Lauren who was dining at the same restaurant. ¡°Anastasia.¡± Lauren waved her hand, calling out excitedly as she ran over to Anastasia, ¡°What a coincidence, you¡¯re here too.¡± ¡°Yes, are you here with friends?¡± Anastasia nced at thedies standing not far away. She had seen them at a previous cocktail party. Although she didn¡¯t know them well, she recognized a few. Anastasia looked at them and nodded in greeting. Thedies werepletely stunned because standing next to Anastasia were Herman, the CEO of Elysian Technologies, Flynn, the vice president, and Collin, the heir to the Witt family. Who exactly was Anastasia? Why were all these important figures around her? Thest time Lauren brought Anastasia to a cocktail party, didn¡¯t she say Anastasia was just a jewelry designer? Upon closer inspection, it seemed like the CEO of Elysian Technologies was holding hands with Anastasia. This was shocking. Considering the rumors in the industry about the CEO of Elysian Technologies being secretly married, could it be that Herman¡¯s wife was Anastasia? Thedies¡¯ expressions were strange, making Anastasia feel puzzled. At that moment, they walked over, hoping to get in touch with Herman through Anastasia. This was a rare opportunity to meet the head of the Salstrom family, and since they had a connection with Anastasia, they absolutely couldn¡¯t miss the chance to chat up the head of the Salstrom family. If Anastasia really was Herman¡¯s wife, then they definitely needed to get on her good side. ¡°Ms. Jewell, what a coincidence. It¡¯s been over two months since thest cocktail party, and we bump into you here.¡± One of thedies said with a smile, deliberately ncing at the wedding rings on Anastasia and Herman¡¯s hands. One look and it was clear, they were a pair. Anastasia was the head of the Salstrom family, Herman¡¯s wife. Chapter 260 Chapter 260 Chapter 260 Thedy was quite stoked, she actually got the chance to meet the wife of Mr. Salstrom. ¡°Ms. Jewell, oh, no, I should address you as¡­¡± She said. Herman sensed something was off, so he shot a look at Flynn. Catching his drift, Flynn cut in before thedy could finish her sentence, ¡°Lauren, you¡¯ve got so many girlfriends, why don¡¯t you introduce us? Hello, lovelydies.¡± Flynn¡¯s words sent all thedies into a tizzy. Herman was a cold fish, and they couldn¡¯t get close to him, no chance there. But there might still be a little hope with Flynn. Lauren also got the picture, she almostnded Herman in hot water, so she suggested, ¡°How about we relocate for another drink? I can introduce you to my friends. Anastasia, know you probably won¡¯t come, so let¡¯s rearrange another time.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t suspect anything, ¡°Sure, let¡¯s catch up when we can, we¡¯ll head home first.¡± Lauren waved, ¡°Bye.¡± Flynn added, ¡°You guys go ahead. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡± His sacrifice this time should pay off, hopefully getting him a bigger allowance this year. Herman left with Anastasia, and their driver was still waiting outside. Anastasia asked, ¡°Should we be riding in your boss¡¯ car again? Maybe we should hail a cab?¡± ¡°Cab costs money, but riding in the boss¡¯s car is free.¡± Herman said breezily, ¡°A cab ride from here would probably cost over a hundred bucks.¡± Anastasia decided, ¡°Then let¡¯s take the boss¡¯ car.¡±Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Herman, grinning, opened the car door for her. Once in the car, Anastasia queried, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say your cousin has a girlfriend? Is that okay for him to be like this tonight?¡± Having a girlfriend but still flirting with other girls, that was not cool. Flynn had covered for Herman, so naturally, Herman had to return the favor, ¡°I think they broke up.¡± ¡°Broke up?¡± Anastasia replied, ¡°I feel like your cousin is a bit of a yer. They haven¡¯t been together that long and they¡¯ve broken up already. Speaking of which, when did your cousin and Lauren get so chummy?¡± Herman answered, ¡°While you were in the hospital, they often came to visit, so they became familiar.¡± ¡°Last time I thought about ying matchmaker with them, now it seems they might actually hit it off.¡± Anastasia chuckled, ¡°Lauren is a good girl, I¡¯ll tell your cousin to get his act together and pursue her. He can¡¯t be fickle anymore.¡± Herman decided it was best to just remain silent on this one. When they got home, Salma and Pattie were already asleep. Anastasia went to check on Pattie in her room; watching her sleep peacefully warmed her heart. She felt utterly content. Before she knew it, it was Friday. Herman was really off on a business trip, Anastasia had promised Alessia to attend her promotion party, so she couldn¡¯t bete. She said goodbye to Salma, left Pattie in her care, and caught a ride to the party location. The party was at arge restaurant. Alessia was well-liked, so she had invited a lot of colleagues. Not just folks from the sales department, but also Christine from the design department. When Anastasia arrived at the private room, she was quite surprised to see Christine, ¡°Ms. Christine, you¡¯re here too.¡± ¡°Yes, Alessia and I were quite close when I worked at AL Jewelry before.¡± Christine asked with a smile, ¡°How¡¯s your recovery going?¡± Anastasia smiled back, ¡°Much better, I¡¯ll be back at work on Monday.¡± Christine was thrilled, ¡°That¡¯s great, now I can finally breathe easy. The design department is understaffed, Victor¡¯s been riding me hard, I¡¯m about to lose it.¡± Just then, Alessia went to greet a colleague who just arrived. Seeing Anastasia, she rushed over for a warm hug. ¡°Anastasia, you¡¯re here. Everyone here today is from AL Jewelry. Though we¡¯re from different departments, we¡¯re all working for the samepany, so just rx.¡± Anastasia smiled, ¡°Alright, Alessia. Congrattions, you finally got what you wanted.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Alessia was over the moon today. As they were talking. Alessia¡¯s husband Evan walked in with flowers. Everyone started cheering, creating a lively atmosphere. Chapter 261 Chapter 261 Chapter 261 Alessia had been on a lucky streaktely. She just became a new mom and now she had been promoted. It was like good news just kepting in waves. As a woman, she had juggled family and career perfectly and it was truly admirable. The private dining room they booked was huge, and could fit about thirty to forty people. Co-workers started to trickle in and the waiters started serving the dishes. Anastasia and Christine were sitting off to one side, chitchatting about their ideas and concepts on jewelry design. Just as everyone was getting ready to dig in, another co-worker showed up. It was Harmon, whom they had met before at the office. Alessia was a sweetheart, and she didn¡¯t differentiate people based on their positions. Even if they were in a lower position like Harmon, she gave a warm wee if they were willing toe. Alessia greeted Harmon with a smile, ¡°Harmon,e on in and have a seat. We¡¯ve been waiting for you.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Harmon was a bit shy, he lowered his head and wished Alessia well before sitting down and keeping quiet. He mainly took care of equipment maintenance at thepany; he was not a threat to others nor did he carry much value. He kept to himself, so he was easily overlooked. Everyone was having a st chatting, while Harmon seemed out of ce, quietly eating his food. Anastasia nced at him a couple of times, but with people in between them, she didn¡¯t strike up a conversation. Plus, Harmon was a male co-worker, as a married woman, she needed to keep a certain distance. Anastasia didn¡¯t pay much attention to Harmon originally. But because his name sounded like Herman, and they had crossed paths on a dating site, she had some extra attention for Harmon. During the meal, Anastasia identally dropped her purse. Before she could pick it up, Harmon already did. ¡°Here you go.¡± Harmon said and handed Anastasia her purse, carefully wiped off the dust. ¡°Thank you.¡± Anastasia replied with a surprised smile. ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± Harmon answered and lowered his head, then returned to his seat. He was over the moon at the moment, because he just had an interaction with Anastasia, she spoke to him. Since their last encounter at the office, Harmon had had her in his thoughts. Alessia, went around the table toasting each person. When it was Anastasia¡¯s turn, Alessia said, ¡°You should stick to juice, you just got out of the hospital. Listen to your doctor.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t dare drink alcohol casually, as she couldn¡¯t hold her liquor. Sheughed and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll toast with juice. Here¡¯s to your sess.¡± ¡°Thanks for your blessing.¡± Alessia said. They clunk their sses and downed their drinks. Alessia suddenly remembered something, saying, ¡°Anastasia, why did youe alone today? Didn¡¯t I say you can bring your spouse? Where¡¯s your husband? Why didn¡¯t you bring him to meet us?¡± Anastasia smiled and answered, ¡°He¡¯s on a business trip. I¡¯ll bring him next time we have the chance.¡± Upon hearing he was on a business trip, Alessia didn¡¯t press further. Harmon¡¯s face changed slightly upon hearing Anastasia was married, a sense of indescribable jealousy arose within him.. Alessia and Christine finished their drinks and turned to Harmon, ¡°Harmon,e on. Let¡¯s have a drink.¡± Alessia had had a bit too much. Harmon stood up and raised his ss, ¡°Thank you, Alessia. Here¡¯s to your sess.¡± Alessiaughed and responded, ¡°I wish you find your partner soon and settle down.¡± Harmon had tried blind dates multiple times, but they didn¡¯t work out. The co-workers had heard some rumors. Harmon felt a bit awkward, he gulped down the drink in a shy and clumsy manner. But he choked on it due to the haste. A male co-worker next to him mocked him without any hesitation, ¡°Who would want a man like you? You can¡¯t even drink properly. There must be a reason to be single at thirty,¡± This made Harmon extremely embarrassed, but he didn¡¯t retort due to his introverted personality. Chapter 262 Chapter 262 Chapter 262 The drunk male coworker didn¡¯t let Harmon off the hook because of his silence. The guy got up, waving his arms around, and said to Harmon, ¡°How about I set you up, mate? A girl from my hometown, just divorced for the third timest month, got two daughters. I¡¯m doing this for you because we¡¯re buddies. But you better move fast. These divorced women are like hot cakes these days. The gender ratio is all outta whack.¡± To introduce a woman who had been divorced three times and had kids? Who the hell would go for that? Generally speaking, the kind of person they introduced to him reflected what they thought of him. In this coworker¡¯s eyes, Harmon could only match with a woman who had been divorced three times and had kids. Harmon immediately got pissed off, pushed the guy away with force, ¡°I don¡¯t need it.¡± The coworker staggered, caught by others before he fell. Alcohol could really get his emotions all over the ce. He got angry as soon as Harmon pushed him, ¡°You ungrateful sod! I¡¯m trying to do you a favor here and you¡¯re acting like a dick. You¡¯re not even worth having a wife. Can you even afford one? Serves you right getting scammed by those matchmaking sites, you idiot.¡± Harmon was up in a sh, looking ready for a fight, ¡°Say that again. I dare you!¡± The coworker kept provoking him with words. Harmon picked up a chair ready to throw down, but everyone quickly stepped in. Alessia tried to calm things down, ¡°Harmon, chill.¡± Then she turned to the other guy, ¡°You, shut up.¡± The coworker was all smug, ¡°Don¡¯t hold him back, let¡¯s see if he¡¯s got the balls.¡± Harmon was fuming, ready to punch the guy despite everyone¡¯s efforts to stop him. Anastasia was scared too, and she tried to calm him down, ¡°Harmon, don¡¯t do anything stupid.¡± In the society ofw and order, any fight could lead to being detained for at least a couple of weeks, not to mention having to cover medical bills andpensation. For someone like Harmon from the lower rungs, who could handle that? Anastasia¡¯s words somewhat brought Harmon back to his senses. He mmed the chair beside the coworker, making a loud noise. The guy jumped in surprise. Alessia seized the opportunity and said, ¡°Get him outta here. He needs to sober up.¡± Everyone quickly dispersed the two of them. The promotion party was supposed to be a good time, but this tiff really soured the mood. The drunken coworker was dragged away to sober up while Harmon sat back down, acting as if nothing happened, and apologized to Alessia, ¡°Alessia, I¡¯m sorry. I got a bit out of hand.¡± Alessiaughed it off, ¡°It¡¯s all good. Let¡¯s sit back down, eat, and drink. We¡¯re gonna drink like there¡¯s no tomorrow.¡± This was just a minor hup, and it didn¡¯t ruin the party. But Harmon was pretty much ostracized; no one dared to talk to him. The lively promotion party went on until half past ten. Alessia had too much to drink and had to be helped into a car by Evan. Outside the restaurant, Christine offered Anastasia a ride, ¡°Anastasia, why don¡¯t you ride with me, I¡¯ll drop you off.¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°That would be great, thanks.¡± Anastasia replied. ¡°I feel like I owe you one from that car ident when you came to see me at Cloud Mountain.¡± Christine said, ¡°My car¡¯s over there, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Anastasia said. Anastasia followed Christine. As their car pulled away, Harmon stepped out of the restaurant, watching them go. At that moment, Harmon¡¯s phone rang. It was a call from a matchmaking website, ¡°Mr. Alstrom, we¡¯ve found a few more suitabledies for you based on your preferences. Are you free this Saturday? Maybe you could meet them for a meal. We¡¯ve already set up the location.¡± Harmon was already fed up with the same old sales pitch from the matchmaking website. He¡¯d been led to fancy restaurants multiple times, where he was pressured into ordering expensive wine and food, costing him thousands each time. ¡°No need.¡± Harmon tly refused, sounding a bit annoyed. ¡°Mr. Alstrom, that¡¯s not how you find love. If neither of you makes the first move, when will you ever find the right one? Men should be more proactive. We assure you, you¡¯ll be satisfied this time. She¡¯s pretty and she works in a hospital.¡± The sales person said. ¡°I said no need.¡± Harmon raised his voice, then suddenly remembered, ¡°You guys introduced me to someone named Anastasia before. I¡¯ll take her. If you can bring her, I¡¯ll go tomorrow. Send me her info first.¡± Even though this Anastasia wasn¡¯t the one he knew, just the name alone made Harmon feel closer to her. He even hoped that this Anastasia from the matchmaking site would be as beautiful and gentle as the Anastasia from his office. Chapter 263 Chapter 263 Chapter 263 Customer always came first. If online dating sites wanted to make a buck, they got to keep their customers happy. Soon enough, the dating site sent Mr. Alstrom the details, with a photo attached even, and gave him a call, ¡°Mr. Alstrom, you¡¯ve really got an eye for beauty. She¡¯s a total knockout. If you¡¯re really interested, I can check in with her again. I¡¯ve sent the details over.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take a look.¡± Harmon said, hanging up the phone. He opened up the profile the dating site had sent over. Last time, he¡¯d only heard the basics about his match, but hadn¡¯t seen a picture yet. This time, the dating site went the extra mile to keep Harmon as a customer, even sent a photograph. The person handling Harmon¡¯s case had changed, and some specifics had gotten lost in trantion, but they sent him the profile and photo as requested. Harmon sat down on a bench by the roadside, opened the file, and felt a jolt of happiness when he saw his match¡¯s basic info. Her name was the same as Anastasia¡¯s. He scrolled down to the introductions, and finally, the photo. When he saw the photo, Harmon was floored. The woman in the photo was Anastasia. Not only was her name the same, but she looked exactly the same too. It was the Anastasia he¡¯d met at the office. Harmon was over the moon, and called the dating site to confirm. Turns out, the woman who¡¯d cancelled on him months ago, had indeed been Anastasia. The Anastasia he was sweet on. The woman in his dreams. The real person Anastasia had been set up with, had been Harmon all along. She had simply mistaken him for someone else, and since some basic info had matched up, she hadn¡¯t questioned it. Harmon looked at the photo, grinning like an idiot for a while, then suddenly, a thought struck him. Anastasia was married. Why was a married woman on a dating site? Could Anastasia, beneath her sweet exterior, be just like the other frauds, a scammer? Harmon¡¯s mind started spiraling, and soon enough, he was lumping Anastasia together with the scammers. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Anastasia, of course, knew nothing of Harmon¡¯s wild thoughts. Nor did she know that the dating site still had her information, and were using it to deceive people. Anastasia was back home by now. She had left Christine at the main gate of their residential area, and as she walked in, she tried calling Herman. He didn¡¯t pick up, so she assumed he was busy. She put her phone away, took the elevator, and when she got out, her phone buzzed. Assuming it was a message from Herman, she hurriedly took out her phone. It was a message from a stranger. Before Anastasia could ask who they were, she received several photos. In the photos, Herman was cozied up with a stunner, looking like they were about to kiss. A cold chill spread through Anastasia¡¯s body as she looked at the photos, each one showing a high level of intimacy. In one of them, Herman was lying on a bed, half undressed, with a woman taking a selfie in his arms. The more Anastasia looked at the photos, the angrier she got. She couldn¡¯t believe Herman would do something like this. She tried calling him, but he wouldn¡¯t pick 1. She only knew Herman was on a business trip to Crescent Bay, nothing else, and couldn¡¯t get ahold of him. Even though she suspected this was a deliberate attempt to provoke her, she couldn¡¯t control her anger. Her man was with another woman. No one could be sure what they might do. Just as Anastasia was about to use WhatsApp to contact the sender and ask who they were, she found that she had been deleted. Clearly, they were trying to provoke her, and then deleted her, leaving her with no way to find out. Chapter 264 Chapter 264 Chapter 264 That night, Anastasia was tossing and turning, unable to sleep. The thought of Herman sharing a bed with another woman filled her mind with all sorts of unpleasant images. She was boiling mad, but there was nothing she could do. In Crescent Bay. A hotel room. Herman was drunk as a skunk, barely conscious. The woman next to him was just an escort, sent to deliver him a hangover cure on behalf of a client. After taking a picture and sending it, she promptly deleted the record. Looking at the unconscious Herman, the woman¡¯s mind started to wander. If she managed to sleep with him, even if he refused to admit itter, she could still sue him for a heftypensation. She could im that he made inappropriate advances towards her and use public opinion to her advantage; surely she could swindle some money out of him. Maybe, if she managed to please Herman, she could be one of his regr bedmates. Women willing to share a bed with Herman were a dime a dozen. The more she thought about it, the more excited she got. Gathering her courage, she started to undress him. Just as she was about to unbuckle his belt, a stern voice came from above, ¡°Beat it.¡± The woman was so startled that her hand trembled. She stammered, ¡°I thought you were ufortable, so I wanted to give you a bath.¡± Material ? N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Get out.¡± Herman¡¯s face was stern as he sat up. His harsh tone sent chills down her spine. The woman, shaking like a leaf, swallowed her fear and deliberately lowered her gaze, showing off some of her appealing skin, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, let me stay and keep youpany. I know you want it too. Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t hold you responsible.¡± Herman¡¯s deep eyes narrowed slightly. With a swift kick, he sent the woman tumbling off the bed. Then he called out, ¡°Nelson.¡± There was no response from Nelson. The woman was kicked quite hard, feeling as if her ribs were about to crack. She never thought Herman would actually physically assault a woman. Herman got up from the bed, looking down at the woman, ¡°Are you not going to get out?¡± ¡°OK!¡± The woman scrambled out of the room, fearing she¡¯d be beaten to death if she lingered. Only after the woman had left did Nelson enter the room. He was taken aback at the sight of the fleeing woman. Realizing something was amiss, he hurried into the main bedroom. ¡°Mr. Salstrom.¡± Nelson was trembling with fear. Herman was sitting on the edge of the bed, nursing a splitting headache from drinking too much. He raised an eyebrow, his tone icy, ¡°Where were you just now?¡± ¡°Mr. ter asked me to fetch some documents, Mr. Salstrom. Was that woman arranged by Mr. ter?¡± Nelson, who had been with Herman for many years, knew that some clients always tried to please Herman by sending him women. Dealing with these women was also part of Nelson¡¯s job. Herman shot Nelson a cold look, ¡°Next time, you can go chill in Antarctica.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry Mr. Salstrom. I was negligent this time.¡± Nelson understood the possible consequences if things had gotten out of hand. Herman hated these kinds of women. Not to mention he was already married. If Anastasia found out, there would be hell to pay. ¡°Get out.¡± Herman massaged his temples, the alcohol slightly wearing off. ¡°Yes.¡± Nelson quickly left. Herman was a bit wobbly on his feet, staggering into the bathroom to wash his face. He was slightly sober now. He returned to bed and nced at his phone. The woman had deleted all the missed call records on his phone, so Herman didn¡¯t know that Anastasia had called. Seeing howte it was, he didn¡¯t call Anastasia, not wanting to disturb her rest. The woman who had fled from the hotel room, found a secluded spot and made a call, ¡°Ms. Brown, I¡¯ve done what you asked me to do. I almost got caught by Mr. Salstrom, and he even kicked me. You need to give me a bonus. Chapter 265 Chapter 265 Chapter 265 Julie was up to her old tricks again. She just couldn¡¯t ept that Herman married Anastasia. By social standards, Anastasia would never fit in as thedy of the Salstrom family. After her n with Kitty fell through, Julie came up with this new scheme. On the other end of the phone, Julie, hearing the good news, smugly said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take good care of you. This must stay under wraps.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± The woman replied. Riverdale. Anastasia sat alone on the living room couch, gradually calming down and starting to think carefully about the photo. What she could be sure of now was that the other party knew she existed, deliberately provoked and stirred up trouble. She hadn¡¯t met many of Herman¡¯s friends, and they hadn¡¯t thrown any big parties. They just got a marriage license, so those who knew they were married must be people very familiar to them. Those people were familiar and hostile towards her. As Anastasia considered it, she quickly thought of one person, Julie. Even if the woman in the photo wasn¡¯t Julie, Anastasia guessed that the matter must have something to do with her. The woman in the photo had an obvious stic surgery face, Anastasia believed that Herman would not like such a woman. From the photo, it seemed like Herman was drunk, which could have given others an opportunity. With this in mind, Anastasia no longer cared who was causing trouble. She looked at the photo again and found a card on the bedside table, which had the nameContent rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. of the hotel written on it.. Anastasia zoomed in on the photo to see: Regal Palms Hotel. She immediately looked up the Regal Palms Hotel in Crescent Bay online, and indeed found it. Anastasia checked the route, from Riverdale to Crescent Bay, it would take three hours by car. Women in marriages were like Sherlock Holmes,, even a small clue could lead them to the answer. Knowing where Herman was, Anastasia decided to go to Crescent Bay to find him. It was now half-past eleven at night. If she drove there, she could reach Crescent Bay around three in the morning. Instead of being anxious all night, Anastasia chose to go there alone. Anastasia changed her clothes, picked up Herman¡¯s Chevrolet keys left at home, and told Salma. In order not to worry Salma too much, she had to lie that she was going to Monica¡¯s ce. Anastasia drove alone to the Regal Palms Hotel in Crescent Bay. The night traffic was sparse. Anastasia sped all the way, her mind filled with thoughts of the photo. She was energetic and felt no fatigue. When she was about a 80 miles from Crescent Bay, Anastasia stopped at a highway service area for a rest, buying some snacks and water to replenish her energy. As she returned to her car, she passed by arge truck parked in the service area, hearing the sound of a man and woman having sexing from the truck. Anastasia felt embarrassed, she didn¡¯t want to eavesdrop on them, but as she hurried away, she heard the woman in the truck chuckle, ¡°Next time you go out, you have to take me with you.¡± ¡°Who else would I take if not you? My wife at home?¡± The man hastily said, ¡°Baby, I really miss you. I took you with me every time I had driven out these past three years. After this job is done, I¡¯ll buy you a gold ne.¡± ¡°Thank you, my love.¡± The woman said. Then, sounds of lovemaking followed. Anastasia, who happened to be passing by, felt a pang of sympathy for the truck driver¡¯s wife. She had heard before that men driving long distances or working on construction sites were the most likely to cheat. They yed lovey-dovey couples on site, and when they were out delivering goods, they had pretty women in the truck with them. Ny percent of the time, these women were not their wives, but their mistresses. Men were the creatures least able to withstand loneliness. Anastasia got back in her car, took a sip of mineral water, and couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit nervous. If she drove hundreds of miles only to find Herman with another woman, what would she do? Chapter 266 Chapter 266 Chapter 266 Anastasia took a deep breath, gulped down a big swig of water, started the car and left the service area. As she passed a truck, Anastasia honked her horn intentionally. She loathed unfaithful guys but couldn¡¯t do a thing about it, so she decided to honk, hoping to give them a scare and rattle their cages. Her honk did spook the couple in the truck; the guy shot a nervous nce upwards, only to see a car zooming onto the highway. At 3 a.m., Anastasia reached the Regal Palms Hotel in Crescent Bay. She stretched her limbs, feeling dog-tired, and ambled into the hotel. At this time, the front desk staff were snoozing. Anastasia gently rapped on the counter to wake them up. Seeing a customer, they sprang to life, asking, ¡°Would you like to book a room?¡± ¡°Could you tell me which room Mr. Herman Salstrom is staying in?¡± Anastasia said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m his sister and need to drop off some clothes for him. I¡¯ll be outta here once I¡¯m done. I tried calling him, but he didn¡¯t pick up, so I need your help.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t dare to say she was Herman¡¯s wife as the front desk staff would surely think she was there to stir up trouble and wouldn¡¯t reveal the guest¡¯s information. The front desk staff eyed Anastasia carefully. They¡¯d seen their fair share of troublemakers and weren¡¯t about to let their guard down. ¡°Sorry, our hotel policy prohibits disclosing guest information. You could try calling again, and if the guest agrees, we can let you go up.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Anastasia gave a fakeugh, changed her tack and said, ¡°I¡¯ll just leave the clothes here then. Could you pass them on to Mr. Salstrom?¡± After giving her instructions, she asked, ¡°Could I use your restroom?¡± Heading towards the restroom, Anastasia actually lingered at the corner, waiting for the front desk staff to take the elevator up with her clothes before she checked which floor the elevator stopped at. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. The fifteenth floor. Herman was staying on the fifteenth floor. Anastasia immediately took the neighboring elevator up. When she got out, she just heard the front desk staff knocking on the door to deliver the clothes. The whole floor was dead quiet at thiste hour, and she could hear everything crystal clear. Anastasia peeked around the corner to check the staff¡¯s location and got Herman¡¯s room number. She wouldn¡¯t have done something like this in the past, but now she was all over it. Love could make one super careful and jittery. Anastasia, hiding at the corner, overheard the conversation between Herman and the staff. Herman turned down the clothes delivery with an icy tone. Being woken up in the middle of the night would tick anyone off. Since Herman didn¡¯t know these were from Anastasia, he simply mmed the door shut. Confused, the staff had no choice but to leave with the clothes. Only after they left did Anastasia step out from the corner and head to Herman¡¯s room. Herman inside was a bit tipsy and had a headache. Being woken up like this put him in a really sour mood. He rubbed his temples, poured himself a ss of water, and was about to go back to sleep when the doorbell rang again. Herman¡¯s anger red up instantly. He took a deep breath, turned back to open the door, and ready to give the hotel staff a piece of his mind. But when he saw who was at the door, he was stunned and his reprimand was stuck in his throat. Anastasia stood at the door, smiling, ¡°Sir, need any special service?¡± Hermanughed, all his annoyance vanishing into thin air. He reached out, pulled Anastasia into the room and closed the door. Anastasia¡¯s arrival was a pleasant surprise. He pinned her against the wall and kissed her passionately, lost in a fervent exchange of kisses. Chapter 267 Chapter 267 Chapter 267 After a fiery make-out session, Herman held her in his arms, his hands cupping her butt, ¡°Did you drive all the way from Riverdale by yourself? That¡¯s over 200 miles! Why did you get here sote?¡± She wrapped her arms around his neck, nced around the room, and chuckled, ¡°I came to check up on you, to see if you were fooling around with other women.¡± She was telling the truth. Anastasia was here to check on him. Hermanughed, ¡°Darling, you¡¯re always wee to inspect.¡± As he spoke, Herman couldn¡¯t wait to kiss her. He carried her to the bed and nipped lightly at her corbone. He was the only one in the room, and because of a past incident with another woman, he had asked the hotel to change the sheets. Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org. Seeing no other women in the room, Anastasia was relieved and happy. The encounter after hours of travel made her lose control of her emotions. Anastasia leaned in to kiss him, more passionately than he had. Her response excited him, and he quickly turned his excitement into action, getting intimate. The next day. Anastasia was exhausted and slept until noon. As she opened her eyes, she saw Herman working on hisptop in a suit. To Anastasia, this was pure bliss. Herman looked mature and charming in his suit, making her want to get close. Anastasia nestled in the nket andughed, ¡°Honey, you remind me of the saying ¡®don¡¯t judge a book by its cover¡±.¡± Who would have thought that such a handsome and godlike man could be so passionate in bed. Herman smirked, put down hisptop, and sat on the edge of the bed. He gently stroked her cheek, ¡°Seems like my wife is very satisfied with my performancest night.¡± Anastasia bashfully covered half of her face with the nket, revealing only her eyes. She blinked and chuckled, ¡°Oh, more than satisfied.¡± Anastasia looked both cute and sexy. Upon seeing her, Herman¡¯s stomach tightened, ¡°You¡¯re such a subus.¡± If he didn¡¯t have work to do, Herman would have loved to have sex with Anastasia again. Herman kissed Anastasia¡¯s forehead, ¡°I ordered some food from the hotel. Have something to eat. I have work in the afternoon, so I can¡¯t take you with me. You can wait for me at the hotel or take a walk around.¡± Anastasia understood Herman was here for a business trip. She sat up in the nket, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯ll wait for you at the hotel.¡± Anastasia leaned against the headboard, revealing her shoulders, which made Herman restless. Her chestnut curls spilled over her shoulders, looking slightly messy but adding a touch of sexy disarray. Her delicate features and lovely expression were incredibly tempting. Herman loosened his tie. His hands, defined by the knuckles, held her face. His voice raspy, ¡°Let¡¯s get to business first. I can push back the work for an hour.¡± Anastasia was both amused and exasperated, ¡°Herman, it¡¯s broad daylight, you¡­¡± To Herman, nothing was more important than Anastasia. Because of her, he had kept his client, Mr. ter, waiting in the hotel lobby for five hours, from 8 in the morning to 1 in the afternoon. Mr. ter couldn¡¯t help but ask Nelson, ¡°Is Mr. Salstrom feeling unwell? Or is he unhappy with our project?¡± Nelson answered with a smile, ¡°Mr. ter, please be patient. Mr. Salstrom is busy.¡± Curious, Mr. ter asked, ¡°What is Mr. Salstrom busy with?¡± Nelson simply answered, ¡°Mr. Salstrom¡¯s wife camest night.¡± 3 2 2 2 2 58 As Herman¡¯s assistant, Nelson knew about Anastasia¡¯s arrival. Because he didn¡¯t know she was coming, Nelson had almost made a big mistake trying to find Herman. Now that Anastasia was here, she could pacify the angry lion. Even if something happened, he could feel safe for the time being, at least he wouldn¡¯t have to go to Antarctica for work. Surprised, Mr. ter asked, ¡°Mr. Salstrom is married? I didn¡¯t see his wife yesterday.¡± Mr. ter felt uneasy. if he had known that Mr. Salstrom¡¯s wife would being, he wouldn¡¯t have arranged for other femalepanions. Hadn¡¯t that backfired? Chapter 268 Chapter 268 Chapter 268 Seeing Mr. ter¡¯s reaction, Nelson gave him a heads-up, ¡°Mr. ter, this isn¡¯t your first cooperation with Elysian Technologies. You should know everything about Mr. Salstrom¡¯s temperament.¡± Nelson said, ¡°Mr. Salstrom is head over heels for his wife. If there¡¯s any marital strife, he won¡¯t be able to pour his heart and soul into this coboration.¡± Mr. ter caught his drift immediately, ¡°I didn¡¯t think that through. I¡¯ve been a bit muddled. Thanks for the wake-up call.¡± ¡°No need to thank me.¡± Nelson said, ¡°Let¡¯s just wait for him patiently.¡± With that, Mr. ter didn¡¯t dare to raise a fuss anymore and waited patiently. In the hotel room. After a steamy sex session, Anastasia was so exhausted that her fingers felt like jelly. She didn¡¯t have the strength to move anymore. She shot a nce at Herman who was still as fresh as a daisy. ¡°You¡¯re such a pervert.¡± She said. Totally my bad. Take a good rest in the hotel today.¡± Herman said gently, ¡°I¡¯ll take you out for a walk tonight.¡± Anastasia sat up, saying, ¡°I¡¯ve got something to show you first.¡± In a marriage, it was better to clear the air and avoid misunderstandings. Anastasia showed Herman the photos on her phone, pulled a long face and said, ¡°Exin Material ? N?velDrama.Org. this to me.¡± Herman took a quick peek at the photos and instantly got the picture. Instead of getting pissed at Anastasia for her midnight raid, he was thrilled, ¡°You¡¯ve driven over 200 miles from Riverdale just for these photos. I¡¯m chuffed because it shows you care about me.¡± Who else would check on him in the middle of the night if they didn¡¯t care? Anastasia pretended to kick him, ¡°Don¡¯t sugarcoat it. You should be damn d I didn¡¯t find anythingst night. Otherwise, you¡¯d be toast.¡± Anastasia put on a tough act, as if warning Herman that she would make him pay if he ever cheated on her. Herman smiled, caught Anastasia¡¯s foot and gently massaged it, ¡°You¡¯ve had a rough rideing all the way here. I drank too muchst night. The woman was set up by our partners. Don¡¯t worry, I didn¡¯t lay a finger on her. I shooed her away.¡± Herman was desperate to stay alive, so he spilled the beans. At this point, he couldn¡¯t afford to be careless. He had to make everything crystal clear, or it would be like a ticking bomb. Anastasia believed him and said, ¡°I¡¯ll let you off the hook this time. Clean up your act. Cut ties with those female friends and admirers who are too-friendly. If there¡¯s a next time, I can¡¯t guarantee I¡¯ll trust you.¡± Herman was smart. How could he not see the truth? If it was merely a set-up by the partners, they wouldn¡¯t dare to step on Anastasia¡¯s toes. He needed to get to the bottom of this. Herman sweet-talked her, ¡°My wife is generous, smart, beautiful, and kind-hearted. Trust me, you¡¯re the only woman in my heart. I¡¯ll cut off all other women.¡± Anastasia was happy to hear this. She gave Herman a once-over, ¡°It¡¯s not safe being a handsome man. You¡¯re always a chick ma.¡± Hermanughed helplessly, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault.¡± Anastasia burst outughing, ¡°You¡¯re such a smooth talker. Go do your thing.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Herman stood up with a smile, then asked, ¡°How did you know I was staying at this hotel?¡± Anastasia teased, ¡°Women are like the reincarnation of Sherlock Holmes in such matters. Finding out isn¡¯t rocket science.¡± The smile in Herman¡¯s eyes deepened, ¡°It looks like you¡¯re finally willing to put some effort into me.¡± Only a woman who genuinely cared about him would go to great lengths to track him down. Hearing this, Anastasia felt a bit guilty. She hadn¡¯t really put her heart into caring for Herman before. It was always him making the sacrifices for her. She ran all the way here to find him and he was actually happy about it. It seemed that she hadn¡¯t been performing her duties as a wife well before. Chapter 269 Chapter 269 Chapter 269 Anastasia felt utterly wiped out and decided to stay put and rest in the hotel. While Herman, on the other hand, was all spiffed up and ready to step out. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. On seeing Herman descending the stairs, Nelson quickly got up to greet him, ¡°Mr. Salstrom.¡± Mr. ter also rose to wee Herman. Herman walked up to Mr. ter. In stark contrast to his gentle demeanor towards Anastasia earlier, he now wore a frosty expression, ¡°Mr. ter, sorry to have kept you waiting.¡± ¡°No worries.¡± Mr. ter replied with a smile, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, our ride is waiting outside. Shall we hit the road?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Herman headed towards the hotel exit, casually inquiring, ¡°Where¡¯s thedy you broughtst night, Mr. ter?¡± Mr. Siater, fearing a blow-up from Herman, hastily exined, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, are you referring to Crystal? She¡¯s feeling not well today and took a day off. I apologize for any inconvenience we caused. I hope you understand.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to get your knickers in a twist, Mr. ter. I just want to ask her a few things.¡± Herman said, ¡°Could you get her toe over?¡± Unable to figure out what Herman was up to, Mr. ter nevertheless agreed immediately, ¡°Sure thing. I¡¯ll call her over right away.¡± To him, throwing a woman under the bus was a small price to pay for securing a deal. Herman instructed Nelson, ¡°Treat her well when she gets here. We need to find out who is behind the scene.¡± Nelson, clueless about the specifics, nced at the visibly shaken Mr. ter before responding, ¡°Yes, Mr. Salstrom.¡± After grabbing a bite, Anastasia slept once again and woke up at five in the afternoon. She had literally slept all day,pletely flipping her regr schedule upside down. She had been dead beat the previous night. Driving through the night and dealing with Herman¡¯s antics had drained herpletely. After sleeping all day, Anastasia finally started to feel more like herself. She called her mom from the bed to check up on her and Pattie. On the phone, Salma reassured her, ¡°Pattie and I are just ying downstairs. We are doing fine at home, so don¡¯t worry!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Anastasia replied with a hint of worry, ¡°Mom, please be careful since you have trouble walking. And watch Pattie¡¯s diet too. I¡¯m currently in Crescent Bay on a business trip with Herman and might not be back until tomorrow.¡± Figuring there was no reason to beat around the bush, Anastasia decided toe clean. Making up excuses for not returning in a day or two would only make her mother worry. On hearing this, Salma chuckled, ¡°Alright, got it. Don¡¯t worry about us while you¡¯re away on business with your husband.¡± Salma was undoubtedly pleased to see her daughter and son-inw¡¯s rtionship going strong, even apanying each other on business trips. Even Pattie, who was sitting nearby listening to the conversation,ughed, ¡°So mom went to meet dad.¡± ¡°You little rascal.¡± Anastasia was both amused and exasperated at Pattie¡¯s cheeky remark. After chatting with Pattie for a bit, Anastasia hung up. Checking the time, Salma suggested to Pattie, ¡°Let¡¯s go out for dinner tonight.¡± ¡°Awesome!¡± Pattie squealed in delight, ¡°We¡¯re going to a restaurant.¡± Salma smiled, ¡°What do you feel like eating, Pattie?¡± ¡°McDonald¡¯s!¡± Pattie blurted out excitedly, ¡°Grandma, can we have McDonald¡¯s?¡± ¡°Kids love McDonald¡¯s.¡± Salma replied, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll go to McDonald¡¯s. But remember, we can¡¯t have too much of this fried stuff. It¡¯s not good for our health.¡± ¡°Okay, Grandma. I got it. Pattie giggled, ¡°You¡¯re the best, Grandma.¡± ¡°You little munchkin.¡± Salma was in high spirits. Seeing Pattie reminded her of Anastasia some twenty years ago. Anastasia too used to be a charming little girl, always sweet-talking. Looking at Pattie, Salma sighed softly, ¡°I wonder how that child is doing now.¡± Her thoughts once again drifted to her biological granddaughter. Pattie asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Grandma?¡± ¡°Nothing, darling. Let¡¯s go get some McDonald¡¯s. My treat today.¡± Salma said. Salma and Pattie made their way out of theplex. There was a McDonald¡¯s in the neighborhood. As they stepped out, they immediately bumped into Tavon ¡°Salma.¡± Tavon greeted, stepping forward to support her, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be walking around with your leg. Where are you headed? I¡¯ll take you.¡± ¡°Pattie wanted McDonald¡¯s, so we were heading there.¡± Salma¡¯s tone noticeably softened around Tavon. Tavon nced at Pattie, not particrly interested in her identity, ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll give you both a lift. Chapter 270 Chapter 270 Chapter 270 Tavon sought out Salma, and from the get-go, his intentions weren¡¯t exactly pure as the driven snow. Ashley had already put her foot down, demanding that Salma and Anastasia be lured to Willowbrook ASAP. Tavon took Salma and Pattie to McDonald¡¯s, ordered a burger for Pattie and with great enthusiasm, poured Salma a cup of milk from a meal deal. Salma sneezed and Tavon promptly whipped off his jacket and draped it over her, saying, ¡°Salma, it¡¯s getting chilly in Riverdale. You gotta watch out for your health. Keep warm next time you¡¯re out.¡± Tavon¡¯s actions were indeed attention-grabbing. Even though he was over fifty, he was still a looker, dressed sharp and exuding a masculine charm. With a watch and designer clothes worth a small fortune, his vibe was off the charts. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Salma was a bit flustered, ¡°Thanks.¡± Tavonughed it off, ¡°No need for formalities.¡± Then he turned to Pattie, ¡°Pattie, eat up. I¡¯ll buy you more if that¡¯s not enough¡­ Pattie wasn¡¯t too keen on Tavon. Kids were sharp; they could sniff out a phony y from a mile away. Pattie stayed silent and just quietly munched on her fries. Tavonid it on thick with Salma, ¡°Salma, my vineyard¡¯s not doing so hottely, and it¡¯s been a real headache. I can¡¯t stick around Riverdale much longer. I¡¯ll be heading back to Willowbrook in a few days. Have you and Ana thought abouting with me?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Salma stuttered, ¡°Ana¡¯s not home. I haven¡¯t mentioned this to her yet.¡± ¡°Well, you better get on it. You know the Morton family values blood ties. I¡¯ve already told the family I want to acknowledge Ana as my daughter, have her return to her roots.¡± Tavon added, ¡°The date¡¯s already set, and it¡¯s the third of next month. It¡¯s a good date.¡± Seeing Tavon¡¯s regard for Anastasia, Salma felt reassured. She replied, ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Ana ?nce she¡¯s back tomorrow.¡± ¡°Back tomorrow? Where¡¯s Ana?¡± Tavon asked. ¡°Ana¡¯s on a business trip with her husband in Crescent Bay.¡± Salma grinned, ¡°Those two are thick as thieves. Even on business trips they¡¯re inseparable.¡± Tavon yed along, ¡°What does he do?¡± ¡°ording to Ana, he¡¯s a programmer.¡± Salma replied, ¡°I don¡¯t really get it, but he¡¯s really ambitious and a good guy. Just had a rough hand dealt to him, lost his parents early and he¡¯s the only one left in his family.¡± Hearing that Anastasia¡¯s husband had such circumstances, Tavon felt relieved. A poor orphan with no connections, even if he did get a bone marrow transnt from Anastasia, it wouldn¡¯t cause a big fuss. On the surface, Tavon seemed unfazed, ¡°If the son-inw is that capable, I, as his father-inw, will definitely give him a leg up. There are plenty of ITpanies in Willowbrook, and I know lots of big wigs. I can easily hook him up with a better job, with a sry of a couple million a year. And even better if he¡¯s willing to help out at my vineyard.¡± Seeing Tavon¡¯s offer to help her son-inw, Salma felt pleased, ¡°Does Ashley have any objections?¡± ¡°I call the shots in this house. I owe you, and I¡¯ll make it up to you. Ashley won¡¯t have anything to say.¡± Tavon was spinning tales left and right, ¡°You¡¯re the one who¡¯s actually my wife. If it weren¡¯t for Ashley¡¯s meddling and our family¡¯s objections, we would have been together long ago.¡± His words were full of regret. Salma waspletely taken in by Tavon¡¯s dramatic performance. Tavon seized the opportunity, ¡°Salma,e back to Willowbrook with me first.¡± Once Salma was in Willowbrook, Anastasia would have to follow. ¡°Uh, I, uh¡­¡± Salma hesitated, ¡°I need to ask Ana about this decision.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see me every day?¡± Tavon held Salma¡¯s hand tightly, ¡°We¡¯re not getting any younger. How many years do we have left? You¡¯ve sacrificed so much for Ana. Now, it¡¯s time you lived for yourself. Come back to Willowbrook with me. Ana will understand. She¡¯ll ept us.¡± Chapter 271 Chapter 271 Chapter 271 Tavon¡¯s constant persuasion was suffocating Salma, and her soft heart finally gave in, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go back to Willowbrook with you, just to have a look. But I have to wait until Anaes back tomorrow. I need to tell her that I¡¯m going to Willowbrook.¡± ¡°Great.¡± Tavon said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯ll get the tickets now, and once Ana is back, you can let her know and we can head off to Willowbrook. But I think we should keep the real reason a secret from Ana.¡± Salma agreed that if they told the truth, Anastasia would definitely disapprove, so she said, ¡°Hmm, I know what to do.¡± Overhearing their conversation, Pattie, who was munching on her fries, thought to herself that she must tell her mother about this. She couldn¡¯t let her grandmother be fooled by the bad guy, who, in her eyes, was Tavon. Meanwhile, at Crescent Bay. Anastasia was blissfully unaware of what was happening. Salma had already been persuaded by Tavon, and at the moment, she was just getting ready to head out for a meal when the doorbell rang. Knowing it was Herman, she opened the door with a smile. A bouquet of roses greeted her as Herman came in, saying, ¡°Honey, these are for you.¡± Anastasiaughed, ¡°Is there a special asion today? Why are you giving me flowers? It¡¯s not Valentine¡¯s Day, is it?¡± ¡°Every day is Valentine¡¯s Day when two people are in love.¡± Herman kissed her cheek, and seeing she was dressed up, said, ¡°Change your shoes. I¡¯m taking you out for dinner.¡± ¡°Your sweet talk is getting better. I thought you would be workingte.¡± Anastasia said. ¡°With you waiting for me, I have to be efficient and finish work quickly. Tonight, I¡¯ll take you out, and we can head back to Riverdale anytime tomorrow.¡± Herman said. Anastasia was in high spirits, she sniffed the roses and set them aside, then changed her shoes and went out with him. It would be absurd to think that Herman only brought one assistant on his business trip to Crescent Bay. He took Anastasia to the local food street, with Nelson and a few bodyguards trailing behind them, ensuring their safety. The food street was bustling with energy. Anastasia and Herman enjoyed some street-side pho, while Nelson and the bodyguards pretended to buy hot dogs from a nearby stall. To keep it natural and prevent Anastasia from suspecting, they were actually eating, and quite heartily at that. Anastasia was thrilled. She hadn¡¯t had such a rxing time enjoying street food in a long time. ¡°Herman, you muste to Crescent Bay often. Otherwise, how would you know about this food street?¡± Anastasia said. ¡°I learned about it from a client.¡± Herman replied, holding her hand. His gaze was always so gentle and loving, ¡°I know you love good food, so I brought you here.¡± ¡°You really know me well.¡± Anastasiaughed, then noticing a ring toss game on a wall, said, ¡°Let¡¯s y that too.¡± Feeling refreshed after a day¡¯s rest in the hotel, she pulled Herman towards the ring toss. The ring toss owner had spread a lot of toys on the ground, with pricer gifts at the back row. In the middle of the ring toss ground, there was a goose attracting a lot of attention, as catching a live creature was quite rare. Many people were participating in the catch-the-goose game. The goose was very clever and adeptly avoided the rings. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn¡¯t catch the goose, which only attracted more people to try. Even if they couldn¡¯t catch it, they were having fun, and the game¡¯s organizer was making a fortune. Anastasia was having a st. Someone asked the game organizer, ¡°Hey, is your goose trained? It¡¯s too hard to catch.¡± The ownerughed and replied, ¡°You only lose a bit of money if you can¡¯t catch it, but if the goose gets caught, it might die. i don¡¯t believe none of you fancy a freshly cooked goose.¡± The boss¡¯s humor had everyoneughing and attracted even more people to try. Anastasia tugged at Herman¡¯s arm, cooed, ¡°Honey, why don¡¯t you give it a shot? I want that goose, okay?¡± Hearing Anastasia call him ¡®honey, Herman was extremely delighted. He agreed to her request and walked over to the owner, ¡°Give me ten rings.¡± Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Seeing someone willing to try, the boss owner obviously pleased. He handed over ten rings with a smile, ¡°You might want to buy more. Ten might not be enough.¡± ¡°Ten will be enough.¡± Herman replied. He only needed one ring. After getting the rings, he gestured to Anastasia, who immediately took out her phone to pay,¡± I¡¯ve paid ten dors.¡± The power of the purse was in Anastasia¡¯s hands, something every married man could understand. Nelson and the bodyguards, blending in with the crowd, also joined in the fun. When they saw their boss needed to ask his wife to pay for a mere ten dors, they silently admired Anastasia for being able to keep their boss in check. Anastasia wanted the goose, and the billionaire boss immediately joined the ring toss on the street. If word got out, the whole business world would be shocked. They all thought to themselves, if they wanted to have a good time, they would have to favor Anastasia in the future. Chapter 272 Chapter 272 Chapter 272 Anastasia looked at Herman expectantly, then nced at the fallen cor on the ground, feeling somewhat apprehensive. ¡°Do you think you can do it?¡± Anastasia asked. This goose was too damn clever, and she was worried about throwing her money down the drain. Herman grinned, tilting his head slightly, and cheekily whispered, ¡°I managed to win you over, didn¡¯t I? This goose is nothingpared to that.¡± Anastasia lightly smacked him, giggling, ¡°If you screw up, you¡¯re sleeping on the couch tonight.¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. The prospect of a night on the couch meant he had to give it his all. If the goose got cored, it¡¯d lose its freedom. If he failed, he¡¯d lose a cozy night. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, sweetheart.¡± Herman¡¯s voice was low and soothing. He picked up a cor with his right hand, ready to make his move. Sensing danger, the goose pped its wings and squawked.¡± More onlookers began to gather, mostly just there for the show, with little faith in Herman¡¯s sess. Many had tried and failed before him. If Herman failed, it wouldn¡¯t be out of the ordinary. Among the crowd, Nelson was watching intently too. He told the nearby bodyguards, ¡°Mr. Salstrom will nail it, no doubt. After all, he used to be a shooting champion. It¡¯s the same sort of thing.¡± The bodyguards agreed, ¡°Mr. Salstrom¡¯s got this.¡± The ring toss game owner was also enjoying the spectacle. Herman gripped a cor, his gaze firming. Amidst the goose¡¯s honking, he threw the cor. The goose tried to dodge, but was fooled by Herman¡¯s feint and got cored sessfully. The goose pped its wings and honked. It was actually cored this time. ¡°Darling, you¡¯re amazing.¡± Anastasia was so happy that she jumped excitedly. Herman¡¯s smile deepened, ¡°Making you smile is an honor.¡± Anastasia blushed, shyly scolding him with her eyes. The onlooking crowd was envious. Such a handsome and beautiful couple, they were a match made in heaven. The ring toss owner, shocked, gave Herman a thumbs up, ¡°Bro, you¡¯re incredible.¡± With just a buck, he¡¯d won¡¯ a goose worth over a hundred. Just as the owner finished speaking, the goose removed the cor from its neck with its beak. This stunned everyone, leading toughter from the crowd. ¡°You said this goose wasn¡¯t trained, but look, it can remove the cor by itself.¡± ¡°So, does this count as a sess or a failure?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen such a smart goose.¡± ¡°It can remove the cor by itself. It¡¯s so clever.¡± The goose honked in delight, as if mocking Herman. Herman raised an eyebrow, ¡°This goose is quite the character. Darling, how about some stewed goose?¡± He was just teasing the goose, of course. Anastasia found it fascinating that the goose could remove the cor by itself. She understood what Herman meant,ughing, ¡°Such a smart goose must be delicious. What do you think?¡± The owner nced at the honking goose. He didn¡¯t want to give it away as it brought him profits, but he couldn¡¯t lose his integrity either. Coming up with a n, he smiled, ¡°How about this, miss? I¡¯ll buy the goose back from you. I guess you two aren¡¯t locals, dealing with this goose would be a hassle. Besides, it¡¯d be a shame to eat such a spirited goose.¡± The owner was an honest man. Anastasia and Herman exchanged a nce, saying, ¡°Well, just give us cash ording to the goose¡¯s market price.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± The owner lost over a hundred. Herman picked up the unused cors in his hand, joking, ¡°So, these nine unused cors¡­¡± The owner was about to cry. If he had to cor the goose every time, and seeded every time, wouldn¡¯t he lose thousands? ¡°Hey man, why don¡¯t you try something else? This fluffy SpongeBob here, girls love it. Take it home to your girlfriend. I can make an exception. As long as the cor gets close, it counts.¡± This owner knew how to do business. Anastasia couldn¡¯t help butugh. Herman put on a magnanimous front, ¡°Alright then, as long as you keep your word.¡± The owner chuckled, ¡°Of course. A man¡¯s word is his bond.¡± Chapter 273 Chapter 273 Chapter 273 Was Herman the type to let ten bucks go to waste on a game? Hell no! The man was a businessman, and he didn¡¯t do deals without profits. With the nine rings left in his hand, each one snagged a plush toy with pinpoint precision. Be it big shark, Spongebob, Doraemon, Pink Panther or Pikachu, each throw was a hit. The stall owner stood by, amazed. He¡¯d lost quite a bit in this round of games. Anastasia was over the moon. Pikachu in her left hand, a shark plushie in her right, she was the envy of the onlooking kids. With all these stuffed animals, she couldn¡¯t possibly carry them all by herself. So, she gave them out to the kids one by one, and they were all thrilled. Anastasia kept one Pikachu, which she nned to give to Pattie. After Herman threw hisst ring, the stall owner said with admiration, ¡°Bro, lucky you only bought ten rings, otherwise I might¡¯ve lost so much I couldn¡¯t afford to eat. You¡¯re really something.¡± Herman smiled faintly, ¡°You¡¯re too kind.¡± The stall owner joked, ¡°Bro, you weren¡¯t ying ring toss, you were stocking up here.¡± Everyone burst outughing at this. Anastasiaughed so hard her stomach hurt. Herman turned to the stall owner, ¡°You¡¯ve got a knack for business. I have no doubt you¡¯ll make it big soon.¡± The owner¡¯s attitude and way of handling things showed he was someone who could make things happen. The owner bowed slightly, ¡°Thanks for the kind words. I¡¯ll remember them.¡±Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. After the game, Anastasia and Herman moved on. The street food zone was bustling, with all kinds of food and games. Anastasia was hungry again so she bought two milkshakes. They strolled around while checking out the trinkets at the stalls. At one trinket stall, Anastasia was reminded of her days as a street vendor. She picked up a pair of cherry earrings from the stall and asked, ¡°How much for these?¡± The stall owner, a girl about Anastasia¡¯s age, replied sweetly, ¡°You¡¯ve got great taste, miss. These cherry earrings are fifteen bucks a pair. Quite cheap. Want me to wrap them up for you?¡± Anastasia looked at Herman and whispered with augh, ¡°She¡¯s even sweeter than you were.¡± Back when Herman helped sell trinkets, he was quite the smooth talker. ¡°If you like them, get them.¡± Herman took out his phone to pay. Anastasia asked, ¡°I thought you were broke?¡± ¡°This is my personal stash, saved up just to buy you gifts.¡± Herman said. Herman would pay for the gifts that Anastasia liked. If it was about food, drinks or fun, Anastasia would take care of it. Simply put, his money was spent on her, and her money was spent on both of them. Anastasiaughed and the stall ownerplimented, ¡°Sir, you¡¯re really good to your girlfriend.¡± Herman bought the pair of cherry earrings for Anastasia and put them on her himself. The red of the cherries brought out Anastasia¡¯s beauty. Anastasia swayed her earrings and asked, ¡°Do they look good?¡± Herman praised, ¡°Anything looks good on my wife.¡± Anastasia was very happy. They walked from one end of the street to the other. When she got tired, he squatted down, patted his shoulder and said, ¡°Hop on.¡± Anastasia smiled and climbed onto his back, clutching his shoulder with one hand and the Pikachu plushie with the other. They strolled down the streets of Crescent Bay, carefree. Nelson and the other bodyguards watched them. They¡¯d never seen their boss so smitten with a woman. He seemed to always fulfill her requests. Back at the hotel, Anastasia kissed Herman¡¯s cheek to thank him for hispany, ¡°Darling, I love you.¡± She was genuinely happy, brimming with joy. The words came out naturally. This was the first time Anastasia had expressed her love so clearly. It could imagine how Herman must¡¯ve felt, his heart filled with surprise. Herman held her waist tightly and passionately returned her kiss, ¡°I love you too, Anastasia.¡± His kiss was gentle and passionate. His hands then started to get a little yful. She pushed him away with a smile, ¡°You didn¡¯t win the goose, remember? We agreed, you¡¯re sleeping on the couch tonight.¡± He tickled her waist, making herugh. His deep voice said, ¡°My darling, you sure know how to tease me. I did keep half the promise. How about I sleep in the bed for the first half of the night and then move to the couch?¡± She was amused by his suggestion, ¡°Herman, you¡¯re the one teasing.me.¡± ¡°If that n doesn¡¯t work, we could both sleep on the couch.¡± Herman suggested. Chapter 274 Chapter 274 Chapter 274 Evidence showed that Herman was the rule breaker. How on earth did he sleep half the night in bed and the other half on the couch? Men were not trustworthy. Anastasia was totally exhausted and fell asleep. By the time she woke up, it was already the next day. Herman was on the phone out on the balcony. The call was from Flynn, who knew that Anastasia was going on a business trip with Herman to Crescent Bay. Flynn was green with envy. It was not just a business trip; there was a beautiful woman involved. This was practically a paid vacation. In response to Flynn¡¯s rambling, Herman retorted, ¡°If you¡¯re not satisfied, you could also find a woman and get married. Stop loafing around. The Salstrom dynasty needs you to carry it on.¡± Flynnmented on the phone, ¡°I finally understand my role in this family.¡± His role was to produce heirs. Herman said, ¡°I even hope you can have a few more kids. That way, your sister-inw and I can take one off your hands.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not fair. I haven¡¯t even found a girlfriend and you¡¯re already nning my offspring.¡± Flynn took this opportunity to make a request, ¡°But, if I could have the new Porsche sports car, I believe I would definitely be motivated to add to the Salstrom lineage. I heard that you¡¯ve reserved that car.¡± ¡°Well, you can forget about that. That car is for your sister-inw.¡± Herman said. Flynn said, ¡°I¡¯m your blood brother, man.¡± Flynn started to y the family card on the phone. Herman noticed that Anastasia had woken up. Looking at her through the ss sliding door from the balcony, he told Flynn, ¡°You can think about getting married and having kids early. I might consider buying you another car. Oh, and don¡¯t forget what I told you to do. Your sister-inw is awake. I gotta go.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± When the sister-inw was around, everyone else needed to step aside. Herman hung up. Anastasia, wearing Herman¡¯s shirt, emerged from the room. The white shirt barely covered her backside, and her slender long legs were especially enticing as she moved. He quirked an eyebrow, ¡°Babe, is this your way of seducing me early in the morning?¡± Anastasia blushed and rolled her eyes at him, ¡°What are you thinking about all day?¡±. ¡°Only about you.¡± He pulled her into his arms, pressing her against the ss door. He gave her a passionate French kiss before letting her go, ¡°We¡¯re going back to Riverdale this afternoon.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Anastasia also wanted to go home. Despite the bliss of being alone with him, she was worried about Salma and Pattie at home. Leaningzily against the door frame, she casually tousled her hair, looking alluring. ¡°Are you done dealing with all those women?¡± Anastasia asked. This issue was yet to be resolved. Anastasia had told Herman about it, expecting him to handle it and show his attitude. ¡°It¡¯s handled.¡± Herman didn¡¯t dare to hide anything and said, ¡°It was Julie who bribed the women arranged by the client and spread rumors to you. Babe, someone wants to ruin our rtionship, but luckily you¡¯re clever and generous. You didn¡¯t fall for it.¡± ¡°Cut the sweet talk.¡± Anastasia had already suspected it was Julie, so she wasn¡¯t too surprised. ¡°What¡¯s really going on between you and Julie? I don¡¯t believe that you two were just set up for a blind date. If the date failed, why is she still clinging onto you?¡± Anastasia asked. ¡°There¡¯s really nothing between us.¡± Herman raised his hand and swore, ¡°Honey, you¡¯ve got to trust me. I, Herman, am absolutely honest.¡± Herman himself felt a bit guilty as he was still keeping something from Anastasia. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Anastasia scrutinized Herman, unable to tell if he was lying. Then she said, ¡°If there¡¯s a next time, be ready to sleep on the couch for a month. And when you¡¯re out, you need to protect yourself. Whether it¡¯s your doing or not, if another woman ends up in your bed, I will never forgive you.¡± Chapter 275 Chapter 275 Chapter 275 Anastasia thought this time she handled the situation the right way. Any other person might have started a quarrel right after checking into the hotel. Whether the person was found or not didn¡¯t matter. Because they had some untouched photo evidence.. Herman stood there, saying, ¡± I¡¯ll definitely carry out my wife¡¯s orders. I won¡¯t let you down.¡± Anastasiaughed, ¡°Then I¡¯m off to take a bath and pack stuff up. After dinner, we can head back to Riverdale. I need to be at the office tomorrow.¡± ¡°Sure thing, babe, you go freshen up.¡± Herman said. While Anastasia was in the shower, Herman ordered Nelson to head back first. After all these moves from Julie, Herman thought it was about time to sit down with the executive director of the Brown Corporation for a good chat. After Anastasia finished bathing, they got dressed and left the hotel. Anastasia took onest look at the hotel and casually remarked, ¡°Yourpany¡¯s business trip benefits are pretty sweet, even got to stay in the presidential suite.¡± She had noticed on the first night that this room was the best in the hotel. It had a great view, nice environment, and top-notch facilities. Without any guilt, Herman said, ¡°Actually, I was supposed to be on this trip with the president of Elysian Technologies. Thepany booked this room for him, but he couldn¡¯t make itst minute, so I got lucky.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Anastasiaughed, ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you a lucky duck. You and your boss must be tight, huh? Last time you two were on a ne together, this time sharing a ¡®hotel room.¡± ¡°Emm, it¡¯s okay.¡± Hermanughed, ¡°The boss really looks after us employees. This kind of money is nothing to him.¡± Anastasia asked curiously, ¡°Have you ever met the bossdy of Elysian Technologies?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Herman praised, ¡°I saw her from afar once. She¡¯s really beautiful. She has wless skin, and she is tall and slender, with exceptional temperament.¡± Anastasia gave him a cold look. He was praising another woman right in front of her? Herman quickly wrapped an arm around Anastasia¡¯s shoulder and corrected himself, ¡°But she¡¯s still not as beautiful as my wife. You¡¯re the best.¡± Anastasia snorted, a small smile tugging at her mouth. Considering Herman¡¯s sweet talk, she decided to let it slide. After lunch, they returned to Riverdale together. This time they took a ne, and it was only an hour and a half to Riverdale. As soon as Anastasia entered the house, Pattie ran over excitedly, saying, ¡°Mommy and daddy are back, grandma!¡± Pattie was so happy, she was jumping up and down on the spot. When Herman entered the house, he picked up Pattie, ¡°Baby girl, did you miss daddy?¡± Herman really treated Pattie as his own daughter; every gesture came from the heart. Seeing Pattie¡¯s happy face made him happy too. Pattie said joyfully, ¡°I miss daddy.¡± Anastasiaughed and asked, ¡°What about me, did you miss me?¡± ¡°I miss mommy too, miss both mommy and daddy.¡± Pattie¡¯s words were so sweet. Anastasiaughed and nced at Herman, ¡°This kid is sweet talker. She doesn¡¯t offend anyone.¡± Herman grinned. Anastasia gave Pattie the Pikachu toy they brought back, ¡°This is a gift from mommy and daddy, do you like it?¡± ¡°I do, wow, it¡¯s so cute.¡± Pattie hugged Pikachu tightly and gave it a kiss on the face. Salma came out of her room and saw the three of them ying happily together; they looked just like a real family. She smiled and said, ¡°You¡¯re back.¡± ¡°Mom, how¡¯s your leg feeling?¡± Anastasia asked as she walked over, ¡°You should get more rest.¡± Salma replied, ¡°Feels much better. In another week, I won¡¯t need the crutch. It¡¯s already afternoon. I¡¯m going to buy groceries for dinner.¡± ¡°Let me do it.¡± Herman said, ¡°I¡¯ll go in a bit.¡± Herman knew the local market well, and Pattie wanted to go too, so they left together. Pattie put on her shoes and followed Herman out. And after they left, Salma turned to Anastasia with a smile, ¡°Herman is very patient with children. Pattie really likes him. The whole time you were gone thesest couple of days, Pattie kept asking me when you wereing back. Now Pattie is like one of us.¡± Anastasia also noticed that Pattie was very dependent on Herman, ¡°With Pattie, our home feels more complete.¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. ¡°Yes.¡± Salma sighed, ¡°A family needs children as a bridge to make the rtionship between husband and wifest longer. Children also need guidance from their father, so they can be more confident. Isn¡¯t that what parenting experts say? They say that thepanionship of parents is the best education for children.¡± Anastasia felt there was more to Salma¡¯s words, she asked, ¡°Mom, what are you trying to say? Did Tavon contact you again?¡± Chapter 276 Chapter 276 Chapter 276 Anastasia always had a knack for seeing right through things. Salma offered a slightly awkward smile, ¡°He came to see me once.¡± This wasn¡¯t surprising to Anastasia. While tying her apron to cook, she asked, ¡°What did he want this time?¡± ¡°Your dad said there¡¯s a good day next month he picked. He hopes you could go home.¡± Salma, leaning on her cane at the kitchen entrance, carefully observed Anastasia¡¯s face as she spoke. She looked cautious, like a kid caught red-handed by adults. Anastasia sighed internally, ¡°And how did you respond?¡± Seeing Anastasia¡¯sck of strong reaction, her mom felt slightly relieved, ¡°I told him we¡¯d discuss when you get back.¡± Anastasia cut to the chase, ¡°Did he say anything about his ns for you?¡± This question left Salma speechless. Tavon had been talking aboutpensation, but there was nothing substantial. Even the house and share transfers were for Anastasia. Salma really had nothing. Salma gave an awkward chuckle, ¡°He just wants you back home, and nothing else matters. He said he wants you to help manage the vineyard, and even promised a higher-paying job for your husband.¡± Anastasia stood up, ¡°Mom, did you promise him anything else?¡±. This question left Salma at a loss. ¡°Um¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t look Anastasia in the eyes and stuttered. Anastasia came straight out with it, ¡°Mom, have¡±; you thought it through? Tavon has a family. He has children and a wife.¡± Put it bluntly, if Salma went to Willowbrook with him ow, what would her status be? A friend? Or a mistress? Salma looked at Anastasia painfully, her lips were trembling, but she couldn¡¯t utter a word, just awkwardly gripping her cane. Seeing her mom like this, Anastasia felt heartbroken. She went over and hugged her, ¡°Mom, I just don¡¯t want you to get hurt. We to be happy. Tavon wants you to go to Willowbrook, right? If you want to go, then go.¡± Anastasia wouldn¡¯t stop her. Some things, she needed to see for herself. It might be cruel, but it was better than having ou each other, and I also want you Salma felt guilty. She really wanted to go to Willowbrook, not just for Tavon, but also for Anastasia. If Tavon really wanted to acknowledge them as his family, that would be wonderful. If not, she wouldn¡¯t let him hurt her daughter. Salma didn¡¯t say anything else. She felt grateful for having such an understanding daughter. Soon, Herman and Pattie came back with groceries. Pattie went to y with Salma while Herman went into the kitchen to help Anastasia cook. That night. As theyy in bed, Anastasia snuggled up to Herman and talked about her mom. Herman really couldn¡¯t say much about it, and Anastasia was just venting. Herman gently stroked her hair, ¡°Let things come naturally and ept it since it already happened.¡± ¡°Ok.¡± Anastasia took a deep breath, hugged his waist tightly, and closed her eyes, ¡°I¡¯m tired. I need to sleep because I have work tomorrow.¡± ¡°Alright, goodnight.¡± Herman said. The next day. Anastasia walked Pattie to kindergarten since it was close by. Pattie was very sensible. At the school gate, she waved to Anastasia, ¡°Bye, Mom.¡± Anastasia waved back with a smile, ¡°Bye, listen to your teacher, and I¡¯ll pick you up after school. if I can¡¯t make it, Grandma will.¡± ¡°Ok.¡± Pattie followed her teacher into the school. Anastasia watched for a while at the school gate. After Pattie went into the ssroom, she turned to leave. Herman was waiting for her by the roadside in the Chevy. He honked when he saw her. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Anastasia was surprised to see the Chevy, ¡°Did you get the car back so soon?¡± They had took a flight, and the Chevy had been shipped back. Herman rolled down the window, ¡°It wasn¡¯t a long drive. The car was backst night. Hop in, I¡¯ll drop you to work.¡± Anastasia got in. It had been a few months since she¡¯d worked, and she was a little nervous. Herman dropped her off at the office. They waved at each other, and then Anastasia turned to go into the office. She had barely taken a few steps when she saw Harmon standing at the entrance, staring at her in a way that made her ufortable. Chapter 277 Chapter 277 Chapter 277 This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Anastasia stood still for a moment, seeing that Harmon didn¡¯t seem to be going anywhere, she decided to approach him. Harmon¡¯s gaze remained fixed on her, and his expression was somewhat unusual, making her feel uneasy. Anastasia broke the ice with a cheerful, ¡°Morning.¡± ¡°Moming.¡± Harmon responded, pulling himself together. As Anastasia headed for the elevator, he followed suit. Seeing him trailing behind her, Anastasia felt a bit uneasy. But they worked at the samepany, so it wasn¡¯t unusual for Harmon to share the same elevator. Without saying anything, they entered the lift. Harmon, staring at her, asked, ¡°Was the person in the car just now your husband?¡± Due to the distance, Harmon didn¡¯t get a clear view of the person inside the car, but he had taken note of the license te number. Out of politeness, Anastasia replied, ¡°Yes, he is.¡± Harmon took a step forward, getting closer to Anastasia, pressed on, ¡°Why him? What¡¯s so special about him?¡± Anastasia was taken aback and seeing Harmon in a weird mood, she quickly put some distance between them, ¡°That¡¯s personal,¡± she said, naturally not ready to spill her personal life to a male colleague she barely knew. Harmon didn¡¯t let up, ¡°You were on OkCupid looking for a partner.¡± Anastasia was getting annoyed, she frowned and asked, ¡°Yeah, so what?¡± Harmon¡¯s expression darkened, ¡°I¡¯ve been on OkCupid many times. It¡¯s filled with scammers. Those women tricked me into taking them to fancy dinners, costing me thousands each time. None of them were decent.¡± Seeing Harmon getting all worked up and saying such extreme things, Anastasia panicked, ¡°Harmon, don¡¯t be so pessimistic. There are good people out there, really.¡± Just then, the elevator door opened, Anastasia quickly exited, not willing to share the confined space with Harmon anymore. ¡°I¡¯m heading to the office,¡± Anastasia said, and quickly walked off. Harmon came out of the elevator, his gaze fixed on Anastasia¡¯s retreating figure, and his fists clenched tightly. In his eyes, Anastasia was a scammer, cheating on her husband, ying the field and swindling people out of their money. She was his date, and she should be his. As soon as Anastasia entered the office, she took a sip of water to calm her nerves. The office had been kept tidy for the past two months. The moment she arrived, Christine came over, ¡°Anastasia.¡± Knowing Anastasia wasing to work today, Christine hade to see her as soon as she arrived at the office, ¡°Wee back, there¡¯s a client today whose tastes align well with your design style. Since you¡¯re back, let¡¯s meet her together?¡± ¡°Sure thing,¡± Anastasia smiled, ¡°I love having work to do. It makes me feel alive.¡± Anastasia quickly immersed herself in her work, and finding her own value made her feel very satisfied. Before she knew it, it was lunchtime. After figuring out the client¡¯s needs, all that was left was to design the final product. Anastasia and Christine went to the cafeteria for lunch, they grabbed their meals and found a seat. ¡°Ms. Christine, howe Lauren isn¡¯t here today? Did she take the day off?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure, I didn¡¯t see her today either.¡± Christine replied while eating, ¡°Anastasia, why didn¡¯t you take some more time off? Why the rush toe back to work?¡± ¡°Because of money, duh,¡± Anastasia said with augh, ¡°With only Herman working, the pressure is quite high at home. He has to take care of the elderly and the kid, and the expenses are high.¡± Hearing this, Christine nearly choked on her food, ¡°If your husband is low on cash, then we must all be poor.¡± ¡°Ms. Christine, you¡¯re exaggerating,¡± Anastasia thought Christine was just messing around, so she said, ¡°My husband¡¯s sry is just average in Riverdale, about 20-30K a month. He has to work overtime and entertain clients. If it weren¡¯t for the good year-end bonus and benefits, life would be very difficult.¡± Christine was shocked. A monthly sry of 20-30K? The president of Elysian Technologies sure knew how to keep a secret. Christine knew that Herman had lied to Anastasia, but she didn¡¯t expect the lie to be this outrageous. As a senior employee of AL Jewelry, Christine had attended the annualpany meetings and had met Herman in person. She recognized him in the hospital previously, but since Anastasia didn¡¯t know, she didn¡¯t say anything. Christine chuckled, ¡°Anastasia, you¡¯ve struck gold. Elysian Technologies¡¯ benefits are indeed pretty sweet.¡± Chapter 278 Chapter 278 Chapter 278 Anastasia said casually, ¡°Yeah, the perks at Elysian Technologies are top-notch. My husband tells me that they¡¯re bumping up his pay again because he¡¯s been killing it at work. That means we can chill a bit more, save some dough and our kid won¡¯t have any trouble going to school in the future.¡± As she talked about this, a hopeful and happy look spread across Anastasia¡¯s face. More ie meant more happiness. Most of the troubles in life came from money troubles. Anastasia and Herman were sitting pretty with a three-bedroom apartment and good sries. She was stoked about the future. Christine, seeing the smile on Anastasia¡¯s face, chimed in with a grin, ¡°True that, contentment often brings joy.¡± Anastasia¡¯s smile was infectious. Seeing how easily satisfied she was, Christine finally got why the big cheese of the Salstrom family chose in Jane Anastasia. Anastasia agreed, ¡°You¡¯re spot on. Contentment does bring joy. Pattie¡¯s almost five now, and she¡¯ll start first grade next year. Since she hasn¡¯t been to school yet, she¡¯s a bit behind her peers. I¡¯m worried she won¡¯t be able to keep up. I¡¯m thinking about getting her into a prep ss.¡± Anastasia was nning out her child¡¯s future, and genuinely concerned for her family. Christine asked, ¡°Anastasia, have you ever thought about having a child of your own with your husband?¡± Caught off guard, Anastasia didn¡¯t know how to respond. She and Herman couldn¡¯t have children, so that was a no-go. But she couldn¡¯t say that out loud. Sheughed and said, ¡°Let¡¯s just go with the flow, Ms. Christine. Do we have any clients this afternoon?¡± Anastasia quickly changed the subject. ¡°Yep, we do,¡± Christine said. ¡°I¡¯ll go over the work for the past two months. Once you¡¯re caught up, you won¡¯t feel at a loss.¡± ¡°Thanks, Ms. Christine,¡± Anastasia said sincerely. ¡°Ever since you returned to AL Jewelry, the people from the design team have been very obedient.¡± ¡°Your ident was no secret in the department. The instigators have been punished. Who would dare go against you now?¡± Christine said. ¡°Everyone is looking forward to your return.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t buy that. She knew Christine was just trying tofort her. It was Christine¡¯s doing that the design team was behaving. Christine was an old-timer at AL Jewelry and had clout. Her endorsement earned Anastasia respect at thepany. Anastasia was almost done eating and was about to clear her tray when she saw Harmon walking over with his toolbox. Like this morning, the way he looked at her was weird. Anastasia suddenly felt anxious. Then, someone outside the cafeteria called for Harmon, ¡°Harmon, hurry up and fix the toilet. It¡¯s clogged again.¡± Harmon turned away, toolbox in hand, and walked past Anastasia towards the door. Once Harmon was out of sight, Anastasia breathed a sigh of relief. Christine asked, ¡°Anastasia, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Anastasia said, ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but the way Harmon looks at me is weird. It was the same this morning. It makes me feel ufortable.¡± Christine said, ¡°Friday is Alessia¡¯s promotion party. After the sh with the sales department, he has had a tough time in thepany. It¡¯s normal for him to be a bit off.¡± Anastasia still found Harmon¡¯s behavior odd, but she didn¡¯t say anything else and got up. ¡°Ms. Christine, we should head back to the office now.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± They left together. However, from that day on, Anastasia always felt like she was being watched. She got chills down her spine, but she never saw anyone. Unbeknownst to her, Harmon was observing her and noting down her daily routines. Whether she took the subway, hailed a cab, or got picked up, Harmon remembered them all. He even followed her to her home in Harmony Meadows, knowing exactly which apartment building she lived in. That day, Anastasia waited for a while outside the office after work. She got a message from Herman saying he couldn¡¯t pick her up because he was workingte, so she decided to take the subway. Behind her, Harmon, with a mask on, followed her all the way. Material ? N?velDrama.Org. By the time Anastasia got out of the subway station, it was already 7:30 PM and dark outside. Her apartment was only about 500 meters from the station, so she usually walked home. After exiting the station, she headed straight for her apartment, but she suddenly noticed a shadow following her under the streetlights. Startled, Anastasia quickened her pace. The person behind her kept up. She started to run, and the person ran too, grabbing her shoulder. Anastasia froze on the spot, her face pale with fear. Chapter 279 Chapter 279 Chapter 279 Material ? N?velDrama.Org. Anastasia plucked up the courage to turn around, and was immediately freaked out. The guy standing in front of her was all masked up and was holding her keychain. ¡°Ya dropped this.¡± That voice¡­was it Harmon? Anastasia snapped out of her shock and squinted at the man. ¡°Harmon? Is that really you?¡± Harmon let go of Anastasia, avoiding her gaze, and held up the keychain in his hand. ¡°Here.¡± Anastasia took the keychain, trying to keep her cool. ¡°Why were you tailing me? Have you been following me this whole time?¡± Harmon stuttered, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Look at me in the eye.¡± Anastasia was on the edge, her patience worn thin. ¡°Harmon, what¡¯s your deal? If you don¡¯t spit it out, I¡¯m calling the cops.¡± If Harmon had been following her, she was definitely freaked out and absolutely needed to call the police. Something in Anastasia¡¯s words seemed to set Harmon off. His eyes were full of rage. ¡°You¡¯re mine, my woman. If I hadn¡¯t beente that day, you would¡¯ve chosen me, wouldn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± Anastasia was scared by Harmon¡¯s sudden change, and totally lost in his rantings. ¡°What are you talking about? What¡¯s this beingte? I¡¯m already married. I barely know you, so how could I possibly marry you?¡± ¡°So are you saying you¡¯ve been fooling me all along?¡± Harmon grabbed Anastasia¡¯s wrist, his eyes cold as ice. ¡°You¡¯re just like all of them, a bunch of liars, scamming people on OkCupid.¡± In Harmon¡¯s mind, Anastasia¡¯s words meant she was already married and the blind date was just a scam, and now she was denying it. Anastasia struggled to break free. ¡°Harmon, let go of me, or I¡¯ll scream. I¡¯ll call the police.¡± She thought Harmon must have been provoked. She had been on a blind date on OkCupid too. He might be pouring all the anger from being scammed by those women on her. ¡°You still won¡¯t admit it. All of you are liars. The more beautiful a woman is, the more she knows how to deceive people. Did you also want to deceive me that day? How much did OkCupid pay you to hurt people like this?¡± Harmon seemed somewhat paranoid, and both his thoughts and actions were extremely obsessive. His emotions were highly agitated. ¡°How much do you want, I¡¯ll give it to you, just be my wife.¡± ¡°Are you out of your freaking mind?¡± Anastasia was both scared and disgusted. ¡°Let go of me, Harmon. Let go of me now.¡± Unable to break free, Anastasia kicked Harmon where it hurt. Crouching down in pain, Harmon let go of Anastasia. Anastasia immediately ran towards Harmony Meadows. Just as Harmon was about to follow, a police car passed by and he quickly turned in the other direction. Anastasia, panting heavily, ran back home with her legs feeling weak. She drank some water to calm herself. Not long after, there was a knock on the door. The sudden knocking made her heart race; she thought it was Harmon. ¡°Mommy, mommy, are you home?¡± A voice came from outside the door. It was Pattie. Relieved, Anastasia went to open the door. Pattie and Katelyn were standing at the door. Pattie excitedly called out, ¡°Mommy.¡± ¡°How was school today? What did the teacher teach?¡± Anastasia asked while patting Pattie¡¯s head. ¡°I did well. The teacher taught us how to draw. Here, mommy, let me show you my drawing.¡± Pattie enthusiastically took out a drawing from her bag. ¡°Wow, Pattie, you¡¯re really amazing, Anastasia praised. Seeing Anastasia¡¯s pale face, Katelyn asked, ¡°Anastasia, what¡¯s wrong? You don¡¯t look so good.¡± ¡°Ran into some trouble earlier, but I¡¯m fine now. Thanks for bringing Pattie back. Have you guys eaten?¡± Katelyn often picked Pattie up from school now that Salma and Tavon Morton were in Willowbrook. Sometimes, Katelyn would even take Pattie back to her ce. ¡°We¡¯ve already eaten. I took Pattie to a restaurant.¡± Katelyn often took Pattie out for meals, and Pattie enjoyed going out with her. ¡°I really owe you one.¡± Anastasia was a bit embarrassed. ¡°No trouble at all, we¡¯re family. Pattie even calls me grandma. It¡¯s only right for a grandma to spend time with her granddaughter.¡± Katelyn replied with augh. Anastasia smiled, feeling fortunate to have such a wonderful family. ¡°I¡­¡± Just as Anastasia was about to say something, her phone rang. It was a call from Gianna. Anastasia was curious, wondering why Gianna would call her at this hour. As she picked up, she heard Gianna¡¯s sobbing voice. ¡°Anastasia, I need your help.¡± Chapter 280 Chapter 280 Chapter 280 Gianna¡¯s voice on the phone was super soft, as if she was trying to keep it down in fear of being heard. Her voice was trembling, and even through the phone, Anastasia could sense Gianna¡¯s fear. Anastasia quickly asked, ¡°What¡¯s happening? Where are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m at home¡­¡± Gianna¡¯s voice trailed off and then the call got cut off. Anastasia immediately knew something was up and quickly said to Katelyn, ¡°Take care of Pattie for me. I need to step out for a bit.¡± Anastasia quickly slipped on her shoes; she needed to immediately go check on Gianna. ¡°Ana, wait for Herman to get back. It¡¯s too risky for you to go alone. You don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on with your cousin.¡± Katelyn had overheard the phone conversation. ¡°Herman is workingte today. He can¡¯t make it. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be careful, Katelyn. I need to go.¡± Anastasia hurried out of the door. She wouldn¡¯t just go to Gianna¡¯s ce alone; she would definitely call the cops first and bring them along. Anastasia had only been to Gianna¡¯s ce once before. Gianna and Joey had been fighting over a divorce in thest couple of months and now Gianna was calling for help. Something must have gone down. But Gianna didn¡¯t rify anything on the phone, so Anastasia could only guess. However, when Anastasia arrived at Joey¡¯s house, she was taken aback. Aunt Cynthia and Uncle Jax were there. The two families were sitting on opposite sides of the living room and the atmosphere was as chilly as ice. Gianna was disheveled, wearing a coat and looking pale as she nestled in Cynthia¡¯s arms. Cynthia was hugging Gianna tightly, her face filled with rage and pity. Uncle Jax was looking down, his face full of despair. Joey opened the door to let Anastasia in, and upon seeing her and the two cops at the door, he sneered and then turned his gaze back to Gianna in the room, ¡°Family shame should be kept private, but you¡¯re spreading it around. Now the cops are here. Good, let¡¯s have some witnesses to see how you¡¯ve been cheating on me at home.¡± Gianna cheating? Anastasia was surprised as she looked at Gianna on the sofa. She had originally thought Gianna was being abused by Joey and her life was in danger, and that was why she brought the cops. However, she didn¡¯t expect the situation to be like this. ¡°Gianna,¡± Anastasia called out, feeling really confused and lost right now. The cops then asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Something was definitely wrong with the tension in the room. Now that the cops were here, it was time for an investigation. What happened next was something Anastasia did not expect at all. As soon as Carmen heard the cops were investigating, she immediately started ndering Gianna out of anger. Carmen pointed at Gianna and said, ¡°Officer, this woman, my daughter-inw, she¡¯s been having an affair at home, how shameless. She even brought her affair to our house, and we caught them in the bedroom. Look, the man is still here.¡± Anastasia saw a young, handsome man huddled in the corner, wearing only a pair of shorts. Cynthia couldn¡¯t stand others using her daughter like this and defended, ¡°Gianna would never do such a thing. You are ndering her without reason. It was your son who cheated first. I have never met a family as shameless as yours, ndering my daughter.¡± Carmen retorted, ¡°I¡¯m ndering? Her lover is right here. This man, he¡¯s from the gym, Gianna goes to the gym all the time, turns out she¡¯s been meeting her lover there.¡± Cynthia was so angry that she was rendered speechless, ¡°My daughter would never do such a thing. Your son had an affair and has been supporting a child that¡¯s not his for years. It¡¯s hrious, all the time and energy wasted only to find out he¡¯s been cuckolded.¡± Each word from Cynthia was like a stab to the heart. Both sides were arguing and refusing to back down. Dealing with family disputes can even give cops a headache. With all the arguing, even the cops were feeling drained. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Anastasia didn¡¯t expect things to turn out this way. She looked at Joey who had been sitting on the sofa, calm as ever, showing no signs of anger about his wife¡¯s infidelity. This was very odd. Gianna was so angry she was grinding her teeth. She had been silent the whole time but suddenly exploded, standing up from Cynthia¡¯s arms, grabbing an ashtray from the table and throwing it at Joey, her eyes red as she yelled, ¡°Joey, you¡¯re despicable and shameless.¡± Chapter 281 Chapter 281 Chapter 281 Gianna¡¯s ashtray toss missed the mark, and thank heavens it did. Or else, she could¡¯ve been charged with assault. And all this went down under the cops¡¯ noses. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. After the ashtray hit the wall and dropped, Joey was startled, then looked at the ashtray on the floor and yelled, ¡°Gianna, have you lost your marbles?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve lost it! I was driven mad by your damn family,¡± Gianna barked, ¡°You guys are so despicable, tricking me intoing home, supposedly agreeing to a divorce, but then drugging me and setting this huge trap. Your family makes me sick.¡± Gianna was all worked up, yelling and swearing. Her words took everyone by surprise. Hearing this, Cynthia and Jax were livid. To protect their daughter, they stood up. ¡°Is this how the Edmunds treat my daughter? It¡¯s outrageous,¡± Jax fumed, picking up anything he could find and hurling it around to vent his anger. The Edmunds tried to intervene, ¡°You can¡¯t just smash stuff. We paid for all of it. So your daughter having an affair is okay? Has she been messing around with this boy toy the whole time?¡± Cynthia retorted angrily, ¡°Your family is like a bunch of vampires. Your son was only able to be the hospital director because of my daughter. He keeps a mistress on the side and now plots against my daughter in the divorce, even wanting our family house. You are the shameless ones.¡± The argument escted to a full-blown fight. Once the fists started flying, it was hard to stop. The two cops couldn¡¯t intervene either. Gianna and Joey also started brawling, and Anastasia quickly stepped in to defend Gianna. The scene was total chaos; even the guy in the corner was stunned, watching the drama unfold. The pent-up anger from the past months was finally let loose. Half an hourter, both families were hauled to the police station. Anastasia sat in the station lobby, nursing her aching waist from when she got hit during the fight. Gianna¡¯s issue ultimately boiled down to a family dispute, not a criminal matter. The police advised both families to calm down and mediate, and then they could release the individuals involved. As the Edmunds left, Carmen spat near Gianna¡¯s feet and said, ¡°Shameless.¡± Gianna¡¯s face turned red and shot Carmen a fierce re. Joey sneered, ¡°You want a divorce? Not so easy.¡± Gianna now had the Edmunds holding something over her. If she wanted a divorce, she had to pay a price. And Joey wanted the three houses in Gianna¡¯s family. After the Edmunds left, Cynthiaforted her daughter, ¡°Gianna, as long as you can divorce, just agree to whatever Joey wants. I just hope you can get away from this family sooner.¡± Jax kept quiet; he wasn¡¯t willing to give in either. ¡°I will not let them have their way. Why should I give them the houses? They can dream on. I¡¯d rather die than give them the houses.¡± Gianna was equally adamant. Jax agreed, ¡°You¡¯re right, honey. They¡¯re the ones at fault and now they¡¯re ying dirty. We can¡¯t back down. We need to continue with the divorce proceedings. We¡¯ll be with you, and we¡¯ll win this.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t interrupt. If she were in the same situation, she wouldn¡¯t easilypromise either. Eight years of marriage, eight years of youth wasted. And after the divorce, there was more harm to come. Who could ept this? ¡°Thank you, dad.¡± After this incident, Gianna seemed more mature andposed. ¡°Dad, mom, you go back first. I want to talk to Anastasia alone.¡± With Anastasia around, her parents were reassured. Before leaving, Cynthia reminded Anastasia, ¡°Anastasia, she¡¯s your cousin. Stay with her andfort her.¡± Cynthia used to have reservations about Anastasia in the past, but after going through so much, her attitude had also changed. Anastasia assured, ¡°Yeah, you guys go ahead. I¡¯ll stay with her.¡± After they left, Gianna limped over to a flowerbed near the station and sat down, asking, ¡°Got a smoke?¡± Chapter 282 Chapter 282 Chapter 282 ¡°Nope.¡± Anastasia sat beside her and said, ¡°Sorry, I had no idea things were this bad.¡± If she had known, she wouldn¡¯t have brought the cops. ¡°The cops being here is a blessing in disguise. The feud with the Edmunds family has escted so much, might as well blow it up bigger. That way, I¡¯ll have evidence for the divorce case.¡± Anastasia asked, ¡°What exactly happened tonight?¡± Gianna looked up at the night sky and scoffed, ¡°I can¡¯t believe Joey¡¯s family would stoop this low. They tricked me into signing the divorce agreement, drugged me, locked me in a room and even called my parents. They just wanted to scare me into backing down and giving them the houses.¡± ¡°What about that guy?¡± Anastasia had seen Gianna looking a mess earlier. She obviously wasn¡¯t doing fine. ¡°He¡¯s a guy I met at the gym. imed he was here to deliver something.¡± As Gianna spoke, her voice began to choke up, ¡°At the gym, he always cared about me, and he¡¯s a good person. I never thought he would be manipted by Joey.¡± Gianna was vulnerable due to her marital issues, making it easy for people to take advantage of her. A handsome guy always treating her kindly could easily stir up feelings. Gianna indeed had feelings for the guy, but she never expected to be used. Gianna could have used the guy of rape, but that wouldplicate things even more. Amid the chaos with the Edmunds family, a rape charge wouldn¡¯t hold up. Plus, Gianna still had feelings for the guy and had liked him before, so she just sucked it up. After hearing the whole story, Anastasia was at a loss for words. Anastasia asked, ¡°Are you nning to fight Joey to the end?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Gianna was firm on this, ¡°I absolutely won¡¯t back down Anastasia bit her lip and said, ¡°I think you should use the guy of rape. If Joey was involved, it¡¯s a conspiracy. If you win that case, you¡¯ll win the divorce case too.¡± Gianna suddenly burst into tears, covering her face with her hands, ¡°Anastasia, I don¡¯t know what to do anymore.¡± Her mind was a mess and she felt helpless. Eight years as a full-time housewife had narrowed her world. She had no real friends and was shunned by her social circle now that they knew she was getting a divorce. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Anastasia sighed. Honestly, Gianna was still reluctant to use the guy. She still hadn¡¯te to her senses. People made mistakes, especially women. As an outsider, Anastasia could see through things and knew what would be best. But Gianna was trapped by her emotions. The guy had given her warmth during her darkest times. That was why Gianna was even more heartbroken. Feeling betrayed by the world, Gianna felt like a failure. She asked Anastasia through her tears, ¡°Am I really that unlikable? Why do all the men use me? Is it really that hard to find someone genuine? I¡¯m just a woman, who wants to be loved by a man.¡± 0 Anastasia gently patted Gianna¡¯s back,forting her, ¡°This too shall pass. After the stormes a rainbow. Once you get past this, you¡¯ll find your true love. You¡¯re at rock bottom now. It can¡¯t get any worse. It¡¯s only when you hit rock bottom that you can bounce back.¡± ¡°Bounce back.¡± Gianna repeated nkly, staring into space, seemingly devoid of hope Anastasia was worried Gianna might do something reckless. Remembering Melinda¡¯s tragedy, she decided to stay with Gianna and brought her back to Harmony, Meadows. Salma was in Willowbrook, and there was an empty room in her house, so Anastasia let Gianna stay there. Katelyn took Pattie to the room next door. Just as Anastasia had settled Gianna in, Herman came home, ¡°Why are you still up? Didn¡¯t I say you don¡¯t have to wait up for me?¡± Herman changed his shoes, hugged Anastasia¡¯s waist as usual, and kissed her. ¡°Be careful.¡± Before Anastasia could warn Herman about their guest, the door of the guest bedroom suddenly opened, and there stood Gianna. Chapter 283 Chapter 283 This was as awkward as it got. Anastasia hurriedly wriggled out of Herman¡¯s arms in embarrassment, while Gianna turned away bashfully. ¡°We¡¯re out of tissues in the room, I¡¯ll go grab some,¡± Gianna mumbled, avoiding the pair¡¯s gaze. Anastasia quickly offered, ¡°There are tissues on the coffee table, I can get them for you.¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°I got it.¡± Gianna grabbed the tissues and made a beeline for the bedroom, not wanting to disturb them any further. Once Gianna had disappeared into the guest bedroom, Herman turned to Anastasia. Why is your cousin here?¡± Getting some alone time was proving to be a real mission. The three-bedroom apartment was just too cramped. Herman wished he could whisk Anastasia off to his mansion right away. He hadn¡¯t lived in Salstrom Manor before marrying Anastasia, preferring his own vi where he lived solo. He¡¯d recently had it renovated. It would be ready by the beginning of next month, just in time for hispany¡¯s anniversary celebration. Then he coulde clean to Anastasia and bring her to their real home. ¡°Hush!¡± Anastasia put a finger to her lips and beckoned Herman back to their room. ¡°Joey¡¯s family has been giving my cousin a tough time tonight.¡± Anastasia filled him in on the situation. Herman asked, ¡°Did you get hurt?¡± His main concern was always Anastasia: He didn¡¯t really care about anyone else. In a full-blown family brawl, Anastasia could easily have been hurt trying to break it up. Touched, Anastasia reassured him, ¡°just bumped my waist, I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°Let me see.¡± Herman was already lifting up Anastasia¡¯s shirt before she could object. ¡°Is it the left or the right?¡± ¡°The left,¡± Anastasia answered obediently. Herman spotted a red mark on her left waist and immediately frowned. ¡°Lie down.¡± Anastasia blushed, ¡°Herman,e on.¡± She thought he was making a move on her. Seeing through her, Herman teased, ¡°Honey, I just meant you should lie down for me to apply some ointment. What were you thinking?¡± Embarrassed, Anastasia turned away and retorted, ¡°I didn¡¯t think anything.¡± ¡°You women always say one thing and mean another,¡± Herman chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ll go get the ointment.¡± As Herman left to fetch the ointment, Anastasia sat on the edge of the bed, feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. Herman always fussed over her, even for the smallest cuts and scrapes. Sometimes, she thought he was overreacting, but his caring nature warmed her heart. The people who loved you would feel for you even when you merely furrowed your brows. Those who didn¡¯t, wouldn¡¯t even notice if you were dead. When Herman came back with the ointment, he locked the bedroom door. ¡°Why are you locking the door?¡± Anastasia asked. ¡°To avoid any more embarrassment, Herman replied, gesturing for her to lie down. I¡¯ll rub the ointment for you.¡± The previous incident was indeed a bit embarrassing. Anastasia obedientlyy down. Herman gently lifted her shirt, warmed the ointment in his palm, and then applied it to her waist. ¡°Are you sure this is the right way to apply the ointment?¡± Anastasia asked in confusion. Herman exined, ¡°Warming it up in my hand helps open your pores, which allows the ointment to be absorbed faster and work better.¡± That makes sense,¡± Anastasia mused, resting her chin on her arms. ¡°By the way, dear, do you have any clever ideas to deal with the Joey and Gianna situation?¡± Herman typically didn¡¯t interfere in others¡¯ affairs unless Anastasia asked for his help. ¡°First, can you give me a brief rundown of their rtionship and the current situation?¡± he asked. ¡°Joey is the head of a hospital. He was recently promoted after a temporary suspension due to an extramarital affair. He¡¯s back at work now. Gianna has been a full-time housewife for eight years. They don¡¯t have kids. Gianna wants a divorce, but Joey wants to get thepensation apartments from Gianna¡¯s family in the divorce settlement.¡± After Anastasia¡¯s detailed exnation, Herman continued to massage the ointment into her waist. Having understood the basics of their divorce situation, Herman said, ¡°Gianna doesn¡¯t necessarily have to y hardball in this divorce. Maybe if she changes her approach, she could find a better solution.¡± Hearing this, Anastasia perked up and asked, ¡°Do you have any bright ideas?¡± Chapter 284 Chapter 284 Chapter 284 ¡°Let¡¯s start with what we know about Joey¡¯s job.¡± Herman spoke bluntly, ¡°There¡¯s no way Joey got to where he is today without getting his hands dirty. We just need to find the evidence to put him behind bars. But whether Gianna can pull this off, that¡¯s another story.¡± A spark ignited in Anastasia¡¯s eyes, ¡°Joey¡¯s such a greedy sleazebag, there¡¯s gotta be some skeletons in his closet. Just look at his ie and his lifestyle, it doesn¡¯t add up. He¡¯s been sshing cash on his mistresses for years, there must be some other ie we don¡¯t know about. Otherwise, Gianna couldn¡¯t have been in the dark for so long.¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°You¡¯re sharp.¡± Herman affectionately touched Anastasia¡¯s nose, ¡°The path is clear now. It¡¯s up to Gianna to make the next move.¡± Anastasia hugged his neck with a smile, ¡°Herman, I didn¡¯t realize you had such a sneaky side.¡± ¡°That¡¯s called being cunning,¡± Herman corrected, pulling her onto hisp, ¡°Different strokes for different folks.¡± ¡°People always say programmers are rigid, unromantic, and one-track minded. Howe you¡¯re different?¡± Anastasia nced at the top of his head, ¡°And with such a thick head of hair, it almost feels like your sry isn¡¯t worth it.¡± T Herman smiled softly, ¡°That¡¯s because your husband is smart.¡± Anastasiaughed, ¡°I think so too.¡± Seeing her in a good mood, Herman took the opportunity to ask, ¡°Anastasia, thepany¡¯s 8th anniversary is next month. Would you like toe with me? I have a surprise for you.¡± ¡°What kind of surprise?¡± Anastasia was excited. ¡°Well, it wouldn¡¯t be a surprise if I told you, would it?¡± Herman¡¯s tone was slightly solemn as he tidied up her hair for her. ¡°It¡¯s time you got to know me fully.¡± ¡°Now you¡¯ve got me curious,¡± Anastasia wrapped her arms around his neck,ughing, ¡°What secrets could you possibly have? I¡¯ve seen it all, even the birthmark on your butt.¡± Herman: ¡°You little rascal.¡± Herman pinched her waist, ¡°Are you asking for trouble?¡± His actions were yful, Anastasia wasughing heartily, and casually replied, ¡°And how would you do that?¡± As soon as she finished her sentence, Anastasia blushed. Somehow, their rtionship had evolved to a point where they could make dirty jokes anytime. Both realized this. Herman alsoughed and yfully pinned Anastasia under him, ¡°You¡¯ll find out soon.¡± Their intimate actions were audible in the house due to the poor soundproofing. Gianna, who got up in the middle of the night, could still hear soundsing from the master bedroom. These sounds made Gianna feel a bit envious. Despite being married to Joey for so long, she had never truly been happy. 1 Herman was tall, handsome, and tenderly affectionate towards Anastasia a sight to make anyone green with envy. Back in her room, Gianna reyed the sounds in her mind, unintentionally envisioning some adult-only scenes. The next day. Anastasia was up early making breakfast, and Herman was helping her As Gianna stepped out of the bedroom, she saw the coupleughing and chatting intimately in the kitchen, feeling a pang of envy. 0 Herman was dressed in a white sports shirt and dark grey joggers, looking incredibly casual and dashing, with an air of an aristocrat. Gianna was mesmerized. The sounds fromst night resurfaced in her mind, stirring upplex feelings within her. Anastasia noticed Gianna and cheerfully eximed, ¡°You¡¯re awake! Breakfast¡¯s ready. ¡°Uh-huh.¡± Giannaplimented, ¡°You two are really sweet.¡± Anastasia gave Herman a loving nce, smiling as she brought out the pancakes. Herman followed with a bowl of cereals. The breakfast spread was rich, with fried eggs, sausages, and coffee. ¡°Anastasia, did you make all of this?¡± Gianna asked. ¡°We made them together, Anastasia smiled, ¡°Go ahead. Try his cooking.¡± Gianna nced at Herman, ¡°I never thought you could cook. Joey never does any chores; all he knows is how to eat.¡± Compared to Herman, the perfect man, Joey couldn¡¯t hold a candle. Herman politely served a bowl of cereals to Gianna but didn¡¯t say much. When it came to women, aside from his wife and mother, he didn¡¯t show much emotional fluctuation towards them. Chapter 285 Chapter 285 Chapter 285 Anastasia shot Herman a smile and said modestly, ¡°He only knows how to cook simple dishes. You guys start eating. I¡¯m gonna go next door to check if the kiddo is up yet. I gotta head to schoolter.¡± Just as Anastasia was about to stand up, Herman said, ¡°I¡¯ll go. You guys eat.¡± Without Anastasia present, sitting down to eat with Gianna made him feel somewhat ufortable. Anastasia didn¡¯t think much of it and said, ¡°Then bring her clothes over there. Get her dressed before bringing her back, so she won¡¯t catch a cold.¡± This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. ¡°Sure.¡± Herman proficiently went to the kids¡¯ room to grab her clothes and headed next door to Katelyn¡¯s. Looking at how Anastasia was directing Herman and how¡¯systematic he was, Gianna felt envious again. ¡°Your husband really listens to you. He even knows where the kids¡¯ clothes are. I¡¯ve been with Joey for so many years, and he even needs me to find his own clothes and socks. If I¡¯m not at home, he¡¯ll just call his mom.¡± Seeing Gianna repeatedly mention Joey, Anastasia asked, ¡°You still can¡¯t let him go?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that.¡± Gianna said sarcastically, ¡°Compared to you, I now realize how messed up my marriage has been for the past eight years. I heard from your mom that you guys met on a dating website?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Anastasia said, ¡°My mom was pretty desperate at that time. She registered me on the dating site and pushed me going on blind dates. On the tenth date, I met Herman. We got our marriage license that same day.¡± Thinking back to the day they got their harriage license, Anastasia felt like it was ages ago. Time flew. They¡¯d been married for several months now, going from mutual respect to inseparable. ¡°That¡¯s really nice.¡± Gianna said, her eyes filled with envy. ¡°By the way, I thought of something. You can start by investigating Joey¡¯s work. He must have done some shady things over the years. Whether or not you can find any evidence of his wrongdoings, that¡¯s up to you.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t directly say that this was Herman¡¯s suggestion because if the n failed, she was worried that Gianna would me Herman. Nowadays, even if you were close, it was not good to help blindly. When the help was sessful, everyone was happy. But if there was even a slight problem, it could lead toints. This was why Anastasia previously chose not to intervene. ¡°Okay, thanks.¡± Gianna said, ¡°I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± In the middle of their conversation, Herman returned with Pattie, who was already dressed. Pattie was in Herman¡¯s arms and called out happily when she saw Anastasia, ¡°Mommy.¡± ¡°Youzy bum, the sun¡¯s almost at its peak.¡± Anastasia pinched Pattie¡¯s nose with a smile, creating a peaceful family scene. ¡°I¡¯llb your hair. Come on, your dad needs to have breakfast.¡± Anastasia took Pattie from Herman¡¯s arms. ¡°I like it when Mommybs my hair. Daddy¡¯s is too ugly.¡± Pat?ie said. 0 Herman said with indulgence, ¡°Still finding fault with the way Ib your hair. These hands are only for holding your mom. I won¡¯t hold you anymore then.¡± Pattie stuck out her tongue, ¡°No, I want Daddy to hold me. Mommy is not strong enough.¡± This kid even knew how to take care of Anastasia. Under thepanionship of Anastasia and Herman, Pattie had be more lively and smart, liked to talk, and had be a little chatterbox. Anastasia said to Pattie with a smile, ¡°My care for you has not been in vain. In the future, when you have difficulties or need help, go to your dad, okay?¡± Pattie nodded with a smile, ¡°Yes.¡± Anastasia wasbing Pattie¡¯s hair on the living room sofa, while Herman was having breakfast. Their family interaction was ongoing. Although Gianna also wanted to join their conversation, she never got the chance and could only eat silently. Anastasia asked Herman, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you invite Katelyn to eat?¡± ¡°She¡¯s still sleeping.¡± Herman replied, ¡°No need to disturb her. For her, what to eat is not important, what¡¯s important is having enough sleep. She always says that a woman¡¯s beautyes from her sleep.¡± Hearing Herman¡¯s words, Anastasia didn¡¯t bother Katelyn anymore. After breakfast, Gianna tactfully left. Anastasia and Herman went to school with Pattie, who got to experience the joy of having both parents drop her off at school. On the way to school, Pattie happily began to sing. Chapter 286 Chapter 286 Chapter 286 At the school gate, Pattie waved goodbye, ¡°See ya, mom and dad.¡± Herman seemed a bit reluctant to leave, lingering at the school gate for a while. Anastasia took his hand,ughing and saying, ¡°Let¡¯s go, or else we¡¯ll bete. Look how unwilling you are to part with her. Why don¡¯t you just join her in kindergarten?¡± Herman replied, ¡°Our little girl is growing up so fast, don¡¯t you think? Pattie is getting taller and prettier, just like you.¡± ¡°They say the child resembles who raises her, so since we¡¯re bringing up Pattie, naturally she¡¯ll start to look like us. Sometimes I even feel that Pattie looks just like you.¡± While chatting, they walked towards their car parked by the roadside. ¡°Well, I almost forgot, one of my colleagues has been acting weirdtely. He followed me to the subway stationst night.¡± Anastasia finally remembered to mention this to Herman. Herman immediately realized the gravity of the situation, ¡°What colleague? Which department? Is it a guy? What¡¯s his name and what¡¯s his purpose?¡± Seeing him so uptight, Anastasia said, ¡°Don¡¯t freak out. His name is Harmon. I think he might be upset because of a failed blind date. He tried online dating on OkCupid, but got scammed a few times. He¡¯s probably not in the right state of mind. He knows I was also on OkCupid, and he keeps calling me a scammer. It¡¯s just so weird.¡± ¡°Stay away from people like that,¡± Herman warned her. ¡°You never know what people are capable of.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Anastasia made a promise gesture, ¡°I¡¯ll definitely steer clear of him.¡± Actually, Anastasia was also a bit fearful of Harmon and would definitely try to avoid him. Herman dropped Anastasia off at her office and watched her go inside before driving to the next intersection. Nelson and their driver were waiting for him there, and Herman parked his Chevrolet to hop into the Rolls Royce. Every morning after dropping Anastasia off, he¡¯d switch cars at this intersection, Nelson and the driver would always wait for him there. Nelson started briefing Herman on the day¡¯s schedule, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, you have a meeting with Mr. Jarod from WOW Corporation in the morning, and Mr. Stakley from Stratix Solutions has invited you to a round of golf in the afternoon.¡± Herman¡¯s schedule was packed. ¡°Hmm,¡± H¨¦rman grunted in response, then pulled out his phone to call Victor. Victor had just arrived at his office, and seeing the president¡¯s call nearly made his heart leap out of his chest. He answered immediately, saying respectfully, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, how may I assist you?¡± Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. ¡°There¡¯s a guy named Harmon at yourpany, right? Find an excuse to fire him, but give him two months¡¯ extra pay aspensation.¡± Thispensation was out of consideration for Harmon being scammed on his blind dates. The fact that Harmon had feelings for Anastasia and even followed her home was something Herman wouldn¡¯t tolerate. Victor didn¡¯t know who Harmon was, but when the president gave an order, you shouldn¡¯t ask questions. ¡°Understood, Mr. Salstrom.¡± Victor asked, ¡°Is there anything else?¡± Herman paused, ¡°For next month¡¯s anniversary, you and Christine are to attend.¡± This news sent a thrill of excitement through Victor. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Salstrom.¡± After the call ended, Victor immediately went to HR to find out who this Harmon was. When he got the information, he was taken aback. He¡¯d assumed it was a high-ranking executive that Herman wanted to fire, but it turned out to be a mere maintenance worker. And calling him a maintenance worker was just putting it nicely ¨C in reality, he was in charge of fixing plumbing, changing lightbulbs, and cleaning toilets. How could such a lowly figure have offended the big boss? Victor was puzzled. Had Harmon offended Anastasia? That must be it. Only Anastasia could make the president so nervous that he wouldn¡¯t even let a janitor off the hook. Since the president had spoken, Victor had no choice but to hand Harmon a termination notice, along with two months¡¯ extra pay. While he was fixing the office lightbulb, Harmon received a notification from the HR department, which surprised him greatly. ¡°Why am I being fired? What did I do wrong?¡± he asked. Chapter 287 Chapter 287 Chapter 287 The folks at HR didn¡¯t exactly know why; they just knew it was a top-down decision to let Harmon go. Considering Harmon was always busting his chops at work, they said, ¡°We¡¯re just carrying out orders) Don¡¯t you have a clue why they¡¯re giving you the boot? On the bright side, you got two months¡¯ severance. You can hunt for a job somewhere else.¡± Harmon was genuinely clueless about why he was canned. He thought about the near brawl he had with a colleague at a promotion party, and his past stalking of Anastasia. He was sure his termination had something to do with these incidents, but he wasn¡¯t sure who stabbed him in the back. With his severance in hand, Harmon dragged himself to the break room, changed his clothes, packed his things and left. He couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of regret. Upon leaving, he paused at the entrance and took onest look at thepany building. At this moment, the male colleague with whom Harmon had shed at the promotion party happened to pass by. He saw Harmon holding something and mocked him, ¡°Ha, got the axe, huh? Need help finding a job? Security guard positions are open in my neighborhood, and you seem like a perfect fit.¡± Harmon shot the guy a withering look. ¡°Back off.¡± ¡°Well, are you mad? Gonna deck me now? Aren¡¯t you scared of the pokey? Come on, take a swing,¡± the guy taunted, ¡°Chicken.¡± Harmon clutched his box tighter, his anger reaching a boiling point. He strode towards the guy, looking ready to rumble. Another colleague quickly pulled the guy away, ¡°Why are you messing with him? The guy¡¯s unhinged.¡± Harmon shot them a murderous re, and they beat it. Harmon was feeling pretty lousy when his phone rang. It was the dating site, ¡°Mr. Alstrom, are you free? Ms. Jewell is avable tonight. We¡¯ve set a meeting ce at Spirits & Suds, eight o¡¯clock.¡± Harmon asked, ¡°Is this Anastasia, the one you introduced me to before?¡± ¡°Yes, Ms. Anastasia.¡± The person from the dating site replied cheerfully, ¡°Are you free tonight?¡± ¡°Yes, eight o¡¯clock, Spirits & Suds, I¡¯ll be there on the dot.¡± Harmon was over the moon His mind was a whirlwind of emotions. On one hand, he felt that Anastasia was a scammer. On the other, the thought of a date with her made him giddy. He even fantasized about what if Anastasia liked him and wanted to marry him. He was certain he could be a better man than her husband. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. With this in mind, Harmon rushed home, snatched up his severance, and went shopping for a new outfit, followed by a trip to the barbershop. The barber took advantage of Harmon¡¯s good mood and managed to sell him a bunch of products with ttery. ¡°Sir, you¡¯re quite the looker. If you style your hair right, you¡¯lNook even hotter. Women will be all over you.¡± Harmon was ttered and kept nodding, imagining how much Anastasia would like his stylish hair. It was only when he saw the bill that he realized how much he had been swindled. ¡°The total is $8500, sir.¡± Harmon¡¯s face darkened, his eyes shing with disapproval. ¡°What? Come again? Isn¡¯t a wash, cut, and blow dry $128?¡± ¡°Your total is $8500.¡± The barber answered cheerily, ¡°You opted for a hair treatment using imported products, so naturally, the price is higher. I did exin this to you.¡± Harmon was livid. ¡°You said the hair treatment was $200. How is it possible that it all adds up to $8500?¡± ¡°Sir, please calm down. You must have misunderstood. The $200 is for one section of your hair. We divided your hair into forty sections, each meticulously treated. Look at your hair now, so smooth and shiny. We even gave you a discount, so it¡¯s only $8500.¡± Upon hearing this exnation, Harmon was ready to blow his top. ¡°This is highway robbery. Riverdale doesn¡¯t even have forty sections, yet you divided my hair into forty. You¡¯re nothing but thieves. I¡¯m calling the cops.¡± Harmon had just been fired, and now he was being scammed by a shady barbershop. His pent-up anger reached its peak and he lost it. Chapter 288 Chapter 288 Chapter 288 Harmon immediately refused to y the role of the sucker. He just got two month¡¯s pay as compensation and it would all go to a haircut? Harmon threatened to call the cops, but the barbershop wasn¡¯t about to let go of this easy mark. The manager of the barber shop showed up. He disyed a clear and precise billing statement, all for products Harmon agreed to use. The manager said, ¡°You can go ahead and call the police, but you gotta pay first, or you¡¯re not going anywhere. Our prices are clear as day, and nobody twisted your arm. You agreed to it, and now you¡¯re backing out. You think we don¡¯t have to pay forbor, utilities and rent?¡± The staff of the barber shop huddled up. Harmon wanted to pick a fight? No chance in hell, he couldn¡¯t take them all. With his date time looming, Harmon had to swallow his pride, reluctantly paid his bills. After leaving the barber shop, he got a call from the dating site manager, ¡°Mr. Alstrom, you there yet? We¡¯re already here, at Spirits & Suds.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be there in a minute.¡± Harmon said. Just thinking about seeing Anastasia, Harmonpletely forgot about being screwed over by the barber shop. He immediately hailed a cab to Spirits & Suds. At Spirits & Suds. The dating site manager was a man, skinny and sly. You could tell from a mile away that he was a troublemaker. Harmon arrived at the bar, standing at the entrance looking around. The dating site manager spotted him and waved, ¡°Mr. Alstrom, over here.¡± Harmon followed the voice, but only saw a woman he didn¡¯t recognize sitting there. She looked older than him, heavily made up, and reeking of perfume. ¡°Where¡¯s Anastasia?¡± Harmon asked straight up. The dating site manager said with a grin, ¡°Easy there, Mr. Alstrom. I¡¯m Putnam, in charge of your date today. This is Fidelia, she runs her own bookstore and was quite the go-getter. You guys get acquainted, Ms. Jewell will be here soon.¡± Harmon wasn¡¯t interested in Fidelia, he just sat down and waited for Anastasia. Putnam greeted Fidelia and then asked Harmon, ¡°Mr. Alstrom, what¡¯ll you be drinking?¡± Harmon wasn¡¯t in the mood for anything, said, ¡°Whatever.¡± Fidelia said, ¡°They have a new drink here that¡¯s not bad, give it a shot.¡± Putnam chimed in, ¡°Let¡¯s go with that then. Fidelia, could you please put the order? We¡¯re not so familiar at this ce.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Fidelia waved over a server to order the drinks. Putnam took this opportunity to pull out some profile info of the girls from the dating site to show Harmon, trying to divert his attention. ¡°Mr. Alstrom, what do you think of this girl? She¡¯s still a college student, twenty years old, and quite the looker. And this one, with master¡¯s degree and high IQ. She will be good to carry your future children. Ms. Jewell hasn¡¯t arrived yet, we can take a look at the others, maybe you¡¯ll be interested. The goal of dating is to keep your options open, and find the best fit.¡± Harmon was totally engrossed in the profiles of his potential dates,pletely oblivious to the fact that Fidelia ordered top-shelf drinks. She ordered two bottles and some other things. Once the drinks were on the table, the three of them started drinking. Putnam was quite a schmoozer; in other words, he was full of hot air. After about half an hour, Harmon couldn¡¯t wait any longer, and asked, ¡°When is Ms. Jewelling?¡± As soon as he finished his question, Putnam¡¯s phone rang, ¡°Look, there¡¯s the call.¡± Putnam picked up the call, but the person on the other end wasn¡¯t Anastasia. It was just a contact saved under the name Anastasia. Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. After hanging up, Putnam put on a regretful face, ¡°Sorry Mr. Alstrom, Ms. Jewell got tied up and won¡¯t be able to make it. No worries, we¡¯ll reschedule. Since we¡¯re here already, let¡¯s enjoy the drinks.¡± Hearing that Anastasia wasn¡¯ting, Harmon had no mood to drink anymore. He immediately got up and said, ¡°Well, I gotta go.¡± ¡°Since Mr. Alstrom¡¯s leaving, we should leave too. I need to get back to the office.¡± Putnam signaled to Fidelia, and then she called the server to settle the bill. The server came over, went straight to Harmon and said, ¡°Sir, your bill please. That¡¯ll be two thousand eight hundred.¡± Chapter 289 Chapter 289 Chapter 289 Harmon stared at the bill the waiter had just handed him, then looked over at Putnam and Fidelia. Putnam was all smiles, clearly not intending to pay the bill. And Fidelia, being a woman, was even less likely to pay. Seeing Harmon¡¯s inaction, the waiter reminded him, ¡°Sir, please pay the bill at the front desk.¡± Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. That was when Harmon realized he¡¯d been duped again, ¡°Why should I pay? They should be the ones paying.¡± The waiter nced at Putnam and Fidelia. Putnam quickly interjected, ¡°Mr. Alstrom, I¡¯m just an employee serving you here. I can¡¯t be expected to pay. This is your date with Fidelia. I was merely ying matchmaker. I get paid to do this and it¡¯s not right for me to pay.¡± Harmon then looked at Fidelia. She said, ¡°I¡¯m a woman, and I haven¡¯t been drinking. You can¡¯t expect me to pay. This is ridiculous. I have to go.¡± With that, Fidelia simply walked out. Harmon looked at the waiter, then back at a smirking Putnam. He sneered, ¡°You think you can fool me again, huh? Think I¡¯m a pushover?¡± Harmon threw his bag on the table, and his face got darkened as he turned menacing. He lunged at Putnam. Having been fired, tricked at the barber shop, and now conned again, Harmon¡¯s anger erupted. Putnam was taken by surprise and could only struggle in vain. ¡°He¡¯s attacking me! Help!¡± Putnam shouted. Putnam was skinny and no match for Harmon, so Harmon gave him a pretty good thrashing. ¡°You think you can push me around, huh? Everyone¡¯s been tricking and swindling me. You¡¯ve all gone too far.¡± Harmon said. Harmon was furious. Since joining the dating site, he¡¯d been conned out of tens of thousands of dors, and now they were trying to scam him again. He had taken out various loans for these dates and was now deep in debt. They thought they could just take advantage of him and con him. Harmon attacked Putnam and then the waiter. The situation waspletely out of control. The bar was in chaos, and the manager quickly called security. Eventually, Harmon was taken away by the police. Sitting in the police car, he red at Putnam who was spinning a tale for the cops, his eyes filled with rage. At this moment, Harmon also harbored a grudge against Anastasia. In his mind, it was Anastasia who had conspired with these people to steal his money. They were all a bunch of swindlers. Poor Anastasia had no idea she was being framed. She was at home, oblivious to the trouble that was brewing. She was also unaware that Harmon had been fired. After work, she went home to pick up her children from school. It was already past nine o¡¯clock, and Herman still hadn¡¯t returned. He presumably was still entertaining with his clients. Sometimes Anastasia found it strange. Herman was just a programmer, so how could he have so many social engagements? ¡°Mom, when is grandmaing back?¡± Pattie emerged from her room and snuggled up to Anastasia on the couch. ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet.¡± Anastasia smiled and gently stroked Pattie¡¯s cheek, ¡°Do you miss grandma?¡± Ever since Salma went to Willowbrook, she had been calling every day. From the calls, Anastasia could tell her mother was enjoying her time there. Salma had even been urging her to visit, but Anastasia kept making excuses. Pattie looked up at Anastasia with her innocent eyes and said, ¡°I miss grandma. Did she go with grandpa?¡± Salma had taught Pattie to call Tavon grandpa, and Pattie remembered. Anastasia nodded and said, ¡°Yes, grandma and grandpa went to Willowbrook for a few days. They should be back soon.¡± There were some things Anastasia naturally wouldn¡¯t discuss with a child who was just a few years old. As they were chatting, the doorbell rang. Pattie excitedly jumped off the couch, ¡°Daddy¡¯s back, I¡¯ll go open the door.¡± Pattie ran to the door, but when she saw who was standing there, her little face fell instantly. Chapter 290 Chapter 290 Chapter 290 The person standing at the door wasn¡¯t Herman, but Gianna. Pattie hollered disappointedly into the living room, ¡°Mom, it¡¯s Gianna.¡± Anastasia was also taken aback. Why on earth would Gianna drop by thiste? She quickly got up and saw Giannaing in with some stuff. ¡°Anastasia, I¡¯m here to say thanks.¡± Gianna brought with her fresh fruits and a high-end skincare set. Although Anastasia had never used this brand, she had heard her colleagues discuss about it. At a gathering with her ssmates, those girls were all showing off this skincare product. It was famous. Gianna put all the skincare products and fruits on the table, saying, ¡°I¡¯ve caused you a lot of trouble because of my divorce. I feel really bad about it. These are for you, just a small token of my appreciation.¡± ¡°Gianna, no need to be so formal. Take your stuff back, I won¡¯t ept it.¡± Anastasia said, ¡°If you keep doing this, I won¡¯t be able to help you anymore. Besides, I didn¡¯t really do much for you.¡± Anastasia was quite surprised. In the past, she and Gianna didn¡¯t see eye to eye, always trading barbs when they met. Now, things seemed so chummy out of the blue, and it still felt a bit strange to her. She actually didn¡¯t want to¡¯meddle in Gianna¡¯s divorce. She had even reminded her mom not to interfere before. ¡°You have to ept.¡± Gianna insisted, ¡°If you don¡¯t, it means you¡¯re looking down on me.¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t need this. I can¡¯t use it. I¡¯ll take the fruit, but you take the skincare products back.¡± Anastasia, who didn¡¯t use these big brand skincare products,ughed and said, ¡°This stuff is too pricey. I can¡¯t bear to buy it. Using it once doesn¡¯t make any difference; it¡¯s a waste. You take it back, and I¡¯ll keep the fruit.¡± Seeing Anastasia saying so, Gianna didn¡¯t persist anymore. She looked around the room and asked, ¡°Hasn¡¯t your husband gotten off work yet?¡± ¡°No, he went to a business dinner. He might bete.¡± Anastasia answered truthfully. This time she didn¡¯t invite Gianna to stay sincest night was indeed a bit awkward. Hearing that Herman hadn¡¯te back yet, Gianna felt a bit let down. But she quickly covered it up, saying, ¡°Alright then, I was just passing by. I¡¯ll head back now.¡± ¡°Okay, I won¡¯t walk you out.¡± Anastasia picked up the skincare products for Gianna to take them away. Gianna left the apartment building, feeling a bit down because she didn¡¯t see Herman today. But she ran into Herman who just returned in the neighborhood. She didn¡¯t greet him but hid behind the community notice board. Herman was wearing a dark coat with a deep blue suit underneath. The fitted suit paired with the coat made him impossible to ignore, exuding a charm that women found irresistible. His handsome features and cool demeanor were even more dashing than a male model. That temperament was irresistible. He was walking alone on the quiet neighborhood pathway, the street light casting a long shadow of Herman. Just his silhouette was enough to capture all the Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. attention. Gianna hid behind the notice board, watching Herman walk into the building. She felt a bit out of her mind, staring at Anastasia¡¯s husband. Since leaving Anastasia¡¯s home, Herman¡¯s handsome image had been lingering in Gianna¡¯s mind. Gianna took out her phone and opened Anastasia¡¯s social media, as if looking for something. There were no photos of Herman on Anastasia¡¯s social media. Most of her posts were about jewelry design knowledge. Gianna put down her phone disappointedly, turned off the light and went to sleep. For the next few days. Gianna always found excuses to visit Anastasia or invited her for meals. Anastasia was busy; she really didn¡¯t have any spare time. She had not worked for over two months, and Christine handed over the client files to her. She had to review each one. Lauren resigned. As Christine mentioned before, Lauren was the daughter of the Mill family. Why would she be a jewelry designer in this smallpany? After knowing Herman got married, Lauren also gave up on him and shifted her target. And Herman was busy preparing for the anniversary on the eighth of next month, worrying about how to confess to Anastasia. He was afraid Anastasia wouldn¡¯t ept it. Anastasia didn¡¯t know what Herman was busy with. He was out early and backte every day, and he seemed very busy. Anastasia only found out about Harmon being fired three days after it happened. She was surprised but didn¡¯t ask much about the reason. With Harmon not in thepany, she felt more relieved. After all, the way Harmon looked at her and his behavior of following her at night always made her ufortable. What if Harmon did something over the line? However, the thing she was worried about still happened that night. Chapter 291 Chapter 291 Chapter 291 When Anastasia got off work and walked into hermunity, she didn¡¯t notice anything out of the ordinary. She waved at the security guard at the entrance before making her way down themunity path by herself. Her phone rang. It was a call from her mom in Willowbrook. Anastasia was just about to answer it when she noticed a shadow on the ground. Before she could react, someone covered her mouth from behind. Anastasia was scared out of her wits and struggled, but a man¡¯s hand held her tight, immobilizing her. Soon, she gradually lost consciousness, and her phone slipped out of her hand. A cloth covering her mouth was soaked in ether, causing her to pass out. After Anastasia fainted, the man quickly carried her into a car parked nearby, picking up her fallen phone in the process. That man was Harmon. After causing trouble at the bar, Harmon had been locked up for a few days. He was not willing to let it go, ming all the problems on Anastasia. He had sneaked into themunity earlier and was waiting for her. He knew there were no surveince cameras around. Harmon drove a van. He dumped Anastasia in the back seat, covered her with a sheet, and then drove out of themunity. The security guard at the entrance didn¡¯t see any of this. He was snoring in his booth. Harmon paid the parking fee and drove away from themunity. Back in Willowbrook, Salma had called several times but no one answered. She nced at Tavon next to her and said, ¡°Ana must be sleeping.¡± Ever since Salma arrived in Willowbrook, she had been staying in a hotel. Tavon was with her whenever he had time. Ashley was always urging him to trick Anastasia intoing over, as Sandy¡¯s condition couldn¡¯t wait any longer. Tavon was a bit upset, but he managed to smile and said, ¡°It¡¯s alright. Ana¡¯s job is stressful. It¡¯s good if she sleeps early. You should go to bed early too, Salma. Call Ana tomorrow. The elders of the Morton family want to meet her. It¡¯s not okay that she hasn¡¯t shown up.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll call tomorrow.¡± Salma said, ¡°Ana¡¯s very busy. We¡¯d need to n ahead if she were toe.¡± Tavon sat next to Salma and persuaded, ¡°Salma, I think Ana is not willing toe because she¡¯s upset with me. I really want to hear her call me ¡®dad¡¯. How about this, you pretend to be sick tomorrow, call Ana and trick her intoing. Once she acknowledges me as her dad, I¡¯ll throw a wee party for Ana and let everyone know about her.¡± Salma was touched seeing that Tavon really wanted to acknowledge Anastasia and was willing to introduce her to all his friends and family. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± S¨¢lma said, ¡°I hope you two can reconcile too.¡± She didn¡¯t expect rekindling any old feelings with Tavon; she just hoped Anastasia could return to the family. i Tavon held Salma¡¯s hand tightly and promised, ¡°Salma, you¡¯ve given so much over the years. Once Ana formally bes a member of my family, I¡¯ll bring you back to the Morton family as her biological mother. I¡¯ll take care of you for the rest of your life.¡± His promiseforted Salma. ¡°I don¡¯t want to live in the Morton family nor expect you to do anything. Just be good to Ana. She¡¯s been through a lot.¡±. ¡°As for living in the Morton family, we¡¯ll discuss thatter. You bring Ana here tomorrow since some elders of the family want to meet her in the evening. They really care about etiquette. If Ana doesn¡¯t show up, they may be upset.¡± Tavon said. Salma hesitated for a moment before agreeing, ¡°Alright.¡± Salma didn¡¯t want Anastasia to upset the family elders even before returning to the Morton family. That would make it harder to get along in the future. Seeing Salma agree, Tavon left satisfied. Meanwhile. Herman had just left a social club. He felt uneasy and ended the engagements early. Flynn came out with him, asking, ¡°Herman, where are you rushing off to? Even if you have a date with Anastasia, you don¡¯t need to be in such a hurry.¡± Herman got into his Rolls Royce parked outside and said, ¡°I have a bad feeling. Something¡¯s not right.¡± He called Anastasia, but her phone was turned off. Anastasia¡¯s phone would never be turned off. He checked the time, frowning, ¡°At this time, Anastasia should still be awake.¡± He called Katelyn to ask if Anastasia had returned home. Katelyn had gone to pick up the children from school that afternoon. When she answered the call, she said, ¡°Ana hasn¡¯t returned yet. She said she had to workte on a design draft. I just put the kids to bed, when are you coming home? Maybe you should go to the office and check on Ana.¡± ¡°Alright, got it.¡± Herman hung up and called the office. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. When he learned that the office also had no news of Anastasia, Herman became anxious. Seeing his anxious expression, Flynn tried tofort him, ¡°Don¡¯t be so nervous. Maybe Anastasia is hanging out with her friends; and her phone died.¡± ¡°No way. Herman insisted, ¡°Something¡¯s wrong with Anastasia.¡± Chapter 292 Chapter 292 Chapter 292 Herman had a hunch that Anastasia was in trouble. He couldn¡¯t reach her and had a bad feeling in his gut. He immediately told his driver to head back to Harmony Meadows and made a call to Dailey, ¡°Track down Anastasia. I need to know where she is now.¡± Flynn, sitting in the back seat, was stunned. Herman had even reached out to Dailey. He wanted to say things weren¡¯t that urgent, but seeing Herman¡¯s grim face, he decided to keep his mouth shut. Who was Dailey? He was Herman¡¯s top-notch bodyguard for eight years, currently on a year-long break. To Herman, Dailey was like the king¡¯s right-hand man. Herman rarely called on him, but when he did, it meant something big was up. Dailey¡¯s voice came from the other end of the line, ¡°Give me ten minutes.¡± In ten minutes, he would find Anastasia. As he was on the phone, Herman had reached the entrance of Harmony Meadows. He got out of the car, went to the security booth, and tapped on the window. The security guard, who was snoozing, woke up with a start. Seeing Herman, he got the shivers. Herman standing before the window was like the lord of the underworld. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Mr. Salstrom, you¡¯re back.¡± The guard greeted him enthusiastically. Herman asked, ¡°Has my wife been back?¡± The guard, who was familiar with half of the residents, immediately answered, ¡°Yes, just an hour ago. She even waved to me.¡± Hearing this, Herman¡¯s brow furrowed even more. Katelyn had said Anastasia hadn¡¯t returned, but the guard said she had. This meant Anastasia had entered themunity but hadn¡¯t gone home. Did she disappear over here? Anastasia was whisked away to Riverdale¡¯s old district. The houses here were run-down, nothing like the ones in the downtown. The majority of the residents were down on their luck, and the ce. was chaotic. Those even poorer were living under bridges. The rentals here were low-rise buildings, with three or four stories and lousy living conditions. The district was about to be demolished. Most of the tenants had moved out, leaving only a few. In a third-floor rental, Anastasia was bound hand and foot, lying on a bed. As the drug wore off, she opened her eyes and saw clearly the mess she was in. She started struggling. Her mouth was taped shut, and she was unable to make a sound. Her limbs were tied, unable to break free. Looking around, the rental was no more than 200 square feet and in total disarray, with empty beer bottles on the ground. Anastasia could hear asional voices from outside. Those were the voices of the neighbors. She tried to recall what happened before she was kidnapped but couldn¡¯t figure out who would want to do it. She hadn¡¯t crossed anyone. Just then, she heard footsteps approaching. A shadow passed by the window, followed by the sound of the door opening. Anastasia¡¯s heart was pounding as if it would jump out of her throat. She instinctively curled up in the corner of the bed, fear in her eyes. The door creaked open from the outside. Anastasia¡¯s pupils contracted as a man walked in with a beer in his hand. The man was dressed in ck pants and a ck leather jacket. When he took off his hat, Anastasia saw his face clearly and was dumbstruck. It was Harmon. She never thought it would be Harmon. She hadn¡¯t wronged him. ¡°Mmm mmm mmm.¡± Anastasia tried to speak, but with her mouth taped shut, she could only make muffled sounds. Harmon just nced at Anastasia. He put the beer on the table, poured himself a ss, and started snacking and drinking. Anastasia didn¡¯t know what Harmon was up to and didn¡¯t dare to provoke him. She stayed quiet in the corner of the bed. Harmon took a sip of his beer and gave Anastasia a gloomy look, ¡°When day breaks, I¡¯ll take you to get our marriage certificate.¡± Chapter 293 Chapter 293 Chapter 293 To many Harmon? Anastasia tried to speak, but Harmon was ring at her, ¡°This is all your fault. You have to marry me because you¡¯re supposed to be mine.¡± With that, he stabbed a small knife into the table. The glinting de made Anastasia¡¯s heart skip a beat. She felt like amb being led to the ughter, unable to resist or make any moves. She kept silent, just watching Harmon. This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org. Harmon had had a lot of drinks, and the alcohol was making him talk to himself, ¡°I still don¡¯t have a wife, and women avoid me. People at work look down on me and everyone¡¯s trying to use me. You tricked me out of all my money, and you¡¯re still going after me. What a bunch of scumbags. Do you think I¡¯m an easy target?¡± Getting more agitated, Harmon suddenly stood up, knife in hand, and walked over to Anastasia. Instinctively, Anastasia retreated, fearing that Harmon wouldsh out in his impulsive state. Just as she was getting more terrified, Harmon ripped off the tape on Anastasia¡¯s mouth and demanded loudly, ¡°Why did you trick me? Why did you conspire with them against me? Haven¡¯t I suffered enough? I got fired, and got ripped off by the barber shop. Ijust wanted a haircut, and they charged me over eight grand, saying it was normal pricing. They must think I¡¯m an idiot.¡± Harmon was ranting. His boozy breath made Anastasia extremely ufortable. From what Harmon said, Anastasia learned about his barbershop scam. ¡°Harmon, calm down.¡± Anastasia tried to say it calmly. She was bound, and Harmon had a knife. She didn¡¯t dare call for help. Who woulde and rescue her in this ce, at this time? If she dared to scream for help, Harmon¡¯s knife would surely be faster. ¡°You tricked me and you¡¯re telling me to cool it? I can¡¯t!¡± Harmon was red in the face, tightly gripping the knife. His body was trembling with rage. ¡°Anastasia, do you think I¡¯m stupid too? Is that why you teamed up with the dating site to scam me?¡± Anastasia tried to keep her fear at bay and replied, ¡°I never tricked you, Harmon. Let¡¯s calm down and talk about this. There must be some misunderstanding. Why would I trick you?¡± Harmon was seething, ¡°You¡¯re still lying to me. On the day I got fired, you and that Putnam from the dating site tricked me. You agreed to meet me for a date, lured me to the bar, ordered over 20 grand worth of drinks and left me with the bill. You¡¯re a bar scammer.¡± ¡°Harmon, there must be some misunderstanding. I don¡¯t know anyone named Putnam, and I don¡¯t even know what a bar scammer is. I never went on a date with you.¡± Anastasia was confused, ¡°I¡¯m already married, why would I go on a date? Harmon, you must have been tricked.¡± ¡°Right, I was tricked by you guys.¡± Harmon was no longer listening to Anastasia¡¯s exnations, and he didn¡¯t trust anything she said. He continued, ¡°I don¡¯t care. You agreed to date me. I spent a lot of money, so you should marry me, or I¡¯ll kill you. Those are your options. You make the choice.¡± Realizing Harmon wasn¡¯t listening to her exnations anymore, Anastasia chose to stay silent. Harmon picked up the bottle on the table and took a swig. His heartache caused him to shed tears. ¡°I worked hard to earn this money, and it was supposed to be for my wedding. Now you¡¯ve tricked me out of all of it. I even owe high-interest debt. You promised to help me find a wife, but you didn¡¯t keep your words.¡± Harmon was convinced Anastasia was in cahoots with the dating sitel Anastasia felt helpless and tried to exin, ¡°Harmon, I really didn¡¯t trick you. I didn¡¯t know you before I joined thepany. I did go on dates through the site, but I never conned you with them. And I¡¯m already married. Why would go on a date with you? The dating site must have made a mistake.¡± She didn¡¯t know what she said wrong, but Harmon instantly got angry, pointing the knife at her, ¡°You say you don¡¯t know me? You tricked me twice and you say you don¡¯t know me? Did you agree to meet me for a date at a coffee shop five months ago?¡± Hearing about the coffee shop and five months ago, Anastasia was shocked. Because that was the day and ce where she had a date with Herman. Harmon was very agitated, ¡°The dating site told me to go there. I remember it clearly My date was supposed to be Anastasia, which is you. I was just a littlete! When I arrived at the coffee shop, you weren¡¯t there. Was that another scam you and the dating site set up? Chapter 294 Chapter 294 Chapter 294 From the way Harmon was talking, Anastasia could tell something was off. She asked hastily, ¡°Can you say that again? You were at the cafe too and I was your blind date? How is that even possible?¡± Looking at Anastasia, Harmon stated tly, ¡°You¡¯re still in denial.¡± He pulled out Anastasia¡¯s profile from the dating site, and showing it to her, ¡°Look closely. This is you. The picture and the name, they¡¯re all yours. The cafe, the manager clearly told me that¡¯s where the date was supposed to be.¡± Seeing the profile, Anastasia was filled with doubt. She was supposed to be on a date with Harmon that day? Not Herman? Then who was Herman? Did she mix/up the people that day? It couldn¡¯t be. If that was the case, why would Herman want to marry her? And Herman¡¯s situation also matched what the dating website had said. In disbelief, Anastasia asked, ¡°Was it really you in the cafe that day? What did the dating site tell you? Who was the person in charge?¡± Harmon scoffed, ¡°The website just told me your name, said you were young and pretty. Twenty-five and only had a mother. They also said you were eager to get married, and had been on several blind dates already.¡± He¡¯mocked, ¡°What, still can¡¯t admit it?¡± The information Harmon provided all checked out. But Anastasia found it hard to believe. Both Herman and Harmon¡¯s parents were deceased, they both worked at Elysian Technologies and they were both thirty. How could it be such a coincidence? If she had mistaken the person that day, Herman should have known she was there for a blind date. Why would he marry her? Anastasia quickly recalled the recent events, carefully considering the suspicious points about Herman. The dating site said Herman didn¡¯t have a house, but in fact, the house at Harmony Meadows was his. He said he was a programmer at Elysian Technologies, but she never saw him working overtime like other programmers. Instead, he frequently attended various social events. She had never visited his workce. At home, she never saw him making calls or hanging out with colleagues. This was abnormal for apany employee. There should be a few colleagues that he would socialize with, but Herman never did. He always seemed busy, but when she was hospitalized due to a car ident, he was able to take two months off to take care of her. He wasn¡¯t afraid of offending Ledford Corporation, nor was he afraid of hitting Cason. Suddenly, Anastasia had doubts. Who was Herman? What did he do for a living? Seeing Anastasia not talking, Harmon stuck his knife into the bedsheet, ¡°What, cat got your tongue? I ended up like this because of you. You agreed to go on a blind date with me, and that means you agreed to marry me. You are mine.¡± ¡°Harmon, listen to me, there might have been a mix up. No, maybe I messed it up.¡± Anastasia stammered in exnation, ¡°I did go on a blind date that day, but the person wasn¡¯t you. Or maybe, I might have mistaken the person. Anyway, I didn¡¯t meet you before I joined thepany, I didn¡¯t know you or I never lied to you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still defending yourself. You¡¯ve already admitted. The person that day was you, and you¡¯re the person I was supposed to marry.¡± Harmon became excited, his face twisted as he suddenly grabbed Anastasia¡¯s shoulder, ¡°You¡¯re the one I was supposed to marry. You guys tricked me out of so much money, you¡¯ll repay me with yourself. I¡¯ve made up my mind and you must marry me.¡± ¡°You need to calm down.¡± Anastasia felt her heartbeat quicken, warried that Harmon couldn¡¯t control his emotions. ¡°You¡¯re scared now, still telling me to calm down. How can I calm down? I was tricked by you guys so badly. It¡¯s all your fault.¡± Harmon lost control of his emotions, bing angrier the more he thought, ming everything on Anastasia. N?velDrama.Org is the owner. ¡°The money I spent, it¡¯s all your fault. You should be mine, and now I¡¯m going to make you my woman.¡± Harmon pressed Anastasia onto the bed, frantically trying to rip her clothes off. Terrified, Anastasia struggled desperately, kicking at him, ¡°Harmon, if you dare touch me, you won¡¯t get away with it.¡± Chapter 295 Chapter 295 Chapter 295 After a few drinks, Harmon was all worked up. With all the grievances he had bottled up over time, he couldn¡¯t ept Anastasia¡¯s exnation. The more Anastasia struggled, the more excited Harmon got. He decided to yank off her jacket. Anastasia started to panic and driven by fear, she started to shout, ¡°Harmon, you¡¯re just a wuss! You¡¯re too scared to go after the ones who really screwed you. You¡¯re picking on me because I¡¯m an easy target, a woman. You¡¯re pathetic and you deserve to be scammed.¡± She didn¡¯t hold back, kicking and shouting, ¡°Did you ever stop to think why you got scammed? That¡¯s because you¡¯re a dimwit. You knew they were screwing you over, but you kept backing down. You¡¯re just a wuss, afraid of them. You didn¡¯t dare confront them. So, you had to take your anger out on me.¡± Every word from Anastasia was sharp as a knife, cutting straight through Harmon¡¯s ego and hitting him where it hurt. What Anastasia was saying was the truth. He was too afraid to confront those who had wronged him. At the barbershop, he was scared. And despite being scammed by the dating site before, he still didn¡¯t fight back. Since Anastasia was physically weaker, he could bully her, taking out all his anger on her. ¡°No, it¡¯s not like that.¡± Harmon couldn¡¯t face his own cowardice, covering his weakness with harsh words. He shouted, ¡°You con artists are the worst. You all deserve to be punished!¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Anastasia shouted back, ¡°I¡¯m telling you that I never scammed you. I had no idea about the dating site setting you up. I thank my lucky stars it wasn¡¯t you I was set up with. I¡¯d have regretted it, having to deal with someone like you.¡± 1: Harmon lost it, cursing, ¡°You¡¯re still making excuses! You¡¯re a scammer!¡± Anastasia, bound and unable to free herself, watched in despair as Harmon pulled off her underwear. She had never felt such despair. No matter how much she cried out for help, no one came. She remembered being bullied by ke. She couldn¡¯t ept why she was always the one being picked on. Maybe just like she had said to Harmon, it was because she was seen as an easy and weak target.. Just as Harmon was leaning in, Anastasia decided to headbutt him. She broke Harmon¡¯s nose, and blood was gushing out. She seized the opportunity to kick him over, free herself; and tumble off the bed. Her legs were tied, and she couldn¡¯t walk. So she hopped to the door. Her wrists were bound, but she could still manage to open the door. In those few seconds from breaking free to opening the door, Anastasia felt like she was in a race against death. Seeing Harmon getting up, she bolted out the door and locked it behind her. She couldn¡¯t untie the rope around her legs, so she had to hop. Fear coursed through her body, and she didn¡¯t care about her clothes being disheveled. She could hear Harmon breaking down the door. Anastasia hopped to the staircase but due to her fear, she lost her bnce. She braced herself for the pain, but instead, shended in a warm and familiar embrace. When she looked up and saw who it was, she couldn¡¯t help but burst into tears. Herman held her tightly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯mte.¡± Herman had rushed over as fast as he could after finding out where Anastasia was Seeing Anastasia¡¯s clothes in disarray, her hands and feet tied up, Herman was heartbroken. His eyes were filled with rage and a murderous intent. Harmon, following them, sneered when he saw Herman, ¡°You sure got here fast.¡± Harman didn¡¯t give a damn about Herman. His mind waspletely consumed by anger and alcohol. Herman, holding Anastasia, coldlymanded Dailey, ¡°Chop off both his hands.¡± Chapter 296 Chapter 296 Chapter 296 Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. Once Harmonid his filthy hands on Anastasia, there was no going back. Herman gave the order and carried Anastasia down the stairs. It was only then that Anastasia noticed Herman wasn¡¯t alone. Six solemn men in ck were behind him, looking like they were ripped straight out of a Hollywood bodyguard movie. Before they even hit the ground floor, Harmon¡¯s screams of agony echoed throughout the apartment building. Then another scream, and then dead silence. Stepping outside, Anastasia finally got a clear look at her surroundings. This was the outskirts of Riverdale, and in front of the rundown houses were several parked posh cars, led by the Rolls-Royce she had ridden in once. Beside these cars were eight more bodyguards, standing at attention. It was a scene straight out of a movie. The car headlights illuminated the narrow, dark alley, making the luxury cars stick out like a sore thumb. ¡°Herman, Anastasia.¡± Flynn¡¯s voice pulled Anastasia back from her thoughts. Anastasia nced at Flynn, then at Herman. Remembering what Harmon had said, her confusion deepened. ¡°Open the door,¡± Herman ordered coldly. Flynn immediatelyplied. Herman carefully ced Anastasia in the car, crouched down by her feet, and gently untied the ropes binding her hands and feet. The eight bodyguards and Flynn waited outside the posh car. Anastasia looked at them questioningly as Dailey emerged from the apartment building with the bodyguards from earlier. Through the car window, Anastasia saw Harmon being hauled into another car by two bodyguards, leaving a trail of blood behind. Harmon¡¯s hands¡­ were gone. Herman had actually had Harmon¡¯s hands chopped off. Anastasia¡¯s eyes narrowed, and she looked down at Herman, ¡°Who¡­who are you?¡± she asked, suddenly feeling pathetic. She knew nothing about the man she¡¯d shared her life with for so long. He looked up and gently patted her head, just like he used to. Nothing had changed. ¡°We¡¯ll talk when we get home.¡± ¡°What are you going to do about Harmon?¡± Anastasia asked. Herman¡¯s gaze followed the direction Harmon had been dragged off to. ¡°Illegal detention, kidnapping, thew will take care of him.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t ask any more questions. The car started, not heading back to Harmony Meadows, but towards the wealthy part of Riverdale. Finally, the convoy of luxury cars made a grand entrance into a vi in the best location. The gate slowly opened automatically, and the car drove into the vi. When the car stopped, Anastasia looked out the window at the pce-like vi and felt like she was dreaming. ¡°Where¡­where is this?¡± she asked. ¡°This is our home,¡± Herman said, no longer hiding anything. He got out of the car, came around to Anastasia¡¯s side, and carried her out. He strode into the vi and went upstairs. The bodyguards all wisely stayed downstairs, and even Flynn didn¡¯t follow. Walking through the vi, Anastasia was blown away. The opulence of the vi was outrageous. The large crystal chandelier exuded luxury, and the paintings hanging on the walls were all world-famous pieces. Every single decoration was worth millions. Thergest master bedroom on the second floor wasrger than a three-bedroom apartment in Harmony Meadows. The massive floor-to-ceiling window didn¡¯t overlook a cityscape, but a fantastical sky garden that Herman had spent a hundred million dors to build,plete with an outdoor pool and breathtaking view. Anastasia was stunned. She stood on the viewing balcony, overlooking a garden the size of two football fields, and turned to look at him. ¡°The one who had the arranged date with me at Cafe Bliss wasn¡¯t you, was it?¡± Chapter 297 Chapter 297 Chapter 297 After asking that question, Anastasia was a bundle of nerves. She was a little scared, afraid that he had been deceiving her from the get-go. Her gaze was glued to him, not missing any of the expressions on his face. Their eyes locked in a silent battle, and Herman¡¯s lips tightened. He, too, felt a twinge of anxiety as he was put in the hot seat. He took his sweet time before finally admitting in a deep voice, ¡°Yes, the guy you had the blind date with, it wasn¡¯t me.¡± Anastasia blinked, her gaze aplex mix of shock as she stared at Herman. He admitted it, he wasn¡¯t her blind date. In other words, he admitted that he had been deceiving her all these months. Anastasia felt as if something was lodged in her chest. She felt like crap. She managed a self- deprecating smile as she said,¡±So, you¡¯ve been ying me from the start.¡± Even though she had already suspected it, hearing him admit it was a tough pill to swallow. The mundane happily-ever-after life she thought she had, was a total sham. Herman¡¯s eyes flickered, his voice low. ¡°Anastasia, I didn¡¯t mean to y you.¡± ¡°Not intentional?¡± Anastasia scoffed, taking a step back, increasing the gap between them. ¡°The day you saw me at Cafe Bliss, you knew I got the wrong guy. Was that not intentional, too? Just who are you? Why did you do this?¡± Herman couldn¡¯t refute that, he had been lying to her from the start.-N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Once a lie was told, you needed a hundred more to cover it up. He couldn¡¯t even remember how many lies he had told her over these months. Now, Herman decided toe clean. Things hade to a head, and there was no other choice. He looked into her eyes, his lips pressed together. ¡°I¡¯m the man in charge at Elysian Technologies, Herman Salstrom.¡± Anastasia¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and she stared at him in disbelief. ¡°The Herman from Elysian Technologies?¡± The moment she stepped into this mansion, she knew he wasn¡¯t an average joe. But hearing he was the head of Elysian Technologies still left her shell-shocked. She identally married a mega-rich tycoon? The rumored secret wife of Mr. Salstrom was her? Her husband, the heartthrob that Lauren Mill was chasing after? The man she shared a bed with was the big boss of herpany? Herman¡¯s words felt like a dream to Anastasia, too incredible to believe. Anastasia, keeping her cool, forced a smile. ¡°Herman, are you pulling my leg? How could you be the head of Elysian Technologies? Why would someone like you marry an average Jane like me? This is too outrageous.¡± Anastasia just couldn¡¯t wrap her head around it. The man was a multi-billionaire. How could a high roller like him marry her? Weren¡¯t rich people supposed to marry within their social ss? But how could she exin this luxurious mansion? A mansioh this size, situated in the prime area of Riverdale, must have cost at least a dozen billion. That did not even include the interior design and rooftop garden. All of thesebined had got to be tens of billions! She, who dared not think beyond a three-bedroom apartment, was initially blown away by Herman¡¯s three-bedroom apartment. Now, she was faced with a mansion worth tens of billions, how could she possibly believe it? These wealthy folks had billions of assets, and jet-setted around the world, so how would he really be driving a Chevy worth a little over a hundred thousand and dropping her off at work every day? Herman stared into her eyes, took a step forward, and gripped her shoulders. ¡°Anastasia, I¡¯m not ying you this time. Our marriage is real, and I am the head of Elysian Technologies, that¡¯s the truth. This is our home from now on. I originally nned to spill the beans at thepany¡¯s anniversary party next month.¡± He spoke in a deep voice, ¡°That day at Cafe Bliss, I was waiting for Flynn. You suddenly came up to me and proposed, so I was stunned. I thought, how could there be a woman so eager to get married, not afraid to marry the wrong guy? You said marriage is a gamble, which made me decide to give us a shot. Maybe, it¡¯s destiny, there¡¯s no particr reason, it¡¯s just that, you happened to show up.¡± Chapter 298 Chapter 298 Chapter 298 This was the first time Herman had said so much in front of her in one go. He was careful with every word, weighing them before they left his lips, afraid he might say something wrong or too much, afraid she might get upset. She listened to his exnation. Reflecting on the past few months, she felt she had been too naive, too trusting of Herman. She believed everything he said without doubting him once. She found it amusing now that she had initially shared living expenses with Herman. Sharing expenses with a billionaire? She would be aughingstock if it got out. Anastasia lowered her head andughed at herself. ¡°You must have had a tough time pretending to be poor these past months, huh? You¡¯re used to living in big vis, but you had to stay in a three-bedroom house with me. You¡¯re used to eating exotic food, but I only served you boiled eggs and pancakes for breakfast. You¡¯re used to riding in luxury cars, but you had to drive around in a Chevy that¡¯s just over a hundred grand. Ufortable, wasn¡¯t it¡­¡± ¡°Anastasia,¡± Herman interrupted her softly, holding her shoulders tight. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter where we live, what we eat, or what car we drive, as long as you¡¯re with me. We can continue living in Harmony Meadows if you don¡¯t like this mansion.¡± She gave him a wry smile, looking into his sincere eyes. ¡°Herman, what was your initial motive for deceiving me?¡± Herman¡¯s eyes flickered, and suddenly, he couldn¡¯t answer. ¡°Let me answer that for you,¡± Anastasia said. ¡°You didn¡¯t trust me.¡± Herman had no retort. Indeed, he didn¡¯t trust her, which was why he pretended to be poor to test her. As he nodded in agreement, Anastasia immediately got angry and stormed off downstairs. ¡°Baby,¡± Herman quickly closed the room door before her and wrapped his arms around her waist, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± His apologetic attitude made it hard for her not to believe his sincerity. Anastasia snapped angrily, ¡°You¡¯re not the one who¡¯s wrong, I am. I misjudged you.¡± After being deceived for so long, how could Anastasia not be angry? ¡°It¡¯s all my fault,¡± Herman held Anastasia tighter, nuzzling her neck. Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Anastasia huffed, ¡°Herman, how could you stoop so low?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care when ites to you.¡± Herman gently kissed her cheek. ¡°I¡¯ll do anything to make you forgive me.¡± Anastasiaughed bitterly. ¡°Then how about you chop up ten¡¯ onions?¡± She meant it to be a jab at him. The idea of a billionaire like the head of Elysian Technologies chopping onions would be a joke if it got out. But Herman took her seriously and immediately called Dailey, downstairs. ¡°Bring the onions up in three minutes.¡± Anastasia was shocked. ¡°Herman, what about your pride?¡± Downstairs, Dailey was equally puzzled. Flynn asked curiously, ¡°What did my brother ask for, Dailey?¡± Dailey replied, ¡°He wants onions. What does he need them for thiste at night?¡± Flynn couldn¡¯t help but burst outughing, urging Dailey, ¡°Hurry up and get them. We¡¯re in for a show tonight.¡± Indeed, everyone had a weak spot. Flynn found it amusing that Herman, who was like a devil in the business world, was so obedient in front of his wife, he was even ready to chop onions to appease her. Three minutester, in the master bedroom. Dailey delivered the onions and tactfully closed the door. Anastasia looked at the onions and then at Herman. ¡°Are you really going to chop up the onions?¡± Herman looked pitiful. ¡°If you won¡¯t forgive me, then I¡¯ll have to.¡± He was determined to make things right. If he couldn¡¯t resolve the issue with Anastasia tonight, he might lose her. Problems between couples should be resolved on the same day. You couldn¡¯t let your wife go to bed unhappy. Seeing Anastasia softening, Herman took the opportunity. ¡°Honey, can you forgive me for the sake of my love for you? I will never lie to you again.¡± Anastasia replied coldly, ¡°Spill everything. Any more secrets you¡¯re keeping from me? Let¡¯s get it all out at once.¡± Honesty was the best policy. Herman confessed, ¡°Flynn is my real brother.¡±¡± Hearing this, Anastasia¡¯s gaze deepened. ¡°Go on.¡± Herman nced at Anastasia¡¯s face and continued, ¡°My aunt is actually my real mom, your mother-in- law. My uncle is actually my real dad, your father-inw.¡± Anastasia snapped, ¡°Herman, I really want to kill you right now. Did your whole family conspire to deceive me?¡± Chapter 299 Chapter 299 Chapter 299 Elysian Technologies? It¡¯s a scam ring. Anastasia gave Herman a few good whacks. He didn¡¯t fight back and just let her vent. When she was done, he clutched her hand and said gently, ¡°Anastasia, I was just scared you couldn¡¯t handle the truth. From now on, if I lie to you again, you can do whatever you want with me.¡± Anastasia was really pissed. She thought about how she had dined with his folks, totally clueless about everything. While calling them, the whole family was conspiring to lie to her. Anastasia red at him angrily, then nced at the onions. Her eyes said it all, cut the onions. Herman let out a deliberate sigh and headed towards the onions without a fight. ¡°Herman.¡± Seeing that he was actually going to cut them, Anastasia, who couldn¡¯t bear it, pulled him back. He took the opportunity to push her onto the nearby couch, saying lowly, ¡°I knew it, you wouldn¡¯t have the heart.¡± Knowing she was tricked, Anastasia was both angry and helpless. ¡°Let me go.¡± ¡°No.¡± Herman held her hand tight. ¡°I won¡¯t let go until you forgive me. Anastasia let him pin her down helplessly. She looked up at the ceiling and said, ¡°I was too stupid. I should have suspected you. From the house at Harmony Meadows, I should have known¡­¡± Something urred to her. She pushed Herman a bit and looked at him. ¡°Did Monica know you¡¯re from Elysian Technologies? Lauren, Christine, do they know?¡± She finally realized that Monica had seen the CEO of Elysian Technologies at the club. She remembered Monica was panicking and asked about her blind date with Herman. That day, Monica saw the real face of the person in charge of Elysian Technologies but chose to keep quiet. And Selena once imed she was the mistress of the person in charge at Elysian Technologies. And Kenny, who brought the still hospitalized ke to apologize to her, was also because of Herman. With Herman as their big backer, the Ledford family had to bow down. Cason¡¯sw firm was investigated, and the factory went bankrupt. Everyone knew, and she was the only one left in the dark. Herman nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± Anastasia felt like hitting someone again. She gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Herman, you bastard¡­¡± Herman leaned in to kiss her lips, the best way to shut a woman up. Sure enough, Anastasia¡¯s anger subsided a lot under Herman¡¯s passionate kiss. Herman did lie to her, but everything he did for her was real. Anastasia was just having a hard time digesting such big news. She married a billionaire, the kind of thing that happened in novels, but very difficult in real life. Yet, it happened to her. Seeing that her anger had subsided, he propped himself up, staring at her with deep affection and doting. ¡°Anastasia, you¡¯re not going to leave me, are you?¡± There was a hint of unease in his tone. The person in charge of Elysian Technologies was a revered figure in the business world, with few things that could make him frown. But in front of her, he seemed uneasy. He was afraid of losing her. Anastasia looked at Herman in front of her, her heart filled with pity. She teased, ¡°Do you take me for a fool? I happened to find a billionaire, and I would let you go easily? What pisses me off is, why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier. You want to live in a three-bedroom apartment, but I want to live in a mansion. You want to drive a Chevy, and I want to ride in luxury cars. If I had known you were so capable, I wouldn¡¯t have been so worried when I ran into the Ledford family and Cason.¡± Hermanughed. He liked Anastasia¡¯s straightforwardness. Anastasia red at him, and pushed him away, but stayed on the couch, unwilling to get up. ¡°Herman, I just want to stop trying. Even if you abandon me one day, a few billion in alimony would get me by.¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Herman looked at her tenderly. ¡°No ambition. Your husband is a billionaire, and you¡¯re satisfied with just a few billion?¡± Anastasia responded casually, ¡°Forget about a few billion, just give me a billion to splurge on. Don¡¯t just talk the talk.¡± Herman said seriously, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll give you a few billion right now.¡± With that, Herman picked her up and headed for the bed. The ¡°few billion¡± here was not the usual ¡°few billion.¡± Anastasia was helpless, ¡°Herman, you¡¯re such a jerk¡­ Mmm¡­¡± Chapter 300 Chapter 300 Chapter 300 Couples often kissed and made up after a spat in bed. Any problem could be solved through communication, and if it couldn¡¯t, well,municating a few more times would do. Of course, we¡¯re talking physicalmunication here. Flynn downstairs was hoping for some juicy drama to unfold, but after a long wait, there was no sound to be heard. Flynn sighed, ¡°Herman is such a calcted guy. Anastasia doesn¡¯t stand a chance.¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Dailey asked seriously, ¡°Anastasia fights too?¡± Flynn gave Dailey a look. The pain of being single and not even knowing this. ¡°Dailey, you should get a girlfriend when you have the time, so pitiful,¡± Flynn said sympathetically. Dailey shook his head. ¡°Why would I want a girlfriend? All that crying and nagging, it¡¯s annoying.¡± Flynn nced at his hand. ¡°What, nning to spend the rest of your life with your right hand?¡± The next day. Anastasia woke up in a soft bed, and the curtains were drawn, blocking all light. It was pitch ck in the room, she couldn¡¯t tell if it was day or night. She switched on the night light, and the room¡¯s decor came into view, it felt like she had just woken from a dream. She nudged Herman awake. ¡°Herman, I had a dreamst night. I dreamt you became a billionaire.¡± Herman didn¡¯t open his eyes, and hey there with a faint smile. ¡°Why don¡¯t you open the curtains and see if it¡¯s a dream.¡± The curtains were electric, Anastasia didn¡¯t know, being new around here. She got out of bed to open them, but Herman had already hit the remote. The curtains slowly parted, and sunlight streamed in, revealing the stunning view of the sky garden. ¡°This isn¡¯t a dream,¡± Anastasia eximed, walking out to the balcony overlooking the mansion¡¯s backyard, looking out at the entire vi district, and, even further, the iconic buildings of Riverdale. Herman got up, and slipped on a shirt without buttoning it, showing off his muscr and powerful physique. It was extremely attractive. He walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her. ¡°Honey, take a look at the empire I¡¯ve won for you.¡± Even after a night, Anastasia was still a little shocked, excited, and incredulous. It felt like winning a billion-dor lottery, who could stay calm? Anastasia turned to look at him, then back at the sky garden. ¡°Herman, you¡¯re already attractive enough. I bet there are love rivals I don¡¯t even know about.¡± At this moment, Anastasia was a lot calmer, she and Herman were in different worlds, and she didn¡¯t have the confidence to hold on to him for a lifetime. Herman¡¯s dark eyes looked straight into her soul, understanding her thoughts. ¡°Whether two people can walk through life together isn¡¯t about whether their wealth matches. If you met a regr guy instead of me at Cafe Bliss, and you two had to struggle for a living, fought over money, and let life¡¯s trivialities wear you down, could you be sure he¡¯d be with you for life?¡± Anastasia¡¯s bright eyes looked at him, and then she suddenly smiled. ¡°You do have a point. Betrayal doesn¡¯t depend on wealth. Whether you look good or not, anyone can betray. In that case, why not find a better one?¡± ¡°Marriage starts with fate, but it also depends on a person¡¯s character.¡± Herman asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you trust your husband¡¯s character?¡± Anastasia was silent; thinking about her and Herman¡¯s inability to have children, she felt a bit regretful. Anastas¨ªa asked, ¡°By the way, how did you find mest night?¡± Herman replied, ¡°I tried to call you, but your phone was unreachable, so I went back to your neighborhood. The security guard told me you had been back, but your mom said you didn¡¯te home, so I guessed something might have happened.¡± Herman continued, ¡°Dailey is good at tracking, if he wants to find someone, it¡¯s not a big deal.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s my phone?¡± Anastasia suddenly remembered, her phone was missing, ¡°Where¡¯s my new phone?¡± She had just reced her phone after thest car ident, and it wasn¡¯t even a month old so she felt heartbroken. Herman smiled. ¡°Dailey got it back from Harmon.¡± Anastasia was immediately relieved. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Herman handed Anastasia her phone. Seeing it undamaged, she quickly turned it on. After unlocking her phone, Anastasia saw several messages from her mom. She quickly called her mom back, but the person who answered was Tavon. ¡°Ana, finally got through to your phone. Your mom is sick. She fainted all of a sudden.¡± Chapter 301 Chapter 301 Chapter 301 Salma had a history of fainting, and now that Anastasia heard Salma had copsed again, she was worried sick. In a rush, she asked, ¡°How¡¯s my mom doing now?¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. ¡°She¡¯s not fully conscious yet and keeps calling your name, Anastasia. You need toe to Willowbrook ASAP.¡± Tavon¡¯s voice came through the phone, sounding just as frantic. Anastasia made up her mind. ¡°Take care of my mom, I¡¯ll be in Willowbrook this afternoon.¡± After hanging up, Herman said, ¡°I¡¯ll go with you to Willowbrook.¡± Anastasia shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re the boss of a bigpany, you must be super busy, you don¡¯t need to run around with me. My mom might not even be ill, so I¡¯ll go check out the situation first.¡± Having calmed down, Anastasia started to doubt Taven¡¯s words. Herman was indeed very busy, He had a deal to finalize with WOW Corporation; he had warned Brown Corporation before, and now the disagreements between the two firms were causing some issues. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll have Flynn go with you to Willowbrook. I¡¯ll feel better knowing he¡¯s with you.¡± Anastasia thought this was a good idea. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll head out from here immediately, so there¡¯s no need to go back home. Call your aunt, no, your mom, and ask her to take care of Pattie for a bit.¡± After making the arrangements, Anastasia and Flynn headed for Willowbrook. On the two-hour flight, Flynn was very attentive, seizing this rare opportunity to get on Anastasia¡¯s good side, which could influence Herman. Flynn helped carry the luggage onto the ne. Not long after takeoff, he fetched a nket and brought drinks. ¡°Anastasia, if you need anything, just let me know.¡± Anastasia took a sip of the mineral water and casually asked, ¡°What did you major in?¡± Flynn smiled. ¡°Business Administration, a master¡¯s degree.¡± Anastasiamented, ¡°A shame you didn¡¯t go to film school.¡± Flynn quickly retorted, ¡°Anastasia, my brother made me do it. I¡¯m honestly a straightforward guy. He made me act like this.¡± Upon hearing this, Anastasia nearly choked. ¡°Are all you Salstroms like this, do the Salstroms make a living out of fraud?¡± Flynn looked surprised. ¡°Anastasia, how did you know? My brother told you?¡± Anastasia was taken aback. ¡°It¡¯s really like this?¡± ¡°I heard it from my grandpa, the Salstrom family¡¯s first big break came from my grandpa¡¯s dad¡¯s scam.¡± Anastasia was speechless. ¡°Can¡¯t you just say your great-grandpa?¡± Flynn chuckled a bit. ¡°The family tree is a bitplicated. Anyway, that¡¯s how the Salstroms got started. By my dad¡¯s generation, we switched to real estate, and then my brother switched to Emerce, Now Elysian Technologies is booming, real estate, tourism, catering, entertainment, light industry, heavy industry¡­¡± As Flynn counted using his fingers, he introduced the Salstrom family¡¯s industries to Anastasia. The more Anastasia heard, the more shocked she was. The Salstrom¡¯s business empire was way more powerful than she had imagined. The estimated billions in worth probably only ounted for a small fraction of it. Anastasia eximed, ¡°I must have done a lot of good deeds in my past life. How else could I be this lucky.¡± Flynnughed, resting his hands on the small table. ¡°Salstrom men are faithful. Once we choose, we stick to it till the end. You really are lucky.¡± Anastasia nodded and jokingly asked, ¡°So, can I live a carefree life now?¡± Flynn excitedly said, ¡°I have the same thought, but whether we can live a worry-free life depends on whether my big brother is willing to help us.¡± Anastasia confidently said, ¡°Anyway, your big brother will help me.¡± Flynn jokingly said, ¡°Considering we both think alike, I hope you can help me too.¡± Chapter 302 Chapter 302 Chapter 302 If Herman knew that both his wife and his little bro were all about living the chill life, he¡¯d probably be gobsmacked. But now, the ball¡¯s in Herman¡¯s court as far as Anastasia and Flynn are concerned. Anastasia, looking at Flynn, said with intent, ¡°Your move, dude.¡± Flynn chuckled, ¡°If there¡¯s any deep dark secret my big bro is hiding, I¡¯ll spill the beans to you first. Like if someone¡¯s trying to get chummy with him or if he¡¯s stashed away some secret cash.¡± Anastasia shed a satisfied grin. ¡°Deal.¡± Flynn grabbed a bottle of mineral water, clinked it with Anastasia¡¯s, and said, ¡°Cheers! The water suddenly felt like liquor. Taking a sip of his water, he asked, ¡°My big bro pulled the wool over your eyes for so long, aren¡¯t you pissed? Did you let him off the hook just like that? Did you use that onion trickst night? If it were me, I¡¯d make sure Herman gets his just desserts, wouldn¡¯t let him get away with such deception.¡± Anastasia gave him a thumbs up. ¡°You¡¯re definitely your brother¡¯s kin.¡± you. Flynn, ever the social butterfly, chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m riled up for you. But damn, you¡¯re really forgiving. You let Herman off the hook so fast. He used to fret that you¡¯d ditch him if you found out the truth.¡± Anastasia chuckled, ¡°Even though I only finished high school, I¡¯m not a dummy. I married a freaking billionaire, and there¡¯s no way in hell I¡¯m divorcing him unless he¡¯s ready to cough up billions or even trillions. Otherwise, divorce is off the table.¡± Flynn looked at her in awe, giving her a thumbs up. ¡°You¡¯re a boss, I admire that.¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Turned out, all of Herman¡¯s worries were needless. Even though he knew Anastasia was just messing around, Flynn started to appreciate her more because she was real. Munching on some snacks, Anastasia said, ¡°This isn¡¯t some melodramatic soap opera, I don¡¯t need to be all dramatic. Your brother being loaded is a good thing. I¡¯m not giving up my position as Mrs. Salstrom. Loads of people would kill for this spot.¡± Flynn burst outughing. ¡°Howe I never noticed how funny you are?¡± Anastasia just chuckled and didn¡¯t say anything. She didn¡¯t care whether Herman was rich or not. As long as their marriage and love were intact, she wouldn¡¯t leave him because of materialistic reasons. Marriage was tough. She wasn¡¯t sure if she and Herman could make it till the end, but she cherished what they had now. Two hourster, they arrived in Willowbrook. Flynn grabbed their luggage while Anastasia walked ahead, dialing Herman to let him know they¡¯d arrived. She also sent him a video she identally recorded on the ne of Flynn stirring the pot. When Herman saw the message, he forwarded it to Flynn and texted him. [Your bank card is frozen.] Flynn, who was still hauling their luggage, felt helpless when he saw the message. Watching Anastasia walking ahead gracefully, he sighed, ¡°I really screwed up. Since when are brothers closer than husbands and wives? I was a fool to try and stir the pot.¡± Anastasia called out from up ahead, ¡°Flynn, hurry up!¡± ¡°I¡¯ming, I¡¯ming.¡± Flynn sped up, dragging the luggage, and catching up to Anastasia. ¡°My brother froze my bank card. I have to rely on you now.¡± Anastasiaughed, ¡°Your bro sure knows your weak spots. Here, this is a supplementary card he gave me. It has no spending limit, so use it as you wish.¡± This was the card Herman gave her in the morning. Flynn was over the moon. He couldn¡¯t stop grinning, ¡°You¡¯re the best.¡± Anastasiaughed. How could the shrewd Herman have such a naive little brother? He was given a p and then a candy, and still felt happy. She never knew Flynn could be so amusing. Now with the supplementary card, Flynn was even more faithful to Anastasia, like a pack horse. When they left the airport, Anastasia contacted Tavon. ¡°I¡¯ve arrived in Willowbrook. Send me the address.¡± Chapter 303 Chapter 303 Chapter 303 Anastasia was pretty frosty towards Tayon, her words icy and distant, treating him like a stranger. Soon, Tavon sent an address, a hotel address. Flynn, puzzled, asked, ¡°Anastasia, I remembered you saying your mom was sick. Why is she in a hotel and not a hospital?¡± ¡°Maybe she¡¯s faking it,¡± Anastasia guessed. She didn¡¯t seem to worry and was able to chat with Flynn happily on the way. I Looking at Anastasia with sympathy, Flynn asked, ¡°Are your parents tricking you?¡± Anastasia sighed helplessly. ¡°Every woman, no matter her age, gets pretty lost when they fall in love. Tavon was so eager for me toe to Willowbrook, so let me see what kind of man he really is.¡± Flynn was taken aback. ¡°Is that guy really your biological father?¡± Looking at the unfamiliar Willowbrook outside the car window, Anastasia responded, ¡°I¡¯ve never met my father. Some people can visit their father¡¯s grave, but I don¡¯t even have a picture of my father at home. How can I feel anything for him?¡± Flynn fell silent. That was a pretty harsh truth. Belongs to N?velDrama.Org - All rights reserved. The taxi arrived at the hotel. Anastasia looked up to see The Grand za Hotel. ¡°Flynn, do me a favor. Look up the Morton family¡¯s address, and see how far it is from here. Also, find out which hospital Sandy is in and how her condition is. After that, book a room here at The Grand za Hotel and text me to meet up. Is that too much to ask?¡± Flynn confidently replied, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Anastasia. Leave it to me. I¡¯ll meet up with you in an hour.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Anastasia said, feeling a bit guilty for dragging Flynn into her family issues. But she needed his help to dig up more information. ¡°No need to be formal, Anastasia. We¡¯re family.¡± Flynn grinned before hailing another taxi to gather the information. Watching Flynn¡¯s cab drive off, Anastasia felt a warmth in her heart. The Salstrom family was wealthy, but they didn¡¯t act high and mighty, there were no family feuds, and everyone got along. Maybe that¡¯s why they were able to raise someone as kind, attentive, and responsible as Herman. Taking a deep breath, Anastasia mentally prepared herself to confront Tavon and Ashley. From the start, she never believed Tavon could truly change. His eagerness to invite her over definitely had an ulterior motive. She walked into the hotel and found room 808 on the eighth floor, ording to Tavon¡¯s directions. After ringing the doorbell, Tavon opened the door shortly. Seeing Anastasia, he immediately started ming himself. ¡°Ana, it¡¯s my fault. I didn¡¯t take care of your mom properly.¡± ¡°How is my mom?¡± Anastasia asked, feigning urgency as she walked into the room with her luggage. Salma looked a bit pale, sitting on the bed. Seeing Anastasia, she looked uneasy. ¡°Ana, you¡¯re here,¡± she coughed a few times while speaking. ¡°Mom, what¡¯s wrong? Have you seen a doctor?¡± Anastasia asked with concern. ¡°I did, and just came back from the hospital,¡± Salma replied. ¡°The doctor said it¡¯s just me not adapting to the environment here. I¡¯ll be fine after a few days¡¯ rest.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been in Willowbrook for so long, and you¡¯re still adapting?¡± Anastasia looked at Tavon as she said this. Tavon immediately responded, ¡°It might be because the weather turned coldst night, and your mom might have caught a cold. Ana, stay with your mom. I¡¯ll arrange a wee dinner for you at The Regal Pte tonight, just a family gathering. Anastasia didn¡¯t beat around the bush. ¡°Who exactly is in this ¡®family¡¯ that Tavon speaks of?¡± Tavon seemed a bit awkward but quickly brushed it off with augh. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s our family. Your sister, your brother, and Ashley. We¡¯ll all have a nice meal together.¡± As he said this, Tavon was watching Anastasia¡¯s reactions, worried that she would refuse. He was quickly trying to find the right words to convince her, but Anastasia simply agreed, ¡°Okay, thanks, Tavon.¡± Chapter 304 Chapter 304 Chapter 304 Tavon was a bit surprised but didn¡¯t think too much about it. After telling Salma to get some rest, he arranged a room for Anastasia and then took off. Once Tavon was gone, Salma held Anastasia¡¯s hand and said earnestly, ¡°Ana, no matter what he does, he¡¯s still your dad. You always call him Tavon. That¡¯s not quite right. You guys are father and daughter, and I hope you can get along.¡± Anastasia sighed inwardly, feeling a sense of helplessness. Her mother¡¯s obsession with love was troubling. On one hand, Anastasia didn¡¯t want Salma to see Tavon¡¯s true colors, on the other, she was worried about Salma getting hurt. She wished Tavon had never shown up, then she and her mother could live peacefully. Changing the subject, Anastasia asked, ¡°Mom, do you want some fruit? I can peel it for you.¡± Salma nodded, understanding Anastasia¡¯s intention. As she peeled an apple, Anastasia casually asked, ¡°Mom, when do you n on going back? If you¡¯re feeling well, you should head back to Riverdale. You¡¯ve been living there a long tim. You should be able to adjust.¡± Without directly exposing Salma¡¯s fake illness, Anastasia¡¯s words still made one feel a bit uneasy. Salma, feeling a bit nervous, said, ¡°I¡¯ll stay a few more days. Since you¡¯re in Willowbrook, you can look around. Speaking of which, does Herman know you¡¯re here?¡± ¡°Uh-huh, he knows.¡± Anastasia replied, not ready to reveal to her mother Herman¡¯s true identity. Salma was currently smitten with Tavon and could easily spill the beans. Anastasia might not be in the business world, but she knew some things were better left unsaid. If Tavon found out Herman was the head of Elysian Technologies, he might get some ideas, and that would be a problem. Salma, oblivious to Anastasia¡¯s concerns, cautiously said, ¡°Ana, your dad was really happy you came to Willowbrook. He even prepared a wee ceremony for you. When you meet Sandy and Sean tonight, don¡¯t get into a fight with them, and no matter what Ashley says, don¡¯t take it to heart¡­¡± ¡°Mom, what¡¯s your real intention for wanting me to fit into the Morton family?¡± Anastasia interrupted Salma. ¡°If it¡¯s to help you reim what¡¯s rightfully yours, I won¡¯t hesitate to do it. But if it¡¯s just to please Tavon and them, I can¡¯t guarantee I won¡¯t do something they won¡¯t like.¡± Salma was taken aback, looking at Anastasia with her mouth agape, unable to find the words to say. ¡°I never wanted to fight with Ashley for anything.¡± Salma said. ¡°I just want you to get along with your dad and be epted by the Morton family.¡± Anastasia understood. Her mother had aplex about not being epted by the Morton family over twenty years ago, and now she was pinning those hopes on her. Anastasia hugged Salma tightly. ¡°Alright, I promise.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t want to me her mother for her foolishness and confusion; she was just full of pity. After spending some time with Salma, Anastasia went back to her own room with her luggage. She organized her stuff and checked the room for anything suspicious. She didn¡¯t trust Tavon. Flynn returned home before the wee banquet and gave Anastasia the news. ¡°I¡¯ve checked, the Morton family lives quite far from here, in thepletely opposite direction, about fifty kilometers away.¡± As Flynn sipped his water, he continued, ¡°I also asked about Sandy¡¯s condition. Her leukemia is very serious. They haven¡¯t found a suitable bone marrow donor, so her life could be at risk at any moment.¡± ¡°Tavon was lying after all.¡± Anastasia¡¯s heart went cold despite already knowing the truth. Tavon had previously lied to her, saying Sandy¡¯s condition was stable and didn¡¯t need her bone marrow, which was clearly a lie. Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Flynn said, ¡°I also found something else.¡± ¡°Well, spit it out, Anastasia urged. ¡°Tavon¡¯s son Sean is actually a bone marrow match for Sandy. They could undergo a transnt. But Tavon and his wife might not be able to bear it. After all, sacrificing their son¡¯s health for their daughter is a tough decision.¡± Anastasia felt like her heart was being torn apart. Tavon couldn¡¯t bear to sacrifice his own son, but he was willing to let her make the sacrifice? Chapter 305 Chapter 305 Chapter 305 Anastasia was dumbstruck. Being used by her own biological father, the feeling was beyond sad. Flynn asked, ¡°Anastasia, why did you have me investigate all this?¡± Anastasia let out a self-mocking smile, ¡°Do you know why Tavon tricked me into corning to Willowbrook?¡± Intrigued, Flynn asked, ¡°Why?¡± Anastasia shrugged. ¡°Sandy and I are half-sisters. There¡¯s a high chance we¡¯re a match.¡± ¡°Holy cow,¡± Flynn eximed. ¡°Is this something a father would do? Now that you know, what are we still doing here? Let¡¯s pack up and head back to Riverdale.¡± ¡°If I hadn¡¯te, how could I have seen Tavon¡¯s true colors?¡± Anastasia said nonchntly. ¡°No worries, let¡¯s just y along with them. No matter what happens, I have your brother.¡± Flynn chuckled, ¡°Anastasia, you¡¯re really thoughtful. Even if you stir up big trouble, my brother¡¯s got your back. I haven¡¯t had this much excitement in a long time, Anastasia, and I¡¯m kind of excited now. It¡¯s a good thing we came, let¡¯s go for it. If you need any help, just say the word.¡± Flynn was a guy who loved adventure and meddling in others¡¯ business. ¡°I used to always follow my brother around, no matter what mess I got myself into, my brother was there. He was always the one who got scolded when we got home.¡± Anastasia¡¯sment was just a joke, but Flynn took it seriously. Anastasia said, ¡°You¡¯ll stay in this room tonight.¡± ¡°Anastasia, that¡¯s not appropriate,¡± Flynn misunderstood. ¡°If my brother finds out we¡¯re sharing a room, he¡¯ll beat me up.¡± ¡°What on earth are you thinking?¡± Anastasia shot Flynn a nce. ¡°I¡¯m worried Tavon might try something tonight. You stay here, and I¡¯ll take the room next door.¡± Flynn, ¡°Anastasia, you¡¯re so good to me.¡± He was being used as bait. Anastasia chuckled and patted Flynn¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Of course.¡± Flynnughed awkwardly. ¡°Anastasia, I really appreciate it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± Flynn was left feeling a little psychologically scarred. -The Regal Pte. 8 p.m. Anastasia and Salma were already waiting in the banquet hall. Tavon had ordered the food and kept checking his phone. He had already exined to Anastasia four times, ¡°Anastasia, just a little longer. Ashley and your siblings will be here soon. They were caught in traffic. Your sister isn¡¯t feeling well, so they¡¯re a bitte.¡± Salma also feared Anastasia would be angry and the father-daughter rtionship would worsen, so she chimed in, ¡°Anastasia, if you¡¯re hungry, have some fruit. They¡¯ll be here soon.¡± Anastasia, nonchntly sipping her water, said, ¡°No rush, we¡¯ll wait.¡± The calmer Anastasia was, the more nervous Tavon felt. Salma, however, thought Anastasia truly wasn¡¯t upset or in a hurry, and breathed a sigh of relief. Anastasia said nothing, just yed with her phone, and leisurely sipped her water.N?velDrama.Org ? content. Tavon had managed topletely change Salma¡¯s attitude in such a short period of time, getting her to speak on his behalf. Even though Anastasia felt ufortable, she couldn¡¯t do anything about it. Anastasia was currently chatting with Herman via WhatsApp. Herman. [Darling, have you had dinner?] Anastasia. [Not yet, I¡¯m still waiting for someone.] Herman. [Flynn talked to me about some things. Take care of yourself ande to me if anything happens.] Seeing Herman¡¯s message made Anastasia feel a lot better, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up slightly. Tavon saw Anastasia smiling and tried to get closer by asking, ¡°Anastasia, do you want anything else to eat? Shall we order some more dishes?¡± ¡°No need.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t actually n on eating the dishes because they were almost cold, and Ashley still hadn¡¯t arrived. Anastasia understood that this was intentional on Ashley¡¯s part. Anastasia thought it was quite amusing. She thought she could get me to save Sandy, and she still wanted to intimidate me? What was she thinking? Just as she finished speaking, the door to the private room was pushed open, and Ashley¡¯s voice came in, ¡°Sorry we¡¯rete, there was traffic. Anastasia, you¡¯re not mad, are you? Sandy, Sean,e meet your sister, Anastasia,¡± -Anastasia turned her head to look at the three peopleing in. Ashley was apologizing, but her expression showed no remorse. Ashley was holding a girl who wasn¡¯t much younger than her, and looked about twenty. Her hair had been shaved off due to chemotherapy, and she was wearing a hat. Her face was pale, and she was so thin she was unrecognizable. This was Sandy. And the man standing next to Sandy, who looked a lot like Tavon, was Sean. L This was the first time Anastasia had seen Sandy, a girl who looked like she could die at any moment, a sight that stirred deep sympathy. Little did Anastasia know at the time, that this girl would be the biggest nightmare of her life. Chapter 306 Chapter 306 Chapter 306 While Anastasia was checking out Sandy, Sandy was also sizing up Anastasia. Before they met, Ashley had mentioned Anastasia to Sandy and Sean, her siblings, but his description was pretty one- sided, saying she was the daughter of their dad, Tavon¡¯s old me. Sandy called Anastasia ¡°sister¡± in a gentle way. Her voice was as pleasant as wind chimes. She had a unique face and refined features. She had an oddly attractive look of having been sick, and if her spirits were a bit higher, she¡¯d definitely be a knockout. Sean was a bit standoffish, only ncing at Anastasia and not bothering to say hello. Anastasia didn¡¯t have any emotional attachment to these siblings. They were Tavon¡¯s kids, but not by the same mom. It was good enough that she didn¡¯t have any bias against them. If Salma wasn¡¯t there, she wouldn¡¯t be caught dead in the same room with them. Ashley helped Sandy sit down and was not exactly thrilled, but she put on a smile and said, ¡°You guys aren¡¯t familiar with each other yet. You¡¯ll get to know each other better over time. Let¡¯s eat. Anastasia, is this your first time in Willowbrook? This restaurant is one of the best in Willowbrook, and super high- end. Bet you¡¯ve never had this dish. Give it a try,¡± The moment she said that she basically painted Anastasia as a country bumpkin who hadn¡¯t seen much of the world. Anastasia didn¡¯t want to give Ashley the satisfaction and replied with a smile, ¡°Willowbrook is indeed a beautiful ce, and the people here are all very confident. Ashley, you¡¯re particrly cocky.¡± Ashley¡¯s smile froze instantly. Seeing their mom being mocked, Sean chimed in with a frown, ¡°Respecting your elders is basic manners.¡± Anastasia responded, ¡°I totally agree with you. The Morton family¡¯s etiquette is truly impressive. My mom is here, who should be your family, too, right? Howe I didn¡¯t hear you guys greet her?¡± Anastasia couldn¡¯t stand the hypocrisy of this family, and she didn¡¯t shy away from calling them out. Sean was so riled up by Anastasia¡¯s words that he was about to retort when Sandy gently tugged at his sleeve and then softly greeted Salma. Ashley¡¯s face turned sour instantly, but what could she say when it was her daughter who spoke? If it wasn¡¯t for the hope that Anastasia could help her daughter, she wouldn¡¯t be sitting at the same table with Salma. Salma felt a bit awkward and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so polite.¡± Caught off guard by Anastasia¡¯s sharp tongue, Tavon didn¡¯t know what to say. Sean was annoyed and unwilling to greet Salma, not even understanding Sandy¡¯s behavior. ¡°Why did you speak to that woman¡­¡± Before Sean could finish, Sandy started coughing and looked quite weak. Sean immediately said with concern, ¡°I¡¯ll take you back to the hospital.¡± Sean, who was only a year older than Sandy and just returned from abroad, loved his little sister dearly. Seeing her look so pale, his goodwill towards Anastasia dwindled. He didn¡¯t n on acknowledging this half-sister who suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Sandy shook her head and said sensibly, ¡°It¡¯s sister and mom¡¯s first time in Willowbrook, and we should be polite. Sit down.¡± Sean didn¡¯t understand why his sister would do this, Tavon also said, ¡°Sean, sit down. It¡¯s time to eat.¡± Ashley also gestured to Sean, who sat down with a frown. Anastasia didn¡¯t care about what this family thought, whether they were putting on a show or whatever. She was already digging into her meal, even serving Salma some food. ¡°Mom, eat.¡± Tavon picked up his fork and said with a smile, ¡°Let¡¯s eat. We¡¯re all h¨¨re, and it¡¯s the first time we¡¯re all sitting down for a meal together. Let¡¯s toast to that.¡± Tavon was acting like the head of the family, but Anastasia didn¡¯t even give him a second nce, she was ignoring them and just focusing on her meal. Everyone raised their sses, Salma saw that Anastasia made no move to do the same, so she nudged her with her elbow to give her a hint. Anastasia smiled and said, ¡°You guys go ahead, I¡¯m good.¡± She didn¡¯t want to y happy families with them. As for how Tavon was going to convince her mom to ept this reality, she couldn¡¯t care less. If they expected her to just ept them as family and bluntly acknowledge this family, that was never going to happen.Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024. Chapter 307 Chapter 307 Chapter 307 N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Anastasia¡¯s words left Tavon blushing from ear to ear. Throughout the night, Anastasia maintained a poker face. Tavon put down his ss and said, ¡°Anastasia, we all wee you to Willowbrook, Ashley, your siblings, and I. I specifically reserved this restaurant to celebrate your arrival. Can¡¯t you see our good intentions?¡± Seeing Tavon getting heated, Salma started to feel uneasy. She kept shooting Anastasia nces while trying to exin to Tavon, ¡°Anastasia just arrived, and she¡¯s not quite familiar with¡­¡± ¡°Mom, could you pop downstairs and grab me some pads?¡± Anastasia interrupted Salma, with a smile. She couldn¡¯t stand seeing her mom groveling in front of Tavon, so she used this excuse to get Salma to leave. Salma knew exactly what Anastasia was up to, but she worried about leaving Anastasia alone. She looked at Tavon hesitantly. Anastasia took Salma¡¯s hand and smiled. ¡°Mom, could you help me out? You know what brand I usually use.¡± ¡°¡­Alright then.¡± Salma had no choice but to leave. After Salma left, Anastasia gave everyone at the table a cold look. Ashley¡¯s face was full of smugness and contempt. Sean looked displeased, while Sandy sat weakly in her chair, expressionless. Anastasia said, ¡°Today is indeed a rare, good day, so let me clear the air. Tavon, do you really want me to ept you as my father? If we don¡¯t sort this issue out, we won¡¯t be able to enjoy this meal.¡± Tavon responded immediately, ¡°You are my daughter, so of course, you should ept me as your father. Is there any doubt about that?¡± ¡°Good,¡± Anastasia nodded. ¡°Then I have three conditions. If Tavon can agree to them, I¡¯ll ept you as my father. You left me and my mom 25 years ago, and now youe back expecting to reap the benefits. Does that seem fair to you?¡± Anastasia¡¯s blunt words made Tavon¡¯s face turn beet red. He nced at Ashley subconsciously, who sneaked a look at Tavon. She was very concerned about Tavon¡¯s past rtionship with Salma. Anastasia¡¯s boldness also took Sandy and Sean aback. Tavon said, ¡°Anastasia, whatever conditions you have, say them.¡± Anastasia said straightforwardly, ¡°First, I want to split the family property. I don¡¯t want any shares or houses, just convert them all into cash and put it into my ount. I only want a third.¡± This first condition was uneptable to Ashley. ¡°That¡¯s not possible, Anastasia, you¡¯re being too greedy. You just arrived, and you want a third. That¡¯s me and your father¡¯s property.¡± Sean also turned pale. ¡°You¡¯re clearly here for the money. A split is impossible.¡± Sandy didn¡¯t say anything and just lowered her eyes, obviously interested in Anastasia¡¯s next condition. Tavon didn¡¯t respond. Anastasia ignored Ashley and Sean¡¯s reactions and continued, ¡°Second, I want a family recognition banquet and a public announcement in the media that I am the eldest daughter of the Morton family. Third, a public apology to my mother in the media.¡± When these three conditions were put forward, Tavon felt extremely ufortable, as if he had swallowed a fly. Except for the second condition, he couldn¡¯t fulfilly any of them. Ashley suddenly stood up and said, ¡°That¡¯s impossible. None of these three conditions can be met, Anastasia. We¡¯ve already helped you find your roots, and that¡¯s good enough. You¡¯re not satisfied. We gave you shares and houses. Don¡¯t be greedy. Anastasia sneered at Tavon. ¡°Tavon, can¡¯t you fulfill them?¡± ¡°Anastasia, I¡­¡± Tavon looked embarrassed, ¡°Thepany¡¯s funds are tight, many projects are waiting for funds, If we take out a third all at once, it might cause thepany to go bust. Holding a family recognition banquet, acknowledging you as the eldest daughter of the Morton family, I can do that. But the others, could you reconsider?¡± Chapter 308 Chapter 308 Chapter 308 Three demands, and two got rejected. That was like giving her a promise with no guarantees. Anastasia wasn¡¯t surprised at all. If Tavon had actually agreed, now that would¡¯ve been a shock. She stood her ground, ¡°Three demands, nopromise. I¡¯m outta here if there¡¯s nothing else.¡± Seeing Anastasia about to leave, Ashley quickly signaled Tavon. But he remained silent. Ashley stopped Anastasia, taking matters into her own hands, ¡°I can agree to your three demands, but we have one too. You have to get typed and donate your bone marrow to Sandy.¡± Their true intentions had finallye out. Anastasia smirked, ¡°Now it¡¯s you guys, the Morton family, who want me in. Not the other way round. You¡¯re not in a position to haggle. I have nothing to lose.¡± Seeing Anastasia¡¯s refusal to give in, Ashley was at a loss. She blurted out, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re not tempted by the Morton family¡¯s wealth. Think about how much money is a third of the property. You¡¯ll never make that much in your lifetime.¡± Compared to the Salstrom family¡¯s assets, the Morton family¡¯s wealth was nothing. Even without the Salstroms, Anastasia had never considered leeching off the Mortons. She just wanted to show them the hard-way. When Ashley suggested Anastasia donate her bone marrow, a glimmer of hope sparked in Sandy¡¯s glum eyes. Her illness could take her life at any moment, and she was only twenty. She wanted to live. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Tavon tried to persuade her, ¡°Ana, if you agree to Ashley¡¯s request, I¡¯ll meet your three demands.¡± Anastasia retorted, ¡°What if I don¡¯t?¡± Tavon resorted to the family card, ¡°Ana, look at Sandy. She¡¯s only twenty and she¡¯s so young. She calls you ¡®sister¡¯. Can you bear to see her die?¡± Anastasia was unmoved,pletely indifferent to Sandy¡¯s violent coughing, which made her face turn red. Sean hurriedly poured some water, with Ashley getting all flustered. ¡°Sandy, don¡¯t scare Mom.¡± Ashley pleaded with Anastasia, ¡°I¡¯m begging you. Please! I¡¯ll kneel for you. Anastasia, please save my daughter.¡± Even though Ashley was begging, her tone was murderous. Anastasia found it ridiculous, as if she was responsible for Sandy¡¯s illness. As Ashley was about to kneel, Anastasia didn¡¯t stop her. She just watched Ashley¡¯s theatrics, certain that Ashley wouldn¡¯t kneel. Seeing Anastasia¡¯s indifference, Ashley was at a loss. She didn¡¯t know how to end this awkward scene, and nobody was stopping her. Ashley was extremely upset. At this point, Sean stepped in, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t beg her. It¡¯s no use.¡± Sandy, weakly leaning on the chair, added, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t force her. She has no obligation to save me.¡± ¡°Finally someone gets it, I have no responsibility to help you.¡± Anastasia turned to Sean, taunting him, ¡°You¡¯re a man. If you care so much about your sister, why don¡¯t you save her yourself? Your bone marrow is a perfect match for Sandy. You can save her too. Why are you begging me who is a stranger?¡± Her words left the Mortons in shock. Tavon and Ashley looked panicked, while Sean and Sandy were dumbfounded. The fact that Sean¡¯s bone marrow was a match for Sandy was news to them. Ashley and Tavon had kept them in the dark. Sean looked at his parents, questioning, ¡°Dad, Mom, is it true that my bone marrow matches with Sandy¡¯s? Can I save her? Didn¡¯t you say our types didn¡¯t match?¡± Sandy understood from their parents¡¯ panicked expression. They didn¡¯t want her brother to save her. They¡¯d rather watch her die and suffer in pain, than have their son donate his bone marrow. At that moment, Sandy¡¯s heart was filled with hatred. In their parents¡¯ eyes, her life was less important than her brother¡¯s health. People were selfish. The hatred in her heart was real. Chapter 309 Chapter 309 Chapter 309 Anastasia had no clue that Sean hadn¡¯t been informed about the sessful matching for the transnt. Looking at the four different faces in the room, Anastasia lost interest in sticking around. She thought, let them deal with this mess on their own. ¡°I don¡¯t think I need to stay for dinner considering the circumstances.¡± Anastasia said, ¡°I¡¯ll get going.¡± With that, she left. When she reached the door, she saw Salma who had returned earlier. In reality, Salma had never left. She was lingering at the door, keeping an eye on Anastasia and listening to the sounds inside the room. Salma¡¯s eyes were red-rimmed. She had finally seen Tavon for who he really was and it was too much for her to bear. Tavon¡¯s real reason for inviting Anastasia to Willowbrook was to get her to donate bone marrow. Anastasia didn¡¯t say anything; she just silently took her mother¡¯s hand and left. Back in the private room. Anastasia¡¯s words had thrown the family into turmoil. Ashley quickly tried to exin, ¡°Sean, Anastasia is trying to pit us against each other. She¡¯s lying to you. Sandy, don¡¯t believe what Anastasia said. We love you so much, and we would never not try to save you.¡± Ashley was scared that Sandy would me her for standing by and doing nothing. She could be selfish, but she couldn¡¯t let her daughter know that. Tavon added, ¡°Sandy, don¡¯t worry. Daddy will find a suitable bone marrow donor for your surgery.¡± Sandy didn¡¯t say anything, she just quietly nodded. Sean didn¡¯t believe their words. ¡°Let me and my sister get tested again.¡± He said. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you two to get tested again.¡± Ashley replied anxiously. She was worried her son would impulsively try to save his sister. She signaled to Tavon, ¡°Take Sandy back to the car. I¡¯ll settle the bill with Sean.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Tavon helped Sandy up and said, ¡°Daddy will take you back to the car. Once you¡¯re recovered, Daddy will take you anywhere you want to go and get you anything you want to eat.¡± And with that, Tavon took Sandy away, leaving Ashley and Sean alone in the private room. Sean wasn¡¯t a fool. He knew his parents hadn¡¯t been truthful. ¡°Mom, can I save Sandy?¡± He asked, ¡°If you won¡¯t tell me the truth, I¡¯ll get tested with her again.¡± ¡°Sean, you stubborn kid.¡± Ashley said angrily, giving Sean a light smack, ¡°I won¡¯t let you donate bone marrow. It can harm your health. You¡¯re still so young. What if -something happens to you? Drop it. I¡¯ll find a way to get Anastasia to donate her bone marrow. You don¡¯t need to save Sandy.¡± It became clear to Sean what his mother¡¯s real intentions were. He was in disbelief, Mom, Sandy is my own sister. She could die any minute. I can save her and you¡¯re telling me to do nothing? Don¡¯t you think this is unfair to Sandy?¡± ¡°I only have one son.¡± Ashley responded sternly, ¡°I said no, so don¡¯t bring this up again. You¡¯re my son and your health is the most important thing. Donating bone marrow can have serious side effects. It could affect your future and even shorten your life. I can¡¯t let you sacrifice yourself for your sister!¡± ¡°Donating bone marrow won¡¯t kill me. I¡¯m young and healthy. It wouldn¡¯t be a big deal to donate some marrow. Even if it shortens my life a few years, it¡¯s worth it. Sandy¡¯s life is hanging by a thread.¡± Sean retorted. He didn¡¯t particrly like Anastasia, but he was very close to Sandy. He couldn¡¯t bear to see his sister in danger. That was why Tavon and Ashley had been hiding the matching results from Sean. ¡°Enough, this discussion is over.¡± Ashley said firmly, ¡°Your sister doesn¡¯t need your help. If you bring this up again, you¡¯re just troubling your father and me.¡± ¡°Mom.¡± Sean sighed helplessly and stormed out. On the way back to the hospital, Sandy acted like nothing had happened. As long as she had the energy, she would endure the pain and chat happily with her family. This made Sean even more upset. He couldn¡¯t bear to look at Sandy. He felt guilty and sad. When they arrived at the hospital, Sandy took her medication obediently and went to bed. She spent more time in the hospital than at home, all year round. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Several times, Sean wanted to say something, but Ashley kept him silent. Ashley smiled at Sandy, ¡°Rest well, Sandy. We¡¯lle and see you again tomorrow.¡± Ashley hired a caregiver for Sandy. Since Tavon had his own business to take care of and she couldn¡¯t stay at the hospital all day, Sandy spent most of her time with the caregiver. Ashley could only visit during the day. Sandy nodded and smiled, ¡°Okay, you guys should go home.¡± Sean looked at Sandy and said with difficulty, ¡°Sandy, you will get better.¡± Sandy smiled, ¡°Brother, I want to get better soon too. I want to go with you to see fashion shows like you promised. I also want to see the snow and the sea of clouds. We have so many things to do.¡± ¡°Alright, I promise. Once you¡¯re better, I¡¯ll take you there.¡± Sean said, his heart aching. Seeing Sandy¡¯s determination to live and her hopes for the future, he was even more determined to save her. ¡°Okay.¡± Sandy was as obedient as ever, and appeared very sensible. Sean gently touched Sandy¡¯s head, ¡°Rest well. I¡¯m going home.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Sandy still smiled, not mentioning the bone marrow donation at all. The three of them all left. The caregiver brought Sandy some water, ¡°Sandy, here¡¯s your water.¡± ¡°Get out¡± Sandy¡¯s face darkened in an instant, a stark contrast to the bright smile and obedient demeanor she exhibited just moments ago. The caregiver, frightened by Sandy¡¯s look, quickly exited the room. Sandy sat alone on the hospital bed. Her hands were gripping the sheets tightly, while her eyes were filled with defiance and hatred. Her parents refused to save her, and now her brother was her only hope. She had to grasp it. Sandy knew how kind-hearted Sean was, and she knew her parents disapproved of Sean donating his bone marrow. She had no choice but to feign weakness to win her brother¡¯s sympathy. She wanted to live. Even if it meant sacrificing her brother¡¯s health, she needed to survive. Her brother would only be sacrificing his health, but if she didn¡¯t seize this opportunity, she¡¯d lose her life. Chapter 3uy After leaving the hospital, Ashley and Tavon felt uneasy. Ashley then spoke to Tavon in a menacing tone, ¡°If Anastasia doesn¡¯t agree, we¡¯ll just have to force her. I need her bone marrow. Let¡¯s see how she fights back.¡± Ashley¡¯s words were filled with resentment towards Anastasia. If it wasn¡¯t for what Anastasia said, how would Sean know about the match? Neither would Sandy, and she wouldn¡¯t have been so embarrassed in front of the kids. Tavon thought about the three conditions Anastasia proposed and felt that it would be difficult to handle, so they had to resort to other measures. ¡°Do whatever you think is best. Just don¡¯t make a huge mess.¡± Tavon reluctantly agreed. He had a certain status and influence in society, and he couldn¡¯t be the one to scheme against his own daughter. If word got out, his reputation would be damaged. Ashley sneered, ¡°Got it. I¡¯ve got a friend who runs a clinic. We can just take Anastasia there to extract her bone marrow. We¡¯ll give her some drugs and see what kind of fuss she can kick up.¡± Ashley already had a n in mind. Once Anastasia arrived in Willowbrook, she wouldn¡¯t be able to leave so easily. Willowbrook was her territory. Whatever she wanted to do to Anastasia, it was as easy as pie. Chapter 310 Chapter 310 Chapter 310 Anastasia and Salma returned to their hotel room. Salma remained silent, feeling a sense of shame when faced with her daughter. ¡°Mom, you barely ate anything at The Regal Pte. Do you want something to eat? You can rest after you¡¯ve had something.¡± Anastasia suggested, ¡°You could go and freshen up first.¡± Salma¡¯s leg injury had healed, and she could ditch the crutches. This broughtfort to Anastasia. Hesitantly, Salma spoke up, ¡°Ana, I¡¯m sorry. Your dad and I shouldn¡¯t have lied to you. I wasn¡¯t really sick.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know.¡± Anastasia responded lightly, ¡°Mom, just eat and rest. Don¡¯t think about anything else. We¡¯ll go back to Riverdale when you¡¯re ready.¡± For Anastasia, there was no rush. As long as she could help her mother work through this, nothing else mattered. Anastasia¡¯s reaction only made S¨¢lma feel more ashamed. Clenching her fists, she said, ¡°It¡¯s my fault. I let your dad fool me again. They really crossed the line. I thought your dad had changed, that he genuinely epted you. I didn¡¯t realize they were still after you.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t me yourself. You couldn¡¯t see his true colors twenty years ago. These people have be more cunning over the years. It¡¯s normal that you were fooled.¡± Anastasia shrugged it off. ¡°Ana, I can¡¯t ept this.¡± Salma couldn¡¯t bear it anymore. Who could stand being lied to over and over again? Emotions could change quickly. One minute she was deeply in love, and the next, she might be repulsed. Taken aback, Anastasia asked, ¡°So, Mom, what do you want to do?¡± She thought her mother would be devastated. After such a blow, she expected her mother to be in low spirits, sad and upset. Instead, Salma seemed to have found her fighting spirit. Hesitant, Salma asked, ¡°Ana, about taking one-third of the Morton family¡¯s fortune, can you make that happen?¡± Anastasia looked up, stunned, ¡°Wait, Mom, are you serious? I was just throwing words out there earlier, trying to get them to back off¡± ¡°I¡¯m serious,¡± Salma insisted, ¡°Your dad and Ashley have always looked down on others because of their wealth and power. The Morton family also looked down on me. Now I want everything they owe me. They brought this on themselves.¡± Anastasia digested her mother¡¯s decision, scratching her head. Whether her mother was deep in love or engrossed in her career, she always gave Anastasia a headache. Seeing Anastasia¡¯s silence, Salma pressed further, ¡°Ana, can you do it? You¡¯re Tavon¡¯s daughter. You should have a im. We could take them to court, right?¡± Salma¡¯s hopeful gaze made it impossible for Anastasia to refuse. ¡°Um, I¡¯ll consult with awyer first.¡± Anastasia said, ¡°Mom, as your daughter, I¡¯ll make sure justice is served.¡± ¡®Hearing Anastasia say this made Salma feel a little better. Salma enjoyed her dinner heartily. Anastasia was surprised by her mother¡¯s renewed spirit. When she returned to her own room, Herman called. Anastasia told him everything. ¡°Here¡¯s the scoop: after everything that¡¯s happened, my mom¡¯s full of fight. She¡¯s tougher than ever. You¡¯ll soon see a showdown between an ex-lover and a daughter against a sleazy man.¡± Hermanughed, ¡°I can¡¯t wait. Can I help in any way?¡± ¡°Tavon is crafty and stingy. Getting him to part with a third of his wealth is like asking him to give up his life. It¡¯s a tough sell.¡± Anastasia asked, ¡°Do you have any good ideas?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have any at the moment.¡± Herman thought for a moment, and said, ¡°However, your husband can potentially reduce the Morton family¡¯s assets by a third. Anastasiaughed, ¡°So, would that be like ying a prank on my own dad?¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t take this seriously. Such a n wasn¡¯t feasible. If it involved businesspetition, it would be moreplicated. And it wouldn¡¯t make Tavon truly feel the pain and realize his mistake. Chapter 311 Chapter 311 Chapter 311 When Herman heard Anastasia¡¯s voice over the phone, he couldn¡¯t help but miss her, even though he had just stepped out of thepany¡¯s main entrance. Getting to Willowbrook would be a two-hour journey, and it was just past eleven at night. There was still plenty of time. After hanging up, Herman issued orders to Nelson, who was next to him, ¡°Book a flight to Willowbrook now. No, make that a private jet. It would be faster. Get on it, Nelson.¡± Laughing, Nelson replied, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, your wife has only been gone half a day.¡±. ¡°Only half a day?¡± Herman retorted. It felt like an eternity had passed. Used to sharing his bed with his wife every night, Herman¡¯s heart was already in Willowbrook at the mere thought of sleeping alone tonight. ¡°I¡¯ll get right on it.¡± Nelson assured, ¡°Should I cancel your work schedule for tomorrow? Oh, and Christia from Willowbrook invited you over yesterday. Should we arrange a meeting?¡± ¡°Which Christia?¡± Herman asked. There were too many people in the industry for Herman to remember everyone. Nelson rified, ¡°Christia, the chairman of PowerSource Electronics, also known as the Iron Lady. She¡¯s invited you over three times now.¡± Herman remembered. Christia was a major figure in the business world: Her journey from: saleswoman to her current position was legendary, and there wasn¡¯t a person in the industry who didn¡¯t respect her. ¡°I¡¯ll give her a callter.¡± Herman decided, ¡°You take care of the rest.¡± ¡°Understood, Mr. Salstrom.¡± Nelson said. In Willowbrook, Anastasia was getting ready for bed but couldn¡¯t help worrying about Flynn next door. Now living in the room Tavon had prepared for her, the two had switched rooms. Changing into her pajamas, Anastasia knocked on Flynn¡¯s door. Flynn was about to go to bed when Anastasia appeared. ¡°Ms. Anastasia.¡± Flynn asked, looking puzzled, ¡°What¡¯s up sote?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s talk inside.¡± Anastasia entered the room first. ¡°Ms. Anastasia.¡± Flynn rushed to say, ¡°It¡¯s inappropriate for a man and a woman to be alone thiste at night. My brother would kill me.¡± ¡°Is there something wrong with your brain?¡± Anastasia rolled her eyes, asking, ¡°Don¡¯t you feel that something¡¯s off? I have a bad feeling Ashley and the others will make a move tonight.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong.¡± Flynn reassured her, ¡°I¡¯ve locked the door, and there are no surveince devices. Maybe you¡¯re just being overly paranoid. I know Tae Kwon Do, so I can handle myself.¡± ¡°Alright then, I¡¯m going back to my room. Call me if you need anything.¡± Anastasia instructed before returning to her room. Flynn went back to bed, not taking Anastasia¡¯s words too seriously. In the middle of the night. As Flynn was sleeping, two figures entered his room, using a spare room key. It was too dark to make out Flynn¡¯s face, but they could tell someone was in bed. After a quick nce at each other, one man put his hand over Flynn¡¯s mouth while the other held down Flynn¡¯s feet. Flynn woke up in a panic but quickly pushed away the man covering his mouth and threw him onto the bed. The other man was taken aback by Flynn¡¯s resistance. Seizing the moment, Flynn kicked the man away. ¡°So Anastasia was right. Come on, let¡¯s have some fun.¡± Flynn said, thrilled. It had been a while since he had a good fight. The two men were confused. They were told to look for a woman, so why was there a man here? Had they entered the wrong room? N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Seeing the situation go south, they tried to make a run for it. But they were no match for Flynn. In no time, Flynn had them both restrained. Unable to find anything else, he used bed sheets to tie them up, leaving only their heads exposed. After dealing with them, Flynn turned on the lights and called Anastasia, ¡°Anastasia, I¡¯ve caught two bad guys. Come take a look.¡± Chapter 312 Chapter 312 Chapter 312 Anastasia dashed over next door as soon as she got the call. She¡¯d been expecting Ashley to pull something tonight, and sure enough, she was right. She knocked on Flynn¡¯s door, asking, ¡°Where are they?¡± Flynn replied excitedly, ¡°Inside, I¡¯ve got them tied up with bedsheets.¡± Anastasia went in to see two guys. They were around thirty, trussed up by Flynn like a giant silkworm, practically cheek to cheek, just short of lips touching. But the kicker was, Flynn had stripped them both. Clothes and pants were tossed aside. Socks stuffed in their mouths so they couldn¡¯t make a sound. Anastasia rubbed her eyes and gave Flynn a side nce, ¡°Are you into this kind of thing?¡± Flynn hurriedly exined, ¡°Don¡¯t get the wrong idea. I was just worried they might have weapons on them. And it¡¯s a bit awkward for me to search them by myself, So¡­¡± Anastasia cut him off, ¡°So you stripped them naked.¡± She gave him a thumbs up, ¡°Nice one.¡± Now that the guys were captured, it was time for the interrogation. Anastasia sat down. They were wriggling in the sheets, making muffled sounds and trying to speak. Anastasia was going to remove what was in their mouths. But when she noticed it was socks, she pulled her hand back. The smell was too strong. She gestured to Flynn, ¡°Your turn.¡± Flynn chuckled, ¡°No problem, just tell me what to do.¡± Not wanting to touch the socks directly, Flynn used a tissue to remove them. Anastasia started the questioning, ¡°Who are you and who sent you here? If youe clean, I¡¯ll let you go. If not, you¡¯re off to the police.¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. The two guys were beaten up pretty bad by Flynn. Having had a taste of his wrath, they decided to spill the beans. One of them blurted out, ¡°I¡¯m Benny, thirty-two. We were hired and we¡¯ll tell you everything. Just don¡¯t send us to the cops.¡± The other guy quickly added, ¡°I¡¯m Clyde, thirty-one. I just got out of jail. If I go back in, I¡¯m done for.¡± His speech was slurred, making it hard to understand. ¡°Bonnie & Clyde?¡± Anastasia couldn¡¯t help butugh at the names, ¡°You guys are something.¡± Flynn burst outughing, ¡°Ha-ha, Bonnie & Clyde. That¡¯s hrious. The names suit you two perfectly.¡± Clyde stuttered, ¡°Not Bonnie & Clyde, it¡¯s Benny.¡± He slurred even more. Anastasia turned to Benny, ¡°Who sent you? What were you supposed to do?¡± Benny spilled the beans without hesitation, mentioning Ashley¡¯s name. ¡°Ashley, that woman paid me and my brother a good sum to kidnap someone from a hotel and drop them off in a car in the back alley.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t look surprised, while Flynn was fuming, ¡°So it was her. That¡¯s low.¡± Anastasia continued, ¡°Was there someone waiting in the alley? Then what? Where were they nning to take me? What were they going to do?¡± Both shook their heads, ¡°We don¡¯t know.¡± Ashley just told them to take her, nothing else. Just then, a phone on the floor started ringing. Anastasia nced at it and asked, ¡°Whose phone is this?¡± Benny replied, ¡°It¡¯s mine. Probably that woman is calling. She¡¯s definitely nudging us.¡± Anastasia picked up the phone, and said coldly, ¡°Tell her I have been taken and will be delivered shortly, got it?¡± Benny nodded, somewhat dazed, ¡°Got it.¡± After making this point clear, Anastasia gave Flynn a look. He took the phone and hit record. Flynn answered the call, put it on speaker, and held it up to Benny¡¯s ear. Ashley¡¯s voice came over the phone, ¡°Is the job done? Hurry up.¡± Chapter 313 Chapter 313 Chapter 313 Following Anastasia¡¯s instructions, Benny quickly replied to Ashley¡¯s nagging, ¡°All set,ing down soon.¡± ¡°Hurry up, don¡¯t get caught.¡± Ashley reminded him over the phone. ¡°Okay, okay.¡± Benny repeated. Seeing the right moment, Anastasia hung up. Benny turned to Anastasia and Flynn with a scared face, ¡°I¡¯ve done what you guys asked for, can you let us go now?¡± Clyde stuttered again, ¡°We didn¡¯t take any money or hurt anyone, and we did everything you asked. Can you let us go now?¡± Anastasia stood up, ¡°Hold your horses. There¡¯s one more thing I need you two brothers to do.¡± She had a n in mind. Flynn asked, ¡°Anastasia, what¡¯s your next move?¡± A determined glint shed in Anastasia¡¯s eyes, ¡°I want to see what Ashley is up to. This is the perfect crime evidence. How can I let it slip? Flynn, wrap Clyde in a sheet, you and Benny carry him down and take him to the back alley. If we¡¯re going to y, we hit it big.¡± Flynn immediately understood Anastasia¡¯s intentions. If they could prove that Ashley intended to kidnap Anastasia, Ashley would be toast. He picked up the sedative they¡¯d found on the brothers earlier, smiled at them and said, ¡°Sorry, guys. Then, Flynn injected Clyde with the sedative, leaving just Benny. Flynn warned, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to end up behind bars, you better cooperate. I¡¯m going to unwrap the sheet. You get dressed, and we¡¯ll carry him down together.¡± Benny quickly nodded, ¡°Okay, I promise to cooperate.¡± Anastasia waited at the foyer. Flynn untangled the sheet and Benny got dressed. The two then carried Clyde out. Clyde was tightly wrapped in the sheet, his face hidden. Flynn put on a mask and wore Clyde¡¯s jacket. Thanks to the dim lighting in the back alley, they wouldn¡¯t be easily noticed. Anastasia hid around the corner, where a car was indeed waiting, with Ashley inside. She snuck out her phone and started recording. Ashley saw Benny carrying someone down and wanted to check if it was Anastasia under the sheets, but Flynn shoved the person into the car, saying, ¡°I just saw hotel security on patrol.¡± Hearing this, Ashley didn¡¯t check any further and hurriedly said, ¡°Get in the car, and take her to Nurture Care Clinic on 10th Drive. Once she¡¯s delivered, you¡¯ll get your full pay.¡± After saying this, she got into a Mercedes parked nearby. Someone like Ashley would never ride in a commoner¡¯s car. Benny and Flynn got into the van, a bit tense, ¡°Are we really going?¡± Flynn gave Benny a nudge with his foot, ¡°Start driving. Let¡¯s see what she¡¯s up to at Nurture Care Clinic.¡± Benny started the van, following the Mercedes to Nurture Care Clinic. Anastasia decided to bow out, leaving the rest to Flynn. About half an hourter, they arrived at Nurture Care Clinic. Ashley knocked on the door, a middle- aged man opened it and said, ¡°Come in and bring the patient.¡± Ashley nodded, then waved at the van, signaling them toe in. Flynn exchanged a look with Benny, and together they carried the sedated Clyde into the clinic. Under Ashley¡¯s direction, they put Clyde on a makeshift bed at the back of the clinic. From the moment they entered the clinic, Flynn started secretly recording. Ashley and the middle-aged man were talking in another room, separated by half a curtain. Ashley urgently said to the man, ¡°Please, Sandy¡¯s in a bad way, she needs a bone marrow transnt ASAP. You can take as much marrow as you want from that girl, then get it matched. If it¡¯s a sess, schedule the surgery immediately.¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, everything will be fine.¡± The man said. Chapter 314 Chapter 314 Chapter 314 Ashley was desperate at this point, nning to extract Anastasia¡¯s marrow and then test for a match. If it was a match, she wouldn¡¯t have to go through this hassle again. Her n was to anesthetize Anastasia, extract her bone marrow stem cells, and use them to save her own daughter. That was why she had Tavon trick Anastasia intoing to Willowbrook. If Anastasia didn¡¯t cooperate, then she¡¯d use force. Flynn was hiding behind a curtain, able to hear the conversation outside. He was shocked since this was mental. If Anastasia hadn¡¯t foreseen all this and taken precautions, she might have been anesthetized by Benny and his brother. She would be sent to this quack medical facility to have her marrow extracted, losing it without even knowing. This was terrifying. Flynn was both horrified and angry. He had to take this evidence back to Anastasia. The clinic had a backdoor. Flynn didn¡¯t care about Benny and his brother at this point. He headed for the backdoor, intending to leave from there. Benny noticed Flynn¡¯s intention. He grabbed Flynn, saying, ¡°What are we gonna do if you leave, man?¡± ¡°The two of you can¡¯t handle one doctor?¡± Flynn patted his shoulder, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯re of no value to them. Your brother¡¯s anesthesia will wear off soon.¡± After that, Flynn immediately left through the backdoor. Just as he left, the middle-aged man and Ashley came in. Ashley noticed someone was missing and asked Benny, ¡°Where¡¯s the other one?¡± Benny was actually a real scaredy-cat. They usually only dared to steal small items and ended up spending months in the police station when caught. This time, they were so broke they couldn¡¯t afford food. Then Ashley showed up. She was a big spender looking for people and offering them 10k to kidnap someone. The two brothers weighed the pros and cons, figuring kidnapping wasn¡¯t much different from theft. They agreed. But now, Benny was scared. Faced with Ashley¡¯s question, he even stuttered, ¡°He¡­¡± ¡°What, you¡¯re also stuttering now?¡± Ashley frowned, ¡°Forget it. Get out.¡± Then, Ashley told the middle-aged man, ¡°Hurry up and do it before this bastard wakes up.¡± Just as the man was about to step forward, the person on the bed suddenly sat up. The sheet slipped off, and Clyde sat, looking dazed on the bed. Benny just finished his sentence at that moment, ¡°He is here.¡± Ashley was shocked by this sudden scene. When she saw it wasn¡¯t Anastasia, she screamed, ¡°Where is she? The person you were supposed to kidnap, where is she? Why are you the one here? Where¡¯s Anastasia?¡± Ashley¡¯s roar frightened Clyde and Benny. Clyde immediately slid off the bed. Benny stuttered, ¡°We don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°You two kidnapped her, how can you not know?¡± Ashley was livid, and she went pale as realization dawned, ¡°I¡¯m screwed. Anastasia, you dare to set me up.¡± The middle-aged man also looked serious, ¡°Ashley, this is tricky. If they have any evidence and use it against you, I won¡¯t escape the me either.¡± Hearing this, Ashley panicked even more and hurriedly questioned the two brothers, ¡°Did you tell that girl anything? Did you betray me?¡± The brothers answered in unison, ¡°We told her everything.¡± Upon hearing this, Ashley nearly passed out from anger. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. In the hotel. Anastasia was in her room. She had received Flynn¡¯s call and understood Ashley¡¯s intention. nning to kidnap her and extract her marrow at an unqualified and irregr hospital, such a vicious method was actually being used. It seemed that she had really underestimated Ashley before. Flynn had obtained the evidence. With this evidence, Anastasia could deal with Ashley as she pleased. After ending the call with Flynn, Anastasia didn¡¯t n to act immediately. Ashley would definitely have a sleepless night. Letting her suffer some psychological torment wasn¡¯t a bad idea. Anastasia turned off the lights to rest. Not long after falling asleep, she heard the sound of the door opening outside. Her heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Ashley had other ns and wasn¡¯t giving up? Thinking of this, Anastasia¡¯s heartbeat elerated. Her hand was already gripping the stun baton she had prepared in advance. Chapter 315 Chapter 315 Chapter 315 Anastasia¡¯s heart pounded like a drum. She could feel the footsteps of the person behind her getting closer and closer, so she dared not make any sudden movements and pretended to be asleep. Just as she perceived the person to be right behind her, she quickly whipped out her stun gun. With her eyes tightly shut, she overcame her psychological fear and swung it towards the other person. ¡°Ouch, honey, you trying to murder your own husband?¡± A familiar voice echoed in the dimness. Anastasia was taken aback, eyes fluttering open. ¡°Herman?¡± In the dim light, after adapting to this kind of illumination, she could also roughly make out the other person¡¯s facial features. Anastasia was bbergasted. ¡°How¡­ How could it be you?¡± Herman rubbed his arm that had just been shocked by the stun gun and looked at her with a helpless yet affectionate expression. ¡°Honey, that was quite a whack. You almost killed me.¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. The stun gun¡¯s potency was indeed significant; Herman¡¯s arm was still numb. Anastasia was startled out of her wits just a while ago, and now Herman was cracking jokes. She was fuming. She raised up the stun gun. ¡°Do you know that I could zap you to death? Don¡¯t you know you could scare them to death?¡± Anastasia was just bluffing; she wouldn¡¯t really use it. Herman chuckled. ¡°I missed you and thought to give you a surprise!¡± With that, he attempted to embrace Anastasia, only to identally bump into the stun gun again, letting out a hiss from the shock. ¡°Herman, let me see where you got zapped?¡± Anastasia was fraught with worry, she quickly switched off the stun gun, tossed it aside, and hurriedly checked if Herman was hurt. Herman immediately covered his arm, the actor in him kicking in. ¡°It hurts, I am numb, and I can¡¯t move anymore.¡± Anastasia fell for it and anxiously asked, ¡°Where does it hurt, let me see. Anastasia appeared somewhat at a loss, unsure whether he was really injured and, if so, how serious it was. The stun gun was pretty powerful. ¡°It hurts here.¡± Herman took Anastasia¡¯s hand and ced it on his chest, his eyes filled with deep affection. ¡°Missing you hurts my heart.¡± Realizing she was teased again, Anastasia stomped on Herman¡¯s foot angrily. ¡°If you do this again, believe it or not, I will remarry tomorrow.¡± Herman quickly cated, ¡°Alright alright, it¡¯s all my fault, I won¡¯t tease you anymore. I really missed you, and I couldn¡¯t sleep without you. I rushed over in the middle of the night to give you a surprise.¡± Anastasia rolled her eyes, ¡°Your surprise almost gave me a fright.¡± She nearly fell into Ashley¡¯s trap, and this jerk was scaring her at such a time. Wasn¡¯t he asking for a beating? ¡°Anastasia.¡± Herman¡¯s hand started to wander, his voice seductive. Anastasia, ¡°Stop being horny.¡± After such a long journey, wasn¡¯t it fair to expect a little bit of action? Without another word, Herman scooped up Anastasia in his arms. ¡°I am only horny for you.¡± To love someone was to crave their body; if the craving stopped, something was definitely wrong. Anastasia was both amused and exasperated. ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired. Go take a shower first.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s take a bath together.¡± Herman¡¯s voice was husky, ¡°I want to share a romantic bath with you.¡± ?? ? ? ? ? ? Anastasia was taken aback. Oh god, was this the same courteous Herman from before? Indeed, men were all the same. At the crucial moment, she said, ¡°Hold on, you don¡¯t have protection.¡± ¡°Do we still need it?¡± Anastasia herselfughed, it seemed they didn¡¯t really need it. Both of them were infertile. Ever since they found out they were incapable of having children, their marital life had not involved using protection. It was aplete waste. Anastasia had a good night¡¯s sleep, but Ashley truly couldn¡¯t. Ashley felt a chill running down her spine, the thought of Anastasia possibly having evidence against her for kidnapping and bone marrow extraction sent shivers down her spine. Ashley returned to the Morton family in a huff, and quickly came to see Tavon. ¡°Tavon, I¡¯m doomed. I¡¯ve been set up by that wench, you have to save me.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Tavon was bewildered. This was the first time he had seen Ashley in such a panic. Ashley ground her teeth and said, ¡°That wench, I hired two idiots to kidnap Anastasia, nning to send her to Bruce and extract her bone marrow. But I was set up by Anasta, she knows everything. I didn¡¯t manage to kidnap her and my n was exposed. What if Anastasia uses the evidence to report me?¡± After hearing the whole story, Tavon had a headache. ¡°How could you be so foolish? Why would you hire such unseble people for such a thing. And how could you even show up in person? Isn¡¯t this just handing over the evidence? This is illegal.¡± Chapter 316 Chapter 316 Chapter 316 Ashley was filled with regret. ¡°I was just anxious and worried that if I entrusted this task to someone else, it might not be done well, so I took matters into my own hands,¡± Ashley admitted in a rush. ¡°Tavon, what do we do now? You have to think of something.¡± Ashley was scared, and he knew it. Tavon was aware of Ashley¡¯s plot against Anastasia, but he hadn¡¯t expected such a foolish tactic. ¡°Anastasia hasn¡¯t taken any action so far, and the police haven¡¯t shown up yet. It means she hasn¡¯t reported anything, so there¡¯s still a chance to turn this situation around,¡± Tavon analyzed. ¡°Even if you hand over the evidence to the authorities, the Morton family¡¯s influence would protect you. Plus, Anastasia shares our blood. No matter what, she¡¯s family. She wouldn¡¯t turn you into the police. However, this does mean she now has leverage over you.¡± Ashley let out a sigh of relief at the thought that Anastasia might not report her to the police. But soon after, she snapped bitterly, ¡°That cunning girl, she wouldn¡¯t be thinking of ckmailing us, would she?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not entirely impossible.¡± Tavon replied, puffing on his cigar. ¡°Anastasia is very cunning. Your failure today proves she¡¯s been suspicious of us and has been on guard. Smart girl.¡± ¡°You¡¯re even praising her now,¡± Ashley seethed. ¡°I knew that conniving girl wasn¡¯t as simple as she seemed. She dreams of getting a third of the Morton family fortune. In her dreams.¡± ¡°Now that we¡¯ve shown our true colors, the chances of her donating bone marrow to Sandy have vanished,¡± Tavon mused. ¡°We¡¯ll have toe up with another n.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve been waiting for so long, and we still haven¡¯t found a suitable bone marrow match. Do you actually expect to use our son¡¯s bone marrow to save Sandy? That¡¯s absolutely out of the question.¡± Ashley retorted in panic. ¡°Of course we can¡¯t use Sean¡¯s¡± Tavon agreed. ¡°Sean is my only son. I wouldn¡¯t risk his health to save our daughter.¡± Tavon was a the kind of man who valued sons over daughters. He could love his daughter, but his son was undoubtedly more important. Only a son would be able to carry on the family business and take the Morton family to the next level. Ashley was at a loss. ¡°What do we do now? We can¡¯t just let Sandy die.¡± ¡°Calm down. It¡¯s not over yet,¡± Tavon said, puffing on his cigar. ¡°If only Anastasia were a son. I¡¯d seriously consider epting her into the family.¡± Regretced Tavon¡¯s voice. Anastasia was clever, meticulous, and cunning. She was indeed so much better than Sean. Sean didn¡¯t have the habits of a spoiled child, but his abilities were just average. He wasn¡¯t cut out for business. However, if thepany had Anastasia¡¯s assistance, that changed everything. Thepany would remain in the Morton family, and Anastasia could work for them. After all, family was always better than N?velDrama.Org is the owner. outsiders. Upon hearing this, Ashley red up. ¡°Are you gonna ept her? Tavon, we built this family together. You cannot ept that cunning girl.¡± ¡°Rx, I was just thinking out loud. Go rest. I¡¯ll make a call to confirm if Anastasia has reported us¡± Tavon said, cating Ashley, who was still somewhat worried that Anastasia might have reported them. After Ashley left, Tavon truly considered the idea of epting Anastasia into the family. Sandy was weak, Sean was mediocre, but Anastasia was smart and resourceful, the perfect material for business. Tavon puffed on his cigar, contemting how to tame Anastasia, make her ept him as her father, and work for the Morton family. Compared to Sandy¡¯s illness, Tavon was more concerned about the growth of the Morton family¡¯s business. Besides, Anastasia was beautiful, and beauty was a woman¡¯s best weapon, making work more efficient. Tavon thought it over, deciding to work on convincing Salma. In his eyes, Salma was a foolish woman who could be easily swayed by sweet talk. The next day, Anastasia woke up pondering how to maximize her benefit from the evidence she held. Just then, the doorbell rang, and Anastasia went to answer it. Flynn entered with breakfast in hand. ¡°I brought you breakfast. I hope my service is satisfactory. I hope you¡¯ll put in a good word for me with my brother.¡± ¡°Thanks, that¡¯s nice of you,¡± Anastasia replied, taking the breakfast from him.¡± Flynn followed her inside, his gaze inadvertentlynding on a pair of men¡¯s trousers on the bed. His eyes widened in shock. At that moment, a man¡¯s voice came from the bathroom, ¡°Darling, can you bring me my clothes?¡± Flynn didn¡¯t immediately recognize Herman¡¯s voice. His eyes darted between Anastasia and the bathroom in horror. ¡°Anastasia¡­¡± Flynn was on the verge of tears. Was his sister-inw cheating on his brother? And she wasn¡¯t even trying to hide it? And he had to be the one to discover it? What was he supposed to do? He couldn¡¯t just ignore it, but should he really talk to his older brother about it? In a matter of seconds, Flynn had mentally yed-out an entire soap opera scenario. After giving the clothes to Herman, Anastasia returned to find Flynn looking troubled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± she asked. Chapter 317 Chapter 317 Chapter 317 Flynn looked like he¡¯d swallowed a fly. He stuttered, ¡°A¡­Ana, you¡­you¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Flynn? Catching the stutter virus from Clyde?¡± Anastasia teased, Get your tongue straight.¡± Flynn made up his mind and said, ¡°You¡¯re cheating on my brother, making him a cuckold, this is¡­ this is too much.¡± ¡°Too much what?¡± A voice suddenly echoed from behind. Turning his head, Flynn saw Herman. He was both surprised and relieved, ¡°Oh, brother, it¡¯s you! I thought she was cheating on you!¡± Anastasia and Herman both rolled their eyes. Herman pped Flynn on the back of his head, ¡°I think you¡¯re itching for a trip to the Wild West.¡± Anastasia picked up the breakfast, ¡°I¡¯m going next door to see my mom, you two brothers chat.¡± Flynn waved her off, ¡°Take care. Don¡¯t take my words to heart.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t respond. She didn¡¯t bear grudges with Flynn. After Anastasia left, Herman sat down for breakfast, ¡°What¡¯s the situation now?¡± Anastasia hadn¡¯t mentioned Ashley¡¯s scheme to Herman. Flynn blurted out everything in one go. ¡°Anastasia¡¯s stepmother is pure venom. They hired someone to kidnap sister-inwst night. And they even tried to extract her bone marrow for their own daughter. It¡¯s beyond outrageous. You must stand up for her.¡± Hearing this, Herman felt a pang of guilt and distress. No wonder Anastasia had been startledst night when he¡¯d snuck home. Herman asked gravely, ¡°Did you get any evidence?¡± ¡°I even recorded a video.¡± Flynn pulled out his phone, yed the video and showed it to Herman, ¡°HD quality, irrefutable proof.¡± Hearing Ashley¡¯s plot against Anastasia in the video, a sharp look shed in Herman¡¯s eyes. He reflected, ¡°Your sister-inw might have other ns.¡± Anastasia hadn¡¯t called the police and kept the evidence secret; she must have something up her sleeve. Flynn asked, ¡°So what should we do next? Should we reveal our identity as the Salstrom family? I bet the Mortons would think twice before messing with her.¡± ¡°You stay here and follow Anastasia¡¯s lead. Dailey is living next door; he¡¯s responsible for her safety. I have an appointment with Christia from PowerSurge Inc. I¡¯ll be going out for a while.¡± Herman didn¡¯t take Flynn¡¯s advice; Anastasia¡¯s opinion was primary in this matter. Anastasia took the breakfast and went to the next room to see Salma. Seeing Salma busy applying makeup in front of the mirror, she was curious. Anastasia asked, ¡°Mom, do you have a date today?¡± After so many years, it was rare for her to see her mother putting on makeup. ¡°Your father called me early in the morning to watch a movie.¡± Salma was full of energy, ¡°Ana, your mother was fooled so many times before. This time, I won¡¯t be foolish. Tavon owes us, and I will make him pay.¡± This was Queen Salma¡¯s moment. Anastasia didn¡¯t try to stop her. She leaned on the bathroom door, ¡°What¡¯s your n, mom?¡± ¡°Your dad thinks I know nothing. Let¡¯s keep it that way.¡± Salma applied lipstick and asked, ¡°Ana, do you think this color suits me?¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Salma had never really taken care of her skin, so even though she used to be pretty, her skin had deteriorated, and makeup didn¡¯t have much of an effect. For years, Salma had been doingbor- intensive work, her body was overworked, and her figure had changed. Anastasia felt sorry for her mother. She tried to recall a younger Salma from her memory, but it was blurred. To make Salma happy, Anastasia could only smile and say, ¡°It looks good. When my mom dresses up, she¡¯s definitely beautiful.¡± Salma smiled, ¡°That¡¯s good. Can you help me with my hair, Ana? Curl it a little, like big waves. That would look good.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Anastasia used a curling iron to style Salma¡¯s hair. With a new outfit, Salma looked quite good. Tavon had already called. Anastasia said, ¡°Mom, have some breakfast before you go.¡± *From now on, let your father pay for these meals.¡± Salma had decided, after so many years of hardship, it was time for Tavon to pay up. Anastasia couldn¡¯t help butugh. She didn¡¯t tell Salma about the previous night¡¯s incident. She personally walked her mother out of the hotel. 1 Tavon was waiting at the hotel entrance, dressed in a suit, and driving a million-dor Mercedes, looking like he was ready for a date. Anastasia stopped at the hotel entrance, ignoring Tavon¡¯s attempt to greet her and walked back inside. Tavon awkwardly pulled his hand back and smilingly opened the car door for Salma, Salma, I¡¯ve already bought the movie tickets. It stars your favorite actor.¡± Salma got into the car, ¡°I don¡¯t want to watch a movie anymore. The weather is getting chilly; let¡¯s go shopping for some clothes.¡± Tavon was taken aback. Salma had never asked him to buy anything before. Salma nced at him, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? No time?¡± ¡°No, not at all.¡± Tavon smiled, ¡°It¡¯s my fault for not considering it earlier. I should have taken you shopping for new clothes long ago. Let¡¯s go, you can buy whatever you want today.¡± Tavon was only being polite. He didn¡¯t expect Salma to really ask him to buy anything. However, Salma proved him wrong. She went on a full-blown shopping spree, piling up clothes to be packed. She also bought a lot of designer clothes for Anastasia. Salma didn¡¯t know brands. She only picked the expensive ones. As long as it hurt Tavon¡¯s pocket, it was fine. After buying clothes, Salma entered a jewelry store and picked a set of gold jewelry, a diamond ring, and a string of pearl. Salma always double ordered when shopping; one for herself and one for Anastasia. Tavon, having no say in the matter, simply footed the bill. As Tavon paraded through the city with Salma, unting their luxurious jewelry purchases, Ashley quickly received an anonymous tip-off. She too was a VIP customer of these jewelry stores and had her informants nted everywhere. Upon learning that Tavon had bought Salma jewelry worth millions, Ashley was instantly incensed and called Tavon. Tavon didn¡¯t dare to answer, he simply muted his phone. Salma noticed Tavon¡¯s little charade but pretended not to. Then she casually mentioned, ¡°Tavon, I find the air in Willowbrook very pleasant, and it¡¯s a great ce to live. Where is that house you said you bought for Ana? I have some free time today, and it would be a good opportunity to go see it and buy some additional furniture.¡± Hearing this, Tavon was delighted, ¡°Salma, are you and Ana nning to settle down in Willowbrook?¡± ¡°We¡¯re considering it.¡± Salma was now clever with her words, leaving Tavon hanging on her every word. At this, Tavon seized the opportunity to say, ¡°Salma, if you and Ana really settle down in Willowbrook, I¡¯d be so happy. Ana is smart. I n to let her help out in the Salma feigned cooperation, ¡°That would be wonderful. I¡¯ve also mentioned this to Ana. I hope we three can always be together.¡± What Salma meant by ¡®we three¡¯ was a subtle hint for Tavon to divorce Ashley. Tavon wasn¡¯t foolish, he understood her implication but he couldn¡¯t respond to it. How could he possibly divorce Ashley? Ashley¡¯s family was a great help to hispany, whereas Salma, frankly speaking, couldn¡¯t help him at all. Tavon pretended not to understand and said, ¡°Salma, my wish is the same as yours-a harmonious family. Shall we look at more jewelry and clothes?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s keep shopping. I saw a furniture store over there. Let¡¯s go directly.¡± Salma suggested, ¡°I¡¯ll buy the furniture for Ana¡¯s new house. She won¡¯t be able to say anything then.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good idea.¡± Tavon agreed, ¡°Let¡¯s go have a look.¡± They went to the nearby furniture section. Salma only looked at the expensive items, dining tables for tens of thousands, beds for hundreds of thousands. Tavon watched from the side. Although it pained him to spend so much money, he couldn¡¯t let it show on his face. It wasn¡¯t long before Salma spotted ¨¤ familiar figure entering the store.. ¡°Salma, you¡¯ve got some nerve, bringing my husband here to buy furniture. What are you trying to imply?¡± Ashley had furiously arrived. Salma had anticipated that Ashley would show up. Looking at the f¨²rious Ashley, Salma feigned surprise. She nced at Tavon and said, ¡°It was Tavon who brought me here. Don¡¯t you know that he bought a house for Ana? We¡¯re here to get furniture for Ana¡¯s new ce.¡± Salma¡¯s words sessfully added fuel to the fire, effectively deflecting Ashley¡¯s anger. Ashley immediatelyshed out at Tavon, ¡°What? Are you nning to have another family? That house was supposed to be for Sandy. How could you really give it to that brat? You¡¯re buying furniture and millions worth of jewelry, Tavon, is this how you treat me?¡± Ashley got angry and started saying whatever was on her mind. Tavon¡¯s face darkened, but he couldn¡¯t silence Ashley with his re. Ashley¡¯s outburst attracted the curious nces of both the furniture store¡¯s salesperson and the customers who were shopping for furniture. Tavon could only try to calm her down, ¡°Go home, why are you making a scene here?¡± Chapter 318 Chapter 318 Feigning ignorance, Salma asked, ¡°Tavon, what did Ashley mean by that? Isn¡¯t the house for Ana?¡± ¡°It¡¯s for Ana. Don¡¯t listen to Ashley¡¯s nonsense.¡± Tavon was in a tricky situation, unable to appease either woman. To keep Salma and Ana, he had to lie, ¡°Pick any furniture you like here.¡± ¡°Tavon,¡± Ashley tugged at Tavon and said in frustration. ¡°I¡¯m your wife. If you spend a penny on Salma, I¡¯ll divorce you right away.¡± Salma, feigning hurt, said, ¡°When I met Tavon, you weren¡¯t in the picture. You interfered in our rtionship, caused him to be separated from us. He left me and our daughter behind. Now he is trying to make up for it, and you can¡¯t stand it. Who should I seek justice from for the past twenty years I¡¯ve raised our daughter alone?¡± Salma was a master of passive aggression, drawing Tavon into the argument. Ashley, originally seen as the victim, was now perceived as the home-wrecker, making the gossip even juicier. Tavon was also surprised at how organized Salma¡¯s thoughts had be and that she was arguing with Ashley. Not only Tavon, but even Anastasia, waiting outside the store, was taken aback. Anastasia, Flynn, and Dailey were following behind, each holding a cup of smoothie, watching the drama unfold through the ss doors of the furniture store. Flynn asked, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you step in when your mom is getting bullied?¡± Anastasia calmly replied, ¡°I¡¯m her daughter. If I step in, it¡¯ll change the dynamics. Let mom vent for a bit.¡± Dailey took a sip of his smoothie and said, ¡°This is pretty good.¡± Anastasia directed, ¡°You two, go inside and support my mom from the crowd.¡± Flynn immediately understood, ¡°We need to sway public opinion.¡± They couldn¡¯t let Salma be ndered. Dailey¡¯s skills would be useful if needed. Now, both of thempletely followed Anastasia¡¯s orders. When she spoke, the two of them, holding their smoothie in one hand and their other hand in their pockets, casually went in as if they were just bystanders in the crowd. Ashley, provoked by Salma, retorted, ¡°You gold-digger, you were the one who pursued Tavon. You were after the Morton family¡¯s money. You deserved all that.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know whether Tavon was rich or poor when I met him.¡± Salma looked at Tavon and said to Ashley, ¡°If you don¡¯t believe it, ask him. He said that he wanted to marry me, and it was you who pressured him into marrying you. That¡¯s when he abandoned my daughter and me. I never married in my life and raised our daughter without any support. I didn¡¯t reach out to you. Now, it¡¯s you who havee to us, wanting to make amends for us.¡± Tavon, fearing his past would be dragged up, quickly interrupted, ¡°Ashley, go home. Don¡¯t make a scene. It¡¯s only right that I buy some things for Salma and Ana.¡± Flynn, blending into the crowd, defended Salma, ¡°Olddy, your own husband admitted that he¡¯s been unfair to this woman. She raised her daughter alone, it wasn¡¯t easy. She never asked anything from you. Now your husband¡¯s conscience has kicked in, and he wants to make amends. You¡¯re just a home-wrecker, being petty.¡± Flynn thenplimented Tavon, ¡°Man, it seems like you had quite the romantic adventures when you were younger. Poor woman here had it tough, so you can¡¯t be unfair to her.¡± Dailey chimed in from another side of the crowd, ¡°Why make life difficult for another woman? You¡¯ve had an easy life. This woman had it tough. She had been with him through hard times. A man could never betray women like that.¡± With Flynn and Dailey guiding the crowd¡¯s opinion, the onlookers started criticizing Ashley for being too harsh. Salma spotted Flynn in the crowd and was momentarily stunned. Although she didn¡¯t know when he had came, she knew she had to pr¨¦tend not to know him. Unable to withstand the public attention and criticism, Ashley turned red with anger and shouted at Tavon, ¡°So, Tavon, you¡¯ve been fooling me all along. You say Ana should donate her marrow to Sandy, but you just wanted to bring them here so you could y happy families, huh? You¡¯ve got it all figured out.¡± Tavon was exasperated, ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± Salma knew what Tavon was thinking, but she had to y along. She looked at Tavon, feigning belief, and said, ¡°Tavon would never use Ana¡¯s marrow to save Sandy. He said he would find another way. Ana has no obligation to donate. And besides, there¡¯s no guarantee Ana¡¯s marrow would match Sandy¡¯s. Tavon said he wanted to take care of me and Ana and make up for what he did.¡± Salma wasn¡¯t mistaken, Tavon had indeed deceived her with that exact words. In doing so, Tavon wouldn¡¯t suspect that Salma was doing it on purpose. Upon hearing this, Ashley immediately used Tavon of duping her. Sheshed out at him, ¡°Tavon, you ungrateful wretch! I should¡¯ve known better than to trust you. I knew it! You praise that girl in front of me, and you want to leave all the family¡¯s wealth to Anastasia, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°What are you talking about. Tavon was utterly bbergasted. N?velDrama.Org ? content. Before he could finish, Flynn chimed in from the crowd, ¡°Bro, I think this woman is the reasonable one. She¡¯s always gentle and calm. But look at the other one. such a hot-headed woman. No man can put up with that.¡± Dalley chimed in, ¡°Marry a virtuous woman, and prosperity follows for three generations. This woman on the other hand is such a fiery woman, she doesn¡¯t give her man any respect. You can¡¯t have a woman like that.¡± Wasn¡¯t a man¡¯s dignity everything in the outside world? From start to finish, Salma didn¡¯t make a fuss. She spoke gently and reasonably, showing aplete understanding of Tavon¡¯s feelings. In contrast, Ashley, fiery and hot-tempered, didn¡¯t leave any dignity for Tavon. Facing the whispers from people around him, he feltpletely humiliated. In his anger, Tavon pped Ashley to assert his authority, ¡°Look at yourself! If it weren¡¯t for you clinging onto me years ago and driving a wedge between Salma and me, Salma would be my wife now. She never quarreled with you; she didn¡¯t even ask for a dime. And you? You¡¯re always bitter and sarcastic. Get lost and stop making a fool of yourself.¡± Chapter 319 Chapter 319 Chapter 319 Tavon¡¯s p left Ashley dazed. They¡¯d been married for decades, and this was the first time Tavon had ever raised a hand to her. Ashley came from a strong family background. Tavon dared not touch her; he always appeased her. This time, however, he pped her in public, how could Ashley bear it? Tears welled up in Ashley¡¯s eyes as her anger surged, ¡°Tavon, I want a divorce.¡± After issuing this ultimatum, Ashley stormed off. Tavon¡¯s p brought a sweet satisfaction to Salma, who was also surprised. She deserved it for scheming against her daughter. From the perspective of the crowd outside the store, the rtionship between Tavon and Ashley was undoubtedly strained, and there was sure to be more drama toe. Tavon regretted his actions immediately after the p. But with so many onlookers, he had to save his dignity and not chase after Ashley. At this moment, Flynn praised Tavon, ¡°Well done, man. With a wife like that, I would have hit her a long time ago.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Dailey added, ¡°Sometimes a woman needs to be taught a lesson.¡± The bystanders agreed, ¡°She went too far and was too arrogant.¡± ¡°This woman seems to have had a tough time. It¡¯s not easy for a woman to raise a child alone.¡± ¡°Good women shouldn¡¯t be mistreated.¡± Tavon looked at Salma, a hint of guilt welling up in his heart. ¡°Salma, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve let you down.¡± Even if Tavon was sincere this time, Salma was no longer moved. However, on the surface, she pretended to be magnanimous, ¡°It¡¯s all in the past, Tavon. You should talk to Ashley. If she doesn¡¯t agree to let my daughter and me stay, we¡¯ll go back to Riverdale. I¡¯m leaving now.¡± After saying this, Salma left without further ado. Tavon wanted to follow her, but Flynn deliberately blocked his way and said, ¡°Man, good women shouldn¡¯t be mistreated. Don¡¯t regret it. A man who can abandon his wife and daughter is not a real man.¡± By the time Flynn finished, Salma was nowhere to be seen. The crowd gradually dispersed. When Tavon called Ashley, she hung up immediately. Tavon was regretful. As soon as he left the store, he received a call from Ashley¡¯s dad, Thomas, who scolded him. When he got home, Ashley had packed her bags and gone to her parents¡¯ house. Even their son Sean called to ask what had happened. Tavon felt as if he was being attacked from all sides. He tried calling Salma for somefort, but she didn¡¯t answer. He was trying to juggle two rtionships, and both had copsed. Salma returned to the hotel with Anastasia. After the incident, Anastasia knew what Salma was nning. She wanted to cause a rift between Tavon and Ashley. Salma was in a very good mood and gave all the jewelry she bought to Anastasia. Ana, keep these. When we get back to Riverdale, you can sell them or keep them. It will relieve some pressure on you and your husband, Herman.¡± Anastasia felt a mixed emotions, ¡°Mom, you¡¯ve been busy all day, and you¡¯re thinking about Herman and me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve consulted with experts, and those houses and shares can all be reimed. As for these pieces of jewelry, even if Tavon has second thoughts and wants them back, it won¡¯t be easy,¡± Salma said with a satisfied smile, ¡°Am I smart?¡± ¡°Very smart,¡± Anastasiaughed, ¡°Mom, Herman and I don¡¯t need these things. Today¡¯s incident has definitely caused a rift between Ashley and Tavon, but they probably won¡¯t divorce. What¡¯s your actual goal?¡± ¡°I know it¡¯s not easy to get your dad to divorce Ashley, and I¡¯m not really aiming for that. I just want to make them ufortable.¡± Salmaughed, ¡°I¡¯ve got quite a bit today. Ana, there¡¯s nothing interesting about Willowbrook. I think I should go back with you.¡± When Tavon hit Ashley, Salma realized that Tavon was selfish, and the person he loved the most was himself. If she stayed here, she would sooner orter be schemed against by Tavon, and it would also affect Anastasia. If anyone wanted to hurt her daughter, that was absolutely uneptable. Chapter 320 Chapter 320 Salma had a change of heart and wanted to go back to Riverdale, which surprised Anastasia. Just yesterday, she had been urging Anastasia to fight for her share of the family fortune. Now she was giving up? Anastasia couldn¡¯t stay in Willowbrook forever; she needed to return to herpany. Pattie had been with Katelyn all this time, and Anastasia missed her. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll ask Herman when he¡¯s going back,¡± Anastasia said. ¡°He¡¯s meeting a client and will be back later.¡± ¡°Is my son-inw here?¡± Salma recalled seeing Flynn at the mall and asked, ¡°Did hee with his cousin?¡± ¡°Herman arrivedst night, and Flynn came with me yesterday,¡± Anastasia said. ¡°And Flynn isn¡¯t Herman¡¯s cousin; he¡¯s his brother.¡± Now that Salma saw Tavon for who he was and wanted to return to Riverdale, Anastasia didn¡¯t see the point in hiding anything anymore. ¡°Real brother?¡± Salma was puzzled. ¡°How? Isn¡¯t Herman an orphan with no family?¡± Anastasiaughed, ¡°That was a lie Herman told. When we first met at Cafe Bliss, I had mistaken him for someone else. But he yed along and we ended up getting married. He¡¯s actually the head of Elysian Technologies, and Flynn is his real brother. His aunt and uncle are his real parents.¡± Salma was baffled, ¡°Ana, let me get this straight. Herman isn¡¯t who you thought he was, and his aunt and uncle are his real parents? Why does this family lie so much? And what does the head of Elysian Technologies do?¡± ¡°He¡¯s the CEO of a bigpany,¡± Anastasia exined. ¡°I didn¡¯t know that his aunt was my mother-in- law before, but now that I do, I should pay her a formal visit.¡± Salma didn¡¯t understand all of this, but when it came to Katelyn, she was quite pleased with her. ¡°You should definitely pay a visit. Now that you know, it¡¯s only right to pay her a visit as a sign of respect,¡± Salma agreed. ¡°His aunt¡­ no, your mother-inw is a good person and treats you well. I¡¯m relieved to see you have such good inws. But do they know about your past?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve only been honest with Herman,¡± Anastasia said. ¡°Herman thinks there¡¯s no need to bring up the past.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. You¡¯re living a peaceful and happy life now. There¡¯s no need to dig up the past and possibly upset your inws,¡± Salma agreed. Anastasia pursed her lips and said, ¡°I still need to find that child. We¡¯ll see when the timees.¡± ¡°Why are you so stubborn?¡± Salma sighed. Anastasia changed the subject, ¡°I¡¯ll text Herman and ask when he¡¯s done with his work.¡± She needed to find that child. If not, she would have regrets for the rest of her life. As long as Ashley and Tavon didn¡¯t cause any trouble, Anastasia wouldn¡¯t expose Ashley¡¯s kidnapping plot. But she would keep the evidence just in case. Anastasia sent Herman a text. At that moment, Herman was at an upscale club by the Willowbrook river, having tea with the chairman of PowerSurge Inc., Christia. Christia was especially enthusiastic about Herman¡¯s visit. She had cleared her schedule just to meet Herman/Christia was older than Herman, nearing forty. She was known as the Iron Lady in the industry and was as capable as any man. Yet, in front of Herman, she had no airs. ¡°Mr. Salstrom, I¡¯ve been looking forward to your visit to Willowbrook. I hope you¡¯ll stay for a few days and enjoy the scenery,¡± she said. Herman nced at the message from Anastasia and smiled at Christia, ¡°I appreciate your hospitality. Willowbrook is indeed a nice ce.¡± Christia was smart. She knew Herman didn¡¯te to Willowbrook for business, so she didn¡¯t bring up any work-rted topics. Building a rtionship was the priority. ¡°Next time, I hope you can bring Mrs. Salstrom and enjoy Willowbrook together,¡± Christia said. ¡°Definitely,¡± Herman replied, raising his teacup. ¡°But I¡¯ll have to invite you to visit Riverdale first. If you¡¯re free on the 8th of next month, do visit Riverdale.¡± Christia was well aware of Elysian Technologies¡¯ annual celebration. Being invited made her d. ¡°I will definitely visit Riverdale on the 8th of next month. Now it¡¯s the young people¡¯s world,, and I have much to learn from Mr. Salstrom,¡± Christia said modestly. Herman chuckled, ¡°You¡¯re too humble.¡± After receiving Anastasia¡¯s text, Herman didn¡¯t n to stay much longer. He even declined Christia¡¯s dinner invitation and excused himself. Christia stood up to see him off, apanying him to the club¡¯s entrance. Just then, the irritated Tavon arrived with a client to discuss business and happened to see Herman with Christia. In Willowbrook, there was hardly anyone who didn¡¯t know Christia. Tavon was quite surprised, ¡°How did he show up with Christia?¡± Christia was treating Herman with an unusual degree of respect, something no one in the Willowbrook had ever seen before. She even personally opened the car door for him. The man next to Tavonmented, ¡°Christia sure knows how to y her cards. I wonder what magic she used to invite the big shot from Elysian Technologies all the way from Riverdale. You have to admire a woman like that. If word gets out that she met with the CEO of Elysian Technologies, PowerSurge Inc. stocks will surely skyrocket.¡± Upon hearing this, Tavon gasped, ¡°The Elysian Technologies big shot? Where?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that the guy who just got into the car? Tavon, are you out of your mind? You don¡¯t even recognize the big shot of Elysian Technologies?¡± ¡°He¡¯s the Elysian Technologies big shot?¡± Tavon was stunned, finally realizing why Herman looked so familiar. Was Anastasia married to the CEO of Elysian Technologies? Was he the father-inw of the CEO of Elysian Technologies? Tavon was overjoyed to the point ofughing out loud, ¡°I can¡¯t believe that this kind of good thing could actually happen to me, hahaha.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Chapter 320 ¡°Tavon, what¡¯s gotten into you?¡± Tavon chuckled, ¡°That man is my son-inw. I am the father-inw of the CEO of Elysian Technologies.¡± The man joked, ¡°Tavon, you must be drunk. Your daughter is in the hospital. When did she get involved with the CEO of Elysian Technologies? Do you want your daughter to marry into the Salstrom family? You must be out of your mind. I heard Herman is already married.¡± Tavon ignored his friend¡¯s teasing and said, ¡°I have an older daughter. The woman Herman married is my daughter.¡± The man didn¡¯t believe Tavon at all, ¡°You must be drunk.¡± Tavon didn¡¯t bother exining anymore. He couldn¡¯t contain his joy and said, ¡°I have something to attend to. We¡¯ll talk about the tea ntation another time.¡± He needed to rush to acknowledge Salma and Anastasia now. As the father-inw of the CEO of Elysian Technologies, he had a powerful backing. Why should he worry about Ashley¡¯s family anymore? Chapter 321 Chapter 321 Chapter 321 These days, Tavon strutted around town like a peacock, eager to broadcast to everyone that he was the father-inw of the CEO of Elysian Technologies. Tavon instructed his driver to head for the hotel. His eldest daughter had never given him any trouble, and now she was delivering such a pleasant surprise. She was truly his golden girl. Just as they were leaving, Tavon¡¯s phone buzzed. It was his son, Sean, ¡°Dad, Sandy¡¯s critically ill. Get to the hospital, quick.¡± With a heavy heart, Tavon had to put the joyous news about Salma aside. Sandy was his daughter; he had to be there for her. ¡°Jordan, to the hospital. Fast.¡± Tavon instructed the driver. More than half an hourter, Tavon rushed to the hospital, only to find Sandy sitting well in the hospital room, while Sean was peeling fruits for her. Ashley, on the other hand, sat on the sofa with a serious expression, her eyes red, clearly having cried. Even Thomas and Geneva were there, waiting for him. It dawned on Tavon that this was a setup: It was a family intervention. He shot Sean a look of annoyance. His son had certainly thrown him under the bus. Sean, feeling guilty, avoided his father¡¯s gaze. Sandy, sensing the tension, remained silent, looking weakly at her father from her bed. As soon as Tavon appeared, Genevaunched into him, ¡°Tavon, when you married my daughter, you made promises. You¡¯ve been married to Ashley for over twenty years, and she¡¯s borne you two children! But now, you dare toy hands on her for some floozy? You owe us an exnation.¡± Thomas, leaning on his cane, chimed in, ¡°A real man doesn¡¯t raise his hand to his wife, Tavon. Don¡¯t forget the Morton family owes its prosperity to the Stantons.¡±N?velDrama.Org ? content. Tavon, not wanting to engage in a direct confrontation with his inws, turned his attention to Ashley. ¡°Ashley, you¡¯ve already caused a scene at the store. Now you want to do it here too? In front of our children and your parents? You¡¯re a grown woman, Ashley. Act like it.¡± Ashley shot up from the couch, her anger rekindled, ¡°Tavon, you hit me! And now you¡¯re lecturing me? You¡¯ve been sneaking around with that tramp, Salma, buying her fancy jewelry and furniture. Are you nning to keep her as a mistress?¡± Tavon retorted, ¡°So what if I buy her a few things? It¡¯s my money, I earned it. I can spend it how I want.¡± He was defiant/a stark contrast to his usual submissive attitude whenever Ashley threatened to involve her parents. His defiance took Geneva and Thomas by surprise. This wasn¡¯t the Tavon they knew. Ashley was so furious that her face turned pale, and she screamed, ¡°Tavon, you¡¯ve really lost your mind! If you continue seeing that woman, I¡¯ll divorce you.¡± Geneva and Thomas added, ¡°Tavon, no marriage is without its squabbles. Apologize to Ashley, and cut ties with that woman. Look at Sandy and Sean, what kind of example are you setting? Ashley, you shouldn¡¯t be so quick to throw around the D-word. As long as Tavon promises to change, let bygones be bygones. They were trying to give Tavon a way out, saving him from embarrassment. They hadn¡¯te here to advocate for a divorce, they just wanted Tavon to back down and put this incident behind them. But Tavon wasn¡¯t about to step down this time. Instead, he retorted, ¡°Fine, let¡¯s divorce. Whoever backs down is a coward. Let¡¯s go now, while the County Clerk¡¯s office is still open.¡± Chapter 322 Chapter 322 Chapter 322 Tavon couldn¡¯t wait to divorce, and now that Ashley had brought up the subject, he was eager to seize the opportunity. Tavon¡¯s words left everyone in the ward room stunned. Geneva and Thomas exchanged puzzled nces. Ashley was both shocked and infuriated, her heart filled with a chilling mix of emotions. Sandy and Sean were both taken aback. Sean quickly intervened, ¡°Dad, calm down. It¡¯s not that serious. You and Mom have been married for so long. Why do you guys have to get a divorce now?¡± ¡°Adults are speaking, and children should be silent,¡± Tavon rebuked, pointing a finger at Sean. To him, Sean was nothing more than a child, unqualified to meddle in adult affairs. Tavon was in fullbat mode, attacking anyone and anything that crossed his path. ¡°Why are you yelling at your son?¡± Ashley snapped, defending her son. She shouted at Tavon, ¡°You want a divorce? Fine, bring it on. But I tell you this, you won¡¯t get a dime. The Morton family¡¯s wealth belongs to me and our children.¡± ¡°On what grounds? You think you can just kick me out?¡± Tavon raised his voice, ¡°Don¡¯t act like the Morton family fortunes depend on your family, the Stantons. I, Tavon, built the Mortons from scratch. If we divorce, I¡¯m willing to split our assets, but that¡¯s as far as my kindness goes. Our son will stay with me, our daughter with you. Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s get this over with.¡± With that, Tavon tried to drag Ashley away. It was clear he was serious. When a woman threatened divorce, it was usually a bluff, a tactic used to make the manpromise. But when a man threatened divorce, he usually meant it. Hearing that Tavon wanted Sean but not her, Sandy felt a pang of sorrow. Was she just a burden in her father¡¯s eyes? Tavon¡¯s determination made Ashley panick, her bravado faltering. She resisted, trying to pull away, her voice frantic, ¡°Is it because of that wench Salma?, You¡¯re divorcing me because of her, aren¡¯t you, Tavon? You¡¯re such a bastard.¡± Seeing the situation escte, Thomas tapped his cane heavily on the floor, his voice booming, ¡°Some actions are irreversible. You think divorcing my daughter is easy? You think the Stantons don¡¯t have any say in this?¡± Geneva had lost her confrontational attitude. She warned, ¡°You want to divorce my daughter over some floozy? Be careful not to lose everything the Mortons have built.¡± Her words were both a threat and a warning. Tavon, reminded of how they had forced him to marry Ashley twenty years ago, scowled, ¡°I should have married Salma back then. I can¡¯t waste any more time now. I want to rekindle my rtionship with her.¡± His tant admission shocked everyone. They all believed Tavon was bewitched, willing to divorce for a woman like Salma who had no background or status. Geneva and Thomas were furious. Turning to Ashley, they said, ¡°Ashley, if he wants a divorce, give it to him. Let¡¯s see how far the Mortons can get without. us.¡± Sean still tried to mediate, ¡°Dad, Mom, stop fighting. There¡¯s no need for a divorce. I won¡¯t allow it.¡± Sensing Tavon¡¯s determination, tears welled up in Ashley¡¯s eyes, ¡°Tavon, you¡¯ve been nning this for a while, haven¡¯t you? I was too naive to see it. You want to marry that wench? Fine, let¡¯s divorce. But demand 80% of thepany¡¯s assets, and our son stays with me. You can take our daughter.¡± Her words felt like another stab in Sandy¡¯s heart. Neither of her parents wanted her. Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Sean couldn¡¯t stand it anymore. He yelled, ¡°Take your arguments outside. Don¡¯t you care about hurting Sandy?¡± Sean¡¯s words managed to somewhat restore a bit of reason in Tavon and Ashley. Ashley nced at Sandy, feeling a sense of unease in her heart: Sandy looked pale and remained silent. She appeared extremely pitiful, with tears in her eyes, yet they didn¡¯t fall. Her tearful expression was even more heart- wrenching. The tumultuous scene gave Geneva and Thomas a headache. They took Ashley¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the Stantons¡¯. If Tavon wants a divorce, let it be settled in court.¡± Chapter 323 Chapter 323 Chapter 323 Geneva and Thomas pulled Ashley aside, as they also didn¡¯t want the couple to get a divorce. If things escted further, it could irreparably damage their rtionship. They thought giving Thomas some space might help cool things down. As Ashley left the hospital, she was still angry and upset, ¡°I should never have let Thomas reconnect with that vixen Salma. Now they¡¯ve rekindled their old me.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Ashley was both angry and heartbroken. After all these years with Thomas, he wanted to go back to Salma. Worst of all, he had the audacity to im that if it weren¡¯t for the Stanton family forcing their will, he never would have married her. Such words were a cold dagger to her heart. ¡°Ashley, my dear, you really don¡¯t understand men,¡± her father began. ¡°What they want is power and status. Tavon doesn¡¯t dare divorce you. Just be patient, he¡¯ll cool down. He can¡¯t afford this divorce, so don¡¯t make a scene. It¡¯s important to give a man some dignity.¡± Knowing her daughter¡¯s temper, Geneva added, ¡°He hit you, Ashley. If he¡¯s so determined to divorce you, let him. He can leave with nothing. Do they really think the Stanton family can¡¯t survive without him? Come, stay with us for a few days.¡± Ashley, the apple of her parents¡¯ eyes, was now in her fifties but still acted like a child when confronted with problems, always running back home to her parents for help. Geneva and Thomas, nearing their eighties, were still worried and always ready to protect their daughter. The Stantons were sure that Thomas was all talk and bluster, that he didn¡¯t dare to divorce. They thought they¡¯d wait for this storm to pass and then deal with Thomas. But this time, they were wrong. Thomas wanted the divorce so badly he was willing to pay to get it trending on social media. He made it public that he was determined to divorce Ashley. He revealed online his youthful romance with Salma, iming it was the Stanton family that forced him to abandon Salma and marry Ashley. Now, he wanted to rekindle their past rtionship and made it public that they had a daughter. He even wanted to make their daughter the heir to the Morton family fortune. This news caused quite a sensation on the inte. The Morton family was a billion-dor enterprise. For Thomas to pass over his son and make his elder daughter the heir was quite a shock. Wouldn¡¯t this benefit outsiders? Upon seeing the trending news, the Stanton family was immediately unsettled. Ashley exploded, ¡°Has Thomas lost his mind? He wants to give thepany to that little vixen?¡± At the hospital, Sean and Sandy also saw the online news. Sandy realized things were taking a bad turn. ¡°What are we going to do if dad gives thepany to that woman?¡± she asked. Sean was dumbfounded, ¡°Dad promised me thepany. How can he give it to her?¡± Sandy, the more analytical of the two, advised, ¡°We can¡¯t confront her directly. From now on, you need to keep your temper in check when you see her. We need to maintain a good rtionship.¡± Sean disagreed, ¡°Why should we y nice with her? She¡¯s just a child from dad¡¯s affair, not our real sister.¡± Sandy insisted, ¡°Just trust me on this, or we might end up with nothing. Mom¡¯s impulsive. If dad divorces her, she¡¯ll definitely lose out. The only thing we can do is not upset that woman.¡± Sandy, one year younger than Sean, was more cautious. She lived each day as if it were a game with death. She was more guarded and more careful. Knowing Sean was soft-hearted, she deliberately coughed a few times during their conversation, clutching Sean¡¯s shirt weakly, ¡°I don¡¯t have much time left. I can¡¯t help you in the future. The only thing I can do is advise you not to confront her, okay?¡± As she spoke, Sandy seemed to have difficulty breathing, as if she might pass out at any moment. Seeing this, Sean was heartbroken and hurriedly called for the doctor, ¡°Doctor, please save my sister. Please arrange the surgery as soon as possible. Use my bone marrow to save her.¡± Upon hearing this, a triumphant smile shed in Sandy¡¯s eyes, then she pretended to faint. ¡°Sandy, Sandy¡­¡± Sean panicked, begging the doctor, ¡°Please save my sister, please arrange the surgery. Use my bone marrow to save her.¡± Chapter 324 Chapter 324 Chapter 324 Tavon and Ashley were in the middle of a divorce, and neither of them could spare the time for their daughter Sandy, who was in the hospital. They didn¡¯t even know that Sandy¡¯s brother, Sean, was donating bone marrow for her. Sean couldn¡¯t bear to stand by while his sister was in danger. They were only a year apart in age and grew up together, their bond was deep. The Morton family was a mess. Anastasia, who was at her hotel, naturally saw thetest updates on social media. She was taken by surprise by Tavon¡¯s actions. ¡°Do you think Tavon¡¯s lost his mind?¡± Anastasia asked Herman, who was sitting across from her. After returning to the hotel, Herman and his group nned to return to Riverdale by evening. Herman nced at the trending topics, lightly tapping his fingers on the table, deep in thought. ¡°Something¡¯s not right here,¡± he mused. ¡°Tavon¡¯s business ties with the Stanton family are intricate. If they have a fallout, the losses would be considerable. Tavon must know this, so why would he willingly take such a hit by divorcing Ashley?¡± Anastasia was puzzled, refusing to believe that Tavon had genuinely repented. ¡°A businessman always follows the profit,¡± Herman said calmly. ¡°Tavon has chosen to abandon the Stanton family and align with your mother. He must see some significant gain in her.¡± Anastasia asked, ¡°What could my mother possibly offer? She¡¯s penniless and has no background. She can¡¯t help the Morton family¡¯s business, and I don¡¯t have any substantial assets either, except you.¡± Suddenly, Anastasia looked at Herman in surprise. ¡°Did Tavon find out that you¡¯re the CEO of Elysian Technologies?¡± The most significant asset she and her mother had was Herman. Anastasia felt a headacheing on. ¡°I told my mother, but did she let it slip? It doesn¡¯t make sense. She hasn¡¯t been in touch with Tavon since she returned. Where went wrong?¡± As Anastasia talked to herself, her gaze suddenly fell on Herman. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen Tavon today,¡± Herman said. At the clubhouse entrance earlier, Herman hadn¡¯t noticed Tavon. ¡°Let¡¯s drop it. It¡¯s not important. I think we should head back to Riverdale now. If we wait any longer, Tavon wille to the hotel, and I¡¯m afraid my mother might give in again.¡± Anastasia was shocked by the trending news, not to mention Salma. Her mother didn¡¯t use her phone much, so she probably didn¡¯t know what was going on online. Now was the perfect time to leave. Tavon wanted to divorce and marry Salma. Such a bold move would be hard for any woman to resist. Herman smiled. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted a third of the Morton family fortune? Now that Tavon has named you his heir, do you not want it anymore?¡± Anastasia shook her head quickly. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare. I fear it¡¯s a trap. Who knows what¡¯s inside? Given Tavon¡¯s character, I don¡¯t trust him. He abandoned my mother to marry Ashley, and now he wants to divorce Ashley to marry my mother. Tavon is selfish and always considers his own interests.¡± . Herman pulled Anastasia onto hisp. Anastasia wasn¡¯t tempted by the Morton family¡¯s billions. Instead, she saw it as a hot potato, which impressed Herman. He stroked her hand with his thumb, his voice husky in her ear. ¡°Honey, how about I teach you how to do business?¡± N?velDrama.Org is the owner. The hot breath tickled her neck, raising goosebumps on her skin and making her body go soft. ¡°Can¡¯t you just talk without flirting?¡± Anastasiained, touching her ear. ¡°If you¡¯re willing to teach, I¡¯m eager to learn.¡± She also wanted to be someone who could stand shoulder to shoulder with Herman. He promised, ¡°I¡¯ll share everything I know with you,¡± ¡°I should check on my mom and see if she¡¯s ready. I want to go back and see Pattie!¡± Anastasia was eager to return home. Herman chuckled. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll let you go for now. I¡¯ll take care of you when we get back.¡± Anastasia nced at Herman¡¯s lower body and huffed. ¡°One day, you¡¯ll be afraid of me. As they say, only the ox gets tired, not the field.¡± Hermanughed. ¡°I¡¯m always ready for your ¡®torture, my wife.¡± Anastasia was wise. They had barely left the hotel when Tavon arrived. It was perfect timing. Tavon called Salma, but she had already blocked his number. Having decided to leave Willowbrook, Salma naturally broke off her rtionship with Tavon. Tavon was in a panic. He had just offended the Stanton family, and now Salma and Anastasia had left him. Hadn¡¯t he just wasted his effort? But Tavon wasn¡¯t one to give up easily. Now that he had chosen to let go of the Stanton family, he had to hold on to Salma. The annual celebration of Elysian Technologies was a golden opportunity. Tavon had already nned to go to Riverdale to win Salma back. In Riverdale. Herman brought Anastasia and Salma back to Salstrom Manor. Katelyn had already heard the news and was preparing dinner with the housekeepers. Pattie was in the living room ying with Feiman. Salstrom Manor was spacious, and Feiman adored Pattie. He had even built a children¡¯s yground for her in the backyard. Pattie was a sweet talker, always calling him grandpa, which made Feiman dote on her even more. He was ready to fulfill any of her requests. With Pattie around, there was more warmth andughter in the house. As they got older, all they wished for was to have their grandkids around, sharing sweet moments and creating beautiful memories. Katelyn walked over with a te of sliced fruit. ¡°Pattie,e and have some fruit.¡± Pattie replied sweetly, ¡°Sure, Grandma.¡± Now that Anastasia knew, Katelyn simply had Pattie call her grandma. Recently, Katelyn had been spending a lot of time with Pattie and their bond had grown stronger. Pattie picked up two pieces of watermelon, and offered one to Feiman: ¡°Grandpa, have some.¡± Feiman couldn¡¯t help but grin from ear to ear. ¡°Good girl, Pattie. You should eat more, I don¡¯t need it.¡± Pattie obediently ate her piece and then continued ying with her building blocks. Seeing Pattie so close to Feiman, Katelynughed. ¡°It¡¯s always more lively with a child around, don¡¯t you think? She really fits in with us, the Salstroms.¡± Pattie was growing prettier by the day, a far cry from the thin, pale girl she once was. Now, she was like a little princess. Feiman, watching Pattie y with her blocks, chuckled. ¡°I agree. Every time she calls me grandpa, it warms my heart.¡± ¡°If only Herman could have children. If he could, he and Ana would probably have a child by now,¡± Katelyn sighed, thinking about her wish to hold a grandchild Feiman sighed at the thought. ¡°We should consult a doctor about Herman. He¡¯s still young. There must be a way.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Katelyn agreed. ¡°I¡¯ll ask the doctor.¡± Just then, they heard Flynn¡¯s voice from outside. ¡°Mom, Dad, we¡¯re back.¡± Upon hearing that Flynn and the others had returned, Katelyn excitedly went outside. Katelyn was a perfect hostess. During her first visit to the Salstrom family, Salma felt a bit reserved, so Katelyn proactively took on a warm and hospitable role. Salma was in awe of the luxurious mansion. She had heard from Anastasia that her son-inw¡¯s family was wealthy, but she had no idea just how. Pattie, hearing the voices, ran out excitedly. ¡°Mommy, Daddy.¡± She had missed her parents over the past few days. Anastasia lifted her up with joy. ¡°Pattie, it feels like you¡¯ve grown taller in just a few days.¡± Feiman also came over, happy to see everyone back. ¡°You must all be hungry. Let¡¯s go inside for dinner.¡± The Salstrom house hadn¡¯t been this lively in a long time. Chapter 325 Chapter 325 Chapter 325 Herman and Anastasia had been married for almost six months, and this was the first time both families had sat down together for a meal. This was very different from the casual dinners they used to have at Harmony Meadows. A table loaded with a feast of food, from crab-stuffed bread, king crab, and abalone to m chowder, all rich in nutrients. Avish crystal chandelier hung overhead, and even the dining table was made of teak. The dishes, bowls, and cutlery were all collectibles, costing a fortune. With eight household staff, not counting the driver and the gardener, this extravagant lifestyle was typical for the Salstroms but overwhelming for Anastasia and Salma. Anastasia was on tenterhooks all evening, nowhere near as rxed as she was at Harmony Meadows. Salma, too, had a hard time with seafood and was prone to making a fool of herself. In that moment, Anastasia truly realized the gap between her and Herman. A sense of inferiority swept over her, but she had to maintain a smile. ¡°Ana, eat this crab leg, it¡¯s all meat. It¡¯s good for your skin and won¡¯t make you gain weight,¡± Katelyn enthusiastically served Anastasia some food. Anastasia smiled faintly and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± 1 Herman noticed the difort in Anastasia¡¯s tone and silently took her hand, silently offering her support. Anastasia nced down at their intertwined hands under the table and felt a rush of sweetness. Her difort had faded quite a bit. Pattie, having lived in the house for two days, seemed to adapt well. After dinner, Katelyn led Salma to tour the backyard and introduced her to the children¡¯s yground built for Pattie. Salma was once again struck by the fact that the world of the wealthy was very different from theirs. Pattie went to y chess with Feiman, Flynn did his own thing, and Herman took Anastasia back to their room. He cornered her between his arms and the wall and asked in a low voice, ¡°Not used to it?¡± Anastasia stood with her hands behind her, fiddling with her fingers, and mumbled, ¡°Well, just a little bit. Your family is really wealthy.¡± She was very straightforward Herman chuckled and said, ¡°What¡¯s mine is yours.¡± Anastasia looked up at him and said, ¡°Herman, I used to earn just a couple thousand a month, working from dawn till dusk, regardless of the weather. Today, I realized that my sry couldn¡¯t even afford a fork in your house.¡± He looked at her with warm eyes and a smile ying on his lips. ¡°Feeling defeated?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Anastasia nodded honestly, looking incredibly adorable. Hermanughed and hugged her close. ¡°You¡¯re such a silly girl.¡± She looked up at him from his arms. ¡°I suddenly understand why you hid your wealth from me. You were afraid I¡¯d feel inferior.¡± Hermanughed, his demeanor very different from his usual stern and aloof persona at work. This gentle side of him was reserved only for her. ¡°I was wrong to deceive you,¡± Herman said, holding Anastasia close. ¡°From today on you need to start getting used to this luxurious lifestyle. I make money for you to spend.¡± Anastasia pulled away from him and said, ¡°The saying goes, ¡®It¡¯s easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go the other way. Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t see through your n. Once I get used to this lifestyle, I won¡¯t be able to live without you. Isn¡¯t that just ying into your hands?¡± ¡°Honey, that¡¯s not fair. I don¡¯t have any ulterior motives.¡± Herman chuckled. ¡°To prove my innocence, I¡¯ll transfer all my properties, funds, and stocks to your name tomorrow. From now on, I¡¯ll work for you. You¡¯ll just have to pay me a sry each month.¡± His words moved Anastasia deeply. She didn¡¯t want his assets, but the fact that he would say such a thing was enough. What woman could resist such love? ¡°Honey,¡± she said, wrapping her arms around his waist. ¡°You¡¯ve truly won me over with your wealth.¡± Herman smiled. ¡°And how much do you n to pay me?¡± Anastasia pretended to ponder. ¡°How about two thousand a month? You don¡¯t have to pay for food or transportation, and your work expenses are covered by thepany. You don¡¯t need to spend a dime. This two thousand will be for you to surprise me with gifts on holidays.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Herman looked at her with a deep gaze. ¡°Anastasia¡­¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Just as he was about to kiss her, Anastasia¡¯s phone rang abruptly. She nced at it and saw a call from Gianna. She put up a hand to stop Herman and said, ¡°Hold on, I need to take this call.¡± Chapter 326 Chapter 326 Chapter 326 Herman instantly felt deted, slumping onto the couch, grumbling in frustration, ¡°I¡¯m going to block your cousin.¡± Getting cockblocked was enough to ruffle any man¡¯s feathers. Anastasia chuckled and gently stroked Herman¡¯s face, chiding, ¡°Have you not run out of energy from all the way back from Willowbrook to Riverdale? All you think about is fucking me. Now get out, I have a call to take.¡± Herman grumbled a bit more, but obediently left the room. Anastasia answered the call, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Gianna burst into tears on the other end of the line, ¡°Anastasia, Joey is a jerk! I¡¯ve tried everything, even tried to find some dirt on him at work, but it¡¯s all useless. He¡¯s been arguing with my parents at home, I¡¯m afraid to go back now. Can Ie to you?¡± ¡°But I¡¯m not at home,¡± Anastasia said, feeling a little troubled, ¡°How about this, you find a motel to stay in for now.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not home? Mom told me you and Auntie are back from Willowbrook; right?¡± Gianna had heard this and thought to call Anastasia. ¡°Yes, we are back, but we¡¯re staying at Herman¡¯s house. We haven¡¯t returned to Harmony Meadows,¡± Anastasia exined, ¡°It¡¯s a long story, why don¡¯t you go find a motel?¡± ¡°Alright then,¡± Gianna said, sounding a bit frustrated, ¡°Anastasia, after all this mess with Joey, I¡¯ve lost pretty much all my friends. I can only vent to you, you won¡¯t mind me rambling, would you?¡± ¡°No, not at all,¡± Anastasia reassured her. Even if she did find it a bit tiresome, she couldn¡¯t let her know. Gianna was emotionally fragile right now, a careless word or gesture could be the straw that breaks the camel¡¯s back. Melinda was a prime example. After Melindamitted suicide by jumping off a building, Maria and Jay, in order to impensation from Neon Dreams, stirred up public opinion, protesting in front of the club. Maria sat at the entrance holding Melinda¡¯s portrait. Melinda¡¯s parents yed the victim online, using Neon Dreams of being heartless. Neon Dreams, in order to settle the matter, chose topromise, eventually giving out a million dors inpensation. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Anastasia had seen the trending news and was furious, but she felt helpless. She could only watch as Melinda¡¯s parents squeezed out thest bit of value from her, then took the million dors and went back to their hometown. It was a harsh reality that when one¡¯s power was insignificant, there was nothing one can do about the tragedies of the world. On the phone, Gianna said, ¡°Anastasia, tomorrow¡¯s my birthday. Can youe and celebrate with me?¡± Gianna had already said so. How could Anastasia refuse? ¡°Alright, tomorrow evening? I have to go to the office during the day.¡± ¡°Yeah. So I guess I will see you tomorrow night,¡± Gianna said, ¡°I won¡¯t disturb your time with your husband. I¡¯ve booked a table for tomorrow. I¡¯ll send you the address.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The next day. Salma was not used to such a luxurious lifestyle. Feeling ufortable, she made an excuse early the next morning and returned to her apartment. She had been away for quite some time and needed to clean up. Her leg injury had healed, and she did not want to continue living with her daughter and son- inw. But considering Pattie needed someone to take her to and from school, Salma decided to continue living at Harmony Meadows. Herman and Anastasia took Pattie to school together before heading back to their respective offices. Anastasia had just sat down for a breather when Christine came in, ¡°There¡¯s a big client who specifically asked for your help with a jewelry design.¡± ¡°Which big client?¡± Anastasia asked, putting down her water bottle. Christine answered, ¡°The heiress of Brown Corporation, Julie Brown.¡± Upon hearing this name, Anastasia didn¡¯t even want to entertain the idea. But before she could dismiss Julie, Julie had already barged in. She strutted in confidently, ¡°Anastasia, design a piece of jewelry for me. Money is not a problem, I just need to be satisfied.¡± Anastasia gestured for Christine to leave, assuring her that she could handle it herself. Christine looked worriedly at Anastasia, but Anastasia reassured her, ¡°It¡¯s fine, you should go back to your things, and close the door on your way out.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Christine closed the door and left. Julie sat down uninvited, her eyes coldly watching Anastasia, ¡°I want to design a piece of jewelry for my wedding.¡± ¡°Ms. Brown, I¡¯m not interested in your business,¡± Anastasia made it clear, ¡°Please find someone else.¡± ¡°Anastasia, I am now a customer of AL Jewelry. Since when do you turn customers away?¡± Julie scoffed, ¡°Do you think that with Herman backing you, you can look down on everyone? You¡¯re just his ything; the one he truly loves is someone else.¡± Chapter 327 Chapter 327 Chapter 327 Here we go again. Anastasia had heard this so many times that these words were losing their touch. She leaned casually against her desk, ring at Julie. ¡°Can¡¯t youe up with something new? Have you been reading too many romance novels? Do you always have to y the wicked home-wrecker? If Herman was interested in you, it wouldn¡¯t be my business. But he and I are married now, happy as ever. You¡¯re a wealthy heiress, can¡¯t you maintain a bit of dignity?¡± N?velDrama.Org ? content. Anastasia couldn¡¯t understand why Julie was so fixated on Herman. There were plenty of fish in the sea, but she insisted on going after a married man. This seemed utterly foolish to Anastasia. ¡°Who are you calling undignified?¡± Julie snapped, her voice rising. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m deliberately trying to create a rift between you two by lying? Ask Herman if he had a history with a woman five years ago.¡± ¡°So what if he did?¡± Anastasia sneered. ¡°He¡¯s the CEO of Elysian Technologies. And he is a handsome, wealthy man. I doubt there are many women who wouldn¡¯t be interested in him. It¡¯s not unusual for him to have a past.¡± Julie was taken aback. ¡°You knew?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t require Ms. Brown to worry about my marital affairs,¡± Anastasia said lightly. ¡°I suggest you find a man and start dating to take care of your hormonal imbnce Running around causing trouble isn¡¯t bing of a high-borndy like you.¡± After receiving apletely different reaction from Anastasia than she had anticipated, Julie was exasperated and frustrated. Her ploy to impersonate the woman from Herman¡¯s past had failed, and Herman had already warned the Brown family about it. Julie said defiantly. ¡°Let¡¯s see how far you can go with Herman, Anastasia. Men¡¯s love and excitement have an expiration date, and aside from your beauty, what do you have left? He¡¯ll eventually kick you out.¡± ¡°Even if that happens, I wouldn¡¯t be at a loss. At least I was once Herman¡¯s wife, and he was a man I, Anastasia, once had. Unlike some people, who only have their fantasies.¡± Anastasia¡¯s sarcastic words were infuriatingly effective. Julie felt her face turning red with anger. With a furious re at Anastasia, she stormed out. On her way out, Julie kicked a pebble in frustration, injuring her foot in the process, which only added fuel to her rage. Suddenly, a voice sounded from the side. ¡°Sulking here won¡¯t do you any good. It won¡¯t affect Anastasia and Herman in the slightest.¡± Julie turned around to see a handsome man standing behind her. ¡°Who are you?¡± she asked, wary but unable to resist admiring his good looks. Aside from Herman, this man was the most handsome she had ever seen. The man handed her a business card with a mischievous smile. ¡°My name is Joseph Salstrom, owner of a private investigation agency. I think I could be of help to you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a Salstrom?¡± Julie felt a pang of affection hearing the familiar surname. She nced at the business card and asked, ¡°You¡¯re a private investigator?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Joseph¡¯s smile was warm, yet it sent chills down her spine. ¡°I can help you get what you want.¡± Her face lit up upon hearing this. ¡°Really? I want to marry Herman. Can you make it happen? You just mentioned Herman and Anastasia¡¯s names; do you know them too?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Joseph was still smiling. ¡°But they don¡¯t know me. I knew about your situation because you¡¯re my target client. You need help, and I can offer it.¡± Seeing hope, Julie was ecstatic. ¡°Great! Help me break Herman and Anastasia apart. I want to marry Herman. I¡¯ll pay you whatever you want.¡± ¡°Deal. But you must keep my existence a secret,¡± Joseph said, still smiling. ¡°If you need anything, just call the number on the card.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Julie believed it to be true. Joseph chuckled and left, getting into a ck sedan parked nearby. Inside the car, a man asked, ¡°Boss, are you really going to help that silly woman? Why go the long way around when you could just seize Elysian Technologies?¡± Joseph lit a cigarette, with a wicked smile on his face. ¡°The more foolish a woman is, the easier she is to control. Herman dotes on that woman called Anastasia to the bone. I really want to see what Herman¡¯s suffering looks like.¡± Chapter 328 Chapter 328 Chapter 328 Having sent Julie off, Anastasia immersed herself in work. After a busy morning, she finally had a moment to call Monica over lunchtime. Monica had been off the grid recently, not having been in touch for a few days, and Anastasia was concerned. Anastasia dialed Monica¡¯s number, and after a substantial wait, Monica finally picked up. ¡°Monica, where have you been? You¡¯ve gone MIA? Haven¡¯t heard from you in days.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve been in Los Angeles with my boyfriend for a few days, heading back tomorrow.¡± Monica¡¯s voice wasnguid. Sensing something amiss, Anastasia asked, ¡°Still in bed?¡± Monica, on the other end in her Los Angeles hotel, shook her head to wake up a bit. had too much to drinkst night, and I¡¯m really tired. Weren¡¯t you in Willowbrook? Are you back?¡± ¡°Came back yesterday¡± Anastasia said. ¡°I was actually thinking of asking you to lunch, but I guess that¡¯s off the table now.¡± ¡°Keep that in mind for when I return, Monica couldn¡¯t miss the chance to have Anastasia treat her to a meal, reminding her over the phone. ¡°Don¡¯t forget, okay?¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll remember,¡± Anastasiaughed. ¡°Speaking of which, how much did Herman bribe you to keep his secret, even from your best friend?¡± Monica feigned ignorance. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Stop ying dumb. Herman confessed everything already. I had dinner at Salstrom Manorst night.¡± Realizing her secret was out, Monicaughed it off. ¡°Ana, I swear it was for your own good. I didn¡¯t want you to freak out and file for divorce. Who knew if Herman was serious or just messing around? But now that I see you two are doing well, I feel relieved.¡± Pretending to be annoyed, Anastasia retorted, ¡°We¡¯re best friends, and you didn¡¯t back me up.¡± ¡°Just this once, never again,¡± Monica replied. ¡°Ana, you¡¯re incredibly lucky. You managed to snag the CEO of Elysian Technologies. My guy, even if I smack him around, he won¡¯t confess that he¡¯s a rich kid.¡± Speaking of Trevor, Anastasia felt the need to warn Monica. ¡°You need to stop spending money on him. It¡¯s not right for a man to live off a woman. Don¡¯t let him sweet talk you into losing yourself.¡± Ever since Monica started dating Trevor, she must have spent at least a couple of million on him. Anastasia was worried Monica was being taken for a ride. ¡°Alright, alright,¡± Monica chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m too smart to be conned. He¡¯s here now, gotta go.¡± As Monica hung up the phone, she heard the doorbell ring. It must be Trevor from next door, Monica opened the door, and her boyfriend Trevor stood at the entrance holding breakfast with a beaming smile on his face. ¡°Baby, I brought you breakfast.¡± ¡°Honey, you¡¯re the best.¡± Monica nted a kiss on his cheek as she took the breakfast. They had been in Los Angeles for a few days, each staying in their own rooms. Trevor tried to stay the night multiple times, but Monica had always refused. Monica was principled. She wouldn¡¯t cross certain lines if they weren¡¯t legally married. Trevor¡¯s gaze swept over Monica. She had just woken up, wearing loose-fitting clothes, her short hair tousled, exuding a captivating charm. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Monica. ¡°Baby, we¡¯ve been together for so long, and I feel like you don¡¯t love me at all.¡± Trevor was younger than Monica, with a fresh and sunny handsome face. He was sweet and knew how to act cute. Monica chuckled and patted Trevor¡¯s face. ¡°How could that be? I buy you anything you want. I adore you.¡± ¡°I love you,¡± Trevor looked at Monica with a passionate gaze. ¡°I want to be your man Monica loved when Trevor talked to her like that; he was so understanding and clingy. Monica responded, ¡°You¡¯re not of legal marriage age yet, wait a couple more years.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? content. Trevor didn¡¯t care about what Monica said. He started to touch her, kissing her. ¡°Babe, give in to me, I want you.¡± Chapter 329 Chapter 329 Chapter 329 Trevor¡¯s advances were quite intense, and Monica was starting to feel a bit overwhelmed. ¡°Back off, Trevor,¡± Monica protested, pushing him firmly away. ¡°We agreed no ring, no touching.¡± ¨C N?velDrama.Org is the owner. Trevor looked at Monica with a helpless expression. ¡°Come on, Mon, it¡¯s the 21st century. Who even cares about marriage anymore? Are you saying you don¡¯t love me?¡± Monica was speechless. Trevor always managed to corner her with that question. With his pitiful look, Trevor made it seem as if Monica was the one hurting him. Remembering a conversation with her friend, Anastasia, Monica turned the tables. ¡°Trevor, we are going to get married, right?¡± ¡°Absolutely,¡± Trevor replied quickly, without a moment¡¯s hesitation. ¡°Don¡¯t you trust me, Mon? I¡¯ll always take responsibility for you. The moment I reach the legal marriage age, we¡¯ll tie the knot. But can you really bear to make me live like a monk for two years? I¡¯m a normal man, and it¡¯s hard to resist when I see you.¡± Monica nearly lost herself in Trevor¡¯s sweet words. Hisbination of vulnerability and charm was hard to resist. Desperate to change the subject, Monica suggested, ¡°We were supposed to go surfing today, right? I need to change. Why don¡¯t you wait outside?¡± Monica was still hesitant, so Trevor had to concede. ¡°Okay, Mon. I¡¯ll be waiting for you at the beach.¡¯ He shed a charming smile before stepping outside and closing the door behind him. Once outside, Trevor received a call from a friend. ¡°Heard you¡¯ve been hanging out with that wealthy woman in Los Angeles. Have you won her over yet?¡± Trevor¡¯s sunny demeanor faded, reced by a cold sneer. ¡°Not yet. She¡¯s still ying hard-to-get. But tonight, she won¡¯t be able to resist. Do you have anything I could add to make her morepliant?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll have someone bring you something. She¡¯s quite a catch, isn¡¯t she? She¡¯s got a nice figure, if you know what I mean. You¡¯re quite a lucky guy.¡± Trevor snorted. ¡°Women, all looks and no brains. If she wasn¡¯t so easy to manipte I wouldn¡¯t even bother. And she wants to marry me? If she wasn¡¯t so generous, I¡¯d have left her a long time ago.¡± If he hadn¡¯t been waiting so long to sleep with her, Trevor would¡¯ve given up on Monica long ago. ¡°Buddy, I¡¯ve got another lead for you. A newly divorced billionaire. I heard she¡¯s into your type. You better move fast. There are plenty of guys who¡¯d kill for this opportunity.¡± Trevor was eager. ¡°Great. Send me her info. Once I¡¯m back from LA, I¡¯ll find an excuse to break up with Monica.¡± Trevor relied heavily on his good looks, mingling with rich and influential women. His main targets were older women with money, whether divorced or single. These women were usuallycking in love and affection, so a little sweetness and a few kind words were all it took for them to give him whatever he wanted. Trevor had been in this game for over a year, sessfully hooking up with numerous wealthy women. Monica was just one of them. And she wasn¡¯t the only one. Trevor was juggling multiple women at the same time. His trip to LA wasn¡¯t just about Monica. After all, who wanted to sleep alone at night? Anastasia was still quite worried about Monica. She had met Monica¡¯s boyfriend a few times, and her impression of him was that he was unreliable, smooth-talking, and didn¡¯t have a stable job. Unfortunately, Monica was smitten, even funding several of Trevor¡¯s failed business ventures. After a phone call with Monica, Anastasia went out to grab lunch, before getting back to work. Today was Gianna¡¯s birthday. Anastasia had ordered a cake and bought a bouquet of flowers. As soon as she finished work, Gianna called to say she was waiting downstairs. Anastasia quickly gathered her things, holding the flowers in one hand and the cake in the other. ¡°Happy birthday, cuz,¡± Anastasia said, handing over the gifts. ¡°Thank you,¡± Gianna replied with a smile. ¡°Get in. Let¡¯s go grab dinner.¡± ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we invite your mom and the others to celebrate your birthday?¡± Anastasia asked. ¡°Actually, I got it wrong. Today¡¯s not my birthday. I must¡¯ve read the calendar wrong!¡± Gianna said, maintaining herposed demeanor. ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean we can¡¯t enjoy a meal together. I¡¯ve been meaning to treat you to a meal anyway. Let¡¯s go.¡± Chapter 330 Chapter 330 Anastasia had a feeling that Gianna had been deceiving her from the very beginning. But she shrugged it off, thinking, why would Gianna have any reason to fool her? So without giving it much thought, Anastasia hopped into the car. Gianna drove Anastasia to a restaurant and parked the car outside. She gestured towards the row of shops across the street. ¡°Anastasia, what do you think about those shops?¡± Gianna asked. Anastasia nced across, then surveyed her surroundings, ¡°There are a lot of office buildings here, so ¨¢ny shop in this area is prime real estate. It¡¯s a great location, why do you ask?¡± ¡°I bought one of them. I¡¯m nning on opening a coffee shop,¡± Gianna said with a smile, ¡°Do you want to invest with me?¡± ¡°You bought one?¡± Anastasia was taken aback. A shop in this location would cost at least a few million dors, ¡°Where did you get so much money?¡± Although Gianna came from a wealthy family, it wasn¡¯t like they could just fork out millions on a whim. ¡°I sold two of my parents¡¯ houses. They are currently living in one, and the money from selling the houses is now with me. I used it to buy this storefront, with the intention of opening my own coffee shop. This way, I¡¯ll have ie in the future to support myself.¡± Anastasia couldn¡¯t quite understand Gianna¡¯s train of thought. ¡°Why not just rent out the houses? Why open a coffee shop? Joey was eyeing those old houses. Aren¡¯t you worried he will cause trouble since you sold them without his knowledge?¡± Gianna snorted, ¡°I wish he would.¡± Anastasia furrowed her eyebrows, sensing something more behind Gianna¡¯s words. ¡°Let¡¯s go in and grab a bite¡± Gianna changed the topic, leading Anastasia into the restaurant. From their window-side table on the second floor, they could still see the shop across the street. ¡°Anastasia, would you consider investing? You can help me run the coffee shop. The money you make from working one year won¡¯tpare to being a business owner.¡± Gianna was unaware of Herman¡¯s true identity, or else she would not have suggested this. Anastasia/shook her head, ¡°No, thanks. I¡¯m not familiar with running a business. I¡¯d rather stick to my job.¡± She really wasn¡¯t interested. Moreover, doing business with cousins often led to disputes, especially when it was about profits. She and Gianna had just recently mended their rtionship. She didn¡¯t want to risk ruining it again. ¡°You¡¯re worried about not having enough money to invest? Don¡¯t worry about it. You don¡¯t need to put in a dime. Just help out in the shop, and we can count it as abor share, 20% for you and 80% for me. How does that sound?¡± Not a single penny to invest, yet a 20% share in the business? Anastasia looked at Gianna in surprise, ¡°Are you feeling okay?¡± Was she so rich that she was literally throwing money at her? Giannaughed, ¡°I¡¯ve just realized that you can only rely on siblings. Spouses can turn against each other, and parents won¡¯t be with us forever. I¡¯m an only child, and without siblings, I have no one to lean on in times of trouble. Anastasia, I hope we can be the closest of sisters. If you help me, I¡¯ll help you in return. It¡¯s only natural.¡± Her eyes full of sincerity, Gianna¡¯s words touched Anastasia. She smiled, ¡°I appreciate your kindness, but I really can¡¯t get involved with the coffee shop. Herman wouldn¡¯t agree to it either.¡± She had agreed to learn business from Herman and was due to join Elysian Technologies next month. She didn¡¯t have time to run a coffee shop. N?velDrama.Org ? content. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t your husband agree?¡± Gianna asked, ¡°Both of you are working hard for your money. With Pattie¡¯s education costsing up, surely the more money you can make, the better? I believe he should have finished work by now, why not invite him to join us for dinner?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Anastasia was at a loss for words. After a moment of hesitation, she said, ¡°Herman has started apany, and I¡¯m supposed to help him out next month.¡± ¡°What kind ofpany has Herman started?¡± Gianna asked curiously. Anastasia exined, ¡°Elysian Technologies. He started it.¡± Gianna was stunned. Even those who had never worked a day in their life would have heard of Elysian Technologies. It was one of the toppanies on the Fortune 500 list and belonged to the wealthiest man in Riverdale. Giannaughed, ¡°Anastasia, you must be joking.¡± Chapter 331 Chapter 331 Chapter 331 No wonder Gianna was taken aback. Anyone would be in disbeliet if they were in her shoes. Anyone Anastasia chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m not joking, it¡¯s just that Herman has kept it a secret for so long. I only just found out.¡± Gianna struggled to digest the news. Herman was not only handsome and warm-hearted, but also a billionaire tycoon? Gianna gazed at Anastasia, her feelings of envy could no longer be expressed in words. Her own marriage of eight years had fallen apart while Anastasia had married a billionaire. She thought she could offer her own coffee shop to Anastasia as a partnership to make their rtionship closer, and as a kind way topensate for their past differences. But now, in the face of the Salstrom family¡¯s wealth, such a gesture seemed insignificant. Gianna¡¯s real motive was to get closer to Herman, hoping to leave a good impression on him by bringing Anastasia into the partnership. But after hearing Anastasia¡¯s words, Gianna realized the vast distance thaty between her and Herman. Anastasia waved her hand in front of Gianna, saying, ¡°Gianna? I really appreciate your kindness. If you ever need anything, don¡¯t hesitate to ask. I¡¯ll help in any way I can.¡± Gianna¡¯s offer to let her join the coffee shop was not for profit, but to help her earn more and live a better life. Anastasia was touched by this gesture. Gianna awkwardly said, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s order. How about calling your husband to join us?¡± Anastasia replied, ¡°I¡¯ve texted him. He¡¯s busy now, but he¡¯lle pick me upter.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The thought of Herman arrivingter brought a spark of joy to Gianna¡¯s heart Gianna knew that she shouldn¡¯t be thinking about Herm¨¢n, or let her mind wander to other thoughts, but she couldn¡¯t help it. Because of Herman, Gianna was now even more repulsed by Joey. She was even more eager to divorce Joey, regardless of the cost. Gianna ordered a few dishes, and they chatted while they ate. Anastasia asked, ¡°How are you nning to handle your divorce?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about those awful things today. Even if you don¡¯t join the coffee shop, you can still help me out with some ideas. You¡¯re a designer, so you can help me with the interior design or the name of the coffee shop. I¡¯m not really familiar with these things.¡± Gianna was eager for the coffee shop to open. She wanted to be independent and start her own business. Just now, she suddenly realized that to attract someone as outstanding as Herman, she needed to be more outstanding herself. ¨C ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll think about it when I go back.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t respond, understanding the old saying there was no such thing as a free lunch. After about an hour, Anastasia received a call from Herman, who was waiting for her outside the restaurant. Anastasia said, ¡°Gianna, he¡¯se to pick me up. I¡¯ll leave first.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll get the check.¡± Gianna paid the bill, and they left the restaurant together. Now that Herman¡¯s identity was revealed, naturally, he wouldn¡¯t be driving the Chevrolet anymore, but a Rolls-Royce instead. The Rolls-Royce parked at the entrance of the restaurant attracted the attention of many passersby. Dailey was in the driver¡¯s seat, and Herman was in the back. Seeing Anastasiaing out, he got out of the car to open the door for her. The moment Herman stepped out of the car, Gianna¡¯s gaze was instantly drawn to him. No matter how many times she saw him, he always managed to surprise her, leaving her heart racing. ¡°Honey, let¡¯s go home.¡± Herman walked up to Anastasia and naturally took her hand Anastasia blushed and said to Gianna, ¡°Bye.¡± ¡°¡­Okay.¡± Gianna came back to her senses, afraid of revealing her thoughts, and quickly averted her gaze. After Herman and Anastasia got into the car and drove off, Gianna remained standing there. Herman nced at her through the rearview mirror, then turned his gaze back to Anastasia, asking, ¡°What did your cousin want today?¡± ¡°She wants to open a coffee shop and asked me to invest.¡± Anastasia was in a good mood, saying, ¡°My cousin didn¡¯t know about your identity before. She wanted to help us out.¡± Herman casually said, ¡°Your cousin is quite nice, knowing how to show gratitude.¡± ¡°We used to have disagreements, but after her marital problems, our rtionship has improved a lot. It feels pretty good.¡± Anastasia held Herman¡¯s hand, asking, ¡°Are we going back to Salstrom Manor today?¡± ¡°We¡¯re going back to Harmony Meadows.¡± When the Rolls-Royce drove into Harmony Meadows, the security guards at the gate took a few extra nces. Anastasia didn¡¯t go to the underground parking lot with Herman. She went to the parcel locker to pick up a package, and unexpectedly ran into Leo again. Leo, holding his young son, was also picking up a package. When he saw Anastasia, he casually asked, ¡°Ms. Jewell, how¡¯s Pattie?¡± Leo seemed to have lost weight from looking after his child alone. Penny would not be released from the detention center for a few more days. Anastasia said, ¡°Pattie¡¯s doing well.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Leo smiled kindly, picked up his package, and left. Watching Leo, alone, holding the child, Anastasia still couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit of sympathy. Anastasia had a fatal weakness; she found it hard to resist helping others when they were kind to her or when she saw them in need. After picking up her package, Anastasia headed back to her apartment. The following days were quite peaceful for her. She was busy with her work, sending Pattie to school, and ying games with her after work. The issues with Tavon seemed to have subsided for a while, and there were no more phone calls. Salma¡¯s life had returned to its usual rhythm. She helped around the house, kept it clean, and drove Pattie to and from school. She also took care of the grocery shopping and cooking. Herman¡¯s life, however, was not as smooth sailing. Katelyn had somehow found an old folk remedy, and was brewing various herbal concoctions that she made sure to deliver to Herman¡¯s office every day. Herman was practically furrowing his brows into an inverted ¡®V¡¯, while Flynn took pleasure from watching him suffer. Katelyn knew well that Herman was reluctant to drink her brews, so she stubbornly watched him until he finished everyst drop before she left. Herman had kept Anastasia¡¯s infertility a secret from the elders, so he was now left to carry this burden on his own. One day, when Collin came to visit Herman, he was met with a strong smell of herbs. He couldn¡¯t help but joke, ¡°What¡¯s this, Herman? You¡¯re not even middle-aged yet and you need herbal supplements?¡± Herman made a show of aiming a kick at him and retorted, ¡°Go mind your own business.¡± Flynnughed heartily at the scene, ¡°Collin, don¡¯t tease my big brother. He¡¯s been quite hot-tempered lately.¡± Ignoring the two men, Herman picked up some documents from his desk and headed to the conference room for a scheduled meeting. As soon as Herman left, Collin turned to Flynn, his curiosity piqued, ¡°Why is your brother drinking all these herbal brews?¡± The group had known each other for years, and Flynn was not one to hold back. He candidly revealed, ¡°It¡¯s some fertility remedy my mom found.¡± Hearing this, Collin was taken aback, ¡°Wait, Herman really can¡¯t have children?¡± Flynn rified, ¡°He can¡¯t have children, but that doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯s impotent, Collin. What¡¯s with that expression?¡± N?velDrama.Org ? content. Collin blurted out, ¡°How is that possible? Herman¡¯s health is fine. Who told you he¡¯s infertile? We both had a medical check-up six months ago and everything was normal.¡± Flynn suddenly realized something was off, his face turning serious, ¡°Collin, are you telling the truth?¡± Chapter 332 Chapter 332 Chapter 332 Herman was capable of having children, so why did he im otherwise? It was a mystery, indeed. Collin said, ¡°Why would I deceive you? What¡¯s Herman¡¯s game though? The Salstrom family is well- established. Doesn¡¯t he want an heir?¡± Flynn was not interested in running the family business. All he wanted was to live a privileged life, living off his inheritance without a care in the world. If it hadn¡¯t been for Herman forcing him to be the vice president of thepany, he would never have set foot in the office, let alone consider taking over the business. Flynn also began to ponder, ¡°Yeah, why would my older brother im he can¡¯t have children? Doesn¡¯t he want a child with Anastasia? If these twobined their genes, their child would undoubtedly be stunning.¡± Both men were trying to understand Herman¡¯s intentions when a sudden realization dawned on them. They locked eyes, and a shared shock reflected in their gaze. They weren¡¯t fools, and with a bit of thought, they could piece together the puzzle. It wasn¡¯t Herman who was infertile, but Anastasia. This was a big deal. If Anastasia couldn¡¯t bear children, it would end Herman¡¯s lineage. Collin remarked, ¡°Herman must really be smitten to tell such a big lie for Anastasia.¡± Flynn was equally astonished, ¡°If our parents found out, it would definitely cause a stir.¡± Anastasia was Katelyn¡¯s ideal daughter-inw, but if it was revealed that she couldn¡¯t bear children, things might change. Collin quickly interjected, ¡°Flynn, don¡¯t you dare spill that it was me who figured it out This can¡¯t get out.¡± ¡°Of course, it can¡¯t.¡± Flynn agreed, ¡°My older brother is head over heels for Anastasia: If I let this slip, he would kill me.¡± The two men decided to keep the secret to themselves, pretending they were none the wiser. But unbeknownst to them, their conversation had been overheard by Julie, who hade to the office to find Herman. Anastasia¡¯s inability to bear children was good news for her. In high society, a family would never ept an infertile daughter-inw. Each daughter-inw was expected to bear several children to strengthen the family¡¯s position. Julie was thrilled by the news. She decided not to look for Herman and quietly left the office. The night before the annual g. Anastasia was at home, choosing her dress. Herman had sent her several photos of different dresses, and she was having trouble making a decision. ¡°Pattie, which dress do you think I should wear?¡± Anastasia asked, handing off the decision to her daughter. Pattie studied the options carefully before pointing at avender ombre dress, ¡°Mom, this one is beautiful. You¡¯ll look like a fairy if you wear this.¡± The ombre dress was ttering only on certain skin tones, and Anastasia¡¯splexion was perfect for it. The dress was strapless with sheerntern sleeves, creating a dreamy and lightweight look. Salma, who had juste in from the balcony, also nced at Anastasia¡¯s phone, agree, this one looks nice. Ana, is it mandatory to wear a gown for the g?¡± ¡°So it¡¯s settled.¡± Anastasia decided, ¡°For important events like this, there are dress codes. Mom, Herman also sent a few options for you to choose from.¡± Salma was surprised, ¡°I¡¯m going too?¡± ¡°Yes, you and Pattie are both going.¡± Anastasia replied with a smile, ¡°That¡¯s what Herman said, and it¡¯s his mother¡¯s wish too.¡± Pattie excitedly chimed in, ¡°Come with us, grandma.¡± Still, Salma was hesitant, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I might embarrass you. I don¡¯t know anything about these kinds of events.¡± Thest time they had seafood at the Salstrom¡¯s, Salma was so nervous that it turned into aedy of errors. An event as significant as the annual g, attended by high-society individuals, made her apprehensive. N?velDrama.Org ? content. Anastasia reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Herman¡¯s mother will take care of you.¡± But Salma was adamant, ¡°I¡¯ll stay home. You, Herman, and Pattie can go. I have a lot of housework to do. The sheets and nkets need washing.¡± ¡°Mom.¡± Anastasia¡¯s words were interrupted by Herman¡¯s arrival. Herman had been taking supplements recently, and the smell clung to him. As soon as he entered the house, Anastasia noticed the strong scent, ¡°Why does your scent of meds seem stronger these days?¡± Chapter 333 Chapter 333 Chapter 333 Herman took a whiff of himself and acknowledged the undeniable scent of medicine. He dared not speak the truth. Instead he said, ¡°Nelson¡¯s been on some herbal remedies recently. Perhaps the scent rubbed off on me. Have you chosen your dress yet?¡± Nelson was Herman¡¯s assistant, so it was usible that he could have picked up the scent from being around him all day. Anastasia didn¡¯t give it much thought. She responded, ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve picked this lavender ombr¨¦ dress. Pattie and I both love it.¡± ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll have it delivered tomorrow morning.¡± Herman crouched down and asked Pattie in a gentle voice, ¡°Pattie, have you made your choice?¡± Pattie nodded vigorously, ¡°Yes. I want a purple dress too, so I can match Mommy.¡± Herman chuckled, ¡°Good, now I know what suit I¡¯ll be wearing tomorrow.¡± He decided to get a purple suit to match his family. At this point, Salma spoke up, ¡°I think I¡¯ll stay home tomorrow while you all go.¡± Herman arose, ¡°Mom, my mother insisted that youe. Tomorrow is a significant day for the Salstrom family. Anastasia, as thedy of the Salstrom house, it¡¯s important that you attend. How can you not go, Mom?¡± Salma looked back and forth from Anastasia to Herman, internally struggling, then finally said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go with you tomorrow. Pattie, you¡¯re sleeping with Grandma tonight, we have to get up early. Go to bed soon.¡± Pattie was extremely well-behaved, ¡°Okay.¡± Salma took Pattie back to her room to sleep. Anastasia spoke up, ¡°I¡¯m going to brush my teeth and apply a face mask so my makeup will apply smoothly tomorrow.¡± Herman looked at her fondly, ¡°Alright, you go freshen up. I¡¯ll change.¡± As Anastasia began brushing her teeth in the master bathroom, a sudden wave of nausea hit her. She couldn¡¯t hold back and ended up vomiting. She felt incredibly sick. Herman heard the noise and rushed into the bathroom, ¡°Anastasia, what¡¯s wrong?¡± After rinsing her mouth out with some water, she began to feel better, ¡°I felt a bit sick. I think I may have identally swallowed some toothpaste. I¡¯m okay.¡± She decided not to use toothpaste to rinse her mouth and instead opted for in water to wash out the taste. Herman looked anxious, ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s alright now.¡± Anastasia took a deep breath and the difort faded away. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Herman didn¡¯t think much of it, ¡°Good.¡± Anastasia washed her face and was about to apply her face mask when the scent of the mask made her nauseous again. She decided to skip the mask. She couldn¡¯t understand why she had been feeling nauseous recently. This wasn¡¯t the first time. The next day, Anastasia found it hard to get out of bed. Salma had already prepared breakfast. By the time Anastasia woke up, Herman had already eaten and left as he had a busy day ahead. He needed to go to the office before picking up Anastasia for the party. Pattie, who didn¡¯t have to go to school that day, was ying with building blocks on the balcony. As Anastasia sat down with a yawn, she picked up a muffin and took a bite. Suddenly, a strong smell wafted from the kitchen. ¡°Mom, what are you cooking in the kitchen? It has a strong smell.¡± Anatasia asked. Salma came out with a te of baked beans, smiling, ¡°This is for you. It¡¯s your favorite, baked beans. Try it.¡± As soon as the baked beans were ced on the table, Anastasia once again felt nauseous and ended up vomiting in the nearby trash can. ¡°Mom, can you take that away? The smell is unbearable.¡± Anatasia said. Surprised, Salma took a sniff, ¡°It smells good. Didn¡¯t you used to love this smell?¡± ¡°Mom, please take it away.¡± Anastasia pleaded, holding her nose. She was unable to withstand the smell any longer. Seeing Anastasia¡¯s difort, Salma took the baked beans away. Suddenly, a thought struck her and she walked over to Anastasia with a sly smile, ¡°Ana, are you¡­?¡± ¡°Am I what?¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t catch on. ¡°Are you pregnant? Are you expecting?¡± Salma blurted out excitedly. Anastasia gave a bitter smile, ¡°Mom, no, I can¡¯t possibly be pregnant.¡± Salma looked shocked, ¡°How can that be?¡± Anastasia had only told Salma that she had undergone a medical examination revealing that she had previously had a child, but she didn¡¯t mention that she couldn¡¯t conceive. The doctor had mentioned that her chances of getting pregnant were very slim, and her previous car ident had caused damage to her waist, making it even more difficult for her to carry a child to term. Furthermore, with Herman¡¯s condition, the chances of her getting pregnant were practically non- existent. Chapter 334 Chapter 334 Chapter 334 As Anastasia hesitated, she met the curious gaze of Salma. ¡°The doctor said it would be difficult for me to conceive.¡± She confessed. ¡°What?¡± Salma¡¯splexion turned pale, ¡°Why would it be difficult for you to conceive?¡± Anastasia exined, ¡°The car ident a while back injured my back. When I had my first child, complications arose, making it hard for me to get pregnant again.¡± Salma was immediately worried, ¡°Does your husband know?¡± In most marriages, the absence of a child was often a problem. A marriage couldn¡¯t be solidified by merely adopting a child. Love and novelty often faded in marriage, leaving the children as the bond that held the family together. Anastasia nodded, ¡°He knows. I¡¯ve told him about it, and he doesn¡¯t mind.¡± She didn¡¯t mention Herman¡¯s infertility, considering it was a matter of man¡¯s dignity. Even to her mother, it was hard to bring up. ¡°But what about the future?¡± Salma fretted, ¡°You guys are newlyweds now, so it¡¯s easy to say such things. But as age grows, especially for men, they¡¯ll want a child of their own. The Salstrom family is a big and influential one, your husband won¡¯t be able to not want a child of his own, and your inws won¡¯t agree either. Look at what happened to Gianna.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Salma¡¯s worry for her daughter¡¯s marriage was palpable. A marriage without childrencked security and assurance, Gianna¡¯s marriage had broken down after eight years of childlessness. That was the biggest reason for the copse. Anastasia grew anxious at her mother¡¯s words. What if Herman¡¯s infertility was cured and he wanted a child of his own? She didn¡¯t dare to think deeper, ¡°Mom, Herman won¡¯t, I trust him. We have Pattie.¡± ¡°But Pattie isn¡¯t your biological child.¡± Salma sighed, deciding to find some home remedies that could help Anastasia to conceive. Anastasia didn¡¯t know how to respond to her mother. Even if there came a day when their paths diverged, she couldn¡¯t stop it. For now, she and Herman were childless, and there was no point worrying about things that hadn¡¯t happened yet. The annual celebration dinner started at seven in the evening. Herman arranged for a professional makeup team for Anastasia. At half-past six, he picked up Anastasia and they arrived at the hotel where the dinner was being held. The soiree was filled with elite personalities from the industry, as well as top executives from Elysian Technologies. Herman chose to bring Anastasia to such an important event, intending to introduce her to everyone and assert that he was a taken man. While waiting for the dinner to start, Anastasia was in the back room resting, while Herman was out front entertaining the guests. Katelyn had taken Salma and Pattie to the front hall, with Feiman and Flynn arriving early as the hosts. Victor, Christine, and Lauren had also arrived. On such an important day, Anastasia had invited Monica too. Anastasia was able to watch the dinner through a live broadcast on the TV in the rest room. The annual celebration dinner was being broadcasted live. Elysian Technologies had invited numerous celebrities for performances, including top singers. Anastasia was somewhat nervous, as she was supposed to make her appearance when Herman introduced her to everyone. This was her first time attending such arge-scale dinner and she was so nervous she was sweating. ¡°Ana.¡± Monica came looking for her, pushed the door open and eximed, ¡°Ana, you look stunning today. I almost didn¡¯t recognize you. You¡¯re going to outshine all the other women here. After tonight, you¡¯ll be the envy of women all around the world.¡± Anastasia smiled, ¡°As long as they don¡¯t hate me. Monica, I¡¯m nervous.¡± Monica advised, ¡°Take a deep breath. Remember when you were the host of the cultural festival in college? Just imagine it¡¯s like that. Besides, you¡¯ve got Herman controlling the room. All you have to do is look beautiful.¡± Chapter 335 Chapter 335 Chapter 335 Anastasia was feeling jittery, despite her best efforts to keep calm. She caught a glimpse of the grand party unfolding on the screen before her, still finding it hard to believe. ¡°Monica.¡± She said, ¡°I¡¯ve only ever seen gatherings like this on television. All the big shots from the business world are here tonight, people I¡¯ve only ever heard of but never met.¡± Monica, gripping Anastasia¡¯s shoulder, replied, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m really lucky to be here and see what a top- tier party looks like. All Herman needs to do today is introduce you to everyone, and you¡¯ll have secured your spot as Mrs. Salstrom.¡± N?velDrama.Org ? content. Anastasia knew exactly what Herman was trying to do. He was giving her a metaphorical ¡®chill pill¡¯. Their conversation was interrupted as Anastasia noticed Katelyn and Feiman heading towards someone on the live feed. ¡°Is it someone important?¡± Anastasia wondered. The live feed switched to the entrance where Flynn was seen escorting an old woman into the venue. This olddy, with her neatly arranged silver hair, wore a dark-colored gown and a shawl. Her makeup was wless, and she exuded a vibrant energy, evidently a woman of great beauty in her youth. ¡°Who is she?¡± Monica asked. Seeing Herman approaching this olddy, with Katelyn and Feiman behaving respectfully around her, Anastasia recalled, ¡°She must be Herman¡¯s grandmother. I remember him mentioning that his grandma lived in the countryside and hadn¡¯t visited Riverdale in years. She doesn¡¯t involve herself in the Salstrom family affairs, but I suppose she must have made an exception for today¡¯spany anniversary.¡± Monica remarked, ¡°She seems pretty intimidating. She doesn¡¯t look like the sweet olddy type.¡± Indeed, from the live feed, Anastasia could see that even Katelyn was being extremely cautious around her, as if afraid of offending her. At the party, Salma was with Katelyn when the olddy spotted Katelyn and casually asked, ¡°Who is this?¡± Katelyn introduced, ¡°Grannie Anita, this is Salma, your granddaughter-inw¡¯s mother. And Salma, this is my mother-inw, Herman¡¯s grandmother.¡± Upon hearing that she was meeting her son-inw¡¯s grandmother, Salma quickly greeted, ¡°Hello, ma¡¯am.¡± Grannie Anita gave Salma a once-over but didn¡¯t engage in conversation. Instead, she turned to Herman, ¡°Herman,e help your grandmother. I¡¯m not as spry as l¡¯used to be.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Herman had a deep respect for Grannie Anita. He had spent a lot of time with her in the countryside when he was a child and they shared a strong bond. As Herman helped Grannie Anita to her seat, he noticed her apparent dislike for Salma. Trying to change the subject, he asked, ¡°Grandma, what made you decide toe back today? I¡¯ve tried to get you toe before but you refused. If I had known you wereing today, I would have picked you up.¡± ¡°I wanted to surprise you.¡± Grannie Anita replied, her eyes full of affection for Herman. She added, ¡°My grandson looks so handsome today. There are so many high-societydies here. If you take a liking to any of them, let me know and I¡¯ll propose on your behalf.¡± Herman was Grannie Anita¡¯s pride and joy, and she couldn¡¯t help but beam with pride seeing her handsome grandson. Herman frowned at her words, ¡°Grandma, have you forgotten? I told you, I¡¯m already married. You¡¯ll be meeting your granddaughter-inwter.¡± ¡°Married? When did that happen?¡± Grannie Anita feigned confusion, ¡°Howe I didn¡¯t know?¡± Flynn stepped in, ¡°Grandma, Herman is married, and his wife is as beautiful as a goddess. You¡¯ll surely like her.¡± ¡°We marry for virtue, not beauty. What¡¯s the use of a pretty face?¡± Grannie Anita chided Flynn, ¡°You¡¯re not a kid anymore. Are you ying tricks with your elder brother and trying to fool me? Do you think I wouldn¡¯t know whether he is married or not?¡± Flynn, thinking Grannie Anita truly didn¡¯t believe him, reiterated, ¡°Grandma, my brother really did get married.¡± He then whispered to Herman, ¡°Herman, I think grandma is getting a bit forgetful.¡± Forgetful? Herman knew better. Grannie Anita wasn¡¯t forgetful. She was simply not pleased with his choice of a bride. Chapter 336 Chapter 336 Chapter 336 Herman didn¡¯t argue with Granny Anita, instead he said in a deep voice, ¡°Flynn, you stay with Granny for a bit. Jarod from the WOW Corporation is here. I¡¯ll go and greet him.¡± Flynn grinned, ¡°You go do your thing. I got Granny.¡± Herman found an excuse to leave, and Flynn cheerfully coaxed Granny Anita, ¡°Granny, are you hungry? I can grab you some cookies.¡± Granny Anita looked displeased, ¡°The doctor said I can¡¯t have sweets, and I¡¯m not hungry. You go do your thing. You don¡¯t need to stay with me. I¡¯ve just arrived and Herman is already making excuses to leave me. Now that I¡¯m old, nobody listens to me anymore. You don¡¯t need to stick around.¡± ¡°Granny, are you being a little stubborn again?¡± Flynn held Granny Anita¡¯s arm, ¡°Today is the company¡¯s anniversary, Herman is really busy. How about I just call Dad over to keep youpany?¡± Flynn dared not call Katelyn over. The rtionship between Granny Anita and Katelyn was a well- known issue within the Salstrom family. To be precise, it was Granny Anita who didn¡¯t like her daughter- inw. When Katelyn gave birth to Herman, they had a falling-out during the postpartum period. This escted the conflict and Katelyn almost divorced Feiman. Granny Anita didn¡¯t like Katelyn, but she adored her two grandsons from the bottom of her heart. It was why Herman and Flynn both respected Granny Anita so much. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see your Dad. He just annoys me.¡± Granny Anita said, ¡°Why do you think I¡¯ve been living out in the countryside these years? It¡¯s because I didn¡¯t want to see your Dad.¡± The truth was, Granny Anita didn¡¯t want to see Katelyn, not Feiman. Her health had been declining in recent years, so she decided to retire to the countryside with her maid. Flynn understood this very well. ¡°Granny, then I¡¯ll just keep youpany.¡± Flynnplimented, ¡°Granny, it¡¯s been a while since I saw youst time, and you¡¯re looking more beautiful than ever.¡± Granny Anita, pleased by the ttery,ughed and yfully smacked Flynn¡¯s hand, ¡°You sweet talker, you¡¯re the only one who knows how to make me happy. If you could find me a nice granddaughter-in- law, I would be even happier.¡± Flynn joked, ¡°I¡¯ll find you a bunch of great granddaughters-inw in the future. All of them will take care of you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re thinking of marrying a bunch, you cheeky boy.¡± Granny Anitaughed heartily, then nced at the girls at the party, ¡°There are quite a few nice girls here tonight. Flynn, help Herman pick one.¡± Flynn scratched his head, ¡°Granny, Herman is already married, what¡¯s there to pick? You¡¯re getting confused again, didn¡¯t I just tell you? My sister-inw is in the lounge, and you¡¯ll see her in a bit.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. Granny Anita red at Flynn, ¡°Marriage is serious business, it involves formal proposals and wedding ceremonies. Your brother¡¯s marriage doesn¡¯t count. In the old days, it would be called a concubine.¡± In short, Granny Anita didn¡¯t approve. Flynnughed, ¡°Granny, times have changed. Once you¡¯re legally married, that¡¯s it. Herman and my sister-inw have their marriage license.¡± ¡°I said it doesn¡¯t count, so it doesn¡¯t.¡± Granny Anita¡¯s face darkened instantly, Entering the Salstrom family is a big thing. Without my approval, it doesn¡¯t count.¡± Flynn sighed; he knew how stubborn Granny Anita could be. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t still be at odds with Katelyn after more than twenty years. He just realized that Granny Anita wasn¡¯t confused earlier. She was pretending to be. ¡°Granny, you¡¯re going to have a hard time persuading Herman this time.¡± Flynn said, ¡°Granny, my sister-inw is actually quite nice.¡± ¡°You go do your thing. I don¡¯t need yourpany anymore.¡± Granny Anita was unhappy and waved Flynn away. Flynn couldn¡¯t please Granny Anita, so he went to attend to the guests. The moment Flynn walked away, Julie approached, ¡°Granny, do you remember me? I¡¯m Julie.¡± Granny Anita took a good look, then she remembered, ¡°You¡¯re Devin¡¯s daughter? Julie?¡± ¡°Yes, Granny, I¡¯m d you remember me.¡± Julie grinned and sat down next to Granny Anita, ¡°Granny, your memory is still so sharp. You¡¯re still so young at heart.¡± Granny Anita examined Julie carefully, then nced at Julie¡¯s bottom, a satisfied look in her eyes, ¡°Nice hips, good for childbirth. Julie, do you have a boyfriend?¡± Chapter 337 Chapter 337 Chapter 337 Granny Anita¡¯s intention was quite clear. Julie¡¯s heart leapt for joy. She feigned shyness and said, ¡°Not yet, Granny. If you know any eligible bachelors, feel free to introduce me. Just the other day, my folks were nudging me about it.¡± ¡°Good, good.¡± Granny Anita held Julie¡¯s hands, her eyes soft with kindness, ¡°I remember you would oftene over to y when you were a child. You used to say you¡¯d marry Herman. You two would make a handsome pair. How about marrying into my family?¡± This proposition delighted Julie, and she struggled to hide her excitement. ¡°Granny, really?¡± Julie chuckled, ¡°I¡¯d be thrilled to be your granddaughter-inw. But, Herman is already married.¡± ¡°If you agree, leave the rest to me. You¡¯ve already called me Granny. So, consider yourself my granddaughter-inw.¡± Granny Anita was fond of Julie. Although the Browns didn¡¯t quite match up to the Salstroms, they were still respectable. Plus, Julie used to y at the Salstroms¡¯ when she was a kid. Granny Anita had watched her grow up and knew her quite well, which made her even more pleased. N?velDrama.Org ? content. With Granny Anita¡¯s blessing, Julie felt one step closer to bing Mrs. Salstrom. ¡°Granny, truth be told, I¡¯ve always had feelings for Herman. But fate had other ns. Herman suddenly married this girl named Anastasia and I was heartbroken for a while.¡± Julie paused for effect, ¡°But I¡¯ve come to terms with it. If Herman is happy, that¡¯s all that matters. Your approval delights me, Granny. Even if I can¡¯t be your granddaughter-inw, I¡¯m content.¡± Granny Anita was touched by Julie¡¯s words, and her affection for her grew. She squeezed Julie¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Herman would be lucky to have you.¡± Julie blushed and said, ¡°Granny, you¡¯re too kind. I heard that Herman brought Anastasia today. The other debutantes are all wondering who she is. I¡¯ve seen Anastasia. She¡¯s very pretty. They make a handsome couple. But¡­¡± ¡°But what?¡± Granny Anita asked, intrigued. Julie hesitated before saying, ¡°Granny, I don¡¯t mean to gossip, but I don¡¯t want you or the Salstroms to be kept in the dark. Anastasia used to be a street vendor. I heard people talking about her humble beginnings and how she¡¯s not a good match for Herman. The Salstroms are a distinguished family. Marrying a poor, uneducated girl would be aughing stock. ¡°A street vendor?¡± Granny Anita frowned. This revtion made her dislike Anastasia even more. Julie nodded, ¡°Yes, Granny. Didn¡¯t you know? Anastasia used to sell trinkets at the Night Market. She didn¡¯t even go to college. I don¡¯t know what Herman sees in her. Maybe he¡¯s taken by her beauty.¡± ¡°Only a high school diploma?¡± Granny Anita¡¯s displeasure grew, ¡°Herman must be bewitched. The Salstroms can¡¯t marry an uneducated woman.¡± ¡°Maybe Herman really loves her.¡± Julie suggested, adding fuel to the fire, ¡°Anastasia¡¯s humble beginnings andck of education are irrelevant if Herman loves her. But I heard Anastasia is barren. Doesn¡¯t that mean the end of the Salstrom line?¡± This information lit Granny Anita¡¯s fuse. Upon hearing Anastasia was infertile, Granny Anita pped the table in anger, ¡°Foolish, utterly foolish! Herman is clearly bewitched by that woman. The Salstrom lineage can¡¯t end like this.¡± ¡°Granny, please calm down.¡± Julie consoled her insincerely, ¡°Don¡¯t let this upset you. And please don¡¯t mention I told you this. Herman would be furious. I¡¯ve had a minor disagreement with Anastasia before and Herman was quite upset with me. He even lied about being infertile for Anastasia. He must be deeply in love with her.¡± ¡°What? There¡¯s more?¡± Granny Anita stood up abruptly, ¡°Where is Anastasia? I need to see the woman who has my grandsonpletely bewitched.¡± Chapter 338 Chapter 338 Chapter 338 Granny Annie made up her mind to confront Anastasia, but Julie didn¡¯t dare tag along, for she feared earning Herman¡¯s wrath. ¡°Granny, the dinner party is about to start, and with so many people around, I think it¡¯s best not to upset Herman. He might me me if he finds out that I spilled the beans.¡± Julie confessed, her face a mask of trepidation. ¡°I¡¯ll confront that woman on my own, Julie. I appreciate your honesty, or else I¡¯d still be clueless and fooled by her.¡± Granny Annie dered, ¡°Rest assured, I won¡¯t let anything out of the bag. Herman¡¯s head over heels for her right now, but I¡¯m going to wake him up.¡± Granny Annie was determined to pair Herman with Julie, so she couldn¡¯t let Herman hold a grudge against her. ¡°Granny, please try to calm down. Don¡¯t let your anger get the best of you.¡± Julie pleaded, adding fuel to the fire, ¡°Once Herman announces Anastasia¡¯s identity at the party tonight, it¡¯ll be toote.¡± ¡°As long as I¡¯m around, that woman won¡¯t step foot into the Salstrom family. What a bunch of fools!¡± Granny Annie fumed. Just then, the stage lights brightened, and a line-up of A-list celebrities began to perform. The opening ceremony had begun. Herman, Feiman and Flynn were seated among the audience, and as per the itinerary, Herman, being the CEO of Elysian Technologies, was to give a speech after the opening ceremony. During this segment, Herman would introduce Anastasia to the public. Realizing this, Granny Annie hastily made her way to the backstage. She had to prevent Anastasia from appearing on stage. Noticing Granny Annie leaving her seat, Katelyn grew worried and excused herself from Salma and Pattie, following Granny Annie¡¯s direction. Katelyn caught up with Granny Annie in the hotel corridor. ¡°Mom, the party has begun. Where are you going?¡± Katelyn asked, trying to support Granny Annie. Over,the years, Katelyn had tried to mend her rtionship with her mother-inw, but Granny Annie had been unreceptive. ring ¡°I¡¯m busy. Mind your own business.¡± Granny Annie retorted, ring at Katelyn, ¡°You¡¯re a poor mother and a worse judge of character. You let that woman into the Salstrom family. Are you trying to ruin us?¡± Katelyn was taken aback, ¡°Mom, what are you talking about? Are you upset about Anastasia?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t y dumb with me.¡± Granny Annie snapped, ¡°Do you even know what kind of woman Herman is marrying? Do you know anything about her background?¡± ¡°I do, Mom.¡± Katelyn replied calmly, ¡°Ana is a talented jewelry designer.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying to me! I know the truth. She never even attended college and was a street vendor. Is the Salstrom family so desperate that we¡¯re marrying into such a lowly background?¡± Granny Annie retorted angrily, ¡°You¡¯re a disgrace as a mother.¡± Katelyn was taken aback, ¡°Mom, yes, Ana was a street vendor. But so what? Didn¡¯t the Salstrom family also start from humble beginnings? Ana is kind and intelligent, and she and Herman are in love. The Salstrom family doesn¡¯t need to solidify its position through marriage anymore. What¡¯s wrong with Herman choosing someone he loves?¡± ¡°You¡¯re backtalking me.¡± Granny Annie retorted, seething, ¡°That woman can¡¯t bear children. She¡¯ll end the Salstrom lineage. Did you know that? Herman¡¯s been covering for her, iming he¡¯s sterile. Do you know that? You¡¯re all clueless.¡±Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°What?¡± Katelyn was shocked, ¡°Ana can¡¯t have children?¡± Granny Annie red at Katelyn, ¡°Move aside. I need to find that woman and tell her to leave Herman.¡± Pushing past Katelyn, Granny Annie stormed towards the room. Upon hearing the door to the room m shut, Katelyn quickly followed, despite her mother-inw¡¯s harsh words. She feared Granny Annie would cause a scene. Chapter 339 Chapter 339 Chapter 339 The lounge was deserted. Grannie Anita scanned the room, then turned and quizzed Katelyn, ¡°Where is everybody?¡± Katelyn cast a nce at the empty room. Anastasia was nowhere to be found, which secretly relieved her. She knew how quick-tempered Grannie Anita could be. If she were to catch Anastasia now, there would definitely be a scene. ¡°I have no idea.¡± Katelyn replied, shaking her head. Recalling Grannie Anita¡¯s earlier words, she asked, ¡°Mom, you just got back from the countryside. Where did you hear these rumors that Ana can¡¯t have children?¡± This was something Katelyn needed to understand. Grannie Anita¡¯s face was stone-cold, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about how I found out. You¡¯re all so clueless, even more so than me, an eighty-year-old woman. You¡¯re all being fooled by that woman.¡± Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Mom, Ana isn¡¯t like that. There must be a misunderstanding.¡± Katelyn defended Anastasia. Grannie Anita snorted, ¡°You¡¯re defending her because you¡¯re all the same, a bunch of women with ulterior motive¡¯s, trying to marry up. I see, you¡¯re deliberately defying me by choosing such a daughter- inw.¡± Such harsh words stung Katelyn. She said, ¡°Mom, no matter what I do, you¡¯re never satisfied. I even signed a prenuptial agreement, not iming a dime from the Salstrom family. What else do you want from me? I¡¯ve given the Salstrom family two sons. ¡°That¡¯s your only merit. Otherwise, I would have had Feiman divorce you long ago.¡± Grannie Anita retorted, ring at Katelyn, ¡°But now the woman Herman married can¡¯t even produce an heir. What¡¯s the point of marrying her? There¡¯s no shortage of beautiful women out there.¡± While they were arguing, the television in the lounge was broadcasting live footage of Herman giving a speech. As Herman stepped onto the stage, he seemed every inch a king, full of regal majesty. His resonant voice echoed from the microphone, ¡°Thank you all for joining us today, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Elysian Technologies. Starting from a mere sales booth fifty years ago, Elysian Technologies has grown step by step to where we are today¡­¡± Herman briefly went through the history of Elysian Technologies, capturing the rapt attention of hundreds in the audience. From the waiting area below the stage, Anastasia watched Herman. She felt a deep sense of pride and happiness. Such a wonderful man was her husband. Thinking about it, this was something that could make anyone wake up smiling from a dream. A man like Herman, with his charm and good looks, was definitely top- tier. He was like a walking hormone, with just one look from him being enough to make a woman blush and her heart race. There was no woman who wouldn¡¯t like such a man. The anniversary celebration was being broadcast live. Anyone who followed thepany¡¯s ount could watch the live stream. The number of viewers in the live stream had exceeded half a million and was still rising. Eighty percent of them were women, all there to see Herman¡¯s face. Thement section was bustling, withizens proiming their love for Herman and expressing their jealousy. Monica also tuned into the live stream for a while, then nudged Anastasia, ¡°Ana, look, you have hundreds of thousands of rivals. Your husband is so popr. Everyone in the live stream is calling him ¡®hubby.¡± Anastasia nced at the screen, not at all jealous, but rather, proud. Sheughed, ¡°He really does attract a lot of attention.¡± ¡°More than just attention. It¡¯s like he¡¯s stirred up a ho¡¯s nest, or a butterfly valley. I need to rify in thements that your husband is married. The outside world doesn¡¯t know about it.¡± Monica said. While speaking, Monicamented in the live stream, ¡°Everyone, stop fighting. Mr. Salstrom is already taken. He¡¯s married.¡± As soon as Monica posted herment, she was flooded with replies. ¡°Is it true?¡± ¡°Can we trust this news?¡± ¡°When did Mr. Salstrom get married? I never heard about it.¡± ¡°What happened? Did my inte go down? Howe I don¡¯t know about my idol getting married?¡± The audience expressed their disbelief one after another. Chapter 340 Chapter 340 Chapter 340 The live stream¡¯s poprity was skyrocketing, soaring from half a million viewers to well over a million, and it was still climbing. Herman was the face of Elysian Technologies, thepany¡¯s poster boy. This was a fact that was well recognized. Even Collin, who had once teased Herman, agreed that if Herman was willing to use his charm, Elysian Technologies could reach new heights. If Elysian Technologies ventured into women¡¯s skincare products, and Herman was to promote them, they would definitely sell out in a heartbeat. Two types of people were easy to make money from: women and children. Women controlled the purse strings of households and, by extension, the economy. And Herman, he had the potential to tap into that. Gianna was also in the live stream. Unable to attend the event in person, she was content to watch from afar. Watching Herman on stage and seeing how popr he was, Gianna felt a sense of joy for him. Every move he made and every word he spoke kept Gianna¡¯s attention firmly on him. ¡°Gianna, could you fetch the scissors for me?¡± Cynthia called several times. Gianna was sitting on the couch, engrossed with her phone, and didn¡¯t budge. Intrigued, Cynthia went over and saw Gianna staring at a man on her phone screen. Cynthia found him familiar, ¡°Isn¡¯t that Anastasia¡¯s husband? Is he in a talent show?¡± Cynthia was unaware of Herman¡¯s true identity. Seeing him in a suit and tie, looking handsome and eloquent on stage, she assumed he was participating in some sort of reality show. Gianna corrected her, ¡°He¡¯s the CEO of Elysian Technologies. Today is their anniversary celebration and he¡¯s giving the speech. It¡¯s not a talent show.¡± ¡°Elysian Technologies?¡± Cynthia gasped, ¡°Thepany that ranks among the top in the world¡¯s wealth list?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Gianna replied, smiling, ¡°Mom, look, isn¡¯t Herman handsome? He¡¯s only thirty. In just a few short years, he¡¯s turned Elysian Technologies into a leading corporation both domestically and internationally.¡± ¡°Oh my, Anastasia really hit the jackpot. She¡¯s married into a wealthy family.¡± Cynthia eximed, ¡°I didn¡¯t see it before. I just thought he was handsome, but he¡¯s actually quite influential. Howe your aunt and Anastasia never told us about this? Are they afraid we might try to climb the socialdder?¡± The revtion of Herman¡¯s identity left Cynthia feeling less superior, even a bit envious. People were like that. They could wish you well, but they certainly didn¡¯t want to actually see you doing better than them. Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. Gianna didn¡¯t bother to exin, instead, she said rather bitterly, ¡°Anastasia is indeed lucky. Herman is the man every woman dreams of marrying, yet he chose her.¡± Cynthia sneered, ¡°Well, what¡¯s so great about Anastasia? Apart from being somewhat pretty. You¡¯re pretty as well. It¡¯s just bad luck that you ended up -with Joey. If you could marry a man like Herman, you¡¯d have no more worries. You alwayspare yourself to Anastasia, but in the end, you¡¯re still Cynthia¡¯s words were like a thorn, pricking painfully at Gianna¡¯s heart. Back at the anniversary celebration. Herman had introduced Elysian Technologies and summarized thepany¡¯s achievements for the year. Then it was time for the final part of the event introducing Anastasia. Herman nced at Anastasia backstage. His previously serious expression softened instantly. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, setting off a frenzy in the live chat. Herman¡¯s smile was lethal. The live stream viewers were constantly being struck by his devastating charm his side profile, his smile, even the slight furrow of his brows was captivating. There was a saying, ¡®Beauty is in the eye of the beholder¡¯. It certainly held true in this case. Herman looked back at the audience, his voice clear and resonant, ¡°Today, I want to introduce to you all, the most important person in my life.¡± Backstage, Grannie Anita, watching the live stream, hurried towards the banquet hall. Katelyn, knowing what her mother was up to, rushed forward to stop her, ¡°Mom, you can¡¯t mess this up. Today is a big day for Elysian Technologies. It¡¯s being live streamed. If anything goes wrong, it¡¯s the Salstrom family¡¯s reputation at stake.¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t go now, Herman will announce that woman¡¯s identity to everyone. It¡¯ll be the Salstrom family¡¯s reputation that¡¯s really ruined.¡± Grannie Anita said. While the two argued, Herman had already finished his introduction in the banquet hall, ¡°My wife, Anastasia.¡± Chapter 341 Chapter 341 Chapter 341 Herman¡¯s words hit like a bolt from the blue, creating a ssh as if a bomb had been thrown into a sereneke. Upon hearing the shocking news, Grannie Anita felt lightheaded, nearly fainting on the spot. Katelyn quickly steadied her, saying, ¡°Mom.¡± ¡°It¡¯s over, it¡¯s all over.¡± Grannie Anita clutched her chest, heartbroken. In the grand foyer where the banquet was held, a number of people who were oblivious to Herman¡¯s marital status were taken aback by the startling revtion. Even those who were aware of Herman¡¯s marital status were curious as they had never seen Mrs. Salstrom, his elusive wife. They wondered who this mysterious Mrs. Salstrom was and what charm she possessed to have won over a man like Herman. The banquet hall buzzed with spection about Mrs. Salstrom¡¯s identity, and back in the live chatroom, it was all kicking off. Netizens were flooding the chat with ¡°Wow, Herman really is married.¡± ¡°This is jaw-dropping.¡± ¡°Does anyone know who this Mrs. Salstrom is?¡± ¡°How did we miss this massive piece of news?¡± ¡°No wonder Herman was all smiles. He¡¯s got adylove.¡± ¡°Who is the woman who stole Herman¡¯s heart?¡± N?velDrama.Org ? content. ¡°My heart¡¯s broken. My dream man is taken.¡± ¡°I¡¯m heartbroken too.¡± ¡°When is polygamy going to be a thing? I¡¯d happily be Herman¡¯s second wife.¡± Thement section was alive and buzzing. The live chatroom was flooded with excited viewers. Everyone was eager to catch a glimpse of the mysterious Mrs. Salstrom, not daring to blink. Herman made his way off the stage towards Anastasia, with the spotlight following him all the way. When he reappeared on the stage and hand-in-hand with Anastasia, everyone, both in the banquet hall and the live chatroom, werepletely taken aback. Anastasia, dressed in a gradient purple gown, her curly hair cascaded down her shoulders and her delicate features, looked like a fairy descended from heaven. She looked impable from every angle. There wasn¡¯t a single w to her. Her skin was as smooth as silk, her eyes sparkled, and she had a statuesque figure. Standing next to Herman, they were a match made in heaven, a strikingly beautiful couple. Anastasia held the mic and confidently addressed the crowd, ¡°Hello, everyone. I¡¯m Anastasia, Herman¡¯s wife.¡± This statement not only confirmed Herman¡¯s marital status but also affirmed his manhood and dignity. She was more than happy to y the role of the doting wife in public. What happened in the privacy of their home was another story. Anastasia¡¯s entrance left the viewers in the live chatroompletely speechless. It was as if time had frozen. Herman held onto Anastasia¡¯s hand tightly, staring at her with an affectionate gaze that was enough to make anyone melt. The love was practically pouring out of the screen. Julie, watching from the crowd, was seething with jealousy. Her eyes, filled with envy, were fixed on Anastasia. She envied Anastasia for her beauty, for being in the spotlight, and for being Herman¡¯s wife. Collin sighed, ¡°What more could a man ask for?¡± Flynn joked, ¡°If Anastasia lived in ancient times, she¡¯d be a seductive enchantress causing ruin and chaos.¡± Lauren quickly chided him, ¡°Watch your words. You¡¯re the enchantress here. Anastasia is more like a queen, revered by all.¡± Flynn quickly apologized, ¡°My mistake.¡± Christine added, ¡°Mr. Salstrom and Anastasia make such an eye-pleasing couple.¡± Pattie proudly dered, ¡°My mom is the most beautiful woman in the world, and my dad is the most handsome man.¡± Salma, too, was thrilled for Anastasia. Seeing her daughter and son-inw together, so much in love, filled her heart with joy.¡± Herman, eyes full of love, said to the crowd, ¡°Meeting Anastasia and having the privilege to call her my wife is the greatest blessing of my life, I promise to cherish and protect her for the rest of my life. Please bear witness to our love.¡± His heartfelt deration sent the viewers in the live chatroom into a frenzy. Comments flooded the chatroom, filled with envy for Anastasia. ¡°I¡¯m so jealous of Anastasia. Her skin is wless.¡± ¡°All I want is to look like her. Maybe then I could be a pole dancer in Vegas.¡± ¡°Hot guys get the hot girls, and us mere mortals just don¡¯t stand a chance.¡± ¡°If they have a kid, that kid is going to be out of this world.¡± ¡°With such great genes, they must have an entire ser team.¡± Thement section was all over the ce. Julie, seeing all the praise and admiration for Anastasia, couldn¡¯t hide her jealousy. She started badmouthing Anastasia with a dummy ount. ¡°Anastasia didn¡¯t even finish high school. She has no shame and used underhanded tactics to seduce Herman.¡± Herment was quickly lost in the sea of otherments, having no effect whatsoever, which made her so mad. Chapter 342 Chapter 342 Chapter 342 With a grand announcement and heartfelt confession, Herman solidified Anastasia¡¯s position as the CEO of Elysian Technologies. No one could challenge her. Julie could only grind her teeth in frustration, regretting why Anastasia didn¡¯t meet her end on Cloud Mountain. Unable to bear the sight any longer, she left the banquet hall for some fresh air. A man followed her out. It was Joseph, the man who had once vowed to help Julie. ¡°Already throwing in the towel?¡± Joseph wore a mischievous grin, giving an air of sinister cunning. Julie responded sharply, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were going to help me? Now Herman has announced Anastasia¡¯s status.¡± ¡°The higher one stands, the harder they fall.¡± Joseph responded cryptically, ¡°The real drama is yet to come.¡± Puzzled, Julie asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You¡¯re smart. You¡¯ve been able to manipte Grannie Anita. If you keep stirring the pot, the Salstrom family will never have peace. Herman will be overloaded and divorce Anastasia.¡± Joseph pulled out a document from his pocket, ¡®Take a look. This is my gift to you.¡± Curious, Julie opened it and was shocked by the information. ¡°How did you find this out? Anastasia was pregnant before marriage?¡± Julie was overjoyed. If Grannie Anita found out, could Anastasia still have an easy life in the Salstrom family? Joseph casually brushed off non-existent dust from his sleeve, ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter how I found it: It helps you and that¡¯s what counts. How you use it, that¡¯s up to you.¡± Julie looked at him fiercely, ¡°Anastasia thinks she can just marry into wealth and enjoy avish lifestyle? It won¡¯t be that easy.¡± Joseph sneered and walked away. Joseph hated every member of the Salstrom family. He was Feiman¡¯s illegitimate son, forced to live in the shadows. While Herman could bask in the spotlight, he was destined to be forever shrouded in darkness. He wouldn¡¯t settle for it. Why couldn¡¯t he, a Salstrom by blood, rightfully be a part of the Salstrom family? Joseph walked into the hotel lobby and nced at the live broadcast of the banquet. Looking at Herman and Anastasia¡¯s loving image, his resentment grew. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Herman, I wonder how you¡¯ll choose between your power and your beauty.¡± Joseph murmured. With a sinister smile on his face, Joseph continued walking outside, only to bump into amotion at the entrance. Someone was trying to get into the anniversary celebration without an invitation and was stopped by the security. ¡°You can¡¯te in without an invitation.¡± The security guard said. ¡°You see the woman on the broadcast, Mrs. Salstrom? That¡¯s my daughter, and we¡¯re together.¡± Tavon said. The man being stopped was Tavon. He hade all the way from Willowbrook, but without an invitation, he couldn¡¯t get in. Watching the live broadcast of the banquet and seeing Herman introducing Anastasia, Tavon was thrilled. That was his daughter! The security guard remained unmoved, ¡°No invitation, no entry. How do we know you¡¯re not a fraud? You say you¡¯re Mrs. Salstrom¡¯s biological father, so we should believe you? If something happens, we can¡¯t take the me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not lying, this is my card. Take a look.¡± Tavon said, feeling somewhat insulted. He was a well- known figure, yet a security guard was blocking his way. Let him in.¡± Joseph intervened, showing his wristband, ¡°If anything happens, I¡¯ll take responsibility.¡± Everyone attending the banquet wore a wristband with personal information. As soon as the security guard saw the wristband, he knew who he was dealing with. Tonight¡¯s guests were all business magnates and industry elites. So, the guard let them pass. Tavon quickly thanked Joseph, ¡°Thank you, I forgot my invitation.¡± Tavon didn¡¯t actually have an invitation, but he needed to save his pride. Joseph asked, ¡°Are you Anastasia¡¯s father? I remember Mrs. Salstrom only has a mother.¡± Joseph had researched Anastasia and knew she was raised in a single-parent household. ¡°I am indeed Anastasia¡¯s father, but I¡¯m usually busy and away. Outsiders wouldn¡¯t know.¡± Tavon replied somewhat anxiously, ¡°The banquet has started. I¡¯ll go in now. Thanks again.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Joseph responded without further questions. Regardless if this was her real or fake father, the more the merrier, right? Chapter 343 Chapter 343 Chapter 343 Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org. The moment Tavon stepped into the grand banquet hall, his eyes instinctively searched for Salma. He spotted her in a sumptuous evening gown, seated in the front row with little Pattie by her side. His heart swelled at the sight of Anastasia, his daughter, on stage. ¡°Grammy, I need to use the restroom.¡± Pattie chimed. ¡°Okay, darling, hold on a bit. I¡¯ll take you there.¡± Salma replied, guiding Pattie towards the restrooms. Meanwhile, Herman, hand-in-hand with Anastasia, descended the stage, signaling themencement of the banquet. Herman was every inch a gentleman, attentively holding up the train of Anastasia¡¯s dress. He was meticulous about every detail. Lauren sauntered up andplimented, ¡°Anastasia, you look absolutely stunning tonight.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Anastasia replied, blushing slightly under the attention. She was the center of attraction, with almost everyone¡¯s gaze fixated on her, making her feel the pressure. Any minor slip or faux pas would be a topic of discussion, particrly since there were numerous women who coveted Herman. As his wife, she needed to disy convincing grace and etiquette. Prior to the banquet, Herman had sent Anastasia for etiquette lessons to ensure she wouldn¡¯t embarrass herself on such an important asion. Throughout the banquet, Herman and Anastasia were inseparable. While Herman was engrossed in conversation with the CEOS, the topic would invariably steer towards his sudden marriage. Jarod, the head of WOW Corporation, jested, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, you¡¯ve indeed kept us all in the dark. Marrying a radiant beauty like Mrs. Salstrom, you¡¯re a lucky man.¡± Others chimed in, ¡°I bet a lot of youngdies are heartbroken tonight. Mr. Salstrom, you¡¯ve be the heartthrob of the nation.¡± Herman chuckled, ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating.¡± ¡°Not at all, Mr. Salstrom. You underestimate your charm. We¡¯ve had millions tuning into the live stream tonight.¡± The others said, ¡°I remember when Mr. Reid made his appearance on a live stream, he barely crossed a hundred thousand viewers.¡± Mr. Reid, the owner of a prominent electronicspany,ughed, ¡°I¡¯m past my prime. Can¡¯tpete with the young blood. But in my heyday, I was quite the charmer.¡± As the men bantered, Anastasia yed her part of the perfect apaniment, making Herman the man every other man envied. When it was time, Herman excused himself, led Anastasia away, and asked softly, ¡°Hungry?¡± Anastasia smiled, ¡°A bit. I¡¯m too conscious in this dress to really enjoy the food.¡± Hermanughed softly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. Let¡¯s go grab something to eat.¡± As they walked towards the buffet section, Anastasia scanned the room for Pattie and Salma. Instead, she spotted Tavon nearby. Anastasia¡¯s face paled, ¡°Herman, Tavon¡¯s here.¡± Following her gaze, Herman spoke in a neutral tone, ¡°Seems like he knew about this all along.¡± Regardless of whether Tavon was aware or not, he¡¯d inevitably find out after tonight. With their very public appearance, Tavon would definitely get wind of it. Tavon waved enthusiastically at Anastasia and Herman. However, they didn¡¯t approach him, choosing instead to head to the buffet. Wherever they went, people respectfully cleared a path. No one would dare to encroach within a few inches radius of them, except for one man. Tavon approached them, smiling warmly, ¡°Ana, Herman, my son-inw.¡± The term ¡®son-inw¡¯ made Anastasia frown. She hadn¡¯t expected Tavon to be so audacious. However, she had to keep her displeasure hidden. Herman, adept at handling such situations, responded, ¡°Mr. Tavon, let¡¯s catch up after the banquet.¡± With that, he skillfully distanced himself from Tavon. Having been dismissed by Herman, Tavon wisely chose not to create a scene at the banquet, ¡°Of course, I just wanted to say hi. Ana, you look beautiful tonight.¡± Anastasia felt a pang of difort at Tavon¡¯s sudden change in attitude. Despite everything, he was still her father. Chapter 344 Chapter 344 Chapter 344 Anastasia was ravenous, yet she had no desire for any kind of food. Even the smell of strong vors caused a nauseous sensation, making her want to vomit. Anastasia attributed it to her nerves, telling Herman, ¡°I need to find a ce to rest.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Herman led Anastasia to a rest area. After sitting down, Anastasia still felt a bit queasy, ¡°I need some lemonade.¡± For some reason, she craved something tart, as if her stomach was still feeling greasy. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll get it for you.¡± Herman went to the beverages area to fetch the lemonade. Anastasia took out her phone from her purse to call Salma. She hadn¡¯t seen Salma and Pattie after stepping off the stage, which made her worried. After the call, she learned that Salma had taken Pattie to the restroom, and Anastasia felt relieved. Just as she ended the call, Lauren and other socialites she had met at the reception came over. ¡°Mrs. Salstrom, you were absolutely stunning today.¡± These socialites had sharp eyes, and they no longer dared to call her by her first name. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, even as a woman, I was absolutely captivated by Mrs. Salstrom.¡± ¡°Mr. Salstrom is truly a lucky man.¡± Lauren joked with a smile, ¡°Anastasia, I always told you to win Herman over, so I could admire him more often. But you were faster than I expected, and you¡¯ve already won him over.¡± Anastasiaughed, ¡°You knew about it all along and didn¡¯t tell me. Just call me Anastasia. Mrs. Salstrom sounds so formal. I¡¯d be even more nervous.¡± Everyone knew about it, except for her. When the topic came up, it reminded Anastasia of Monica. She was still at the reception when Anastasia took the stage, but she was nowhere to be found now. The banquet hall was sorge that it was difficult to spot someone among hundreds of people. As they were talking, Herman arrived with the lemonade, ¡°Anastasia.¡± As soon as Herman arrived, the beauties quickly made room for him to sit next to Anastasia. After taking a sip of the lemonade, Anastasia felt much better. Lauren casuallymented, ¡°Anastasia, aren¡¯t you finding this lemonade too tangy?¡± Earlier, Lauren had tried the lemonade and found it extremely sour. She felt like it would even induce a need to urinate. ¡°It¡¯s quite refreshing.¡± Anastasia replied, ¡°I guess I had something greasy earlier, so something tart is just perfect.¡± One of thedies asked, ¡°Anastasia, are you pregnant? My sister-inw who¡¯s expecting has been craving sour things like sour oranges and lemons. It makes my teeth ache just looking at her, but she seems to enjoy it.¡± Thedy¡¯sment startled Herman, but he quickly dismissed the possibility. He was well aware of Anastasia¡¯s health condition. Anastasia nced at Herman andughed, exining to thedy, ¡°No, I just suddenly felt like having something sour.¡± Then, Anastasia found an excuse to send Herman away, ¡°Why don¡¯t you go do your thing? I¡¯ll chat with thedies.¡± Herman being the only man in a group of women was indeed awkward. ¡°Alright.¡± Herman said in a deep voice, ¡°Call me if you need anything.¡± Anastasia smiled, ¡°Sure.¡± Herman got up, affectionately caressed Anastasia¡¯s head, and walked away, leaving thedies in awe of their sweet interaction. Once Herman left, Anastasia was immediately teased by the group. ¡°Anastasia, you must have saved the gxy in your past life. Did you guys see Mr. Salstrom¡¯s gaze? So gentle and full of love. It makes me want to fall in love.¡± Anastasia felt at ease with this group. There was no stiffness. Pattie, after using the restroom, found Anastasia and called out in her childlike voice, ¡°Mommy.¡± This made thedies look at each other in surprise. Because Pattie looked so much like Anastasia; especially in their matching dresses, they looked even more alike. One of them eximed, ¡°Anastasia, you and Mr. Salstrom have kept your secret well. Your daughter is already so big.¡± ¡°Wow, she¡¯s so cute, pink and tender. Her eyes are like Anastasia¡¯s, and her nose and mouth are like Mr. Salstrom¡¯s.¡± ¡°I saw someizens pushing for a baby in the live chat earlier, but you¡¯ve already had one.¡± Upon hearing this, Lauren took a closer look at both of them, ¡°Anastasia, are you sure she¡¯s not your biological daughter with Herman?¡± Lauren knew that Pattie was adopted, but the resemnce was uncanny.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g Chapter 345 Chapter 345 Chapter 345 It wasn¡¯t the first time someone had remarked on the striking resemnce between Pattie and her adoptive parents, Anastasia and Herman. Anastasia was always careful to maintain Pattie¡¯s self-esteem and avoided any suggestions that she was adopted. She didn¡¯t want Pattie to feel less loved or out of ce. Gently touching Pattie¡¯s cheek, Anastasia would often say, ¡°It¡¯s not about blood. It¡¯s about family. You are meant to be our daughter, Pattie.¡± Her words were ambiguous enough to avoid direct mention of adoption, yet intimate enough to imply a natural bond. ¡°Say hello to thedies, Pattie.¡± Anastasia encouraged. Pattie waved her little hand, her voice sweet and soft, ¡°Hello,dies.¡± The women cooed and praised Pattie for her good manners and charm. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°Oh, I wish I had a lovely daughter like this.¡± One of them said. ¡°You don¡¯t even have a man. Where would you get a daughter?¡± Lauren teased. ¡°Men are everywhere. If I can¡¯t find the right one, I¡¯ll just find one with good looks. I can have a baby, and raise her on my own.¡± The womenughed and chatted, their banter filled with a sense of independence and empowerment. They were all sessful, either being wealthy from family fortunes or self-made entrepreneurs. Salma, an older woman, found herself struggling to keep up with the modern mindset of the younger women. She herself was a single mother and understood the hardships that came with it. Yet, she admired the young women¡¯s ability to stand on their own feet. The conversation was interrupted when Anastasia noticed Flynn and Feiman hurrying towards the back room. Feeling a sudden anxiety, she realized she hadn¡¯t seen Katelyn or Grannie Anita for a while. ¡°Mom, have you seen my mother-inw?¡± Anastasia asked Salma. ¡°No, I haven¡¯t seen her since the opening ceremony.¡± Salma replied, ¡°She greeted me and then she went towards the back room.¡± Concerned, Anastasia stood up and said, ¡°Mom, can you look after Pattie? I¡¯ll go check on them.¡± In the back room, Grannie Anita had nearly fainted earlier. Katelyn had been looking after her, trying to prevent her from making a scene in the main hall. Grannie Anita, who had calmed down a bit, was now insisting on going to the front to find Herman and Anastasia. Katelyn couldn¡¯t stop her anymore, so she decided to call Feiman and ask him to bring everyone over. It was better to handle the situation before it escted to the lobby. At the sight of Feiman, Grannie Anitaunched into a tirade, expressing her disappointment about his son¡¯s foolishness and using him of putting the Salstrom family name at risk. Feiman was utterly confused and worried about what had happened. He looked at Katelyn for answers, but she stammered, unable to exin clearly. Just then, Flynn and Herman arrived. ¡°Herman.¡± Grannie Anita began, smacking Herman¡¯s shoulder as he approached, ¡°You have really disappointed me.¡± Chapter 346 Chapter 346 Chapter 346 The p Grannie Anitanded on Herman left everyone in the room stunned. Grannie Anita had always adored Herman, her eldest grandchild. She never uttered a harsh word to him, let aloneying a hand on him. Feiman asked anxiously, ¡°Mom, what¡¯s going on? Please exin.¡± Flynn chimed in, ¡°Granny, you¡¯ve always favored Herman, what¡¯s happened?¡± Katelyn kept quiet, even though she felt bad for Herman, she didn¡¯t want to exacerbate the tension between her and Anita. Herman, his eyebrows furrowed ever so slightly, didn¡¯t show any sign of anger. Instead, he was foreboding something was amiss. He remained silent, only looking at Grannie Anita and calling out, ¡°Granny.¡± Grannie Anita had always been soft-hearted, and would oblige anything Herman asked of her. Even when he got into trouble as a kid, one call of ¡°Granny¡± would cool her down. This time, however, Grannie Anita was still infuriated, ¡°Don¡¯t call me Granny if you don¡¯t divorce that woman. Herman, you really are confused. How could you marry such a woman?¡± Upon hearing Grannie Anita belittling Anastasia, Herman¡¯s expression tightened. He dered firmly, ¡°Granny, Anastasia is my chosen life partner. She is my wife.¡± Feiman added, ¡°Mom, why are you suddenly dissatisfied with Anastasia? She hasn¡¯t done anything to upset you.¡± Feiman couldn¡¯t help but recall how he had been pressured by Grannie Anita to divorce Katelyn in the past, just like Herman. Flynn, too, tried to mediate, ¡°Granny, Herman and Anastasia are married. If you want them to divorce, you need a good reason.¡± ¡°You want a reason? Well, I¡¯ll give you one.¡± Grannie Anita retorted, listing Anastasia¡¯s faults, ¡°That womanes from a poor background, she¡¯s from a family of street vendors, and didn¡¯t even go to college.¡± Feiman interjected, ¡°Mom, none of that matters. The Salstrom family doesn¡¯t choose daughters-inws based on their background. Didn¡¯t our family start as street vendors too?¡± Grannie Anita shot Feiman a stern look, ¡°That woman can¡¯t have children. Just for that reason alone, she can¡¯t be a part of the Salstrom family. Herman, you can¡¯t be so confused. How could you lie to us all, iming you¡¯re infertile? This truly breaks my heart.¡± The revtion from Grannie Anita shocked Feiman and Flynn. One was stunned that Anastasia was infertile, the other surprised that Grannie Anita knew. Flynn was certain. He hadn¡¯t let it slip to Collin. Only Herman, his expression remained calm. Feiman asked Herman in shock, ¡°Is what your granny saying true? Tell me honestly, between the two of you, who can¡¯t have children?¡± Herman didn¡¯t answer Feiman. Instead, he turned to Grannie Anita, ¡°Granny, who told you all this? Who¡¯s been gossiping behind our backs?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Just tell me, will you divorce that woman? The Salstrom family line cannot end here.¡± Grannie Anita insisted stubbornly. The atmosphere in the room instantly turned tense. Flynn attempted to lighten the mood, ¡°Granny, the Salstrom family still has me. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll give you ten great-grandchildren for you to dote on.¡± Flynn¡¯s attempt to defuse the situation fell t. He scratched his head awkwardly, ncing at Herman. Inwardly, he thought, ¡°Herman, this is all I can do. You¡¯re on your own.¡± Herman¡¯s lips tightened slightly. After a moment, he finally said, ¡°I have never nned to divorce Anastasia, and I don¡¯t care whether she can bear children or not. If Granny thinks that I am ruining the Salstrom family, then starting from tomorrow, I will resign as CEO and hand over thepany to Flynn.¡± The announcement stunned everyone in the room. Flynn internally rejected the idea. He didn¡¯t want to take over thepany. It was too much hassle. Grannie Anita was even more furious. She stood up and scolded, ¡°Ridiculous.¡± Feiman also spoke sternly, ¡°Herman, you¡¯re being ridiculous this time. Resignation is not a matter to be taken lightly. You hiding Anastasia¡¯s infertility from us is even more absurd.¡± Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°Dad.¡± Herman began, but was interrupted by Monica¡¯s voice from the hallway outside, ¡°Anastasia, where are you going? Anastasia.¡± Herman immediately swung the door open, catching a glimpse of Anastasia disappearing around the corner. Without a second thought, he strode off in pursuit of her, leaving Grannie Anita behind. Grannie Anita was left fuming, ¡°He¡¯s truly bewitched.¡± Chapter 347 Chapter 347 Chapter 347 Monica couldn¡¯t keep up with Anastasia. Seeing Herman approaching from behind, she was puzzled until he asked her, ¡°Which way did Anastasia go?¡± Monica pointed to the left and asked, ¡°What happened?¡± Earlier, Monica had stepped away to call Trevor. When she returned, she saw Anastasia storming out with a troubled expression. Monica had called out to her, but couldn¡¯t catch up. Herman didn¡¯t have time to answer Monica¡¯s question. He quickly continued his pursuit of Anastasia. At this moment, Anastasia¡¯s mind was in turmoil, echoing with the words Grannie Anita had told her. The truth was, she was the one who was incapable of having children, not Herman. Herman had lied to her, just so that she could be epted by Katelyn and Feiman. ¡®Anastasia stormed out of the hotel and onto the bustling streets. She was unable to ept this reality. She didn¡¯t doubt Herman¡¯s love for her, but that made it even more difficult for her to face him and the Salstrom family. Grannie Anita¡¯s words, although harsh, were realistic. She was just a simple street vendor. What did she have to offer to catch the attention of someone like Herman? She didn¡¯t even have a college degree, and she couldn¡¯t bear children. How could she deserve Herman¡¯s love? Overwhelmed by self-doubt and feelings of inferiority, Anastasia was scared. Now that the Salstrom family knew about her inability to have children, was her marriage with Herman at its end? In her daze, Anastasia didn¡¯t notice the red light. A van was speeding toward her, but she was too shocked to react. Just as the van was about to hit her, Anastasia felt a strong force pull her away. Startled, she heard his anxious voice, ¡°Anastasia, are you okay?¡± She lifted her head from his chest, still in shock. The y¨¢n driver was also shaken. He yelled out the window at Anastasia, ¡°If you want to die, go somewhere else. Don¡¯t drag me down!¡± Herman shot him a fierce look, causing the driver to quickly retreat and speed off. Herman led her to a quieter area and checked her for injuries. Once he was sure she was unharmed, he finally rxed. He pulled her into his arms, ¡°You can¡¯t let this happen again.¡± His voice was filled with fear. If he hadn¡¯t arrived in time, he couldn¡¯t bear to imagine the consequences. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Anastasia mumbled. As soon as she spoke, her voice was hoarse and tearful. She couldn¡¯t control her emotions. His warm embrace and his warning filled with concern and fear broke herst defenses. Her apology carried more meaning than just causing trouble for others. She was sorry for not being able to bear Herman¡¯s children. ¡°I won¡¯t let you say those words. It¡¯s not your fault.¡± Herman said in a low voice. He held her face and gently kissed away her tears, ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± He scooped her up in his arms, not giving her time to dwell on her sadness. Wrapped in his warmth, Anastasia¡¯s chaotic emotions started to calm down. Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. After putting her in the car, he called Salma and Flynn. He asked Salma to take care of Pattie and then let Flynn to drive them home. Tonight, he would be taking Anastasia to their new home. They wouldn¡¯t be going back to Salstrom Manor or Harmony Meadows. After making these arrangements, he started the car and drove off with Anastasia. Just as they were leaving, Joseph emerged from the shadows. He watched as the car disappeared into the distance and mumbled to himself, ¡°She really is his precious gem.¡± Chapter 348 Chapter 348 Chapter 348 Suburban Neighborhood. Herman took Anastasia to their new house. They crossed the front yard hand in hand, through the grand foyer, and up to the second floor. Looking around the extravagant mansion, Anastasia asked, ¡°Why does this ce look different from thest time we were here?¡± ¡°I had it renovated.¡± Herman replied, ¡°I nned for us to move in right after our anniversary celebration.¡± Herman led her upstairs into the master bedroom, and gently asked, ¡°Would you like to take a bath first?¡± A bath would certainly help to ease any tension. Sitting on the plush king-sized bed, Anastasia looked at him, her voiceced with suspicion, ¡°Tell me the truth, Herman. Did you deceive me? Can you actually have children? Did you lie to me because you knew I¡¯m infertile?¡± ¡°That¡¯s all in the past now.¡± Herman said, sitting beside her. His hands were gently holding her shoulders. ¡°You¡¯re my wif; Pattie is our daughter. That¡¯s all that matters. Don¡¯t overthink it.¡± Herman said. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. Anastasia shook her head, ¡°Herman, it¡¯s not as simple as you think. Your parents and your grandmother, they all know I can¡¯t bear children. They won¡¯t ept me. Things can never be the way they were.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Herman said, tenderly brushing a stray lock of hair from her face, ¡°You married me. These are my responsibilities, not yours. I should have taken care of it sooner.¡± Touched by his words, Anastasia flung herself into Herman¡¯s arms. In a fit of anger, she punched his chest, ¡°Why are you so kind, Herman? So kind that I don¡¯t have the courage to leave you. You shouldn¡¯t havee after me.¡± With a warm smile, Herman caught her hand, ¡°Anastasia, being unable to bear children is not a big deal. The Salstrom family already has Flynn to carry on the lineage. And who says everyone has to be the same? Who made the rule that marriage must result in children?¡± Knowing his words were mostly tofort her, she had no idea how to argue. ¡°But your parents and your grandmother, they don¡¯t think the same way. Neither do I.¡± Anastasia sat upright, looking at him, ¡°I really, really want to have a child of our own.¡± When people truly loved someone, they yearned to conceive a child together and to watch them grow from birth.. Hermanforted her with a smile, ¡°Medical technology is so advanced now. If you want a baby, once your health recovers, we can opt for IVF. It¡¯s all the same. So, it¡¯s not a problem at all.¡± Due to the car ident, Anastasia¡¯s health was severelypromised. Even if she wanted a child, it couldn¡¯t be now. The mention of IVF reignited hope in Anastasia. Her heart wasn¡¯t as heavy as before. ¡°They¡¯re right. I must have saved the universe in my past life to have you.¡± She said. Heughed, ¡°Maybe I owe you a lot from our past lives, and I¡¯m repaying you in this one. Don¡¯t take Grandma¡¯s words to heart. She¡¯s always been stubborn, and she hasn¡¯t gotten along with my mom for over twenty years now.¡± ¡°Herman, you¡¯re too good.¡± Anastasia praised sincerely from the bottom of her heart. A man who could comfort his wife at the first instance was definitely a good husband. He chuckled, ¡°Only now you¡¯re realizing how good your husband is? Who else wouldfort you if not me? Unless it reaches the point of divorce, a man should be prepared to indulge and pacify his wife. Or else conflicts would hurt the marital rtionship, and I¡¯d still have to pacify you in the end. Isn¡¯t that redundant?¡± ¡°You¡¯re so wise.¡± Anastasia gazed at him, passionately kissed his lips, and started unfastening his belt. Chapter 349 Chapter 349 Chapter 349 A good man was one who could both sweet-talk his wife and physically take care of her. And on this point, Herman was absolutely spot-on. A woman¡¯s mood came and went quickly. After a bit of lovemaking, weren¡¯t all worries and frustrations dispelled? Afterwards. Herman received a message from Flynn urging him to return to Salstrom Manor. Something had gone wrong. He had dozens of missed calls on his phone, all from his family. His phone had been on silent, so he hadn¡¯t heard them. Herman read the message, calmly turned off the screen, and told Anastasia, ¡°Honey, you rest for a bit. I need to head back to Salstrom Manor. I¡¯ve pacified the young, now I need to appease the old.¡± Anastasia felt relieved and said, ¡°Please talk nicely with Granny and don¡¯t annoy her further. As for your parents, I¡¯ll go apologize to them tomorrow.¡± Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°Leave this matter to me, you don¡¯t need to worry.¡± Herman said as he got up and started dressing, ¡°Granny and the rest are still angry. It¡¯s not appropriate for you to step in now. Once I¡¯ve settled everything, we¡¯ll all sit down for a meal.¡± ¡°Alright, you better go.¡± Anastasia said, ¡°I¡¯ll head back to Harmony Meadows too. Our sudden departure will worry my mother.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have Dailey take you home.¡± Herman said. Herman called Dailey, and half an hourter, he arrived at the vi¡¯s entrance to take Anastasia back to Harmony Meadows. Meanwhile, Herman headed back to Salstrom Manor. At Salstrom Manor, Granny Anita was still fuming. After returning to the Manor, an anonymous tip had revealed that Anastasia was pregnant before getting married. And the one to expose Anastasia was none other than Julie. Seeing the Salstroms leave one after the other during the dinner party, Julie knew that the news of Anastasia¡¯s infertility had sparked a fire among the Salstroms. She decided to fan the mes by revealing Anastasia¡¯s premarital pregnancy, further fueling Granny Anita¡¯s rage. Feiman and Katelyn had both seen the document. The couple was left speechless. The daughter-in- law they had carefully chosen was not as they had thought. Even if Katelyn wanted to put in a good word, she couldn¡¯t find the words to say. Everyone had tried to contact Herman, but he neither answered nor replied, making him unreachable. Granny Anita was so angry that her blood pressure nearly skyrocketed. Flynn had to send Herman a message urging him toe back quickly before something serious happened. Herman returned to Salstrom Manor at eleven o¡¯clock in the evening. The Manor was brightly lit, and no one had gone to bed. They were all waiting for Herman. Granny Anita had made a promation ¨C Herman must be found tonight. Upon entering the main hall, Herman immediately sensed the tense atmosphere. Feiman was furious and mmed his hand on the table, ¡°Herman, you¡¯ve really done it this time. Did Anastasia have a child before marrying you? You hid such a big thing from us. Do you even respect us at all?¡± First, the news of Anastasia¡¯s infertility was revealed, and now the fact that she had a child was also exposed. Herman was well aware that someone was plotting behind the scenes. However, now was not the time to find out who that person was. Granny Anita asked, ¡°Herman, tell us, were you tricked? Did you know that Anastasia had a child?¡± Flynn couldn¡¯t say a word this time, not knowing how to help Herman. Katelyn wanted to say something but chose to remain silent, instead opting to hear what Herman had to say first. ¡°Granny, I knew about this.¡± Herman calmly and sincerely said, ¡°Before we got married, Anastasia confessed everything to me. I chose to marry her after careful consideration. I hope to get your support and blessings. I love her, and she hasn¡¯t done anything wrong. It was me who chose her. At first, I even deceived her about my identity.¡± Upon hearing this, Granny Anita grimaced in pain and tapped her cane, ¡°You¡¯re still defending her, Herman. You really are bewitched.¡± ¡°Granny, you watched me grow up. Do you think that I¡¯m the type of person who can be easily seduced by beauty?¡± Herman said seriously and solemnly, ¡°Granny, I won¡¯t divorce her. As her husband, I have to protect her. I hope that you can give Anastasia a chance. After you spend some time with her, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll change your mind.¡± Chapter 350 Chapter 350 Chapter 350 Granny Anita was extremely disappointed. She shook her head and said, ¡°Herman, you can¡¯t treat the Salstrom family¡¯s lineage as a joke. What are you thinking? Marrying a woman who got pregnant before marriage and now can¡¯t even have children? To put it bluntly, she has no background and can¡¯t help you with anything.¡± Granny Anita¡¯s words were harsh but realistic. Herman¡¯s eyebrows knitted together, ¡°Granny, loving someone doesn¡¯t need any reason. She doesn¡¯t need to be super capable or perfect. My love for her is enough.¡± Granny Anita was still angry, and Flynn chimed in, ¡°Granny, a peaceful and loving family is what we look for. Medical science is advanced now, my sister-inw and Herman can opt for in-vitro fertilization. She is really nice, just trust my brother¡¯s judgement.¡± ¡°You¡¯re taking her side now?¡± Granny Anita jabbed Flynn¡¯s leg with her cane, ¡°Are you trying to kill me with worry?¡± ¡°Granny, you¡¯re so beautiful, gentle and kind-hearted. You¡¯re definitely going to live a long life. I would never want to upset you.¡± Flynn tried to lighten the mood, ¡°Look, my brother has been single for so many years and finally brought home a wife. Before this, he was so cold and distant, our mom was about to introduce him to men. Now, you get a granddaughter-inw, isn¡¯t that great? Or would you rather he be a monk?¡± Flynn had a way with words and Granny Anita finally cracked a smile, her tone softening, ¡°You little rascal, don¡¯t try to sweet-talk me. No matter what you say, Herman has to divorce that woman. But my Salstrom family¡¯s grandson can¡¯t remain a bachelor. That Brown family heiress is quite a catch.¡± Before Herman could refuse, Katelyn beat him to it, ¡°Julie is definitely not suitable. She¡¯s cunning and not to be underestimated.¡± In the past, Katelyn was quite satisfied with Julie. But ever since Julie set her sights on Herman, Katelyn changed her opinion. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g As soon as Katelyn spoke, Granny Anita was displeased again, ¡°Why can¡¯t it be Julie? She¡¯s beautiful and kind-hearted, and she looks like she can bear children. Julie is someone I watched grow up, so she can¡¯t be wrong. She¡¯s a hundred times better than that Anastasia. I want her to be my granddaughter-inw. A marriage between the Brown and Salstrom families would be an excellent match.¡± As Katelyn disliked Julie more, Granny Anita became more determined to matchmake Herman and Juli¨¨ Katelyn argued, ¡°You can¡¯t just arbitrarily decide who makes a good match. Julie and Herman are not suitable; she¡¯s too maniptive.¡± ¡°Some people are even more maniptive.¡± Granny Anita said with a stern face, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Julie? Katelyn, are you trying to sabotage the Salstrom family¡¯s lineage? Are you purposely opposing me? Feiman, look at your wife, she dares to openly defy me.¡± Katelyn was at a loss for words, ¡± I¡¯m not defying you. I¡¯m just speaking the truth.¡± The two began to argue. ¡°Enough.¡± Feiman sighed, feeling sandwiched between his wife and mother. He had been stuck in the middle for more than twenty years. Feiman looked at Herman, ¡°You should say something. It¡¯s you who¡¯s choosing a wife, and spending the rest of your life with her. We, as family, can only offer advice.¡± Herman said firmly, ¡°In this lifetime, Anastasia is my only wife.¡± ¡°That¡¯s uneptable.¡± Granny Anita stood up in protest, ¡°Herman, if you dare to bring that woman home, I¡¯ll hang myself from the beam in this room.¡± Upon hearing this, Flynn quickly tried to calm her down, ¡°Granny, don¡¯t be rash.¡± Feiman sounded helpless, ¡°Mom, why are you doing this to yourself? It¡¯s making the whole family uneasy.¡± Just then, a servant came to report, ¡°Sir, madam, Ms. Anastasia is here.¡± Hearing that Anastasia had arrived, a look of surprise shed across Herman¡¯s eyes. As soon as the servant finished speaking, Anastasia walked in. Granny Anita was instantly enraged, ¡°How dare you show your face here.¡± Chapter 351 Chapter 351 Chapter 351 Herman briskly walked up to Anastasia, taking her hand in his. Anastasia¡¯s palm was cold. ¡°Why are you here? Didn¡¯t I ask Dailey to take you home?¡± Herman said, shooting a frosty nce at Dailey who had followed them in. Dailey shrugged, a helpless expression on his face, ¡°Boss, she insisted oning.¡± Anastasia gave Herman¡¯s hand a little squeeze and said, ¡°It¡¯s not his fault; it was my decision toe. We¡¯re married, and we should face everything together. I couldn¡¯t possibly leave it all to you.¡± Anastasia was actually quite nervous. Her heart was fluttering, which was why her palms were so cold. On the way back to Harmony Meadows, she changed her mind and asked Dailey to bring her here. The conflict within the Salstroms started with her. How could she hide from it? Saying this, Anastasia looked at Grandma Anita, then at Feiman and Katelyn. She didn¡¯t say anything, merely bowing deeply in their direction. This gesture from Anastasia stirred mixed feelings within Feiman and Katelyn. Katelyn had always been fond of Anastasia. She was quite happy with her daughter-inw, even now. Just like Flynn had said, they could always try in vitro fertilization. As for Anastasia¡¯s past, it was all water under the bridge now and not something that waspletely uneptable. Of course, Katelyn could not deny that her eptance of Anastasia was partly due to Grandma Anita¡¯s disapproval. Everyone had a rebellious streak. While Grandma Anita disapproved of Anastasia, Katelyn saw a reflection of her younger self in her. She didn¡¯t want her daughter-inw to walk the same difficult path she had.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. After her bow, Anastasia sincerely confessed, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for letting you all down. Let me reintroduce myself. My name is Anastasia. I graduated from high school and dropped out of college after less than a semester. I self-taught French, German, and English.¡± After dropping out, Anastasia didn¡¯t give up on her education. She had a knack fornguages and self- taught three of them. Although she never took any exams, she had no problemmunicating in them. Anastasia continued calmly, ¡°I once registered for a GED but couldn¡¯t take the exam due to an emergency. I like jewelry design. I used to sell my designs at a flea market. I grew up in a single-parent household. A few years ago, I got pregnant out of wedlock and gave birth to a daughter. I don¡¯t know where my daughter is now, and because of my health issues, it¡¯s hard for me to get pregnant again.¡± Anastasiaid it all bare, everything she should have confessed earlier, so that the Salstroms wouldn¡¯t have to hear it from someone else. After Anastasia finished speaking, Katelyn had tears in her eyes. She could empathize with Anastasia. Today¡¯s Anastasia was just like her over two decades ago, yearning for the Salstroms¡¯ approval. Hearing Anastasia¡¯s story, Herman felt even sadder. However, Grandma Anita¡¯s face remained sullen. ¡°Do you think you¡¯re worthy of joining the Salstrom family?¡± She asked. ¡°Grandma.¡± Herman¡¯s voice dropped a few degrees colder. Anastasia subtly tugged at Herman¡¯s hand, signaling him not to argue with his grandmother. Anastasia managed a slight smile and replied with grace, ¡°Grandma, your grandson is indeed very outstanding. To be honest, a few months ago, I wouldn¡¯t have even dared to dream of bing his wife. By all ounts, I¡¯m not worthy of him. Aside from my sincere feelings, I don¡¯t have much else to offer him.¡± Grandma Anita snorted, ¡°At least you¡¯re aware of that. Even if you hadn¡¯t had a child, you still wouldn¡¯t be fit to be my granddaughter-inw.¡± Unfazed by Grandma Anita¡¯s belittling remarks, Anastasia calmly responded, ¡°But I am already a member of the Salstrom family. That¡¯s an undeniable fact. Herman and I are legally married. Even if you don¡¯t ept it, it¡¯s the truth. I have no intention of divorcing him.¡± This statement left Grandma Anita seething, ¡°Unbelievable.¡± Herman didn¡¯t try to stop Anastasia, but let her continue. Neither Katelyn nor Feiman said a word, and Flynn was sure to keep quiet too. Anastasia tightened her grip on Herman¡¯s hand and told Grandma Anita, ¡°There¡¯s no need to get upset on my ount. I don¡¯t want a penny from the Salstrom family. I am willing to sign a prenup. If one day, Herman is tired of me, or vice versa, I will walk out of the Salstrom family without taking anything with me.¡± ¡°How dare you suggest that you might be tired of my grandson?¡± Grandma Anita was not pleased. Chapter 352 Chapter 352 Chapter 352 Anastasia had already done her part; now it was Herman¡¯s turn. ¡°Honestly, Granny.¡± Herman began, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your grandson here doing his charming magic, Anastasia would have divorced me hundreds of times by now. So, it¡¯s not that she can¡¯t live without me, but that I can¡¯t let her go.¡±. ¡°You chased her?¡± Granny Anita was taken aback. Her precious grandson, pursuing another woman? ¡°The world is upside down.¡± She muttered. Anastasia squeezed Herman¡¯s hand and announced, ¡°I¡¯ve said what I needed to say. Goodnight, everyone. Herman and I will be leaving now.¡± Granny Anita banged her cane on the floor, ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re taking my grandson, young lady? Herman, you¡¯re staying right here tonight!¡± A smirk yed on Anastasia¡¯s lips, ¡°Are you sure, Granny? If Herman stays, I stay. We¡¯re a married couple, he has duties to fulfill. It¡¯s thew, you know And if I stay, well, it might affect your mood.¡± Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g Even Herman was taken aback by Anastasia¡¯s blunt deration. Watching Granny Anita fume, Herman couldn¡¯t help but smile, a hint of adoration in his eyes. Even Katelyn had to stifle augh. Feiman coughed lightly. This daughter-inw of his was fearless. It looked like his son¡¯s power dynamics at home were quite precarious. Flynn was also taken by surprise. Who would have thought that the always gentle Anastasia could say something so daring? Granny Anita was livid. After a moment, she spat, ¡°Shameless.¡± ¡°Thank you for thepliment, Granny.¡± Anastasia responded cheerfully, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, we¡¯ll be on our way!¡± With that, she led Herman out, leaving a fuming Granny Anita behind. At this point, the best course of action was to support his wife. Anastasia had done so much for him. He had to reciprocate. His attitude would determine Anastasia¡¯s standing in the Salstrom family. If he didn¡¯t belittle Anastasia, no one else would dare to. Granny Anita was left stomping her foot in frustration, ¡°They¡¯re running the show now, acting like I¡¯m an old fool.¡± Feiman and Katelyn shared a knowing nce, but said nothing. What their son and daughter-inw did behind closed doors was none of their business. Flynn quickly tried to cate Granny Anita, ¡°How about a game of cards tomorrow? I can invite some friends over.¡± An avid yer for over fifty years, Granny Anita could never resist an invitation to the card table. Flynn was able to calm her down and lead her away, leaving Katelyn to sigh in relief. Feiman frowned, ¡°She¡¯s over eighty. She can¡¯t take this kind of stress. We need to be more considerate of her.¡± Katelyn scoffed, ¡°She¡¯s as spry as ever. Besides, after all these years, nothing I do seems to please her anyway. At least Anastasia can handle her. It¡¯s like the saying goes, ¡®every dog has its day!¡± Feiman could only sigh in response. Being a Salstrom man was no easy task. ¡°Whether it¡¯s mother-inw and daughter-inw, or grandmother and grandson, it¡¯s always the men that are the problem. If you were half as assertive as Herman, would your mother have been able to bully me all these years?¡± Katelyn said. Feiman felt wronged, ¡°How did this be my fault? I¡¯m just a semi-retired executive. All I want is to enjoy my life.¡± Katelyn shot him a cold nce, ¡°All you want to do is sleep. Did you ever stop to think about how Granny found out about Anastasia¡¯s infertility? Or who sent that anonymous package to our house? Someone¡¯s trying to create trouble here, and I have a feeling they¡¯re targeting Herman.¡± Feiman shifted ufortably. His intuition told him that this had something to do with a certain someone. Chapter 353 Chapter 353 Chapter 353 Harmony Meadows. Herman and Anastasia returned home to find Salma still waiting in the living room, while Pattie had already dozed off. Upon seeing them, Salma immediately asked, ¡°Herman, Ana, what happened?¡± Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g Anastasia replied, ¡°Mom, everything¡¯s fine. It¡¯ste, why aren¡¯t you asleep?¡± ¡°You all disappeared and left the dinner party early. How could I sleep?¡± Salma responded. Anastasia gave Herman a look, signaling him to go to their room while she talked with Salma. Understanding the cue, Herman chose to give them some space and headed to Pattie¡¯s room. Once in the spare bedroom, Salma lowered her voice and asked, ¡°Ana, tell me honestly, what happened?¡± ¡°I¡¯m infertile and the Salstroms found out about my premarital pregnancy. Granny Anita is upset, but everything is fine now.¡± Anastasia exined briefly, The truth can¡¯t be hidden forever. It¡¯s better that they know now.¡± ¡°And how did the Herman¡¯s parents react?¡± Salma asked, sounding worried, ¡°What did they say?¡± They didn¡¯t say anything. They must respect Herman¡¯s views.¡± Anastasia said, ¡°Now that Herman is on my side, Granny Anita can¡¯t do anything. But, we are a family, and we need to stick together. I¡¯ll find a way to make Granny Anita ept me.¡± ¡°Older folks are often set in their ways; it¡¯s normal for Granny Anita to be upset. Anyone would be in her shoes.¡± Salma reasoned, showing understanding. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s human nature.¡± Anastasia said with a slight smile, ¡°That¡¯s why I appreciate this hard-won marriage even more.¡± Anastasia was clear about what she needed to do: win Granny Anita¡¯s eptance, take care of her health, and prepare for In-Vitro Fertilization. In the kid¡¯s room, Pattie kicked off her nket when sleeping. Herman found the nket kicked aside when he entered. He covered her up and sat down, watching as Pattie slept peacefully. He couldn¡¯t help but smile at her cuteness. Suddenly, Pattie turned over and sat up sleepily, ¡°Daddy.¡± Pattie, still groggy, rubbed her eyes, looking adorable. Herman extended his arms, ¡°Let me hug you.¡± Pattie, not fully awake yet, instinctively reached out for a hug. Herman held her in his arms and softly said, ¡°Did Daddy wake you up?¡± Pattie shook her head. She was now fully awake, and her eyes were wide open. Having just woken up, Pattie looked bewildered. ¡°Daddy, did you and Mommy have a fight?¡± Pattie asked. She was trying to understand the situation with her childish logic. ¡°Daddy and Mommy will never fight.¡± Herman reassured her with a smile. Even though Pattie wasn¡¯t his biological daughter, calling himself ¡°Daddy¡± gave Herman a sense of warmth. He couldn¡¯t help but treat Pattie kindly, wanting to give her the best. Pattie was still sleepy. After being reassured, she closed her eyes and fell asleep again in Herman¡¯s arms. Herman didn¡¯t want to disturb her. After a while, Anastasia gently pushed the door open and asked quietly, ¡°Is Pattie asleep?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Herman put Pattie back in her bed, ¡°She¡¯s such a sensible child. She hardly gives us any trouble.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. Most kids her age sleep with their parents. Pattie sleeps alone. She¡¯s not afraid and doesn¡¯t throw tantrums.¡± Anastasia sat down, gently stroking Pattie¡¯s hand, ¡°I heard that at Penny¡¯s ce, Pattie used to sleep in the living room or on the balcony. She didn¡¯t even have a mattress.¡± Even a dog deserved a cardboard mat to lie on. Pattie¡¯s living conditions at Penny¡¯s were worse than that of a dog. Knowing the past hardships of Pattie, Herman and Anastasia were even morepassionate towards her. Herman said, ¡°The renovation of the new house is done. We can move in anytime. I¡¯m just worried that Pattie, who just got used to kindergarten, might have trouble adjusting to a new environment.¡± After all, she was still a child who had suffered a lot before and was almost introverted. Now that she was finally opening up, Herman was worried that a new environment might be overwhelming for her. Anastasia pondered over it and suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s wait for a while then. We can find a good school first, and take Pattie there on weekends to familiarize her with the environment. A gradual transition will be better.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s do that.¡± Herman agreed. Just as Herman finished his sentence, he saw Anastasia yawning, ¡°Let¡¯s go back to our room and sleep.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Anastasia was indeed feeling sleepy. Once back in their room, she fell asleep as soon as she hit the bed. The next day, Anastasia sent Pattie to school as usual. She handled her work at the office, and called Monica to avoid any unnecessary worry. She then called Flynn to check on the progress of the task she had given him. Flynn said, ¡°Everything is ready. Here¡¯s the address, Velvet Lounge.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Anastasia hung up and drove to the Velvet Lounge. At the Velvet Lounge, Granny Anita and two other elders were waiting in the card room. After breakfast, Flynn had managed to talk them out to y cards. Impatiently, Granny Anita asked Flynn, ¡°We¡¯re one yer short. Who did you invite?¡± ¡°Grandma, we¡¯re almost there.¡± Flynn said with a smile, ¡°Just rx, have a cup of tea and chat with Grannie Terrill and Grannie Susano.* Chapter 354 Chapter 354 Chapter 354 If she wanted to win over Granny Anita, she had to y to her passions. Anastasia learned from Flynn that Granny Anita loved ying poker, so once she finished her duties, she hurried over to Velvet Lounge to join Granny Anita in a game. When Anastasia arrived at the card room, Granny Anita instantly realized Flynn¡¯s scheme. She shot Flynn a stern look and grumbled, ¡°Traitor.¡± With that, Granny Anita stood up to leave. Flynn quickly tried to cate her, ¡°Granny, Granny Terrill and Granny Susano are here too. Are you really going to stand them up, not y a few rounds?¡± Despite Granny Anita¡¯s coldness, Anastasia didn¡¯t take it to heart and greeted her with a warm smile, ¡°Hello, Granny Terrill, Granny Susano.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that Herman¡¯s wife?¡± Granny Terrill, who had seen the anniversary livestream, recognized Anastasia and said with a smile, ¡°She¡¯s even more beautiful in person.¡± Granny Susano also chimed in with apliment, ¡°She has a beautiful face, a face that brings fortune to her husband and child. Anita, you¡¯ve found yourself a wonderful granddaughter-inw.¡± Hearing her friends praise Anastasia, Granny Anita was not pleased. Instead of joining in the praise, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll call someone else to join us for poker.¡± Granny Susano replied, ¡°Your granddaughter-in- law is right here, isn¡¯t she? Anastasia, can you y poker?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Anastasia replied with a smile, ¡°I¡¯ll join you for a few rounds.¡± Granny Anita stubbornly protested, ¡°I won¡¯t y poker with her.¡± The two olddies exchanged surprised nces, wondering what was the matter. Flynn tried to smooth things over with augh, ¡°Granny, it¡¯s almost noon. If we don¡¯t start ying soon, it¡¯ll be lunchtime. What a waste.¡± Anastasia decided to use a bit of reverse psychology, ¡°What, Granny, are you afraid of losing to me? You¡¯re my elder. I¡¯ll definitely let you win the first three rounds.¡± Granny Anita, known as the ¡°Poker Goddess¡± in her hometown, could not stand such a challenge. ¡°I think you¡¯re the one who¡¯s afraid. I¡¯ve been ying poker for decades, and you, a young girl, think you can beat me. I¡¯ll see how much you¡¯re really worth today.¡± Grannie Anita said. ¡°Then let¡¯s sit down and get started.¡± Anastasia smiled, ¡°Remember, I¡¯ll let you win the first three rounds.¡± Granny Anita huffed and sat down. The game was on. Anastasia gave Flynn a subtle nod, and Flynn returned an OK sign. At the start of the first round, Anastasia looked at her cards and had to admit that Flynn¡¯s trick was a bit too obvious. She had a perfect hand of all cards from the same suit, ready to win. Granny Anita was the dealer and threw a provocative nce at Anastasia before dealing a card, ¡°Three of hearts.¡± Looking at her hand, Anastasia could win with Granny Anita¡¯s card, but she couldn¡¯t win just yet. Anastasia drew a card with a smile, and to her surprise, she got another three of hearts. She looked at her cards, then at Flynn. Flynn also wanted to facepalm. He had rigged it so that no matter where Anastasia sat, she would always get the best cards. But this was too much. If Anastasia won right away, it would be too obvious and might annoy all three grannies. Anastasia could only sorrowfully discard the three of hearts, ¡°Three of hearts, matching.¡± Granny Anita snorted and continued to y. Granny Terrill and Granny Susano were also skilled poker yers, having yed for decades. For the first three rounds, Anastasia could have won but let the opportunities slip by, making Granny Anita the big winner, with either a flush or a full house. Granny Anita shot a triumphant nce at Anastasia, ¡°With your skills, you thought you could beat me? When I started ying poker, you weren¡¯t even born yet.¡± ¡°You y really well, Granny.¡± Anastasia praised with a smile, ¡°The three rounds are over. Now, I won¡¯t be so generous.¡± During the fourth round, Anastasia still got good cards, but not as outrageous as in the first round. Granny Anita dealt a card with confidence, ¡°Three of diamonds.¡± ¡°Four of a kind.¡± Anastasia immediately dered with her first card. Granny Anita¡¯s face twitched, ¡°It¡¯s just a four of a kind.¡± No sooner had she finished speaking when Anastasia drew another card and calmly said, ¡°Another four of a kind.¡± Anastasia added another card, ¡°And another one.¡± After three consecutive four of a kinds. Granny Anita was taken aback.. Granny Terrill said, ¡°Anastasia is really lucky. Three consecutive four of a kinds are very rare.¡± Granny Susano added with augh, ¡°As long as it¡¯s not a royal flush.¡± Anastasia looked at Granny Anita with a yful smile and dealt a card, ¡°Nine of hearts.¡± No one could take this card. 10:40 Chapter 354 The next yer drew a card, and Granny Anita, true to her ¡°Poker Goddess¡± reputation, showed her impressive skills. Despite her age, her mind was sharp when calcting the cards. Flynn stood behind Granny Anita, signaling Anastasia with hand gestures. Anastasia managed to keep Granny Anita from winning, and the round ended with neither of them winning. Their chances were snatched up by Granny Terrill and Granny Susano. Grannie Anita watched in annoyance as Anastasia held onto the card she needed, ¡°Why don¡¯t you y that card? You can¡¯t win with it, so what¡¯s the point of holding onto it? Don¡¯t you know how to count cards?¡± Anastasia replied nonchntly, ¡°If I can¡¯t win with it, then I can¡¯t. At least I could still make some money off the sets I¡¯ve got. Even if I can¡¯t win, neither can you, Granny.¡± Grannie Anita was so angry she reshuffled the cards, ¡°Let¡¯s go again.¡± As the games progressed, Anastasia kept winning either by self-draw or by taking Grannie Anita¡¯s cards, almost driving her to despair. Grannie Anita was gritting her teeth in frustration, but she still refused to give up. Anastasia shook her head, amused at Grannie Anita¡¯s stubbornness. Content is property of N?velDrama.Org. At that moment, Flynn¡¯s phone rang. It was his brother, Herman. He stepped out into the hall to answer the call, ¡°Hey, what¡¯s up?¡± Herman asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Ana? Is she with you?¡± ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s ying poker with Granny.¡± Flynn said, sounding pleased with himself, ¡°You should thank me. I¡¯ve put a lot of effort into trying to improve their rtionship.¡± ¡°She knows how to y poker?¡± Herman asked. Herman stood by the huge ss window in his office at Elysian Technologies, hand in his pocket, ¡°Granny¡¯s a poker shark. Anastasia doesn¡¯t stand a chance.¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry about that. I just have to manipte the game a little. Even the best strategy can¡¯t beat a lucky hand.¡± Flynn said confidently, ¡°Granny¡¯s almost lost it. She¡¯s not happy, but Anastasia said it¡¯s reverse psychology to stir up Granny¡¯spetitive spirit.¡± Herman chuckled at that. Anastasia¡¯s cunning strategies were more than enough to handle. Grannie Anita was stubborn and obstinate. The more you tried to please her, the less she liked. Herman reminded him, ¡°Keep an eye on them. Don¡¯t let Granny realize you¡¯re cheating or they¡¯ll end up in a fight.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got it covered.¡± Flynn ended the call and went back to the poker room to continue his undercover mission. Grannie Anita¡¯s poker hands were so bad that even a dog would shake its head at them. Everyone else had winning hands while she still hadn¡¯t yed her weakest suit. ording to poker rules, she must have at least one weak suit. Grannie Anita was losing badly but refused to give up, hoping to turn the game around. This went on for another hour. Anastasiaughed, ¡°Granny, how about we y another day? At this rate, you¡¯re going to lose all your chips. I¡¯m always ready to y.¡± Grannie Anita grunted, ¡°Let¡¯s y a few more rounds. Flynn, lend me some money.¡± Grannie Anita was out of cash. At that moment, a familiar female voice came in, ¡°Granny, who upset you?¡± Chapter 355 Chapter 355 Chapter 355 Upon hearing this voice, Anastasia instinctively frowned. It was none other than Julie. Anastasia thought, ¡°Seems like she follows me everywhere.¡± Upon seeing Julie, Grandma Anita¡¯s face immediately lit up. ¡°Julie, why are you sote? Come over here and sit next to me.¡± The fondness for Julie in Grandma Anita¡¯s eyes was evident to anyone. Flynn didn¡¯t care much for Julie either, because she was such a scheming woman. Julie sat down next to Grandma Anita, grinning and greeting Grandma Terrill and Grandma Susano. Grandma Susano squinted at Julie. ¡°Who is this? It seems she had stic surgery. I can¡¯t quite recognize her.¡± Grandma Susano was always blunt. Her reading sses didn¡¯t help her see clearly as well. Both Anastasia and Flynnughed at this. Julie felt embarrassed. She smiled awkwardly. Grandma Anita said, ¡°This is Devin¡¯s daughter, Julie. Can¡¯t you recognize her?¡± Everyone in their circle knew Devin. However, Grandma Susano, not recognizing Julie, shook her head. ¡°I really can¡¯t recognize her. She¡¯s quite pretty though. But her chin is just a little too sharp, like a chisel.¡± Grandma Susano was really a jokester. Julie¡¯s face changed colors faster than a chameleon. She didn¡¯t know how to respond. Grandma Anita looked at Julie¡¯s chin. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with it? It looks fine. Julie is my choice for a granddaughter-in- law.¡± Grandma Terrill quickly asked, ¡°Is Flynn dating with this girl?¡± Flynn quickly rified, ¡°Grandma Terrill, I am single.¡± Grandma Anita said, ¡°No, I am thinking of making a match between Julie and my eldest grandson. When they were kids, Julie and Herman used to y together all the time. Julie even mumbled about marrying Herman. I thought they were perfect for each other at that time, so I wanted Julie to be my granddaughter-inw when she grew up.¡±¡± Grandma Anitapletely disregarded Anastasia¡¯s presence. Of course, she said this on purpose. Julie blushed and said, ¡°Grandma, those were just childhood fantasies. I can¡¯t believe you still remember.¡± Flynn reminded, ¡°Grandma, my eldest brother is already married. It¡¯s not appropriate to discuss this.¡± Grandma Susano added, ¡°It¡¯s great that your eldest grandson didn¡¯t marry this girl. Her facial features signifyck of fortune.¡± People of her age usually believe in face reading. Grandma Anita was taken aback. ¡°How is Juliecking in fortune? Your eyesight must be failing you.¡± Grandma Susano defended herself, ¡°I¡¯ve seen a lot of people in my time. I can¡¯t be wrong. Look at this girl. She has thin lips, pointed chin, and her forehead is not full. These features signify a bitter and mean personality. Now, look at your granddaughter-inw. Her full forehead and round buttocks signify a fortune-bringing wife and a mother of many children.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t say anything, but immediately received an envious look from Julie due to Grandma Susano¡¯sments. Anastasia was helpless. She hadn¡¯t said anything. With the two grannies making strong points, there was no need for her to intervene. She had been giving the two grannies a easy win. The grannies, having lived for many years, saw through Grandma Anita¡¯s dislike for Anastasia. As Anastasia handed them the victory, they decided to back her. Both the grannies didn¡¯t want Grandma Anita to make a mistake and lose a good granddaughter-inw. Upon hearing the ¡°mother of many children¡±ment, Grandma Anita scoffed, ¡°Mother of many children, huh? She¡¯s been married to Herman for quite a while now, but there is still no sign of a baby.¡± Grandma Anita knew that Anastasia could not conceive, but she couldn¡¯t openly say this. It would make peopleugh at her. Grandma Terrill said, ¡°Children, you know, it¡¯s all about fate. Maybe one day she will conceive. Anita, I told you before, you are going to face a major crisis this year. But you will also meet a benefactor. If you want to turn misfortune into blessing, you need to cherish this benefactor.¡± In this conversation between the grandmas, Flynn couldn¡¯t get a word in. Grandma Anita stubbornly said, ¡°Julie is my benefactor. What¡¯s gotten into you all today? You are my friends. Why are you siding with the outsider? I¡¯m not ying cards anymore. Julie, let¡¯s eat lunch.¡± Grandma Anita stormed off, acting like a child, with Julie trailing behind her. Grandma Susano and Grandma Terrill could only sigh. Anastasia signaled Flynn, ¡°Go after her.¡± Flynn hurriedly followed. Grandma Terrill told Anastasia, ¡°Anita is still the same. Don¡¯t keep her words in your mind.¡± Grandma Susano added, ¡°We¡¯ve known Anita for decades. We know her stubbornness. It will pass one day.¡± Anastasia thanked them, ¡°Thank you, grandmas, for speaking up for me.¡± Grandma Terrill kindly said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Anastasia, you¡¯re quite good at cards. Let¡¯s y again sometime.¡± Grandma Susanoughed, ¡°But next time, you have to bring Flynn along. He¡¯s been signaling you all along. We finally could win some rounds today.¡± Anastasia blushed. ¡°I can¡¯t hide anything from you two. I am not good at cards, so I had no choice but to ask for help.¡± These two grannies were quite sharp. Grannie Terrill chuckled. ¡°We do enjoy ying cards with those who aren¡¯t so good at it.¡± Anastasia chuckled. It was because of herck of skill that the two grannies liked her. Remembering that these two grannies were good friends with Grannie Anita, she had an idea. Smiling, she said, ¡°Grannie Terrill, Grannie Susano, it¡¯s almost lunchtime. How about I treat you to lunch and ask for some advice on how to get along with Grannie Anita? As you can see, she isn¡¯t very pleased with me.¡± The two grannies nced at each other, saying in unison, ¡°Well, you¡¯vee to the right people.¡± The two grannies were so shrewd and charming, Anastasia began to suspect that their previous comments about Julie were all deliberate. Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. Anastasia was quite well-liked. She took the two grannies out for lunch and promised to design jewelry for them, which made them extremely happy. After eating and drinking to their heart¡¯s content, she sent the two grannies home. Just as Anastasia was about to call Flynn to ask about the situation, she received a call from Monica. As soon as she answered, Monica blurted out furiously, ¡°Ana, that damn Trevor cheated on me. He doesn¡¯t like a young woman in her twenties like me, but he is with a woman in her fifties¡­¡± Hearing about Trevor¡¯s infidelity wasn¡¯t surprising to Anastasia, but the fact that he was with a woman in her fifties was quite shocking. Anastasia asked, ¡°Where are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m at The Grand za Hotel. I saw them go in. I¡¯m just waiting outside the door. I¡¯m going to give that bastard a piece of my mind today. I need some backup. Can youe?¡± Rubbing her forehead, Anastasia asked, ¡°Do we need to call anyone else?¡± ¡°We might as well. We gotta frighten him.¡± Anastasia quickly went to the location Monica mentioned and brought Dailey with her. Others might catch cheaters secretly, but Monica was all about making a scene. After some thought, Anastasia felt that bringing Dailey was the best choice. If a fight broke out, Dailey could be useful. At first, Dailey was excited, thinking he was going to be involved in a brawl. When he arrived and found out it was to catch a cheater, he was dumbstruck. His status had fallen to the point of helping the boss¡¯ woman catch a cheater. As soon as Anastasia met Monica, she asked, ¡°Where are they?¡± Monica pointed to room 809. ¡°In there.¡± Chapter 356 Chapter 356 Chapter 356 Anastasia nced at Monica. ¡°Just barge in?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Monica had been holding it in for a while. With Anastasia there and the added force of Dailey, it was time to confront. She knocked on the door. The sound of the knocking would undeniably summon someone inside. Sure enough, the door swung open to reveal a man wrapped only in a towel ¨C Trevor. Upon seeing Monica, his face darkened and he tried to m the door shut, but it was toote. Dailey, though viewing this as a minor incident, still needed to y his part. He held the door open, giving Monica the chance to enter. The person inside had heard themotion and asked, ¡°Trevor, who is it?¡± Upon hearing the voice, Monica took a deep breath and stormed in, only to see a woman in her fifties, probably weighing around 165 pounds, lounging on the couch in a robe. A romantic set-up with steak dinner, fresh flowers, and candlelight covered the table. The room was filled with the scent of perfume. The ambiance was set Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. Monica pointed at the woman and used Trevor, ¡°Really? You¡¯re into older women now, Trevor? You¡¯re unbelievable.¡± Enraged, Monica kicked Trevor. The overweight woman red. ¡°Trevor, who is this woman and what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Rachel, it¡¯s a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding. This is my sister.¡± Trevor winced in pain and tried to pull Monica away, whispering, ¡°Can we talk outside? I¡¯ll exin everything.¡± ¡°Exin what? You¡¯re alone with her, and dressed like this. Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± Monica furiously hit Trevor again. ¡°Do you have an Oedipus Complex, Trevor? Going for someone this old?¡± The overweight woman, now figuring it out, stood up. ¡°Trevor, is this your girlfriend? You have a girlfriend? But you still mess around?¡± Rachel was a divorced, wealthy, single woman with a penchant for younger men. However, she didn¡¯t y with those who had a girlfriend. She walked up to Monica. ¡°Sweetie, you will also reach my age. Everyone gets old. No need for harsh words. If I knew he has a girlfriend, I wouldn¡¯t y with him. There¡¯s no shortage of men in the world. I neverpete or fight for them. If he¡¯s taken, I¡¯ll just find another one. I have money, so I can find as many as I want. I¡¯ve seen all sorts at my age. Don¡¯t ruin your life over a man.¡± After saying that, Rachel grabbed her clothes and stormed into the bathroom to change. She left immediatelyter, leaving Trevor calling after her in vain. Monica, cooled down by Rachel¡¯s words, found a new perspective. Why was she getting angry over a jerk? There were plenty of men out there. If Rachel could move on, so could she. Monica and Anastasia both learned a valuable lesson from Rachel. It¡¯s important to handle rtionships maturely and to amicably separate if it was not working. With Rachel gone, Trevor tried to salvage the situation with Monica. ¡°Babe, there¡¯s a misunderstanding. She is a client. I was delivering clothes to her and I got drenched when her faucet broke. That¡¯s why I¡¯m in this towel.¡± Monica stared at him. ¡°Trevor, do look like a fool to you? I don¡¯t believe a word you¡¯re saying.¡± Trevor lost his temper too. ¡°I¡¯ve been with you all this time and haven¡¯t even kissed you! I¡¯m a man. What¡¯s wrong with that? It¡¯s your fault. You think! wanted to y this game? If you weren¡¯t gullible and generous, I wouldn¡¯t waste my time.¡± Last time in Los Angeles, Trevor tried to drug Monica, but due to an unexpected turn of events, Monica knocked over the spiked drink, and his n failed. Trevor wanted to find a wealthy woman, and he found out that Anastasia was Herman¡¯s wife. Since Monica was good friends with Anastasia, he continued to keep Monica around, hoping to reap more benefits. Trevor¡¯s harsh words finally made Monica give up on him. She stared at Trevor with pure hatred, walked up to him and, without warning, kicked him where it hurt the most. His screams echoed down the hotel corridor. After teaching Trevor a lesson, Monica, with Anastasia in tow, left the hotel room with Dailey covering their retreat. Once outside the hotel, Anastasia asked Monica, ¡°Are you okay?¡± Monica took a deep breath, seemingly letting go of her anger. ¡°Iin fine, Ana. He¡¯s just a jerk. I should listen to you. He¡¯s nothing more than a lowlife,¡± Chapter 357 Chapter 357 Chapter 357 Monica had spent a considerable amount of money on Trevor, and she had even considered marrying the guy. Although Trevor was younger than her, he had a knack for pleasing her and never argued, which made her feel at ease. Now knowing it was all an act, Monica felt sickened. Anastasia offered, ¡°Shall I give you a ride home?¡± She didn¡¯t feel secure leaving Monica alone. Now she was a woman in the throes of heartbreak, emotionally drained and in need ofpany. Monica sighed, giving Anastasia a pitiful look. She asked, ¡°Ana, can we hit a bar tonight?¡± Amused, Anastasia responded, ¡°Sure, my treat.¡± Turning to Dailey who had just exited the building, Anastasia said, ¡°You can head home. I¡¯m gonna take Monica out for some fresh air. Thanks for today!¡± Dailey was one of Herman¡¯s men. She didn¡¯t mention the bar outright, fearing Herman would worry. She wasn¡¯t good with booze, after all. ¡°Okay, ma¡¯am, just call me if you need anything,¡± Dailey replied. Anastasia nodded. ¡°Mmm.¡± After Dailey left, Monicamented, ¡°He¡¯s so dull. How did your husband ever decide to hire him?¡± ¡°Herman says Dailey is capable. When I was kidnapped by Harmon, it was Dailey who found me.¡± Anastasia offered her arm to Monica. ¡°Let¡¯s go. My treat.¡± Monica felt lousy, so she needed a drink to lighten her mood. They found a quiet bar, ordered their drinks, and chatted in hushed tones. Once Monica started drinking, she became more talkative. She mostlyined about Trevor¡¯sck of conscience and his awful nature. Anastasia listened attentively, joining in on the venting at times. That¡¯s what best friends do; they join in on the ranting and act as emotional dumpsters, absorbing the other¡¯s negative vibes. ¡°Ana, let me tell you. The more handsome the man is, the more unreliable they are. Keep an eye on Herman. He¡¯s surrounded by temptations,¡± Monica warned. ¡°Men can¡¯t always resist, so don¡¯t give them the chance.¡± Amused, Anastasia replied, ¡°You¡¯ve lost faith in men, but it doesn¡¯t mean you can drag me down with you. I wholeheartedly trust Herman.¡± ¡°Sure, sure, you two are in a good ce now. I won¡¯t say any more.¡± Monica took a sip of her drink. ¡°If Herman ever cheats, I¡¯ll lose all faith in love.¡± Anastasia shook her head. ¡°Monica, your expectations of love shouldn¡¯t be validated by others. You have to believe in it yourself. Then you can find true love.¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Scoffing, Monica retorted, ¡°Love is bullshit. I wasted all my emotions. Only alcohol can relieve my pains.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t argue. She raised her ss to clink with Monica¡¯s. ¡°Drink up. Everything else is bullshit. As long as you¡¯re happy, that¡¯s all that matters.¡± ¡°Why are you drinking soda? Have a shot.¡± Monica poured a ss of whiskey for Anastasia. Hastily, Anastasia protested, ¡°I can¡¯t. I can¡¯t drink at all. If we both end up drunk, it¡¯ll be a disaster.¡± ¡°Just one ss, for me. I just had a breakup. Won¡¯t you have a drink with me?¡± Anastasia chuckled. ¡°This isn¡¯t your first heartbreak. Let me count¡­ This your sixth¡­¡± ¡°No way. It¡¯s only been twice, twice that I was serious. Having dinner together doesn¡¯t count as being in a rtionship. If so, my men would be everywhere. Let¡¯s drink.¡± Eventually, Monica¡¯s persistence won over. Anastasia conceded to one ss. The whiskey was strong. Within minutes, Anastasia felt a bit woozy, and a slight pain in her stomach, but it was all bearable. Meanwhile. At Elysian Technologies. Tavon, using Anastasia¡¯s name, was trying to persuade Herman to invest in his grape ntation. Herman was in a bind. He couldn¡¯t decide whether to meet Tavon or not, so he decided to send Nelson to deal with him. No sooner had Nelson left than Grannie Anita called. She invited him to join her for afternoon tea. Grannie Anita was already at the coffee shop downstairs. Recalling how Grannie Anita was ticked offst night, Herman decided to apany her for a while when she voluntarily called for afternoon tea. Arriving at the coffee shop, Herman found out Julie was also present. Flynn had been sent away by Grannie Anita. Herman watched from a distance as Grannie Anita and Julie chatted happily, wondering why Julie was favored by Anita. ¡°Herman, over here.¡± Grannie Anita waved at him with a gentle smile. As Herman walked over, Julie blushed. Hey ears were even turning red. Grannie Anita motioned to the seat next to Julie. ¡°Herman, you sit here.¡± However, Herman chose to sit next to Grannie Anita instead. ¡°Grannie, I heard from Flynn that you were ying cards. Howe you¡¯re here now?¡± Throughout the conversation, Herman didn¡¯t spare Julie a nce, as if she was Invisible. Chapter 358 Chapter 358 Chapter 358 Herman didn¡¯t show a bit of interest in Julie, and Grannie Anita noticed. It seemed like it would take some effort to y matchmaker between the two. ¡°Since you¡¯re too busy to hang out with me, Herman. I have to ask Julie to apany me shopping. What¡¯s so fun about ying cards anyway?¡± Grannie Anita chided, ¡°And you, Herman, why don¡¯t you greet Julie properly? You two practically grew up together.¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Only then did Herman nce at Julie. For Grannie Anita¡¯s sake, he managed to say, ¡°Ms. Brown.¡± The formality of his greeting hung awkwardly in the air. Grannie Anita nudged Herman. ¡°What¡¯s with the ¡®Ms. Brown¡¯? You two are close enough to be on first- name terms.¡± Herman remained unmoved. Julie, sensing the awkwardness, tried to break the tension. ¡°Herman, what would you like to drink?¡± Without waiting for Julie¡¯s help, he signaled to the waiter. ¡°Atte, please.¡± ¡°Certainly, sir,¡± the waiter replied, promptly leaving to prepare the order. Grannie Anita, ying the matchmaker, attempted to steer the conversation. ¡°Julie, I remember you once wore a beautiful white dress when you visited us. You looked so pretty. Herman even complimented you and told me he wanted to marry you someday.¡± Herman frowned. ¡°Grannie, I never said that.¡± ¡°You were too young to remember, but I kept it in my mind,¡± Grannie Anita replied,ughing. ¡°I thought to myself. Once Julie grows up, I¡¯ll let Herman marry her.¡± Julie blushed. ¡°Grannie.¡± ¡°Why shy? You like Herman, right? This is just perfect.¡± Grannie Anita teased. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Anastasia¡¯s sudden appearing, you¡¯d already be my granddaughter-inw.¡± The disdain for Anastasia was evident in her voice. Herman chose not to argue, knowing it would be pointless. As Herman kept silent, Grannie Anita decided to excuse herself to give the two some space. ¡°Herman, I¡¯m going to the restroom. You two chat.¡± Once Grannie Anita left, the atmosphere grew tense. Julie nced at Herman out of the corner of her eye. Noting his frosty demeanor, she stammered, ¡°Herman¡­¡± Herman interrupted her with his cold voice, ¡°Ms. Brown, it seems you¡¯ve forgotten how to address me properly.¡± ¡°Mr. Salstrom, Julie corrected herself quickly, trying to mask her embarrassment. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect Grannie to say such things. I didn¡¯t mean to imply anything.¡± Julie wanted to leave a good impression on Herman, not wanting him to think she had manipted Grannie Anita. ¡°Good, let¡¯s keep it that way,¡± Herman said with his icy tone. ¡°And let me warn you. Stop scheming behind my back. Sending anonymous information to Salstrom Manor, paying Kitty to impersonate someone from a few years ago, and having someone send nude photos to my wife are childish games. Do you find them amusing?¡± Herman¡¯s direct usation startled Julie, who quickly denied, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°A smart woman shouldn¡¯t y dumb,¡± Herman retorted, showing no mercy. ¡°If Ms. Brown continues to meddle, don¡¯t me me for making the Brown Corporation disappear.¡±¡± Since Herman was cutting straight to the chase, Julie dropped the pretense. ¡°Yes, I did those things. I did it because I love you, Herman. I didn¡¯t want you to be deceived by Anastasia. What does she have that I don¡¯t? She¡¯s a woman who had a child out of wedlock and now can¡¯t even have children. Why do you love her so much? Without her, you would choose me. Even Grannie said she likes me and wants me to be her granddaughter-inw.¡± Herman¡¯s icy gaze bore into Julie. ¡°Ms. Brown, perhaps you should see a doctor about your delusions. I¡¯ve never had any interest in you. I love my wife, and her past is none of your business.¡±¡± His words were cold and harsh, which hurt her deeply. Julie, embarrassed and humiliated, wished she could disappear. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she stuttered, ¡°Herman, do you have to be so cruel? We¡¯re childhood friends. Our families have known each other for years. I¡¯m a girl, and you¡¯re a man. Is it necessary to be so vicious to a girl?¡± Herman scoffed, ¡°You should be thankful you¡¯re a woman, or else I would beat you now.¡± His ruthless words pierced Julie¡¯s heart, leaving her feeling wronged, humiliated, distressed, and angry. Tears slipped down her cheeks as she stood up and warned, ¡°Herman, you¡¯ll regret humiliating me like this today.¡± Grannie Anita, who had been observing from a distance, rushed over when she saw Julie crying. ¡°Julie, what¡¯s wrong? Herman, why did you make Julie cry? Apologize immediately.¡± Herman stood up. His voice was cold. ¡°Ms. Brown, take care of yourself.¡± Julie¡¯s tears flowed even harder. Julie, don¡¯t cry. I¡¯ll scold this naughty boy for you¡± Grannie Anita said, pretending to smack Herman. Herman remained unmoved. Just then, his phone rang. Picking up, he heard Monica¡¯s frantic voice on the other end. ¡°Herman, you need to get to the hospital. Anastasia is in trouble; she¡¯s bleeding. Hearing this, Herman¡¯s expression changed dramatically. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Monica replied anxiously. ¡°We were just having drinks, but suddenly Anastasia comined of stomach pain and started bleeding. We¡¯re on our way to the hospital now.¡± Chapter 359 Chapter 359 Chapter 359 Anastasia was in trouble, so Herman didn¡¯t have time to argue with Julie. He had to rush to the hospital. Grandma Anita grabbed Herman¡¯s hand. ¡°Herman, where are you going? Julie is still here.¡± Herman replied, ¡°Grandma, Anastasia is in the hospital. I have to go there immediately.¡± ¡°She was fine when she was ying cards with me in the morning. She even made me angry. How did she suddenly end up in the hospital? I think she¡¯s faking it.¡± Grandma Anita was very skeptical. ¡°She¡¯s doing this on purpose. That woman is very cunning. Herman, you mustn¡¯t be fooled.¡± ¡°Grandma, if you don¡¯t like someone, everything they do is wrong in your eyes. Anastasia is in trouble, and I must go to her.¡± Herman pulled his hand away, walked out without saying another word. ¡°Herman!¡± Grandma Anita was so angry that she stomped her foot, but she still could not stop Herman from leaving. Julie watched Herman¡¯s retreating figure. The feeling of resentment was springing up in her heart. ¡°They¡¯ll pay for today¡¯s humiliation,¡± she thought, ¡°both Herman and Anastasia.¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Julie, don¡¯t be mad. I¡¯ll talk to him when we get home. This is uneptable.¡± Grandma Anita was also furious. She was certain that Anastasia was feigning illness. What a coincidence? She suddenly fell ill. Julie forced a smile. ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m fine. Maybe Herman and I are just not meant to be. I¡¯m going to go home.¡± There was a hint of mncholy in Julie¡¯s voice, which made one feel sympathetic. ¡°You¡¯re such a good girl.¡± Grandma Anitaforted her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make sure everything¡¯s okay. It¡¯s rare to find a girl as kind-hearted as you nowadays. Julie, when dealing with men, you need to be a little cunning. Look at that Anastasia. She faked an illness and managed to get Herman to leave. That¡¯s being smart. Herman is a tough guy on the outside but soft on the inside. He¡¯ll appreciate your kindness.¡± Julie listened attentively and thanked her, ¡°Thank you, Grandma.¡± ¡°Go home and rest. I¡¯ll go to the hospital now and see what that woman is up to. Whether she¡¯s really ill or just pretending¡± Grandma Anita was convinced that Anastasia was faking it and couldn¡¯t wait to expose her. At Hope Hospital. Monica was waiting anxiously in the corridor. Anastasia had been rushed into the emergency room. Monica med herself. She shouldn¡¯t have insisted on drinking with Anastasia. If Anastasia was in danger, what was she going to do? Monica was pacing anxiously outside the emergency room, waiting for the doctors toe out. Just then, Herman arrived, looking grave. ¡°Monica, how is Anastasia?¡± ¡°Herman,¡± Monica replied worriedly, ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet. I¡¯m so sorry. I didn¡¯t think it would be like this. It¡¯s all my fault. I shouldn¡¯t force Anastasia to drink with me.¡± Herman asked coldly, ¡°How much did she drink?¡± ¡°Just one ss,¡± Monica assured him. ¡°Really, just one ss. Not long after she drank it, she turned pale and started to feel a stomach ache. Then she started to bleed.¡± Anastasia¡¯s symptoms came on so fast. Her face turned pale in an instant, and she almost copsed. Even thinking about it afterwards, Monica was still scared. Monica asked, ¡°Could it be that Anastasia hasn¡¯t fully recovered from the car ident?¡± Herman frowned. ¡°She¡¯s been in good health recently, and she was fine when she left in the morning. She can¡¯t handle alcohol, but one ss shouldn¡¯t cause such severe consequences.¡± While they were talking, the door to the emergency room opened. A doctor came out. ¡°Who is the family of Anastasia?¡± Herman quickly stepped forward. ¡°I¡¯m her husband. Doctor, how is my wife?¡± ¡°The situation is not very good. The patient just had a major surgery, so her body hasn¡¯t fully recovered. Plus, she drank alcohol, which led to symptoms of a threatened miscarriage.¡± The doctor¡¯s words shocked Herman. ¡°A threatened miscarriage?¡± Monica was also surprised. ¡°Anastasia is pregnant?¡± Chapter 360 Chapter 360 Chapter 360 The doctor nced at Herman and asked, ¡°Five weeks into the pregnancy. You didn¡¯t know?¡± Herman was so shocked. His face was twitching with surprise. ¡°My wife is pregnant? The doctors said it would be difficult for her to conceive. We never thought we¡¯d have a child.¡± ¡°Well, difficult doesn¡¯t mean impossible. You two are lucky,¡± the doctor said. ¡°And it¡¯s a good thing you brought her here in time. Anyter, and we might not be able to save the baby. She needs to rest on bed now, avoiding stress and exertion. The first three months are crucial. And she definitely can¡¯t drink alcohol again.¡± Herman felt like he was on a roller coaster. His heart was lurching with every word the doctor said. He grasped the doctor¡¯s hand in gratitude. ¡°Thank you.¡± Monica, who had been anxiously waiting, let out a sigh of relief. When she heard that the threatened miscarriage had been caused by drinking, she was filled with remorse. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. If something happened to Anastasia or the baby, I don¡¯t know how I could live with myself.¡± She was genuinely remorseful and kept apologizing to Herman. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Herman. Go ahead, yell at me if it makes you feel better.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°Anastasia might not even know she¡¯s pregnant. It¡¯s just an ident. Luckily, it ended up being a close call,¡± Herman said. Then he told Monica to wait while he spoke to the doctor. Herman and the doctor retreated to his office to discuss Anastasia¡¯s condition. She had been in a car ident before and had suffered severe damage to her lower back. Pregnancy would put a significant strain on her. Herman asked the doctor with a serious expression, ¡°Considering my wife¡¯s health, is it safe for her to carry this baby? Could it endanger her?¡± ¡°Mr. Salstrom,¡± the doctor began, ¡°I won¡¯t lie to you. Your wife¡¯s health is not good. She¡¯s already showing signs of a threatened miscarriage. It will be challenging to keep the baby, and the strain of pregnancy will only increase as she progresses. From a medical perspective, we don¡¯t rmend continuing the pregnancy. But the fact that she¡¯s pregnant is miraculous. It¡¯s really up to you two to decide.¡± The doctor had given Herman a difficult choice. If they tried to save the baby, they might end up losing both the baby and Anastasia. But if they didn¡¯t keep the baby, it might be theirst chance to have a child. Anastasia probably wouldn¡¯t want to give up. When Herman left the doctor¡¯s office, his face was not one of joy. He sat down on a bench in the hallway, contemting the doctor¡¯s words. The doctor had suggested a n, albeit a risky one. They could control the baby¡¯s size to prevent it from growing toorge and then perform a cesarean section at seven months. This could reduce the strain on Anastasia¡¯s body and potentially save the baby. But the doctor couldn¡¯t guarantee that there wouldn¡¯t beplications with Anastasia¡¯s health during this time. Herman rubbed his face, struggling with the decision. It was essentially a gamble with Anastasia¡¯s life at stake. If they won, they¡¯d save both the mother and the baby. If they lost¡­ Herman shuddered at the thought. ¡°Herman, Anastasia has been moved back to her room. What are you still doing out here?¡± Monica had come looking for him after he didn¡¯t return for a while. She found him sitting on the bench in a daze. ¡°Did the doctor say something? You don¡¯t look so good. Is there something else wrong with Anastasia?¡± Herman stood up andposed himself. ¡°No, everything¡¯s fine. I¡¯m going to go see her now. Monica, could you please get some light, nutritious food for her?¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll go right now.¡± Monica was more than happy to help. The news of Anastasia¡¯s pregnancy had made her forget about her recent breakup. In the hospital room, Anastasia was dumbfounded when she found out she was pregnant. Then, she started crying tears of joy. She gently touched her belly, thinking about the child she was carrying. When Herman entered the room, she looked up at him, Her face was radiant with happiness. ¡°Herman, you¡¯re going to be a dad. We¡¯re having a baby.¡± Chapter 361 Chapter 361 Chapter 361 Anastasia¡¯s joyous smile was a sight Herman couldn¡¯t bear to tarnish with the harshness of reality. Herman sat down beside the bed. His hand was resting gently on Anastasia¡¯s belly. The thought of a tiny life growing inside her softened his heart. Neither of them had ever anticipated such a surprise. Anastasia even considered about IVF, never expecting that their child was already growing inside her. She held Herman¡¯s hand. Her voice was soft. ¡°Why do you look unhappy? What¡¯s wrong?¡± She¡¯d noticed the change in Herman¡¯s mood. ¡°N-no, I¡¯m happy.¡± Herman managed to squeeze out a smile. ¡°You¡¯re going to be a mom.¡± Anastasia nced at his face. Her voice was even softer. ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me. You¡¯re worried about something. Did the doctor say my body isn¡¯t suitable for carrying a baby? Did he give you a choice, to keep the baby or¡­?¡± Anastasia knew her own body well. Today¡¯s signs of a potential miscarriage only heightened the difficulty of a safe pregnancy. Suddenly, Herman pulled Anastasia into a tight hug. His voice was hoarse. ¡°Anastasia, whether we have a child or not doesn¡¯t matter. All I want is you.¡± He had made his decision. Anastasia couldn¡¯t me him for his decision. She knew it must have been a painful one, a struggle for him. She wrapped her arms around Herman¡¯s waist. Her voice was tender. ¡°Honey, our baby chose us to be his parents. Let¡¯s not give up on him. Let¡¯s try our best to ensure he¡¯s born safely. I¡¯ll follow the doctor¡¯s orders. I¡¯ll do everything to keep this baby. Let¡¯s not give up on him just yet. Can we just try?¡± The pleading in her voice was unmistakable. She was begging him to hold onto their child. Tears welled up in Herman¡¯s eyes. He couldn¡¯t bear the thought of Anastasia suffering. He didn¡¯t have the courage to let her risk her life. But he also couldn¡¯t deny her plea. Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. He knew how much Anastasia longed for this child. So did he. This was his first child. Maybe his only child. What kind of father could willingly give up his own flesh and blood? He was torn. Anastasia lifted her face to look at him. Her hands were cupping his face. ¡°Smile, honey. We¡¯re going to be parents. This is a joyous asion. Our baby can sense our emotions. If he senses we¡¯re not weing him, he¡¯ll be upset. We¡¯ve been able to save him this time. It means he¡¯s meant to be with us. Trust me. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°Oh baby,¡± Herman reached out to wipe away her tears. His gaze was softening as he looked at her belly. ¡°Alright.¡± As he agreed, Anastasia¡¯s face lit up with a smile. He understood her meaning. Even if it meant risking her own life, she was willing to carry their child. If Anastasia disagreed, he couldn¡¯t force her to end the pregnancy. That would break her heart. ¡°Lay down and rest for a bit. I¡¯ll call mom and ask her to pick up Pattie. You¡¯ll need to stay in the hospital for observation. Don¡¯t worry about anything. Leave it all to me, Herman reassured her. ¡°We need to ensure proper nutrition, but not overdo it. We have to control the baby¡¯s weight.¡± Anastasia smiled. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll listen to you.¡± As Herman left the room to make a call, he saw Grannie Anita approaching. Upon seeing Herman, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that woman? Is she faking it? I¡¯ve always said she¡¯s cunning, not as pure- hearted as Julie. She can¡¯t even give birth to a child.¡± Herman¡¯s face darkened at Grannie Anita¡¯s words. ¡°Grandma, I expect you to respect Anastasia. She¡¯s pregnant and weak, so she can¡¯t handle stress. If you want to see your great-grandchild, watch your words.¡± ¡°Anastasia is pregnant?¡± Grannie Anita was incredulous. ¡°But I heard she¡¯s infertile. Are you two trying to deceive me, Herman?¡± Chapter 362 Chapter 362 Chapter 362 The power of first impression is indeed profound. From the beginning, Grannie Anita had taken a dislike to Anastasia. No matter what she did, she couldn¡¯t win Anita¡¯s approval. Even if she did nothing, she would be subject to me. Herman, with a cold glint in his eye, retorted, ¡°Grandma, if you continue to behave this way, don¡¯t me me for sending you back to the countryside. Even if you dislike Anastasia, please afford her the respect she deserves. Anastasia survived a car crash. Her pregnancy is a miracle. She is risking her life to bring this baby into the world. You, who have been a mother yourself, should understand. Please, for the sake of the Salstrom family¡¯s future, hold your tongue.¡± Herman¡¯s tone was heavy. This was the first time he had spoken to Grannie Anita in such a stern, warning, and disappointed manner. Anastasia was risking her life, but Grannie Anita continued to belittle and express dissatisfaction. If it had been anyone else, Herman would have lost his temper, disregarding manners. His words left Grannie Anita speechless. She didn¡¯t look fine. Her lips were twitching in anger. She felt a mix of shame and rage. Her grandson, whom she had raised, was standing up to her repeatedly for a woman, uttering such chilling words. Grannie Anita, pointing at Herman in fury, retorted, ¡°Is this how you speak to your grandmother? I am doing this for your own good.¡± ¡°For my own good? That¡¯s the most hypocritical phrase in the world. You use it as a guise to satisfy your need for control. If you truly cared for me, you would respect my wife.¡± Herman, stern and serious, added, ¡°Grandma, in the Salstrom family, we believe in a peaceful and loving family. You have been at odds with my mother for years, and now you want to interfere with my marriage. What exactly are you trying to achieve? Tell me.¡± ¡°I¡­ I¡­¡± Grannie Anita was at a loss for words. Herman was already on edge because of the baby, so naturally, he wouldn¡¯t tolerate Grannie Anita speaking ill of Anastasia. Furious, Grannie Anita left without another word, not even bothering to verify if Anastasia was truly pregnant. Herman didn¡¯t want to think about her. He called Salma to update her about the situation and asked her to pick up Pattie from school. Upon hearing of Anastasia¡¯s pregnancy, Salma was overjoyed. She reassured Herman over the phone, ¡°Herman, take good care of Ana. Don¡¯t worry about household matters. I¡¯ll pick up Pattie. This is such wonderful news. Thank God, Ana is pregnant.¡± Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g Salma was so happy she felt like setting off fireworks. After the call, Herman returned to the hospital room to keep Anastasiapany. He decided not to inform Katelyn and Feiman for now due to the instability of the pregnancy. Soon, Monica arrived with food. Anastasia was indeed hungry. She ate a hearty meal of soup and several dishes. As Anastasia ate, Monica apologized, ¡°Ana, I¡¯m sorry for what happened today. It¡¯s all my fault. I shouldn¡¯t call you and force you to drink. I¡¯m sorry. If you yell at me, maybe I¡¯ll feel better.¡± Anastasiaughed. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. I haven¡¯t been feeling well for a few days. It¡¯s not rted to the alcohol. I was careless and didn¡¯t pay any attention to it. On the bright side, we found out about the pregnancy today. Otherwise, who knows what might happen due to my carelessness.¡± Now, she and the baby were safe. Considering the wonderful news of her pregnancy, she was far from ming Monica. Monica nodded. ¡°You both forgive me, but I still feel guilty. I will buy all the diapers, clothes, and form for the baby when he or she is born.¡± Anastasiaughed. ¡°In that case, I will ept all of it. You¡¯ll be the baby¡¯s godmother.¡± ¡°No problem. I think I got the better end of the deal, Monica said with a smile. ¡°Being the godmother of the future heir of Elysian Technologies will definitely raise my profile. Herman, you don¡¯t have any objections, do you?¡± Herman, handing Anastasia a peeled apple, replied, ¡°No objections. You yed a part in getting us to where we are today. It¡¯s only right that the child calls you godmother.¡± Monicaughed. ¡°The CEO of arge corporation is really different. You¡¯ve got vision and magnanimity.¡± Soon, the news of Anastasia¡¯s pregnancy spread. Grannie Anita went back to Salstrom Manor and mentioned it in passing. Katelyn and Feiman found out and hurried to the hospital to visit. Grannie Anita wanted to visit but was too embarrassed to do so. Everyone urged Anastasia to rest and not overwork herself when they found out she had almost had a miscarriage. Aside from Herman and Anastasia, no one knew how dangerous it was for Anastasia to carry this baby. Katelyn was especially happy at the thought of bing a grandmother. She started preparing nutritious food for Anastasia and consulted with professional doctors. Grannie Anita, who was nearby, wanted to ask about Anastasia¡¯s condition. However, since she was not on good terms with Katelyn, she felt ufortable asking her directly and decided to ask Feiman instead. ¡°Is Anastasia really pregnant? How many weeks? Boy or girl?¡± 1/2 10:49 Chapter 362 Feimanughed. ¡°The doctor said it¡¯s been five weeks. We don¡¯t know the gender yet. Mom, if you¡¯re worried about Anastasia, you should go to the hospital to see her.¡± Grannie Anita retorted, ¡°Who¡¯s worried about her? I¡¯m concerned about my great-grandchild. I¡¯m worried that woman is lying. She just said she was infertile, but now she¡¯s pregnant. It¡¯s too strange.¡± ¡°Mom, you¡¯re just being suspicious. The doctor only said it was difficult for Anastasia to get pregnant, not that she couldn¡¯t at all. Now she¡¯s pregnant. Isn¡¯t it a good thing? You¡¯re about to be a great- grandmother.¡± Grannie Anita shot Feiman a look. ¡°You sure seem pleased. Now Anastasia is pregnant. I bet she feels even more empowered. With her around, I hardly have a say in this house anymore. Today, Herman even had the audacity to scold me in the hospital.¡± Grannie Anita seemed crestfallen, like a chastised child. ¡°Mom, you¡¯re overthinking again,¡± Feiman reassured her with a smile. ¡°Herman was just worried about Anastasia. It¡¯s his first time bing a father, so it¡¯s normal for him to be a bit excited. And you should stop your divorce talk. Everything¡¯s fine now.¡± Feiman was pretty optimistic. With his two sons managing thepany, he was free to just enjoy life. Grannie Anita retorted sarcastically, ¡°If she gives me a great-grandson, I might consider epting her as my granddaughter-inw.¡± Feiman replied, ¡°Mom, it¡¯s not like we can control the gender of the baby.¡± ¡°Well, we¡¯ll see how capable she is then,¡± Grannie Anita stubbornly stuck to her old-fashioned beliefs about favoring boys over girls. Feiman sighed and chose not to continue the discussion. Grannie Anita, leaning on her cane, climbed the stairs to rest in her room. Julie called. In the Salstrom family, only Grannie Anita liked Julie. It was essential to keep Grannie Anita happy and show her some attention. Upon receiving Julie¡¯s call, Grannie Anita replied cheerfully, ¡°Julie, you¡¯re the thoughtful one, calling me thiste.¡± ¡°Grandma, you mentioned before that your leg sometimes hurts. I know a great massage therapist. How about I take you to see him tomorrow?¡± Grannie Anitaughed heartily. ¡°That sounds wonderful. Thank you, Julie. You¡¯re a truly dutiful girl.¡± ¡°Grandma, I just want you to be healthy, happy, and live a long life,¡± Julie cooed. Hearing this, Grannie Anita couldn¡¯t help but wish that Julie was her granddaughter-inw. ¡°Julie, you¡¯re such a sweet talker,¡± sheughed. ¡°Unlike some people who only know how to upset me. Now with a baby on the way, I suspect she¡¯ll be even more arrogant.¡± ¡°Pregnant?¡± Julie was taken aback. ¡°Grandma, who¡¯s pregnant?¡± ¡°Anastasia. It¡¯s five weeks already. She almost miscarried today and is currently in the hospital. She barely got pregnant and almost lost it. I guess this baby doesn¡¯t share the Salstrom family¡¯s luck.¡± ¡°I thought she was infertile? How did she get pregnant?¡± ¡°Luck, I suppose. Even the doctor said it¡¯s a miracle.¡± Hearing the news of Anastasia¡¯s pregnancy, a deep resentment appeared in Julie¡¯s eyes. Why was Anastasia always so lucky, getting everything good in life? Chapter 363 Chapter 363 Chapter 363 Anastasia was pregnant, which cemented her throne as the leadingdy of the Salstrom family. Julie¡¯s heart seethed with jealousy. If she couldn¡¯t have Herman, she wouldn¡¯t let Anastasia have him either. After hanging up on a call with Grannie Anita, Julie phoned Joseph, ¡°Anastasia is pregnant. I need you to figure out a way to get her out of the Salstrom family, and to make Herman despise her.¡± The news took Joseph by surprise on the other end of the line. ¡°Oh? She¡¯s pregnant? This is getting more interesting.¡± ¡°Joseph, you promised to help me be Mrs. Salstrom. I¡¯ve changed my mind. No one else should get what I can¡¯t have. I believe you hate Herman as much as I do,¡± Julie sneered. ¡°You don¡¯t want to be overshadowed by your half-brother forever, do you?¡± At her words, Joseph¡¯s expression changed. He showed a wicked smile. ¡°You¡¯re not as stupid as I thought.¡± He had underestimated Julie, who had even managed to dig into his background. ¡°Joseph, we are on the same boat now. We share the same goal. I have never been so humiliated. I was rejected by a man over and over. I will make Herman regret his decision.¡± Born into a wealthy family and exposed to cut-throat business schemes since childhood, Julie was far from naive. A man named Joseph, was offering help without expecting anything in return? Something was fishy. Finding out about Joseph¡¯s background was not difficult for Julie, and Joseph had not concealed it. Joseph grinned in satisfaction. ¡°I admire your ruthlessness. Here¡¯s to a fruitful partnership.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Anastasia have a child out of wedlock before? If that child resurfaces, things will certainly get more interesting.¡± This time, Julie was smart. No matter what she did behind the scenes, Herman would notice. So, she decided to use Joseph as a pawn to achieve her goal. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Born with a silver spoon, Julie would never tolerate Herman¡¯s humiliation, let alone losing to Anastasia. Joseph smirked. ¡°Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, as the old saying goes.¡± Over the next few days, Anastasia was in the hospital, ensuring the safe growth of her baby. Being pregnant, Anastasia was treated like royalty. Salma and Katelyn sent her all sorts of delicious food to nourish her body. Whenever she went to the restroom, Herman would stand guard outside. When she picked up her fork to eat, he had already served the food into her mouth. Amused, Anastasia said, ¡°Herman, I¡¯m pregnant, not disabled. Do I really need to be fed?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t bear the hardships of pregnancy for you. These are the least I can do,¡± Herman insisted, ¡°Open your mouth.¡± Obediently, Anastasia opened her mouth. ¡°I want peanuts and fish¡­¡± She didn¡¯t hesitate to keep Herman busy. Seeing him run around to satisfy her every wish, she felt incredibly blessed. Just then, Cynthia and Gianna arrived. ¡°Having lunch?¡± Cynthia smiled. ¡°We heard you are hospitalized, Anastasia. How are you feeling now?¡± The news of Anastasia¡¯s pregnancy had reached them through Salma. Upon hearing the news, Cynthia couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of envy. Anastasia had not only married into a wealthy family, but also was now expecting a child. Such luck was hard toe by. Cynthia didn¡¯t want to visit, but out of familial obligation, she decided to drop by. After all, Anastasia was a wealthydy; she might need her help in the future. Gianna felt a pang of envy at Herman¡¯s affection for Anastasia. She concealed her feelings, and smiled as she said, ¡°Congrattions, Anastasia. You¡¯re going to be a mom.¡± Anastasia was pleased to see them and warmly received them. ¡°Please, take a seat. I¡¯m much better now. I should be able to go home tomorrow.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear,¡± Gianna replied. Her smile was slightly forced. As she spoke, Gianna couldn¡¯t help but steal nces at Herman. Her heart raced each time she looked at him. She had a deep sense of guilt. After all, she was falling for her cousin¡¯s husband. Chapter 364 Chapter 364 Chapter 364 Gianna couldn¡¯t help but steal a nce, quickly averting her eyes in fear of being noticed. Once Anastasia had finished eating, Herman cleared the table, saying, ¡°I¡¯m going to take out the trash. You two chat. I¡¯ve got you a ss of water. Remember to drink it.¡± Anastasia smiled. ¡°Alright.¡± Herman took the leftovers out to the garbage to avoid any lingering smells in the room. Anastasia was particrly sensitive to smellstely, easily prone to nausea and vomiting. After Herman left, Cynthia, with a sour tone, said, ¡°Anastasia, aren¡¯t you lucky? To have a man like Mr. Salstrom, who is not only a public Company executive but also takes care of you personally.¡± Herman¡¯s social status was so high that Cynthia didn¡¯t dare to act superior in front of him, always respectfully referring to him as Mr. Salstrom. Herman didn¡¯t say much, but his aura alone was enough to make most people feel quite intimidated. People couldn¡¯t help but hold him in high regard. Anastasia chuckled and said, ¡°He prefers to do things himself. Cynthia, Gianna, please have a seat. Gianna, I¡¯ve got the design for your coffee shop sorted out. I¡¯ll send it to you tomorrow after I leave the hospital.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Gianna said as she sat down. ¡°Take your time.¡± Cynthia stared at Anastasia¡¯s belly and said, ¡°Anastasia, you¡¯re carrying the first child of the Salstrom family. If it¡¯s a boy, it¡¯ll be a big deal.¡± Anastasia smiled lightly. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether it¡¯s a boy or a girl.¡± Cynthia said, ¡°It does matter. In these prominent families, boys are especially valued. If you have a girl, they¡¯ll definitely want you to try again. Just wait and see. Your mother-inw will definitely want a grandson.¡± Gianna frowned. ¡°Mom, why are you saying these things?¡± Anastasia said, ¡°Cynthia, my inws have no such thoughts. My mother-inw visited me this morning and said she hopes it¡¯s a girl. The Salstrom family is dominated by men, so she loves the idea of having a little girl around.¡± ¡°Those are just words¡­¡± Cynthia began, but was interrupted by the arrival of Salma and Pattie. Salma greeted them warmly, ¡°Cynthia, Gianna, you¡¯re here. Pattie, say hello.¡± Pattie called out, ¡°Hello.¡± Cynthia didn¡¯t feel any particr affection for Pattie. She didn¡¯t dislike Pattie, but she didn¡¯t like her either. She was indifferent to this adpoted girl. Gianna, who didn¡¯t have any kids of her own, felt a certain kinship with children. ¡°Pattie, you¡¯re done with school already?¡± Pattie replied, ¡°There was an activity at school today, but I didn¡¯t participate. I came to see Mom.¡± Pattie leaned towards the bed and asked Anastasia, ¡°Mom, has my little brother been good today?¡± Before Anastasia could respond, Cynthia said teasingly, ¡°How do you know it¡¯s a brother? What if it¡¯s a sister?¡± Salma didn¡¯t appreciate the joke and said with a forced smile, ¡°A brother or a sister, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Pattie said firmly, ¡°It¡¯s a brother. It¡¯s definitely a brother.¡± Anastasia, stroking Pattie¡¯s head, said, ¡°Whatever Pattie says, it is. Have you been good at school today? Did you get into any trouble?¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve been very good. The teacher praised me today. We had an art ss, and I drew a picture for you.¡± Pattie proudly took out a drawing from her bag. Anastasia praised her, ¡°Is this a caterpir? Pattie, you¡¯re so talented.¡± Pattie frowned. ¡°Mom, it¡¯s a dragon, not a caterpir.¡± Anastasia and Salmaughed. Salma said, ¡°I thought it was a caterpir too. I almost made Pattie cry.¡± Anastasia, stillughing, said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Pattie. Mommy was wrong. It¡¯s a wonderful dragon. You¡¯ve done a great job with the eyes and the nose. It¡¯s so lifelike.¡± When dealing with children, it¡¯s important to encourage and praise them, rather than criticize. Cynthia nced at the drawing and thought it was mediocre. Gianna shot her a look before she could say anything. After a while, Cynthia wanted to leave, but Gianna wanted to stay a bit longer, hoping to see more of Herman, When Herman returned from taking out the trash, he said to Salma, ¡°Anastasia needs to rest now, Mom. Why don¡¯t you take Pattie back first?¡± Chapter 364 This was also a hint for Cynthia and Gianna. Anastasia needed rest, but with so many people in the room, it was disruptive. Gianna understood the implied message and said awkwardly, ¡°Salma, I drove here. Let me take you home. Anastasia, Herman, we should be going. Take care.¡± Anastasia nodded. ¡°Thank you for sending my mom and Pattie home, Gianna.¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Gianna replied. Salma said, ¡°Ana, we¡¯ll leave now. You rest well.¡± Pattie, reluctant to leave, added, ¡°Mom, take good care of yourself. Dad, take good care of Mom.¡± Herman hugged Pattie and said, ¡°I will. And when you go home, remember to listen to Grandma.¡± Pattie waved her hand. ¡°Goodbye, Mom and Dad.¡± After a round of goodbyes, Pattie left with Salma and Gianna. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g Gianna¡¯s car was parked in the hospital parking lot. As they were about to leave, Salma remembered she forgot her phone and said, ¡°I left my phone in the room. I¡¯ll go get it. Pattie, wait in the car for a moment.¡± Pattie nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± Gianna said, ¡°We¡¯ll wait for you at the main entrance.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Salma agreed and went back to retrieve her phone. Gianna parked the car at the roadside near the hospital entrance. Cynthia nced at the well-behaved Pattie in the backseat and said, partly in jest, partly seriously, ¡°Pattie, your mom is going to have her new baby soon. She might not need you anymore.¡± attie became highly emotional. ¡°No, that¡¯s not true. Mom will always love me,¡± she protested. Cynthia couldn¡¯t resist teasing her a bit more. ¡°You¡¯re adopted, not their biological child. Now they¡¯re having their own child. Why would they still need you?¡± Pattie shook her head, repeating, ¡°No, that¡¯s not true.¡± Gianna intervened, ¡°Mom, stop messing with her. She¡¯s just a kid. She might take you seriously.¡± Cynthia retorted, ¡°I¡¯m not messing around. She¡¯s an adopted child, not as close as their own. Anastasia will definitely love her own child more, and treat her own child better. I don¡¯t believe they see this kid as their real daughter. I think they adopted Pattie as a good luck charm, hoping for their own child. It¡¯s a common belief around here. Couples who can¡¯t conceive often adopt a child for good luck, and soon enough, they have their own.¡± Continuing her teasing, Cynthia said to Pattie, ¡°Your mom adopted you because she wanted to have her own child. If she gives birth to a brother for you and you don¡¯t behave well, she¡¯ll stop loving you and give you away.¡± Pattie started crying. ¡°Mom will always want me. I¡¯ll be a good girl. I¡¯ll behave well.¡± Pattie was very scared. She was reminded of her past when Penny started treating her badly after the birth of her little brother. She was constantly scolded and made to do chores. The thought of her new mom not loving or wanting her anymore made Pattie cry even harder. Pattie¡¯s crying left Cynthia flustered. ¡°Why are you crying now? Stop it, or your parents will like you even less and might give you away.¡± Pattie was so scared that she couldn¡¯t even cry. Chapter 365 Chapter 365 Chapter 365 Cynthia¡¯s words had nted a seed in Pattie¡¯s fragile heart, making her feel even more insecure and worthless. After Salma collected her phone and returned, Pattie had already stopped crying. More urately, she had been scared into silence by Cynthia. Salma was oblivious to Pattie¡¯s distress. All the way home, Pattie was particrly quiet and obedient. When they reached the gates of Harmony Meadows, Salma helped Pattie out of the car. ¡°Take care on the road, Cynthia, Gianna. Be safe.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Gianna gave a nod and started the car to leave. Only Gianna and Cynthia were in the car now. Gianna said, ¡°Mom, you shouldn¡¯t say things like that. It won¡¯t be good if Anastasia finds out.¡± ¡°So what if she finds out? I was just teasing the girl. Who knew she¡¯d be such a crybaby?¡± Cynthia retorted with a sarcastic tone. ¡°I¡¯m her aunt. What can Anastasia do to me? Does she really think marrying into a rich family gives her the right to act all high and mighty in front of me?¡± Cynthia had warmed up to Anastasia after she had helped Gianna out a few times, but that was only because she believed Anastasia¡¯s life was worse off than theirs. Now Anastasia was living a better life, so Cynthia naturally felt envious and wanted to make some snide remarks. Gianna remained silent, which seemed to spur Cynthia on. ¡°Why can¡¯t you be more assertive? When will you finally divorce Joey? You¡¯re already in your thirties. If Joey keeps holding you back, you¡¯ll be too old. At the same time, you are a divorcee. Who will want to marry you then?¡± Echoing her concerns, Cynthia was sending anxiety to Gianna, who was already exasperated with Joey. ¡°Mom, I can handle my own issues. I¡¯m not thinking about remarriage.¡± ¡°What will you do then, if you don¡¯t remarry?¡± Cynthia was exasperated. ¡°Gianna, I¡¯m telling you. You can¡¯t y this single life game. Your father and I are still waiting for grandchildren. We¡¯ve sold our house to help you start a coffee shop. We¡¯re depending on you for our future.¡± Gianna responded irritably, ¡°Mom, look at my marriage with Joey, it¡¯s aplete mess. I¡¯ve lived for over thirty years and have achieved nothing. I¡¯m unhappy in my marriage and don¡¯t even have children¡­¡± ¡°Exactly! How did you end up like this? You¡¯vepletely ruined your life. Did we force you to marry Joey? I told you from the beginning that Joey was unreliable. See, I am right.¡± ¡°When Joey got promoted to director, you wasn¡¯t like this. You used to brag about what a great son-in- law Joey was. Now everyone thinks it¡¯s my fault. If it wasn¡¯t for you, my marriage wouldn¡¯t be this terrible.¡± Cynthia was taken aback. ¡°Are you ming me now, Gianna? Joey was your choice. I had nothing to do with it.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°I me you, yes.¡± The two women¡¯s words shed into a heated argument in the car. At a red light, Gianna suddenly hit the brakes. Cynthia, thrown forward by inertia, was snapped back by her seatbelt. Cynthia was frightened by the sudden stop. She wanted to scold Gianna, but when she saw Gianna gripping the steering wheel, her entire body radiating with rage, she swallowed her words. The argument paused for a moment as they both calmed their emotions. Once the light turned green, Gianna started the car again. Cynthia muttered from the passenger seat, ¡°You are living a worse life than others. You shouldpete with them. Why are you showing your anger in front of me? Look at Anastasia. Not only did she marry well, she¡¯s also pregnant¡­¡± ¡°Mother,¡± Gianna snapped, ¡°Do you need to keep picking at my wounds? Can¡¯t you just shut up for a while? I¡¯d love to marry a man like Herman too, but I didn¡¯t have that chance. Okay, my life is miserable. Are you happy now?¡± Cynthia waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t say anything. You deal with your own issues from now on. I won¡¯t interfere anymore, okay?¡± With a mixture of anger and frustration, Gianna dropped Cynthia off at home. She didn¡¯t even go inside before she drove off. Without realizing it, Gianna had ended up at the entrance of the neighborhood where she and Joey¡¯s marital home was. Ever since the divorce dispute, Gjanna had moved out. Now, as darkness fell, a spark of determination flickered in Gianna¡¯s eyes. She dialed Joey¡¯s number. ¡°I¡¯m outside our apartmentplex¡­¡± Chapter 366 Chapter 366 Chapter 366 Anastasia, after finishing a hearty meal, usually felt sleepy, but an annoying bloating in her belly disrupted her sleep, making her irritable. As Anastasia tossed and turned, Herman sensed her restlessness and woke up. His arm draped over her belly. He asked softly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?¡± Anastasia rolled over again. Her legs curled up. She replied, ¡°My belly¡¯s bloated. It¡¯s ufortable.¡± Bloating during pregnancy is a normal urrence. Herman nted a tender kiss on Anastasia¡¯s cheek. While he couldn¡¯t ease her physical difort, he could certainly soothe her mood. Indeed, this affectionate gesture filled Anastasia with sweetness. The coupley on their sides, facing each other. Holding his face, Anastasia returned his kiss, smiling. ¡°I feel better now.¡± Herman smirked, running his fingers through her hair. His dark eyes gazed at her. ¡°Anastasia, having you in my life is the only thing I want.¡± Anastasia closed her eyes, nuzzling against his chest. ¡°I know you worry about my health. But unlike you, I¡¯m excited about our baby¡¯s arrival. I daydream about whether it will be a handsome boy like you or a beautiful girl. If it¡¯s a girl, we¡¯ll call her Little Candy. If it¡¯s a boy¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯ll call him Little Brst,¡± Herman finished with augh. ¡°He¡¯s causing you trouble already, so he¡¯s a little brat.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Anastasia giggled. ¡°That¡¯s not the way to talk about your own son.¡± He pulled her into his arms. His chin was resting on her head. His voice was deep and soothing. ¡°Anastasia, I fear losing you.¡± At that moment, he wasn¡¯t a billionaire ¨C he was just a husband worried about his wife. ¡°God will look after us,¡± Anastasia assured him. She was full of hope for the future. Every day, their baby staying inside her made her feel more secure. ¡°Once we get to the seventh month, everything will be fine.¡± Herman wanted to say that there was no need to gamble with her life, that he didn¡¯t need a child to carry on his legacy, and that he only wanted a life with Anastasia. But he swallowed his words. He didn¡¯t want to dampen her spirits. ¡°Let¡¯s sleep.¡± Herman kissed Anastasia¡¯s forehead. He had started delegating his business responsibilities to Flynn, so he could be there for Anastasia. ¡°Okay.¡± Just as Anastasia was drifting off to sleep, a jarring ringtone pierced the silence. The sudden noise made her heart beat fast as she sat up. ¡°Herman, could you get my phone? See who¡¯s calling.¡± Herman also got up, fetched her phone from the bedside table and handed it to her. ¡°Aunt Cynthia?¡± Anastasia was surprised. ¡°Why is she calling me thiste?¡± While mumbling to herself, she answered the call. A panicked voice echoed from the other end. ¡°Anastasia, please help Gianna. The police just took her away¡­¡± Cynthia¡¯s voice was filled with despair. Anastasia felt the tension too. ¡°The police? What happened?¡± Cynthia exined that Gianna had had a conflict with Joey, who had fallen from the second floor. The paramedics had taken him away, and the Edmunds family had reported Gianna to the police. Cynthia was calling Anastasia for help, hoping that Herman could use his influence to help bail Gianna out. It was almost midnight and Cynthia was begging for help. Anastasia couldn¡¯t refuse. She nced at Herman, who nodded in agreement to help. Anastasia reassured Cynthia, ¡°Alright, Cynthia. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll have Herman go over,¡± After hanging up, Anastasia looked worried. ¡°From what she said, the Edmunds are pressing charges against Gianna for causing injury due to negligence. If Joey doesn¡¯t pull through, it could be even more serious. Gianna might end up in jail.¡± Herman replied, ¡°I¡¯ll go over and see what¡¯s going on. You should rest. I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Chapter 367 Chapter 367 Chapter 367 Herman decided to personally step in, only because of Anastasia. Upon reaching the police station, Herman greeted the officers, inquired about the situation, and promptly posted bail. Soon enough, Gianna was released. Seeing Herman standing in the lobby, Gianna was momentarily stunned. She didn¡¯t expect Herman to bail her out. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Herman looked at Gianna indifferently and started walking out. Gianna quickly followed suit. Outside the police station, a gleaming Maybach was parked. Herman slid into the car, while Gianna hesitated between the passenger seat and the back seat. She finally settled for the passenger seat. It was the first time she was alone with Herman, and that too in such a confined space. Gianna felt a surge of excitement along with her nervousness. Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°Your address,¡± Herman asked. ¡°86th Sixth Street,¡± Gianna replied softly. Herman started the car and headed towards Sixth Street. Throughout the drive, neither of them spoke a word. To Herman, Gianna was just Anastasia¡¯s cousin, and his job was to get her home safely. Multiple times, Gianna attempted to strike up a conversation but couldn¡¯t find the right words. Suddenly, Herman spoke, ¡°You intentionally sought out Joey tonight, hoping to take him down with you?¡± Surprised and terrified, Gianna looked at him. She was amazed that he initiated a conversation and frightened that he knew her intentions. ¡°That¡¯s foolish,¡± Herman said while driving. ¡°There are countless ways to deal with Joey, but you chose the most foolish one. If Joey really died, you¡¯d end up in jail.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Gianna apologized, unsure why she was apologizing to Herman. She felt her brain slowed down in his presence. Influenced by Cynthia¡¯s words and driven by desperation, she had thought of dying with Joey. Of course, Herman¡¯s affection towards Anastasia also yed a part in this. She felt envious and desperate, seeing their tender rtionship. Gianna stole nces at Herman, wishing the journey could be longer. She wished this rare moment of solitude with him couldst a little longer. Herman initially intended to offer some advice, but sensing Gianna¡¯s preupied state, he decided against it. As they neared Sixth Street, Gianna, unwilling to part ways, feigned sickness. ¡°Could you pull over? I¡¯m feeling nauseous.¡± Herman nced at her and pulled over. Gianna acted out the part, pretending to retch on the roadside, even managing to vomit something out. With no tissues in the car, Herman handed her his handkerchief. Gianna was taken aback but epted gratefully. ¡°Thank you¡­¡± Before she could finish, Herman was already back in the car. ¡°Get in when you¡¯re done. Anastasia¡¯s alone in the hospital, and I¡¯m worried.¡± Gianna gripped the handkerchief tightly, unwilling to use it. She slowly got back in. During the final stretch to Sixth Street, she stared at the road ahead, and then turned to Herman. ¡°Herman, I¡­ I like you,¡± She closed her eyes immediately after, too afraid to see or hear Herman¡¯s reaction. After a while, she heard Herman¡¯s cold voice. ¡°We¡¯re here. Get out.¡± Chapter 368 Chapter 368 Chapter 368 Gianna blinked her eyes open, realizing that it was all just a figment of her imagination. She felt a sense of relief that she hadn¡¯t actually voiced her thoughts, otherwise, Herman might avoid her forever. Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°Thanks,¡± Gianna said as she got out of the car. ¡°Hmm,¡± Herman replied indifferently, not saying anything else before walking away. His task was done. Gianna stood still, staring into the distance for a long time. She brought the handkerchief in her hand to her nose, inhaling the scent of Herman. It smelled good, like gardenias. The handkerchief was a bespoke item, with the corner hand-embroidered with Herman¡¯s name. He had many such handkerchiefs, so he didn¡¯t particrly care about this one. However, to Gianna, it was a treasured possession. After all, it carried his scent. It was a personal item of his. Gianna sniffed the scent on the handkerchief, smiling and obsessing over Herman in her heart and under her breath, constantly murmuring his name. She had never been this infatuated even when she was in love with Joey back in the day. It was as if she hade back to life. In front of Herman, Gianna wasn¡¯t her usual spoiled and arrogant self. Instead, she was cautious and full of joy,pletely like a woman in the throes of a secret crush. The next day, Anastasia was discharged from the hospital. Katelyn and Feiman both came, showing how important Anastasia was to the family. ¡°How about you take Ana home, Herman? I can take care of her too,¡± Katelyn suggested. ¡°I think that¡¯s a good idea,¡± Feiman agreed. Hearing this, Anastasia nced at Herman. As he helped her pack up her clothes, he said, ¡°No need. I¡¯ll take Anastasia back to our ce at Harmony Meadows. She¡¯s used to living there, so it¡¯s more conducive to her recovery.¡± Herman wouldn¡¯t let Anastasia be bothered by Grannie Anita, who didn¡¯t like Anastasia, at Salstrom Manor. Understanding Herman¡¯s intentions, Katelyn and Feiman didn¡¯t say any more on the matter. Salma didn¡¯te to pick her up, as she was busy cooking at home. Today Anastasia was getting discharged from the hospital, so Salma had gone to the market early in the morning with Pattie to buy groceries and cook chicken soup. Pattie was very diligent. As long as there was work to be done, she would help out, and sometimes evenpete with others to do the tasks. Pattie was afraid that her new parents would grow tired of her and not want her anymore, so she worked hard and hoped that everyone would like her. When they reached home, Anastasia could smell the delicious food. ¡°Mom, what are you cooking? It smells so good,¡± she called out as she stepped inside. Hearing Anastasia¡¯s voice, Salma came out of the kitchen with a bright smile on her face. ¡°You¡¯re back, my dear. I¡¯ve cooked chicken soup, sour fish stew, and duck. It¡¯ll be ready soon.¡± As soon as Anastasia sat down, Pattie brought her a ss of water. ¡°Thanks, Pattie,¡± Anastasia said, feeling like the apple of everyone¡¯s eye. From the moment Anastasia walked in, Salma noticed that Pattie hadn¡¯t stopped doing chores. Even when there was nothing to do, she would find something to keep herself busy. ¡°Pattie, do you want to watch TV? I can turn it on for you,¡± Anastasia asked, noticing Pattie¡¯s strange behavior. ¡°No, Mom. I don¡¯t like watching TV,¡± Pattie answered. Anastasia was stunned. This was aplete change from the Pattie she knew who used to be excited at the prospect of watching TV. ¡°Pattie has been such a good girl today. She woke up early, mopped the floor, helped me go grocery shopping, washed the vegetables, and even did her ownundry,¡± Salma praised Pattie, oblivious to any issues. Hearing Salma¡¯s description, Anastasia exchanged a nce with Herman, who had juste out of the room. They both sensed something was off with Pattie. ¡°Pattie, tell us if there¡¯s something you¡¯re hiding from us. We¡¯re a family, so we should share everything.¡± Herman gently probed, sitting down next to her. Pattie was ying with her hands but kept her mouth shut. ¡°Pattie, we love you. But if you keep secrets from us, we will be upset,¡± Anastasia softly said. Upon hearing this, Pattie burst into tears. ¡°Mom, please don¡¯t be mad. Don¡¯t abandon me. I¡¯m a good girl. I can do all the chores.¡± Her sudden outburst left Anastasia startled, ¡°Pattie, it¡¯s okay. Mom¡¯s not mad. Don¡¯t cry,¡± she comforted. Herman added, ¡°Pattie, we¡¯re not ming you or asking you to do chores. We¡¯re happy that you¡¯re mature. We just hope that you would share your secrets with us.¡± Salma was equally bbergasted by Pattie¡¯s tears. ¡°Pattie, what happened.¡± Katelyn and Feiman, unsure of how to console her, could only watch silently from the side. Through her sobs, Pattie blurted out, ¡°Great-aunt Cynthia said that once you have your own baby, you won¡¯t want me anymore. I¡¯ve been a good girl, so please don¡¯t leave me behind.¡± Anastasia¡¯s heart skipped a beat at her words. Chapter 369 Chapter 369 Chapter 369 Pattie, who was already emotionally scarred, was more sensitive than the average child and had ack of security. What she feared most was abandonment. Anastasia felt a pang in her heart, pulling Pattie into her arms. ¡°No, darling. Mom will always love you. I won¡¯t abandon you.¡± Salma grumbled irritably, ¡°That old woman! How could she say such a thing to a child?¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. Angry as she was, Salma didn¡¯t have the nerve to confront Cynthia, who was her own sister after all. Herman held Pattie¡¯s little hand, saying, ¡°Now you have my surname. Your name is Paradise. You are my daughter. Remember that, nobody can change it. Hold your head high and have confidence in life, okay? You¡¯re our pride.¡± Pattie nodded, not fully understanding but gradually stopping her tears. ¡°Daddy, I won¡¯t cry anymore.¡± She was their daughter, their pride. She needed to be confident, not inferior. ¡°Alright, alright, let¡¯s eat. We¡¯re all hungry,¡± Salma called everyone to dinner. Pattie was no longer timid and obedient. After dinner, Katelyn and Feiman left first. Anastasia, feeling sleepy, went to her room for a nap. Feeling reassured with Anastasia at home, Herman went to the office. Salma took Pattie for a walk around the neighborhood. Just as they reached the yground, Salma saw Tavon approaching. Tavon, carrying bags of health products, noticed Salma and approached her with a smile. ¡°Salma, you¡¯re here,¡± Tavonughed. ¡°I came to see Ana. I was in Willowbrook for a few days, and just got back today. I heard Ana¡¯s pregnant, isn¡¯t she? That¡¯s fantastic. Our daughter¡¯s really made us proud.¡± Salma frowned. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®our daughter¡¯? She¡¯s my daughter. Tavon, just leave.¡± ¡°Salma, we were okay before. Why are you angry again?¡± Tavon cajoled with a grin. ¡°You know why I went to Willowbrook? I¡¯ve divorced Ashley. Here, take a look.¡± As he spoke, Tavon showed Salma the divorce papers. Salma was shocked. She picked up the papers and nced at them. Then she looked at Tavon incredulously, ¡°You really divorced Ashley?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s true, Salma,¡± Tavon said with a deep, earnest look. ¡°I¡¯ve always loved you. Marrying her, it was all out of desperation. I know I¡¯ve hurt you before, but I promise to change, to treat you well.¡± Tavon¡¯s acting was superb. The divorce papers were nothing but a fake, procured from some shady dealer. Ashley wouldn¡¯t let him go that easily. However, this expensive fake made Salma believe Tavon¡¯s words. Salma didn¡¯t expect Tavon to actually divorce Ashley. She looked at the divorce papers, and then studied Tavon¡¯s sincere smile. She asked, ¡°If Ana didn¡¯t marry into the Salstrom family, would youe to find us from Willowbrook? Would you divorce?¡± Tavon sighed and said, ¡°Salma, I won¡¯t hide it. To be honest, these years I¡¯ve been suffocated by the Stanton family. I¡¯ve always wanted to escape from Ashley, but I had to be loyal to my family. I¡¯ve always loved you. Ana¡¯s marriage has boosted my confidence and helped me confront the Stanton family.¡± His words were half-truths and half-lies. Salma¡¯s heart wavered. ¡°Tavon,¡± she said, ¡°I don¡¯t care what you and Ashley have been through, but please don¡¯t use our daughter¡¯s name to do anything that might hurt her. I¡¯m very disappointed in you, Tavon. I trusted you once, so I won¡¯t trust you again. Who knows if you¡¯re ying some kind of game with Ashley, trying to use my daughter¡¯s bone marrow.¡± ¡°Salma, I swear, this time it won¡¯t be like that. Sandy¡¯s had a bone marrow transnt, and it was Sean who donated it.¡± Tavon vowed, and indeed, he had given up on Sandy and Sean. Sean had saved Sandy without a word. After the bone marrow donation, Sean was bound to be useless. Now Taven had to cling to Anastasia and align with the Salstrom family. Salma was aware of the bone marrow match between Sean and Sandy, so she didn¡¯t doubt Tavon¡¯s words. Just as Salma was about to say something, she saw a group of police officers approaching, heading straight for the building. Salma curiously asked a woman walking her child in the neighborhood, ¡°Hey, why are there so many cops in the neighborhood?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t hear? There¡¯s a missing child.¡± The woman said, ¡°The little boy from the West family in building three is missing.¡± Chapter 370 Chapter 370 Chapter 370 Salma caught on quickly. ¡°Did Penny¡¯s son go missing?¡± Penny had been in jail for abusing her daughter, Pattie, and had only been out for a couple of days. The woman said, ¡°Yes, he went missing in the morning. It¡¯s been about two hours, and they still haven¡¯t found him.¡± Tavon, always eager to join a conversation, leaned in, ¡°Whose kid went missing?¡± Salma nced at Pattie, who was ying on the slide about fifteen feet away, and said, ¡°The child of the family who used to foster Pattie.¡± News of a missing child in the neighborhood naturally sparked discussions. The neighborhood¡¯s helpful olddy came over and said, ¡°It¡¯s all the mother¡¯s fault. The kid¡¯s still so young, but she took him to the poker house. She was so engrossed in her game, she didn¡¯t notice when the child went missing.¡± More people gathered around. ¡°That woman is no good. I feel sorry for the kid. Who will bring a child to a poker game?¡± ¡°Exactly, it¡¯s such a pity.¡± ¡°And it¡¯s a boy. What a shame!¡± ¡°It¡¯s been two hours. I¡¯m afraid he¡¯s noting back.¡± ¡°I saw the kid¡¯s father searching frantically around the neighborhood.¡± Leo was devastated by his son¡¯s disappearance. His son was his life¡¯s purpose. Now he was missing, and Leo felt his world copsing. The police came to take statements, asking about the circumstances when the child went missing. Leo wasn¡¯t home when the child went missing. He was out doing part¨Ctime jobs, as he hadn¡¯t been able to work in a long time and the family was struggling. Penny had juste out of jail and he was already doing part¨Ctime jobs. He had left the child with Penny. In just two days, the child had gone missing. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g When the police questioned Penny, all she could do was cry. She couldn¡¯t exin what had happened. She just kept repeating, ¡°I don¡¯t know. I was ying poker. I asked the poker house owner to watch him. I don¡¯t know when he disappeared.¡± The thought that his wife¡¯s poker game caused their son¡¯s disappearance enraged Leo. He grabbed a chair and hurled it at Penny. ¡°Penny, where¡¯s my son? I told you to take care of him. Can¡¯t you stop ying poker? That¡¯s our bloodline you¡¯ve lost! Find my son!¡± Leo was usually quiet and rarely lost his temper. His sudden outburst scared Penny. The police quickly intervened, promising to find their son as soon as possible. No sooner had the police left than Leo dragged Penny into the bedroom and began to beat her. € 2 9 Leo lost his mind with the loss of his son. He punched and kicked Penny. Penny¡¯s screams echoed through the building, but no one intervened. People felt that Penny deserved it, because she had abused Pattie in the past. Leo¡¯s rage wasn¡¯t sated. He stormed into the kitchen and grabbed a kitchen knife. Penny ran for the door, screaming, ¡°Murder! Help!¡± She ran through the neighborhood with Leo chasing her. Her screams were echoing through the streets. Adults hurriedly ushered their children home. Salma quickly took Pattie home, and Tavon followed. Leo shouted after Penny, ¡°I¡¯ll show you, you bitch! I¡¯ll chop off your poker¨Cying hands!¡± In the end, Penny couldn¡¯t outrun him. Leo caught up to her and shed her arm with the knife. Penny sat on the ground, clutching her bleeding arm and crying. She yelled at Leo, ¡°Go after that Anastasia, not me, Leo! Our son¡¯s disappearance isn¡¯t my fault, It¡¯s because Anastasia took Pattie away!¡± Leo remembered the fortune teller¡¯s words his son¡¯s fate was tied to Pattie¡¯s Anastasia had adopted Patile, and soon his son disappeared Leo was extremely agitated. His chest was heaving, and his eyes were bloodshot and frightening as he held the knife. Chapter 371 Chapter 371 Chapter 371 Penny¡¯s arm was bleeding profusely. Some bold spectators gathered to watch the spectacle, but none dared to approach too closely. Penny had stopped running. The disappearance of her son had hit her hard. Compared to her son, the pain in her arm was insignificant. Penny sat on the ground, sobbing. ¡°My son¡­ where are you? Please, answer me! It¡¯s all because of that damn Anastasia. We were a happy family, until you came along. Would my son go missing if you didn¡¯t take Pattie away?¡± Leo was staring intently at Penny, brandishing a knife menacingly. ¡°Penny, you¡¯re as stubborn as a mule. I told you to take care of our son. If you were not so engrossed in your poker games, would he go missing? If our son doesn¡¯t return, I won¡¯t let go of you.¡± After his rant, Leo went back inside, with the knife in hand. This dramatic episode had finallye to an end. The entire neighborhood knew about the Wests¡¯ missing child, including Anastasia. This news came as a shock to Anastasia. She told her mother, Salma, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t let Pattie y downstairs as much in theing days. I¡¯m afraid running into the Wests could be harmful to her.¡± Penny had previously hurt Pattie. Now with her son missing, she might take her anger out on Pattie. It was better to be safe than sorry. Salma nodded in agreement. ¡°I know, dear. I¡¯ll keep Pattie away from them. Did you see Leo running around the neighborhood with a knife? It was terrifying.¡± Salma was still shaken up. She would definitely keep Pattie away from the Wests. Tavon seized the opportunity to interject. ¡°Ana, I got you some vitamins. Remember to take them. They¡¯re good for you and the baby.¡± Tavon had the audacity to follow Salma into the house, making himselffortable on the couch. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Anastasia was at a loss. After all, Tavon was her biological father. She couldn¡¯t treat him as an enemy, but she could treat him as a stranger. Salma said in a dismissive tone, ¡°Tavon, take your stuff and go. We don¡¯t need it.¡± ¡°But Ana, it¡¯s just a small token of my love¡­¡± Tavon pleaded with Salma to speak up for him. Salma, however, wasn¡¯t falling for it. She got up and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to start making dinner.¡± As she made an excuse to leave, Tavon turned to Anastasia to start a conversation. But Anastasia got up too, calling out to Pattie, ¡°Pattie, let¡¯s go take a nap in the bedroom.¡± Tavon quickly said, ¡°Ana, I will agree to all your demands. Not just a third of the Morton family fortune, I can even give all of it to you. I¡¯m willing to publicly apologize to your mother and make amends for my past wrongs.¡± Anastasia paused. She nced at Tavon indifferently. If it had not been for Herman, Tavon wouldn¡¯t have given them a second thought. Tavon put on a smiling face, but his attempts at being charming only made Anastasia despise him more. ¡°I don¡¯t care about what you do, Tavon. It has nothing to do with me,¡± Anastasia said calmly. ¡°When you first came to us, you had a chance to make amends. But you ruined it yourself. As for what you think or do in the future, that¡¯s your business. I epted your alimony, so when you¡¯re old, I¡¯ll fulfill my obligation to provide for you. That¡¯s all.¡± After saying that, Anastasia led Pattie back to the bedroom. A chagrined and embarrassed Tavon sat on the living room couch, ignored by everyone as if he was invisible. Tavon had had a chance to be forgiven. If he had shown even a shred of regret or compassion the first time he came to them, things wouldn¡¯t end up like this. Tavon was not one to give up easily. He not only stayed but cheerfully went into the kitchen to help. ¡°Salma, let me give you a hand.¡± Salma just sighed. Meanwhile, at Elysian Technologies¡­ Herman was looking at a bidding document and frowned. That morning, thepany had lost a bid for a project. Nelson, his assistant, said, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, I suspect there¡¯s a mole. Someone must have stolen our bidding price. How else could the otherpany¡¯s quote be exactly the same as ours?¡± Nelson was baffled. How could the otherpany¡¯s quote be the same unless there was a mole? The loss of the project meant that all the preliminary work andworking were in vain, resulting in a loss of nearly ten million dors. Herman put down the document and ordered coldly, ¡°Get Flynn here. And the person in charge of the bid. I want them in my office.¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Salstrom,¡± Nelson responded and left immediately. Soon, Flynn and the head of the bidding team, Timothy, arrived. Timothy was a young and promising manager. At just thirty, he had already risen to the position of Deputy Manager of the project department. Knowing why Herman summoned him, Timothy was a bit nervous upon entering the office. Even as Herman said nothing, his powerful image was enough to make Timothy feel uneasy. Flynn, unaware of what had happened, asked cheerfully, ¡°What¡¯s up? Why did you suddenlye to the office instead of staying at home with your wife?¡± Ignoring Flynn, Herman looked at Timothy and asked, ¡°Tell me about the bidding process.¡± The moment Timothy¡¯s name was called, his heart skipped a beat. Unable to meet Herman¡¯s gaze, he stammered, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, I personally handled the bidding this time. I did the analysis. I swear I didn¡¯t show anyone, nor did I giarize. I genuinely have no idea about what happened. I am truly ashamed about today.¡± Flynn was utterly perplexed. Herman casually tapped his index finger on the desk. ¡°I trust your abilities, Timothy, or else you wouldn¡¯t be the deputy manager of the project department. But the question is, why would the other company quote the exact same price as you did? Even their data analysis and nning are strikingly simr.¡± ¡°¡­ ¡­¡± Timothy was at a loss for words. He was desperate. It was a serious matter that resulted in a massive loss for thepany. Suddenly, he remembered something. ¡°Mr. Salstrom, I showed the data analysis to Mr. Feiman. Before the bidding, he was the only one who saw it.¡± As soon as he said this, Timothy regretted it. What was he saying? Mr. Feiman was Herman¡¯s father. Wouldn¡¯t it seem like he was passing the buck? Herman¡¯s expression cooled. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Timothy¡¯s face contorted. He was certain, but he couldn¡¯t say that. If he did, he might lose his job. Herman abruptly raised his voice. ¡°Timothy, I¡¯m giving you three seconds. I want the truth. Who else saw the bid?¡± Timothy braced himself and said, ¡°No one else.¡± After saying this, Timothy was already expecting to be fired, but to his surprise, after a few seconds of silence, Herman merely waved his hand dismissively. ¡°You may leave now.¡± Confused, Timothy could onlyply and leave. Flynn finally understood what was going on. He asked, ¡°Herman, Timothy must be lying, or maybe someone stole the data without him knowing. There¡¯s no way our dad leaked the bid, right?¡± Herman didn¡¯t answer Flynn. Instead, he started browsing the details of the rivalpany that had nabbed the project. The legal person of thispany is Mr. Salstrom.¡± Herman turned theputer screen so Flynn could see. Flynn leaned in to get a better look. His expression was serious. ¡°Joseph Salstrom? Who¡¯s that? A company that¡¯s been registered less than a year ispeting with us for projects?¡± Chapter 372 Chapter 372 Chapter 372 Herman had an inkling that there was more to this Joseph than just a business rival. ¡°He¡¯se prepared,¡± Herman said. ¡°There¡¯s a possibility that the data was leaked from our dad.¡± Flynn chuckled. ¡°Herman, that¡¯s impossible. Dad might be a bit of a loose cannon, but there¡¯s no way he¡¯d let such crucial data slip. Why would he help thatpany? Elysian Technologies is his son¡¯s. The boss of thatpany isn¡¯t his son. Who would harm their own child?¡± Flynn¡¯s words were casual, but they gave Herman food for thought. He stared at Joseph¡¯s profile on his computer screen. A Yale graduate, born in Riverdale, was 29 years old this year. Just one year younger than Herman. From Joseph¡¯s features, Herman noticed a few clues, and a hypothesis sprouted in his mind. Internally taken aback, he calmly changed the subject. ¡°What have you been doing at thepany these days? Howe you know nothing about the bidding?¡± ¡°Herman, there¡¯s just so much happening at thepany. I can¡¯t keep up.¡± Flynn scratched his head. ¡°I¡¯m not as capable as you. One task alone overwhelms me. There¡¯re so many things to do every day. This document needs signing. That one needs reading. Then there are the social obligations. My schedule is packed. By the time I get home, my brain is in a mess.¡± A cold flicker passed through Herman¡¯s eyes. ¡°Your workload is only a third of what I used to handle. You can¡¯t even handle that much?¡± ¡°Herman,¡± Flynn whined. ¡°I¡¯m just not born for this line of work. Now I know how hard you used to work. Now your wife is discharged from the hospital. Why don¡¯t you take over again?¡± Herman waved his hand dismissively in frustration. ¡°Get out.¡± He wanted Flynn to share his burden. It seemed impossible. Flynn, relieved, made a hasty exit, looking forward to a night of rxation after days of hard work. Once Flynn was gone, Herman stared at Joseph¡¯s profile on theputer, lost in thought. He hoped he was wrong. Word of Joseph¡¯s hijacking of the Elysian Technologies project reached Feiman. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Feiman was slow to react, only now realizing why Joseph had asked about the project days ago. He had casually mentioned the bidding, never thinking that Joseph wouldpete with Elysian Technologies for the project. Feiman immediately called Joseph, demanding, ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this bidding? Joseph, what are you trying to do?¡± Joseph sneered from the other end of the line, ¡°Dad, I¡¯m just following your advice, doing good business and making money.¡± ¡°You ungrateful punk, I gave you money to start apany, not to go against your brother. Joseph, I¡¯m warning you/If you mess around again, I¡¯ll send you back to France.¡± Feiman was panicking. He was afraid Herman would notice something amiss. His eldest son was too clever. Joseph chuckled coldly. ¡°Dad, whatever you say. To you, I¡¯m just a stain on your life, an illegitimate son you¡¯re too ashamed to acknowledge. How could! everpare to your two sons?¡± After saying that, Joseph hung up. ¡°Joseph¡­¡± Feiman was both angry and worried. Indeed, Joseph was a stain on Feiman¡¯s life. When his wife, Katelyn, gave birth to Herman, the conflict between Katelyn and his mother, Anita, intensified. Caught in the middle, Feiman had a one-night stand with his secretary in a drunken stupor, resulting in Joseph. Feiman regretted it deeply. For the sake of his family, he had to hide Joseph¡¯s existence. But Joseph was still his son. Feiman couldn¡¯t simply abandon him. He sent Joseph abroad to study. Joseph only returned two years ago. Feiman gave Joseph money to start apany, thinking that he did good thing for his son, but Joseph was bing harder and harder to control. Feiman feared that it was only a matter of time before the Salstrom family found out about Joseph¡¯s existence. Just as he was thinking this, his phone rang. It was Herman calling. Feiman was too guilt-ridden to answer¡­. Chapter 373 Chapter 373 Chapter 373 Feiman wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead and took a deep breath before answering the call. ¡°Son, what can I do for you?¡± He tried to keep his voice as normal as possible. Herman asked in a deep voice, ¡°Dad, aren¡¯t you at the office?¡± Feiman replied, ¡°No, I have a golf game with Johns. What¡¯s up? If it¡¯s not critical, I¡¯d like to get back to my game.¡± Herman¡¯s voice was clear and determined. ¡°We lost the bid for the Sincere Investment project. I just wanted to let you know.¡± Feiman felt a sinking sensation in his stomach. ¡°It¡¯s just one project, no big deal. Elysian Technologies isn¡¯t going to copse over this; don¡¯t stress yourself out.¡± Herman frowned slightly. ¡°Enjoy your game. I won¡¯t disturb you.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Feiman quickly ended the call and breathed a sigh of relief. He thought he had sessfully dodged the bullet, but his hurried hang-up made Herman suspicious. Feiman felt guilty. Herman pondered briefly before making another call. ¡°Dailey, check up on Joseph from Eagle Corporation¡­¡± Herman felt it was prudent to be cautious. If Julie could find out about Joseph¡¯s background, Dailey would certainly be able to do it faster. An hourter, Herman had all the information about Joseph. Joseph¡¯s mother, Tina, used to be Feiman¡¯s secretary. After reviewing the documents, Herman¡¯s expression darkened. Dailey asked, ¡°Boss, are you okay?¡± The sudden appearance of a half-brother would unsettle anyone. Herman sealed the documents. ¡°Let¡¯s keep this under wraps.¡± Dailey agreed, ¡°Understood, boss.¡± As long as Feiman could keep his secret from Katelyn, Herman would hold off on exposing him. If this ticking time bomb exploded, it would be a huge blow to Katelyn. Herman chose to keep his cool while Joseph waited to be discovered. He had intentionallypeted against Herman for the project in order to attract his attention and make him aware of his existence. But as the night fell, there was no response from Elysian Technologies regarding the projected loss, and they hadn¡¯t approached him. Joseph was puzzled. He had undercut Elysian Technologies¡¯ bid, how could there be no reaction? At Harmony Meadows. Anastasia, who had slept too much during the day, was now wide awake. She stood on the balcony, looking down at the street. The incident of Leo losing his child had caused a buzz in the neighborhood, with police cars frequently driving by. The residents were also buzzing about the missing child. It had been a whole day, and the child was still nowhere to be found. Just then, the door creaked open. Herman came in and, upon seeing Anastasia on the balcony, asked, ¡°What are you looking at? Why are you still up?¡± It waste at night. Tavon ate dinner and reluctantly left, while Salma and Pattie went to bed. ¡°I can¡¯t sleep,¡± Anastasia replied, ¡°Leo¡¯s child is missing.¡± ¡°No wonder I saw police cars in the neighborhood,¡± Hermanmented. ¡°They still haven¡¯t found him?¡± ¡°No news yet.¡± Anastasia closed the balcony window. ¡°Leo and Penny had a fight this afternoon. Leo chased Penny all over the neighborhood. I told Mom not to take Pattie outside. It¡¯s not safe.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve finished setting up the new house. We¡¯ll move there this weekend.¡± Herman came up behind Anastasia and wrapped his arms around her. ¡°It¡¯s quieter there.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Anastasia agreed. She was uneasy about Penny losing her child, especially after Leo had threatened someone with a knife. Who knew what could happen next if they couldn¡¯t find the child? Herman gently rubbed Anastasia¡¯s belly and asked softly, ¡°How are you feeling? Still bloated?¡± ¡°I¡¯m much better,¡± Anastasia replied with a smile. ¡°Our baby is so good, not causing me any trouble. In fact, I had a bowl of soup and some vegetables for dinner.¡± Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. ¡°Eat smaller meal portions and control your diet,¡± Herman advised. ¡°I¡¯ve hired a nutritionist who will take care of your diet once we move to the new house.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great,¡± Anastasia smiled, then asked, ¡°By the way, did you sort out the issue with my cousin?¡± Chapter 374 Chapter 374 Chapter 374 ¡°It depends on Joey¡¯s condition,¡± Herman stated, his voiceced with exhaustion. ¡°I can only bail her out. The rest is up to her.¡± Anastasia knew better than to push any further. Joey and Gianna¡¯s ongoing feud had no resolution, and their interference would only make things worse. ¡°You need to rest,¡± Anastasia urged gently, her heart aching at the sight of her husband¡¯s fatigue. With Herman by her side, Anastasia felt safe. She climbed into bed and quickly fell into a peaceful slumber. The next day, Herman left for the office as usual. Before he left, he instructed Anastasia to stay home and rest. Anastasiaplied obediently. Despite the boredom, she knew it was necessary for her unborn child¡¯s safety. She just had to endure a few more months. In an effort to keep Anastasiapany, Herman messaged Monica, asking her toe over. Monica rushed over to their home in Harmony Meadows while Salma took Pattie to school. Penny¡¯s child was still nowhere to be found. As Salma and Pattie left their neighborhood, they saw Penny returning, her eyes wild and her hair disheveled. She had been searching for her son all night, and her heels were blistered from walking. Penny stared at Pattie intensely. Pattie was frightened and hid behind Salma. ¡°When she wants to hit me, she looks like that,¡± Pattie whispered fearfully. Salma was scared, too. Penny¡¯s sleep-deprived eyes were bloodshot, and her gaze was fierce. ¡°I¡¯ll protect you,¡± Salma reassured Pattie, pulling her closer as they crossed the road towards the kindergarten. Penny followed them, her gaze never leaving them. Salma quickened her pace, leading Pattie into the safety of the kindergarten. She reminded Pattie not to leave with anyone except her. ¡°I know, Grandma,¡± Pattie replied obediently, her backpack bouncing on her back as she followed her teacher inside. As Salma was returning home, she spotted Penny standing on the roadside, her gaze still fixed on Salma. Unsettled, Salma decided to ignore Penny and headed towards the local grocery market. ¡°Hey, Salma, a neighbor called out. ¡°Are you off to the market too? Let¡¯s go together.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Salma replied, d for thepany. The neighbor looked at Penny behind them and sighed, ¡°It¡¯s all self-inflicted. ying pokers was addictive. If the child is lost, this family will be ruined.¡± ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Salma responded casually, ¡°ying poker is not good.¡± As she spoke, Salma would nce back. Penny continued to follow and would ask anyone she encountered, ¡°Have you seen my son? He¡¯s wearing a ck shirt¡­¡± The morning market was very lively and crowded. Salma walked to the pork stall, ¡°Please, give me a pound of lean meat.¡± The owner shouted, ¡°Okay!¡± The neighbor asked, ¡°Why are you only buying lean meat?¡± Salma smiled and said, ¡°My daughter is pregnant and doesn¡¯t like fatty meat. I¡¯m buying some lean meat to make meatballs for her.¡± ¡°Your daughter is pregnant, congrattions!¡± The neighbor smiled, ¡°Your daughter is so blessed. I¡¯ve met your daughter¡¯s husband, and he¡¯s quite handsome.¡± Salmaughed, ¡°Yes, he¡¯s quite a handsome young man. We¡¯re moving this weekend.¡± ¡°Where are you moving to?¡± The neighbor sighed, ¡°Once you move, we won¡¯t see each other so easily anymore. Why are you moving?¡± Salma said, ¡°My son-inw bought a big vi, and we¡¯re moving there. We can keep in touch by phone, and it¡¯s not too far from here, in the Southridge Estates area.¡± The neighbor was envious, ¡°That¡¯s a wealthy neighborhood. Your son-inw must be very capable to afford a house there. A vi there costs tens of billions! What does your son-inw do for a living?¡± ¡°He runs apany and does a little bit of everything. I¡¯m not too sure about the details.¡± Hearing the neighbor¡¯s praise and envy, Salma felt a sense of vanity and satisfaction, and without hesitation, she said, ¡°My son-inw really is very capable. He earns money in one minute that ordinary people can¡¯t earn in a lifetime. He also treats my daughter very well, buying her everything and even putting the house under her name¡­¡± ¡°Then you¡¯re really enjoying yourself! If your daughter has a son, you¡¯ll be even more blessed. It¡¯s incredible!¡± the neighbor gushed. ¡°I¡¯m also hoping that my daughter will have a son. Her life will be better in the future.¡± Salma didn¡¯t discriminate between boys and girls, but she was also worried about the Salstrom family. Even if they say they like girls, eventually, having a son is better. After all, which wealthy family wouldn¡¯t want a son? Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. The neighborughed, ¡°If you want to have a son, I have a secret recipe. I gave it to my daughter-in- law and she gave birth to two boys in a row.¡± Salma was very curious, ¡°Really? What is the recipe? I want to give it to my daughter too.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go back and get it for youter¡­¡± The two were chatting very enthusiastically. The market was crowded, and Salma was too engrossed in the conversation to notice Penny following behind them. Penny heard everything the two said. Anastasia was pregnant? Pattie had just been adopted not too long ago, and now Anastasia was pregnant? Penny¡¯s entire expression turned gloomy and vicious, with a hint of madness in her eyes. She was convinced that Anastasia had stolen her son¡¯s luck. Her son was gone, and Anastasia was pregnant. It was all because of Anastasia¡¯s child that her son got missing. This thought grew wildly in Penny¡¯s mind, and she eventually concluded that her son¡¯s disappearance was caused by Anastasia. Penny became increasingly mad and paranoid. She stumbled home and grabbed Leo, who had also been searching for their son all night and had just returned. ¡°I tell you, it¡¯s Anastasia who harmed our son. The fortune teller said that our son¡¯s fate was connected to Pattie¡¯s. After Pattie left, our son disappeared. After Anastasia adopted Pattie, she became pregnant so quickly. It must be Anastasia who did this.¡± Penny rambled on, repeating, ¡°It¡¯s Anastasia¡¯s fault¡­¡± Leo asked, ¡°Is Anastasia really pregnant?¡± ¡°I heard it with my own ears. They fought with us for Pattie before, always acting against us. They just wanted to use Pattie to have a son. It must be like that.¡± Penny insisted, ¡°Leo, go get Pattie back. When Pattiees back, our son will return. They¡¯re moving this weekend. They must be feeling guilty, otherwise, why would they move?¡± Leo was affected by Penny¡¯s words. When he thought about the fact that they had a son after adopting Pattie, and that Anastasia was pregnant while their son was missing, Leo¡¯s eyes widened, his fists clenched, and a trace of resentment shed in his eyes, ¡°It¡¯s Anastasia¡¯s fault¡­¡± Chapter 375 Chapter 375 Chapter 375 Salma returned from the grocery store, arms full of fresh produce, to find Monica and Anastasia deep in conversation. Anastasia got up to help. ¡°Nah, don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Salma waved her off with a chuckle. ¡°I¡¯ve got it, sweetie. You just rx. Monica, are you joining us for lunch? I¡¯m making meatballs.¡± Monica grinned. ¡°Absolutely, Salma. Your cooking is irresistible. I can never say no.¡± Beaming at thepliment, Salma said, ¡°Well then, you shoulde more often. I¡¯ve got plenty of time on my hands, and I love cooking.¡± Salma didn¡¯t have the heart to return to her job at the hotel when Anastasia was pregnant. Anastasia settled back on the couch, giggling. ¡°Mom loves it when peoplepliment her cooking.¡± Monicaughed. ¡°Salma, your cooking is far better than my mom¡¯s. I dare not eat her cooking, it¡¯s a disaster. Poor dad, he¡¯s been eating her food for over twenty years.¡± Anastasiaughed. ¡°When was thest time you went home?¡± ¡°About two months ago.¡± Monica shrugged. ¡°They¡¯re busier than I am. It¡¯s pretty quiet when I go back.¡± Monica had bought a two-bedroom apartment in the city. Salma, peeling garlic in the living room, shared, ¡°I ran into Penny earlier. She was asking around about her son, and she had been following me and Pattie¡± ¡°Penny was following you and Pattie?¡± Anastasia¡¯s heart skipped a beat. ¡°And?¡± Salma reassured her, ¡°Nothing. Penny just misses her son, I guess. We¡¯re moving out this weekend anyway.¡± Monica frowned. ¡°You¡¯re moving?¡± Anastasia nodded. ¡°We¡¯re moving to a house in Southridge Estates where Herman used to live. He¡¯s hired a nutritionist to take care of my diet. The doctor said I need to take care of my health and not overeat.¡± Monica agreed, ¡°That makes sense. This ce is too small, especially with the babying. There¡¯s just not enough room. Plus, having Salma take care of you and pick up Pattie from school is too much.¡± Anastasia¡¯s phone rang, interrupting their conversation. The caller ID showed a number she didn¡¯t recognize. Anastasia answered, ¡°Hello?¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°Ms. Jewell, this is the director of the orphanage on Southern Mountain Road. We have some news about the child you were. looking for¡­¡± Anastasia¡¯s heart pounded. ¡°Really? Where is my daughter?¡± Anastasia had never given up the search for her daughter. She had visited all the orphanages near the area where her daughter wasst seen, leaving her contact information in case anyone had any leads. The director on the phone said, ¡°Ms. Jewell, the situation is a bit unusual. A couple has adopted the child. Why don¡¯t youe in, and we can discuss it further?¡± ¡°Thank you, I¡¯ll be right there,¡± Anastasia replied, her heart still racing as she ended the call. Anastasia turned to Salma, excitement shining in her eyes. ¡°Mom, they found her. They found my daughter.¡± The news took Salma by surprise. She exchanged a worried nce with Monica. Their excitement was overshadowed by concern. Anastasia stood up. ¡°I need to go to the orphanage right away. Monica, can you drive me?¡± ¡°Ana, hold on,¡± Monica cautioned. ¡°This is a big deal. If it really is your daughter, what¡¯s your n?¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t understand Monica¡¯s concern. ¡°I would bring her home, of course.¡± Monica exined, ¡°You¡¯re part of the Salstrom family now. If you suddenly show up with a daughter, your own flesh and blood, how will the Salstroms react? What about Herman?¡± Salma agreed, ¡°Ana, Monica is right. You need to think this through. You¡¯re pregnant, and Grannie Anita is already not happy with you. This isn¡¯t the right time.¡± Chapter 376 Chapter 376 Chapter 376 Anastasia understood Salma and Monica¡¯s reservations, but she couldn¡¯t just act oblivious in the face of information about her child. Anastasia pressed her lips together and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go check it out first and make sure she¡¯s my daughter before making any long-term decisions. Of course, if I do bring back a child, I¡¯ll have to discuss it with the Salstroms first. I won¡¯t act impulsively.¡± She now had to consider Herman¡¯s feelings in every decision she made. Anastasia felt indebted to Herman, who had always stood by her, even when Grannie Anita was being difficult. She couldn¡¯t possibly hurt him just like that. Salma and Monica felt relieved hearing Anastasia¡¯s words. They were just worried that Anastasia might bring a child home suddenly, which might upset the Salstroms. Monica said, ¡°I¡¯ll drive you there.¡± An hourter. South Mountain Orphanage. The director, Anthony, was a kind-hearted man in his fifties and was loved by all the children. Upon arriving at the orphanage, Anastasia exined her purpose, and Anthony handed her a file with a child¡¯s information. ¡°Ms. Jewell, take a look. We adopted this child four years ago, and it fits the description you gave,¡± Anthony exined. ¡°She was brought here by a man who found her while collecting scrap. He intended to raise her himself, but perhaps found it too difficult and brought her to us instead.¡± Anastasia listened while flipping through the file. The file contained a photo of the child at four and a half years old. She looked quite different from the newborn in the photo Salma had shown her. The child in the picture had beautiful dimples, just like her own. Monica was also looking at the photo, remarking, ¡°She does have simr eyes.¡± Hearing Monica¡¯s words, Anastasia felt more confident. ¡°Anthony, where is the child now?¡± Anastasia asked urgently. ¡°Can I meet her?¡± Anthony handed her another file. ¡°This is the address of the foster parents who adopted her.¡± ¡°Thank you, Anthony.¡± Anastasia couldn¡¯t wait to meet her child. Holding the file, she and Monica set off for the child¡¯s foster home. As soon as they left, a man named Joseph emerged from a restroom in the back of Anthony¡¯s office. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g Anthony showed deference, saying, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, everything has been done as you instructed.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve done well.¡± Joseph ced a bank card on the desk. ¡°Here¡¯s three hundred thousand. If that womanes again, do as I say.¡± Anthony nodded respectfully. ¡°Understood. But, if that child isn¡¯t Ms. Jewell¡¯s and they do a DNA test, won¡¯t the truth be exposed?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that. Just do as I¡¯ve told you, and you¡¯ll be wellpensated.¡± Leaving those words behind, Joseph strode out. Unaware of the trap, Anastasia was on her way to the foster parents¡¯ residence. Throughout the journey, Anastasia was excited yet nervous. Looking at the picture in the file; she said excitedly, ¡°Monica, I owe this child so much. I don¡¯t know what to say when I see her. I¡¯m nervous. Should I buy her something? I wonder how she¡¯s doing with her foster parents.¡± ¡°She¡¯s almost five. She¡¯s just a little girl. They usually love Barbie dolls and such cute toys. But it¡¯s your first visit, and you still don¡¯t know the situation. Maybe you shouldn¡¯t buy anything yet.¡± ¡°Right, to avoid any misunderstanding with the foster parents.¡± Anastasia was worried. ¡°I¡¯m afraid the foster parents won¡¯t let go.¡± While they were talking, the car arrived at the residential area. Monica parked the car by the entrance of theplex. They walked in and, following the address Anthony had given them, found the door of apartment 1102 in building 78. Anastasia checked the address and rang the doorbell. Soon, someone opened the door. A little girl stormed out before Anastasia could see inside, nearly running into her. The little girl shouted angrily at a man inside the house, ¡°Go ahead, hit me! After all, I¡¯m not your own daughter. My real parents wille for me sooner orter.¡± Chapter 377 Chapter 377 Chapter 377 The little girl¡¯s words had the man in the room all riled up. With a feather duster in hand, the man pointed at the girl and said, ¡°You got some nerve, looking down on me. Go and find your real parents, then. Let¡¯s see what you got, you little rascal, you¡¯re really pushing it.¡± The little girl retorted defiantly, ¡°I will find my parents. I don¡¯t need you!¡± She stormed off to the elevator, temper ring. The man quickly tried to coax her back, ¡°Layna, you¡¯re really pushing it, aren¡¯t you? Just wait till I teach you a lesson.¡± He brandished the feather duster, pretending to smack her a few times, just to scare her. He wasn¡¯t really hitting her, but the little girl started wailing. ¡°Child abuse! Duncan is abusing a child!¡± Hearing the girl¡¯s name, Anastasia realized that this was the child Anthony had mentioned. Anastasia was a bit surprised to see such a naturally rebellious little girl What a fiery temper she had. Anastasia was quick to try and soothe the man, ¡°Um¡­ I¡­¡± Before she could finish her sentence, the man dragged the little girl into the house and mmed the door shut. In his fit of anger, hepletely ignored Anastasia. Anastasia was stunned. Monica was also shocked by the scene. ¡°Ana, is that your daughter? She has quite a temper.¡± Despite being about the same age as Pattie, the two girls were worlds apart. One was well-behaved, gentle, and soft-spoken, and the other was just like a hot pepper. ¡°It¡¯s definitely a surprise.¡± Anastasia rang the doorbell again. After a while, the man opened the door, and Anastasia quickly said, ¡°Hello, Duncan. I¡¯m Anastasia. I need to speak with you about something. Can we talk?¡± ¡°Who are you? What do you want?¡± The man, also with a fiery temper, looked at Anastasia and Monica suspiciously. Anastasia didn¡¯t want to disclose her intentions just yet, as the child¡¯s identity wasn¡¯t clear, and she didn¡¯t want to stir up a fuss. Anastasia said, ¡°I was referred by Anthony.¡± Hearing Anthony¡¯s name, the man¡¯s expression changed slightly. After hesitating for a moment, he said, ¡°Come in and talk.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Anastasia nodded politely and entered the house with Monica. The little girl was standing in the corner of the living room, looking defiant. The man yelled, ¡°Get in your room, and stop staring. Until your parentse to get you, you are my daughter. Behave yourself.¡± ¡°My parents wille for me. You, Duncan, are too poor to be my father,¡± the little girl retorted fiercely and stormed off to her room. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. The first impression the little girl gave Anastasia was that she was ill-mannered, always shouting and yelling, calling adults by their first names, and was materialistic; there were significant issues. Anastasia frowned and asked, ¡°Duncan, has she always been like this?¡± ¡°Today¡¯s actually a good day. Usually, she¡¯s so rowdy that she could burn the house down. She¡¯s always nagging about finding her real parents,ining that I can¡¯t provide her with a good life.¡± Duncan nced sideways at Anastasia and lit a cigarette. ¡°Anthony called me. Do you want to take the kid? I have no objections. The sooner she leaves, the better for me.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t expect Duncan to be so straightforward. She hadn¡¯t even confirmed the child¡¯s identity, and he was already asking her to take her away. Monica said, ¡°Duncan, isn¡¯t this a bit hasty? Shouldn¡¯t we do a DNA test first?¡± ¡°Whatever.¡± Duncan was clearly impatient. Looking at Anastasia, he said, ¡°If you really are her mother, take her. Raising kids is a headache.¡± Anastasia quickly said, ¡°I understand it must have been hard. This child¡­ indeed, seems challenging. Duncan, how about this? I¡¯ll do a DNA test with her first. Once the results are out, we can discuss further.¡± ¡°Whatever, whatever.¡± Duncan seemedpletely indifferent, eager to get rid of the child. Their conversation was overheard by the little girl inside the room. She was visibly excited and peeked at Anastasia sitting on the couch. Could this beautifuldy be her mother? The girl¡¯s eyes, disying an age-inappropriate snobbishness, assessed Anastasia. The girl didn¡¯t know any luxury brands, but Anastasia was well-dressed and beautiful, a great improvement over her foster parents. ¡°Mommy, mommy.¡± The little girl burst out of her room, ran to Anastasia, and grabbed her hand. She excitedly and warmly called, ¡°Mommy, you must be my mommy. You¡¯vee to get me. Mommy, let¡¯s leave now. I really don¡¯t want to stay here anymore.¡± Anastasia hadn¡¯t actually considered taking the child right away. She didn¡¯t feel joy hearing the little girl call her mommy. Instead, she felt uneasy. Caught off guard, Anastasia didn¡¯t know how to respond. The little girl shook Anastasia¡¯s hand. ¡°Mommy, take me with you. I want to live with you.¡± Chapter 378 Chapter 378 Chapter 378 Anastasia nced at Duncan, who was puffing on a cigarette, and he showed no intention of stopping her. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me,¡± he said. ¡°If you want to take her, just take her. I¡¯ve been feeding this little runt for a while, and she¡¯s still a stranger to me. She¡¯s a waste of good food.¡± Anastasia was bbergasted. This waspletely different from what she had expected. Monica was also at a loss. Taking the girl home now seemed too impulsive. ¡°Well¡­¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t want to hurt the little girl¡¯s feelings, so she gently exined, ¡°Sweetie, your name is Layna, right? I can¡¯t take you home today. Can you stay here a bit longer? You might be my daughter, but we need to make sure first, do you ¨¹nderstand?¡± Layna shook her head. ¡°No, I don¡¯t want to stay here. Mommy, please take me with you.¡± With that, Layna red fiercely at Duncan. ¡°I want to live a good life with my mommy. If you hit me again, I will have my mother call the police.¡± ¡°You little brat, say that again and see what happens.¡± Duncan suddenly stood up, looking menacing. Layna quickly hid behind Anastasia. ¡°Mommy, you see, he wants to hit me. Please take me home, or he will beat me up.¡± Anastasia was torn. ¡°Layna, your dad is just trying to scare you. He won¡¯t hit you, okay? I wille to pick you up in a few days.¡± Anastasia could tell that Duncan, despite his tough exterior, was actually quite concerned about L¡¯ayna; otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have rushed to bring her back when she ran away from home in a huff. Anastasia was still hesitant, but she told Duncan, ¡°Duncan, could you take care of her for a few more days? I need to take a few strands of her hair for a DNA test.¡± Duncan took a puff of his cigarette. ¡°Sure, go ahead. Grab a few strands of hair. If you want to go with your mother, we have to do the test, Layna. If you don¡¯t do it yourself, I¡¯ll do it for you. Don¡¯t me me if it hurts.¡± Kids these days were smart. They¡¯d seen a lot on TV and understood more than you¡¯d expect. When Layna heard about the hair for a DNA test, she quickly pulled out a few strands of hair and handed them to Anastasia. ¡°Mommy, pleasee for me soon.¡± ¡°¡­okay.¡± Anastasia couldn¡¯t promise anything, but looking at Layna¡¯s hopeful eyes, she couldn¡¯t say no either. After getting the hair, Anastasia thanked Duncan and left with Monica. Layna felt very reluctant and watched them leave from the window. Duncan sneered, ¡°She might not be your real mother, you know. If the testes back negative, she won¡¯te for you. If I ended up with a daughter with your temper, I¡¯d wish I could give her away.¡± Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org. ¡°The beautifuldy must be my real mother, Duncan. I told you, I¡¯m a rich man¡¯s daughter, not the daughter of a broke guy like you. When my momes for me, don¡¯t you daree looking for me,¡± Layna scorned Duncan. Duncanughed mockingly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if your real mom doese for you, I certainly won¡¯t bother you. You ungrateful brat, you can leave now, and I won¡¯t stop you.¡± Ever since Layna found out she wasn¡¯t his real daughter, she¡¯d been dreaming about being a princess and longing for her wealthy parents toe and take her away. She¡¯d been influenced by the other kids in the neighborhood and the unrealistic expectations they¡¯d developed from watching too much TV. The slightest hint of not being their parents¡¯ biological child, had them dreaming about running away to find their real parents. Layna, influenced by this environment and with a strong sense ofpetition, had been fantasizing about being a princess. She retorted, ¡°Tell me where my real mom lives, and I¡¯ll go find her right now.¡± Duncan, frustrated, blurted out, ¡°Fine, go. Your real mom lives in Harmony Meadows. Let¡¯s see if you have the guts to go there.¡± With that, he grabbed his cigarette and went to the bathroom. He was just talking out of anger; he didn¡¯t mean it. But Layna remembered the name of the neighborhood and began to n how she would find her real mom. Chapter 379 Chapter 379 Chapter 379 Anastasia clutched the little girl¡¯s hair and made a beeline for the DNA testing center. The paternity test results would take about a week toe out. On their way back to Harmony Meadows, Monica asked, ¡°Ana, what do you think about this little girl? If she turns out to be your daughter, are you going to take care of her?¡± Anastasia leaned back in the car seat, recalling the little girl¡¯s defiant behavior. ¡°The kid¡¯s got issues,¡± she said. ¡°She¡¯s a handful.¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. ¡°I¡¯m utterly stunned,¡± Monica admitted. ¡°This kid isn¡¯t even five yet. She¡¯s way too terrifying. They say you can tell what a child will be like when they grow up by the time they¡¯re three. If she¡¯s like this now, what will she be like when she¡¯s older?¡± Anastasia sighed. ¡°I know. If she¡¯s my daughter, I guess I¡¯ll just have to bring her home and try to correct her behavior. What a child turns out to be depends on how their parents guide them.¡± Monica voiced her doubts, ¡°I think it¡¯s a lost cause. She¡¯s so rebellious at such a young age, and she¡¯ll be a major handful when she¡¯s older. Plus, with the situation with the Salstrom family and you carrying a baby, how are you going to have time to guide her? Ana, maybe we should¡­¡± ¡°Monica¡­¡± Anastasia cut her off gently. ¡°Let¡¯s wait until the test resultse back.¡± She knew what Monica was getting at, but everything was still up in the air. It was too early to be having this conversation. When they got back to Harmony Meadows, Salma immediately asked, ¡°Did you see her? What¡¯s she like?¡± Before Anastasia could respond, Monica beat her to it. ¡°We saw her. And honestly, we¡¯re hoping they¡¯ve made a mistake. The kid¡¯s a terror. She¡¯s loud, rude, and materialistic¡­¡± Monica rattled off a list of the little girl¡¯s faults. Anastasia was also tired from the day¡¯s events and sat down to rest. Her mind was heavy with worry over the child¡¯s upbringing. Upon hearing Monica¡¯s ount, Salma¡¯s face was a mixture of emotions. If the girl really was Anastasia¡¯s daughter, Salma knew that no matter how problematic the girl was, Anastasia would take her in. While the child was still young, there was still hope for guidance. Once she got older, it would be much harder to influence her. Now, all they could do was wait for the test results. Anastasia, feeling tired, went to her room to rest. Later in the afternoon, Katelyn brought over some health supplements and fruit. Just as Katelyn left, a call from Herman came in. He¡¯d heard about the fruit and reminded Anastasia not to overindulge, as the fruit was high in sugar. Recently, Herman had be very nagging and was constantly providing reminders about everything, no matter how trivial. He would repeat himself over and over, and his unease was clear. Anastasia took his words to heart, finding his concern sweet. Grannie Anita was eager to know about her great-grandson¡¯s situation, but out of pride, she didn¡¯t visit Anastasia. Instead, she prodded Flynn for information. For now, Anastasia didn¡¯t want to think about anything else. She was waiting for the weekend to move and for the test results. She would let things take their natural course. Monica left for her beauty salon after spending some time with Anastasia. Anastasia rested until four- thirty, then went to pick up Pattie from preschool. Meanwhile, at the hospital, Joey had been saved after treatment, but he was paralyzed from the waist down. Joey was in great pain from the realization, and the Edmunds were heartbroken, muttering about suing Gianna. Gianna stood at the hospital room door, listening to the Edmunds¡¯ furious usations, then she pushed open the door. Her appearance immediately enraged the Edmunds. Joey also became emotionally agitated. Carmen angrily shouted, ¡°You witch! You dare to show up here after what you¡¯ve done to my son. I¡¯m going to kill you!¡± As Carmen tried to attack Gianna, Gianna grabbed her hand and said, ¡°If you want to spend the rest of your life picking up trash on the streets, go ahead. I¡¯m still Joey¡¯s wife, and his assets are all under my control. Whether or not he receives treatment also requires my signature. Don¡¯t me me if I¡¯m not pleased and decide to give up on his treatment.¡± Her words sessfully intimidated the Edmunds. As Joey¡¯s legal wife, Gianna had the final say in everything and the right to handle his assets. ¡°Witch, you¡¯re a witch, Ricardo stammered, trembling with rage but not daring toy a hand on her. Joey red at Gianna, wishing he could get up and kill her, but his lower body waspletely paralyzed, and he was immobile. have something to say to Joey. Would you mind waiting outside?¡± Gianna had brought two people with her. She signaled to the men behind her to escort the Edmunds out and close the door. Now alone with Gianna, Joey prompted his fear. ¡°What¡­what are you nning to do?¡± Chapter 380 Chapter 380 Chapter 380 Gianna pulled up a chair, taking a seat by the bedside. Compared to Joey¡¯s emotional upheaval, Gianna was much moreposed, and significantly more detached. She just watched him, her gaze as cold as ice. Then sheughed, augh-filled with scorn. ¡°Seeing you in this state, it¡¯s truly satisfying, Joey. Lying there, have you ever regretted cheating on me?¡± ¡°You bitch! I¡¯m going to sue you! All this, is all your doing!¡± Joey was shaking with fury. ¡°How did I do anything? You just had an unfortunate fall, that¡¯s all. I¡¯m your wife, the woman who¡¯s shared your bed for eight years. How could I harm you?¡± Gianna chuckled coldly, rising to her feet. Her eyes were filled with revulsion, but her face bore a smile. ¡°Joey, you didn¡¯t want a divorce. I thought about it and realized that we¡¯re like two birds of a feather. We can¡¯t just split when things get tough. Now that you¡¯re paralyzed, I should take care of you. After all, I am your wife.¡± Hearing these words, Joey felt no warmth, only fear. He felt like amb ready for ughter. ¡°I don¡¯t need your care. I want a divorce!¡± Joey retorted. ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen,¡± Gianna whispered sinisterly in his ear. ¡°I am a widow, not a divorcee. The title of divorcee carries such an ugly stigma, don¡¯t you agree? If I take care of you, I¡¯ll be hailed as a virtuous wife. Isn¡¯t that better?¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°You¡¯re dreaming, Gianna!¡± Joey was so angry he could barely breathe. His hands were cast in ster, and he couldn¡¯t move a muscle, let alone harm Gianna. ¡°I want a divorce! I want you locked up!¡± ¡°If you re at me any longer, I might just gouge your eyes out,¡± Gianna threatened menacingly. ¡°Behave, or I¡¯ll make your life a living hell. The Salstrom family has got my back. Do you really think you can get me locked up?¡± Joey was so furious his face turned chalk white. He tried to strike Gianna but only ended up hurting his hand, causing him to cry out in pain. In his rage, he didn¡¯t even notice the pain. He tried to grab Gianna, but only managed to clutch at her clothes. Gianna forcefully removed his hand, causing a handkerchief to fall out of her bag. It was the handkerchief Herman had given her. Joey noticed the embroidered ¡°H¡± on the handkerchief. His instincts as a man told him something was amiss. ¡°You conniving witch! You¡¯re having an affair with Herman, aren¡¯t you? You traitor! So that¡¯s why Herman¡¯s been protecting you!¡± Gianna picked up the handkerchief, dusting it off with care. ¡°Joey, how could youpare to Herman? Marrying you was the biggest mistake of my life,¡± she said coldly. ¡°Once you¡¯re discharged, I¡¯ll bring you home and take care of you as payment for years of betrayal.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather die than go with you, Gianna.¡± ¡°You think you can walk away?¡± Giannaughed. ¡°You can¡¯t even crawl, Joey. Oh, and just so you know, I sold our house. Your parents will have to move back to their old country home. You¡¯re not going to be begging under a bridge, are you?¡± Joey was so angry his eyes nearly popped out of his head. ¡°Gianna, you wretch! How could you you sell the house!¡± ¡°I also took care of your stocks and bonds. And the money you gave to your mistress? I¡¯ll get every penny back.¡± Giannaughed. ¡°It¡¯s such a relief. All the anger I¡¯ve felt these past few months is finally gone. If you decide to end it all, or if you die from sheer rage, even better. It¡¯ll save me the trouble. Chapter 381 Chapter 381 Chapter 381 Gianna had a revtion. Divorce was a hassle, so why not enjoy the situation she found herself in? Marital assets, she took them all, and Joey couldn¡¯t do a thing about it. Joey¡¯s betrayal, his deception, she could retaliate for all of it. Given Joey¡¯s physical condition, he wouldn¡¯tst much longer. Once he was gone, things would be even simpler ¨C she would directly inherit all of Joey¡¯s assets. Using Joey¡¯s money to live a carefree life, what could be better? As for Joey¡¯s parents, the Edmunds, they had nothing to do with her. She had no obligation to care for them. Seeing Joey speechless in rage, Gianna felt a perverse sense of satisfaction. Just as Joey was about to retort, a foul smell filled the room. He had lost control of his bowels and was soiling the bed. Gianna covered her nose in disgust. ¡°What goes around,es around.¡± At that moment, Joey¡¯s pride as a man waspletely shattered. The humiliation was so intense that he felt like he could bash his head against a wall. A perfectly healthy individual was now paralyzed, incontinent, and unable to take care of himself. It was a blow to his dignity. It was a fate worse than death. Gianna turned away in disgust and left the room. As she left, she told the concerned Edmunds, ¡°Go in, your son has soiled himself.¡± With that, she left the hospital, leaving behind the distraught parents. Seeing their son in this state, the Edmunds were heartbroken and somewhat repulsed. Ricardo never took care of Joey¡¯s dirty work, and Carmen, having been pampered all these years, wouldn¡¯t know how to handle it. They had to hire a caretaker. The disdain from his parents was the final straw for Joey. The caretaker, a stranger, also him repulsive. The Edmunds waited outside while the caretaker, wearing a mask, rudely cleaned Joey. Joey kept his eyes closed, not daring to meet the caretaker¡¯s disgusted gaze. As for the Edmunds¡¯ mistress, she disappeared without a trace after hearing about Joey¡¯s paralysis, keeping a safe distance to avoid any involvement. Joey was now a burden; he was no match for Gianna. The police had concluded it was an ident. Gianna, being Joey¡¯s wife, was willing to care for him, so the police wouldn¡¯t bother her. Gianna¡¯s life was now no different from a widow¡¯s. She was free and carefree. Since Herman had helped her, she bought a thank-you gift and headed to Elysian Technologies. Upon reaching thepany, the receptionist politely asked, ¡°Do you have an appointment?¡± Gianna shook her head. ¡°No, but I know Mr. Salstrom.¡± The receptionist smiled and responded, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t let you in without an appointment.¡± With no other option, Gianna stepped aside to call Herman. As she did, she overheard the receptionist gossiping with a coworker, ¡°So many womene to see Mr. Salstrom every day, iming to know him. Who knows if they¡¯re telling the truth.¡± Gianna¡¯s face turned red with anger and embarrassment. She wanted to argue but knew she was in the wrong. Her intentions had been exposed, making her feel deeply ashamed. Gianna left thepany, and her words of thanks were unspoken. As she reached the entrance, she bumped into Flynn returning from outside. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Recognizing him, she quickly greeted, ¡°Hey, I¡¯m Anastasia¡¯s cousin. I came to thank your brother for helping me the other day. Is he in?¡± Flynn recognized her and replied with a smile, ¡°I know, you¡¯re my sister-inw¡¯s cousin. My brother is in the office. You cane with me.¡± ¡°Thank you, Gianna said, following Flynn with her gift. Herman had just finished a meeting with several executives. As he left the conference room, he saw Flynn leading Gianna towards him. With a group of executives and secretaries following him, Herman had an aura of authority around him. His cold demeanor was intimidating. Gianna¡¯s heart raced as she approached with her gift. Before she could speak, Herman told Flynn, ¡°Come with me. Chapter 382 Chapter 382 Chapter 382 ¡°Hey, bro, what¡¯s up?¡± Flynn was just going back to the office to grab some stuff. Suddenly, Flynn felt a bit uneasy sensing Herman¡¯s serious demeanor. Herman didn¡¯t answer, but walked directly towards his office, with Flynn quickly following behind. Gianna was left standing there alone, and seeing this, Nelson said, ¡°Please,e with me to the lounge and wait a bit.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Gianna said with a smile, grateful for Nelson¡¯s words that helped ease her awkwardness. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Gianna followed him to the lounge. This was her first time visiting Elysian Technologies, and it was quite impressive. After a long talk in the office with Herman, Flynn suddenly remembered, ¡°Herman, Anastasia¡¯s cousin, Gianna, stopped by earlier to see you.¡± ¡°Where is she?¡± Herman asked casually, as he didn¡¯t notice Gianna when Flynn arrived. Flynn smirked, ¡°Do you have eyes for any other woman besides your wife? Gianna was right in front of you.¡± Herman responded calmly, ¡°I didn¡¯t see her. What did she want?¡± ¡°She seemed to want to thank you for something. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll head out,¡± said Flynn. ¡°Oh, and grandma has been asking about your wife. She called me today to ask how Anastasia is doing. You should take her to visit Salstrom Manor when you have time.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that,¡± Herman replied seriously. ¡°We will move to Southridge Estates this weekend.¡± Flynn sighed, ¡°Okay then, I¡¯ll be going.¡± After Flynn left, Herman asked Nelson where Gianna was and found out she was waiting in the lounge. Herman went to the lounge, and Gianna, who had been waiting for over an hour, quickly stood up when she saw him. ¡°Mr. Salstrom, I came to thank you for helping mest time. This is my thank you gift.¡± Gianna handed over the gift, an expensive designer tie she had carefully chosen. When she was buying the tie, she imagined how handsome Herman would look wearing it. ¡°Thank you,¡± Herman replied out of politeness, but didn¡¯t ept the gift. ¡°It was nothing. You are Anastasia¡¯s cousin, there¡¯s no need for formalities. Please take your gift back.¡± Without Anastasia¡¯s request, he wouldn¡¯t have helped. To him, Gianna was just a stranger. ¡°Mr. Salstrom, please ept it. Otherwise, I won¡¯t feel right,¡± Gianna insisted. ¡°It¡¯s just a small token of appreciation.¡± With Gianna¡¯s persistence, Herman reluctantly epted and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Gianna was overjoyed and said, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, I¡¯ll be going now.¡± After giving Herman her gift, she didn¡¯t want to overstay her wee. ¡°Alright,¡± Herman replied indifferently. Gianna left. Herman looked at the stylishly packaged tie and frowned. Nelson, noticing the situation, said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Salstrom, if you don¡¯t like it, you can just give it to me. I could use a new tie.¡± ¡°Take it.¡± Herman casually tossed the tie to Nelson. Except for the ties bought by his wife, Herman would never wear a tie given by even a cousin. Nelson caught the tie with both hands. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Salstrom.¡± This was a designer tie, worth thousands of dors. Nelsonughed. ¡°Ms. Anastasia¡¯s cousin is quite generous.¡± If it were not for the familial connection, he would have mistaken Gianna¡¯s gesture for a romantic interest in Mr. Salstrom. Herman patted Nelson¡¯s chest. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± He had a business dinner to attend that evening. Herman tried to cancel all the events he could, but for those he couldn¡¯t, he had no choice but to go. He was eager to finish up and go home to spend time with his wife. Whatever he did, he would report to Anastasia. Even for his business dinners, he would let her know who he was meeting and whether there were any women present. Anastasia thought he was being overly worried, but he said, ¡°This is my way of providing you with a sense of security. I hear pregnant women tend to feel insecure.¡± As she sat at Harmony Meadows, Anastasia looked at the messages Herman sent. Seeing the photos he took at the dinner and his detailed texts, her lips curled into a smile. Pattie asked, ¡°Mom, is that a message from Dad?¡± Anastasia put away her phone. ¡°Yes, honey. Daddy has a dinner to attend and will bete. Now, why don¡¯t you go to sleep, and I¡¯ll tell you a story.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Pattie said, snuggling into Anastasia¡¯s arms with a sweet smile. ¡°I love your stories, Mom.¡± Anastasia smiled and began to tell Pattie a story, unaware that Layna had run away from home and was on her way to them, asking for directions along the way. Chapter 383 Chapter 383 Chapter 383 The streets were bustling as Layna, backpack slung over her shoulder, navigated the crowded sidewalks. She was heading south, alone. Her solitary figure attracted attention, with passers-by stealing nces at her. Despite her fatigue, the thought of seeing her mother soon kept her spirits high. She kept moving forward, asking for directions along the way. Layna was bold, gging down a yellow cab that whizzed by. The cabbie asked, ¡°Littledy, where are your folks?¡± ¡°I live at Harmony Meadows. Can you take me there? I¡¯ll ask my mom to pay you,¡± Layna replied. Feeling sympathetic towards the lone child, the cabbie hesitated before agreeing, ¡°Hop in.¡± ¡°Thanks, sir!¡± Layna beamed as she got in. ¡°To Harmony Meadows, please. That¡¯s where my mom stays.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± The driver set the GPS to Harmony Meadows. About an hourter, they arrived at the entrance of the residentialplex. The meter showed a hefty fare of over $90. ¡°Do you remember your folks¡¯ phone number? Tell them toe down to get you,¡± said the cabbie, hoping to get paid for the long drive. ¡°I don¡¯t remember my mom¡¯s number. I¡¯ll ask the security guard. He knows my mom,¡± Layna lied smoothly. The driver nced at the security booth, ¡°Okay, go ask.¡± Believing that a child so young wouldn¡¯t have any ill intentions, he let Layna out of the cab.. Layna walked towards the security guard, picking up her pace as she got closer. Once she was out of the cabbie¡¯s sight, she broke into a run. While the residents were essing the security gate, she slipped into the residentialplex before the guard and cabbie could react. ¡°Hey, littledy!¡± The cabbie scrambled out of his car. The guard also came to his senses, but it was toote. Layna had disappeared into theplex. Frustrated, the cabbie muttered, ¡°Kids these days! Wasted my time for nothing. She¡¯ll grow up to be a troublemaker, for sure.¡± With nothing left to do, he hopped back into his car and drove away. Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. Just as the cabbie left, Herman¡¯s car pulled up and entered theplex. Meanwhile, Layna was wandering aimlessly inside theplex, calling out for her mom. ¡°Mom, Mom¡­¡± Her cries echoed in theplex, drawing the attention of several residents. Whenever she saw a resident, she¡¯d ask, ¡°Do you know where my mom lives? Herst name is Jewell.¡± Despite her efforts, no one seemed to know. As Layna continued her search, Anastasia, who was telling Pattie a story, heard the faint cries but paid no heed. Exhausted and hungry, Layna sat on a nter, overwhelmed by the unfamiliar surroundings. She broke down in tears. ¡°Mom, Mom, where are you?¡± Suddenly, a disheveled woman appeared before her, causing her to shriek in fear. The woman was Penny. Penny had returned from looking for her son and, hearing a child crying, had come over. Her gaze was intense, fixed on Layna. Frightened, Layna stood up and, trying to keep her voice steady, said, ¡°I¡¯m looking for my mom. Can you help me find her?¡± Penny took a step forward, her eyes wide. What¡¯s your mom¡¯s name?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. But herst name is Jewell. Do you know her? She lives here,¡± Layna replied. Upon hearing the name ¡°Jewell,¡± Penny¡¯s expression turned even more unsettling. Chapter 384 Chapter 384 Chapter 384 Penny suddenly gripped Layna¡¯s arms and her voice was strained with urgency. ¡°Is your mother¡¯s name Anastasia?¡± Penny¡¯s abruptness startled Layna and her face was paling in fear. ¡°Let go of me, you lunatic!¡± Layna cried out, struggling to free herself. Penny¡¯s eyes were zing as she said, ¡°I know where your mother is. I¡¯ll take you to her.¡± At those words, Layna finally quieted down, her fear forgotten. She gazed at Penny, her voice filled with hope. ¡°You know my mother?¡± Penny gritted her teeth. ¡°I¡¯d recognize her no matter where she goes.¡± Layna was dismissive, her tone imperious. ¡°Then take me to her now. My mother is beautiful and wealthy. I¡¯ll have her reward you once we get there. Anastasia had just put Pattie to bed when she heard a noise at the door. Carefully tucking Pattie in, she got up to investigate. As she reached the living room, there was a knock on the door. Anastasia went to answer it. It was Herman. She asked, ¡°You¡¯re back early. Did you forget your keys?¡± you eat dinner?¡± ¡°I did.¡± Herman entered the house, shutting the door behind him. ¡°I rushed back as soon as I finished my work. How was your day? Did ¡°Not much, just half a bowl and some fruit.¡± Anastasiaughed. ¡°I¡¯m eating smaller portions more frequently. I am not overeating.¡± ¡°We have your prenatal check-up next Wednesday morning. I¡¯ve cleared my schedule for it.¡± Herman took Anastasia¡¯s hand. ¡°Your health ¡°I will be there for every prenatal check-up, no exceptions,¡± Herman said with a smile. ¡°You women have a knack for holding grudges, especially during pregnancy and confinement. I must make a good impression.¡± Anastasiaughed. ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating.¡± As Herman changed his shoes, Anastasia sat down on the foyer bench. ¡°Herman,¡± she hesitated. ¡°There¡¯s something i need to tell you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Herman asked. ¡°It¡¯s about that child. We may have found her.¡± Anastasia chose her words carefully. ¡°The orphanage director called me. I met the child and had a DNA tes done. We¡¯re waiting for the results.¡± Anastasia spoke gently, and Herman listened attentively. After she finished, he looked at her, understanding what she was implying. Herman considered for a moment. ¡°We¡¯re moving to Southridge Estates the day after tomorrow. The house is big enough. If the DNA test confirms it, bring the child home.¡± It wasn¡¯t that he was generous, but he didn¡¯t want to cause Anastasia any distress. It was a ¡°Love me, love my children¡± situation. Anastasia was touched. ¡°Herman, I¡¯m sorry. I owe you so much.¡± She didn¡¯t know what else to say. Meeting Herman was the best thing that had ever happened to her. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Just as Herman was about to respond, there was another knock at the door. Who could be visiting at this hour? The two exchanged a nce, and Herman got up to answer the door. A little girl stood there, a backpack slung over her shoulders. Herman looked at her, his expression cool. ¡°Can I help you?¡± The little girl was Layna. Penny had brought her to Anastasia¡¯s house, hiding in an alley nearby to watch. Layna looked up at him. ¡°I¡¯m Layna. I¡¯m looking for my mother. This is her house.¡± Inside the house, Anastasia¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She came out, disbelief etched on her face. When Anastasia saw Layna at the door, she was taken aback. ¡°How did you find this ce?¡± Layna¡¯s face lit up with a smile. ¡°Mom, I finally found you.¡± Herman, fearing the little girl might hurt the child in Anastasia¡¯s belly, instinctively pulled Layna away. It was a reflex action, although he never had this concern when Pattie rushed into Anastasia¡¯s arms. Layna, being pulled back, was instantly displeased. She red at Herman, her voice full of hostility. ¡°Who are you? Let go of me.¡± Chapter 385 Chapter 385 Chapter 385 The little girl¡¯s reaction made Herman frown. ¡°Layna, you haven¡¯t told us how you found your way here,¡± Anastasia said quickly. ¡°Did youe alone at this hour? Does your dad know?¡± ¡°Duncan isn¡¯t my dad,¡± Layna boasted proudly. ¡°Mom, I took a cab here all by myself. Duncan wanted to keep me froming back to you, but I didn¡¯t let him have his way.¡± Such malicious words were not what one would expect from a girl who was not yet five years old. Anastasia frowned at Herman. ¡°This is the child I was telling you about.¡± Herman¡¯s first impression of the child was that she was impolite, but he held his tongue since she could be Anastasia¡¯s daughter. ¡°This child snuck out, Anastasia said. ¡°I¡¯ll call her father to inform him, and then we¡¯ll send her back.¡± Upon hearing this, Layna started to cry. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t you want me anymore? I don¡¯t want to go back. Duncan is not my dad. I want to live with you.¡± Anastasia had no choice but to let the child stay for the time being. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside,¡± Herman said.. As the door closed behind them, Penny emerged from the shadows. Her gaze was dark and fixed on their home. She really was Anastasia¡¯s daughter. The more she thought about it, the more Penny felt a sense of injustice. She had lost her son, and Anastasia had not only had a child but now had a daughter, too. Inside, Anastasia called Duncan, who had been out looking for his daughter and was about to call the cops. ¡°Ungrateful brat,¡± Duncan cursed over the phone. ¡°I¡¯ve wasted my time raising her. If she leaves, she better note back.¡± With that, he hung up. Anastasia had not been prepared for Layna¡¯s sudden arrival. Just then, Pattie woke up and came out of her room. ¡°Mom, Dad,¡± she said. Pattie had had a nightmare and was frightened, so she rushed out without even bothering to put on her shoes. Herman quickly scooped her up! ¡°Sweetheart, you can¡¯te outside without your shoes. The floor¡¯s cold.¡± ¡°Dad, I had a bad dream, Pattie said, her voice so sweet and soft it could melt hearts. Layna immediately became jealous when she saw another girl about her age in her house. ¡°Mom, who is she? Is she your daughter, too?¡± She instantly disliked Pattie. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Anastasia exined, ¡°This is Pattie, my daughter. You two are about the same age, so you can call her your sister.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want a sister,¡± Layna said, raising her voice. ¡°Mom can only have me as her child.¡± At this outburst, Herman¡¯s brow furrowed. There will be no yelling,¡± he warned. Layna immediately burst into tears and hid behind Anastasia. ¡°Mom, Mom.¡± Anastasia had a headache. Pattie was a bit confused about suddenly having a sister, especially one who seemed so aggressive and prone to tears. Clinging to Herman¡¯s neck, she didn¡¯t dare to say a word. Pattie was a bit timid. Salma, who had been sleeping in the next room, woke up. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why is Pattie crying¡­?¡± Thinking it was Pattie crying, she came out to see a strange little girl. ¡°Who¡¯s this child?¡± she asked in confusion. This is Layna, the child I told you about. She just showed up in the middle of the night,¡± Anastasia exined. Upon hearing that this was the lost child, Salma moved closer to get a better look. ¡°She¡¯s grown so much,¡± she murmured. ¡°She was just a tiny bundle when she was born, with such a small face. I can hardly recognize her.¡± Children changed so quickly, and Salma couldn¡¯t recognize the girl. If she hadn¡¯t watched her grow up, she wouldn¡¯t have been able to identify her. Anastasia didn¡¯t know what to do with an extra child in the housete at night. ¡°Mom, it¡¯ste. You can sleep with Layna tonight.¡± Layna stopped crying but looked pitifully at Anastasia. ¡°Mom, I want to sleep with you. I¡¯ve never slept with you before.¡± Chapter 386 Chapter 386 Chapter 386 Layna¡¯s words struck a chord with Anastasia. Having a child so young, she indeed failed her maternal duties. Considering that Anastasia was pregnant and her baby was vulnerable, Herman told Layna, ¡°You¡¯ll sleep with Grandma tonight.¡± Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. His tone was stern, intimidating Layna a bit. Layna was smart and quickly realized that if she wanted to live with her mother, she had to win the approval of the man in front of her. Tears welled up in Layna¡¯s eyes as she asked, ¡°Are you my daddy?¡± Anastasia, not wanting to put Herman on the spot, answered for him, ¡°No, he¡¯s not your daddy, Layna. You should call him Uncle Herman from now on. Now go sleep with Grandma, it¡¯ste.¡± Anastasia felt that it was already a big step for Herman to let them stay, asking him to take on the role of father would be too much. Who the child¡¯s father was, she wasn¡¯t sure herself. Maybe it was, as Melinda said, the missing Mr. Winchester, or someone from Neon Dreams. She couldn¡¯t remember and was somewhat reluctant to search for those memories. Even though Layna was young, she understood a lot, She immediately grasped that her mom had remarried, the man in front of her was her stepfather, and the baby in his arms was their child. The man didn¡¯t like her, but he liked her little sister. This was Layna¡¯s understanding of the situation. Layna dropped her tantrum and obediently went with Salma to sleep. She secretly asked Salma, ¡°Where is my real daddy?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, sweetheart.¡± Because it was likely that Layna was the granddaughter she had lost years ago, Salma was gentle with her. ¡°Layna, don¡¯t bring up your daddy in front of your mom. Also, listen to your mom and Uncle Herman, get along well with your sister, and when your mom has the baby, you have to help take care of him.¡± Layna asked, ¡°Mom is having a baby brother?¡± ¡°Yes, your mom is pregnant with a baby boy, so you have to be good and not upset her,¡± Salma said with a smile. ¡°Now, let¡¯s get some sleep.¡± Layna recognized the situation. Her mom and Uncle Herman already had a daughter, and now they were going to have a baby boy. They definitely wouldn¡¯t love her anymore. Layna recalled a friend whose mom stopped loving her after having a baby brother. Her mother always hit her and made her give up everything for her little brother. Her toys were gone, and her little brother tore apart her Barbie dolls. Layna was repulsed by the idea of a little brother. In her mind, a little brother was someone who would steal her mom¡¯s love and share it. She didn¡¯t want to share. She wanted her mom to love only her. That night, Anastasia had trouble sleeping, weighed down by worries. When dawn was about to break, Anastasia finally started to feel drowsy. In a half-asleep state, she didn¡¯t know how long ¡®she had slept when she heard crying. Subconsciously, Anastasia thought of Layna¡¯s defiance and woke up immediately. It was already 8 a.m., a Saturday. Herman was out on business, Pattie didn¡¯t need to go to school, and first thing in the morning, Pattie and Layna started fighting over a Barbie doll. Both of them were crying. Due to Herman¡¯s absence, Layna grew bolder. Salma, hearing themotion, came out from the kitchen. Not knowing who was at fault but having a deeper bond with Pattie, she instinctively sided with her. ¡°Layna, apologize to your sister right now. You¡¯re the older one; you shouldn¡¯t bully your sister.¡± Layna cried out, ¡°I won¡¯t apologize. The Barbie doll is mine; she stole it from me.¡± Anastasia came out and saw the dismembered Barbie doll on the floor. She asked, ¡°What happened?¡± Anastasia was sleep-deprived, and the crying of the two children gave her a headache. Layna said, ¡°She stole my Barbie doll.¡± Pattie defended herself, ¡°This is my doll; Dad bought it for me, not you.¡± Pattie didn¡¯t understand why this sister of hers disliked her so much and was using her of stealing right off the bat. Pattie was heartbroken; Layna had ruined the Barbie doll her dad had given her. Recognizing the doll as one Herman had bought, Anastasia sternly told Layna, ¡°Apologize to your sister. And why did you take her things? That¡¯s not right.¡± ¡°It¡¯s mine. It was on the table without anyone¡¯s name on it. I took it, so it¡¯s mine,¡± Layna stubbornly insisted. Hearing this, Anastasia was taken aback. The child¡¯s way of thinking was severely wed.. Chapter 387 Chapter 387 Chapter 387 Layna was a spitfire, stubborn and unyielding, even to the point of twisting right from wrong. Despite her young age, her actions were telling of the kind of person she would grow up to be. If Layna continued down this path, she was bound to be an unruly and unreasonable woman, with skewed values. Anastasia was at her wit¡¯s end. ¡°Layna, I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re thinking this way¡­¡± Salma attempted to pacify the situation. ¡°Alright, alright, she¡¯s just a kid. She¡¯s new here, perhaps she¡¯s just not used to it. All kids are possessive, and we just need to guide her slowly.¡± Anastasia was at a loss with Layna; she was just too stubborn. Taking a deep breath, Anastasia said to Salma, ¡°Mom, can you watch over Pattie for a bit? Layna,e to my room with me.¡± She needed to correct Layna¡¯s bad habits and give her proper guidance. Layna felt exceptionally overjoyed and followed Anastasia to her room after receiving Anastasia¡¯s attention. Sitting on the edge of her bed, Anastasia patiently began, ¡°Layna, all these years, I have not fulfilled my responsibilities towards you, and for that, I am deeply sorry. I brought you back here because I want to make up for my shorings and to guide you to a better future.¡± Layna didn¡¯t understand these words and just stood there quietly. Anastasia spoke gently, ¡°If you want a Barbie doll, you can tell me or ask your sister. Taking something that belongs to someone else without asking is impolite, and it¡¯s also stealing. I hope you understand the importance of honesty, kindness, and respect. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Duncan never taught me any of that.¡± Layna pouted. ¡°Mom, my sister has her own room, and I don¡¯t. She has loads of pretty clothes and toys, and I don¡¯t. Do you not love me? Do you only love my sister and brother?¡± Anastasia exined, ¡°You¡¯ve just arrived, and we only have so many rooms. We didn¡¯t have time to prepare one for you. But we¡¯re moving tomorrow, and you¡¯ll have your own room then. You¡¯ll have the clothes and toys you want. I treat you and your sister equally. Even if you don¡¯t like your sister, you can¡¯t bully her. Can you try to be friends with her? Can you promise me that?¡± Layna didn¡¯t really like her sister, but she didn¡¯t want to upset her mom either. ¡°Alright,¡± Layna agreed reluctantly. Anastasia felt relieved. After talking with Layna, Anastasia called Pattie into the room. ¡°Pattie, your sister just arrived. You must be patient and understanding, okay? No fighting. I hope you two can be good friends.¡± Pattie nodded obediently. ¡°Okay.¡± Anastasia felt she had done her part in guiding the two girls and hoped there wouldn¡¯t be any major problems. However, she was unaware that Layna continued to pick on Pattie behind closed doors. Layna called Pattie into the yroom while Anastasia was resting and Salma was doingundry. She threatened Pattie to hand over all her toys and pretty clothes or else she would beat her up. Remembering her mother¡¯s words about bing friends with her sister, Pattie agreed and handed over her toys and clothes. ¡°Layna, I have lots of toys. Let¡¯s y together.¡± Pattie was generous and shared all her toys. Layna was envious of all the beautiful toys. ¡°Did Mom buy all these for you?¡± ¡°Some were bought by Mom, some by Dad and Grandma, and some by Grandpa and my godmother¡­¡± Pattie politely said. ¡°Feel free to y with them.¡± Feeling envious and jealous of Pattie, Layna pushed the toys aside. ¡°I don¡¯t want your used toys. I¡¯ll ask Mom to buy me new ones.¡± Pattie didn¡¯t understand why Layna was suddenly upset. After all, she had agreed to share her toys. Layns walked out of the yroom and said to salma, Crandall want new reyes will you buy them for me?¡± Anastasia was asleep after a restless morning, and Layna didn¡¯t dare disturb her. Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. After hanging theundry, Salma replied, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take you.¡± She wiped her hands dry and called out to Pattie, ¡°Pattie, put on your shoes. Grandma is taking you to the supermarket.¡± Chapter 388 Chapter 388 Chapter 388 Upon hearing that Salma was bringing Pattie along, a pang of difort arose in Layna¡¯s chest, but this time, she held her tongue. Pattie emerged from her room, and Salma put on her shoes, heading downstairs with the two children. Donned in a blue dress with a hair essory, Pattie looked absolutely stunning. As they walked through the neighborhood, she received heaps ofpliments. Pattie¡¯s skin was rosy and delicate, and she looked like a little fairy in her beautiful outfit. Anyone who saw her would call her pretty, wishing they had such a beautiful daughter. Hearing all the adults praising Pattie, Layna felt a surge of jealousy, as no one wasplimenting her. Layna was taller and had some pimples. Whenpared with Pattie, the difference was even more apparent. Salma led the two children to a supermarket outside the neighborhood, oblivious to the fact that Penny was watching them from a distance. Penny was always keeping an eye on Pattie. With Anastasia moving the next day, today was theirst chance. Penny and Leo had nned to kidnap Pattie, hoping that their son mighte back if they did so. Penny watched Pattie, who looked like a little princess. Her outfit alone was worth thousands of dors. When Pattie used to be with her, she was skinny and not nearly as attractive. Now, she seemed like a completely different person. At the supermarket.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org. Salma allowed Layna and Pattie to choose toys. Whatever they liked, they could take. Layna chose the most expensive, biggest toys. Pattie, however, didn¡¯t take anything. When asked by Salma, she replied, ¡°I already have lots of toys.¡± Pattie felt that she had enough toys, so she didn¡¯t need any more. Salma then said, ¡°Well, Pattie, you can take whatever you want to eat.¡± After much deliberation, Pattie bought a lollipop. Layna remarked, ¡°Childish. You¡¯re so old but still eat lollipops.¡± Layna, unapologetically, grabbed a shopping cart and filled it with snacks and toys. behind the aisles. While the children were picking out things in the supermarket, Penny was watching from 1:3 Anastasia woke up from a nap and realized it was quiet at home. She assumed Salma must have taken the kids out. She took a sip of water and began working on design drafts. Even though Anastasia didn¡¯t go to the office, she was still working on drafts at home. She felt like she would get moldy if she didn¡¯t do anything. After working for a while, Monica called, ¡°Hey Ana, what are you up to? It¡¯s Saturday, isn¡¯t your husband at home?¡± Anastasiaughed. Tm drafting some designs. Herman had something to do, so he¡¯s out. He¡¯s such a busybody. He never gets a break.¡± ¡°Your husband earns money by the minute, of course, he would be busy,¡± Monica said. ¡°I had some free time, so I thought I¡¯d call you to chat in case you¡¯re getting bored and moldy Anastasia rubbed her temples. ¡°With two kids at home, I can hardly find a quiet moment. How coul I get bored?¡± ¡°Two kids?¡± Monica asked. ¡°Where did the second kide from?¡± ???? ¡°Layna showed up all by herself in the middle of the night,¡± Anastasia said. ¡°First thing in the morning, she and Pattie started fighting over toys. It gave me a headache. I guess have to be prepared to be the referee for their fights in the future.¡¯ ¡°! ¡°So, Layna is staying with you now? That hasn¡¯t even been confirmed yet,¡± Monica said. ¡°What if there¡¯s a mix-up?¡± ¡°I couldn¡¯t just send her away when she showed up in the middle of the night,¡± Anastasia said. ¡°Let her stay for now, and we can decide once we get the results.¡¯ Monica was curious. ¡°What was your husband¡¯s reaction?¡± ¡± Thinking about Herman¡¯s reaction, Anastasia felt a bit guilty. ¡°Monica, I¡¯m quite torn now. Taking the child in would be unfair to Herman, but not doing so would be unfair to the child. I feel like I can¡¯t make the right decision.¡± 7 understand,¡± Monica said. ¡°Don¡¯t think too much about it, just take care of yourself.¡± ¡°Alright¡± In the middle of their conversation, Salma returned with the two children. Anastasia said, ¡°My mom and the kids are back. I¡¯d better go check on them. Talk to youter After hanging up, Anastasia went to the living room. Salma was carrying lots of bags, and Layna was helping, too. Pattie didn¡¯t have anything in her hands. Actually, Pattie had been helping Salma carry bags all the way home, but 08:00 he doorstep. I picked these for you.¡± seemed her teachings were effective. Pattie?¡± and eventually picked a lollipop. She te child.¡± d under her breath, ¡°Hypocrite.¡± things or only getting a lollipop just to ticed her andplimented her. Layna d a n brewing in her heart. Chapter 389 Chapter 389 Chapter 389 Tomorrow was moving day, and some things need to be packed up. Anastasia said to Salma, ¡°Mom, let¡¯s pack some stuff now while we have time. We¡¯re moving tomorrow.¡± The new house had everything, so they needed to pack only daily essentials and important items.. Salma said, ¡°Oh right, I almost forgot about that. You rest, I¡¯ll pack. Pattie, pack the things you want to take with you.¡± Pattie nodded, ¡°Okay grandma.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t rest either and began packing some important items. Pattie packed her favorite toys and clothes. Taking advantage of Salma and Anastasia being busy, Layna sneaked into the children¡¯s room and tried to persuade Pattie. ¡°Pattie, do you want to go out and y? I¡¯ll take you downstairs to y on the slide,¡± Layna said. Children have a strong desire to y. Layna took the initiative to invite Pattie, who naively thought she really wanted to be friends with her. Pattie nodded and said, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go tell grandma and mom first.¡± ¡°They are both busy. We¡¯ll go down and y for a while ande back up,¡± Layna said, pulling Pattie along. Anastasia and Salma were both packing in their rooms. They thought the kids were ying in the children¡¯s room, and didn¡¯t pay attention. Layna, despite her young age, had many tricks up her sleeve. When they got to the yground downstairs, she tried to persuade Pattie to go outside. Pattie remembered her mother¡¯s warning not to run around, so she shook her head, ¡°Layna, let¡¯s just y here.¡± Layna put her hands on her hips and threatened, ¡°You scaredy-cat, what are you afraid of? I know a really fun ce to go. If you don¡¯te with me, I won¡¯t be your friend anymore.¡± Pattie agreed, ¡°Okay, but let¡¯s just y for a while and then go back.¡± Layna often followed Duncan to drive taxis illegally outside. Duncan would scare her to be obedient, warning her about the many human traffickers at the station. If Pattie got lost and was caught, he wouldn¡¯t be able to save her. Layna remembered this and, holding the bill she stole from a drawer at home, hailed a taxi. Just like that, she brought Pattie to the bustling station. Darkness was gradually falling. Pattie had never been to such a crowded ce before. With so many people around, she felt scared and clung to Layna¡¯s clothes, ¡°I¡¯m scared. Let¡¯s go back. I don¡¯t want to y anymore.¡± 1/3 09:24 Chapter 389 Pattie had previously been abused by Penny and only became more cheerful with Anastasia. She was naive and not as cunning as Layna, and had never seen such a scene before, causing fear to grow in her heart. Layna felt satisfied. She stuck out her tongue, You wait here for me, I¡¯m going to buy something.¡± ¡°I want toe too,¡± Pattie said, not letting go of Layna¡¯s hand. ¡°You wait here,¡± Layna said harshly, threatening Pattie with a fist. Back in the neighborhood, Layna was the child ruler and a big sister. She was really good at fighting, and even boys were afraid of her. Pattie stood still, not daring to move. Layna walked a few steps, stopped, looked at Pattie¡¯s beautiful dress, and thought of thepliments people had given Pattie. She walked back over to Pattie again, ¡°I like your dress. Take it off and give it to me.¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°No, my dad bought it for me. I like it too,¡± Pattie said, unwilling to part with her beloved dress! Layna threatened, ¡°If you don¡¯t give it to me, I¡¯ll leave you here to be taken by a kidnapper, and I¡¯ll go home and tell mom so you will be left here.¡± Insecured, Pattie was most afraid of her mother abandoning her. Shepromised again, ¡°Okay.¡± Layna took Pattie to the restroom. They exchanged clothes there. Layna wore Pattie¡¯s pretty dress and admired herself in the mirror in front of the restroom entrance. ¡°I look so much better in this than you do.¡± The dress was custom-made for Pattie by Herman. When Layna wore it, the size was smaller and tighter, but she didn¡¯t care. She just wanted to wear the dress. The pale blue dress on Layna instantly looked ordinary, dull, andcking luster. Layna¡¯s skin didn¡¯t look good against the dress. Pattie didn¡¯t argue with Layna. After showing off, Layna told her to wait and then slipped away on some excuse. Layna left Pattie at the station and took a cab back to Harmony Meadows, excited that she was now the only child in the house, with no one else to share her mother¡¯s attention. She got off the taxi and entered the neighborhood happily. Meanwhile, Penny was hiding behind a tree next to Anastasia¡¯s building. She saw Laynaing and clutched the bup sack in her hand. Because of the darkness, she couldn¡¯t see the girl¡¯s face clearly, but she recognized the dress Layna was wearing as the one Pattie had been wearing during the day. Penny mistakenly identified Layna as Pattie. Chapter 390 Chapter 390 Chapter 390 Penny spotted Layna approaching and quickly darted out from the side, snatching Layna and swiftly stuffing a piece of cloth into her mouth. With the light behind them and the shadow of the trees surrounding them, Penny, who was on her first kidnapping mission, was nervous and didn¡¯t take the time to look at the child¡¯s face. She quickly pulled out a rope, tied Layna up, and stuffed her into a bup sack. She had been nning this kidnapping for several days, visualizing every move and procedure over and over in her head, which is why she was able to execute it seamlessly. After bagging Layna, Penny hoisted her onto her shoulder and started walking. When Layna began to struggle inside the sack, Penny just held her tightly. Penny had Leo¡¯s assistance. As a couple, they silently kidnapped Layna and brought her to an unfinished building. This ce was secluded and absolutely quiet, with no chance of anyoneing by. This was an old construction site where Leo had worked before. He knew this area well. The couple carried Layna up to the fourth floor before stopping. Penny¡¯s hand was throbbing. The cut Leo had given her before was deep. Despite the fact that their rtionship had deteriorated to the point of harming each other, they were united on the issue of finding their son. The police had provided no updates, driving the couple to desperation, which is why they resorted to this method. The bup sack was still, and Penny quickly said, ¡°Untie her. She can¡¯t suffocate. If she dies, we¡¯ll never get our son back.¡± Leo took a deep breath before untying the sack. Layna wasn¡¯t suffocated, just exhausted from struggling. The confined space of the sack made breathing difficult, and she was dazed and stopped moving. When Leo opened the sack and saw Layna, he was stupefied. ¡°Who is this? This isn¡¯t Pattie. Where¡¯s Pattie?¡± Upon closer inspection, Penny realized that she had kidnapped Layna, not Pattie. ¡°This is¡­ this is that Jewell¡¯s girl. It was dark, and I saw her wearing the same dress Pattie wore during the day, I thought it was Pattie.¡± ¡°What are we supposed to do now that we¡¯ve kidnapped the wrong person?¡± Leoined. ¡°You¡¯re always messing things up. What can you ever do right?¡± ¡°How was I supposed to know?¡± Penny retorted. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault she was wearing Pattie¡¯s 1/4 08:56 Chapter 390 dress. She¡¯s Jewell¡¯s girl, so it¡¯s not like we kidnapped the wrong person¡­¡± Penny squatted down and red at Layna. ¡°We lost our son, Jewell is pregnant and has another daughter. Why should all the good things happen to her? I want her to know what it feels like to lose a child, too.¡± Layna, slightly regaining her strength, was terrified at the sight of Penny and the surroundings. She couldn¡¯t speak, only cry and struggle, trying to escape. Penny shoved her onto the ground. ¡°If you want to me someone, me yourself for being her daughter.¡± Leo asked, ¡°Penny, what are you nning to do? Don¡¯t do anything rash. We just want to find our son.¡± Penny yelled at him, ¡°You¡¯re such a coward. You weren¡¯t afraid when you stabbed me, but now you¡¯re scared. Our son has been missing for so long, and it¡¯s all that Jewell¡¯s fault. If we can¡¯t have our son, then they shouldn¡¯t be happy either.¡± Meanwhile, at the bus station. Pattie was still waiting for Layna. Her sister had told her to wait, so she did, fearing that if she left, Layna wouldn¡¯t be able to find her. Pattie was tired and found a step to sit on while she waited. She had no idea where her sister had gone. A passerby saw her sitting alone and approached her. ¡°Sweetheart, why are you here all alone? Where are your parents?¡± ¡°I¡¯m waiting for my sister.¡± Pattie¡¯s voice was sweet. ¡°Prettydy, it¡¯s gettingte, and I haven¡¯t gone home. My mom will be worried. Can you please call her for me?¡± The passerby asked, ¡°Do you remember your mom¡¯s phone number?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Pattie nodded. ¡°My mom told me her and Dad¡¯s phone numbers, and I remember them all.¡± To ensure that Pattie could always find her way home, Anastasia had made her memorize her and Herman¡¯s phone numbers and their home address. Children had good memories, and Pattie, who could recite many poems, found it easy to remember phone numbers. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll call your mom for you¡­¡± Anastasia was frantic as both Layna and Pattie were missing. She and Salma were out looking for them, and even Herman had been called back. Pattie¡¯s disappearance had Herman extremely worried, and he was about to use his connections to find her. Just then, Anastasia received a call from an unknown number, informing her that Pattie was at the bus station. She and Herman rushed over. Seeing Pattie sitting on the steps, Anastasia was overjoyed. ¡°Pattie.¡± Anastasia and Herman ran towards Pattie. ¡°Mom.¡± Pattie stood up. Seeing her parents, she was very happy. ¡°Dad! Mom!¡± During the two hours of Pattie¡¯s disappearance, Anastasia was beside herself with worry, and Herman was equally frantic. Now seeing Pattie at the bus station, they were relieved but also puzzled. Herman asked, ¡°Pattie, how did you end up at the bus station? You left without saying a word. Do you know how worried we were?¡± Anastasia also asked, ¡°Where¡¯s your sister? Didn¡¯t shee with you?¡± Pattie hung her head, knowing she was in trouble. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Dad, Mom, I was wrong. My sister said she¡¯d take me out to y and told me to wait for her here. I don¡¯t know where she went.¡± Anastasia asked, ¡°How did you two get here? It¡¯s so far away.¡± Pattie confessed, ¡°My sister and I took a cab.¡± Upon hearing this, Anastasia and Herman exchanged nces. They could hardly believe that Layna, not even five years old, could do something like this. Pattie was wearing Layna¡¯s clothes, which made it clear that Layna had intentionally brought Pattie to the bus station and left her there. To confirm this, they checked the bus station¡¯s surveince footage and, indeed, saw Layna getting into a taxi at another exit and leaving on her own. Anastasia was stunned. ¡°She¡¯s not even five years old¡­¡± It was hard to believe that such a young child could be so cunning. She was able to bring her sister so far away and then discreetly leave on her own. Anastasia remembered how Layna had been able to find her in the middle of the night before, and now she had taken Pattie to the bus station. It wasn¡¯t entirely impossible. Herman¡¯s brows knotted in concern. ¡°That child is too cold-hearted.¡± Anastasia asked, ¡°It¡¯s been so long, why hasn¡¯t she returned home yet? Where could she be?¡± Considering the time Layna hailed a cab from the station, she should have been home by now. But Layna hadn¡¯t returned. Something was definitely amiss. Herman said, ¡°The camera footage should have captured the taxi driver¡¯s license te. I¡¯ll have someone look into it. It¡¯s gettingte, let¡¯s take Pattie home first.¡± Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. Herman scooped Pattie into his arms. The young girl was worried about her sister. ¡°Dad, could my sister have been taken by a bad guy in Pattie¡¯s understanding, she was unaware that her sister had abandoned her, and nnocently waited for her at the station. Now, she was worried that her sister had been kidnapped Herman reassured her. ¡°Let¡¯s get home first. Maybe your sister has already returned¡± Truth be told, Herman had no fondness, let alone affection, for that child. Knowing that Layna had intentionally left Pattie at the station, he found it even more difficult to harbor affection for her. Chapter 391 Chapter 391 Chapter 391 Herman managed to track down the taxi driver and through a phone call, he was able to confirm that Layna was indeed a passenger who had been dropped off at Harmony Meadows. This meant she had disappeared after entering the gatedmunity. Though Layna wasn¡¯t his biological daughter, the thought of Pattie being abandoned by that cold- hearted child was intolerable. He couldn¡¯t just let it go; he had to involve Dailey to search for her. Anastasia was a whirlwind of emotions, feeling somewhat ashamed to face Herman. Her daughter, her own flesh and blood, was capable of such cruelty. She was too young to be fighting for attention in such a horrifying way. Anastasia feared what might happen once the baby she was carrying came into the world, what Layna might do then. She had spent the day trying to teach Layna some sense, hoping the girl would change. But by evening, Layna managed to lure Pattie out. Salma, who had been out searching for Pattie, rushed back home upon hearing the news of her return. Upon seeing Pattie, Salma expressed her relief, ¡°Thank heavens you¡¯re back, Pattie. You scared Granny half to death. Why would you run off without a word?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Granny.¡± Pattie knew she was at fault. She hugged Salma, and her small hands gently patted Salma¡¯s back. This heartfelt gesture melted Salma¡¯s heart instantly. ¡°It¡¯s alright, darling. You¡¯re back, and that¡¯s what matters. Where¡¯s your sister?¡± Pattie replied in a soft voice, ¡°She is missing.¡± Salma turned to Anastasia and Herman, ¡°Where¡¯s Layna?¡± Anastasia answered worriedly, ¡°We¡¯re still looking for her.¡± Herman said, ¡°Anastasia, you and Pattie should rest. Mom, you too. I¡¯ll let you know as soon as we find her.¡± It was gettingte, and Herman was concerned about Anastasia¡¯s health. Anastasia couldn¡¯t sleep as she was too worried about Layna¡¯s safety. But she didn¡¯t want Herman to worry, so she took Pattie back to their room to rest. Pattie asked, ¡°Mommy, will my sistere back?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll find her,¡± Anastasia reassured. ¡°Go to sleep now, Pattie. Mommy needs to make a call.¡± Anastasia called Duncan, informing him of Layna¡¯s disappearance and asking him to contact her if Layna showed up. The news unsettled Duncan, who promised to contact Anastasia as soon as he heard anything. At this point, nobody could be sure if Layna was hiding or if she was in actual danger. Layna had abandoned Pattle, and it was highly likely she was now hiding out of fear. Despite the resources Herman had put into the search, Layna¡¯s exact location remained. unknown. Since Layna¡¯s entry into the gatedmunity, there had been a dozen or so vehicles that went in and out. Dailey needed time to investigate each one. That night, Anastasia could barely sleep, worried sick about Layna¡¯s safety. Meanwhile, Layna, who was kidnapped in an abandoned building, was cold and hungry. She cried until her voice was hoarse, eventually falling asleep from exhaustion. Layna¡¯s life hadn¡¯t been luxurious since her adoption by Duncan, but she had never experienced cold or hunger like this. This hardship made her start missing Duncan. The next day.Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. There was still no news on Layna. The house was eerily quiet, and Pattie was deeply remorseful. Pattie felt that she was the reason her sister was missing, and she wanted to find her. But she didn¡¯t know where to start. Salma decided to look around the building early in the morning, and Pattie insisted oning along. Without thinking much, Salma brought her along. Dailey sent over the information of all the vehicles that had entered and exited the gatedmunity during the time of Layna¡¯s disappearance. Anastasia and Herman started to sift through the data. Leo hadn¡¯t driven his own car, and his vehicle was registered as an outsider. There were a number of vehicles that had left themunity within the timeframe, which made it difficult for Anastasia and Herman to suspect Leo. Meanwhile¡­ Salma, who had taken Pattie downstairs, ran into Ashley, who was still holding a grudge. Ashley confronted Salma, ¡°Salma, you shameless woman. You lured my husband away, kept him in Riverdale, and now he refused to return to Willowbrook. You even pushed him to divorce me.¡± Salma was taken aback. ¡°Didn¡¯t you two already divorce?¡± Chapter 392 Chapter 392 Chapter 392 ¡°Bullshit, when did Tavon and I ever get a divorce?¡± Ashley bellowed. ¡°He¡¯s still my husband, Salma. You really have no shame. You tried to lure my husband while our daughter was in surgery.¡± Had it not been for Sandy¡¯s operation, Ashley would have been in Riverdale making a scene already. The Ashley of now feared nothing. Her son had donated his marrow to their daughter, sacrificing his health in the process. Now, it seemed she was about to lose her husband too. She would not ept this without a fight. Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. Ashley¡¯s words shook Salma to her core. Tavon had lied to her. The divorce papers were fake. ¡°I didn¡¯t seduce your husband,¡± Salma dered unabashedly. ¡°If you¡¯re so sure, then take him away from Riverdale. I¡¯d like some peace and quiet. Do you think I care for him? He¡¯s the one who won¡¯t leave me alone.¡± Salma had long given up on Tavon. ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense, Salma. You¡¯re nothing but a homewrecker¡­¡± Ashley¡¯s loud Seeing the crowd gathering and the menacing Ashley, Pattie stood in front of Salma in defense. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare insult my grandma! She¡¯s the best grandma ever.¡± ¡°Pattie, go stand aside. Grandma can handle her,¡± Salma reassured, pulling Pattie away to avoid any negative influence from Ashley. As Pattie was moved aside, Salma and Ashley¡¯s argument intensified. Neither was willing to back down, both adamant in their own stance. The crowd of onlookers grew, and Pattie was pushed to the outskirts. Pattie watched the heated argument in the crowd, wishing she could cheer for her grandma. Turning her head, she spotted Leo in the distance. Pattie was aware of her brother¡¯s disappearance. Her sister had gone missing, and Mom was frantic. If her brother was missing, Leo must¡¯ve been worried, too. In Pattie¡¯s mind, Leo was still family. Running over to Leo, Pattie called out, ¡°Leo-Daddy.¡± In the absence of Herman, Pattie would still instinctively call Leo, Daddy. Only now, she added a prefix. Leo had returned home to grab some stuff. Hearing Pattie¡¯s voice, hearing that ¡°Leo-Daddy,¡± his eyes almost welled up with tears. Kneeling down to her level, Leo looked at the adorable and sensible Pattie, his heart softening. ¡°Pattie, yes, your brother will definitelye back. Are you guys moving to a new house today?¡± ¡°Yup, but my sister¡¯s missing, and Mom and Dad are looking for her,¡± Pattie replied. ¡°Leo-Daddy, even after we move, I¡¯lle back to visit you often.¡± Every word from Pattie was about Leo, but she didn¡¯t mention Penny at all. With moist eyes, Leo said, ¡°Good, you muste to visit me, and I¡¯ll take you to KFC.¡± ¡°Okay, let¡¯s make a pinky promise,¡± Pattie offered, sticking out her little finger. Leo hesitated for a moment, then extended his finger to make the promise. Looking at the adorable Pattie, Leo could no longer bear the thought of taking her away. His rough hand and her soft little one locked in a pinky promise, sealing their agreement. Just then, Penny¡¯s voice rang out, ¡°Leo, why did you rush off? I told you to grab some things¡­¡± Upon hearing Penny¡¯s voice, Leo couldn¡¯t bring himself to be harsh. He urged Pattie, ¡°Go, now.¡± But it was toote. Penny had walked over and seen Pattie. Seeing Pattie, Penny¡¯s eyes lit up. In her mind, Pattie represented the hope of finding her lost son. She had failed to abduct him the night before, but now the little tyke had presented herself. Wasn¡¯t this an opportunity? ¡°Pattie, stay right there,¡± Pennymanded as she briskly walked over. Penny had bullied Pattie for so long, so she instinctively froze upon hearing her voice. Pattie watched Penny with fear in her eyes, the lively spirit she had when facing Leo was gone. All that was left was fear. Chapter 393 Chapter 393 Chapter 393 Penny stepped forward, gripping Pattie¡¯s arm tightly. ¡°So, you¡¯re living the high life now, huh? Can¡¯t even acknowledge me anymore, can you? You¡¯re such an ungrateful little brat! After all, I¡¯ve done for you.¡± Pattie¡¯s arm was throbbing with pain, but she refused to call Penny mom. In her heart, there was only one mother, and that was Anastasia. Pattie bore the pain in silence. She was very stubborn. Penny, livid, raised her hand to strike Pattie, but Leo intervened, ¡°Penny, stop!¡± Leo was a changed man now, far stronger than before. ¡°Leo, have you lost your mind? You¡¯re siding with this little brat? You are willing to lose our son over her?¡± Penny spat venomously, ¡°Don¡¯t forget the fortune teller¡¯s words. We¡¯ve been given a golden opportunity. Take this girl and let¡¯s go.¡± The mention of their missing son tipped the scales in Leo¡¯s heart. After all, it was his own son. He was missing for so long, and his fate was unknown. Leo looked at Pattie, wrestling with his emotions. He crouched down and said, ¡°Pattie, can you help us find your little brother?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know where he is,¡± Pattie replied. Leo pleaded, ¡°If youe with us, we can find your brother. He¡¯s so young, Pattie. If he falls into the wrong hands, he could be in danger. Didn¡¯t you say you wanted him back? Can you help us find him?¡± Pattie pondered for a moment. Her innocent, pure eyes surveyed Penny and Leo, before finally nodding. She trusted Leo, and she wanted to find her brother too. Penny quickly signaled to Leo. They scooped up Pattie and left. Salma, busy quarreling with Ashley, was oblivious to Pattie¡¯s departure. By the time she realized, they were long gone. Salma nced around, not finding Pattie anywhere. Panic set in. ¡°Pattie, Pattie, where have you run off to? You can¡¯t disappear again.¡± She med herself. Why had she been arguing with Ashley? She could not even keep an eye on a single child. In her distraction, Pattie had vanished. Salma searched the neighborhood, but to no avail. She quickly dialed Anastasia¡¯s number. In an unfinished building. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Penny and Leo brought Pattie to the dpidated structure. Layna was tied up, and her mouth was taped shut. She was huddled in a corner. Pattie was shocked to see Layna. ¡°Layna.¡± She ran towards Layna. Layna perked up at the sight of Pattie, desperately trying to signal for help. Pattie, realizing that it was Leo and Penny who had taken her sister, turned to Leo in fear. ¡°Daddy Leo, why did you take my sister? Why did you bring her here? Please let her go.¡± Leo couldn¡¯t bear to meet Pattie¡¯s gaze, while Penny sneered, ¡°None of you are leaving. today.¡± She then barked at Leo, ¡°What are you waiting for? Get ready.¡± After their son¡¯s disappearance, the couple consulted a fortune teller who told them Pattie, having changed her surname and no longer being part of the Brown family, had taken their son¡¯s good fortune with her. To get their son back, a life had to be exchanged. They had to take Pattie¡¯s life to reim their son¡¯s, and it had to be done at high noon. Leo was torn. He couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it. Penny yanked at Leo. ¡°Don¡¯t you want our son anymore? If you can¡¯t do it, I will. You just stand guard.¡± Leo couldn¡¯t do it, but he couldn¡¯t give up on his son either. The best solution was to let Penny do it. With ast look at Pattie, Leo hardened his heart and walked away. ¡°Daddy Leo,¡± Pattie called out, ¡°you promised to take me to KFC.¡± Her words pierced Leo¡¯s heart. He gritted his teeth. His expression was tortured, conflicted. This time, he didn¡¯t even have the courage to look back at Pattie. He closed his eyes and left, ruthlessly. Leo was a superstitious man. He liked Pattie, butpared to his own son, that affection was insignificant. Seeing Leo leave, Pattie started crying, ¡°Daddy Leo, Daddy Leo.¡± ¡°Shut up. No one¡¯sing, no matter how much you scream,¡± Penny snarled, walking over to Pattie. ¡°Your life my son. It¡¯s time to give it back.¡± Chapter 394 Chapter 394 Chapter 394 Pattie stepped back in fright. Her eyes were wide as dinner tes as she stared at Penny. Penny wouldn¡¯ty a finger on her until the time was right, but she gave Pattie a forceful shove, growling, ¡°You¡¯re nothing but trouble, Pattie. Keep staring, and I¡¯ll gouge your eyes out¡­¡± Penny was cut off by a sudden cramp in her stomach. She warned Pattie to stay put or she¡¯d throw her sister off the balcony. Then she hurried into a nearby room to take care of her urgent need. The half-finished building didn¡¯t even have balcony railings installed yet. It was all open space, and one wrong move would send someone tumbling down below. She didn¡¯t have time to find a rope to tie Pattie up, but with Leo watching the only exit downstairs, she wasn¡¯t worried about her escaping. As soon as Penny was gone, Layna motioned for Pattie to free her and remove the duct tape over her mouth. Pattie obliged but identally hurt Layna in the process, earning her a scowl and a sharp reprimand from her sister. The knot was tight, so it took Pattie a while to untie it. The moment Layna was free, she sprang to her feet. Without a second thought or a backward nce at Pattie, she bolted for the stairs. Penny, hearing themotion, cursed and hurried to pull her pants back up, but in a few seconds, the girls had already made it to the second floor. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Layna, weakened from hunger, tripped and fell in her haste. Pattie quickly helped her up, but it was enough of a dy for Penny to catch up and grab hold of Pattie. Seeing the ferocious look on Penny¡¯s face, Layna didn¡¯t hesitate to abandon P continue running. "Help me, Layna!¡± Pattie cried, but her plea fell on deaf ears. Penny furiously ¡°You little brat, you think you can escape? I¡¯ll beat you to death!¡± With a swift kick, Penny sent Pattie tumbling down the stairs. Pattie¡¯s head was open as she hit the bottom. Leo, who had been sitting on the steps outside, heard themotion and looked u in time to see Layna sprinting out the door. He made a move to catch her but was stopped in his tracks by the sight of Pattie, unconscious and bleeding on the ground. Penny was storming downstairs, looking ready to kill. Leo couldn¡¯t care about Layna anymore, and immediately went inside to stop Penny. Meanwhile, Layna had already dashed across the construction site, and disappeared into the overgrown weeds on the other side. Layna decided to leave Pattie there. She didn¡¯t know why Pattie was there, but it didn¡¯t matter. If Pattie was in the hands of these people, she could have her mother¡¯s love all to herself. She never thought about calling the police to save Pattie. Just as she was about to run again, a car approached. It was Herman and Anastasia, who had been frantically searching for them. Anastasia saw Layna on the side of the road and urgently told Herman, ¡°Stop the car. It¡¯s Layna.¡± As soon as the car stopped, Anastasia hurriedly got out: ¡°Layna, Layna.¡± ¡°Mom.¡± Upon seeing Anastasia, Layna started crying: ¡°Mom, you¡¯re finally here.¡± ¡°Are you all right?¡± Anastasia checked all over Layna for any injuries. Apart from looking a little disheveled, there were no external injuries. Herman also got out of the car. Anastasia thought of Pattie and asked Layna: ¡°Where¡¯s your sister Pattie? Have you seen Pattie?¡± Layna replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t see her, Mom. I¡¯m scared. I want to go home.¡± Chapter 395 Chapter 395 Chapter 395 Layna was here, so Pattie must be close by. Herman and his team had traced them to this location. He didn¡¯t believe in Layna¡¯s words. People say children don¡¯t lie, but there are those who are born liars. Herman spotted the abandoned construction site and told Anastasia, ¡°You take Layna and wait in the car. I¡¯ll go take a look.¡± Upon hearing that Herman was going to look for Pattie, Layna feared the truth would be revealed. She closed her eyes tightly and pretended to faint. ¡°Sweetie, sweetie.¡± Anastasia instinctively held Layna. Her heart was racing. Just then, Dailey rushed over. Herman coldly ordered, ¡°Dailey, take them to the hospital.¡± Leaving them with that, Herman ran towards the unfinished building. Anastasia was also worried about Pattie, but with Layna fainting, she had to prioritize. She could only take Layna to the hospital first. She believed in Herman. He would bring Pattie back. Over at the construction site. Pattieid motionless on the ground. Penny¡¯s anger had subsided, and it was reced by fear. ¡°It¡¯s not time yet. Wake up. You can¡¯t die yet.¡± Penny wasn¡¯t afraid of Pattie dying, but of her dying at the wrong time. There was still an hour until noon. If Pattie died now, her n would fail. Penny, driven by fear and desperation, shook Pattie. Leo scolded, ¡°This is all Why¡¯d you have to act now? You hit her too hard. Pattie, Pattie, wake up¡­¡± Leo, superstitious as he was, stared at Pattie, whose face was covered in blood. He realized his mistake. This child had called him Dad for two whole years. Pattie had trusted him, followed him out of trust, and even came tofort him because she was worried about her brother. What had he done? He was worse than an animal. Leo checked Pattie¡¯s breathing. ¡°She¡¯s still alive. Quickly, we need to get her to the hospital.¡± Penny seemed to have gone crazy. She red at him. ¡°Why should we? She¡¯s still breathing. We can wait until noon, and then do what we need to. She can¡¯t run now. It¡¯s easier this way.¡± As they were arguing, Herman arrived, and saw Pattie on the ground. His anger was uncontroble, and his eyes were filled with murderous intent. ¡°Pattie.¡± Herman rushed in, pushing Penny aside. Seeing Pattie¡¯s blood-covered face, he trembled with rage. ¡°Did you hurt my daughter?¡± His eyes, red with anger, were terrifying. Leo¡¯s face turned pale. Penny tried to cover it up, ¡°She fell by herself¡­¡± Before she could finish, Hermannded a punch on her, breaking his principle of never hitting a woman. One punch wasn¡¯t enough. He followed with a kick to Penny¡¯s belly. Leo was too shocked to react. After dealing with Penny, Herman grabbed Leo by the cor and gave him a beating. Herman hadn¡¯t been this angry in a long time. Pattie was just a child, but she was badly hurt. Herman left them both in a bad state, called someone to deal with them, and took Pattie to the hospital. On the way, he was overwhelmed by an inexplicable fear. It was a feeling he had only experienced once before, when Anastasia had a car ident. He feared something might happen to Pattie. Deep down, he had already regarded this child as his own daughter. At the hospital. Pattie was rushed to the emergency room. Layna, after an initial check-up, was fine. The doctors diagnosed that she had probably fainted due to shock. Anastasia and Herman waited outside the emergency room. Upon learning that Herman had found Pattie at the construction site, Anastasia was chilled to the bone. It was clear that Layna had run over from the construction site. She knew that Pattie was in the hands of Leo and Penny, but she lied, iming she hadn¡¯t seen her. She was essentially sending Pattie to her death. How could a child who was not even five years old be so evil?Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Chapter 396 Chapter 396 Chapter 396 Anastasia felt a chill running down her spine, both from Layna¡¯s maliciousness and concern for Pattie¡¯s wellbeing. When Herman had brought Pattie to the hospital, her face was smeared with blood, which was a sight that shook them to the core. The love Herman had for Pattie was no secret to Anastasia. Despite not being rted by blood, Herman treated Pattie like his own daughter. He would buy her the best and the most expensive of everything, had even decorated a pink princess room for her in their new house, and built a mini amusement park in their backyard. When Layna ¡°woke up¡± from her trance, she was led to the emergency room by Salma. Anastasia was afraid when she saw Layna. She didn¡¯t know how to face this child anymore. ¡°Ana, how¡¯s Pattie doing?¡± Salma asked anxiously. Anastasia replied, ¡°She¡¯s still inside. We have to wait for the doctor toe out to know -more.¡± Layna, sensing the tense atmosphere, softly called out, ¡°Mom.¡± Anastasia couldn¡¯t respond this time. She couldn¡¯t even bear to look at Layna. Just then, the doctor emerged from the emergency room. ¡°Family of Paradise?¡± Anastasia and Herman immediately stood up. Herman asked, ¡°Doctor, how¡¯s my daughter?¡± The doctor replied, ¡°There are two wounds on her head, but luckily they¡¯re not deep and haven¡¯t hit any crucial parts. We¡¯ve stitched them up. The child¡¯s hand is also sprained, so be careful when taking care of her.¡± When Pattie had fallen down the stairs, she had cut her head and bled, which looked horrifying, but her injuries were not severe. Upon hearing this, Anastasia and Herman heaved a sigh of relief. Soon, Pattie was moved to a regr room. She was still unconscious, as the anesthesia hadn¡¯t worn off. Pattie¡¯s hair had been cut off due to the stitches on her head, and except for the top, her head was wrapped in bandages. Seeing such a small child suffer, Anastasia and Herman were heartbroken. Herman, noticing Anastasia¡¯s fatigue, said, ¡°Anastasia, you and Salma should go home. I¡¯ll stay here at the hospital.¡± ¡°I want to wait for Pattie to wake up.¡± Anastasia turned to Salma and said, ¡°Mom, you take Layna home first.¡± Salma agreed, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take the child home first. I¡¯ll bring you some dinnerter.¡± Layna looked at Anastasia with a remorseful expression. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Anastasia asked her calmly, ¡°What are you sorry for?¡± Layna didn¡¯t reply. Her lips quivered, on the verge of tears. Anastasia, whose heart was filled with a mixture of emotions, asked hopefully, ¡°Why did you take your sister to the station? Why did you say you didn¡¯t see her when she was in the abandoned building? Layna, give me an exnation.¡± Salma was taken aback as she wasn¡¯t aware of these incidents. ¡°I¡­ I¡­ Pattie asked me to take her out to y¡­¡± Layna blinked back tears. ¡°I¡¯m sorry mom. I was just too scared.¡± With one word ¡®scared¡¯, Layna wanted to gloss over the whole incident. If it had been any other child, Anastasia might have believed them, but as for Layna, she didn¡¯t. Anastasia turned away, filled with disappointment. ¡°Mom, take her home.¡± S¨¢lma took Layna home. On the way, she asked Layna if it was her who took Pattie to the station. Layna repeated the same story that Pattie had asked her to take her out. Salma knew Pattie wasn¡¯t the type to y such a dangerous prank. She had been taking care of Pattie for a while and knew her well. So Salma didn¡¯t ask any further. Back home, she started preparing dinner..The sky had turned dark by the time she finished cooking. Salma told Layna to stay put at home. Then she took the food in a thermos and headed to the hospital. Pattie had woken up for a moment before falling asleep again. Herman had gone to the police station to handle the matter with Leo and Penny. When Salma arrived, only Anastasia was there. ¡°Ana, eat something first. Don¡¯t starve yourself. The baby in your womb needs nutrition,¡± Salma said, setting the food out on a small table. Anastasia didn¡¯t have an appetite, but considering the baby, she nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± She changed her position and told Salma, ¡°Keep an eye on the IV drip. Let me know when it¡¯s about to finish.¡± N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°Okay.¡± Salma walked over to check the IV drip. It was still about one-third full. As she was about to sit down, her gaze inadvertently fell on Pattie¡¯s shaved head. Pattie¡¯s hair had been shaven due to the stitches, which allowed Salma to see a birthmark on Pattie¡¯s head. It was about the size of a fingernail and shaped like a heart, Salma¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Her face paled. She moved closer to inspect it, and it was indeed a heart-shaped birthmark. She remembered that Anastasia¡¯s daughter had a birthmark of the same shape on her head. She remembered it clearly. Chapter 397 Chapter 397 Chapter 397 N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Pattie¡¯s hair used to be thick, hiding the small birthmark. It would be impossible to notice it if she didn¡¯t shave her hair The more Salma stared at it, the more excited she became a theory began to form in her mind Pattie might well be the granddaughter she lost all those years ago. Such a distinct birthmark could not be a mere coincidence. Surely no one else could have one that was identical to her granddaughter¡¯s Anna, Anna,e here.¡± Salma called out to Anastasia. Her excitement was palpable. ¡°What is it mom?¡± Anastasia asked, seeing the strange expression on Salma¡¯s face ¡°Look at this ¡°Salma pulled Anastasia closer to observe the birthmark on Pattie¡¯s head. Her excitement was barely concealed. ¡°Do you see this heart-shaped mark?¡± Hmm, I never noticed it before.¡± Anastasia admitted. It was her first time noticing the heart-shaped birthmark on Pattie¡¯s head. But it was just a birthmark. Why was Salma so excited? Salmaughed excitedly. ¡°Your daughter, Anna. The child you gave birth to all those years ago, has the same birthmark on her head. I remember clearly because I was the one who put her bo on.¡± Her words were like a bombshell. Anastasia stammered, ¡°Mom, are you saying that Pattie is my daughter?¡± ¡°Yes, it can¡¯t be a coincidence. The same heart-shaped birthmark in the same location.¡± Salma was so excited that her eyes began to glisten with tears. I¡¯m certain of it. Pattie looks just like you did when you were a child. And remember, Pattie is an orphan too. She¡¯s about to turn five. It all lines up.¡± This was a lot for Anastasia to take in, and it was all too sudden. ¡°Pattie¡¯s biological parents died in a car ident. That¡¯s how she ended up in the orphanage.¡± Anastasia mumbled, struggling to believe it. ¡°How can Pattie be my daughter? And what about Layna?¡± Despite her words, Anastasia was beginning to believe it, because Salma herself had identified Pattie, and because Pattie gave her a sense of familiarity, that¡¯s like they had been mother and daughter in a past life. Anastasia said excitedly. ¡°Let¡¯s get a DNA test. I¡¯ll ask the doctor to do it right now.¡± Salma was equally thrilled. If Pattie truly was her granddaughter, it would be wonderful. I¡¯ll go find the doctor,¡± Salma said The hospital was equipped to do the test, and soon a doctor arrived. Anastasia requested Chapter 398 Chapter 398 Chapter 398 Herman gazed at Pattie, who was lying weakly on the hospital bed. ¡°These ignorant people,¡± he murmured, ¡°they believe that Pattie¡¯s life is somehow intertwined with their son¡¯s. They thought that by killing her, they would bring their son back.¡± Anastasia felt a shiver of fear mixed with anger at these words. Had they arrived anyter, Pattie might not have been alive. Katelyn was outraged. ¡°How could they harm such a sweet girl?¡± she eximed. Her voice was shaking with fury. Feiman chimed in. His tone was equally livid. ¡°This is sheer ignorance! This is murder, Herman. We must ensure that thew punishes those who harmed Pattie.¡± A cold glint appeared in Herman¡¯s eyes. ¡°Attempted murder willnd them in prison for decades, he promised. Herman would never let anyone harm Pattie. Pattie needed rest, so Katelyn and Feiman left the hospital after a while, not wanting to disturb her. As they were leaving, Katelyn turned to Herman. ¡°Take good care of Ana,¡± she advised. Herman escorted the two to the hospital entrance. He didn¡¯t mention a word about Joseph in front of Feiman. Feiman, however, looked guilty. It was only after he left the hospital that he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Upon Herman¡¯s return to the ward, he discovered that Pattie was awake. Her wound was causing her great pain, and she was crying, but she was trying not to wail too loudly for fear of exacerbating the pain. Pattie nestled in Anastasia¡¯s arms, whimpering softly. As Herman returned, she suddenly burst into louder sobs. ¡°Dad, it hurts so much,¡± she cried. The sight of Pattie in such pain broke both Anastasia¡¯s and Herman¡¯s hearts. Herman gently took Pattie from Anastasia¡¯s arms and cradled her in his own. ¡°There, there, Pattie,¡± he soothed. ¡°Don¡¯t cry, honey. Crying will only make your wound hurt more. You¡¯ll feel better soon, I promise. Would you like me to tell you a story?¡± He hoped that a story would distract Pattie from her pain. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear a story,¡± Pattie whimpered. Her expression was more vulnerable than ever. She just wanted to be held by Herman. ¡°Just hold me, Daddy.¡± ¡°Alright, sweetheart. Daddy will hold you,¡± Herman agreed. His voice was soft. Anastasia watched them. Her heart was in agony. Every parent would do anything to take the child¡¯s pain away. Once Pattie had calmed down a bit, Anastasia managed to get her to eat a few bites of food and drink some soup. After dinner, an exhausted Pattie fell asleep in Herman¡¯s arms. She was holding onto his shirt so tightly, even in her sleep. Herman held her, pacing around the room, talking to her softly. He didn¡¯t put her down even when he was tired. He just sat down for a while, still holding her. Anastasia suggested quietly, ¡°Why don¡¯t we put her in the bed?¡± Herman shook his head. ¡°It took her a while to fall asleep. If she wakes up, the pain might keep her from falling back asleep. I can hold her, Ana. You should go lie down and rest for a bit.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t sleep,¡± Anastasia replied. She sat down on the edge of the bed, watching Herman and Pattie. ¡°Pattie is really lucky to have you,¡± she said. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Herman looked down at Pattie, who was asleep on his shoulder. A softness came over his face. ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but I just want to protect this little girl. It feels like howe her something. Every time she calls me Daddy, I feel this indescribable warmth.¡± Anastasia felt the same way. She smiled at Herman, joking, ¡°I bet your future son will be jealous.¡± Hermanughed. ¡°If we have a son, me and the son can protect you and Pattie. If we have a daughter, I¡¯ll protect all three of you.¡± Anastasiaughed, knowing that Herman was capable of doing just that. Suddenly, she remembered Pattie¡¯s past and her smile faded. ¡°Herman,¡± she said hesitantly, ¡°there¡¯s something I need to talk to you about.¡± Chapter 399 Chapter 399 Chapter 399 Anastasia was never the one to keep secrets. She believed that if she was blessed with the gift of speech, she should use it to express herself, to clear the air. Otherwise, it would be like a lump in the throat, which was ufortable for everyone. Same was for having ears. They were meant to listen to others, not to make unfounded assumptions that would only add unnecessary worry. Herman gently patted Pattie¡¯s back, looking at Anastasia. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Anastasia weighed her words before speaking, ¡°My mom saw a birthmark on Pattie¡¯s head today.¡± ¡°Pattie has a birthmark on her head?¡± Herman instinctively nced and sure enough, there it was. ¡°It looks like a heart.¡± Anastasia gazed at Herman and continued, ¡°My mom said the child she lost all those years ago has a heart-shaped birthmark on her head.¡± Now, Herman understood what Anastasia was getting at. Herman was astonished. ¡°Pattie is your daughter?¡± ¡°Possibly.¡± Anastasia revealed, ¡°I had a DNA test done with Pattie. We¡¯ll have the results by tomorrow morning. If Pattie turns out to be my daughter, then you¡­¡± Before Anastasia could finish, Herman knew what she meant. He picked up where she left off, ¡°You¡¯re worried that I won¡¯t be able to ept Pattie?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Anastasia hesitated, ¡°Adopting Pattie, and her being my biological daughter, they¡¯re not the same thing.¡± Herman spoke in a low voice, ¡°You¡¯re right. They¡¯re not.¡± Upon hearing those words, Anastasia felt a knot in her stomach, but then he added, ¡°It¡¯ll bring us closer. If Pattie is your daughter, it¡¯s a good thing.¡± Anastasia was left speechless. Tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°Herman, no matter what I¡¯ve done or what¡¯s happened, you¡¯re always so forgiving.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not something fundamentally wrong, and there¡¯s nothing we can¡¯t forgive or understand.¡± Herman¡¯s voice was warm andforting. ¡°As long as we¡¯re not at a point where we need to part ways, there¡¯s no need to let these little things affect our rtionship. It¡¯s not easy for two people to be together, and it¡¯s not worth it to let such trivial matters cause strain between us. It¡¯s a waste of time.¡± Anastasia was speechless. Who else could see things as clearly as Herman? Looking at the sleeping Pattie, and the man she loved, Anastasia felt there was nothing to worry about anymore. Anastasia handed over the care of Pattie to Herman and went to rest. The next day. As soon as Anastasia woke up, she started to fret over the DNA test results. The results came in at nine in the morning. There were two sets of results, and she received the news almost at the same time. Anastasia didn¡¯t have time to pick up the DNA test results at the agency, so Herman asked Dailey to help fetch them. As for the results from the hospital, Anastasia went to collect them herself. When she got them, she was too afraid to look. She returned to the hospital room and waited for Dailey to bring back the other set of results before she started to read them. Anastasia handed the DNA results of Pattie to Herman. ¡°You read this one.¡± Herman took it. ¡°Okay.¡± The two of them opened the envelopes as if they were unwrapping surprise gifts, each looking at a set of results. Anastasia was very nervous and her actions were slightly slow. Herman pulled out the report and immediately saw the results. Anastasia also saw the results on her paper but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to rejoice. She looked at Herman. ¡°The results show Layna is my daughter.¡± Before now, Anastasia would feel overjoyed with this result, but now, she felt a pang of disappointment. Because deep down, she had hoped that Pattie was her daughter. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. People are selfish by nature. She had spent more time with Pattie and had grown fond of her, while Layna was distant. Hearing Anastasia¡¯s words, Herman ced the results he was holding on the table. ¡°The results show that you and Pattie are biological mother and daughter.¡± ¡°What?¡± Anastasia thought she must have heard wrong. She quickly grabbed the report to see for herself. Here were two different DNA results, but they both pointed to the same conclusion. ¡°How is this possible? I only gave birth to one child, not twins. How could both of them be mine? Is there some sort of mistake?¡± Was this a joke? Chapter 400 Chapter 400 Chapter 400 There were two results, so one of them had to be wrong. N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Herman¡¯s face grew serious as he asked, ¡°Anastasia, what happened when you and Layna took the DNA test? How did you find Layna?¡± Anastasia recalled the sequence of events and said, ¡°I was at home when Anthony from the orphanage called, saying they found a child and wanted me toe over. I met with Anthony and then Layna. We took a hair sample for the DNA test. Monica was with me. The institution we went to is a reputable one; they wouldn¡¯t have made a mistake.¡± ¡°Money talks,¡± Herman mused, tapping his finger on the table. He nced at the sleeping Pattie and asked, ¡°Anastasia, how do you n to handle this?¡± Anastasia caught on quickly. ¡°Who could have bought the DNA testing institution? And what¡¯s the purpose?¡± she wondered aloud. That was what she couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°Could it be Julie?¡± Anastasia guessed. Julie had a history of shady dealings. Herman replied calmly, ¡°Finding out who did it is simple.¡± Anastasia frowned. ¡°You mean, make public my DNA results with Pattie.¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible that the person behind this didn¡¯t expect you to do a DNA test with Pattie, or that Pattie would be your biological daughter,¡± Herman said gravely. ¡°Once we send Layna back, the puppet master will surely show themselves.¡± Herman then told Dailey, ¡°Check on Anthony from the orphanage. See who he has been in close contact with recently. He is the source, so we start there.¡± ¡°Yes, boss,¡± Dailey said, moving to carry out the order. Anastasia looked at the DNA results with Pattie, and a wave of joy washed over her. ¡°Pattie is really my daughter. After all the twists and turns, she¡¯s been by my side all along.¡± Anastasia was both ecstatic and guilt-ridden. This was her own child, who was right besides her, but she had no idea. Thinking about Penny¡¯s abuse of Pattie, her heart ached. Why hadn¡¯t she brought Pattie to her side from the get-go? Why had she forgotten about her daughter, causing Pattie to suffer so much? Anastasia¡¯s eyes welled up with tears as she held Pattie¡¯s small hand. Her tears fell freely. ¡°Herman, Pattie is my daughter. She¡¯s really the child I carried for nine months,¡± Anastasia sobbed. The tears of joy streamed down her face. ¡°Now you can finally rest easy,¡± Herman said. ¡°Once Pattie is discharged, we can lead a happy life as a family.¡± Pattie awoke at that moment and saw Anastasia crying. Being an understanding child, she reached out to wipe Anastasia¡¯s tears. ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t cry. Pattie isn¡¯t in pain.¡± Hearing this, Anastasia broke down. She held Pattie close, saying, ¡°Pattie, I¡¯m your mommy. I am really your mommy, and I¡¯m so sorry. I forgot about you and let you be an orphan. You¡¯ve suffered so much because of me.¡± Pattie didn¡¯t understand. To her, Anastasia was her mommy. She didn¡¯t see any difference between a biological mother and a mommy. Pattie patted Anastasia¡¯s back. Her voice was soft and childish. ¡°Mommy is the best. I love Mommy. And Daddy too.¡± In Pattie¡¯s world, Daddy and Mommy were one. If she loved Mommy, she also loved Daddy. Her love was equal for both. ¡°Sweetie,¡± Anastasia said, moved. She kissed Pattie¡¯s face. ¡°Mommy loves you too.¡± Salma came in with food and was overjoyed when she heard the results of the DNA test. Holding Pattie, Salma chastised herself, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault for being foolish back then.¡± She had sent Pattie away, not wanting to burden Anastasia and hoping Pattie would find a good home. She had never expected Pattie to suffer so much. If she had known Pattie would end up in an abusive household like Penny¡¯s, she would never have let her go. Pattie was confused by Salma¡¯s reaction. She didn¡¯t know what was going on or why Grandma and Mommy were both apologizing to her. When Salma hadposed herself, she asked, ¡°Ana, what about Layna? Are we sending her back?¡± Anastasia replied, ¡°I¡¯ll call Duncan and exin the situation.¡± Layna was stubborn, so Anastasia worried the child wouldn¡¯t ept the truth easily. The girl was aloof and willing to do anything to meet her goals, even at a young age. If she went down the wrong path, it would be difficult to correct. Anastasia had to make the call. She had to find out who was pulling the strings behind the scenes. Chapter 401 Chapter 401 Chapter 401 Anastasia dialed up Duncan, setting a meet at the caf¨¦ next to the hospital. She also made a call to Anthony at the orphanage. Anastasia did not question Anthony. Instead, she spoke in a casual tone, ¡°Thanks, Anthony, for the effort in finding my daughter. She has been found now. I really appreciate it.¡± Anthonyughed, ¡°Congrattions then, it¡¯s Layna, right?¡± ¡°No.¡± Anastasia replied in a nonchnt tone. ¡°My daughter is someone else. Coincidentally, I found her. I had a DNA test with Layna and unfortunately, she¡¯s not my child. I¡¯ve already contacted Duncan and will be sending Layna back to him.¡± Anastasia¡¯s words left Anthony momentarily stunned because that man said that Anastasia would ept Layna as her own. The only way for that to happen was to tamper with the DNA test. How could it turn out negative? Anthony was unsure of what went wrong, but it was none of his business. He was just responsible for introducing the child to Anastasia. Afterwards, it had nothing to do with him. Anthony chuckled on the phone. ¡°Congrats. I just yed a minor role. Now that you found the child, the wish is fulfilled.¡± Anastasia politely replied, ¡°Yes, thank you, Anthony. I¡¯ll personally thank you some other day.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± After hanging up, Anthony wiped the cold sweat off his forehead, mulling over the situation. After some thought, he called his contact. ¡°Mr. Salstrom, Ms. Jewell just called me. The DNA test results show that Layna isn¡¯t her daughter. She has found her own daughter.¡± Joseph on the other end of the line was equally surprised. ¡°How is that possible?¡± Joseph asked sternly. ¡°Are you sure Anastasia told you this? The DNA result showed that it¡¯s not a match?¡± ¡°Yeah, she just called me. I want to inform Mr. Salstrom immediately.¡± This result left Joseph dumbfounded. He had already bribed the testing agency. There could only be one result ¨C Layna was Anastasia¡¯s daughter. ¨C Joseph had nned it all. Layna was stubborn, arrogant, and vain. If she entered the Salstrom family, she would cause a ruckus. Once Granny Anita found out, Anastasia and Herman wouldn¡¯t have a moment of peace. But now, the n had miscarried even before it was executed. Joseph was at a loss, not knowing where it went wrong. He immediately called the testing agency to confirm. As soon as Joseph hung up with Anthony, Dailey confronted Anthony. Dailey, a man of few words, ced a gun on Anthony¡¯s desk. ¡°Tell me, who made you do this with Layna? Think carefully before you answer. You only have one chance.¡± The sight of a real gun turned Anthony pale. ¡°Who, who are you?¡± Dailey cocked the gun. Its barrel pointed at Anthony¡¯s forehead. ¡°This is a silenced pistol. The number of people who died under its barrel is in double digits¡­¡± ¡°It was Joseph.¡± Anthony was petrified. ¡°Joseph made me do it.¡± Getting his answer, Dailey pocketed the gun and called Herman, ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve got him. It was all Joseph¡¯s doing.¡±Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Herman was somewhat surprised by the answer. Joseph¡¯s reach had not only extended to hispany but his family as well. ¡°Alright, got it.¡± Herman¡¯s face turned icy. ¡°Find out where Joseph is.¡± ¡°Yes, boss.¡± Meanwhile, Joseph was in his office, unaware that Herman was onto him. He confirmed with the agency. The results were correct. If the results were correct, where did it all go wrong? Joseph scratched his head, murmuring, ¡°This is strange.¡± ¡°Joseph, did you get the results of the task you were working on today?¡± Julie walked into his office. Joseph nced at Julie, shrugging. ¡°Anastasia found her biological daughter. The n failed.¡± ¡°How is that possible?¡± Julie questioned, ¡°Who is her real daughter? You have everything nned out. How could it go wrong?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a saying that man proposes, God disposes. How would I know?¡± Joseph smirked. ¡°Even though Layna didn¡¯t make it into the Salstrom family, Anastasia found her real daughter. The effect is the same. Just sow seeds of doubt in Granny Anita¡¯s mind. The Salstrom family is strict, so Granny Anita will never ept Anastasia¡¯s real daughter. Then, the Salstrom family will be like a ticking time bomb, waiting to explode.¡± Chapter 402 Chapter 402 Chapter 402 Julie found Joseph¡¯s behavior utterly unreliable. She had met Layna in secret, and that girl was the one who truly met her expectations. La was selfish, disdainful towards the poor, and unscrupulous in her actions. She really liked that girl. If she could arrange for Layna to be by Anastasia¡¯s side, it would be even more amusing. Julie scoffed, ¡°If the Salstrom family was as strict as they im, you wouldn¡¯t even be here.¡± His eyes darkened at her words. ¡°Julie, repeat that for me.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t even handle a simple task. How do you expect topete with Herman?¡± Julie mocked, ¡°Joseph, you¡¯re nothing more than a bastard child.¡± ¡°Watch your mouth.¡± Joseph seethed, grabbing Julie by the neck. ¡°Who do you think you are, Julie?¡± Julie was unfazed, defiantly looking back at him. Her voice was strained. ¡°If you really had the guts, you¡¯d kill Anastasia. Wouldn¡¯t you love to see Herman suffer? She¡¯s his Achilles heel.¡± ¡°You think you can use me as your pawn, Julie? You¡¯re not ready for this game.¡± Joseph pushed Julie away. Julie fell to the floor. Her hair scattered, and her coat dropped, revealing a low-cut, tight dress. From Joseph¡¯s angle, her allure was fully disyed. Julie was a stunning woman. Her disheveled appearance gave off an inviting vibe, tempting to anyone. Joseph¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. ¡°Quite the catch.¡± Julie felt a pang of fear, quickly grabbing her coat. Joseph caught her hand, pinning her against his desk. A sinister smile was on his face. ¡°Scared? What? Save yourself for Herman?¡± ¡°Joseph, let me go.¡± Joseph¡¯s scrutinizing gaze scared Julie. She was saving herself for Herman, and she wouldn¡¯t choose anyone else for the rest of her life. Men have a natural desire to conquer women. The more Julie resisted, the more Joseph was intrigued. Joseph held Julie¡¯s hands tightly, pinning her against the desk. ¡°I¡¯d like to see if I can have a taste of what you¡¯re saving for Herman.¡± ¡°Joseph, if you touch me, I¡¯ll kill you.¡± Julie fiercely struggled, biting Joseph¡¯s hand in desperation. Joseph let go of Julie from the pain, giving her the chance to escape the office. Joseph casually shook his hand, watching the direction Julie had run off in. There was a smirk on his face. ¡°Interesting.¡± Before this, Julie was just a love-struck, foolish woman in Joseph¡¯s eyes. She was with bad intentions butcking the intelligence to fulfill them. Now, he wanted something from her. At the caf¨¦ next to the hospital. Anastasia had waited for a while before Duncan arrived. ¡°Ms. Jewell, where¡¯s that brat?¡± Duncan asked, but his actions betrayed his concern for Layna. Anastasia replied, ¡°Sit down, Duncan. Layna will be here shortly.¡± Duncan sat down, asking, ¡°What trouble has she gotten into now? Where has she run off to this time?¡± ¡°There was some trouble, but everything¡¯s fine now.¡± Anastasia said, ¡°Duncan, the DNA test between Layna and me came out. It turns out we¡¯re not rted. There was a mix-up. So, would you like to take Layna back or should I send her back to the orphanage?¡± ¡°A mix-up?¡± Duncan sighed. ¡°If she knew she is going back with me, she probably wouldn¡¯t agree. She dreams of being a rich man¡¯s daughter and finding her real parents.¡± Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Hearing Duncan¡¯s words, Anastasia was sure that he had nothing to do with the scheme of making Layna her daughter. Anastasia continued, ¡°Layna is quite a handful and will need a lot of patience and guidance. Duncan, I haven¡¯t spent much time with her, but she¡¯s overly ambitious. She¡¯s also very extreme in her actions to achieve her goals. You¡¯re going to have your work cut out for her.¡± ¡°She¡¯s just an ungrateful girl.¡± Duncan said, ¡°Ms. Jewell, you don¡¯t have to sugarcoat it. I know what Layna¡¯s like. She once used my phone to buy thousands of dors¡¯ worth of stuff to show off to her friends. Almost gave me a heart attack.¡± While they were talking, Salma brought Layna over. Layna had no idea Duncan was there. The moment she saw him, she had a bad feeling. Layne seemed to know that Duncan was there to pick her up. She quickly ran up to him, grabbing his shirt, shouting, ¡°Duncan, what are you doing here? Leave, now! I don¡¯t want to see you.¡± Chapter 403 Chapter 403 Chapter 403 Layna¡¯s actions were extreme and unexpected. Reagan grabbed Layna¡¯s hand roughly, snapping, ¡°You think I want to be here? If I weren¡¯t here, you¡¯d be on the streets begging or back at the orphanage.¡± Layna shook off Reagan¡¯s grip, moving to stand by Anastasia¡¯s side. She was on the brink of tears. ¡°I have a mom. I want to live with my mom.¡± If Layna hadn¡¯t been so wickedly maniptive, Anastasia might have considered adopting her, to keep Pattiepany. However, Layna relentlessly attempted to outshine Pattie, even resorting to endangering her, which made Anastasia hesitate. Reagan got to his feet, pointing at Layna and shouting, ¡°Anastasia isn¡¯t your real mom. You were born to a life of hardship with me. You don¡¯t have the luck to be Ms. Anastasia¡¯s daughter. Now,e with me or you¡¯ll be begging on the streets.¡± ¡°No, I am mom¡¯s daughter!¡± Layna clung to Anastasia¡¯s hand, crying, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll never hurt Pattie again. I¡¯ll be good, and I¡¯ll take care of Pattie. I don¡¯t want to leave with Reagan.¡± Layna had heard Salma talking about their uing move to a new house, which was a grand mansion like those from the TV shows. It had a team of housekeepers and servants. She had been dreaming of a princess-like life. Her mind was filled with dreams of countless toys and pretty clothes. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Layna looked at Anastasia in anticipation. Anastasia, however, was oblivious to the thoughts in Layna¡¯s mind. Seeing Layna¡¯s tears stirred something in her. Perhaps bing a mother had softened her heart. But it was only a momentary softening. She stuck to her decision. ¡°Layna, your father loves you too. Go with him. Focus on your studies. Live a good life. I¡¯lle to see you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± Layna¡¯s tears continued to flow. ¡°Mom, I want to go with you. You promised me. You said I would have my own room in the new house.¡± ¡°Enough with the crying.¡± Reagan grabbed Layna¡¯s arm. ¡°Anastasia isn¡¯t your real mother. I¡¯m your legal guardian. Stop trying to cling to her. I know what you want ¨C afortable life with her. But that¡¯s not your fate.¡± He didn¡¯t care whether Layna wanted to go or not. He just dragged her out of the house. Salma tried to intervene. ¡°Hey, go easy on her. She¡¯s just a kid¡­¡± ¡°I know what I¡¯m doing,¡± Reagan retorted, picking up Layna and tucking her under his arm. ¡°Anastasia, I¡¯ll take this brat back with me.¡± Anastasia stood up. ¡°Reagan, I suggest you find a different way to deal with her. The more you push, the more she¡¯ll resist.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just short-tempered.¡± Reagan shrugged, and then left, still carrying Layna. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Layna struggled, yelling, ¡°Reagan, let me go! I don¡¯t want to go with you. I¡¯m supposed to be rich. I want my real mom. Help, Reagan¡¯s kidnapping me¡­¡± Salma watched, stunned. ¡°That girl¡­ is such a rebel.¡± Anastasia watched as Reagan and Layna left, murmuring, ¡°I hope Layna realizes she¡¯s actually got a good father.¡± No matter how much Layna yelled or even bit him, Reagan only frowned, never hitting her. His harshness was all talk. After they¡¯d left, Anastasia said, ¡°Mom, let¡¯s go back to the hospital. Monica¡¯s alone there with Pattie.¡± Anastasia had just stepped out of the caf¨¦ when her phone rang. It was Monica. ¡°Ana, Grannie Anita¡¯s here. She knows Pattie is your daughter and she¡¯s making ¨¤ scene.¡± Hearing this, Anastasia hurried towards the hospital. Chapter 404 Chapter 404 Chapter 404 Grannie Anita was well informed. Anastasia and Herman hadn¡¯t had the chance to tell the Salstroms about Pattie¡¯s true identity yet, but somehow, Grannie Anita had already shown Anastasia didn¡¯t have time to ponder on that. She had to get back to the hospital as soon as possible. She had a gut feeling that Julie was behind all this. That woman never let her have a moment¡¯s peace. At the hospital, Grannie Anita, stirred up by Julie, was sitting in the patient¡¯s room, staring piercingly at Pattie. Pattie was frightened of the old woman and cowered behind Monica. Even Monica was unnerved by Grannie Anita¡¯s hawk-like gaze. Anastasia, having rushed back, immediately took in the scene. ¡°Pattie.¡± She cast a worried nce at Pattie, relieved to find her unharmed. ¡°Mom,¡± Pattie said. She was visibly less scared now that Anastasia was there. Monica gestured towards Grannie Anita, whispering, ¡°Your grandmother is over there.¡± Anastasia had spotted Grannie Anita the moment she walked in. With a sigh of exasperation, she said, ¡°Grandma, let¡¯s talk outside.¡± ¡°Why, can¡¯t we talk here?¡± Grannie Anita rasped, leaning on her cane with a grim expression. ¡°Anastasia, my grandson got mixed up with you. Was it part of your n? Did you know that this girl is your daughter? You tricked my grandson into adopting her? You are really cunning. You¡¯ve yed a big game.¡± Beforeing here, Julie had been fueling Grannie Anita¡¯s anger, maliciously specting about Anastasia¡¯s intentions and adding fuel to the fire. Anastasia marveled at Grannie Anita¡¯s imagination. ¡°Grandma, I didn¡¯t deceive Herman. I just found out that Pattie is my daughter,¡± Anastasia patiently exined. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org. Salma joined in, ¡°Anita, Ana is telling the truth. If anyone¡¯s to me, it¡¯s me. I was the one who lost the child.¡± ¡°You mother and daughter are ying me for a fool. My grandson might believe you, but I certainly don¡¯t,¡± Grannie Anita retorted. ¡°Anastasia, you¡¯re taking advantage. You¡¯re pregnant and now you¡¯re trying to push your daughter into the Salstrom family too. We¡¯re not going to raise this bastard for you.¡± The term ¡°bastard¡± made Anastasia¡¯s face harden, and her tone became colder, ¡°Grandma, I respect you as an elder. That¡¯s why I¡¯m exining. I understand your feelings, so I¡¯m speaking to you politely. You can vent your anger on me, but you can¡¯t insult a child like that.¡± Monica chimed in, ¡°Grannie Anita, you¡¯re supposed to be from a respectable family. The term ¡®bastard¡¯ is too harsh. It seems the Salstrom family doesn¡¯t have much etiquette. Anastasia isn¡¯t trying to curry favor with your family. Her rtionship with Herman is mutual. You¡¯re old now. Why don¡¯t you mind your own business and let the young people handle theirs?¡± ¡°Sharp tonguedss,¡± Grannie Anita huffed, jabbing her cane on the floor. ¡°You¡¯re so disrespectful and impolite. You¡¯ll have a hard time finding a husband. If I were your future mother-inw, I¡¯d never ept you.¡± Monica countered, ¡°Whether I get married or not has nothing to do with you, Grannie Anita. I¡¯m not marrying into your family. If any family has a grandmother-inw like you, I¡¯d rather stay single all my life.¡± Chapter 405 Chapter 405 Chapter 405 Monica was a force to be reckoned with, undefeated in verbal battles. Grannie Anita was so livid. She shot up from her seat. ¡°Anastasia, what kind ofpany are you keeping? Birds of a feather flock together, indeed.¡± Anastasia frowned, ¡°Grannie Anita, you¡¯ve never liked me and you¡¯re always nitpicking. The best situation for us is for you to stop interfering and for me not to be a thorn in your side. My daughter needs rest. Please leave.¡± Anastasia stood her ground, refusing to be belittled by Grannie Anita. Arguing further would only make her look like the bad person ¨C a young girl bullying an elderly woman. The best approach was to stop bothering each other. ¡°Anastasia, you¡¯re trying to drive me out, aren¡¯t you? How ill-mannered!¡± Grannie Anita quivered, pointing at Anastasia. ¡°I¡¯m calling Herman right now to show him what kind of woman you are.¡¯ Salma tried to mediate, ¡°Anita, calm down. Ana isn¡¯t trying to chase you away. We can talk about this outside. If there¡¯s something Ana has done wrong, I¡¯ll correct her.¡± Grannie Anita scoffed, ¡°What a performance. No wonder my grandson fell for you.¡± Anastasia was at a loss for words at Grannie Anita¡¯s wild usations. There was no reasoning with her. Just then, Katelyn and Feiman came to visit Pattie and heard Grannie Anita¡¯s voice at the. hospital room door. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Katelyn asked as she hurried inside. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Feiman was just as surprised. ¡°Mom, are you here to see Anastasia?¡± Grannie Anita was too proud to visit Anastasia, but she had asked Feiman privately a few times. Still angry, Grannie Anita said, ¡°Son, you¡¯re just in time. Let this woman exin how she¡¯s been fooling us all along.¡± Feiman, confused, looked at Anastasia, then Grannie Anita. ¡°Mom, what¡¯s going on?¡± Katelyn was also curious ¨C what was Grannie Anita ranting about now? Grannie Anita pointed at Pattie with her cane. ¡°This child is Anastasia¡¯s biological daughter. She¡¯s been ying a long game, hiding her premarital pregnancy and adopting Pattie. Now she ims Pattie is her biological daughter. Isn¡¯t this deception? This must have been nned!¡± ¡°What?¡± Katelyn and Feiman were both shocked. Pattie was Anastasia¡¯s biological daughter? Looking at Pattie, they both had to admit she bore a striking resemnce to Anastasia. Anastasia decided to be honest. ¡°I just found out this morning. I haven¡¯t had the chance to tell you yet, not because I wanted to hide it.¡± Katelyn asked, ¡°Does Herman know about this?¡± Anastasia nodded. Katelyn and Feiman exchanged nces, unsure of what to say. They had known that Anastasia had a child before, and they liked Pattic, but this sudden change of roles left them feeling a mix of emotions. It was not something that anyone could ept easily, Monica noticed their reaction and said, ¡°Katelyn, Feiman, Anastasia isn¡¯t well. She¡¯s pregnant with your grandchild, Pattie isn¡¯t Herman¡¯s child, but the unborn baby is his.¡± Monica was reminding them that whatever decision they made, they had to consider the child Anastasia was carrying. After all, it was Herman¡¯s first child. Katelyn and Feiman looked at each other; as the elders, they really didn¡¯t know what to say. It all depended on how they chose to see the situation. Feiman didn¡¯t bring up Pattie¡¯s matter again but asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Herman?¡± Anastasia replied, ¡°He mentioned something about having to go to Eagle Corporation.¡± Feiman¡¯s face paled at the mention of Eagle Corporation. Chapter 406 Chapter 406 Chapter 406 Feiman quickly made an excuse, ¡°Katelyn, I just remembered I have a basketball game with Old Joe. I¡¯ll go ahead. Please drop off mom.¡± It was such ame excuse, which was clearly made up on the spot. Regardless of whether Katelyn believed him or not, Feiman didn¡¯t stick around to find out. He dropped the words and dashed off. Feiman was terrified that if Joseph and Herman crossed paths, it would be disastrous. ¡°Feiman, Feiman¡­¡± Katelyn called out a few times, but failed to halt Feiman¡¯s hurried steps. She stood at the hospital room door, muttering, ¡°A basketball game? Is it that urgent? He said he was free today when we came.¡± Trusting her feminine intuition, Katelyn felt something was off about Feiman. Before Grannie Anita had a chance to flex her muscles and have Feiman join her in confronting Anastasia, Feiman ran off, leaving Grannie Anita stunned. Grannie Anita redirected her annoyance at Katelyn. ¡°Katelyn, look at the daughter-inw you¡¯ve chosen¡­¡± ¡°Mom, something came up. I need to go. You can take a cab or have our family driver take you home.¡± Katelyn wanted to follow Feiman and see what he was up to. She had a quick word with Grannie Anita and a farewell to Anastasia, saying, ¡°Take care of yourself and Pattie. I¡¯ll visit you another day.¡± She too, was off. Grannie Anita was left dumbfounded. Neither son nor daughter-inw could be relied upon. Anastasia was also taken aback. She only mentioned that Herman had gone to Eagle Corporation. Why were her inws so eager to leave? Anastasia and Salma exchanged puzzled looks, both unsure of what had happened. With her ¡°troops¡± gone, Grannie Anita was left alone and powerless. Anastasia called the Salstrom family driver to pick up Grannie Anita, swiftly cutting the Gordian knot. Grannie Anita left with a face full of anger. Her gaze pierced Anastasia as though she wanted to bore a hole through her. After leaving the hospital, Grannie Anita immediately arranged to meet Julie at a coffee shop. It seemed only Julie was on her side, the only one she could vent to, Upon meeting, Grannie Anita started ranting, ¡°Julie, that woman is trying to kill me with her antics. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Herman¡¯s fallen for that vixen¡¯s charms,pletely smitten, and he¡¯s even helping her raise the illegitimate child¡­¡± Grannie Anita was full of energy, criticizing Anastasia to no end. Julie, ying the peacemaker,forted her, ¡°Grannie, don¡¯t be upset. That woman is cunning, so we have to bide our time. She¡¯s unting her pregnancy now. Let her be arrogant for a while. Herman will Grannie Anita fretted. ¡°By the time Herman wakes up, it will be toote.¡± ¡°What can we do? Herman doesn¡¯t listen to anyone now, not even you, Grannie, Julie sighed. These words were deliberately spoken to feed Grannie Anita¡¯s suspicions, implying that Anastasia was the reason Herman wasn¡¯t listening to Grannie Anita. This only served to make Grannie Anita despise Anastasia more. Grannie Anita gripped her walking stick tightly, with a sharp look in her clouded eyes. Grannie Anita was a fierce woman in her youth, having battled in the business world alongside her husband. It was only after Herman gained full control that she gradually retreated. ¡°I won¡¯t let that whore take over the Salstrom family¡¯s assets.¡± ¡°Grannie, the Salstrom family¡¯s wealth is bound to attract envy. It¡¯s not surprising that someone like Anastasia wouldtch onto Herman. She¡¯s not going to let go easily,¡± Julie baited. ¡°It¡¯s strange. Wasn¡¯t she said to be infertile? How did she get pregnant so quickly? She¡¯s been married to Herman for so long. Why is she pregnant now?¡± Julie¡¯s voice was filled with doubt and sarcasm, deliberately leading Grannie Anita to think deeper. Regardless of whose child was in Anastasia¡¯s womb or how it got there, it didn¡¯t matter. She just wanted Grannie Anita to have doubts. Once the seed of suspicion was nted, it would sprout wildly when the time came, and it would be unstoppable. And indeed, Grannie Anita, after hearing Julie¡¯s words, began to question the child in Anastasia¡¯s womb. The bloodline of the Salstrom family must not be tainted. Chapter 407 Chapter 407 Chapter 407 Anastasia had a child before the wedding, which was enough for old-fashioned Grannie Anita to write off all of Anastasia¡¯s virtues. She blew the issue out of proportion, casting doubt on Anastasia¡¯s character. If Anastasia could get pregnant before marriage, Anita thought she must be loose, and there was a high chance she was being unfaithful. The more Grannie Anita thought about it, the angrier she got, as if Anastasia had really cheated on Herman. She made her own assumptions and jumped to conclusions. mming her hand on the table, Grannie Anita said angrily, ¡°She¡¯s nothing but a slut. I bet the baby she¡¯s carrying isn¡¯t a Salstrom. I¡¯ll have it investigated.¡± Julie felt a surge of joy when she heard Grannie Anita¡¯s suspicions, but she maintained a calm exterior, saying, ¡°But Granny, if the baby isn¡¯t Herman¡¯s, then whose is it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll find out who the real father is, and we¡¯ll see how that fox tries to wriggle her way out of it,¡± Grannie Anita dered. ¡°Granny, if that¡¯s true, that would tarnish the Salstrom family name. Herman would never believe it. Even if you do have it investigated, we shouldn¡¯t let Herman find out,¡± Julie suggested. ¡°If the baby really isn¡¯t. Herman¡¯s, what do you n on doing?¡± Grannie Anita knew how much her grandson loved Anastasia. Even if something was found out, he This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. might not believe it. But if there was another man involved, the child in Anastasia¡¯s womb definitely couldn¡¯t be kept. Grannie Anita thought Julie was too naive to be told about these dirty matters, so she simply said, ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± After hearing that, Julie felt reassured. As long as Grannie Anita had her doubts, it would be easy to fabricate a lover. ¡°Granny, it¡¯s getting chilly out. Let me take you home,¡± Julie offered sweetly. ¡°That sounds lovely, dear Julie.¡± Grannie Anita seemed to find somefort. Meanwhile, Anastasia had no idea about Grannie Anita¡¯s ill intentions. She was in the hospital parking lot seeing off Monica when Monica said, ¡°Ana, that Grannie Anita is no pushover. She¡¯s quite the handful.¡± Anastasia gave a bitter smile and replied, ¡°If I can¡¯t fight her, I can at least avoid her.¡± ¡°The Salstrom family is alright except for Grannie Anita. She¡¯s still causing trouble even in her old age.¡± Monica suddenly remembered something, asking, ¡°Ana, do you really not remember that guy from Neon Dreams? Do you have no recollection of who Pattie¡¯s biological father is?¡± Anastasia had tried to recall, but her memories were too blurry. She shook her head and said, ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± She wasn¡¯t entirely honest, because during her intimate moments with Herman, fragments of her blurry past would sometimes surface. These ovepping, blurry memories sometimes gave her the illusion that the man from five years ago was Herman, but she knew that was impossible. Monica sighed, ¡°I¡¯m worried that if that man shows up one day, Herman won¡¯t be able to ept it, and the Salstrom family won¡¯t back down.¡± Anastasia had thought about this too. She was afraid. Making light of the situation, Anastasia joked, ¡°In a melodramatic twist, that man might show up, see Pattie as a Salstrom girl, and be tempted by the family fortune. It could turn into a soap opera about fighting for inheritance and custody. Isn¡¯t that how romance novels usually go?¡± Anastasia also worried about her life turning into a soap opera. Her experiences over the past few months could easily be turned into a Cindere-style romance novel. Seeing Anastasia still able to joke about the situation, Monica felt reassured and joined in, joking, ¡°Or there could be another twist where Pattie¡¯s biological father is actually Herman. You and Herman had a one-night stand years ago. Isn¡¯t that the plot of most modern romance novels? I¡¯ve even fantasized about running into a super-rich guy, having a baby with him, and getting a huge child support payment.¡± Anastasiaughed, ¡°You¡¯re selling your child.¡± ¡°Selling to the child¡¯s father isn¡¯t illegal,¡± Monica joked. ¡°It¡¯s actually quite a fantasy. I might write a novel about it.¡± Anastasiaughed and said, ¡°You can dream, but don¡¯t daydream while driving. Be safe.¡± ¡°Alright, Ana. Don¡¯t stay out in the cold too long. I¡¯m off,¡± Monica said confidently, hopping into her BMW and driving off. Anastasia stood in the same spot for a moment, thinking about Katelyn and Feiman¡¯s hasty departure. She decided to give Herman a call¡­ Chapter 408 Chapter 408 Chapter 408 There was chaos in the president¡¯s office at Eagle Corporation. Joseph was kneeling on one knee, with one leg half bent, and blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His face was bruised and battered. Herman leaned casually against the office desk. His cold gaze was fixed on Joseph. The temperature in the room seemed to drop to freezing point, as if the air itself had solidified. Joseph coughed. There was a sharp pain in his chest, and a taste of blood in his mouth. He spat out a mouthful of blood. Just half an hour ago, Herman had barged into the office, smashed the security cameras without a word and the fight had started. Joseph had some training, but he was no match for Herman and had been convincingly defeated. Joseph¡¯s face turned an ugly shade of green, as he slowly pulled himself up. He spat out another mouthful of blood, smirked coldly and taunted, ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got, Herman?¡± Herman nonchntly rolled up his shirt sleeves, oozing an aura of aristocratic elegance. He casually lit a cigarette from the desk, took a puff and coldly retorted, ¡°You¡¯ve been stirring up trouble just to get my attention, haven¡¯t you? Now I¡¯m here, but you can¡¯t even take a few punches?¡± Joseph wiped the blood from his mouth and sheered, ¡°You¡¯re slower than I expected. You¡¯re not as great as you think.¡± This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. ¡°You think your little tricks can get you into the Salstrom family tree?¡± Herman¡¯s cold lips curled into a sneer. ¡°The Salstrom family has strict rules. You¡¯re delusional if you think you can join us. Joseph, as long as you don¡¯t mess with my family, I can turn a blind eye. But now you¡¯ve gone too far. This is a lesson for you. If you try anything again, I¡¯ll make sure you disappear from Riverdale.¡± After saying that, Herman crushed the cigarette butt on the office desk. Joseph¡¯s gaze fell on the extinguished cigarette. His pupils were shrinking slightly. Joseph understood. This was Herman¡¯s warning. If he dared to do anything, his fate would be the same as the crushed cigarette. After their fight, Joseph realized he had underestimated Herman. He had been beaten without a chance for retaliation. Herman was precise and ruthless in his actions. Even knowing Joseph¡¯s identity, Herman didn¡¯t consider him a threat. This was what frustrated Joseph the most. His little maneuvers were nothing more than child¡¯s y in Herman¡¯s eyes. Herman straightened and, at that moment, his phone rang. It was Anastasia. Herman answered, ¡°Honey¡­¡± ¡°Are you still at Eagle Corporation?¡± Anastasia asked. ¡°Your parents were here, and your father seemed strange when he heard you were there. He left immediately.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Herman responded gravely. ¡°I¡¯ll be home soon.¡± Herman ended the call, stepped over the scattered documents on the floor, and walked out of the office. When Herman had left, Joseph realized he hadn¡¯t stopped him. He was actually afraid of Herman. The realization frustrated Joseph. He mmed his fist onto the desk in anger. As Herman left the office, he bumped into Feiman. Father and son met under such circumstances, and their secret was out in the open. Feiman avoided Herman¡¯s gaze, too guilty to say anything. Herman gave a cold smirk, said nothing, and walked past Feiman. Just as Feiman breathed a sigh of relief, Herman¡¯s icy voice echoed, ¡°You can¡¯t hide the truth forever. Find a way to tell my mother the truth. I don¡¯t want her to hear it from someone else.¡± Chapter 409 Chapter 409 Chapter 409 When a husband cheats, it¡¯s the cruelest thing for the wife to find out from someone else. Herman¡¯s words made him feel ashamed. ¡°I¡¯ll exin everything to your mom,¡± he promised. The secret he had been carrying for decades weighed heavily on his heart, like a boulder. He felt breathless under its weight. Herman did not say anything else. He walked towards the elevator and left Eagle Corporation. Downstairs, he ran into Katelyn, who had been following Feiman. He calmly intercepted her. ¡°Mom, what are you doing here?¡± ¡°I followed your father,¡± Katelyn replied. ¡°Herman, your father said he was going to meet his friend, but he drove all this way. There must be something going on. Did you see your father?¡± Instead of answering, Herman asked, ¡°Mom, did you drive here?¡± Katelyn looked puzzled. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve had a bit of bourbon, so I can¡¯t drive. Can you drive us out of here, mom?¡± Herman handed the car keys to Katelyn and walked straight towards the car. Katelyn held the keys, grumbling, ¡°Herman, why are you drinking in the middle of the day? And what were you doing here?¡± ¡°Just dealing with some stuff.¡± Herman got into the car. ¡°Mom, let¡¯s head back to the hospital. Pattie will start fussing if she doesn¡¯t see me.¡± Katelyn didn¡¯t think too much about it. The thought of Pattie waiting at the hospital made her forget why she had followed Feiman in the first ce. As she got into the driver¡¯s seat, Katelyn asked, ¡°Herman, did you find out about Pattie being Ana¡¯s daughter? How did it suddenly turn out that Ana is her biological mother? Your grandma found out and caused a scene at the hospital.¡± Herman frowned slightly. ¡°Is Anastasia okay?¡± ¡°Your grandma is just tough with her words. She wouldn¡¯t actually hurt Ana.¡± Katelyn started the car. ¡°Herman, what do you think about all this? It¡¯s all happening so fast. I can barely keep up.¡± Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Herman replied, ¡°Whether Pattie is Ana¡¯s daughter or not, it doesn¡¯t change anything. Ana and I are Pattie¡¯s legal guardians.¡± ¡°You are quite open-minded, but it¡¯s not the same. Pattie is Ana¡¯s daughter with another man. To put it bluntly, you¡¯re raising someone else¡¯s child.¡± Katelyn said, ¡°It¡¯s all soplicated. I¡¯m confused.¡± As a mother, Katelyn naturally wished her son to marry a woman with a clean past, but now it seemed pointless to discuss it. Anastasia was carrying a baby from the Salstrom family. How could they possibly separate now? Besides, Katelyn was satisfied with Anastasia as her daughter-inw, and she loved Pattie. However, the switch from adopted daughter to biological daughter made her feel a thorn in her throat. Herman asked, ¡°Mom, do you like Pattie?¡± Without hesitation, Katelyn answered, ¡°I do. She¡¯s adorable, clever and polite. She¡¯s a joy to be around. The best part is when she calls me Grandma. It warms my heart. It¡¯s as sweet as eating candy.¡± Herman followed up with another question, ¡°And what about Anastasia? Are you satisfied with her as your daughter-inw?¡± Katelyn thought for a moment before answering, ¡°I suppose I am. If it weren¡¯t for this situation, I would be even more satisfied.¡± ¡°You like Pattie and you¡¯re satisfied with Anastasia. That¡¯s all that matters.¡± Herman said, ¡°Everyone has a past. A few years ago, I was involved with another woman.¡± Katelyn was taken aback by his confession. She abruptly hit the brakes, causing both of them to jerk forward, before being pulled back by their seatbelts. With a shocked expression, Katelyn asked, ¡°Son, are you serious? You¡¯ve been with another woman before?¡± Herman said, ¡°Mom, is it so surprising? I¡¯m a normal man.¡± ¡°If you were talking about your brother, then yes, that would be normal. But for you, that¡¯s definitely not normal.¡± Katelyn knew her son well. She immediately became curious. ¡°Who was she? Howe I never heard about her? Does Ana know? Women can be very sensitive about their men¡¯s past rtionships. Ana is pregnant. You better not upset her.¡± Just moments ago, Katelyn had some mixed feelings towards Anastasia, but now she was fiercely protective. Herman chuckled. ¡°See, mom, you¡¯re still siding with your daughter-inw.¡± Chapter 410 Chapter 410 Chapter 410 Katelyn shot her eldest son an incredulous look. ¡°That¡¯s not the same, Herman. What happened with Ana was before you two got married, and now she¡¯s carrying your child. She¡¯s having a tough time and needs to maintain a positive mood. She can¡¯t handle any shocks. I remember when I was pregnant with you, I nearly had a miscarriage because of your grandmother¡¯s harsh words.¡± Mentioning the past still left a bitter taste in Katelyn¡¯s heart. ¡°Your grandmother was never happy with me.¡± Katelyn continued, ¡°She kept pushing your father to divorce me and find another woman. She made me so angry that I nearly had a miscarriage. I had to stay in the hospital for a week to protect the baby. That¡¯s how we got you, Herman. Pregnant women can¡¯t be stressed.¡± ¡°Mom, you¡¯ve been through a lot,¡± Herman said, observing his mother. He hadn¡¯t looked at her closely in a while, and he noticed the fine lines around her eyes. She was no longer youthful. He never knew how hard and dangerous it was for a woman to bear a child until Anastasia got pregnant. When the doctor said that there was a high chance neither Anastasia nor the baby would survive, he realized it. Despite medical advances, childbirth still carried the risk of death. Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. Her son¡¯s sudden sentimentality had Katelyn¡¯s eyes welling up. Katelyn smiled and patted/ her son. ¡°That¡¯s good to know. Things are different now. You¡¯re married, and you¡¯ve chosen the right wife.¡± She remembered how cold and reserved Herman used to be. He didn¡¯t talk too much, and it was very hard tomunicate with him. But now, things were different. Katelyn had noticed the changes in Herman over the past few months. Thinking of Joseph¡¯s existence, Herman began to worry. He was unsure how his mother would react when she learned about it. ¡°Herman, you said you had a past rtionship. When was that? What was her name?¡± Katelyn hadn¡¯t forgotten about that. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Herman confessed. ¡°It was a prank by Collin and his friends. I was so drunk. I don¡¯t remember the girl¡¯s name or what she looked like.¡± ¡°Son, that makes you a jerk,¡± Katelyn eximed, yfully smacking Herman. ¡°You can¡¯t just use and discard women. What if that girl got into trouble because of you? Herman, I never thought you¡¯d be the type to have one-night stands.¡± Herman could only stare at Katelyn in silence. Katelyn continued her rant, ¡°What if you got a girl pregnant? The most important thing for a man is not to irresponsibly spread his seed.¡± Herman sighed, ¡°Mom, your imagination is running wild.¡± Katelyn countered, ¡°What if it¡¯s not imagination? What if it¡¯s reality?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no ¡®what if¡±,¡± Herman retorted. ¡°If the girl had any issue, she would have sought me out long ago. But she hasn¡¯t. Maybe she doesn¡¯t know who I am, or she¡¯s forgotten about it.¡± Katelyn lectured, ¡°Young people nowadays love to live dangerously. I¡¯m warning you, Herman. Now that you¡¯re a married man, you need to live honorably. No involvement with gambling, drugs, and illicit sex. That¡¯s the Salstrom family motto.¡± ¡°Yes, Mom, you¡¯re right,¡± Herman agreed, shifting the topic. ¡°I¡¯m going back to the Salstrom Manor for dinner tonight.¡± Katelyn immediately asked, ¡°Are you bringing Ana? I¡¯m nning to make bird¡¯s nest soup and chicken broth when I get home.¡± ¡°Anastasia is at the hospital taking care of Pattie. We¡¯ll discuss it once Pattie is discharged.¡± Herman nned to have a talk with Grannie Anita at the Salstrom Manor, and he didn¡¯t want to bring Anastasia with him. Katelyn nced at her son. ¡°Then I¡¯ll ask Sierra to add a couple more dishes tonight.¡± Hermanughed, ¡°Mom, without my wife, can¡¯t I even have chicken soup?¡± Katelyn replied, ¡°Why do you need soup? You¡¯re not pregnant. It¡¯s a waste.¡± Chapter 411 Chapter 411 Chapter 411 Can the treatment of a son and daughter-inw be the same? Definitely not. Katelyn dropped off Herman at the hospital in her car, and then hailed a cab back to Salstrom Manor. She needed to prepare dinner On her way back, she tried calling Feiman but got no answer. Katelyn muttered, ¡°What¡¯s he up to now? So secretive, even his phone is off.¡± Over the years, Feiman had always treated her kindly, except when Grannie Anita provoked a fight. Feiman preferred to pour oil on troubled waters rather than resolving the issue. Apart from this, Feiman was an ideal husband, so Katelyn never doubted him having an affair. Since she couldn¡¯t get through, Katelyn gave up calling. Once home, Katelyn heard Grannie Anita chattering on the phone about hiring a private investigator. She asked, ¡°Anita, who are you calling?¡± Grannie Anita instantly hung up the phone. Her face was as stern as ever. ¡°Who I call is none of your business,¡± she snapped. Katelyn merely ignored her and walked towards the kitchen. ¡°I¡¯m makingmb chops for dinner. Do you want anything else?¡± She nned to cook dinner herself that night. ¡°I¡¯m over eighty, but you want to makemb chops. This is like a p in my face¡­¡± Katelyn quickly added, ¡°Herman ising home for dinner.¡± Grannie Anita changed her tone immediately. ¡°Herman lovesmb chops. Go ahead and make them.¡± Katelyn smiled. Grannie Anita acted like a child sometimes. Donning her apron, Katelyn began marinating themb chops in red wine to eliminate the gamey taste. Grannie Anita came closer and asked, ¡°Is that witching back?¡± Katelyn knew she was referring to Anastasia. ¡°Ana won¡¯t being. She¡¯s taking care of Pattie at the hospital,¡± Katelyn replied. ¡°Mom, please don¡¯t talk about Ana like that in front of Herman. It upsets him.¡° ¡°She deserves it. I can¡¯t even speak my mind now?¡± Grannie Anita¡¯s face creased in irritation. ¡°Katelyn, look at yourself. That witch even brought her trash here and you still defend her. From the day you stepped into this house, I knew you weren¡¯t cut out to be thedy of a grand house. Youck the aura. Katelyn had heard this so many times. It fell on deaf ears now. She continued marinating themb chops, ignoring Grannie Anita¡¯s words. She also prepared amb stew, nning to take it to Anastasia at the hospital when Herman returned. Finding no takers for her taunts, Grannie Anita moved to the living room to watch TV. In her leisure, she called Julie. Walking past the living room, Katelyn overhead Grannie Anita¡¯s call to Julie, which worried her a bit. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Julie, that girl had a wicked mind. Half of Grannie Anita¡¯s hostility towards Anastasia was because of Julie¡¯s instigation. After Grannie Anita hung up, Katelyn couldn¡¯t help but warn her, ¡°You should stay away from Julie. She¡¯s not as innocent as she appears. She¡¯s quite cunning.¡± Grannie Anita was displeased. ¡°Julie is cunning? Then what about Anastasia? Katelyn, are you blinded by your prejudices? Can¡¯t you differentiate between a witch and a good-hearted girl? Julie just likes Herman. How is that cunning? Anastasia has an illegitimate child, and that makes she innocent?¡± Katelyn tried to defend herself, ¡°Mom, why do you always bring Ana into everything? These are two different things. You tell me. Isn¡¯t it because Julie gossips about Ana, stirs up trouble, that you dislike Ana so much, creating a ruckus at home?¡± Grannie Anita retorted, ¡°Julie isn¡¯t wrong. If Anastasia didn¡¯t do those things, who could say anything bad about her?¡± Chapter 412 Chapter 412 Chapter 412 Grannie Anita had just given herself away. Katelyn¡¯s dislike for Julie grew stronger. She said, ¡°Mom, a woman of integrity shouldn¡¯t meddle in other people¡¯s marriages.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not discussing this with you.¡± Grannie Anita couldn¡¯t win the argument against Katelyn, so she took her cane and ascended the stairs. At the hospital. Herman sat beside Pattie, reading children¡¯s books, teaching her nursery rhymes, and helping her practice writing. Herman was incredibly patient when it came to this. Anastasia smiled and said, ¡°Once Pattie starts first grade next term, you¡¯re taking over her studies.¡± Herman replied, ¡°No problem. Pattie is smart. She learns quickly.¡± Pattie, being praised, was bubbling with joy and self-praise. ¡°I¡¯m the best. Dad, see, did I write it right?¡± Pattie had already learned a lot of words and could write her own name. She recognized over five hundred words. Herman checked and praised, ¡°Pattie, your handwriting is beautiful. You might be a calligrapher in the future.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Pattie was very happy. Anastasiaughed and said, ¡°Herman, don¡¯t overpraise her. Look at her, she¡¯s over the moon.¡± Pattie sweetly smiled and said, ¡°Mommy, I don¡¯t live on the moon. Only aliens do. Teacher said we live on the earth.¡± Anastasiaughed at Pattie¡¯s remark. ¡°You smartie, you¡¯ve been studying for a while now. It¡¯s time to rest.¡± Anastasia also had some questions for Herman, but she waited until after Pattie had rested. ¡°What did you do at Eagle Corporation today?¡± Anastasia asked. ¡°I asked Dailey. He said Anthony revealed Joseph as the man behind everything. Who is he, your business rival?¡± Anastasia was curious about Joseph. She had no quarrel with him. Herman¡¯s eyes slightly narrowed. He pondered for a moment, and said, ¡°He¡¯s my father¡¯s illegitimate son, and also a businesspetitor.¡± ¡°What? Your dad has a son outside?¡± Anastasia was taken aback. Feiman and Katelyn seemed very loving normally. ¡°It¡¯s an old story. I don¡¯t know much about it either.¡± Herman said, ¡°My mom doesn¡¯t know yet. I¡¯ll let my dad handle it.¡± ¡°Your mom will not ept this if she finds out. Anastasia immediately felt sympathy for Katelyn. Herman said, ¡°I¡¯ll go back to Salstrom Manorter.¡± Anastasia nodded. ¡°Alright, you go ahead with your work. I will take care of Pattie.¡± After a while, Herman left. Anastasia had no idea what happened between him and his family that night. Sheter heard from Flynn that Feiman confessed to Katelyn that night, and Katelyn locked herself up at home for a day and a night, refusing to see anyone or eat anything. Grannie Anita was overjoyed and muttered about Feiman bringing his illegitimate son home to make the family more prosperous. Indeed, in the world of the rich and powerful, it¡¯s hard to find a family without illegitimate children. Pattie was discharged from the hospital after almost a month. During her hospital stay, Gianna visited a few times. Every time Gianna came, Herman was there. Once, Gianna came when Herman had brought Nelson, and Nelson was wearing the tie Gianna had given to Herman. Seeing the gift she carefully selected around another man¡¯s neck, Gianna felt her heart sink. Her little fantasy was shattered. After Pattie was discharged, Anastasia moved directly to their new house. Herman hired a dietitian to take care of Anastasia, and Salma also moved in with them. Pattie started Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. at a new school. Everything seemed to be moving in a positive direction. As for the trouble Tavon caused, Anastasia could ignore it. Anastasia¡¯s belly was growing. She was thrilled. Herman was very concerned, but he never showed it on his face, always asking Anastasia if she felt any difort. Anastasia seldom went out. She stayed at home drawing and designing, spending time with Pattie, and strolling in the yard with Herman after meals. In a blink of an eye, Anastasia was five months pregnant. Gianna¡¯s coffee shop opened, and she invited Anastasia for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Chapter 413 Chapter 413 Chapter 413 Gianna had extended an invitation to Anastasia¡¯s family for the grand opening of her new coffee shop. Herman was tied up with work, so he asked Dailey to apany Anastasia and Salma. Their daughter, Pattie, had school that day. Naturally, they wouldn¡¯t ask her to take a day off and hold her back from her studies. Upon arrival at the coffee shop, Anastasia learned the name that Gianna had chosen. ¡°Forever Cafe.¡± Anastasia read the words on the sign aloud, chuckling. Anastasia¡¯s belly was visiblyrger, even beneath her loose clothing. Gianna nced at Anastasia¡¯s belly, with hidden longing flickering in her eyes. ¡°I had a fortune teller pick the name. Let¡¯s go inside. It¡¯s almost time for the ribbon-cutting.¡± Gianna ¡°He¡¯s tied up at work,¡± Anastasia replied, pulling out a gift. ¡°Gianna, I wish you booming business and abundant wealth.¡± ¡°You¡¯re being too formal,¡± Gianna teased, pulling Anastasia inside. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go in.¡± Anastasia had prepared a gift and bought eight flower baskets. Gianna had a fair number of friends, with more and more flower baskets arriving one after another. After Joey was paralyzed, wasn¡¯t Gianna¡¯s situation simr to that of a widow? She was in control of all their asset, her worth had doubled, and with her good looks, she had no shortage of suitors. With the man of the house incapacitated, men outside were certainly eyeing their chances to woo Gianna. Winning her over would mean a double victory of wealth and beauty. Anastasia and Salma settled inside the shop while Gianna went out to greet her friends. Soon, the entrance of the coffee shop was overflowing with flower baskets. Gianna nced at the name of the coffee shop. It wasn¡¯t chosen by a fortune teller at all, but by her. Forever Cafe. In other words, she was tenaciously devoted to Herman. She could only hide this love she had for Herman deep within her heart, but she was not willing topletely let go. So, she hid this love in the name of her shop. Unrequited love was always a careful bnce between not wanting to reveal yourself yet desiring to be known. Salma sat in the coffee shop, observing Gianna. Turning to Anastasia, she said, ¡°Gianna¡¯s really capable, managing such arge shop all by herself. Ever since Joey became paralyzed, she¡¯s be even more beautiful. And that pink dress she¡¯s wearing, it¡¯s gorgeous.¡± Gianna, a regr at the gym, had a great figure. Dressed in a soft pink dress coupled with the unique charm of a minggearold women, she was truly a picture of femininity Anastasia smiled. Indeed, she is very capable. They say women marry for happiness and divorce for the same reason. While she and Joey didn¡¯t divorce their situation is almost simr only without the Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. property disputes Sarma added. ¡°I heard from your aunt that nne sent Joey to ehabilitation center¡± On this point, Anastasia greatly admired nna. Sometimes she even wondered if Joey¡¯s paralysis was part of Gianne¡¯s n. Joey¡¯s paralysis was a better oue than divorce The Edmunds elders were sent back to their hometown by Glenne. Just then, Cynthia and Colton arrived, both dressed in bol atmosphere of nna¡¯s grand opening lors to add to the festive When it was time for the ribbon-cutting, Gianna invited Anastasia to join her. Amidst the apuse and fireworks Forever Cafe officially opened for business With grand opening discounts and nna¡¯s extensivework, the cafe enjoyed great business on its first day. Salme was whisked away by Cynthia for some shopping. After greeting her customers, Gianna made a fresh juice and brought it over to Anastasia. Gianna smiled, ¡°What do you think of my cafe?¡± ¡°It¡¯s wonderful¡± Anastasiaplimented. ¡°I can see you¡¯ve put a lot of effort into it.¡± Gianna replied with a hidden meaning. ¡°It¡¯s my Forever Cafe. I have to do my best.¡± Anastasia, oblivious to the subtext, smiled and replied, ¡°I¡¯m sure you will.¡± Gianna stared at Anastasia¡¯s belly, saying, ¡°Your belly is pointed. It¡¯s probably a boy, isn¡¯t Chapter 414 Chapter 414 Chapter 414 As Anastasia tenderly caressed her pregnant belly, a radiant smile of happiness spread across her face. ¡°We didn¡¯t find out the gender. We¡¯ll be happy with a boy or a girl.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve only been married to Herman for a few months and you¡¯re already pregnant. I¡¯m in my thirties Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. and still single.¡± Gianna said with a hint of self-deprecation. ¡°My mom even had my fortune read, saying I¡¯m destined to be single.¡± Anastasia chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful and sessful, Gianna. There¡¯s no shortage of men who are interested in you. Are you worried you won¡¯t find a good husband?¡± ¡°They¡¯re all after something, and I know exactly what it is. After Joey¡¯s ident, they¡¯re not just interested in me. They¡¯re after my money.¡± Gianna jested, ¡°Besides,pared to your husband, they¡¯re not even in the same league.¡± Anastasia just took it as a joke and didn¡¯t notice the hidden jealousy in Gianna¡¯s words. She yfully asked, ¡°So, are you really going to stay single?¡± ¡°Being single isn¡¯t so bad if you can¡¯t find the right one.¡± Giannaughed, ¡°If you were willing to share your husband with me, I wouldn¡¯t hesitate. A good man like that is worth holding onto.¡± Gianna¡¯s words were a little overboard, revealing her envy and admiration for Anastasia. Anastasia gave a forced smile, and Gianna quickly added, ¡°I¡¯m just kidding, Anastasia. I wouldn¡¯t steal your husband. Besides, Herman wouldn¡¯t be interested in a divorced woman who¡¯s older than he is.¡± Gianna was indeed older than Herman. Although Gianna imed to be joking, Anastasia felt a difort in her heart. Not all jokes are appropriate. As they were chatting, Herman called to pick up Anastasia. Soon after the call, Anastasia waited for him by the road. Gianna didn¡¯t dare to give Herman an extra nce, fearing her feelings would be revealed. Anastasia noticed Gianna¡¯s coldness towards Herman and didn¡¯t think much of it. While Dailey was driving, Herman and Anastasia sat in the back. He affectionately held her hand. ¡°You got up so early today. How about I take you home for a nap?¡± Anastasiaughed, ¡°Can you read my mind?¡± She was indeed tired. With her belly growing bigger, the load on her waist was increasing. The aftereffects of her previous injury were also starting to show, causing pain if she sat for too long, but she didn¡¯t want Herman to worry. Anastasia leaned against Herman¡¯s shoulder. Her gaze fell on her belly as she gently stroked it. ¡°Our baby has been quite active today, kicking me several times.¡± ¡°If it turns out to be a boy, I¡¯ll definitely teach him a lesson.¡± Anastasiaughed, ¡°What if it¡¯s a girl?¡± Herman replied seriously, ¡°A stern talking-to will suffice.¡± ¡°Are you biased towards girls, ¡®Herman?¡± Anastasia asked in amusement. ¡°You should treat boys and girls equally.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not how it works. Boys need to be more responsible.¡± Herman exined, ¡°Boys shouldn¡¯t be pampered.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see if you can follow through when we really have a son.¡± Anastasia hummed, ¡°Let¡¯s go back to Salstrom Manor. We haven¡¯t been back for a while. Your mother has been nagging about it. If we don¡¯t go back, it¡¯ll be disrespectful. I heard Grannie Anita calling you this morning, urging you toe home.¡± Katelyn had been nagging at Herman several times. Anastasia also wanted to visit the Grannie, but Herman didn¡¯t allow it. Herman was too protective of her. It was unusual for a family to be so distant. Herman frowned. ¡°My mom told me how she almost had a miscarriage due to stress when she was pregnant with me. With your health condition, I can¡¯t let you get stressed.¡± ¡°If we don¡¯t go back, Grannie Anita will be even more upset.¡± Anastasia said, linking her arm through Herman¡¯s. ¡°The doctor said that both I and the baby are in good condition. Let¡¯s go back to Salstrom Manor tonight. It¡¯ll make your mother happy.¡± It wasn¡¯t just for Grannie Anita¡¯s sake, but also for Katelyn¡¯s. Her mother-inw had always been kind to her, and really hoped that Anastasia woulde home for dinner. Chapter 415 Chapter 415 Chapter 415 Anastasia could always count on Herman to respond to her every beck and call. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, saying, ¡°Sure, we¡¯ll have dinner at Salstrom Manor tonight.¡± Anastasia¡¯s obvious intention was something Herman cherished. At Forever Caf¨¦, Gianna sat alone at a window-side seat. Her gaze was fixed on the spot where Herman had stood just moments ago. She took a thoughtful sip of her coffee, worried that the words she had said could stir up suspicions in Anastasia¡¯s mind. As time passed, Gianna found herself falling deeper and deeper for Herman, seeing him in her dreams more often than not. She realized she couldn¡¯t let go. She felt trapped, like a prisoner in her own cage. Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org. ¡°Gianna, why are you here all alone? Where¡¯s Anastasia?¡± Cynthia, returning from shopping, asked casually, Gianna replied listlessly, ¡°She left. Herman came to pick her up.¡± ¡°Anastasia is really lucky. Herman really spoils her rotten. She was just here a little while. ago and he got all worried about her,¡± Cynthiamented. Cynthia¡¯s words only agitated Gianna further. ¡°Weren¡¯t you out shopping with Salma? Howe you¡¯re back so soon?¡± ¡°She got caught up by some guy. She got a call and left, so I came back.¡± Cynthiamented sourly, ¡°I used to think we were better off than Salma¡¯s family, but things. change. Salma¡¯s man, who¡¯s also Anastasia¡¯s biological father, is a grape tycoon, a big shot with billions to his name. I heard he¡¯s going to pass on his fortune to Anastasia.¡± Gianna hated hearing theseparisons, but Cynthia seemed to enjoy repeating them. Gianna stayed silent, but theparisons with Anastasia were bound to create resentment. Cynthia continued, ¡°Just now, I noticed that Anastasia¡¯s baby bump is quite pointy. It¡¯s definitely a boy. Once she gives birth, she¡¯ll have secured her ce as the wife of a wealthy family. Gianna, you should also be more ambitious. Women over thirty can¡¯tpete with those in their twenties¡­¡± ¡°Mom, not again.¡± Gianna was tired of hearing it. ¡°Are you trying to say that I¡¯m old and unattractive, and that I can¡¯tpare to Anastasia? She¡¯s married well and is about to have a son, but whether she can give birth or not is still uncertain.¡± Herst words wereced with jealousy, startling Cynthia. ¡°nna¡­ what do you mean by that?¡± Gianna didn¡¯t want to stay any longer. ¡°It means nothing. I¡¯m tired. I¡¯m going home to take a nap.¡± There were employees in the caf¨¦, so Gianna didn¡¯t have to stay. Feeling agitated, Gianna drove away, contemting how she could get closer to Herman. Suddenly, a bold idea crossed her mind: she wanted to be Herman¡¯s wife. She yearned for Herman to love her as he loved Anastasia. Nightfall arrived. Herman brought Anastasia back to Salstrom Manor. They left Pattie behind, fearing that Grannie Anita¡¯s harsh words might upset her. Knowing Anastasia wasing for dinner, Katelyn had prepared a feast in advance. Herman held Anastasia¡¯s hand as they entered the house. Katelyn greeted them with a smile, ¡°Ana, you¡¯re here. Have a seat. You must be tired.¡± Noticing Anastasia¡¯s bulging belly, Katelyn¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°Ana, Herman.¡± Flynn, dressed casually, came down from upstairs. Grannie Anita also came out of her room, leaning on her walking stick. Out of respect, Anastasia still greeted her, ¡°Hi, Grannie.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± To their surprise, Grannie Anita actually responded and didn¡¯t show any hostility towards Anastasia. She nced at Anastasia¡¯s belly and said, ¡°Let¡¯s eat. Pregnant women shouldn¡¯t be hungry.¡± Herman and Anastasia were taken aback by Grannie Anita¡¯s words. Had Grannie Anita epted Anastasia? Chapter 416 Chapter 416 Chapter 416 Grannie Anita had always been a stone-cold statue when it came to Anastasia. Her disapproval was always apparent. But today, there was a marked difference in her demeanor. Not only was she acknowledging Anastasia, she was also showing genuine concern. Herman and Anastasia exchanged a knowing nce. Herman, with a warm smile, guided Anastasia to her seat. Katelyn, visibly ecstatic, chimed in, ¡°I¡¯ve specially prepared a delicious chicken soup for you, Ana. I¡¯ll go fetch it.¡± Flynn, sitting opposite Herman, chuckled, ¡°Bro, you have no idea. Before you two got home, Grannie has mentioned several times how eager she is for a great-grandchild.¡± Grannie Anita, feigning embarrassment, lightly tapped Flynn with her walking stick and shot him a stern look. ¡°Can¡¯t you keep your mouth shut for once?¡± Flynnughed heartily, ¡°Look, Grannie is shy.¡± Grannie Anita turned to Anastasia and asked, ¡°When was yourst prenatal check-up? What did the doctor say? Boy or girl?¡± ¡°Just the day before yesterday. Everything is normal,¡± Anastasia responded earnestly. ¡°We didn¡¯t check the gender.¡± Herman added, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s a boy or a girl.¡± Grannie Anita nodded in agreement. Her previous preference for boys was now absent. ¡°Herman, this is your first child. Whether it¡¯s a boy or a girl, it¡¯s all the same. I was just asking. As long as the baby¡¯s healthy, that¡¯s good. Anastasia, eat up. Pregnant women are prone to low blood sugar. Don¡¯t starve yourself.¡± ¡°Thank you, Grannie,¡± Anastasia sighed in relief. Anastasia realized that Grannie Anita¡¯s change in attitude was due to familial bonds. The olddy¡¯s stubbornness was a manifestation of her love, and so was her letting go of prejudice. Katelyn presented the chicken soup. ¡°Ana, have a taste.¡± ¡°Mom, only Ana gets it?¡± Flynn joked, ¡°Looks like Herman and I are out of favor.¡± Katelyn rolled her eyes at Flynn. ¡°You¡¯re a grown man. Why do you need chicken soup? If you want it, bring me a daughter-inw.¡± Flynn, holding a te of pasta, retorted, ¡°I¡¯ll stick with my pasta then.¡± Katelynughed, ¡°You¡¯re hopeless.¡± The atmosphere during the meal was amicable, and Anastasia felt no pressure. She leaned towards Herman and whispered, ¡°Where¡¯s your Dad?¡± Just as she finished her sentence, Feiman¡¯s voice echoed from outside, ¡°Herman, Ana, you¡¯re here.¡± Feiman, beaming from ear to ear, held a bouquet of flowers as he walked towards Katelyn. ¡°For you, darling.¡± Katelyn¡¯s smile faded at Feiman¡¯s appearance. ¡°Find a vase yourself,¡± she said. Her tone was neither cold nor warm. She showed no intention of epting the flowers. This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Ever since Katelyn found out about Feiman¡¯s illegitimate child, she had been giving him the cold shoulder. Despite his numerous attempts to mend their rtionship, nothing seemed to work. Katelyn neither cried nor yelled. She simply ignored Feiman, treating him as if he didn¡¯t exist. This was far more torturous for him. Feiman seemed to have grown ustomed to the cold treatment. A hint of disappointment shed across his face before he sat down to eat. Grannie Anita nced at Feiman and muttered, ¡°Hopeless.¡± Feiman said nothing to defend himself. Caught in the middle of their parents¡¯ dispute, the younger generations found it hard to intervene. Herman remained silent, focusing on serving Anastasia the best parts of the meal. After dinner, Feiman tried to charm Katelyn with various methods. Herman and Anastasia sat in the living room, watching TV. Herman peeled an apple for Anastasia, cutting it into heart-shaped pieces. Anastasia couldn¡¯t help but smile as she took the apple pieces. Flynn teased, ¡°Are you trying to feed us lovey-dovey vibes? I just had dinner, and I can¡¯t eat anymore!¡± Herman retorted, ¡°Go away, single man.¡± Grannie Anita, watching from the background, felt a pang of sympathy seeing her beloved grandson catering to Anastasia. She put on a smile and approached Anastasia. ¡°Anastasia, it¡¯s gettingte. Why don¡¯t you stay the night?¡± Grannie Anita wasn¡¯t genuinely concerned about Anastasia¡¯s pregnancy. It was all an act to lower Herman and Anastasia¡¯s guards. Over the past few months, Grannie Anita had been busy. She had hired a private investigator and found evidence of Anastasia¡¯s infidelity. She was convinced that the child in Anastasia¡¯s belly was not Herman¡¯s. Chapter 417 Chapter 417 Chapter 417 If it was true, then this baby certainly couldn¡¯t stay. Grannie Anita watched Anastasia with affection-filled eyes, especially when her gaze fell on Anastasia¡¯s baby bump. Her acting was so convincing that she deserved an Oscar for Anastasia Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g nced at Herman, her eyes questioning his intentions. Despite being married into the Salstrom family for quite some time, she hadn¡¯t really spent a night well in the Salstrom house. Sensing Grannie Anita¡¯s desire for Anastasia to stay, Herman nodded in agreement. ¡°Alright, Anastasia and I will stay the night.¡± On hearing this, Grannie Anita, overjoyed, instructed the housekeeper to prepare the room. Flynn chimed in, ¡°Herman, Ana, Grannie hasn¡¯t been this happy in a long time. Why don¡¯t you just move back in? The house will be livelier.¡± Herman diverted the topic. ¡°When are you bringing a girlfriend home, Flynn? The house will be even more vibrant then.¡± Flynnughed, ¡°Why are you dragging me into this? I¡¯m not as lucky as you, bro, to have found a wonderful wife like Anastasia. I¡¯m going to bed before I be a third wheel.¡± After Flynn left, Grannie Anita, wearing a warm smile, advised Anastasia, ¡°Pregnantdies should walk a bit after meals. It helps with the delivery. Stand up and take a stroll.¡± All of Grannie Anita¡¯s words were centered around Anastasia and her unborn child¡¯s well-being. Anastasia, with a faint smile, replied, ¡°Sure. After every meal, Herman and I will take a walk in the yard.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Grannie Anita responded. ¡°Stay active, and rest well.¡± Anastasia wasn¡¯t quite used to Grannie Anita¡¯s sudden affectionate attitude. It was unsettling to see Grannie Anita¡¯s smiling face when Anastasia remembered how she usually behaved. Grannie Anita¡¯s concern for her that night was somewhat overwhelming. However, Anastasia didn¡¯t let it show, thinking she was probably overthinking. Herman took Anastasia for a walk in the yard, and Anastasia nced at Katelyn¡¯s room on the second floor. The room light was on, and the sound of Feiman talking to Katelyn could faintly be heard. Feiman¡¯s voice was a bit loud. Anastasia looked at Herman: ¡°Are they arguing?¡± Herman said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. The more they argue, the better.¡± Anastasia was pelplexed, ¡°Who would wish for their parents to fight?¡± Herman said, ¡°My mother has been holding it in for these few months. If she doesn¡¯t vent this anger, there will always be a grudge between the two.¡± The fact that a husband cheated and even had an illegitimate child is not an easy hurdle for anyone to ovee. In a marriage that she thought was loving and honest, she found out that she¡¯s deceived from the very beginning. Who can ept this? Anastasia didn¡¯t say anything more, refraining frommenting. After taking a stroll in the yard, Anastasia and Herman went to their room. Pregnant women¡¯s feet tend to swell. Anastasia would soak her feet in warm water every night before bed. As Herman was helping her with this, Grannie Anita spotted them from the hallway. The sight of Herman caring for Anastasia agitated her. Never had she seen her grandson so attentive to someone. He even washed a woman¡¯s feet. It was quite unbing. Anastasia, used to Herman¡¯s care, was glowing with happiness. The happier Anastasia looked, the more upset Grannie Anita felt. Upon noticing Grannie Anita, Herman called out, ¡°Grannie, why are you still up?¡± Seeing Grannie Anita, Anastasia quickly pulled her feet back, feeling slightly embarrassed. ¡°I was just heading to bed,¡± Grannie Anita responded. Her demeanor was changing rapidly. She wore a loving smile and said, ¡°Pregnancy can cause swollen feet. Herman, pregnancy is not easy for women. You must take good care of Anastasia.¡± Herman nodded, ¡°Mhm.¡± He too found Grannie Anita¡¯s sudden change of heart quite unreal. After Grannie Anita left, Herman went to dispose of the water while Anastasia pondered over Grannie Anita¡¯s words. Her unease was growing. Even if Grannie Anita cared for her great-grandson, seeing Herman wash Anastasia¡¯s feet couldn¡¯t possibly make her cheerful. This was highly irregr. Was this the same Grannie Anita who used to chew her out? Chapter 418 Chapter 418 Chapter 418 The more Anastasia thought about it, the more she felt that something was wrong. ¡°Let me give you a massage. I¡¯ve learned a few tricks.¡± Herman filled a ss of water and rolled up his sleeves. Anastasia chuckled, ¡°If I didn¡¯t know any better, I¡¯d think you were gearing up for a fight.¡± In front of Anastasia, Herman had no airs about him. To be precise, since the day she met him, she had never seen Herman as a CEO. What kind of down- to-earth billionaire would live with her in a small apartment, drive a cheap car, and eat instant noodles? Only after really getting to know Herman, did Anastasia realize what a gem of a man she had found. At home, he was a doting husband; in the business world, he was an authoritative tycoon. Everyone in Riverdale respected him? Who would¡¯ve thought the cold, aloof CEO would give his wife foot massages at home? Herman rubbed some essential oils on his hands, saying, ¡°A massage will help you sleep better.¡± Anastasia had some difficulty sleeping at night and could only sleep on her side. Smiling, Anastasia leaned back against the headboard. ¡°My dear husband, let¡¯s get started.¡± Herman chuckled and got to work. Anastasia teased him, ¡°So, how much is a membership here?¡± Herman yed along, ¡°A monthly membership costs a kiss. Annual membership requires a kiss plus an ¡®I love you¡¯, and our VIP service is exclusive to you.¡± Anastasiaughed, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going bankrupt then?¡± ¡°The reward is a gentle wife, so no matter how you look at it, it¡¯s a profitable deal. A good wife brings prosperity for a family.¡± Anastasia felt a warmth spread through her heart. Watching Herman massage her feet, she thought even the diforts of pregnancy were worth it. Herman never let her worry during her pregnancy. His careful attention made her feel good every day. Negative vibes? Not a chance. After bing pregnant, Anastasia joined a group for expecting mothers, many of whom were full of anxiety andints. Most of these anxieties andints came from having an inattentive and unsupportive husband. Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Anastasia chuckled, ¡°Gianna said today that I should hold on tight to a good man like you. You being such a great example has raised her standards. Now she finds everyone else unsuitable.¡± Herman smirked, ¡°Tell her next time. There¡¯s only one good husband like me in the world, and he¡¯s yours. No substitutes.¡± Anastasia grinned, ¡°Isn¡¯t that just asking for envy? Bragging about my own husband¡­ ouch, be gentle¡­¡± Herman had pressed too hard, causing Anastasia to cry out in pain. Herman immediately said in a worried tone, ¡°I¡¯ll be gentler.¡± Grannie Anita hadn¡¯t gone to bed yet. She was eavesdropping by the door. Hearing Anastasia cry out in pain and asking for gentleness, Grannie Anita¡¯s face darkened. She muttered to herself, ¡°Still so horny even while pregnant, exploiting my grandson.¡± Grannie Anita pressed her ear against the door, straining to hear. Anastasia¡¯s voice came again, ¡°Herman, I told you to be gentle. What if you hurt the baby? A little higher¡­ no, that¡¯s perfect. Feel so good¡­¡± Grannie Anita was furious. She thought, ¡°What a shameless slut. No wonder my grandson is so smitten.¡± Grannie Anita gritted her teeth. Her face was flushed. She couldn¡¯t listen anymore and stomped away. Inside the room, Herman was applying lotion to Anastasia¡¯s belly to prevent stretch marks. Herman¡¯s touch was gentle. He was slowly spreading the lotion with his thumb. The lotion was cool and refreshing, bringingfort to Anastasia. Suddenly, Anastasia felt the baby move and was overjoyed. ¡°Herman, the baby kicked me.¡± Herman saw it too. He was applying lotion and saw the baby kick Anastasia¡¯s belly. It looked like a tiny foot was poking out. Anastasia¡¯s belly bulged, marking the spot where the baby had kicked. This was the first time Herman had seen the baby move so clearly. His heart was filled with joy. He reached out to touch the bulging spot, and the baby kicked again. This kick hit Herman right in the softest spot of his heart. Herman smiled. His eyes were full of tenderness. ¡°This little one seems to be quite the mischief-maker.¡± Chapter 419 Chapter 419 Chapter 419 The tender movements of their unborn child brought a sense of anticipation and excitement to both Herman and Anastasia. Herman had already prepared a room for the baby. It was filled with the best and most expensive toys, clothes, and a crib. Anastasia¡¯s radiance during pregnancy was unmissable. Her skin was glowing. She seemed more gentle and graceful, and her feminine charm was more profound. After Anastasia had fallen asleep, Herman quietly went out to the living room for a smoke. He was particrly worried about these final two months. The closer they got to the end, the more crucial it was to remain vignt. Originally, the n was to let the baby stay in Anastasia¡¯s womb for seven months, but Anastasia wanted to try for eight months before having a C-section. Every additional day the baby spent in the womb, the better their immunity would be, and the better their overall development would be. Herman understood Anastasia¡¯s decision. What mother wouldn¡¯t want to give their child the best possible start? Throughout her pregnancy, Anastasia had gained about fifteen pounds, and she frequently suffered from back pain. She thought she could keep this secret from Herman,, but he knew better. As the baby grew bigger and the space in her womb became smaller, it added to Anastasia¡¯s burden. After finishing one cigarette, Herman was about to light a second one when Feiman appeared, looking disheveled in his pajamas. ¡°What¡¯s keeping you up, Herman?¡± Feiman asked casually. ¡°You¡¯re about to be a father. There¡¯s no need to look so worried.¡± Men always know each other best. Only a man with troubles would seek sce in a cigarette. Feiman was also nning on having a couple of cigarettes to help unwind. ¡°Thinking about some business matters,¡± Herman replied. ¡°Mom hasn¡¯t let you back into the bedroom yet?¡± ¡°Your mom is as stubborn as a mule,¡± Feiman grumbled, looking dejected. Katelyn still wouldn¡¯t let him sleep in their room. They¡¯d been sleeping separately for several months now. Even when he offered himself up for a good scolding, Katelyn refused to engage. She treated him like he was invisible. He had lost his temper and raised his voice earlier, but she continued to ignore him. Feiman lit a cigarette and sighed. ¡°Your mom¡¯s treating me like I¡¯m on death row, slowly torturing me with her cold indifference. What does she want, anyway? Anastasia has a daughter, and she¡¯s epted it. The whole family has. I have an illegitimate son, but suddenly it¡¯s like I¡¯vemitted a cardinal sin. Regretting his outburst, Feiman nced at Herman¡¯s reaction and quickly added, ¡°Herman, I didn¡¯t mean to speak ill of Anastasia.¡± Herman rose to his feet. His tone was nonchnt. ¡°I¡¯m going back to my room. You should head to bed too, dad.¡± Feiman wanted to have a heart-to-heart chat, and blow off some steam, but before they could even get started, he had managed to upset his eldest son. Feiman wanted to say something, but in the end, he just waved his hand, signaling Herman to go get some rest. The next day, Anastasia, ustomed to sleeping in during herst few months of pregnancy, forgot she was in Salstrom Manor and didn¡¯t wake up until almost ten. Herman had already left for work. Anastasia hastily got out of bed and headed downstairs. Grannie Anita was watching TV in the living room. Seeing Anastasia, she smiled and asked, ¡°Morning, This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. Anastasia. Did you sleep wellst night?¡± Even as she asked, Grannie Anita was internally cursing Anastasia for her tant disregard of decorum. She wondered howte into the night Anastasia had been with Herman, that she woke up thiste. ¡°Good morning, Grannie,¡± Anastasia replied politely. ¡°I slept very well.¡± Unable to hold her tongue, Grannie Anita pointed out, ¡°It¡¯s almost noon.¡± Feeling embarrassed, Anastasia was relieved when Katelyn walked in and said, ¡°Ana, you¡¯re awake. Herman told me to let you sleep in. Your breakfast is still warm in the kitchen. I¡¯ll have Sierra bring it out for you.¡± Anastasia was indeed hungry. ¡°Thank you.¡± As Anastasia headed to the dining room, Grannie Anita immediately got up and returned to her room. There, she pulled out a packet of some sort of medicine from her drawer. Grannie Anita had prepared this long ago. Ever since she found evidence of Anastasia¡¯s betrayal of Herman, she had bought this medicine. She intended to terminate Anastasia¡¯s pregnancy. She couldn¡¯t let Anastasia bring this child into the Salstrom family. Chapter 420 Chapter 420 Chapter 420 For the past several months, Grannie Anita had been trying to persuade Anastasia to visit her home. She had been asking Flynn about Anastasia¡¯s condition, hoping that Flynn would deliver the message to Anastasia and Herman that she was slowly epting her future great-grandchild. Last night, with Herman around, Grannie Anita couldn¡¯t find the opportunity to act, but now she finally had the chance. She wasn¡¯t about to let it slip away. Grannie Anita wasn¡¯t afraid of her n being exposed. Her first move was to eliminate the unborn child. She believed that her grandson would understand her intentions once her ploy was revealed. Grannie Anita didn¡¯t want to expose Anastasia right now, not only because she was afraid of alerting Anastasia and Herman, but also because she feared they wouldn¡¯t believe her, rendering her efforts useless. Grannie Anita slipped an abortion-inducing pill into a ss of water, followed by sugar. This was a potent drug she had procured from abroad. She knew that once Anastasia consumed it, it wouldn¡¯t take long for the unborn child to be expelled. Once all was prepared, Grannie Anita carried the ss to the dining room, where Anastasia was having her meal. Katelyn was showing Anastasia some new baby clothes she had bought, and the two were chatting andughing among themselves. ¡°Anastasia, have some water,¡± Grannie Anita said. Her smile was warm and motherly as she offered the ss to Anastasia. Anastasia was taken aback. ¡°Grandma, thank you for bringing me water.¡± ¡°You¡¯re carrying the future of the Salstrom family. It¡¯s my duty to ensure you¡¯refortable,¡± Grannie Anita replied. Her tone was light and jovial. ¡°Anastasia, drink up. I¡¯ve realized the error of my past ways. Nothing is more important than harmony within the family.¡± With Grannie Anita herself offering her water, Anastasia had no reason to refuse. However, she was taken aback by the elder woman¡¯s words. The stubborn Grannie Anita was epting her and even serving her water? Something felt off to Anastasia, so she hesitated to drink the water. Sensing Anastasia¡¯s hesitation, Grannie Anita urged her, ¡°Anastasia, drink up.¡± Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g ¡°Thank you, Grandma,¡± Anastasia replied, taking the ss. Katelyn, seeing Grannie Anita¡¯s change, encouraged Anastasia, ¡°Ana, drink up.¡± With Katelyn¡¯s assurance, Anastasia decided to drink the water. She reasoned that Grannie Anita would never harm her own great-grandchild. Just as she was about to take a sip, Anastasia noticed a strange smell. Ever since she had be pregnant, her sense of smell had be more sensitive. For some inexplicable reason, she didn¡¯t dare to drink the water and pretended to identally drop the ss onto the floor. The ss shattered, and Grannie Anita¡¯s face turned green with shock and anger. Anastasia noticed Grannie Anita¡¯s expression, more certain that something was wrong with the water. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Grandma,¡± Anastasia apologized. ¡°The baby just kicked. I was so surprised that I lost hold of the ss.¡± Katelyn quickly led Anastasia away from the broken ss. ¡°Ana, be careful not to step on the shards. Sierra,e clean this up.¡± Despite her inner turmoil, Grannie Anita managed to maintain a calm facade. ¡°It¡¯s just water. Be careful. Don¡¯t get hurt.¡± ¡°I should be going. I have a meeting with a friend,¡± Anastasia excused herself, eager to leave the Salstrom Manor. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll have the chauffeur drive you,¡± Katelyn replied. Once she was safely away from the manor, Anastasia felt a wave of relief. However, she couldn¡¯t shake off her uneasiness. She couldn¡¯t believe that Grannie Anita would harm her own great-grandchild. Despite her suspicions, Anastasia didn¡¯t dare to confide in Herman. Instead, she decided to share her concerns with Monica at the beauty salon. When Monica heard about Grannie Anita¡¯s odd behavior, she was shocked. ¡°Ana, do you think she is possessed? She didn¡¯t seem too happy when she found out you were pregnant.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what¡¯s bothering me too,¡± Anastasia admitted. ¡°Do you think she would harm my unborn child? The water smelled strange. It wasn¡¯t just normal water.¡± Chapter 421 Chapter 421 Chapter 421 Monica retorted, ¡°Come on, even if she doesn¡¯t like you, you¡¯re carrying Herman¡¯s baby. Don¡¯t the older folks always value family lineage? No matter how dissatisfied she might be with you, she wouldn¡¯t harm her own great-grandchild, would she?¡± Anastasia thought for a moment, then agreed, ¡°Maybe I¡¯m overthinking.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been overthinking a lot during this pregnancy,¡± Monica quipped, eyeing Anastasia¡¯s growing belly with curiosity. ¡°Ana, what¡¯s it like to be pregnant? Can I touch?¡± Laughing, Anastasia answered, ¡°Sure, go ahead.¡± Monica cautiously ced her hand on the bump, as if afraid to hurt the baby inside. Anastasiaughed again, ¡°You don¡¯t have to be that careful. Pregnancy is indeed tiring, but seeing your belly growing and knowing that your little one is healthy inside makes everything worthwhile.¡± ¡°That¡¯s wonderful,¡± Monica observed. ¡°Ana, it seems your struggles have finally paid off. By the way, Gianna came to my beauty salon a few days ago. She was very generous, probably to support my business because of you. She deposited $500,000 here. Her husband is practically a vegetable. What¡¯s the difference between his state and being dead? She¡¯s living life to the fullest now.¡± ¡°I attended the grand opening of her coffee shop yesterday. She looked radiant and absolutely youthful. I couldn¡¯t believe she¡¯s in her thirties,¡± Anastasia said. ¡°She had a few injection treatments, all premium imports,¡± Monica chuckled. ¡°Now she¡¯s one of my top clients. You know how it goes. Women always want to look their best when they¡¯re in love. I bet she¡¯s got someone special.¡± Anastasia shook her head. ¡°No, I asked her about that yesterday. She said she¡¯s not interested in anyone.¡± Monica wagged her finger. ¡°She¡¯s definitely not telling the truth. I¡¯ve got a sixth sense about these things. She is surely smitten with someone.¡± ¡°Whether she is or isn¡¯t, that¡¯s her personal matter. If she doesn¡¯t want to talk about it, I won¡¯t pry¡± Anastasia replied with a faint smile. ¡°But what about you? After yourst breakup, I haven¡¯t seen you with anyone new. Normally, you¡¯d be onto the next guy by now. What¡¯s different this time?¡± ¡°Men just seem so boring all of a sudden,¡± Monica shrugged. ¡°Guys like Herman are one in a million. It¡¯s hard toe by someone like him.¡± Anastasia teased, ¡°That¡¯s my fault? For showing you how perfect a man could be and making you lose faith in others?¡± ¡°Please, I¡¯m not interested in your man,¡± Monicaughed. ¡°Herman¡¯s not my type. He¡¯s too serious, too cold. And whenever I talk to him, I feel like I¡¯m talking to my dad. Always so careful. He¡¯s only in his thirties, but he talks like an old man.¡± True friends never fancy their best friend¡¯s man. The fearless Monica only had one fear her stern father. Anastasiaughed, ¡°With that logic, I suddenly feel I¡¯m your mother. Isn¡¯t that me taking advantage of you, right?¡± Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Monica rolled her eyes, ¡°Ana, Herman¡¯s been a bad influence on you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just concerned about your love life. Your motto is to move on quickly after a breakup,¡± Anastasia said. ¡°Monica, I worry about you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just dated a jerk and lost a few million. I¡¯ll just consider that to be charity work,¡± Monica dered. Then she added with a touch of schadenfreude, ¡°As for Trevor, I heard a wealthy old woman is keeping him. She¡¯s old enough to be his mother and weighs over 200 pounds. She¡¯s super horny Poor Trevor is nearly drained, and he¡¯s relying on medications to keep up. He tried to escape, but the woman keeps dragging him back and using more medications. He¡¯s truly paying for his actions.¡± Anastasia was taken aback. ¡°Seriously?¡± Even she couldn¡¯t resist a juicy piece of gossip. ¡°There¡¯s no point in mourning over a gigolo,¡± Monica said. ¡°I¡¯ll go with my family¡¯s arrangements in a couple of years and go on arranged dates.¡± ¡°Arranged dates can be good. You know the backgrounds of both parties so you can quickly understand each other¡­¡± Before Anastasia could finish her sentence, she received a call from Pattie¡¯s kindergarten. Pattie had caused some trouble there. Chapter 422 Chapter 422 Chapter 422 Pattie had just switched to a new kindergarten, which was a prestigious institution where each student came from a family of high standing. Upon hearing that Pattie had gotten herself into trouble, Anastasia rushed to the kindergarten. Monica, her loyal friend, drove Anastasia there. With her baby bump showing, Anastasia headed towards the kindergarten¡¯s office. The sound of a child¡¯s cries and a woman¡¯s relentless scolding could be heard even before she reached the door. ¡°Can you see what my child looks like now? What if his face is ruined? What is your kindergarten doing? How could you admit this kinds of students¡­¡± Anastasia walked into the room and nced at the relentless woman, who exuded an air of wealth and had clearly undergone several cosmetic surgeries. The woman was holding a chubby boy, who was a ssmate of Pattie¡¯s. He was known as ¡°Little This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Chubby¡± and the grandson of a bank director. Little Chubby¡¯s face and neck were covered in wounds. There was even a bite mark on his hand. He was crying inconsbly. Pattie stood in the corner. Her hair was disheveled and her clothes was torn. She was looking defiant. She too had scratches on her neck. Anastasia walked up to Pattie, with concern in her voice, ¡°Pattie, are you hurt anywhere?¡± Seeing Anastasia, Pattie managed to muster a smile. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m fine. Unlike some people, all they know is to cry. It¡¯s embarrassing.¡± Ever since Pattie was kidnapped, Herman sent her to learn Taekwondo. She had grown more confident and physically stronger. The woman was instantly displeased and snidely said to Anastasia, ¡°This is your child, isn¡¯t it? How do you educate her? She beat up my son so badly. She¡¯s so ill-mannered. Do you know who my son¡¯s grandfather is?¡± Anastasia replied coolly, ¡°Ma¡¯am, regardless of who your son¡¯s grandfather is, it takes two to tango. If my daughter is at fault, I will discipline her. But if anyone tries to bully her, I won¡¯t stand for it.¡± Anastasia asked Pattie, ¡°Tell me, what happened? Why did you fight with your ssmate?¡± ¡°Mom, I was the one who hit first. Chubby called me a wild child, an illegitimate child, I¡¯m not an illegitimate child. I have parents. I told him to stop, but he didn¡¯t. So, I hit him. I¡¯m sorry, Mom. I started the fight. But we agreed to a fair fight.¡± Upon hearing this, Anastasia was shocked and felt a surge of anger. Her daughter had been called an illegitimate child at kindergarten. The woman immediately started toin, ¡°Did you hear that? Your child started the fight. She¡¯s so rude. She beat up my son so badly. You must give me an exnation today.¡± Anastasia turned to the teacher and asked, ¡°When did this kind of rumor start circting here?¡± The teacher replied awkwardly, ¡°I also heard about this. I don¡¯t know how these rumors started. Last week, Pattie told me about it. I scolded the students who insulted her. I thought it was over, but today, Pattie got into another fight.¡± Anastasia asked Pattie, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± Pattie pouted, ¡°It¡¯s our business as kids. I wanted to solve it myself. Didn¡¯t you say that adults should not interfere in kids¡¯ conflicts?¡± Anastasia had indeed taught her that. Pattie pointed at Little Chubby and said, ¡°Chubby, you¡¯re so embarrassing. We agreed on a fair fight. You lost and told the teacher. I despise you. I didn¡¯t even cry.¡± Pattie was much smaller than Little Chubby. It was unbelievable that she could make him cry. The Taekwondo lessons had indeed been useful. Little Chubby was about to cry again, but Pattie shouted, ¡°If you cry again, I¡¯ll beat you up every time I see you.¡± Stunned, Little Chubby actually shut up. Anastasia was speechless. Monica couldn¡¯t help butugh. Pattie was indeed a feisty little girl. Little Chubby¡¯s mom was shocked. Her son, who was a little devil at home, had been beaten and silenced by a little girl. She poked Little Chubby¡¯s forehead in frustration. ¡°What a disgrace.¡± Little Chubby tugged at his mom¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Mom, let¡¯s go home.¡± His mom was not ready to let it go. She told the teacher, ¡°My son is injured like this. You should handle it. Expel that child, make her kneel and apologize to my son. Otherwise, I will ask my father-inw to withdraw his funding. Let¡¯s see how your kindergarten can continue.¡± The teacher was caught in the middle. ¡°Let¡¯s calm down. It¡¯s quite normal for kids to fight. Let¡¯s sit down and clear up the misunderstanding.¡± Anastasia walked a few steps forward, holding Pattie¡¯s hand, and said coldly to the woman, ¡°An apology is indeed necessary. But it should be your son apologizing to my daughter.¡± The womanughed sarcastically, ¡°You must be kidding. You want my son to apologize? Do you know who my father-inw is?¡± Anastasia shed a tight smile. ¡°No matter who your father-inw is, your son insulted my daughter. He must apologize.¡± The woman¡¯s face was twisted in a smirk. She was ready to retort, when the teacher quickly pulled her aside and whispered, ¡°Mr. Wendy, this is Mrs. Salstrom from Elysian Technologies.¡± At that, Wendy¡¯s haughty demeanor instantly melted into a mix of shock and awe. The way she looked at Anastasia was totally transformed. In that moment, Anastasia realized the harsh reality: when you have power and influence, right or wrong doesn¡¯t matter anymore. People are just so pragmatic and opportunistic. One sentence had entirely flipped the situation around. Wendy¡¯s face changed quicker than a summer storm, immediately blossoming into a friendly smile. ¡°Oh, Mrs. Salstrom. This must be your daughter? She is absolutely stunning. I¡¯m Wendy, the daughter- inw of the CEO of First Bank. Let¡¯s connect on Whatsapp, shall we?¡± People wear many masks. The ability to switch masks quickly and tactically was something Wendy was outstandingly good at. She was the first such person Anastasia had ever met. In the end, Wendy made her chubby son apologize to Pattie. She didn¡¯t demand ofpensation, just cheerfully led her son away. any kind The oue was rather theatrical. Anastasia finally understood the truth that when ordinary people tried so hard, and exhausted all their abilities for a fair treatment or an apology, the wealthy just thought it was a trivial matter that could be easily waved away. The trouble was gone. Anastasia¡¯s next task was to find out where the rumor had originated from. With the teacher¡¯s cooperation, they started questioning every student in the ss and managed to trace it back to the source. The rumor that Pattie was illegitimate hade from a boy named Cameron. Anastasia personally questioned Cameron, and managed to get some useful information. Cameron was just a kid, unable to keep secrets. With a little coaxing, he spilled the beans. ¡°My aunt told me,¡± he said. Anastasia pressed on. ¡°What¡¯s her name?¡± Chapter 424 Chapter 424 Chapter 424 Julie rose to her feet and headed towards the sound of the ringing phone. Her every step was causing Anastasia to hold her breath. The click-cking of Julie¡¯s heels got louder and louder, making it harder for Anastasia to breathe. Julie walked over to check behind a pir, but found nothing except the distant chatter of a man on his phone echoing down the hallway. She nced at the man, a beefy stranger she didn¡¯t recognize, and paid him no mind before heading back. Anastasia only emerged from her hiding spot behind the fire exit after Julie had left. She had quickly hidden herself there when Julie had approached. Exhausted and shaken, Anastasia slowly made her way towards the lounge of the clubhouse. Meanwhile, Grannie Anita, seeing Julie return, asked, ¡°Who was that, dear?¡± ¡°Just a stranger passing by, on his phone.¡± Julie replied. She then asked, ¡°Grannie, where will Herman be staying tonight? When should I join him?¡± ¡°No rush, darling. He¡¯ll be at the Ritz Hotel. You can head overter, probably around ten when his business wraps up. We have a room booked for him to rest in. When he¡¯s settled, you can use this key card to join him.¡± Grannie Anita said with a twinkle in her eye, ¡°Best case scenario, you give me a big, chubby grandson.¡± ¡°Grannie,¡± Julie said, blushing and lowering her head. She then asked, ¡°What about the child in Anastasia¡¯s belly¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s not your concern. I¡¯ll handle it. She dodged a bullet today, but she won¡¯t be so lucky next time.¡± Grannie Anita huffed, ¡°I¡¯ve arranged for some medicine to be delivered in a few days. I¡¯ll find a way to make her ingest it. No bastard child shall tarnish the Salstrom name. I swear, I¡¯ll throw her and that illegitimate girl out.¡± Grannie Anita saw Anastasia as a stain on the Salstrom family¡¯s honor, and she was determined to cleanse her family¡¯s name. Sensing Grannie Anita¡¯s hatred for Anastasia, Julie felt a surge of joy. With Grannie Anita as her ally, she didn¡¯t need to lift a finger against Anastasia. She just had to wait for her turn to be Mrs. Salstrom. Meanwhile, Anastasia had found a corner to sit and digest what she had just heard. Grannie Anita was a snake in the grass. She didn¡¯t care for her at all. Instead, she was plotting to set Julie up with Herman. Anastasia couldn¡¯t let that happen. ¡°Anastasia, there you are! I¡¯ve been looking for you. Why didn¡¯t you pick up your phone?¡± Lauren asked, sitting down with a smile. ¡°By the way, why were you looking for Julie?¡± ¡°I was in the restroom, so I didn¡¯t hear my phone.¡± Anastasia lied casually, ¡°I needed to talk to her about something, but it¡¯s not important now. Oh, and Lauren, don¡¯t tell anyone was here, okay?¡± ¡°Anastasia, what are you up to? You¡¯re acting all secretive.¡± Anastasia hinted, ¡°Just taking out the trash.¡± Lauren was even more confused. Soon, night fell. Anastasia received a call from Herman, who told her about his engagement for the evening and asked her to rest early. Herman always informed her about his activities ¨C who he was meeting, where they¡¯d be. The venue for tonight¡¯s event was located at the Ritz Hotel, the same ce Grannie Anita nned to set Julie up with Herman. Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g Anastasia arrived at the Ritz Hotel early, and meanwhile, Julie was also eagerly heading to the same ce. She had dressed provocatively and sprayed herself with a special perfume that had aphrodisiac effects. Once Herman got a whiff of her,bined with the effects of alcohol, she was certain she¡¯d have him. Julie booked a room and waited. Around ten, she received a text from Grannie Anita. ¡°Room 1122. That¡¯s where Herman is. The key card will be delivered to you shortly.¡± Herman was drunk and had been escorted back to his room by Nelson to sleep it off. Receiving the message, Julie was thrilled. After a while, as promised, a hotel employee delivered the key card to her. Chapter 425 Chapter 425 Chapter 425 Julie took the key card, barely able to contain her excitement any longer. She sprayed herself with perfume, slipped on her coat, and headed out. ording to the n she had concocted with Grannie Anita, once she entered the room and got things underway, Grannie Anita would pretend toe to pick up Herman and catch him in the act with Julie. That way, Herman wouldn¡¯t be able to deny anything, and Grannie Anita would have the perfect leverage to force him to divorce Anastasia. Julie could already envision herself marrying Herman. Her heart was bubbling with joy. Upon arriving at room 1122, Julie found the door slightly ajar. The room was dark, and Julie quickly shut the door behind her without turning on the lights. If Herman saw her face, the n might be ruined. Borrowing the light from outside the window, Julie noticed a figure on the bed. She slowly approached, ¡°Herman?¡± Before she could get a good look at the person on the bed, a hand reached out, pulling her into a warm embrace. ¡°You smell good.¡± The deep voice, coupled with the sudden immersion into a man¡¯s arms, sent Julie¡¯s heart racing. She didn¡¯t even bother to identify the voice. It sounded enough like Herman. And after all, this was all arranged by Grannie Anita. Julie had no reason to doubt. She was confident the man was Herman. The sudden happiness made her almost oblivious, leaving no room for overthinking. ¡°Herman.¡± Julie took the initiative, wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning in for a kiss. Julie¡¯s sensual figure, mixed with the intoxicating perfume, left the man defenseless. Like a ravenous wolf, he couldn¡¯t resist devouring Julie, iming her with a fervor. Julie had never felt such joy before, passionately calling out, ¡°Herman, Herman, I love you. I¡¯m your woman now. I¡¯m so happy¡­¡± Next door. A slightly sober Herman was puzzled. ¡°Why are you here, Ana?¡± ¡°If I didn¡¯te, you¡¯d be hooking up with Julie now,¡± Anastasia stated, a bit annoyed. ¡°You need to learn to protect yourself when you¡¯re out, Herman. This is the second time I¡¯m reminding you. From now on, no more alcohol.¡± Drinking could lead to trouble. Herman had almost been tricked before during a business trip to Crescent Bay, and now he had almost fallen into Grannie Anita¡¯s trap. Suddenly apprehensive, Herman took Anastasia¡¯s hand, coaxing her gently, ¡°Honey, what happened? Why would I be with Julie?¡± ¡°Are you sober yet? If you are, brace yourself for a show. I¡¯m guessing Grannie Anita is waiting downstairs at the hotel right now.¡± Anastasia¡¯s words only confused Herman more. Julie, Grannie Anita, hooking up¡­ It didn¡¯t take Herman long to connect the dots. ¡°Grannie set this up?¡± Anastasia chuckled scornfully, ¡°What do you think? If I didn¡¯te today, would you fall into the trap and betray me?¡± After the social event, Herman had been helped back to room 1122 by Nelson to rest. The vignt Anastasia immediately moved Herman from room 1122 to room 1123 next door to sober up. Herman never thought Grannie Anita could be so foolish. He held Anastasia¡¯s hand, ¡°Honey, I promised you. You¡¯re the only woman in my life, and I¡¯ll never touch alcohol again. I¡¯ll go and confront Grannie about thister.¡± If Grannie Anita continued being so unsupportive, Herman wouldn¡¯t never bring Anastasia back to Salstrom Manor. Just as Anastasia predicted, Grannie Anita was waiting downstairs in the hotel. After about forty or fifty minutes, she felt that enough time had passed, and finally went upstairs. Grannie Anita was overjoyed, as if she was about to hold her great-grandchild. She had the hotel staff help open the door and walked in alone, leaving the driver to wait outside. This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. Grannie Anita turned on the light cheerfully. ¡°Herman, why did you drink so much? Grannie¡¯s here to take you home¡­¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Grannie Anita saw the man lying on the bed. She froze, and her voice was shaking, ¡°Why is it you¡­¡± Chapter 426 Chapter 426 Chapter 426 The harsh light had the man on the bed instinctively shielding his eyes. He grumbled irritably, ¡°Get out.¡± ¡°What on earth are you doing here? Where¡¯s Herman, my grandson?¡± Grannie Anita stared at the man in front of her in disbelief. Wasn¡¯t this Herman¡¯s hotel room? Why was Joseph the one lying on the bed? At the flick of the light switch, Julie had already burrowed under the covers out of embarrassment. But when she heard the unexpected voice and saw that it was Joseph, not Herman, she gasped in shock. ¡°Oh my God! Why is it you, Joseph?¡± Julie was shell-shocked. She thought it was Herman. How did it turn out to be Joseph? Joseph had been roused by themotion and sat up, gazing at the two people in the room, equally stupefied. He knew Herman was wining and dining with Mr. Jarod from WOW Corporation tonight, so he had followed him. When he saw Herman being escorted back to his room, he entered as the door was left ajar. Once he stepped into the room, Joseph noticed the peculiar scent. He lost control. His body was burning up. When Julie appeared, he didn¡¯t even recognize her, using her to relieve his difort. To ensure everything would go smoothly, Grannie Anita had arranged for an aphrodisiac fragrance to be ced in the room. It was originally intended for Herman, but Joseph had unwittingly walked into the trap. When Joseph realized it was Julie, he didn¡¯t act surprised. Instead, he smirked, ¡°You smell rather nice.¡± Julie was livid. She grabbed a pillow and started to hit Joseph. ¡°You bastard, I¡¯m going to sue you.¡± Joseph dodged her attack, sneering, ¡°If I remember correctly, you were quite cooperative. You can¡¯t im innocence when you¡¯re wearing that perfume. It was consensual. What are you suing me for?¡± Julie felt a wave of guilt and disgust. She had intended to give herself to Herman, and she couldn¡¯t ept this oue. Grannie Anita interjected when she heard Julie¡¯s threat to sue Joseph, ¡°Julie, calm down. This has already happened. Making a scene won¡¯t do you any good. I will handle this.¡± Joseph was a descendant of the Salstrom family. Grannie Anita had been encouraging Feiman to bring him back to the family, but Feiman hesitated because of Katelyn¡¯s feelings. Whether he was officially acknowledged or not, Joseph was still a Salstrom. Julie couldn¡¯t just sue him. Regardless of how things had turned out, Julie had lost her virginity to a Salstrom. Grannie Anita signaled for Joseph to leave as she tried to console Julie. Joseph had no time to deal with Julie¡¯s meltdown, and he didn¡¯t even consider taking responsibility for what happened. He just quickly dressed and left. ¡°Joseph, you bastard!¡± Julie screamed. She wanted to chase after him but realized she was still naked. Then she hid back under the covers. Just then, a familiar voice came from the doorway. ¡°Well, this is unexpected. I didn¡¯t realize you and Ms. Brown were¡­ involved.¡± The voice¡­ came from Herman. Hearing Herman¡¯s voice, Julie wished she could disappear. How could she let Herman see her like this? But she couldn¡¯t hide. What if Herman misunderstood her rtionship with Joseph? Julie quickly got dressed and rushed out to exin, only to see Anastasia standing next to Herman. At that moment, Julie felt like she was going crazy. ¡°Why are you here? Did you set me up, Anastasia? You¡¯re so cruel.¡± Anastasia scoffed, ¡°Ms. Brown, who you choose to sleep with has nothing to do with me. I¡¯m just here to pick up my husband. Don¡¯t go around biting people like a rabid dog.¡± Anastasia had no sympathy for Julie. She had wanted to confront Julie earlier that day. Although she didn¡¯t know why Julie ended up with Joseph, she was satisfied with the oue. It was a case of hoisting oneself with one¡¯s own petard. Seeing Julie disrespect Anastasia, Herman¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Are you saying that your encounter with Joseph wasn¡¯t consensual, Ms. Brown? Is there more to this story? Perhaps we should call the police and let them sort this out.¡± His words silenced Julie. She couldn¡¯t possibly involve the police. It would be humiliating. Once it was exposed, what would she do if her story w spread? She had used the aphrodisiac perfume, and she had worked with Grannie Anita to hotel room key. Even if the security footage was reviewed, it would just show her wi entering the room. If she imed she was coerced, who would believe her? And if word got out that she was raped, it would ruin her reputation. Being known as the woman who was ¡°raped¡± versus the woman who ¡°spent the night with her This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. boyfriend¡±, Julie knew which one sounded better. Grannie Anita was too scared to leave the room. How was she going to exin this to her grandson? But Herman wasn¡¯t going to let Grannie Anita off the hook. He called out to her, ¡°Granny, it¡¯s getting Hearing Herman¡¯s voice, Grannie Anita felt guilty as sin. After a long pause, she finally emerged from the room, stammering, ¡°Herman, what are you doing here?¡± Herman stared at Grannie Anita with a nk expression, pretending to be ignorant. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you resting at home, Granny? Why are you here?¡± Grannie Anita chuckled nervously, ¡°I heard you had too much to drink. I was worried about you, so I came to pick you up. Weren¡¯t you supposed to be staying in room 1122? How did youe in from outside?¡± Grannie Anita would never admit to plotting against her own grandson. Herman¡¯s voice was frosty, ¡°Grandma, you must have misremembered. I¡¯m in room 1123. It¡¯s quitete. Let me take you home.¡± ¡°Must be my old age ying tricks on me,¡± Grannie Anita chuckled, a bit flustered. ¡°No need, I¡¯ll have the chauffeur drive me. I¡¯ll be on my way.¡± She shot Julie a look, hinting for her to keep her mouth shut. She left the scene with the chauffeur. Julie was left in a mix of anger and frustration. There was no way she would admit that she and Grannie Anita had conspired against Herman. Not in front of him, anyway. After Grannie Anita¡¯s departure, which was followed by Herman and Anastasia, only Joseph and Julie remained. Leaning against the door frame, Joseph shot her a mischievous grin, ¡°Shall we continue where we left off? Once or twice, it¡¯s all the same, isn¡¯t it?¡± He had a fair idea of what had happened and it was quite a surprise. He hadn¡¯t anticipated that Grannie Anita and Julie would resort to such a clumsy scheme to trap Herman. Julie red at him furiously. ¡°You jerk, why did you have to show up and ruin everything?¡± The thought of losing her virginity to Joseph made her blood boil. It didn¡¯t matter that they shared the samest name or that he was quite handsome and fit. Joseph was suddenly intrigued. He shut the door, with a smirk tugging at his lips. ¡°You seemed quite enthusiastic earlier. Didn¡¯t enjoy yourself?¡± Chapter 427 Chapter 427 Chapter 427 ¡°What are you up to, Joseph? One more step and I¡¯m calling the police.¡± Joseph¡¯s act of closing the door made Julie fearful. ¡°Then go ahead. Let everyone know that the heiress of the Brown family is fucked by me, the bastard of the Salstrom family, right in this hotel.¡± ¡°You¡¯re despicable.¡± Julie, enraged, pped Joseph across the face. Joseph was instantly furious. He caught Julie¡¯s hand, forcefully threw her on the bed, and pinned her down. ¡°Joseph, let go of me! You¡­ you bastard!¡± Julie struggled vehemently, but eventually, her body betrayed her defiance. After having sex with her, Joseph dressed and left. Juliey on the bed, staring at the crystal chandelier above. The hatred was boiling within her. A lone tear slid down her cheek. Anastasia was to me. She had ruined everything for her, manipted her. If it hadn¡¯t been for Anastasia, she would have been Herman¡¯s wife, not at the mercy of Joseph. ¡°Anastasia, I¡¯ll make you pay,¡± Julie murmured. Her fists clenched tightly around the bed sheets, and the hatred in her eyes was fierce and unyielding. Southridge Estates. Anastasia eyed Herman as he stepped out of the bathroom. ¡°Did you set up Julie and Joseph tonight?¡± She knew Julie would be there, so she had hurriedly taken Herman away as soon as he entered the room. However, she hadn¡¯t expected Julie to end up entangled with Joseph. Herman, d in a bathrobe, toweled his hair dry. ¡°I didn¡¯t know Julie would be there. The room smelled of aphrodisiacs. If it was Grannie Anita¡¯s doing, then the aphrodisiacs would have been her idea too.¡± He was nearly the victim of a plot. How could he be the one setting traps for others? Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. Anastasia didn¡¯t respond. Today¡¯s events had proven that Grannie Anita had no intention of epting her. Herman wrapped his arms around her from behind. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Anastasia.¡±. Anastasia understood that he was apologizing on behalf of Grannie Anita. ¡°Let¡¯s sleep. I¡¯m tired.¡± Anastasia gently pushed Herman away andid down to rest. Herman stared at Anastasia¡¯s back in silence. After a moment, he changed into his pajamas, turned off the lights, and climbed into bed, wrapping his arms around her like he always did. Anastasia was still awake. When Herman¡¯s arms encircled her, all her resentment and anger melted away. She was carrying their child, a Salstrom heir, but Grannie Anita had chosen this time to create such a mess. How could Anastasia not feel hurt? As her husband, how could Herman not understand Anastasia¡¯s feelings? The next day. The couple maintained their usual routine. Herman would rise early, have breakfast with Anastasia, then drop Pattie off at school on his way to the office. Anastasia stood at the door, watching them leave. Once they were gone, she listlessly returned to her bedroom. Salma, seeing that something was amiss, followed her into the room. ¡°Ana, how about we go for a walk in the park today?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feel like it,¡± Anastasia replied. ¡°I have to go to the restroom a lot. I don¡¯t want to move.¡± Salma smiled. ¡°What do you feel like eating? I¡¯ll go get it for you.¡± ¡°Mom, I¡¯m not really hungry. Is there something you want to talk about?¡± ¡°I just noticed you¡¯re preupied and thought a walk might help.¡± Salma said, ¡°Tell me what¡¯s wrong.¡± Anastasia avoided her gaze. ¡°There¡¯s nothing wrong.¡± ¡°Your troubles are written all over your face.¡± Salma sat down next to her. ¡°Pattie told me she got into a fight at school yesterday.¡± ¡°That did happen,¡± Anastasia admitted. ¡°But it¡¯s been resolved. It was just kids being kids.¡± Anastasia didn¡¯t want Salma to worry, so she didn¡¯t tell her the whole truth. Just then, their housekeeper Katie brought in some sliced fruit. ¡°Madam, there¡¯s been a man loitering around our front gate recently. He seems suspicious. Should we call the police?¡± ¡°A man?¡± Anastasia was intrigued. ¡°Howe I¡¯ve never seen him? What does he look like?¡± Chapter 428 Chapter 428 Chapter 428 Katie described, ¡°He¡¯s around thirty, about 180 centimeters in height, medium build, with blond curly hair. I¡¯ve seen him several times, even at night.¡± At this, Anastasia¡¯s rm bells went off. ¡°Katie, why didn¡¯t you say something before? When did you start seeing him?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think much of it at first, so I forgot to mention it,¡± Katie recalled. ¡°I think it was about a month ago. I saw him climbing out of our backyard. I thought he was a burr, so I confronted him. He said he dropped something in our yard and was retrieving it. I didn¡¯t suspect anything at the time. Butst night, I saw him lurking around our front door again.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s check the surveince footage,¡± Anastasia suggested quickly. They hadn¡¯t lost anything from the house recently, so it didn¡¯t seem like burry. Salma admitted, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen him.¡± If it hadn¡¯t been for Katie¡¯s disclosure, Anastasia would have beenpletely unaware. Anastasia pulled up the surveince footage and searched for the time Katie mentioned. Sure enough, the footage showed a man skulking around their front door. The man was wearing a hat and a mask. He climbed into the yard around nine o¡¯clock the previous Content protected by N?v/el(D)rama.Org. evening, sat on the porch steps for a while, and then climbed back out. ¡°Not a burr?¡± Anastasia was puzzled. He climbed in but didn¡¯t steal anything. What was he doing? To be precise, the man did nothing that could be seen on the video. Salma noted, ¡°I was home at that timest night. I was in the art studio with Pattie, helping her paint.¡± Anastasia turned to Salma, ¡°Mom, did you hear anythingst night?¡± ¡°No,¡± Salma shook her head. ¡°Not a sound.¡± Katie added, ¡°He always stays by the door. I only saw him climb out of the yard once, and he didn¡¯t seem to be carrying anything stolen.¡± Anastasia stared at the screen, deep in thought. ¡°Who is this man?¡± She didn¡¯t recognize him. She watched the footage again and again but still couldn¡¯t figure out what he was doing. Whether they had lost anything or not, Anastasia had to tell Herman about the intruder. This was not a trivial matter. Anastasia sent a screenshot of the video to Herman, with a note: ¡°Katie said she first saw this man lurking around our house about a month ago.¡± They had not lived in their new house for long. At this time, Herman, after dropping Pattie at school, was on his way to Salstrom Manor. Last night, Grannie Anita had slipped away with a flimsy excuse. Herman had held his tongue, not wanting to embarrass her in front of Anastasia. But he had to find Grannie Anita. Seeing Anastasia¡¯s message, he frowned and handed the screenshot to Dailey. ¡°Find out who this man is.¡± Salstrom Manor. Ever since she returnedst night, Grannie Anita had felt uneasy. She had made a mess of things. Julie had ended up in bed with Joseph. Julie was supposed to be interested in Herman. Now Grannie Anita was worried about what Julie might do. This was all part of her scheme, after all. ¡°Mom, what¡¯s the matter?¡± Feiman was about to leave the house. Seeing his mother sitting on the living room sofa, lost in thought, he asked curiously. Grannie Anita, immersed in her thoughts, jumped at his voice. ¡°Son, you scared me out of my wits!¡± Feiman sat down. ¡°Mom, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Nothing. Just go,¡± Grannie Anita waved him off impatiently. She was still pondering over Julie and Joseph¡¯s affair. She stopped Feiman, ¡°When are you going to acknowledge Joseph? It¡¯s pitiful. He¡¯s lost his mother, and he¡¯s a Salstrom. He shouldn¡¯t be left out in the cold.¡± ¡°Mom, why are you bringing this up again?¡± Feiman frowned. ¡°Katelyn¡¯s still mad at me. It¡¯s been months, but she¡¯s not forgiven me yet. Don¡¯t mention Joseph.¡± ¡°Why should an outsider like her stop me from weing a Salstrom into my home?¡± Grannie Anita huffed. ¡°Listen to me. Acknowledge Joseph. Not only that, but we should also start arranging his marriage. Joseph¡¯s not getting any younger. It¡¯s time he settled down.¡± ¡°Mom, be careful not to say this in front of Katelyn. And don¡¯t meddle in this. I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± Feiman was not going to let Grannie Anita mess things up. ¡°I was wrong in the first ce. How can I bring Joseph home without Katelyn¡¯s consent?¡± ¡°What if she doesn¡¯t agree? Is she going to divorce you?¡± Grannie Anita¡¯s voice rose, ¡°Feiman, you¡¯re my son. It¡¯s only natural that¡­ Before she could finish, the butler came over. ¡°Grannie Anita, Mr. Herman is back.¡± Hearing that Herman was back, Grannie Anita, who had been full of energy, suddenly feigned weakness. She clung to Feiman¡¯s arm. ¡°Son, help me to my room to rest. I think I¡¯m ill.¡± Herman¡¯s frosty voice echoed, ¡°Grandmother, your illness is in your mind. Rest won¡¯t cure Chapter 429 Chapter 429 Chapter 429 Herman walked in, with a cool aloofness in his stance. Grannie Anita was tensed up at his presence. She even didn¡¯t dare to look at him directly, let alone greet him with her usual warmth. Everyone knew how much Grannie Anita adored her grandson, Herman. Feiman, noticing Grannie Anita avoiding Herman¡¯s gaze and hearing Herman¡¯s stern tone, immediately guessed that something was amiss. Grannie Anita had stirred up trouble again. Herman approached Grannie Anita. Looking down at her with a cold stare, he asked, ¡°Dear Grandmother, please tell me, what exactly are you up to?¡± His formal address to her indicated the gravity of the situation. Grannie Anita, feeling guilty, lowered her gaze and started fiddling with her fingers. She couldn¡¯t help but sneak nces at Herman from the corner of her eyes. Herman¡¯s expression was icy, and for the first time, Feiman saw him using such a tone with Grannie Anita. Feiman intervened, ¡°Herman, that¡¯s not the right way to speak to Grandma¡­¡± Then Feiman turned to Grannie Anita, ¡°Mom, what have you done now?¡± Grannie Anita, feigning illness, ced a hand on her head. ¡°Oh my, my head is throbbing. Feiman, help me to my room. I need to lie down.¡± Realizing Grannie Anita was faking and fearful of a confrontation, Feiman prepared to assist her upstairs. Herman then spoke sternly, ¡°Grandma, it seems you didn¡¯t take my words to heart. Let me repeat myself. If you dare to meddle with my marriage to Anastasia again, I, Herman, will disown you as my grandmother.¡± His casual tone belied the harshness of his words, leaving Grannie Anita and Feiman- stunned. Grannie Anita, shocked and heartbroken, stared at Herman. She stood up. Her frail body was trembling. Tears welled up in her eyes as she said, ¡°Herman, I¡¯m your grandmother. I raised you. When you were sick and refused to take your medicine, Iforted you, and I fed you. you. When you had a fever, I stayed up for two nights straight. When you were learning to walk, I held your hand, afraid you might fall. When you fell into the pond as a child, I jumped in to save you¡­¡± As she spoke, tears fell from her eyes. Feiman quickly signaled Herman, ¡°Apologize to Grandma. That¡¯s not the right way to talk to her.¡± Of course, Herman had no intentions of disowning Grannie Anita. However, he needed her to understand the consequences of her actions. Grannie Anita had been causing too much trouble, and if this continued, his marriage to Anastasia would definitely be affected. Herman, expressionless, said, ¡°Grandma, I appreciate everything you¡¯ve done for me, but that doesn¡¯t give you the right to interfere in my marriage. I¡¯ve already warned you that Anastasia¡¯s pregnancy is delicate. I asked you to show some empathy. Even if you don¡¯t like her, at least respect her. But what did you do yesterday?¡± Herman¡¯s prating gaze made Grannie Anita look away guiltily. Katelyn, hearing themotion from upstairs, came down. Upon hearing Herman¡¯s words, she quickly walked over. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Herman, why are you speaking to Grandma like this? She¡¯s epted Anastasia now. She even personally poured her a ss of water as an apology yesterday.¡± Ignoring Katelyn¡¯s words, Herman continued to question Grannie Anita. His tone was icy, ¡°You¡¯ve been asking Nelson about my whereabouts. You arranged for me to stay in room. 1122, and you had Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g aphrodisiac candles lit in there. Grandma, did you ever consider Anastasia, who is carrying my child, when you were plotting against me? Do you realize the impact your actions could have on my marriage?¡± Feiman and Katelyn were taken aback. Katelyn asked, ¡°What aphrodisiac candles? What¡¯s this about room 1122? Herman, what¡¯s going on?¡± Unable to withstand the questioning, Grannie Anita blurted out, ¡°I arranged it all. I wanted to match you with Julie. I did it for your sake, Herman. I didn¡¯t do anything wrong. I was trying to help you. The baby that Anastasia is carrying isn¡¯t yours.¡± Chapter 430 Chapter 430 Chapter 430 Grannie Anita¡¯s words struck the air like a bolt of lightning. Katelyn and Feiman¡¯s faces paled significantly. Only Herman remained unfazed. Feiman asked anxiously, ¡°Mom, what do you mean? Is the baby not from our Salstrom bloodline?¡± Katelyn too, nervously questioned, ¡°How is that possible, mom? Who¡¯s been feeding you such nonsense? Don¡¯t go around spreading rumors. Just yesterday you epted Ana. Why are you changing your tune now?¡± Grannie Anita stood tall and spoke with a righteous tone, ¡°Every word I say is true. I have evidence of Anastasia¡¯s infidelity.¡± Herman, stillposed, responded tly, ¡°Show me your evidence.¡± Grannie Anita couldn¡¯t wait to whip out her phone and present several photographs she had stored. ¡°See, Herman, this is the man. While you were out, he would sneak into your home and rendezvous with Anastasia. Look at this picture ¨C it¡¯s him and Ana leaving a hotel one after the other. And this one, look at how close they are, almost touching.¡± Herman was taken aback upon viewing the photographs, as the man in the pictures was the same as the one in the security footage Anastasia had shown him earlier. Although the man¡¯s face was not visible, his height, build, and even clothes matched perfectly. It was easy to recognize. Herman¡¯s expression shifted slightly, and he took Grannie Anita¡¯s phone to examine the photographs more closely. Indeed, it was the man from the surveince footage. ¡°Grannie, where did you get these photos?¡± The picture of Anastasia and the man exiting the hotel was taken with a watermarked camera, indicating the date and time ¨C all verifiable information. However, this didn¡¯t prove anything as the two were not walking out together but at a certain distance from each other. As for the picture where Anastasia and the man appeared to be embracing, it was due to the camera angle. It was clear that someone had intentionally chosen an angle that would cause misunderstanding. Sensing Herman¡¯s change in demeanor, Grannie Anita thought he was starting to believe her. ¡°I hired a private investigator to tail Anastasia. When she wasn¡¯t able to conceive, then suddenly imed to be pregnant, I had my suspicions. So I had her checked out, and sure enough, there were issues. Herman, now you see the extent of my concern. Don¡¯t let Anastasia fool you.¡± With Grannie Anita¡¯s serious tone, and the photographs, Feiman and Katelyn started to believe her too. Had Anastasia betrayed the Salstrom family, carrying a child that wasn¡¯t theirs? Katelyn, unable to process this information, got dizzy. Feiman, quick to react, steadied her, ¡°Katelyn.¡± Feiman was furious, ¡°Herman, bring Anastasia here and let¡¯s get to the bottom of this.¡± ¡°No need,¡± Herman returned the phone to Grannie Anita. ¡°These photos prove nothing. Some are clearly due to camera angles. Anastasia hasn¡¯t betrayed me. The child she carries is mine. I won¡¯t allow a word of today¡¯s events to reach her ears.¡± If one didn¡¯t suspect Anastasia of ulterior motives, these photos wouldn¡¯t be an issue. However, Grannie Anita was quite prejudiced against Anastasia, so she would always see a problem. Grannie Anita got frantic. ¡°Herman, you¡¯re blinded. The baby Anastasia carries isn¡¯t a Salstrom. The evidence is right here.¡± Grannie Anita¡¯s desperation was evident. She was truly anxious. Herman decided she couldn¡¯t stay in Riverdale any longer. Herman casually said, ¡°Grannie, pack your things. I¡¯ll have someone pick you up shortly to take you back to the countryside.¡± Clearly, he wanted to send Grannie Anita away. Grannie Anita felt a chilling sense of abandonment. ¡°Herman, I¡¯m your grandmother. You¡¯re disrespecting me by sending me away. Feiman, won¡¯t you do something about your son? Anastasia is a siren leading him astray.¡± Feiman was stuck between a rock and a hard ce ¨C his son on one side, his mother on the other. Feiman looked at Herman. ¡°Herman, your grandmother¡­¡± ¡°I am the head of the Salstrom family now. Is this something I cannot decide?¡± Herman cut Feiman off, and his tone was firm. ¡°Until Anastasia gives birth, Grannie, you can stay in the countryside, ying cards, enjoying some dancing. There¡¯s no need for you to return to Riverdale.¡± After saying that, Herman left. True to his word, Herman sent Dailey to escort Grannie Anita away within minutes. Grannie Anita was Text content ? N?velDrama.Org. hurt and packed her things in a huff, before being taken back to the countryside by Dailey. The events that took ce within the Salstrom family that day, and the words Grannie Anita spoke, never reached the outside world. Anastasia remained oblivious. When she learned that Grannie Anita had been forcibly sent away by Herman, she assumed it was due to the incident at the hotel. Herman quickly identified the man in the photos- a habitual thief who admitted to scoping same frame as Anastasia outside the hotel, the man had no clue. It was aplete coincidence. Upon hearing that Grannie Anita had been sent to the countryside, Julie was taken aback. Then, almost immediately, she made a decision to go find Grannie Anita in the rural area. Grannie Anita was currently in high dudgeon, at the sharpest point of her ¡°knife¡¯s edge¡±, so to speak. Julie needed to utilize this opportunity prudently. Chapter 431 Chapter 431 Chapter 431 Julie moved swiftly, heading to the countryside the very night Grannie Anita arrived there. Grannie Anita was seated in the garden of her countryside home, wiping tears from her eyes, and her two best friends were consoling her. Crying and cursing, Grannie Anita eximed, ¡°My granddaughter-inw is such a disgrace. She¡¯s bewitched my grandson, Herman. You both know how obedient he used to be. Now I¡¯ve been banished to the countryside. Isn¡¯t it all her doing?¡± Her two friends, both in theirte seventies, were well-known gossipmongers in the vige, always in- the-know about everyone¡¯s business. For example, a daughter-inw was arguing with her mother-in- man was involved with the local widow¡­ These petty issues were blown out of proportion, making the vige a hotbed of gossip every day. The vige square was the gossip hub. As long as it wasn¡¯t raining, it was filled with the vige¡¯s elderly, discussing thetest scandals The two grannies consoled Grannie Anita, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t let your anger get the best of you. You have to take care of your health, otherwise, you¡¯re just letting your granddaughter-inw win. We¡¯ve lived for so long. We won¡¯t be manipted by a young girl.¡± ¡°Indeed, just stay here for a few days. We¡¯ll help youe up with a solution. We can¡¯t let a young girl turn everything upside down.¡± ¡°You said the child isn¡¯t your grandson¡¯s, right? We can just wait until the child is born and have a paternity test done.¡± Grannie Anita retorted angrily, ¡°How can a bastard be born into the Salstrom family? If I die, I wouldn¡¯t be able to face our ancestors.¡± Just as Grannie Anita finished, car lights shone into the yard. Soon, Julie¡¯s voice echoed, ¡°Grannie, I¡¯m here to see you.¡± Julie cheerfully called out from outside the yard, holding a bag of groceries. Upon hearing the voice, Grannie Anita was both surprised and delighted. ¡°Julie, why are you here so Julie replied with a smile, ¡°Grannie, I came to see you. I heard you were sent back to the countryside and I know you must be upset. I wanted toe andfort you.¡± Grannie Anita apppeared so touched, and Julie had a cold smirk in her heart. Grannie Anita led Julie into the house. Her friends left, and Julie decided to stay. Grannie Anita was bing more and more fond of Julie. Grannie Anita held Julie¡¯s hand and suddenly asked, ¡°Julie, what do you think of Joseph?¡± Julie instantly understood Grannie Anita¡¯s implication. A hint of cruelty shed in her eyes, Julie feigned sadness and said, ¡°Grannie, my rtionship with Joseph was a misunderstanding. You know that I don¡¯t like him. I wanted to marry Herman. Don¡¯t you love me anymore? Are you not gonna help me?¡± ¡°But you and Joseph are together, aren¡¯t you?¡± Grannie Anita said, ¡°I love you. Will you be my granddaughter-inw? I¡¯ll make sure Joseph is acknowledged by his family. You¡¯ll be a legitimate Salstrom granddaughter-inw.¡± Julie¡¯s face turned pale. As expected, this old woman wanted to marry her off to Joseph. Julie sidestepped the topic, ¡°Grannie, why did Herman send you here? Did Anastasia say something to him?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s all her doing. That Anastasia has been trying to drive a wedge between Herman and me. She¡¯s trying to get me out of Riverdale.¡± Grannie Anita was getting angrier, ¡°She¡¯s too young to fight with me.¡± Julie casually mentioned, ¡°Anastasia is five months pregnant, right? The baby is taking shape. I heard that Anastasia¡¯s health isn¡¯t good, so they will perform a C-section when she is seven months pregnant. If the child is a boy, he¡¯ll be the firstborn of the Salstrom family. Anastasia will be more powerful. Grannie, will you be able to return to the Salstrom Manor?¡± Julie¡¯s instigation was fierce, pointing out Anastasia¡¯s delivery time, urging Grannie Anita to take action, and intensifying Grannie Anita¡¯s hatred for Anastasia. Chapter 432 Chapter 432 Chapter 432 Julie¡¯s words had indeed served as a reminder for Grannie Anita. The old woman¡¯s eyes were cold as ice, as if they could transform into icicles to pierce through Anastasia. ¡°I¡¯ll be damned if that girl gets to nt her seed in the Salstrom family,¡± Grannie Anita spat out. Her voice was filled with ire. ¡°Herman might be blind, but I¡¯m not. If he won¡¯t believe that she¡¯s carrying a bastard, then it¡¯s up to me to deal with it.¡± Julie¡¯s heart skipped a beat at her words. ¡°Grandma, did you tell Herman that Anastasia¡¯s baby might not be his?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Grannie Anita replied. Her anger was still palpable. ¡°I¡¯m so furious that Herman wouldn¡¯t believe me, and he decided to send me off to the countryside.¡± Julie¡¯s mind raced. She had thought Grannie Anita was sent away because of some hotel scheme. This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. ¡°Grandma, why would you say that?¡± Julie panicked. ¡°You¡¯ve basically alerted her!¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of?¡± Grannie Anita retorted, not understanding Julie¡¯s concern. ¡°If she did it, why couldn¡¯t I speak out? I want Herman to see Anastasia¡¯s true nature. I¡¯ll even openly admit that I hired a private investigator.¡± Julie was fuming inside. Grannie Anita was clearly too hasty. There was nothing they could do now but to act quickly. ¡°So Grandma, how do you n to deal with Anastasia next?¡± Julie asked. ¡°Don¡¯t you worry about that, Julie, Grannie Anita replied confidently. ¡°I have a n.¡± Julie was eager to sit back and watch the drama unfold. She put a lot of effort into making Grannie Anita believe that Anastasia was cheating on Herman. To avoid arousing suspicion from Herman, she had to execute her n wlessly. Julie hired a seasoned thief to rummage through Herman¡¯s yard, making sure to do it when he wasn¡¯t around. Julie bribed the private detective rmended by Grannie Anita to gather information about Anastasia¡¯s whereabouts and arranged for the thief and Anastasia to be captured together in a photograph. She carefully staged the scene and captured the perfect angle. The thief and the private detective had nomunication between them, and the thief had no knowledge of Julie¡¯s true intentions. Even if the scheme was exposed one day, no matter how Herman investigated, it would only lead to the conclusion that the thief was there to steal, and the private detective was hired by Grannie Anita. The thief didn¡¯t know Anastasia at all. The private detective was simply taking photos, and the photos captured the truth. As for the angles of the pictures and how Grannie Anita would interpret them, that was up to her. Julie¡¯s purpose in setting up this scheme was to make Grannie Anita believe that Anastasia was having an affair, not to show Herman any evidence. Now that Herman knows about Grannie Anita hiring a private detective, he would surely start investigating. In that case, it was crucial to prompt Grannie Anita to take action as soon as possible. Meanwhile, Anastasia was sitting alone on the balcony of her home in Southridge Estates, feeling uneasy. She had just finished freshening up and was enjoying the breeze when she felt an ominous twitch in her eyelid, as if something was about to happen. ¡°Mom, can you tell me a story?¡± Pattie came in with a book. Getting a grip on herself, Anastasia called Pattie to her side and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s your dad?¡± ¡°Dad is in the study, on the phone.¡± Pattie sat next to Anastasia and opened the book. ¡°Let¡¯s read the story of Snow White.¡± Anastasia chuckled, ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t like this story? You evenmented that Snow White was silly.¡± ¡°Well, it can serve as a cautionary tale,¡± Pattie responded with a smile. ¡°The story of Snow White teaches us that sometimes, being too kind can be a bad thing.¡± Anastasia felt a jolt at her heart. Such wordsing from the mouth of a five-year-old felt particrly striking. ¡°Alright, let me tell you the story¡­¡± Anastasia calmed her nerves and started narrating the tale to Pattie. After putting Pattie to bed, Anastasia checked the time. It was already ten at night and Herman was still busy in his study. Wearing her robe, Anastasia went to find Herman. She stopped at the door of his study when she heard him on the phone. ¡°Look deeper into the private investigator Grandma hired,¡± Herman was saying. ¡°Don¡¯t alert them, though. We don¡¯t want to scare them off. Yes, dig into Chad as well. He¡¯s been acting fishy¡­¡± Chad was the man who had been sneaking into their yard, the suspicious man mentioned by Katie, and the same man who Herman had previously identified as amon burr. Anastasia listened from the doorway, only half understanding what was going on. What did Grannie Anita¡¯s hiring a private investigator have to do with anything? Anastasia was unaware of Grannie Anita¡¯s actions. Herman¡¯s voice continued, ¡°This is moreplicated than it seems. It seems like a setup within a setup. Chad and the private investigator don¡¯t know each other, yet he¡¯s been caught on camera multiple times. Too coincidental. Who has Grannie Anita been hanging out withtely? Check on Julie¡¯s whereabouts too¡­¡± Chapter 433 Chapter 433 Chapter 433 Anastasia hovered at the door, waiting for Herman to end his call before she entered. ¡°Why are you still up?¡± Herman noticed Anastasia¡¯s presence, and a flicker of guilt was passing through This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. his eyes. He quickly ushered Anastasia to the couch, propping her up with a soft cushion. He was worried she might have heard his conversation. ¡°Busy with work?¡± Anastasia asked as she sat down. ¡°Who were you talking to? Was it Dailey? I heard something about a private detective. Are you hiding something from me?¡± Herman crouched down beside her. His lips curled up into a faint smile. ¡°We¡¯ve got a few new projects in the works, so it¡¯s been a bit hectic at the office. Let me feel our baby.¡± He ced his hand on Anastasia¡¯s belly. His gaze was soft and tender. ¡°I hope our little one is behaving and not giving you too much trouble.¡± Anastasia watched Herman for a moment. He had dodged her question about the private detective, clearly not wanting to divulge any information. Pressing him further would only lead to an argument. She decided to let it go. ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but my eyelid¡¯s been twitching all evening,¡± Anastasia confessed, rubbing her belly. ¡°You¡¯re probably just tired. Come on, let¡¯s get you to bed,¡± Herman suggested, helping Anastasia to her feet. ¡°I¡¯ll stay home with you tomorrow. Flynn can handle things at the office.¡± Anastasia felt a sense of relief wash over her at his words. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll ask Katie to make your favorite roast goose tomorrow,¡± Anastasia offered. ¡°Sounds perfect.¡± The next day. Anastasia woke upte, and when she opened her eyes, Herman was still there beside her. His presence made her feel incredibly happy. Herman was already awake, reading a book beside her. Seeing her awake, he put the book aside and gently asked, ¡°Should I ask Katie to send up some food?¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather sleep in a bit longer,¡± Anastasia replied, ncing at the clock. It was already ten. She scooted closer to Herman, wrapping an arm around him and closing her eyes. ¡°Honey, I¡¯m not hungry.¡± Anastasia¡¯s voice was soft and sweet, with a hint of shyness. She wasn¡¯t quite sure why, but she found herself more dependent on him than ever. Every day, she eagerly awaited his return. The sound of his car pulling into the driveway was enough to brighten her day. Herman enjoyed her dependence on him. He gently stroked her hair. His voice was deep and soothing. ¡°Once the baby¡¯s born, I¡¯ll feed you every day.¡± Anastasia blushed, yfully hitting Herman. ¡°Who said anything about eating you? You¡¯re not delicious, and I¡¯m not a demon.¡± Herman chuckled, pulling Anastasia into a deep kiss. When he finally pulled away, he teased, ¡°But you are my demon.¡± Amused, Anastasia responded, ¡°Well, then I guess your grandma was right. I am an evil witch.¡± ¡°I¡¯d dly fall into your trap,¡± Herman replied, brushing a loose strand of hair away from her face. ¡°Once the baby¡¯s born, we¡¯ll have our wedding, then our honeymoon. I¡¯ll make up for everything I owe you, Anastasia. I want to give you everything you deserve. Whatever other women have, my woman should have. What they don¡¯t, my woman should still have.¡± ¡°That¡¯s very domineering of you,¡± Anastasia chuckled, snuggling closer to him. Their tender moment was interrupted by an unexpected visitor. ¡°Anastasia, you¡¯re still in bed? I brought you some of my shop¡¯s new imported coffee beans. They¡¯re safe for pregnant women to¡­¡± Gianna¡¯s cheerful entrance came to an abrupt halt. Her face was paling as she took in the sight of Anastasia and Herman¡¯s intimate moment. Gianna hadn¡¯t expected to find Herman at home, let alone walk in on him and Anastasia in a passionate embrace. Her unrequited feelings for Herman shifted ufortably at the sight. Swiftly regaining herposure, she joked, ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t see anything. Carry on,¡± before exiting the room. The smile fell off her face the moment the door was closed behind her. Inside the room, Anastasia was equally surprised by Gianna¡¯s sudden appearance. Her face flushed in embarrassment. She gently nudged Herman. ¡°We should get up¡­¡± Chapter 434 Chapter 434 Chapter 434 Herman chuckled. There was a smile dancing at the corners of his lips. ¡°Why don¡¯t you entertain your cousin while I retreat to the study with some work?¡± ¡°Go on, off you go.¡± Anastasia gently touched her flushed cheeks. As soon as Herman left the room, Anastasia promptly rose from bed to freshen up. She slipped into a loose outfit before heading downstairs to meet Gianna. Pattie had already taken off for school and Salma had ns with some former colleagues from the hotel. In the living room, Gianna wasfortably seated while the housekeeper, Katie, poured her a cup of coffee. Upon seeing Anastasia, Katie offered, ¡°Would you like some lemonade, mdy?¡± At five months pregnant, Anastasia still endured bouts of morning sickness and often found relief in sipping lemonade. Anastasia responded with a smile, ¡°That sounds wonderful. Thanks, Katie. Could you also prepare some breakfast for me? I¡¯m quite peckish. A bowl of oatmeal would be perfect.¡± ¡°Certainly, I¡¯ll get right on it,¡± Katie replied. Then she tactfully retreated to the kitchen, leaving Anastasia to host Gianna. cing a bag of coffee beans on the table, Gianna said, ¡°This is a new blend from my shop. I thought you might like to try it. It¡¯s safe for expectant mothers.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Anastasia replied. Her smile was gentle. ¡°How¡¯s business at your shop, Gianna?¡± ¡°It¡¯s going well. It¡¯s profitable. I¡¯ve done the math and it should break even within a year.¡± Gianna boasted, ¡°I might even open a second shop at that point.¡± ¡°Really? That¡¯s impressive, Gianna. You¡¯re quite the entrepreneur.¡± Gianna nced upstairs. ¡°Is your husband not going into the office today?¡± ¡°He¡¯s working from home today to keep mepany,¡± Anastasia admitted, a little sheepishly. ¡°Anastasia, you¡¯re so lucky. Herman earns money by the minute. Just think of how much he¡¯s giving up to spend the day with you,¡± Gianna said. Her eyes were brimming with envy. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not as dramatic as all that,¡± Anastasia demurred. ¡°Besides, he¡¯s not a machine. He needs to rest too. We have Flynn holding down the fort at the office.¡± ¡°By the way, what¡¯s the status of the Salstrom family¡¯s illegitimate child? Are they nning on acknowledging him? Could it impact Herman?¡± sence of the Sastrom¡¯s illegitimate child wasn¡¯t exactly a secret, and a good hunter of wople know about it not entre sure¡± Anastasia admitted. ¡°His parents are still at odds over the matter.¡± wmen are truly faithful, especially when their partners are pregnant. Most can¡¯t resist Temptation. ording to research, nearly 80% of men are unfaithful during their partner¡¯s pregnancy.¡±Ganna trailed off observing Anastasia¡¯s reaction. ¡°I¡¯m not implying anything about Herman, Anastasia.¡± It¡¯s fine¡± Anastasia reassured her though she felt a sudden difort in her stomach. ¡°I need to use the restroom. Feel free to make yourself at home, Gianna.¡± Pregnancy often et to constipation Sure¡± Gianna replied. Her eyes wandered around the house as soon as Anastasia left the room. The This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?. mansion was extravagant, from the decoration to the sheer size, not to mention its prime location in Riverdale. The property was worth billions and Salma had mentioned that it was registered in Anastasia¡¯s name. The realization made Gianna envious. Her previousfortable life caled inparison to the opulence of Anastasia¡¯s. Every piece of furniture, every cup in the mansion was worth a small fortune. As Gianna¡¯s hand traced over the $1 million pine table, her gaze wandered upstairs. Upstairs was the man she adored. The image of Herman and Anastasia sharing a passionate kiss earlier still lingered in Ganna¡¯s mind. It pricked at her heart like a thorn. Unconsciously, Gianna found herself moving towards the staircase. She didn¡¯t know the exact location of the study, but she carefully treaded along the carpeted hallway, eventually finding herself outside the study. The door was ajar, and through the gap, Gianna could see Herman¡¯s silhouette against therge window, deep in a phone conversation. Her heart fluttered at the sight¡­ Chapter 435 Chapter 435 Chapter 435 In his casual loungewear, Herman exuded an air of refined elegance. He was holding a cup of coffee in one hand, and answering calls in the other hand. His tall and gaze. Gianna watched him, with a sense of satisfaction welling up inside her. At that moment, Katie ascended the stairs to bring Herman some pastries. Gianna, with a smile, took them from Katie¡¯s hands. ¡°I¡¯ll take these in, Katie. You go attend to other things.¡± Katie was a bit hesitant, but given that Gianna was Anastasia¡¯s cousin, she didn¡¯t voice any objections. ¡°Alright, Miss. Thank you,¡± Katie said with a smile, before leaving. Holding the pastries, Gianna adjusted her appearance before entering the room. ¡°Mr. Salstrom, how about some refreshments?¡± Gianna rarely considered Herman to be her cousin¡¯s husband, for she didn¡¯t acknowledge him as such in her heart. Noticing it was Gianna who brought the pastries, Herman ended his call. His brow furrowed, and he said, ¡°Katie could have attended to this.¡± ¡°Katie had other tasks to do, so I brought them in,¡± Gianna found an excuse. ¡°Mr. Salstrom, you seem quite busy. I was hoping to ask you about running a caf¨¦. I¡¯ve never been in business before and This is property ? of N?velDrama.Org. thought I could learn a thing or two from you. My caf¨¦¡¯s profit is about $10000 per day, but I feel it could do better.¡± Gianna simply wanted to spend more time with Herman, alone. She spoke of a daily profit of $10000 as if it was insufficient, but her eyes sought his approval, because making $10000 per day was already quite an achievement. Herman remained expressionless. His tone was polite, ¡°I¡¯m not particrly knowledgeable about running a caf¨¦. I can arrange for our marketing manager to draft a strategy for you. You can discuss it together.¡± ¡°¡­ Alright, thank you!¡± Gianna¡¯s face registered mild embarrassment. Seeing that Gianna had no intention of leaving, Herman said bluntly, ¡°Gianna, I¡¯m still working.¡± Gianna understood what he meant ¨C he was asking her to leave. Her face flushed with embarrassment, and she said, ¡°I won¡¯t disturb you further.¡± The man who was so gentle with Anastasia had a no-nonsense attitude when dealing with her. Gianna stood in the hallway, ncing at her reflection in the mirror. She had spent a lot on skincare recently, resulting in smooth and glowing skin, but a woman¡¯s age could be discerned from her eyes. She was in her thirties. No matter how much she took care of herself, people could tell from her eyes that she was not a little girl in her twenties anymore. ¡°Gianna.¡± Anastasia, heavily pregnant, ascended the stairs in search of Gianna. Due to the increased hormonal activity during pregnancy, Anastasia¡¯s skin looked radiant and soft, with a rosy glow. Even without makeup, she looked incredibly attractive. Sunlight poured in through the window, bathing Anastasia in a soft, ethereal glow. A gentle breeze tugged at her long hair, creating a breathtaking tableau. Gianna blurted out, ¡°No wonder Herman can¡¯t resist you when you¡¯re pregnant.¡± Who could resist such a beautiful woman? There was something incredibly alluring about Anastasia in her pregnant state. It wasn¡¯t just men who were drawn in. Even women found it hard not to take a second nce. Beautiful things were always a ma for attention. Anastasia blushed. ¡°Gianna,e on.¡± Gianna put on a teasing air. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant. You should be careful. Don¡¯t hurt the baby. Have you guys stopped¡­ you know¡­ since you got pregnant?¡± This made Anastasia even more embarrassed but in front of a woman, she didn¡¯t hold back. ¡°During the first trimester, the baby is fragile. Now it¡¯s a bit more stable, but we still have to be careful. We just kiss a little, to satisfy our cravings.¡±. Even this small ¡°craving¡± was enough to make Gianna green with envy. Being held by such an exceptional man, sharing tender moments in bed, what a blissful experience that must be. Gianna almost let her emotions show on her face. She turned away, and with an uneasy expression, said, ¡°Yes, you should be careful.¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!